I eat here weekly--which is saying something. Â The sandwich selection gets 5 stars unless you're a vegetarian, though I do like both the falafel and the grilled cheese. Â Order the barbecuban if you like pork. Their beer selection is great, especially if you like hoppy, local beers, and the prices are great. Â They have great weeknight specials which is what lured me in here in the first place.
Because this is a small place, the bartender makes the experience. Â Most of the time we have a fabulous lady but on occasion you get a surly man and subpar service. Â Still, I'd rather be here than anywhere else in the neighborhood.
Our Sunday day drinking crew needed a spot to meet. Unfortunately, our first choice was inexplicably closed so we wound up at Black Rock for the $3 brunch. No biscuits and gravy, bummer. BBQ pulled pork bowl? Sold!
I can't tell you how the beer bottle list is because we had the world's most apathetic, bored, inattentive bartender known to humanity and he didn't offer a menu. We had to ask him for a food menu, had to explain how to break apart our tab, had to ask him every single time we needed drinks even though he was looking right at our empty glasses (my personal favorite being the look at the empty glasses and then walk away). There was another bartender helping him out and the only drinks that arrived with a pleasant attitude came from him, unfortunately he was working the other end of the bar.
A few hours went by and we were frankly sick of waiting for better service, so we decided to go elsewhere. What's this? Our bartender is at the other end of the bar eating? We gave him a wave. Nothing. One of us walked over to tell him we needed our check. Many minutes and many more forkfuls later, he slowly wandered over and handed out our tabs. Then he disappeared for what seemed like forever, only to show up right as the money hit the bar. Irritated, unimpressed, and pretty well over it, I did something I almost never do as an industry lifer and decent human being: I left a justifiably crappy tip.
If we plan to go back to Black Rock again, and that's a big if, that guy is hopefully not going to be behind the bar because I can assure you that we will take our business anywhere else.
I was just on Black Rock's website and they mentioned that people who don't live in the neighborhood often end up making Black Rock their "local" and as much as I love living in Logan Square (cheap, fun, close to work, blue collar), Black Rock is quickly becoming my place for imbibing.
I came to Black Rock via Yelp a few months ago when, on a Friday night, my girlfriend and some friends and I were looking for a bar in the Roscoe/Lakeview area that wouldn't be packed to the gills with masses of twenty-somethings writhing against each other to get to the bar. We also didn't want to end up someplace where it was just us and the 65 year old bartendress with emphysema. So I pulled up Yelp and one of the highlighted features of the bar said "Never as crowded as you think it's going to be." And this is certainly the case. Not because Black Rock is in anyway lame or weird or bad. MOSTLY because it's absolutely MASSIVE, even though the outside would not lead you to believe so. The bar is long, there are tables past the bar, and there's a huge lounge area in back. Amazing. So we got drinks that night. Also awesome. Three Floyds, Allagash, Great Lakes on tap, along with PBR for those on a budget or those who drink it for the cred.
Since then (November??), I've been to Black Rock pretty much once a week. Sometimes two or three times a week. I recently had their food (kitchen open until midnight) and it was amazing. $5 sandwich and sides on Wednesdays is an awesome deal. A lot of food for the price of a beer. The place will get crowded, but it always seems like seats are available somewhere, which is just the best thing ever. Because I don't want to slither through a crowd just to get to the bathroom or the bar.
And there's a moose head on the wall. Come on. What more do you need?
I have to downgrade Black Rock to (a still respectable) four stars because they have changed their menu yet again.
Shame on me for not visiting for a couple of years. Â My wife and I sort of first met here so we have been meaning to get back for a while, and finally chose this year's February 14 pseudo-holiday for the occasion.
These guys always purported to be "bar food done well" or "interesting bar food" or whatever, and it was true. Â They are still singing that tune on their menu: Â "We had our chef take the idea of comfort food and riff on it to create a menu both familiar and atypical, and we're equally proud of both." Â (From the website.) Â "We call our menu 'eclectic bar,' which basically means our own take on homemade comfort food." Â (From the printed menu.)
