Hopleaf

Never disappoints!!! Great Chicago food/​beer landmark! Food is all great, one all time favorite is the C B & J on sourdough; house-​made cashew butter, fig jam & raclette cheese, pan-​fried; w/​stilton mac-&-cheese & house-​made potato chips (or frites!) LOVE IT!!!

«Great beer list, try the Temperance from Evanston! The bavette steak and frittes was terrific, and onion rings were divine. And Andersonville is a great neighborhood.

Belgium bar in Andersonville with huge list of import beers. Good vibe in the bar. Besides that, not much else that stands out. Food is average bar food, service was weird. After 10pm you have to walk to the bar to order? Why? So bartender can get more tips? Odd, hire a server.
Wings — B
Brisket sandwich — C
Salmon entrée — B
Service = odd

Only good thing we had were the fries. What we ordered; mussels for one (Belgium style) fucking flavorless. Same with the Mac n cheese. Looked great, tasted bad. The cheese board was decent. I had the brisket sandwich and my boyfriend had the duck reuben… both not good. Total tab $ 80, worth it? Not at all. Never coming back, never recommending this place. Service was fine though.
Ask for hot sauce, you’ll need it for everything to add some sort of flavor!

I found it interesting when the girl I went with to Hopleaf had told me that Jon Taffer and his crew had come through and proposed a bar rescue because this place was the definition of unique. Located in downtown Andersonville, Chicago, Hopleaf isn’t your conventional bar/​restaurant and their menu reflects that. Boasting one of the finest beer menus in the Midwest and a menu with flavors in all directions, you’re not just guaranteed to find something you’ll like — you’ll find something you’ll love. Potential complaints would be that there is no television and it is always a 21+ establishment even during the day so grab a sitter, put your phones down and enjoy yourself.

I expected more from Hopleaf. The location in Andersonville is great, especially for someone who doesn’t have the patience to go all the way from Evanston to Lincoln Park or River North for good Chicago dining. The beer list is, predictably, fantastic, with plenty of delicious Belgian Strong Darks/​Quads on the menu. The service (if I recall) was fine, and the overall atmosphere is nice. The menu looks great: familiar yet inventive, and pairs well with beer.
But the food just didn’t deliver. The short ribs were fatty. I know short ribs can get this way, but our serving didn’t have enough meat to justify all of the fat. The duck reuben, which sounded great, was not very good. The flavors were jumbled and the bread was too heavily buttered. The whole thing was greasy and did not sit well with me. I woke up very sick to my stomach the next morning, and while I think the culprit was a virus and not food poisoning, the greasiness of the meal the night before did not help.

WOAH man! From the outside, this place was very unassuming. What we thought was a small, cozy, and hip little bar opened up into a vast, multi-​dimensional haven for beer and pub food. There’s a ground floor with two areas — each with a separate bar — but also an upstairs section with a balcony eating area as well as an upstairs ‘patio’ (which is just another room).
Being from the west coast, I was surprised at how plentiful Zombie Dust was at various local bars. Hopleaf certainly had plenty of this liquid gold of a pale. And it doesn’t stop there. Their bottle list was also exceptional. You’ll find bombers of rare and limited releases along with some other goodies. My boyfriend and I were pleasantly surprised to see a bottle of Bourbon County Rare just chillin in the [locked] fridge. Too bad we didn’t have anyone to share it with because while it’s wonderful to discover these rarities at bars, BCBS Rare was $ 70.
Food wasn’t too bad. The mussels for 1 at $ 13 served as a great appetizer between the two of us. The meat board was different with all the various kinds of meats, but scrumptious. The salmon for $ 25 though seemed like overkill especially for the portion.
Whether you want to sit back and enjoy a brew with friends in a casual and social setting or scope out rare bottles maybe while pairing them with great food offerings, Hopleaf has it all. More than anything, I was surprised at the mere size of the place and all the great beer on tap. That in and of itself is enough to satisfy someone like me!

