House Of Blues Chicago Reviews

Wow! House of Blues has a great old style southern feel with great music and service. The biggest surprise was the delicious food. Everything we tried was wonderful. This is a great pick for a fun evening out with friends or family.

One of the most important parts of our one-day visit to Chicago was to pick a hotel that was near the places we wanted to visit. This restaurant is directly beside the Hotel Chicago, and we were looking forward to eating here after a long trip. Upon arrival at the front door (first Saturday in May), we were greeted by some happy workers, who informed us the restaurant wasn't open to the public. Closed for a private event. The whole restaurant? On a Saturday? I was so disappointed. I think it was a really bad business decision, although I am sure they received a great deal of money from the event that rented it.

Its totally what you would expect, and that's not a bad thing! Great food, excellent variety, very flavourful! And then the live music cant be beat... what a great a cool experience!

Going to the House of Blues in Downtown Chicago is always fun! The food is good as are the drinks but...Come for the blues! The music is always great and you don't need to eat and/or drink if you choose not to. Depending on the day & time, there may be a cover charge (call or check out their website for details). Funky/cool decor adds to the fun experience. You can park in lots nearby or leave your car with a valet for not too much money. If you're planning on having a few cocktails or beer, take an Uber, Lyft or taxi. HOB is the real Chicago blues deal; I know since I'm a real Chicagoan.

We dined at the HOB restaurant last Saturday night before attending a show upstairs in the music venue. After being seated we waited 15 minutes for someone to take our drink order. Not a good sign. We ordered our food immediately and told our waiter we were trying to get out early in order to get a good spot upstairs for the show. The rest of our party had reserved tables upstairs so weren't in a rush and arrived after we had placed our food order. After 45 minutes none of us had food - and tables around us that had been seated after us were already finishing up. I alerted the manager to the situation and he said he would handle it. Mind you it still took another 15 minutes for the two of us who ordered early to get our food, and the other 4 orders came our one at a time. Obviously someone had either lost or forgotten about our orders. The management ended up comping all the dinners - a very generous gesture. And the two of us with out reserved seats were escorted upstairs to find a spot. Not our usual front of the venue perch but decent. This is a fun dining venue and often has some great free music with dinner. We often bring out of town guests so they can hear Chicago Blues in a family friendly setting. The management saved the evening and made up for the horrible service. I will hope that experience was a fluke and will return to try it again.

Great place to have a drink and enjoy the live music. Really enjoyed that. Music varies from really good to really good try. Service is great and prices are very good, especially during happy hour... The food however is not really matching the wife ( ;-) ), ambiance and service. Skip the chicken in any form, but try the shrimps as a starter!

The location was easy to get to, great food, including:waffles, chicken, biscuits, maple butter, juicy prime rib, fried chicken, creamy potatoes and more. The show was fun and energetic.

This place is very busy, and very impersonal. We didn't find the staff very friendly. The drinks were not cheap, though the food looked good. There was a band playing, the music was good, it was just that it was too busy. I didn't really like it.

I absolutely loved it here! We enjoyed a wicked show and the sound was incredible. We were able to see everything. This place is too cool. The food and drinks are good as well!!

Had lunch here and it was really good. Much better than I expected. I had the Jalapeno cornbread which was amazing and the Schnitzel which was okay. Prices were reasonable for downtown Chicago.

The food is reasonably priced and good. I had a smoked brisket sandwich, tasty if a little salty. Rest of the table (5 of us) all enjoyed the food. Good service and music. This is a place to hang out with friends, eat, and listen to good music. We stayed a couple of hours, no rush to have you leave.

Really enjoyed our evening here- food was good, our waiter was efficient and good fun- and the band were great. Wanted to go to a gig in the main venue here but it wasn't accessible to children (13 and 18). The restaurant was a much-better-than expected alternative-loved the decor.

Came on an off time so the place was pretty empty, but atmosphere was great, food was great and service was excellent.

