This bar is fantastic. I came here because it was midway between my place and a friend's. I was hoping for a untypical Wrigleyville bar experience and that's what I got. The atmosphere was laid back, the music was good and not too loud, and the beer list was great. Reasonably priced with lots of options, including more than a couple milk and oatmeal stouts (my favorite and usually pretty sparse). Back room with pool tables was empty and pool was free on a Wednesday.
I ordered a Vanilla Porter and the bartender said he'd never served one in his eight months working there. I described the bottle and we chatted about beer for awhile. He said the beer may be a bit old, it tasted fine but he gave me $2 off it. It was a nice touch for a beer they obviously aren't selling a lot of. We stayed until 2am when the GTFO lights came up. Overall had a great time and we definitely be back.
I've visited this establishment (g-man since it's new ownership) a couple of times since it is right around the corner from my apartment. Â I will never come here again as my friend had their wallet stolen and the bartenders are less than hospitable to put it kindly. Â My recommendation to the management is to get new staff or re-train those you have hired.
Overall this bar is about par for the Wrigleyville bar scene... nothing special and no regard for honest customers.
Save your money and find a neighborhood bar that will treat you with some respect.
I was initially going to give The Gingerman a 4 star rating because last I heard they didn't accept credit cards, BUT I decided to call and ask because I heard they had just acquired new ownership.
Guess what?! The Gingerman Tavern now accepts credit cards!
Now onto this new and improved 5 star review...
I have never had a bad time at The Gingerman. It's the epitome of the laid back bar you can't ever find in Wrigleyville. On a normal day great music plays at an average volume from the jukebox, there is a great $4 beer of the month on tap, and not many people are in line for pinball, ms. pacman, or the 2 pool tables in the back.
Honestly I think the backroom is the best part of the place because it's whatever you want to make it. I've seen groups come in and really party and I've also seen people come in and just sit around the tables to chat.
The Gingerman is where you come if you DON'T want to watch whatever game is one because they only have a couple TV's in the whole place. Its more about drinking great beer and having a good time. Free pool on Sunday and Monday!
I think my only addition to Gingerman would be a couple of dartboards.
I know. It's a bar in a sea of bars. but I like it
I have been here many times and its usually crowded; especially in the later hours. Luckily it has always been a pleasant experience meeting new people. Especially if you manage to get a pool table. Another thing I like is that the douche bags that frequent Cubby Bear, Barleycorn and the such usually stay away from here. That's a big +
The drinks are not necessarily overpriced. Unfortunately the service can go either way. but I still prefer this bar over many in the area.
You should definitely try it.
I got the strangest reaction from the bartender when I asked about the new ownership. Like there is something top secret going on there. All I witnessed were a bunch of dudes talking about Star wars and Star Trek. Perhaps the bartender recently saw the movie Safety Not Guaranteed and her paranoia was up. Either way, lame experience which was disappointing. The Ginger Man used to have somewhat of a cool vibe.
Review Source:If i had a list entitled "Best dive bars", this place would top it.
We originally went in because we thought it may have been affiliated w/ The Gingerman in NYC. Wrong. We had a fantastic time, none the less.
Katie was an awesome bartender. She was really nice and talkative (we were 2 of 5 people in there for about 2 hours). I love that they have a pile of phone chargers you can use if you have a low battery, we all partook.
Good taps, better bottles (mmmm Angry Orchard). And yes, Virginia. They actually DO take credit cards.
If ever were in Chicago again and near Wrigley, this place is a must visit.
I have big love for Gingerman. Â It is a shame that I have to either get on a plane or drive 8 hours to get there. Â
What makes this the perfect bar? Â Excellent beer selection, fantastic jukebox, pinball, friendly bartenders and really cool inviting door guy. Â
All right  I'm gushing.
I've been to The Gingerman Tavern twice. Both experiences were pleasant.
The first time I went to Gingerman, I had just moved into the city about 2 weeks prior and was exploring the neighborhood with a good friend. We decided to start at Gingerman and work our way down south on Clark.
