somehow, everyone knows "that divey irish bar" by the merchandise mart. Â before you go to gilt bar or a party at the marty, you come here to meet up with your crew. Â florescent lights. Â weird folks. Â a greasy old fat dude in a wife beater with his hair slicked back and one tooth missing. Â it's a charmer.
table of pool. Â box of juke. Â
small, clear, plastic solo cups!
but $5 well vodka drinks!
if you wanna forgo all the pretentious bs whilst remaining in river north, come here.
After waiting in line at the shitbox dickhead factory that is Social 25 for 45 minutes, we gave up and came here instead. Â I wish we had just come here first. Â It's everything that Hubbard Street bars aren't: personal, comfortable, quiet, cheap, and fun.
Shamrock is the king of dive bars. Â Cheap pitchers, plastic everything, and a pool table in the back. Â It's a long, narrow bar, so you will get beer spilled on you at some point. Â This is a place to get drunk and to play shitty drinking games with your friends. Â No playing nice to some cockmaster bouncer to get in, no fighting your way past dozens of idiots to pay $10 for a beer that will immediately be jostled out of your hand, and no cunts.
I got slapped by a stranger, and I saw a girl lick the floor. Â It's that kind of bar.
We were going to the place next door for our company's holiday dinner so a group of us stopped in for some beers while we waited for the rest of our coworkers to show up. Â Everyone who stopped at Shamrock ordered $2 Miller Lites on draft, and the next day everyone who stopped at Shamrock was violently shitting up the bathrooms. Â We only have 3 stalls in the men's room at our office and there were 10 guys rotating in and out of them throughout the day. Â Fuck you Shamrock club.
Review Source:I had a Groupon for this place, and it is basically a dive bar that serves food. I went for lunch and the food was good, you have to keep in mind that it is bar food, but for $8 I got a ham sandwich, lobster bisque, and a beer. Prices were very good and it seemed like they had a good beer selection. It doesn't have the class of most River North places but if you are looking for a simple bar with good service and cheaper prices, I would definitely recommend it. I don't know how it is at night though.
Review Source:So, how do you rank a dive bar? Â If it is a great dive bar, it should be a 3-star. Â If it's just good, is it 4-stars?
This was a fun bar to catch. Â Beer selection is solid. Â Bathrooms are clean. Music is enjoyable. Â They do fall pray to the Chicago mistake of putting every tv on the same football game. Â In this case, it was ND ("Shamrock"), but they were up 38-0 with 10 minutes to go. Â Time to change some tuners! Â They didn't have a honey whiskey, but the prices were excellent, the comfort level is high, the games in the back are good.
Maybe they should get 4 stars ...
Ahh Shamrock Club, the tiny dive bar that has no business being in this location, but everyone loves it anyway. My most recent trip here involved a quick drink stop in between Bull and Bear and Moe's Cantina, two bars which are about as different from Shamrock as you can get. But dammit...B&B was too crowded and we knew Moe's would be too pricey. We wanted to drink, and there's no cheaper place to do it in River North than here.
Sure, there was only one bartender. And yeah, I was sad that the popcorn machine was out of commission. But there was beer. And it was cheap. And all was well with the night.
Well, except for the fact that I had skipped dinner. That was a mistake.
I knew this was a dive bar going in. Â However, that doesn't exempt an establishment from having terrible service. Â The only people getting good service are the "regulars", aka "alcoholic-middle age men" who are here every week. Â And I was very grossed out when I could see the "kitchen" located next to the bar area which consists of a deep fryer and a microwave. Â Yuck. Â Needless to say, I don't know how this place passes health code standards and I won't be back.
Review Source:The crowd can be a little sketchy (read: Â oogling old men) however Shamrock Club is a GREAT little dive across from the Merchandise Mart. Â
Dive...which means a little dingy, dirty, kind of old, and LOTS of character (or should I say characters?). Â But if you're like us, those are good things!
