Bridge Bar

Um, I don’t even know where to begin as this was the last stop of the night in what felt like a long evening of drinking and girls night out therapy.
It was just before 11 pm when we arrived, it was pretty quiet except for the wedding party going on downstairs. We sat at the center bar and were greeted right away by a very boisterous bartender. First words out of his mouth were something along the lines of, «what will you be having, make it good because it’s the last drink I’ll be serving you tonight because my shift is over.» Ooo-​kay, if that’s code for drink and dash it ain’t gonna happen. They didn’t have a drink menu, so I told him to make me something tropical, I want to feel like I’m on the beach with the sun on my face. My friend was a little easier and ordered up a Cosmo. The drinks were good, there’s something about getting a drink that’s not on the menu that makes it better.
Our girls night therapy continued for about a half hour as we rationed out our last cocktail of the night. Let just say it got pretty deep and there were tears, sniffles and running mascara as we hashed out the latest male escapades of my girlfriends love life. Meanwhile, the bartender was obviously tracking our conversation and interjected some asinine comments about being lucky you didn’t marry him and then told me to get a divorce. WHAT, I’m paying you to serve me drinks and you stopped doing that almost the minute I walked in the door! I am not paying for you to talk, let alone give advice that doesn’t even make sense. While I know bartenders eavesdrop… they should (especially this one) just keep their comments to themselves. The only reason I’m giving 2 stars is because this place has potential to be a great dinner spot with an amazing view overlooking the river. Plus, the jerk-​tender waved the bill. Probably because he realized from the hole I shot through his head with my laser-​beam glares that he was being a total arse from the moment we sat down to the moment we left.

The first time we came here was to use a Daily Candy deal at the end of July. Our experience was so good we met up with a friend here a few days later. We’ve sat at both the bar and a table and had great service both times.
This place has an impressive drink list. Specifically bourbons. Their specialty cocktails list is small but powerful.
We’ve tried the truffled chips, tots and bacon, meatball pepperoncini flatbread and the steak sandwich. Everything was delicious and we would eat it again.

Went here with a friend and former client from out of town. I picked this place because from the reviews it looked like we could sit outside by the river and the menu looked interesting. I made a reservation since I was meeting someone from out of town and there is some convention in town that has made the city unusually busy for a Monday night.
I arrive at the host station and proceed to wait patiently for 10 minutes for someone to come and help me. A more impatient patron behind me went up to the bar staff to ask for some help. 5 additional minutes later I am barely acknowledged by someone who I think is the host. He tells me this part of the restaurant, it’s inside of Fulton’s by the River, does not have any outdoor seating, but I can pick any table inside and nods me away. By the way the place was empty when I arrived and was not busy until we left two hours later.
I pick a booth, sit down and wait for another 15 minutes wondering if there is table service or I have to get up to order at the bar. At this point, I have no menu, no water, no table setting. Thank goodness my friend was delayed, because this would have been even more of an embarrassment if he also was waiting as long as I was. Thank goodness he is a friend and not a current client. I would be mortified if I had brought clients here.
I finally flag down someone passing by my table and ask is there table service or do I need to go to the bar for service. She says flustered, either. I ask can I get a menu, she says can I wait a few minutes. By the way I have now been in this establishment for a half hour with nothing but a lot of patience on my end to show for it.
I get a menu, this flustered women takes my drink order. ten minutes later I get a glass of Prosecco. I have to ask for water again. I get water another ten minutes later. My friend arrives, I have to ask for an additional menu. 15 minutes later my friend orders his beer. Oh before my friend arrives I had ordered the spiced peanuts. They don’t arrive until after we have eaten half our entrees.
We don’t order a second drink because our waitress was MIA. We finally get the bill, we ask to split it on two cards. Our waitress double charges one card. My friend had to walk back over to the waitress at a different location in the restaurant to fix the problem.
I have not had such awful service in a very, very, very long time. By the way, the food was great, but I will never, ever be back.