After getting past the door, I was greeted by a very charming, divey atmosphere. It's the kind of place where a lot of the clientele probably know each other on a first name basis. It's also noteworthy to mention that there were all kinds of folk at Gingerman, which I can really appreciate. I love walking into a place and seeing a diverse crowd. If I recall correctly, I was out on a weeknight, and there still seemed to be a warm amount of traffic - Not crowded by any means.
Anyway, my friend and I only stayed for a beer, as we were looking to see a good chunk of the neighborhood bars that night. We both got $3 PBRs. I'm not exactly crazy about PBR, but hey, I couldn't really argue with a $3 introductory beer to sample the atmosphere at The Gingerman Tavern.
As I mentioned earlier, it was my first stop of the night. As my friend and I later came to realize, the crowd at Gingerman definitely deviated from the other "douche" crowds you'd come across as you go further south on Clark.
Thank you for being KC's next door neighbor during the dark years. KC, of course, wasn't alone. There was Vedder, Rodman, Cusack, Al Jourgensen, Sinise, Liz Phair, that bald guy from Smashing Pumpkins, Malcovich, and a slew of other miserable bastards sipping the night away.
One time, a really hot chick walked in. Just kidding.
#drowningsorrows
I expected this place to be extra-douchey just based on the neighborhood and the fact that we were there on St. Patrick's Day.
The service was pretty good. The wait staff was great. The clientele wasn't so bad, and all-in-all it was a pretty good experience.
Cash only, which always knocks a star off in my book. You're already making like 400% on the alcohol mark-up, there's really no excuse at a bar.
My first experience with Gingerman was for Beer Appreciation Society, and I fully appreciated the hell out of this place. So much so that I ended up staying and playing pool until way past my bedtime on a worknight. It was relatively easy to get to, parking wasn't too bad and they have a really good selection of beer on draught and in bottles for the right price. They also carry my beloved Sweet Tea Vodka. What else could a girl really ask for?
Well, I found out last night that they are also dog-friendly given the right circumstances. They don't like pooches in there when it's super busy (weekends, game/concert days), but if your dog is well behaved and you call in advance then they just might let you bring them along. It was great for Mandi G and I because we were coming from a puppy playdate and looking for somewhere close, cheap and accommodating toward our companions.
The pups chilled while we chatted and drank. Bartender Katie mixes a great Jeremiah Weed & Minute Maid Lemonade. Again, I stayed longer than I anticipated, which is typically a good sign that the bar is doing something right. I'm pretty sure it had a lot to do with the warm wood atmosphere and the sweet jukebox with Interpol, The Bravery and Social Distortion.
When I walk into a 'Tavern' and the first 3 songs played are by Interpol I pretty much KNOW I'm going to fork over the Full 5 Star Monty.
It would've taken a brazen act of malevolence to take it down to even a four star after that point. Like maybe I order a beer and instead they hand me a dirty baby diaper and tell me to eat sh*t and die or something... and even then, it'd still only *maybe* drop to a 4. And that's a BIG maybe.
Luckily, I never even had to consider dropping my changing mental rating (emphasis on the 'mental' - obvi) to a 4--- Â or what I was gonna do with my new dirty baby diaper gift basket.
If you're seeing a show at The Metro you've obvi got the attached Smart Bar (very cool) as an option but if you're looking for something a little more chill, where you could possibly and very probably meet the band before or after the show, you're defo gonna want to stake out some real estate at the Gingerman. For me, there's no where else... at least in Godforsaken Wrigleyville. I mean, I'd totally be down for John Barleycorn or Cubby BEar but my Ed Hardy embroidered button-up is in the wash and I can just never manage to starch my collar enough to stay properly popped. C'est la Vie, eh?
Anyway, the environment is chill as a mutha and the bartenders are cool as sh*t (in the good way- not the baby diaper way). IMO, defo some of the best around. Plus, they've got a great selection to offer up. Craft beer, anyone? Yeah, I thought so. See you there, Â Gingers.