However, from my seat, now it's closer to just bar food. Â Gone is the chorizo bratwurst. Â Gone is the black bean burger. Â Gone are the flatbreads and mac & cheese fritters. Â There are only two boring salads now. Â You have a few types of burgers; several random sandwiches (grilled cheese, a few chicken, a pulled pork, a turkey, a steak, a gyro, et al) that cover the standard range pretty well; and various "apps" and "baskets" for such things as quesadillas, fries, chips and guacamole, chicken wings, sliders, and so forth.
The food continues to be done well though: Â I drop-dead loved my Memphis chicken sandwich, and their fries are some of the best around. Â So the kitchen is still really sharp...but I miss the more ambitious menu. Â
However, this is still a great neighborhood bar and grill, if this happens to be your neighborhood. Â The draft beers are well selected and reasonably priced. Â And their indie-rock soundtrack is top of the pops in my book.
Bonus points for the sidewalk sign declaring "Soup of the day: Â Whiskey!" Â Unfortunately I did not have my phone handy to snap a photo.
[Plays "Taps" on kazoo]
I'm sorry to report that the black bean burger, number 17 on my list, is no more. Â I was informed that it met its maker over a year ago. Â In cases like this, I blame myself for not visiting and keeping it in demand. Â But I can't feel sorry for myself for long on an empty stomach, so I ate dinner there anyway. Â
What ostensibly took its place is okay but not the same. Â I speak of the falafel sandwich, which is three falafel patties on a pretzel bun with tahini, cucumber, lettuce and onion. Â A pretzel bun is kind of a curious choice, but it worked, and made it more burger-y. Â The falafel though, were, I don't know, too fried? Â Kind of breaded and fried? Â They tasted good, but just tipped the scales further from healthy town. Â
My husband and I also shared chips and guacamole. Â I can't compare now-and-then on this, but I can tell you that the chips are greasy and salty. Â I'm not complaining, though I am retaining...water. Â The guacamole was kind of low-impact on the flavor scale. Â
The service was fine and it's never too busy, which can be nice. Â Our server, by the way, was like a non-annoying version of Lea Michele. Â I will have to explain that reference to my husband and he may say I'm crazy, but that's okay. Â
Black Rock may change its menu but it can't change the fact that I first laid eyes on my husband there, and for that I will always have affection for it. Â But it's probably not a destination anymore for dinner. Â I'm keeping it on the VB list because chickpeas come out of the ground like vegetables and thus the falafel sandwich can be considered a veggie burger. Â Just not as good as its predecessor.
I'm loving this place! Â I've been back multiple times in the span of about 3 weeks, so it must be good!
It's very casual and the staff is super friendly. Â I think that some nights, they may be short staffed, but even so, everyone is friendly, the food is delicious and the beer is fresh and there's quite a nice selection.
I have tried multiple sandwiches and drink options and everything has been super. Â My parents even like it, and that is high praise as they like their 'old standby restaurants'.
Definitely a great spot and I'm sure I'll be back (soon...)!
A friend of mine is a Peace Corps alumni. Â They were having a trivia night fundraiser at Black Rock. Â I'm so glad they choose this place because it is awesome. Â Black Rock is quickly becoming one of our go to spots.
I love the vibe of the place. Â It's not too crowded and you can actually carry on a conversation with people. Â Also, you can find a place to sit down which is a plus.
The food is above average pub food. Â I love the chips and guacamole. Â The chips are fried fresh when you order them and basically melt in your mouth. Â They are the perfect combo of crispy and salty.
Black Rock also had a great selection of beer. Â
The Black Rock is also a good place to watch sporting events because they have plenty of tvs.
When asked for Bacardi and Diet perhaps you should actually place Bacardi in the ordered drink. Â Really irritating that they weren't using the alcohol we requested. Â What is the deal with that?
Otherwise, I had a lot of fun at this place. Â Their sandwiches are reallllly good! Â
Drinks are decently priced for the city and the bar has a cool back lounge area that would be a chill place to reserve for an event.
Some friends of ours invited us to Black Rock's $3 Sunday Brunch. I'll admit I was skeptical of a $3 brunch place. We got there just before 11, and could see they were not open yet, so we waited in the car (it was a cold winter morning). Just before 11, the Damen bus came, and so did a line of people (just out of college types). Of course the $3 brunch would attract people looking to be frugal.
