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Handlebar
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Nightlife Bars Restaurants Vegan Vegetarian, Bars, Vegan [Edit]
2311 W North Ave(between Oakley Ave & Claremont Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
(773) 384-9546
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen-O'Hare (Blue Line)
Western-O'Hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Tue, Wed
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
675 reviews for Handlebar
Review Highlights
"Recommend the Smoked Gouda Mac 'n Cheese as a side."
(in 58 reviews)
"The black beans maduro were mind-bogglingly good."
(in 32 reviews)
"The vegan buffalo chicken wrap is heavenly."
(in 72 reviews)
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675 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie M.
Arlington Heights, IL
2/6/2012
I love the Handlebar! They are my long distance romance of restaurants - I moved way out into the northwest suburbs, but this place is good enough for me to stay loyal and drive all the way into the city for, when the craving for it hits.
There are lots of goodies on the menu here. I have come here with meat eating friends, who always left satisfied as well.
I love their sandwich options. They have some delicious sides available too.
Amazing beer selection, and the waiters have always been wise with their suggestions for me when I've been undecisive about what beer I wanted to sip on during my meal.
I have been here every time of the day - lunchtime on a weekday, evening on a weekend and everything in between. The atmosphere is always young, hip and laid back.
It has been my go-to for several first dates, and would reccomend it as a laid back place to sit in and have a conversation in. The menu is affordable without being cheap, as cheap comes with obvious connotations about quality. The Handlebar has always had high quality food for me, which looks good on a date as well.
Their kitchen staff must be extremely dedicated to the presentation and quality of the food, as well. My sprouts are always fresh-off-the-farm stand crunchy, my avocado is always creamy and perfect and unblemished, my bread always tastes like it was pulled out of the oven that morning, and the fries are always crisp and fresh. The sandwiches look downright stacked, stuffed with contents, you could photograph any single sandwich that comes out of their kitchen and run it as a magazine ad without needing to retouch it at all. It is a big deal to me, as I have gone to restaurants with nice pics on their website of their food, only to find their sandwiches flat and squished-down looking in person. The Handlebar has been consistently awesome with every visit.
Thanks Handlebar. If I ever win the lottery I will make sure I open a Handlebar location next door to me. The only sorrow I have is having to drive forty miles now to enjoy this great spot... I'm sorry Handlebar, I didn't mean to move out of the city on you. I will make sure to visit no matter the distance. -
Review from steve h.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2012
attn: bitter handlebar employee with your stupid mustache
i'm sorry that my friend from cali didn't know what stupid little town from michigan that you came from. for you to ask her if 'she owned a map' is really embarrassing...for you. if you miss home so much, GO BACK TO MICHIGAN. i come here to enjoy good veggie eats, not for my out of town guests to be belittled by poseur hipsters like you.
ps-get the black bean maduro, that sauce alone is worth the trip. -
Review from Phil J.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for brunch with my girl who is on a vegan kick. I myself, am not a vegan.
Street parking was readily available...no meters...bonus. Walking in I immediately noticed the place was jam-packed with hipsters. I myself, am not a hipster. There were no available tables so the two of us opted not to wait and just sit at the bar. Imperial Porter? Don't mind if I do!
Almost everything on the menu had a vegan option. Did I mention this was a vegan restaurant? I ordered the biscuits 'n gravy with the optional over-easy eggs on top. Take that, vegans! Even though there was no real meat in it, the seitan sausage gravy was hearty and filling. The portion was more than enough. I almost forgot it wasn't really sausage. I would definitely order them again.
The smoked gouda mac 'n cheese was a TOTAL FAILURE. There wasn't enough cheese! How do I know? Because melted cheese has a gooeyness to it. There was nothing gooey here people! It was more like pasta that was dipped in a cheese "sauce." I could have made better mac 'n cheese at home. For God's sake, just throw in some shredded cheese people. I should have sent it back but I didn't.
The service was good. The drink selection was legit. The atmosphere is chill. I wouldn't mind coming back here. I just wouldn't order the mac 'n cheese. -
Review from Nicole G.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place has a nice vibe and some great beers.
The food is aight. I love vegetarian/vegan food and would chop off a finger for the last vegan milk shake from the Chicago Diner, but at this place the food was just aight.
