The General

I’m starting with food because it is paramount and will deposit my other opinions after the jump (lol remember the early aughts y’all?)
1) brisket taco — delicious, order it
2) fried chicken taco — fine, but probably just order another brisket taco
3) guacamole — yass
4) $ 8 taco/​beer/​shot deal — Yass yass
This is not a proper taco truck taco — they are expensive (except for on Tuesday for locals and the $ 8 deal) they are bougey but they are also tasty and the atmosphere is lovely.
gonna break down the specifics of the important things going on in this establishment:
1) the staff is delightful
2) the fiddle player in one of their bluegrass bands is my future husband (fingers crossed — if you’re reading this CALL ME)
3) you can buy beer in a boot

They’ve fixed all of the things I was disappointed about upon my first visit. Went there again with a group of friends and it went really well. Will come frequently to his place.

Cool setup, nice vibe and dig the space. Great for dates or meeting a few friends for drinks. Not big enough to sustain a larger party unless their back room is open. Also their one-​per-​usage restrooms can’t sustain when they are busier. They should consider unisex washrooms.
For now, enjoy the space with a few people. Great tacos, tasty sides and try the pie! If you aren’t sure about a cocktail, ask for a recommendation. It will save the bartenders time and energy.

The décor and atmosphere at The General are pleasant. It is a nicely put together quaint dark wood interior that really does well to continue the «general store» theme. The food is just okay though and the prices are too high. For 4.25 $ you get one taco that is somewhere between small and medium sized with a side of cabbage. Between me and my friends I tried all the tacos they offered and most were decent but the meat was all very wet, every bite sent a splattering of water all over my plate, overall not a good value. The guacamole we had was pretty good, but be careful, about ¼ of the guacamole was left but all of our chips were gone, if we wanted to finish it we would have had to pay 3 $ extra for more chips… Most of the beers are probably .50 cents to a dollar more expensive than they should be but they do have a rotating $ 4 beer in a boot glass that was a very good deal. All in all it is a decent place, cool theme but the tacos are simply not good enough to have me in as a regular customer.

I think I may have just found my new «go-​to» non-​dive Mexican place.
While my heart always has a special place for taquerias, sometimes you just want a little more atmosphere and a craft cocktail list. This place has both and more.
They do some pretty amazing things with their smoked brisket (i.e. nachos were awesome and so was the brisket taco).
I have a weakness for fried chicken, and the southern fried chicken taco filled my needs absolutely perfectly.
While I look forward to trying more of the menu in future visits, let’s talk about the drinx.
Craft cocktails are $ 10 and the wine list — it’s at wholesale cost. While looking at the prices by the bottle, I kept searching for an asterisk to see if there’s a $ 25-​$ 50 charge in addition to the bottle price to open it. But no.
We had a 2009 Rioja Gran Reserva for $ 26. The Binny’s price was $ 20. In most restaurants, that’d be a $ 45-​$ 60 bottle.
This restaurant is cozy and the staff is fun and knowledgeable.
I’ll definitely be coming back soon, and I would encourage you to try this place — I think you’ll be very glad that you did.

Really really good food! Pictures being posted, one taco was beer-​can-​chicken and the second one pork shoulder something, it was divine. The guacamole and vegetable was amazing as well as the nachos. I recommend going there if you are looking to fill up. The tacos are average street taco size, super filling and yummy.

After seeing the Saturday special for a boot of beer a taco and shot of bourbon on The Local Tourist Chicago site, I was more than excited to book a table at this Logan Square Mexican farm to table restaurant. They offer an extensive beer list, seasonal specialties and crave worthy tacos and small plates. They are also known for their pies which we will be sure to leave room for the next time we go. The guac is served generously with a large pail of chips and enough for a group to share. Two tacos should be enough for one person if you plan to order an appetizer or dessert. We had phenomenal service from Emily. She was a very personable, attentive server. We can’t wait to go back another Saturday as long as this special lasts. Such a fun atmosphere and exciting neighborhood. Two thumbs up!

