Fireplace Inn Reviews

seems to be an older crowd, food was so so

I went here with a group on a Monday night before going to 2nd City. We sat in the nice dining room with the beautiful bar and fireplace. Appetizers are 1/2 on Mondays. We had onion rings (could have been crispier) potato skins and chips/gaucamole. Everyone enjoyed their dinners too: beef stew, shrimp po boy and burgers. The service was very good. We had sevral rounds of drinks and plates were cleared promptly.

We decided we wanted ribs tonight and we wanted to sit outside so we picked The Fireplace Inn . It was very busy when we arrived and were put in the back. Bearing in mind we had a reservation not just a walk up we asked if a table became available in the front could we move. Anyway they did find us a table and moved us outside which was nice. We ordered and appetizer and an entree but both arrived together. It was no problem but we did feel a little overwhelmed with food!! The food was good. Ribs were very nice. Onions rings you got loads. Drinks were okay. Nothing amazing but not bad. We really liked our waiter who has only been working there for 3 days but told us he used to work there 13 years ago. That to me was a good sign that it was still going strong. We will be back!!!

We live local so wanted something fresh and tasty. I have been here before but my son hasn't. Also I hadn't had the burgers before. They were pretty good. I had tossed salad which was fresh. Nice wine for $6 too. There are lots of TV's. I count s 17 in one room. The sound wasn't up too loud though so it was fine. It's a solid place for a quick bite to eat.

I am grateful that this sports bar was opened on Xmas day, one to watch a football game & two, to escape the in-laws.

The grilled chicken skewers were cooked to perfection and had the ideal seasoning. Everything tasted freshly prepared, and portions were substantial. The evening was enhanced by the staff's attentiveness and friendliness without being obtrusive. Perfect place for a laid-back evening with friends or a leisurely meal. If you're looking for delicious meals and positive vibes, I highly recommend this place!

The ribs and steaks were very good. The server worked hard. It was Memorial Day weekend and the locals were partying hardy. The bar side was very busy and loud. The chaos did not spill over to the dining room. Overall, worked well for dinner before The Second City show.

My family & I were going to see second city and wanted somewhere close by to have dinner and that’s how we choose this place. Right away I could tell this is where the locals drink. We purposefully came during happy hour which is Monday – Friday 4:30-7:00pm in order to get the half price wine. There was no line up so we were seated immediately but at the worst table by the kitchen door (it was either that or a high top table) and had to wait a while for someone to come over and serve us. When our server finally did show up, it was an experience I will never forget. He was nice, polite and worked hard but the communication process seemed to break down when it came to taking our orders ex. My daughter had ordered a ginger ale and despite reminding him 3 times the drink never came nor was water offered. So when he came back with the wine we made sure to order everything in one shot. We started off with the French onion soup which was decent but we added a little extra wine. For the entrée my family and I all ordered cheeseburgers with fries and it was one of the best cheeseburgers I have ever eaten in my life. It was juicy, full of flavour and soft to chew and once I started I couldn’t stop…Yum! We shared a chocolate cake for dessert which was pretty much our only choice since our server told us that a lot of desserts on the menu were currently unavailable which left us with about two choices. The cake was slightly bitter but the ice cream was good. I found the prices reasonable but wouldn’t go back again, just wanted to try something different.

We had dinner here prior to attending the 11 pm show at Second City..only a half block from the theater. The Owner/ Manger Ky was an outstanding host and our server Jimmy was super. The food was outstanding, Ky shared a sample of his Ribs straight out of the oven and were they great. we had a Rib dinner and a the Prime Rib special both hit the mark. when we were leaving for the show there was a downpour and Ky went to his office and provide us with an umbrella!! What a great host! (we did return it !! after the show. I would highly recommend a dinner there if you're in the area, you won't be disappointed.

We ordered in from Fireplace Inn, and we feared the delivery would be just okay. We were pleasantly surprised. Everything was wrapped tightly and still warm. I had Parmesan tilapia with rice and veggies, and my spouse had chicken and ribs. Both dishes were delicious and plenty for two meals. Even the salads that came with the entrees were good. It was a bit pricey, but we’d order in from here again.