The abundance of glowing food reviews makes me pretty sure that the vegan/vegetarians on Yelp are out in full force and give extra stars to any place with extra vegetarian options. Nothing wrong with that. But if you're a vegetarian (or meat eater who loves veggie restaurants like me) looking for dinner, then keep moving.
That said...the buffalo chicken wrap was tasty and my only complaint is that it could use more chicken! -
Review from Adam T.
1/12/2012
I am lucky enough to have a super cool aunt that lives in Chicago who took me to all the best spots. The Handlebar was new to us both but she had heard good things so we checked it out.
We got a bunch of food that night but the first thing that I remember is the fried pickles. I love these things and Handlebar does them right. Lightly breaded, cripsy, and made with homemade pickles. My gf and aunt each got a Monarch White from Two Brothers Brewing. To this day they talk about that beer as one of their favorites of all time. I'm not crazy about white ales but I have to admit it was quite tasty.
Obviously this place does a lot of vegan and vegetarian stuff. I tried a bbq 'beef' sandwich with seitan, super tasty. They also have a bunch of southern type fish dishes like shrimp and grits, catfish, etc.
I see a couple people are a little upset about the service here. While I had decent service, I could see how this sort of thing could happen at a place like this. Sometimes people working for cool restaurants think they are too cool to give friendly service (even if they are in the service industry). Hopefully that was just a problem early on and they have remedied that because it can quickly make it not worth going to a place if you aren't taken care of.
The next time I am in the windy city I will be going back to Hot Doug's and Handlebar. -
Review from Liz W.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012
I don't know... I just cant get enthusiastic about this place. I had the grilled cheese and the gouda mac & cheese. It was fine. I think I wanted the mac & cheese to be cheesier, and maybe some bread crumbs on top; it was just sort of blah. Good flavor though. The BF had the 'chicken' wrap and garlic mashed potatoes. Also fine.
Also - not totally vegetarian, also fish options. What would you call that, pescatarian? -
Review from Adam K.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this joint, its my peoples. Straight up hipsters, no filler, fuck what you heard, this is where the real hipsters be staying yo. The drinks are always great and amazing. And the food is vegetarian. So if your looking for a meat and cheese concoction, you stepped into the wrong bar, son. Straight Ghouda mac n chee up in hurr. I have literally got everything on this menu that rarely changes so I recommend:
Samosas - not like the ones on devon, but real good for being homemade AKA better than you could make.
Maduro - Filling and the best item on the menu as far as price to what you get.
Gouda Mac N Cheese - straight delish yo. I dream of this when I am stuck in airports.
Any of the salads - super fresh and always pleasing. For real. Get em. I order salads in restaurants and I somehow manage to keep my masculinity.
Soundtrack is lively. Treated best if you have facial hair and wear pants that hug the nuts.
No pool tables. -
Review from Valery S.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Oh, Handlebar, how I love thee!!!
I am a regular here, and love all the food and great beer selections! Hipster service is surprisingly sweet, quick and actually good.
A great spot in the summer, as their outdoor area is in the back, so no cars to stink up your meal. -
Review from Erin H.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2012
My sister and I went around 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered guacamole and the pepita scramble, 2 waters. The food took 35 minutes to arrive, the server only came to the table to order, serve the food, and deliver the check. The service annoyed me the most. The servings were small for an $8 entree. We read about Handlebar in the Tribune a few weeks ago and wanted to try the plantains foster dessert, but weren't willing to wait another 35 minutes for the food to arrive. NOTE TO HANDLEBAR: YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY ON FOOD IF YOUR SERVER GIVES THE TABLE ATTENTION!
-
Review from Nora B.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Cut that Green Meanie in half! I made a mess of myself (more than usual - ok, ok) avocado and goat cheese yumminess all over the place. Still all got eaten, but the mess could have been prevented had I a big ol chef knife on hand.
-
Review from Vanessa G.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
I definitely recommend the Handlebar. It's vegetarian, it's completely delicious and the wait staff this morning was comprised of several mind-bogglingly attractive, disheveled young men. Happy new year and cheers, you made brunch sexy like R. Kelly music.
