Moonshine Restaurant

We met some friends here. They have been coming to Moonshine for lunches in the summer when they get out early on Fridays for years. I suspect it was more for nostalgia and less for the drinks, service, and food.
Well I should say that the food is just ok. Its bar food. We shared some nachos which were ok. I got the fried shrimp sandwich which took up ¼ of the plate. ¾th of it was fries. My boyfriend got the burger and had it was the same portions. The 4 shrimp that were on my sandwich of bread, sauce and shredded lettuce was ok.
Because there was a group of differing tastes we were able to sample a few of the cocktails. I had one cosmo which was super sweet. As was their version of a moscow mule. My friend got the margarita which was ok. I think made from a mix. Then we tried to try other drinks which brings me to the service which is terrible. The place was totally empty and yet we waited a long time for someone to come over. Then after my friend said nachos she walked away. Ok we were going to order a bunch of other things… It was like that until we decided there were too many other places along Division.
After I received my cosmo my boyfriend and another friend wanted to try one of their cocktails. Then another friend ordered some other mixed drink. After about 20 mins of waiting she comes back and says they’re out of the bourbon that they use for that one drink would they want it made with Jameson? And since they couldn’t make those two drinks she wasn’t sure if my other friend still wanted hers… I can see if we had the check and were leaving that we’d cancel but that was just odd. Why would one cocktail be cancelled because they couldn’t make another? And why would you ever want to substitute Jameson for a good bourbon? So we decided to leave. Needless to say the people who used to meet here for Summer Friday lunches will find a new spot.

My fiancé and I went to brunch here on a saturday. The places is really cute, they even have a parking lot for customers. The food was not anything to talk about it was just ok. I think it will be a nice place to go in the evening for the bar.

We were given a table outside and waited about ten minutes for a server to even acknowledge us, even though there were barely any patrons. Our waitress made us close our tab earlier than when we were ready to, and shortly after that the restaurant prematurely closed the patio. The latter ended up working in our favor as it started to rain, but upon entering the restaurant we were informed by an employee that the restaurant was closing in ten minutes. It was around 11:30 — the posted hours on Unilocal,Facebook and even THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT all state they close at 2am. When we and the other patrons asked why we had to leave, the employee raised his voice and gave us nothing close to an explanation. I can’t speak for the others, but we definitely weren’t finished with what we ordered and had to abandon whatever we couldn’t scarf down.
You can find better food and better service pretty much anywhere in Wicker Park. I highly doubt I will return any time soon.

Have been to Moonshine many times in the past, but this past Sunday’s brunch was probably my last for a while.
We had a reservation, but wanted a table outside so opted to get a drink at the bar until one was ready. We asked the bartender about specials, she said there were none; when we got to our table outside, we found out there are a bunch of specials.
Once seated outside, it took the server probably 10 minutes to come and talk to us (if we didn’t still have our drinks from the bar, we probably would have walked out).
It took at least 45 minutes to get our food. In that 45 minutes, the server did not come by even once to either check on us or explain that the kitchen was backed up. We ordered basic brunch entrees, biscuits & gravy and their breakfast sandwich – both fine, not bad, nothing to write home about.
It’s summer, the World Cup games are on… Moonshine should probably schedule more kitchen and waitstaff on the weekends.

First things first, we found a parking space on Division, on a Friday night!
This place isn’t bad. I ordered the Stella Burger (caramelized onions and bleu cheese… delish) with sweet potatoes fries and the boyfriend had fish tacos.
The only bad thing, don’t order any pitchers of booze, unless it’s beer… can’t add ice to beer, right? If you order a pitcher of mojito or anything else, expect half a pitcher of ice and frankly, the mojito tasted like a watery fizzy drink.
Oh yeah, a party of a five came in and the hostess tried to seat them at a table with four chairs. The group just stood there looking at the table, not reminding the hostess that there were FIVE, not four of them… hey, maybe the chick couldn’t count. Anyway, the group left without saying anything. There are tons of other places along Division anyway. But sometimes, you have to call people out on their foolishness.

My husband and I had the Living Social deal for weekend brunch and we decided to go this past Sunday (since it was to expire in a couple weeks). It was a beautiful day and we sat outside. From other reviewers who were there, who were also using their LS deal, yes the service was extremely slow, waited for a while for drinks and then waited about an hour for our food. But it was Sunday afternoon, we weren’t in any hurry, it was beautiful day, and we were enjoying our conversation. So we didn’t mind at all especially since the drinks were huge and delicious. The manager (I believe it was) had to come out and take our order since the poor waitress outside was slammed. I don’t think they expected that many people.
We both ordered omelets and they were quite good and the potatos were delicious. I have to add the busboys were very cool and quite funny, they made us laugh several times. So yes everything took a long time… but didn’t bother us at all. So we give our Living Social coupon to our waitress who takes it in. The manager (again, I believe that’s who he was) comes out and apologizes profusely for how long the wait was and didn’t charge us for the extra drink we ordered. We thought this was pretty cool. :)