This place is very small but they've got a pool table in the back, TVs, a juke box, AND free popcorn. Â Dives with free popcorn get me every time. Â Aside from the ooglers the crowd was pretty laid back, just hanging out and throwing back some beers after a long work week. Â We intended on only staying for 1 drink but that somehow turned into 2 pitchers...oops! Â if we're back in the area in search of a watering hole we now know exactly where to go!
This is a great little dive bar in River North
The key here is DIVE BAR!
Dont come here expecting fantastic things...its just not that.
They sell cheap ass pitchers of beer, jukebox, pool, bad lighting, perfect!
$20 will get you fired up and ready...unlike at most other bars in this area.
Ordered: 1/2 lb charbroiled burger with cheese and upgraded fries to onion rings for $6.50. I also bought a Groupon Now $3 for $6. Total tab came out to be 50 cents ^_^
Hm, I thought the burger was pretty good for a bar or fast food burger. Definitely not a fancy burger by any means. The buns are basic buns. The patty was a little bland for me, but definitely tasted the char-ness. I just wish it were seasoned more. I prefer burgers that don't need ketchup and this didn't fit that bill.
The onion rings were good yet unimpressive.
The drink prices seem cheap for the area? Average to poor beer selection from the menu
Some reviews say this place is really dirty? I did not get that at all. It didn't even seem divey to me. Seems like every other sports bar. I went during lunch and there were a couple other blue and white collar workers in there eating and having a beer. Yes, there is a pool table in the back.
The service was great. The owners seemed to be involved and constantly running around. Seems like a "Cheers" kind of place.
My taste buds say 2-3 stars. My wallet says 3.5 stars. My heart says 4 stars. 4 stars it is. Overall, good service and cheap food and drinks in a rather expensive and impersonal area. Drop by if you're in the area, don't expect much, and leave happy.
A little bit dirty....
We've always enjoyed checking this place out while in Chicago, so this time was no different. Â What was different was the atmosphere. Â
It was hard to get a drink at the bar, the floor was very wet and slippery, the tables were all dirty, and the people not very nice.
I think (and I hope) we caught Shamrock Club on an off night. Â I will go back and check it out again, but I was disappointed on this trip.
I've only been here once, but the experience was good. It's kind of a dive-ish type of bar, which I really like. It's a good place to go to if you just want to hang out with some friends, grab a few drinks, and talk. It's a pretty casual bar, so you don't have to go all out with trying to look fancy.
And since it's a bar, they mostly cater to beer and that kind of stuff. The cocktails were sorta pricey.
I echo what other folks have said about this place being an oasis in River North. It's a nice little dive-ish bar in a neighborhood full of very expensive and very trendy nightlife.
The drinks are pretty cheap (for the location), they have several TVs, and although it's always felt a little small I've never had trouble finding a place to sit. They also serve decent bar food - just don't expect anything very glamourous or flavorful. Stick to the basics and make sure you get something fried to compensate for the lack of spice in their cooking.
It's all about reasonable expectations. Â If you walk into Shamrock expecting a lavish experience, you're going to be disappointed, run back to your desk and write a 2 star yelp review. Â You'll probably feel really good about yourself, too.
On the other hand, if you go to Shamrock knowing that it's a small dive bar with cheap food, cheap drinks, and a somewhat questionable scene of people, you will always have a good time. Â Working across the street, I've fallen in love with Shamrock over the last 2 years. Â It's really pretty simple:
- Cheap food that I think is pretty good for a bar (the burger is definitely the steal of the menu)
- Cheap drinks
- Good jukebox
- Pool table
With that in mind, I'd say The Rock (which doubles as my second favorite movie) is ideal for:
- Lunch
- Post-work binge drinking
- I guess that's pretty much it
How much do I love this place? Â I had my birthday trolley go here for the first stop. Â I'm not sure the regulars were thrilled with 30 twenty-somethings dressed in 80's gear taking over the place for an hour, but we had a good time.