Anyway, I ordered the Portobello Mushroom Omelette, a house coffee and one of their Sunday-Special $3 mimosas. The two other people in my company ordered the Biscuits and Gravy, and the Eggs, Potatoes & Toast. I highly recommend the Portobello Omelette to anyone seeking a heavier, cheesier, more savory breakfast. It was utterly decadent, which I suppose can yield mixed gastrological results depending on how much you've had to drink the night before. Overall, the omelette was very, very good. My only complaint is that the side breakfast potatoes on my dish were a little soggy. They had a nice flavor but seemed like they had been sitting out under a lamp for a while.
My friend let me try a bite of her Biscuits & Gravy and, I have to agree with a lot of the other reviews, for a vegan dish it was very, very good. The Seitan "Sausage" was creamy, surprisingly meaty and peppery-spicy in way that wasn't painful. I'm extremely sensitive to spicy food but I could tolerate it. In general, Biscuits & Gravy aren't my cup of tea, but I understand why people are so enthusiastic about it at Handlebar. If you love it, order it here and maybe share it with someone. This dish is also fairly rich.
I'd definitely go back. -
Review from Katrina S.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
We arrived a little after 7 pm on a Saturday night and the small restaurant/bar was full. There were just two small tables against the east wall available so we were seated right away. Within 5 minutes we ordered a cocktail. I had the special which on Sat. is a $5 margarita served rocks in a pint glass. I'm pretty picky about margarita's and this one passed the test. My partner in crime had an Allagash White.
For our appetizer we split an order of the fried pickles because I had read so many raves here on Yelp. Yelpers, I would like to thank you! They were so deelish we almost ordered another for dessert! They are housemade and the cucumbers are just lightly pickled and the perfect crisp texture for frying. It seems they have a cornmeal style batter and are flash fried because they were so light, crisp and not at all greasy. They come with a vegan ranch for dipping and the texture/flavor is so grand it's hard to believe there's no dairy in there.
For the entree I had the blackened catfish which was served piping hot, moist, sweet, delicate & perfectly seasoned. The blackening spices had just the right amount of heat and flavor without overwhelming the mild fish. I loved it and wouldn't have changed a thing. It comes with two sides and again after reading so many raves I had to go with the smoked gouda mac. Once more, the majority of yelpers got it right! The smokey creamy gouda and firm macaroni were a dream and perfect companion to the fish. For the second side I felt I had to get something green so I went with the collard greens. These were a miss for me as they were not as tender as I like and they were served cold. They were very chewy and bitter probably becasue they weren't cooked as much as I like. I would go with the broccolli next time. My cohort ordered the fish tacos which looked very fresh and tasty with big slices of avocado resting on top. He said they were excellent.
Handlebar is a small room and the crowd is mostly young hipster/bike messenger types. It sounded like they had an old sub-pop compilation playing which I enjoyed. Tables are small and tightly packed together which is necessary in a room this size with the amount of people hungry to eat here. After we were seated there was a pretty steady stream with an average of four people waiting during our stay. We took our time and didin't feel rushed or like they wanted to turn the table - we were comfortable. Service was steady and unobtrusive. We stayed and had a couple drinks at our table and by the time we left there were plenty of places to sit. It seems people eat and head out to the bars/nightlife afterwards.
Our tab with 3 drinks each without tip was about $65 which is very reasonable in my book! We easily scored rockstar parking right in front.
Summary: Take a dip in the pescetarian/vegetarian/vegan pool. I promise you won't be missing a thing at Handlebar! I'm looking forward to checking out their brunch! -
Review from Betsy B.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
Wow!!!!! I LOVE my meat, and was doubtful I would leave this place satisfied but man was I shocked! This place is AMAZING! Great food, and even better service. Our waitress was super nice and did a great job of recommending great dishes. I ate Vegan and loved every minute of it! Prices too are great :)
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Review from nikki c.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
she said hello and welcomed me to sit down.
asking me if i would like something to drink something she ended up pouring this wet liquid, cold, refreshing and satisfying into a glass of roundness and placed it in front of me...with another smile.
my heart she pounded another pound and i too soon found a smile upon my face.
the food that sizzled upon the grills a few feet away in the open kitchen was calling out. ...all of it was simply explained on a piece of paper called a menu and I begin to review the options.
a small joint with small intentions and large hearts and bigger decisions of goodness.
