I had driven past this place a bunch of times and had never been in until recently to watch a Blackhawks game. Â
The spot is way cuter than I anticipated from the outside. Â Also, the service is friendly (though can get very very spotty when the spot is busy) and the food was pretty good.
I'm not sure why we weren't allowed to move a few more tables to make a larger area for the group we were with, but overall, the staff was accommodating.
Definitely worth a visit.
Whenever I drive by it's always packed so I wanted to try it out.
Went on a Friday around 6pm, so no one was there!...
Anyway, bartender was so nice. Gave us food recommendations.
Went with the chicken tenders, burger and chicken sandwich.
All were really great, burger especially.
Nice friendly server, clean bathrooms, nice time.
I have passed this place so many times but was never enticed to go in, but Friday at 6 my friends and I were hungry and buzzing from happy hour, and we passed Four Shadows, it wasn't super crowded so we went in.
They had $8 Miller pitchers and a better than average food menu. Â The table got steak nachos, whoch were so good! The steak was surprisingly flavorful, tons of toppings, chips that were not flimsy. Â I ordered the ranch chicken wrap with sweet potato tots. Â I liked that they had sweet potato tots as an option, and the wrap was fresh and filling.
I will definitely be back here, the music was not overpowering, so it would be great to hang out and watch games.
Four Shadows is awesome. First, because it's an Iowa bar, but also because they have good drink specials and great food! I really liked the taco salad there and the sweet potato tots were delicious! Flat screen TV's are on every wall so there is no where you can sit without a clear view of the game. I will definitely be coming here again!
Review Source:My boyfriend has lived less than a block away from this place for almost a year and I'm surprised we've never gone. It always seemed just... meh...
Well, we went here to watch the beginning of the Hawks game to meet up with a friend and I'm glad we did!
First great thing- We got seats at the bar easily- anywhere I can barstool, I'm pretty much in heaven. If we can get seats during a playoff game, I would guess we could pretty much get seats whenever.
Second great thing- bartenders were really nice! Attentive, strong drinks and service with a smile.
I would definitively come back with a group of friends for a low key night if we wanted to go someplace where we could all sit together- they have ample seating at high tables and at the bar. Menu looks pretty decent too!
My best friend recently moved about 1/3 of a block from this place. Â I had driven by countless times and always thought to myself that it looked like a fun spot (sans the Iowa flags hanging outside). Â After moving so close he soon became a regular at the bar. Â Being the incredible eater that he is, he has since mastered their menu. Â They have above average bar food and really good drink specials. Â I have come here a few times with him and their burgers are great. Â They also have a killer club sandwich (order it on a pretzel roll). Â As long as my buddy lives this close I am fairly certain that I will be a regular here as well.
Review Source:Once upon a time I moved to Chicago without knowing a single soul. Four Shadows basically took me in like a lost puppy. A few rum and diets, a good game of naked photo hunt, and some loaded fries later, it felt just like home.
Seriously, my favorite laid back bar in Chicago. Great place to watch the game, or even better, to people watch. The bar food is fantastic and the drinks are strong, and the bartenders are fun and attentive.
Some of my best Chicago memories were made here. Thanks Matt & the crew!
This bro-flaunting bar is just blocks from my house so why wouldn't I give it a try on a lazy Sunday morning?
Well. I don't have much to say about it. I still can't decided if $9 crummy salad can really be cancelled out by the spice-fully tasty Bloody Marys. (But how can you really go wrong with a Bloody Mary?) All I know is that I really don't feel like going back.
This is a place that I would normally just pass by without stopping, as it is not in a main pedestrian area. However, upon recommendation by multiple friends, I was lucky enough to try it. The atmosphere is just a standard bar feel, however their food is above-average. I usually get the same unhealthy food when I frequent the establishment: buffalo chicken wrap and tots, maybe the occasional nacho appetizer....and beer...Nonetheless, I enjoy the place, their food and the relaxed environment.
Review Source:We live in the area and visit here frequently. Â The staff is very accommodating, as we bring our toddler. Â There is never a problem with bringing the little guy, but we do not go during peak hours (during games, late night...)
