This place is a  safety choice whenever the night is rudderless.  The last stop before I head home but I don't go out too much anymore.  If I happen to find myself out past the witching hour (2am) then I will probably be here.  Food is decent, drinks are fair and service is prompt and accurate.
Review Source:Take a pass on this place. Â While the food is okay the service is terrible. Â Our waitress was slow forgot to bring soup and when I asked for an extra napkin I never got it.The place wasn't that busy but the staff seemed preoccupied with other things. Â Aren't they there to wait on tables? Â Anyway, it's Saturday night, the dining room is half empty, the lights we're very bright, no music and at the next table the wait staff is rolling silverware into napkins. So much for a nice dining expeirence and ambience! Â This is the third time I have had diner here and it will be my last. Â BTW all 3 times I tried to order their signature chicken dish and they were out.
Review Source:While I really hate to give this place two stars, I'm afraid that's what I have to do... I've been coming here off and on for years, my parents used to come here as well,and unfortunately it just seems like it's not as good as the last time,everytime. I will comment that the pizza is still pretty good as well as the blackened chicken w pasta. I don't know, maybe I'm a little to blue collar for this place and it's crowd now,maybe it's me,Fireside,and not you...but at any rate,it's pretty much just one of those places that gets my business late when there's no where else to go.
Review Source:You must dine in the rear area past the bar area, not in the main dining room. Â It's much better in the back. Â They have a good wine and beer selection and offer a very intimate setting for daters. Â Try the blackened chicken and pasta. Â To die for! Â The cajun meatloaf disappointed me last time as it was a bit hard and crumbly. Â I noticed the bar area was a bit blue collar for my taste, FYI.
Review Source:I'd like to preface this review by saying that I have eaten here many many times and this was my first negative experience. This time I chose delivery and what a terrible mistake. The food was COLD! This food just doesn't travel well.
Now lets get to the food. We ordered the crab cake appetizer and when they say crab cake they mean crab cake. There was just one burger patty sized cake that was largely flavorless and drenched in tartar sauce. The huge quantity of sauce should have been a giveaway. I also ordered a smothered burger which was again flavorless and a huge disappointment. The Swiss must have been bargain bin cause it added nothing whatsoever to the flavor. The burger had the right amount of mushrooms and onions though again they lacked any flavor perhaps due to either low quality ingredients or products past their prime. The burger itself could be improved by adding some seasoning though there was a pleasant hint of char.
The delivery came with one set of plastic cutlery for 2 people (wife ordered her own entree) and zero condiments. This place is on the downslide. Corner cutting has taken this place from a previous favorite to an also ran. I may give them another shot but it will only be because I either don't have other options or I am too drunk to remember how bad it was.
Up until our great service by Cala on Friday, I was planning to give this place 1 star. Â If I was reviewing her service alone, I would give 5 stars but the combination of past poor service, dirty dining environment and so-so food have lowered the review.
I've been to Fireplace 3 times in the last 3 months.  The first time the food was ok although my ravioli was literally served in a giant bowl of soup.  The second time we went for brunch.  The service was ridiculously slow, and frankly horrible (took forever just to take an order) and our food came out cold.  My boyfriend's food was good once it was reheated, but my steak sandwich literally had zero flavor so I smothered it with steak sauce.  The last time we went was Friday.  Both our bread plates were dirty with food stuck to it and my water glass has something crusted on the outside - gross.  The table on my side was also sticky - double gross.  Then along comes Cala (got this name off the receipt so it's possible it's short for something else).  This server had the entire dining room and was busting her butt with all 8 occupied tables.  She was friendly, helpful and honestly saved what was going to be a fairly negative review of this place based on previous experiencedining  there.  It's doubtful we will be back but Cala was a phenomenal server and left us with a more postiive experience,
So in a nutshell:
+5 stars Cala
-1 star bad service before
-1 star mediocre food
-1 star dirty dishware and table
Their pizza alone could make this an excellent review, but I love this place for it's three-part charm. 1) Take your parents to the dining room, 2) dine with groups in the year-round patio, or 3) have a great (and noisy) brunch with close friends in the bar.
