As a straight male who spends far too much time in gay bars/clubs, let me tell you, this is the best one. Â I love the Castro in San Francisco, and I have some places that I adore. Â That said, Roscoe's is huge. Â What? You want to dance? Â Perfect, dance by the bar to one type of music, or make your way to one of various rooms with different music. Â Go to the huge dance floor and stage area if you want. Â Karaoke night is classic on Weds. and the pool table isn't in terrible shape.
Review Source:I'm not a gay man, but as a woman, I can say this was one of the most fun places I've ever been to dance! Â Drinks are fairly cheap, attractive men abound (too bad I'm not their type), and everyone is friendly and loves dancing! Â The dance floor in the back was packed, but people were having so much fun and the atmosphere was contagious. Â I would seriously come back here with just other girl friends/sans my gay friend who was visiting.
There are two separate areas--the back is like a Euro nightclub with crazy frenetic lights that sometimes made me feel like I might have a seizure. Â The front was more tame, had seating, and you could see people. Â We grabbed a pitcher of some pink lemonade (didn't taste alcoholic AT ALL but it probably was very strong) and brought it to the back, downing it on the dance floor. Â
The coat check is $2, if you were curious.
I haven't written a review in a while but I'm feeling a little heated from how I was treated by the bouncer last night. I used to love this place. It's fun and everyone who works here is nice and friendly, especially the bartenders. It really only takes one person to ruin the experience and more importantly, the bar's reputation. It was a Sunday and I was out with friends i haven't seen in months.  I get to the door and the bouncer took ONE look at me and said, "No, you're not going in." I ask why and he says, "You're too bouncy" BOUNCY??? I'm sorry that my bubbly and excited self was some sort of an indication that I would be causing trouble in your establishment. When my friends wanted to know the reasoning behind the bouncer's decision, the bouncer decided to deny entry to them as well. I would have completely understood if I were a hot mess drunk that was slurring and couldn't hold myself up. I've seen that happen and appreciate when the bouncer is being responsible but this was definitely not the case in this scenario and very much unacceptable. No one wants to work weekends, but Roscoe's you need to find someone that's willing to suck it up  with the attitude and work with a little more professionalism.
Review Source:I can't say enough good things about Roscoe's. The best thing about Roscoe's has got to be the incredible staff. Everyone is friendly and greet you right away. I walk up to the bar and they know me and my drink and start making it right away. This is def my bar of choice and I've made wonderful friends here just by chatting with people. It's always a staple of my birthday and I can't really imagine Pride without Roscoe's, and in all honesty last Pride woulda been a complete disaster if not for all the fun I had there. Seriously stop here if you get the chance. It was my last stop on my 21st birthday and I remember thinking I wish I would have come her first. The consitantly have great preformers here like Kat DeLuna, Kaci Bataglia, The Wanted, and stars from RuPaul's Drag Race. This place everything you could want. Don't miss it!
Review Source:Very excited to hear about the new beverage choices! One of my favorite things here is the picture slideshows on the TVs. This bar has everything you'd expect from a neighborhood bar(karaoke, alternative night, pool table, and sometimes food) and then also the fun scene events like the Drag Race on Tuesdays and Male Call, with $1 drafts on Sundays. If you've heard of Roscoe's you have probably also of their $12 daily specials, these are dangerously sweet and easy to drink.
Review Source:This is the kind of bar I try not to go to since I'm not 21 anymore. Holy hell drinks are expensive here. My New Years resolution is to drink less beer, but coming to a place like this, the cheapest thing they have is beer (and it's still exorbitantly expensive for a shitty beer like Heineken).
There's nothing "wrong" with this bar -- but you definitely have to be in a certain kind of mood to be there. And by that I mean you probably should be the type of person that enjoys going to loud Wrigleyville bars.
I really don't enjoy coming to this place. My friends are gay though, and love coming here to celebrate birthdays and other major events. The drinks are kind of expensive, and you feel like you're having a seizure everytime you step onto the dance floor. I do like, however, staying in the front of the bar where they play regular music videos and the crowd is tamer.
The thing I hate the most is that there is only one female bathroom, and there is always a line to get into it. One time, a girl was changing her outfit completely while there was a line of 20+ people waiting to pee. I almost refrain from drinking while I'm at Roscoe's so I don't have to deal with the bathroom situation there.
