A little bit of a small place, but some rockin bands come here!
There isnt any easy L access unless you bus xfer (takes a while). But honestly its worth checking out if the band is good! They have a nice front bar area with some seating and then a separate back room venue. So if you get sick of the jammin beats you can come out front to relax. On the night I went they had some amazing fish tacos and they were on special $6 for 3 (was a Sunday). Cheap beer too!
I've been here twice and the staff is incredibly rude, especially their security. They physically rough with people under 21 and they treat the performing bands like s*** as well. They follow you around like your a criminal. The sound is horrible and so is the venue...the smell in the bathrooms are unbearable. I can't believe they call themselves a music venue, worst place I've ever been.
I will never go back there.
I have been to the beat kitchen 4 times; all if which were disappointing due to the beat kitchen/their staff. The pros: fairly priced tickets without outrageous fees when bought online, and the bands I have been able to see.
Unfortunately, the staff is painfully rude and intimidating. I am a 5'0'', 100 lb female and have been shoved multiple times by large staff members for not moving quickly enough to the back room from the bathroom -- I am under 21, so apparently being in the bar area (where those under 21 are completely banned from, thus not being able to eat food) for 15 seconds is unacceptable.
I was almost denied entry because of a pill case -- that is a legitimate grandma-style pill case -- that I keep my anti-epileptic medications in. The doorman at first suggested i let him throw it out to gain entry...
Another time, I drove most of the equipment for a band my boyfriend filled in with. They would not let me in -- while they were loading & setting up, I had to wait alone in the cold for 40 min until "doors officially open"
Often, the music they play in between sets is just as loud as the bands, which I find a bit bothersome.
Overall, the staff is unreasonable. What has brought me here is the bands. If I like a band enough, I'll go, but the venue itself is a serious deterrent.
I'm going to file this under "places you'd like if you like that type of thing".
I was talking into coming here recently by an out-of-town guest whose friend wanted to go. We got a few beers before the gig started in the bar area. The bartenders were friendly, but there was no table service going on. The back room with the stage is pretty big, but had zero seating. This would be fine if the bands were good enough to want to dance to, but they weren't. So it was really just an evening of standing in a big dark room with sticky floors, listening to some pretty unexciting indie bands.
As I said at the beginning: if that's your thing, you'll probably like this place.
I only make it to Beat Kitchen a couple of times a year, but I need to increase that quotient, stat. This is a really great place to see a show. The stage is huge, the bartenders are friendly; the lights and sound are top notch. They bring a good roster of local and touring bands.
In the front bar, they have tater tots. And Rolling Rock and Blatz in cans (for $3 and $2 respectively).
After playing here, I'm even more charmed: the sound on the stage is without question, the best I've encountered anywhere in Chicago; the sound guy was excellent; and the people in charge were personable and friendly. Overall, BK gives the bands a uniformly fun and positive experience.
Saw nunslaughter last night and had heard great things about the venue. When we got there I was excited about the beer selections and prices, but the temperature was horrible. It was 80's outside and felt like 90's inside. I had to leave the concert early to go outside and cool down and then couldn't face the temperature inside the stage area again so I went to the bar area and waited for my two friends who only one was able to make it to the end of the concert (the one who stayed was a huge fan).
Review Source:This place earns a third star from be because their craft beer and whiskey selection is really nice, which I appreciate. My review may be poorly biased because I just was brought here for dinner and I did not like the burger I ate. It was just bland and nothing special at all. Especially with all the great places to eat in the area, this is not a good place to eat. Maybe I will come back an check out music or enjoy the atmosphere more and change my review? Time will tell
Review Source:Review for musicians who gig:
Beat Kitchen is a staple for top shelf local bands that gig a lot, and they're one of the few venues that still book twee-ish indie bands, which I love. They'll even do the occasional all ages show, which is odd, to be honest... they rope off a section for the under-age crowd.