The menu reminds me of one of my favorite childhood restaurants - modified and appropriated fare for American tastes. While it runs the gamut from Italian to Mexican or Mac & Cheese, they do everything well.
Awful, just AWFUL. Â Went there tonight, a Friday night. Â We were luckily seated at a wobbly table that was just in the perfect spot for every server to bump us as they went by. Â OK, that happens, but it gets better when several tables that came in after us get their orders taken. Maybe the food will save them....NOPE. Â The following is a direct paste from their weekly specials "Spicy Bacon Wrapped Scallops. Succulent sea scallops wrapped in crispy bacon then dredged in our special blend of Cajun spices." Hey, we love scallops. Â So after 20 minutes of waiting we order our scallop appetizer and entrees Cajun Meatloaf for me, Spinach and Mushroom Ravioli (Another weekly special) for my wife. Â The scallops finally come out. Â Holy crap! Â These things came out on a plate of shredded lettuce and pico de gallo! Â These weren't just scallops wrapped in crispy bacon, they were pieces of warm ham stuffed with a micro scallop. Â Did they steam these? Â Nothing crispy, no spice, except for the wonderful cup of spicy mayo or some garbage like that. Â I'm still being patient at this point, and just laughing it off while the table wobbles, maybe dinner will be ok. Â Well after another 20 or so minutes our dinner comes out. Â Direct paste from their menu: "Two slices of our moist and hearty meatloaf generously laced with smoked Andouille sausage direct from New Orleans. Served with marinara au jus." Â Its easy to make a moist meatloaf when you cover it with a can of crushed tomatoes, I was unaware it was supposed to be served room temp. Â Maybe it was a red wine? Â No sign of sausage. Â I opted for the side of mashed potatoes with this. Â You ask yourself, can they screw that up? Â YES they can! Â I found a half of an uncooked potato in mine and just as warm as my meatloaf. Â My wife on the other hand was blessed with what may have been Trader Joe's ravioli thawed out and doused in oil (maybe olive?). Â While considering placing my dinner near the fireplace to warm up, servers bumped our already unstable table a dozen or so more times. Â I'm so glad our server did not stop by to ask how we were through dinner. Â It was just a nice touch at the end. Â I'm glad we didn't have a far drive home so I can poop this out. Â Oh, yes I already had to poop. Â I've lived in this city my entire life and my wife moved here 3 years ago and she said "This is truly the only bad meal I've had since moving here." Â Â I understand where she's coming from. Â Thank you.
Review Source:Don't judge a book by its cover!  We pull up to this place with our two young children and I'm concerned, on the outside this place looks like a neighborhood bar!!! I quickly turn to YELP for reviews because I'm wondering if this place would be kid friendly...Upon entering, I was charmed and relieved...Nice family environment to the left, bar setting to the right... Had the blackened burger, thanks to the waiter for such great suggestion, and a pear drink from their fall selection, fantastic!!! Everything was delish, reasonably priced...The service was outstanding, our waiter was superb, made our family feel comfortable, definitely 5 star restaurant type of catering, loved our waiter... The fireplace was inviting, and the décor super homey...We are def coming back...
Review Source:Fireside is great for lazy weekend afternoons and the Bloody Mary deal makes my liver twitch. Â Also, they have a number of really good brewskis on tap and alternate them frequently. Â The food is large portion but can be hit or miss. Â The menu may be too large and they could probably trim down and do fewer things better. Â Anyway, the brunch and breakfast items are generally tasty; the banana bread french toast is great.
Review Source:Hello there 2013!!! So how does one celebrate the arrival of the new year...why brunch of course. Â I have been here several times, and I will do this review based solely on my brunch experience. Â Let's just say that the service was slower than a turtle with no legs, stuck on molasses.
