I love McGee's! Â A majority of my vistis here are for Ohio State football games on Saturday's. Â
McGee's is awesome with their monster mug deals for $8 dollar drafts all throughout the day. Â Make sure you show up early on game day to ensure you get a good seat as well as the freebie hand out at the door. Â You can expect to get anything from a t-shirt, hat, bag, you name it. Â
McGee's serves typical bar food with quality service. Â This is by far the best atmosphere you can get in Chicago. Â You feel like you are back in Columbus in the Shoe. Â If you are a recent Ohio State grad you will definitely see familiar faces as this is the place to be for Buckeyes. Â
My last recommendation is to wait for the Buckeyes to score and get the 2 for 1 "O" bombs. Â These are vodka red bull shots and they are the best. Â Be careful though because during a 3 hour game you can rack up a hefty bill. Â Don't be surprised to see your amount get close to the century mark.
Go Buckeyes!
Went here at about 3pm on a Tuesday for a late lunch, so I was the only one there. Despite this, the waitress didn't come to take my order until I got her attention. The table that I was sitting at, the one in the very front (right by the opened windows since it was warm weather) was disgustingly dirty. The food was alright for bar food but the waitress never came by to ask how it was. Wouldn't go back
Review Source:I hate this place with every fiber of my being. I've been here twice, once for a young friend's birthday and once because my friend won an open bar package. Both times I chugged drinks and left within 3 hours. Not only is everything incredibly watered down and overpriced, but their "buffet" food also sucks. Also every damn patron in here is an underage (or appears underage based on their demeanor) asshole.
I've had friends leave because a bunch of bros tried to pick fights with them, I've been hit on by an idiot who thinks calling someone an "ice queen" is a good way to pick up girls, and I've gotten lip from a bartender for trying to get a different drink when he gave me a cracked glass.
Only redeeming part of this place -- my friend signed up for their birthday drink package list and some idiot had written down their birthday as 1995. The guy with the clipboard, when alerted to this fact, said, "Damn. Well, someone's getting fired tonight."
Don't. Come. Here.
This should actually be 3 1/2 stars.
Why such a high rating for such an average bar? Â Well, McGee's is what it is and doesn't try to hide it. Â Yes, it's loud and crowded and kinda dirty, and did I mention loud? Â But it knows the crowd it's catering to and that's fine with me. Â If you're not into the 'bro'/college-y scene, this is probably not your place, but I've been here a few times and never had a problem with that. Â In fact, I've actually had a better than good time. Â Again, probably because I take what this bar gives me. Â They have good drink specials on Thursdays and it's close to the Red Line so that's nice.
Just went there tonight as I am new in town and was definitely not impressed. Our server was pretty negligent, and took us three time of asking for silverware before it actually happened. Also, when asked if we could get blackened seasoning on the burger, her response was "I don't know, I'm not the chef" No, but you work there. Maybe you could ask? Seems to me like the proper thing to do would be to say "I'm not sure, let me go ask and find out for you." Any training in the hospitality field would have taught her that if you don't know something, find someone who does and help your guest.
Also, Wednesdays are apparently $1 burger night, which was a good deal, but you cannot take your half eaten burger to go... I understand this policy so people don't load up on burgers in to-go boxes, but there should be some sort of "if you've already have eaten half of it, you can take it to go" policy. I personally cannot finish a whole burger in one sitting...plus the french fries portion is laughable. I counted 6 fries on my plate...come on now. On the plus side...the draft beer selection was great!
Get your servers caring about the people that they are actually serving, and this place could be a good neighborhood spot. Until then, you probably wont see me back.
Outside:
The TSA doesn't even ask me for that much ID at the door (but props to McGee's for not backscattering me).
Inside:
Can you hear me? (No.) Can you hear me? (No.) Ah well, let's just sit here and drink. Clearly, conversation is overrated.
Might have one of the best headache recipes in town, though!
I only really come here for $1 burgers. I don't think I'd come here on a weekend night because there are better places.
