The Red Lion Pub

As someone not of drinking age, I will share a different viewpoint on the place.
I have been there twice now, once for brunch and once for drinks with family. Both times I have found the hospitality beyond any other restaurant I have ever been to. The owner, Colin, is extremely intelligent and knows how to make everyone’s experience comfortable and enjoyable. The fish and chips is the best in Chicago, and there is a selection of other traditional English dishes that I am excited to try next. Based on my experience working in the restaurant business, the alcohol selection, especially the beers, (as you can find in all other reviews) is phenomenal. The service was excellent and I will be back time and time again to enjoy good food and great company in a relaxed environment. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, this is the place to be in Chicago.

Bar tender was extremely rude. Tells customers «honey, you tip in Chicago». Overpriced drinks and weird people altogether. Won’t be coming back because of the service.

I was really excited to try this place. The pictures looked great, I’d heard decent things.
The atmosphere is really cool, and their alcohol selection is nice. But the food. The food was terrible. The sandwich I got was decent, not the best, but the fries they came with were cold and tasted old. Like, several days old. As if they were trying to unload last week’s uneaten fries on me and my friends. Everything was horribly greasy. I ate my sandwich and only a couple fries, and I felt sick the rest of the day. If you want to go here, come for a drink in the evening, not for brunch on the weekend.

The food, well its okay. But I love the atmosphere. Anglophiles who love all things English are missing out if they don’t visit at least once. Spend some time viewing the pictures and the written stories behind them on the walls. The original owner was a former English soldier, father of the current owner, even once served voluntarily in the Spanish Civil War against the fascists, who were being supported by Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Soak up the old world atmosphere. This place as well as the old place are documented haunted buildings. If that isn’t enough for you the current owner is very approachable and is an encyclopedia on Three Stooges episodes. If I’m in this area then it’s a given that I will be popping in to have a drink here.

Fantastic beer and whiskey choices, good food. But, most of all, the atmosphere is top notch. It makes you feel smarter and more worldly for having been. The experience here is truly unique and not like any other I’ve encountered in Chicago. I could not recommend The Red Lion enough.
I used to frequent here when I went school in Chicago 10 years ago. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, it was closed for renovations. Unfortunately for the rest of my time in Chicago.
I was extremely pleased to happen by the other day after a Cubs game and see it open and flourishing again. The inside is much more spacious than the old place (the bathroom is a major upgrade!), but loses a bit of that dusty, lived in charm that made the old place so compelling. Colin, is still being the bar, with the same great stories and quips. Great patrons, great conversation, great libations. Go! Now!

Who knew that a short trip downstairs from The Aviary would transport you to back in time or to another world where one cocktail is an experience. Pick a phrase, chat with the bartender about what flavor profiles you enjoy and an inexplicably perfect cocktail will be made. The seating arrangements are so that you feel you are the only people in the (already small) bar. Bring someone you enjoy talking with and savor a couple of drinks, share some oysters or foie gras.

Overall: Great food, great beer, atmosphere for a fun and neat pub experience.
The good: The food is delicious. The bread for the pub cheese was fresh and tasty, as was the cheese itself. The fish was fantastic and hearty for the fish and chips, and the chips were good too. The beer list is great and the rest of the drink menu is plentiful. The atmosphere is fantastic, adorned with true pub flair.
The bad: The service took a long time. They have a small kicthen so we had to wait awhile before putting in our food orders. The portions were on the smaller side.
Atmosphere: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Service: ⁸⁄₁₀
Food: ⁹⁄₁₀

In town on business, my local friends were insistent we go to Red Lion. It was a Tuesday night, so the place was sparse. It was «half off bottle of wine night» and they were out of the first 2 bottles we asked for (conveniently the cheapest bottles at 33 $ and 46 $, before half off calculated). They had an extensive list of alcohol. The menu was limited and I had fish/​chips, it IS an English pub. Food covered half of my plate. The fish was fine, nothing special as were the fries. My friend raved about her Brussel sprouts. The bartender was non comunicative and was generally uninterested in providing us with good service, he was not interested in working. We didn’t drink nearly as much as we had intended, as he was not attentive to our empty glasses. We called to him a few times and he either didn’t hear us or pretended not to, but there were only about 9 people at a 20 person bar. Just before we left, my friend asked for a coffee drink and the bartender made a suggestion. She said to him, «I can’t have carbs» and he rolled his eyes, threw his hands up and made an insulting look on his face. This in any situation is rude, but my friend has recently lost ALOT of weight by disciplining herself to a no carb diet. The atmosphere and ambiance of the red lion is original and beautiful, but the staff and service we below par, which would make me not return again. C’mon people… you bartend in a downtown Chicago iconic bar, you should have better social skills!!!