I must have drank 39 cups of coffee, the waiter didn't forget to keep topping off my cup o' joe. Â Although he probably forgot to put our order in, because it took forever. Â Forever, ever, forever, ever??? Â Yea it did, and I was none too pleased.
I don't care if the Country Fried Steak I ordered tasted like heaven, the lack of expedient service ruined it for me. Â My taste buds went got angry, and it didn't give a crap anymore.
I will say that our server remained professional, and courteous, going as far as taking away the price of one entree from our bill. Â I appreciate it, but that service will haunt my dreams for a long, long, time.
Brunchies and boozies. That sums up the Fireside for me.
After drinking enough beer to kill a pony at The Hopleaf, we moved onto the Fireside since we felt badly about lingering after dinner.
Before the other night, I've only been to the Fireside for brunch, which I've enjoyed. I discovered that I enjoy their after hours fun, as well. They have a great drink selection (including house cocktails) and a nice seating area. I hate hovering on bar stools and The Fireside has some nice tables/booths/etc. DAMN KIDS AND THEIR STINKIN' BAR STOOLS.
Anyway, we had a great time, our waitress was friendly and I would definitely come back for an after dinner drink.
Fireside is charming. I've had the pleasure of dining on the 'patio' as well as the more formal dining room, while also imbibing in a bev or two in the bar area. It's not very accessible via public trans, so plan for a bit of a walk whether you take the red line or bus. I'd say that's my only gripe about the place - location.
The outdoor/indoor (covered and heated in the winter) patio is a lovely space. I'd prefer to sit there or in the bar rather than the formal dining room as the formal space is a little bland for my liking...
This last visit I split the lemon/pepper chicken with my fiance. We had that and the crab cake starter. The crab cake was OK... I'm not a huge fan so I can't really judge it. The split lemon/pepper chicken, however, was pretty outstanding. Not only was the chicken juicy it was also packed with flavor; two things that rarely happen in my household when I cook chicken. I also found it totally awesome that the restaurant split our dishes for us and gave us each heaping portions of veg and rice.
Our server was a great, friendly guy who was quick! He had the whole room under his command and I never felt like I had to wait for him to bring me a drink, etc.
I'd really like to go back for the bloody mary bar and brunch!
I have heard from multiple people that this is a great place for brunch, so after I saw a Groupon for it I knew I had to check it out.
Went there this weekend with a friend during the Bears game and it was definitely three stars - just a-ok. That is just my opinion though. My friend LOVED it. You see, I am not a fan of Bloody Mary's. I think I've had one in my life that didn't make me gag (at Tweet); otherwise to me they all taste like bile. He was a big fan of the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, so that was his highlight.
We both went with a benedict. Me, the crab cake, and him the traditional. Overall the food was decent. My crab cake was a bit on the tiny side. In fact, I couldn't event tell there was a crab cake on the English muffin, because it was completely hidden by the poached egg. Regardless, it had a good taste and the side of potatoes were decent enough.
Overall, if you are looking for a bar with a better than average brunch menu, this is the place. Parking is super easy, it wasn't crowded, and the prices were reasonable.
Will I go back? Unclear, because there are just so many good brunch places around.
I had Thanksgiving dinner here at The Fireside. I think someone else had described it as "serviceable," and I'd have to admit, that hits the nail on the head. Listed on the "specials," Thanksgiving dinner was $18.95. So very reasonable. That included the entree offerings of Roast Turkey, dark and light meat, mashed and sweet potatoes and dressing. (It occurred to me that the president should really pardon a couple of carbs as well as turkeys, since millions of carbs are sacrificed every year, too.)
