This is your place, you found it. Â You may never be cool enough for the bartender to know your name, but who is really, when you are under age 60 and don't smoke, and maybe you don't have a mustache. Â But you can sit down and order your High Life, and order something off the menu because you know what, the food's actually good here. Â You can bring your buds around back and throw some darts, it's no big deal. Â You'll spend some great nights here and some sad nights here, because this is your place. Â I was proud that it was mine for a time.
Review Source:I really wanted to like this place, since it has a nautical theme, is not trying to be another cookie cutter bar that seems to spring up in this neighborhood like a poisonous mushroom, and (most importantly) is about 50 yards from where I used to live. However, I just couldn't make myself like it. The locals are just a little too loud and a little too unwelcoming (think of the relative you dislike the most celebrating their 50th birthday with his/her rowdy friends to the lyrical sounds of Bob Seger and you're on your way to the vibe here) to ignore and grab a drink with your friends.
The cocktails might be cheap but the beers aren't exactly a steal and there is a very limited selection (I know, it's a dive bar but we are living in the midst of the Craft Beer Revolution - throw something besides PBR and Corona out there for us!). If you're in this neighborhood and want a divey experience I suggest you walk a block North and check out the L&L Tavern, or head East to Jake's Pub.
DIVE!
Great drink prices. Â We had the sandwich special, pretty good. Nothing to write home about.
Will definitely go again.
We were on by a bunch of 55+ people that were getting hammered and clearly knew the bartender. Â F Bombs were flying around everywhere. Â It was a pretty cool atmosphere.
If this bar were in walking distance from me, I would be here all the time. Â It is totally inexpensive,the food is delicious, the drinks aren't watered down and it is not crammed with douchy frat boys or what I refer to as "frat girls" (definition: annoying obnoxious and loud girls that are loud and obnoxious to get the attention of douche bag frat boys). Â
A bunch of us ladies went here after having free drinks and wine at a Time Out Chicago event. Â We all shared mini burgers, fries and chicken fingers. Â The bar is a dive and the food is practically gourmet. Â Everything was insanely delicious and totally affordable. Â I can't wait to go back.
The only thing I don't like, the way the bar is designed...it's quite odd. Â But everything else is great, so who cares.
I fully intend on making Parrot's my hangout! I have passed this place for years, literally, and finally stopped in last night. Not by chance but to hang out with a work pal and her bff. I had no problem catching up with their level of silliness as the drinks were cheap and poured heavy, just as I like it (thanks Sara!!). I believe the Wednesday special was $3 well drinks, I ordered a tall for $3.50, saaaaweeeet!
The place is bigger than it looks, tho the main bar area is sorta small. Big back room with free pool! Heyyoooo! Can't go wrong with the awesome selections on the jukebox either.
I can't wait to go back and try their chicken fingers, everyone raved about them. They had pretty decent daily food specials too. Kitchen closes at midnight unless it's a slow night it closes around 10.
Easily accessible by Clark, halsted, or broadway bus! Permit parking on Wellington but metered street parking on halsted.
Check em out! And say hello to the parrot on the bar, baaawwwk! (he's wooden, of course!)
P.S.
I was here on a Wednesday night, around 11:30 til close (2am). Not crowded at all and no obvious tool bags or douches to deal with. Certainly not sure what kind of place this turns into on more popular nights.
Bring your swimming suit, because this place is a dive.
Oh and don't forget your gun, because you can shoot some pool.
Even if you wear your Target clothes here, you can still get plenty of bullseyes playing darts.
Hmm, can't think of one for the free popcorn ...
Lots of nostalgic reviews here. Â I was never a regular, so it was just ok for me. Â What's up with the name though?
I know. Â Douche bar. Â I officially do not care.
I go there with my friends from work and usually close out the bar...though (I protest) I am not an alcoholic. Â
In fact, the reward for not being a heavy drinker has been the beer money that I can now spend on the totally delicious bar food that Parrot's recently introduced.
Yummers.
I feel the need to update my review... I keep going to Parrots, and I keep loving it more than I should. They recently expanded their menu (and got rid of the free popcorn, boooooooo!) (but now sometimes give out free french fries instead, yayyyyyyyyyy!)... and have a great selection of quality bar-eats & specials. The have won-ton wrapper'ed mozzarella cheese sticks. Yum.