This place sits on a pretty shabby, college-​battered stretch of Lincoln Avenue, so I was shocked when I walked in and saw how pristine and charming the place is. The recent renovations were very capably done; even the bathrooms are nice, which is a rarity in the DePaul area. The Welsh rarebit and brussels sprouts were decent, but nothing to write home about. Ultimately, though, I didn’t mind the middling food options, because atmosphere will keep me coming back. The party rooms also look promising for private events.

Great atmosphere, authentic English fare and drinks. The bartender, Darren was more interesting than my date, thank the lord! Super chill and relaxing on a weekday, away from loud crowds and the youths. Loved the books and knick knacks around the bar, would love to come with more friends or a more interesting date ;-)

I love going here for a unique European beer. The bartenders are always so friendly and let you try different beers on tap before committing.

Took my folks here last Saturday to the Manifestations dinner event. Really cool thing to do if you want something a little different than the norm. Jim discusses some interesting history and tells some ghost stories about the building. He also performs magic and parlor tricks. Food was also excellent!

I am giving The Red Lion Pub 5 stars even though I would probably get a fast dinner elsewhere just so I could save a few more dollars to drink whisky and craft beer at the lovely bar, facing a soaring wall of books and bottles. This place is the stuff of Anglophilic dreams, decorated in war propaganda posters and memories of the British Empire. There is an extensive and reasonably priced whisk (e)y book and rotating drafts from all over the world. Bartenders have been friendly and well-​educated, happy to discuss any and all options. Music, if they play any, stays in the background. There are a few TVs, but they’re for resting one’s gaze — patrons are here to talk to one another and enjoy a nice night in a local.
I should say the food is pretty good — slightly classy British pub fare, very competent fry cook, and above-​average bread. It’s just that I’d rather spend my money here drinking, talking, and soaking in the wonderful ambiance.

So the interior of this pub is AMAZING. My fiancé took me here in December for my birthday weekend, and it is truly cozy inside. We sat in the front room and the fire place was lit which just made it even better. That said, while the waiter we had was really friendly, the bar was totally understaffed. He had to bounce back and forth between being the only server and host. I ordered a chicken sandwich and my fiancé ordered the fish and chips. The food was piping hot, but just lacking in much flavor and for the price, we both were a bit disappointed with the end product. We did love the plowman’s cheese board, and it we return that will probably be what we stick with.

Great place for drinks or traditional English grub. Service was awesome & loved the warm ambience. Definitely a great place to have drinks with friends.

This place oozes character. The owner, Colin has spent more time and consideration to create the atmosphere here than any pub I have ever been. You can stare at the walls for days, they are filled with history. Great host. Beer is superb. Whisky is working. I am done.

Amazing vibe. Laid back. Colin the owner is really approachable. Beer selection is so great. But I would drive across the city just to soak in the classy English pub/​home vibe.

Not as scary as the olde one but a great new location.

This place is a must-​go if you are a whiskey lover and if you live in Chicago.
Fish and chips is great. It has a cozy ambiance and the bartender is quite knowledgable. It feels like a library with a great selection of whiskeys. I’d highly recommend this place to anyone.

I have been here twice and loved it both times! First of all, I love the ambiance and décor of the place. A little old man, but I still like it. All the books and the fireplace and the alcohol and the food… what more do you need?! It’s a little dark for those of us that may need reading glasses, but that is nice for a date night.
Ok, so the food is amazing. We started out with the pub cheese and it’s a must have. We also had the charcuterie which included a type of ham, a venison pâté and a liver mouse. I really enjoyed the liver mouse and the ham and pâté were good too. I liked the pâté we had the first visit better than this last one. The one we had last night was cherry and orange, maybe a bit too sweet for me. The rest of my table liked it, so who do I think I am anyway?
For main courses, I had the fish and chips, the others had a burger, a chicken sandwich and the lamb curry. Everyone was really happy. My fish had a wonderful batter on it and was cooked perfectly. The tartar sauce was surprisingly good too, and I never eat that. I tried the lamb curry which was also perfectly cooked and tasty.
The desserts sounded amazing, but we were so full we could not try them. Our server, Cory was great. The hostess was really nice too. We went on a Thursday night and it wasn’t too busy. I imagine it gets busy on the weekends. They have a nice selection of wines and beer, not too pricey for the area and quality.
I love the front room and the little room upstairs… perfect places for a celebration! Can’t wait to come back for half price wine night! (on Mondays and Tuesdays I believe)

