Exchequer Restaurant & Pub Reviews

Been here a few times over the years -- but do not go here frequently. There are just so many options nearby. The food and service are okay -- but the Exchequer feels like a place that has seen better days. If you are not too picky then you may have an acceptable experience.

Nine years after stopping in for a drink after the theater, we finally made it to dinner here. It was as good as it looked/smelled almost a decade ago! We got spicy shrimp alfredo and a personal deep dish (The Chicago with Italian Beef) and shared. Both were quite good. If we're in the area again, we'll go back! Price for the Loop was also pretty reasonable. 3 drinks, a soda, and the meals totaled about $100.

Visiting Chicago with family, we were lucky to get a reservation here on a Friday night, only a few hours ahead of time. It has a warm and comfortable atmosphere, our waitress was very friendly and accommodating. I had the fish fry and it was excellent. Others mostly had burgers. Would be happy to go here again, good food, good service, what's not to like.

Stopped here because they had outdoor seating and the weather was nice. No complaints. Had an app and a couple of drinks after a long day of meetings before heading to the airport. Service was attentive and prices weren’t outrageous. Sat outside, but it looks like they can accommodate more than 100 people indoors.

We had visited this place as part of the prohibition tour as it was one of Al Capone’s regular haunts. We came back for lunch a few days later. We shared a pizza. It was huge and delicious. Our server was lovely. Well worth a visit.

Great pizza. Lots of cheese. It almost overwhelmed the flavor of everything else. Great atmosphere, lots of old pictures and newspapers. Definitely a Chicago feel.

It was recommended by a person from the Symphony, since it was close by, and it offer a varied menu. So, we went in, it does not look fancy at all. My wife ordered the Filet Mignon and I ordered the Ribs. Oh my God, both were excellent!. So, the place reminded me of the restaurant in Paris, that don't look like anything, yet the quality of the ingredients and the preparation is superb! Highly recommended!

Five of us were in town for a long weekend, and decided to try this place on the last night. It was close to our hotel so that made it attractive after a long day walking around in the heat. And I admit at least on my part I was interested in going someplace Al Capone ate, LOL. Inside is rather dark, and it has the feel of a sports bar with all the TV's showing games. We were seated promptly, and our waitress came by quickly. We had a variety of dishes - pasta, wings, salads, the beef sandwich, and everybody was happy with what they had. The portions are of a good size. I was impressed with our waitress... she was attentive without being annoying. I'd be happy to come here for dinner or lunch when in town again.

A hidden gem. The atmosphere is prohibition era Al Capone. Dark and comfortable. The music was not to my taste. Our server was excellent. She was engaging, prompt, and kept our glasses full. Now onto the deep dish pizza. Try the meat deep dish pizza. It will not disappoint. Each ingredient stands on its own. The sauce, the cheese, the crust, the pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, and ground beef. What a great flavor palate. I’m hooked and will return whenever possible.

We went here for a very delicious lunch. The food was phenominal, I had the ribs and my boyfriend had the chicken parmasean. The service was good and I just love the old Chicago decor. Quaint place to grab a great meal that does not cost a fortune. I will be back.

Best Spaghetti and Meatballs EVER! Not a dish they even flag up or make a fuss of, but it was the choice of two of our party and we both agreed it was quite special.

The food was good but the table we had to start with was too small, so we asked to move and then the service was a bit slow. That said the wings - amazing. The deep dish pizza - tasty and go small if your main dish. The ribs - yummy.

Went searching for my first deep dish pizza. One spot told me pizza would take an hour. Being a New Yorker, I was disappointed. I stumbled upon this spot and was NOT disappointed. Great spot! Great staff and the owner is front and center. Super friendly. Would def come here again. Pizza was delicious.

I had the best hamburger on a pretzel bun with grilled onion. bacon, cheese and great fries there.. It was a hand made hamburger not a frozen pre-pressed patty. The cool thing is you can pick what kind of roll, cheese, and other toppings you want on it. It was busy when we went in, but our food came out fast, it was hot, the waitress was quick. I will definitely go back next time. The price was very reasonable too.

Good food served hot. Reasonable portions. Okay prices. Varied menu and genuinely friendly waitstaff like Maria.

We came thru Chicago to visit family and wanted to revisit this place where we had so many wonderful meals. Pizza is way over rated and if I come back to Chicago I will find another place. But it is convenient and the service is outstanding.

Service was over the top friendly! Looking for a late night place to eat when walking back to hotel, and saw they were still serving food. Food was excellent, service was fantastic, clam chowder was really tasty, fish and chips and tuna melt were great value for prices. Food prices were very fair for Chicago. Would return for food and service again!

We ordered a Mob style pizza crispy crust and 2 salads caesar /house. Also my husband had steak sandwich. FOOD OMG GREAT !! Manhattans were the best in Chicago. My husband loves them. Staff super KOOL and fun people. There's a variety of customers from Chicago's own to visitors to the beautiful Windy City. There was a Birthday Party going on and some others bar hopping for the best PIZZA'S in Chicago. Jimmy the owner was there all his crew/ team love him. His customers are loyal as well. Chicago's own. As for tourists we were welcomed to. Thank you for an Amazing time and food. Loved the Tommy Gun on wall & all the memorabilia. Super Kool to photograph and see. Lot's and Lot's history here !!

Took the family here based on other reviews and it was great! Grilled chicken and salmon were wonderful and our waitress was very attentive.

We always dine at the Exchequer when we visit Chicago. We always order the deep dish pizza and it never disappoints! In our experience, it is the best deep dish in Chicago and we enjoy the atmosphere here. Our son usually gets the pasta and it is fantastic as well!

Cozy atmosphere amazing waitstaff. Emine was our server and was super attentive and friendly. We definitely will be back.

This restaurant is well worth trying. The food is very good (if you enjoy baby back ribs, try them!). The menu is extensive; something for everyone's taste. You enter the bar area first. Don't be put off if it is crowded. There is a very spacious dining room beyond the bar. There you will be able to enjoy drinks, good food, and conversation. The noise from the bar doesn't seem to carryover to the dining room. Conversation has always been easy; no need to shout through the meal to be heard. The service is friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I recommend giving it a try.

