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Rookies All-American Pub & Grill
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Nightlife Bars Sports Bars Canadian (Traditional), Sports Bars [Edit]
4607 W Higgins RdHoffman Estates, IL 60010
(847) 645-0005
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 3 am
Sun 10 am - 3 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ, Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
25 reviews for Rookies All-American Pub & Grill
Review Highlights
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"Free popcorn." In 4 reviews -
"...and every size, so a great place to watch the game." In 3 reviews -
"...gets four stars is the specials of $1 burgers and hot dogs." In 7 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Larry C.
Bartlett, IL
Great food. Perfect television set-up for watching sports. Staff is very friendly and provide great service.
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Review from Keith R.
So...........idkwtf
We came here to watch the UFC and get our grub on. We only waited about 15 minutes for a table, and once seated, no matter what you want to watch, there's a good chance you'll be able to see it with the amount of tv's in the room. So me and my wife are seated, and the first thing i notice is that the floor under the table is slippery, which gives me pause to check the cushion(we were seated in a booth) which happened to be wet. So after the server takes our drink orders, I ask for some napkins, because there is either a beverage or cleaning solution on the cushion next to me. Our drinks come out, and our server comes back ready to take our food order. We order our food and I ask for the napkins again.. My wife got the berry nut chicken salad, I got a burger as usual, this time with the chips. To my surprise, the chips were like the chips ffrom harry carays, not like the kind you get in a bag at the gas station.
So, those napkins never came, and also, we have no utensils, and no server within 7 minutes of the last time we saw her, AND the chicken is missing from the salad. I grow impatient and wipe that fluid off the seat with the back of my coat, which is dry-clean only, so I pray it was just water. She finally comes back, and we haven't touched our food yet(I wanted to cut my burger in half). My wife tells her about the chicken. Our servers response? "Oh you wanted chicken? It's probably in the back"
Huh? If you are just now realizing we ordered chicken for the salad, how could you know that it was in the back? Another 5 minutes, and the chicken appears. By now, 4 of our friends are seated with us. This was how it went all night long. We ask for something once, she comes back and asks if everything is okay, we have to remind her that we ordered something 10 minutes ago, and then it shows up 15 minutes after that. I asked for a cup of coffee at 1057pm, she says coming right up. She finally shows her face at our table at 1121pm and asked if we needed anything. I remind her about that coffee, to which she says, regular or decaf? Dude, I ordered that 24 minutes ago! Even if she used the excuse that it wasn't made yet.....I dunno. I was sad that our server wasnt the same one we had last time. I know she was busy, but she doesn't seem to have the multi-tasking thing down pat just yet. And I know it's a hard job, but not all jobs are for everyone.
On the plus side, it was a good fight card to watch for free!
The stupid thing at the end of the night was that they cut the audio off during the post-fight interview for the main event in order to play "sexy and i know it" Like, seriously? Would it kill the DJ to NOT press play for just 2 more minutes? We all know what that stupid song sounds like, I think we could have finished the interview before pumpin up the jam, know what I mean?
I'll be back again, but if I'm seated in that girls section again, I'll go back to the hostess and tell her I'd like to wait for the next table. You can see the TVs just fine from the hostess area.Listed in: Imbibery time!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/22/2012
$1 burgers are a daily special here, and they show the fights for free! But if you only want to pay… Read more »
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1/22/2012
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Review from jason c.
Algonquin, IL
If its service your looking for then this is not your place, the food is "ok" and there are some good specials but the $1 food specials are definitely $1 food. The bartenders are not attentive at all, you are on their time. No joke waited for 5 minutes during a slow time when the bartenders played around on their phones. Management seems to like to hang out and drink at the bar from what I was seeing. I will only go back if it is a last resort.
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Review from Kai R.
Elgin, IL
My wife loves this place. I like the popcorn they give you, but the chicken wings I received, I am not sold on. The Parmesan Garlic is disgusting and some of the chicken wings were still cold. So they must serve old chicken wings or they are pre-fried and microwaved. My wife can have Rookies and I have Hooter's chicken wings. Last night, she ordered beer puffs and they were hard pieces of bread. So we might look elsewhere.
