After a week in chicago & first time in the US, our final night at buddy guys was going to be the cherry on top. We've already had GREAT times at Kingston mines, blue Chicago & underground wonder bar. However the front-of house staff wouldn't let us in without the right ID, refused to even look at our id's; (Norwegian visa-cards with photo & birth date which have worked on the few other locations where we've been id'd) Just for the record, I'm 27, my bf's 40. There was NO queue and he had plenty of time to be polite about it, but he was so RUDE! "go back to your hotel and get a proper id" well surely we jumped in a taxi, but going back is never an option for us, all due to the rude staffmember. Shame on you!!! (how on earth can this be such a popular place?)
Review Source:$5 for students? Â YES!
What an amazing place. We were late for a show at the Jazz Showcare nearby so where's the next jazz place?
A simple search on Yelp turned up this gem.
Wow. The band that came out tonight blew us away. So good. It's a 'grungier' environment than most typical jazz places but still had a fun vibe.
What a night. Thank you Yelp!
The show was amazing. Â It's awesome to get so close to a Blues Legend. Â He really interacts with the crowd with his wireless guitar. Â
My only gripe is I wish they had more seats because we had to stand for the entire show. Â It also gets really crowded, but Buddy walks around through the entire crowd and even goes outside playing on the street.
I can check this off my bucket list...I saw Buddy Guy perform from the front row!
We had to get in line at 11, doors open at 12 and Buddy starts to play at 9. I don't wait in line for anything, but this was well worth it.
Since we had so much time to kill, we had plenty of time to try the food and drink.
The bloody marys are quite good. They messed up our order of chicken wings but when they finally came out they were pretty good and HUGE. Everything else we had was a bit above average but not outstanding. The BBQ looked and smelled great but we didn't try any.
The opening performers were great and got increasingly better, and then Buddy comes on and blows it out of the muddy water! He has a ton of energy for a 76 year old! He kept the crowd very engaged and gave us our money's worth!
My only criticism is at the end, Buddy will shake hands and sign autographs. We waited in line to have him sign our tickets. When we finally got up there, his goon assistant said, "Buddy doesn't sign that." We were confused and asked for clarification. "Buddy doesn't sign stuff that you don't buy" We said, "we did buy it, $62 x 4 tickets...plus we had a $400 bar bill! He just shook his head....
So, I'm still giving this 5 stars but am tempted to give it 4 just because of our experience at the end.
Keep it up Buddy!
A trip to Buddy Guy's Legends is a luxury for any blues lover, but an absolute MUST for a Chicago Blues lover! Buddy loves his club and often comes to hang out at the bar. Â Look for him and say hi to him. He loves his fans. His hot January shows really warm up those cold Chicago nights. The music will follow you home!
Review Source:Wow! Â What an amazing place! Â Had our company holiday party here (12/8/12) and was blown away! Â The food was fantastic, the service was amazing and the venue was great! Â Randy, the manager, was a pleasure to work with and delivered on everything he promised us. Â We kep getting rave revue's from all of the employees!
Review Source:I have grown up with the blues since I was 15 to the tune (no pun intended) of Fenton Robinson to the Brooks Family, who are close family friends. Â I know the blues and its artists well, and have frequented many establishments over the years to enjoy this very Chicago genre of music. Â Buddy Guys's is lowest on my list, due to their horrific customer service and treatment of their patrons. Â They are rude, and their is no guaranteed seating. Â It is first come first serve, with many tables sit unoccupied with coats and other belongings on them, on a busy night, and the staff is of absolutely no help to assist you with seating. Â On the countrary, they are sarcastic, turn their back on you, and roll their eyes when you politely, and simply inquire about getting a table. Â Unbelievable!!! Â The front counter crew upon entry is not very friendly either.