Load in through the side door on Hoyne. Shouldn't have a problem pulling up or double parking, although navigating this hood and parking can be a pain. Lots of one way streets, permit parking only locations (watch out for these, you'll get a ticket, and Chicago is serious about their parking tickets), and plenty of cars already on street can make it difficult to find a home for your vehicle. I've circled around for ages, and had to walk blocks to get here.
The front of the house is a bar and restaurant and the back is the music venue. You load right in to the venue and easily get your gear on stage for sound check. Sound guys (where are the sound girls? Never a sound girl) have always been good here. Backline your gear or it gets stored in the wings of the stage. The stage is not big, but big enough for 3 bands, easily. Share gear if you can.
The green room is upstairs, door is near the main entrance next to the bar. It's a really nice space upstairs, stocked with tubs of beer and plenty of space to hang out. Honestly, I haven't spent much time up here, I prefer watching the bands or hanging out at the bar. Got a nice outdoor seating area too. The bar and restaurant offers a good mix of craft beers and solid food.
Merch is set up inside the music room along the east wall, next to the sound booth.
A solid place to play and a good place to catch a band.
Food in the front.
Party in the back.
Beat Kitchen is a split bar, with great beer and food in the front (with limited seating if you don't count a summer patio), and music in the back. I'm a musician, so I hate split rooms at music bars. Why not just charge everyone a smaller cover and be done with it? I digress- musicians- it's still a good place to play.
It has a funky vibe, the back room is dark, it's pretty loud- but you're up close and personal, and sometimes they get some great bands!
They really do have good food and great beer- on my last visit I ordered Lakefront Brewery's "New Grist", which I've never seen elsewhere. It's not always my first thought when looking for music in Chicago, but pretty solid choice for food, drinks and music.
Went to see a couple bands play and the space is really good, and the sound is just fine for the type of music I saw. (Rock/Reggae vibe).
The main bar area is very normal bar BUT a pretty good beer selection! The back room is where the bands play, lots of space - they also "sold out" which means they regulate the number of sweaty bodies into the venue, which is a good thing on those hot months in the summer!
Staff was friendly, and drinking outside on sidewalk/porch was nice, no complaints in this department.
Overall, I will be back for various shows, I imagine the crowd will make the experience but what the venue offers is solid. Good people means a good time!
I went there last night with a friend. I have pasted this place many times put never went in. The place was fairly busy. My review is about the food.
I ordered the steak skewers and Cobb salad. My friend ordered the Crostini and tacos. Everything was bland. I had to put salt and pepper on the steak skewers to make the eatable. The sauce that came with it had no flavor. The chicken on the Cobb salad was super dry. The Crostini and the tacos were tasteless too. Maybe we came in on the night the chef that does not taste or season the food was working, but I can't recommend this place for food.
I see most of the reviews here are about the music and atmosphere. Just don't waste your time on the fare.
Been here a handful of times over the years and won't be returning after last Sunday.
There food? Great.
Service? Awesome, but pricier than expected (was told the following day I wasn't drinking Captain but some other rum) That explains a lot, like the vomiting that soon began when I got home.......
But the 86 dollar tab for me and the bf, I still don't quite get...
Guy who wouldn't stop hassling everyone in our group about wrist bands ? Wow.
Let me start by saying I haven't been to Beat Kitchen in years. In fact, the last time I was here...indoor smoking was still legal.
I went here for a few shows in high school. It gets very hot and sweaty, but you get a great view from anywhere in the room and the sound is pretty great. Small place and can be a younger crowd depending on who's performing (usually artists with younger audiences perform here, though).
Not sure if this is still true, but they used to give out free cups of water during shows which was always much appreciated. I gotta get back here soon and update this.
Not a bad venue.
Not really a great one either.
Bartenders are quick and on their shiz.
The show I went to was amazing and the band sounded damn great so this is what kicked this spot from 3 to 4.
My only complaint really is the distance to the small dirty bathroom from the main room.
Otherwise a pretty decent spot to see a show, will definitely continue going here for shows of bands I like but couldn't see myself simply stopping in for a drink.
