Beer on the Wall — Restaurant in Maine Township

I love this place! This is one of the few establishments I visit often, with the little free time I have. I've been meaning to write a review for a while. BOTW is a quaint storefront with a cozy bar. There are a good amount of tables and lounging areas to accommodate groups of varying sizes. They even added a small outdoor seating area by the entrance. You get a street view of parked cars and it's literally across the street from a Metra train stop. Parking can be pretty sparse during busy evenings, especially Friday/the weekend. It's nextdoor to the Harp & Fiddle Restaurant which can get fairly busy. Generally I can find a close-ish spot, but you may wind up parking a block or two away. It doesn't bother me since I'm used to the area but I can see it being an issue for people who would expect a nearby lot or ample parking.

It has a really laid back, local coffee shop type feel and it's a nice atmosphere to chill. They don't serve food but it is BYOF. I've brought takeout and even home cooked dinner. I've come here alone with my laptop to get some work done and have a couple drinks. My husband and I once bought our 4 and 6 year olds who thought the old school Nintendo was so cool.

I had my birthday party here last winter and it was one of the best birthdays I've had! Ryan and Eric couldn't have been more awesome about accommodating and taking care of my group. I had about 25 or so guests, most of whom live in the area and had never been there. So many people told me how much they loved it and planned to come back. At that time they were only offering beer and coffee (Dark Matter coffee, which is now my favorite btw). I think that's changed because I'm pretty sure I saw wine and some hard liquor on the shelves when I was there last week.

They offer quite a decent variety of craft beers on tap in a constant rotation. I love trying something different every time and discovering new favorites with the flights. They have an overwhelming selection of beer, some of which are sold individually in the fridge ready for you to grab and drink if you're not into what's on tap. I love the beer chalkboard. You can gift someone a beer, flight, $ amount, whatever for them to cash in the next time they're in!

I saw recently that they are opening up a new location. It's awesome to see BOTW's success. I can tell the owner, Ryan's heart is in this. I see him here at least every other time I come in. I'm looking forward to seeing their...

Visiting Beer on the Wall in Park Ridge offers a diverse and intriguing beer selection that tempts any craft beer enthusiast. With options ranging from light Lagers to robust IPAs and unique farmhouse drafts, there's a taste for every palate. The atmosphere is lively, and the setup with an outdoor patio adds to the allure, making it a potentially great spot for a sunny day.

During my visit, the experience was a rollercoaster. The beers were generally excellent, each pour delivering a distinct and flavorful experience, scoring a solid 10/10 on the beer quality scale—until one misstep. One of the beers had a musky, underarm-like aroma, which was less than pleasant. When I requested a swap, the initial refusal from one staff member was disappointing. He should have offered a "taste" first before (which they do without charge). Fortunately, another team member was more accommodating, allowing me to exchange the off-putting beer for another.

While the customer service was inconsistent, and some patrons seemed to have similar challenges with the bartenders, it's not enough to write this place off completely. The staff's eventual willingness to rectify the issue shows promise. However, prospective visitors might want to approach with a bit of caution—perhaps check the crowd and ask about the flexibility on beer swaps before diving in.

Overall, Beer on the Wall has the potential to be a fantastic spot for beer lovers. Just be prepared for a possible hiccup or two, and don't hesitate to speak up if something isn't to your liking. It's not without its flaws, but it's certainly worth a visit for anyone looking to explore some unique brews...

This is the Mecca of beer stores. What's really awesome is that they have a bar serving craft beer. . .So 10:05 AM, Saturday May 25, 2019, I ordered an IPA from the bar and then walked around to check out their imitable beer selection. Man, I was a kid in a candy store. I asked one of the staff a beer recommendation--I wanted to try at least one I've never had before--the first 5 she rattled off, I've had, but I knew she'd knew her beer, as they were all outstanding. She finally recommended some I haven't had, and she was spot on as I am currently on my back deck enjoying them.

It took my a few minutes to figure out the arrangement, but it made logical sense when I figured it out. Beers aren't just arranged by style. For example your favorite local IPA may be on one part of the store but an IPA from say California would be in another.

With the exception of singles (in case you want to take a road soda or two), the beer is not refrigerated, which is fine as their inventory obviously gets rotated frequently, ergo there beer is always fresh.

Opportunity for improvement: I noticed for most people the hand-held baskets by the door were sufficient for their beer drinking needs, but I'm not most people. I drove quite a ways to get here , so I'm going to load up my trunk with delicious beer. I had to make 5 trips with the hand-held basket. . .So it'll be nice if they also had a shopping cart or two.

I will damn sure make the pilgrimage here again. . .and again, and...