Subterranean — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Dark, intimate venue with 2 floors that has a older speak-easy-almost charm - I went to a Saturday "Riot! at the Disco: Emo and Pop Punk all night" DJ event and the place was packed and so vibrant - couldn't help getting caught up in everyone's excitement!

Staff was really great and very efficient - security was ever present and vigilant just in case, which is great when a lot of drunk people are moshing at each other all night! The drinks are affordable - cans, bottles, drafts what have you - and I can attest that the Long Island I had might've been the strongest and best value I've had in Chicago (without tasting like it - man that bartender hooked me up)!

It was super crowded when we went (honestly probably past fire code) but thank goodness for 2nd floor near the railing - I think it was less loud and honestly better to hear up there without the sweaty standing-room only moshing (personally - it was fun to watch but I was glad I wasn't in it). It was a blast! Coat check was full - Be prepared to carry / keep your winter gear on you and also dress lightly - the place was overly warm due to all the people and dancing. I also highly recommend bringing concert-level ear protection - this place is small and gets LOUD! Overall, fun and...

On 02/20/2025 I went there for a show starting at 8. The ticket said the doors to the upstairs would open at 7 and that the venue would open at 6:30, but they didn't open their doors until 7:30. I understand bands being late, but how does a bar mange to open an hour after it's supposed to? People there were wanting to get food and drinks before the show and the Subterranean just straight up lost money and people's respect by opening so long after they were supposed to.

The pictures really don't portray the place that well. I was expecting a bar with a counter that you can sit at before the show on the second floor starts, like the one it shows on Google when you look the place up, but instead the ground floor was reserved for something else at the time, and while you still could get food, there was nowhere to sit and eat and the show was almost beginning because they opened so late that I chose not to get anything from them.

The look of the place and atmosphere are pretty good and I like that you can go to the top floor and look down at the band, but everything felt very cramped and like there was really no good place to stand.

It just wasn't what I expected and I wish I had known more about...

So decided to go only because I got a free ticket (as evidenced by the QR code below) Show up and supposedly it’s only the ‘first 50 guests’ who show up with it. My friend who showed up less than 5 minutes before me was allowed to use his. (keep in mind there were already hundreds of people there) Super frustrating and OF course can only be paid with cash, so they get an extra $4 in atm fees off of me because they won’t honor the tickets they sell. Making me pay when expected to get in for free honestly ruined the whole experience for me. Also shady because I could have gotten a ticket for $20 a week before if I knew my ticket wouldn’t be actually free.

Place was overcrowded and insanely hot. A girl threw up on my friend at the bar. The ‘security’ inside were pushy and annoying. Coat check was upstairs and had to wait 10+ mins to get your coat or check it. Drink prices were standard and drinks were good, so that was a plus. I had a good time, but can’t recommend due to all of the other factors that honestly made it a whack experience, due to just how it started. DON’T SELL FREE TICKETS THAT AREN’t actually...