O’Neil’s on Wells

get staff. Dave the co-​owner is great

Typical dive bar which is refreshing to see in the Loop.
You can actually get a beer that isn’t marked up 5 dollars like some bars in the Loop. The bar is really open and has a lot of tables, but it does fill up fast. Especially when my co-​workers decide to come here for Happy Hour.
The owner comes around when he’s in the bar to introduce himself to anyone sitting and drinking at his establishment which is really nice to see. It’s hard to come by a place that the owner actually cares about its patrons having a good time.
The staff are all very friendly and accommodating. They’re more than willing to help and make you feel welcome here. There is also a super cool little pizza place inside of here that makes a mean pizza for pretty cheap. I’ve never seen anything like it in the Loop. It’s hard to ignore the delicious aromas that engulf this place while you’re drinking. It’s a perfect set up though!
Overall, really decent place. I’ll be returning!

It’s a dive bar close to the exchange and filled w a lot of guys who work or worked there… It’s got an outdoor area to stand in the front and drink and cheap buckets of beer that’s about it.

Stopped by after a happy hour visit to Poag Mahone’s down the street. Wish we’d stayed at Poag Mahone’s.
Started out fine. Not my 1^st time there, knew we could wait forever for a waitress to visit our table, so went up to the bar. Admired the middle-​aged bartender’s lack of body fat WITH bouncy boobies, as displayed by a strappy backless camisole that made it obvious she didn’t have on an undergarment. As a middle-​aged woman myself, I was impressed. When she finally made it over, I ordered a round for me and my friend and said «I don’t want to offend you, but I have a question…» She assured me that after 20 years bar tending, I couldn’t offend her, so go ahead. I said «you’ve got insufficient body fat to have much in the way of breasts, but yours are fabulous. Are they real???» She assured me they were not, but after having 4 kids, she got cosmetic work. I empathized, saying my one child left my breasts looking like deflated tires, and I’d been considering a lift. How much did her fabulous breasts cost, if it wasn’t too rude to ask? She agreed babies did a number on the girls, said she’d had breast implants BEFORE the 4 kids and updated them after, and that the 1^st job had cost $ 8,000. She advised that I do my research, though, as you get what you pay for.
All of this to say I admired her visual presentation and thought we had bonded.
Until my girlfriend, who was a sight more tipsy than I was, had an awkward exchange with what appeared to be a regular. Because I was ordering beers and not at the table, I’m not sure how it began, but I do know how it ended.
My girlfriend joined me at the bar while Boobies McGee bartender got our round. I shared with my girlfriend that we too could have fabulous breasts for the low cost of $ 8,000. She was duly impressed and may have said something like «let me see these fabulous boobs!» as the bartender approached. It was intended to indicate «I’ve gotta see these gorgeous tatas, where are they?» NOT «show me your breasts NOW, lady.» I assured the bartender that we were just admiring and window shopping, and all seemed right with the world.
Until the regular came over and threw verbal shade at my girlfriend, dissing her in some superficial way that I dismissed as no big deal, not realizing what would come next. My girlfriend, never one to walk away from a challenge, retorted «oh yeah? You probably have a tiny dick.» The guy didn’t respond well to that. Within seconds, he was calling her a bitch, and I was trying to talk everyone off the ledge.
The manager came over to what was by then a raucous dispute with the regular and my girlfriend shouting insults at each other over my head, as I tried to calm everyone down. The manager asked what the problem was. Before I could finish earnestly assuring him that they hadn’t responded well to each other’s pickup lines, the bartender started playing Judge and jury. Rather than refereeing, she was assuring the manager that she had never been more insulted by 2 women than us; that my girlfriend had asked to touch her breasts (did not happen); and that the guy was justified in verbally harassing us. As the guy continued to shout «you’re an ugly BITCH!!!» at my girlfriend. The manager was laughing at the circus and clearly not taking it too seriously, so no harm, no foul, right?
Wrong. I don’t care what sort misunderstanding the bartender was suffering from, when one of her patrons is actively shouting «bitch!» at another one, her job is to de-​escalate. Her misunderstanding about us asking her about her on-​display fake boobs has no part in her job. To assure the manager some dude was in the right to shout «bitch!» at any patron is bar tending malpractice, if you will.
The guy even clarified to the manager that I was alright, it was my girlfriend that was the problem. Even that didn’t stop the bartender from saying that we were the problem. Would it have been better if she’d said I was fine, but my girlfriend seemed over-​served? Not especially. Still endorsing a douchebag shouting «bitch» another patron
When both the douche and the manager had left, the bartender continued to grill my girlfriend, asking for my confirmation, insisting that she’d asked to touch her fake breasts.
Later, the manager encouraged us to stay even after they’d closed and locked the doors. That’s an insufficient gesture to make up for a bartender who endorses one patron calling another a bitch.
I would give the bartender negative stars, but the manager tried, so that’s an average of 2 stars.
The worst part: in trying to get my girlfriend out of there without blows, I left my credit card and have to go back. Sad trombone for having to revisit a place that happily escalates senseless, drunken drama.