A fun place overall, a Chicago classic. It was my first gay bar in Chicago almost 10 years ago and its where I met a lot of the guys I usually hang out with even today, so it will always have fond memories for me. It has changed over the years, as has the clientele, as has the economy, and of course I have gotten older as well.
You can always be guaranteed a good time there, I love Honey West and her karaoke night, Bobby the deejay is great, and on Sundays they offer free burgers.
The drinks are a little on the pricey side compared to other places on the block, but not lavishly expensive, the bartenders are all very nice too.
I've had some good drunken times here, including last night, which I'm suffering for today... Dance floor is always fun and they play good music. I'm only knocking off some stars for one reason: controlled pours! That's right, they measure the amount of liquor they put in the drinks. It's the worst.
Tip: If you're with a group, buy a pitcher of vodka lemonade. That's what did me in last night!
This place is fun to go and drink at, for sure. However, one Sunday afternoon this summer, my husband and I went there to eat in the outdoor dining area. We were seated promptly and waited about 5 minutes just for a server to tell us he'd be with us in a moment. We watched as he took his time going in and getting drinks for his other maybe TWO tables and chatted everyone else up. We waiting another good 15 minutes before deciding to just leave. The server didn't apologize or anything.
So, good for partying at night, shoddy service for dining during the day. I understand it's a bar before a restaurant, but then don't open during the day and serve food if you can't handle it.
I love this place. As always, never disappointed in the music, Saturday nights are the night to go. If you go before 10pm on Saturday nights, you do not have to pay cover. After 10pm, there is cover, but for the area, it is comparable.
The bartenders are nothing short of amazing and the pitchers are always great and an great price.
The only problem is the women's bathroom line, but you can get away with using the men's, which in Lakeview/Wrigleyville, isn't unheard of. I heard that they are working on this, which would be great!
Absolutely LOVE this place. Their pitchers are amazing. I can't remember which flavor I like more, but they're both good! The dance floor is always packed and the music is always bumping to the point where my ears are ringing in the morning. Haha.
One sore point are the bathrooms. I had to resort to using the guys bathroom because the lines were too long.
Went Friday night and had a blast! One of my good friends from college was in town from Floride where the gay scene is nothing compared to here. Â So it was really great taking him here and letting him loose :) Drinks were great and bartenders were awesome!
***The wait for the bathrooms was awful though!!! HOLD IT!
So... my first experience at Roscoe's was a huge disappointment and I didn't even get a foot in the door. My two friends and I were thinking we needed a night to have fun, given out busy week. We were thinking that we'd go dancing at Roscoe's after having a couple drinks at a bar nearby. Sure, Saturdays were expected to be crowded and we were willing to pay the cover charge. However, one of my buddies had too much to drink  and was completely messed up. I'm talking about having trouble walking, slurring speech, etc. By the time we got to Roscoe's, my other completely sober friend and I were thinking maybe we can just ask for some water for my drunk buddy so he can sober up and and we can put him in a cab or something.
Nope, didn't happen. Got to Roscoe's, my good friend was seriously messed up, and the other dude and I just wanted to know if we can get him some water. So we queued up; by the time we got to the bouncer (didn't remember his named but he was wearing a dark military cap & a grey zip hoodie), he took one look at us and said, "No way, he can't even stand up without help, you're not getting in."
As someone who is licensed to serve alcohol, I understand the responsibility of turning someone who seemed excessively drunk away. But before I could open my mouth and say that no, we were not looking to get in to drink or party (at least not initially), we were ushered out the door. Me and my other friend were literally almost dragging our unusually drunk-as-no-other buddy out the door. I get that it was a busy night, Roscoe's, but can you really not spare a cup of water, the most basic hospitality?
So we dropped by SPIN down the street, where we asked for a glass of water from the bouncer at the door and, despite the fact that there was a line, he came back a couple minutes later with a bottle of water for my friend. This man also asked if he could get some aspirin or something for us while we let our buddy sober up a bit. +1 for SPIN!
Seriously, if this is how people who just want to get their friends home safe get treated at the door, then I'm really curious about what goes on inside.
To be sure, this review in no way reflects my opinion of the bartending or serving staff. I was just disappointed by the lack of compassion some people have. I might come back again just to experience the interior, but definitely not on a weekend.
