Gets busy
I had a restaurant.com deal for $75 off our purchase. It was a pretty good deal. The seating is more sports bar style, not really dinner style. Nonetheless, we came in for dinner and the game. Our table ended up ordering the chicken finger sandwich, chicken fingers, mac and cheese bites, and fries. Apparently the chicken finger sandwich is a must have. Chicken fingers were crispy and delicious, mac and cheese bites were not that great (dry and bland), and the fries were thin, crispy, fries. Overall food was decent bar food. Service is pretty good, it was busy but our server was efficient and friendly. I'd like to come back one day for their bloody Mary bars.
Check out the weekend brunch buffet!
For those rough weekend mornings, Stanley's breakfast buffet is the only cure!
A Hockey Bar. Â There, I said it.
It's no secret that Chicago Blackhawk players and Fans live here. Â There are several TVs around the bar and a back room with tables and an arcade. Â
It's also a very fun bar. Â With the high energy of the patrons and the live-band-karaoke stirring everything up, it was a really enjoyable night here. Â The place is a bit divey, and kind of a sausage fest (not referring to the food)...and a couple other customers were less than desirable (one trying to start a fight with us for no reason...).
It would make a great neighborhood bar to call home, but for us toursist, it was just a fun night to remember... or not remember ;)
Stanley's....what the hell happened to you?????? Thank God I had a <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FRestaurant.com&s=0aab4cbd731f3d3b0d1453050d3abc56a8c80bd214e25469c7555b750dca8a51" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Restaurant.com</a> certificate because had I had to pay full price for this shit....management would have heard my mouth.
I came here about 2 years ago for a family dinner and the food was excellent...everyone raved about it...fried green tomatoes, meatloaf.....pork chops...mac n cheese. I was looking to have this same mouth watering experience again and I had been looking forward to come here for dinner again all day on Friday.
I don't know if they changed chefs or management, but the food was HORRIBLE and our waitress, while very nice, was not very good. She forgot to put in my appetizer order (and the app order for the table next to us) and she forgot to bring out the additional sides we ordered. Didn't really come back to check on us and the place wasn't busy at all.
I ordered the catfish which was slimy and flavorless and just not cooked well. The grits were like cement. I flipped the bowl upside down and they didn't move. The greens had huge chunks of barely cooked bacon in them.
My mother ordered the fish n chips which is the Friday night special and five minutes after she ordered the waitress informed us that they were out (7:30 PM on a Friday night)...really??? Dinner service is just starting and you're already out? She ended up getting the pork chops which were cooked good and we both ended up eating her plate of food.
I don't know......something needs to happen here. This place used to be good.....it is pretty bad now.
They need to start focusing on the quality of their food and less on the party aspect of the place.
I won't be coming back and I'm sad about it.
Was a little disappointed with the experience when I was there for the OU game. The service was just mehh. I understand that they were busy, but if you know your going to be busy have all hands on deck. Ill give them a small pass for the poor service. If im in Chicago for a UT game Ill definitely go back, but that's pretty much the only reason Ill go back
Review Source:I have now been here a few times over the years for random meet ups in the area. Â Nothing to write home about the food, but overall some decent southern bar fare. Â I would really like to come to Karaoke and see the draw of this place for celebs like Eddie Vedder?! Â Will be back again for some drink specials and meeting up with friends when I am in the area.
Review Source:I'm all about trying new places. Â So, when I read the menu, I thought this should be good. Â This place was recommended by a friend (not by me).
I called to reserved a table for 6 initially however changed it to 4 as a couple backed out.
When I arrived, two of the four were already there and were seated. Â So, thinking, Â we should have plenty of time to eat and get to the show. The other person arrived about 2 minutes after I did.
Well, due to my positive thoughts, that came to a quick halt. Â In looking around, there were tons of kids. Â Not that I am against kids but it was late evening and this place is more like a bar than a restaurant. Â So, not sure if kids should have been here. Â Also, in looking around, it looked as though people have been waiting along time for their food and were getting impatient.
