John Barleycorn Lincoln Park
Categories:
Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs, Beer Gardens, Singles Bars, Restaurants, Traditional American Restaurants
Details:
21 & Over, Smoking Permitted
Message from John Barleycorn Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park's Favorite Sports Spot
Barleycorn has been a Lincoln Park staple since 1963, though the building has housed saloons since the late-19th Century (including a speakeasy and a hangout for notorious gangster John Dillinger). Today, the focus is sports--there are three oversized projection screens and a dozen 50-inch flat-screen TVs covering both college and pro teams. The menu has something for everyone: hefty half-pound burgers, hickory-smoked baby-back ribs and beer-battered fish and chips. The lush patio seats 150, there are 50 seats on the sidewalk cafe and the bar can accommodate 30-500 for private parties. The warm-and-woody nautically themed interior, which is fitted with the original tin ceiling, features handmade model ships, boat-themed artifacts and paintings of old-school ships.
Editorial by Citysearch
Everyone from DePaul students to graying grownups come for the casual brunch, lunch or dinner in two spacious dining rooms, both decorated with scores of model frigates, galleons and schooners left behind by a Belgian owner from the '60s. Entertaining family? Consider it safe to bring parents for a casual drink or meal--at least until 10pm on weekends. That's when hordes of students and young professionals line up around the block waiting to get in, banging elbows once inside and in the beer garden.Key Points
- Dinner, late night, weekend brunch
- Award-winning burgers
- Two outdoor seating areas
The Inside Scoop
- What to Wear - There's an overwhelming amount of J. Crew flannels here; baseball caps are not only allowed, but suggested.
- Who's There - Mostly DePaul students and recent grads, especially on weekends.
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Good old fashion bar
by GorgeousGirl
I first started hanging out at Barleycorn in college. I usually goto the Wrigleyville location, but they are all good. Lots of fun people here, cool music and they love sports! This is a good bar.
Pros: lots of fun people
Cons: kinda crowded
Posted 07/13/09
Fun Bar
by NatalieL
This is a fun bar to have a party. They have god drink specials for big groups of people, plus you can rent out the upstairs if you have a large enough group.
Posted 07/08/09
Not a fan of this bar at all
by DrinksCoffee
I dont like John Barleycorn at all. This bar is a good example of what happens when frat boys run wild. They are always crowded, the music is terrible, the other customers are obnoxious and the drink prices are outrageous. I dont recommend you go here.
Pros: They distract stupid people
Cons: They exist
Posted 06/10/09
The worst bar in Chicago
by ShoppingQueen
This place is terrible. Its dirty, smell and filled with annoying drunk people. I don't understand what the appeal is but I cant stand the place. The only time I ever went in I saw junk all over the floor, waste all over the bathroom and a long line for over priced watered down drinks. I am never ever going back there.
Pros: They only have three locations
Cons: Everything else
Posted 06/03/09
March Madness
by mll41076
Please come to Barleycorn and watch Michigan State win the Final Four! $15 buckets of beer and dollar sliders.
Pros: Michigan State Rules
Posted 03/31/09
Great food, "brah"
by jns597
Well, I've been to this bar a number of times with friends that come up from being at U of I down in Cham/Urbana. Needless to say, this bar caters to the frat vibe. The food here is amazing though, so getting there a little eary can be recommended to get a seat. Not to mention the overwhelming stench of A&F and Lacoste cologne could ruin anyones appetite. The bar is usually fun, but I've been witness to a few fights and scuffles in and outside of the bar which makes it less an enjoyable place. When it isn't as packed, it's definately more fun and you don't leave with your ears ringing (they BLAST club music) or some injury from "brahs" stumbling about. Price is decent, but you can easily go to most other bars down the block for a cheaper beer. Overall, I'd recommend it, because it's usually variable if it is or isn't fun, and I can't blame that on the bar, it's more the people that show up.
Pros: Great food, waiting for a drink isn't bad at all, decent deals for sporting events, dance floor bar is always easy to get drinks at.
Cons: Get's reallllllly crowded. Sometimes aggressive crowd. Super loud club music.
Posted 02/23/09
Best Burger in Town
by smudgecats
For years, this has been the place for a great burger -- well seasoned and served with great cottage fries. Forget the wine selection, but take advantage of at least 20 brews on tap. A nice outdoor patio -- and classical music inside (at times).
Posted 07/11/06
For a good time...
by besimmons98
The frat party vibe was present yet not overwhelming. Spacious bar with many places to sit and gather makes it a great place to meet up with people you know or just meet new ones.
Pros: Young Crowd, Good Location, Great Waitresses
Cons: Crowded, Long Bar Lines
Posted 10/28/02
worth the trip
by leigh05
the food is good, the atmosphere is nice (a little too dark) and the service is usually great- not to mention some hot servers! the bartenders aren't bad either- a little slow. overall, a great place for dinner and drinks, and once it gets late, a little dancing.
Pros: service, food, service
Cons: parking, crowded late
Posted 10/15/02
corn-e
by myvote
If you don't mind an infusion of emerson lightweight chinos or fraternity brawls, this place is for you. The food is O.K., but the people watching is top rate. You can watch barbies bounce pretending to be stupid in hopes of catch her melanoma man.
Pros: Spacious, location, beer selection
Cons: people, people, people
Posted 08/12/02
DiveTwin's Review
by DiveTwin
This is the best burger in the city ... and rivals Boston Blackies as the biggest. It's fresh USDA ground beef with a seasoning (I can't place it) that's delicious. You design your own burger from how it's cooked to the toppings that include four cheeses, guacamole, bacon, olives, mushrooms, etc. along with the usual toppings and condiments. It is accompanied either with regular crispy french fries or their home-made fried potato chips. The atmosphere is terrific with a nice outdoor area and an old-world bar feel to it.
It's my place to go after running the Chicago Marathon!
Posted 08/07/02
What an atmosphere
by stumiller
I've only been here twice but both times have been extremely fun. I love the atmosphere.
Pros: Atmosphere, Outdoor seating
Cons: some expensive drinks
Posted 07/30/02
College folks only
by JackShay_Citysearch
I remember (to my slight shame) just loving places like this in college. People everywhere, loud as hell, sloppy. But the thrill is gone mere years later, and now John Barleycorn seems to me a sad meat market full of desperate kids, many of which will be full-fledged alcoholics in 5 years. The thing is, if I read that statement back then, I would have been there the next Friday night...
Pros: Great for college
Cons: Bad for everyone else
Posted 05/20/02