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Sidetrack
- Nearest Transit:
-
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
Addison-red (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun 3 pm - 2 am
Sat 3 pm - 3 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ, Music Videos
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
218 reviews for Sidetrack
Review Highlights
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"And you can't beat the show tunes on the tele." In 17 reviews -
"oh my goddddddddddd musical mondays." In 9 reviews -
"Highly recommended if you are in Boystown." In 45 reviews
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217 reviews in English
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Review from Rick T.
1/11/2012
Consistently the best run bar of any persuasion in Chicago.
Excellent staff, many of whom have been there for 10, 15, 20 years or more....and a generous sprinkling of new team members who tend to be easy on the eyes.
Virtually never a cover (exceptions for three or four special events per year), fair prices, and good pours.
Huge space, classy decor, immaculately clean. There's no stale beer stench here...EVER.
They never have specials. And they don't have to. If you want a dollar drink there are plenty of other options. But if you want a warm atmosphere, good entertainment, excellent drinks, and equally good people, I'll see you at Sidetrack. -
Review from Liz W.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first gay bar!! How exciting.
My friend (who is gay) and I came here on a Saturday night. There was a short line to get in, but it moved very quickly. This place was huge. I got lost for a second. We ordered drinks from the upstairs bar. I had a vodka soda and my friend had one of the slushie drinks. The prices were pretty reasonable and my drink was strong. I did sometimes feel as though I was getting dirtly looks like wtf are you doing here.
The dj played mostly top 40 hits and you can watch videos of the songs he's playing. I saw some crazy shit go down, but it was pretty entertaining to watch.
Girls beware the bathroom is dark and there is only one stall. I don't understand why there isn't light in there. I couldn't see crap. -
Review from Scott L.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Our first night in Chicago's boys town found us on a nice modern patio deck at Sidetracks. Chicago's gay scene is bustling and this place seemed to be the newest, largest and nicest, with plenty of different areas to explore, or hide with that cute new boy you just met.
Bring ID, and wear something nice. -
Review from M C.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2012
Came here on a Tuesday and was impressed. The place is very clean and sleek. It was full of a lot of hot men. The drinks were unbelievably priced and the bartender even bought us drinks when his shift was over. Had a great time.
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Review from Greg M.
Near North Side, Chicago, IL
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great place to go after work and relax. Awesome bartenders, strong drinks, an great service! Just a fun place to hang out! Don't forget that they give free nuts and berries! too many obvious jokes I know...
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Review from Tracy G.
Orland Park, IL
5/7/2012
Awesome bar, super friendly staff, and STRONG frozen drinks that are delicious. What is not to love?
Oh be sure to check out comedy Thursdays it is the best thing to go to after a long week -
Review from Rohit A.
Chicago, IL
5/19/2012
too much selection...oh my gosh!
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Review from Travis W.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2012 14 Check-ins Here
I love the frozen drinks, the multitude of video screens, and the fun music.
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Review from Kevin J.
9/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hands down the largest gay club I've seen in the mid-west if not the entire country. Sidetrack has multiple rooms with different floors each pumping out a different but none-the-less cruisy vibe. The people are usually friendly and the drinks are cheap! Then again living in San Francisco everything else seems appropriately priced.
The drinks are heavy, the boys are hot, and the club is bumpin'. -
Review from Michael P.
Chicago, IL
2/20/2012
I waited 10min for a drink and the bartender was watching TV instead of waiting on me. Rude. Bartenders are nicer in Florida
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Review from Christine S.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
I don't like slushie drinks... I'm not 5. However, I love booze and will try just about anything. A friend said I had to try one of the slushie drinks because it will knock me on my ass... and that it did.
HUGE bar... like reallllllllly f'n huge. Bonus for the rooftop patio/deck!
Super clean. Super nice staff.
The Gayborhood knows how to treat a lady like myself. :) -
Review from Linsey C.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
Had a friend in from LA who wanted to hit up Boys Town and a group of us ended up at Sidetrack.
I've never really been out in Boys Town, but that's about to change! I had so much fun at Sidetrack! Everyone was super friendly, the slushy drinks were delicious (though I did notice a few splashes of grape slushy on the back of my cream shirt when I got home...super bummer)
I loved being out with my friends and not having to worry about creepy guys bothering us all night...I've never been looked at less, and I didn't mind one bit! The guys at Sidetrack were hilarious, and superbly dressed and groomed...If there were half as many muscles in a straight bar-my life would be so much better! -
Review from Eric P.