I've mainly go to the Beat Kitchen for shows. The drinks are on the higher side for this type of venue. They do have a $2 Blatz which won't empty your wallet but still satisfy your thirst.
The shows can get very hot, especially if the place starts to fill up. Just a heads up. Would still recommend seeing bands play here though.
This place is great! My friends and I live in the n'hood so we come here often. My bf and I like to come here for food as well. Great food and great deals! They have a decent beer selection too and plenty on tap. There are shows here often, but in the back room, so if you don't want to see the show, you can chill in the front area where there is plenty of seating and standing space.
Bartenders are pretty nice too which can make or break an establishment.
Definitely would recommend coming here for dinner and a drink before 7pm -- no waiting every time I've been here. Or you can just come here for a drink with friends at night -- great little hang out. Geared towards the 40s crowd or late 20s/early 30s. Everyone that goes seems to be very chill and easy-going.
Also, during the warmer months, they have a patio area that's pretty big.
Plenty of parking for bicyclists, too =)
Kinda hard to write a review for this place, I've only been here once or twice - had decent food from a decent selection for a bar. Â Both times were late night show type events (including a comedy show), so I wasn't really there to eat as much as to hang out in the stage area and watch a show. Â
Beer selection is good, and it's not too hard to get here without driving (a must for you drinkers out there!). Â Ultimately, these are the easy criteria on judging a place. Â The crowds were decent and fairly chill, so nothing really stood out good or bad. Â
I'd go back to this place again.
Wait--how have I never reviewd the Beat Kitchen? Seems impossible!
While I have never seen a show here, I have eaten here several times & attended my friend's annual Christmas party every year for 7 years now.
The food is actually quite good. Great apps, burgers, & pizza, and vegertarian friendly. The hummus was a let down, though. It was intensely hot but without a good flavor. Everything else I've ever had has been delish, though.
The service is also very good. In particular, we have always had a spectacular bartender at my friend's parties. It's not always the same person, but they are always terrific.
I have to say I came here on the worst night of my own life... I just had to throw my back out, step on a plastic dog treat ball, and also have a fever so note there may be a slight bit of bias in my review.
Okay parking was not that easy for me, I am from the burbs and suck at parallel parking though. Â So lets just assume that was my own fault. Â Now on to the venue.
After reading yelp I had to decided to try a pizza, I asked the bar tender, whom did not tell me his name but he was awesome made some good jokes even "bet there are some shitty reviews about me on there". Â If you think he is a bad guy you are just a jerk! Â He made the goat cheese pizza to order sans artichoke hearts, way awesome! Â NO HATING ON THE MAN OKAY!
The women's room is really oddly set up there is not a way to be in there without feeling like you are in someones way. Â Dare I wonder how the men's room is set up?
The concert area, my only issue is there is not enough air moving around there, I was pitching a fever though so maybe if I wasn't I would have felt better. Â I just think two fans placed in the room some how and now in anyway to effect the current great sound would be awesome. Â Also bartender in back was very nice and funny too. Â Though she did not use her name either. Â
You guys gotta stop hating on them if that is whats causing them to not say their names. Â I used to work in the industry and I personally like to use a servers name but that could just be me. Â I mean I did also chastise my date for leaving only 10% tip and think the 20% for left bills should be changed to 30%, I mean i saw them hustle butt and work hard. Â I also try to leave 25% as oft as I can and find anyone that leaves under 20% a prick. Â (this is a general statement)
In all I will go back, but someone else is driving and I better not be sick again as I can't last in back with a fever, i wasn't able to that night. Â Had to cut out a few times for my fresh cold air. Â I went on the 10th of September.
I usually come here to see comedy on tuesdays.
Great food, great beer selection, tons of hipsters. All in all a great bar that has some really good bands come through.
Their men's bathroom though makes the toilet from Trainspotting look like a palace but hey no one is perfect.