I took some friends of mine from Spain to see some traditional Chicago Blues to Buddy Guy's last summer, and was treated so rudely by a server when I inquired about seating that I was astonished! Â How does this place do such a phenomenal business with such horribly mannered staff? Â There are so many great venues in Chicago, I would never go back to Buddy Guys-EVER! Â I hate to sound like Taylor Swift but NEVER, EVER spend your hard-earned money to be treated like crap by the disrespectful staff at Buddy Guy's. Â Go to Kingstone Mines, or Fitzgeralds, or anywhere else but there.
Big blues club. Â Bright, clean and popular. Â Come at least an hour early to get a seat. Â Had some great acts and Buddy himself was hanging out near the front door. Â Food was pretty good. Â We had a soul food/bbq plate. Â Service was good. Â Maybe it was a bit touresty, but it's nice to see an upscale blues club, with guitars of famous bluesmen mounted on the walls.
Review Source:If you like jazz you will like this place. Just get there early on the weekend so you can get a table. We ended up getting in for free thanks to a family friend and once we got a table ordered something random off the menu. I forget what I ordered because the music was so good. Normally I remember anything negative about food so they must have done alright with it.
Buddy Guy only plays certain times of the year, in the winter months I believe. You can check their website for his dates (if you are really wanting to see Buddy Guy).
I was staying at a nearby hotel and just happened into this place to get a couple drinks around midnight on a Friday. I'm not really a blues/jazz type person and have been to Kingston Mines many times but the music here was catchy, even if it wasn't my type.
The drinks were good, the staff was friendly and the prices were right. I'd actually make a trip down here now and then to come back!
Rarely give a 1-star review but Buddy Guy's has earned it.
I had the gumbo and cornbread as an appetizer and that should've been my cue to quit while I was ahead. While the gumbo wasn't horrible it certainly was FAR from the best I've ever eaten.
I ordered a blackened chicken breast sandwich and while it's not on the menu the waitress said there would be no problem to make it. When the food arrives my chicken sandwich looks exactly like mIy friend's even though she ordered hers plain. So I ask the waitress about it and she informs me that the cook prepared my sandwich incorrectly.
Fast forward 10 minutes and my sandwich arrives. It looks just like my other friend's chicken breast but hers was supposed to be Cajun. OK, whatever... I'm over it at this point. Didn't matter because it had NO flavor. Yeah the season had a slight kick but that's about it. Any store bought seasoning can do that. The chicken itself was flavorless and after all of that I didn't even eat half of it.
I might return to Buddy's just to hear the music and have drinks but I'll never have the food again.
The waitress was really nice and apologetic about everything so that was a plus. The artist performing, Breezy, was also pretty good. He was engaging and definitely easy on the eyes.
JAM SESSION ON MONDAYS STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN -- AND IT'S WORKED MY LAST NERVE.
I know the heritage of Chicago urban blues -- I play it and I teach it. Â I see how excited visitors are to Buddy's club to be listening to authentic city blues. Â And to be honest, I've only been in the club on jam session Mondays where I hope to sit in. Â Things I take for granted have a different take for the more-than-decent Japanese bass player who I played with a couple years back. Â He was good! Â He was into it!
Can't say the same for recent jam sessions with either host. Â The place was packed to the gills tonight -- and I think the same standards that management would expect for a paid artist can be applied at least to some degree to the players who step on that stage. Â I just stood 30 minutes, drink in hand, having traveled 70 blocks from the south side to sit in. Â I watched some yokel from Texas completely hog the stage. Â I've seen it quite a number of times before -- where the guitar is so loud that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING else was a wash. Â But while the host guzzled a beer in the vestibule, this numb-nut played a 10 minute song in one chord. Â ONE CHORD. Â Even the bass player was like WTF, and the harp guy was pretty much useless. Â And here's another indicator: Â look at the crowd. Â Boredom has set in. Heads droop, the lady to my left is absentmindedly circling the rim of her glass with her finger, the quiet, polite yawns begin. Wouldn't it be nice if our host(s) intervened, moved it along?
1. Â Tell every screaming, cookie-cutter lead guitarist to turn it down -- to respect the other players on the stage. Â They want to be heard, and they want to compliment each other's playing. Â The challenge isn't whether I can play: Â The challenge is, can I catch on quick enough to bring out the best. Â Honest. Â Corny, ain't it?