she makes me fall in love every time. she reminds me that healthy in mind, soul and body can be possible.
she reminds me that beautiful things appear in the most unexpected locations and moments so soon once again i fall hard.
i chose the fried pickles, samosas, grilled seared tuna sammie and side of mac n cheesenoms..
holy bang a gong batman...
she brings another beer with another smile and i feel it again. satisfaction. -
Review from Xavier G.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
So, i was recommend to this place for vegetarian grub. I was looking to order a plain veggie burget but beware its only on tuesdays that they serve em. I am not a vegetarian by any means but once in a while you know. Although I am looking to become one again. (yes again) At least pescatarian w a side of vegetarian.
Anyway, i read another review about the unfriendly service and i dint experience that whatsoever. I mean the hostess wasnt overly friendly or anything but she was semi-hospitable. So i ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and again I am by no means a vegetarian so im not even familiar w the terms etc. (well kind of) Whatever it was made of it did not taste anything like chicken but it was tasty. I think maybe it was falafel w wing sauce on it. I wasnt crazy about the sauce, it was tangy w a spice and stuff but i never was a sauce guy.(again i guess it was like a chicken wing sauce) But it wasnt bad for being pretend a chicken falafel wrap thingie. But the side of garlic smashed potatoes were AAAwsome w a capital A. (a nice healthy side too...enough for two people) very Garlicky w Scallion pieces chopped on top. Very Yummy.
Oh and their to-go boxes were interesting little brown things. that looked like chinese take out but not really. The atmosphere seemed pretty laid back but it was 12 noon so i dont know. Decor was Coffee Shoppe w a twang. All in all i would def go back cause my curiosity would like to try so many other things. Plus I definitely wanna try a veggie burger. If you visit HB def get you some Garlic Smashed Potatoes and stay away from your lover for a while cause its probably best. Oh and i bet the Smoked Gouda Mac is the shiz.
Go HandleBar, they are Balls Deep Vegetarian.
cheers, -
Review from Erin A.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012
Breakfast at Handlebar (served until 3pm) is great, especially now that they've added the chimichanga to the menu. As an omnivore, i find their lunch/dinner menu underwhelming and too tofu-dependant; but the nachos are ok as long as you ask for them without the icky fake sausage, and the smoked gouda mac is out of this world. Don't expect the best service here - it's incredibly slow, regardless of how busy the restaurant is.
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Review from Meredith C.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2011
Dear Vegan Biscuits and Gravy at Handlebar,
I want you inside me. All the time. Every day. My heart aches for you your smooth, creaminess. My loins ablazened every time I think of your hot, steamy fluffs of carnal carbohydrates. And finally, your tender seitan. I cannot take the pain of being away from you even for a second my love. Soon, we shall meet again. And I will possess you once more.
With Love and Lust for You,
Meredith -
Review from Cassandra M.
Saint Charles, IL
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went here with some friends and I think we all ended up enjoying our visit, but unfortunately we almost left before we got to eat because we ended up waiting way longer than they said (we thought they forgot about us)... but we waited and waited and finally we were seated. After that everything went well though! Our waitress was really nice, and the beers and food were good. I ordered the black beans maduro. I like spicy food and I liked it, but I think I would have preferred it a little less spicy so I could taste some of the other flavors. My non-vegetarian friends even liked this place though, and that's always cool. I would like to give it another chance because this experience was just OK, so I feel like maybe it was just an off night or something.
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Review from Evelina L.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
We typically come here for brunch with our vegan friends...and even though neither my husband nor I are vegan/vegetarian at this point, we always appreciate handlebar.
#1 for their wonderful patio
#2 for unique food selection that don't disappoint. My personal favorite is the pear and gouda omelet with walnuts. Mmmmmm
Don't be afraid of seitan and certainly don't read the definition of what it is :)
Enjoy!Listed in: Best Brunch
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Review from Karl M.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Me and the wife went in after hearin some kid at the bus stop talkin about "Chicago tofu". The doc said, "no more hot dogs" and I heard tofu was a healthy option so we decided to drop by. Those hipster kids play some wacky music, but that damn tofu ain't bad. I'd give them five stars if they hadnt played that Om record twice in a row is give em 5 stars. Not bad. Not bad.