This place is glorious. They take a lot of pride in the quality of their beer, and advocate for smaller breweries just getting started in the Chicago area. I’ve been there for dates, a Marz brewery event, and hanging with friends! Their event space upstairs is great for small gatherings, and the garden out back is wonderful for when you want to feel luxurious.
Being in the midwest I’m still just a little wary of seafood (I know Chicago is a hub, and the seafood is still pretty fresh, but still…), but I gotta say those mussels are pretty freakin’ great.
Now go!

Just ok this time for us. We sat at the bar, not very crowded yet just as dinner service was starting. My fiancé enjoyed trying a new beer on tap. They had a few ciders, only one that I liked, as long as there is one though. My main complaint for this visit is that we ordered mussels to go with our drinks. 45+ minutes and empty glasses later, we just asked to pay for the drinks and go. Major disappointment.

Go to the Hopleaf Toasted Neuske sandwich video on the travel channel and skip ahead to 4:05. Look at that sandwich. It’s not the Neuske, it’s the brisket. Looks amazing right? Then why oh why, when I ordered it, DID I NOT GET IT? Hell, I even double checked with the server, who took one look and said «oh yeah that’s the brisket all right». We’re talking dry roast beef on rye. It wasn’t even good for what it was.
Look at the photo I posted. Tell me I’m crazy. My gf and I were so disappointed, we left our zombie dusts.
I’m not the type to leave one star on a whiny whim, but this time we for real got played. Again, watch the video, then check out the photo. Buyer beware.

Wow! What took me so long to get here??? So, I am not a beer drinker but I do enjoy a good cider and Hopleaf does not disappoint. There were about 4 types to try. I sat at the bar where the bartender was super friendly and attentive. He also did not hesitate to make recommendations. I enjoyed both ciders (Cherry something and a hawk something??). Food wise they also did pretty well. I had the catfish hoagie with a side salad. Side note: What ever vinaigrette the salad was tossed in needs to be bottled and sent to my house immediately because I can’t stop thinking about it. The hoagie was good and the catfish was seasoned well. So, excited about this place. I’m going to have to make another trek up north for this soon!

Beer haven, a tavern feel with bricks and tackers from across the globe everywhere. Mussels for $ 13, delicious, excellent beer selection on draft and in bottles. A must go to for a beer lover in Chicago– no reservation needed.

Consistently great. I’ve been here a few different times and every time I’ve had a stellar food experience. All of the items are delicious, from the scallops appetizer to the CB&J sandwich with a side of mac and cheese, to the endless selection of beer.
Of all of the things I’ve tried, my favorite is the mussels dish. It is by far the best bang for your buck – mussels in aromatic and flavorful broth with just enough bread to soak up all of the goodness. Oh and of course, a cone of fries.
This place is a gem. Will definitely keep coming back for more.

Major letdown! I had this place bookmarked for so long. Maybe my expectations were too high what with all the rave Unilocal reviews. Great beer list and very friendly service but the food was a letdown. The salad was just ok, my goat sloppy joe was dry, mac & cheese just average, mussels were very good, and the fries… oh excuse me, the frites, were the best part of the whole lunch. Very cool place and I really liked the huge umbrella shading the patio. One of the drawbacks of sitting at the bar is that overtime someone opens the door you get a blast of cold air (at least on the day I was there). Get a seat in the dining room or in the huge room next door. Leave the kids at home. You must be 21 to enter.

Yes! Finally after living here for over 7 years I finally went to Hopleaf & can’t wait to go back. The drink menu is impressive. The food menu is even better! The décor was homey, darker, wood burning stove, all brick. Gorgeous. Very cozy.
I prefer hard ciders and they had a lot of those to choose from. We shared the charcuterie plate which was good and then interesting. I ordered the catfish hoagie and the garlic mayo was perfect. Thin fries came with. Beef and vegetable soup was fantastic as well.
We all shared a campfire dessert that had pickled blueberries on it. Yummy!
If you’re in Andersonville go here!