I have been here previously for cocktails only and never had an issue, but apparently the Sunday brunch staff (all around) needed a morning pick me up as much as we did!
We were sat outside and waited ten minutes before becoming too cold and asking to be moved inside, which shouldn’t have been a problem since there were several open tables and we had a reservation, but the hostess not too nicely informed us that since WE made the decision to sit outside, we would have to remain out there or else wait for the next open table (apparently all of the open seats we saw were reserved, despite not seeing anyone seated in the two hours we were there).
We finally settled on sitting at the bar, which was probably the better decision considering we saw only three wait staff between the inside and outside and most of the time they were standing near the bar talking to one and other or distracted by their phones.
Kudos to the bartender, Jen, who was the only one behind the bar on a very busy morning and only her third shift there. She was kind, and apologetic, for the wait on our food (which was over an hour for huevos rancheros and a breakfast sandwich and underwhelming). The kitchen staff clearly was having a slow day and off their game.
Fine place for drinks, but I’d skip the food all together. The bloodymary bar was a nice touch, but the food is better elsewhere and not worth the hour + wait.

Meh. Stopped in for a drink before having dinner elsewhere. I had a strawberry basil mojito. Not sure what it tasted like, but it was no good. My fiancé’s margarita tasted like someone dumped the worst booze and too much margarita mix into a Mason jar and shook it up.
No, thanks.

Well the waiter started off with a sarcastic sense of humor which is ok if executed properly. But to be honest he failed. I would not recommend going here for brunch as a side order of eggs cost $ 9. Don’t order the steak & eggs and expect much meat. The drinks were good but the food was just ok, the bad taste in my mouth from the customer service probably didn’t help. Not a restaurant I plan to dine in again. But if your going for a decent drink and want to sit outside and enjoy the weather in buck town it’s not a terrible option.
I hope this helps you in deciding where to or where not to dine.

Moonshine is always fun.
Moonshine brings a little bit of everything on a Friday or Saturday. First thing to note is that it is a 4am bar which is always a plus.
Depending on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for you may be able to get a feel for anything here. They have a good amount of tables and booths for large parties or couples. They also have ample bar space so getting drinks is not a problem. Moonshine is dimly lit which sets the nighttime mood. This makes it very chilled and relaxed if that is what you are going for.
Though I said it can be mellow here it can also be quite lively. The music is always from the top 100 and don’t be surprised to see some people dancing by the bar or around their tables. It is by no means conducive to dancing, in terms of having a dance floor, but the people that come here are not shy and are willing to have a good time.
Moonshine is fun and has a good amount of televisions. I’ve never had a bad time here.

A booze and carb place with a decent price.
Steak and Eggs — where did the steak go? See photo. The steak was thin, tough that lacked flavor. Good potatoes. The as-​is bread was superbly tasty with additional whipped butter and a choice of jelly.
Mimosa — delicious and generous portion.
Service — so so. No extra charger. Quick to say, Sorry, instead of trying to help.

I got a great deal on Amazon Local. It was for $ 20 for any two entrees and two 23 ounce drinks (bloody Mary, mimosa or we’ll drinks). My husband got a bloody and they had a huge bloody Mary bar. I just got a vodka diet. The food was very good. I had steak and eggs with potatoes and toast. I loved their potatoes. They were so good! My husband ordered a chicken club with avocado. It was really tasty! Our waiter was pretty decent room. Friendly and fast. We sat outside and it was nice to sit back, relax and people watch. They have a parking lot but it is very small. Maybe only 10 or 12 cars can fit.

I have passed this place a million times and never stopped in, until my friend and I wanted to grab a few more drinks after dinner at Bangers & Lace. And I’m SO glad we came in! We grabbed seats at the bar around 10 pm on a Friday, and the place was pretty busy. Some people were having a «party,» aka dancing amongst themselves in a semi-​blocked off area from the rest of the bar. There was a DJ next to the bar playing fun hip-​hop including some great stuff from the 90s like Michael Jackson and Salt N Pepa. It does get loud sitting by the DJ booth though, I had to shout to be heard and was a little hoarse the next day.
It just felt like a very «social» bar, all types of different people — a young crowd, and a good handful of hipsters, but lots of other types too — and people were really comfortable chatting up strangers. We made a lot of new «friends» and danced around on the little dance floor in front of the DJ booth. We also enjoyed $ 5 stoli cocktails (on a Friday! what what!!) and some free shots of some kind of espresso-​flavored tequila thanks to the DJ. What service! The bartender woman was super cool and friendly. The whole crowd seemed like they knew each other, even if they didn’t, since everybody was just there to have a good time, and dance with new friends. Great place to stop on a barcrawl down Division, or just make it your primary destination!

Great bar. Good drinks and good food. Lively and cool to hang out. Have a burger or steak tacos and you won’t be disappointed. Lots of craft beer on tap but really should try the mojitos and other specialty drinks.
Can’t wait to come back.

