Morseland

Uhhhh, so I was a bit skeptical at first… but after a decent portabella sandwich and a few mojihiyps my opinions changed.

Morseland is temporarily closed. But even before this closure, the place was already on a downward slide.
A little over a year ago, something changed. Maybe it was the cook. Or the food distributor. Maybe it was just a general malaise that befell everyone on staff.
Whatever happened, the food lost its flavor. The quality of the ground beef in the burgers seemed less. The wings were scrawny and dry. The baked mac’n cheese was gluey. Everything I loved just didn’t taste good.
I can only hope that, with this closure, the folks behind this place will get a rest, and come back with fresh ideas and fresh food. And an even better Guinness cheese sauce. Here’s hoping!
(two stars for nostalgia)

It’s like a coffee shop but instead of coffee and pastries, it has booze and mac and cheese bites.
I went here to listen to a friend’s band perform and had a really great time. It’s a very cozy bar. There is plenty of seating, exposed brick walls, warm pendant lighting. There’s even a pool table if you’re in the mood.
I also liked the diversity of the crowd, which ranged in age from people in their 20s to those in their 60s. It’s a comfortable, welcoming place for everyone.
We split two appetizers among our group: the fresh daily hummus and the beer-​battered macaroni and cheese fritters. The hummus platter came with two types of hummus, pita, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery and olives. It was tasty but definitely out-​shined by the mac and cheese fritters, which were delicious. I want them again. Right now.
The band sounded really great, and the DJ playing music in between sets did an excellent job.
The bathrooms are notable for their awesome wallpaper. There are only two stalls, but their walls are plastered with funny vintage-​looking photos and art. For example, there’s a cartoon image of an old lady the the saying «Once a hottie, always a hottie.» I enjoyed that.
The service was OK. It seemed like they were short-​staffed. Our waiter wasn’t especially friendly, but he was efficient to an extent. Once the band got going, I think our waiter was busy running around so we didn’t see much of him. I think they could use a few extra servers, especially on Friday and Saturday nights (we were there on a Friday).
I thought this place was really cool. It’s a great place to relax, order a cocktail and listen to some music. I want to go back and try more than appetizers, though I’m definitely getting the mac and cheese bites again.

Pretty cool spot. Fair warning, it is a small, hole in the wall dive bar so if you are looking for a high end vibe, this place isn’t for you. I’ve been struggling to find a good live music venue in my neighborhood and my search may be complete.
The biggest annoyance was that I got came in for dinner but when the DJ was preparing to start, he went around and asked everyone for the $ 10 cover regardless of what time you got there… bad form man.

Good prices and good selection of menu items. Best burger I’ve had in a while. I’ll definitely be back.
I love the Mezcalito, it’s delicious!

This place has been here in this neighborhood since I lived there. It used to be a weird sort of «someone’s apartment» bar, but now it’s remodeled. Great place to see a band, and the crowd is full of pretty people. Cheap drinks ($ 4 vodka tonic!), friendly bartenders and a fantastic ambiance.
Forget about parking — take the Red line. It’s a few steps east from the Morse stop. Besides, you shouldn’t be drinking and driving anyway.

Gosh how I dislike their brunch. Nothing to brag about and service is pretty bad. Not sure if it is limited to my few mid afternoon experiences, but see other reviews. The last experience was dreadful and for items which take maybe a few minutes of preparing we sat and waited over an hour on a less than busy Sunday afternoon. My party resented the experience. Forgetful, forgetful, forgetful. Every last detail breakfast entailed was forgotten by our less than stellar waitress.
Who knows, for an occasional mid week hang for music, maybe a long island ice tea and a beef n’cheddar, maybe I’d risk it. if I forget. We’ll see. I teeter on the rating though. The beef and cheddar sandwich is a winner, but. when service blows. it’s hard to give a good rating.
2.5 stars.
This location is a vortex for horrible cell signal if you have AT&T. Free Wi-​Fi would be awesome. FYI management.

