Scofflaw

Awesome bar — delicious drinks, great service, cool setting. What is not to like?

I came here for the midnight cookie, the midnight cookie! the midnight COOKIE!!!
How have I not written about Scofflaw? Great cocktails, tasty food menu, classy seating, with the sidewalk patio, they make their own gin, and most items are under $ 10 a piece.
I’ve always enjoyed a refreshing beverage here and I also wanted to keep things simple with the old G&T is nice. It’s a great local establishment, located a little further away from the main part of Logan Square, which means you get with a cool ambiance at affordable pricing.

Sent on a recommendation this place did not disappoint. It was not busy when we got there around 6−7pm on a Thursday night. We sat straight at the bar and sampled a cocktail each. The bartender was chatty and knew his stuff. He catered a cocktail for each of us which were delicious and $ 10 – 11 each. He happily let us sample their local gin and did not display the usual over the top flair which some cocktail bartenders often do.
Overall a good experience. Perfect for an early evening drink.

Amazing cocktails and great service! Beautiful on the inside and outside– love the patio but I can’t wait to sit inside next time! Kitchen is open late– can’t wait to try!

Great Gin Bar concept on the corner of Armitage & Kedzie with a great vintage feel and also Gin varieties that you won’t see anywhere else/​great food to boot! They concentrate on great cocktails and these do not disappoint! Great local beers on draft to boot makes for a great bar/​really liked the marble bar top as well as the stools here… don’t lean back baby. I thought the food was really good here. we tried the Chiliquiles & Fried Chicken Sandwich and both were very well executed! This chicken sand rivals Parson’s and may even be better here. They also have a patio & they do brunch on the weekends which for some reason is relatively quiet? Service was excellent here. it’s a place where they do everything right… Cap it off at Best Intentions with a Salty Dog! PS– Cold Malort on TAP!

I’ve been to Scofflaw quite a bit and still enjoy going — good cocktails, chill patio, those warm chocolate chip cookies at midnight! Yes! However, it’s lost some of the head over heels love I once had for it.
All food dishes used to be $ 8 at Scofflaw. That was kind of their shtick along with the cocktails being $ 8. Last night I had a Burrata cheese dish for $ 15. It was interesting and unique sitting atop a dill sauce with tiny apple chunks plated around the edge and a pretty salted design in the center (a little too salty) but it was double what their dishes used to be. There are still a few cocktails for $ 8 but most now run $ 9 or $ 10.
They truly do have solid drinks though. Last night I tried the The High/​Low (with Malort Mmmmm), Patio Geist and Six Demon Bag — loved them all. I also tried my friends Mixed Blessings, Top Dollar, Swizzle #16 and Surf’s Up… so practically the whole menu! Their menu is great by the way as they have pictures of what each drink looks like, explain what’s in each in detail and then go on to even include a glossary to further get into what each ingredient actually is. The Six Demon Bag is filled with tons of tiny ice pieces so keep that in mind when ordering it’s going to be kind of slushy-​like. The High/​Low is badass because it has a tall ice «spear» flavored to match the drink
I’m happy to say the cool ambiance on the patio, the warm feeling you get sitting inside of Scofflaw and their tasty drinks all have stayed up to par. The food isn’t quite as fabulous as it once was but it’s still a good solid meal to pair with their drinks. Service was just fine but wasn’t as great as it once was either. I was with friends yesterday and one said it was one guy’s birthday, she just looked at us blankly.
Ah, Scofflaw! I wish for you to be what you once were and will remember you fondly. I’ll continue going as it’s usually a bit less busy than other Logan Square spots since it’s a bit off the beaten path but not at the level of frequency I once did.

A nice affordable place for a casual dinner and drinks with friends, Scofflaw has the décor and crowd that both say trendy and hipster. The drinks were affordable, and I really enjoyed my Surf’s Up with its pineapple flavors. I haven’t had much gin but this was good.
The addition of food is a great idea. My burger was, as the server said, «a tried and true favorite.» The double patty with cheese and caramelized onions was a juicy, messy situation that I wasn’t mad about. I added a fried egg on top instead of bacon. The fries and aioli were good but our basket seemed to have gotten the broken bits and crumbs of that batch. And my friend’s chicken liver mousse was the first liver I was actually able to eat. The burger is probably the best value on the menu, if you’re looking for that.