I mainly go to Parrots for the darts & drinks, but it's resemblance to my fave Southern Illinois haunts is also a favorite quality of mine. They did get rid of the awesome old-school jukebox, which is OK I guess. I kinda preferred my limited selection of 80s & 90s hits, but I guess I need to change with the times. Parrots, you still have my heart.
It's definitely a dive bar. So, don't go there expecting anything else.
That being said, I've always had a blast. The bar has a really odd layout and there are a bunch of different areas and places to sit. They have a juke box, pool table, and a dart board. Rest assured that no matter where in the bar you're sitting there will be a number of old, neon beer signs and/or interesting art selections adding to your experience.
There's never really a set crowd at Parrot's. It always seems as if the most random assortment of people just happen across it or stumble inside.
The bathrooms at this place are an experience--very small and one time my friend's foot went through the floor. Consider yourself warned on that front.
I went here last night after imploring my friend to find me a place that has a pool table, as I further indict myself as to the affinity I have for anything having to do with billiards.
I have been here before and knew what to expect. Â It's a lot bigger than it seems. Â There are a lot of little nooks and crannies in which to loiter. Â Free popcorn never hurts though.
As I purchased my beverage, I saw that there was an adult magazine spread open on the bar top, sitting alongside some loose tobacco with rolling papers. Â I asked myself, "Who on earth would leave such a thing unattended?" Â I soon had my answer as a young woman came in from the cold to reclaim her spot. Â I implored her to let me glance at the magazine's cover girl, one Aubrey O'day, formerly of Dannity Cane. Â It's a pity I know that.
We talked briefly about the disingenuous nature of airbrushing. Â I moved on quickly, realizing this was a conversation I could not sustain. Â Probably a good choice on my part.
I entered the back room and instantly became giddy when I saw there was a free pool table (although it was at that time occupied). Â
We staked our claim, waiting patiently as the alpha male regulars finished their lackluster game.
It was at this time that I entered the zone. Â At the risk of sounding arrogant, I had my first real 'run,' as a new citizen of Illinois. Â My victims, who shall remain nameless, were good spirited enough, refraining from summoning their cronies to kick my ass, always a good sign.
I would definitely echo other reviewers sentiments that while Parrot Bar is not a destination type of establishment, it is a fine dive bar, worthy of your late-night patronage.
Honestly, no one is ever going to drive halfway across the city to come here. That being said, Parrots might be one of the best dive bars in Lakeview/ Lincoln Park. The prices are cheap and there are enough different areas in the bar so you can go and chill without being bothered. The jukebox has a superb selection of classic rock, which is really the only thing that should ever be played in a dive bar. The wait staff is surprisingly attentive for a dive bar as well. Sarah is da bomb.
If you're ever stranded in the Halsted/Belmont area and in need of some cheap pitchers of beer without the pretentiousness of Lincoln Park, this is your place.
There aren't a lot of places where you can find free pool in LP/Lakeview. Â There aren't a lot of places where a jack on the rocks is only $3.50. Â And in addition to all the other things mentioned about this place, it is chock full of the biggest collection of parrotphrenalia in all the land. Â
Definitely worth a few hours on a low key night.
I love this bar! Â This is the kind of bar you can walk into with severe facial disfigurements or while wearing pajamas and no one will bat an eyelid (yes, I have seen instances of both on many occasions). Â There is free pool, free popcorn and free darts. Â It's cheap, and the staff is super friendly (I was there just a over a week ago and the waitress bought our entire party of 12 shots of tequila). Â The jukebox could use an update but otherwise no complaints. Â The patrons are usually friendly and talkative, so once you go there two or three times you'll start running into people you know.
Love. love. love!
Before heading to some bars I often like to check Yelp to see what all the fuss is about. Â The basic information given was that Parrot's is a dive and that there is free popcorn and free pool. Much of the rumor was substantiated as the second you walk into the bar it is a narrow way in with dim dim lights with some 1970's looking decor. Â The patrons were all older people in their forties who looked like they probably visited this bar several times a week or more.