Inside, Black Rock is very much your standard pub/bar. They have a back room with a projector for showing sports, and a number to TVs throughout.
Our friends' first question was, "I wonder what today's specialty donut is." You have my attention. "Oooh, Bacon Bourbon donuts." Sold. $3 got us 4 large donut holes which we shared. They were freaking amazing.
My fiance got a steak and egg sandwhich: $3. I got the meaty scramble topped with sausage gravy because... sausage gravy: $4.50 (the gravy was extra). Our friends got the BBQ bowl ($3) and the veggie scramble ($3). All the food came with their home fries, which are delicious. They have a great crunch to them and are dusted with brown sugar for a little hint of sweet. Mmmmmmm.
All told, we got a super tasty brunch for four for a grand total of $16.50 plus tax, tip and some drinks. I will definitely be back.
I can't believe I haven't Yelped about how much I love Black Rock yet!!
This is one of my very favorite neighborhood bars.
It hits on all points:
The food is delicious
Great beer selection
Clean and classic pub-style atmosphere
Weekday Specials
Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Laid back and unpretentious crowd
*Ladies, this has been a long-standing "Rugby bar," so if you're into the ruggedly handsome type and have a thing for accents.. well.. check it out with some of your girlfriends during Rugby season.
The best $5 burgers or sandwiches in Chicago (depending on what night you go). $3.50 craft draft specials.....close enough to be relevant, but far enough from the wrigleyville dbags to stumble. No shit, THE BEST COLESLAW I'VE EVER HAD, and Im from the real south (further than joilet, shithead)
Review Source:If you're like me, you prefer a low-key pub environment to a wild, crowded bar scene. Well Blackrock is exactly that. The friends that I spend time with at this bar are the kind of people that enjoy a relaxed conversation among a group and maybe even the occasional card game. Whereas the typical [what I affectionately refer to as the "Wrigleyville-Style"] bar has the vocal acoustics of a music studio, Blackrock keeps the music volume just low enough to enjoy without being intrusive.
This is the perfect place to bring a group of friends and just have a good night. If you're looking to get crazy drunk and make a fool of yourself in front of strangers to try and meet new people then please don't come here, as it will force me to interact with you :-)
Another plus are the drink prices. There is often a drink special (i.e. Jack & Coke) that will let you get your fill without going broke. Besides that, there are pretty standard beers on draft and several other bottled beers that are reasonably priced.
The food they have available late into the night is really great too. It's more than just fries and chips and has more interesting items like loaded tater tots. I also just had brunch here for the first time and they have some amazing items on the menu that are all JUST $3. Even though it's enough to feed the average person, the price makes it tempting to order more than one meal.
In about a dozen visits I have yet to find anything about this place that I don't enjoy and, thus, give it the highest rating.
I have been here twice now. I didn't have much of a reaction the first time I was here so not worth reviewing because it would have been an unfair 3 star because I just met some friends here at their request and had a few beers.
I came back and I have to commend their service, the atmosphere, and the food. The menu is not big but everything I have had here has been really good. It's just simple bar food, not trying to be anything else and it succeeds. They have a great BBQ pork fries, fantastic tater tots with sour cream, cheese, green onions, and bacon, and their burgers are good. Everything seems to be on pretzel rolls and buns which is like adding MSG to chinese food. They also have a very respectable assortment of craft beers that made my stomach happy. I definitely suggest checking this place out.
Downgrade.
I adored Black Rock for so many reasons, but the main was their delicious, perfect wings. It was somewhat of a tradition for me and my bf to go there on Friday nights when wings are only $.25. We typically order ten each of three kinds (barbecue, buffalo and teriyaki), drink Point beer (or in my case, cider) and we gorge on the cheap.
This past Friday we had nothing in the fridge so we decided to go to BR after a long hiatus. We got our familiar seats at the bar and the familiar bartender (who is all business and never ever smiles) took our usual order.
The wings arrived and immediately I knew something was very, very wrong, or at least, not quite right. The teriyaki wings looked like they were missing the sauce. I called the other bartender over (the female one who seems to hate us only somewhat less than her male counterpart) and mentioned that the wings appeared sauce-less. She pointed to the sesame seeds and said they switched to a lighter ponzu and sesame instead of the teriyaki. Okay, I was willing to give it a try.