I had the Cajun shrimp fettuccine. I’ve never had shrimp so over cooked. Hard to get down. Alfredo sauce was bland and Cajun spice was hardly there. My wife had the pepper pork chop. Flavor full but dry. Oh well. Service was good. No complaints there.

Traveling from France with a group, we were longing the famous Chicago pizza, and were advised this pub. Great disappointment. Noisy, poor service, amateurism from the waiters, cold atmosphere, food on the very average. This was supposed to be the top notch of the Chicago pizza, and we are still wondering who can rate this restaurant as such.

We wanted to have authentic Tavern-style pizza while in Chicago so we chose this restaurant. We ordered the “Mob thin style pizza” consisting of Italian sausage and beef with pepperoni and fresh garlic - Delicious. As a bonus we ate half slab of their ribs which were grilled and sloppy with BBQ sauce. We also tried the half pound blue cheese blackened burger which was also yummy. They had a few local craft beers so this is definitely a must try restaurant if in the Loop area. Inside reminds you of an old school tavern so don’t expect a fancy overpriced location. Just a comfortable, scrumptious restaurant!

Great to eat a Chicago pizza in one of the haunts of the mob. Really good selection of beers. Lovely staff.

Pleasant setting for a standard Welcoming, and dishes in the end very average. Al Capone pasta does not really taste. Price in the standards.

I love the Exchequer in the winter. You're not going to get gourmet or fancy fare here. This is a basic meat and potatoes kind of place that gets a lot of traffic. I've frequently gone there in winter which is when I like it best. Coming in from the Chicago cold the warmth of friendliness greets you immediately. I prefer a booth which feels a bit more private and the foot traffic of diners and staff is less noticeable. There is a full bar and the drinks are good and not unreasonable. Service has always been fine. The food has never disappointed me and my friends. If you enjoy a good solid menu with basic vittles this is a good place to go.

Late night comfort food. The place needs an interior designer, total time capsule stuck in the 60s or 70s. Having said that, the staff are super nice, and the food was very good. We had the pizza, and loved it. Its in a great location, easy walk to most hotels in the core. Open late.

We enjoyed our lunch and went back the next day. The ribs are very good. Husband says the fish and chips were great too. There is history here. In a prior life the building housed a speakeasy visited by Al Capone.

The food was very mediocre, the waitress could hardly be bothered with us and it was so loud we couldn’t hear ourselves. An altogether miserable experience.

Took my kids and one of their friends here before a show. I was looking for something in the area that would have something on the menu for everyone. Not only did it have great choices, but the food we had was very good. Chicken in chicken sandwich grilled- still juicy and not dried out at all. One kid had the rigatoni and meatballs with vodka sauce- kept eating after they were full they thought it was so tasty. Food was above expectations and service was great- very fast and very outgoing. I will definitely come back next time I am in the area.

We arrived in Chicago at 2:30 we went through the airport and got the train and made it to the hotel around 4:40. Walked around and waited on family, around 8 we asked for a bar or pub to get something to eat and were referred here by hotel staff. We walked in and have you ever felt like they were waiting you out that if they ignored you enough you’d leave. Well they finally seated us and we ordered. I ordered the ALs burger it came with a fried egg I asked for it over easy runny yoke and med to medium rare. There were two burgers and two fish and chips. My burger was borderline rare and the egg was hard. There was no one else eating the staff was watching the NBA. The service was good but I won’t return nor will I send anyone there I hate to write reviews that don’t speak highly of a business but there is no excuse for not being able to cook a burger or an egg properly. I work in the business and the quality of cooks is appalling in restaurants.

Downtown for a business meeting Friday night to meet colleagues from the Netherlands and California. we chose this since this is close to the Palmer House where they are staying. We had a 7:30 reservation of which we finally were sat down at our table at 8:30! Beer selections are wide and good. From Crafts to local brew to national brews. We had the thick crust Chicago Pizza and a thick crust meat lovers pizza, both large. Also ordered ribs and onion rings as an appetizer. All was fair to good.

Went here based on reviews. Seated in a nice booth and ordered some cocktails (very reasonably priced). Decided to order a personal deep dish sausage pizza along with the chicken club and some onion rings. Onion rings were a bit disappointing but the pizza was absolutely out of this world. Good service and nice ambience. Will return

The Exchequer is a must for us. We always order the mob pizza...delicious. Friendly staff and great history to the restaurant.

Whenever we visit Chicago, we have to get pizza at the Exchequer. They have great Chicago style pizza! The restaurant is low-key and casual. It's also not stuffed with tourists like some other chain pizza places in town. The service was great and the food was delicious!

If this is your first time in Chicago, this could be a good restaurant for you because it sells pizza, Italian beef and ribs (3 Chicago favorites). My party of 3 each had their own thin crust pizza. (Being from the area we did not feel the need for deep dish.) All 3 pizzas were tasty with a great crust - - - black olive (1), green pepper (2), and 1/2 Italian Beef and 1/2 pineapple. We started with the mozzarella sticks which were above average. We ended with pumpkin pie, which although did not fit the style rest of our meal, was really good. (A large portion too.) They have options on the menu for everyone. Good service. Would eat here again.

Classic American restaurant and bar, with a good array of dishes, including several that are vegetarian. I had the southwest salad, which was huge; lots of fresh ingredients and a nice ranch dressing and guacamole. My brother gave the Impossible Burger top marks for its preparation. Very good service.

We stopped here after visiting Shedd's and then the famous Bean. Our son wanted pizza and we usually try to do one meal on a trip that he will enjoy. The pizza was amazing. You have to get the deep dish and it is what the area is known for. If you have not experienced Chicago Deep dish then you should know that it is not the deep dish a lot of people are expecting. It is not thick crust but a cheese lovers dream. It is hard to stop eating it is so good. The service was also great. For as busy as the place was the waiter was right there when we needed him and gave us just the right amount of attention. Overall this was a great stop and we didn't have any left overs.

Our first lunch stop when we arrived in Chicago and it didn’t disappoint. Service was great and our server was very knowledgeable and quick. Got two small deep dish pizzas between the 4 of us and had a hard time finishing them. Restaurant was busy and the other food coming out also looked delicious.

Unpersonal greeting when entering, a smile would do wonders. The waitress was not really welcoming either: just a bad day or "just another tourist I have to serve"? Pasta and salad were OK, but are available at UNO's or Applebee's for way less money... and a smiling waitress.

