Underground Lounge

They have an open mic for stand-​up comedy here on Thursday evenings, which is the reason I schlepped up from the South Loop in the 10 degree before windchill atmosphere. The atmosphere inside the place was chill as well: I went fashionably late after 9 pm for the 8 pm starting time, thinking that there would be a larger audience (I was spoiled by Cole’s when the wonderful Cameron Esposito hosted it). The place still had about a dozen people in it, nearly all comedians – it’s tough to work a room that can’t make much noise even if they are laughing. But it was still worth the trip.
Cheap drinks: I had a well whiskey and Coke for 5 George W’s. (Not Bush; though THAT would be a hoot! Washington.) Very nice bartender.
I’m not sure how they get off calling it a lounge. It’s an Underground Rec Room. Really a three-​star bar, but the fact that they’re supporting local comedians makes the place sparkle just a little more.

Dive bar with an eh vibe, doesn’t have a great variety of drinks, doesn’t serve wine. But a plus is that it supports local music.

Underground Lounge is a very relaxing bar with a great look of a true underground bar. Dan is such a nice bartender, that he deserves a hi-​5 and tips. Btw he knows his video games!
Todday

I came here to see my friend’s band play and when we passed all of the other bars in the area, I was afraid we were in for a dark and douchey night. Au contraire! They had arcade games (unfortunately some of them weren’t working or ate our money). The vocals were excellent and the bartenders were great. The prices were reasonable for a Lakeview bar with better service than probably all of them.

Yes, it looks like the dark basement of a friends house. Yes, it’s a dive bar. Yes, it is nothing like the other douche bars in the neighborhood. The bathrooms are a little scary.
Depending on your taste in music, you may not like it. A friend of mine was performing there, so that’s the only reason we went, and I would definitely go there again.
They had a $ 7 cover and $ 4 Old Style tall boys.

I will give them one extra star because they are clearly trying to survive among a sea of douchy frat boy sports bars in the greater Wrigley area. But regardless, they aren’t doing much to help their cause.
This could really be a great spot for live music and drinks in a divey and relaxed atmosphere. It’s a good sized and well laid out room with a pretty big stage. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like they are doing much to promote the bar or the venue (I couldn’t even find a website).
During my visit the bartender was a bit suspect and he changed the prices for the pounders half way through the night, even though the marquee outside still said $ 4. As for the other beers, it was a bit too overpriced for people to hang out for more than 1 beer.
The bathroom was surprisingly decent for the space, but the nest of electrical wiring visible from the hallway next to the bathroom raises questions on how safe this place is.
Overall, I think well priced drinks, a management change, and a less dated looking marquee could really turn this place around.

Can a dive bar really achieve more than two stars? Not really, it’s a dive bar. It probably gets more street cred that way. Nestled in the bro-​nest of Wrigleyville, UL provides a place for dirty and wonderful rock and roll shows.
They serve a beer cheaper than PBR/Hamm’s. Wow.

Went here for St. Patty’s 2013. No line, which was a plus. The place filled up quickly and was a good crowd. Several weird things happened. 1^st, the bar only owns 8 shot glasses. I ordered 10 car bombs. The bartender wanted to serve our shots in plastic cups. Doesn’t really work for car bombs. He also warned us not to steal the glass shot glasses he gave us. Ok… They need to be prepared for a holiday like St. Patrick’s day. Secondly, 2 girls literally got stuck in the bathroom. The door was wedged shut and the bartended couldn’t even get it open. A larger, stronger patron of the bar had to pry it open. Dive bar indeed. Still had a good time though.

Wow a place in Wrigley that’s not a douche hole. Like drinking in the basement I live in. Check it out.

We went here last night for a friend’s birthday party. It’s not your typical Wrigleyville bar, which is a plus in my book. Anytime someone asks me to go to a bar in Wrigleyville, I immediately flip through my book of excuses not to go. I’m glad I went to this bar though — not really because of the bar itself but because I saw some old friends that I hadn’t seen in years.
The place itself is fairly small and dark and dingy. It’s the epitome of a dive bar (and I mean that in the best possible way). I’d imagine it’d be a nice neighborhood bar to go to if I actually lived in the neighborhood (thankfully, I don’t — I hate Wrigleyville and all the drunk Cubs fans). There is a stage in the front where my friend had a band, the Goodyear Pimps (who, by the way, were very good), play. The sound and acoustics in the bar was surprisingly good. I didn’t stay too long though because I was pretty tired from a long week. I did stay long enough to have a PBR (everyone else was drinking it and it seemed like it was the only beer available). The PBR had a strange after-​taste and I decided that would be the last drink I ordered for the night.

Not a bad dive bar. They have a nice space for plays or bands. But they ain’t lyin. it is totally underground. No light!