Not a scientific sampling here, buuuuut... Â $15 for the cleanest "make my martini very dirty" martini ever seen? Â Explanation: "our martini has two servings of alcohol, so we charge double. And if it's a call, it's extra for each serving." Â I guess I need to start asking and measuring the alcohol before I agree to consume and pay! Â Diculous!!!
At least the wimpy, boring mule was a happy-hour $6. Â Because we squawked, Roscoe's took $3 off the martini. Â Don't worry guys we won't be back to bother you.
Watch out for $15 dirty martinis. Really! We're not at the fairmont. Questioned the waiter and the pricing story changed, dropped to $12. Worst dirty martini i ever had, 1 olive and no juice. Outdoor patio was cooler than inside but nothing much to recommend. Note to visitors, boy's town bars don't open till 6pm, what's with that?
Review Source:I love it here. It's a great place to go dancing, hang out with friends, and just relax. It was a little bit crazy for pride, but then again everywhere in Boystown that weekend was overcrowded/charged a cover.
So my friend loves sharing a pitcher of the pink lemonade. I.... well... it's cheap and strong, and you don't taste the alcohol.. I recommend staying away from it, but if you are in need of something cheap and strong then by all means go for it!
Some nights the music is better than others, I still haven't figured out which dj/night I prefer, but overall it's a great place.
I also once went on a Sunday afternoon and they gave out free hamburgers.. I dunno if this is a regular thing, but that was a pleasant surprise! (who doesn't like free stuff?)
I really want to love it more than I do.. but I just can't. Â
I've always had good interactions with the staff and know a few of the bartenders.. so I feel bad rating them low.. but I just don't have a ton of fun here... I've gone many times on many nights for many theme parties.. but just don't find the people around me to be appealing. Â The big shows get overcrowded like the recent Drag Race tour that was HORRID. Â
I need to go one a night without a big crowded event to see how it is on a "typical" night.. but the major events are what draws me.. and I'm always left feeling eh..
Drinks are typical prices.. Cover is typical.. it's just kinda run of the mill for me.
I love Roscoe's..it is always a guaranteed fun time and great dancing.
I usually have only been there on the weekends and you can't beat the 15 dollar Pink Lemonade pitchers.
Great lively upbeat atmosphere and I have never had a rude experience with anyone.
I definitely want to get there this summer for amatuer drag night and will be in the house this Sunday for Pride! Say Hi if ya see me!! :)
Roscoe's suprised me.
I'm not into gay bars (I am gay)- I'm getting over it but it's still not my first choice on a Friday night. Needless to say a friend's birthday came and she really wanted to ring in 21 at Roscoe's so naturally I obliged. We arrived relatively early on a Friday night...
Drink prices (not cheap, not expensive)
Bartender (Okay... so the first guy was AMAZING... such a sweety... second guy was nice enough but was clearly mostly interested in dazzling for tips and flirting with muscles but it's cool- we got our drinks fast and strong regardless)
Music... typically op 40's, house, remixes... it is what it is. I do love the Friday night DJ that comes on later but I wasn't around to see him (Know him from other avenues of life)
The dance floor is fun- nothing too pretentious.. just do you.
I'll come back for sure.
The review is for Roscoe's cafe only.
It was a beautiful spring day so I thought I'd stop for a late lunch. Â
I was greeted warmly by the hostess, Mercedes. Â Since there were several table available, she let me pick a table then she proceed to take my drink order.
Few minutes later, she brought my drink and asked if I was ready to order. Â I was trying to decide between couple items. Â She raved about the Roscoe Burger. Â so I took her suggestions. Â I Â ordered the burger (medium) topped with cheese and sauteed mushrooms. Â I picked tator tots for the side order. Â
My server, Tony, brought my meal within a reasonable timing. Â What a great meal. Â The burger was served on a rye bun with the garnishments of lettuce, tomato and pickle on the side. Â The burger was done just right and juicy. Â
While I'm enjoying my meal, I noticed the other patrons were enjoying their meals - decent size portions. Â The prices were reasonable for the area.
Looking forward to future meals here during the warm weather.
Roscoe's.. how I love thee ANY day of the week.
Yes! Karaoke is amazing on Wednesday nights, even tho I dropped the mic that one time, but who's paying attention?