Classy refuge in the neighborhood. Colin is a very approachable owner /​bartender, offering quality customer service. Wide selection of whiskey and scotch. Wine menu is discerning and well thought out. I will be back to sample the food menu. Definitely on my list for a business outing.

I love this joint. The décor is gorgeous, they really went all out with the reboot, and it is perfect for a night out with friends, a date, dinner with out of towners, or just stopping in for a bite and a pint. The beer selection is unique and interesting, and there are more whiskeys than I can count. I am also really glad to see how well they’ve been accepted into the neighborhood. It’s a good mix of professionals, old regulars, students, and young families who come in for dinner. There not a lot of quality options in that area capable of accommodating such a broad clientele, but they do it without missing a beat.
As for the food, I’ve eaten here probably close to a dozen times now, and have yet to not be impressed at the quality. The menu is well constructed and constantly evolving, and you can tell everything is made from scratch– a rare find in Chicago among a sea of Irish/​British pubs with huge menus and apparently huge freezers. I also like that they seem to find a good balance of things you would expect to find (Fish n Chips, Scotch Egg, Shephards Pie) some things that you may not expect to see but are nonetheless authentic and impressive (Pork chops, Rack of lamb, Ham Pie) in addition to some real creative variations and specials (Lamb BLT, Lamb Keftah, Soft Shell Crab on salad).
The drink prices are about average for the neighborhood (maybe with the exception of some DePaul dives with buckets of PBR or whatnot) and the food cost/​quality ratio is exceptional.
I really dig it and would recommend to just about anyone. Check it.

Atmosphere. This is the best part. Books line the walls, high ceilings, history around you in the photographs, perfect amount of lighting etc. a great place to come on a date, with a group, or even to stop in alone at the bar for a drink.
Service. Our waiter was excellent and knowledgable about the pub, it’s drinks, it’s menu, etc. and taught us about how the kitchen makes everything from scratch. Excellent service all around.
Menu. Very English and very good. Everything we ordered was cooked to perfection. The choices were outstanding, especially the beer and other drinks menu, they had beers we haven’t had since we were in London. If you haven’t had monk’s café, order it. If you aren’t sure whether there will be something to eat for the picky eater in your group, there is a three cheese toastie which has great cheeses and a jam spread and comes with fries — the vegetarian in our group loved it.
Overall we loved our experience and will definitely be back. You should definitely at least go once and take in the atmosphere of the place. Makes you forget you’re in Chicago, felt like Europe.
Thanks red lion!

On principle, I’m not sure I could give English cuisine a 5 out of 5, so a 4 out 5 will suffice. Kudos to the owners for whipping up good old English nostalgia both in the food and décor. The restaurant will satisfy most anglophiles’ cravings but is also a great spot for first dates and casual dining with friends.
Try the curried fries and shepherds pie.
P. S. On one occasion, my sister and I were sipping beer and cider in front of the crackling fire in the library room when an unexpected guest walked over to us. She was marketing Glenlivet and offered us a free flight of whiskey. My first response was «yes», and then my second was, «whats the catch»? There was none as I found out this is a standard marketing tactic of distillery houses. My sister and I were very pleasantly surprised and had a great time sampling the different batches.

