Gideon Welles Craft Beer Bar & Kitchen

I had the fish and chip. They were great. I also had a maple old fashioned. Everyone else at my table enjoyed their food and drinks.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish N Chips

This underrated Irish gastropub located on the corner of Lincoln and Sunnyside across from Wells Park in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. At first I was reluctant to go based on some old past reviews but decided that I needed to give it a try for myself. I was pleasantly greeted and immediately served a glass of water with a lemon wedge. I arrived during Happy Hour and ordered a Dirty Martini with Kettle One vodka. It was the BEST cleanest and clearest "Dirty Martini" I've ever received anywhere vs other places that were too cloudy with an overpowering amount of olive juice. As a regular favorite go-to drink of mine, it became CLEAR to me that for the first time I was finally served the perfect well balanced Dirty Martini. For starters, I was recommended by the bartender Ralph, the Crispy Goat Cheese that came with a tomato based sauce spread and lightly toasted Peasant bread. The goat cheese (my favorite) was perfectly fried warm and soft on the inside and a crispy light breading on the outside. It was amazingly delicious, hardy and dainty at the same time. The presentation was on point! Next was the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad without any meat added. By far, this is a true rock star of all salads. Not only is it very tasty but also heart healthy and provides great energy and libido. The baby spinach was fresh, crisp and CLEAN. All the other ingredients just made it all the more better which I paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio wine from Italy. On to the dessert, which was also recommended, Butterscotch Pecan Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean Gelato. It blew me away. It was beautifully presented, warm, moist and just the right amount of sweetness. It was suggested that I have a small pour of dessert liqueur, Shanky's Whip, to pair together. It's a whiskey "blend" with vanilla and caramel tones and a Butterscotch aroma. I was truly taken back how delightful it tasted. Just when I thought my exceptional experience was over, I happen to get into a discussion about Ron Zacapa Rum made with virgin sugar cane. I learned about the process of how it's made and operated by a woman. It was very interesting topic. Ralph the bartender whipped up, on the spot, a new twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail using this premium Guatemalan rum. It was outstanding! I do hope they consider adding this to their regular cocktail menu. I would definitely order it again! Before I left, I did order a Reuben Sandwich to go for tomorrow's lunch. It had a good hefty amount of corned beef and still good the next day. To quickly point out a few things...they have 3 entrances. The main entrance is a revolving glass door. The other 2 doors are handicap accessible, a well lit side door on Sunnyside Ave. and a dining room entrance on Lincoln Ave. The bathroom was clean with a standard size stall and a spacious handicap stall. They have a separate dining room/party room for gatherings or to just come & eat if you don't want to dine in a bar setting with family. A kid's menu is available. It's holiday decorated and cheerful. The owner, Owen, politely answered my question about outdoor seating in the summer. It seats up to 70 people on both streets, Sunnyside Ave facing Wells Park providing a more peaceful view and Lincoln Ave facing the main busy street. I noticed alot of women here...more than some other places I've been to and instantly felt at ease. I did strike up a conversation with a small group of women who were seated along the additional tables across from the bar. To my surprise, it was also their 1st time. They were walking and looking for something to eat and the well lit lighting outside and decorations made them feel safe & inviting. The bar-back was hustling, cleaning and restocking. They have a big selection of beer and ciders on tap, bottles and cans. I noticed they serve a perfect beer on draft with a glass rinse as it cools simultaneously. This place is a true diamond in the ruff with elevated food options, cocktails & bar staples. A must go kinda place to ex

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food, very nice people working there. Good happy hour deals. Will definitely be interested in going back

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came in on a Saturday afternoon and my was pretty full. Good drink selection and weekly deals. The French onion soup was pretty good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Good food. Good beer.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A great place to enjoy the evening and eat great food. Outdoor dining available when the weather is good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish N Chips, Shepherds Pie

Great Irish bar. Good is fantastic.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great neighborhood spot to grab a drink, eat dinner, and/or watch sports. Love the staff. Food is always really good!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Reuben, Shepherds Pie, Burgers

Food was good. I like the little Irish pub feel. They gave me the world’s most dehydrated lime and I had to squeeze it like I was getting blood from a stone.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish N Chips

Gideon Welles used to be our go-to spot to watch a game and grab a beer and dinner. The last few time table service has been terrible. Last night, our server was short with us and seemed bothered that she had to deal with us.

It wasn’t especially busy and we had a simple order (goat cheese, burger and a wrap). We ordered and I told her that I wanted a drink but still needed a moment to review the menu. She never came back to take our drink order or check-in. Order came out wrong (toppings missing from burger). Mistakes happen and can be corrected, but the attitude was dismissive and disengaged when asked for the correction.

This seems to be the norm here lately. Great spot, but less than average experience the last 3 times we’ve been.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

4.1 stars
Just a quick beer and a sandwich review. Men's bath quite small for a wheelchair. No room to turn one around. Revolving door front and steep side door tricky. You might have to come in door off Lincoln with a wheelchair.
Service was friendly and responsive. Menu on your phone. Watch for happy hour specials! My corned beef was fine but a touch dry.

However, my dates Mac and Cheese with Bacon, mushrooms and peas was outstanding. Highly recommend!!
Great comfort food. Martini and tap beer were great. Outside seating available seasonally but can be windy and painfully sunny with a western sun. Prices are typical and fair.

Parking: Free parking near library and on Sunnyside. Pay to park north on Lincoln and at city parking lot north of establishment.

Wheelchair accessibility: With assistance one can make entry

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

plenty of relaxed outdoor seating cordoned-off. dog friendly - counted three easy exits for non-friendlies. spicy margherita? yes + 1.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Very good food. Nice vibes. Kitchen is open pretty late which is nice to have in this neighborhood where everything closes at nine for some reason.

God the steak and while it wasn't an excellent cut the sauce they used for it was very nice. I would love it if they leaned in a little more to the higher end, but to be honest they don't need to. They're doing a great job.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best pub in the city

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Flat Bread, Full Irish Breakfast, Quesadillas, Take, Pulled Pork Nachos, French Onion Soup, Fish N Chips, Chicken Wings, Union Blockade Burger, Glastonbury, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Gideon Welles, Reuben, Shepherds Pie, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Queso Fundido, Chicken Sandwich, Burgers, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Gideon's Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Nice corner spot for enjoying Lincoln Square or watching an afternoon game. Great beer deals and tasty apps (goat cheese was really good). Friendly service. Definitely recommend.

Vegetarian options: Apps for sure. I assume the regular menu has stuff.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5