Fitz's is a nice little place in downtown VP.
We came to watch a game - this wasn't the worst idea, wasn't the best idea. Â With a small group you probably aren't sitting at the bar, and though we lucked out and everyone at our table had an OK view it seems like half the people at every other table will have no view or at best a bad one. Â Bar stools means no backs on the chair which means 3.5 hours of slouching back pain (nobody's fault but your own - just fair warning).
It was a good idea since there are a couple of decent beers on tap, popcorn popping in the machine, and pretty good food (although one of our orders was screwed up twice). Â All high valued qualities in a bar where I'd like to enjoy a game.
Not to be confused with "Fitz's Spare Keys", which is nearby on York street. Â Get that straight if you are meeting people here, or they may never show up.
The waitress was very friendly, helpful and attentive. Â The bar was packed on a Thursday night for the Bears vs Packers game, and still the waitress was spot on. Â The reuben I ordered was pretty good - fresh corn beef, saurkraut, Swiss cheese on grilled dark rye. It was served with Thousand island dressing, fries and a pickle for $9. Â It's no Boloney's Reubenesque, but I don't think any Reuben will ever be.
The basket of fried mushrooms for $5 was pretty good, served with ranch dressing. Â They also had $7 domestic pitcher special. Â I gave this place an extra star for having a popcorn machine popping fresh free popcorn for everyone. Â I just can't resist the smell of popcorn. Â Roll me out of here!
I didn't realized this when I parked on the street, but they have a parking lot in the back of the restaurant.
If you're more into import beer, they have a pretty selection on tap:
Guinness
Bass
Harp
Blue Moon
Boddingtons
New Castle
Fosters
Labatt Blue
Killians Red
Hard Core Cider
Stella Artois
Color me impressed. Â I'm a big fan of the dive bar, so perhaps I'm a bit biased, but I did enjoy this place. Â
They have lots of beers on tap, and I decided to go with Stella Artois. Â Fresh, cold, and delicious.
I was with a large group, and we ordered a bunch of appetizers and food for dinner. Â The appetizers were just your average fried food platter...onion rings, mushrooms, cheese sticks, zucchini, etc. Â Everything was fried perfectly, and with fresh oil. Â We devoured the platter! Â For dinner I got the buffalo chicken wrap. Â This thing was spicy, and I love my food hot so it's hard to impress me on that front. Â This was one of the best buffalo wraps I've ever had. Â No additional hot sauce required!
Then I found out, my dad went there occasionally for lunch during lent to get a beer and have a pepper and egg sandwich. Â My dad is a really cool old man, in my opinion. Â When I found out he liked the place, I knew the joint was ok.
The only thing that bumped this place up was the service (we were the only customers in the place though so it SHOULD'VE been good). Â Otherwise, this pub is a dirty old dive with beer that pleases the masses in a pinch (Miller Lite, anyone?).
P.S. Craft beer snobs stay away...the only thing you MIGHT drink here is the Two Hearted Ale.
P.P.S. The bartender (today) knows her beers, but the waitresses, not so much. Â WHY IS IT SO HARD TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN IPA? Â It's not like I'm asking if they have something obscure. Â Bah.
I must first preface this review by saying that I live above this place.
I must also admit that I have a love and hate relationship with Fitz's pub. ( I love it and my bank account hates it )
The thing about Fitz's is that it's a strange amalgamation of a neighborhood Irish pub, sports bar restaurant thingy, hip college hangout for bros and bro-ettes, and just your regular old bar.
It's special in a few ways. First, they got a pretty decent selection of beers on tap, Guinness, Hacker Pschorr, 312, etc. It's also family owned, so you will see the notorious Mrs. Fitz in there a lot. She's a great lady.
There is also a strange neighborhood like feel to the whole place, maybe because you'll see a lot of Elmhurst locals, or because the head cook, and a few bartenders live above the bar as well.
Food is pretty damn good. The Fitz's burger has roast fucking beef on it and it's dope. Saturday they made slider burgers for 2$, gotta check out the wings as well.