Service is kinda slow and they never seem to remember when you ask them for something (like napkins).
No free refills on soda either.
Music's usually good, but it's so loud it makes it hard to have a conversation with someone.
I don't know how a bar could be run more poorly than this. What formula says that to run a successful bar you should:
1. Ignore all cleaning duties (i don't think they even own a mop).
2. Crank the music so loud that you can't hear someone 2 feet away from you. Then turn it up a little more.
3. fill the place so full of tables so people can't dance to the deafaning music, or really move at all.
4. Make drinks so cheap that your bartenders are serving 20 dunk college kids at any given time.
Seriously, McGees bartenders are tougher than US Marines. Their eardrums must be gone after one week of work.
Mcgee's is the spot! Good specials and majority of the time, have a really good crowd. The place extends all the way to the back. I usually go Thursday for what use to be $1 beer and $2 well drinks. Now, it's switched. However, they have great specials almost daily. I mean, almost all bars in Lincoln Park have great specials but this place is really good. This place is not however for a party. If you and a friend wanna chill, this is the spot.
Review Source:Not so pleased with McGee's. We felt a little neglected by our server which only saw us once then left for the end of her shift then all the sudden we had a new girl, which was super nice.
I wanted a refill on my pop badly and the old server just kept walking past. I couldn't get her attention. My friend suggested I call the bar since the number was right on the menu. So I did. Unfortunately no one answered, but we had a laugh none the less.
I did go to the bar to get my refill and the bar tender said it would be $3. I explained I already paid with my server and she said they don't do free refills. I was dumbfounded. No refill on a pop? It costs them literally  $0.10 and they want to charge $3. Nice.
Straight up, this isn't my scene. In fact, this is far from my scene. I only stepped in here because a friend of a friend really insisted that 1) we go in here and that 2) beers would be on him. Both my friend and I shrugged our shoulders and went in.
Not for nothing, I did want to leave almost as soon as I got here. It was loud and it felt like I was walking across hot caramel. My sandals were kinda sticking to the floor as I walked across. Wonderful. The music was also so loud that I could barely think.
I will say that the draft selection was pretty decent. I certainly didn't expect to see some rev brews here, but decided to go with a lagunitas pils instead. The beer selection is what's actually keeping me from going 1* on this. It was certainly a redeeming part all things considered. The selection may not be amazing, but it does work for me.
This type of bar wasn't my scene when I was in my early 20s, and it's even less so now in my early 30s. It was filled with a lot of no neck guys and girls wearing too much makeup and perfume. I'm not really hating on the place as it just isn't my scene. I can see how  it can work for people, but it's not for me at all.
Oh my goodness-- do NOT get a party package here. A friend of mine recently did to celebrate his birthday, and at $20 all you can drink, it seemed like a great idea.
What we didn't know was that it would be shoulder-to-shoulder packed with other parties, meaning the bartenders were really annoyed and ignoring party members-- but who could blame them--Only 3 bartenders to what appeared to be 70 people pressed against the bar? Really?
So, after 2 hours of being crammed in a bar that was too loud to talk in, and only 2- 3 drinks apiece, we left.
Pretty bada$$ spot. $20 wristbands at the door, and it gets you a buffet of food + all you can drink from 6-11pm.
Come with friends and get a high-top table in the front bar area, where everyone chills, socializes, and meets new people (large groups of guys and girls everywhere) or head towards the back room where live music hits the spot. FUN times rockin out and grabbing a drink from the back bar + buffet food area.
Chill all around, very energetic, and easy to please with $20 all you can everything.
I mainly come here for food and the $2 buck domestic drafts night. Golden Monkey Beer. Highly recommended.
Side note: Crawfish Broil. Get there early, just to get a "table" which is a stool pretty much. Food is good though.
There isn't anything special about the bar. It gets super packed, but I prefer this as a pregame point in my night. There is a "dance floor" but it's pretty mediocre.