This was my first time returning in years. Parking has always been impossible. I returned and was pleasantly surprised. Our server Kate S, was attentive to our needs. She made our stay enjoyable. The cook made our meal presentation desirable. I will return based on our dining experience and well preparedness of our food entrées!

The food is okay at best. The ribs are sweet and meaty, but the chicken is dry and mediocre. If you are looking for a place with a drunk, loud and unruly crowd this is the place for you. The large group sitting next to us consistently spoke extremely loudly and profanely, to the annoyance of the all those around us. The manager asked them to keep it down, which had no effect, and he didn t seem to really care.

We visited after a Second City show. It was great. Our family of six loved everything we ordered. The chips and guacamole were great and the food was excellent. We had good service. Entrees we ordered were all good and the BBQ sauce was tasty. Pulled pork, BBQ chicken, chicken strips, French dip and sliders great. Check it out.

We ordered the baby back ribs, excellent. The waiter was a eldery guy with excellent service. We were going to Second City, and he told us a lot of stories in between the serving. Loved it.

We made a reservation for our anniversary dinner, online and asked if there were a nicer table, maybe something with a view we would sure appreciate it, but if not that was fine. It was our anniversary and were just looking for a little nicer spot than right in front of the kitchen doors if possible. We got there right at 7 and were greeted by the hostess who looked like she would rather be just about anywhere other than where she was at that moment, who promptly seated us right in front of.... wait for it... THE RESTROOMS! Happy Anniversary you two! We kind of laughed it off and my husband said, oh well, as long as we're here lets make the most of it. So we asked our waiter (who actually WAS very friendly by the way) What he recommended. Brisket sandwich was his fav, so that's what I ordered. Let me tell you it resembled more of a rubberband sandwich soaked in gobbs of barbeque sauce than any brisket I've ever had. It was truly not edible. My husbands baby back were just ok. There were fights on TV, SUPER loud on every single tv, and there was kind of a frat house feel to the whole place. We stayed and had another drink, but then walked down the street to another establishment and had some sliders and tots because I was really hungry by that point. I do not recommend this bar for dinner.

Stopped here with some guy friends for a few drinks. It's a typical sports bar, tvs everywhere and pub tables. It was nothing special, a good place for a casual hangout. It was a lot of guys there, as a woman I did feel a little out of place, but overall a good experience.

The fireside was so noisy it took an extra effort to talk to the person next to you. Never again. Sorry.

Fantastic service. Very good selection of beers and good bbq plates. Definitely a nice american place to try

We come here a lot but Alex has made it the most memorable time for us yet. His professional manner and warmth is exemplary and he deserves the heftiest raise in the restaurant industry. Go here and ask for Alex!

Had a really fantastic meal here in April. The ribs were really superb and great quantities as well. Even though the place was really quite busy, we got a table without a reservation and the service was very efficient. Would certainly recommend to others.

Fireplace Inn used to be an open lot with a large canopy which added a certain ambience. Now it's a regular format bar and restaurant. It can be a bit noisy if you're looking for deep conversation. But if you're looking for a pub meal with good vibe, this is a good option. We certainly saw a lot of regulars being greeted by name and that always counts for something in my book

The Fireplace Inn is in the Old Town neighborhood, a little south of North Avenue. The food was good and nicely presented. Portions were a good size - not too big and not too small. Service was also pretty good. We were there on a busy Friday night during March Madness. The large bar area was crowded and the noise level was energetic. Because we wanted to talk during dinner, I was happy when we were taken to the adjacent dining room, but it soon filled with groups ready to watch the game. If you're looking for a sports bar kind of place, this will do it. If you want a quieter dinner, this is probably not the spot, especially on the weekend.

Great place to watch sports and enjoy some ribs!

Love the BBQ sauce!

