Reggies Chicago — Restaurant in Chicago

Okay, where do we get started on this one... I haven't been to Reggie's since a music video release back in 2013 for Qwel and Maker for their hit video Lake Effect. So here I am walking around Chinatown Mall with a dear friend I haven't seen in over 25 years and what do I see across the street? Reggie's! I'm thinking great I know this place! As soon as we walk in the attendant on the first floor where music is playing vibes like he doesn't want to be there or just started this job less than an hour ago and is scared out of his mind. I inquire quick and he says it's $30 to see the two or three bands on the bill so I smile lightly and politely and gently and say with a funny voice, absolutely not LOL he doesn't have a sense of humor or the fact that the first band on the bill is named bloody knife might not be his taste either yet he has to stand here for the rest of the night pretending that it is as more drug and alcohol marinated add tattooed disciples of darkness wander into this dark, dreary, and overall satanic den of an establishment. I tell him that we're just there for a quick drink and he mentions that there is something going on on the second floor but we will find a bar on the third floor. After climbing up a few sets of stairs we realize that there's stand-up comedy going on on the second floor so thumbs up on that one! The attendee there points around the corner and after doing a few laps around those stairs and back to the stand-up venue we realize that there is no third floor to this place and it's not until a group of people approach and pull on something on the wall there in the hallway next to some empty keg dispensers and voila the secret entrance to the third floor alleged bar is revealed. So my good friend from 25 years plus walk in. You can already sense the lost souls marinating in mischievous despair and debauchery as she excuses herself to the ladies room. I proceeded to walk up to the bar and get her a house Cabernet and perhaps a draft for myself. The first person I encounter vibes of a fledgling ghoul in training. He's got an obnoxious juvenile energy to him and no sense of personal space and immediately gets right up in my grill as if he's known me my whole life yet he's got not a kind word to say. It's almost as if my presence has startled him and has awoken him from some catacomb, solitary nest of despair. I quickly point to the TV sports game up on the monitor above the bar and slide off to the right where I see an opening where I can order and just steer clear of this potential problem. This obvious regular continues to hold Court down at his corner of the bar there and I've already had my intuitions confirmed about this place less than 5 minutes ago and the fact that I've never once before in my 57 years found or felt a need to literally walk away from somebody like that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Okay so we've stepped away from Blood Knife on the first floor, and the trickery suggestions of the attendee on the second floor and have found the alleged third floor bar. The Cabernet bottle was only able to yield about a third of a glass and a and younger barkeep mentioned that he would have to go and grab another. I stood there sipping on my draft beer and mentioning and motioning over to my seated friend that it would be a minute where it actually elapsed into about 10 so just like a 10-minute magic trick and it's culmination he appears with the bottle and tops it off with a nice smile. I kind of liked this kid as he was the only fully unaffected soul in this den of iniquity. So it's time for round two and another older bartender we'll call lurch pour a rocks glass only halfway mounting to about a 3rd of a serving of wine. No biggie but round 3 he does it again so I request an actual wine glass where another regular sitting there and eavesdropping calls me a douchebag to my face then follows me to our table saying it over and over. He gave off the vibe of a loner trying to impress some imaginary Friend. I don't fight anymore so I let it slide. he...

We visited here three times for three quite different occasions, and obviously love the place! It has a divey look, but it’s busy and friendly with good food, good drinks, and clean entirely-graffitied restrooms. First, my nephew and I had to kill some time while a school of other relatives went sightseeing. We took the elevator to the deck, and fell in at the bar. As an ex-Chicagoan, i started us out with a Chicago Handshake, a shot of Jeppson’s Malört with a can of Heileman’s Old Style! Malört is like a bitter angry absinthe. Old Style is a dry light flavorful lager. The well-chilled beer reminded me that the liquor hadnt actually killed me, and it randomly came to mind that the 1902 lager and the 1920’s wormwood could be a start to a great afternoon if only … Yes! They have quite a list of oldies! While my nephew had some microbrew that tasted astonishingly like cheesecake, the terrific bartender helped me run the gamut! 1850 Stroh’s! 1849 Schlitz! 1865 Hamm’s! The bartender had to dig in the back of the fridge, and he did us well. The only one that didnt quite measure up was the Stroh’s, which was like a weaker Miller Lite. Three days later, the family was staging another outing, and there was a blues jazz soul band on Reggie’s front patio. We scooped up a table by the gate and had a great view and a great listen as the band played their creative smooth interpretations and inspired solos, as the punk and metal tourists boarded Reggie’s buses to a music festival. They frequently run buses to local events! Very cool. The band even played a brief non-trite phrasing of a happy birthday melody for my nephew! A perfect day! While we enjoyed creative burgers, sandwiches, nuggets, and salads, I continued my tour with 1840 Pabst Blue Ribbon, 1884 Lone Star, and 1903 Miller High Life! Don’t frown at my PBR, they brew very close to their original recipe. I had a great time on my old-time beer tour! Two days later, we were out of relatives, but out of our hotel too early. And guess who opens at 11am on a Monday? So my wife and I pulled into a dimly lit table at the open garage-door front of the place. I finished my visit with a 1909 Shiner Bock, and then we caught a ride-share out front to Midway Airport. From now on, Reggie’s is my South Loop...

Great venue with some character. Everyone on the staff that we interacted with was awesome, friendly and clearly cared about providing great service. I had the mainstage burger with fries. It was served hot, fresh and cooked exactly how I ordered it. It tasted delicious too! This was in the music joint/bar area. There is a small stage there where I have enjoyed a couple great shows in the past and a bass guitar clinic this time. Headed to the rooftop to hang out in the open air, listening to some heavy music playing through the speakers, people watching, enjoying a few drinks and the passing El Trains. There's a pool table, bar with more great food and a basketball shooting area. Then we headed back down to the street to go next door to the rock joint to watch the concert we came to see, the band Living Colour. Great sound, easy views of the stage. There's a balcony area with some seating as well. I really dig all of the band and other random stickers that are all over almost every available surface in the joint and the rock club, especially the bathrooms. Very rock n' roll! Along with the great food offerings, there is a pretty extensive drink & beer menu...I believe there were 5 pages in the menu to choose from. I will definitely be back again to see another show, eat a meal, drink some drinks, soak up the atmosphere and have a memorable time....