Let’s just say I wasn’t as impressed as I was hoping.
I’ve heard so many great things about this place and unfortunately my time here was just Ok. The décor is beautiful and hip, lots of vintage finds which I love. The cocktail menu also seemed on point – they had illustrations on the menu of each which helped you visualize even better. I must say though I was pretty disappointed with the brunch menu. All of the stand-​out items I had read about on Unilocal were gone! And I don’t just mean 1 or 2… my friends (who are also expert Unilocalers) did our homework and came prepared with multiple things in mind only to hear that not a single one available! Ah, kind of a bummer but the ambiance was great so I’d be willing to give it another try…

So awesome chill vibe with two rooms. If this were in NY, there’d just be the one room… in the bar… but go around the back side of the bar and there’s another room with more seating… it’s a little darker back there, but it’s nice and cozy with couches and big chairs and such.
The cocktails are affordable, but I wasn’t really in the mood for one (though a good swizzle always tempts me). They did have a tap takeover by Penrose. I tried their Session Sour, which is quite possibly one of the most sour beers I’ve ever had, straight up citrus. It was good though and great for washing down the malort my friend though I should try. And yes, they have malort.
We were grabbing a light dinner… aka the Chef’s Board charcuterie platter. It included 5 meats, 5 cheese, mustard, compote, cornichons and other pickled veggies (similar to giardiniera). It was delicious and highly recommended and they kept bringing out more toast!
The space is great, the service is great and heck, it’s quite affordable and they have a decent food menu if you wanted to actually grab dinner.

I used to love Scofflaw because their drinks were great, music was on point, and the atmosphere was perfect for a chill night out with friends…
until «Whoo!» girls and boys took over.
Scofflaw officially lost its charm when I realized I couldn’t finish a drink nor a conversation without someone interrupting with their obnoxious college-​days’ whoo-​ing habits.

In a neighborhood where a great cocktail is easy to come by, I come back for the calm atmosphere.
For starters, we arrived a party of three on a night where milwaukee ave was hoppin– something we did not want to walk into. Scofflaw has a population control, probably to better service everyone in the bar. All we had to do was wait for three people to walk out of the bar and we were in!
This is a fabulous yet casual spot to grab a drink with friends and chatty away! I’ve been several times and I have come to find that the drinks can be sweet (not my taste but others would love it) and they also have harder cocktails for me too. I’ve only had their chocolate chip cookie which was good. Their burger is rich, cheesy, and greasy. SO what I was feenin for that Saturday night.
I finally tried a malort shot here. It was disgusting but for some reason I’ll probably be having another one next time.

I take back my four stars. Scofflaw is truly a hidden gem and worth at least five. I’ve been here at least five times, and for someone who vows never to go back to some place unless it’s mindblowing, well it blew my mind at least four times.
What I love about this place is not only the ambiance. It’s intimate yet noisy and it’s a neighborhood joint. If you really want to experience Chicago, it’s hidden diamonds like these that make you TRULY feel like you belong to Chicago.
Drinks are superb and reasonably priced ($ 8 — $ 10) and so are the food! We ordered the beets, cauliflower, and fries. It’s one of the places that don’t make you shell out loads of money for a great experience. All of their drinks are top quality and I love how they explain to you what goes into the drinks with the text on the bottom of their menu. Food is A+ as well and pairs well with the drinks. Last but not least, cookies at midnight = A +++.
Malort shots are $ 3.

Came here for drinks and din a few weeks ago. The drinks and food were both good! I love the vibe here, super chill (dark) and cozy. If you want a nice relaxing night out with some good food stop by here! At times it was a little hard to hear the person i was sitting next to and the service was a bit slow– but super chill!

Literally the coolest place I have ever been to! Amazing and interesting décor, awesome drinks and cookies at midnight!!! I would go there every weekend if I lived around here!