Yes! Friday and Saturday nights are equally awesome! Great music and dancing by the bar or in the back. $15 pitchers hit the spot those nights!
Really Roscoe's, you can do no wrong in my book
Saturday will not be forgotten.
After hearing mixed reviews, I was a skeptic and did not want to go...
BUT
I literally took one step in this establishment, saw the winding bar, the attractive people, heard the dance floor & left my preconceived notions at the door.
I literally did not meet one snob, loved the music, met so many awesome people, and was entertained constantly.
Can't wait to go back and visit.
Roscoe's on a Saturday night. Â February 4, 2012 to be exact. Â I have to ask myself, why did I do that?
So I get invited out by a couple of friends. Â They mention the pitcher drinks (more on this later), and I say, "why not, I haven't been there in a while".
I quickly remembered why I hadn't been there in a while.
As soon as my friend and I entered, checked our coats and ordered a pitcher of the blue Hawaiian, this drunk caucasian starts talking nonsense to us. Â Mind you, it's only 9pm. Â It was funny for the first two minutes, but then it got irritating real fast. Â His friends tried to get him to stop, but they didn't succeed. Â It rose to the level of harassment, at which point I went to get a staff member.
Here's why I give this place ONE star.
The staff member I talked to REFUSED TO HELP ME. Â He told me, and I quote, "we can't do anything the first time someone mentions something to us". Â SERIOUSLY????? Â I'm asking for help in YOUR establishment because someone is harassing us, and you refuse to help? Â Ooooooooook then. Â Best way to lose your liquor license, guys!
(It should be noted that ANOTHER staff member did finally assist, and eventually throw the guy out.)
After that incident, we finished our pitcher and went to Sidetrack, where the staff DOES help when asked.
Oh, I didn't talk about the drinks! Â The Blue Hawaiian is a decent pitcher; it will creep up on you afterwards. Â It's $15. Â Sundays they have the Long Island pitchers, they cost $12. Â Ok...add another star.
The dance floor, the dance floor, oh my goodness the dance floor gets crazy packed on Saturdays. Â Expect to be pushed, shoved, all without an "excuse me". Â Also expect drinks to be splashed (and possibly completely spilled) all over you.
The last time I set foot in here was about 2 years ago. Â It will probably be another 4 before I go back. Â Save your money, time and sanity, and venture across the street to Sidetrack.
At least you'll get an "excuse me" when you get bumped.
Roscoe's is a staple in Boystown. You can get your fill of sassy drag queens, cocktails, and dancing - or just sit back and watch a great collection of videos (as I used to when my boy friends were off hitting on other boys).
Once a month SS-Triple-X (Chicago-based performance troupe) and Mistress Mercedes Tyler host a night called SIN. The night occurs every first Thursday of the month and includes a group of talented male and female performers. Acts include burlesque/boylesque, bellydancing, fire-eating, some kinky S&M action, theatrics and fetish galore. And if you care to not watch this hot and steamy provocative show, the dance floor is just around the corner.
i pretty much only go here on sundays because its an older crowd on that day, fridays and saturdays its filled with annoying twinks and hipsters and girls who are just annoying as fuck!
I love the sunday fundays here! I am knocking oftwo stars because the place sometimes smells of a urinal cake or like piss! its rather gross!
I hate this place with a burning, burning passion.
Not only is it overpriced, crappy and trashy, the staff is atrocious. Specifically Robb.
I love Boystown, I love most of the neighboring establishments, but this is by far the worst that Boystown has to offer other than the occasional religious fanatic on the street corner who says we're all going to hell.