Chicago Underground Comedy is great but don't sit in the front row or else one of the comedians will make fun of your shirt that you obviously bought at an outlet mall.
Well played.
Very solid all the way around. Â Their beer list is peppered with local and rare choices and you don't have to pay concert prices for them. Â The service is real quick and friendly. Â Try the Thai pizza (I don't like peanut sauce but I even love this pie) or the blackened tuna sammich. Â
As far as a venue goes, it's a stereotypical local, small venue. Â And I'm absolutely fine with that. Â It may just be me, or maybe it's the setups of the bands I've seen here, but my ears are usually ringing for a solid day and a half afterward. Â Rock on. Â It's loud, dark, cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Â Come for the food, stay for the show.
Lots of bicyclists. That's cool.
ummm....yet another flat floor venue. I know this is the rock/band/local scene. I'm just more in to a little nicer venues I guess. Or at least a venue with seats and different vantage points, a la Elbo Room.
I was the only person without a tattoo, and the only person in heels. Just a fact. These peeps were like, coated in tats. Maybe that's bc of the band that was playing.
Parts of the front "dining area" smelled like old B.O. As if NEW B.O isn't bad enough?
There was also a huge thing drooping from the ceiling. It literally looked like a used tampon.
I'm sorry, this is gross. But I would totally go back if someone was there I wanted to see. I'm ALL about supporting live music, since that's what I do!! But Beat Kitchen made me kind of uncomfortable.
A group of us went here to see a friend perform with Movits!, a strangely good Swedish group that mashes hip-hop with swing and gets away with it.
Though I was entirely too tired to be at a concert, and we'd arrived some 2 hours early, we waited patiently for the show in the bar area.
Despite being a restaurant's worst nightmare - a table that doesn't order much, but lingers for a good while - we weren't pestered by the staff. In fact, the wait staff was rather pleasant.
The music venue is small and sounds great. I definitely had a great time here, though after the acts finish up it's a free-for-all and generally difficult to move anywhere. The previous act, Boutros, didn't help by obnoxiously trying to hock their latest album and t-shirt by physically preventing people from going back to the bar area.
Beat Kitchen. Â At first I wasn't sure if it was actually a kitchen of beats (in which case I would have to imagine Kanye West and/or Jay-Z was cooking) or if you were actually supposed to beat the kitchen staff. Â Luckily, it was neither. Â I knew, of course, that it would be impossible to keep hip-hop producers of such high stature cooped up in the kitchen and also that beating anyone (including friendly kitchen staff) is a no no. Â Alas, it is just a name for one of the hippest, most underrated venues in Chicago.
I just recently stopped in to check out a show and realized quickly that it was my kind of place. Â The front bar area is very chill and the staff is very friendly. Â They had some pretty decent specials ($5 pizza something-or-others and $3 Goose Island 312 bottles) and also had a pretty good selection of beers including 3 Flloyd's Robert the Bruce, Goose Island's Mild Winter and some IPA I didn't pay attention to because I don't like IPAs. Â They are gross and taste like gross.
It is home to many a hipster and feels a lot like a merge between Schubas and the Double Door. Â It's smaller, but has a sort of punk-rock edge to the decor. Â For being such a small venue, the sound was actually pretty incredible and the space didn't feel too cramped. Â Really, anywhere in the room was a good place to be and there was very minimal obstructions. Â This was good because the singer was pretty sexy and I tried on numerous occasions to get her attention with my boyish good looks and charm. Â However, even though visibility was high, I left without a phone number. Â It wasn't until later that I saw a ring on her finger. Â Let's just say he better treat her right.
All in all I would definitely go back here again for a show. Â I didn't actually try the food but from my stalking glances from table to table I noticed that it looked pretty tasty. Â The entire place constantly smelled like pizza as well so I think I'll have to give it a shot next time. Â Until then, I bid you adieu Beat Kitchen.
