BIG Bar — Restaurant in Chicago

Let me start by saying that I am not usually one to leave a bad review. I am very understanding and nonchalant when it comes to bad experiences, but I just could not let this one go unnoticed.

Having lived in the area for several years and visiting dozens of bars and restaurants, I can tell you that this is one of the WORST bars you can spend your money at.

Here’s how it went: My girlfriend and I came here on a weeknight to celebrate my birthday with a BIG after-dinner drink, as advertised on the website, name, and reviews of this bar. We had seen the name, website, and dozens of reviews with monstrous cocktails in martini glasses and always wanted to give it a try.

The waitress took our credit card and came back ten minutes later with two… 8oz margaritas. We were informed that the drinks are now all a standard size, despite what was stated on the menu. Neither of us could even taste a drop of alcohol in the drinks and politely asked the waitress if there was any chance we could send them back. She informed us that they would be happy to sell us another shot to put in the drinks, but after spending nearly $30 for two drinks, that was not our intent. She called the manager over, who explained that the drinks had exactly 1.2oz (which is even less than a standard drink) and that no refund would be possible. They offered to bring out a single shot for my birthday, but we had already had it at this point and decided to leave.

As a hotel bar, I completely understand that drinks are typically pricey and cater to visitors who are unfamiliar with the area and places to go for a drink. If you are looking for a better place with cheaper drinks, better service, and more atmosphere, there are dozens of options in the area.

Just to name a few: Sweetwater, Tavern at the Park, Howells and Hood, Terrace at Trump, Timothy O'Toole's, Blue Frog 22, El Hefe, and many more…

Please do not waste your time or money at a place that falsely advertises their BIG drinks and only delivers...

Disappointing Service at Big Bar – New Year’s Day

My family and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chicago to celebrate New Year's and were excited to enjoy the evening at the Big Bar after watching the fireworks. Unfortunately, the service we received—or lack thereof—was unacceptable and far below the standards we expect from a Hyatt property.

We sat at a table next to the stairs overlooking the ground level and waited over 30 minutes without being greeted or served. When I finally flagged down the server, Elfega, she brushed me off, only to later realize she was assigned to our table. Even after asking her directly, she ignored us for most of the evening while serving the table behind us multiple times.

When she eventually came over—after another 15 minutes—her tone was dismissive, and she told us to "hurry up" because they were closing, only to inform us the kitchen was already closed. This was after nearly 45 minutes of waiting. We expected slower service due to New Year’s Eve, but no service at all, paired with her rude attitude, was entirely unacceptable.

I escalated the issue to the manager, Zachary Kems, who also seemed dismissive and offered no real resolution. Despite saying he would address the matter, he never followed up or returned to our table. It was only when the security guard intervened that the head chef came out and tried to assist, but by that time, the experience was ruined.

This was not the hospitality or experience we anticipated, and it was especially disappointing since we had friends who traveled from St. Louis to join us. We’ve stayed at this property multiple times and have always had great service, but this incident left a terrible impression.

I hope Hyatt will take this feedback seriously and address the poor service and lack of accountability at the Big Bar. No guest should feel ignored, rushed, or disrespected, regardless of the occasion or how...

This bar is located inside the Hyatt Regency Chicago where I was staying on a trip to Chicago. I decided to have a drink there one evening kill time after exploring the Navy Pier and taking a River Boat tour.

The bar is neat and clean but nothing to go out of your way to see. Half of the bar was blocked off for a dentist conference that night. I got to the bar before my group and didn’t realize I was sitting in the reserved area at first. Once a very nice dentist started speaking to me about the finer nuances of the Mesial, Distal and Buccal edges of a tooth, I realized my error. I thanked the kind dentist for the interesting information and excused myself as I saw my party entering the bar.

When I made my way to the other side of the barrier and to the table where my party was seated, it did take a minute before the waiter made it to our table. It was quite busy that evening, so I was understanding of the situation.

I ordered an Anti Hero IPA, which is a beer brewed by a local brewery called Revolution Brewing. The beer itself was hoppy and crisp. Quite bitter with hints of citrus and sweet caramel/butterscotch taste. I thought the beer was great and I ordered another one. In the end, we sat there for about an hour and enjoyed a few drinks.

This is not a bad spot to sit and chill, especially if you’re staying in the hotel. Otherwise, it’s not a bar you need to go out of your way to visit. I’m giving the bar a four star review based on the beer, which was...