The food is some of the best pub-food I have ever had. Â The buns on which the burgers are served and fantastic! Â
There is a daily food special, which is very reasonable, but the drink specials are nothing exceptional.
We will be back!
A Hawkeye bar indeed! Â Doesn't matter if it's 10 am or 10 pm on game day, it's packed with black and gold to the point where you have to squeeze through people that are standing back to back! Â
Anyone that enters the bar during game day is eligible to participate in their raffle of very entertaining prizes: some Iowa apparel and accessories. Â Overall, the atmosphere is always fun and very entertaining! Â
You can't go wrong with an $8 pitcher of Miller Lite-- seems like that's all I ever drank there! Â Besides watching the game and drinking beer, I've had some grub too. Â The Four Shadow Wings-- very big, meaty, and blazing hot if you get the hot ones! Â Augustine's Spicy Chicken Sandwich... on a ciabatta bun... and they come with a side salad or tator tots. Â I do tend to eat healthy but how could I NOT choose tator tots? Â Everything was finger lickin' good!
The flags outside advertise the place as a Marquette bar. As a Marquette alum, I was excited to see this as another Marquette bar and perhaps an alternative to Schoolyard, which is always jam-packed on gameday. For MU fans looking to catch an away game, it's a less-crowded alternative to Schoolyard.
I went there for Marquette-Wisconsin last year and I was a bit disappointed in this. I felt the waitstaff was pretty inattentive, which amazed me considering how few people there were there. It had all the same standard bar fare that Schoolyard had, but had a tenth of the atmosphere. Then again, I love the loud bar where everyone's cheering on the team.
Ah Four Shadows...you are so close to where I live I just want to fall in love with you and run away with you and never think about leaving you for another bar, but your overall vibe of generic sports-bar-edness and complete lack of character or sense of any redeeming quality above the other stock bars in Lincoln Park have left me with a hole in my life that I must fill at another local establishment.
Food is mediocre, typical bar fare- tater tots are hit and miss (think sometimes well cooked cafeteria-style tots that sometimes give the right crunch from high school), turkey burgers are ok, mac and cheese is standard, nachos standard, again, nothing really stands out.
OK specials during the week (Wed. $3 drafts is the standout) with a standard amount of TVs, but aside from a mediocre beer selection and sports, you have one Golden Tee machine...and, um...well, I think there is a jukebox-like machine to select songs on, which might be fun if music being played at the bar were tied in with said device.
Every time I leave this place I get the feeling like my time could have been better spent down the road at The Ashland or Jack's, or any other better bar in a two block radius. There's nothing fun with leaving a bar and asking yourself why you went there, and then quickly remembering that you're an idiot for signing up for a euchre league on Wednesday night's that seemed like a good idea a month ago but now feels like a compulsory move brought on by a large banner that was hanging on the side of the establishment that lead to the thought process of Euchre! Beer specials! Sports! That place must be awesome!
Sorry Four Shadows, I've given you more chances than you deserve, and I'm moving on - best of luck in your average existence at a busy intersection and continued support of co-ed sports leagues...I'm sure you three will co-exist very well together in the near future.
Friendly service, deep pours, and a decently laid back vibe on weeknights bring Four Shadows up above your typical Chicago sports bar replete with big screen TVs, canvas banners listing specials, and the requisite Midwestern college flags flying outside.
I'm not too sure I'd come here if it wasn't the post-game spot for my dodgeball league, but for a place to gather with teammates (and adversaries) after an hour of some intense dodgeball action for some drinks, it's as good a place as any.
This place has the BEST tater tots and french fries. There's nothing worse than mushy tots that bring you back to those bad school cafeteria days, but Four Shadows has perfected the art of frying. These crispy suckers stay perfectly crispy til the end of your meal.
The rest of the food is always pretty good. I've tried the club sandwich (turkey, smoked bacon & havarti cheese on a ciabatta roll), chicken quesadillas, chicken wraps, and their burgers.
They also have several tv's, so it's a great place to catch a game.
