The Cubby Bear

It was overall ok… Band was great drinks were cheap but a lot of weird individuals

I would give this place negative stars if I could. I personally witnessed a bouncer lose his temper and throw a female patron out of the bar, INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION.
I’m totally disgusted by their behavior. I will never, ever go back to this place.

This bar is huge, very sports friendly, and right across Wrigley field. It’s very popular and attracts the college crowd on any given day. This was the first bar experience I had in my life and it ended before it even started.
I came here after a cubs game just to watch the bulls game with my friends. I don’t drink but I can really get into the games, especially when it’s Bulls or Bears playing. I still don’t know why I got kicked out of here. I can only think of two reasons, one I was cheering too loud or two because I stood on the foot rest part of my chair when the Bulls scored (I did not stand up on the stool). I don’t understand how that is the reason to kick someone out, am I not allowed to put my feet on the foot rest, am I not allowed to cheer for a game at a SPORTS bar? This isn’t the library… Well I didn’t argue because it’s stupid to argue with a bouncer and I didn’t want to be the «story of the night» so I just left.
Probably the only sober person to ever get kicked out of here. The End.

Last night at a private family party at the Cubby Bear, a bouncer put my friend in a chokehold and forcibly threw him out of the bar, for looking for his sister-in-law’s jacket in our private room before we left. The bouncers at the Cubby are thugs, looking to get their rocks off. Beware! The idiots assaulted the guy who was paying the entire tab for 30+ people at a family party of adults…

This place flat out sucks. Would not even survive if it wasn’t across from wrigley. The food blows the drinks are weak! The place just wreaks of a cross between puke, shit and stale beer. Avoid this place at all costs as every establishment around it is way better. Try vines, old crow, sluggers all great places cubby bear should be shut down. The help sucks the door staff are mental midgets pretty certain they just hired out of the fat ass super size me line at Taco Bell next door!!! If there were a way to give no stars this place is most deserving!

We did NOT have a good experience here. My boyfriend and I came to Chicago for our first Cubs game from Michigan-​and we wandered into the Cubby Bear before a Sunday game.
Within five minutes, we had beers, and also, my boyfriend had his cell phone stolen.
How? We sat down at a table, along side the bar area in the back-​near the kitchen. The waitstaff walks in a small aisle in betw een our row of tables and the tables on the other side of that dining area. A couple had just vacated it, and we cleaned it off ourselves, no big deal…
A table up in the bar area, just a step up above from where we were, but out of that foot traffic, opened up so we moved up there. My boyfriend got up to use the restroom. While he was gone, a member of the waitstaff stopped at the table we just vacated, and I actually wondered what he was doing, since we cleaned the table off, figured he was wiping it off, thought nothing else of it, we didn’t know the phone was gone at this point… waitstaff guy walks back to the kitchen.
Boyfriend returns from the pisser and discovers his cell phone is gone. We both run down to that table, search, and its gone. We immediatley told the staff, and they were helpful, one of the bouncers and our waitress went and told all of the bartenders and other bouncers that he’d lost it.
The waitress assured us that it could not have been a staff member that took the phone-​because there are «cameras all over this place». And, that «no one there would do that kind of thing». Well, anyone who’s ever worked in a camera monitored envrionment knows where the cameras point and where they cannot see. We looked around and only saw two cameras in our area, none we anywhere near the table where we were. She also mentioned «managers watch the tapes.» So, then, we asked to speak to a manager, and if they would watch said tape for us?
The manager came over and essentially repeated the same schpiel the watiress gave us. Suggested we keep calling later on to see if it was turned in. But would not «watch a tape». Probably because, the cameras are fake-​or dont work-​or both. Or, she knows they do not record the area we sat in.
They didn’t even comp us a beer, or anything. We would not return here, period. Nor would I reccommend it to anyone, period. Having the phone stolen was a major buzkill for our first Cubs game, but we still managed to have a good time.
Sad that dishonest people ruined a bit of our afternoon!