This is one of the few places in Old Towne Chicago that predates my years as a hippie there. One big difference is that then I could not afford to eat there. I tried 3 things. One was good and two were exceptional. To explain I should talk about the people there because without them I would have missed one of the items. My waitress was a young lady named Ashe. She laughed a lot and was friendly. The menu had several things that looked good but some that I should not eat. She spent time helping me and in asking about soup she informed me that during football season, chili was available but not on the regular menu. There are 5 things tha I judge a restaurant by, usually. By helping me so much she got the restaurant an extra star. I sampled both chilis, red and chicken. The red is very good in what I call the Kansas City style but the chicken was outstanding in being as good as any red chili. This is a hard feat. I had a pulled pork sandwich. It was good but I have never found a bad one so, good. I had a bowl of their onion soup. The soup, unlike most remem,bered that it is ONION soup not just cheese and crouton soup. There was a lot of onions, the way I like it. It reminded me of the onions soup in an old restaurant called the Adam and Even by Washington Square Park in NYC. I used to go out of my way to go there so that speaks for itself. It was not busy so I got talking to another waiter (surprised) named Perry. I turned out the he was a history of war expert. I really enjoyed my time there . I was there for 2 hours. If you get either of them , say hi for me.

I went there with my girlfriend. We ordered meat balls, burger and chicken and some beers. Most of the people around were only having drinks and nachos with guacamole which, as it turned out, would be a better choice for us as well. The meatballs were supposed to be a starter but arrived only after the main course when I asked about them. My burger was very average with too much spices on it which always arouses my suspicion (if the meat is fresh and good you don't need to cover it up with spices). The chicken was horrible - cold but what is more important definately not fresh! We were there at about 5 p.m but it felt like this chicken was there way before us. I have to admitt though, that they accepted our complain and took it off our bill. I sincerely cannot recommend it.

I came here with some friends after a Second City show. The place was packed on a Saturday night and it was hard to get a place to sit. The waitstaff seemed annoyed with us when we tried to ask for water at one point, which wasn't nice. We ended up getting a bunch of appetizers, which were nothing special. The potato skins were overcooked and dry, the calamari wasn't anything special. The guacamole was very good and I ate a ton of it! The chicken tenders were standard.

Since it's near Second city, we booked dinner for 3 at 6PM (in time for the 8PM show.) When we got there, we were told about a 15 minutes wait. We stood near the hostess station, and they were a mess. If a party larger than ours came, they got seated. Finally, after waiting 45 minutes (and several complaints), they offered to seat us in the bar area (which turned out to be the smoking section.) They manager said, "you can sit in there and eat, or wait for the dining room where we don't know when we can seat you." This place is not worth the effort.

We chose Fireplace due to TripAdvisor reviews and its proximity to 2nd City comedy club. I loved the ribs (salad, potato) and the service was fantastic. I'd definitely go again.

Went here before going to Second City Comedy Shop and the food was very good, especially the 10 Oz Filet mignon my wife ordered, it was made to perfection, the rack of Ribs I had were good but had better, from the soup, salad, dinner, and dessert, the food was very good and my wife enjoyed her dinner and is very hard to please. Overall, I would back without hesitation because you know what your going to get, a very good steak dinner.

great old town bar, best blood mary i've ever had!

we didn't have time to eat but had heard wonderful things about this restaurant; had some drinks and split a small plate of ribs. Incredible, with amazing sauce, service and people watching!

We were going to Second City for a show and looked into their dining/show packages. Fireplace Inn was one of the choices. As I was checking out Fireplace's website, I noticed that Tuesdays is 1/2 price appetizers and it was a Tuesday we were going to Second City. So we decided to go to Fireplace Inn on our own and not through Second City. We sat outside on the huge patio. It was a great evening - we had appetizers for dinner (guacamole and chips, onion rings, Shrimp de Jonghe, pulled pork salad). More than enough food! The drinks were strong... a great place for a pre-show meal!