The bar is bigger than it appeared from when I first walked in. Â There is a zigzagging way to get to the other parts of the bar and it seems as if Parrot's annexed some other bar since one room looks kind of like a pub and then the other is older wood super dive looking. Â I spent all of my time in their game room which featured free pool with cue stick chalk, free electronic plastic darts, and of course free popcorn. Â In the corner was also a wooden middle finger shaped piece of plywood, what it was for - I haven't a clue.
Do not come here early, they will have community college football on, there won't be any music and the deafening silence can only be eliminated through the sound of you and your crew's talking. Â Beers here are like five bucks, but we all ended up buying a neverending row of pitchers while spilling popcorn all over the table and floor by accident. Â
The crowd is interestingly diverse. Â As I mentioned previously, there were some neighborhood locals who camped out in the front bar. Â Outside, someone parked their motorized cart that drove them around, why? Obviously because they were trying to get hammered! Collared shirt asians lined one room. Â Random yuppies were in another room, I had a crew of nerd kids all sporting collared shirts ourselves.
Th funniest group I witnessed were three especially nerdly looking people. Â From my perspective, I saw one as a Dungeon Master, the other looked like a short version of Napoleon Dynamite that may have spoke Klingon, and one older looking lady that probably spoke Elven. Â They played pool and did not look particularly good at it, but I do not care since I am not particularly good at pool myself. Â The kicker was when Klingon started crying! DOH
Anyways I don't find anything particularly wrong about the place. Â They also serve pizza on top of free popcorn and also $10 pitchers of any beer. The free pool and plastic darts and music make the place worth it especially if you live in the neighborhood. Â I will hold a neutral stand on the place due to the neighborhood and crowd.
I went here last Friday and quite enjoyed myself. The bar was pretty cool - lots of rooms, almost like a maze. Awesome music. Free popcorn. Free pool and darts, but I didn't get a chance to play either.
However, I read that this place is "cheap"... but it was 10 bucks for tanqueray&tonic and a Bass. is that cheap? I suppose next time I'll get a coors light and a well drink and see if it makes a significant difference.
A friend of a friend of a friend of a friend was here..
which is why I ended up here sometime during last week. Â I don't recall the day- means it was fun!
I think everyone has hit the basics on Parrots- way cheap, way awesome pool, jukebox, very uncrowded the day we went.
Also, my friend got proposed to here within 30 minutes of meeting... wonder if this is a common occurence!
Even when I was living in NYC, I would routinely return (?) to this amazing dive on halsted and wellington. Â
Yes, it's a bit dingy, the pool table has some serious roll, and you're never quite sure the bathroom door is securely shut behind you, but that's all in the appeal. Â
Cheap drinks, popcorn, a vague nautical theme, and leinekugels (sp?) on draft are what keep me coming back time and time again.
OK, explanation for the 2 stars...so smokey!!!!! But this was before the smoking ban, so who knows how it is now. Was large but very very narrow, no place to sit really on the upper level. Just cuz you're a dive bar doesn't mean you have to be so dark!! I could barely see or breathe here. Maybe I'll go back someday, now that there is no smoking...but who knows if they follow the rules.
Review Source:Totally perfect for the Lincoln Parkster on those occasions where you must get your drink on early in the day and just cant be bothered to put on make-up or clean clothes.
Its one of the only places in the neighborhood that doesnt cater to frat boys ot the trixie elite.
So, in my book- its awesome.
Riddle me this oh yelper, where can you find free pool, free darts, free popcorn, 9 dollar pitchers of everything on tap (7 on Sunday and Monday), and mixed drinks that are actually reasonably priced? Â do you give up oh caped crusader of the windy city review? Â narrow your search to Lake View, no masked marvel of the evaluation, you did not miss hear me, indeed I said Lake view. Â Now do you give up, do you surrender and assume no such place could exist where I say, do you call me a fool, and an unfair riddler? Â Ha you have been had, Parrots the perfect mix of dive, affordability, fun and local.
The owner is a great guy and you can often find him playing pool in the back, speaking of which, free pool and all you have to do is put your name on a chalk board and wait... fantastic. Â there are a fair amount of regulars who run the pool table and it is a pretty good chance that if you are an average or worse player you won't last long but you will almost always go out with a hand shake and a "good game" Â the bartenders are great and even better once you get to know em a bit. Â anyway give my little garden dive bar a shot and you won't be disappointed.