-
Review from Lindsey L.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
Enjoyed brunch here on Saturday and once again left extremely satisfied. I stayed from my usual this time and got the shrimp and grits and fell in love. What an indulgence! The thing I think I love most about handlebar is that they are not afraid to use spice in their food. Everything I've ever ordered from here is bursting with flavor! Can't wait to go back again.
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Review from Corinne M.
Chicago, IL
10/30/2011
This place is great. The food is so fresh and not greasy. I had the breakfast burrito, it was great, and actually did not make me feel like crap later, as burritos often tend to do.
We also shared a delicious slice of chocolate cake... I'm not even a cake fan and it was pretty great. It was almost brownie-like.
The mac & cheese is really great too.
My only complaints about this place are:
1. it's slightly overpriced.
2. i just hate how there's barely enough room to maneuver between the way-too-close-together tables.
3. one bathroom stall? I had to stand (in the way of the servers) and wait, 10 minutes while some other lady took a dump. :/ -
Review from Katie T.
Forest Park, IL
10/23/2011
I have only been to this restaurant once, for a friend's birthday dinner. I really loved my food!!
To start, we shared the fried pickles (spears) for $6.25. Enough to share. I love guacamole, so I considered getting it, but I saw the guacamole at another table and it was quite small. Not enough to justify the $7 price, in my opinion.
I ordered Black Beans Maduro with avocado ($12.25). I absolutely loved it. It is black beans, cheese, rice and crispy plantain surrounded by a spicy tomato sauce with avocado slices on the side. It was a really excellent mix of textures and flavors.
My friends got the BBQ seitan (she usually loves seitan, but she wasn't crazy about it), another friend got the fish tacos (just "OK"), and my other friend got the nachos, which she liked.
Besides the Black Beans Maduro, we LOVED the Plantains Foster for dessert (served with ice cream and gingerbread cake). We were crazy about it. -
Review from Gabrielle B.
Seattle, WA
9/16/2011
Get the Everything Green Salad and just stare and take note of everything that is happening around you.
Cute hipster waiter? Check.
Stuffed Crows meant to serve as an overdone hitchcock reference? Check.
Mothers attempting to give their children "control" as part of some ridiculous "alternative parenting style?" Check.
tight shorts and boat shoes? CHECK AND CHECK! -
Review from Spiderella C.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
this place has delicious vegetarian food, i fell in love the first time my bf took me here.
their bloody hammer is to die for, bloody mary with that delicious fried pickle in it!!
the buffalo 'chicken' wrap is so delicious and the vegan ranch dressing is HEAVEN
basically everything i have ever had there is delicious
sunday $5 bloody mary's too!!
it is pretty funny that you are in a sea of flannel every time you go there though, and also the waiters have always been really nice and attentive and i'm not a bearded dude so idk what all these other reviews are talking about -
Review from Anthony M.
Chicago, IL
I decided to have the Buffalo Chicken (not real chicken but seitan) wrap.
What is Seitan? Okay Wikipedia help!!!
Wheat gluten, also called seitan, wheat meat, mock duck, gluten meat, or simply gluten, is a food made from the gluten of wheat. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch dissolves, leaving insoluble gluten as an elastic mass which is then cooked before being eaten!
Thanks Wikipedia I'm not that hungry anymore!!!
Not being Vegan but a huge meat lover. I decided to go for it!!! The presentation of the wrap on the plate was really pretty. So the moment of truth. I took a big bite and you know that phrase, "It Tastes like chicken!" It does not apply here!!! The first bite was not great. I got the ranch dressing on the side and decided to pour it on top. That may have saved my meal and I hate ranch dressing. I could see specks of red mixed into the dressing which tells me they spiced it up.
Now the reason for my two stars...the second half of my buffalo chicken wrap only contained vegetables. Yes I was literally missing my fake chicken...it had started to grow on me!!! Complete laziness by the chef and unacceptable. We were the only two customers in there. There was no rush...attention to detail is key here. I kind of felt cheated as a customer! I was a little shocked as I took bites...hoping to find some buffalo seitan but I never did!!!
The hit of this place is the Smoked Gouda Mac and cheese!!! It deserves 5 stars. In fact, if I ever come back I am going to get a giant plate of it and one of there nice drink specials!!!
