SmallBar

One of my favorite neighborhood drinkeries. Excellent food, great atmosphere, terrific beer list, good cocktails. Some people have complained about the service here, but I can’t say I’ve ever gotten anything but excellent attention from the waiters and bartenders. It also attracts a really good crowd, and it’s a fabulous place to go in the spring and summer when you can make use of the back patio. The food is tasty and the portions are huge, and there’s always something good on the beer menu. The fact that it’s tucked away in a little neighborhood area only makes it better. What’s to complain about? Nuttin’.

I was bullied into a larger tip, yet refused… what is this place? I will certainly never go back as there are enough solid beer bars around. The owner (s) need to wake up and check on the staff. There is a particuliar virus with an attitude behind the counter… you aren’t ENTITLED to 20% guy…

I hate to write this, because this use to be a staple when I lived in Avondale, but after the display tonight I have to. It was disrespectful and I cannot recommend this place to anyone I have an ounce of respect for.
After spending 4 hours here a friend closed his tab out, after the other members have been paying cash and paying more than 20% tips each round. After he closed out, the bartender called this individual out to question his 12% tip and was insisting he leave more. When he didn’t leave more, he vocally told him, in front of the rest of the patrons, to never come back and threw out his drink. We proceeded to leave after just paying for our drinks. I am disgraced I recommended this bar it is a far cry from the Small Bar of 2 years ago. It pains me to say it but I will not be back. The bar tender in the Chicago hat ruined it for us and it is a far cry from the level of service I came to expect from small bar.

Nice bartenders, good selection of drinks, cool vibe overall but the crowd wasn’t for me

One of my favorite neighborhood spots in the city… Personable staff, pretty good bar food, and a rotating draft list second to none. And of course, with guys like JJ and Eric behind the bar, you’re bound to return…

Great Bloody Mary,
Great Lunch,
Great Beer,
Great Bartenders

This corner hole-​in-​the-​wall neighborhood bar has one of the best beer selections I’ve seen. A knowledgeable staff help guide you through the many brews on hand, including an impressive pick of local beer on tap.
If I lived anywhere nearby, I would be a regular.

a hidden gem in the Avondale neighborhood. Small neighborhood bar with a good kitchen. Always a good time but parking is tough as it’s residential everywhere. Burgers are great here and it’s cheap easy breeze drinks!

Great burgers and wings never disappointed always great service best bartenders around love it I have been coming here for years there’s a reason for that

My service person (Katy) was quite prompt. I had a delicious white wine spritzer, although, I think her aviator is her speciality. If you like blueberry stoli, this is your place. Bone appetite

No pool tables, pretty standard neighborhood bar with dart board. Was fairly average, as far as ambiance and general attitude.

Awesome beer! Changes on a regular basis so come back soon if they have one you love! Same for the food awesome specials and the wings are delicious.

Arguably the best neighborhood bar/​gastropub in the city, nestled away in the middle of Logan Square-​Avondale.
Friendliest bar staff in the neighborhood. Always remembers me and my boyfriend, very sweet and attentive.
Drink menu is excellent, especially the very diverse and frequently rotating draft list. Examples of amazing beers/​drinks I have had the pleasure of discovering at SmallBar (Boulevard Brewing Lemon/​Ginger Radler, Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose, God Damn Peanut Butter And Jelly Pigeon Porter, Stiegl Radler w/​Gin, Marz Bubbly Creek Yuzu) The list goes on and on.
Food is great, and they always have a funky awesome sandwich option and Mac & Cheese option for their daily special. The Cheeseburger is my fave.
The patio is the perfect size, and my favorite place to go in the summer!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

This place is as advertised. It’s a small bar. I went to meet up with a friend. I had a Manhattan. My friend had a craft beer. It was ok. I ordered sliders because they were supposed to be the special, the bill came and they weren’t the price I thought they were going to be. My friend asked about it and our server said he could get us one filler off.
It was a little underwhelming overall. The beer selection was pretty extensive though. I might go back if I am in the area.

My neighborhood bar – I’m slightly biased. I come for the Thursday night wing special. Quality wings for .75. I remember when they were .50. But still good wings I like the hint of garlic.
Great beer selection. Although I’m sticking to Lagunitas tonight.
Stop by, its a quality dive bar. Cleanest Dive bar you’ll find. JJ and the other bartenders are awesome.

Seems like a great neighborhood bar. Slow on a Saturday afternoon. which is good. Not divey just local. I like that.

Updating my review — I’ve been back to SmallBar many times now and every single time I’ve had a good time. The atmosphere is low key and casual, drinks are a great price point with an ever rotating selection of craft beers on draft (along w usually three buck special of the day if your wallet is feeling thin), and food is solid (again, daily Mac n Cheese special, need I say more). This is definitely one of my favorite bars is Chicago and my go-​to neighborhood joint.

SmallBar, thank you. You have achieved a dive bar vibe while being clean, providing friendly service, and having a stellar selection of rotating drafts. Vibe, aside, it’s not that divey because the beer selection is enlightened and the food is top notch.
I walk in here and, I have to admit, I don’t usually know the beers on tap. Many times I’m familiar with the brewery but SmallBar has uncovered some unknown from their collection for me to try. For this reason, I accept that this «dive» doesn’t have «divey» prices. You’ll still pay about $ 5 – 7 for a beer. BUT, every time I’ve been in, they have had a special beer for about $ 3. And $ 3 ain’t bad at all.
The food is great. I’ve had the burger here. I’m not a tot fan but I also know I’m alone on that. Feel free to tater tot is up here. The burger was good, but I think it’s all about the specials on the chalkboard here. What I haven’t tried and I can’t believe I haven’t is the mac & cheese, which is different every night.

I was really excited when I moved to Avondale that there was a bar only two doors away from my place — I always wanted to be a regular at a bar!
How lucky was I that SmallBar is awesome? The draft list is ever changing; their $ 3-​$ 5 dollar specials are always a steal. My favorites usually involve Half Acre and Pipeworks.
Their food menu is decent, but what is really killer are their food specials. The daily mac and cheese, and whatever they’ve written on their chalkboard. It’s usually a surprise what the special will be. I know they have deals on burgers, tacos and wings Tues — Thurs as well.

If you decide to meet someone at SmallBar, probably a good idea to decipher if they mean SmallBar Division or this SmallBar. The one on Division is no longer open so you’d think common sense would prevail — but alas! Always verify!
SmallBar is… surprise! Small! It’s nothing big but on a Saturday night during peak drinking hours, I was able to get a couple of seats at the bar. It was full but not crowded which is a very welcome change from other spots in the city. The bartender was great, on top of things, friendly and helpful.
SmallBar has a great list of draft beers including many I had never tried before like Mikkeller Mexas Ranger ($ 7) and Half Acre The Hammer, The Bullet, and the Vise ($ 5). The hops ranged from $ 4-​$ 8 and were pretty on point for pints. You can find their full beer menu on
and it’s quite extensive.
I had never known about SmallBar previously and now that I do know, and knowing it’s within walking distance of my BFF’s place… I foresee us coming back here often!

Smallbany is probably the bar that my friend always suggests to meet up at. There’s good reason, the place is small but never really crowded. I’ve been there where both the patio and inside is crowded but not so claustrophobic that I felt like I was having a panic attack.
The food is good bar fare, I’ve had the wings and the nachos and they’re all good. The tater tots are a tasty addition. They also have great pop-​ups where I had some of the best pork rinds I’ve ever had.
But who wants to talk about food when their beer selection is excellent. I had Tart of Darkness on tap there as well as a bunch of terrific local beers.
It’s a great combination of neighborhood bar and craft beers.