After 30 min, someone finally came by to ask us for our drinks. Â Then another 15 min later, we received our drinks. Â Since we had that persons attention, we mentioned we have an 8p show and we need to be out of here by 745p. Â
Reservations made for 630p
Seated Immediately
First contact with waitress was 7p
Received drinks at 715p and ordered food
Received food at 745p
Rushed out the door at 755p to grab a taxi
I'm not sure what happened that day but they were far behind schedule. We were not that happy that in thinking 1.5 hrs would be enough time and it wasn't. Â
We didn't even finish our meals (only ate about 3/4 of it) as we had to run to our 8p show (that we had to take a taxi to b/c we were short on time).
At least the Manager/Owner comp'd our meal due to the horrible service.
Not sure if we would go back.. The food was ok. Â (Maybe the chef quit)...
However, it looked like people were really enjoying themselves at the bar!!!
Oh, yes, please! Â A friend and I went here for brunch on a Sunday. Â We had to wait quite a while to get a table, but it was worth it. Â Their brunch buffet is beyond fantastic. Â Waffle boats with fruit and whipped cream, fried chicken, lox and bagels, fresh fruit, mac and cheese. Â Even though it was super busy, our waitress was still very attentive.
Review Source:Had a great dinner here tonight before a show
at the Park West..
I had never been here before tonight and boy..
have I been missing some good times and great food!
As you enter they have a bar area and there was a really
lively bunch in tonight.. hey.. it was karaoke night after all!
I was surprised but the bar/front area is pretty big and then there
is a dining room area at the back of Stanley's.
There were 4 of us tonight and we were seated at a table
and it was such a nice, comfortable laid back area,
I was loving it for sure!
We had the greatest server named Loretta and she was Awesome
truly.. none better than Loretta she took such great care of us!
Loretta brought us over a basket of warm corn muffins and hush puppies
to start us off..
We looked over the dinner menu and it had some great choices but
the southern fried chicken is very popular at Stanley's and with
good reason.. It was cooked to perfection, crispy and golden..
And.the others in my party had some mac and cheese that looked
really kindda good if I liked mac and cheese which I dont..
I know.. who does'nt like mac and cheese? I dont thats who!
And my son Brian had a cheeseburger that he seemed to enjoy..
And.. I even had some Champagne.. it was really cute.. J.Roget..
it came in a cute little bottle.. and since it was so little I had 2..:)
I Love my Champagne.. I wont be giving that up anytime soon..:)
And.. to top it off I had banana pudding for dessert.. boy.. was that good!
So.. I cant wait to come back to Stanley's because I really do like this
place..
And.. I want to come back and see Donnie and Loretta for they are 2
really cool people!
And for the record.. Stanley's has daily specials..
And the quality and quantity of food is well worth the menu price!
So.. Stanley's you are one of my top 5 favorite places..
Thanks for a pretty perfect meal..
I'll be seeing you again soon.. thats a given..:)
i hear you come here for brunch, but the dinner isn't bad either! my friend and i really enjoyed our catfish po boy, pineapple grilled cheese, and redneck poutine. that poutine = delicious. thursday nights, $3 drafts and i can't complain about that.
i'd feel comfortable bringing my mom here if i were in the hood, as the back area is a nice place to sit and is nicely separated from the bar area.
also, photobooth! woot!
So I have never been sober in Stanleys except for last night. Love the Karaoke, love the drink specials, the bartenders are good fun and are actually good at their job as well as being good looking. Stanleys is a very solid bar.
Went in there for food last night and I pleasantly surprised. Seated straight,service was prompt and friendly, and they had great bbq options. Had a very good Fried Chicken dish for $11 which was smothered in a very tasty gravy, lots of french fries and very nice fried chicken. Is it as good as Table 52 Fried Chicken? No but its also one third of the price.
Nice place to go on a Wednesday just to chill out and eat good food on the cheap.
