J&D's Bar & Grill

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  This place is all about price.  The service is spotty (varies) because they're usually so busy their wait staff is overworked.  That said, for bar food it's well above standard.  Go on a weekday and see how many geriatrics are there for lunch - always a good way to judge if a place has at least okay food at a good value.  I guarantee you they won't be empty.
  
  As for the quality - other reviewers who said such negative things must be completely retarded.  A tarragon sauce for a $5 chicken sandwich where I can actually taste the tarragon?  Are you kidding me?  For $5?  Who cares if the chicken isn't some free range no hormone blah blah blah... it's $5 and it's pretty big and it's awesome!!!  $5 for a half lb of snow crab legs and a potato?  So it's not Shaw's fresh... it's $5!!!  The grocery store can barely match that, and you didn't have to cook it.  $5 for a 1/2 rack of ribs, so I can get 2 different kinds and both will come with extra fries for $10?  Go pay $20 each in downtown Chicago for almost the same things if you're going to be super picky Mr. Super Foodie, there are places that make food into chemistry for you.  I actually appreciate the low price for decent things!  If you like Anthony Bourdain you'll like this place.  If you prefer Andrew Zimmerman you'll hate it.
  
  Is this Chicago Prime or Mortons?  No.  Does the seafood rival Shaw's or other local non-chain high end places such as Dover Straits or Bob Chins?  Hell no.  Will you have the best meal you have ever tasted here?  No.  This is a bar and grill with awesome good food for dirt cheap, not a high end gourmet restaurant with gourmet prices (though it does offer some high end things for very cheap).  Will you be able to order 2 meals for $10 and get completely stuffed, and have a beer if you want while you're at it?  Damn right you will.
  
  5 stars.  Call me a simple man, but I would rather have my birthday dinner here than at Palm Court in Palatine (also EXCELLENT in a very different way).  At least here I can order 5 meals for $25 and not feel so guilty about the cost to whoever is paying if I don't like one of them.  There is fancy, there is good, and there is both.  Some places are both (Palm Court), some are neither (err.. leaving that one blank).  This place has occasionally fairly fancy food but is not fancy itself.  What it is is good, and inexpensive, all the time.  Burgers.  Fish.  Greasy (but not to greasy) fries.  Ribs.  Juicy chicken sandwiches dressed up with crazy fancy sauces to make them a little better than average.  Normal food you would make for yourself if you weren't so damn lazy (well, maybe that's just me).  You know, for like, when you get hungry.  Not for when you want to review a place, but you know, when you actually just want to forget about it and eat dinner.
  
  Like I always say... if you're not going ultra high end... walk in at 4pm, see if there are seniors eating, if there aren't then walk out!  This place is always packed... businessmen at lunch, seniors at early bird dinner, college kids at night... yep... they're terrible and about to go out of business, that's why the service staff can't keep up and occasionally ignores me and my wife.  They can't hire enough servers and seem to have high turnover.  The horror!!!

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  Posted on 01.18.13 John D.

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  Started coming here this Summer, and now my wife and I stop in at least twice a week. Why? Well, their prices can't be beat, the food is great for the price and the servers are very friendly. Drink specials everyday. $2 you call it , all day Wednesday.  $2 top shelf margaritas? That will keep us coming back!  $5 food specials everyday for lunch. Check them out!

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  Posted on 11.28.12 tom b.

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  This place is surprising.  It doesn't look great from the outside, but once you go inside it is much larger and cleaner than expected.  The prices for drinks are very cheap, especially for being in such close proximity to the millionaires of North Barrington.  The food is not the greatest, but its cheap, and its bar food.  You also get a lot in terms of proportions.  I can say that this is the only time I have ever ordered loaded nachos and got more beef/cheese, etc. than nachos.  I typically only go there on Sundays to watch NFL games as I am not a Bears fan and cannot watch my Steelers on regular cable.  That being said, Sundays have $2.00 domestics and $5.00 for EVERYTHING on their menu.  If people complain about J&D's food on a Sunday, just think to yourself its $5.00.  $5.00 wont even get you a beer at Goose Island Brewery, and they make it there.  Lastly, the service.  If you can sit at the bar, then you will be served promptly as the bartenders are good.  However, everytime I have sat at a table in the bar area, the service has been slow.  We usually order our beers with the bartender and the food with the server, its faster that way.
  
  In summary, this is a great place to grab a cheap bite, have cheap beers, not be too crowded, and watch a sports game.  I will be back every Sunday!  
  
  BTW, this place is cheap on Friday nights too!

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  Posted on 11.07.12 Jay M.

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  This place is awesome.  As soon as I walked in I noticed that there is a television in every corner of the bar.  About 15 televisions total.  
  