Nothing green was offered. Had to add on a dinner salad for an additional buck. But no Brussel Sprouts, Green Beans or any veggies at all, which I found a bit unusual. Yet the turkey was moist, the stuffing flavorful, and the piles of sweet and mashed potatoes bigger than my head. The gravies were served in those tiny plastic coleslaw-type containers, and were of the cornstarchy, gloppy variety. I did only eat half, and I accompanied it with a pretty bad martini and then a nice glass of wine. No dessert is included just like the regular menu. No pie for YOU!
I think given the choice again of a not-at-home Thanksgiving dinner, I would repeat what I did last year, and just hit the hot table and salad bar at Whole Foods and cart it home. While I did take home half of my Fireside meal, I did miss the greenery, and I think if one is going out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, it's more fun to save your pennies and do something special like The Drake or The Pump Room. Make it more of a special event. Â The Fireside is nice for burgers and brewskies, but I would skip it for special occasions.
Averaging about two or three visits per year and an occasional pizza delivery for my household, Fireside deserves an update. Â It's close to home and my wife and I keep it in our back pockets for times when we want a comfortable Friday- or Saturday-evening dinner without a lot of hassle. Â It came in handy as a good spot while my folks were visiting recently. Â It's the kind of place that should please everybody.
The food is still very solid and the service too, for the most part. Â Except for our last waitress who was generally very pleasant but then sat down to wrap silverware in the corner with her back to us while my credit card lay unloved inside the bill envelope for about ten minutes. Â And we had to ask for bread after we observed a neighboring table receiving a basket-ful unsolicited. Â But whatever, mostly there are good, effective people here.
Bronzed shrimp, blackened salad, fish and chips, onion rings, lemon pepper chicken with rice, thin crust pizza: Â all good to great. Â The menu is widely varied and I often struggle to choose. Â The beer list is not long, but deep and constantly evolving.
Oh, and the dining room has been de-gramma-ized. Â There's a lot of edgy local art on the walls, but the paint job and the fireplace make it a pretty cozy but contemporary room.
We're happy to have a reliable neighborhood place like this nearby. Â I'm not sure why we haven't tried their brunch yet, but we definitely will sometime.
This place gets five stars for all its emotional associations. It's become nearer and dearer to me over the years. I used to make pit stops  to say hello to my childhood friend, who used to waitress here, and I was breezing through town when I used to live in NYC. Back then, it used to be more of a late-nite, after 2am  place on the weekends for bar food and drinks.
Since then, I'm pleased to say that it appears that the place has "grown up," and rounded out its daytime offerings, and expanded in size even.
The all you can eat buffet brunch on special holidays is amazing. So are all the trimmings offered in the DIY Bloody Mary bar.
This place's versatility makes it so appealing to stop by any time of the day, even for a drink early on the weekend before heading out for the rest of the evening.
I was taken here with a couple of girlfriends or a quick dinner before heading out to our nightly festivities.
It's nice that a place like this in the city has their own parking lot. That's a bonus, but it's really small so don't come thinking it can fit 20 vehicles.
Upon walking in, the restaurant itself is located to the left with restrooms to the right. Interesting layout. The inside felt as if it was a house converted to a restaurant. Like the living area and dining area were combined I be a general eating area.
Our waitress knew that we were in a rush. This place doesn't seem like it would be swamped with customers. The menu was an interesting one. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich on french bread with the country mash. The sandwich was plain, but thank goodness I was able to dip it in the gravy which made it more appetizing. the mash was good due to the fact that it still had the potato skins in there. That's always a good sign that it didn't come from a box. You definitely need the gravy for these though, it's not good standing alone.
A girlfriend of mine order the meatloaf sandwich which is interesting to say the least. She didn't care for the meatloaf as it was 'watered down'. Another girlfriend had the broccoli with shells in a Parmesan cheese sauce and it was a huge portion. She said it was good and was not able to finish the whole thing as it was too big of a dish.
Our waitress was able to split the bill 5 ways which was very nice of her. Many places don't allow that since your party is considered too big. It was a satisfying light dinner, but I don't think I'd come black here for a real dinner. The patio outside did look nice, so we could come back for some drinks and a light meal.