Very good pizza, cool comfy old school atmosphere. Came recommended by colleague and he’s a local to Chicago. He said all the tourists go for the deep dish, but all the locals go for the thin tavern style . I got the extra crispy (aka thin ) well done with just cheese and sausage, per my my buddy’s recommendation . Very tasty. Good texture, cheese to sauce ratio. They cut it in squares. They had a ton of other stuff on the menu too, like ribs . You can’t go wrong, two thumbs up. The true local Chicago style pizza!

Stopped by on a Sunday night. In town for the weekend and staying just around the corner at the Palmer House. Ceasar salad was soggy, potatoes were instant or appeared and tasted to be as such. Bone-in Ribeye was decent but the wife's Fish & Chips were bland. Server seemed to always be in a rush and stopping by the table was inconvenient.

The is an ole timey place that leans into the old Chicago mob nostalgia with pictures of Al Capone and Frank Nitti on the walls. During our visit a touring group walked through to see the photos and layout. This is the first meal we had in Chicago. The menu is diverse enough to offer every picky kids something they might eat while satisfying the parents with adult food. One of them had a hamburger and another the chicken and fries. My wife had a salad. I had tavern style pizza. The tavern pizza was amazing. The flavors are so much richer than deep dish and I really like deep dish. I think it has something to do with a cheese that's more pungent than usual. Or maybe it's just the quality of cheese. You can't get pizza this at twice the cost where I live. You might get some arugula here with buffalo mozzarella and a truffle oil drizzle. This crust and this flavor are not to be found in Florida.

Just under the El we found a safe harbor for food and cold beer. The waitress was cute and friendly and got our order for goat cheese dip wrong but made it right later. The Italian beef sandwich was unremarkable. The beer was good and cold and lunch for 3 was $69.18 with three beers and a shot of bourbon. Nothing fancy but they treated us right. . Recommended for what it is.

We ate at the restaurant before seeing Hamilton. Exchequer is just blocks away from the theater. Food was hot, fresh and delicious. I believe it was reasonably priced for the city. They had run out of two items on winter specials menu and it was only 6 pm. Full bar with a large selection of beers on tap. Our group had a salmon entree with several changes requested, chicken fingers and fries, a burger with gluten free bun, soups and salads. The waitress said they were known for pizza, burgers and sandwiches. After our meal, I found out this location was originally a Capone hangout but there is no play on that idea in the design or menu. It’s not kitchsy or touristy.

The hotel recommended we go here and we enjoyed our deep dish pizza very much. We tried the meat lovers and it was loaded. We got a large and it was way too much for 2 people. The server was great and the atmosphere pleasant.

Real busy place soaked with mob history, great atmosphere great food, the only reason i gave a four is that we got starters and mains together

Friendly serving staff but we felt like the food descriptions on the menu were a bit misleading. I ordered a club sandwich and felt like I was served more of a burger style meal. It was also pretty soggy at the bottom which made it hard to pick up, the whole thing just fell apart. Portion sizes are also huge so would recommend this place if you are starving, otherwise a lot of the food might go to waste.

Found while on overnight before going to Bears game to celebrate our anniversary. Cool theme with it maybe being one of Al Capone's old speakeasy hideouts. We got the Mob Pizza. First time we have had Italian Beef as one of the toppings. The pizza was excellent! We would definitely come back anytime. Beer selection was good for those who may be so inclined. Service was great and everyone was friendly. If you are staying downtown or just near Millenium Park, this place worth having a slice or three.

Just a short walk from the Cultural Center, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Bean is Exchequer (X-Checker). Vast menu with spot-on service. The restaurant has two large dining rooms and will get crowded at lunch time. I thoroughly enjoyed my spicy salad with chicken, black beans and corn. My friend had a salad with apples and bleu cheese. Both were huge and fresh. Great Chicago place to stop. Highly recommend this restaurant.

I ate here 3 nights in a row, the service was fantastic and the food was exceptionable, price was reasonable and the atmosphere was real Chicago gangster like. I loved this place would not hesitate to visit again when in Chicago. Our concierge also recommended this establishment.

This place is right in the thick of the action in the Loop. Staying at the Palmer House, it's just a block south. They easily accommodated our large group at a table in the adjacent separate room, which was great. Four of us shared a large deep dish pizza, which was just the right amount for us. Don't bother with the wine though. My Pinot Grigio was way too sweet. Get the beer instead.

The food at Exchequer is the reason I chose the place for a group of 108 that I took to Chicago for a few days. While the food was enjoyed by the group, the service was a bit chaotic in that everything was self-serve. Obviously, 108 people trying to serve themselves from the bar and two food buffets in a tight room can be a bit hectic, but it did not ruin the experience and, as previously stated, the food was good. My wife and I love to order off the menu at Exchequer and it is a standard for us when we visit Chicago. We were not quite sure what to expect with the somewhat limited group catering options, but we were pleasantly surprised. For a couple or family, Exchequer is hard to beat. They did a pretty good job of taking care of a group of 108, too.

Visiting the city, a group of 4 were looking for somewhere to eat and came across this place. Two of our party were attracted by the day.s offer of half price ribs. On entering we were welcomed. offered a choice of tables and quickly offered water and or drinks. The waiter advised us of any delay in producing food we ordered and that helped in our selection. The food was brought on a trolley and served to us correctly and was lovely and hot and very tasty. Plates were cleared only after an offer was made and accepted. Overall it was a lovely experience. Unfortunately, a picture of the outisde of the building would not load.

My girlfriend and I arrived late on a Friday. Our waitress (Nina) was awesome, she had our drinks out very quick and was very attentive the entire visit! I had a personal veggie deep dish that was fantastic, loads of veggies! My girlfriend had the black and blue burger with sweet potato fries. We agreed that these were the best sweet potato fries we’ve had. The burger was great as well. Would highly recommend this place, it’s also has a great bar if you just need some beverages.

OMG the deep dish pizza here is to die for. We had an amazing dinner here with such great service. The Capone and other memorabilia is fab. It really is a must do Chicago dining experience

The waiter explained the specials, made recommendations and got us samples of the home brew. The ribeye was excellent, tender and nicely seasoned. The salmon had a Bourbon sauce that was a little too sweet. The ribs were average. We would definitely go there again.

