Howl at the Moon Chicago — Restaurant in Chicago

So....First time my family and I have ever been here. I was celebrating my Birthday and my experience wasn't the best. I reserved 4 tables that I paid $60 each. I also signed up for the free Happy Hour and was advised via email 1 Complimentary table will be included.

When arrived we had tables sitting right in front of the stage. All tables and chairs were extremely close to one another. So close where it was uncomfortable to sit. We attempted to push some of the tables over to allow room and was advised we couldn't move the tables.

We asked one of the Managers (Katie) if we can go up where the seating appeared to be more spacious and comfortable for me and my guest. She said absolutely if that was better for us we can move.

Once we moved another Manager (I believe the name was Derrick) come up to me and tell me that at least 3 people of a 4 table chair have to be sitting there. Ok fine didn't give us a chance to get properly seated as we are all trying to get settled. Then said well you have your 4 tables reserved. Basically I couldn't have 4 reserved and have some people sitting off to the side. I advised him it was actually 5 tables with the complimentary Happy Hour. He told me that I didn't get a Complimentary table for Happy Hour. I advised him it was in the email that was sent to me. He said well he need to look at this email and it need to be changed because that's not how it suppose to be. Im like Ok Im just informing you of what was sent to me. Then another manager walks up to me and says it has to be at least 3 people at a table. I informed him I had just spoken to a Manager about this. He said well im a manager also just making sure he told you. He was very Rude. Just a bad experience for a first time and not to mention all my guests hadn't arrived as of yet. As it stated in email at least so many in the party had to be there at the time of check in. I really didn't feel we were wanted in this establishment and the other Managers besides Katie came off to me a new customer extremely rude. Just not good and it was every person there 1st time being there.

I will like to speak to someone besides the other Managers I spoke with regarding this. It was my Birthday and I thought about it and it really upset me because that was...

This place is a TOTAL SCAM and what they are doing is illegal. They definitely deserve to get sued for false advertising. They posted on their Instagram about a 90s themed party being hosted Sunday May 28th. After checking their WEBSITE for the Chicago location, it mentions free admission if you dress up in 90s attire, they will play 90s music all night, and they have certain drink specials going. Their website also lists "buckets" of multiple flavors as a regular drink menu item.

Once me and my friends arrived to the party, the bouncer told us we had to pay a $10 cover per person. Once we pointed out that our 90s attire should grant us free entry, he replied that there is no 90s party happening right now and it probably already happened a couple of days ago. Still we went inside to where a different man was handling the cover fee. He confirmed that there IS in fact a 90s party happening currently but they are charging the cover fee. We paid the cover anyway because we figured it'd still be a good night because of the hope of good music and drinks.

There was no 90s music playing. Instead it was a live band with a female vocalist covering all the latest pop songs. We head over to the bar to ask for the menu with the buckets and the blonde woman bartender said they don't have them anymore and it was just a specialty item during the holidays. They had small card stock flyers laid on tables with the aforementioned 90s drink specials but even the bartender wasn't aware of those.

Howl at the Moon doesn't provide a single thing they advertise. It's all fraudulent. You would think being a big chain with multiple locations, they would have some integrity. Instead the vibes is that of a college frat bar. They are clearly paying their social media manager the big bucks because you really get duped into believing it'll be a...

Got turned away for wearing gym shorts when I wasn't even wearing gym shorts. Also happened to be the only minority in my group. Had paid for fast entrance and they refused a refund. Bouncers on a power trip I guess.

Edit: I've lived in Chicago for over a decade and haven't experienced any blatant racism in awhile so it was tough for me to process the situation when it happened. As I reflected on it more and read some of the reviews it occurred to me that I'm not the only person who has felt a similar way at this establishment.

Here is a small sampling of anecdotes similar to mine, I'll let you be the judge of whether you want to support a place like this in one of the most diverse cities in the US:

"Ridiculous experience, bouncers barely tried to hide their thinly veiled racism when they singled out our friend and immediately threatened violence when we started asking questions."

"A classic Hubbard Street tale of making up pretty obvious excuses to not let minorities in. Our black friend wasn't let in because he was "wearing sweatpants", something none of us had noticed until then and nobody is going to care about in a crowded and dark bar."

"I went here and the crowd was very racist, I was standing by the stage and a white man told me he was going to kick me in my face!"

"Honestly, it was fun at first. However, things changed when I was asked to leave directly after dancing with a guy of a different race."

"Bouncers working made my friends and I...