Definitely a hidden gem in River North, and a nice change of pace from the Bull & Bear type establishments that dot every corner of the neighborhood.
An oasis in River North.
Shamrock club is a well-worn, unglamorous true dive bar with cheap drinks, food and great service.
Comfortable & basic, great place to kick off the night or enjoy a couple drinks after work. Â This place has everything you need: Â pool table if you're into that, a few TV's to watch the game and a sidewalk patio to soak up the sun.
The Shamrock does not pretend to be anything that is not which is what I love about it.  It is a great little dive bar next to the Merchandise Mart which gets a great variety of people after work.  The prices are more than fair when  you consider where you are and the service is always friendly and welcoming.
It is great place for grabbing a pitcher with a group and getting cheap bar food. The brown line stop is right outside the door which makes it even better if you want to avoid rush on the El or watch a game.
 My only complaint is the bathroom is a little so so and it usually has a talking advertisement poster thing.  It usually isn't bad but the current Mortal Combat one is a little unnerving to hear "finish him" when you are in a little vulnerable. Â
All in all it is a great place to grab a beer and not have to deal with any of the attitude you can find at other places in the area.
This bar provides three things for me: cheap food, cheap drinks, a close location. That being said, I suspected that 1 out of all 3 would perhaps fall flat. In this case, as expected, it was the food. ...That is fine with me. I wasn't expecting perfection, just a good deal at 12:00 on a work day.
On Friday, there were 4 specials that were around $9 that INCLUDED a draft beer. Hell yes!! I tried to be healthy by ordering the chicken salad. The other options were half a tuna sandwich with fries and lobster bisque*, fish and chips, and something else I forget, perhaps chicken fingers? The rest of the menu is pretty cheap, too.
*oily and quite creamy with a slight hint of immitation lobsta.
But like I said, we came here because it was close to work and cheapo. Lunch isn't something you want to spend a lot of money on (unless someone else is paying for it).
Notes:
-They ONLY serve chips and salsa on Thursdays. Disappointing.
-Cash if bill is under $10--easy, not a big deal
-Waitresses are unsure if you've been helped already and will often make duplicate rounds
Yes, I am aware it is a dive bar, but this review is still quite accurate.
"Is the bathroom nice?"
I looked at my girlfriend like she was an alien and said, "It's the Shamrock. Â Nothing is nice. Â Functional. Â But never nice".
But the Shamrock knows what it is good at. Â Strong drinks with a price tag that doesn't sting. Â A jukebox that plays just about everything. Â And a pool table in the back to show off your craft.
Even the food is decent for a dive bar. Â Home Run Inn pizza (a large, one topping for $9) was quickly devoured by our group as were the fries. Â The service was spot on- amazing since on the night we were there- this was a one woman show with Patty the bartender being chief cook and "bottle washer" running from behind the bar to bring us our beer and shots even after we offered to come up and get them.
I'd never describe the Shamrock as "nice". Â But it is a decent place in River North to share a beer or two with friends.
Despite Shamrock being a complete dive, they never fail to serve good (strong) cocktails!
4 drinks will cost you about $18. Yes, it is also a steal.
There's a tiny little patio that is better than sitting inside, but either way it's a good dive to start off the night, or for a quick happy hour fix.
This place rocks. Â Last night I asked the bartender what Goose Island Seasonal was on tap. Â Response: I don't know man, I rarely work here. Â A great American. Â The Jack Black of bartenders. Â
Everything about this place shatters the River North stereotype. Â Prices, ambiance, and clientele you would expect to find in Beverly rather than right next to Merchandise Mart. Â $10 pitchers of Miller Light??? Â Am I back in college? Â This is a drinking person's bar. Â Touch tunes jukebox and pool table add to the bar's built in entertainment.