My wife and I aren't experts on barbecued baby back ribs. We've sampled the celebrated ribs of Memphis, St. Louis and Kansas City. And we've sampled ribs at some of Chicago's leading BBQ pits. Because eating ribs is a messy undertaking, we usually order ribs to be delivered. Unfortunately, two restaurants where we have ordered ribs in the past have closed. What to do for a ribs fix? How could we have overlooked the Fireplace Inn? Located at 1448 North Wells Street in the historic Old Town neighborhood, the restaurant/sports bar has been a local institution since 1969. And it is only two blocks from our home. I've had Fireplace Inn's ribs before and I gave them a well-deserve thumbs-up. If they aren't the best ribs in Chicago, they certainly are in the conversation. But we've never had them delivered. Until now. In fact, when I called in our order, I was told the delivery would take 45 minutes to an hour. But the deliveryman arrived in only 25 minutes. Two full slabs of BBQ baby back ribs. With sides of cole slaw and French fries. With lots of sweet and mild BBQ sauce. Open from 4:30 to midnight on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 11 to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 to 11 on Sunday, Fireplace Inn begins delivery at 3:30 on weekdays and at 4 on Saturday and Sunday. Love the ribs, so tender and meaty, every last one of them. And love the swift delivery. We've found our new home for ribs. Fireplace Inn really delivers the goods.

We had lunch here July 4th, 2011. Our waitress Jenny was more than helpfull as was the the other waiter, they both were working their tails off taking care of the customers. Cottage fries for an appetizer which was very good, BBQ pulled pork sandwich for me and BBQ chicken sandwich for my wife, both were very very good, the sandwich rolls were very fresh and soft, just how we like them, loads of meat in mine, I actually had to eat some out with a fork before I picked up the sandwich. We sat at the tables on the sidewalk in front, they seemed to be busy but we did not lack for service as they both took turns checking on us and refilling our water. We will for certain stop here again on our next trip to Chicago!

My son recommended this spot which he frequents, but something must have been in the air cause it was NO Bueno for salads on Sunday. We ordered a few things, but I was looking forward to a salad. When it arrived, I was surprised...the lettuce was browning, it looked horrible and I couldn't figure out why they would even send this to a patron. Although it was taken off our bill and a very kind busboy apologized profusely, I still can not imagine how it made it out of the kitchen. No Bueno!

Best burger I ever had,in the best location ,with great service ,,and the biggest Vodka Lemonade ever!

Upon booking this restaurant through a deal offered with zannies comedy club, it was advertised as an upper scale steak house. Choosing this as the place to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, I checked out the website first, which did not represent an accurate ambience of the place. Upon entering it was unclear where the bar ended and the restaurant began. We were not greeted at all by the hosts and were very confused with the layout as this appeared to be more of a sports bar, with very loud commentary on the speakers. Our server was very polite, but the food was terrible. The steak tasted like it was frozen and my beef stroganoff was watery with a strange texture and vegetables were all slushy. When bringing the issue to the manager he seemed unconcerned, did not apologise and just walked off. I paid for our drinks and left.

This is a great place to eat and enjoy the patio in Old Town. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and it was yummy. The patio does fill quickly especially on game days.

Have ordered from Fireplace Inn on several occasions and I have to say , honestly that the food is better all the time, not that it was less the first time. Our dinner came on time, hot, package wonderfully and simple delicious. The Greek pork chops were out of this world as was the steak and crab cakes . Hungry, don't feel like leavin home, check them out

We ended up here for lunch on a busy Saturday. We got seated right away but no one waited on us until we finally flagged someone down and asked for service after about 20 minutes. Once we got a server he was very friendly and did a decent job. The food is average pub food and was good. Large portions and well prepared. Cocktails were not as good. We had three of them at our table and none of them tasted very good. The white Sangria in particular was horrible. Nice enough place but I won’t be back.