Service is pretty good. I feel like on busy nights they are understaffed cause you may be waiting a while for a drink if you have a server.
There isn't really anything special about the bar. I've had some fun nights there but also have had meh nights.
It's a decent spot to get beers and watch sporting games though.
Christine and I went there for their Crawfish boil. Â We got there right around 10:00am and there was already a line waiting to for the doors to open. Â It is all you can eat Crawfish for $25 dollars which is a good deal, the only problem is that I don't eat crawfish. Â I was just going with Christine because she loves it.
Anywho, we get to the door and Christine pays her $25 and gets a wristband and say I don't want the crawfish boil because I am a vegetarian and they say I had to pay $25 anyway. Â We promptly turned around and left after Christine got her money back.
Dumb policy all around. Â You are giving out wristbands indicating that you paid for the crawfish if you see someone without a wristband eating, make them pay or kick them out. Â I had no intention of scamming the system. Â I would have easily purchased way more that $25 worth of drinks for the entire time that we would have been there.
We have been to other crawfish boils around the city and they do not have this policy. Â We will never frequent McGee's again or their restaurant group not that they probably care about that anyway.
Since a friend of mine lives nearby, I hesitantly decided to finally visit the infamous McGee's.
We first started drinking at Kelly's, preparing ourselves for the unbecoming environment of McGee's that we were witnessing from across the street. Once inside, I thought that we should've had at least three more beers before coming.
It was Saturday night, so of course the place was packed. I can deal with packed. But I can't deal with people that looked as is if they could be 15 to as mature as 50 shoving me over every couple of minutes when I talk to my friends. (I can't see why people can't just move around me if there's room there)
Seeing the dichotomy of the crowd was just strange. I usually go to bars that have a niche they appeal to. Dealing with the crowd was worse. Overall, the crowd was just not appealing that night.
The staff.. I know it's a Saturday night, but if I ask for 2 bud light bottles, does it really need to take you 15 minutes? Note: I paid with cash. It shouldn't take 15 minutes.
Needless to say, we were there for about 20 minutes before we just went back to Kelly's. I'm never going back there again.
I'm in the area frequently so McGees is a place I am relatively familiar with, that being said there are some things I really like and others I really don't. It is a mid/large bar so like bars of similar size don't expect friendly service, not to say that the servers are unfriendly but it is a big bar with a lot of younger people so there is that mechanical feeling to every interaction. Also more than once when I went in during a slow afternoon/early evening the waitresses were too busy chatting with their friends to continue to supply me with water. There are also odd fees at the door, I went in on a Thurs and the doorman notified me it would be 3 dollars because there was live music.. okay. When I got in the live music was one guy playing guitar all the way on the back stage where you could not even hear it.
McGee's is not without it's good points however and the three stars I give it is really all because of the various specials offered throught out the week. They have a nice assortment of quality draft beers Thurs for 3 bucks each and they also have very cheap food specials that vary from day to day like dollar burgers ect.
The only thing giving this the third star is how many people I know go to McGee's on Fridays to start off the night. [Fridays there's a $20 open bar from 6-11 that also includes a buffet (the fried ravioli is great!)]
Drinks are a-okay, typical well drinks. If it weren't for the company, this place would just be your average dive bar.
Every time I go to McGee's, the place is mobbed! It's really hard to maneuver around, so expect to spill your drink when moving from point A to point B.
A mostly young crowd, and I mean about 99% of the customers are probably college students. Most of which are pretty inebriated.
I also notice a lot of bar crawler's; must be the area or something.
I can't remember if I've had food here, but I really want to eat next time I go. I think I remember there being portabello mushroom quesadillas (yum!). A lot of other appetizer/bar food that looks really good.
Nice that there is a back room, in which a band normally plays, but most people tend to stay up front.
My favorite part about this place is the outdoor seating area. Perfect for those of you who like to have lunch with your furry BFF in tow. But be advised that it is right next to the El so expect to pause your conversation frequently for passing trains.