Two everyday specials. $5 Tecate Can and Tequila Shot and $4 Highlife Pony and Malory shot.
What is Malort?
Wikipedia please rescue me once again:
Malört, a distilled beverage, is the name of a Swedish style of schnapps called "Bäska Droppar", flavored with wormwood. The word malört is the Swedish word for the wormwood plant. The smell and taste is musty and extremely bitter. Malört is popularly alleged to be a cure for indigestion.
I wonder if Malort helps digest seitan? I'm sure Wikipedia knows!!! -
Review from Brian C.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2011
I really like this place! Since a friend introduced this place to me earlier this year, I've been going somewhat often, and the weird thing is that I didn't even realize that it's a vegetarian restaurant until I read the reviews below!
I really like their breakfast burrito with a nice ale. It sits well on a Sunday morning! -
Review from Alana T.
Chicago, IL
8/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I have to agree with fellow yelper, Andre W, this spot is moe dangerous than a damn sex addict in a brothel.
They have $5 shots of tequila...EVERYDAY! Then they have some thing a ma jig with liquor and iced tea served in a pint! Umm, what are they trying to do? Fret not, fellow yelpites, I did not partake in the libations...THIS time. However, I did grab me some grub and boy was it pretty yums.
I ordered the Seitan Chicken Wrap and the mac and cheese (yeah, not vegan, but I had a weak moment). Let me begin with the smoked gouda mac and cheese. THIS IS NOT your mom's mac and cheese... unfortunately. I was disappointed with this. The yelps said it was good. It was bland. I added a little salt and pepper and that made it better. But, damn, so not worth my dairy binge.
The Chicken wrap, doe! This is BY FAR the best chicken seitan I've ever had. It was crispy and spicy and yummmmmy! I will definitely get this again, and again and again. My total was 11 bucks and some change before tip.
This place isn't far from my crib. I will definitely be going back. Yep, I was the only brown skinned persona in the place to be, who cares. I was full when I left! We're all the same color intoxicated. I'd reccomend to a friend-o.Listed in: Vegan, Vegan, Faux Chicken
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Review from Jerry P.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
I love Handlebar for three reasons; the black beans maduro, the Handlebar salad, and the beer selection.
The black beans maduro is for people who love spicy only. The intensity of the heat varies with each visit. When I asked about this, I was told that the sauce is home made, and that they cannot control the heat. In spite of the sometimes intense heat, I still love it!
The salad is a wonderful blend of arugula, pears, walnuts, parmesan cheese and a honey mustard dressing. It never fails to please. There are a number of other good items that we enjoy from time to time, but the afore mentioned are our favorites.
The owner seems to enjoy finding good micro brews to serve. Although I am not sure if Three Floyds still qualifies a a micro brewery, this is where I first enjoyed a number of their offerings.
The staff is generally quite friendly, though not always attentive. We do enjoy the outdoor patio in back. Unfortunately, sometimes a smoker will taint the experience.
Bike riders will enjoy the ample bike parking in back, as well as a long bar in front to chain their rides to.
Also, we have enjoyed arriving at six PM frequently, as that is when the parking regulations on North avenue switches to allow parking right in front. -
Review from Kathleen G.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am not a vegan. I didn't go here to be wowed, but I did expect a brunch that was warm and filling. Didn't happen.
The grits were really disappointing
Dos diablos came out spicy yet lukewarm at best. Also there was fake chicken which didn't sit well either.
The outdoor patio is really nice and the staff is friendly. I wouldn't eat here again but I'd go back for drinks. -
Review from Jenna M.
8/3/2011
I ended up at Handlebar for Saturday morning brunch during a recent trip to Chicago, and I am glad I did. It's a really charming bar/restaurant with an old-timey western feel (or is that just me?). Handlebar is super vegan-friendly, bike-friendly, and just plain friendly -- I'd definitely recommend it for a pancake breakfast or a night out at the bar.
I ordered the BBQ seitan sandwich with a side of collard greens. The sandwich came on just a grocery store-style sliced bread, which got pretty soggy by the end of the meal, but in a way I didn't mind too much. (Maybe a crusty bread would have been better?) The seitan was thick and smoky with a really sweet barbecue sauce that ended up all over the place, which is exactly what you want out of a barbecue sandwich. I loved the collards, too, which were seasoned beautifully and thankfully not cooked to death.