Oh, yeah, I understand that this is a dive bar, but I love dive bars and this was still a little much for me. Â The beer prices weren't as rock bottom as I expected and I cannot figure out why the bar is constructed in such a strange labyrinth layout. Â I did observe all of the "Smoking Permitted" signs and found it odd that they were so gung-ho about the second hand. Â My non-smoking bf wasn't too thrilled that his contacts were melting onto his eyeballs. Â I am a smoker and this amount of smoke was getting on my nerves. Â So much for the idea that you can't smell it on ya.
Review Source:If your looking for a waterhole this place is the epiphany of that expression. Â Basically if your looking to go somewhere and get drunk, this is your spot. Â Props to the free popcorn, that is key when consuming a plethora of adult beverages. Â Although salty so you might wake up the next morning looking like the Michelin man. Â Kind of a weird setup, its like Usher's walk-in closet only crooked, i didn't find it that cheap, definitely not expensive, but it keeps the riff-raff of the guidos and stellas to Mad River.
Review Source:If you're looking for a hole-in-the wall with a good feel and a cute bartender who could kick your boyfriend's ass, if she cared enough that is; then I recommend parrots.
Harmless locals might bother you if you if you're lacking a y chromosome but you'll probably engage in friendly banter and leave it at that.
Beers are good, drinks are so strong that they beg the question, "are you sure, we make 'em strong", when you order a double. Â And that they do.
Furthermore... oops, that's the floor...
My guy is always here with his buddies from work. I went there for the first time last weekend and it was everything everyone says it is, and more.
Now, I'd rather my guy cheat on me than make popcorn without me, so the fresh, free, oil-popped corn would be enough to get five stars. But I loved Sarah the Saucy Server and the pitchers were nice and big. Not like the mini-pitchers they charge $10 on Weed St.
I liked the salty bartender, too. He was nice enough to warn us away from ordering from the kitchen five minutes before closing, and pointed us in the direction of good eats down the street with an invitation to bring the food back.
This was my hangout way back around 1999-2001 until i moved away. I still visit every time I come back to Chicago and am happy to say nothing at all has changed, at least as of when I visited last year. Its so unlike all the other bars in LP or Lakeview. Yes, its a dive, and I miss it so.
Get to know Grant and the rest of the crew. Take care of them and they'll take care of you.
BTW, popcorn and pool has always been free there, and they do serve food, but its just frozen stuff thrown in a toaster oven. ;) There's plenty of 24-hour greasy spoons to stumble to after the bar closes, eat popcorn until then.
For the years that I lived in Lakeview, this was my bar. My dive. My hangout. They knew me so well that I got free popcorn, plus was never charged for pool.
Now that I live in Lincoln Square, it's much less frequently that I spend an evening sucking back Old Style while listening to Tom Waits on the jukebox and talking about the Cubs with Grant. But I'll always love Parrot's.
I love Parrot's. Â This is my bar. Â My friends and I always walked past this bar and finally decided to stumble in. Â We're in love. Â We go there all the time just for a drink and to watch whatever is on TV. Â There is always someone interesting at the bar. Â Watching them can become an entire evening activity.
Besides the interesting people, this bar has free popcorn (you can never go wrong with that,) free pool and darts, a fantastic jukebox and cheap drinks. Â Oh and they're now serving pizza at night. Â It's the perfect low key/dive bar.
What could be better than free popcorn, pool and darts and some cheeeeap drinks. Â This place can tend to be a little smoky, but it is definitely worth dealing with the smoke for one of the best dive bars I have ever been to. Â Don't expect to find many beauties here, but the drinks are cheap enough that you can get drunk enough that you don't care.
Review Source:This little gem can get mad smoky - but don't let that keep you away. Â Parrots is fantabulous. Â Hands down, best bar popcorn I ever tasted (very salty and kind of tastes like grilled cheese). Â Keep the pitchers flowing. . .
I love the jukebox too - not the greatest but a challenge to find the great.
This is my favorite Lakeview neighborhood dive. From the looks of it you expect it to be super cheap, but sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't (depending on the specials) I still love it here, it's never too crowded , there are free pool tables and free darts, plus unlimited free popcorn!
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