Roscoe's, you should be ashamed of yourself. Â My friends and I had one of the worst bar experiences ever right here on Halsted at Roscoe's. Â One Friday night, we decided we'd leave Spin (don't ask me why) and go down to Roscoe's. Â I had never been, so I was open for anything. Â
They were charging a cover. Â Really? Â A cover? Â For what? Â Nothing was happening inside the bar that should have even required a cover. Â No live music. Â No spinning DJ. Â No show. Â Nothing. Â 99.999% of the time, I never go anywhere with a cover. Â If a place charges, it's not worth my time. Â Period. Â However, my one friend convinced me that Roscoe's was worth it, so pay I did. Â
Eeeek gads, this place was bad. Â So bad that I'm prompted to say "eek gads." Â
-Cover: way too much
-Drinks: insanely overpriced and weak (measuring alcohol is really tacky)
- Music: generally bad
- Bar staff: unbelievably rude
- Door staff: even more unbelievably rude
Our night got worse after I bought my $6 (yes $6) Sam Adams. Â One of my friends was pretty toasted and needed some water. Â Apparently Roscoe's only gives water in bottles. Â Literally. Â They charge for water at all times. Â Even if you request a glass of water, they will not budge. Â You must pay $4 for a bottle of water. Â FOUR FRIGGIN DOLLARS. Â This doesn't seem like a good business model when many of your clients are drunk and probably need water instead of more booze. Â Generally, if people are required to pay for water, they'll just buy another drink - at least then they're getting their money's worth. Â
Upon complaint about this policy to the bartender (in the back), he proceeded to yell and tell us to leave the place if we didn't like it (he was very rude and uncouth). Â We decided to complain about the bartender's attitude and the really dumb water policy to the manager (who is impossible to find, even after asking several floor staff members). Â He essentially just told us to go fuck ourselves.
Well, Roscoe's, you're a total shithole. Â I don't know why you have such a strong client base when you insist on treating a lot of your customers like shit by charging outrageous prices for drinks and maintaining a rude attitude at all times. Â I will absolutely never go here again. Â And if I spent a majority of my time in Boystown, I'd be offended that a bar like Roscoe's thinks that it can charge these kinds of prices and treat its customers like crap.
So, I'm out with a friend of mine when he suggests we hit up some of his favorite bars... gay bars. Hmm, you can imagine what's flashing through my head. He's handsome, 6'2", with impeccable style and has better hair than me. I knew it-- gay!
But no. Turns out he legitimately loves getting down to fun, high-energy dance music. And, I have to say I loved the approving looks I was collecting. I had donned an especially fabulous head-to-toe black ensemble along with fresh bangs. Gay guys are the best for upping a woman's self-confidence through the roof! But yet again, I was dead wrong. They were checking out my friend.
Um... d'oh!
Once I got past the assumption-making phase of the evening, it was all smooth sailing. Or well, something like it. Sweaty bodies bumping into me, cocktails splashing, make-out sessions all around me, shirtless men showcasing their smooth pecs... college 2.0, but gay and minus the frat boy striped button-downs. Hooray!
Good, dirty fun in Boystown. A girl even tried to follow me home!
Oh, and cheesy Euro pop dance music is inexplicably AWESOME.
First of all, Roscoe's is not a 'huge' gay bar. Â Sidetrack is a 'huge' gay bar. Â Roscoes is a cramped, oddly-planned space for boiz, hags and Fougars. Â Yes, I called them Fougars. Â Or Gougars. Â I like Fougars better.
I digress. Â I in most cases (read: after dark) voluntarily stay away from Roscoe's for the aforementioned reasons, but also because I am over the age of 30. Â Roscoe's is for twinks who want to out-grrrrl each other and compete for most-cloned.
I also stay away because the people working the door are rude, the floors are a sticky fucking disaster within 5 minutes after opening, and they almost always charge a cover. Â Yet even with said cover, they can't seem to keep the place clean, hire people who have ever in their lives smiled for any purpose other than to try and fuck one of the twinkpatrons, or put a fire extinguisher anywhere near the dance floor to put it out when it catches on fire.
Most of the high-praise reviews for this place are totally unrelated to the bar itself but for memories of being freshly-out and appropriately surrounded by others who are in exactly the same boat, and for that I hold no animosity. Â Most of the low/no praise is based on the atmosphere, environment, employees and utter lack of value for the money. Â If you're not a shriektwink or accompanying hag, simply cross the street and for less money you'll have a pleasant bar staff, no cover (unless it's a fundraiser, and ONLY then, and only a handful of times per year) and you won't be squeezed up against drunk messes wearing quarts of cologne. Â Oh, I am referring to Sidetrack, not Mini or Cocktail.
PS to Denise - you don't say a bar has no cover and then list the 943890213 exceptions in which Roscoe's does charge a cover, which is just about allthefuckingtime.