Super place. The crowd, even with different people all the time, is loud and fun but not obnoxious. Drinks at good prices. PIZZA/​POP SPECIAL is my favorite for lunch at least 1 – 2 times week. Never been to an event there but friends have done that and had no complaints.
Tom S.

So just lost your life savings on the Chicago Stock Exchange across the street? Here’s a place to wash away your troubles until the next morning. Fortunately that’s not what I was doing (just looking for pizza and beer).
The Pizza shop inside here Reggies I really enjoyed. The waitresses. Well. They have beer for cheap. Not impressed with the lack of local beers, but yeah the pizza shop rocks.

Sad to say that this review was so low due to racism and not the food or drinks.
I went to grab a piece of cheese pizza at ONeil’s on Wells when three young black men approached me and asked me a couple questions. I was happy to answer their questions, which happened to be about the pizza and how to get into the restaurant. Then another woman sitting outside decided to go in and tell the owners they were harassing me. They had not once disrespected me… One of the owners came out yelling that the police were on their way. I couldn’t believe it! I tried to calm the situation down but they said they were out and that they wouldn’t put up with that stereotyping racism. I walked into the restaurant asking why the police were called when they did nothing wrong. The owners/​bartender was all too eager to believe a woman who had no knowledge of the situation and try to send three innocent black men to jail simply because they were talking to me. This appalled me. I told the owner I was not going to let three innocent men go to jail because of one racist woman and that I would be more than happy to talk to the cops. Turns out they never called them and only said that to scare them away. Another man witnessed the whole thing and baked me up the entire time. He couldn’t believe the whole situation either.
People, ignorance is unacceptable. There is a enormous lack of knowledge and a trend of willful ignorance that tears or society apart at the seams. Make sure to educate these people when you encounter them or the trend will simply continue to put innocent people in jail.
Morgen

I came here on a Tuesday after work. It seemed like an odd location for the loop, but was a sports/​divey bar. The drinks were decent and there is a lot of room if you want to bring a whole group of friends.

Good atmosphere and delivers on the dive bar feel. We had an excellent server and there is great outdoor seating. In town visiting for weekends and Friday night there was a good crowd. I would visit again for sure!

Happy St. Patricks Day.
Went to O’Neil’s on Wells after my girlfriend and I watched the dying of the Chicago River. My girl friend and I über over there. Rumor had it that O’neils was going to have Irish bagpipers performing on top of the bar at 2pm. (thought that would be very cool to see.) My girl friend and I were greeted by a welcoming crowd. The atmosphere was festive, green and packed. Wall to wall people. Good looking people. Everyone was in a good mood. Surprisingly we never waited for a drink. I give the bartenders 5 stars. The beer was cold and the drinks were strong.
2 o clock rolled around and in walked in the Seven Irish bagpipers, they climbed on top of the bar and started playing. It was the coolest thing I ever witnessed on St. Patrick’s Day. I truly believe it’s one of the great sights to watch on St. Patricks Day. This establishment is a true Chicago bar and I will visit it again, I here it’s great to go there after and before a Bulls or Blackhawk game. I will definitely be there every St. Patricks Day.
Nice job O’neils ! I’m still smiling.

Ranks slightly above «dive-​y» but it’s a Happy hour staple. Friendly owner, solid bartenders and the wait staff are phenomenal.
The best happy hour bars are the ones that start with you saying «Yeah, I’ll go for a drink or two» and end with you closing the bar. O’Neils has been that place for me on more than one occasion.

