Their FretKnot Fridays are great. FretKnot is a very welcoming open mic held the 2nd Friday of every month. And I have seen some great musicians here from your standard singer/guitar player to full bands to even beat boxers. The beer selection is great as well and very reasonably priced. The reason I am giving it only 3 starts is location - it's pretty far for this East Lakeview girl, especially if I am carting instruments and amps. But it is not far from a Blue Line stop as well as free parking in the parking lot behind the bar and fairly decent availability for street parking.
Review Source:This is my new local having moved to the area last summer. Â It's not fancy, you won't get food here, but you will get a really good local, with great beer choices and a fun place to hang out after a long day at work and grab a drink or two. Â Wednesdays through Fridays, Jeff is tending bar, and he's excellent. Very entertaining, knows his beer, and makes a mean mixed drink. Â Can't comment on its history, but I go in weekly and I've never seen any problems, other than the cheapies on open mike nights who drink nothing but water and don't tip. Really people??
Review Source:I can't speak for the weekend crowd, but Independence Tap is seriously underused during the week and could use your love and patronage. Â It is a no frills neighborhood bar with a pleasantly divey atmosphere but five star booze; ideal for quality conversation lubricated by quality spirits.
George boasts an excellent selection of bourbons and ryes, well over 20 I'd wager, and his tap roster is a veritable All Star lineup in the world of craft brews.  My love of rye whiskey has been spilling into beer, and so I am loving the O'Fallon Hemp Hop Rye.  It  is delicious, and, at $3 a pint, felonious.  Check it out.
Nice to see a corner bar with some craft beer on tap and in the bottle.
For example; O'Fallon, Founders, Goose Island, Tighthead, Boulevard, Firestone Walker, Great Lakes, Half Acre, Dogfish Head and Three Floyds.
Sports games are on the tvs, but thankfully the tvs are a very reasonable size and unobtrusive so you can pay attention to your company without being distracted.
Bartenders were friendly and answered my questions, but were too busy to chat with. Noticed the Goose Island Green Line tap handle was removed during my visit on a recent Saturday night, so here's hoping there's good turnover.
There are two women's restrooms. Be warned the men's room is single occupancy and doesn't have a lock on the door.
There are about 20 parking spots out back.
Will have to come back again. Maybe on Belgian Fridays, when Chimay bottles are on special.
Very Laid back bar. Good draft selection, including many IPAs or seasonal microbrews.
I usually go for their open mic. It's usually the second Friday of the month. So I don't really know what their jukebox is like. I'm pretty sure they have one. It's either an internet jukebox, or an older model that's loaded with classic rock.
The bartender's have always been pretty friendly and down to earth. And the clientele are also not stuffy. Everyone I've met there has been pretty outgoing and talkative.
They lose a star for not having a kitchen. But, to be fair, they do have chips, and can make you a frozen pizza. I'm pretty sure they order food to cater Bears games. And they also lose a star for only selling bottled water. Dumb policy, imo. But, whatever. I don't blame the bartenders, I know that's probably the owner's call.
Came in here last winter on a snowy evening - we were early for dinner down the street, and stopped in for a cold one. Â There were a few regulars and us, but the bartender treated us like we were old friends. Â She was such a sweetie. Â We wouldn't go out of our way to go here, but if we happen to be in the area we'll be back!
Review Source:The Hubs and I have only been living in the neighborhood for a couple of months, and I am pretty darn happy we discovered this bar this weekend. Â It's nothing really to write home about, but it's totally decent. Â I agree with Craig D's review - this is not a place I would go to seriously party or spend the whole night, but if you just want to hang out toward the end of the night and have a good beer, this is a good place. Â Noise level is not out of control so you can really enjoy hanging out with your friends. Â That is something I can REALLY appreciate! Â I wouldn't say this bar is totally a dive, but it's just your average joint. Â The bartender we had (Kyle) is fairly new but he was really friendly and didn't seem at all annoyed that we came in right at last call. Â I think next time we go we'll check the scene out a bit earlier and see what's up there. Â We heard they have live music sometimes so that could be cool.
Review Source:situated just across (a sidestreet) from Cooney Funeral Home, this place is in the best place for us Irish attending a wake.
they have Magner's Irish Cider, which makes it tops for me...
but what really rocks is the way they treated us when the wake for my Grandmother spilled over into their pub - they treated us like family, poured a respect round and let us keep out tabs open so we could go back and forth to the wake.
They lack in the food department, but are more than willing to allow food to be delivered
they are some of the nicest people i have ever met
Not the fanciest of places but definitely got the job done.
I went to school across the street from here for a year and it was THE PERFECT place to head to for a post-class drink! $2.50 beers, a full bar besides that, free peanuts and popcorn, the pizzas are delicious for being the frozen kind, plenty of screens, and laid back bartenders.
Someone also mentioned how it's great to go and enjoy a good conversation here. That's so true! I guess that's the point of a lot of dive bars, but I think "The Tap" (what my classmates and I came to lovingly call it) is special because it's so huge in there and you don't have to worry about any other patrons eavesdropping on your conversation.
The juke box also has an excellent selection. One time a bunch of us went in there and threw a $20 in that thing and made it party! haha, good times...
I'll probaly never go back now that I'm done with school but "The Tap" will always have a special place in my heart!
Tip:
This place is CASH ONLY but does have an ATM!
