Aberdeen

The mac and cheese is killer. I’m from the south and know mac and cheese… and this was some of the best I’ve had.
Decent beer selection and solid pours on the whiskey. I’ll be back next time I’m in the area.

There are Butterfaces, Butterbodies, and sometimes it’s just Butter.
Or maybe we just came on a bad night, iono. Sometimes I can believe it’s butter. Or cottage cheese. Or muffin tops.
Not that I’m not guilty of those things myself. I just like to keep those jiggly bits covered.
The inside of this place was definitely bangin though– young and crowded with the game playing. Service was great. The waitresses actually come to you instead of me having to flag down a bartender. The music is your standard Kiss FM material, but what really stood out were the drinks. MMMmm tequila sunrise and jolly rancher shots. You know it’s a good night when the rest of it is a blur.

Three stars for always being open when I am on the way to get my hair cut and would like to have a nice glass of reisling before I go. And for the bartender remembering me after only the second time I went. And for the decent interior and great people watching from the patio.
I’ve never eaten here, nor have I been here at night but for a late afternoon cocktail or an afternoon drinking session, I would definitely hit up the Aberdeen again. That UK bartender (Paul?) is so sweet and friendly, that alone is worth the trip.

Somewhat biased review because I’m acquainted with one of the people that owns this place. It’s on that stretch of North that is not near Tavern. +1 for that. It’s a nice enough crowd, the drinks aren’t stiff, but they’re not watered down either. I mean, is this what they call damming with faint praise? I haven’t had spectacular experiences here, but it’s a nice 2^nd or 3^rd place of the night to visit.
Take into consideration the fact that I’ve mostly been here for charity events and the like, and so the atmosphere has been more about mingling with friends and like minded people. I wouldn’t know how good a place this is to pick people up.

I had a meat explosion in my mouf!
Stumbled into Aberdeen on a quest for dinner and dinner was found! It’s a cute bar scene, very modern looking as is everything else on this street. Brown walls, leather booths and classy white chandeliers. But skipping the décor, we head right into the menu.
Typical bar food menu but I found love in the form of their Breakfast Burger. Angus beef burger with applewood smoked bacon and (drumroll…) a frickin’ fried egg served on a brioche bun.
I had my first bite and I about creamed myself. The bun was like a buttery croissant. Soft, flaky and light. The meat was quality, bacon cripsy and not greasy and to be honest, the egg should have been sunny-​side and that would have made it awesome.
What would have made this a true 5-​star experience? Well… having a server who knows something about service. She didn’t really know her beers. Forgot to place our order of mac n’ cheese (which we ended up cancelling).
I would definitely come here. I have my eyes set on the pear bread pudding.

While I’m on the topic of wings…
… Last night was $.35 wing night at Aberdeen. (Turns out their wings are massive. And delicious. Buffalo = perfect heat and flavor.) It was also $ 3 Heiniken/​Amstel/​Well Drinks night. It was also Trivia Night.
I fail to see how they could improve on their Wednesday game plan.

Trivia night is Wednesday at 8pm! I’m a big fan of pub trivia, and my date and I had a fun time here last week. We didn’t win, but we did pretty well considering that we were the only team of two. My only suggestion is that they start limiting the size of the teams — some teams had up to 15 people!
We shared a hummus platter, which was very good. Hummus, pita bread, carrots, onions, roasted cherry tomatoes, sweet and sour cucumbers, and kalamata olives. Now that I think about it, I believe we ordered chicken to accompany the hummus and didn’t receive it, but no big deal. They have $ 3 drink specials and a chicken wing special on Wednesday nights.
I’m curious about Mike’s Taco Truck — tacos filled with crazy stuff liked mashed potatoes, hummus, etc.

I have been to Aberdeen’s on numerous occasions and I have never have a bad time here. The prices are very reasonable… the drinks are consistent… and the food is pretty great for a bar. And they have merkts cheese!!!
This is a great spot to start your night and chat before an evening of debauchery… go and enjoy!

Aberdeen is fun if you bring a group of friends. I have yet to be here on a crowded night. The interior is pretty typical, looks like most bars, nothing fratty (thank god), but they serve great drinks and their bar tenders are great.
I’ve spent some great nights here, but only when I’ve brought the party with me, not really a place you will find a party. So just depends on what you’re looking for. The 2 star rating is just on the venue, I’m a firm believer you can make any party fun based on the people there, not based on the location.
I’d say check it out, just bring a group of friends with you.

Nice Sunday afternoon pints & burgers with a friend. The TVs were on, but not too loud; the bar was halfway full, but not so loud that my friend and I couldn’t hear each other. Decent beer list.
Minus: no hot drinks, on a day when I just could not get warm.
Plus: Paul (?) (British accent?), the bartender, after notifying me they had no hot drinks, brought a second candle over to our table for us to warm our hands over, and said he’d turn up the heat a notch. Nice guy! We left feeling roasty toasty and satisfied.
I’ll come back — not for the weekend night crowd, but for another chill dinner/​pint. Way to go, Aberdeen!

Been to this place twice and that is enough for me. Overpriced drinks, small interior and 1 unisex bathroom with a 30 minute line at all times… no thanks.
I unfortunately have nothing good to say about this place and would say that you would be better off walking a couple more minutes to a different six corners bar.