Came here on a Wednesday night with a big group of friends and we wanted to grab a few drinks and have a good time and that is exactly what we got! There was about 8 of us but we were able to find seats together. We all ordered a variety of draft beers and I ordered a cider called the Zombie Killer. I’m really not a beer fan but wow, I was impressed by the Zombie Killer. The cider had a nice tangy but sweet flavor that wasn’t too overwhelming. The bartender, who was an angel, let me sample some ciders before I purchased anything and he was very knowledgeable.
I would recommend this place if you’re looking for a chill place, good drinks, and quality service!

You have to get the fries with the garlic aioli. Oh my god. Service was good, beer was good (I mean, it’s beer) but that aioli…
We had some other food too but I only have eyes for the aioli.

Hop Leaf is a great gastropub! This is one of my favorite places in the city for a casual night out. I have never been inside of a place with such an array of options. They are constantly rotating their draft selection offering excellent brew options from all over the world. They also have a great rotating selection of favorite options from local breweries. My favorite sandwich there is the Toasted Nueske Ham sandwich. The aioli for the fries is also incredible!

Fascinating beer list with a good number of smaller ounce options (yay). Very nice bartenders. Tolerable noise level for the number of tables and chairs. Duck Reuben is a substantial sandwich of tender and juicy thick-​cut duck slices, a thin melty layer of cheese, and the right amount of sauerkraut wedged in between two perfectly buttered toasted slices of earthy, almost chocolately dark rye bread. The only flaw was the seeming absence of salt from the meat, but that was easily remedied by the salt shaker behind the bar. Every bite of this sandwich was savored, and it came with a large handful of excellent thin fries and an awesome garlic aioli. If you ask the staff nicely, they’ll pack your leftover fries with an extra tub of this awesomely garlicky sauce.

Great atmosphere, beer, and not too long of a wait.
Cauliflower appetizer tastes great but isn’t really described well. It’s like a buffalo chicken ball with ranch, delicious. Somewhat small serving.
Salmon is really good. Cooked well with a flavorful and salty skin on top, heart of palm and a mustard like dip with mushrooms. Mushrooms have a pungent taste and smell.
Duck roast was… For those that like game! A bit fatty and chewy at parts. I’m sure this is one of the better cooked duck meals out there — I’m not a game fan so I won’t comment.

This is my happy place.
I love everything about this place. The beer menu is substantial, don’t just look at the draft selection. The menu rotates and there are off menu additions.
Everything is good. Haven’t had a bad thing yet. I just ate the steak with fries, go medium, it’s basically medium rare. That was a tasty mother fuckin’ steak. Came with a garlic butter for the fries. I made room for both.
The wife got the duck and wished she got the steak. I’m inclined to agree; the duck was fine, but over cooked, I would have expected it rare, hence I docked a star.
So I just had the duck fat donuts; it’s like duck stuffing served with ice cream. How novel! I’d say go for it and try something creative!
The environment is awesome, exposed brick, a second floor, and multiple rooms. Go straight to the back and sit by the fireplace.

Ok I was debating between 3 or 4 stars. I gave this place 4 but I wAnted to give them 3. The food was a new experience for me since I am so used to eating the same flavors and spices in most of the restaurants but since this place is a bar. I gave them 4 stars for creativity and the use of a lot of condiments new to my taste buds. It was very different but overly too pricey for my opinion.
Our server made a few mistakes to our order which was a plus because we had to remind her she had forgotten something. Either she was new or was over worked but hardly made it back to our table. For desert we got were wrong order but the manager saw the mistake and he gave us our original desert which we enjoyed.
No I will not come back.