How do I not go to The Gingerman? Being a ginger face... I have to see this. Luck would probably have it that "ginger" is in reference to something entirely different here and each time a Ginger walks into a door it's an inside joke with the staff.
Well they didn't show any special anti-ginger treatment.
This is exactly the bar I was looking for, and just at the right time. I love baseball, yes, but there's a very good chance I don't love heaps of meaty Cubs fans in sticky, meaty Cubs bars. There very well may have been Cubs fans in The Gingerman when we were there but it's not a meaty hot house, it's a bar.
For the most part bars could give six sheckles about anyone who wants anything but booze; the typical answer is club soda or syrupy bulk sodas. Here though... Sprecher in bottles. Cream Soda & Ginger Ale. A gold mine if you want to be here but not on the booze.
We were a party of 12 & we had ample room in the front & everyone else still had ample room so we weren't falling all over them.
Note: outlets for charging behind benches on back wall.
I spy a "gingerman raceway" sign. I spy many racing photos. I spy a stellar find in Wrigleyville.
I really enjoyed the time I spent at the Gingerman Tavern over this past October's Riot Fest. I'm sure part of that was the company I kept, my good friends in the Copyrights, but the bar is genuinely cool to boot. The jukebox is pretty spectacular, you've got a Lawrence Arm serving you beer, they have Lagunitas, one of my favorite breweries, on draft, and so on.
The second room has several pool tables and a few pinball machines, as I recall, and is somewhat less frequented than the main room that houses the bar. I was told that while many bars claim to have been where The Color of Money was shot, this really is where it was shot. I haven't looked into that claim, but it could be true.
Finally, one thing that's really great about the Gingerman is that the bands playing next door at the Metro tend to hang out here, so it's a good place to chat up the artists, if that's your thing.
Don't ask me to explain how it works, since I've never been that good at science, but one of Chicago's most famous (and yet least known) landmarks is the invisible fence just north of Metro in Wrigleyville that keeps Brah Dogs out. Â They stumble drunkenly out of Wrigley Field or John Barleycorn or wherever, but find themselves mysteriously stopped cold near the Gingerman unable to go inside. Â
I don't think it's a high pitched, annoying sound emitted that does the trick (like for other kinds of dog besides the Brah). Â Since, after all, this is a breed that finds Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, and Steely Dan tolerable. Â
However this thing works (maybe it produces mild electrical shocks when it senses Ed Hardy gear) though, I'm glad it does. Â The Gingerman is a low-key, low-cost pre-Metro (or even pre-Wrigley if you can get past the wall) stop, free of said Brah Dogs. Â And since Metro posts the set times on the door, one is even able to time a visit perfectly. Â I've found that I'm getting too old to stand for opening acts and the bar stools here are more comfortable, quieter, and have better music a lot of the time (to satisfy my 1980s and 1990s "modern rock" sensibilities). Â
Plus, the beer here is cheap. Â Cheaper than anywhere else in Wrigleyville (including inside Metro). Â They have PBR on tap for $3. Â And they have a ton of craft beers that stick out in a neighborhood where Stella Artois is considered haute couture. Â But my favorite topper here is Crispin Cider. Â They have cider on tap. Â I mean, half the bars in Wrigley, a dude would get mauled by a Brah Dog (or at least insulted) for even drinking a cider.
The one downside (and maybe the real reason there's no Brahs here) is that they don't show sports on their televisions. Â But, hey, there's about a dozen bars within a block that do that. Â And there are a dozen bars within a block for the Brah to use mommy and daddy's credit card. Â This cash only place is not one of them. Â I'm willing to put up with both inconveniences to avoid those on the other side of the invisible fence.
True story, when I first moved to Chicago in my mid-twenties, I was an indie rock snob. (I know, it's hard to believe, hey?!) I was entertaining an out of town friend and I hadn't lived in the City that long, when someone in our party recommended we hit up the Gingerman. I had never been, but basically went on a tear and called it a Frat bar and refused to go! (I know, I'm an idiot sometimes.) But the times, they are a-changin'!