The beer selection is nothing fancy but it will do. The burgers are pretty darned good, though, and served on pretzel rolls. Apps are typical of bar food.
B R U N C H Â Sunday BRUNCH! Â $9.99
Get there at 10 AM the place is empty  --- walk directly to the back. HUGE FRESH delicious -- choices like shrimp, Crab legs, huge smoked salmon, 3 kinds of eggs Benedict, waffles, blitzes ... on and on. Big bowl cups of coffee and a nice Bloody Mary bar.  I am NOT a sports fan. However if you linger there and a game comes on, the place fills up and you can't help but get sucked into the crowd enthusiasm and glance at one of the 4365 TVs.
McGees, how I used to love you....MORE!
I loved going to McGee's when they had the breakfast buffet with bottomless mimosas. Â It was like $16 of fun with friends in a great atmosphere. Â I was sad to find out two weeks ago after planning a brunch outing for 6 that this option is no-longer available. Â Sad.
The new deal is $9.95 and then pay for your mimosas. Â Honestly, I'm not a buffet person, so I only did the buffet for the mimosa package. Â I'll pay more for the mimosas package, so please bring it back! Â I will say the buffet is pretty decent considering buffets are hit and miss.
I'll still come back, but I hope you see this McGee's and bring back the bottomless mimosa option.
Ah, I love McGees. Â I was a waitress here for almost a year, and loved it! Â (Well, as much as one can "love" waitressing) Â The people were great (for the most part), and I LOVE the owners (Tom and Phil.) Â
I may be bias, but McGees serves excellent food for a great price. Â Especially on nights when there is a special - ex. $.25 wings and $1 burgers. Â The wings are meaty and full of flavor, I also love the salads (southwest and chicken ceaser are my favorite). Â
It's near DePaul's campus, so naturally there are quite a few college-age people that frequent the bar, but don't be fooled, there are also a TON of young professionals that party here, too (trust me, I worked here!) Â
McGees isn't the fanciest place on earth (come on, it's an Irish bar, we're nothing fancy), but if you want to spend time in a positive and fun environment, try it!
Like most other folks reviewing this place, I came for the Friday drink special. Â While the food is nothing to holler about (woo, taco night... at least the vegetarians could eat this time!), you can definitely get $20 worth of alcohol and then some. Â However, if you're into fancier stuff, McGee's probably won't cut it. It costs extra to get better liquor. (duh?)
I spent the evening with a couple beers on tap in addition to some rum and cokes. With the right crowd, McGees has the potential for a great night out! But make sure to get there early (before 7 would be good, I think). Just, whatever you do, don't go for the food.
I went out to McGees Friday night, and while I felt way too old to be there, I still had a great time.
We got $20 wristbands with all you can drink from 6-11pm, and came with a buffet. Â This week it was tacos. Â (And I was impressed by the food. Â It wasn't great, but it was solid. Â There were hard and soft tortillas, ground beef and chicken, rice and beans, and lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and taco sauce). Â It definitely hit the spot!
The bartenders were quick with the drinks, and they were strong enough!
The live band was really fun to sign along and dance to!
Overall I had a really great time and remembered why I used to go to these kind of places when I was younger.
I don't know how, but I think they water down their $2 beer. I had about 6 beers within a 2 hour period of being there. I have little tolerance for alcohol so usually if I finish a 6 pack I'm pretty funky. But didn't even get a buzz off of these.
But damn, that burger on Wednesdays for a buck! Wow! It tastes like its pretty good quality and for the price, you can't beat it! For a broke college student like me, I would go to McGee's every Wednesday if I could handle all that red meat.
For the last couple of years, my friends and I have been coming here on for their Wednesday dollar burger and $3 draft special. The food has never been great, but what would you expect?
My biggest problem is with the service. It has precipitously gone downhill over time. While there are a few nice and attentive servers, most seem to make a point of ignoring the customers at their tables. And the managers are just straight-up rude. Their mantra seems to be "if you don't like it, you can leave." Not exactly the kind of place you'd want to frequent.