I’ve been to a few Cubs games from out of town and each time I’ve come here I’ve enjoyed it a lot. Reminds me of the bars near my home of Yankee Stadium. Crowds are energetic and friendly, drinks are reasonably priced. I really liked they had a band playing after the game on a Tuesday night. Awesome pregaming with a gorgeous view of Wrigley across the street.

Went to The Cubby Bear before a concert at Wrigley Field this weekend. The bar was prompt in getting us served with our beers and we found a table in the packed bar. Our waitress was attentive in refilling our drinks quickly. We order fried pickles to share and those were tasty. I saw a lot of tables order the nachos and those looked fantastic. I will be back if I am in the area again. Highly recommend stopping in for a drink.

The thirsty bouncers outside always yell stupid shit at females. He called my friend and I hookers well we were across the street waiting for the bus.
This place is stupid expensive and no where near fun enough for that shit.

I knew better than to step foot in this place, I knew what to expect… However, I was with a group that wanted to kill some time before the game and not being the type to make things difficult I went with the flow. After spending about an hour in this establishment I came to conclude that everything was exactly as I expected it to be. The bouncers were on their typical bouncer power trip. Dude, I am obviously in my mid 30’s so of course you have to spend a solid 15 seconds glancing back and forth between me and my license before you finally give me the nod to enter; with that smug grin on your face that suggest you think it is some kind of privilege for you to allow me in the dump. The wait staff inside was as rude as would be expected. Of course its hard to blame them too much, dealing with drunken idiots day in and day out has to take its toll on a person. none-​the-​less, knowing that didn’t make the experience any more pleasurable to deal with.
Everything I have talked about so far was the bright side of the experience. the real fun of this place starts when you starting critiquing its cleanliness (or lack there of) and the food. When I said the place was a dump, thats exactly what it is. I have never been in a frat house but I would imagine that this is what one looks like. The place was completely filthy. the floors are sticky, the tables look like they have never been washed, and I’m just thankful that I didn’t get the opportunity to see if the kitchen was any cleaner (In this type of situation ignorance is bliss). As far as the food goes, all I can tell you is… it was disgusting vile low grade rubbish. It is on par with what you would get from a gas station and you would probably have to travel to Shawshank to find anything worse.
Next time I will put up a fuss, next time I will insist we deserve a better place.

Horrible service and lose the attitude. The server we had came over initially to take our order and was never seen again. Upon waiting 40 minutes for our food she was reluctant to come back and update us on our food. When we finally saw our waitress come we asked where our food was and her response was «not today.» And walked away. Won’t be back to these friendly confines of wrigley field.

About a 2 – 2.5: The Cubby Bear is located across Wrigley Field and this bar is usually a place where the fans go for post-​game drinks. The menu offers appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and sides, as well as a bar of various libations. Usually, we eat finger food/​appetizers, like the wings, the nachos, pretzel sticks, tots, and/​or the quesadillas. The bartenders can be a hit-​or-​miss, as well as for the crowd. The place isn’t the most cleanest, so just keep that in mind! The bar also has concerts, in which you can check their social media of upcoming performances. I’ve been here a few times for birthday parties and get-​togethers, and most generally have a pretty okay time. Parking is a bit ridiculous (more impossible on game days), so you can either take a cab, carpool, and/​or park in the valet lots.
+located across from Wrigley Field

Great waitresses and bar tenders. We just had some beers and buffalo wings before taking a tour of wriggled field. Looking forward to coming back before a game.

I have a hard time giving Cubby Bear too bad of a review considering every time I’ve been there, I’ve had a pretty good time.
This time, we were there after a race (Cubby Bear was the location of the after race party) and I had a great time. We quickly got a table (lucky on our part — i guess we must have beat a bunch of other racers!) and service was quick. I didn’t have any food, but we sat and were checked on in a not overwhelming manner. The atmosphere was fun and not crazy though people were definitely starting on their brunch cocktails.
The other times I’ve been there have typically been around Cubs games, but I’ve always had a good time — decently priced drinks, friendly service and a nice, open spot for fun. Yes, the floor is sticky… the tables are wobbly and the bathrooms aren’t the best, but what are you expecting here?
I will say it’s not a spot I’d go to eat lunch or spend a relaxing time, but for a fun time if you’re headed to or from a Cubs game or to stop in for a quick drink, it’s a decent option.