It seems like people complain that there isn't enough going on at this bar, which is true at times, but I think that's what a lot of people in the neighborhood like about Tap. Sure, we like to go farther East to really go party, but if you're just looking for a reasonably priced drink and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, this is the spot. Bartenders are friendly and the beer selection is great for a neighborhood bar, not to mention the prices are usually 1/2 as much for a pint than you'll find at most other places.
They also have a side room that you can rent out for parties, bands, etc., free of charge. All you have to do is buy the drinks. We haven't taken advantage of this yet, but hear you can bring in your own food and music, so we may try it sometime in the future!
So I call up my Dawg Leobardo C and of course Ive known this dude for years and I know a invite to go get loaded wont go unaccepted.
Big brown(me): Dawg lets go get ripped!
Leobardo : Where?
Big brown: You pick!
Leobardo: Dude Bulls game is on! and so is the Sox game! Â Independence tap! I will pick you up in 20 minutes!
Big brown: My dawwwwg! we funna get ripped!
Of course  we forgot that the Scrubs game was earlier and that the Tap was gonna be infiltrated with Cubs fans from as far away as Oswego because the Tap is like a block away from the Metra....Yeap!
Bartender is awesome! Shes from Texas treat her well and the drinks will be strong! Nice selection of brews! $3.50 pints on imports and some micro's cant beat it! 4 screens! for your viewing pleasure.
Oh and yeah................we got ripped! Damn right thats how we roll!!!
shake & bake seal of approval!
Hipster infestation level: 5 I saw a couple of them wander in and out. Oh and then there was one who gave me a nasty look as I ranted about them with the Bartender....HA!
Massive selection of beers, fun and amiable bartenders, comfortable atmosphere, and some pretty decent people watching. What's not to like?
They lure you in with some really cheap prices on draft beer, but ordering a pitcher took several minutes because it was full of foam. Once the foam settled, the beer was flat.
All that aside, the popcorn was pretty good, the pizza really hit the spot, and I had an awesome time here with some great friends from work. They actually tolerated my band of crazy coworkers celebrating Independence Day at the Independence Tap, and I was sure going in that we would all be killed.
I just think I'll stick to bottled beer next time!
Independance Tap is a decent bar if you want to just go enjoy some beers and not be bothered by big crowds and loud drunks. Â Consider it just another room in your house where you have to pay for beers. Â Pool table, Juke box, Punching game, and a decent beer selection is all it really has to offer. Â Service is pretty slow. Â I don't believe they serve food. Â It can get a little sketchy in there sometimes and I have seen one fight go down outside. Â Most of the time if you don't bother them they won't bother you. Â All in all, it's not something you go out of your way for, but you would go because it's on the way.
Review Source:This is the nearest bar to my house, hence the one I frequent most often. Â It is a dive bar with an impressively wide selection. Â At least 10 beers on tap. Â The place is only full the rarest of times. Â There is a pool table and punching meter macho game thingy there. Â Bartenders are often friendly, same for clientele but they usually leave you be if you desire. Â So come on by and buy me a beer and I will buy you some of that free popcorn they so nicely provide.
Review Source:I love this bar ever since I moved to the neighborhood. I agree with a lot of the reviews below. It's definitely a low key place but that's what I enjoy most about it. Also there free peanuts and popcorn. The only thing I have a problem with is the lack of consistent bar tenders. I've been going there for about a year now and I've seen at last 8 different bar tenders in the place. Also some of them didn't know how to bartend very well and would force an empty tap to deliver more. Which makes it hard to get used to but i must say that the daily's are friendly and will buy you a drink every now and then.
Note make sure to bring cash or waste the fee at the atm they have
This place has a lot of potential. Â It is the closest bar to my house and I have only been there twice- and I enjoy drinking... They have an okay beer selection in bottles, but I would be careful with the tap beer... I can;t remember what I ordered, but when the bartender was pulling the beer he said "i don't know about this" which is not what you want your bartender to say when pouring a drink. Â
Anyhow- I might go back, but they really need to liven up the place a little.
I've been here twice. Â
I would recommend this bar if you're looking to get away from the crowds. Â It's pretty low-key and perfect to just drop in, have a few drinks and actually hear/enjoy a good conversation.
The drinks weren't expensive at all. Â I had $2 Pabst beers, and $2 shots of tequila rose. Â To snack on, they offer small and large pizzas, peanuts, chips (50 cents), popcorn. Â The small pizza is $5 and is the typical pop-it-in-the-oven-cuz-i-don't-wanna-cook type of pizza.....but it was satisfying.
The jukebox wasn't so bad. Â It offered a good selection of music... both old and new.
The ladies room was clean.. no complaints there. Â I heard the men's is a little less kept up with, though.
I'll be back here again... I'm sure.
This place is within stumbling distance from my apartment, so I had really, really high hopes upon entering this establishment for the first time.
Unfortunately, it turned out that the location is really the biggest draw for this place. Â (That, and maybe the jukebox, which has a pretty decent selection.) Â
It's not a bad place, but it's not great either. Â (I guess the word I'm looking for is 'mediocre'.) Â Since it's way west of Western, I figured drinks would be cheaper than they are in hipper neighborhoods, but they're really not. Â Also, this place is SUPER smoky, to the point where I feel I need to shower before going to sleep because the smell is so gross.
There *is* some spectacular people-watching here, just because this place seems to attract such a wide variety of people. Â So I guess that's another plus, albeit a small one.
Anyway, the bottom line: the fact that there's not a lot of bars in this area combined with its close proximity to where I live means I will probably be back. Â But I'm not really excited about it.
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