Tar Bar

Cockroaches. No thanks.

Based exclusively on the exterior, it’s probably not a place I would wandered into on my own. But a bunch of theater folks hang out here regularly and get their drink on, and people I know DJ here, so I make the occasional stop. The drinks – while not cheap – are decent and don’t leave you broke. The interior is much, much more chic than the outside would lead you to believe. It’s tiny in a way that could be intimate if it wasn’t packed, which it has been on most of the occasions I’ve been there. It’s located across the street from the Brown Line Western stop, but away from the major Lincoln Square strip, so it’s often overlooked.

I’ve been here twice and I’ve enjoyed both visits (both visits were on a Thursday night). Friendly bartenders, reasonable prices and a pretty cozy and fun atmosphere. Great people watching and the men’s room looks like all the magazines my dad «read» when I was a kid. The owner told me they’ve been doing live bands on the weekends. This may be cool, but this place is small, I considered that a warning more than anything else. I think I would lose my mind if there were over 100 people in Tar Bar. Otherwise, this place is good for a Thursday, and believe me, it gets plenty busy.

Kind of an odd little bar. During the week it seems to cater to the weekday after work drinker set (you know they type — they hit up the same bar, at the same time every day, and drink the same thing… they are tne Norms of the neighborhood). But on the weekends, it’s a wierd mix of people. There’s the crew having drinks before heading out to a club. The crew that looks like this IS their club. The handful of neighborhood couples stopping in for a drink before/​after dinner. And then the Norms. Throw in a DJ who plays what I can only describe as the oddest mix of music (sometimes pop, sometimes techno, sometimes top 40) and it’s just a very mixed vibe on Fridays & Saturdays.
But, the great thing about this place which will keep me going back, is that its connected to a liquor store. So if you want a certain type of red or white wine and it’s not a bottle they have open, they’ll go grab a bottle and open it for you (within reason of course). Now this will most likely happen once they get to know you and during the week when they aren’t super busy, but it’s still a little perk that I think is fantastic. Throw in really friendly & chatty bartenders (and the owner is super nice) and it’s a good little go-​to neighborhood spot.

This place is kinda weird. But I love it.
I stumbled in here one night during a mid-​evening pub crawl with a friend’s bachelor party entourage. The help was invariably pleasant and eager to please. The drinks were generous and priced right. Disregarded the ‘brighter than the sun’ liquor store next door and the glaring orange glow of Chicago streetlights outside and found ourselves a cozy little drinkery.
Been back again since and had the same experience. They know they need to try a little harder and it shows.

Tar bar is a great place to just chill at. My friend Dj’s there every now and then so I know the music is great. The place is kind of small but it has character. It’s also nice that it’s connected to a liquor store so they are never running out of liquor like some bars I’ve gone to in the past have. Sometimes, they play pay per view fights on their screens and it could get rather packed. But I guess that’s what you get when you go to a bar trying to watch a pay per view fight that usually costs $ 50 – 70 if you were to order it at home.
The owners are really down to earth and easy to talk to. If you’re in the neighborhood, check this place out on a Friday or Saturday night

Sometimes you just gotta love salsa dancing…
Went here for the first time that didn’t include waiting for Thai food or just buying beer at the liquor store portion. When you are with cool people any place is a blast, but this was a sweet night.
The vibe, the crowd, the salsa music, and sweaty backs had my feet moving and not actually minding that a pint of Shiner cost $ 6! Aside from the steep drink prices this place was kind of cool. Have to go back with the same crowd one day.
If you are ever in Lincoln Square and are sick of lederhosen and schnitzel go to the Tar Bar and dance, dance, dance…

After roasting in the sun for some 3 hours at Mayfest, my honey and I grabbed some refreshing beverages at this unassuming (from the outside at least) oasis. Quick and friendly service, with some pretty cool artwork on the walls. The crowd was a mixture of young and not so young, with everybody playing together nicely. At night there’s a DJ, so the crowd probably gets a little young.

This place is fabulous. Went here after MaiFest last Saturday with a bunch of good friends that I hadn’t seen in awhile. Maybe the stars aligned and we all felt like dancing, maybe the DJ was THAT GOOD.
I seriously shook my booty for four hours solid. Can’t really comment on the drinks, they are probably great. I think I only consumed one Stella, I was so busy dancing. Friendly, fun crowd and on this night the music was fantastic.