Well, I'm still a music snob, but thank Jeebus I gave the Gingerman a chance! The Gingerman is a sea of sanity in an area that caters to keeping the dream of college drunkeness alive. And just when you thought you found a cool bar to hang out at (remember FUEL?) a corporation will turn it into just another faceless Irish bar.
Here's what you will find at the Gingerman on any given day:
-IDs, please. You'll be carded by a gruff but cool, tattoed doorman.
-Hard working hot bartenders (more cool tattoos)
-Booths and comfy seating areas, not a modern stool that you might fall off of after a few shots
-Best Jukebox in Wrigleyville, seriously!
-Pool tables in the back! (Featured in the Color of Money, rent it now).
-Great beer selection at an affordable price
-Relaxed atmosphere with no "airs"
After many years of enjoyment at the Gingerman, it's become my go-to place for pre and aftershows at the Metro. I don't come to the area very often anymore, but if you recommend meeting up at the Gingerman, I will most certainly be there!
It's true: when you walk out of Wrigley after a Cubs game, you are not 100% obligated to go somewhere that will make you feel out of place if you have not been slurring loudly and spilling beer all over yourself in the bleachers in lieu of watching said game.
The Gingerman has a super laid back atmosphere, a ton of space, and is never crowded. Â It's pretty much the ideal post-game situation. Â There is a pool table in the back room and plenty of beers on tap. Â And they serve up a killer bloody mary!
How can you ever go into a place like the Cubby Bear when The Gingerman is up the street?
Dear Gingerman,
What in the fuck are you doing in Wrigleyville?
You have an *amazing* jukebox that is set at an appropriate volume that allows for easy listening AND conversation.
What in the fuck are you doing in Wrigleyville?
You have some interesting craft beers on tap, at least one of which tastes like a glass full of cookies and hops at any given time.
What in the fuck are you doing in Wrigleyville?
You have a back room that manages to be secluded and quiet, and also full of pool tables that are not ripped or crappy in any way, shape, or form.
What in the fuck are you doing in Wrigleyville?
You do not appear to be full of the usual Wrigley douche-tards.
What in the fuck are you doing in Wrigleyville?
Your sign has a chick riding on a fucking panther with her boob hanging out.
I love you Gingerman, I'm glad you're in Wrigleyville. I hope you stay forever as a quiet refuge from the general retardation of the area.
xoxo
Stacey
When my roommate told me we were going to Wrigleyville, I was appropriately hesitant. I changed my tune, however, when she mentioned that it's next to Metro, and the prevailing fashion statement would be leather jackets and stretched ears.
There was much to like about this place. Excellent music, friendly staff, a crowd that's completely antithetical to the rest of Wrigleyville, and some strong drinks. Three drinks each - some kind of sweet tea vodka lemonade business for her, whiskey sours for me - and we were happily stumbling off for home. I would have appreciated some food options, but there are plenty of places around for that, so no big deal. I have to remove one star for the drinks being a touch too pricey, and the cash-only stance, which is just inconvenient.
Honestly, the worst part of the experience was the walk back home to Diversey. We could have taken a bus, but needed the fresh air. We didn't, however, need the drunks pouring out of the neighboring bars. But hey, when you're in the area, you have to prepare yourself for such things. And it only makes Gingerman look that much better. So hats off.
God, I really, really, really like this bar. Â Truly the most un-Wrigleyville bar in Wrigleyville. Â Maybe it's because it shares wall space with the Metro.
My friend and I walked in before a show at the Metro and told the bartender, "We need something that will get us drunk as quickly as possible." Â The bartender goes, "Got it." and proceeds to grab two pint glasses, fill them almost full with a brown liquor (which I later found out is tea infused vodka), top it with a splash of lemonade and told us to drink up. Â I'm told that tea infused vodka is the next big thing, so if you want to be on the cutting edge of vodka consumption, order one up.
A wonderful juke box and an abundance of pool tables make the Gingerman Tavern one of my top destinations in Wrigleyville.