This restaurant had very good deep dish pizza. The service was very good and the waitress knew the history of the restaurant that use to be a speak easy frequented by Al Capone. The restaurant still has a concealed door that was an escape route for Capone during the prohibition era. A great meal with history!!!

Had high hopes based on reviews and reputation. Went on a Saturday night to get the Special: Capone's 18oz bone-in ribeye. Alas, they were "out of it." We ordered wings and ribs combo, they brought us chicken breasts. Spent $30 on a filet, mediocre. Wouldn't go back.

This was close to my hotel on South Michigan Ave and I went in for a bite to eat. It was a great experience. The crowd was happy and energetic -- but I did not feel awkward as a solo diner. The menu had a great variety and everything looked GREAT. My food was delicious. Prices were reasonable. Don't hesitate to go here.

We book a private room for our family get together every year. George and staff are wonderful and the food is terrific. My family and I love coming here to start our holiday celeration and see the lights of downtown chicago and finish with skating at Melinneum park under the stars.

Great Italian food with excellent service and the history of Al Capone all around. Great value, could not believe the bill when I got it. Will definitely go back next time I am in Chicago.

Such a unique place near Union Station! Great burgers! Reasonable and great service. Awesome memorabilia on the walls!

We were visiting our son and daughter-in-law for a long weekend and had intended to go back to Millers, but they were closed for the day so we ducked into the Exchequer, since we were walking. Wow, what a great surprise. The service was spot on, our order was taken in good time without us feeling rushed, and the pizza was fantastic, some of the best thin crust we've had.

Much larger space than it appears from outside. They were able to seat our party of ten in quick order. Service was excellent. Full menu of food and drink. Some had impossible burgers, others salads and deep dish pizzas that came with a mountain of cheese. Our medium shared between two with a third left over.

We were greeted immediately as we walked in... Ordered ahead because I figured they'd be busy but the restaurant was less than half full. Or did was brought to us in less than 5 minutes and was still hot when we got to it room in the Palmer House! The pizza was great and the burger was just right, both options were too big 🤦🏾‍♀️ Chose the restaurant because it was a favorite of Al Capone's and we were not disappointed!

In Chicago to take our high school senior to see Hamilton for his birthday. He had deep dish pizza on his "to do" list so we did some research and found Exchequer. It's only a block or so from the Palmer House where we were staying. Restaurant was not crowded at all when we entered. They were going to sit us in a very high traffic area when there were some very nice booths that were available (and stayed empty throughout out time we were there). The request obviously upset the host and he sat us in the "new" section away from everything (there's an old and new side from an expansion). Sarah was our server. It was obvious we're tourists and Sarah made us feel like it. Not sure if she was having a bad day or what but once she started taking our order it was obvious we were not going to have a good experience. She made it clear the wait for food was going to be 30 minutes.....It took 51 minutes. She never once checked on us after our order was taken. Beer glasses were empty after about 20 minutes and she walked past us no less than 10 times. She did notice as I saw her looking several times. The food finally arrived and I mentioned to my wife that I was debating whether she would ask us if we wanted additional drinks.....She immediately walked up close to the table, in my space, and said..."I'm right here and I can hear you....I was going to ask". I responded by saying but you didn't ask until I said something. Bottom line....1) Service horrible 2) Get ready to be treated like a tourist in this place 3) If you happen to go....ask for someone besides Sarah to serve you... Never again...

An old, well-know pub in a central location. Good beers but didn't have luck with the food. Ordered fish and chips, but the fish as not so good.

We made a reservation but it was not overly busy so may not be needed. The food was lovely particularly the rigatoni and the service the quick. The place was well decorated with plenty of nods to Al Capone so if you like a bit of mob history it’s worth coming for that alone. Only small gripe was that when I asked for an orange juice they gave me a bottle of Tropicana with no glass, ice or straw but that aside I would definitely eat there again and would recommend.

First and foremost our server Mo Mahamoud was spectacular. This is an old fashioned Chicago downtown pub themed in the prohibition Al Capone era, that I used to dine in regularly 35 years ago but had not been to in over 20 years. This place is so "Chicago" that a tour company brought 9 people in to see the inside and have a quick Chicago Italian Beef/Sausage Combo sandwich dipped in au jus! SERIOUSLY! My daughter had the Italian Beef sandwich and her only complaint was it didn't come dipped and wrapped (like at Al's Beef) but her plate was completely clean before we left. My wife devoured as much of her "Prohibition Burger" with lettuce, huge slices of tomato and onion, pickles and the "Secret Speakeasy Sauce” as she could, but it was too big for her to finish and she ordered the single not the double! The Onion Rings were as I recalled--the best downtown. There thin crust Chrissy bottom deluxe pizza with sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers is why I was a regular when I had an office on the east side of the Loop, and it was as I recalled--amazing! Toss in a really decent Tiramisu and a chocolate martini and you'll have a truly memorable experience at Exchequer Pub!

I had a Chicago pizza on my bucket list and the one I had here, an 8 inch deep, was delicious and very filling. I also had a pint of Hefewizen to drink. It was served in typical American style, too cold and too fizzy, compared with the UK but a delicious pint all the same. Probably the most expensive pizza I've ever had but this place is definitely worth a visit. The staff were excellent.

This is a great spot. I wish I lived closer. The bartender was tremendous. It was a monday at 4pm. I'd go back if I lived in Chicago.

I've always liked this cozy pub. Great atmosphere! I ordered the Chicken Club. I guess they forgot how to make a club sandwich. What arrived was NOT a club sandwich, but chicken on a hamburger bun. And quite a sloppy sandwich at that. I wouldn't recommend ordering it.

Great food and value Burger and beer are fantastic! Had the burger with egg and beer if the month. This review needs to be at least 100 characters!!

Great sandwiches, atmosphere and for these pandemic times, friendly service. We have a new favorite when visiting the Loop.

Was in Chicago for St Patrick’s day and the town was packed. Stopped in here with a native Chigacoan for some dinner. This restaurant is larger than it looks from the outside. We were seated right away. Basic fare but very good. Service was good also. Highly recommend if you are looking for a quick bite.

Our family has been going to Exchequer for many years. The pizza is SO good, Hands down, the best pizza in the city or whole state for that matter. Any trip in the city, usually requires a stop here. The salads are fantastic and love their homemade dressings, especially their creamy garlic. Never had a bad item from the menu and they are noted for their ribs too. Service is good and they are very reasonably priced for being downtown. Definitely recommend this place!