This place is within walking distance and always has an open seat...always. Â It's a good neighborhood joint when you want a place to have a few drinks, and some pub grub style food. Â They have a bar area that's separate from their dining area, so it's your choice if you want to play it up for dinner, or play it down for just some drinks. Â It's a bigger space than you'd think from looking at the outside, as they have a large patio in the back, large dining room, large bar, and outside patio. Â The service is good, and today I had the Fireside Classic burger. Â It was cooked well and had cheese and bacon. Â I am a big fan of tater tots as a side, so I was pleased that was available. Â There was a host (owner?) there tonight who was very friendly and even offered to sit with me for dinner if my date didn't show up~! Â I haven't seen him before, but if they're stepping up their customer service, it's a good thing.
The deliver food and their kitchen is open very late every night. Â They also deliver beer, which is both strange and pleasant. Â The ambiance is relaxed and home-y and their drink selection is vast for a neighborhood spot. Â The food is decent, but it's the other elements that will make your visit a good one.
Ever since moving to the hood, I have been here about 5 times. It's homey, with an eclectic crowd, good service and low prices. Â The staff is really nice, with a pretty decent juke box selection.The menu is surprisingly huge, and their Sunday Bloody Mary bar is da bomb. As far as late-night divey, drinking destinations go, Fireside is definitely cool.
Review Source:This place has the best "ribs" in town period.  They have a smoker in the back that just makes the meat glide off the bone.  It doesn't  get any better than that.
The bb sauce has just the right amount of spice and kick. Â I think they make it in house. Â You gotta try this you won't be disappointed. Â The staff too is on the ball.
Bottom line a great experience.
Fireside to me is like that token familiar place you can always fall back on when your clueless about heading out for a meal. Â At different times in my life, it's been a place to hang with friends or go and find them. Â As a bar, it's best when you bring others. Â Since the place is usually filled with couples and parties rather than singles. Â Since its located within the neighborhood they seldom get walk-in's off the street or at least that's been my experience. Â
When I was in my younger twenties I'd often stop in here with a crew of people I worked with locally. Â We'd order a bunch of items for sharing. Â Often ordering a starter with marinara sauce and goats cheese, such a simple combination that tasted divine and the house hummus served with triangle portions of pita bread, celery and carrots. Â Both items not found on today's menu, which I consider a good thing because it means their menu is changing with the times. Â As a restaurant I've done Sunday brunch, occasional late night dinners, etc. Â There isn't any menu item that stands out nor is there any detail about the drinking which is notable. Â The food & beverage is pretty average. Â Well, their bloody Mary bar is probably their most notable feature which most Chicagoans on the Northside may have heard about. Â Also the outdoor beer garden in the rear has a tall ceiling composed of tents I want to say. Â I can't remember. Â I'm not a youngin' any longer that finds seating out there "all that". Â Nowadays if I am here its because my friends dragged me here, kicking and screaming. Â A seat on their patio out front with a couple pizzas and a few drinks. Â It's a place we can sit and those that smoke can still be a part of the conversation. Â Just a few steps away of course.
Their sidewalk patio is dog friendly.
I think it's a very charming place. They have a big indoor patio!. I I enjoyed the great ambience and great service. It's nice to come with friends, family and co-workders. Pricing are reasonable. Appetizers are around $7-$8, and main are $8-$10. I ordered restaurant recommended - home made crab cake and smothered burger. The food taste were good enough.
Review Source:Ventured here for Craft Beer week, otherwise I don't think I would have ever made it this far north.
After the drive, we walked up and I felt certain that I was no longer in Chicago - it appeared to be in a residential area and there is a large patio in front of the bar. Â Kind of reminds me of biker bars from the past. Â In any case, the bar was pretty crowded, we got seats and began to drink a few of the best beers I've had recently. Â There was a Founder's focus that evening, but I had specialty Dogfish Head (Saison du Buff) which was outstanding!