Whether you’re going to see a show in Second City, or just hanging out in OT reminiscing about the 60’s and head shops, Fireplace Inn is a great place to stop for drinks or dinner, especially sitting outside in the summer. The wait staff are friendly and accommodating, making sure you know all the specials (half price bottles of wine when we were there). The food is well prepared and makes for good eating; we recommend the seafood kabobs, the ribs (you can ask for sauce on the side if you’re a dry rub purist), and the spinach salad. The very clean restrooms are upstairs behind the bar. We’ll be back to this friendly stable in an always happening part of Chicago.

I went here for dinner before going out for drinks and I really liked the overall setting of the restaurant. It has an outdoor environment and an inside part with a bar and of course the fireplace. We felt very cozy and it was easy for us to talk with no distractions. The food and drinks were also nice and I like that the menu isn't a novel. The amaretto sour was very fresh tasting and quite large, but not the best I've ever had. The sandwiches were diverse and well done and I was completely happy with the coleslaw and french fries. However, I would strogly recommend the basket fo beer battered onion rings. They were thinly cut and absolutely amazing. Overall I woudl recommend this location to couple, small groups, and friends.

My daughter was in town for a few hours and we decided to visit the restaurant. For starters we had the calamri which was very good. I couldn't decide on a burger or ribs so I decided ribs. Not the best I've had, closer to the bottom of the list really. I've had some great ribs on the south side of the city and these ribs didn't compare. However the Grecian chicken and potatoes were outstanding and the server was very attentive. Would l go back, sure.

Omg here every Sunday for NFL games....bartenders Joe and Mark are always Wonderful....food fantastic and always consistent... I just tried their coleslaw..... DYNAMIC!!!! It has cilantro and jalapeño peppers in it....I’m addicted... I Love this place.

This used to be such a great place. Not any more. Decided to go because we were in the area and hadn’t been here in years. We used to eat here several times a year and always loved the ambiance. A great place to have a cocktail and a nice dinner. They have completely ruined this place by turning it into a sports bar. They ripped out the fireplace and replaced it with multiple flat screen tv’s. I ordered ribs with steak fries and French onion soup to start. Our waitress came back to clarify whether we wanted the steak fries or the regular cut fries. Both my husband and I said “steak”. After it took a long time for my soup to come, we asked when it would be out. Our server said “oh, did you want the soup BEFORE your meal?” Really? Has this women ever eaten in a restaurant before? Sure enough, here comes our dinners along with my soup all at the same time. The food was luke warm at best. The soup was good but the ribs were mediocre. Not the same as they used to serve. I used to think they were some of the best in the city. No more. Also, no steak fries. Why would you make a special trip back to clarify if you weren’t going to give us what we wanted anyway? This will be our last visit here.

Walked past this restaurant many times, but never visited. a friend and I, were looking for somewhere to eat on a Saturday evening whilst also being able to grab a few drinks and be in a good atmosphere. This ticked all of the boxes. The place was very busy, admittedly it is loud, but you kind of expect that on a Saturday night in Chicago. We were seated immediately, excellent friendly server. Only had a1/2 a rack of ribs, the ribs were really good. Lots of flavour and melted in mouth, the sauce was ok, but not my favourite sauce I have tasted. Had a baked potato with it, which was ok. Will definitely return, and probably have the full rack of ribs!

We ate here before a Second City show to take advantage of the priority seating offered in conjunction with eating here. It wasn't exactly what we expected, but we probably should have done a little more research on that. We were expecting a restaurant atmosphere, but it is definitely a bar atmosphere. Very noisy, but the food was good. Huge servings; we could have shared one entree per couple, although we took home leftovers and had another meal:) We had to kind of rush to make our show, even though the server assured us that we had plenty of time when we started. We recommend the ribs! They were very accommodating about wrapping everything up for us to take home, including the desserts we were too full for and didn't really have time to eat anyways.