4 of us have been visiting Chicago and during the trip to Alcatraz in San Francisco they mentioned about the bars and pubs Al Capone used to dine. So we googled it and from a few decided to check out the 'Exchequer'. Great old town/gangster pub themed (guns and old newspapers about Al capone and other outlaws on the walls) place with friendly personnel and delicious locally made pub food (pizzas, burgers and steaks). Steaks and burgers were delicious, it is also great that you can build your own burger from a variety of selections. My girlfriend is allergic to cows milk, so they managed to build one with goat cheese! Overall a great - gangster style experience!

Its great location to catch up with friends for after office hour drinks, They also have designated party area for special events, also cater good food for small events.

Full disclosure: my office is on the 4th floor of this building. Love having the Exchequer on the ground floor. Great atmosphere, hard working staff and excellent food and drink. Good prices and a place where everyone knows my name!

We visited Chicago to sightsee and experience the food. We found this restaurant on Trip Advisor. It is one block off Michigan avenue. It seems like an old neighborhood restaurant where the locals eat. We had great service from Stephanie. We wanted to try Chicago deep dish pizza and we did. It might be the best pizza I ever had.

Excellent food that packs this pub! So many delightful menu items to choose from that everyone has a choice. They have a mix of liquids, beers and wine as well. They fill up fast so come early!

Parked next door to see Hamilton. Nearest restaurant. It was okay. Nothing spectacular. Dark environment. I would possibly go again, and try something new on the menu.

We ate here on my nephews recommendation. Great choice. So many fantastic options on menu. Our party had the Capone steaks and the Cajun Chicken pasta. No complaints from our party of 6!!

Pizza, Italian and pub style food, quite filling and greasy, feels like a sports bar. It's fine, but nothing to write home about.

Arrived today in Chicago and found this restaurant while walking. Seated quickly. Decent selection. Had rib dinner. Good, portions are large. Service was very good. Would recommend.

Had the trout. It was excellent. Service was very good too. It's definitely what I consider a restaurant for the older crow.

Everything on the menu is worth a try. I especially like the Club Sandwich. Compared to other places in the LOOP, this sandwich has not gotten smaller nor the fries any fewer at the Exchequer. I also like their Greek Chicken. It is consistently tasty. And their pizza is always superb.

We had Cajun Chicken alfredo, and Cajun shrimp alfredo, and house salads. Very good. Big portions. Very good service ( mid afternoon, week day). Like the decor. Recommended, and we were glad it was.

I've been eating here every years during our visits to Chicago for the past 15+ years. It's a less touristy pizza place with great Chicago style pizza! The wait was almost an hour for our rather large group on a Saturday night, but it was worth it. There's a bar that you can have a drink at while you wait. Our waitress was great! I'll be returning next year.

An awesome place with a vast menu offerings. More like a large sports pub with all of that energy, plenty of tvs. Great craft beer menu and specialty drinks. I had a Greek Salad with Chicken. Couldn't even finish half of it. Was just superb. Hubby has a big appetite and he couldn't finish his Steak and Bleu Cheese Salad. Could that be because I couldn't resist having Onion rings with our drinks? And no, we couldn't finish that portion either. Would go back again in a heartbeat.

We were looking for some place new after a film screening and finally gave up and were walking back to our car when we saw Exchequer. We hadn’t any reservations, but decided to see how we did walking in on a Friday night. It was a 15 minute wait and we went for it - boy are we glad we did. It is a fun, comfortable location and the food was really very good. Our meal included baked goat cheese, fish & chips, a Black N’ Blue salad and well made martinis. The fish & chips had to be the best ever. Not a bit greasy with tasty plump fish fillets. The goat cheese appetizer was huge and very good and the dinner salad included steak, blue cheese and other salad fixings. We loved the food. The service was excellent and our booth was near where there once was an historic escape tunnel - we learned that from the tours that visited the restaurant. Great food, service, and prices plus history lessons. Can’t be beat!! So check it out. You’ll love it too!

Visiting this burg for the first time, the missus and I turned into this joint on our way to the Art Institute one early Thursday afternoon. The quaint decor nicely complemented its rather long history, itself a pretty large venue (not counting the sidewalk seating) and replete with the entrance to the escape tunnel used during its speakeasy days. Missus went with the fish and chips and loved both: hot, lightly fried but full of flavour. Consistent with our experience in the US, there was no tartar sauce, but she was mollified by the substantial salad served just prior to the dish. I went with the black and Bleu burger, ordered medium rare. It was out of this world: very large Angus beef patty grilled expertly rare and red in the middle, with piquant Bleu cheese and the usual vegetables. This was one of the best burgers I've ever had. Friendly service and a little tour of the joint nicely capped off our first culinary experience in this cool town. With two pints Goose Island 4 Star (it schmecks!), $48 before tip.

We loved the history of this place. A side of Al Capone gangster history goes nicely with the delicious deep dish Chicago pizza. A former speak-easy, and one of Capone's favorite hangouts. I highly recommend the pizza and taking time to see the memorabilia on the walls while you're there.

Maybe we came at just the wrong time, but my group and two other groups waited for a while to be seated even though the restaurant wasn’t even half full. Our food orders came out at different times and two of the orders were not correct. The staff was very polite and friendly, but were slow I can say that they did have gluten free bread for the burgers, which weren’t bad. They had a gluten free pizza but we didn’t order that.

good atmosphere and yummy pizza. the service was good. glad we stopped in. our first time having deep dish was a success

Good selection on the menu to meet several picky eater’s needs. The food was average, however. Looks like a fun place to hang out for drinks with friends. Good ambience and the wait staff was friendly and attentive.

The atmosphere, menu and service were all outstanding. The Exchequer is definitely a “don’t miss” for downtown.

I grew up in Chicago and the region. I have lived many places, always searching for THE pizza I knew and loved. Cracker thin crust, loaded with cheese, a superior sauce, and toppings. Exchequer did not disappoint. Drinks were real. Pub atmosphere. We went for a lunch, and as we sat, enjoying, we observed ‘the suits’ locals coming and staying, filling up the place. You know it’s good.