Kinda of laughing at my old review from over three years ago. So here's the update part:
- Good local beer, with most drafts at $5. Support Metro & Two Bros & Half Acre & 3 Floyds, please! Although I am guilty of going for the cheaper tall boys too (this girl's on a budge!)
- Great food.
- Friendly people.
The Beat Kitchen comes in 3rd place on my Favorite Chicago Music Venues list. It is a great place to catch a show!
BK is easy to get to via the Belmont bus and, if you're driving, parking is usually pretty easy.
They book awesome bands here. From local to national acts, there's a lot of variety in what they book. There is a focus on Punk, Indie Rock and some Metal. Which is a-okay with me!
It's a small place, which is one of my favorite things about it. There's a restaurant and bar up front. In in all the times I've been, I have never eaten at BK. One of these days I finally will, the food looks great. Drink prices are very reasonable and it seems like there are specials every night of the week. I never spend more than $3 on a beer, even on weekends.
Beyond the front bar is the back room, where shows are held. It's tiny and I love it. Â As soon as you enter you can see the stage. Sightlines are great and it really is intimate. Capacity is under 300, I cannot stress how small and awesome it is! It's so small that you can often run into band members before and after the show. That's pretty cool. The sound is good, but it can be loud. I usually rock my ear plugs here.
The only downfall is no coat check. There are hooks on the walls, but I don't feel very comfortable leaving my jacket unattended. But that's just me.
Don't forget to buy your tickets early, this place sells out fast. If you get the chance to see one of your favorite bands at BK - you must go! You'll kick yourself if you don't!
Ahhh Beat Kitchen, how I always seem to forget how forgetful you are when it comes to maintaining the ladies' loo. BYOTP, girls.
It's a good place to see a show and a good place to eat while a show is going on if you don't care about it, since the rooms are separated by a heavy door. The food is good from what I recall, the beer list is nicely stacked in your favor with decent prices and the outdoor seating area is a nice touch.
I have been here a handful of times and never had good experiences. A particular time which was a year ago. When I walked in the door the door guy cards me (was a 18+ show) and then put's X's on my hands this totally confuses me. I go up the bartender and explain that I'm 21 and the door-guy marked me at underage. She tells me to go wash them off and then reshow him my id. The guy then says "oh i'm sorry I thought your id said you were born in aug 1991" I stare at him confused and say "that would make me 17".
needless to say.
wow what idiots.
I would say...Think Schuba's.
Yes, while Beat Kitchen doesn't drag in the same mid 30's crowd as Schuba's, it totally reminds me of being at Schuba's. Â You got your room with stage where there's your friend's band playing and then you got your area where people don't want to listen to music and are trying to kick back some beers.
I'll give it to Beat Kitchen that they have more beers and food, but I should pay a second visit to check out the menu before I reserve final judgment. Â Service is slow here, but everyone is deaf so what does it matter?
We saw a good early all-ages show here last night. The drinks were fine, the patio was nice, I heard the food was good.
But the bartender seemed to get upset with me for some reason partway through my visit here.
My first two drink orders, he seemed very nice and helpful. The third time up to the bar, I asked him if he knew where a "cigarette store" was. He looked miffed and without making eye contact, said "I don't know" in a gruff voice.
The next and last time I went up, he stayed standing at the back of the bar looking at me while I had to stand behind chairs next to people eating. I thought "maybe he remembers my drinks" and just held up two fingers, hoping that would work, since we were too far away from each other to really talk.
He just kept looking at me. So I said "Should I order from you?" to which he replied, looking very frustrated while finally moving forward towards me, "You can order wherever you want, what can I get you?".
I had to yell next to some guy's ear my drink order, and when I was almost done he walked off, literally shaking his head. Â Why? I don't know. Maybe I upset him when asking about cigarettes, like he can no longer talk to a smoker. Too bad I was asking for a friend...
This probably sounds so one-sided that you're tempted to assume there's more to it that I'm not mentioning, but I swear, if there is I'm unaware of it.