My wife and I have liked in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood for nearly 50 years and we've seen a lot of restaurants come and go along North Wells Street in historic Old Town. But the Fireplace Inn isn't going anywhere. Located at 1448 North Wells Street, it has been an Old Town institution since 1969, serving the best BBQ ribs in town. Whether you're dining in and enjoying a meal while watching a sports event on one of 40 HDTVs or calling for delivery or ordering takeout, the Fireplace Inn satisfies one and all. They must be doing something right or they wouldn't be in business for 50 years, right? For starters, on our latest visit, we had BBQ meatballs, mozzarella garlic bread, gulf shrimp cocktail and bacon wrapped scallops. For the main course, my wife chose a seven-ounce filet mignon with mashed potatoes, broccoli and carrots. I couldn't resist the house's speciality, a full rack of BBQ baby back ribs, with a baked potato and tossed salad with 1,000 Island dressing. For dessert, we shared a big slab of chocolate mousse cake. Whether you're in a mood for ribs, chicken, steak, chops or seafood, the Fireplace Inn always puts a smile on your face.

Jim and Dick Novak opened Fireplace Inn at 1448 North Wells Street in Chicago's historic Old Town neighborhood in 1969. From the get-go, they specialized in barbecue baby back ribs with their own sweet barbecue sauce. For the last 55 years, with the Novaks' children currently running the business, nobody has done it better. My wife and I get our ribs fix once a month. Chicago isn't known for ribs, like Austin or Kansas City or St. Louis or Memphis. But ribs have become more popular over the years, especially at Fireplace Inn. On our most recent visit, we started with plates of deep fried chicken tenders and Gulf shrimp and Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing. For an entree, my wife chose a half slab of barbecue baby back ribs with a baked potato. I opted for a full slab of barbecue baby back ribs with shrimp, coleslaw and French fries. What is so special about Fireplace Inn's ribs? Every bone is filled with delicious, chewy meat. And the house sauce adds a one-of-a-kind flavor. For dessert, we sampled a Mexican cheesecake rolled in a flour tortilla and fried and topped with a sugar/cinnamon blend. As delicious as a Mexican flan.

My wife and I went to this place because some people we know raved about if. I expected the place to be a restaurant not a bar. It was more like a sports bar, loud and most of the screens were showing UFC crap (not everyone likes this). Our server could barely speak English and misunderstood my drink order. Additionally not once did this person come and asked if everything was okay, or if we were enjoying our meal.The scallops wrapped in bacon were okay, except the bacon was more fat than actual bacon. The shrimp dejong was a bit burnt but tasted good. Overall, the food was commensurate with bar fare, but way too pricey for what you get. I can't think of one single reason why I would go back!

well two starts cause I have had some good times there but the food is nothing to worry about, drink beer and hang out, eat somewhere else

Chicago isn't known as a haven for barbecued baby back ribs, not like Memphis or Kansas City or St. Louis or Austin. But maybe it should. One by one, more and more classic rib joints are making a reputation in the city. And don't forget the old-time institutions that have been barbecuing tasty and tender ribs for decades, like Fireplace Inn. Located at 1448 North Wells Street, south of North Avenue, in the historic Old Town neighborhood, Fireplace Inn has been a popular restaurant and sports bar that specializes in barbecued baby back ribs since 1969. It was one of the first eateries my wife and I visited when we moved into the area in the early 1980s. Dine in, curbside pickup or delivery, Fireplace Inn always delivers when it comes to meaty and tender and tasty and zesty ribs. We also order two full slabs of BBQ baby back ribs with mild sauce, cole slaw and fries. Since the Coronavirus closed many restaurants or limited their dine in service, we have leaned to curbside pickup and delivery. Since we live only two blocks from Fireplace Inn, both are easy to negotiate. Order on line for curbside pickup, drive over and pick up your ribs within an hour. No need to reheat it when you get home. It's all wrapped up and piping hot. Just pour on the BBQ sauce and enjoy. Eating ribs is always a messy business, which is why we prefer to eat at home, in front of the TV, watching a sports event. With plenty of napkins.