Upon closer inspection, it would seem that all of the wings changed. The buffalo wings now had only a dry rub and no sauce, so while they were nowhere near as good as before, they were still decent. The barbecue wings were just sad. Absolutely no zeal, no zing, no nothing, just tasted like straight-up tomato sauce.
I'll save my harshest critique for the ponzu-sesame wings, which were completely and utterly devoid of any flavor whatsoever. Come to think of it, after awhile, all of the wings tasted almost exactly the same; that is, like a whole bunch of nothing.
I had always overlooked the less-than-engaging service because the wings more than made up for it, but unless they revert back to the "old" wings, I'm not sure I will come back.
And this makes me really sad, because I did love this magical place (indeed, two of my favorite people met here and are now married), but c'mon, Black Rock, ever hear the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?
Yeah, that.
Okay, we're digging on you now, Black Rock. Â We live a few doors down, so we've stumbled in a few times and we're starting to crush on the place. Â It's so laid back, never too crowded, comfy back room with couches and game tables, and a neighborhood feel. Â 25 cent wings on Fridays, and my boyfriend thinks they are pretty darn delicious. Â I got the Memphis sandwich - dry rub BBQ chicken and slaw on a pretzel bun - and thought it was pretty slammin. Â Those buns have amazing flavor! Â The fries were also absolutely great, crispy and piping hot. Â We came really close to polishing off the whole basket....if only.
They have lots of cool food specials, check the chalkboard outside. Â I think we'll be coming back again and again!
I've lived right around the corner from this place for 7 months and finally decided to come here the other night for half off appetizers on Thursday. Â I had a Capitol Supper Club to drink which was pretty decent and we got the goat cheese garlic bread and steak quesadilla. Â Both were amazing! Â Not your typical greasy bar food. Â This is a great neighborhood place and it'll be tempting to not want to go back every week when I don't feel like cooking (which happens a lot)
Only downside: Â it took forever to cash out bc a rugby team came in as we were finishing up and blockaded the bartenders behind the bar and took all their attention.
I've started to become a big fan of Black Rock. I've been in a few times with friends and always leave there feeling good. First of all, $3 brunch on Sundays will make anyone happy. There are about 6 options on the menu, and I tend to stick with the Steak sandwich and fries. The first time I ordered brunch I assumed it was going to be  a small plate or limited amount of food. I was certainly wrong and all of our meals were a decent size.
Outside of the food, the bar is huge and there are even a few couches in the back room. The beer selection is outstanding as well with a decent list of options from microbrews to standard domestic options.
We have gone to this pub twice now. Â One night I had the worst craving for sweet potato fries. Â After reading reviews on here, we decided to check it out. Â We received a HUGE, HUGE mound of sweet potato fries (straw-style fries). Â It could have been our shared meal. Â But since we had no idea it would be such a huge portion, we had also ordered two flatbread pizzas that were also amazing with really great flavor!
The second time was Valentines Day. Â We went there for a few drinks and it was perfect. Â The drinks were really good, perfectly strong without being gross and the waitress was friendly without being intrusive.
What I love most about Black Rock is the atmosphere. Â There are TVs everywhere for the sports fans and music plays but not too loud to hear the people you're with without shouting to/at them. Â And what I love second about Black Rock is the location. Â It's basically on the corner of Addison & Damen, right near the Addison stop on the Damen bus, the Addison brown line stop and there is also street parking available on Addison almost always. Â
I definitely recommend Black Rock for a meal or a few drinks out with friends.
I've been here at least 10 times over the past 2 years and I have a consistently good experience each time. Â The staff is laid back but very friendly and attentive. Â The ambiance is just a notch above a dive bar. Â Plenty of tables to sit and talk or pull-up to the bar (my favorite). Â Excellent beer selection that is always getting changed. Â I really love that they put all their available beers on the chalk board. Â
Food is above average bar food and I especially love the steak sandwich (yummm...getting hungry just writing about it). They have awesome specials everyday. Â Last night I had a $5 Cobb sandwich and was drinking $2.50 Supper Club cans along with some nicer craft beers. Â The back room holds a lot of different events including dancing and live music. Â Â The crowd is mostly 25-35 but is pretty diverse. Â I always feel completely comfortable and welcomed when I'm here and they always have the best games on their TVs.