Fitz's falters when it comes to their prices and shitty DJs. It's not the cheapest and their specials aren't amazing (except for the saturday 2$ booorgers). Honestly though, The DJ(s) sucks my balls, an example of a choice set would be some crappy techno song, then maybe some Tom Petty, then fucking SHOTS by LMFAO. (I swear to god I hear "Shots" more then a dozen times a week) The only other complaint that I can muster is that the bartenders can also be hit or miss.
Overall, give Fitz's a few different chances, it can be a really great place most of the time, and it often depends on what day and time you're there.
happy to Have Fitz' here in Elmhurst.
Local bars like this are always under appreciated.
When you want to slum a bit.
When you wanna get something decent to eat or just enjoy a cold beer.
Choices (be it food or drink) are decent.
This is not a fancy place.........but no apologies needed.
What isn't to love about Fitz's Bar. The staff and owners here are always very friendly and the food is top notch. One of my favorite things to do is come here for there Burger special on weekends. Now they even have home made chips covered in blue cheese. The burgers here are hard to beat. They are made fresh here from good quality beef. The fries are also great here and always served fresh and hot. The atmosphere here is also great. Nice laid back irish bar with a nahboorhood bar feeling. Plenty of Tv's all around also to watch the big game. There are also plenty of tables if you would rather not sit at the bar. All and all one of my favorite places to go for Bar food!!
Review Source:If you are in the mood to get drunk, order some greasy comfort food, and grind on a crowded dance floor with Elmhurst College kids, then Fitz's gets the job done. I am definitely not knocking it by any means because it was so good to me during my two years at EC, but it is pretty bare-boned. I wouldn't recommend it for a nice night out, but for sure a casual hangout.
Review Source:I think I was in Fitz's once before. It was late at night and we stayed for a minute since it was too packed to even get up to the bar. Recently though, I stopped in for their fish fry, it's all you can eat for about $8. I got a fish sandwich though, their fish fry on a bun, a big bun. I was pretty full afterwards but it was well worth it.
Review Source:If you're young and single and for some reason frequenting suburban restaurants, this is a relatively good place to check out. There tend to be younger, good-looking people here - lots of "I'm visiting my parents for the weekend" yuppies who grew up in suburbia but are fortunate enough to no longer live there permanently.
There is outdoor seating. Service is friendly but on the slow side. To me, bar food is bar food is bar food, so I really have no comment there.
If you're more on the cerebral side, you definitely won't find your future spouse here. But for harmless flirting, it's a solid suburban choice.
I've eaten here many times, and I love it! I always get the cream of chicken soup, nachos, and meatloaf.
The chips are homemade....SO good
The Meatloaf....AWESOME...typically, I am not a meatloaf fan, but I am when I come to Fitz's. It even comes with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Great weekly specials and prices!
I always have the same server and she is very attentive and sweet!
I've completely forgotten what it was like at Fitz's. Call it a local bar, but what do you expect to find in the middle of "downtown" suburbia. This is THE bar to be at over any major holiday break (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter) if you want to run into random hs friends. I recently went here with an old friend and felt like I was always looking over my shoulder expecting to see someone I knew.
Ah, to be 21 again. The music is blasted so loud it pretty much eliminates any opportunity to have a conversation. Like any local-turned-highschool-reunion bar this place erupts when the latest dance hit plays.
Overall, a good selection of beers on draft are served by overwhelmed but friendly bartenders.
I always get dragged to Fitz's and I'm always regretting my life choices that led up to me going to Fitz's around 1am. Â This place is super Elmhurst and always packed full of 21-25 year olds. Â There's always a few older people thrown in but every time I've been here it's been a fairly young crowd roaming about.
The set up for the bar really annoys the shit out of me. Â I hate having to weave in and out of the "dance floor" just to take a piss. Â The horseshoe set up makes for the worst freaking traffic jams of Elmhurstians and the other side of the bar is always dead. Â
Every time I come here I swear I'm never heading back.
Checked out Fitz's last night for the first time.  It seemed like your normal, run of the mill "irish pub".  The crowd was mix of college kids, and some older folks.  If  you live in the area it would definitely be worthy of a bar to walk to.  Not a bad place to grab a few beers.