Bottom Line: Not the best BBQ available in Chicago, but the atmosphere is fun and the service is friendly. Food: Pretty heavy on the fried food/bar food stuff. We ordered a Baby Back Rib platter. It came with a salad that was pretty fresh and good tasting. The ribs themselves were way beyond overcooked. It's not like they were dry, but just barely holding onto the bone and not much texture to them. Nothing memorable or really pleasurable about them. Beverage: Full bar with a good pretty good local draft list. Service: Very friendly and efficient. Atmosphere: It's definitely a bar. Very loud. Lots of TV's.

Boy lemme tell you...these burgers are amazing! I had the BBQ burger and I seriously fell in love. I'm a die-hard BBQlover so I expect alot and this place delivered. I'm not sure whose idea it was to put pulled pork, bacon and a burger patty together, but thank you. My girlfriend had the peppered egg & bacon burger which was equally amazing. The fries were delicious too...and they give you alot of fries. Eat here. You won't regret it.

My wife and I have lived in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood since 1983. Since then, we have enjoyed the wonderful nightlife and restaurants that the nearby Old Town neighborhood on North Wells Street has to offer. Like the Fireplace Inn, at 1448 North Wells Street, which has been one of Old Town's most popular go-to destinations since 1969. Since the pandemic, we have taken advantage of Fireplace Inn's delivery and curbside service. Our traditional order is two full slabs of barbecue baby back ribs with cole slaw and French fries. For years, we didn't order anything else. But a friend recommended that we try the house's Caprese flatbread for an appetizer. Bingo. What a great way to start a meal. By any other name Caprese flatbread could be construed as bruschetta. But it is so much more. It's a vegetarian delight, crispy flatbread crust, home-made spinach pesto, lots of mozzarella cheese, ripe grape tomatoes and tangy balsamic glaze with fresh basil. Chicago isn't known for its ribs, like Memphis or Kansas City or Austin or St. Louis, but Fireplace Inn has been the gold standard for 52 years, setting a culinary trend that is becoming more and more popular in the city.

Overpriced.

We ended up at Fireplace Inn because another (famous / trendy) ribs place had a 45 minute wait and I'm glad we did. The food was excellent. The beef brisket was the best - tender, juicy, flavorful & meaty - that I've ever had. The ribs were very good - not fabulous, but definitely better than most, and the burgers are amazing. This is definitely a carnivore's dream. They also had veggie & plenty of seafood items - we didn't gt to them on this visit. One room has more TVs than you can possibly watch while the other is more of a homey living, dining room atmosphere. We will definitely return.

We made a reservation here via OpenTable and, despite the confirmation email, they said they did not have it. We were seated anyway at a table next to the server station. The noise level was ridiculous and we could barely carry on a conversation. Service was average. Garlic cheese bread appetizer was good and meal was fine. Beer not cold enough. I would only try this place again at a less busy time but with so many other options in Old Town it won't be anytime soon. Probably great for on-the-prowl twenty-something's but definitely not for middle-aged couples or families with young children. At least not on a Saturday night.

We chose to eat at the Fireplace Inn because we were attending a show at The Second City Improv and they offered a dinner/show package. The Improv made our reservations for us and offered a special fixed price menu. When we arrived at the restaurant, our table was ready and we were promptly seated and served drinks. It was a Saturday night and the place was very busy and lively - it has a casual sports bar atmosphere and appeared to be a popular place for people to meet up with friends. Because of this, it is VERY noisy, so if you are looking for a nice quiet dinner, this isn't the place for it. For dinner I had the BBQ baby back ribs. They were excellent - very tender and the BBQ sauce was delicious. I got the mashed potatoes as my side and they were also very good. The service was friendly and very attentive. The Second City is only a block away (as well as some other comedy clubs), so this is a great place to grab dinner before seeing a show.

Walked in and was blasted by noise! Surprised that it was really just another loud sports bar. Why they take reservations through OpenTable is a mystery. Hostess had to clear a party from our table, atop which a hand-scrawled "reserved" paper sign rested. Bolted after 5 minutes.

Ordered here on several occasions , cannot believe that the food is better all the time. Greek porkchops, steak, crab cake , all over the top delicious, delivered hot and on time. If your hungry and want exceptional food and service, this is the place. Check Grub Hub.