This is the definition of a neighborhood hangout, in a good way. Â Small bar with good food, lots of TVs, cool bartenders and they sponsor plenty of co-ed teams. Â It's an Iowa bar but you can see plenty of other games (basketball, football, baseball) any time of the year. Â
I've been here about 20 times and never had a bad pick from the menu. Â The 'Three Cheese Burger' is fantastic. Â Fries are awesome! Â They really have a great mix of bar food w/ a lil more upscale flavor and presentation. Â Prices are a bit high but since the quality never wavers, I don't mind.
I recommend getting beer out of bottles or mixed drinks b/c I think they need to clean their lines more often-only knock I've got!
I'm a big fan of Four Shadows since it's within walking distance of our house and has great casual food. Â The wraps are delicious and they are big enough that we can eat half there and take the rest for lunch leftovers the next day. Â I love that they offer up tater tots as an option - they are not oily or greasy and super delish.
Since smoking was banned in Chicago, we go here a lot more. Â It can be pretty crazy around Cubs game time but if you get in early enough, you can get a seat.
Service is always super friendly, too.
This place is consistent. Â Staff is good looking, nice, and efficient... you can tell they look after each other but don't waste time f***ing chit-chatting.
They have reasonable daily specials, and pretty good food for a bar.
They also have all the UFC fights and some Boxing if you're into that.
There's nothing that stands out about this place except for their consistency, and nowadays consistency is rare and enough to make a place great.
As far as sports bars go, this place is A-OK. Â Their food was really good for bar food, and my friend and I liked to hang out here when he lived near by.
I'll say for certain that it can get a little to Lincoln Park in there for my taste, BUT, geography is geography. Â What is nice, is that it's mostly young professionals, so barring a Cubs game, the former frat boys that make Wrigleyville bearable (pun intended) are mature enough to be pretty innocuous. Â
Worth checking out for sure.
I really do like the Four Shadows, the burgers are delicious and the fries are downright addicting. Â Plus you have the option of getting a side of chips and salsa with your burger instead of fries, which is a nice way to mix it up. Â Their pizzas are good too, two of them managed to satiate three guys before a hockey game. Â The food is priced reasonably as well, no bank buster here.
The problem lies in the atmosphere and the staff. Â It's atmosphere is carbon copied from a large variety of other bars in the Lincoln Park area. Â The staff oscillates from great to non-existent. Â Generally things are great here and I never think twice about walking up the street to the Four Shadows.
As my home state team (Tarheels!!!) is doing well in the NCAA Basketball Tourney, I needed to see the Final 8 game. Â I was going to make a date out of it....I know...I know....not sexy, but hey......sometimes you have to just watch sports with a date....every night cannot be wine and roses....plus she had a good time ( I think? Â *grin*).
The place isn't big, but the staff is Friendly and accomodating. Â The bar was not packed at all and they have a ton of TVs. Â The game was on and I got my game on....so-to-speak. Â Though winter time seems to keep this place a but subdued, the warmer month, by what I read here, is something a bit more exciting.
No food was eaten, though my date and I did talk about the Tater Tots on the menu, but perhaps next time.
So, a short, but sweet review of a little sports bar that is just what the doctor ordered when getting your game on.
I've been by here a million times, and FINALLY came in here after the Dropkick show. Â This would be a great place to watch a game (either NCAA, or pro) as there are a ton of different TVs to watch scattered throughout the bar. Â Also, there's a great juke box, so you don't have to listen to the annoying ESPN or WGN announcers (yeah, I said it!). Â Staff was friendly and attentive even on a busy Saturday night.
Review Source:Great neighborhood bar. Â Food is AMAZING for a bar. Â Definitely get the spicy chicken sandwich with tater tots. Â I once tried the steak sandwich, and completely regretted not getting my usual.
While the food is rather cheap, the mixed drinks are not! Â Definitely watch your wallet if you're planning to stay and drink the night away.
Plenty of TVs to watch sports and hang-out.
