Wild Pug

I wanted to like this place but just couldn’t.
My boyfriend and I went there for the $ 3 green line deal on a tuesday night and asked the bartender if he could turn one of the tvs to the white sox game. He seemed very hesitant and eventually said he would see what he could do but then just ignored our request. I get that it’s a gay bar but does that mean that sports are forbidden? that really annoyed me so we finished our drinks and checked out next door (Crew) which was exactly what we were looking for.

The management IS THE BEST to work with if you are planning an event.
My band Had their first show here!
I will always recommend to others!!!
Great drinks/​specials
Great waitstaff and tech staff!
THE EVENTS HERE ROCK!

I’m going to say right off the bat, I am not a fan of Uptown. At all. Every time I go there horrible things happen. Except this time. And the time I went to Siam Noodles and Rice, but that’s another story.
My friends band was doing their farewell show at this bar, so I went to show my support. It was $ 6 cosmo night, so I figured what the hell. LETS DO IT. I’m not usually a cosmo drinker… but cheap drinks are cheap drinks.
HOLY HELL DID THEY PUT STRAIGHT HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IN THAT DRINK OR WHAT.
So sweet :(I regretted my choice pretty much immediately. Alcohol is alcohol though. Afterward I got a grapefruit juice and vodka to cleanse my palate (which was fine).
They did help my friends set up/​put on a great show though, so serious kudos for that. It’s a fun little bar, and I would definitely come back.

I will always have a spot in my heart for this place…
This place rocks! The drinks are great, the prices fair, and the wait staff is super nice and attentive. The management is SUPER easy to work with if you are planning an event… I would recommend these guys 110%
Check ‘em out!

If you are an ambiance person, then you will like Wild Pug. I usually am not… and given that fact, I can honestly say this place is very posh in every sense of the word. By that, I mean, not overly done, but very nice and comfortable (although I must say they need to turn their air down… wow was it freezing in there).
Located in one of the up and coming areas in Uptown, the Wild Pug is a nice place to hang with a group of friends, mainly because of its ambiance, but also because it is very spacious. And if you like people watching… this is a good spot to do so as well… those big windows in the front are open (weather permitting) for you to peruse those who stroll up and down Broadway… and trust me… there are some SERIOUS characters at night in that area at times.
The drinks… the normal full bar; although my friend boasted about their martinis. Personally, I think they are a bit overpriced… but then again, just like certain places in the city, you are paying for ambiance.
Oh…and they have a dart board too for those dart aficionados.
Nonetheless, we had a good time!

I have only been here during off-​hours for a drink, so I cannot comment on what it like on a Friday/​Saturday night.
Wanting mimosas within walking distance one afternoon, we stopped in here.
The bartender was very friendly and quickly set us up with our drinks and complimentary snacks.
The other patrons seemed nice, and to be having a beach-​themed good times.
The layout of the bar was nice and spacious, and it looks like a good time could be had.
The prices though, were a little off-​putting.
I would come back, and now that I know I’ll be spending 8 – 9 a drink, I’ll bring some extra cash.

While my original destination was the Fat Cat a few doors up the street– it was so packed and since all I wanted to do was sit, have a drink and catch up with a friend, the Wild Pug got our vote.
Yeah– it’s a gay bar. So what? Some of the best bars are. And the Wild Pug delivered exactly what I wanted. We sat at a high top at the open windows watching the people go by on Broadway. It was the perfect night out (weather wise) and because there was an event at The Riv– people were out in droves.
Our drinks were perfectly poured. Gotta love a place that can make that perfect martini! And our server was friendly and engaging (although that may have been directed more at my male friend than me!)
It was open mike night in the back room so we pretty much had the whole bar to ourselves save for the bartender which lent a cool, laid back vibe to the place. Even the music was subdued as it was just a faint hum in the background.
Street parking can be tricky around here (depends on what is going on at the Arragon and the Riv) but you can usually find a spot on the side streets located just east of Broadway.
Glad we checked it out. While I like Fat Cat and the Green Mill is always a favorite– it’s good to know there’s another place where I can grab a drink with friends in this «neck of the woods».

Some new friends I made this past weekend at Dog Day Saturday at Wild Pug:
— Coconut: A yellow dog who loved me as long as I was petting him
— Griffin: A black pug who, come to think of it, didn’t like me all that much
— 2 weenie dogs
— A small grey and white pocket-​dog (I was tempted to scoop him up, put him in my pocket, and flee!)
I love dogs — especially those who come to bars accompanied by friendly humans who want to share them with poor, dog-​less me.
I was here on an epic pub crawl — we packed the place for our 30 minute stay. We had a deal worked out — cheapy pitchers of Miller Lite (or was it Bud Lite? Eh, interchangeable). On top of this, the bartender poured all 30+ of us shots — for free! I’m not sure what they were, but I appreciated their purple-​girly-​goodness (I’m not so good with peer pressure and am glad I didn’t have to shoot some horrid, whisky-​man-​shot).
The bar itself was well set up — cozy couches in the front, bar stools along the bar, and a boothy-​seat near the back. There was also snack mix on the bar (yay, Gardettos!).
Once our pre-​arranged 30-​minute stay was up, we were off to the next bar, but I could have stayed at Wild Pug much longer. Coconut agrees.

