McGee’s

Underrated. McGee’s has been a staple in LP for 20+ years and I have to say it is one of my favorites (I’m 26). Yes sometimes it’s slow, yes sometimes it’s outrageously busy, but I would without a doubt recommend it.
I’ve heard mixed reviews but if you’re not going here for a romantic date night it’s a blast! The music and vibe are great, the drinks are strong, for the most part bartenders and servers are attentive and quick (as with most establishments in Chicago).
They have some seriously great menu items which are often overlooked as McGee’s is of course a bar frequented by college students. Amazing salads, crazy good sandwiches, and they also have featured items that are to DIE for. The prices are reasonable and for anything and everything sports related (excluding UFC) I always have a great time.
They have awesome specials and The «Friday night house party» deals are outrageous. Thursday’s rule, Sunday it’s the place to be for ‘funday,’ and all other days also offer sweet ass specials.
You should absolutely check it out!

I sent this place an email stating how I think its kinda a poor business practice to give discounts to people for their crawfish boil (but not the ‘regulars’ who purchased early). They are pushing the people that have, in the past, been the foundation of what I consider one of the best crawdad boils in the city, away from the event.
I received no response, but have received another email stating that they are offering cheaper tickets & will not give any refunds to people that have previously purchased a ticket.
I wasn’t planning on going — but I had to write this review b/​c I believe that if you purchased early you shouldn’t pay extra (it typically works the other way around, McGee’s).
This is a legit good-​bar for drinks and deals, but they keep reiterating that they will not honor past ticket purchases, which they should.

Very rude staff resulting in a very unpleasant experience. I have not been back since my last experience and there are no redeeming qualities about McGee’s food, drinks or atmosphere which would ever draw me back.

Seemed appropriate to try McGees on what other then St Pattys Day! Am I right?! Pretty standard Irish pub, lots of green beer for 3 $. I was with a large group in the back, and naturally as it was probably there busiest day of the year, the waitress was hard to come by. I ordered food and never received it… after asking the waitress she claimed it had been attempted to be brought out many times. Only 2 beers in and my hunger engulfing my entire body, I assure you, it was not brought out. Any food brought within a 10 foot radius of me, I was eyeing.
Again, not a huge deal, it was taken off the bill and I understand it was a busy night for them!
Wouldn’t deter me from going back, but doubt I’ll be returning anytime soon.

We came here to get a small bite some drinks and to dance. We ordered the filet mignon sliders and calamari. The sliders were very tasty but the calamari was rubbery and hard. The place gets pretty crowded and with all the studio dancers there is very little room to dance safely. The drinks were weak and I kept telling the server that I felt as if there were no alcohol in them. I ordered the same drink and two of the 5 times it came out wrong. I don’t like giving negative reviews. If you come here come early and don’t order drinks after 9:00 I think they water them down.
On a positive note the music was good and the live band is cool.

The manager, tall guy in his late 20s wearing a Penn State jacket, is a nice guy. That’s all the good I’m going to say about this place.
After sitting down for 20 minutes with no one coming to our table, I got up to order 5 drinks from the bar. First beer I ordered, the Laganitas IPA, they were out of. Eventually got 5 other overpriced beers back to my table only to find a waitress asking if she could get us anything.
We wanted some appetizers, but I just brought a menu from the bar with my 5 beers so we needed a minute to review. 15 minutes latter, a new girl came by and announced she would now be our waitress. We ordered 3 appetizers and 1 beer. The apps made 2 tours of the bar before they figured out our table. The beer got very, very lost. Eventually, it found us too.

Service was good the waitress was friendly under the circumstances but management can’t seem to run this place. I was told that shocktop beer was a special but was billed full price. $ 6.00. Shocktop for $ 6.00??? Waitress told me she would ask her manager but my credit card ran for the full price. Sad to know that this is their practice. It’s the principle. So: LOST MY BUSINESS!!!

Bomb diggity Crawfish boil man. I tell you what!!! Crawdads as far as the human eye can see. This event is everything that is good about being young in the city of Chicago.

As I write this I’m slightly sad because this used to be my spot, back in my undergrad days when I lived in the area. I got introduced to it by faculty from the area and it slowly became my hangout spot for weekly dinner/​catching up with the roommate. They had delicious sandwiches and waffle fries and wings… That is no more.
My most recent visit consisted of getting a cloudy beer (the boy’s beer was pretty flat) and seriously underwhelming wings. The bartender/​server was really nice about it and gave me a beer on the house as well as a new glass of what I ordered once he switched out the keg. In the process we found out that they are out of two beers that were on tap. Which is not too big of a deal since their selection is pretty extensive so they had other options for us but they should really make sure that at least their beers aren’t flat.
The two starts are mostly for the food though, our server was really accommodating and we didn’t really come here for the specialty craft beers haha. I had no idea they changed the menus and was a bit sad but also excited to see that they had their wings! Unfortunately they taste nothing like the wings I remember getting at least once a week back in the day. Considering the price we paid for seriously underwhelming food, I don’t think we will be going back any time soon.