Cool place. Friendly staff. Was here all day on Sunday for their Tailgating cornhole tournament ran by Drunken Bear Inc. and sponsored by BagsNation. Â In the evening, during the Bears game, there were alot of hot chicks wearing Colts jerseys. Boo.
Lots of TV's.
They had an AWESOME DJ set up outside playing music, a bbq station serving up brats and burgers. Next to that a big Miller truck with taps on the side of it and a table full for freebies like koozies and beanies for anyone to take.
I ordered off the menu and got their mini burgers and their mini pulled pork sandwiches - YUM! Â Excellent "meat to bun ratio" (as Michelle E. says) and the pulled pork was very tender. Â Maybe could have used more sauce but at the same time, the flavors were there - so it was 'just fine' without dousing it in sauce. Â Their tots are pretty standard, meaning - tots are never bad-how can you go wrong with tots???
Excellent bloody Mary's - one of the bartender there adds a splash of Guiness to it. I think that must be the secret ingredient as I have had alot of bloody Mary's in my life and this one was pretty great!
This is one is in my neighborhood and we have been here on quite a few occassions. Â The food is great, and they have tater tots, who can go wrong with tater tots? Â The staff is friendly, and it is a good place to just hang out, and socialize with your friends. Â The music is not too loud, it is not ridiculously crowed, and the prices are reasonable. Â They also have one of those game screens that I have spent hours playing on multiple occasions.
Other food I have tried there, all good!
*Chicken Fingers
*Steak Sandwich
*Four Cheese Grilled cheese
This is a very nice place to hang out with friends to eat, drink, watch the game, etc. There are plenty of tables with many of them by the windows (great people watching) and the seating is fairly comfortable.
The food is also very good. Had the loaded nachos which were very loaded, some mozarella sticks, and spinach & artichoke dip for the group. All of the food was delicious with the only negative being that many of the chip at the lower levels of the nachos became too soggy to lift anything.
I also had the chicken club sandwich. It arrived hot on a nice bun with a huge helping of fries. It was a very good sandwich.
Only major downside to this place seems to be its lack of air conditioning. It was quite warm and humid the day we went (6/6) and were uncomfortable for a while until the sun went down.
All-in-all a very nice happy hour spot with plenty of TVs to watch whatever game happens to be on.
My friends and I spent hours here last Saturday playing those random video-type games on the little screen thingie they have there. We were completely addicted to the one where you have to spot the differences between two pictures -- like Highlights for adults!
Oh, and the bar itself was cool too.
We didn't plan to go to Four Shadows. We were headed to Will's Northwoods to watch the Packers game. You can take the girl outta Wisconsin, but you can't take the green & gold outta her blood. Anyways...
It was a Sunday playoff game and the crowd at Will's Northwoods was wall-to-wall and spilling out into the patio and the street. We kept on driving. Fortunately my friend had spotted the game being played on the tvs at Four Shadows when we drove past so we went back.
I never anticpated having so much fun watching a Packer game in Chicago! There was a group sitting at the bar that would get up and high-five my friend every time the Packers scored a touchdown. We felt very welcome.
Even though it wasn't too crowded it got VERY loud, and we spent a good share of the afternoon shouting at one another, but the service rocked and the food was awesome. The bartendar even gave us one round on the house because we placed our food order right after a really large group and he said the food would take longer than they'd like to arrive at our table. My friend said the chicken wings were excellent (the sauce on his chin was proof of that!). My hummus and vegetables were really good and I was grateful for a vegetarian option.
Great bar + great food. Â Wednesday nights are the best---$3 you-call-it draft beer. Â Yes, you can get a Stella for $3. Â Dimly lit with candles on the bars and tables.
I didn't experience the loud noise that other people have written about. Â It must only be a problem when they show major sporting events on TV.
Pros: One of the few bars to show UFC fights.
Cons: they now charge a cover for the fights, below average service, bad beer for the special (miller lite tasted like week old beer, probably need to clean out the keg lines), Extremely loud during all sporting events, inconvenient location (no trains nearby, few bars in the vicinity)
Did I mention that the beer tastes like it raw sewage?