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Review from Michael D.
South Elgin, IL
If I was reviewing the food... I'd give it about 2 stars..
If I was reviewing the place as a bar.. I'd give it maybe 4.. so i settled on 3.
I get lured in for the $1.00 burger they offer every few months, and contrary to others who have yelped this place.. I understand the up charges for cheese and fries.. that's fine with me. Do people really think they were going to walk in and pay $1 for their lunch and leave? Really?
The burgers are always overcooked, so I make a point of ordering it a temp under how I would usually like it., for example, I like my burgers Med, to med rare.. I'll usually order it Med Rare.. and it comes perfect. If you say medium... you get well.. go ahead and use this nugget of brilliance I have just provided you and save your time writing the shitty review of the burger.. and remember.. it's still cheaper then that crap hole Red Robin next door.. but that's another review for another day.
As a bar after work, or to grab a beer with a few friends over lunch.. great.. I can't say that I've been there late so I can't report on that. -
Review from tony m.
Schaumburg, IL
I really like coming to rookies on lunch and after work. They have a great atmosphere and the prices are reasonable.
The food is better than most bar food I've tasted and they have monthly and daily specials that keep me going back.
Pizza's good, Gyro Sandwich is good, Wings are good, and the burgers are ok.
Service has always been very good, never had a bad experience. -
Review from Brian K.
FAMOUS FOR (My ratings in parens)
- $1 Burgers
I TRIED
- Poppers, Cheese Sticks, Chicken Fingers, Mac & Cheese Bites, Buffalo Wings, Gyros, and Onion Rings. (4/10)
- Beer Nuggets (6/10)
- Santa Fe Cobb Salad (3/10)
- Burgers (a lot) (4/10)
- Chicken Club Wrap (5/10)
- Prime Rib Grinder (5/10)
- Gyros Plate (6/10)
- BBQ Ribs & Chicken (4/10)
I work in, like, the Bermuda Circle. It's a giant circle going as far west as 59 and as far east as Woodfield Mall. It's Bermuda because my money magically disappears and my waistline magically increases. And every couple years or so, I grow a new chin. I know all the little food "barrios" around my work because my coworkers and I eat out every day just to get out of the office.
Anyway, Rookies is part of this "barrio" that includes Red Robin, BW3, and a lot of typical lunch places (well...it's typical if you've been eating there for 6 years). Rookies was one of the newer additions who enticed us with $1 Burgers a month before it opened.
Anyway, you walk in to this place and get the best part...POPCORN! Good ol' movie theater style popcorn. I could seriously just go and eat popcorn and drink Diet Coke all day. Oh yeah, and I've seen 670 AM The Score there a couple times during football season which was kinda cool too.
It's a nice looking sports bar, but more of an ADD type of sports bar than a "Chicago Games On The Big Screen" kind. All the TVs are about the same size and they might be like 46" plasmas, but they're dwarfed by the place's high ceilings and what not. It's a nice casual sports bar that's very big and open so sports fans and hungry non-sports fans can cohabit the place.
Oh, right...the food.
So, as I've said, I eat around these places a lot, and even though Rookies isn't anywhere near my favorite, it's just another choice in the daily lunch rotation. With so many opportunities to eat here, I have eaten just about everything off of this menu. You know how you have that favorite burger at Red Robin or that favorite sauce at BW3? I was trying to find that here, but man, I've struck out like 15 times! There is NOTHING on this menu worth mentioning. Everything's average, everything's mediocre. I've never tried the $1 burger, but man, if the $9 is that bad, I don't even want to know how bad $1 is!
SANTA FE COBB SALAD
You know cheap salad when you see one. I mean, Wendy's salads have more respect for themselves than this! It's real easy to picture too. You know what a cobb salad looks like, right? Well, now imagine that it was served to you at Denny's or IHOP at 4AM. Now you know what it's like here!
GYRO PLATE
If there's anything that I've actually ordered more than once, other than Diet Coke, it's this. I mean, it's hard to mess up, really. Nothing special about it, though, that would separate it from any other place.
