Handlebar: User Reviews

Snarky service once, shame on you, snarky service twice, shame on me...
By Begbie78 from Wicker Park, May 1, 2008

Overall rating:

So I've lived around the corner of the Handle Bar for a couple of years and have only gone twice. The foods alright but the servers (clearly some are bitter art school dropouts turned narcissistic hipsters/bike messengers) ruined it for me. Lose the attitudes dudes and maybe we'll be back!

Great cheap vegetarian food!
By ejp from Logan Square, March 26, 2008

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This is a great local place that has good vegetarian food and awesome beer selection.

C'mon guys
By ms jiji from jefferson park, February 21, 2008

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I have given this place a number of tries, and as a vegan, I have been constantly let down. I think the problem here is that the chef doesn't try the food he/she cooks. Everything tastes off, and the music is WAY TOO LOUD! The servers have an attitude, so the atmosphere is never comfortable. This place has potential, but doesn't follow through.

Vegetarian food done right!
By yesgal from Out There, December 10, 2007

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I love this place!! The menu is eclectic and tasty! I alternate between the mean greenie sandwich, bbq seitan, and everthing green salad with the 'to die for' green goddess salad dressing. Portions are just right to large. They always fill me up. Service is fine, not fast, not slow, not rude, always friendly. Broad and excellent beer selection makes this a must stop for me once a month!

I've tried this place 4...
By Ame from Chicago, IL, September 6, 2007

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I've tried this place 4 times now, and I keep getting disappointed more. Upon walking in, the music is extremely loud, in the middle of the day! Fortunately there is an outside patio where you can at least carry on a conversation. After being sat, the service is just terrible. I felt like apologizing for interrupting the waiter's nap time to come and take my order. He just didn't seem to have a personality, especially not one for the SERVICE industry. The food is decent, not super great, but hey, it's vegetarian in the land of cows, I'm happy. They seriously need to work on service. This coming from someone in the industry.

A few years back when...
By mda from Chicago, IL, March 24, 2007

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A few years back when this place got so much attention, I remember the food and the service being better than they are now. On a recent visit, the waitstaff was indifferent bordering on rude, and the blackened entree was closer to burnt. Enough already! Chicago has much better veggie restarants than this--places where you actually feel welcome when you walk in and satisfied when you leave.

This place has great food...
By bf from Chicago, IL, January 19, 2007

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This place has great food with a creative menu. It's a cozy spot with good service.

I agree with the reviewer...
By cdhp from Chicago, IL, October 27, 2006

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I agree with the reviewer below--this is vegetarian comfort food at its best. That said, the service leaves much to be desired. Most of the servers, with the exception of one or two, are sullen-faced and act as though they're irritated to be disturbed to have to come seat you and bring you your food. The food sometimes takes longer than it should to come to the table. However, the food is so great that I keep coming back in spite of the poor service. Maybe if there were more good vegetarian restaurants to choose from in this city, I wouldn't put up with the bad service and would just go somewhere else.

This is a great place...
By r & d from Chicago, IL, October 14, 2006

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This is a great place to go for vegetarian comfort food. Among other things, we tried the chili, garlic mashed potatoes, black bean tostadas, smoked gouda mac & cheese, and flourless chocolate cake for dessert and all were delicious. We will definitely be back.