Woodlawn Tap

Take your books, grab your high lighters and grab a beer on tap and get your work done. This is a dive bar, but it is also a great place to have a conversation or be left alone with your thoughts. Nestled near the University of Chicago and a short walk to Harper Court this is a great place to walk to and have a cheap meal and some good drinks.

Up until two years ago, I lived in Hyde Park for 12 years and this hole in the wall was our favorite bar. Yeah, you have the bowling alley up the street and The Cove further east near the lakefront on 55^th and a couple of other bars. But, Woodlawn Tap, with its cheap drinks and laid back atmosphere has us coming back ever so often. We just like the vibe of the Tap.
If you want a bright bar, with fabulous decorations, fancy tables and chairs, this isn’t the place for you.
On Sunday evenings, they have a live jazz performance.

«Jimmy’s» is the quintessential dive bar. Need to dig that kinda vibe to enjoy it. Also great ham sandwiches and fries.

Are you looking for a friendly, well-​lit, trendy bar with cool cocktails, good craft beer, gastropub-​esque food, and chipper service? Go somewhere else — this is not Jimmy’s.
Jimmy’s is a little overpriced for OK beer (I always get a pitcher of Leinenkugel Red) and it is dark and dingy. They serve the french fries without salt so you have to add it. The grilled cheese and the burgers are exactly what your drunk, overworked, UChicago-​stressed self needs. There’s wifi that you can steal from the Starbucks next door, so you can sit here during the day and do schoolwork. If you do this enough, the bartenders will remember your name and you will feel a sense of happiness every time you enter this bar and the bartender knows what you want. If someone steals your ID and tries to get in the door, the bartender will say «You’re not this person — I know this person.»
No, it’s not fancy. No, it’s not trendy or pretty. No, I’m not even sure how clean it is. But yes, it’s the place you’ll go every weekend with your friends to hang out, drink pitchers of beer, get served by bartenders who know you, and to feel at home and happy. God, I love Jimmy’s.

It’s an okay bar that plays its role well. A handful of okay beers on tap, cash-​only (weh), TVs usually on a sports game and plenty of room to hang out with friends. This has usually been an ‘end-​of-​the-​night’ type of place for me so far. It won’t blow you away about anything, but it’s a good neighborhood haunt and the staff are always friendly.

Just fell in love with this place for its simplicity and its large beer collection. Cash only! Tip well.

For what it is, it’s an okay bar. I’m sure they are still in business due to the discernable lack of any bars or pubs in the Hyde park area.
Beer selection is okay. They have Newcastle on draft, so that’s a plus in my book. My advice to anyone who comes in… make sure you eat somewhere else first. The burgers taste like they are microwaved and served on Styrofoam plates. Like a picnic at grandma’s house back in 1984. It’s unfortunate because many «dive bars» are turning into amazing gastropubs. You just need a convection oven and an imagination.
Also…it’s cash only. Which I kind of get; the fees being crazy high. But for all that is good and holy, it’s 2015 and I particularly don’t want to carry cash in Hyde park after dark. They do have an ATM on site… yes, there are fees.

A standard bar with decently priced drinks. The crowd is a bit louder during the day and younger during the night. Typical bar good morning extraordinary. The customer is fast and friendly. The interiors are rustic and cow boy themed. Good place to hang out with friends for some drinks in Hyde Park.

Everything you need in a neighborhood bar. Cheap high lifes, cheap dogs, Bulls were on and there were friendly people everywhere.

Asked for two beers and a vodka soda, got served two beers and a soda. Had to pay for another vodka that should’ve been in there to begin with. Both bartenders were rude and put our money for the drinks in the tip jar and not the cash register.

I’ve been going here for years, yes when we called it Woodlawn Tap. I go mainly for a quick delicious cornbeef on rye & fries. Yes, the music is questionable at times but stop whining and play something different or offer a win-​win solution! It’s a great neighborhood go to place.

A staple for any UChicago student. A poorly lit bar with three separate rooms for you to find a table at. Stays open until 2AM. Beer and mixed drinks are pretty cheap (~4−5 bucks for a pint or well drink). Keep in mind that it is cash only.

Nice dive college type bar. If you’re looking for something cheaper than this is the place. Cheap $ 7 pitchers, and tasty swiss burgers and grilled swiss cheeses.
You can get a pint, swiss burger, and fries all for about $ 10

The Woodlawn Tap, or Jimmy’s, is fine. The drinks are cheapish, there isn’t great selection, and the atmosphere is kind of dark and uninspired feeling. Most of the patrons are from the University of Chicago nearby, which can be good or bad.
There are three other bars in Hyde Park, and honestly I don’t personally feel like Jimmy’s fills a niche that the others don’t already have covered. It’s got a bit of neighborhood lore, but eh, this is Hyde Park, what place doesn’t. If anything this is the place you should go with a slightly smaller group, if you aren’t affiliated with UofC (if you are just go to the Pub). I guess it serves food — so if you don’t want to bring your own, there’s a plus.

Pretty cool dive bar. Food doesn’t really strike me as anything I would enjoy but their liquor selection and prices are great. Perfect spot for drinks and conversation, not too loud, practical layout, and good location. I will be back.

I like Jimmy’s alright, because the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is nice. But honestly, I will always opt for The Pub in Ida. It’s a little more homey, although more expensive.

Friendly, good beer, lots of space, all dark wood, sits up a little higher than street level. Prices are solid. Place is clean. Food is pedantic.
Good place to hangout, but eat somewhere else.

Woodlawn Tap is a great «no frills» dive bar. Our family of 4 stopped by for lunch and it was pretty empty, but the setup is nice and spacious.
The décor is simple and «worn», but I think that’s the look they’re going for. The staff was really friendly and accommodating for our 2 little boys. They ordered sprites and the bartender added a splash of grenadine and cherries which they loved.
The food was decent… typical bar food. One large order if french fries was more than enough for our family. I wasn’t too thrilled with the cheeseburger, because it’s pretty small and the beef isn’t high quality, BUT Woodlawn isn’t trying to be a «gourmet» burger joint either, so I can’t complain. My husband had a tuna melt and he said that it was very good. Our boys had grilled cheeses, which looked good and they gobbled them up. The prices are fantastic, so I can see why U of C students would frequent this place.

And then, it came to pass that the Woodlawn made my Reuben sandwich list.
What a sandwich, for only $ 4.50! Super value! A good size, plenty of corned beef. The ratio of sauerkraut to beef is excellent. Could have had a touch more dressing, but that’s a fine point — I like Reubens moist and SOUR. Buttery rye bread, and served very hot. Perfectly paired with a cold Schlitz. Delicious.
I pop in here about every two weeks before radio. The remodel was a big success — it’s much brighter and open, without losing the appealing urban grit. Same friendly bartenders. Same chill, academic vibe.

Jimmy’s is forever the place to be in Hyde Park and it has a great and cheap selection of alcohol. It takes cash only but they have some great eats too to go with those drinks. You can get a burger for $ 3 and a large plate of fries for $ 4.5.
It is all U. Chicago students and it holds a special place in all of our hearts. A great dive bar and worth a visit. They even have lunch specials during the day!