Great summer feel, quality beer, friendly crowd and staff = repeat.
Fireside is the epitome of a 3 star Yelp review. The service is so-so, I've had decent servers and some that were just horrible. The fact that I've been multiple times shows that it's not too bad of a place. They have a big menu and the dinner portions are great for the price, but I never leave saying "wow, that was great". Â
It is exactly what you'd expect it to be, a serviceable place to have some food and drinks in an area where there aren't a whole lot of options.
I wanted to like this place. Â The Fireside Restaurant has free parking, ample seating, great beer selection and friendly staff. Â The problem is that the service and food is below par and not professional.
We sat down and had to wait 10 minutes for our drink order. Â It was a busy night, but was in no way packed, so I cannot provide a pass on our having to wait. Â Our food orders were missing key ingredients, such as pico de gio on our appetizer. Â My burger was missing both the cheese and bacon. Â It also failed to be served with ketchup, mustard, etc. Â We furthermore had to remind the waiter about our drink order... twice.
As much as the order was messed up, I would have given the Fireside a passing grade if the food was worth the wait and aggravation. Â The food was not good, you get a better meal at Costco. Â My wife's Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia was below Long John Silver standards. Â My burger was bland and tasteless. Â After I returned the burger for the Cheese and Bacon which the waiter initially forgot, it was delivered to me back with a cold piece of cheese casually placed on top.
Folks, as I stated when I started this review I want to like this place. Â Neighborhood restaurants in Chicago are typically great. Â Even dive bars have decent food. Â The Fireside just fails miserably in regards to the quality and taste of the food. If you live in the area, stop by for a drink or two, just stay away from the food menu.
I have such mixed feelings about Fireside. It's right around the corner from me and is consistently a cozy, comfortable place.
But their food is mediocre and their service is disappointing. While their burgers and salads are great, the rest of their menu is fairly boring. I recently ordered their gouda mac & cheese, and couldn't even finish it. While i'll go there, i'll never be wowed by the food. Recently their service has gone downhill; it's taken me 20 minutes to get a drink, and you practically have to put on a show to flag down your server to order. The crowning affair was when my card was charged completely wrong, and after a 10 minute conversation with our server, we still left having paid the totally wrong amount.
The bottom line is that Fireside is a great place to go split a bottle of wine with a good friend, or to sample a beer. Their late night delivery is perfect for when you are sick on the couch. But overall they don't live up to their image.
Fireside is one of my favorite spots in the Roger's Park area! They have a great bar and even nicer dining area, huge patio, ample parking. This place has a really nice, cozy pub feel.
I go here quite regularly, the service is always great, really friendly staff. The boyfriend enjoys the large beer selection and is currently obsessed with their cajun meatloaf sandwich. I love the pesto shrimp pizza with perfect thin, crispy crust & the spicy blackened chicken pasta - sooo seriously good. Their fish and chips are really great too. Randomly, their mashed potatoes are seriously the best I've ever tasted.
Their delivery is quality too. First time I ever ordered from Fireside I got their Jack'ed Up Burger (BBQ sauce & onion straws) with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side (I couldn't resist) for delivery. I was particularly impressed with their packaging. I've never had a burger and mashed potatoes delivered before but Fireside does it well. No crappy styrofoam packing - burger was juicy, bun was NOT a soggy mess and the potatoes & gravy came in a separate container in perfect tasty condition.
Just last week I had their Thanksgiving Day dinner with the boyfriend and his mom in the dining area and it was awesome! Way better than cooking. I was totally impressed their turkey was not dry. Really good stuffing & their awesome mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. My bf & his mom both got the prime rib & said it was cooked to perfection. I sampled some and I can vouch that it was delicious!
