Billy Goat Tavern & Grill

My husband and I went her because people at his job raved about how good this place was, but it did not impress us. The food left something to be desired. We went once and we have no plans of going back. Really overrated and over priced.

The food here is horrendous. It reminds me of the free lunches I would get as a kid in the Chicago public school system. The only thing this place has going for them is there proximity to the united center if you want to grab a few drinks before the game, but grill? You should stick to cheap beer

Yuck. Just yuck. Cheeseburger was probably worst of my life. No kidding. Cool atmosphere & close to United Center but overpriced, horrible tasting food. You needed a lot of Coke to wash down the burgers (which are almost all bun) and refills cost $ 1.00!!!

I like it here. Me and family come once a year after we leave the circus. It’s tradition. The food is good even if it’s not anything special — I actually think that’s what makes it good.

My night shift co-​workers and I stopped in one morning after a shift for drinks. I had heard their bar was open early in the morning but when we went, there was no bartender. One of the butchers or some guy in a white coat came out and served us drinks. The bad thing is that he knew nothing about mixed drinks. We were not very happy. We did make the best of it though and now we know, not to go here after a shift for drinks.

We came right after the Bulls season opening win over the Cavs. Service was rude and terrible. It was crowded but not an excuse. But you could tell they were not worried about repeat customers. They were missing several menu items and couldn’t care less. Walk down Madison street for better food and drink options.

Ran here in between classes to eat. It’s a great sports environment. I’d gone there during March Madness and I loved it. The service and the food isn’t all that great though. Both times, I ordered a burger and and fries. The bun was hard and it took awhile for me to even place my order despite there being what looked liked a full staff and an empty restaurant. I’m only here if I’m as hungry as I was the last time I went and need something to hold me over.

I ordered a salami and egg sandwich with cheese for breakfast and the hash brown. It is just OK and it tasted like you made your own sandwich at home. I didn’t except the hash brown so big, in a full plate, it tasted little dull soggy. I excepted a hash brown patty like McDonald’s. I would not pay another visit at Billy Goat. Sorry.

Excellent double cheeseburgers and excellent customer service… Great music and they even have Ms. PacMan and Galaga… Come by and grab a bite

i heard a lot about this place. Somehow it is famous and i heard even more about their burgers. So it was time to check this place out and their famous burgers.
Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. i just could not understand why people talk so much about the burgers here.
So i waited in the line and observed people. 20 something frat boys or ppl whose life are just all about sports — yeah man !! Etc… who only lived and never got out of certain parts of Chicago were saying: the burgers are amazing here to each other. Then it hit me. Of course bunch of tastless people will like a thin thin tastless frozen beef patty with no special ingridients or toppings as a burger. They simply do not know any better.
The only thing i liked about this place was the lay out. Bar section vs the grill section, it was interesting. It feels like there is a little grill restaurant in the middle of the bar.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I ordered a double cheese burger. Unfortunately this «burger» was more bun than meat. The two patties were extremely thin, covered by huge buns of bread. I am extremely disappointed.

Las hamburgesas no estan nada buenas. Solo por el nombre pero son las peores que he probado es mejor hasta cualquiera fast food burgee

I think my fellow reviewers don’t really «get» the Billy Goat Tavern. If you come here expecting a delicious burger, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Their «double cheezborger» is only part of this place’s claim to fame. The rest lies in the ambience, the longevity, and the famed SNL skit. The food is truly mediocre — my burger was more bun than meat and not all that flavorful, but it did cost a fraction of the food prices inside the United Center. I went to the Billy Goat before a Hawks playoff game and the ambience was enjoyable — packed with jersey-​clad fans enjoying a simple burger, fry and beer before the game. The crowd is friendly, there’s a lot of seating, and the price is right. I wouldn’t seek this place out specially, but it’s a great place to hangout with fellow sports fans before catching a game Bulls or Hawks game.