Happy to say that on our return visit, they seem to have gotten rid of the Schaumburg vibe and it now seems like a real bar in a real city… the bartenders were very nice, the staff was a plus last time as well…
We live in the neighborhood and will return for sure from now on!

While the drinks were decent (if not on the expensive side, at least more than I thought), the atmosphere just didn’t click too well with me. I felt like i was in a boxy, thinly decorated space that somehow felt cheap to me, not the least supported by the terrible Wilde picture over the fireplace. Maybe I just felt out of place since there was obviously some going away party going on and it took a while to get anyone’s attention. Will try it again but won’t be running back.

The first time I visited Wild Pug it was a Saturday night, I walked in with two people noticed that every single man in the joint was undressing us (some were practically tearing our clothes off… little scary) with their eyes and we walked back out. The place reminded me of Berlin and I felt I was going to get a roofie in my drink or something, plus it was packed and I couldn’t even see the bar.
The second time I was a little hesitant but for Unilocal Gay Night II I didn’t have a choice it was all gay or nothing… Surprisingly the place is so much better during the week, smaller crowd and the bartenders were really nice guys. Plus I could actually see the place, pool table in the back (if you like playing with sticks and balls), a couch in front of a fireplace (you know for those intimate moments of stubble on stubble), and a great VJ who played 80’s music to a montage of videos and video spoofs. We all really enjoyed ourselves and I’m sure we will go back for more.

I have been to the Pug twice now that they have opened. The first time we wandered in after an afternoon watching basketball at Crew and the second was this past weekend for a volleyball party.
The clean up of the space went very well. It is laid out with seats at the bar and some couches, chairs and some tables by the fireplace. There are dart boards in the front area and a pool table in back. The bathrooms are larger than Crew and were very clean.
We typically don’t do the late night scene on the weekends so for my two visits I had varying levels of service. The first was a lazy Sunday afternoon the bartender was attentive and nice, the VJ was fun and took requests. On a Friday night the DJ was fun, the bartender not so attentive (even though I was tipping well on free drinks and bought drinks after the free ones ended). To be honest had the volleyball people not been there the place would have been basically empty but it was still early around 10:00
Just depends on what you are looking for Wild Pug is a nice space and I am sure we will be back. Huge + for both Pug and Crew is that cabs line up outside to take you home or to the next destination.

I come here to celebrate a fellow Unilocaler’s birthday with a promise to turn myself into a gay person. At least for that night.
Well that didn’t happen. Turns out I like front holes way too much to even think about backdoor.
It was a Wednesday night so place wasn’t packed, light were dim. There is a video DJ who must be on mushrooms because you just don’t know what song will be played next on the system. A total +.
They also have digital dart machines. Whatever that is.
Whole staff is very friendly and offer complete attention.
It’s a perfect for a small to medium size group to party but I believe they target to mostly gay crowd.
Bathrooms are very clean.
Parking can be little problem on weekends but it’s not even 2 blocks from Red Line station.
Would I bring my date to this place? Yes.
Would I suggest this place for a party? Yes.
Would I hangout here with my boys? No. Green Mill is right next door.

Drink Yourself Gayer at Wild Pug.
This was the idea. I don’t actually think I was any gayer then when I arrived, but I can say I was still quite gay when I left.
Other reviews talk about an identity crisis. I thought it was a «modern pub» — comfy cozy mixed with technology. Cool idea right? Worked for me. And I’m pretty picky.
Not only is there music, but also videos playing on flat screen TV’s all around the bar. And super comfy leather davenports and ottomans to sit on. Granted it was a Wednesday night — so probably not as packed as usual. And the davenport near the fireplace had been taken over by a very amorous couple, who canoodled the night away.
I did have to shout to make myself clear, and lean in to hear what other people were saying. But they do have Bass on tap — which I super liked.
It was also nice to have a bar like this near my flat. It was literally a $ 3.50 cab ride home.
The bartenders were really great, and I’m even going to give props to the super cute, and funny bar back (who apologized that he couldn’t serve), but made sure that the bartenders knew when we needed a drink.
This was a great place for a birthday party.
I will totally go back again!

After reading several reviews about the «identity crisis» at Wild Pug, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I came here. However, I showed up on a Wednesday evening for the «drink yourself gayer» Unilocal gathering. It was probably the company, but I had myself a gay ol’ time at Wild Pug. The space is really great: completely open and not cramped. There are 2 dart boards, a pool table in the backroon, and a nice lounge area next to the fireplace.
It was a Wednesday night, so I’m not sure how representative this is of their clientele, but it was a great range of people. Some older, some younger, some right in the middle. I hope this holds true on the weekends, because that would make for a great atmosphere!
I can see how all these different types of elements can cause people to be perplexed at what Wild Pug is. Is it a lounge? a bar? a club? a sports bar? It is none of those things. It just is. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to just relax, and enjoy the nice mix of music playing on the screens.
Definitely coming back.