One of my favorite restaurants, period. If you are looking for awesome southern home cooked food, then please stop by and try this spot out. One of the best values I have found, period. The brunch buffet at Stanleys is hands down one of the best in the city. They have daily food and/or drink specials that should keep you coming back as well. This place doesn't care about impressing you with the ambiance of some of the more over priced places, they just want to fill your belly and get you hooked so you can come back for more or tell your friends about. :) Again, great food, great drinks, great place to watch sports, friendly professional staff and a good location should be reason enough to stop by. Â :)
Review Source:Perfect Sunday brunch spot with friends. Â I opted for the $13 brunch, which included a buffet of all kinds of fattening goodness. Â My favorites from the buffet line were the macaroni & cheese, polenta, biscuits and gravy and fried chicken. Â Pretty much I liked everything that wasn't considered a breakfast item. There was an omelette bar, but I didn't partake because the fried chicken had me at hello. Â The skin was perfectly thin and crispy, and it wasn't as oily as fried chicken can be. Â
The buffet also had corn beef hash, but by the time I got there, there were only scraps left. Â The kitchen advised that that was the last batch of the day, so I just scraped a little spoonful, and if it was fresh, it would've been one of my favorites for sure. Â
The waffles weren't as good as I had hoped, but edible with good toppings such as peaches, strawberries and whipped cream. Â
I had about three mimosas, so my toastiness definitely enhanced the experience. Â Next time I visit Chicago, I'd go back for sure.
This place was weird.
We opted to sit outside because it was a nice day, and we were told by the hostesses that we could just find a seat in one of two outdoor patio areas and a server would be along shortly. Â The patios had a wall on one side keeping them separate from the sidewalk, but making them really awkward to get in and out of. Â Since you have to use the public sidewalk to get in and out of the restaurant, this made things a bit difficult--particularly when a bunch of people with large dogs showed up and basically blocked the path. Â I guess it was worse for the server because she kept having to dodge these hazards, but my trip to the bathroom involved a lot more space negotiation than I've encountered before.
She came back for our order, and we got beer, Redneck Poutine appetizer, a Pressed New Orleans Muffaletta for BF and a Pressed Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella for me. Â While we were waiting for the food, she came back to ask if we wanted more drinks, which we did, but she had taken the beer list. Â She went back inside to get it, brought it back, we decided, and then she took it again! Â Do they only have one list for the whole restaurant? Â We were visiting Chicago, and wanted to sample as many new beers as possible, but we barely had a moment with the list before she just snatched it away. Â Considering it took her at least 45 seconds to get in and out of the restaurant, I would have thought she'd like to save herself a trip, but what do I know.
The poutine was good, but certainly not amazing. Â It was just tots and gravy, no cheese curds. Â Is southern poutine different than Canadian poutine? Â Since I'm not really a connoisseur of poutine, I can't have too many opinions of this stuff, but I will say I was disappointed.
Not as disappointed as I was with my sandwich though.
Pressed Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella, has no basil, apparently. Â It was just dull and the tomatoes were watery and hard. Â The sweet potato chips were pretty meh, but I did enjoy BF's mashed potatoes--though I suspect I got to enjoy them so much because he didn't.
Overall, just an awkward and forgettable dinner. Â If any of this restaurant's servers read this: LEAVE THE BEER LIST, it makes life easier for all involved.
This was my second time to this Lincoln Park restaurant. Â What a great place for dinner or cocktails.
When you enter this large bar, you will notice the worn wooden floors and the great neighborhood feeling. Â I can imagine how fun this place would be with friends and cocktails.
This time, we (three in my group) went for dinner. The dining room does have that feeling of someones dining room. The room is large and very well laid out. Â The tables have enough space between them. Â The menu has something for everyone. Â I had ordered the four piece chicken and the side order of tater tots.
Granted, the food did take a little long to be delivered to our table, however, once we received our meals... wow, the chicken as good as my grandma's broasted chicken.
The consensus's of the table was two thumbs up! Â Everyone had a doggie bag. Â
I also noticed how large other meals were when servers pasted our table.
Looking forward to my next meal there. Â I would highly recommend this restaurant and bar. Â One negative... parking can be rough.
I don't even know where to begin with this place. Â it's sad because I really was excited to finally go to Stanley's. Â Anyways, came here with my mom and bro on father's day for dinner. Â We got a table outside - which was not exactly a nice arrangement. Â Very small and seemed dirty. Â The server took awhile to get to us probably because she had no idea we were sitting there since it was so far away. Â She brought us water and we ordered the watermelon pizza as an appetizer. Â She brought it out in a few minutes but forgot to bring us plates. Â And then returned to our area 2 more times without the plates. Â Finally, she brought the plates and took our order. Â I ordered the pork belly po-boy with tots, my mom went with the brisket tacos and my bro ordered the BLT with a fried egg and he was told that no side came with his sandwich (SO ODD) so he ordered tots to go with it.