Oh, little Shamrock Club, thank you for getting us off our feet after so much walking at Artropolis. Â
A trio of tired, arted out friends needed a dark, calm place to right ourselves and take a load off. Â I'm just amazed and grateful a place like this was open on a Sunday afternoon in River North. Â Gilt Bar, I'm looking at you, you were closed.
Summer shandy on tap was nice, the bartender was nice, the calm was nice. Â I'd totally come back if I worked in the area or if I was at the Mart for some reason. Â I was sad the popcorn machine was turned off, but we can't have everything we want. Â I mean, I didn't even get to take home a $22,000 painting of a pug from the antiques fair. Â How lame is that?
You're in River North, surrounded by douchey types and poseurs. You just want a beer, a friendly bartender and zero pretension. Know what you need? You need a little Shamrock Club in your life.
Smithwick's, a whisky back, two High Lifes and a Guinness = $21.
Decently clean bathroom, pool table if you're into that, lots of space for you and your friends and very, very little hair gel.
Great after work environment. Â Reminds me of the old days when Chicago bars had a mixing of collars at them.
All to often The Downtown bar scene is too pristine, too sanitized. Â I am not saying this bar is dirty, Â the sanitatiojn is fine. I find the people here are not full of shit, Â there are regulars playing Jeopardy, Â there are out of towners from the Mart having a drink and contemplating getting a little somethin somethin, Â construction workers, Â sale people closing a deal over a glass, Â delivery guys having a sammich, and the staff welcomes this mix of people with there own blend of individuality.
When I think of this neighborhood I rarely think of the people living in it, Â only working in it, Â but this bar has that feeling of neighborhood that is lacking throughout downtown. Â
There is a pool table, Â good to know, Â the burgers look alright, Â and the beer prices are typical of downtown.
Haven't been here in a while, but I remember coming to this place when my co-workers always wanted to bitch about the job after work a couple of years ago when I worked at the Merchandise Mart.
This place gets really cramped after 5PM because its kind of a small space. A long island can run you about $5-$6 and I remember beers being around $3-$4. Sometimes it can be hard getting a drink when it gets crowded. Drinks are actually cheap here (they pour a pretty good drink here)and they have a good burger & fries here. There is a pool table in the back for you billiards fans. In the summertime they have a small outside patio seating area, which I have never seen filled up.
Solid place to hit up after work if you don't want to spend a lot on drinks.
Putting the "dive" into dive bar, we have the Shamrock Club.
Honestly, I was so happy when Chicago went smoke-free. Even as a smoker I found that dense murky layer of stale smoke to be such a put-off while trying to have lunch. Now that there's no smoking, I could actually smell and taste my food.
They have a mighty tasty steak sammich, the burgers and daily specials are quite good too. There is an odd mix of corporate yuppies and blue collar workers during lunch. You can observe both sometimes opting for the liquid lunch.
The waitresses are very friendly, service is quick. Avoid the Kinzie Chophouse price tag and wait, and eat here instead.
Shamrock club gets that 4th star for location. Â I'm constantly looking for dive bars that are a) in the downtown area and b) close to train stops when everything goes wrong and I need to sit somewhere. Â Shamrock club is that place. Â
Heavy pours, mostly friendly folks, better than um fado, boss and the other lecherous clubs that erica a frequents with her girlfriends.
Woah, gotta update my piss-poor review of this place. I did a little Tuesday afternoon drinking at Shamrock yesterday, wanted to give it another chance. I had a much better experience than the previous two times I visited here.
The clientel is still a little odd. There were a few sketchy characters that seemed to be into recreational drug use. At one of the tables, there was a group of black and white dudes yelling out racial jokes, always a crowd-pleaser. Then there was the token "learned" Cubs fan. Â He started spitting out Cubbie facts and proclaiming a World Series victory in October. Very amusing! He was also reading a book about American history and talking about 19th century politics. Aaaaaaaah...lemme drink in peace! He seemed very nice though, watched my book bag when I went to the pisser. Next time, I am coming with friends. Being alone in this place just gives you that dirty feeling.