I also really love that Fireside has a huge fun drink selection - especially at the Holidays. They have a huge list of festive specialty drinks. Their Raspberry Truffle is LIFE CHANGING. Â Plus the Apple Pie Martini, and the Glogg .... need I go on? Particularly fun to go with a group of friends and enjoy great drinks & food and share in the holiday spirit. Â Will be back here for many many more times to come.
My receipt from here tells me to support local business. Â I am all for supporting local business - unless it's (at best) mediocre food and bipolar service. Â I've been here many times since my girlfriend introduced it to me. Â Three years' worth of visits. Â It's tucked away by the graveyard, where I'm sure they sourced my latest waitress. Â This last experience has finally spurred me to review this place from the sheer disbelief at the inconsistent service and unpredictable food. Â
Note: Mediocre food and above average service has consistently been observed during regular hours. Â Terrible food and equally terrible service typically occurs late at night. Â They have a full menu until they close in the wee hours of two or three. Â Maybe they shouldn't try to do a full menu that late. Â What they do not have is a decent wait staff later at night, as I only observed a single frazzled woman hell bent on maintaining her composure so as not to resort to stabbing her table guests in the eyes. Â "We all have bad days'" I figured - I want calamari, let's be polite. Â So in we go into what I will be my last venture here.
First, let me state that my waitress glared at us approaching the exterior patio and didn't verbally acknowledge my girlfriend nor myself as we walked towards the outside deck. Â We passed her by, due to the need to get out of her way as she entered the kitchen. Â Polite eye contact was met with the "I am upset with being the only waitress for the outside area" look. Â Fair enough. Â We get seated. Â I asked a question about the menu. Â She must have remembered the Seinfeld episode wherein George gets the middle finger from his waitress delivered through a supposedly innocuous facial scratch. Â Lady, I'm onto you - but the look in your eyes tells me you already knew that. Â What the hell is the matter with you?
I would've forgiven this remarkable display of continued hostility, even when she later loudly slammed a baby seat atop a precariously stacked tower located directly adjacent to and above our table, were it not for the food. Â I was mildly amused by her antics actually, as I knew I'd reference it here. Â But the food was unforgivable. Â I will tolerate shitty, stupid service for food of quality I cannot be bothered to prep or possibly create with my level of skill. Â But I could've prepared the meal I paid for by deliberately failing in every basic cooking principle. Â I paid for fucked up food, and that pisses me off.
My rice was loaded with diced tomatoes and it was chewy. Â Throw diced tomatoes on it! That'll doctor up overcooked rice. Â I tried to ignore the rice with my vegetables that looked freshly picked from the cemetery nearby. Â They were tough, cold, and soggy. Â Freezer burned, or cooked in the microwave. Â Probably both. Â Strange mix of soggy zucchini and tough green beans that looked lifeless. Â Brilliant way to tie in their location I guess. Â The crowning jewel was the protein: a chicken that was feared to be a zombie evidenced by being cooked twice through. Â Dry, flavorless, and sad. Â The hamburger the SO had was also bland and somehow managed to soak the bottom bun, which was evidently toasted. Â How the hell that was accomplished I don't know. Â The calamari was the only positive. Â And it was forgettable.
My girlfriend says the ambiance is nice, but she's been there since she was in the sixth grade. Â So I guess memory flavors her palate - it doesn't mine. Â Still, she concedes the quality here has steadily declined. Â And from this most recent experience, the decline is accelerating to a plummet. Â At least as far as the restaurant portion is concerned - so if you decide to go here, do so for drinks. Â The people in the bar were having a great time. Â I was jealous. Â The music in there was good too. Â In general, the drinks here are great or just way too strong on the alcohol. Â Neither of which is a problem given the issues of some establishments banking on the placebo effect. Â
The $30 per person price tag you get for the whole restaurant experience (with drinks) is not OK. Â I had better deals for similar, if not cheaper, cost near the loop at The Scout and Sable. Â Jaded with this experience, I went to these places afterwards with the thought that it would be more expensive but have a higher standard. Â I was half right. Â l got better value/treatment for my money in River North and SoLo than Fireside; and I somehow spent less.