Honest review: venison:this was one of the best dishes of the night. Must order! I never had venison so this was a first for me picture a richer tasting beef flavor. The venison was cooked to perfection u do not need a knife to cut
was so flavorful that i didnt need to put salt or nothing on it it was perfect. The celery root purée was amaizin ask for more of it! It was so rich that it made the venison taste orgasmic. Like im gonna buy celery root when i go to the grocery store. The currant sauce added a nice sweatness to the dish that complimented the venison well. The pickled vegetables really made this dish great nothing goes great with something rich then something vinegary eat everything harmoniously to get the perfect bite that will be exceptional
Charcuterie:(even though this appetizer was good out of this wasnt amaizin as everything else) head cheese i never been fond of this i think it smells n looks disgusting when u buy it at the grocery store and it tastes funky but here it tastes so good. The texture wasnt off
was kind of spicy picture like a spicy italian sausage but tastes better this is a must order. The pork belly was phenomenal idk what was on top of it but it added a nice texture. If u love pork belly youll love this. The bacon wasnt overly salty or didnt have a strong smokey flavor to it. Picture like a mild bacon it wasnt greasy either. This was the least favorite just had no wow factor to it. The head cheese was the best. The accompaniments were really good like i loved the mustard! The bread was actually toasty thank u jesus m theres alot! Then the quail egg yum great added bonus
Brisket:omg one of the best briskets i ever had dont tell mannys i said that! It was really tender n not dry or Old like alot of briskets can be! It isnt overly pickled which is really important cause that overpowers the taste of the
only complaints was the bread wasnt toasted! Why!!!This ruins a sandwhich! Theres mustard in it but i wish there was a lil more in it so more on the side plz. I would recommend that u dip the sandwhich in the fries sauce. The fries let me tell u about the fries omg! There thin like mcondalds and fried to perfection. There not greasy or burnt n their crispy. The only thing is i wish it had some salt and pepper on it. The dipping sauce is phenomenal one of the bests things i ever ate in my life i would just come back here for this dish
Macaroni and cheese: nobody liked
wasnt creamy it needed more cheese it was really dry n the pasta was hard I hated the cheese they used in this. I love cheese but this had a funky taste to it. They used stilton cheese it did not taste good. Then theres no bacon or bread crumbs. This was a waste of money one of the worst macaroni and cheeses i ever had
Maple brined Duck:(eat everything together delicious) the duck was tender cooked to perfection. The duck is seasoned perfectly. The only thing about the duck was the skin wasnt crispy plz fix that! The purée was really good its like gormea mashed potatoes. Really flavorful and fluffy. I didnt like the romanesco it was just boiled thats wasting a vegetable jus boiling it. The vegetable bread pudding didnt taste good like i took one bite n thats it jus tasted like soggy bread no flavor at all plz fix this change it to something else. The best part of this dish were these little red currants they were to die for so good! there the perfect balance of sweet and tart just complimented the duck beutifully i wanna go to the store just to buy these currants there that good so put more. I wish there was a sauce to bring everything together so add a sauce
Beef short ribs:(eat everything together delicious) short ribs are my favorite and these were so tender. This litterly melted in ur mouth cause it was so tender. It was really flavorful so no complaints. The polenta was phenomenal so flavorful i dont like polenta but this tasted so good and went perfectly with the short ribs. They had a perfect texture to not really hard really creamy the collard greens were amaizin i couldnt stop eating it then there were the pickled vegetables i love how this restaurant always has something vinegary it cuts down the richness n makes it taste better. One complaint was the bread was amaizin but it was under everything so it got soggy fix that an add more bread n add more of the braising liquid from the short ribs n itll be perfect
Salmon:(eat everything together delicious) Crunchy Salmon skin tastes better then pork rinds! The fish was cooked perfectly no complaints over seasoning. The components in this dish are really interesting the sauce was rich but had a really interesting flavor to it idk how to describe it. There are grapes in it i wish there was more because it added a really flavorful note to. The mushrooms were a nice earthy note but were a lil overcooked
Donut:one of the best donut dishes i ever had. plz order this
Cranberry breadpudding: amaizin tastes like thanksgivin order this!
Brownie:not fav idaddmorebutcantwritemore

Recently hit up Hopleaf again and it’s still doing what it’s doing (in a good way).
The meal was tasty, as I went with the Mussels in beer (the mussels are better at Vincent’s just up the street). The fries though are a reason enough to go there. I’m one of those weirdos that likes the European mayo with fries thing. Some fries and beer is well worth going to this place.
It’s a staple in the city and the neighborhood. You definitely need to make it here if you haven’t already.

