One of my favorite Chicago Venues to play. I live in the burbs so it’s a little hard to go out for other shows as much as I would like. But when I do, it’s always home. ❤️
carmen laguidice
A little small on the inside but a very nice atmosphere. The service was very good considering crowded the bar was. We saw a live band on Friday night and they were excellent. Lots of beers and a good variety of cocktails and prices were in line with the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Lovey K
Fantastic dive bar. Always a good time
Raymond Berg
Fun spot, getting in can be a shit show with or without tickets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Frank Karall
Live music, good music consistently. Go!
Atmosphere: 5
Vince Schwab
Great venue to see bands. Small but very cool atmosphere. great outside garden area. The band "The awfully Good" were unique and awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Erika Schonfeld
I’ve been here a few times to see a local band - I wouldn’t otherwise have ever known about this place or come in. While it’s a nice atmosphere and the music always sounds good, the last two visits have been pretty disappointing due to rude staff members and a lack of adherence to the music schedule/amount of music promised.
The band I went to see was advertised to play from 10p-12p and at 11:30pm one of the bartenders cut them off by aggressively motioning his hand across his neck at them from behind the bar. Their mics were then subsequently cut off as well. I also know that when the band questioned the guy about it they were met with a less than polite/professional response. I would have kept buying drinks if the music kept playing, but I closed my tab out instead.
My interactions buying drinks with 2 of the 3 bartenders working were unpleasant as well. I’m not sure what the deal was or why everyone working there was in such a foul mood, but I won’t be returning as a result. Everyone in that bar was there to see a band- this place is not in a location that gets foot traffic. Why push people out like this when they are seemingly the majority of your business? Shameful.
Patrick Sundlof
Great spot a little pricey for how much bands get paid but who makes money as a musician anyway ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maggie Zotti
**LOCAL ARTISTS BEWARE**. This slimy bar may not pay you for your work!!
My friends' band was one of four bands playing one weekend. Living in the city, I had never heard of Montrose Saloon, so I was excited to maybe find a cool bar to support! I showed up right before my friends’ band was meant to start, but was turned away by a staff member at the door (“bouncer”). The “bouncer” said they could not sell any more tickets because they were "at capacity" and suggested I "try back in an hour" (exactly when my friends' band would be DONE playing). Meanwhile, from the sidewalk, you could see 4-6 tables in their garden completely empty and a handful of people scatter about - TONS of space. My friends (who showed up to the venue at the beginning of the night) said it was not even CLOSE to packed inside (and it hadn't been all night). Trying to help, one of those friends asked around to the staff inside about letting more people in and most staff shrugged it off (or repeated the same script) but one person told her the bouncer could let people in if/when people left. Meanwhile, I saw at least a dozen people leave and still the “bouncer” said he "couldn't sell more tickets until the people inside told him he could." At least 6 people besides me were also turned away over the span of 25 minutes. One of them was even told by a staff member they couldn't sell more tickets because they had "a deal with the band". Once another staff member came to relieve the “bouncer”, I was FINALLY allowed to pay $15 to come in. Seeing the inside of the bar for myself, I *also* felt like there was plenty of capacity; the bartenders were NOT swamped, the audio guy was able to freely walk around checking sound levels... totally open! The band after my friends had a similar crowd. After the show, we told the band members what happened and they were concerned because the deal they made with the bar was that they'd get paid a portion of the ticket sales if they got at least 25 people to show up for them. Sure enough, the bar didn’t pay the band… citing a total ticket sale number that was not even close to the correct amount of people that we know showed up for them (not to mention the other people that were turned away). So they lied about the bands ticket sales and claimed the bar was "at capacity" when it clearly wasn't.
Either this is gross negligence/incompetence on the bar/owner (not giving your staff the ability to radio each other or even, oh I dunno, use their CELL PHONES to communicate with each other), or this bar is MALICIOUSLY trying to take advantage of local artists by inviting them play then fixing the system so they have an excuse NOT to pay them. Looking into it more, this bar has a recent history of slimy business practice in not paying their artists…These musicians are not some 15-year-olds who just started playing together a month ago.. these are people whose LIVELIHOOD is performing live music. I'm warning everybody we know in the local music scene to NOT play this bar.
Wendy Cox
This will be my new spot. If they had food it would be perfect. Love the live bands.