Underground is a dive bar. It also tries to be a venue for live music, which I think it could probably pull off with just a little more effort.
It’s not as dirty as other reviewers have made it seem, nor was it as beat down. Underground is definitely rough around the edges but it gets the job done.
By the way, kudos to the bartender for not having an aneurysm when my girlfriend tried desperately to describe what kind of drinks she liked. He was really helpful, and knew what he was doing.

Alright, let’s get the unpleasantries out of the way.
Yes, it is in Wrigleyville. Yes, it is a dive bar. One false step down those stairs can mean a world of hurt (don’t ask).
BUT, they bring in some pretty great acts for the little stage they have down there. I went Saturday, and they featured the Spanktaculars — a new burlesque dance company — with comedic stylings by Gwen La Roka and GREAT music DJ Shon Roka. Great stage for –ahem– that kind of entertainment… the ladies were delightfully decadent and the drink specials were pretty on point ($ 4 well drinks) to help everybody loosen their collars. The crowd was pretty chill and sociable, so no need to feel like a stranger.
Bottom Line: If there’s a great act, make the trip.

One word review: Sanctuary.
More than one word review: The reason this is my favorite bar in the neighborhood is the very same reason most people who go to Wrigleyville hate it. It’s kind of dirty, genuinely charming, and a very effective trixie repellent. The only thing that it has in common with Wrigleyfield is that it once had the aroma of vomit in the air. Which just means I missed a great night the evening prior.
The bartenders are the best I’ve come across and the live music… not so much. Unless it’s one of my friend’s bands, then it’s fantastic! When the pool table has all the balls required for a regulation game, that’s also a bonus. They also have a great rotating selection of beers flanked by (somewhat) frequent specials on Jameson drinks.
This joint leads to hijinks.

Went here to check out a friends band… unfortunately we showed up 5 minutes too late as they had just gone off of the stage. It was definitely an interesting place. Very small, but I kind of liked it! The ladies bathroom was surprisingly clean and nice. They have a pool table, not sure if it is free or not. They do not have a wide selection of beer, but they do carry alcohol so they will mix whatever up for ya. I did think my cranberry and vodka was a tad weak though.
I liked it here — I could see myself returning to see some bands at some point.

I’m going to start off this review by stating that I am musically lame. I admit it. I make no secret of it. I do, however, rely on my friends to break me out of my musically lame mold.
So one night my friend says to me «hey, let’s go check out my friend’s band at Underground Lounge.» And I says «Under-​where?» After some head shakes and eye rolls from him, we were off to Underground Lounge.
Amongst the piercings and leather I stuck out like a sore thumb, but whatever. I got a PBR and tried to mingle whilst hiding my lameness (and let me tell you, folks, it was not easy!) We listened to two bands before the band we came to see went on and even though I didn’t really dig the first band, I was starting to dig this place.
Underground Lounge is dark and grimy. Dare I say «grunge»? Oh yeah, I’m THAT lame! The bartenders were super nice and I loved they had the SciFi channel playing on the TVs scattered around the bar. The PBR stank, but PBR always stanks for me. I tried to hate Underground Lounge, but I just couldn’t. We had a nice table and enjoyed three live shows on the cheap. Plus, the people watching was probably the best that I have ever experienced. :)

A punk bar in Wrigleyville. Who knew? This is not necessarily a great thing because no one appeared to be shakin’ it to the jams and they seem to think punk just means the place doesn’t have to be as clean or up to code such as the duct tape over the smoke detector.
The only saving grace is the great bartender who belongs in a better bar.

This place is awesome. I’ve never been here when there are shows going on which seems to be the only time most people go which is a shame. The bar isn’t like most the bars in the area that are so packed you cant breathe. It has a great atmosphere feels like your at a bar with all your oldest and dearest friends when your here. Did I mention half off all drinks every Tuesday night?
Fuck yeah.

The Underground Lounge isn’t what I would think of as a «destination.» You don’t plan your night around it, get all dolled up for it, and know that you’re going to be there all night, having a great time and meeting all sorts of people that you’re confident you’ll like.
Hidden from the world, about a block from all of the debauchery on Clark St. in Wrigleyville, the Underground Lounge is dark and gritty and not particularly inviting. Trying to meet a friend there who was with a friend who knew someone in a band playing, when we told in advance that there was an 8 dollar cover, we already knew, even before getting there, that the music wasn’t going to be worth 8 bucks. So we spent our money at the bar instead – vodka cranberry cocktails (I’m such a girl) for $ 4 – I am totally okay with that price. And it didn’t taste like rubbing alcohol, either!
The doorman was really cool and a great artist (he does tattoos, too) and the girl behind the bar didn’t mean mug me for asking for a higher concentration of vodka in my second vodka cranberry. The bathroom was relatively clean, and the company enjoyable.
The Underground Lounge could have been a lot worse. Maybe I’ll come by not on purpose another time.

Thought this place was a club — didn’t realize we were walking into a punk concert. I am glad I made sure my collar was not popped (not that I’d do it anyway).
4 stars for the comfy booths.