Went to McGee’s on a Thursday night and got $ 1 shock tops with my boyfriend… amazing price for a hip spot (Lincoln Park) in Chicago. I would definitely go again on a Thursday night but it is a total college bar so keep that in mind.

McGee’s wears several hats over the course of a year. In the mornings and afternoons, it’s a chill place to get food and a drink. Plus they have a nice (but small) sidewalk seating area. On summer nights, it’s a pretty standard bar with a good crowd. On nights during the school year, it gets rowdier due to its proximity to DePaul. Obviously a younger crowd then too. But it’s technically an Ohio State bar, not a DePaul bar, so beware the rabid fans from OH-​IO on gameday. The pinnacle of wild are event nights like St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. Drinks are reasonable here, so if you’re looking for something wild, you could do worse than McGee’s.

I am truly disappointed in the declining level of service at McGees.
I have been coming to this bar for the past 7 years. It’s a great spot near DePaul for students and alumni.
Previously the service was excellent, the servers always attentive polite and friendly. The atmosphere was always so positive that I always stayed longer than intended to.
Yesterday evening I experienced none of that.
It was a relaxed night in comparison to busy and packed weekend night.
Plenty of tables were open and my group of seven quickly found a spot close to their game room. Even though we were a large group (incentive — automatic tip?) a server never came to greet us or take a drink or food order.
We requested about 3 times that our table be wiped down. The first buser informed us that was the server’s job. When I got up and found a server she heard my request but never came.
Throughout the night we ordered our own drinks from the bar. When we attempted to order food at the bar we were told a server would be sent to our table. No surprise, no server ever came.
After asking to order food from the bar multiple times we were finally able to do so. I don’t understand why we were told to wait for a server in the first place. An additional disappointment, on their website they list daily food specials and the time they end. This was not honored and frivolous excuses were offered.
What really motivated me to write this review is during each of my trips to the bar to order drinks or food I could see at least 3 servers. One was standing at the service station on her phone every time. I guess they are unmotivated by gratuity. My table looked on the bright side and was glad there was no need to tip anyone.
In spite of the poor service my group rolled with the let downs and had a great night. Next week is McGees annual pumpkin carving contest, my favorite event. I will be reconsidering attending and in search of a new place. I truly hope management addresses these issues.

Service was terrible. Went to watch a cubs game and it was so loud we couldn’t even converse. Also, the noise posed a problem for the waitress as well because she couldn’t hear our orders. Repeatedly forgot to. Bring the correct number of beers and forgot to bring various food orders.

McGee’s used to be one of my go-​to lunch spots when I was working away from the office, as it was close to home, around the corner from my gym, and the staff was very friendly.
As work had me out in the burbs for a while, I hadn’t been there since last winter, but I had a free day in the neighborhood and stopped in. I sat down, the server brought me a drink… after which she informed me they weren’t serving food until 4. (It was a little after 12.) I don’t know if it was something just going on today, or if they are now only open for day drinkers who don’t also want food.
OK, whatever. Plenty of lunch spots in the neighborhood. I can survive wthout McGee’s.
But she seriously actually charged me the $ 2.25 for ice-​heavy glass of Diet Coke that I took one sip of before texting my friend to relocate our lunch?
Not a really good way to get someone to come in again — especially a former regular.

We came here for Buckeye football games the last two years, but we’re definitely looking for another place. First, service was terrible. It took over an hour and fifteen minutes to get our food. What’d we order? A burger and chicken strips. The chicken strips were absolutely disgusting. Honestly the worst I’ve ever had. They were quite literally less than 1 centimeter in thickness. Almost no meat.
To top it off, they turned the game on about 30 seconds before kickoff. I was watching the pre-​game on my tiny little iPhone screen because they couldn’t figure out what channel the game was on. It’s gotten worse and worse, and it’s time for us to move on to something better.

It’s a college bar with a college crowd and college discounts (which are never a bad thing). It’s just your average crowded bar and while it was nice to only pay $ 1 for a beer and music was pretty decent (throwbacks are my weakness) it’s not the kind of place I would rush to go back to anytime soon. If you’re looking to pre-​drink before a night out I would recommend this place.