Centreville, VA
7/12/2011
I was visiting a straight friend in Chicago, and he was nice enough to go to Boystown with me. We started at Roscoe's -- mainly because of the pitchers of Long Island iced tea (that and the dance floor really were the only thing redeeming about that place). But, alas, I had a difficult time talking to anyone there -- I mean geez, you'd think you were in a straight bar with the amount of women at Roscoe's.
Thankfully we live in the 21st century, so I pulled out my phone and Googled for a better place to go. Sidetrack looked promising, and it indeed was. It's so big and spacious. (If a "grenade" starts talking to you, you can always use the line, "Well, I'm going to go see what's going on upstairs [or downstairs].") The decor is so modern and clean; it didn't feel sleazy, yet I still felt comfortable wearing jeans there. The bartenders were friendly and attentive. I was there when the musical theme was Soul Train stuff...ehh, that was okay I guess. I'm not much of a fan of 70s music, but at least it's something other than the latest video by Coldplay.
It's just an awesome bar all around. There's no attitude (I guess part of that is because you Midwesterners are so awesome and friendly). Sidetrack is a kick-ass place to have a drink and meet people. -
Review from Ryan M.
Chicago, IL
2/12/2012
Very clean, comfortably lit, and spacious with a pleasant aroma (not even a hint of urine+sweat+vomit). All of this in stark contrast with Rosco's across the street. In my book this sets Sidetrack apart from, and above, all other bars in the area and maybe all the rest of Chicago. You can also get a Dreamsicle in alcoholic-form, enough said. If you're still reading this, why haven't you left to go to Sidetrack yet?
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Review from Lauren B.
Chicago, IL
4/7/2012
Love this place. I just turned 21 two weeks ago and this is the first place I went. I loved it sooooo much. I prefer it during the day when it isn't as packed or during the weeknights when it isn't as packed, but this is THE original Boystown video bar and the bartender's are fantastic!!! I love the people here. I couldn't recommend a bar in Boystown to somebody without first mentioning Sidetrack.
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Review from Eric B.
Bethesda, MD
8/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first trip to a gay bar while visiting with old friends in Chicago. Since Friday night was "breeder bar" night, we owed our gay buddy Saturday night in Boystown.
The place was huge, full of energy, and good music. A really fun night. The three of us were married, serious relationship, and gay, so honestly, it turned out much more fun than the "breeder bar." If you can't tell, I got a kick out of some of the lingo. -
Review from Molly L.
Oh, Sidetrack. Where do I even begin?
Let's start at the very beginning (of the week). It's a very good place to start.
Musical Mondays are pretty great. I am a musical theatre enthusiast/snob, so I love a bar where I can go jam to my favorite show tunes with people who will debate the merits of Lippa's The Wild Party v. LaChuisa's The Wild Party. (Lippa's version wins, hands down.)
But then, Monday ends. And Tuesday comes afterward. Before you know it, it's Saturday night and Sidetrack is packed with attractive men in tight t-shirts who are out cruising while sipping on their low-cal vodka sodas. While I lament for a moment that my beloved show tunes are not playing on the hundreds of TVs, I quickly get over it as I sip my orange vodka and soda (when in Rome...), take in the eye candy, pore over the options for my friend on Grindr, and rock out to the latest Rihanna song. If I'm looking for a chill night, I'll find a place to sit and watch (a.k.a. judge) the men and the music videos. There's not a dance floor at Sidetrack, but that doesn't stop some people from trying.
Drinks are reasonably priced and they're strong. I love when the bartender is making my drink and then I see him pour an extra half-a-shot of vodka into my glass.
In conclusion: Hot guys. Strong drinks. Showtunes. It's like the good people at Sidetrack reached into my brain, pulled out my inner-most desires, and created the gay bar of my dreams.Listed in: Lakeview, That's so gay.
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Review from Paul E.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The pinnacle of gay bars in Boystown. If the thing adds on any more, it'll need to break out of ZIP code 60657.
Monday night - very busy for showtunes night. Beers were a little pricier than elsewhere ($4.50 on a Monday? Really?) but something has to pay for the upkeep of this enormous building. The sad part is that I wasn't able to check out the upstairs patio, as it is closed on Mondays.