You know a bar is awesome when you walk in and hear Rancid followed by The Smiths...
I went here for the first time last night for the FBC, Fucking Bike Club, ride to Twisted Spoke. Â There was this sweet dog in the bar, Jasper, who kicked ass.
They have lots of options on tap, including my fav PBR. Â Also there was this guy at the bar with his laptop stealing interwebs from one of the neighbors so they have wifi by default!
This place was awesome and totally unlike the lame ass flip flop frat bars that line Clark near Wrigley. Â Check it out...
I always forget how much I love the Gingerman until someone says we should go there. Â Then I remember I haven't been there in months, and I'm always amazed and surprised all over again at the hospitality of the bartenders, the awesomeness of the jukebox and the relative cheapness of the beer.
I tend to avoid this place like the plague during baseball season, for the obvious reasons; and sometimes the place fills up with some real stinkers depending on the type of show happening next door at the Metro. Â But on a random Tuesday when there's nothing else going on and you've got money to spend and time to kill - head over to the Gingerman.
If you remember it's there.
I came here for a friend's birthday. I hadn't been here in years, years before the smoking ban was in place, perhaps when I would imbibe on one or two. (No longer.. no longer). Friends and I would come here to saunter up to the pool tables, knock some balls, drink some beers and have a good time. Glad to see not much has changed.
Yes, smokers are designated to the outdoors, but the staff is still smiling and friendly and pour a fine stout, the beer selection is still pretty darn good, the pool table area is still packed with the sober, semi sober and the wee wobblers. The setting is rustic wood and stone, nothing fancy, but really its all about enjoying a good time with friends. The crowd is a mix, but pretty friendly. A few tips, leave the attitude at the door, this place thankfully doesn't have one, nor should you. Bring cash, because that's all they take, no cards, perhaps bartering... but I haven't tried that, don't intend to. Lastly, grab me a double chocolate stout please? Thanks, I'll get your next round.
I think it's gotten to the point in my reviews of my time in Chicago that they are a bit clouded (in a favorable way), mostly because of the company. Â I got to hang out with MORE fabulous Chicago yelpers for a lovely's birthday, after being escorted here by Rob. Â I'm also starting to think that I'm making Rob sound like a caveman who just drags me around by my hair to the best Chicago has to offer. Â His fantasy, not mine. Â
As many of my SF friends know (actually, probably all of them since I have a weird addiction to it), I LOVE Hemlock Tavern. Â I don't know why, but I do. Â
And it's not just the use of the word "Tavern" in their respective names that make me also develop a crush on this place, it is the non-ostentatious vibe that it eminates. Â The staff are friendly, the crowd seemed chill, the drinks were good-sized and affordable, and their beer selection impressed me. Â
Like the Hemlock, I'm frustrated that it's a cash-only place, but what can I do? Â It works.
Somehow I knew I'd like the Gingerman before I'd even stepped in. I love gingerbread which admittedly has absolutely nothing to do with the bar's perceived coolness, but... it did look very cozy and inviting on a soggy night.
Right off, the bartenders welcomed us in with their congenial manner. I made instant BFF status with the bar once I noticed their draft selection-- yes to Allagash, please!
The jukebox-- love it. And there's pool tables too. I, however, was more than content to hang out on my bar stool, front and center to all of the bar's action. Once the show at the Metro let out, more people streamed in though it never felt TOO crowded. Just the way I like it.
If you're lucky, the bartender will order in from Art of Pizza and being the oh-so-friendly girl that she is, she'll offer you a few slices!
Get cash-fortified at a nearby ATM because they won't accept your plastic, kids.
Only righteous people allowed!!! This bar really shouldn't be in Wrigleyville!! But when I absolutely have to be in this area I'm glad it's here. After a show at the Metro or dinner at Raw Bar this is the only place to go to. I think that the punks (young ones) and drunks (frat boys coming from a cubby game) are afraid to come in here and they should be.....with a killer jukebox, wrapped pool tables, funky people, cheap drinks, and down to earth bartenders..... they might turn into people I can actually stand to be around.