I have to say, if it’s between waiting two hours and Longman and Eagle or coming here, just come here! Chicago needs to learn to spread the love and this place deserves some of it!
Atmosphere — Great! Good music. Fun décor. Cozy! What more could you ask for? Well… a little more heat, I guess. Those brick walls are drafty. But other than that, no complaints here.
Drinks — The cocktails different, thoughtful and tasty (also around $ 10 each which is reasonable, I think). The beer list was impressive. Not very long but some options there you certainly don’t see everywhere else, which I appreciate.
Food — I ordered something that was new on the menu and I have to say, it was great! It was the Commissary stew — sooooo good! Everyone else really enjoyed what they got and my group of 9 ran the gamut on what we ordered.
One note about the menu — They added a shared plates section to the menu but none of the items seemed really shareable. I think they should just be entrees, personally and leave the sharing out of it. My stew was so good, I wouldn’t want to share with anybody anyway.
Good Luck The General!!! Hope you stick it out!

Service was great, the food wasn’t. We started with the charcuterie and cheese plate, which had venison and andouille sausage and a couple okay cheeses. The sausages were kinda warm, which is odd for charcuterie in my experience; it was like they were meant to be served hot but were left sitting so by the time they got to us they were just above room temp in the middle. The tacos also came out rather cold, their flavor was okay but nothing spectacular. The mac and cheese with pork belly was decent, as was the corn bread. The décor in this place is strange and a bit confused, they are going for rustic chic but then have massive flat screen TVs to display their drink menus (which have fonts to make it look like it’s written in chalk). The décor and service won’t stop me from going back but the food sure will.

I love The General! I must say, at first glance I thought it was going to be one of those cheesy «hip» places that doesn’t end up feeling genuine at all. However, this was the opposite of true. The food is delicious and the tacos are really creative. I even think the coleslaw deserves a mention (not overdressed). I love the beer boot specials, they are always a really good quality beer for just $ 4. And the shot/​beer/​taco combo for $ 8 is genius.
The place always feels warm and welcoming on the inside, and seems to be working with the community and doing neat stuff. I was there when a DJ from Bloodshot records was there and he picked some perfect tunes for the vibe of the place. Also, last but certainly not least, the servers were what put my review at 5 stars. They’re always so nice and helpful. This is a great place to bring some friends at the end of the week to have food and drinks.

Went in for brunch to check this place out for the first time. I was one of 3 people when I arrived for a 12pm reservation. Was concerned at first, but a few more people showed up while we were there. The space is definitely appealing with a unique area to purchase beer to take home and electric menus above the bar. I would definitely want to check this out when there are more people there. Great local beer list! Server did a great job sharing the concept with me and various events they have through the week that intrigued me to want to come check it out later in the evening. Not a huge menu, but definitely a variety of items to choose from. I had the Farmers Hash with smoked brisket served with eggs, veggies and fresh tortillas. I look forward to coming back and hope that the neighborhood gives it some love!

Went to bluegrass brunch here and it was great. Ambiance was very laid back and perfect for enjoying music. The food was good and bloodies were only $ 5! I’d definitely check it out when in Logan square

My first visit to General left me feeling a little hungrier and poorer than I had hoped, though the quality of food was undeniable.
Within a few weeks, prices were lowered and a variety of food and drink specials were added. I no longer have any hesitance to swing by, be it alone for a drink or with a crew to party. They even hooked it up w free chips n salsa last time I brought a group!

My friends and I love checking out new places and had been to the General before the particular night about which I am writing. We enjoyed the food and the ambiance so much that we decided to make this a stop on a bachelor party bar tour through Chicago and the good folks at the General could not have been more accommodating. We arrived in fits and starts after our first stop in Wrigley. The waitress was gracious enough to split all of our checks in spite of our exuberance.
The food was as solid as ever. My favorite menu item is the shrimp and grits chimichangas. The cornbread is also delicious with enough moisture and spice to make it a not miss item. The drink menu is very interesting with some craft cocktails and local brews you can’t find elsewhere.
The General also has a jazz night on Wednesdays and a soul night on Saturdays and a bluegrass brunch on Sunday. Highly recommend The General!