The service was better, as the bartender had his head on a swivel this time. People were ordering food and cocktails at a rapid pace, and he did an excellent job keeping up.
Finally, the beer selection. NICE! They have Linie's Summer Shandy on tap, now that is great news!! Enjoyed a few pints, then hit the road!
Love it.
The staff is friendly, and the swill is cheap.
I entertain fantasies about the Shamrock's outdoor seating area encroaching on that of the Kinzie Chophouse. Mainly, it's because the Chophouse provides neither unpretentious service nor high-quality beverages.
The Shamrock deserves to line that space with onion rings and bottles of Miller Lite.
Ever since the richification of River North, amongst the towers of condiminiums, across the street from the Merchandise Mart, there remains the one story building that houses the goldmine of a dive bar, The Shamrock Club. Â This is like New Orleans' own Checkpoint Charlie's at the edge of the Quarter and Marginy.
If it wasn't for the new smoking ban in Illinois, it probably would still be the smokiest bar in River North. Â A great after-work hangout for booze and pool, Shamrock also serves up simple pub grub which I have yet to try. Â The grill is right behind the bar, just like Checkpoint, and the bartender cooks your food, just like Checkpoint. Â Perhaps that's why I'm attracted to the Shamrock...because it reminds me of New Orleans a bit.
We got drunk there after work with a small blue elephant named Pattison the other night.
I admit it - Shamrock Club is my Cheers. While EVERYBODY doesn't know my name, Abraham does - the friendly neighborhood bartender. I am here most Thursdays....okay, and most Tuesdays. And when I walk in, Abraham promptly brings me a vodka and Diet with two limes - three if he thinks I'm having a bad day. Ever heard of a work husband? I don't have one, because I work with 60 women, but I have a bar husband and his name is Abraham.
I will not lie - this place is small, smoky, probably violating several health codes, and after 6:15 forget about trying to get a seat most nights of the week. But, if you work in the neighborhood and want to grab a cheap drink with nice people, this is the place to go.
There is a pool table in back next to the cigarette machine, so you know it's classy, and free popcorn if you are not afraid that many people scoop it out with their bare, unwashed hands. But hey, what are a few germs among friends? You want to go where people know that people are all the same.
Listen I'm all for dive bars, I mean I'm giving a speech in my grad school class on what makes a good dive bar, but this is not. Â It's not that it's really that bad, but it was just beyond a dive bar. Â When we walked in we should have turned around and walked out but I felt bad doing so. Â We got a table and I had my little wristlet purse on my lap and I had to basically attach it to my body because I was slightly nervous someone was going to swipe it. Â
That being said, the food was good and cheap and the drinks were cheap. Â The bartender did a heck of a pour, but I still don't think I'll be going back any time soon. Â I'm sad that I probably won't be going back because it's so close to my house. Â This bar just wasn't for me.
I don't trust a girl who can't hold her own in a creepy old-man dive bar. Â I can only hope to one day meet the man who told Nicole J. that she had a beautiful neck...he seems like a hoot!
I have been known to get very, very blottoed in this joint. Â I love it, love Abraham the bartender, love how cheap it is, and love that it's not the same crowd that is over at Sushi Samba.
Plus, I'm a sucker for a guy with a hardhat and an Igloo cooler for a lunchbox.
Try the tots.
I used to work across the street from The Shamrock Club and we'd come here over the summer for after-work drinks. Â Therefore, I have fond, fond memories of this place. Â
The rest of the reviews are right...the food does stink and it is quite divey. Â It's very small and full of mostly older, creepy men. Â One man there once told me I had the most beautiful neck he'd ever seen. Â Gross me out.
I suggest it if you're in the area and don't want to go to a typical uppity River North after work place. Â It's low key, fairly cheap, and a nice staff.
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