BBQ RIBS & CHICKEN
I decided one day, for dinner, that I was going to splurge and get the most expensive thing. This is actually fried chicken and ribs, not grilled. The skin on the chicken is pretty good; it's very crunchy (not crispy...YES there's a difference!) but if you're lucky enough to actually get meat, it's pretty dry. The ribs weren't too bad. They were actually "Fall off the bone" as advertised. I wouldn't mind the ribs again, but I'm not much for 'em anyway.
So there you go. Want to get a drink and catch a game you're mildly interested in, come to Rookies. Want free popcorn? Rookies. Anything else, you're better off skipping this one. -
Review from Rush L.
Chicago, IL
Free popcorn! I tried the $1 burgers here and it's very good for $1. It's 1/2 pound and comes with potato chips. $2.99 if you want fries. I also tried the wings, it's so-so. I wouldn't want full price for it. I didn't try the bone less.
They need more TVs, at least one huge screen and a better setup for a sports bar. I would came here again though for the specials -
Review from Shannon B.
Palatine, IL
(Not sure why there's a "$$$$" price range? This place isn't that pricey...)
I like Rookie's. I just moved to the area and it's an easy place to drink beers and eat burgers friends (and their burgers are pretty damn good!). They also have beer nuggets, which is a rare find, and their appetizers are great. Probably not a good place to come if you're epileptic, as it's total overstimulation as far as TV screens and other visual clutter, but otherwise, it's a fun place. In fact, I just celebrated my birthday there. ;-) -
Review from Tony D.
Oak Park, IL
I call this place a strip mall bar.
Its ok...but like so many other suburban bars(or bars in general)...it lacks personality. Sportsbar with lots of TV's, and good looking girls waitressing and behind the bar. This combination will always bring the guys in. But I digress.
I was hear for a b-day get together and a little reunion of high school friends. It was a good time. They kept the beer flowing along with the cascade of jeager(we do this too much and much and much) bombs.They have those funky plastic bomb cups with the little shot glass in the middle. I have mixed feelings about this concept...Is the only shot in this world a Bomb shot now?! Looks like it. Just give me a shot of whiskey(in a glass shot glass) and I'm good.
I digress again. They do have a lot of food on the menu...mostly bar food. So when in Rome...one has bar food at a sports bar. I had their triple play appetizer platter(chicken tenders, onion rings, and jalepeno poppers). Which were pretty good. Onion rings stood out...I ordered more. They also noticed they had a double, triple, and quad? play...that must be intersting.
A subtraction of 1 star due to the local police waiting for outside and busting a patron just when he backed out his car. This is bad business...I thought police officers couldnt wait in the parking lot...not cool.
:: I dont advocate drunk driving... i had a designated buddy ::
I would only return here if the same group of friends came here...its just too far for me and it looks like the local law enforcement is a little overzealous. -
Review from Michelle F.
Streamwood, IL
I have been here three times, and all three times have been pretty positive experiences.
The first time, I went with a group of seven adults during a Hawks game. We were seated right away and got our free popcorn (it makes the place smell like the movies if you like that kind of thing!) Our service was pretty good--slow on the drinks but good on the food. She was really on top of getting us our food and everything quickly. She even took back my chicken when I ordered the wrong thing and couldn't eat it (it was a broiled chicken vs. blackened chicken situation). There was no charge for that. I give her a 4 for this trip.
The second time, there were four women, and three kids. We went because all November is Kids Eat Free month, and they had a magician come in and entertain the kids. The magician was really good and made all of them balloon animals. He spent a lot of time talking with us, and was friendly. The service--not so much. It was $.39 wing night, and the waitress tried to tell me I wasn't going to be able to bring my leftover wings home because it was dine-in only. Seriously? Um, no. I brought them home anyway. And she never got us popcorn. But our waitress gets a 3 from me for this whole experience. My Gyro and seasoned fries were good, though!