The restaurant was really cool on the inside. Food was great and I highly recommend getting the motown mojito, it was delicious. The bartender was also very nice, he told us about a few cool bars in the city to check out since we were from out of town.

This restaurant is fantastic. The ambiance is awesome, decorated in folky, music inspired art. With images of music greats both past and present. The live music is phenomenal. The food is a bit pricey, but really good. I had shrimp and grits it was really good, but a small portion. The good thing about the small portions was that I was able to enjoy the bread pudding for dessert. Our waiter Ryan was very knowledgeable of the menu and offered great advice on food and drink selection.

Lively and noisy place to enjoy live music and acceptable food. The burgers were quite good but nachos a bit simple and broken.

Arrived at 5:15 PM hoping for a drink and a snack before my later dinner. House of Blues was directly across from my hotel and I thought it would be a refreshing change. Wrong! The restaurant was empty except for 2 people at the bar. The distracted, very young host told me to go sit there. Now I'm middle aged and too many years of high school basketball made my knees a wreck, so I declined, asking for a regular sized chair. No, he said, despite every table in the restaurant being EMPTY, the tables are for customers. How's a person who wants to pay for a drink and an appetizer not a customer? So of course I walked out and went to Bar Louie down the block.

Great band, great food, great service. I went on a Sunday night and it was as though it could have been Saturday. I had the Jambalaya, it was delicious - add shrimp for $6 and they add an enormous amount of shrimp :)

Good food, great staff, great interior design, but not an authentic 'Blues or Gospel place'. I loved the interior, fabulous colors, vibrant, but a professional design, not the organic accumulation of photos, relics, artifacts, etc. that you find in a real, traditional club. That should have been my first clue. Crowd gathered in the lobby until the designated time, then the staff moved everyone inside to their designated seats. We sat in 'the pit', which was on the floor, near the stage, crowded together on small rickety chairs along LONG tables. Although the 10 am show was only half full, we were still crowded together, not spread out along the table. I had no complaints about the food, multiple buffet areas, some really good dishes, lots of variety. And, apparently unlimited mimosas, didn't find out because we only had time for one, because you only had half an hour to be seated, find your food, and eat. My main disappointment was the music. I'm southern, and love Gospel music. We went for the music, not the food. The performers on our Sunday were a local 'teen and young adult' choir. They were fine, but they were young teenagers. The choir director was a great performer, but by the end, I was just disappointed and irritated. My irritation stemmed from the fact that we were being berated for not clapping loud enough for the choir, who deserved acknowledgement because they were good kids, and being harangued to buy their c.d., AND also buy the choir director's c.d. The poor kids were stationed by every exit, so that you had to pass them on your way out. They looked as embarrassed as we were. So, perhaps it depends on who is performing; the choir director implied the grown up choir was at church. Too bad for all of us. Be aware that our audience was all older white people, with few exceptions, so again, I don't think this is much more than clever marketing.

We ate here for lunch, and we were the first table in the place. We were seated by "Z" (she had a beautiful name which escapes me, but I remember her saying "Call me Z"). She was very informative, helpful and friendly. Our server was Elvis, and he says he promises that's his real name. He was awesome. Friendly, efficient, checked on us just enough without hovering. He knew the menu, offered up tips for the area / sightseeing, and was in general just a great server. My daughter ordered the pasta / marinara from the kids menu, and the portion was practically adult sized! Very generous! I ordered the jambalaya, which was to die for. A little kick to it, but not TOO spicy. I find myself craving it as I type this. For an appetizer, we got the jumbo pretzel and Oh. My. Gosh. They weren't kidding about it being jumbo! It was absolutely delicious. Can't recommend this place enough. It was fabulous, with exactly the kind of service you'd expect from such a well-known venue / restaurant. Eat here. You won't regret it.

We were there during a slow time over lunch so not a lot of excitement.The burger was delicious, the flatbread pizza just wasn't my thing. The service was really good and atmosphere was fun. I loved their strawberry lemonade!

