The Green Mill — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I enjoyed the music and the vibe, the patrons all seemed to be having a great time. I felt comfortable to dance even though I didn’t know what I was doing. HOWEVER, and it’s a big however, the bartender was a complete jerk. It was a shorter woman with very short cut hair in a side part. She came up to me at the bar and I asked for 2 Chicago Handshakes. She raised her eyebrows and gave a “yikes” kind of look and then walked away without saying anything. Look, I’d never drink a Chicago handshake without some sort of motivation. My friends and I are doing a summer checklist and that’s an item on it I’d yet to complete. She came back a few seconds later and said “just tell me what shitty beer and shitty shot you want. A Schlitz is better.” Heres the thing, she’s right, but that’s not what I asked for. I told her no I’m doing a thing with my friends and I need a Chicago handshake and she said “well then what do you want?” Old Style and a shot of Malort??? Do we not all know this? I am CERTAIN she knew this because A) she lives here and B) she remarked moments ago about how “shitty” it was. So I told her what I wanted and we moved on. I spent the rest of the night feeling embarrassed and judged and it wasn’t until my friends pulled me out of it that I no longer felt like I wanted to just leave. Ya know, I would have much preferred a Schlitz over an Old Style, but I didn’t ask for a Schlitz. And for a staff that is constantly acting like they’re so busy and rushed and being pulled around, why are we wasting time judging patrons for their orders and trying to get them to drink something else based on subjective opinions.

Furthermore, I’ve worked as a tipped employee since I was 16 years old. I know I know every reviewer is always someone who “works in the industry too.” But for real, I work a themed restaurant where the point is that the staff is rude to the customers, I would NEVER shame someone to their face and in front of other patrons for not tipping. Tipping average is constantly on the decline. It’s already made it down to 15% in the US. Not fun for tipped employees like myself and I’m assuming the Greenmill bar staff. But THIS attitude of “you didn’t tip me and I’m going to make sure everyone around you knows and hears about it” is EXACTLY what is causing resentment around tip culture. These bartenders are the problem.

I have no interest in returning to...

I usually don't write reviews but had to share my experience. I arranged to meet my friends here at the Green Mill because we all like Jazz. I was the first of my friends to get there and as soon as I walked in, there were no seats, so I had to stand. The waitress tapped me on the shoulder and said " yeah you might not want to stand right here this is my walk way" in a very rude manner, I understood and tried to continue to look for seats. I finally found an empty seat and asked the couple next to me if it was taken. They both said that the seat was available so I sat down. A couple seconds later the bartender came up to me and said " I hope you know that there's people dancing but they were sitting here" , he completely skipped asking me how I was doing, or if I wanted a drink. I mentioned to him that I didn't know, but that I will move when they came back. Then he just left. Again he didn't ask me if I wanted a drink or anything. The bartender came back a second time, and after I asked him for a drink he said " okay yeah you're going to have to get up and move they're back now" I got up without hesitation as I was going to do anyway.

The bartender then found me a seat so I sat there. The original waitress that I had met earlier said to me as I was sitting at the bar in a rude manner " Yeah again you're kind of in my way STILL " , I was very confused to how I was in her way when the seats were far away from the walkway. but I just replied " I am?" And she said " yeah you are" and rolled her eyes . Immediately after this encounter I couldn't stop crying from how rude everyone was. As a person of color I felt unseen, unheard, and like an inconvenience. Green Mill did an AMAZING job of making me feel like I was not welcomed and they made it very clear. After talking to the manager about my experience he mentioned that he would talk to the employees.

Overall, I'm writing this review so that the manager and employees can maybe next time lead with kindness. As a black person I clearly did not look like most people in the room, and Every single employee made me feel it. I'm looking forward to the day when we all can truly get along but we're a long way from it, and Greenmill is a perfect example of where we're at in society and how we have a...

For better or worse, stepping foot into the Green Mill is a trip back in time: cash only (there's an ATM in the corner), narrow paths (not the most ADA-friendly, but I imagine they can accommodate), and low doorways (I bumped my head on the way out of the men's). Inconvenient for some, but easily overlooked seekers of an authentic jazz age experience or a chic place to take a date.

Whether or not all the Al Capone malarky is true (it’s not, look it up), this is a must-stop for jazz enthusiasts in Chicago, whether your thing is the actual music or the fedora-grunge vibe. With interesting architecture and decor evoking the era of its making and a long, meandering bar serving cocktails for lower prices than many have come to expect in places like this these days, it’s a cool spot to hang out and listen to something that gets you feeling a little saxy.

The night we visited, the place could have benefitted from tighter adherence to fire code — there was a $20 cover (higher than usual, I hear) and we were told upon entrance that it was standing room only (a loose count showed that we exceeded the posted maximum occupancy). 

The first set or two were uncomfortable under these conditions, made worse by once waitresses’s constant “you can’t stand here” comments (without a suggestion of where else to stand — she and the doorman were clearly at odds), but eventually the overcrowding mistake was realized and the line outside the door grew in proportion to the number of people leaving and the number of available seats and tables.

Once the place emptied out it revealed its charm, and our party found the quiet conversations (I actually love that the purveyors will hush people who talk too loudly during the sets) and Old-Style-soaked ambiance we expected from the Green Mill’s reputation. 

Go late, with a full wallet and an empty liver. If you’re local, go often. Duck when you pee, tip your server, and shut up when the band is playing. Snap a few photos, but then put your phone away and pretend it’s 1939 again. The drinks will taste better, the music will sound sweeter, and your date will appreciate that you live...