This is a really fun, intimate cocktail bar. The ambience is trendier. It’s very dim and the small dining room/​sitting room is full of antique yet comfy chairs & couches. There is limited seating and even more limited tables, so if you’re coming with a larger group, you will likely not be able to sit all together unless it’s during a really slow time.
The menus are constantly changing, so don’t expect to come and order something you’ve seen on Unilocal.That’s what I did and I quickly realized that this was a completely new menu. So go in with an open mind and you’ll find something great!
Drinks: This is a cocktail bar, so stick to the cocktails. I typically order gin cocktails, which are delicious. I have branched out and tried other cocktails and been disappointed, so I’ll stick to the gin.
Food: I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich, which was served with a cute mini/​personal bottle of hot sauce. It had great flavor and really filled me up. I have to say it rivaled Analogue’s and Parson’s chicken sandwiches!
This is a great place and you can find some great drinks & food options!

This upscale lounge sports very comfy Victorian frame and carpet fabric chairs. Dimly lit for romance. The secrecy of one’s conversation can be maintained by being drowned out in the loud ambience. The music can be quite loud at times.
The Violet Hour of Logan Square/​West Town.

Seriously, amazingly, delicious. I didn’t think I would like the drinks since they specialize in gin drinks. I was wrong because their drinks are fantastic. Went on a date with the hubs and again with a group; both times the drinks were great (constancy is important).
My two favorite drinks were the Castle wall and the Old Domoni (I think that’s the name, it’s the only drink with tequila in it).
The location is close to public transportation and easily accessible by cab/​über. The décor is vintage-​y industrial. The music, amazing! Classic gangsta wrap a la classical instruments, yes please!
We tried the fries which were delicious and will be going back for the burger which looks just as delicious. The service was top notch; professional mixologists and waiters (very attentive without being too much).

Obsessed. I came her on a friday night at about 930/​10pm. We found seats by the fireplace, and a waitress took care of us all night. I really liked the atmosphere of the place, it reminded me of my favorite bar I use to go to when I lived in NYC. It wasn’t that crowded most people where sitting at tables and a few groups standing by the bar (idk if that normal on a friday night).
Reasons I am obsessed:1. Good cocktails. I did not order any food but 1 person in our group got the burger and I heard no complaints. 2. at Midnight a tray of freshly baked cookies comes around, which is amazing. 3. Seriously the nicest bathroom I have ever been in, I thought I was in a spa no joke.
Will def be heading back, seems more like a date spot or like a spot you go to with a group, as most people appeared to be sitting at tables not not really mingling.

Moving to the neighborhood a year and a half ago, Scofflaw quickly became our go-​to brunch spot and decadent dinner and cocktails standby. The food was always good and at times bordered on really really really good.
But something changed a few months ago. While OK… it’s just not great anymore. Our last 2 or 3 brunch visits were disappointing to say the least. To the point that during our most recent brunch (we used to go weekly) we decided take a break for a while. There are too many great options in Chicago and specifically Logan Square to suffer through bad food.
After a break, we decided to come back and grab some dinner. Sadly building upon our last few bad brunch experiences, tonight’s meal was a huge disappointment. I know they change the menu all the time but wow. Talk about a bummer.
We’ve drooled over and devoured their pâté on several visits in the past and it was always decadent and divine. Tonight’s chicken mousse was warm, watery and tasted like BAD liverwurst. We sent it back and requested the pâté instead, hoping to build on previous experiences. Instead it was a slice of a nondescript, somewhat dry meat-​blend that wasn’t worth the time of day. They even re-​plated it on the chicken mousse plate minus the toast. Thanks guys!
We also ordered some cheese and TALK about disappointing. I know you don’t know how big my pinky is, but for $ 4 a serving you got a piece of cheese the size of my pinky that didn’t taste any better than a kraft grocery store brick of cheese.
I’m sure we’ll be back for cocktails, as that’s Scofflaw’s speciality. But damnit, it used to be food too. I know this review won’t matter in the scheme of things as they are always busy thanks to some fantastic national press. But seriously… I’m bummed.

My very favorite neighborhood bar! Come with friends! Come on a date! Come by yourself! Find a drink that suits your fancy. pull up a chair by the fireplace. Order a pile of fries and a charcuterie plate and literally move in and never leave.
Want a more surf and turf vibe? Finish up your fabulous drinks at Scofflaw and skip four doors down to their sister restaurant Sink|Swim. You will regret nothing.