The menu looked promising so we moved our party of four from the outside of Fulton’s on the River to inside even though the weather was to beautiful to be stuck inside.
We shared a order of the Truffled Chips house made with bleu cheese fondue. The only concern we had was that there were just not enough chips… our waitress was a sweetheart and brought us some extra!
I also had a disappointing dish of cured salmon with sea salt. It was actually too salty and lacked any depth.
To drink I had a couple servings of the French 315 st. germain, grand marnier, lavender syrup, champagne… delish!
Overall an interesting experience but just going to check this one off the list…

I went here with a party of 8 on a Saturday night. I should have realized it was going to be bad by the fact that at 7:30 PM on a Saturday, the place was virtually empty.
THE BAD:
We get seated towards the back, that is so dark, we have to use our smartphones to read the menu. I suppose they’re trying go for some speakeasy theme here? Not being able to see in a nightclub-​perfect. Not being able to see in a restaurant? bad idea.
We got no attention for a good 25 minutes, until a bartender finally came over to take our drink order.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA-​$ 8, had to ask for a glass. Seriously? If you’re going to charge that price for a micro-​brew, pour that shit in a pint. Beer serving 101.
When we finally got our appetizers, the flatbread came draped over an old, seemingly dirty plank of wood. I’ve never seen a more unappetizing presentation. I’m sure it was supposed to be rustic, but when your food is hanging onto the table, it seems pretty gross. I suppose eating like a peasant with my fingers is the new thing? What’s next — no silverware at all?
The «Drive Thru» Burger (served in a paper bag? Oh… good.) was described to me as «In N Out style». Maybe if you’ve never had In N Out. I couldn’t understand why they would brag about serving it in a bag. Because I’m taking it to go? No, I had planned on eating here…
At 4oz, I thought to get 2, instead of the 10 oz cheeseburger. Big mistake. Not only did it literally just come in a brown bag (no fries, naturally) they wrapped them in foil, to make sure the overcooked burger steamed the bun into wet soggy mushiness. Totally disgusting. I felt like I was eating dogfood. Also, they served each one in it’s own bag-​1 small burger in a big paper bag… very eco friendly. I’d suggest you get over to one of the M Burger locations for this style done right. Note to Bridge Bar-​In N Out style is griddled, not broiled. Just an FYI.
I had to order my Cisco style, frozen fries on the side. Totally unremarkable, aside from the amount of salt on them. Barely edible. And I will eat french fries for a meal.
One person had asked for a truffle egg ($ 3) on his burger, and one had asked for a truffle egg on the side. Neither came out, and we had to hound the server about it. You’d think they’d try to get as much of your order correct as possible. Maybe it was the B team in the back of the house? I mean, who’d waste their A team on a Saturday night?
One person had asked for no bacon on the «Standard Burger». When it came out, there was bacon on it. When we mentioned it, the server said «Oh, well, I didn’t hear that» and handed her the burger anyway. No big deal, if you’re kosher, or Muslim, or just don’t eat pork. Take it off yourself, it would seem. I guess you place an order, and the kitchen sort of does their take on that?
They never cleared our appetizer plates, so I started bussing the table onto a nearby empty table. If I wanted to wait tables, I’d get a job at a restaurant.
When the check came, they had added 18% gratuity, even though it’s not mentioned anywhere on the menu. Now, if you’re going to do that, fine. But the service should be fucking right on.
When I went to bar to complain about the service and bill, the manager (I assume) stared blankly at me, and turned around, removed the gratuity, and handed it back to me. No apology, no explanation. He just seemed annoyed that he had to deal with me. I wasn’t freaking out, but trying to be cool with him. I’m sure he gets that all the time, and is probably just numb to the experience.
I can’t imagine how a place like that stays in business. Shitty service on a Saturday night on a bill that cost over $ 350? No thanks.
The Good: Nobody got food poisoning.
The Wrap Up: If you enjoy truly miserable service, and mediocre, sub-​par, uninspired food, by all means, get your ass down to Bridge Bar.
If you want a nice beer or cocktail with some good food, I suggest you hit Rodan in Wicker Park, Northdown in Lincoln Park, Small Bar in Avondale, Longman & Eagle in Logan Square, or any number of the other places that do a similar thing better. Way better.