2. Â Get some new stuff yourself. Â If I hear that guy sing "Turn Back the Hands Of Time" one more year I will honestly scream. Â REALLY. Â All this good blues stuff, old and new, and that's all you got?
3. Â Other host - start on time. Â Booorrrrrrrrrring, I don't care if one of the Chi-Lites is in town. Â He's not a blues musician. Â And unless he's gonna sing "Have You Seen Her?" (which I love), he can sit with the rest of the crowd and do a regal wave.
I'm sooooo disappointed. Â Sucks big time.
Been a fan of Mr. Guy since I was old enough to realize the awesomeness of the blues. Â I've always been particularly fond of Chicago blues. Â We went to the new Legends that is down the street from the old location the last time I was in town. Â It's roomy, clean and has one of the best sound systems I've heard in this type of venue. Â The sound is crystal clear with just the perfect amount of volume. Â There is also a pool hall and bar on the second floor with flat screens showing the stage performance. Â It was pretty empty up there since it is away from the stage.
Buddy just happened to be in the house the night we were there. Â He came up on stage for a couple numbers. Â I would imagine he stops in quite a bit when he is not on the road. Â Would recommend this place to anyone who has a love of blues music.
Quick Summary: Go for a good Blues act, Â but service and food did not impress.
I really wanted to love this place. Â I love blues and live music in general, and I've been waiting to visit this venue for a long time. Â I finally went on Friday with my girlfriend for dinner and the show. Â Night started great...got there around 6:30p and had no problem getting a table. Â We paid no cover since, they didn't start collecting cover until around 8p. Â The acoustic blues act was excellent and provided awesome entertainment as we ate dinner and talked. Â Besides all the cool guitars from super famous guitar legends and a lot of the great Blues memorabilia, the overall design and ambiance of the place was a little on the tacky side. Â Kind of had that restaurant in an amusement park vibe and look...if you know what I mean. Â
Anyway, after ordering our first drink, service just went downhill. Â We had to flag our waitress down after waiting for 15 minutes to put in a food order. Â Then after our drinks were empty, we sat around for a awhile still waiting for our server to walk by our general area to flag her down again. Â Other tables were having the same problem. Â The food we had was poor to just okay. Â Etoufee lacked enough seasoning and although I love crawfish, there needed to be a balance between the fishy taste left by so much crawfish meat. Â Jambalaya was good, Gumbo very average, and bourboun shrimp was way too sweet. Â There food runners/bus guys were great, but we once again waited around for over 15 minutes trying to order another drink. Â We bounced before the main act came on stage and we had to pay cover...not b/c the act was bad, just that I was a little frustrated and didn't want to stay any longer. Â We also had a check dispute with the manager which was resolved, but that did not help with the experience either.
So...I'm sure if you came here for a blues act and got drinks at the bar, you would be totally happy, but just don't have high expectations with service or food. Â I think I'll stay with my go to Blues bar, Kingston Mines.
The music is decent, the seating is great, the stage is big and the crowd is usually friendly and upbeat. The waitresses are most the accomodating you will find,but then again for a $20 cover charge what else can you expect!?
The drinks are poor, but because this isn't a bar I feel safe giving it a three star rating. The food is great, but the portions are gut busters. Please consider ordering one dish and sharing it if you don't want to buy take out. The portions are "southern style", but it is delicious!
Typically, you will see two or three people here and there dancing, but Buddy guy's floor plan is created mostly for dining and watching the show.
Enjoy!
This is a great spot in the South Loop to get some delicious food and listen to awesome musics.
I was here for a friend's birthday party. Our table had loads of awesome drinks and I ordered the fried catfish as my dinner. It was delicious and juicy, just like fried catfish should be.
We came in before cover was necessary, so I didn't have to pay. We did see some good live music and enjoyed our dinner/booze during the performance. Dig it! Great entertainment joint in the south loop.
Alright a $ 20 cover is bit...capitalism at its worst/ best....whichever but it is in between House of Blues and Kingston Mines after all.