The third time, we had five adults and four kids, and it was the same magician/balloon animal guy. He was great again, and even showed us some new tricks! He made each child two balloon animals and was very nice. Our waitress was great, and really on top of things with both drinks and food. Never had anything to say about my to-go wings. I give her a five. I ordered the veggie wrap and seasoned fries. As well as mild wings--the wings were just ok, but my mom and I agreed that my veggie wrap was really yummy!!
So overall, I give this Rookies a 4--good for atmosphere, price, and selection of food (I liked my veggie wrap and their seasoned fries are delicious!!) but some of the waitstaff needs to bring it up a notch! -
Review from Mandi W.
Roselle, IL
Ok so normally we like to come here for the $1 specials when they run because u just can't beat that! My husband and I took the kids Friday night and enjoyed the $1 specials but our waitress was extremely slow!!! after we finished it took a good 30mins to get our check because she never bothered to check in on us. Not good when u have. 3 year old who is ready to go. My husband and I both ended up getting sick that night about 30minutes after we left. We believe it was from the grand slam appetizer we ordered since we have never been sick from there before. We will go back possibly but it will be a while.
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Review from Melissa P.
Barrington, IL
My roommate and I went here at about 3:00pm one afternoon after running some errands in the area.
+The place itself is not too bad, though it is a strip mall bar.
+Free popcorn-nice!
+While we only had our own meals which were definitely good, the rest of the menu looks awesome.
Here's where my 2 stars come in.
1st we asked the bartender what the specials were and she said there were none. As 2 employees of a bar, we knew that there's no way this could be true. Even if it were something we didn't want, we find it hard to believe that there are zero specials. After looking around at the memorabilia I noticed a big specials banner that was placed on a wall behind us - and what do you know? There were about 4 different drink specials on Mondays. Strike one.
The place isn't huge, but when we were in there were only about 15 people in the whole place - and that's probably being nice. We ordered the beer bread nuggets which for some reason took almost about 25 minutes to come out. Then we ordered our meals, I got a chicken wrap with chips and my roommate the Chicago style hotdog with chips - took another 25 minutes. Really? It's a Monday afternoon and 75% of the people in there were just drinking - why is my food taking so long?! Strike two.
Here's the kicker - and being an employee of a bar myself, I was more pissed off about this than other people probably would be, but it's the principle of the situation. So the skeezy, who I'm going to assume is the manager is walking around, flirting with all of the girls working. He obviously knows a couple of the people sitting at the bar near my roommate and me and is chatting them up like any manager should do. All of a sudden our bartender (now keep in mind this isn't her fault...) is putting plastic shot glasses in front of everyone...but us. Some places use poker chips, some napkins, but it's the bartenders way of showing that your next drink has been bought for you. The manager bought EVERYONE in the bar their next drink BUT my roommate and myself. Can you say rude?! I mean, I understand that he doesn't know us and we're not regulars, but do you really think we'll be stopping in again? Strike three.
I don't know what his deal was...and just the way he had been looking at all the girls as they walked by just gave me the creeps. YUCK.
Needless to say, I will not be returning. -
Review from Kamila T.
Schaumburg, IL
Wanted to check this place out with a few friends on a Saturday night (UFC fight night) and the place was pretty busy. The establishment is new so everything in there still seems pretty nice and clean.
Their $.39 wings and 2.50 u-call-its made the bill feel pretty light, even for the 4 of us eating dinner and having a few drinks each the bill only came to $90. Wings were good, drinks were alright, wraps were just ok, service was average. I can't say that I will purposely come back, but it wasn't horrible. -
Review from Justin W.
Chicago, IL
Ok. Two stars because of the decor and the number of screens. I would have shelled them otherwise. If you look at my previous reviews, you'll know that they must have done me wrong. Two stars you say? What could have gone so wrong, you say? Service. I cannot stand bad service.
I went to catch a Hawks game, sat at the bar, and the bartender assigned to my section never acknowledged me. It took 10+ minutes before another bartender asked me what I wanted, at which point the original bartender apologized and said she didn't even see me there. Nice.