(One thing I will say - whoever writes the smoking ordinances needs to think a bit before putting them into law. The bouncer politely told some people to move 15 feet away from the entrance. Only problem? By the time you're 15 feet away from their entrance, you're less than 15 feet from someone else's entrance in a city like this. Duh.)
Oddly, you can pay with a credit card, but you have to close out after every drink. Huh? Makes no sense to me at all.
All in all, it's a great space, fun people, always busy and with a crowd, and really, like I say, the pinnacle of Boystown's bars. Why only 5 stars? I think it takes itself a little too seriously as said pinnacle. It comes across in their pricing, and somewhat in the attitude of some (not all) of the staff that I interacted with. Remember - if you have to continue to prove you're great - you're probably not anymore. -
Review from Arni F.
Chicago, IL
9/21/2011
This place is consistently a no fail kind of place every time I go. I know, it's a backhanded compliment. But you like it like that, Sidetrack, you dirty bitch!
Love the on tap slushies! 6 bucks of vodka goodness served to you buy friendly guys calling me "sweetie" and "honey". I'll take that. I've brought different people not accustomed to hanging out in Gay bars and they consistently love it. It's the perfect non threatening place with a mix of club, scandinavian chique, and regular 'ol watering hole that you can hold a conversation in without breaking out the megaphone. The different places I've been to in Boystown make this mecca a welcome respite from the drama and attitude of some of the othe places on the strip.
Favorite of mine is the Thursday night comedy reels. Feel like you had a shitty day? Watch videos of real assholes (don't take that literally, now) in real life and the purveyors of laughs from across the internet. It's great fun if you're into watching stupid people suffer. I'm a fan!
Go there! -
Review from Jeff A.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
One of the better gay bars in the US, Sidetrack is clean and comfortable. I love that the crowd is somewhat diverse.
I tip my hat to the owners who have clearly mapped out a great business plan as the bar is always busy. They know their clientele well. I think I fit the profile (45, gay, neighborhood local, disposable income, lush) with one exception.
I find that too often when I'm there, the DJ is playing show tunes. I may lose princess points for this, but I don't really like show tunes (or Glee). I'm not suggesting you discontinue the show tunes as they are obviously popular. But have you considered ways to play music options in some parts of the bar when the show tunes are planned?
That said, Sidetrack is still my favorite spot. Roscoe's is too young and filthy, Scarlett too young, Cocktail too conflicted on what it wants to be, and Minibar too pretentious (and the dive bars are fine but aren't for me: Bucks, Lil Jims).
Just putting it out there.
JA
(ps, too many straight women, but what can you do???_ -
Review from Mat M.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I think that SideTrack is the best gay bar that exists. Great drinks, friendly staff and it's huge. I think it's a place where everyone can feel comfortable, even if it's a gay bar. I personally am not a fan of the show tunes nights....but every other day is great!
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Review from Jessica N.
Chicago, IL
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sidetrack is hands down my favorite gay bar in Boystown. They get points for
1) TONS of space
2) Outdoor space both upstairs and downstairs (weather permitting)
3) Cleanliness!
4) Musical Mondays! (and Sunday early evenings...and I think Fridays after work?)
Bartenders work fast. Their slushy drinks are delicious and secretly VERY alcoholic! This bar is on top of its game and always a good time! We've even brought our straight guy friends here and it's straight-friendly :) -
Review from Daniel L.
New Orleans, LA
6/2/2011
As much as I loved Roscoe's, I think I like Sidetrack more. The alcoholic slushies were awesome and the varied atmospheres of each room were really cool.
The place was a little crowded when I was there (Memorial Day weekend) and I HATE crowds. The upstairs was cramped beyond being able to move and it was nearly impossible to get from room to room. Aside from that, I definitely love and recommend this place. -
Review from John D.
3/13/2011
I nice place! Very spacey for any Chicago business and each section carries its' own personality. I went with the manfriend on a relatively slow night and had a great time drinking and watching comedy videos. It was a nice, fairly chill night where he could see what the life is somewhat like. Our bartender was super nice and got our drinks prepared in a speedy manor, and they did not go wrong in the alcohol content.
I still need to make it to show-tunes night though! -
Review from Michael F.
Phoenix, AZ
12/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
We went here the other night after checking out cocktails next door. Sidetrack is a Unique bar with taste. Definitely a fun place to go to with your friends. The place is huge! It could be the mother-ship of gayness, but there's no dance room. What's up with that? Knowledgeable bartenders and there's no cover. Good frozen libations and the cutest selection of professional looking guys. (Swoon) 5 stars man!