I remember when this bar was called Alcocks! It was always full of middle aged married men and I thought it was a gay bar when I walked by, because women weren’t patronizing the place at all. Not to mention the name having hmmm the word c*ck in it while always being full of men.
So, they re-​opened it under the name O’Neils good idea! These days you will see a diverse group of happy hour patrons enjoying drinks and a pizza on their deck and inside of their dimly lite establishment. Oddly, they didn’t change much else besides the name and they are a lot busier, so if you tried this place and they were too empty go ahead try it again.
The age group of the patrons are more diverse and it’s no longer mostly men. You see people out of their chairs playing darts, laughing, and mingling huge change in what it use to be over a year ago. It’s in the south loop area of the financial district, so you will see your fair share of stock traders, bankers, and government employees just trying to have a good time!
I stop in occasionally the drinks are a-​okay.

Friendlier staff, quieter, and cheaper drinks compared to other area establishments. What’s not to like?

Not the greatest. Not the worst. An interesting place in a dead section of the city. Why go here? I would go just to see the Keith Richards photo with the old owner. Now that is worth popping in for a beer, right?

Yeah… nothing really special about this place. They serve beer and have a jukebox. The beer selection isn’t vast… but there’s always plenty of seating if you have a good sized group for happy hour. The staff has always been nice to us, and the owner will walk around the place saying hello. I find this place much easier to listen to fellow coworkers talk versus Cactus. Go if you don’t want the hassle of finding a table, and just want a decent beer.

Alcock’s has rebooted as O’Neil’s.
This is still a primarily happy hour bar. And happy hour at a bar in the Loop is entirely hit or miss. My last visit was more of a miss.
We stopped in on a Friday and got the last open table in the place. I think our all our good bar karma was used up there, though. We waited for a waitress to stop by for ten minutes before I went up to the bar to get a round.
When I got back, my group told me she’d finally stopped by when I was at the bar. Dammit. I know this is not good. Waitresses aren’t big on being cut out of the game. I’m not too apologetic, though. I’m a patient man, but not where my first drink after a long day at work is concerned.
We finished our round and Halley’s Comet passed by a few times before she came by again, because there are only so many pickup lines the tables of old married guys by us could use before she got bored. When she brought our second round to the table, it was two bucks more expensive than when I’d bought it at the bar. I could deal with this convenience charge if the service were good, but hey.
Still better than Cactus. Think before going there.

The re-​branding of Alcock’s as «O’Neil’s» did nothing to change the venue. It’s still a dingy bar full of dudes drinking $ 3 canned beer. The music is a bit too loud and the bartenders are cougarish but all look a little funny. The outdoor patio is solid when it’s nice out and you can enjoy the afternoon sun, but as one of my companions said while we were there: «this place makes Franklin Tap look downright swanky.»

There is not many places or bar’s that allows you to bring in your own food from neighboring shops. One in particular that comes to mind is Skrine Chops.
Do yourself a favor if you happen to find Skrine Chops open, get a pork sandwich on bed of garlic mash potatoes then bring it to Alcock’s and get your favorite beer, its a perfect match.
The beer selection is down to bare minimum but I am sure you’ll find what your taste-​buts crave for. In this trader’s bar you’ll stumble into many interesting stories from strangers if you have the time and ear to lend.
Also they run the AC a bit too cold for my liking, I am sure 70deg is adequate for most but 63 deg is bit too cold for my blood, surely Alcock’s can save some cash and up the AC just a little more closer to 70.

This place was my go to bar when I worked downtown. The crowd is a bunch of traders, but if you like the dive bar scene then this is the place for you. This is a total happy hour bar. The prices are reasonable too. Plus you can people watch & laugh at the cactus crowd across the street.

Somewhere in the hinterland between I-​290 and the Loop, an antique and discolored cigarette smoke filtration machine buzzes and rattles, threatening to unbolt itself from the ceiling and crush the unsuspecting bar patrons below. This place is called Alcock’s Inn and it could be a lot of fun: some relevant music is on the jukebox; there is a pizza oven that could be cleaned up, disinfected and called into service; the staff could easily don some industrial strength rubber gloves and wipe down the restrooms with a diluted bleach solution… The possibilities are truly endless here.
I give Alcock’s one star for the cheap, strong drinks and a second star for our adorable waitress/​bartender whose mixing talent and shaky boobs kept the rowdy after-​work patrons engaged and involved all evening.