Fun pub with some interesting beer selections. Very chill vibe. We had an awesome hybrid of a mead and a cider with Michigan Cherries.

Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago is generally dead. In a good way. Nobody around, which means… no waits at typical hotspots like Hopleaf! Erin J. and I came in around 8:00 on a Saturday and were given the option to sit at the bar that overlooks the kitchen. We nabbed the seats and it was pretty awesome to see the chefs at work while we dined. Hopleaf is known for their beer list and they did not disappoint. I started with an awesome ginger peach cider and also enjoyed a 5 Rabbit brew I had never tried! Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the draft list and was helpful in our decision-​making.
To start for dinner, we shared the charcuterie plate and fall Cobb salad. Big warning! The charcuterie plate is definitely for adventurous charcuterie eaters! We enjoyed most of what we ordered, but some of the items were a bit out of our comfort zone. To follow, we shared the mussels and mac n’ cheese. Both were a hit, the mussels for one was definitely enough for us to share. While tasty, the dish was extremely salty and the bread that accompanied the dish was too hard to eat. These are basically my only complaints about Hopleaf. Mac n’ cheese was creamy, tasty, and super rich. I highly recommend sharing a bunch of things so you can try multiple items!
Overall, Hopleaf lived up to the hype. Truly enjoyed the warm atmosphere, impressive beer list, variety of menu items, and solid service. I can’t speak to the long waits on typical weekend nights, but seems as though going at off-​hours and in small groups will absolutely reduce the wait time.

Excellent beer list, and perhaps the best beer-​drinking environment in Chicago. The tap list is more than enough to keep the serious beer consumer interested, and there is also a very deep bottle list.
Belgian frites and mussels (get the Belgian-​style) are the very best you’ll find. I believe the compare favorably to what you’ll find in Brussels, and I speak from personal experience. The other food here is unfortunately hit or miss. The sandwiches are soggy.
The expansion into the space next door, as well as the outdoor patio in the summer, has made Hopleaf a realistic group option, even during busy times. Back when this place was smaller, you had to carefully time your visits to avoid the crowds. Not really a problem anymore.
If you are with a group and plan to order food, get a table in the back room for a calmer experience. If it’s cold out, ask for a table near the fireplace.

I loved the wood burning fire stove in the back since it’s one of my favorite smells in the winter. We lucked out and were seated right next to it!
The food is solid and they have every type of beer imaginable here. My Duck Reuben was tasty and I surprisingly didn’t need ketchup for the fries since the dipping mayo that comes with was decent.
They let you sample the drinks before you commit. I enjoyed the Virtue cider and one if their Belgian beers La Trappe Puur which came in the purrrfect glass. Order the Kwak beer and you won’t be disappointed in the presentation of it!
This is a solid restaurant with the most unique and biggest selection of beer that I’ve encountered in the Midwest.