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* Cheers! * -
Review from Drew B.
Chicago, IL
2/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I like Sidetrack because the service is always on point. But WTF is up with showtunes night?! Not everyone loves Evita, okay. And the whole throwing napkins in the air thing is a little too '95 for me.
I always associate this place with showtunes night... which is why I rarely visit... but they have good slushies! -
Review from Mindy B.
Oak Park, IL
11/25/2011
Again, I'm not gay... but we went here first for my friend's Boy's Town bday bar crawl. So many beautiful men walking around... a really interesting atmosphere! Feels classy. It was a fun experience :)
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Review from Katy O.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Reasons why I loved this place:
- The drinks are killer. I tried every fruity frozen cocktail they offer. Yum.
- The boys are, for the most part, pretty cute. Even though obviously I'm just looking (and they all think I'm a lesbian, hahaha) it is nice to feast on eye candy from time to time.
- The music is great, fun and dancey.
- They play music videos! I was mesmerized! I hadn't seen a music video in years. So fun.
- Everyone is friendly.
I need to come here more often. -
Review from Matthew S.
Chicago, IL
5/30/2009 ROTD 8/2/2009
I find it nearly impossible to believe I haven't reviewed this gigantic homosexual bar.
Not that the homosexuals who go here are gigantic. I mean the bar itself is HUGE! Last night, I was dragged out of the confines of my comfy Andersonville flat by my super tall and gorgeous friend. On second thought, some of the homosexuals were gigantic.
Upon entering, we went to the "far side" as usual, but I ended up in a few new places inside that I didn't even know existed.
Ok, lets back up and start from the beginning. To start, they check your ID. You walk into a sea of huge video screens, all playing the same video at the same time. Ironically, different parts of the bar have totally different feels. The outdoor patio feels very Miami. The back bars feel like a back home bar....the big bars in the middle feel like a crazy club. Even though there isn't really a dance floor, people are still getting their dance on....and some of the boys like to pretend they are on the cat walk, cheered on by their cronies.
For a change of pace, I decided to just drink Ginger Ale. I wanted to take in the bar sober. Admittedly, I just wanted to be 100% alert to see if I got hit on. I find myself very attractive. So, the question was, do others?
My answer came about an hour later when a Paris Hilton look alike came up to me, tapped me on the shoulder...and when I turned around...she made an air circle around me and said "This look works..."
Great. A girl thinks I'm cute. Just what I was hoping for.
At this point, I decided to have my Ginger Ale with a little Orange Stoli. The bartenders were exceptionally friendly, and despite the amazing crowds, the service was really fast. The bar is so tidy, and I really appreciated that.
The crowd was amazingly diverse - lesbians, gays of all shapes and colors, straight girls, older men. I even saw a tranny. Good for you girl, rock that Beyonce honey colored wig.
As the evening rolled on, I realized at age 32, I am a senior citizen in the gay community. I also realized that my pallid skin shone like a blazing sun in the sea of spray tanned homos. I also realized that I should go to the gym more often, because my flat stomach isn't ribbed for pleasure like most of the other immaculately plucked and shaved boys.
But on the flip side of the coin, my differences made me stand out. I'm not sure I want to look like that flock of gay flamingos. As fun as they are to look at, I'm not sure I want to be one.
Some day my prince will come. Twice. And hopefully, I'll be responsible for it.
Give Sidetrack a try. It's a great bar, with a super fun vibe.Listed in: My RoTD's. hot., Homosexual Bars. Hot.
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Review from David R.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2007
We love love this bar!!! The gorgeous gay bar in Chicago!!!! Don't you think? :) We've been here many times and always fun . They have a lot of cute, hot and handsome bartenders in the boystown.
The slushy was just perfect. Yummy!!! Now, this place is not popular only LBGT community but ,it's also famous for straight couples. BRAVO -
Review from Lindsay K.
Chicago, IL
I need to update this to reiterate my love for this bar.
Sidetracks is my perfect place. Seriously.
There's friendly bartenders. Dance music playing and people be-bopping along. The rooftop is AMAZING.
It's been a long hard year of wedding planning so after that final "we're finally done (I think...)" meeting, we treated ourselves to cocktails at a very much missed hang out.
And it was like coming home again.
The pours are heavy and the service is sweet. And on a warm day where you want both a drink and a slushy, come nab one with some vodka in it here!