We must have waited an hour before the server finally apologized and said the kitchen was behind and the manager was in the kitchen but she would ask if we could get a discount. Â Um... OK. Â How about we just get our food? Â We ordered a glass of chardonnay to keep us entertained while we waited another 20 minutes for our food. Â The server returned with our food and then realized that oops my bro's BLT did come with a side - fries. Â So she said she would remove the tots from the bill. Â Also, she said we could get a 2nd glass of wine on the house for waiting over an hour for our food. Â I was thinking the whole time, why don't they just comp our 1st glass of wine because we didn't even want a 2nd glass... at this point who cares.
My mom liked her tacos, my bro said his BLT was crap - boring, bland and just a waste of calories. Â I couldn't even eat my Pork Belly BLT. Â The "pork belly" was so deep fried that it was a rock. Â I would have chipped my tooth had i took a bite. Â I couldn't cut it with my knife and I couldn't bite into it. Â Half the sandwich didn't even contain pork belly, it looked like just deep friend breading. Â What a disaster! Â I ate my tots and didn't even complain about the food. Â Oh and after waiting that long for food, my bro's fries were cold. Â WOW! Â Then she forgot to remove the tots from the bill so we just told her to go ahead and remove them and include it with her tip. Â We tipped fairly because it didn't seem like her fault - although she seemed a little scattered brain. Â Who knows why the food took so long and tasted like garbage.
I will NEVER return to Stanley's again... what a waste of time, money and calories. Â So sad.
I found Stanley's on Yelp in the vicinity of the Park West and needed dinner before a show. Â Love the fun decor inside...doesn't stick with a Southern theme but more of a "Sanford & Son" "look at the old junk we found!" theme. Â
Our server was very nice and attentive. Â She brought out a couple of corn bread muffins and hushpuppies...both were decent but nothing better than what you could prepare at home with some Jiffy mix. Â My husband had the Stan Burger and I must say, after having a couple of bites, it was a quality burger. Â The meat was one of the tastiest ground beef burgers I've had in a long time, definitely not a frozen pre-made patty. Â I had the haddock sandwich which was good and it had a spicy remoulade sauce on it which I quite enjoyed.
It looks like they have some fun food & beer specials during the week so if you are in the area and want to fill up I'd give them a try.
Stanley's?!?!?! Three and a half stars?!?!?
I've had nothing but great experiences here. What happened?
The brunch buffet is beyond awesome! Fresh fruit, amazing freshly made waffle boats with a slew of fruit compotes and homemade whipped cream, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, made to order omelets, salad, cereal, cookies, bagels, toast, MAC AND CHEESE, etc. etc. etc. YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU!
I've been to this buffets 3 times in this lifetime and hope I can make it for more. The dining area is super kitschy and cute! Feels like you are dining in some old southern house. I LOVE IT! Yeah, ok, the wait staff has been on the slow side sometimes, but they make up for it with the amazing food. I've always wanted to try their bloody mary buffet too!
Parking is actually not too bad considering it's in the heart of Lincoln park (near the zoo). I don' think I've ever had to wait for seating either. I've come during the evening and at their peak time on the weekends.
The last thing that tops off this fine establishment with their 5th and well deserved star.....drum roll please???!?!?................
LIVE BAND KARAOKE!!!! Sunday Nights. Get there early enough to get a song in because no matter where you are, live band karaoke is more cut throat than normal karaoke.
Stanley's, I'm a big fan!
Gonna have to go with "meh" on this visit because they were totally out of shrimp and all I wanted was a shrimp po-boy. Â When it is Saturday and you have only been open a few hours, I can't excuse that. Â
Most people in our party of about 12 had the buffet, but I have to say the food did not look that appetizing - lots of eggs and gravy and heavy pastries. Â No thanks. Â Tater tots that came with the catfish po boy I settled for were great, but the catfish was totally flavorless and there was way too much remoulade on the boy that cancelled any potential crispness in the batter.
That plus the totally uncomfortable chairs and shot glasses of water = no thanks. Â And, we were in the back by the coloring contest wall - I have to wonder whether parents are really okay with their kids putting their phone numbers on the wall of a public place?? Â Not a good idea.
Went here for what was intended to be an early dinner after a matinee performance at Park West around the corner.