I had been to Morseland a couple of times before as it’s only a block from my apartment, and I recently purchased their Groupon deal from Dealsgoround 2 weeks before it was to expire. Me and a friend had planned to go on 30^th, the last day to use it. However, that day there was a new message on their website that they would be closed that day «due to unforeseen circumstances». I thought fine, I’ll just call them later and redeem the Groupon another day. Here is how that conversation went:
Me: Hi, I was there on the 30^th to redeem my Groupon, but you guys were closed.
long silence…
Me: Well, can I come in some other time to redeem my Groupon since you were closed that day?
Guy: No, you’ve missed your window of opportunity.
Me: What do you mean, I wanted to redeem it on the last day, and you closed during what is your usual business hours.
Guy: (uh duh) It was our policy to give 365 days to redeem your Groupon.
Me: Well, you didn’t give 365 days, you gave 364.
Guy: You missed your window of opportunity.
Me: Well I’m sure Groupon is not as ridiculous as you are so at least I’m sure I can get my money back from them.
Guy: (laughs) Give it a shot (I’m a jerk and that fact simply doesn’t bother me).
I should note that all of the above was spoken with an attitude of rude indifference from the first moment.
Stupid people make me so SAD.
You close your own doors due to your own emergency, and yet it makes perfect sense to you that we are the ones to be screwed over? AMAZING.
Whatever happened between them and Groupon, or them and other Groupon customers is a separate issue. That is no excuse for a total lack of decency and intelligence.
I can get over imperfect food, or service, or anything else, but outright stupid rudeness is one thing I won’t put up with. I certainly won’t ever go back here no matter anything else good there (might) be to say about it.

Like so many others, I bought 2 Groupons. The first experience was so mediocre that we just kept postponing using the other one. The food was bland, the service was so-​so, perhaps we could just get friends together for drinks and get rid of it that way (we thought). No dice. Tried to go on ⁶⁄₂₉ and ⁶⁄₃₀. The first night, the place was booked for a private party (really? 2 days before your Groupon expires??). The second, they were closed. At first I thought I was being too conspiratory in thinking they closed specifically to avoid honoring Groupons. But, after hearing some other experiences, maybe it’s not such a crazy idea after all…
yes yes, I know I’m not the first to say all this. I don’t generally dislike a place so much to leave a review JUST to lower their rating. Congrats Morseland! You did it!
Anyway, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. There are tons of neighborhood bars with outdoor seating and better food, who actually LIKE their customers.

If I could rate this place with ZERO stars then I would. Simply awful. I called earlier this week to ask about making a reservation for 2. They said they were booked solid (I assumed it was because of the expiring Groupon) but that I could come and wait for a table outside, or order and take-​out.
I live too far away for delivery, so I drove 45 minutes up there on Thursday the 30^th prepared to get take-​out. I made sure to arrive at 5:00, when they open, in order to beat the crowds.
Well, they were closed with a simple sign on the door saying that they would re-​open on Friday. No explanation, and no reference to the Groupon customers who were facing the expiration of their purchase.
After I arrived and read the sign I sat down for a while on the sidewalk to rest before my long drive home. In the course of 15 minutes I met at least a dozen other customers who were equally disgruntled after finding the place closed. Some of them had driven from the other side of town and were quite pissed.
Morseland, you have made a lot of people angry with you this last week and I suspect that your business will suffer for it, as it should.

They have so much wrong, and not much right.
First of all, I am a Groupon whore, and here is one of the few places that not only regretted doing the deal but decided to take it out on customers. It was a Groupon ghetto, to turn a phrase. We were looked down on and treated as second-​class citizens.
Sure I went on a night when there was an event. I can sit outside on a nice day. But then there is all this renegging on the deal. Ok, I can walk this new maze. Fine.
But then the food is super slow. Like 20 minutes for a hummus plate app. And it was just a thin smear on a plate, not like the picture at all, and not much different from store-​bought either. The portabella sandwich was really bland. No marinade or seasoning on the mushroom at all. I could barely finish it.
Another weird thing: In the bathroom stall there was a pinup in the form of an ad for some beer. But it basically called women «things.» Sure, I like scantily clad women, but that’s just a little on the nose with the objectification.
Anyhow, service was jacked, but our server did her best with the hand she was dealt, but crap rolls downhill. The little she could do wasn’t enough, especially with that food. Even if they wanted me as a customer I wouldn’t come back.