My favorite thing ever though is Sunday nights. There's nothing better than singing your favorite show tunes with people you don't know but already love!
They've redone some stuff yet again to keep it fresh and gorgeous. So come with me, pull up a bar stool and *sigh* Welcome to a good life.Listed in: I Hate Lesbian Bars, Gay Things, RotD Love
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/9/2007
Love it. Esp. on showtunes nights. They have Jose Cuervo Black, which very few are carrying so far… Read more »
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Review from Elisa C.
Chicago, IL
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
The mecca of gay men are here! I'll be honest, I love gay bars over straight bars. It's not because I think of gay men as forms of entertainment like some girls do but because of the energy and I can just be myself. I usually hit up the gayborhood of any major city with my second husband but I rocked it with another friend of mine. She had never been to a gay bar before and I felt it was time to pop that cherry of hers. Slushies...rocked. Bartenders...hot. Bathrooms...clean. Music....fabulous. Everyone is super friendly and nice. Best bar in Chicago!
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Review from Melissa M.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2009
I LOVE THE GAYS! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE -- therefore I LOVE this place. Filled with ridiculously hot men who shower you with compliments and treat you like gold and they are NOT trying to get into your pants. I love Sidetracks. I love Boy's Town. I love the gay men (and women) at this place -- so welcoming, so kind, so sweet, so nice, so personable. LOVE!
Every gay person I have ever met has treated straight people with respect, kindness and without judgment. Maybe we can learn something from them. Equal rights for all. :) -
Review from Carol K.
1/19/2009
Looking for a great night of fun? Well apply your "Hairspray" , "Grease" back your hair, and check your "Moulin Rouge" in the mirror as Sidetracks Showtunes Sunday night is more fun than a "Cabaret"!
Sure. There are "Wicked" good looking men all around, some of them may even be "Jersey Boys" , but the singing and the song commentary (got to get me a list of what shout outs go with what song!) will make you wish you had a permanent seat to "Rent" at Sidetracks!
I was one of the few "Dream Girls" in the place but that's fine with me, cuz the place was a "Poseidon Adventure" all night long!
Service was outstanding (friendly bartenders that took good care of me) who were not "Phantoms" of the Opera, but who were always where I needed them to be and with a drink in their hand.
Valet parking ($10) on this night was a bit of a "Titanic" as they needed more people but got it under control by the time we left.
If singing "Springtime for Hitler" in a group setting doesn't make you laugh- stay away. There is a "Chorus Line" of people to get in here who are looking to have a great time singing Showtunes and laughing with each other. "Mama Mia" ! I had a good time! -
Review from John B.
4/14/2008
There's a broken heart for every queer at Sidetrack...
The first time I came here, a couple of decades ago, it was Showtune night. As I walked in the door, a clip from "Oklahoma" was playing, and the boys were belting out "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." I immediately flashed on hundreds of high school Lauries, weeping in their rooms and asking their diaries why the boy playing Curly wasn't interested in them.
You're pretty, honey. Curly's just a big fag.
By the way, if you're a true Chicagoan, you call this bar "Sidetracks." Like the Jewels.Listed in: Gay is Good
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Review from Paige W.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2008
I recently had my first night "out" in Boystown (oh, ha, let the stupid gay jokes from suburban Kansas girl begin). To break me in, my friends took me to Sidetrack, and I'm looking forward to many happy returns this summer.
With that in mind, a warning to all who patronize this glorious establishment: I am completely obsessed with you.
I have never seen more incredibly gorgeous, completely unavailable men in one place than I did here. And for some reason, I didn't mind the latter. Somehow charming even when butts are being gratuitously groped, polite -- my foot was stepped on no fewer than four times, and in every instance I had a gushing apology that almost certainly involved the word "sweetie" -- and everyone easy on the eyes, to boot! Even the older men. I wish I were exaggerating.
Classic Paige moment of the night: A group of pretty girls (unaccompanied by any men) was weaving through the crowd. They looked as out of place as me. Already overserved, I asked my friend in much more than a stage whisper, "Yeah, but they're straight, right?!" The leader of the pack looked back and yelled, "YES!" And I nearly fell over.
Scene.
So, add vodka-infused lemon slushees, generous bartenders and dance music videos to the man candy, and you've got yourself one very. Fun. Night.
I mean, I never *really* mind having beautiful men all up in my space, but in this case, I was ecstatic. Oh, Sidetrack. I'll be back. Maybe for showtunes night. -
Review from Penny S.