Arrived at 5:50 pm, and although my party of 5 was seated right away, we didn't get our food until 90 minutes later. Â 90 minutes! Â We were told by our very nice waitress that our order had somehow not made it into the system, and then had inadvertently been cancelled. Â I was not encouraged when a woman next to us (their table had been waiting a long time also) bit into her sandwich, shrieked, and pulled out a large piece of tinfoil stuck to the bottom of the meat. Â Yikes! Â I think she got comped, and rightly so.
Finally, when we were literally faint from hunger, four of our dinners at long last arrived (one with cold mashed potatoes but at that point we'd have eaten anything)...mine did not, for probably another five minutes or so. Â So my famished fellow diners got a head start on me. Â Once my meal eventually arrived, I got maybe halfway through it before I turned my head to take a drink...and discovered that the waitress clearing the other dishes had removed it!
Yes, they comped our drinks and desserts (suggestion: when you are packing apple pie for carryout, do NOT make it ala mode! Talk about a congealed mess) and took 50% off our bill, but that was completely ridiculous! Â The waitress urged me to come back and she would "make it right." Â She couldn't have been sweeter, but I'm not sure what anyone could possibly do to "make it right" after an experience like that.
I'm beyond sad. Â I ate here often when I lived in the neighborhood and loved this place. Â I don't think I could bring myself to bring friends here after this. Â I guess next time we'll stick to the Subway across the street.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. Â
Ok sorry about that I was a little excited. Â I'm a southern transplant up here in the windy city and when I found this amazing southern food one Sunday morning It made my week. Â
The service was great, our waitress seemed really genuine, and the food was pretty good. Â On Sunday they have a great breakfast bar for 12.99 and I still beat my self up for not trying it. Â Though the food we did order was pretty out of this world.
The prices were great, it seems like the kind of bar you would go to if you wanted to have a good time watching sports.
The only downside to the place was the size, being on a one of those corners where shaped like acute triangles the place is oddly shaped and can get pretty crowded toward the bar. Â Other than that great place to get some serious southern food.
I recommend spending the day at the zoo then finding your way to this place when you are done.
I gave quite a bit of leeway to this place after hearing good things about it. It's right down the street from me, so it's disappointing that I had such a bad experience.
Right from the get-go, the server came over (it was between the brunch/lunch shift change and no one seemed to care we were there) and seemed to be stoned out of his mind. He blurted out something that resembled "get cha' drinks?" but I couldn't really tell. I stuck to water.
I split a chicken dinner with my girlfriend after not having anything really particularly interesting on the menu. We ordered it because it was big enough and it seems like a Southern restaurant. The chicken took about 30 mins to cook, which is fine, but it took the server until 25 minutes into that period to come over and say "I forgot to tell you, the chicken takes a while to cook." Â
The chicken tasted like pure vegetable oil. Absolutely no taste to it at all. Then, right behind us we heard our same waiter give a speech to the newly sat table about their specials that he did not tell us about that all 4 grilled cheese sandwiches that all sounded awesome.
He then brought out beverages, soups, and an appetizer to the table behind us before he came to collect our bill.
Dear Stanley's...FAIL. Big fail. At least make customers feel welcome, even if its not peak hours and they only want to drink water.
Went here for the first time on a Saturday. Got there at about 2, and it wasn't very crowded. I love the decor, after living in North Carolina for a few years, stepping in to Stanley's made me feel like I was back in the south.
We sat down and were immediately greeted by a friendly waitress.
We asked her about drink specials and she pointed out the bloody mary bar:
For $9, they give you a huge cup filled with ice and three shots of vodka. Then you can go over and choose from a vast array of mixes, hot sauces, fresh veggies, cheeses, and seasonings. Yummy. Â Also, everyday they have $6 peach Stoli and sweet tea (Texas tea). Super yummy.
On Saturdays and Sundays they have a brunch buffet from 10am-4pm. It's $12.99. We decided to do the buffet, and I'm glad we did. It was awesome. Omelet bar, waffles, bagels, grits, fruit, fried chicken, salad, mac n'cheese, potato hash, mashed potatoes, and biscuits n' gravy. (I wish that there were more veggies on the buffet though, and maybe some creamed corn!)
