smartbar — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I often do not write negative reviews, but I think something needs to be seriously addressed here because this has happened on more than one occasion either to me or someone I know.

The staff at Smartbar are extremely unfriendly, aggressive, and sometimes flat-out rude. This is mostly exclusive to the security/venue management staff, rather than the bartenders, who have always been cordial and friendly in my experience.

I've gone to plenty of bars and venues, but this place is Big Brother about it. Bathroom? Someone is standing there watching your every move. Hallway? Someone is going to ask you why you're standing around. Have a question? They will side eye or become frustrated you're "bothering" what they are doing. For example, I was one night I was here, I left the dance floor to go into the hallway to stand. I suffer from vertigo, so I needed a break from the movement, so I backed up against the wall and closed my eyes. Not even seconds after I close my eyes to recalibrate, the staff started yelling at me and accusing me of being too intoxicated. When I explained my medical condition, they made me talk to EMS. Because I needed fresh air and a break? What a disastrous way to care for people and show humanity.

Finally, and this is a smaller point, but they trap you into paying cash. Nowhere on my ticket did it explain the establishment was cash only (at least for the bars that were open that night). So they force you to use their private ATMs, which by the way, they make money on for every swipe, to visit the bar. I get why some establishments handle cash, but we live in times where it's not the primary form of payment and it really should be disclosed in advance (which they do not do) on the ticket.

I am writing this review in hopes that the management will want to make positive changes. See the other reviews, and knowing about the experiences of some of my friends, I know this is not unique to me. I would be happy to update the review when I see positive change, but for now, patrons beware. It's not always bad, but when it's bad...

This was the worst night of my life. I had gone to see the Wallows perform there. The Metro is much to small for the crowd that was brought in. There was probably 1000+ people in a 300 person max venue. I was pushed, grabbed, had my hair pulled, alcohol spilled on me, etc. I passed out, my friends were sobbing and having panic attacks. The people around me were in pain and suffering from heat exhaustion. An extremely intoxicated adult kept pushing my friends and I to try and get to the front (we were at around the second row from the stage), and I told him to stop, politely and professionally. He "apologized" and to make up for it, he ask to buy us drinks. We are all 16 and I told him we are underage. He then started yelling at us, blaming US for going to the Metro in the first place because it's only "18+" when this was an all ages show. I had to get security multiple times and he was eventually taken out. When the Wallows came on, everyone was so packed together, nobody was allowed any movement, and everyone who wasn't part of the pushing and harassment issue were in immense pain. I love the Wallows, the people around me love the Wallows, my friends love them. However, around half way into the show, we were forced to push our way past to leave the venue. It's now a day after and I'm extremely sick, my body is more exhausted than it has been, and I'm generally miserable. I can't believe that I wasn't able to enjoy my time because of rowdy, drunk, full grown ADULTS, over crowding, and just straight up abuse. We payed 120$ for these tickets, just to have to leave part way through. Extremely disappointed in everyone involved for not acting on what monstrosities occurred during the show. The Metro employees need to recognize these issues. This was not an underground punk rock show. My friends and I, young teenagers had a chance of a lifetime stripped from any chance of being remembered...

Overall I had a great time at Smartbar/Metro. they had a $25 cover charge on a Saturday night which I found to be a bit over average for Chicago. Then I learned that they had a coat check, which was a few dollars, so i decided to bring my jacket in with me and stashed it. Their doorperson was neither friendly nor rude. They were busy and it was my first visit. The sound system was good and the DJ's were very good. The drink prices were average,(for Chicago), $12 for mixers, however, when I ordered a water, the bartender was very friendly and he didn't charge me for it, (I had previously asked another bartender the price for bottled water and found it was $7), and they did have water fountains as well. The crowd was friendly and I never felt unsafe or any bad vibes from anyone. It was a good mixed crowd of ages and ethnicities. Metro was a large ballroom with techno and Smartbar was a separate basement space with a closer, (packed) crowd, a very good sound system and solid house Dj's. Even though it was packed wall to wall, I never felt crushed, although it was very hot, and the crowd once again felt safe. Once bar-time was upon us, the staff moved us outward without being rude or pushy. I realized that I had left my beloved down jacket upstairs in the Metro ballroom and I made my way up to the entry-level where I found that the access to the ballroom was closed. I had a moment of panic as I realized that my jacket was most likely gone forever! Then to my great relief, I saw that the staff had, (thankfully), brought peoples garments to the bottom of the stairs, so I didn't freeze to death on my walk! Thank you Smartbar/Metro staff for bringing my jacket down and for the great night! I...