Cub fans after the game, families, party crowd at the bar... a bit of everything! Loud and fun but still can hear conversation at the table and we were a large party. Great server, Luca was fantastic . Huge menu. Chicago pizza but also seafood platters, ribs, steaks. All really good. We had one gluten free and lactose free pizza and although the crust was ok, the toppings were great. Thumbs up on all the other dishes. Give it a try!

We love this place and try to visit when in town. arrived hungry for dinner and grabbed a booth. It was busier than we have seen in a while but Moe arrived ready to take our drink orders which we placed. Decided on a large garden salad and a medium thin crust pizza to share. Everything was delicious and I would be remiss if I didn't mention just how fantastic Moe was as our server. We love this place and will be returning in no small part to servers like Moe!

I’m betting I just picked the wrong thing on the menu as I went with the black and bleu salad. It was average at best. Large portion though. The service and atmosphere were great. Daily specials. Pizza looked great.

Wonderful restaurant with rich history. EXCELLENT steak, cooked perfectly! There is tons of food on the plate and have recommended it to the other conference attendees. Would definitely go back again!

We've been here many times, never been disappointed. They have plenty on the menu besides the deep-dish Chicago-style pizza, though I've never tried the other things. They look good, but I'm there for the pizza. We've tried Uno's and Due's, and Lou's, but this is my favorite. Let the server help you pick the size you need, because they are deceptively filling. They always have a good beer selection, and always have kindly and helpful servers. It's kind of divey, and has that "old Chicago watering hole" look. If you're looking for authentic Chicago-style deep dish, along with an authentic Chicago local tavern feel, I don't think you can beat this place. It's in the Loop on S. Wabash, just a block away from the Art Institute.

Get the Pizza, Get the Pizza, Get the Pizza... One of the Best Deep dish Pizza's I have had. Get the Pizza, Get the Pizza, Get the Pizza... Reasonable priced. Service was OK. Will go back

Nice place with cool decor and stuff, but... This place 100% got me sick. I have the receipt, left a tip to take out, and I paid cash. I ordered a double prohibition burger with Cole Slaw. When asked how I wanted it cooked, medium rare, I replied. However, the cooks absolutely do not know how to cook a burger. It was extremely bland, but there was no famous sauce whatsoever, but worst of all, I have been in the bathroom since last evening, and that burger meat was raw and disgustingly chewy. The buns were soaked and soggy. The cole slaw was not fresh. In fact, it had a bitter, expired sort of taste, like it had just been sitting out for who knows how long. I want to be refunded. This is my first time in Chicago, and it was an absolutely awful experience. I hope that I do not stay sick for the rest of my visit.

The Exchequer, an almost medieval looking restaurant doesn't have much street appeal and my wife, and I almost passed on it. We're glad we didn't. Unpretentious, its interior is reminiscent of an old English pub although not by intention. But they do carry a variety of draft beers, The menu is all over the place but not eclectic. They take pride in a deep-dish pizza, but you can also enjoy a single, double, or triple slab of baby back ribs - all reasonably priced (full slab - $25.95) A variety of salads can be had including a loaded Ceasar, Harvest, Chop, and three sizes of a Greek Salad. The small Greek salad was outstanding and at $8.95 enough for two. I saw a good variety of large sandwiches on customer plates, but I swear the giant meatball sub could feed a couple of Chicago Bears. I ordered the Capone Rigatoni & Meatballs in marinara sauce. (Apparently, in the early days of the restaurant under previous ownership, Al Capone was a regular) The serving was sizeable, the sauce good without being zingy, and the two three-ounce meatballs more than I could handle. At $16.95, it was a steal. The Exchequer is a one-minute walk on Wabash south of Miler's on the same side of the street. It's just two minutes from the side entrance of the Palmer House where we were staying.

Ordered the Capone Burger and was not disappointed. Second visit here ordered the Taco Salad. The salad was huge and well worth it.

Great venue with a lot of history and former speakeasy retaining some of that feel in a modern setting. Wide menu I had a pizza which was really tasty and far too much to finish so beware. Good selection of craft beers too. Worth a visit if Jim central Chicago for an informal evening

A little something for everyone on the menu (burgers, chicken, fish, pizza, salads). In the east loop, decent prices, service fair, quality is ok. Was good for a group.

Love their deep dish pizza and fun environment. Service was a bit laid back, but got what we needed in a timely fashion.

This place is a great place to stop and get a great bite to eat and a cold drink . They have good prices all the way around as well. For the first time ever we order the crispy pizza which had good flavor and cheese . It was half pepperoni and half garlic gloves ! They had a half off sale on there pizzas ! I will post photos

Each time we visit Chicago we stop by the Exchequer for their onion rings and they never disappoint! The Big Al burger with sweet potato fries and chicken club with fries were really good too! Although it’s always way more than we can eat. The atmosphere is pure Chicago too with pictures and articles about Al Capone and other monsters and about the Chicago sports teams on the walls. A comfortable, relaxed spot to enjoy a meal!

1. Cold pizza 2. No pizza sauce 3. Wait staff did not care. 4. Ordered protein but where was it. 5. Will tell work about this place. 6. Want a $35.00 refund 7. Hardly anyone in the place.

Deep dish and thin crust pizza with fresh toppings. Expect a short wait for deep dish but you won’t be disappointed. Friendly staff in a bustling setting with lots of conversation.

Went here for lunch with some of my favorite work buddies and was glad we did! Being in Chicago (but a native), I've become a bit of a pizza "snob" or lets just say, I have a "discerning pizza palate"...teeheheehee Anyway, I ordered a thin crust with pepperoni, mushrooms and black olives in a small size. The small portion is definitely an abundant serving for one person and could definitely be shared by two people and you'd still be satisfied. Our server was nice, but a little inconsistent, slow and forgetful, but it didn't stop us from tipping her for overall decent good service. They do have the deep dish option as well, but overall I was pleased with the thin crust option. All in all, I would recommend this spot for a nice, old school Chicago pizza pub eatery!

Was in Chicago last week this place was a block away from my hotel I have tried most of name brands and I like them all but this is the one I’d go back to if given a choice We got small day 1 the medium day 2 wish we had gotten the larger both times cuz there’s never enough

We have visited this restaurant many times when we come in to see family, but not any more! When we ordered a Virgin Mary we found on the bill we had been charged for a Bloody Mary. When I pointed this out to the waitress Kayla she said there was No Mocktail price list and had to charge the cocktail prce list. As my husband paid before checking the bill she would not give us a refund and her attitude sucked. This is fraud - we were charged for the alchol but never recieved it. We will not go back to this place and tell our friends to avoid it, or at the very least check the bill before paying.