The mac n' cheese was good, but the biscuit's n' gravy were some of the best I've ever had! The sauce was amazing! I ate and ate, until I was too stuffed to do anything but lay back in the booth. Next time I'll get there earlier so I can space out stuffing my face.
I love this place and I will definitely be back!
Meh. Back in the day I had friends that raved about Stanley's brunch, but I never did make the trek from Wicker Park for it. I still have not experienced the brunch here, so it may be fantastic, but after my last experience at Stanley's I probably won't find out.
A friend of mine does a set at the Monday night stand-up show, Speak Easy Comedy (which I *highly* recommend, BTW), from time to time so I was there to see his set. My boyfriend and I stopped by early to grab dinner and we both took advantage of the $5 build-your-own burger. A cheap dinner for sure, but super slow service (burgers took 30 minutes - huh?), cold food, and a very awkwardly placed table that simultaneously felt like being shoved in a corner and being seated in the center of the room.
The awkward table would not have bothered me had the service been better and the food had been hot when it came out to us; but when you combine a totally bland turkey burger, cold fries, waiting 30 minutes for said food, and a waiter that didn't acknowledge how long the food took, it makes for one less than pleasant dining experience.
* Plus one star for having Lagunitas IPA on tap.
* Plus two more for the comedy, which I definitely would recommend checking out if you've got nothing to do on a Monday night.
Slowly becoming my favorite neighborhood bar on the weekends. I can't speak for the food side of Stanley's - but for the nightlife side of things - I have never had a bad time at Stanley's.
Always a good crowd, friendly people, good service. great music, and just an overall great atmosphere if you're looking to have a fun night on the weekends.
This is a great spot to go out with friends if you're not looking for something upscale & if you're just looking to have a good time on a Friday / Saturday night.
Mainly a mid to late 20s crowd but play a good variety of music that anyone would enjoy.
If you're skeptical - give it a shot ... you'll be in for a fun night.
Need a hangover cure? Stanleys is the quintessential medicine. The legendary brunch is what brought our hungover bachelorette brigade in this past Sunday morning. If the bloody mary's weren't so delicious, I might have been a little more cranky about the ridiculous wait. However, the Mary definitely made it more tolerable.
Speaking of my "hair of the dog" drink, I thought my bloody M from the bar was actually better than the bloody bar. The ginormous glass I received contained three shots of vodka. It was a bit too much for my tastebuds.
So...let's talk comfort food. The brunch buffet was brimming with southern classics such as waffles and fried chicken, homestyle mac n cheese, biscuits and gravy, made to order fresh omelets, fresh fruits, salad, etc. I was in heaven, and it was just what the doctor ordered to settle my tummy. Best part of this brunch...it's a measley $13!
I have already told my in-laws about this place, as they are huge southern/comfort food fans. I hope to be back soon, just not with a hangover this time.
This place is awesome. I'm from NY and came to this place on a recommendation while visiting Chicago.
First off, I have to note that I am not a beer and sports bar kind of girl but my friend and I came here because we wanted to experience a chill side of Chicago. This was definetely one of the better sports bars I've been to because it was just FUN!
Onto the food.. this place has the BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVERRRR and the 4 stars is based on that alone. I didn't try anything else. The meat is juicy, there's virtually no fat on it and the breading was perfectly seasoned and oh so crispy. I dont know if it was the tons of drinks I consumed or what..but this was seriously the best fried chicken I've ever tasted.
Very inexpensive too. GO!!
Overall: 3.5 stars
Having lived in the south, I am always amused at other regions' take on southern food and culture, one that usually amounts to little more than stereotypes (for restaurants, think bourbon & beer, butter & cream, and a trailer-park ambiance). Stanley's is to some degree no exception, but it does enough things well to merit a review.
The formula here is southern classics in a casual environment (and at reasonable prices). Expect well-executed chicken fried steak, fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, collard greens and the like. Portions are enormous (another false southern stereotype, I might add), examples being the mountain of french fries served in a cone or plate full of crispy fried okra. While I definitely have a spot in my heart for southern comfort food, about once a year is about all the Stanley's my arteries can take.