Have had to come on a weeknight, a weekend night and lunch because this was the place du jour of the gang for a while. It’s ok, the music is hot, the DJ is funny and energetic, and it’s a nice casual space.
The weeknight was not crowded at all, it was nice to chill out to some good music and some drinks after dining at Prasino.
The weekend was packed, everyone’s drunk to the gills and dancing away.
Lunchtime they opened the garage style wall on the left so we could dine semi-​open-​air. Big bloody mary bar. Food was just ok.
And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Tried it twice now, just can’t get into this place. I have never seen a beer list even though they are supposed to be brewing their own. Service was not good either visit. Food was mediocre. I liked the mac and cheese, but it was pretty dense so I could not finish it. Pizza looked pretty decent, but I never got a chance to try it. Oh well.
The décor does not match the dj. Just not the place I want to be.

Promised an update when I tried their food and finally did!
I came here this week and shared the barbecue pizza and the Moonshine cheese fries with a friend. What an amazing flavor packed meal!
The barbecue pizza had pulled pork, barbecue sauce, cilantro, red onion and pickles on it. It was way spicier than you would expect but in a good way. Their crust is also worth mentioning, it was thin and perfectly cooked! We ordered a small and it was more than enough food for two people, it would be the equilivant of a medium at most places, definitely a bang for your buck there!
The Moonshine Cheese Fries were also spicy but in a good way. They came slathered in cheddar cheese sauce, gardinera and bacon. The fries were fresh cut and also perfectly cooked. All in all some of the best cheese fries I have had in Chicago (also gardinera what a great idea!!!).
I am so glad I finally tried the food at Moonshine, it was delicious. I hope to be back soon!

Brewery? Nah, chalk this one up to a mediocre bar trying to capitalize on the microbrew scene by producing their own version of craft beer. However, their beer doesn’t seem to be their focus at least judging by the beer list that hadn’t been updated in months.
While we were eating lunch, we were hit up by an alcohol rep (not a Moonshine employee) trying to get us to buy their company’s lemonade beer. Seems odd (read: rude) to let reps interrupt customers while they’re dining.
I appreciate that I had the option to choose from fries, sweet potato fries, and tater tots with my sandwich order and they certainly didn’t skimp on the portions. However, my sandwich was approx. $ 12 bucks and it was a basic grilled cheese on white bread.
If you go in with the expectation to watch sports on one of the several television screens and to get loud on Division Street, then Moonshine may suit you. We, however, spotted «brewery» on the restaurant’s signage and feel led astray.

Hands down I always say that Moonshine is my favorite place though I only frequent it for night life. Best hip hop music is played from east to west coast to old and new school. Its a shame I haven’t visited durring the week or for a brunch since usually through the net I find there is so much going on here from cookouts to cookoffs. Definitely a something I’m gonna try soon.
Inside is pretty roomy just don’t get caught at the back bar nearest the bathroom because it can turn into passage purgatory. I’ve never been majorly uncomfortable though. I usually drink the IPAs but their mojitos are worth checking out too. I really have to eat something here sometime.
I would really be interested in having a birthday party here and strongly considering my 30^th. This would be a great place to get drunk and wild out when you hear Kanye’s «Mercy» track kick on or some dope east coast mixes.
In all I come here for the music and the drinks and it hasn’t upset me yet.

Pineapple Mojitos in Mason Jars!
I like my alcohol trendy, duh. No, really, I do. I even have a to-​go little coffee top for my mason jars at home. Any time I can drink out of a mason jar is a plus.
Mojito flavors. Let’s talk about this. Pineapple, yes it is even better than you would imagine. Strawberry basil, yes… still pretty freaking good. But really if you’re only getting one, go with the pineapple. Or be a lush like me and have both.
Love sitting outside here, or standing out back by the bar. Gotta love the city in the summer.

Came here on Saturday night JUST for drinks and had a really nice time here. We ordered the beer flight which I thought was served in such a cute way in these little mini bottles, sooo adorable, and it was only $ 5.00, I mean does it get better than that? Unfortunately, and despite the cuteness factor, I only liked 2 out of the 6 mini tastings, but I mean it’s a flight, so you never really know what you’re going to get, and I’m very particular in my beer tastings, I prefer the lighter stuff, but it was a cool experience regardless. The pizza the table next to us smelled and looked to die for, and who would have thought.
The ambiance of the place was very hip and fun for a bar/​restaurant. The inside had a really cool red lit up bar against the wall and very spacious. We sat outside which was perfect on a breezy, summer night to enjoy a few cocktails. Our friend got the strawberry mojito which she enjoyed, so you just have to know exactly what to order. Will I be back? Probably, and next time i’ll come for the pizza and the EXACT type of beer that i want… I think it was called white lightening or something… that was delish! Overall, worth a try in the city, just don’t expect spectacular!