I enjoyed my first visit at this restaurant. The casual atmosphere was perfect for my casual attire. While the restaurant was busy, the service was excellent. Both my firend and I had the special - fish tacos. They were certainly better than I expected (just thinking some fish in a tortilla and a sauce). I will return when I am in Chicago again.

We called ahead and made a reservation - a must on Friday or Saturday evenings. We arrived and there were folks waiting inside and outside. I went in, confirmed the reservation, and we were seated right away. The place was packed. The servers worked fast, and because it was full, our meals took about 30-40 minutes (pizza, wings and a sandwich). The server had cautioned us when we ordered that it might be 45 minutes before our food arrived, that’s why we ordered the wings as an appetizer (got them in about 15 minutes). The food was hot and tasty. The wings arrived with carrots and celery on the side. The pizza was especially good (crispy crust, with Canadian bacon, onion, and pineapple). The meatball sandwich was ok…too soggy to pick up (which is fine), but was served on paper in a metal open weave basket. It was difficult to cut (since it was too soggy to pick up and eat), and the paper kept tearing. I get it…less plates to wash, but this sandwich should’ve been on a plate (they do have plates). So, my meal was a bit difficult to eat, but tasted ok.

Stopped here for a quick bite before heading to the Auditorium for a show. Waited 20 minutes for a table, which isn’t bad during dinner time, should’ve made a reservation. We just had a small pizza. I’ve certainly have had better in the Chicago area. But as I found with pizza, it’s all subjective. Service was wonderful. Prices were very reasonable for downtown . It was very busy and our waiter was on top of it. It is very loud in the restaurant so if you’re looking for a quiet intimate place, this isn’t it. I would go again to try something else. I just couldn’t give it a four full stars because of the pizza.

Good. Late lunch. Veggie deep dish pizza wasn't a little too wet but was quite tasty. Burger was good. Salad was good. Service was fast and friendly.

Very convenient place for a tasty and easy dinner before a concert at Symphony Center. Reasonably quiet restaurant if you ask for a table away from the bar. Service we've had about 5 times was mostly good and twice quite excellent. Great variety but my favorite is the Mediterranean style ribs. Their own tap beers are great and not expensive.

Excellent food at reasonable prices. Highly recommend when you're looking for a casual night out with friends. The steaks were cooked perfectly!

Pizza was delicious! Good selection of beers, good service, fun "old school" atmosphere. Easy walk from Congress Plaza Hotel area.

Same Great Food for over 20 years Owners Jimmy and George know how to run a great restaurant that caters to all. I really had a good time, and really enjoyed the food. This restaurant has that Chicago feel in all ways. Try it out.

I was a long time fan of the Exchequer but time and the menu have changed. Our latest meal featured a bowl of chili which is sweet but enjoyable, and fried cod; the cod was lackluster and nothing like it used to be. Other items I used to enjoy are gone and even the burgers which used to be excellent are changed. This was my go to lunch for many years but times, traffic in the loop and customer eating patterns have all weighed against the old, great norm.

It took a long time to be seated, however, once we sat down we were not disappointed. Great food and beer, service was a nice pace. Pizza was epic! I had a ‘personal’ sized deep pan, which is the smallest size they do, couldn’t finish it, but took the rest home. Husband’s burger was also amazing. A great place for a relaxed meal.

Everything about this restaurant was great. It had old Chicago feel, friendly service, great deep dish pizza, and great salads. Not too loud. Comfortable booths.

The first place I ever ate at during my first visit to Chicago over 25 years ago was the Exchequer. It was the first place I had deep dish pizza and I always eat here when I come back to Chicago. Every time. Except this time. We seated ourselves as the sign said and waited for a while. Eventually I made eye contact with a server but she looked away before I was able to ask for a menu. Finally I saw a stack of menus so I got a couple so we could choose the type of pizza we wanted once the server arrived. That never happened. Nobody ever spoke to us. Not even to say “hey we’ll be right with you”. The room we were in was about half full and the back room was empty. After 15 minutes or so we just went down the street. We will try again the next time we are in town.

I went here with a large group on memorial day, we were seated with no wait. we had planned to go to giordano's, but there is always a long wait there. a worker at the museum told us to check this place out instead and i'm so glad she did. we got two medium deep dishes and it was the perfect amount of food for us. it was also pretty cheap.

Had a super experience on a Monday lunchtime, was very well looked after by Nina who provided great service. The pub was dimly lit, with loads of Al Capone and mob images/propaganda on the walls which was cool. Deliberately skipped breakfast in the morning to ensure I had room for the most amazing deep dish pizza and some lovely beers. Personal size pizza, 8" was plenty enough, very filling. Wish I had the time to visit more than once.

Great food good service friendly staff we discovered it on second last night we were so impressed we returned the next night Great atmosphere reasonably priced

I was introduced to the Exchequer Pub about 30 years ago and I love it. I can't visit Chicago and not eat there. The Pizza is simply the best. I had the thin crust this time, but in the past have had the deep dish as well. It's truly outstanding! This time, too, I learned that the bartender can make a black and tan. I told him to use Stella and Guinness and it was very tasty!

It can be hard to find somewhere with food for everybody's tastes, but after some extensive menu browsing the Exchequer looked like it would fit the bill. We ended up ordering steak frites, a chicken tenders sandwich, and some appetisers to share. It was plenty of food, and really tasty. A good selection of beers too :)

Had a nice meal at Exchequer. Kind of a Bar them with some strange music. A lot of talk about Capone, a lot of places have stories.. The food was great and the Ribs are fantastic.. Good Prices, you have to stop by.

I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but we had a decent fish fry. We liked the 'old-school' atmosphere of the place. Service was average. If you want an intimate dinner, I wouldn't recommend Friday night as the restaurant was extremely loud.