Six words: Incredible beer menu, delicious brisket sandwich
Hopleaf is the kind of place that I wished I was a regular at, mainly because they have the most incredible beer menu I’ve ever seen. Four densely packed pages of beers of all different varieties with the most incredible descriptions. This is the kind of place where you could learn so much. If only it wasn’t an hour away by bus. If only!
I was here with a bunch of friends because it was the midway point between all of us. Two lived in Evanston, one lived in Uptown, and I live in Noble Square. Midway. We made reservations in advance and were seated once everyone arrived. And then we were given the most incredible beer menu ever.
Pages upon pages. The waiter came by multiple times and we just couldn’t make up our minds. He gave us recommendations. We’d ponder them. And still no decision. We were horrible — I’m so sorry we were so indecisive. I ended up picking a beer at random — the BOM Brewery Triporteur Full Moon. I wish I had saved the menu description — it basically described the beer as a witches brew — with something about mountains, and dark and something else. It was the most delicious beer I’ve ever tried and I don’t think it’s on tap anymore.
Dinner was slightly easier. I went with the Grass-​fed Brisket mainly because it sounded good and because I had never had brisket before. No idea what it was but it was amazing. It was normal sandwich sized and was on two slices of bread. But the meat inside was moist but not too moist. And incredibly flavorful. I practically inhaled my sandwich. And the pomme frites attack on my plate was so delicious. Most of plate was covered in them and I still finished them all.
I definitely want to go back. I definitely will go back.

Decided on Hopleaf because I know they’re always well stocked with Zombie Dust. It has a sharp balance of citrus hops that puts a smile on every sip. Its brightness paired very well with my charcuterie. It was a trio of nduja, pork belly rillette, and tasso bacon.
Njuda is a spreadable spicy pork sausage that has a mild spice with a bold pâté like flavor and consistency. It paired best with the whole mustard on toast. The bar in the back was a bit loud with a big party near us, so I couldn’t hear the entire plate. The berry on the pork belly rillette cut the fattiness of the pork belly and helped bring out the pork flavor. The star on the board was the tasso bacon. It was soft, fatty bacon that had the essentials of crispy bacon with strong smoky flavor, but instead melted in your mouth. Once melted, the bacon flavor shines through and bliss arrives. The bacon tastes so right.
I noticed the tiny quail egg, but didn’t hear that it was pickled! It had a med-​well vinegar taste and worked out really well, because it cleaned my palette of that greasy feeling. The plate was well organized and would definitely have again. This isn’t my first time really enjoying their food and would gladly come back.
Side note: On my way out, there was a sign above a beer fridge that said «Off-​Menu Specialties. Please ask your server!» How did I not see this before?!? I guess i’ll find out on my next visit.

The tap list is incredible and that should be the main reason you’re here. You shouldn’t need me to tell you that and you probably didn’t.
But we also got food here (you’ve no doubt noticed that I spend too much of my time eating in bars) and that is worth a few brief comments:
Some of the items seem like a perfect match to a beer hall with pretensions — the sandwiches, the brussels sprouts sides, and probably the other sides too, though I didn’t try them. Other items seem to be longer on pretension, shorter on beer hall — steak frites, rabbit confit salad, short ribs, etc.
Some of the items in the second category were great (the rabbit confit was a big hit), but most were disappointing and I would be inclined to stick to the safer bar fare here. With one caveat — most of my table was annoyed by the fact that our french fries were all lukewarm. (I didn’t actually mind, I was just grateful that they weren’t limp and soggy.)
Still, did I mention the tap list?

3 girls shared the Belgian-​style mussels (for 2) and the CB&J sandwich. Mussels are on the small side but fresh. the broth was only okay… I actually wanted to try the lobster based broth but gave in to what was considered popular. The fries and the aioli was addictive. The CB&J was rather tasty… not something I would have ordered on my own. The Stilton mac and cheese that accompanied it was a bit overwhelming though (the cheese had a strong goat/​sheep cheese flavor). The beer selection is extensive. I am not much of a beer drinker… I like the less hoppy wheat beers usually. Upon our waitress’s recommendation, I ordered the Tripel Karmeliet which as not hoppy and it came in it’s own glass.
Great place to grab a bite on a Sunday at 5:30pm as there was no wait and perfectly located before catching the Neo-​futurist show nearby.