But, the food was solid. The chicken wings looked crispy and the drinks were stiff, fair and generous.
And of course, the music doesn't disappoint. After all, it is an old time Chicago Blues destination piece more authentic than the H.O.B.
So, swallow that cover and enjoy the ride. It's gritty. It's raw. Oh, read up on the acts and come around 8pm to get stellar seats.
In the end, it's way better than a movie to take a date or just to go with friends.
I've been a patron at this club for 10 years, It seems since they moved to the new location, the employees have gotten more rude, uncaring, and at times even snotty.
VERY unprofessional.
The same waitress that was seen on the floor eating was...doing it again! My waitress ignored me and another had to step in and take care of me. I tipped her well!
There is a STRICT "no video taping" the bands, THE ONLY CLUB IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA that does not allow this, for reasons unknown...
The food is good however, but it will be a last resort as my destination in the future.
What's not to like? Good barbeque, delicious gumbo, pasta, and cornbread, and live music!! I drank, ate, and danced here and had an excellent time.
I'm not from Chicago, and have noticed that a lot of places out here seem to be averse to taking credit cards. One of the people in our party wanted to pay for his coke with his card, and the server rudely told him that she wasn't going to ring up $2.50 on his card. Just like that. No further explanation or apology.
I've been meaning to come here for a while, ever since my boss told me about Buddy Guy and the legend behind him. When my cousin from France visited and asked me if I could take her to a blues club, I thought it was the perfect opportunity! Unfortunately, Buddy Guy's disappointed us.
There was a $20 cover per person. This was a bit steep for me, but I paid it anyway because I wanted to show my cousin, her boyfriend and their friend a good time in Chicago.
There was no place to sit, and we ended up sitting in the back. We felt especially bad for other people who had no seat whatsoever, particularly if they were much older than us.
The music was not so great either. I don't know about you, but modern blues is weird to me. I like the older sounds, but then again, as my supervisor would tell me, I have an old soul. I was not impressed. We stayed for approximately two hours to get our money's worth, but in the end, we decided it was time to go.
Not really impressed with the place. Â The food is good, but the service was terrible. Â I think they are lacking waitstaff, but the current waitstaff seems to be uninterested in making sure the patrons are taken care of.
The venue lacks much character. Â I've been at better blues clubs in Chicago.
My experience here was completely underwhelming. They charged $40 cover and standing room only. Also, if you're between the ages of 20-30, this is probably not the place for you. I felt out of place and quickly left after an hour or so.
The best part of coming here was ordering Buddy's Bucket (fish filet, fried crawfish, fried chicken, fried okra - yes, okra ) and discovering that it's about the size of two extra large kfc buckets dumped onto a plate. No i wasn't eating this by myself, but even w/ two people it would take like a week and a day to finish that. Take home story - bring six of your friends if you plan to eat it.
The place has a great wall display of guitars. However, I've never had worse service from bartenders in my life. Â I tipped the food runner instead, since he actually cared if I had my entire order and tools to eat it with. Â These bartenders need a lesson in customer service. One bartender took my order then left for a half hour. When I asked for my check from the other bartender he said I had to wait until she returned, but he couldn't say when that would be. Â I finally tracked down the nice food runner who found her. Yet, she still didn't return to the bar for another ten minutes. Â Needless to say, I was late to the event I was planning to attend after dinner.
My favorite part was when I was missing my baked potato to go with the salad, even though I asked to receive them together, the bartender shrugged and said to me: "it'll be out when it 's ready". Â And that's point when she took her long lunch break!
I can't stress how rude she was when she didn't receive a 20% tip, as she announced to the whole bar that we didn't tip her enough. Â
Time for a new job for this bartender and for the other one to lose the attitude that it's ok for customers to wait around until another employee returns from a half hour lunch break (or whatever that was)
I would give this place all five stars, if not the barman. EVERYTHING was perfect, except him. We went there on a week day with my friend, who came to visit me and see Chicago, and she is a big fan of blues, so she asked me, if I know some blues clubs around. We ended up in Buddy Guy's Legend. We were seating near the bar, very close to the scene. Unbelievably talented band from South Side and at the very end of concert - Buddy Guy himself. We enjoyed every single second of the concert!