  The bartender Jared was really nice & fast.  He made the drinks exactly how they should be made & he made the experience here awesome.  
  
  The restaurant was very clean & even when they were very busy the service was still really good.  
  
  On Wednesdays the entire menu of food is $5 & they have a special $3 you call it on drinks.  
  
  I came here on a Wednesday & got a half a pound of crab legs & a half a pound of breaded shrimp for $5 each.  
  
  Overall this place is awesome.  The restaurant was clean, the bartender was fast & friendly & the prices were awesome.  I look forward to eating here again.

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  Posted on 10.25.12 Spencer H.

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  Very slow service. We walked aimlessly passed the hostess stand where no one was at into the bar we were never greeted. A decent amount of tvs. Had pool tables.
  Food was below average. Servers were nice but very slow and it wasn't cuz it was busy. Sadly don't think we will be going back.

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  Posted on 10.09.12 Stephanie E.

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  This place is awesome.  I took my dad there when he was visiting and we had lunch.  First of all you cannot beat the prices and secondly the lunch was more like a dinner.  The food was great. We had the baby back ribs and shrimp and it was delicious.  Clean place and friendly waitstaff.

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  Posted on 07.22.12 Patrice M.

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  When this place first opened I LOVED it (for the drinks only). They had specials on Sundays and Wednesdays... $4 you call its... ANYTHING. It was pretty insane. But I knew that couldn't last long ($4 goose and cranberries... mmm pretty crazy). However once they stopped doing that it was hard to go back. The food is just downright yucky. I have yet to have something good there. I got a chicken sandwich the first time I was there and it looked like someone dropped it on the floor, stepped on it and let a dog lick it. And it tasted the same.
  
  For the drinks, this place is good. But DO NOT eat the food. Blech!

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  Posted on 07.11.12 Jordan G.

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  Me really likes this place. Friendly, decent food, crazy good prices. I practically live here anymore!

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  Posted on 06.15.12 Kimo K.

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  My First Visit: I was driving north on SR 12 looking for a Friday Night Fish Fry. I saw it listed on their sign so I turned around. I was impressed with the sports bar themed interior and the roominess. The service was NOT the greatest but the FOOD, BAR and PRICES were terrific! I was served two large filets (Tilapia, yum!) along with their signature "shoestring" fries. It was hot and tasty. The next plate was smaller in circumference but again had 2 filets and fries. At ten bucks for food and $4.50 for 3 drafts, I WILL be back!

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  Posted on 05.21.12 Jonathan P.

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  Worst service ever. Ordered drinks and had to ask if they were coming, 30 min after we ordered the drinks. Waitress decided she would go and get them for us. Oh wait, after we had to remind her what we ordered and still got it wrong.  Food was ok but came an hour after we ordered. Manager ended up comping half of our bill because of poor service.

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  Posted on 05.04.12 Tracy K.

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  Normally, this is a good place to go for an inexpensive meal.  We must have caught them on an off day.  First, our service was just bad on so many levels.  I don't mind a few things with the server here and there.  But, when the server says "I really am sucking tonight," you just have to wonder.  In fact, she (Vickie) said that twice.  Besides slow service and having to wave her down (especially when she was sitting at the corner table), reminding her of a drink refill (that we didn't get til the meal was over), forgetting to bring a soup and not recognizing we had a late person joining us for dinner.  The food was just ok tonight.  The prices are fabulous, but when the food came, is was luke warm.  My fries on the top were cold.  I must say the specials are priced great.  Mostly at $10 and the burgers/chx sandwiches at $5.  The value is definitely there.  We will try it again another night, especially since they are so close to our home.  This is a place for cheap drinks ($3 U Call It), live music is good (on another visit) and average food at decent prices.  If you're looking for fine dining, this isn't your place.  Oh yea, and we will request NOT to be in Vickie's section!

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  Posted on 04.29.12 Brenda L.

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  I am unexpectedly shocked by how much fun I had here.  The place is super roomy.  Awesome live music.  Huge outdoor patio area.  Speedy bartenders.  Reasonably priced drinks.  It's a great time.  Certainly not what I was expecting given the rapid turnover that this place has seen in recent years.  That said, not sure I'd recommend the food but if you're looking to party, try J&D's.  They've got it goin' on.

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  Posted on 03.03.12 nicole h.

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  Place is fun.  I've heard the food is good, but I haven't made it up there to try it yet.  Place needs a Foosball table!!!

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  Posted on 01.09.12 Chad C.

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  The best way to describe J&D's Bar & Grill is shocking.  This bar definitely has all the best things; Pool, Darts, Roomy Conversational Areas, and a decent music selection.  Not to mention CHEAP drinks on a Friday night!  Definitely a fun place to hang out with a few buds after a long week.

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  Posted on 12.26.11 Matthew M.

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