This spot is my JAM. For some reason, bar/​laundromat hybrids are not a thing yet, so this is the closest I can get. I live right around the corner so dumping my laundry in the wash and popping into the General for a drink with my man is my new favorite thing.
The General has an amazing craft beer list that has something for everyone. IPA’s, APA’s, ciders, stouts, you name it and it’ll be there. If it’s not on draft, it’s probably at least on their equally awesome can/​bottle list. Plus, they have a daily $ 4 boot special that isn’t some crap no one wants to drink, it’s always a great pick and I’ve gotten to try tons of new awesome beers via the Boot.
Their cocktails are also on point. I’m obsessed with the Simmerson which has the perfect amount of pineapple without being overly sweet, and the Abolitionist (I think) which is grapefruit and hibiscus. Usually grapefruit is a palate hog and takes over a drink, but not the case here, fellas. It’s perfectly balanced to catch that citrus bite and floral accents. A+!
I haven’t had all of the tacos yet, but I’ve been pleased with all the ones I have had. I looove the pork shoulder taco with its mustard bbq sauce, and the shot and a beercan chicken taco is a close second. My boyfriend is in love with the fried chicken taco. I had the catfish one and wasn’t nuts about it – mushy black eyed peas and a soft fish like catfish don’t go too well together, but even though it’s not the best, it’s still good. Oh, and their guacamole and pico are so tasty, I usually can’t stop. And if you go by for their late night menu, their beef brisket quesadilla is amazing and should be on their regular menu. YUM. The portions are smaller, but it’s farm-​to-​table, so for the price and flavor it’s worth it.
I hope this place stays around the neighborhood for a long time!

Super excited to see this end of California coming to life with new restaurants. The General has a good concept and vibe. It’s a fun place to sit and I would totally come back for a whiskey drink and some of the live music.
The food… is just not that good. The menu is very limited, but the descriptions of the tacos look amazing. We both had the taco/​boot special (boot of beer, whiskey shot and taco) and ordered a few extra tacos. The tacos were super small, the tortillas were not good, and they fell apart in your hands. The seasoning and combinations are a little off. It’s not terrible or anything, but definitely not something I would go back for, especially with L’Patron right up the street.

Really liked this spot.
Farm to taqueria is the theme here. I enjoyed everything I had. They serve beer in a pint-​size boot. I couldn’t resist the beer/​shot/​taco combo for $ 8. This is the new Logan Square PB&J.
The guac «snack» was a big portion, and the chips here are super good. All the taco’s are $ 3 – 4 and that’s a perfect price, 2 pretty much filled me up (although I think I could eat 10). Shot-​and-​a-​beer can chicken stuck out as a favorite. The vibe here is cool too. The back porch feels like a tiny Chicago backyard.
Maybe I’m just excited about this new place, or maybe it’s just a perfect night to sit on a patio, but I loved this spot.

I REALLY want to love this place and I’m keeping an open mind since they were only in Week #2 when we had our first visit.
First — staff & space — awesome! The General has done a great job of revamping and expanding the old Provenance space, maximizing dining both inside and out. LOVE the alfresco dining both on the front sidewalk and the back patio. The ambiance inside is warm & inviting.
We went in on the early side… 6:30 on a Thursday night. The place was pretty busy, which we love to see in a new Logan spot. The staff are still getting into their groove but the hostess and waiters were super friendly and engaging. The bar was having a tough time keeping up with orders, but I have faith! Our food arrived before our drinks and that did not go unnoticed by our waiter.
Food: the tacos are definitely on the small side. We tried four of them and one absolutely stood out… Shot-​and-​A-​Beer Can Chicken. Delish! It’s a MUST try! Juicy & so full of flavor, we ordered a 2^nd one. Yum! 2^nd best was the Pork Shoulder taco. Unfortunately, the Smoked Bourbon Brisket & Southern Fried Chicken tacos were both really dry and without much flavor. Both sounded fabulous on the menu. While we were pretty disappointed in those two, we loved the Shot-​and-​A-​Beer Can Chicken!
The mac n’ cheese was another winner. It’s offered with bonus additions of beef, chicken, pork belly, onion & jalapeño… we opted to try it straight up and it was straight up delicious! Also, we thought it was the best bang for your buck, dollar for dollar. The corn bread was good, but pretty standard. I’d love to see it stand out with a little more jalapeño flavor or kick.
Drinks: We tried the Black Jack, Mexican War & the Abolitionist. The Mexican War was tasty. The Black Jack grew on me throughout the meal. I think the flavors needed time to open up together. My first sip was a little too syrup heavy, but the flavors blended nicely over time.
I mentioned our food arrived before our drinks and we had a good gap between our first and second taco round. In an effort to smooth out some opening hiccups, our waiter brought us each a bourbon sample at the end of the night. We really appreciated his awareness and The General’s customer service. Awareness will go such a long way!
Our bill was over $ 70 before tip. A little on the pricey side for the dining portions, but it probably won’t keep us away.
All said, we will absolutely be back for another try and are looking forward to a little bit better quality as The General ages!

