This neighborhood pub is a surprise to this football fan, and I don't mean NFL kind of football. If it were not for the Chicago Fire, I probably wouldn't have checked this place out. This is a true pub for soccer...excuse me...FOOTBALL supporters. You can see by their decor of football scarves around their walls and the televisions fixated mostly on Fox Soccer Channel, Gol TV, and Setanta, that they mean business when it comes to football. It can get a bit cramped on the inside though, especially when there's a big match: Celtic FC vs. Rangers, Chelsea vs. Manchester United, UEFA Champions League/European Cup, etc. Let's not forget the FIFA World Cup. But it's not just football, but rugby and other UK sports as well...and the usual American sports if you're into those. I just so happened to check out the place while it was quiet on my first visit. Their selection of beers and drinks are plentiful, with about 50 kinds of beers (some I never even heard of) and plenty of scotch (Jameson, J&B). But no Bass or Guinness? What gives? The menu was somewhat different from what you'd find in many bars; mostly emphasizing tasty UK pub grub as main courses than American menus of pizzas and sliders. There's an open kitchen, however, is configered weird. Picture this, there's a small corridor that separates the main bar from the slightly bigger dining area. There's a room with a fridge on the left and a 2 man kitchen with old equipment from the 70s or something on the right. The restrooms are on either side as well. I don't mind. The food is good, but I wonder how they can cook with equipment that old? But despite that, this is a keeper on my list of places to go and a good place to invite your friends to, especially if you watch football (only come really early to avoid crowds). Did I mention, David Beckham was here =p ?
Pros: FOOTBALL (Soccer), close to the Irving Park Brown Line stop, UK inspired menu and decor, friendly staff, daily entertainment
Cons: parking, somewhat small interior, fills up early for big matches AND will turn people down if bar is overcrowded, kitchen can use rehab
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