Aberdeen is alright. Nothing special, but it’s not a bad local. I go here with my neighbor quite often. Here’s the scoop:
— the hummus is bland. Not bad, but my mouth doesn’t dance.
— they have a good beer selection, more than the usual corner bar (less than the Bucktown/​hipster/​beer snob bars)
— however, the beer menu is not correct. Ever. They are usually out of whatever I ask for off the menu, but I know that they are redoing it, so one of these days the menu should be up to date.
— they have board games you can play, which is always a nice touch
— prices are moderate
— bartender man is nice. Drinks are what they should be, not too strong, not too light. A strong drink isn’t always what I have in mind
— Not a bad place to watch a game by yourself, which I’ve done here. And that can be tough for a woman. I can sit at the bar here and not have to worry about people/​some drunk guy heckling me.
Overall, this place is fine. A nice place to not go crazy, have a drink before dinner, etc. Nothing special, but sometimes that’s what I’m looking for.

the food was fine nothing special for the price and although our evening started great with a personable server it soon came to a crashing halt with a service change over. I’ve been industry and overly pretty girls who think that they will get tipped on looks alone are sorely mistaken as our server found out last night. I don’t mind being left alone for a few minutes but we waited 15 for the cheque because she was hungry. What server sits at a bar for 15 minutes after clearing all plates? What kind of establishment allows such a thing to happen?
So in short overpriced on a lackluster menu with abysmal service.
Oh the Irish bartender was nice.

OK beer selection. OK food. Pretty average place overall.
Mostly though, it’s just not really my scene. Music was so loud that we couldn’t carry on a conversation (and this was at 9 PM or so). Bar was full of guys in blue button downs and girls in short shorts and heels. Really felt like being in Lincoln Park. Everyone just looked like they were trying too hard. And that’s really the impression I got of the bar as a whole.

Yes, this a 5:00 in the morning emergency update/​upgrade to 5 stars.
After the fun times me and my ladies had here tonight… well I guess it’s last night at this point… I can’t not give this place a top shelf rating. The below review still holds true except that tonight the place was pretty packed. It was a fabulous time, free shots, great top 40 hits, good looking and friendly staff, and my fabulous friends.
We will be back, with our dancing shoes and our drinking moods… and that ain’t no threat.
PS– on Friday you can buy an open bar package for yourself for $ 25… uhm, yes, please.

Aberdeen always plays really rockin’ music! Big fan of their D.J. It’s a pretty cramped little space so I wouldn’t recommend going here if you’re easily irritated by small spaces, drink spilling, foot stepping and purse bumping (I hate it when people continually pass through a space and hit my purse. so annoying). Also, it’s in bucktown, a cool neighborhood and easy bus ride for me.
One major downside… their bathrooms are the epitome of nastiness. Like the grossest things I’ve ever stepped into voluntarily. But, when ya gotta go, you gotta go!

Yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and go with 5 stars on the «Deen.» It’s a pretty small bar with a tiny dance floor — yeah, like everything else on Saturday night. So why am I rating it five?
I have a great time whenever I’m there. It’s also the people I hang out with that have a lot to do with it, but set that aside, and I’d still have fun. Even with not so cool friends.
Mixed crowd. Lincoln Park wander-​overs, WP hipsters, I noticed lots of different ethnicities too. The DJ rules for the most part. R&B, hip hop, dance, 80’s rock. So yeah that sounds the same as a whole bunch of other places, but for me at the ripe old age of 29, he’s playing stuff from my 6^th grade dance days… and that makes me smile. It seems to make everyone smile at this joint.
Tiffany, my favorite waitress, takes care of us always. And not in a giving-​us-​free-​drinks-​or-​stealing-​from-​the-​house kind of way. I don’t know — the first time my buddy and I were in there while she was working, she was all about us. Ends up introducing us to the owner, the mean looking door dude (who’s super nice. AND cool) and making sure this non-​drinker always has a full glass of club soda. Too nice.
My regular spot. And my friends all agree. Meet me there — I was there Saturday.

AUTHORS NOTE: Quotations are meant to imply a sarcastic tone.
WARNING: Excessive use of quotations below.
«There’s a line for this place? Are you joking me?!?»
Imagine John Barleycorn and Sound Bar had a poor, illegitimate child… and called it Aberdeen… dance club? sports bar? cocktail lounge? Who knows!
It’s actually a really pretty space with a lot of dark wood and gothic-​type decoration… but then its ruined by the gigantic flat screen televisions that are mounted on every wall and corner. In the evening the «dj» «spins» the «top 40» from his glowing Mac laptop while a very strange mixture of people hump on the «dance floor» aka the «area people are waiting in line to use the single stall bathroom.»
Most of the guys in here reminded me of the Gotti boys — less bling, more hair gel.
The bartenders are incredibly nice and very attractive (they get a star) and the drinks are decent and decently-​ish priced but its not worth the faux «scene»

I haven’t been back to Aberdeen… Yet. However I will say that one of the owners of Aberdeen is a truly top notch. He contacted me via Unilocal Messaging with the following:
«Hey Joe,
I just read your blurb on Unilocal about Aberdeen and I would just like to reach out and say that I apologize that you had a bad time. My name is Justin and I am the owner, if you ever choose to give us another chance, just ask for me and I’ll pick up your dinner.
Thanks,
Justin»
I want to give him five stars for his client service and devotion to his business. I will definitely give this place a third chance.
Thanks Justin

+1 star for not being Celebrity anymore. 35 cent wings on Sunday? Check. $ 2 Miller Lite drafts? Check.
Nothing revolutionary going on at this place. It’s just a basic bar from what I can tell. I will report back after conducting further surveillance.
Note, I did not actually go here. I just bummed a wing from someone at an outdoor table while walking by. Pretty decent wing.