10/11/2009
I'll leave out the whole straight-girl-in-a-gay-bar thing and just say this: Sidetrack is an amazing space. Sprawling and even when packed, vacuous thanks to the tall ceilings. When it's warm out, the patio is perfect and when it's not warm, you can still find spaces to stand.
I was told the drinks vary in price from bartender to bartender, but I can tell you this: one well-made Manhattan and one Jameson on the rocks was just over ten bucks and for some reason, that really surprised me. Especially since the same order filled by a different bartender for a patron of a different sex a bit earlier in the evening, was six bucks more than that. Go figure.
Folks are really quite friendly when you're shoving past them attempting to make the circuit and it's a welcoming crowd. The coat check is only a buck, the coat checker was a hunk and while it's water water everywhere and not a drop for a girl to drink ifyouknowwhatImean, it's always fun. -
Review from Patrick P.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2010
This is place where nobody (on the staff) knows your name.
It is a beautiful, clean place. And the people who hang out there are very nice.
But the staff can be very stoic to the point of coldness. They do their jobs efficiently -- but a little soulessly. I wonder if the higher-ups create this environment --- i guess we'll never know.
I have been to Side Track a zillion times and I feel like they don't know who the "f" I am. Several of my friends have expressed a similar sentiment. I don't expect them to know my name -- but can we see a damn smile once in a while.
This is supposed to be a neighborhood bar -- but most of the time it does not feel very neighborly. -
Review from Richard D.
Chicago, IL
8/19/2009
The next time I want my self esteem to drop to an all time low in a sea of plunging v-necks, steroid barbie dolls, lisping furniture queens, fag hags spilling drinks on my lap, and sad old Corky St. Clair types, I'll spend an evening at Side Track and painfully regret it. It's like having to share a room with the witches in Macbeth, except they have plucked eyebrows and Armani sweaters.
Before I start dodging bullets, I know I'm not the typical Side Track attendee. No, I don't watch my carbs, yes, I buy second hand Diesel jeans, I don't shave my body hair (compared to the guys here, I'm a goddamn Yeti!), and Miss Streisand is like squeaking chalk to my ears. But I digress, I knew I was a black sheep the minute I stepped inside but I tried, key word, TRIED to enjoy myself. Spending an evening with those Wall Street Yuppies in American Psycho would be more enjoyable then having to hear about the ridiculous life of endless shopping and clubbing and working out and being "seen" with your hot sugar daddy. I held my breath for as long as I could until I had to run outside and seek refuge in the Town Hall Pub across the street (How on earth does that place survive in the gay mecca of Boystown?!) -
Review from Luis L.
Chicago, IL
2/23/2009
If you'd asked me more than a month ago, I'd have nothing nice to say about SideTrack. I'd have nothing bad to say, really, but nothing nice either.
Cut to Valentine's Day 2009. My pals urged me to come out, and this was our first stop. Up until now, I never knew why people converged on SideTrack in such multitudes, but NOW, NOW I understand.
First of all, the prices here seem lower than in any other bar on the strip; something I hadn't noticed before. (Why hadn't I noticed?) Not only are they lower in price, but they're GOOD drinks too; well made. We were at the bar in back, with all the wood paneling. I prefer this bar most because there are usually less people there (and I don't really like people). The bartender there was one of the nicest guys ever. He listened to what I wanted and helped me choose a drink for that cold night (vodka, neat). I continued ordering the same drink, and at maybe the fourth drink, he told me it was on the house, for no apparent reason other than, MAYBE, the fact that I'm so charming and cute! Now, if that's not good customer service, I don't know what is!
Also, the music isn't too bad. I don't think I'd ever really want to be there on a Showtunes Night, except if I was going just to be ironic, but from what I remember, the music on Valentine's night was groovy and hip. I mean, they played Yelle!
You might think, Yelle is, like, so last year. Well, it is, but try to get anyone else to play Yelle in another gay bar. Once, a dj told me, "yeah, I know who you're talking about, but people here just don't like that stuff."
Going out on a limb with their music shows that they're at least making an effort to appeal to people like me, who will not willingly patronize a bar with bad gay music.
I really like the benches against the walls in this back bar. As opposed to some of my friends, who prefer to stand and pose, I like to sit at bars, and these benches provide the perfect location to sit, relax, drink, chat, laugh, and even check out some of the GAY retardation. FUN STUFF.
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