I was hesitant to choose Wild Pug as the location for the most recent Unilocal Chicago Gay Night. Reviews were definitely mixed, with some calling it a friendly lounge, m and others complaining about the space, attitude, and noise. But what the hell, I figured, how bad can a Wednesday night be?
I’m very happy with my selection.
Wild Pug is a great place to hang out with some friends. The main room is pretty wide open, and I could see how it could get congested on a weekend night. But there are a handful of tables up front by the window, and a cozy banquette with a couple of tables on the wall opposite the bar, so there are plenty of places to congregate. The front room is kind of cavernous, so I can see how people might feel «unmoored» if they weren’t able to claim some prime real estate. But on a week night, that doesn’t seem to be a problem.
The back room is fairly ill-​defined. There’s a pool table back there, but not much else. Is it a dance floor? Do people dance around the pool table? Hell do I know. And it was indeed loud back there. But up front, not so much.
The staff was great. The bartender was quick and friendly, and the VJ played a fun collection of 80s videos (baby Bono) and comedy clips. «Moulin Huge,» anyone?
Some folks may be looking for more in a bar than I am. But for me, strong cocktails, friendly staff, and a place to sit are all I ask for. A comfy sofa and a working fireplace are a plus. Wild Pug served all of those up.

I really wanted to like this place, because I love Uptown and the people who work at Crew (they’re next door and owned by the same people), but I was just very unimpressed. I went for a special night where they were giving away a free trip to Europe (sidenote: I was enraged because the winner of the trip wasn’t even excited) but I got there way early to check the place out in a more normal setting.
The average age was maybe 38 and seemed kinda pretentious and haughty, but that didn’t really bother me. The prices and the lack of seating is what really irked me. I paid something like $ 11 for a really weak cosmo, which I only got because they «didn’t have» martinis (?!) and I wanted something strong to sip on. As for the space, there is all this open space where people were just awkwardly standing around. There is very little décor, and what they do have is kinda strange… it’s supposed to be Oscar Wilde themed, but it just looked like they put up a bunch of old pictures of England. I suppose if it were cheaper and more inviting, I’d like it more, but with Crew right next door, I don’t know why I’d ever go back here.

This a new gay bar in Uptown, smack next to the other new gay bar in Uptown, Crew. I love Pugs and gay bars, so let’s give this a try!
Went here after the Pretenders concert. Excellent way to lose the homophobic dingleberry that had been trailing me and my friend — duck in here!
I have an unabashed straight girls’ love for gay men. Unlike straight men, they know when to leave chicks alone. Two women walk in, and start chattering. When I go somewhere with a friend, I want to spend time with THEM not some random, namedropping dufus, get it? Although once we get caught up on each other’s dish (and HOT dish it was, let me tell you — or wait, I’m not going to tell you. .. do I KNOW you?!) sure, we’ll chat and flirt with some of our gay brethren, of course!
Sweet, CUTE bartender let us sample the beers before we tried them. Chatted us up and had an adorable, captivating smile. Fantastic DJ played lots of Pretenders videos — hey, that’s what we wanted to see more of, right? Bueno. Well designed bar, very modern and chic. Spotless bathrooms. Gorgeous, shiny bar kept very clean all night. Stylish patrons with blinding white teeth and soignee outfits.
Specific patrons — to the tattooed love boy gay man with stars all over his arm: I didn’t get your name, despite my friend and I chatting and dancing with you all night. You are NASTY FIERCE!!! We. Heart. You.
This place is great. The Pug is full of love.

I’m a little surprised to see so many negative reviews for this place. I recently visited here on a Sunday afternoon and found it quaint and enjoyable. I think with any new bar, it takes a bit of time to settle and find their niche.
Here are the reasons I think we should back off a bit and see what happens:
1) The design of the bar is unique and cozy.
2) It’s a welcome addition to the now buzzing Lawrence and Broadway intersection in Uptown. As someone who lives in Uptown, I love the fact that this area now offers such diverse nightlife. It’s a great area to hop from bar to bar and enjoy a different crowd and environment at each place.
3) There is a fireplace.
4) It’s another gay bar option that allows me to avoid Boystown for that much longer.
5) Everyone from the bartender to the DJ were extremely friendly during my visit.
Come on Chicago, let’s give Pug a chance.

The bar was open this past Saturday for it’s «soft opening.» Overall it’s a pretty cool space with warm but moden wood and stone accents. Something about the room felt a little sparse or unfinished. Perhaps things were moved around to accomodate a larger-​than-​usual crowd or maybe there is still work to be done before a final opening.
Bartenders we slow, but again understandable considering that it’s new.
Crowd was a good mix of neighborhood types, straight and gay alike.
I’ll be back again in a few weeks; I’m sure it will become a great regular place to hang in the area.