Great service. The waiters are very friendly and down to earth. The interior was very impressive and loved the earthy vibe. It’s a great spot for a date or even for friends to hang out. I recommend the guacamole as a starter. One of the best gaucs Ive ever had. The jalapeño corn bread is so good that we had to order more. I wish they could just give us the whole pan! Now let’s talk about the Mac n cheese, I don’t like Mac n cheese but I loved that it had onions and pork belly meat– yum! The tacos were so seasoned that I didn’t need hot sauce or any other seasoning, but they have hot sauce upon request. Their cocktails were very crafty and was tasty. It’s a new joint in a great neighborhood. Everyone must give it a try because you will definitely go back!

New place in the ‘hood alert! I wish I liked The General more but let me preface this by saying they are just in their second week being open. I hope they pay attention to feedback and make some adjustments because the potential is there.
Things started in an upward swing when we arrived to The General. I absolutely love the old timey décor, a few outdoor sidewalk seats, beer boot special of the day for $ 4, the hostess was very friendly and pleasant, and turnaround time for food coming out once orders were in was speedy. Plus, we were able to be seated immediately at 7:30pm on a Saturday night. I was actually surprised they had a huge TV in there with the Blackhawks game on… didn’t quite stick with the theme of the place.
We were sat at a four top and what struck me was how much unused space they had. Tables were too small for all the food & drinks that come out and it’s not as if tables are squished together. They need to get some bigger tables in there. We were seated under the air conditioning and there was so much condensation, it was constantly dripping on my friend and I.
We started by ordering chips and guac for the table for $ 7. I actually really enjoyed the guacamole because I often find the cilantro taste overwhelming in it. The guacamole at The General didn’t have the overpowering cilantro though so I loved it. We liked it so much we used all our chips and asked for more. Three dollars for more chips. Plus they only filled our bucket about 70% for the additional chips. C’mon The General… no need to nickle and dime customers!
The General had 12 beers on tap and they were out of 3… that we know of! It could have been more but we didn’t make our way through the whole menu. With such a limited draft menu, you need to have backups ready for your next draught drink… or at least erase it from the board. Our server also seemed unapologetic about this… but also kind of got the vibe she didn’t care for us much.
The General only has 5 tacos on it’s list for $ 4 – 4.50 each and then a bunch of sides, including a good sized mac & cheese for $ 5. And for in $ 5 mac & cheese, you get a choice of a few things they will add in. One of those things was pork belly so I jumped on that! The pork belly was way overcooked to the point of having no flavor that remotely reminded me of delicious pork belly. One of my friends asked what the black stuff was in the mac & cheese, yepppp, that was the pork belly. Plus it seemed more watery than cheesy and just generally something was missing in the flavor.
We all agreed the tacos were not worth the $ 4-​$ 4.50. They were small with not much to them and with so many taco places around, they just don’t cut it. My fried chicken taco had a small slab of protein with a tiny bit of sauce on it… that’s it. I also noticed every single taco had some element of spice to it. This was fine with me but it may be good to add an option to appeal to the masses… really though…
I hate to say it but The General needs a total menu revamp. No one loved any of the tacos nor did we love any of the sides. The space is so great and I can tell a ton of time went into the décor. It’s truly fabulous! I don’t want to see it go to waste 6 months down the road. When you have such a small menu and drinks are highlighted, you need to have in stock what you have on the board. Also, service started out great but then became more disinterested, glasses left empty at times, then our server was nowhere to be found for quite some time when we needed the bill. Finally, the prices are just a bit too much. They needed to be lowered a bit. For 4 of us we spent $ 120 with tax & tip, thus me personally spent $ 30 for 1 taco, 1 mac & cheese side, ¼ of our chips & guac + 2 beers. Ouch.
I’m rooting for you, The General! Pull one out for the home team!