Ridiculousness ensued at Morseland last night. It was the night before the expiration date for their very popular Groupon and somebody there had the brilliant idea to allow the entire restaurant to be rented out for a private event. Are we actually supposed to think that they thought that the outside seating would be enough to satisfy the needs of regular and Groupon customers? Please. I’m pretty sure they did it on purpose. Based on other reviews, it sounds like Morseland is unhappy with their Groupon experience and decided to take it out on those customers. Either way it felt like a giant «F-​You, Groupon».
There were maybe 10 tables outside, all being used. Since I was already there, I decided to wait for a table despite being told it would be at least 45 minutes. I figured I could grab a few drinks in the bar and transfer the tab to my table. WRONG. I was told I couldn’t use my Groupon at the bar that evening — only outside. WTF?
We got seated a half an hour later and by then things were really getting sour. There was an army of Groupon ready customers who had showed up and were undeniably pissed off by the situation. Now that the private event started and the bar was full, they all lined up outside, glaring.
The waitress was a sweetheart but it didn’t help the fact that our hummus appetizer arrived 45 minutes after ordering it, and with our food. Everything with one exception was sub par. The hummus was sad, flavorless and scant, the portobella burgers were juicy but also flavorless — no flavoring at all from what I could tell. (I just took a look at one of the Unilocal reviewer’s picture of THEIR hummus plate and surprise, surprise, it looked NOTHING like what I got. LOL.) The shining star was the sweet hot fries which even sans the cheese bordered on brilliance. Overall, my friends and I managed to see humor in all the ridiculousness and had an OK night. No thanks to Morseland!
I think Morseland made a bunch of enemies last night with their shoddy treatment of their groupon customers and I definitely won’t be back!
Side notes: There is a large parking lot but most of the spots were empty and reserved. LAME!

This is the restaurant where appetites go to die. It’s a slow death due to the terrible service.
It was all downhill after the free parking. We ordered a bottle of wine from the selection of $ 5 – 6 (retail) bottles being sold for $ 22 to $ 26. 15 minutes later, wine arrives with apology. Apparently someone called in sick.
Food was equally slow, taking 45 minutes. It was not worth the wait — or any wait, really. The special was a crab roll. Crab was flavorless, and the toasty bread was the highlight. The hostess did not give us the special card, and the server never mentioned the special. Wish I had not checked on-​line. We also got the Froasted chicken. Ugh. The kitchen staff had entombed this poor bird in salt, the result was an overcooked and inedible mess. Potatoes were good, asparagus spears were undercooked.
I had been here before and had a decent meal. This was much worse. Never again.

I have loved Morseland since my fake ID days of the early 1990s.
I know it’s changed hands since then, but it is still super cool today. The bartenders are great, and the service is excellent.
And the food is pretty much perfect pub food. They have great wings, the «sweet and hot» fries are awesome … great burgers.
Also, this part of Rogers Park will surprise you with how cool it is. Last time I was there we did a pub crawl of like three different places.

One of the best Beef’n’Cheddar sandwiches in Chicago! Try it with the Mac’n’cheese on the side and you will thank me.
They have a good beer selection on tap, although they were out of Wittekerke when I was there.
For appetizers, I would hold off on the wings as they are average at best.
A good place to eat outside or have a beer!