Nasty and rude management and staff. A few good eggs, but one good person can't save this place. It's really terrible unfortunately.

I came here during March Madness to watch a game, have a few drinks, and enjoy some barbecue before heading over to The Second City. I have driven or walked by the Fireplace Inn countless times in the past, but have never stopped in. Surprisingly, when I visited there wasn't an empty or unreserved seat in the house, so it must be a good place to eat and drink. This is a decent place to gather with a group or to watch a "big game" on TV. The ribs I had were excellent, and the martini was generously poured. If you're looking for elegant dining, go somewhere else, but if you want a solid meal in a college atmosphere, this is a good place.

For their claims about history of their BBQ and sauce, I would expect amazing... but Fireside is not. I think Fireside is more of a cheap option for food in the Lakeview neighborhood before drinks. I think there are a lot better BBQ options in Chicago, but if you are in Lakeview, this spot will do the trick. The service at Fireside is ok, nothing to write home about. The servers are friendly and considering how many people were at the restaurant when I was there, they were prompt. The food itself was average BBQ. I had the pulled pork with their "award winning BBQ sauce." And while it wasn't bad, it was nothing special either. I am somewhat of a BBQ know-it-all and there are just way better options for BBQ in the city. The atmosphere of Fireside resides somewhere between refined and sports bar. There are nice accents in the restaurant that give it the fireside name, but overall, seems like more of a glorified sports bar. If you are in the neighborhood and got a hankering for some BBQ, Fireside will suffice. If you are traveling from outside the hood to go on a BBQ run, go elsewhere. Fireside is a great place for all the streetfests in the neighborhood in the summer though!

This is a great resturaunt with delicious food and a wonderful atmosphere. It has a full menu with anything you might want. I had a steak and it was prepared perfectly. The best thing is it's great food at a very reasonable price.

Such a gem - Go here when you realize that the line at Benchmark next door isn't worth it. Cheap large vodka lemonades are their special. Unfortunately, one area closes early and they cram everyone into one room, but I think they're changing that soon. One of the best bars in the crowded Wells St. area.

We ate at this establishment on recommendation from the Second City Comedy club. Food was very good; moderately priced. I would call this a bar, not a restaurant. Tables are very close and it is VERY noisy (in fairness, it is March madness) so noisy that you couldn't hope to carry on a conversation. Although it wasn't the experience we were looking for, I would recommend going if you like a bar atmosphere.

We’ve been going to the Fireplace for decades, back when Jimmy owned it. For many, many years, this was arguably one of the best restaurants in Old Town. No more. Ribs? Synonymous with the Fireplace, but not even close today. It’s just another sports bar drinking hole that happens to serve food. And very mediocre food. A profitable transition, no doubt, but no resemblance to the place built by Dick. Shame…

The Fireplace Inn is one of our old standards. To start, if you enjoy Onion Rings, they have some of the best. They are beer-battered and sumptuously delicious, almost melting in your mouth. Though their ribs are very popular, their fired-chicken is excellent as well, so I recommend the Rib and Fried Chicken combination. In addition to the great food the service was also great. Our waite staff along with the follow-through completed the visit. Having to get the vehicle fetched by the valee, and then to help my mother-in-law into the vehicle following it's arrival, it was wonderful that several of the waite staff brought our packages of left-overs out to the curb instead of me having to return into the restaurant.

nice and easy place. good service and food. large enough for groups. a little bit too noise for me, but it is ok anyway. prices OK

We went here last weekend for drinks. This place has a kind of identity crisis going on. Is it a restaurant, a BBQ joint, a bar, a sports bar? The atmosphere definitely says bar way more than restaurant. I couldn't imagine coming here on a date unless you both love whatever game is on TV. Nothing about the ambience says BBQ either. For me, this place is just a bar, and not a very special one. Pretty much just a watering hole and a decent place to watch sports. Definitely not a place for kids. On the plus side, the servers were good. They really hustled and were eager to please.