My partner got the vegan biscuits and gravy, which arrived in a deep dish of so much gravy that we couldn't immediately recognize that there were biscuits somewhere under there. When we got to them, though, they were amazing -- really flaky and buttery, and they paired so well with the salty gravy. The dish also came with a "tofu scramble," which was actually more like cubed, pan-fried, unseasoned firm tofu that would have been a horror on its own but worked when drenched with gravy (but what doesn't?).
We would have loved to try those fried pies but couldn't manage another bite after our giant brunch. Next time! And if you go there first, let me know how they are. -
Review from Katie J.
Wicker Park, Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
Another place with a stellar patio. Reminds me of lounging in someone's back yard. Oh, and the foods not bad too. Great vegetarian options, love the salads and a good selection of local brews as well. And the fries are my fav.
So glad its just a hop and a skip away from my apartment! -
Review from Jonathan L.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
This is my go-to place when I'm in Wicker Park!
Not only do they have many good local brews, they have unique dishes, like the black beans maduro, with black beans, fried plaintains, and this really tasty chipolte tomato sauce. It's a great place to share entrees with others, because the portions are pretty big. Also, the Green Meanie sandwich is amazing, with it has herb goat cheese, sprouts, spinach, on whole grain bread. -
Review from Rahul I.
Mesa, AZ
1/15/2012
The food was good. This is good vegan fare.
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Review from Aaron A.
Chicago, IL
12/3/2011
After several failed stops on Saturday morning looking for a hangover cure, I landed here. I was in search of greasy food to cure my hangover, and this surely was not the place for it, althought that is not necessarily a bad thing. The breakfast burrito wasn't greasy and heavy at all. The spinach inside was nice and fresh, although there was far too much in it. The coffee definitely left something to be desired as did the cramped space. Certainly a different option that doesn't leave you feeling like a bloated bag of crap afterwards. If you're looking for healthier dining, this will do fine.
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Review from Vaidehi T.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2011
Was here on Friday night with hubby and friends. The food is really good. We were seated in the patio at the back, and I really like the seating. The weather was perfect too. The service was good, the atmosphere is very relaxed and casual. We ordered the samosa for the appetizer. Being Indian, we were curious to see how it would taste. They were baked samosas served with mint and tamarind chutney. They were surprisingly good and the mint chutney was awesome too. Then we ordered the Chicago style tofu sandwich, wasabi tofu and blackened tofu fajitas. The sandwich was nothing too memorable. But the other two dishes were yummy!!! We mopped our plates clean. The fajitas were very flavorful and the best of the lot was the wasabi tofu which was vegetables and tofu served over brown rice and it came with a side of collard greens. Yum!!!
The only con about our experience was the ppl seated on the table next to us were smoking incessantly at the table and as a result all of us (all non-smokers) took in quite a bit of second hand smoke. And that was not pleasant at all. -
Review from Timothy D.
Brooklyn, NY
9/19/2011
I'm dying to eat at this place again. I loved the biscuits and gravy. I WANT SOME RIGHT NOW!!!!! I love this place for brunch,. Chicago is such a great city for Vegan food. Handle bar is definitely one of the reasons for that.
GO VEGAN! -
Review from Veggie L.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
11/27/2011
The vegan buffalo chicken wrap is heavenly. This was the best vegan food we had outside of Chicago Diner. The service was so/so but the food was delish.
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Review from Lis F.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2011
I love Handlebar.
The food is always fresh, the staff is friendly and they serve quick! I've never ordered anything I didn't enjoy. There is plenty of bike parking! yes! -
Review from Allison G.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2011
Non-Vegetarians, DO NOT TURN AWAY! Handlebar is great food and a great time for all.
The negative stereotype that a non-vegetarian can have towards vegetarian food is that it's too rabbity and salady, and cannot fill up a carnivore. Handlebar serves hearty, comforting, delicious food guaranteed to fill up vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike.
There are no meat dishes on the menu, but there are seafood dishes. They have nice fish tacos, and their crispy, warm samosas are quite good. They have plenty of "meat substitute" items (seitan, etc).
You definitely should plan for this place, it can get crowded.
They have a great beer selection.