Review Source:I went here last night with a friend  for some bar food and beer.  The wings were pretty tasty.  (We had the Hot Wings on special for $0.50 apiece).  They are the breaded kind of wing...which I don't like as much as the un-breaded...but they were done correctly.  I got the chicken salad sandwhich/soup combo after the waitress recommended it. It was different, it had red peppers in it which added a new kick.  I can't say it's even in my "top 10" list of Chicagoland Chicken-Salad sandwiches...but it was edible.  The soup was decent (cream of chicken rice) but tasted like it had been in the pot for too long and didn't have any cream left to it......I would call it more a stew then a soup. Â
Our waitress was very attentive and pleasant. Â She got all of our orders correct and was quick with the drinks. Â The outside patio at this bar is pretty cute, and the help friendly. Â The inside appears to be your standard mid-level dive bar, the bathrooms were moderately clean...and the bar area wasn't messy. Â There is juke box and what appears to be a staple of regulars sitting at the bar. Â I would go again, but maybe just for Beer / Wings.
I went there for lunch a while back and ordered the Reuben. Â It was delicious! Â Not quite as tender as the corned beef I'd just had in Portland the week before (sorry, I haven't written the review yet), but it was good.
The homemade Fitz chips were great! Â If I'm going to eat potato chips with my meal, at least I'll be able to enjoy them freshly made!
It was a lunch crowd, so it wasn't that busy. Â Our service was decent and quick. Â I didn't have to deal with the bartender, except on my way out the door. Â I asked her if she had a card or something so I could contact them later (my usual m.o. to remind me to Yelp later). Â She looked confused for a long time (insert blonde joke here) and then finally handed me some matches. Â Okay, that'll work...
I'll be back for lunch for sure if I'm in the area. Â Sadly, I was on duty, so I couldn't enjoy a beer for lunch, but it sure looked good!
By FAR........WORST bar in Elmhurst. I've lived here my whole life and I can't believe people actually pack this place. it's horrible. Worst service, shitty graphic T people and 40 somethings hitting on underage girls everywhere.
If you're underage, GO HERE! Cause it blows.
But really, it is the worst service, no where to sit or stand, sweaty as F, but most importantly the bartenders have no idea what they're doing. I tried to close my tab but she told me she didn't have my card...wtf, bad bad bad bad bad bar. Really bad bar.
The bartenders just suck, they're slow, stupid and ugly.
If you suck, go here, Cause I don't want you at Docs or 7-10 or Rileys or anywhere good in Elmhurst. I'm still just so confused why people go here.
WHY DOES ANYONE GO HERE? Please, if you're a fan, let me know, message me or smthn and tell me why it's cool. I've mistakenly been there like 5 times and every time it's been a bad experience.
My girlfriend left with glitter somehow on her forehead.
It was close so i went because we didn't have a DD. Â The only good part was seeing a cool skateboard bro of mine that i knew from the elmhurst skatepark. Â The beer was average priced. Â The bar was stock full of lame 21 year olds excited about telephone by gaga. Â GAH in the bathroom. Â
Anyway, bad setup for the dance floor. Â DJ was a 103.5 cover band with worse transitions, and it was a fricken friday night. Â I mean do you have a creative bone in your body: gaga, kesha, black eyed, gaga, i flipped out and left.
Where is a club i can depend on outside of the city with more than a 10 foot dance patch..please someone message me  as i don't have the time to search...
I visited Fitz's again recently for St. Patty's Day (early, prior to the Elmhurst parade). I remembered why I liked it so much! Good food, very nice server and good Guinness -you can't go wrong!! Really cute place and happy I came back. An Elmhurst staple if you are in the area. The whole general area is cute and they have lots of good places to visit such as Seven Ten Lanes and Nail bar. Be sure to stop by for your Elmhurst Night Out!
Review Source:Best Place ever!!!
Keep an extra $20 in your pocket for a cab because the cops are everywhere. With that being said, save the non-emergency # for Elmhurst PD because they are cool if you leave your car overnight. Call them with your plate # and you won't have to worry about a ticket. Whatever you do, no matter how "big" you are, one is too much, you will get caught in Elmhurst, take a cab or walk home.