Went here because many other restaurants were booked out during NASCAR race weekend. Menu was Southern themed and was good without being outstanding. Food came out quickly but service overall was slow. We were not offered any water refills, had to ask for dessert menu at least 2-3 times before getting one although wait staff were pleasant enough. Best part of the restaurant was the live music. The blues singer and band were terrific so was an enjoyable evening. Music was loud but we were seated very close to the stage.

Quirky decor bu lots to keep your eyes busy in here. Music was great and the place was packed on the Tuesday evening we were there. We ended up having dinner there, which was not planned..but it ended up being pretty good. We had a great server who was really nice and very efficient. We left very happy and were glad we went.

Iconic place where the music is #1 but the food in the restaurant is surprisingly good. It's well priced too and the staff had no issue at all with us hanging around at our table well after we had finished eating, watching the blues performances on the intimate stage. Don't miss it.

We stopped by to have some drinks and have some late night snacks. We had the pleasure of listening to a very good band as well.

The House of Blues was next door to our hotel so we decided to check it out on our first night in Chicago. We made the reservation online and they had a table waiting for us. The food was surprisingly really good - we had the cajun pasta, shrimp tacos and cucumber tomato salad, as well as the bread pudding for dessert. The performance was very relaxing and the singer had a wonderful voice! He performed for 60-90 minutes I believe. We had a great time and would definitely go back again. They also have a club inside and Tory Lanez was playing that weekend.

I think they still have a good artist selection I saw a really good blues converts of local artist. I like the design of the place and chill it has. Its a specific design if you like mexico or Arizona and blues is your spot.

My family always makes sure to visit the house of blues for lunch during our visits to Chicago. We have never had a bad meal there and the service has always been great. We enjoy going during lunch or between 1-3pm because there is usually 10 or less tables used. It's nice because it is quite peaceful and allows us to enjoy the meal. Nothing but great things from this business towards us.

My wife and I were staying at the Hotel Chicago across the street. Had a wonderful meal, great wait staff and enjoyed some Blues.

We had to wait a while for a table but the waitresses made sure they didn't forget us. Good food and good music as you would expect.

Had a quick bite and drink before heading out of town. Service was great and the juicy Lucy burger was awesome. It's cool to see that they also have local beers on tap. Overall a nice visit, will go again.

This is a really great option! The atmosphere is special, food is good, plenty of drinks. And, of course, the live music. Again not too many vegetarian options, I had a Caesar salad. My husband had a New York strip he really liked.

Stopped in here as it was right next to our hotel (Hotel Chicago Downtown, Autograph Collection). Had a great time. $10 cover, but the music was excellent, and the drinks were good. Prices were fair, and the environment was very relaxed. Really enjoyed it.

Did not eat here but the blues were excellent and the beer was cold. Good place to chill with friends or co-workers.

I have been to more places than I can count and have experienced good music. Granted, I did not go and watch the actual blues players at the House of blues, but was expecting the restaurant to have if not better somewhat in par with what was playing inside, but did not get that impression or the experience, but then I am not the best critic when it comes to music, so not the best judge of that. However, the loudness and the service should have atleast made me enjoy it, if not the music. I regret to say, those did not meet the challenge either. So, if you want to mark the check box that you been there and won the Tshirt, then by all means, do it.

Great food, as always, accompanied by a fantastic waiter, Anthony. Loved his job and loves Chicago!!!!

Went there just b4 concert at house of blues. Food was of decent quality and came in generous portions. Very reasonable price considering locatiob with live music. Special shout out to Tina for exemplary aftersales service. I returned next day after realising i forgot to collect my itemised receipt. She kindly made the effort to retrieve it and emailed it back to me promptly. 👏👏👏

We were invited to a corporate party in association with a big meeting in town. They rented out most of the building except the restaurant and had a live band. (The band was good, by the way). It was a great venue for a large gathering like that. Servers were mingling around with trays of veggie wraps, sliders, and other snacks through the eve. Good food, atmosphere and music.