Great gem neatly tucked away in this neighborhood. Â Definitely worth a trip to visit even if you don't live around here.
I went to Black Rock for the first time today. On Sunday's they do a $3 brunch. All the breakfast type items are three dollars. And its not just simple stuff--they had this one dish that was bbq pulled pork with fried eggs on top. They are really hefty portions too! I ordered the veggie scramble which came with potatoes. I also had the biscuits and gravy which was amazingly good! To top things off, since I was so curious, I ordered the maple bacon donut holes. Yes, you heard right. They were delicious. There are bits of bacon inside the donut whole; the right balance of salty and sweet. So if you want a good meal and you have $3 on a Sunday (plus if you like football they have the game playing around the place) I'd say go spend it here.
I will say that you have to be patient with waiting for your food. There seemed to be only one waiter for the whole place (it wasn't empty) and the food took a little while to come. For $3 though you can't complain all that much.
The Black Rock Pub is a cool little bar with good food and awesome beer selection...bottle and draft. Highlights were the Bell's Octoberfest on draft and chorizo brat quesadillas (actually...these could of been better. Â Needed to taste more chorizo and less burnt tortilla. Â But appreciate the creativity.). Â Beef sliders were also a big hit with the crowd I was with but I didn't try them. Wings also looked super good but again didn't get a chance to try but will do next trip.
For beer I also tried the Fonder's Cherry Dark Ale but was just ok. But they do have the Left Hand Milk Stout which never disappoints. Others available include Goose island 312 and Harvest, 3 Floyd's Gumball Head, and Half Acre Daisey Cutter. Â Bottom line is that they have a great selection of good beer and worth coming just for that.
Great area, great atomsohere, and service is ok but heads up...it's a rugby bar?!? Â Not sure if they would play all of the games that u would like to see so call ahead before coming.
The verdict is still out...I have been there twice...Once the wings were incredible, once they were just good. Once the service was fine because it was empty but for a Bears game they were grossly understaffed...It took an hour to get each drink but the food came out at a decent pace.
Everyone liked what they ate and the beer selection is more American than it is European which is not a plus for me.
Yes, you should order those cheese covered tater tots.
I am willing to say that maybe someone called in that day and otherwise the service would be better. I am never in the area and have no real reason to go out of my way to go here unless I don't feel the need to go all the way to High Dive for their wings which are better but very close.
I can only speak to the good beer list, back room, and hot wings.
I came here for a nice lil going away party and was impressed with all of the above. My friends told me that they had to reach a minimum but didn't have to put down a room rental fee. They ordered apps (that's where the wings came in) and everything was fresh.
In the back, they only had well drinks, so in order to get beer, we had to go to the front. If we paid with cash, they allowed us to put that money towards the minimum in the back. Very nice and appreciated, I'm sure not many bars do that. The staff was friendly and the back room was super comfy with plush couches, tables, foosball, and a really nice fireplace.
If I lived closer, I bet I would come here more frequented. It's a great neighborhood spot.
Solid digs right here.
This is what I call a 'winter' bar. Need more proof? Fireplaces, couches, and lots of dark wood make for cozy environs. Grab a good beer and settle in... and let it snow!
Black Rock has what I call 'better bar fare'. I had a chicken wrap with avocado and it was well-portioned and delicious.
Service is attentive but unobtrusive. Can't believe it took me so long to discover this laid-back gem!
She Loves It!
The beer selection was dope! They had some really great microbrews but not so many that you feel overwhelmed. Like, sometimes, at places with hundreds of different beer options, I get nervous and worry about choosing the wrong ones but places like black rock are great because you can set a goal for yourself... like try 3-4 beers each visit and in about 5-6 visits you'll have conquered them all. Hey man, I've got goals.