The Cubby Bear is probably my least favorite bar in the Wrigleyville area. It is big and open and very touristy. When it is not Cubs season sometimes they have live music here but most of the time it isn’t anyone I am very interested in. The times I have ended up here I have seen fights and many really belligerent patrons — including throw up residue in the bathrooms.
I suggest you walk further down Clark Street to find a cleaner, more put together crowd.

We had a blast here after a Cubs/​Phillies game on a Saturday afternoon. You go to this place knowing it’s loud, crowded, and hot. The energy level is high and we loved the music. After about 2 hours, the crowd died down and we went upstairs and ate some good fried food (snacks, apps) to refuel.
It takes a while to get a beer when it’s crowded.

I don’t typically go out in Wrigleyville, but came here for NYE to see Kevin Flynn & the Avondale Ramblers, who I’ve seen at a variety of venues around the city. The band was great, but this venue has a few issues:
1) The sound guy is pretty lacking– we stood to the side of the stage, because in front of the speakers it was just loud. The mixing was terrible– the instruments were all way up, and it was difficult to hear the lyrics. This is admittedly true at a lot of venues, but if they’re going to have shows regularly, they should work on this.
2) It’s no re-​entry once you get in. So, pay ~$ 20 to get in for the show, and then you’re stuck. No popping out to take a phone call or to smoke. I don’t smoke, but two people in our group are smokers, and they were pretty agitated 4+ hours in to the evening. Why not do stamps like every other bar in the city?
3) There’s no official coat check, but there are open racks in the back room, and numbers on each hanger. I left my coat there after removing everything from the pockets and did not have any issue. I think there’s actually a much higher risk that someone drunk will get confused and accidentally take your coat than someone stealing. Still, don’t leave your iphone/​wallet in your pocket, people!
One person in our party didn’t trust the system, so she asked the woman in the bathroom to watch her coat, and the woman agreed for a few dollars. She paid, but when she went to get her coat at the end of the night, all the cash (less than $ 10, but still!) had been removed from her pockets.
I’d come here again if a band I really like was playing, but I would prefer it if if were in the summer so I didn’t have to deal with the coat check at all. The beer selection was pretty decent, as they had Lagunitas IPA on tap (most of the crowd was drinking Bud/​Miller/​Coors light, though, if that gives you clue about who hangs out here).

I hope to come back one day and write a better review, but my experience the other day warrants 1 star.
Bears were playing at noon and wanted to get out of the house. It was a cold Sunday afternoon so I wasn’t expecting to rage but there were less than 10 people in the place. The bouncer kept hitting on my friend. Kinda creepy. Server was nice enough though.
We sat at the bar right between the bears game and the broncos. A few minutes later the bartender asked if she could change the broncos game. Um, no. Payton Manning is playing. You watch.
All in all it was a fine way to kill a half before finishing the game at home. However, it was some of the worst food I’ve ever had. Not even worth the $ 5 Sunday apps. I had probably 2 bites of nachos before I couldn’t stomach anymore. Mounds of fake cheese. Unseasoned shredded chicken right out of the crockpot. Flavorless chips from a bag. Everything that nachos shouldn’t be. We should have cooked a frozen pizza from jewel and stayed home.

Stopped in here after a Cubs game because as I was walking by I heard a cover band. When I looked in, I was surprised to see Rod Tuffcurls and The Benchpress playing. I ended up staying until they finished playing and having a few beers.
The place is just ok. It is very open without much character. There are televisions on all the walls if you are there to watch sports. The restrooms are downstairs, and they have attendants.
The Cubby Bear is a fun place to stop in after a game, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there.

It’s nothing special but it’s where you go for drinks before a Cubbies game. The drinks are standard bar drinks. Haven’t ate here so I can’t comment on the food.