I think it’s time for a quick update. I have eaten here so many times its almost shameful. The staff know me by name and can probably predict the days I’ll show up.
I always enjoy myself here but last summer the restaurant really hit a rough patch, as I mentioned in my first review, too many new waitresses, horrible waits for food (an hour for a salad???) & always out of the food you wanted … maybe thats the nature of this being the only good bar in Rogers Park & everyone wanting to go out during the summer months … but Morseland has definitely improved since the summer of 2010.
They recently scaled down their menu a lot, and while they took off some of the items I thoroughly enjoyed, I think they are focusing on the items they are offering and making them much BETTER than they use to. Their Beef and Cheddar is way better, the quality of meat they use is noticeably better, more tender & more delicious. Their Catfish Po-​Boy is spot on, tangy sweet coleslaw, perfect bite of pickle, some unnameable, delicious sauce and salty catfish, yes please!
Their Biscuits & Gravy during Sunday Brunch are so good I would request them as my last meal. Their Eggs Benedict are equally sinful and delicious.
I love this bar. It’s not dirt cheap by any means, you can wrack up a bill fast here (so order 3 $ Pabst instead) but I love the staff here, they treat my BF and I very well. Their food is even better than before and it’s a chill, friendly environment. I always feel welcome.

This place is mediocre. I like their macaroni and cheese and they have great chicken.
The staff has always been super friendly and they always recommend different dishes which I like. I have been here for brunch as well as dinner and I do admit, this place is jumping when there is live music.

I came to Morseland this evening, for the first time, to see a friend’s band play. The flyer (which you can see here:
) stated very clearly that there would be no cover charge before 10 p.m. Arriving at 9:35, I expected that I would not have to pay. Still, upon arrival, the doorman was collecting cover from me and two women who had also just arrived. They said they had seen the same flyer I had, and the doorman asked the owner for verification. The owner went into the back, supposedly to check the website, and returned only to report that there was no such information. We all paid the $ 8 cover and went inside.
Confused by this, I decided to look at the site on my phone. I did and again saw the previously linked flyer. I showed this to the doorman who directed me to speak with the owner. The following conversation ensued:
Me: Hi. I’m not trying to be rude, but I just wanted to show you that your website said there would be no cover tonight prior to 10.
Owner: Yeah, I don’t know why that’s on there.
Me: Well, since you are the owner, and this is *your* website, isn’t it your responsibility to make sure the information is accurate?
Owner: Yes, but we always charge for shows.
Me: Ok… but wouldn’t you say this is a bit misleading?
Owner. Yes. I’m still charging.
Since he was clearly not going to listen to reason, I decided to save my battle for Unilocal.I didn’t care about the $ 8, but I’d really rather not be lured to a business under false pretenses. Needless to say, I have no interest in patronizing a venue that misleads its customers and doesn’t apologize. I certainly won’t be returning.

I went there with a couple of friends on a blistery December evening. It seemed like the perfect stop for a couple of drinks after dinner.
The place was a bit busy, but we were able to get a couple of tables in the nook by the door. We had to flag down the waitress a couple of times before we were able to order our drinks.
After we got our drinks and hung out for about 15 – 20 minutes, it got super crowded. The waitress came up to us and said that they will have live music soon, so we either have to pay cover or leave. Uhh… we thought that was very weird, downed the rest of our drinks and just left.

Fun, fun, fun!
The Morseland is my kind of bar — there’s a nice beer selection (hello, La Fin du Monde), yummy eats should you need some sustenance, and I can personally vouch that the booking agent gets awesome live acts in here. Though not the type of bar in which one cuts a rug, I definitely was inspired enough to dance last night, invasion-​of-​the-​gypsies style.
Yes, there’s a parking lot, but usually only half the lot is available for public parking, so get here early ’cause spots fill up quickly. And, street parking is rather tough.
I’d like to see more than one bartender working on a busy Friday night, but then again, who could possibly be prepared for how much a thirsty group of Balkans can drink? Yeah, we’re a bit excessive ;)
They treat their bands very well, which is very important to me as a self-​proclaimed Penny Lane. Remember, «we are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids.»
Viva la Morseland!