Cash only!!! Some for drinks, some for pool (free on Sundays), some for the best jukebox in the whole city!!
The big guy checking ids at the front with the beard and piercings..his name is Blue (not sure on spelling) say hi.
Despite my penchant for living my life inside the 312 area code, there are places in 773 that have won and kept my heart for the better part of the last 15 years. Gingerman Tavern is one such place. If I'm ever anywhere near there, I have to stop in. In fact, I really try to avoid Wrigleyville and if I'm up that way it is pretty much solely to get my Gingerman fix
The space itself is incredibly warm and inviting and much of that is because the staff is so warm and friendly. They should give lessons to other waitstaff on how to make your clientele feel like they are welcome at their establishment.
I want to give props to the jukebox too
Get thee to the Gingerman. I'll see you at the bar
As I was walking into the bar on Tuesday night, it occurred to me that I have spent many a night in here. Â Of course, I usually can't remember much from those nights except for their juke box. Â It's probably one of the best juke boxes in any bar in the city. Â No Tom Jones or bratty pop here. Â PJ Harvey, MC5 and The Faces -- how can you not love a bar that plays music like this?
Drink prices are standard for that area and the crowd is usually of the rock  ilk, unless you are there when a Cubs game ends.  Still, you will see more tattoos and body piercings in there than yuppies.
In addition to the L&L, which is much farther south on Clark, this is my other Wrigleyville safe haven! And my favorite place to go after a show at the Metro.
Cheap beer (it was like $7 for a pitcher of PBR, if I remember correctly and my friend once got a big can of Strongbow for around $4), there's always been a nice mix of people with typical Wrigleyville douches at a minimum, good juke box (I've only heard punk/new wave when I've been there) and the bartenders have always been real cool.
So, if you feel any sort of disdain for Wrigleyville - but find yourself in the neighborhood - this is the bar for you!
I used to make it a point to avoid Wrigleyhell at nearly all costs, save an outing to the Metro. The people, the bars, the traffic put me in a sour mood and make me think evil, evil thoughts. But I now make the trek down Clark just about every Saturday because I love the Ginger Man so very much. Â
It's amazing to me that a bar of such charm exists in that area! Â It's only sometimes crowded, but never wall-to-wall packed, and the clientele tend to be a laid back, interesting sort. Â Drink prices are reasonable, and they've got PBR on draft! The juke box is just great, even if a bit loud at times (but the high-volume music is typically good stuff, so I don't mind the noise). The bartenders are mostly friendly and speedy, and remember familiar faces. My good friend and I visited the bar only a few times before our bartender was asking our names and making us shots.
My coolest Ginger Man experience was during the aftermath of that recent August storm. After the hurricane-like rain and wind knocked out trees and power lines, Clark St. north of Addison looked like a ghost town. My friend and I had plans to stop in at the bar, but were disappointed to see Clark in darkness. But, low and behold, the Ginger Man was open! Candlelight, still-cold bottles of beer, and a saloon-type atmosphere. Now, that's my kind of bar.
UPDATE! Â The staff added a few new discs to the already kick-ass juke box and now I'm pleased to say that The National's "Boxer" (one of my nearest and dearest albums) can be part of the musical rotation each and every night!
The only cool bar in the immediate vicinity of Wrigley Field. There, I've said it. And what merits this broad statement? Not so much what the Ginger Man has, but what it lacks in comparison to its neighbors. It lacks: Loud fraternity brother-types, watered-down beer, shitty music, vapid, cookie-cutter personalities, and so on, and so on. The Jukebox has a good mix of records, the bar has nice paneling (not in the 'fake irish bar'-sense), quiet areas to actually hold a conversation, and there's a billiards room in the back. All in all, a decent bar in pretty indecent territory.
p.s. -- As I write this, I've been trying to remember where in the city I've had Trumer Pils -- a very good Pilsner-style beer, and I just remembered it was at this place -- so add a decent selection of suds to the list.
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
