Hopleaf

Stopped by for a quick nightcap. Bartender perfected the Whiskey Sour. more

I give this place all 5-stars because their beer selection is so great. The staff, however, isn't particularly friendly or attentive. Pros: Great Beer Selection Cons: Bad Service more

have been going to hop leaf for a number of years - their menu is really good and you can't beat their beer selection. as it's become more popular and crowded, seems the staff and bartenders aren't as helpful and friendly anymore though. maybe i just got them on a bad day last week. still recommend though! Pros: great food and beer selection Cons: too crowded and unhelpful staff/bartenders more

I was first introduced to the Hopleaf in 2006 and it has been my favorite Chicago bar ever since. The beer selection is perhaps the best in the city and you wont find a single television in the entire place. The focus here is the beer, but the staff is not snobby in the least. They are happy to recommend beers and will even give you samples of the draft beers if you ask nicely. I especially like the Kwak (and not just because of the fancy glass it comes in). Pros: Beer Selection Cons: Crowded more

This place is horrible. Don't go here. Pros: Awesome Tap and Bottle Selection Cons: Lack of Eye Candy...Even for the ""Im not trendy"" crowd more

Don't be turned off by the loud and crowded bar atmosphere in front, because the upstairs & rear area are perfect. Every meal I have had there has been supurb. The mussells for one in a spicey cocoanut are $10 and enough to feed two, and they are only an appetizer. The York Creek Cabernet mix is wonderful but my the wide array of obscure beers are also great. Service is also good. They are often stressed because it is constantly busy but we were seated fairly soon after were told there would be a wait. Must try @ least once. Pros: Food, Beer, Wine, Price Cons: Noisy, can be crowded more

I am definitely not a beer expert. Nor am I a beer lover. In fact, I normally dislike beer because of the... more

I am definitely not a beer expert. Nor am I a beer lover. In fact, I normally dislike beer because of the bitter taste. And never have I ever expec... more

This place has the best beer list I've ever seen! A wide selection on tap and in the bottle, with nothing... more

This place has the best beer list I've ever seen! A wide selection on tap and in the bottle, with nothing ordinary in site. It was great to be in a... more

Been to this Bar/Resturant a few times just becuse it is close. The service is slow, the doorman has a napolian complex, and it is overall UNPLEASANT and uncomfortable. Floors are dirty, dining room is overpacked and someone will most bump into you during your visit. Food menu sound good, but don't exspect much when it gets to your mouth (unless you had a strong beer). Staff is pretentious and RUDE. There is a great beer selection, if you dont mind stale beer and moldy tap lines. Pros: If you are into being belittled by staff this is your place Cons: if I could give it a zero rating I would! more

You can expect a decent wait to dine at the Hopleaf and the food is not inexpensive, but the fare is always... more

You can expect a decent wait to dine at the Hopleaf and the food is not inexpensive, but the fare is always hearty and satisfying and the beer is e... more

I'd love to tell you how great Hopleaf is, but I couldn't possibly do anything to get the attention of a... more

I'd love to tell you how great Hopleaf is, but I couldn't possibly do anything to get the attention of a bartender there. more

Yes it's crowded all the time, so be prepared to either wait to be seated in the dining area, or challenge other bar-goers out for one of the few coveted tables in the front by the bar! Also challenging is actually finding one of the full drink menus, but once you do -- WOW. You could sit there just looking through it all night! My boyfriend discovered this place last year, as we were new to the Chicago scene, and as self-proclaimed novice beer conoisseurs, we were very excited! My one complaint (aside from crowdedness, of course), is the fact that the food seems to have decreased a bit since last year. We used to love to come here and get the mussels in white wine, but they stopped carrying that and changed it to white belgian ale or lobster broth.... what is up with that?? we tried the ale one, and were thoroughly disappointed. Other than that, their beer selection is simply unparalleled. My all-time favorite drink is the Duchesse de Bourgogne, which they have on tap -- and it is TO DIE FOR!! Pros: Amazing selection of beers from all over the world!!! Cons: Crowded, loud, etc. more

Just got back from yet another visit to the Hopleaf. Seriously, we love this place. Tiff and I are thinking about renting the upstairs room for our wedding reception. First off, you have to have a beer, preferably something Belgian, and something that comes in a cool looking glass (find the one with its own holder). Then, you have to order something that comes with frites, or else you'll be sorry. The mussels (white wine) would be a safe bet. Coming from someone who spent a week in Belgium living off of ""moules frites"", Hopleaf's version is pretty competitive. Portions are large, and the quality is solid. Specials are rotated in often, particularly among the soups (yes on the tomato, eh on the chilled roasted red pepper). As a non-meat eater, I enjoyed the CB&J (cashew butter and fig jam) and the fried tilapia sandwich (watch out for a frites overload here). Coz has tried the brisket sandwich and it looked well, meaty. We at his frites for him. I totally understand any negativity towards Hopleaf as a result of it being too busy, and I must admit, we've had some poor bar service at times, but the food servers have all been outstanding, friendly, and knowledgeable. Pour me another Leffe please! Pros: Beer selection, Pub grub, European accents Cons: Gets busy at peak hours, bar staff can be inattentive more

My husband and I stopped by Hopleaf on a Sunday evening for dinner. We live close by and are always looking for new ""countries"" to add to our list of favorite restaurants, so when we heard about the great Belgian food being served here, we couldn't pass it up. The place is small, smoky, and crowded. The wait is long. Everyone says it, and it's true. Expect it. If you can't stand the long wait, eat some crackers before you go (we had to wait 90 minutes for the table (they told us 40)). Pros: Delicious! Cons: Smoky, long wait, small, crowded more

Wide variety of beers & ciders. I love the food at this place (try the ham sandwich & fries!) and would love to go back - however, every time I've tried the wait for a table has been upwards of ~2 hours! It is ridiculously crowded on weekends, and I have even found this to be the case on weeknights. I live in the neighborhood and would go more often if I didn't have to wait several hours for a table. Go early and get your name in, then try the beer while you wait. Pros: Great food, great drinks, good atmosphere Cons: Crowded, No Reservations, Long Wait, Smoky more

For any beer lover, especially lovers of Belgian-style beers, Hopleaf is a must-go... you simply will not find a better selection of this style at any other bar in the entire greater Chicago area. While the selection is staggering, the prices are, as expected, fair but moderate... usually between 5 and 8 dollars per bottle. Also, I wish they would provide descriptions of some of their beers - I'm fairly knowledgable about beers and there were quite a few I didn't recognize but didn't want to risk the money without knowing what I'd be getting. If it is not too crowded, you can ask the bartenders... but it is often crowded. If you go for drinks on a Friday or Saturday night, its best to get there before 9 pm if you want to sit down. If the downstairs is full, you can go upstairs, but there are only bottles (no taps) upstairs. I haven't eaten here because sources I trust tell me the food is average and there is better to be had for better prices in Andersonville. Pros: Variety and Quality of Beers Cons: Very crowded weekend nights more