Stanley's also turns into a low-key but lively 80's slanted bar after dinner, even livelier and with a DJ on weekends. On a weekday when things are a bit more mellow, I love this place, but on weekends I'd recommend it more for the single crowd. If you are in need of an ego boost (or perhaps just a good laugh), guy or girl, good looking or not, I can just about guarantee at least one shameless pickup attempt over the course of the night. You've been warned.
If you're looking for a brunch buffet, let me lay it out in GREAT detail for you. No, literally, I'm going to tell you EVERYTHING they serve for brunch. You should be left with no questions after you read this... and yes, you WILL bust at the seams after this meal, if that was even a question. It's all $12.99 unlimited.
Start with the bread table:
Bagels, toast (white and wheat), muffins, cookies (oatmeal and chocolate chip), lox with capers, onions, cream cheese, tomatoes, butter, jam, english muffins, corned beef hash, fruit platter with grapes, pineapple, strawberries, melon...i THINK I covered it all.
Meat, waffle, etc. table:
Waffle boats capable of holding the following: syrup soaked apples, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, whipped cream, OREOS, maple syrup. Additionally they  have cheese grits, sausage gravy and biscuits, bacon, sausage links, fried chicken, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and condiments for the all of the above. Oh, there's also cesar salad!
Omelet bar: All toppings you can think of...and eggs. No sunny side up or poached, just a big tub of egg mix.
They have a huge bloody mary bar as well on the bar side.
You can get as many plates of this food as you want (I opted for 3, sadly) for $12.99, no other bevvies included though.
I loved the waffle boats - I'd never seen that before! I might have liked having the option of syrup and/or powdered sugar for the waffles as toppings, but maybe I missed those. The mac & cheese was surprisingly delicious, though the bacon was a bit tough/flimsy. (But who can complain about bacon?) The variety and availability of the brunch is great, however. It could probably stand to be knocked down $1 or $2, but maybe that's just my frugal upbringing.
We also got the bloody mary bar for $9. I'd have preferred having more vodka in my very large $9 plastic cup, as it seems that what you pay for are all the available options of what you can put in your drink rather than the alcohol content. Love the concept and options, but not a fan of the price again. At least give us something other than a Solo cup?
All in all, I did feel that we were warmly received by employees and patrons alike, despite our sloppy and unpleasantly odiferous presence. Bonus! In the words of Arnold, "I'll be bahck."
Stanley's is great for a variety of occasions. Whether you are going for a happy hour, Friday night, or Sunday brunch. They consistently have good musicians and friendly staff. Some nights you can take complimentary whiskey shots out of the owner's bottle at the bar.
Brunch on Sunday is great. I love the variety of the buffet and $13 is a steal for what you get. Â It was very crowded, but we never felt rushed to finish our food/stop just hanging out. Also, their Bloody Marys from the make your own bar are huge and delicious.
I definitely will be back many more times.
I have visited Stanley's approximately 5,627 times and have never lost that lovin' feeling. Â Stanley's is like a devoted friend: there for me when I need a fun night out, happy to provide a chair to watch the latest game (or at least watch cute boys watch the game), never failing to cure last night's disasters with a hearty brunch, all without judgement or worry. Â
Stanley's is a multi-faceted gem in this city and each time of the day you go there, you can expect to find something new. In general, Stanley's looks like nothing special from the outside, but once inside, you'll see its history written all over the walls. Â No literally. Â People have scrawled names, love notes, pictures of male anatomical parts, and the likes all over the interior. Â Gotta love a place that is dedicated, quite literally, to its clientele. Â Mixed in with the "art" are tons of Blackhawks memorabilia (and the players actually visit this place quite frequently). Side Note: I've seen a ton of famous people here too (Kid Rock, Michael Jordan, Styx).
The bar is a great time! Always have the game on during the week and on weekends and, when there is nothing playing, the party gets a'hoppin. Â Always good tunes and an old-time jukebox is usually in play when the crowd is right. Â This place is also known for its Whiskey (boasting something like 60 different kinds) so make sure to get your tasting tongue (and your liver) ready. Â
The restaurant is in the back and looks like you have stepped into another world. Â Mom's downhome kitchen to be more descriptive. Â It seriously looks kind of like a cracker barrel back there but the food is way better! Everything is good but try the pulled pork, andouille sausage corn dogs, fried chicken, shoe-string fries, mac & cheese.