I don't know why I love Fireside so much, but I do. Â It's a neighborhood gem that falls somewhere between cozy and dive-y. Â I always seem to come back for more.
The space is really diverse. Â When you go in, you can either go left into the Little House on the Prairie dining room (with a fireplace, hence the name!), or right to the dive bar with the regulars. Â If you keep going past the bar, there's a great indoor/outdoor tented area (complete with heaters in colder months). Â There's also a front patio in the warmer months. Â I love all the options!
The food is pretty solid, typical family restaurant fare. Â I love the fish n' chips and make your own mac n' cheese. Â The burgers are hit or miss. Â The cajun meatloaf was good, just not as spicy as advertised. Â The pizzas are pretty good as well. Â I went for Thanksgiving one year and their Thanksgiving dinner was excellent. Â "Best stuffing I've ever had" (says a non-stuffing lover). Â I might even go back this year! Â The beer list is also quite impressive.
The service is usually slow, but for some reason it doesn't stop me from coming. Â The frequent diner card is a nice perk, you get 10% off your first meal and coupons throughout the year.
Note: they offer delivery (including beer!), though I've never tried it.
Great local place and a rare, 4AM liquor license... what's not to like?
Seriously; not a big drinker here but the beer offerings and selection are notable, as is the menu. Gourmet fare? Well, not quite, but most everything is at least decent if not downright great and I'd put it many notches above standard pub grub. The mashed potatoes are a treat (and I'm not a mashed potato guy normally) they leave a bit of the red skins on and whip it up with seasonings and serve with gravy. Yum! Burgers are good and cooked the way you want. If you like blackened food you should appreciate several of the special dishes offered at Fireside.
The wait staff tends to be friendly, responsive and there's nothing pretentious about the place. Decor is well worn, Chicago-funky but inviting just the same. The dining room feels a bit like a rural Wisconsin supper club but it's great in the winter as there's a gas fireplace to keep you toasty. The rear garden area off of the bar is open almost year round and a nice place for a family or small group.
Rich, the owner, has developed this place into a neighborhood institution and is frequently on-site so don't be shy to say hello.
Two small-"m" miracles occurred today. . . I didn't have to work on Sunday, and the temperature was in the 70's. What do middle-aged women do when a harmonic convergence like this occurs? They go for brunch!
Fireside definitely would not have been my first choice, mainly because I didn't realize they even offered brunch! And apparently, not too many other Chicagoans know about their brunch either, because there was no wait for a table. In fact, we glommed onto an outdoor table with no problem. The whole time we were there, other tables remained available. So friends, do not stand in line at Lincoln Park eateries with too-cute names -- you can get a very good brunch without any hassles at Fireside.
First, the downside - the service is friendly but a little erratic and slow. Maybe they are understaffed; I only saw one waitress working. About halfway through our meal, a man appeared who was delivering food, filling water glasses, etc., and that speeded things up a bit. But really, who should be in a big hurry when you have such a glorious day and a spot in the sunlight? Not a huge deal, but service has to be top-notch for a restaurant to get a 5-star rating, and that didn't happen.
There is a bloody mary bar, but we were a sober group today, so I cannot tell you about the alcoholic offerings. Sorry.
The food was very good. We had:
- banana nut bread french toast
- ultimate Veggie skillet
- Spinach and goat cheese omelet
- cajun omelet
Portions are large, so bring your appetites. Prices are reasonable for what you get.
Parking is very easy in this area. Fireside does have its own lot adjacent to the building. However, there is plenty of free parking along Ravenswood Avenue. Try to do that at some cutie-pie Lincoln Park restaurant!
Summing up: Good food, reasonable prices, easy parking, so-so service. The next time there's another harmonic convergence of weather, work schedules, and appetites, I'd be up for another Fireside experience. The quiches and veggie burrito on the menu sound very good!
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