Fitz's is the best though! Lunch, Dinner, Family, friends, feel sorry for yourself drunk, look at pretty girls or ladies flirting with over-the-hill softball players for free drinks, this is the place to go!!!
Sunday night's at Fitz's are a great time. $2 you-call-its might be the greatest thing ever. I mean, where else are you going to get a pint of Guiness for $2?!? It's madness! They feature about fifteen beers on tap, which makes it nice for the beer drinkers out there. However, beware that the you-call-it doesn't start til 9 pm! (A mistake I once made, resulting in a critical wound to my wallet for the evening).
The only downfall of Fitz's is that it gets very packed on Sunday nights, resulting in long wait times and general frustration. Also, there is this one bartender who throws your change and ID at you, which I find to be quite rude.
Either way, you can't beat the cheap drinks and good atmosphere of this suburban pub.
UPDATE: The manager replied to my email when she returned from out-of-town. She was apologetic and said she would speak to both the waitress and the bartender. It was a nice touch that she responded because she certainly didn't have to. It was also nice to finally get a long awaited apology.
************************
I was at Fitz this past Sunday to watch some football. There was only one waitress and one bartender there that I saw and it was a bit busy. That was fine and we were willing to wait. Our food was ok- the buffalo wings were a little under done and the Irish nachos lacked flavor. Still, we just chalked that up to it being busy and the staff being a bit rushed.
The problem was that after three sips off my Guinness I noticed a huge floater in my glass. I fished it out and discovered it was a store receipt from 711. It wasn't mine. I'm guessing I got a dirty glass. I went to the bar and returned the receipt and my 2/3 full glass to the bar keep. She looked horrified but said nothing and turned away.
I waited at my table and still nothing. It wasn't until the waitress came over with the bill that the incident was mentioned. The waitress had been instructed to "argue" that the receipt could not have come out of the beer pull. She even produced the plastic funnel from the pull as evidence. The waitress explained that the bar keep has instructed her to make this known.
I went over the bar keep and she started with the same speech. I was taken back that she would even argue with me. I obviously wasn't making it up and returned a nearly full beer so I wasn't out to get a free one. I agreed that there was no way that receipt came from the beer keg, but the bar keep refused to acknowledge anything further.
It was her insistence in arguing the point with me that just added insult to injury. In the end, that beer was taken off the tab but I never got a replacement nor an apology.
This is the first time I have ever NOT left a tip and won't be back to Fitz's again.
I totally forgot I had gone to this place before!!!! But I remembered once I saw it! Yeah thats right Big brown has had his drinks here!
Its again another wannabe Irish bar with absolutely not one irish person in it. Hell Im more Irish than some of the patrons in this gig......Im kidding of course..............not really...... The clientele is 99.9% pale force troopers(white folk). WHich is a good thing since you know I am a big fan of the white folk! I love my cooters!!!
This is where the hip people of Elmhurst go to get their drink on after getting off the Metra from their downtown jobs.
The place is not that big with the bar being square in the middle.
Lots of screens to watch the games!
The wings suck! they are breaded.........you all know the shake N bake prefers them traditional (unbreaded)
Parking is awesome!!!!
Shake an Bake seal of approval!
Hipster infestation level:  1 I sense this town is the birthplace of many hipsters who are now roaming Milwaukee ave in Logan square with their Nutthugger jeans!!!  curse you all  wannabe starvin artists/ musicians!!
A good place to get a cheap burger on Saturday night. That is, if they can get your order right. I went with three other people. So four orders and three had problems with them. Including a cheeseburger without cheese. Wouldn't that be a plain burger? Tasty food but they need to hire waitresses that might actually show some signs of intelligence. I'm not asking much though. Just one that can tell a plain burger from a cheeseburger.