I was finally able to bring my roommate to Hopleaf after raving about trips that my boyfriend and I had taken there for their amazing beer and food. We arrived around 8:30 on a Sunday evening and ordere some beers from the bar at the front while we waited on a patio table to open up, which took about 10 minutes. Their beer list has something for everyone and I suggest taking a chance on a new one you haven’t had, because they’re all good. Any Ballast Point, Deschutes, or Three Floyds will automatically rise to the top of my list, and they’re always on draft here.
Once seated, our waiter let us know about the specials for the evening, including the cheese and charcuterie offerings. We got the charcuterie plate with nduja, duck rillette and headcheese, and the server was so kind as to add the fatback spread on the house because I got so excited when he mentioned it! The plate also had deliciously buttered bread, boiled quail eggs, mustard and pickled turnips. Could’ve eaten this forever had it not been for the amazing codfish spread we also ordered. It was creamy and light and paired perfectly with the pickled vegetables and greens served alongside it. One day I may make it past the appetizers and small plates here but I would be happy with any dish set in front of me at Hopleaf. This place deserves every star and more.

I don’t know why I waited so long to come to this place. I live just around the corner and everyone I know raves about the food. For some reason, I just went for the first time recently and I’m kicking myself for getting mediocre food and beer from other places in the neighborhood for so long. I went on a Monday night and there was no wait. I’m told that there’s often a long wait but maybe that’s just on the weekends. We were seated immediately at an upstairs table overlooking the back patio. This place is really huge inside. I had no idea how big the space was from the outside. It’s quite deceptive.
Our waitress was very helpful in deciding what to order. I forget her name but she was awesome! I had the special – fried chicken and waffles with Kwak. I love that they do beer pairings with their food. I love that Kwak was used in the fried chicken. It was a great combination and it should be on the regular menu. My husband had the CB&J and it was decadent. It’s a cashew butter and fig jam sandwich grilled with raclette cheese. My visiting mother had the steak with herb butter. That herb butter is like crack. I wanted some on everything. In short, don’t spend three years living in Andersonville without trying this place!

Overall: Solid food, good atmosphere, and tons of drinks make Hopleaf great!
The good: The food is all interesting and tastes great. The portion sizes are good. Food comes out quickly and hot and fresh. There is a lot of beers and drinks to choose from. The seating and patio are plentiful.
The bad: Service was slow. Our table was too small for 5, after we tried combining tables and getting denied being able to do so. Check took a very long time to come after asking. Prices get a little expensive.
Atmosphere: 8.5÷10
Service: ⁷⁄₁₀
Food: ⁹⁄₁₀

I’ve been here many times over the years. It’s walking distance from my brother’s place and he’s definitively a regular. Simply put, it’s a cool place with great staff, a fantastic beer selection (they have a bunch of Belgian styles) with a ton of places for seating. In fact there are about 5 or 6 different areas for seating and each have a slightly different vibe from one another. We came last night with a big group and sat outside. The weather was perfect for it.
I’ve had some really good and interesting beers in the past. On this most recent visit I got Brasserie Dupont sprl’s Avec Le Bön Voeux which I highly recommend. It’s worth the aroma alone. I also got Dark Horse’s Sapient Trip Ale. Their food can be hit or miss. Some hits are their mussels and their duck rubean and both items are staples on their menu which changes from time to time. Last night I got the Tecumseh Farms Smart Chicken Two Ways. It’s an oven-​roasted airline breast, crispy confit leg, with ramp chowder purée, glazed baby carrots, hasslebeck potatoes & bacon/​freekeh gremolata. I think it was the best of the entrees. The Wood Grilled Duroc Pork Chop sounded good, but it was one of their misses. It was lacking in flavor. Plus, and this may be the first time I every say this, it was cooked too rare.
We’ve never had a bad time here. It’s always fun and we ran into some other friends here by chance. It’s definitely a local place, but worth the drive if you don’t live near by. Especially if you’re a fan of Belgian beers.