We went here just to check out the place because it was right across the driveway from our hotel and no cover charge with us showing our room key. It was cool and the band was awesome. We didn't eat there and the drinks were average at best. We went on a Saturday night and it was super packed.

We recently wrapped up our annual National Sales Meeting in Chicago. On the second night we reserved the main room at the House of Blues for dinner and music. We also brought in the Corey Dennison Band for the event. The House of Blues did a wonderful job of handling our group of about 140 people. The bartenders were plentiful and there were people walking around with a great variety of appetizers for snacking. The room had a fun variety of things to do to engage the group; a pool table, foosball, video games, etc. The dinner buffet was loaded with salads, and BBQ dishes as well as very tasty deserts. All in all they put on a very good event for our meeting.

Music and atmosphere is fun, although we were the only ones in the restaurant for a little while that night. Average menu and drinks. Was hoping for a more memorable experience here, but left a little let down. Overall just average. There are far better spots in Chicago.

What a brilliant place! Stopped in for a drink and dessert on the way home. Very funky and decorated well. Great band and music, fun atmosphere. Wish we found it earlier so could have spent a whole evening soaking it in...

We stopped here for drinks and to listen to some live music. There was no cover charge for the band that was playing in the bar/restaurant. Being the day of the St. Patty's Day parade, most bars and restaurants were quite crowded, but we were able to get a drink easily enough and after about 10 minutes a few seats opened up at the bar. People were constantly coming and going, so seats were easy to come by if you were patient. The service from the female bartender on our end was good - the guy working the other end of the bar, not so much, but he only served us once, so we didn't really have to deal with him. House of Blues has a really good atmosphere and you can't beat live music.

We had some good street tacos with mahi mahi. The ribs were a little overdone but the sauce is good. The band would have been more enjoyable if the sound guy didn't see the need to make ears ring. I know I sound like an old man yelling at kids to get off the lawn, but the sound levels were pretty insane.

So we spend a weekend downtown Chicago and decided to try this place out. They definitely did not disappoint! We had the voodoo shrimp which was delicious, the Nashville hot wings and believe me they were hot! Even the main dishes and sides were very delicious. It was also nice because there was a gentleman on guitar that played music while we were eating. Our server was attentive I would definitely recommend this place Remember to visit me your travel agent on Facebook at Milam Travel Services

My sister and I came here for an event. We had a blast. The place was packed so there wasn't much room to move. At the end of the night we went to get our coats my sister left her wallet and keys in her coat and it wasn't there when she picked up her coat. We really didn't have any issues until the coat room incident.

We went there with some friends and had a great time. Food was really good. The ribs I had were amazing ! The live show was also very nice to listen to. Very polite and helpful service, all for a fair price.

The menu is not very extensive, but what is on there is delicious. Every member of our party has always been pleased with their food. While you enjoy that great food, someone is playing live blues a few feet away. The prices are not expensive, considering that you are able to listen to live music. The decor is colorful and lively. Overall, it is a great night out. Fun place to bring visitors from out of town, to experience Chicago's Blues culture.

Ate here last night with a small group of friends. Great atmosphere with live music as you eat. The food was lovely and the service great.

I went there with my wife and daughter. It was a good time, I wish I knew the name of the band, but they were very good. The atmosphere was perfect for them. Images of blues greats on the ceiling, and just some funky images on the wall. It was a good place to sit back and relax. We didn't eat, but those around us that were, but like they were enjoying their meal as well.

I honestly didn't pay much attention to the food as I was too engulfed in the live local blues musicians playing. The cocktails are a bit pricy, but it's typical for any nicer Loop bar.

First time eating at this location in Chicago but iwas great. Very friendly staff, great appetizers, great beer choices! While we didnt see any shows we were impressed with the musical guests that were lined up to perform in the new year. Cornbread was worth mentioining....I would be eating it now if I could! House of Blues in general is always a great retaurant choice.