Decent price for drinks. I had the buffalo-chicken wrap but it came with blue cheese in it. My bad if it said that in the menu, but I hate blue cheese; it would have been nice to have a ranch option. Anyway, that's not the straw that broke the camel's back. Another time I went there for a few drinks during a Hawks game and the waitress shorted me on change. Not cool. I always tip 20+%, because I grew up with parents in the service industry (owning/working at a restaurant), but I expect the wait-staff to be honest and not try to pocket extra change when someone's had a few drinks.
I'm not going back. -
Review from Christina H.
Downers Grove, IL
Your standard sports bar with bar food and drinks... Nothing to rave about. Co-workers and I visit here for lunches and some happy hours for geographical location. I thought it was a fast food place at first b/c they are settled in a strip of all fast food places like panda express, jimmy johns, moe's southwest grill, red robin, etc.
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Review from Rickey L.
Chicago, IL
Awesome food and drinks. Nice coutious staff. I'm not into sports but if I was I would be in heaven. My fav night is the all you can eat crab legs for $24.99.
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Review from Ken U.
Schaumburg, IL
Decent sports bar. The reason this place gets four stars is the specials of $1 burgers and hot dogs. We went on a Saturday and had a ton o fun. Wednesday was boring as hell. Fun place to catch a game with a group of friends. Go when there are extra specials and when a game is on to have a fun time. I wish the TVs were placed in easier to see spots.
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Review from Joseph P.
Buffalo Grove, IL
Tried this place a few weeks ago with some buddies since they pitched "Dollar Chicken Sandwiches Everyday" (replacing the Dollar Burgers deal). This is in a strip mall and is a fairly typical "sports bar" - a big bar in the middle, lots of tv's and beer posters. We went there for lunch and lingered for several hours. The Chicken sandwich was indeed a dollar, though the fries and extra toppings add to that. Still a deal at $3 - 4 depending on the final format. The waitress was very pleasant and accomodating to 3 old guys killing an afternoon talking. Worth a try if you are in the area.
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Review from Mick O.
Lombard, IL
My wife and I went to an event at the Sears Centre on Friday . As the Blackhawks were playing @ 9:00 I scoped out a place close that we could watch the end of the game . Rookies got the call . We arrived just as the second period was just starting . We were seated right away and given a bowl of popcorn , ordered our drinks and looked over the extensive menu . We were very impressed with all the choices , we chose Mac & Cheese bites , they arrived quite fast and they were a real treat . The tv's were mostly tuned to the Hawks as was the sound , we were in heaven ! I ordered a Greek salad with Gyros , my wife the salad and half sandwich . Both were very tasty , our waitress was very good and restrooms were clean . Only problem was that with only two minutes left in the game the DJ started to play ! We were quite confused as this is a sports bar . I would give it a second chance .
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Review from Paul K.
East Dundee, IL
Good food. Love the $1 hamburger specials. Same owners as the Village Squire and Alexanders, so the fodd is very similar. Televisions everwhere and every size, so a great place to watch the game.
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Review from Bob R.
Streamwood, IL
Rookies is the new sports bar on the scene in Hoffman Estates. It is located in the same complex as the BW3s, so you'd think it might be a dangerous gamble going up against the chicken wing king, but Rookies manages to pull off a menu that's varied enough to make it a good alternative. That atmosphere is decidedly "sports bar" with TVs everywhere, high ceilings, industrial accoutrements, and the cheers of a happy crowd every time the Blackhawks score a goal. There's not a scrap of carpet in the place, so between the metal ceiling, the brick walls, and the stone floor, it tends to be a little loud, but let's face it: you're not going to Rookies to propose to your girlfriend over a quiet meal. (If you ARE... well... good luck to your sir.) At first glance, I thought Rookies may have been going for a "Hooters" vibe based on the logo (with two round 'objects' where the O's should be), but the wait staff was casually dressed. Yes, there were some short shorts and tank tops involved, but I'd call that normal attire for the warm Chicago evening when we stopped by. Rookies was also packed with families, so I wouldn't worry about taking your little buckaroos here for the big game.