The bartenders are awesome! Me and the friendos may or may not have gotten an ass load of comped shots for rockin' the bar All Night Long, just like Lionel Richie would've. For that, Black Rock is totally 5 star worthy... why the missing star? Dude man, I LOVE photobooths but the one at Black Rock is cursed or something. I tried it twice and looked just a few snakes shy of Medusa. Some other friends of mine tried (some with some very, VERY sexy girlfriends) and EVERYONE without fail, looked toe up. It'd be one thing if we really did look like poopy but there's plenty of well documented footage from that night from people's personal cameras where we all look pretty darn flossy. So, I blame the photobooth. How's about an upgrade to the kind of booth the Shutter Booth people use?
Nearly 10 years, a young man moved to the big city of Chicago. Â It wasn't necessarily to find happiness or love or work or even education. Â It was actually to find the perfect tater tot. Â After a few false starts, I (the "young" man) have narrowed the area this will be found in down to an area between Ashland and Western between Grand and Irving Park. Â I call it the tot sweet spot. Â I know my dream tot will be found here. Â And I will spend my last dollars to find it!
Alright, not really. Â I actually moved to Chicago to get my masters in urban planning at UIC - even if that never happened. Â However, Black Rock might be very close to that perfect tot I was searching for; were I really spending all my energy in Chicago looking for it. Â They serve them loaded or plain, but they serve them right. Â And tots here are even better as they are as without pretension as the rest of the bar. Â
I got a chance to go to this bar as part of the Yelp Book Club for April and I didn't know exaclty what to expect. Â A book club at a bar? Â How would that work with noise and seating? Â But the early evening vibe was perfect for a discussion in the back room - with a long table everyone could sit at. Â This area of the bar has a relaxed lodgey feel perfect for swapping stories or just opinions. Â The acoustics were such in this room that when a group of us hadn't read the book ("Sister Carrie," hence the thematic elements of this review) broke off and sat on some of the comfy couches near the tables spreading rumors and talking about Kuma's, both conversations could be heard without overlapping.
The prices are very reasonable on the food, especially a bargain $6.00 grilled cheese sandwich (that included said tots). Â The drinks match the feel of the bar. Â Buttoned down beers make up the specials (PBR. Point, Budweiser). Â But if you want to go a little high brow, you can get that here too - if you're willing to pay for it.
Frankly, I can barely afford to even drink in someone's den, let alone a bar that looks like one. Â But even though the city has sort of defeated me in my quest for tots and for success (unlike that gold digger Sister Carrie), this bar can take the last of my money and energy any time it wants to.
I can't say much about Black Rock except that I had a great time there. I think that should be enough.
The most recent Book Club outing was held at Black Rock. They have a back room (with two fireplaces!) and the manager said he didn't expect it to be that busy on a Wednesday night in January. Wrong! The place turned out to be packed, and as the night wore on, it turned out that everyone else in the back was part of one big group, who just happened to strike on Black Rock on the same night we did. But they also turned out to be a far less hardy group, so as the night wore on we stole more and more of their empty seats, until we had all we needed. That's the Yelp way.
Anyhoo, the back room is a great place for a group, large or small. There are several tables, so even if you can't snag the sofas by the fireplac,e there's plenty of seating. I didn't try the food, but the beer selection was good, and the staff most accommodating. When they ran out of one of the beers on special, the barkeep let me have my choice at the same price. That's entertainment!
The skinny: nice corner pub (not quite on the corner) with a decent bar menu and a good collection of libations. Close to two buses and the brown line, for the transportation challenged.
Cozy place to warm up at on a frigid day. Â In the back room they have two nice fireplaces, and sofas you just fall into and never want to get up from. Â Also, a great place to have discussions, as well as, a few top notch libations!
Here's my anecdote from the night.
I arrived at 6:45pm, a little early, and noticed that there were a lot of people in the back room, where we were going to meet for the book discussion. Â So, me being me, thought this was the book club, and I marched up to the closest person and asked, "Are you all here for the book discussion group?" Â All I get in return is all eyes staring blankly at me like, "Whatcha talkin' about Willis?" Â I knew then that I had the wrong group of people, so I retreated to a corner table near the bar, ordered myself a Newcastle, and placed my book on the table in such a way that I could only hope that it would serve as a beacon for those who were there for the same thing. Â A few minutes later, I met up with everyone. Â We had very lively discussions, and it was a lot of fun!