BRUNCH: Â You wouldn't think it people but this place hosts one of the best brunches in the city. Â Just don't count on it lowering your cholesterol. Â Served unlimited buffet style, count on an omelette bar, biscuits and gravy, BACON, bagels & lox, eggs, and of course their infamous fried chicken. Â Yum! Not to mention the Bloody Mary bar that stretches about 7 feet with all the accoutrements. Â One of these things and you are ready to party! Â Good thing too because Sunday night is all about the Live Band Karaoke! Â So much fun but very crowded.
Well in case you haven't deduced already that I love this bar, come and hit this place up and we can chat some more. Â I'll most likely be there... ;-)
Damn you, Chicago intersections. You all look the same. (I have this same problem in San Francisco). On one of the many identical intersections in North Chicago you'll find Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. It's the epitome of a neighborhood bar that goes out of its way to be a little more entertaining. On the night we cruised in there was an acoustic set (I assume he's the house singer/songwriter) playing all the normal coffee shop covers you could ever want to hear. The crowd is quite varied. Whoever you are, you're safe here.
On a Thursday night you can enjoy $3 drafts and the ever cheap PBR. But this is Chicago. You should be drinking Old Style, now shouldn't you?
I am 50/50 on recommending the deep fried dough. It comes with a pretty intense melted vanilla sauce and, depending on the integrity of your stomach, may send you into a intense stomach ache or fuel you for hours off of the most unhealthy sugar high you've ever had in your goddamn life.
On second though, just order the deep fried dough balls. They should be experienced.
This is a perfect example of how your memory can fool you. I had not been to Stanley's in many years. My friends and I used to meet here every Sunday to watch football and enjoy their wonderful brunch. We always had a positive experience. Man, how things have changed.
Our visit came the day after Christmas. We were barley alive. We were all sporting our Christmas hangovers. We were hurting and in dire need of food and drink. Unfortunately, our server decided it was more important to socialize with the staff than work our table. What should have been a one hour lunch turned into a two hour lesson in patience. Thank God I was surrounded by good friends who had me laughing so hard in physically hurt. There was another thing that puzzled me about our visit to Stanley's. Why would you take four obviously hung over single people and sit them next to Swiss family Robinson with three screaming kids when the place was literally empty?
Here's the bottom line: The terrible service could not make up for the decent food we were served. I can completely understand slow service when the restaurant I'm dining at is packed, but there was no excuse on a day when the place was nearly empty. Sorry Stanley's. I won't be coming back.
I lo-o-o-ove this place!
I go Mondays for their $5 burger night after my ping pong social group.
they are very accommodating for a large group and never give us trouble if we need to split the bill.
Drinks are cheap.
Usually the game is on and easily view-able from most seats.
The burgers are good. They also have turkey burger and chicken options. They have infinity toppings and sauces and the $5 burger comes with fries, soup and salad also unlimited.
My one complaint or suggestion would be to get a veggie burger option.
I just tried this friendly "Cheers" style bar and restaurant for its Thanksgiving day festivities with a group. The location is fabulous, and made for a stress-free holiday. The food was like you would find from a warm friend's kitchen. Plentiful, tasty and made with love and care. The macaroni and cheese was nothing short of outstanding.
From the time I arrived, I could tell that it would be a great dining experience. There was around 10 of us, all seated lengthwise in a casual dining room behind the bar area. The buffet style fare was spread out just before where the dining room begins. I also liked that the dishes weren't too large - because I tend to take too much food at buffets. Even still, I wound up barely able to finish my plate.
Apparently, Stanley's serves a somewhat similar turkey dinner every Sunday, for around $10 - which, given the fantastic meal I just had, I will definitely be checking out, for sure. In fact, I'll be trying out many other dishes at this place. It's a lot more than a corner bar; it's a neighborhood must-visit!
This place is easy to get to from the 22 bus line at Clark and Armitage. In fact, both the 22 and 36 bus lines stop at Armitage on the way back, if you're going north.
On my way home on the 22 bus, thanks to a full belly from Stanley's Kitchen & Tap, I marveled at how well the city of Chicago takes care of its folks. I mean, here it was - Thanksgiving day - and I could easily get to a great little neighborhood bar and restaurant. To be in a world-class city like Chicago that is still affordable is a blessing I will always cherish.
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