We went in a trip to Chicago and visited the Exchequer. We arrived just as they opened. Walking in, the restaurant looked like the epitome of Chicago you see in movies. The gentleman who showed us to our seats was super friendly. The waitress was efficient and nice. We got The Mob pizza and I have to tell you, between my boyfriend and I we killed the whole damn thing. We couldn’t stop eating it! It is a deep dish, but not like other Chicago style pizzas because the cheese is still on the top. But it was still amazing! The food was delicious and the service was unbeatable

I left IL in 2001 but whenever I come back, I always have to have a dinner here. The food is always great and creative for American cuisine.

9.5/10 ++ I absolutely loved the pizza here, ate here twice, Mob Deep Dish every time. The decor is probably underrated, mobster theme, really beautiful place. Waiters were nice. You could watch sports on TV without it being too loud. -- The service was very slow 2nd time I went there It can get very loud, but that's because of the people, not the actual place

Great pizza! Loved the atmosphere! Great music playing as well! Would highly recommend for some casual drinks and pizza! Great Exchequer mule!only small fault service little slow but waitress very friendly!

Went back again after a film screening. Fortunately got here early - before 6 - because when we left about an hour later there was a 30 minute wait. I can see why the wait: good food, large portions, reasonable prices & friendly staff. We had Martinis at $12.00 the hummus appetizer which is almost like a salad and appetizer for $10.95 - it is so big with warm pita, followed by the pork chop and the tilapia special entrees each at $14.99 & a good pour of an excellent wine for $9.25. Great! So I suggest you try this cool retro/history spot and for more details on that reference see my earlier review!

We stopped in for dinner around 8:00 and after being seated there was a wait and discussion amongst the servers as to who had our table. Our server was very pleasant. We both ordered a pork chop. It was okay but a bit on the dry side. Overall it was a nice place

Exchequer Downtown Chicago located close to Millennium Park is a Pub type of restaurant. Menu is diverted with typical American food. Burgers are average but Ribs are good. Service is not good, we were there at lunch time after visiting the Chicago Art Institute and were almost alone in the restaurant, there were at least 2 ladies serving the tables but it took forever to be served. Not a good service at all. You can find better places in Chicago for the same and lower price

Came here last night with friends inc kids. We ordered wings, a giant burger, pasta, ribs. Overall the food was good pub grub. It didn’t wow me, and the wings I’ve had better at other places if I’m honest (for the crispiness alone) However, that being said, the service was fantastic, and the food was good value for the price The sweet mustard sauce is epic though and I wish I could bottle that up and take it home!

this has a cool atmosphere to it with all the memorabilia and things through out. the food was very good and the service was awesome.

Great place. Great service. The waitress has worked there for over 20 years and was absolutely wonderful and helpful. Pizza was great. Hot and plenty of cheese. The atmosphere for the roaring 20’s. Was pretty cool. Need to visit

Restaurant was recommend by the my hotel. Nice ambience, had the deep dish pizza and it was very good, could have used a little more sauce. Have gone to many Chicago pizza restaurants and would rate Exchequer with the best. Would go again.

We enjoyed having dinner here. The ambiance of the décor is very nice. Our food was good and the staff are friendly and helpful. The music detracted from the overall experience.

Visited twice during our short stay in Chicago. Sat outside and in,great music, great food and Al Capone ate here. They do happy hour drinks so bought a couple of pitchers. Tried Italian beef sandwich and also meaty deep pan pizza. Prices are very reasonable and service is always with a smile.

When the owner of the restaurant asks us if we needed anything (which we did) on a busy Saturday night you don't even need to write anything else. Top notch.

Busy Chicago pizza restaurant (they do other dishes too) is a great place, although it’s quite noisy. The service is fast and efficient and the table turnover is pretty quick so you are not encouraged to linger. It would be easy to clock up your entire day’s calorie intake is one pizza, but they do ‘personal’ sized ones which are more manageable if you are a Brit. The food is fresh and well presented but we only had pizzas and salads, not the meat dishes so I can’t comment of those. We had specifically come to sample an authentic Chicago pizza anyway. Apparently an historical venue with links to Al Capone and there are lots of interesting artefacts on the walls.

Was in Chicago for a 4 day conference and knew we needed some deep dish on the agenda. Stopped on here and we weren’t disappointed. Good neighborhood pub feel; basic pub fare. Friendly staff and comfy vibe.

Stopped by after visiting the Art Institute. Food was good (AMAZING waffle fries). Service is good if a little slow, there weren’t many people there and it took some time to get my food. But the servers are welcoming and it was a good experience.

good ales at the bar and a menu with tasty options; very friendly service and good value; happy to return if in Chicago

We found this place on the way to Millers Pub and were glad we stopped in for drinks. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and character of the place.

Visited with a few from work and this time ordered individual pizzas. Thin crust, cripsy, and plenty of toppings. Definitely recommend to try the pizzas. Gluten free pizza is also available.

Best cheese pizza and waffle fries in Chicago! Atmosphere from the 1920s Al Capone days as you entere the bar area. Honestly some of the best bar food you will have in Chicago!!

We visited on a Tuesday evening around 7 p.m. We were seated immediately, The restaurant looks like an old speakeasy. Our waitress was very pleasant and quick to offer suggestions. There is a nightly special through the week, and they also feature Chicago deep dish pizza. I ordered the special which was carne asada. It was very good and priced great! The rest of my group got the deep dish pizza and everyone had leftovers. I would recommend this restaurant and pub.

I had high expectations for this restaurant. Miller's Pub, a few doors down, is one of our favorites. When I read that this is one of the only verifiable haunts of Al Capone in the Loop I was super stoked! But once inside, it reminds you of a downstate diner in any little town of 800 people. Any history that may have existed has long ago been covered with drywall, drop ceilings, and the lamest decor and wall hangings you could ever imagine. Food was good - in that it was not bad - but in no way exceptional. After dropping $100 I really wished we'd have picked someplace else. If other places are busy and you're hungry, go here. Otherwise, you could do much better for the money.

Excellent dark pub. I enjoyed the best patty melt sandwich of my whole life. My mages loved the ribs and the huge salad, too. Good table service.

While my wife was asking for the WiFi code the waitress offered to do it for her. At the same time I was looking at another table as there was no mustard/ketchup on ours and while the waitress was typing the WiFi password she said to me she would bring ketchup and mustard in a second. Whether that was a coincidence or not it made my day. Overall the service was really good and I would definitely recommend this one.

the restaurant is nice, nice decoration, if you like what touches Al capone, you will be served. We tried chicago pizzas and not disappointed at all