I've only been here for the Kitchen, never for the Beat. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I'm not a fan of live music, and even longer to come out about it. The show is almost always longer than I care for, and while everyone around me is rocking out, I'm thinking, "My feet hurt," or "How hard would it be for me to get another beer?" If I have a chair, I'm fine, because then when I get bored I can scope out the crowd or let my mind wander. But if I have to stand I get cranky and impatient. I would like to pretend this is a product of age, but in truth it's nothing new. I remember getting cranky and impatient at the Aragon 20 years ago.
So if I'm here, it's in the afternoon, and with someone who has a car, because while Belmont and Damen isn't off the beaten track, it's just far enough off my beaten track that I'm not going to be here for no reason. The food is decent: they have some interesting specialty pizzas (Thai pizza with peanut sauce and smoked chicken; Â goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pizza with artichokes) and big sandwiches. The Beat Salad (pears, bacon, bleu cheese, red peppers) is a standout, as is the grilled vegetable salad. Warning: the diet soda is neither Coke nor Pepsi, but something the server described as "generic." Canfield's? Whatever it was, it was super sweet, which kind of defeats the purpose. If you're in the neighborhood, the food at Beat Kitchen fills the bill without necessarily giving you anything you're going to remember.
The fat bouncer man groped my soon-to-be girlfriend as he walked by. I'm a firm believer in feminism, and women don't need a man to stand up for them. If she had issues with his groping she could go kick his ass. But she felt violated, so I took action anyway. I walked over to the 300lb beached-whale of a man and put my left arm around him as if we were childhood friends. As I patted his shoulder and said "hey ya buddy", I cupped his fat-man-breasts with my other hand and I kneeded that nasty grossness and asked "how do you like being groped? how do you like being fondled by strangers?". He kept saying "I didn't do anything. what? I didn't do anything" I squeezed harder and the cottage-cheese consistency of another man's breasts was unbearable, but it was for justice! He froze in his tracks, he felt violated, and hopefully he'll never do it again.
The venue is great, I saw Octopus Project, Boy Sets Fire, Appleseed Cast here. Just avoid the fat man with the cottage-cheese breasts.
The beat kitchen is beat-tacular!!!
It's the perfect spot for that favorite little dream pop/shoegazer band you've been wanting to see. or that cute little electro duo you wanna shake your fanny at.
i like that you can hang out in the front bar and almost have no idea a show is even going on. actually i dont know why i like that... but it's a groovy space. a bit small for a venue but personal and one of the most adorable. and it's usually damn cheap.
when i think of beat kitchen i imagine these little oranges rolling around all over the place and they have little orangey hands and they're banging spoons on different pieces of furniture. it's THAT precious!
Everybody has it right- good beer in a nice bar room in the front, good sound in the back band/stage area. Â Over all a nice place. Â I've seen two kinds of shows here- smaller local bands, and bands that used to be big that you might have forgotten about all together! Â
Best night here was a couple years ago- I came to see Jesus Jones. Â They were fine, and played a lot of music off of their last record which I'd never heard- whatever. Â BUT the real highlight was their opening act- I forget what they called themselves, but it was basically Modern English (minus like one of the founding guys)! Â They played a 20 minute power-jam of "Melt with You" including a drum solo and a MONSTER guitar solo! Â I was like 2' away from the band playing my high school homecoming song- HAHA! Â
Yup- Beat Kitchen will always means good all-around fun to me!
I intern for MPShows and I have worked a handful of shows here, but before I was a worker bee, I was a showgoer. The sound here is really good for a venue of this size. The employees are all really nice and hard working. The crowds here always vary and I love that about BK.
The food here is absolutely unbelievable for  bar food and their kitchen is not a huge space, so it blows my mind. The pizza is great. The salads are huge and chock full of delicious toppings. The brownie is INSANELY huge and if you don't split it with someone, you are going to have to take a goopy mess home in a carryout box because you will not want to throw it away. Perhaps you can meet someone at the show or in the bar and split the brownie, eh?
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