The menu is very typical bar food: fried food appetizers, some salads, a variety of sandwiches, and pizza. That bar had PBR on tap, so I was happy to start right there. I'm classy like that. My wife and I started with an order of the Saganaki, which is described on the menu as "The Flaming Cheese," and was it ever. Our friendly waiter served it to us on a platter that was quickly doused with (what I assume was) alcohol and lit on fire. Check the photos section for a shot of it, though I think I managed to completely miss most of the flaming tower with my high end photography equipment (read: cell phone). Opa!
After the Saganaki, we had the pizza as our main course. As pizza goes, it was good, but nothing special. Enjoyable, but nothing unique. Not terribly different from any other similar bar in the area (Jersey's, Moretti's, etc.) The tomato sauce was a little on the sweet side, so keep that in mind if it affects your choice of pizza locales one way or the other.
In summary: will return. A good alternative if you've tired of your normal sports bar destinations. Might even be a good long-term sports bar for you and your friends. -
Review from Daniel B.
Lombard, IL
This is probably the worst place ever. Service blows, the food that I ordered came to me nothing like the descrption in the menu. My girlfriend ordered a burger medium rare it came burnt. I would only come here to drink and watch a game. On second thought I will never come here again.
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Review from Michael M.
Wood Dale, IL
Was out with a great friend at Rookies All-American Pub & Grill, at 4607 W. Higgins Rd, Hoffman Estates, Il. Upon entering the Pub I found it to be very loud. The establishment was very busy for a week day night. As we entered the nice attractive female hostest greeted us. We sat at the bar which is located in the center of the building. The establishment has bar seating and table seating. The bar has a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits. They serve both bottles and tap beers. Then even had PBR, on draft for $2.25 a 1/2 pint. They also serve something called the beer tower, which is a plastic tower containing your choice of draft beer. This way when you sit at a table you can refill your own glass. The food is good and word on the street is they serve a great burger. We had a Flamming Greek Cheese side dish with pita bread. It was outstanding with a touch of lemon. The Pub, has multiple large screen TVs through out the place. The have at least four different amusement devices, including a dart machine and Golden Tee Golf Machine. Four the kids there is candy and gumball machines located at the front entrance. In addition there is a fresh pop-corn popper machine that patrons can obtain a basket of freshly poped, pop corn at no fee. The Pub is Family friendy during the the earlier hours. I found that the service was friendly and very knowledgable of different types of domestic and imported beers. I learned that Rookies is Family Owned and Operated by a very nice Greek-American Family. They are part of the Alexanders and Village Sqiure Restaurants. They been serving the Fox Valley area since 1974. They have restaurants/Pubs in Dundee, Crystal Lake, McHenry, South Elgin, Elgin and St Charles, Il. I found the establishment very clean. Even the Mens Restroom was very clean for a Pub. As for the prices, Rookies was very reasonable. I learned that they also have daily drink specials. Just a nice place, good service, good food, good prices, and great company. It was a nice experience and " I shall return, "... I give it four stars...... (:
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Review from Dan S.
Palatine, IL
Me & a couple buddies came here on Saturday afternoon to try out their $1 burger special they run a few months out of the year. Whenever there's a deal like this, I'm always skeptical & lower my expectations so the disappointment factor is minimal. I took a look at the menu & $1 covers a hamburger with chips, if you want a cheeseburger, add $.99, if you want fries instead of chips, you end up paying around $3.99, which still sounds reasonable, until you taste it. I ordered my burger to be cooked medium, when it arrived, it looked burnt to a crisp which is never a good way to start off. Thankfully, it didn't taste the way it looked, it was actually a little juicy inside but still tasted pretty bland. The fries, man, could quite possibly be some of the worst I've ever had. They were worse than generic store brand fries that you have to throw in the oven on a cookie sheet, soggy, tasteless & got cold within seconds. One of my buddies ordered some chicken fingers that he enjoyed, but those came with the same crappy fries, so now I know to substitute seasoned fries for regular fries for any meal. Our waitress was a character, had the fakest sounding tone & comments, which was a little off-putting at first, but towards the end of the meal it became comical. The environment was fine, good place to watch a game, just avoid the fries!