This place usually appears dead but I’m not sure why! It’s HUGER inside than it looks. Dinner here is really good. I get the flatbread pizza’s and they are delicious. Friendly service, but out waiter seemed busy because she was working a lot by herself. At night, I wish it was more poppin. It’s like a secret place but check it out! Hopefully it’ll get better around summer time.

It’s not bad option for an after-​work gathering. It was quiet for a weekday. Though not a packed house, there was one other huge party in the bigger room with the riverfront views. We had attentive servers, which was great because we were ordering left and right, and at times, still trying to decided if we wanted more food and/​or drinks.
Drinks — we all ordered our own: beer, wine, and martinis. The apple martini I had was just right: not to sweet or strong. That’s good in my book.
Food — One word: flatbread. Among the things we tried, my favorites were the flatbread. We had the farm and field (bacon, apple, spinach, and brie) and the one with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Though I didn’t taste as much bacon as I would have liked, both kinds of flatbread made me full. They were definitely much needed as I drank the night away with my companions.

Not bad for lunch downtown but the special bar menu isn’t available for lunch, so that was a bummer. Instead I got the fish tacos (grilled) with a side of cole slaw. Decent, but again, nothing too special…

Went there for happy hour yesterday and while the setting and views are tremendous, the service is horrendous. I waited at the bar to place a drink order for no less than 15 minutes without even getting a glance from the bartenders. If it hadn’t have been for the owner who happened to be walking around and noticed we were getting impatient, I’m not sure we ever would’ve been served. Plus, the layout is completely unacceptable for a happy hour setting. There’s barely room for one person to stand between the bar and dining tables. And if you do, you’ll be getting constantly bumped into by passers-​by. While the food is very good, I’m not planning to go there for happy hour anytime soon. Perhaps, dinner though.

Went here with some friends on Thurs to watch the Bulls game. First of all, they wouldn’t shut off the stupid music and let us hear the game. The bartender told me that the owners are very «corporate» and insist on the music. That said, the drinks were good, decent beer selection, and the bartenders were awesome. The popcorn which I’d heard raved about was eh. My two friends who had burgers raved.

When it was Fulton’s it was fine. I don’t understand how (essentially) the same bar rebranded can get significantly worse. My friends and I come down here quite a bit for lunch/​happy hour/​to punish our livers. Well, we finally came as a group to check out «Bridge Bar» after work.
DISAPPOINTING. I get it, new drinks, new crowd, etc… but considering the 5 of us were 5 of 7 guests in the place total, the service was horrendous and completely unacceptable. There was technically enough staff at the bar for one-​on-​one service… just saying.
Breakdown:
It took 10 minutes for waters and anyone to take our order
15 minutes for our drinks to arrive… AFTER we ordered. (1 beer, 2 mixed drinks, 2 cocktails)
Over 30 minutes for a flatbread. Seriously? Essentially it took almost an hour for a single round of drink and an app. Not a good first impression. I left after my first drink annoyed and a few friends stayed. I was told the same type of service, if not worse continued.
I really don’t understand how the same bar can change only its name and significantly lower its standards. I ‘liked’ this place on FB, but may have to change that.
Two points for some creative cocktails. But if you can’t try them… what’s the point?

Went by for «meatball Monday».
The good:
50 cent meatballs which were awesome. Great dipping sauces. $ 2 Schlitz poured in a tall Schlitz glass that has made me decide that it’s my new favorite cheap American Pilsner. Great bacon popcorn and homemade chips with a creamy blue cheese dip. The guys behind the bar kept refilling the chips for our group, so that was a nice plus. Service is a little too formal for such a place.
The bad:
Atmosphere is depressing. At least on Mondays. The rest of the dining area is huge and completely empty. Sitting at the bar virtually alone with my group and a couple of others and the guys behind the bar, it felt like the bar scene out of The Shining. Like visiting an empty place with good cheap beer and great snacks but served by ghosts in a forgotten once popular scene.

Stopped by Bridge Bar last week, cool space with a really trendy vibe. Creative cocktails and unique menu, I opted for the «Drive Thru Burger» Yummy! Can’t wait to go back and try more!