Well the door guys were nice, that was good... but other than that, blah. I did not enjoy this place. I know it's right by DePaul so college kids are expected but at 27, I felt waaaaaaay too old for this place. I haven't had a beer spilled on me since college, when my weekends were spent at local music venues. I didn't like the feel of beer dripping down my arms and legs then and I don't like it now.
There's really nothing special about this place. Well, maybe the gross dirty bathroom makes them special. I'm a big fan of neighborhood bars as opposed to downtown bars / clubs but I don't see myself ever returning. I have no desire to spend my weekends with kids who just turned 21 (or who are underage) and can't handle their liquor. For the neighborhood it's in, this place is appropriate but if you're in your late 20s and find yourself hanging out here, I wish you luck b/c odds are you're a sad dude looking for college chicks... and that's a bit pathetic, bro. The staff I encountered while there seemed really nice so they are not to blame for my bad experience- it's the clientele they cater too that's just not the kinda folks I care to be around.
When you're in an area with as many bars as Lincoln Park/DePaul, it's best to have something to distinguish yourself from the pack. McGee's lacks that in every way possible save one.
The decor is familiar as any other sports bar in LP/Lakeview, and at nights the music is loud. There's an outdoor area in the summer (right under the L), and it's just got a general, neighborhood/collegey bar feel to it.
I mentioned there was one area where it did distinguish itself from the pack. McGee's distinguishes itself by being a complete ripoff. A recent Saturday afternoon trip saw me order a Green Line. $6. In a small plastic cup. Gee thanks. I can get the same beer for $4 in a big boy glass at any number of bars in the area.
So for my second drink I switched to Old Style (after being told there was no PBR, so I figure Old Style's the next best cheap-beer alternative.). I got my 12oz bottle and closed out my tab. Two beers. It was a bill for $13. I'd expect that from The Globe Pub or some place in River North, not a college bar. I asked if the $7 cheap-but-delicious Old Style beer was a mistake. There was none. Even the manager confirmed this was the price.
Just for reference, the only other place I know of where an Old Style costs $7 is AT WRIGLEY FIELD, and you get more than 12 ounces. It takes BALLS to sell beer in a bar for as much as it costs at a Major League Baseball stadium, and that's the reason why, with many other drinking options in the area, I won't be at McGee's for a long, long time.
Whoah! I felt like I was 5 years younger when I walked in here! Let me break it down for you!
Sunday morning Brunch!
Elvis impersonator as entertainment!
UNLIMITED mimosas! 11am-3pm
In the company of the most awesome person ever! ;)
All this for $16.95!............damn!
You know what that means..................Rip city baby, rip city!
I havent had my buzz on that early on a Sundy in a looong time!
UNLIMITED Mimosas!!! Cant stress it enough! Holy Smokies!!!
SHake & Bake seal of approval!
Hipster infestation level: ZERO!! Sunday morning.......they are still sleeping off their PBR hangover from Sat nite. Plus the King was there to keep em away!
Great college style sports bar with an open air feel next to the EL. Had a nice burger, solid nachos and little corndogs. The Guinness was good too. Â Mandy couldn't stay long cuz pregnant beauties need their rest.
That said, the very best part of the bar was the Ohio State contingent. Â We were there for the day of the USC-Ohio St. game so the place was loaded with their arrogant fans. During the early game...Notre Dame-Michigan, these guys were scowling at some of our Michigan alums and SC supporters. I started to feel bad for them by the end of the game since I just knew the Buckeyes would lose yet again. Â My Michigan buddy leaned over and said, "Many think we resist hiring Ohio State alums because they'll admit any HS grad, but the reality is...we don't hire them because they crumble under pressure."
Irish Pubs in Lincoln Park are a dime a dozen. Hell, maybe only a nickel. They all look pretty much the same and besides for a few varying drink or food specials, all provide pretty much the same thing as well.