One of my favorite Chicago Venues to play. I live in the burbs so it’s a little hard to go out for other shows as much as I would like. But when I do, it’s always home. ❤️
A little small on the inside but a very nice atmosphere. The service was very good considering crowded the bar was. We saw a live band on Friday night and they were excellent. Lots of beers and a good variety of cocktails and prices were in line with the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Fantastic dive bar. Always a good time
Fun spot, getting in can be a shit show with or without tickets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Live music, good music consistently. Go!
Atmosphere: 5
Great venue to see bands. Small but very cool atmosphere. great outside garden area. The band "The awfully Good" were unique and awesome!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I’ve been here a few times to see a local band - I wouldn’t otherwise have ever known about this place or come in. While it’s a nice atmosphere and the music always sounds good, the last two visits have been pretty disappointing due to rude staff members and a lack of adherence to the music schedule/amount of music promised.
The band I went to see was advertised to play from 10p-12p and at 11:30pm one of the bartenders cut them off by aggressively motioning his hand across his neck at them from behind the bar. Their mics were then subsequently cut off as well. I also know that when the band questioned the guy about it they were met with a less than polite/professional response. I would have kept buying drinks if the music kept playing, but I closed my tab out instead.
My interactions buying drinks with 2 of the 3 bartenders working were unpleasant as well. I’m not sure what the deal was or why everyone working there was in such a foul mood, but I won’t be returning as a result. Everyone in that bar was there to see a band- this place is not in a location that gets foot traffic. Why push people out like this when they are seemingly the majority of your business? Shameful.
Great spot a little pricey for how much bands get paid but who makes money as a musician anyway ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
**LOCAL ARTISTS BEWARE**. This slimy bar may not pay you for your work!!
My friends' band was one of four bands playing one weekend. Living in the city, I had never heard of Montrose Saloon, so I was excited to maybe find a cool bar to support! I showed up right before my friends’ band was meant to start, but was turned away by a staff member at the door (“bouncer”). The “bouncer” said they could not sell any more tickets because they were "at capacity" and suggested I "try back in an hour" (exactly when my friends' band would be DONE playing). Meanwhile, from the sidewalk, you could see 4-6 tables in their garden completely empty and a handful of people scatter about - TONS of space. My friends (who showed up to the venue at the beginning of the night) said it was not even CLOSE to packed inside (and it hadn't been all night). Trying to help, one of those friends asked around to the staff inside about letting more people in and most staff shrugged it off (or repeated the same script) but one person told her the bouncer could let people in if/when people left. Meanwhile, I saw at least a dozen people leave and still the “bouncer” said he "couldn't sell more tickets until the people inside told him he could." At least 6 people besides me were also turned away over the span of 25 minutes. One of them was even told by a staff member they couldn't sell more tickets because they had "a deal with the band". Once another staff member came to relieve the “bouncer”, I was FINALLY allowed to pay $15 to come in. Seeing the inside of the bar for myself, I *also* felt like there was plenty of capacity; the bartenders were NOT swamped, the audio guy was able to freely walk around checking sound levels... totally open! The band after my friends had a similar crowd. After the show, we told the band members what happened and they were concerned because the deal they made with the bar was that they'd get paid a portion of the ticket sales if they got at least 25 people to show up for them. Sure enough, the bar didn’t pay the band… citing a total ticket sale number that was not even close to the correct amount of people that we know showed up for them (not to mention the other people that were turned away). So they lied about the bands ticket sales and claimed the bar was "at capacity" when it clearly wasn't.
Either this is gross negligence/incompetence on the bar/owner (not giving your staff the ability to radio each other or even, oh I dunno, use their CELL PHONES to communicate with each other), or this bar is MALICIOUSLY trying to take advantage of local artists by inviting them play then fixing the system so they have an excuse NOT to pay them. Looking into it more, this bar has a recent history of slimy business practice in not paying their artists…These musicians are not some 15-year-olds who just started playing together a month ago.. these are people whose LIVELIHOOD is performing live music. I'm warning everybody we know in the local music scene to NOT play this bar.
This will be my new spot. If they had food it would be perfect. Love the live bands.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Dive on the inside, trendy patio outside. Solid band bar ?
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This is a great bar anytime but it’s especially great for its frequent, tasteful live music. Friendly staff, friendly patrons, and awesome music!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Nice local bar with small stage for live music charge cover, plus big outdoor patio
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Cool old place with history.
My brother used to go here on Sundays after softball. I'm taking at least 20 years ago.
Good bartenders, quick.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Neighborhood bar with a large outdoor patio with bar. Lots of talented Chicago musicians play on a nice stage. Parking is not too hard.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
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