Was sent here to enjoy a drink while we waited for our table nextdoor from the owner Armando at La Scarola. Despite not being a smoker, there was nostalgia around enjoying a drink in the smokey Cheers inspired ambience. A bartender even put on Svengoolie which just wrapped it all together. I enjoyed a Limoncello and my date a whiskey neat. Enjoying a little taste of old school Chicago wasn't originally planned but definitely appreciated!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Evelyn Rivera
Fun place for drinks, hand out with friends and smoke some cigars.
Grace Reed
Fantastic atmosphere! The bar had a great ambiance, perfect for a night out with friends. The drinks were delicious, and the staff were attentive and friendly. Overall, a wonderful experience. Would definitely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Michael L.
Great place , old school Italian atmosphere. Bartender was awesome, drinks were great price ! Will be my local spot
Bruce Shropshire
Classic old school bar. Must experience this
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
PO
Old school all the way!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Daniela P. Meier
Super friendly and authentic bar with very fair prices. I'll be back! ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
stephanie riley
I really enjoyed the old world feel,kinda felt like a private gentemans club,great prces for cocktails,very professional staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Pricilla Solis
Jay was a fantastic bartender he welcomed us with open arms and greet drinks. Great hole in the wall.
Very classic spot. No pictures allowed inside. Drinks are really cheap and it's a cash bar. Honestly a bit too smoky for my taste and my clothes held the smell so definitely be wary of that. They also sell beer 6 packs upfront that you can take out. And it's often cheaper than having it there! Small area inside. They have a jukebox as well. So overall very old school vibe.
Daniel R.
Richards is old school. The very definition of it. It's located on the corner of one of Chicago's many six corner intersections. Created by angle streets like Milwaukee or Ogden. Because of that it has one door on Grand, and another on Milwaukee. The place may have two doors but it's actually pretty small. I remember the bartender wearing all white with a white apron and white hat like a short order cook. The walls are covered with framed pictures of scenes from gangster movies and various famous Italian Americans. Here is the number one thing that I'll always remember, because I've seen it before or since. If you want, when you're leaving, you can get one for the road. What? The road you say? Yeah, that's right, you can get a drink to go. They'll put a vodka tonic, or whatever your poison in a styrofoam cup with a lid. This shows just how old school the place really is. This place goes back to when the neighborhood was a slum and the bars customers were drunks, or homeless, counting out pennies on the bar to buy a drink. A place where real proper alcoholics would stop in for a bracer to stop the shakes before work, and of course, get one for the road. A Nelson Algren, Charles Bukowski kind of dump where the depression is served on tap. It's a survivor from a Chicago that's long dead and gone. A dive bar's dive bar.
Eric B.
This might be the dives to beat all dives. After spending most of the night at The Pearl Club, this was the yin to its yang. It is cash only, The real clientele will likely not be a fan of you if you're reading a Yelp review about a dive bar. Make friends, they were great people. I warmed them over, the bartender and one of the regulars ended up buying me several beers. If you love a good dive bar, this is definitely your spot. Remember, don't try to bum a smoke, this is one of their rules.
Rae Handy
Amazing, friendly bartenders, wonderful jukebox, and lovely atmosphere for hanging out with friends/family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cigarettes
Eddie Moreno
Dive bar that let's you smoke cig and cigars inside. You will stink when you leave due to the place has an airfilter that is too small. Beers are not real cold for some odd reason don't know if they need new fridge. Price are extremely reasonable. Bar staff are friendly to women. Parking a pain in neck. Feed the meter if you there early. Gambling machines were pretty busy keeping gamblers happy.
Was sent here to enjoy a drink while we waited for our table nextdoor from the owner Armando at La Scarola. Despite not being a smoker, there was nostalgia around enjoying a drink in the smokey Cheers inspired ambience. A bartender even put on Svengoolie which just wrapped it all together. I enjoyed a Limoncello and my date a whiskey neat. Enjoying a little taste of old school Chicago wasn't originally planned but definitely appreciated!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fun place for drinks, hand out with friends and smoke some cigars.
Fantastic atmosphere! The bar had a great ambiance, perfect for a night out with friends. The drinks were delicious, and the staff were attentive and friendly. Overall, a wonderful experience. Would definitely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great place , old school Italian atmosphere. Bartender was awesome, drinks were great price ! Will be my local spot
Classic old school bar. Must experience this
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Old school all the way!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Super friendly and authentic bar with very fair prices. I'll be back! ✨
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I really enjoyed the old world feel,kinda felt like a private gentemans club,great prces for cocktails,very professional staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jay was a fantastic bartender he welcomed us with open arms and greet drinks. Great hole in the wall.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great old school
Atmosphere: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very classic spot. No pictures allowed inside. Drinks are really cheap and it's a cash bar. Honestly a bit too smoky for my taste and my clothes held the smell so definitely be wary of that. They also sell beer 6 packs upfront that you can take out. And it's often cheaper than having it there! Small area inside. They have a jukebox as well. So overall very old school vibe.
Richards is old school. The very definition of it. It's located on the corner of one of Chicago's many six corner intersections. Created by angle streets like Milwaukee or Ogden. Because of that it has one door on Grand, and another on Milwaukee. The place may have two doors but it's actually pretty small. I remember the bartender wearing all white with a white apron and white hat like a short order cook. The walls are covered with framed pictures of scenes from gangster movies and various famous Italian Americans. Here is the number one thing that I'll always remember, because I've seen it before or since. If you want, when you're leaving, you can get one for the road. What? The road you say? Yeah, that's right, you can get a drink to go. They'll put a vodka tonic, or whatever your poison in a styrofoam cup with a lid. This shows just how old school the place really is. This place goes back to when the neighborhood was a slum and the bars customers were drunks, or homeless, counting out pennies on the bar to buy a drink. A place where real proper alcoholics would stop in for a bracer to stop the shakes before work, and of course, get one for the road. A Nelson Algren, Charles Bukowski kind of dump where the depression is served on tap. It's a survivor from a Chicago that's long dead and gone. A dive bar's dive bar.
This might be the dives to beat all dives. After spending most of the night at The Pearl Club, this was the yin to its yang. It is cash only, The real clientele will likely not be a fan of you if you're reading a Yelp review about a dive bar. Make friends, they were great people. I warmed them over, the bartender and one of the regulars ended up buying me several beers. If you love a good dive bar, this is definitely your spot. Remember, don't try to bum a smoke, this is one of their rules.
Amazing, friendly bartenders, wonderful jukebox, and lovely atmosphere for hanging out with friends/family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cigarettes
Dive bar that let's you smoke cig and cigars inside. You will stink when you leave due to the place has an airfilter that is too small. Beers are not real cold for some odd reason don't know if they need new fridge. Price are extremely reasonable. Bar staff are friendly to women. Parking a pain in neck. Feed the meter if you there early. Gambling machines were pretty busy keeping gamblers happy.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Cigarettes