Had a great date night at The Red Lion Pub last week. We popped in on Thursday after work and were immediately seated in the sunny front room. The ambiance at The Red Lion is awesome and it’s really not the type of place you expect to walk into off of Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. There’s a ton of warm wood, unique English pub themed décor, and comfortable seating — definitely the type of place you want to get comfy to enjoy a pint.
After settling in I perused the draft beer list which had nothing I’d ever heard of but appreciated. Since their draft selection is so unique they do a great job with the descriptions and our waiter was also really helpful in answering questions. We sampled a few different things throughout the evening and were pleased with all of them.
What really set the experience apart though was the outstanding food! For an appetizer we started with the Pub Cheese. The toasted pumpernickel bread triangles were the perfect palate for the cheese. As a big pub cheese fan I have to say that The Red Lion’s is by far the best I’ve had in awhile and you can tell it’s super fresh as well.
While I could’ve been satisfied with just the appetizer we opted to order dinner as well. My companion went with the Fish and Chips and I went with the Watson. I sampled a piece of the fish and I have to say… Red Lion has the best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time, maybe ever. I’m also a HUGE sucker for vinegar when eating English fare and was totally wowed by the malt vinegar aioli that came with the dish… it definitely takes English food to the next level.
The Watson was also really good, I was a bit nervous to try to the «salted beef» the the horseradish slaw sold me on the dish and I was happy I tried it! It was just as the waiter said, a tender, juicy, salty cut of corned beef with delicious slaw on top of it. If you’re a Reuben lover like me go with The Watson, it’s the English variation in my opinion.
In addition to the delicious food and fabulous ambiance our waiter was very friendly and attentive. The only time we lost him was when it was time for the check but he was also attending to several other tables, including a very large birthday party.
All in all a great experience at The Red Lion Pub — highly recommend it.

So happy that we stumbled upon this place, as a restaurant we were going to for dinner had an emergency closing. We came around 7pm Friday and there were a few tables dining but most were enjoying their drinks around the bar.
Loved loved loved the ambiance and décor. Very refreshing to find a nice place in Lincoln Park especially by DePaul that has a sophisticated crowd, one that isn’t inhabited by obnoxious youngins (besides actual kids during the day/​early evening). All the books and aviation/​war art and photos made you feel like you were in grandpa’s home. The upstairs looked even cooler, in which I hope to get to experience next time around.
I got the fish & chips as boo got the bangers & mash. Both were very good and tasted very fresh. The fish was perfectly fried with a light crispy batter. The fries were fine and nothing outstanding. The accompanied tartar sauce was very good and a little different than to what I’m used to. The sausages might even have been better than the fish. The potatoes were also quite nice and had a subtle cheesy flavor. We also had a side of brussel sprouts and while good, it wasn’t amazing. Didn’t really pick up on the bacon flavor, even though the bits were there. Decent beer list.
Service was good. Our server was delightful and came by to check on us not too much and not too little. Prices were about right. Maybe a tad more than your run of the mill pub, but nothing outrageous by any means.
Overall, would love to come back with some friends and lose track of time here.

The Red Lion has been reborn, and there is really no comparison to what it was. The décor is stunning. I especially like the books lining the shelves and walls — it is befitting of the pub’s location near DePaul University. If I worked at DePaul, I would spend alot of time here.
Speaking of which, the Red Lion is set amid a bunch of bars catering to the DePaul student. Thankfully, its elegant new design was offputting to the students (so far) and so it was very adult friendly.
The owner, Colin, was posted up behind the bar and was happy to take orders or make suggestions based on our preferences. I had a couple of Irish whiskies, my wife had a cocktail, and my buddy had some bourbons. All good.
I have heard the food needs some work, but the bread pudding we ordered was delicious.

Came to Red Lion on a Saturday night and was really impressed with the rich mahogany/​library/​Hogwarts feel. The clientele around 7pm was generally older and this definitely seems like a neighborhood hangout/​no blacked out 21 year olds.
We ordered the Scotch egg salad, fish & chips, and the crispy spiced chicken sandwich. We also were able to try to the pub cheese & bread on the house (just ok, wouldnt order again).
Everything was average tasty but the fish & chips I would come back for. The batter was super light and cooked perfectly, and the chips/​fries were nice and medium thick-​cut. The chicken sandwich was a 2^nd contender and pretty flavorful, although the curry spiced fries I got were just ok (prefer curry sauce instead of curry spice on the fries).
We tried a couple beers off their English-​heavy draft list and my favorite was the Thornbridge English IPA. It was really light and not super hoppy.
Our server was a super nice lad, but he seemed a little overwhelmed with many tables. Since he slightly messed up our order, he gave us a round of drinks and pub cheese & bread on the house, which was a really nice touch.
All in all, I’d definitely come back to Red Lion for its dark British manor atmosphere and the fish & chips.