I guess I learned my lesson. If you want good service, just eat at the bar and skip the tables. I've had much better experiences there.
this is basically a college bar at night go during early evening for a better eperience. It is alot nicer inside than it looks from the outside. the city of Elmhurst is trying tonget rid of bars from downtown so enoy this and that dive down the street. if its not a reseraunt or theme it will not be allowed downtown anymore. thanks you loud rowdy elmhurst college kids for ruining things in my hometown for adults who may want to go out toa neighborhood tavern in elmhurst. i hate you all
Review Source:Stop #1 on the Bachelorette Train Barcrawl.
this bar started off on the wrong foot. they were warned that 40 drunk ladies were headed their way, so they hired an extra bartender for 2 hours. he was the slowest, most unenthusiastic bartender EVER. we asked for their special by name (it's called fitz chips...not very hard), and he had no idea what we were talking about. dumb. luckily we all had to go drinks from the train to tide us over while we waited!
after our first round, the owner realized that ol dude was pretty much a failure at his job and things got way better. they make great homeade potato chips with cheese and bacon, and we were given some irish nachos that were also delicious. Â $3 miller lite pints, a patio with tables where i could smoke and drink simultaneously, and a breathalizer machine (just to confirm that we were drunk)!
call this a 3.489 star review ...if the current time contiuum finds you stranded in a land where people buy houses to build their own pimped out bars with dart boards, kegerators and pool tables, yet eventually become board with drinking with the same people...come expand your circles and head over to the fitz's.
Feeling like you're sitting in their version of their basement bar its comfy and depending upon the position of the sun will be surrounded by a different segment of locals. The bar food is good bar food, the beer pitchers are cold and the shots that are served up are meant to help self-medicate whatever wounds surround your soul.
tvs abound, some in hd, so the timing of group awwws and oooohs may be 7 seconds off, but all in all a good place to hide until its time to be paroled into more brighter days.
After several generous tastings of wines, we decided to continue our day drinking in Elmhurst at Fitz's. Â I vaguely recall hearing about this place back in my suburbanite days. Â
We arrived around 4pm to catch the Cubs/Cards game. Â The three of us bellied up to the bar and we were promptly attended to. Â The bartender was nothing short of friendly. Â Food specials galore. Â Two bucks for a brat and two bucks for a basket of onion rings. Â Tasty, tasty onion rings.
There is a popcorn machine towards the back of the bar that offers free popcorn for when you get the beer munchies.
The crowd was definitely older and neighborhoodie, which I enjoy. Â I did notice as the afternoon turned into evening, the crowd that filtered in were more of the younger type. Â The younger type that haven't made it to city, yet.
IF I find myself back in Elmhurst, I'll hit it up, but I'll make sure to leave before the sun goes down.
Bar food. It can be great. Or it can be the worst decision you've made since sporting those "Hammer" parachute pants you thought were so cool in the early 90's. So far from Fitz's, I've found it to be the former.
This is only my second visit to Fitz's. The first time was about a year ago when I met a couple friends for some late night drinks. I happened to browse their food menu & was intrigued enough to come back some time & sample. Well that "some time" was today, nearly a year later (yes, I'm slow). It was the right day, although I try to avoid going to taverns alone because I'll feel like a lonely drunk. But I was just getting off work, & had a b&b craving (burger & beer) ....Plus I considered the possibility that I may actually be a lonely drunk, so I might as well get a meal out of it, right??!
I have a method for trying a places food for the first time: try their burgers (if applicable). If those are good, I'll like the place. I'm a burger man. Hence, it didn't take long for me to decide the "Fitz's Burger" was the item of choice. An "Irish style" Â 1/2 lb burger, hand packed & topped with corned beef, swiss cheese, thousand island, with onion, tomato & lettuce on the side. My medium/well burger was very juicy. So much so, I barely tasted the corned beef or thousand island. The swiss was melted perfectly between the meats. The fries were good. Not great, but NOT soggy, which is a plus. All great while being complimented by my tall glass of Blue Moon.
It's nice little establishments like this that make me content that I seldom leave the suburbs. If Fitz's is simply a place I come after work once a week to have a beer (or six) & a meal, I'm perfectly happy with that. The beer is cold, the food is good, & I can forget about the pressures of life for an hour or two...sweet. What's keeping me from giving it 5 stars? ...well nothing...maybe another trip or two so I can sample more of their menu. When I do, I'll update!