I've given Roscoe's a try on a number of different occasions and I always leave feeling very unimpressed. Maybe it's just not my kind of crowd, but for the type of bar it markets itself to be--it lacks that laid back breezy feel that a neighborhood bar should have.
I went with a group of friends a couple of weeks back and probably won't be returning anytime soon. A bottle of beer was $5--more expensive than any of the surrounding bars. A friend of mine said to the bartender, "You know you're the only bar around here that charges that, right?" And the bartender goes: "It's because we can" then turned around and walked away.
Maybe he's right and to each his own. I'll be spending my nights out at places with a little less attitude.
I lost my phone at Roscoe's yes I did! Here's the story.
Walk in to Roscoe's with Mr. Douchebag and some friends. We buy drinks and since I was drinking since 7:30 I forgot to pick up my phone. Some time later (30 seconds, 30 minutes, an hour?) I realized I walked off without it. Mr. Douchebag gets mad but calls it for me. Yup no phone.
I race back to the bar where I think I left it. Mr. Douchebag follows because lord forbid he talk to a gay boy. Cutie bartender says he turned a couple of phones in to coat check. I squeal and hug and kiss cutie gay boy. Mr. Douchebag frowns. I run to coat check. And low and behold he has MY PHONE! I hug and kiss him to! Mr. Douchebag gets mad. Cute coat check boy winks at him and he decides its time for us to go. Ruining all my potential fun now that I have my phone back.
Thank you cutie boys at Roscoe's for saving my phone! I think I like you.
Hmmm. I'm bored and want to have sex with a tourist.
Oh, I know. I'll go to Roscoe's.
Yes, perhaps I am going to become known as the hot gay guy that hates gay bars. Or maybe just the gay guy that hates gay bars. I prefer the first.
I just received a New Year's invite from them in the mail. $20 cover...and you still have to pay for drinks. BUT! They do have a free coat check. Super. I guess this fueled my review.
There are several bars inside this facility. There are little sitting areas, that are usually full of suburban women who came in for the experience, sprawled out, heels off, complaining about how sore their piggy feet are, that they crammed into a pair of 4 inch heels that were the wrong size but looked good.
They do have a good drinks selection, the bar tenders are friendly, but more so (as in any bar) to the regular man-cougars who are there to accidentally touch the under 25 crowd on their bathing suit places....which are usually exposed out of the top of their low cut jeans.
OK, I know this sounds mean. But I am mean. And honest. My Mother always said "Tell the truth", and I stand by that. Â I also stand by people who are uglier than me so I look prettier.
OH! And in the summer they have outdoor seating. It probably is wheel chair accessible, but I probably wouldn't try going up the front steps, or maneuvering through this place in a wheel chair. Or one of those "Scoot About" carts that they advertise during reruns of Murder, She Wrote.
The music is OK, and the dance floor is kinda crowded, as any dance floor should be. What I dislike is the few guys that decide to take off their shirts, pull their A&F baseball cap down low, and climb up on a box and dance "for my entertainment". If I wanted to see that, I could dance in front of a mirror at home, with the lights turned down low.
Not that I've tried that for effect, or photographed myself that way for my <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgay.com&s=77439292ff536e0032e87c42092a44c19c34f40354f85572580efa7862815d74" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://gay.com</a> profile picture.
The bathrooms are clean. The floors aren't sticky. It's easy to score a phone number from an out of state gay boy who never went to a gay bar before. It's also easy to make out with random people here, but remember, you can't see cold sores in that kind of lighting.
Head to spin. At least your cover is worth something...and its right up the street.
Like a handsome man with herpes.  Nice atmosphere (Could be time to update the 80's Bennigan's look?), but they hire jerk  after jerk  Everything from blatant racist remarks, to just plain dead on your ass service. Too many rude bartender stories to tell here.  OK one..lol!  A bartender  told me they did not make  real "Hurricanes" on Mardi Gras because they did not have the ingredients.  No attempt to try to make it, no suggestion of another drink, and certainly no apology . Open your bartending book moron!  So I went to Cocktail and  got one---to be fair I had to guide the bartender there through it. But at least he tried.  And got a huge tip. Â
The crowd is young, dumb and full of .. rhymes with dumb..  Maybe this is why the bartenders have attitude.  Not to mention the people who bring in their own liquor.... or are they just  avoiding the bar staff?