So what sets McGee's apart? In a word: Music. In the hour I was there I heard the Rentals, Weezer, Built to Spill, Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. in what was a veritable force of an early to mid-90s alt rock extravaganza. I get excited when I hear the Rentals at a house party, hearing them at a Lincoln Park Irish Pub was like hearing ABBA at a Klan rally.
This is a good place to go if... you're forced to take people to an Irish Pub and would like some sonic distraction.
The other night we were hangin out on webster, waiting for a late show of KungFu Panda to start down the street, and wanted a few beers. Â There was Kelly's to our right, and McGee's to our left. Â One of my friends saw a gaggle of tube-tops run into McGee's and felt lucky... so there we were. Â (gag)
It wasn't even dark out, yet the thumping from the dj was so loud that it almost lifted me off the ground. Â It would've lifted me, but the floor was so sticky that I stayed put. Â We sat in a booth, watched the tigers lose for a minute, and eventually found a waitress- who gave me an eye-roll for ordering a water.
Then the moment I feared came upon me... I needed to pee. Â I managed to push through the training-cleavage and collars, and arrived at a single stall bathroom with a rusty lock. Â Scariest squatting of my LIFE!
I understand its a college bar, but ew. Â I don't know if I can give this place another shot.
Ugh. My own personal record for fastest pint consumption was set here on Super Bowl Sunday. Â
4:02 pm: Ordered a pint of Guinness.
4:06 pm: Glowing-orange spray tanned man clad in mock turtleneck asks if I'd care to join him. Â Me: "um, no thanks-- I'm all set". He slickly (insert: sarcasm) counters with a "come on honey, I'll buy you a Jager Bomb".
4:07 pm: Politely decline and walk back to the bar. Â Gulp, chug, and swallow that Guinness in almost one seamless maneuver. Done and done.
4:10 pm: Walk across the street to unassuming Kelly's. Â Yesss... much better.
Pathetic as it may seem to some, I'll be turning the big 30 in several months and I'd still say this is my overall favorite place aside from my apartment. Not favorite bar, favorite place. I have been known to arrive at McGee's at 10:30 AM and not leave until midnight. I have had my last two birthday parties there. I have asked the owner how much he would charge for the place. Turns out I don't have enough money.
Coming from someone that has very mixed feelings about sports bars in general, I'll give you my reasons why this place is head and shoulders above anything else around. No I don't work there, nor do I derive any benefit from giving them a good review.
1) Brunch is wickedly good. Phil's steak and eggs benedict is my favorite breakfast. The bloody mary bar is fun and novel.
2) The wings are probably my favorite in the city. The hot devil are painful to eat, but yet still have so much flavor. If your sinuses are clogged, it's a win win. And no, I have not been to the legend that is Buffalo Joes, but I can only dream of one day reaching Evanston, Illinois.
3) The cheese fries. Waffle cut. Cheese. Can't really mess that up.
4) Drinks/Shot specials. Contrary to what it may seem, I've found quite a few sports bars won't serve pitchers. That's bunk. Pitchers save $ and save downtime between beers. Now picture yourself getting a pitcher of Newcastle. Then chase it down with something that has bomb in the title (preceeded by jaeger, O, cherry, grape, etc.). Now picture getting two of those shots for the price of one. Come on. This is too good to be true.
5) The TV situation. This is easily the best TV setup of anywhere ever. In the Front room, each booth has its own flatscreen TV on the wall. Then there are TVs overhead EVERYWHERE. In the back, There are big screen TVs. I think a lot of them.
6) The waitresses. They're almost always pretty cute, friendly, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, they're on top of their game. They weave in and out between drunk trixies and chads like it's their job... Actually I guess it is their job, but they do it well. In my many Sunday Funday experiences, I've almost never been beerless. Often times, it actually seems like many of them are psychic, because they bring drinks BEFORE you order them. Â
In closing, while McGee's may not have the most upscale clientele, if you enjoy eating and drinking and watching sports and then eating more later and watching more sports and throwing in an occassional danceoff by the dj booth, this is the place.
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