My only complain is that barman was ignoring me for 20 minutes and wasn't nice to us. But the food was fine.
I have been told that this is the premiere jazz club in Chicago, and I can see why.
This club is pretty happening on the weekend. There was a 20 dollar cover, even for standing room only. Live Jazz band and small dance floor. Fortunately we were able to find five chairs at the bar. However, we weren't able to see Buddy Guy, the famous Jazz musician, but we were able to listen to authentic jazz music.
I've never personally been into jazz music, maybe because I don't know anything about it, but as the music played and I downed a few more drinks, everything started sounding so good. I had fun. It was a great introduction to this music genre. I was dancing in my seat.
The people who frequent this bar are a little older as you imagine (30s and up). My friends and I got hit on by a very beligerent gentleman who kept on thinking that we were fresh off a plane from Asia. Come on guy, you can't be that ignorant. Sure enough he was because he kept asking us "how we liked America?" all night. Go figure.
I saw so many people just dancing the night away, not caring about what other people thought. Of course I had to see a weird Asian guy dressed like John Travolta in Saturday NIght Fever trying to pull up any woman within snatching distance. hahah At least he was having fun and making friends.
The staff are really friendly and the bouncer was even joking around with us about the whole "welcome to America" thing. hahah
I've been wanting to come here for quite some time and my soon to expire Groupon is the reason I finally showed up.
The guy at the door greeted us and told us to seat ourselves. We walked in and noticed everyone was kinda fighting for seats in the main area near the stage. didn't want any parts of that so we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. They really need a system in place that seats people where there is room in an orderly fashion. Saw an older woman complaining about people coming in after her grabbing seats. Older, slower people are obviously at a disadvantage.
Once we made it to the bar, the one person back there took quite some time to get to us. I told her I had a Groupon and she told me to talk to the guy at the door and come back and give it to her. When I got to the guy he had this huge Groupon list where he had to look for my number to check it off....interesting.
Made it back to the bar and ordered a few beers and some food. As as appetizer we went with the bouron shrimp covered in rice which was good. My entree was the catfish po boy sandwich which was very good. Actually some of the best catfish I have had in quite some time. One thing I noticed is that the people behind the bar were a little confused with who ordered what at times. Our actual server totally checked out whereas some other girl seemed more intersted on what we actually ordered. The food was good but we waited a nice amount of time for it.
The music was ok as we listened to some guy playing an acoustic guitar. After 8:30, they charge a cover of $20 for the real show.
This place is obviously a tourist attraction as there were peeps coming in taking pics of some of the pics of famous blues artists. This place was ok to me, but didn't give me the feel of one of those old down home blues joints. Will I come back? Yeah, at some point
Intimate, great view of the stage. We got there probably around 1 AM and did not have to pay cover! The place was crowded, but comfortably so. Most seats were taken but the place still has plenty of standing room. There was even an impromptu dance floor in the middle!
The vibe is very laid back and casual with a diverse audience, though leaning slightly more to the 35+ crowd.
This is where my company's softball team goes every Monday night after our games because it's the closest, decent bar to the Grant Park softball fields. I think the main draw is the size of the place and the fact that it's never crowded when we go, so we have no problem getting seating for 10+ people.
Despite the fact that this place is almost always empty when we go, the service is mysteriously slow pretty much every time. Once a waitress arrives, I suggest you order everything at once because it might be a very long time before she appears again. We usually get several $6 pitchers and some appetizers, which can be hit and miss. I recently had fried catfish, which I thought was decent, but the grilled chicken sandwich I had at one point was mediocre. Other people in the group ordered chicken wings, which they said were very bland. The quality of the food just seems to vary depending on the dish.
Obviously Buddy Guy's is known for their music, but I really can't comment on that since we always leave before the music starts.
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