Do-it-yourself-Chicago-Preppie-bar:
Take one dying bar, buy it. Remodel extensively by installing hardwood floors, new lighting, and lots of strategically placed flat screen TVs. Play top 40 music and hang a flag of (the best) big ten school on the outside, and watch em flock!
First, a disclaimer: I am a die-hard Hawkeye fan, and I've been here twice for the last 2 Saturday games (last Saturday for almost 7 hours, too- to get a table!) though never on a random Tuesday. So take that into consideration...
Anyway, clearly the equation works. I love the number of TVs- you can see the game at almost every angle- and the food was terrific- my dad loved his Turkey Burger, and my chicken ceasar wrap was delicioius. Unfortunately, this bar IS REALLY LOUD ON GAME SATURDAYS- YOU HAVE TO SCREAM AT THE PERSON STANDING A FOOT AWAY FROM YOU SO THEY CAN HEAR YOU. Christ. Â I mean, it wasn't just during the game, either. It was the music from the DJ hours before the game started. And this is coming from someone who is often accused of playing the tv/ radio too loud herself. I actually put earplugs in, (I happened to have some with me) and my mother, who is a doctor, (and was with us visiting last weekend) mentioned the risk of hearing loss for employees. Seriously, its that loud. Also, expect to see the Chad and Trixie set. But you'll get that anywhere.
In closing, even though there are 100 bars in this city exactly like Four Shadows, it isn't half bad. Good food, TVs, Go Hawks!!!
I went to Four Shadows for the first time on Saturday night. Â I desperately wanted to watch UFC 73 on pay per view and after reading the reviews of some of the other places that were showing it, (Player's Bar and Grill and Kendall's) I opted to try Four Shadows. Â In addition to not charging a cover (the other places had a $10 cover just to watch the fight) they also had some great drink specials. Â The food was good and a step up from your typical bar fare. Â The TVs were well positioned and there doesn't appear to be a bad seat in the house. Â Another thing that impressed me was the relatively low douche bag factor. Â Considering it was Lincoln Park and we were watching UFC, I was expecting the worst. Â Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. Â Even the staff was really cool. Â I'll definitely be back for the next fight.
Review Source:This little corner tavern is a relatively new establishment, with a bit of old country feel to it. Â They have a nice selection of beer, and they have a mean pour when it comes to cocktails. Â
When it comes to bar food, this place actually is surprisingly good, I would recommend any of the sandwiches and the Nachos... These are serious nachos. Â If you're looking to throw down, order these as your entree!
The staff is friendly, and the owner really does care about his business. Â On a recent visit, I actually observed the owner picking up garbage that was out in the street, in front of his business...that is something that many bar and restaurant owners in Chicago would never even take the time to do.
They have pretty good drink and food specials through out the week, and they also sponsor athletic teams. Â If you're in the neighborhood, or looking to get out of your own neighborhood, give it a try.
Just went here last night for the first time w/ my softball team (who is sponsored by the bar). I really enjoyed it at first. It's a little small, but two sides of the bar are windows that they had open. It was a great place to take a large group b/c it's not a really popular spot. There was another softball team and some local patrons.
However, since the bar is small so is the kitchen. It took FOREVER to get our food. At about the half hour mark, the waitress gave us a free pitcher, which was nice. But it was another half hour before we got the food. The menu is large and has a nice variety, but what's the point if you cant get your food. My friends liked the pizza and the little burgers. My wings were too greasy, but the fries were good. However, what bar doesn't have chicken fingers!?!
The location may not be the most popular, but it is a good central location if you have friends in Lakeview, Bucktown, Downtown, Lincoln Square. Â No problem getting cabs since it is on the corner of Diversey and Ashland.
The staff has always been friendly.
It's a good place to watch sports. Â New TVs (flatscreen) and it appears to be in High-Def unlike some places which try to show off with 10 flatscreen TVs but all in standard definition reception.
Great selection of beers from the tap and the food is good (Burgers, Aps). Â Sometimes bar food can be out right bad, so this helps them up from 4 stars to 5 stars.