Pro’s– Very close to United Center, expansive bar and dining area, good french fries
Con’s– Dry buns and overcooked hamburger patties = Not a very good hamburger,
Spoiler Alert!: They do not serve Pepsi– Only Coke!

I don’t know what is with the bad reviews. Is this the best food in Chicago… no! But the food is great for before/​after a game and nothing tops the atmosphere. Having a place where everyone meets up to celebrate the same team is awesome :)

I have to disagree with a lot of the poor ratings. First of all, if you watched Saturday Night Live when they did the skits about the Billy Goat, well, it carry’s some significance. Also, I find their double «Cheezborger» absolutely delicious after I put my favorite toppings on them. Their fries are great also, served hot and fresh! The only downside is they screw you on their beverage’s. It’s costly for an 8oz. Coke with no free refills. But that won’t keep me from going back.

I don’t get it.
Sure, the place is a Chicago institution, but c’mon. $ 25 for a burger, a corned beef, 2 fries, and a drink? Yes, I understand there are places that can be more expensive than that, but the quality doesn’t match the pricing at this place at all. The burger patties are insanely thin, have absolutely no flavor, and the best part of the burger was the insane amount of onions I put on it to up the flavor. This place was a one time visit because the restaurant I was trying to go to was closed and this was literally a 30 second walk from where I was, but Lord. I’ve tried it once and I’m not going back.

Been here a few times… good burger, solid burger! good fries!
Been here several times before a Hawks game, got my cheap eats in before I sucked down my beer at the game. Been here for lunch many times… never had a bad meal. Get your butts in here for a good burger!!!

Four stars because can’t a bruh get some tomatoes in this joint? lol
I’ve wanted to come here for so long and finally took in a dawwble cheez, polish, and fries before a Bulls game. This place is rich in history and big on personality. I didn’t get to do much looking around since I concentrated on my food and drinks and dreamt of the Bulls season to follow but I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious it was. Plus there’s a full bar separate from the food counter. It also was another plus that there’s a huge parking lot considering it’s locale.
Now for the food I really thought it was cheap in regards to the dollar. The right purchase point for basic food. You have breakfast, burgers, some sandwiches, dogs, and drinks. Fries for sides. If you do it right two people can eat for a ten spot. I paid attention only to beer and was enlightened to read that domestics were $ 4 and premiums $ 5. There were some crafts included in there.
Other than the food I was into the character and personality of the place and staff. No matter how many times you hear someone yell out the famous «cheezzeburger» or «double cheeze,» you can still meet eyes with someone and laugh. It’s all part of the dining experience at Billy Goats.
The place is clean, fun, price friendly, a couple blocks from my church known as the United Center, has parking as well as everyone usually decked out in team gear.
Just get some damn tomatoes though for my cheezzeburger.

This filthy establishment is a major disappointment! The prices might seem reasonable, but the burgers are paper thin, the condiment bar is unsanitary and offers limited options, and the eating area is a virtual germ factory. They don’t offer their patrons trays to transport food; in fact, food is to be transported on a single piece of wax paper. Really?! A lady dropped her food all over the floor because this place is too cheap or incompetent to offer a basic service. Interested in visiting a graveyard for rotting bug corpses you say? Just go have a seat in the hygienically sublime dining room area. In the windows, you will be marvelously entertained by the remains of dead mosquitoes, daddy long legs, and unknown fecal matter. This place is absolutely revolting. Stay away unless you’re starving for communicable diseases and salmonella.

I’m surprised this place hasn’t gotten better reviews. I love the burger and the history. I prefer this location because they serve coke no Pepsi, fries and our chips.
The burgers are great, something about the cheese to marry to bread ratio makes these a craving for me. Especially will grilled onions.
This location is also a lot cleaner then the Michigan Ave location. And the guy that started it all is here not there.
The parking is not the best, but I always find a spot.
If you’ve never heard the cheezeberger cheezeberger cheezeberger then you owe it to yourself to Google it and then go here.