I stopped in on a recent Thursday afternoon around lunchtime to find only one other table in the place occupied. I was quickly seated and ordered the «Porker McGee» and Sriracha & Bacon Deviled Eggs, after a hearty endorsement from the bartender.
The «pit-​smoked pulled pork» was neither pit smoked nor pulled, just a roughly– chopped, pre-​packaged pork product warmed on a flattop grill. The «Carolina-​style» sauce was certainly not North or South Carolina-​style — instead, the pork was soaked in Cattleman’s BBQ Sauce, that sickening sweet, tomato-​based restaurant topping banned in most Third World nations — and certainly never seen in any decent BBQ joint. Even worse, the bun was buttered and toasted.
And to further ruin the $ 11.00 sandwich, the meat was topped with a sopping wet pile of bagged cabbage/​carrot coleslaw and two slices of cucumber. Yes, I said cucumber.
Folks, a true Southerner might put a slice of pickle on an Eastern North Carolina-​style pork sandwich, but NEVER a sliver of cucumber. Yes, they shutter and burn restaurants in the South for showing less respect.
The deviled eggs were nicely prepared, with a notable burn-​the-​lips heat from the Sriracha Sauce. But at $ 6.00 for two medium-​sized eggs, the portion left me hanging.
The tater tots were rocket hot and perfectly fried, but not enough to save the rest of the meal.

I was here for their yearly crawfish boil. This was also my first experience eating crawfish, it was fun and interesting. The crawfish was small but plentiful, there was more than enough to get your fill. And it also had some yummy sausage, potatoes and corn with it. The place was more than packed, so if you go on this particular day early arrival is definitely suggested. Eating the crawfish was tasty but messy, and it seemed to be a lot of work for such a small piece of meat. I’d rather it be tasty and small than large and tasteless though. They also had gumbo and jambalaya as well, the rice tasted a little over cooked but it was flavorful. The drinks were good but a bit on the pricey side. Overall it was a really fun day. I would like to go back and check them out on a regular day to see how the food and the atmosphere is.

I can’t speak on how McGee’s is normally but I can speak on the 25^th annual Headsucker Crawfish Boil.
I had never truly tasted fresh Crawfish and with a price of only 20 dollars in advance you were able to be apart of the crawfish madness.
I was disappointed that our friend came and she wasn’t able too get in because they had sold out. I know for next year get my ticket early and have my tail at the door when they first open.
We got there about 12:30 and it was a whirlwind of crawfish madness, but not in a bad way. I was a bit overwhelmed at first because of the amount of people that were in the place. The line twisted and turned around the bar like a large anaconda snake and I swear I thought they weren’t going to have any more Crawfish by the time we got up to the grill but they had plenty.
The Crawfish was boiled with corn and potatoes, but the corn was pretty spicy and the potato was still hard that was my only negative about the food at the boil.
They also had Red beans and Rice, Gumbo and I want to say Jambalaya. My favorite was the Gumbo it was that ooo ooo we good and I definitely had my fill of that dish.
Since it was so packed we went outside and sat on the side of the restaurant and we found out later that the reason they call the event Headsucker is because you pull the crawfish apart suck out the juice from the head and eat the bottom like a lobster. I just couldn’t do it though it had some yellow stuff in the head which we read was the best part of the crawfish and it was completely safe to eat. Maybe I will try it next year baby steps is all I can say.
After we finished our healthy serving of crawfish we went in for round two and the good thing was the line wasn’t as long but the place was still packed. When we were about to head back out there was this guy standing at the door letting us know we could not leave back out with our crawfish, now IDK y and I didn’t ask we just headed to the back in hopes of finding a table. This is when I’m glad I’m tall because I had to walk with my red container over my head and since we couldn’t find a table we went to the bar and that ended up being the best non seats in the place.
The drinks were kind of pricey and for 10 dollars I want more than a half of a plastic cup of liquor and the rest ice… ijs.
Now, why am I glad we were forced to go back because the crowd was awesome and fun singing the old school as well as the new school songs. People were buying us rounds of beer and not looking for nothing. It felt like back in the day when people were just friendly and that’s the feel I got from this event.
They also had a live band but we never really made it into the room to enjoy their music.
The bathrooms were horrid though but I will say that if you only have two stalls and hundreds of women idk how you could keep up and keep it clean but after all the Bud Light I had to go no matter what I may have done if we weren’t at this event.
I have seen other Crawfish Boils in the city for triple the amount of this one and when I see the photos they don’t come close to McGee’s Headsucker Crawfish Boil.
This is the event to be at because the food was great, the people were friendly and music made you want to dance.
If you missed it this year make sure you try and make it next year but just remember get your ticket early and get to the place early to avoid some of the crawfish madness.
SN: Unilocal was also there representing and I was glad to be an Elite because we got an amazing towel. Fun Times!!!
Enjoy!

McGees is your typical college bar by DePaul. It gets pretty crowded on weekends and especially during OSU games or big Chicago sporting events. The best thing about it is their drink specials are legitimately specials… not pay 40% too much instead of 60% too much like a lot of places in the city. Food looks like decent bar food but I’ve never eaten anything there.
My most recent visit was on a Wednesday night to have a few beers with a friend from out of town. About half of their draft list was $ 3 that night which was awesome. Our server was incredibly friendly and was fun to talk to throughout the evening.
Overall, nothing special, but a good place to get cheap beers in and around DePaul.