I would come back here again, for sure!
So they covered the breaker switch in the men's room. Â And not just kind of covered it - they have it protected like Fort Knox now. Â I can't really blame them. Â Every drunkard in a 3 mile radius had probably turned the lights out at the Black Rock at least a time or two. Â You know what kind of bar is a bad place to turn off the power? Â A rugby bar. Â Who ever thought that was a good idea? Â I'm amazed none of my friends ended up naked tied to the bar or doing push-ups covered in beer after one of these stunts.
In all seriousness, this is a great bar. Â My girlfriend threw my 30th birthday party in their back room and it was a great time. Â We had couches around a fireplace, a pool table, Ms. Pac-man, and a trivial pursuit game that went until well past 3 a.m. Â We ordered a boat-load of food for a reasonabale amount of money. Â The mini-burgers were solid and my fridge is still packed with leftover cheese cubes.
Black Rock has a wonderful, helpful staff and is a great spot for a private party, or just to hang out.
This is a GREAT little neighborhood bar. My boyfriend's rugby team  routinely makes this their post game/practice stop and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites for a few reasons.
1) Atmosphere - There is ample space with a long bar in the front and tables that give way to a large back room with a pool table, couches, and another bar. Even with a decent sized crowd, the spacing keeps you from feeling claustrophobic and allows a conversation at a reasonable level. The music provides a good background and doesn't distract from the beer and conversation vibe. When I came in this past week, they had Barack Obama's speech on the audio and most televisions with the Cubs game (during a marquee series) on a few scattered tvs. It was the perfect balance for the socially aware sports freak.
2) Drinks - The beer list is extensive and includes a variety of micro brews and organic selections. It's also on display on a LARGE board above the bar for those who would like to ponder their selection without asking "do you have.." a million times. I'm not a beer drinker, but my eyes were drawn upward, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Woodchuck on tap. Â As a bonus, you can expect to pay about a dollar or so less than what you would pay in a bar a bit further east.
3) Food - Everything I've tasted here has been delicious. Most recently, I tried the BLT flatbread and enjoyed this interesting dish that tasted like a BLT but was served like a square cut personal pizza. It was delicious and the presentation was possibly the best that I've seen an any bar. The food looked as appetizing as it tasted, and the garnishment was impressive.
4) Staff - My boyfriend tends to get the perks of being a regular, however the very first time I came here was with my roommate. The bar was slow and the bartender was nice enough to approach us as we sat at our table and inform us that they had sent the server home and that he'd bring us our drinks. When he returned, he said he'd try and keep and eye on us, but apologized if he got tied up and we had to come up to the bar once in a while. Every subsequent visit has been just as well served leaving me with the impression that the entire staff truly enjoys their job.
Black Rock is the perfect example of a non pretentious good time whether it be for a quick weekday bite and a brew or a bottomless pint glass on a Saturday night. Who knew?
I decided to hit up Black Rock on a weekend night for my second visit. Mostly I wanted to get far away from the Wrigley crawl, and I wanted to be able to have an actual conversation without yelling....BUT I also wanted to check out Black Rock on a weekend night. Â I LOVE it! This is definitely a good bar to hang with friends or if on a date.
I was entertained on this particular night by a very drunk man who proceeded to slur to my friend and I about his latest 'novel' covering the topic of women and how men feel about them. Hmmmm...yes it was quite entertaining and I think he wanted to slap me or throw a drink in my face, because I disagreed with every one of his stereotypical theories. I hope he is reading this, b/c Yah gonna NEED to talk to more women before attempting to publish bullshi* or use this as a pick up line!!!HA!
Ok...The bartenders are really cool and personable. They make actual conversation, and strong drinks, which IS 5 stars in my book. They  were also happy to make me a dirty martini, but made sure to tell me that this was NOT a martini bar. I appreciated that...and It was a good martini! This bar also has a great vibe, and good music on the jukebox.  There are pool tables in the back, and many tables to spread out. The bar  itself is old, wooden and beautiful.  A large moose head also hangs behind the bar, and I have decided to affectionately call him Milo.
I will be back because Black Rock ...ROCKS!
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