With the departure of McNally's and nothing to replace it (boo where's my soda bread?), Fitz's officially has corned the market on Irish Pubs in the town of Elmhurst. Lucky for them? Yes. Lucky for us? Maybe. I have to admit I do like to switch things up a bit, and having an option to choose between the more authentic McNally's and the more 'it's just a bar' Fitz's let me have the best of both worlds, which I liked. I have to say, though, if I were forced to live on a remote island and could only bring one business with me, Fitz's would win hands down.
With a 'Cheers' type vibe, Fitz's is a superb family run establishment chock full of friendly faces and the ever-enthralling Mrs Fitz who is an absolute doll and remembers all of the faces of the her Pub regulars, including me! As my go-to spot for after hours drinks with the co-worker crew or quick lunches of grilled cheese and burgers while perched on a bar stool, it hits the spot perfectly. The atmosphere is very sports bar-esque and pumps the Nickelback tunes to match... it's the 'burbs, whaddya expect? Anticipate a mixed crowd both in age and appearance... I sat next to Santa here once which was neat even though his suggestive pelvic thrusting quickly proved he was no Saint, after all.
Prices are extremely reasonable for the booze and food alike... well, except for that elusive Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich listed on the menu at 'market price'... I still haven't quite figured that one out.
I must have gone on an off night, because I was unimpressed with Fitz's.
Two friends and I popped into the pub on a Tuesday night and were surprised when last call was announced at 12:30 a.m. As a night owl, I demand last call at the latest possible minute.
The whole place reeked like it had been swabbed with a puke-soaked mop and bleach. The scene was an ocean of backward ballcaps and athletic wear.
Oh, and we witnessed the bartender perform an illegal pour: shooting what appeared to be soda water into a vodka bottle, then stocking that bottle on the shelf. Another bartender broke a bottle of booze, then used tape and plastic wrap to seal the gaping hole left by the shattered neck.
On the up side, drinks prices were reasonable. Domestic beers were about $3, and a generous helping of top-shelf whiskey went for about $8.
We went here last night to hang out with our friend that really needed a drink and this is where she wanted to go so that was fine with us. Â Parking was seriously a breeze! Â I know how downtown Elmhurst can get and thought it would be much harder to find parking, but we actually found a spot only like a 1/2 a block away! Â We walk in, no cover, which was a plus, and another plus was that we ended up getting a table almost right away because some people got up. Â The atmosphere is very laid back and there is always a mixed crowd here, I guess. Â There was everyone from 21 year olds to 50 year olds just sitting around having a good time. Â (But l must say some of the older men that were there kind of creeped me out!) Â The drinks are moderately priced and the special was Coor's Light last night and they have different drink specials everyday. Â They also had a DJ that played everything from early 90's to Danity Kane's Damaged. Â So there was a good mix and once everyone had a few drinks in them, they all thought so too and hit the mini dance floor that they create for when this happens! =]] Â We would definitely go back, the music was good, the service was really good and the crowd was decent. Â If you are in that area and looking for somewhere to go out and have a few drinks...go ahead and give it a try!
Review Source:Another great Chicago-style neighborhood pub in the suburbs - I love that the owners, a husband a wife, are there usually and very involved in the running of the place. Â It is a friendly place that caters to all types - college kids enjoy seeing friends and dancing during the later hours, families come for fish fry and dinner, football fans enjoy the games here on their many tvs. Â They have many regulars of all ages that inhabit the place. Â We watched the Bears game here yesterday and it was a fun crowd, all very into the game; you could frequently hear rousing renditions of "Bear down Chicago Bears" breaking out as the time ticked away. Â Plenty of good beer; they carry my favorite on tap, "Blue Moon". Â They have a pretty extensive menu of unhealthy bar food at reasonable prices, but it is well prepared and tasty! Â And everyone is friendly here; of course it's smoky, but what bar isn't?
Review Source:Looking for a Friday night fish fry in the burbs, this is a good choice. In walking distance from the train as well. I will say it is pretty crowded at dinnertime on this night and you will most likely have to wait for a table. If you prefer they do have carryout. The fish is really good here and worth the wait. Service is not quick but once you place your order it gets to your table within a good amount of time. The prices here for food are very reasonable. Later in the night they have a DJ play out the rest of the night with dancing. It's a popular place, with different mixes of ages.
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