After attending Mayfest, I was dragged here by some friends and knew I would not like it. Loud booming music met my ears along with popped collared shirts and the like. The scene was pretentious and the only silver lining was that it was less crowded than other bars in the neighborhood (for good reason!). I stayed about ten minutes and could not will myself to stay any longer by ordering a drink. Tar Bar is blech!

I went here for a friends engagement party. It was a nice little bar, good size for a small group. I’m not sure how crowded it gets regularly but for her party it was perfect.
I only stood for one beer and decided on Hobgoblin (hope thats correct) all i know is that I loved it. And will keep this place in mind for a future drink.

This is a cozy place with friendly staff. I have been here a few times to check out the DJ and meet up with some friends. The owner is very friendly, by the time I left I felt like I knew everyone there. good, quiet place to hang out with some friends. There is usually a house music DJ playing, which is fine by me. even though its cozy, there is never a lot of people here. the drinks are cheap, and its across the street from the western brown line, so that’s a plus.

Ok so I’m appauld by some of the reviews strong acusations reguarding the roaches. I use to know the owner back in the day. They make a killer drink (strong and good) the way I like em. its suprising that they now have a dj this place is small. He also owns the liquor store next door. Prices are ok for a chicago bar. And nicely decorated.

I think enough time has passed for me to write a review.
Met a friend here for a drink. Note to self, never bring a female friend to a bar where you may see cockroaches. She yelled, «Animal!» The bartender yelled and the bar manager yelled, «kill it». This roach was more than an inch in length. I let it run across the bar, passed my arm and onto a glass. Not my responsibility, I yelled back at a DUDE. He comes over and with a pan mitt in hand and then takes multiple swipes at the roach like a scared school girl. Seriously, roaches on the bar, come-​on!
Weeknights in the winter are grim, nothing to look at and no reason to check them out for Alc specials. Music was blah. Well. if bartender is your thing, this one was wearing obnoxious clothing. Boobage spilling out top, almost yelling. «tip me»

Definitely surprised to hear the reviews that came before me. This bar has been nothing but welcoming and accommodating to me. The owner Taso is friendly and always attentive to us. He has even ordered payperview events for us at short notice! Which trust me isn’t a cheap thing to do. The decore is dimlit soft and swanky. Everything is always clean. Too bad a few rotten reviews have brought down this places average. Its a 5 star place with 5 star service. I’d reccommend it to anyone looking for a good bar with reasonable prices great service and good decore.

I have been coming to this bar for years. I love the atmosphere and the new décor is very impressive. I have actually thrown my birthday parties here in the past. I recieved great service and great prices. The owner is pleasant and always makes me feel like im #1. If your in the area i recommend u stop in. And as far as that previous review I have never seen a roach or any kind of rodents in the bar. Thats a ridiculous accusation. Plus the mens room is always clean when i went in.

I think this place is a front for a drug-​running operation or some other sketchy shit. The owner was a real dick and is responsible for the nasty signs in the adjacent liquor store. Boo to this place.

This is one of the dirtiest bars I have ever been in. There were roaches, which is weird because they don’t even serve food. The bathrooms are always disgusting, and they never have toilet paper or soap. Finally, the jukebox sucks, but probably not half as bad as the service in there. I wouldn’t go back there on a bet!

A friend of mine tends bar here on Monday nights, so we finally went in this past week. Was very pleasantly surprised (as Kathleen mentions, it’s a lot nicer inside than the exterior would suggest). Enjoyed the Monday night drink special, although for most of the time we were there nobody else was in the bar but the group we came with. Which, for me, was a good thing.
This place could possibly be my new Parrot’s, except that the jukebox is not nearly as good. If they put some Tom Waits in the jukebox, I’d give them another star.

I have walked by this bar hundreds of times and even went to the connecting liquor store. I have always been curious to what is really inside as it doesn’t look special and hard to see from the outside.
Finally got a friend to join me. It is really nice inside! All new chairs and tables, nice long bar and TVs playing the Simpsons for a few guys that were there.
Asked the bartender for white wine and he actually had a few options! Impressed! He filled up 2 glasses all the way to the rim and said it was $ 10. Not sure if there was a special or not but I paid $ 10 at Stone Lotus for one ¼ full glass!
I did hear that Tar Bar has live music on weekends which is kinda scary because the bar is pretty small. But I will definitely go back soon!