While the music at the restaurant is solid, you will not be treated with respect. Chicago is full of solid blues and jazz -- do yourself a favor and find a better venue. We arrived quite early, and despite the place being almost entirely empty we were not allowed to be seated where we wanted to be seated. We were just a couple -- two people -- and we were told that we could not be seated up front or at a high top with a good view that had four chairs. Instead, we had to be seated at one of the very few tables that had only two chairs. Then, what really torked me was they proceed to seat quite a few couples at the many tables with four chairs. Their behavior is inconsistent, indifferent, and not respectful of their customers. At this place you are just a cog in their corporate wheel. What you want is irrelevant. Just be quiet and pay up. I suggest that you do not need to be treated like a cog in their wheel. You have a choice. Use it to go elsewhere.

We were supposed to go to lunch with my cousin's family that day at their choice of restaurant, but his wife was ill. So, my daughter and I found ourselves on our own by the Chicago Riverwalk on a Sunday. There it was! The House of Blues!!!! AND they listed a lunch menu. Why NOT?! Little did we realize, we were going to attend a Gospel Brunch buffet. And WHAT a Gospel Brunch! The food was very good, even for people who are limited by Gluten problems. We were able to find many things we could eat and enjoy. The music was fabulous and fun. This was an amazing way to spend a Sunday in Chicago. THANK YOU!! My daughter is a musician so this was like Mecca for Musicians. She's already promised to return with her husband.

A really great restaurant with good food a great atmosphere and excellent music ...anyone who is a fan of the blues should call in and check this place out - You will not be disappointed.

Excellent venue for eating and listening to live music. I pre booked our first visit for dinner, the meal was very good and the staff friendly and attentive. Great music! We enjoyed it so much that we went again on our last night in Chicago. We hadn't booked this time but we only had to wait half an hour in the bar and listening to such good music it certainly wasn't a problem. Again the food was very good and plentiful. Would definitely recommend.

I took my two boys (10 and 12 years old) here on Saturday night. The food was good without being outstanding. My son loved his burger. My pulled pork sandwich was good but the fries were a little cold. My youngest son had chicken tenders which were huge for a kids meal. Big chunks of chicken. The boys destroyed a triple chocolate cheesecake. The atmosphere is very good and the live blues was a big plus. The food is well priced for Chicago ($12 - $15 sandwiches and burgers). Worth a visit if you are nearby.

The food is not exceptional - and a little pricey - but that's not why you come here. Fantastic atmosphere. Great service staff and attitudes.

I was not there for lunch or dinner, but just to have a beer and enjoy the music. It war really great § Good music, good beer, nice ambiance, and nice decoration. Don't stand out of the door. Enter this temple of blues and enjoy !

OMG, there are no words - the Gospel show was absolutely invigorating, uplifting and reviving! The food was excellent! I savored every single bite I put in my mouth! You must experience this!

The house of blues is very easy to find in downtown Chicago. The venue is pretty small but it made the show feel more intimate. After we got inside the music Hall a waitress came up and asked if we wanted a table. At least I believe that is what she asked us. She said it was $25 for one person or $50 for two.... Which in my opinion is kinda of steep, esp if that doesn't come with anything. Water was $4 a bottle and mixed drinks were $8-$10. After the show we waited in line for the coat check for about 45 minutes. The problem here was that the area for the coat check was also the line for the merch table... So anyone waiting for their coat was in the same line as anyone buying a t shirt. I definitely think it would be wise to move the merch tables to a less crowded area.

Went there last night with a big group. We got there around 8:00; our table was ready for us. Over the course of two hours, we had drinks (try the schwartzbier), appetizers (shrimp on cornbread was very good, as were the wings), and dinner. My half rack of ribs was first rate. Our service was flawless. Music was a nice extra.

This place was so good I came back for a second visit during my short stay in downtown Chicago. Fantastic blues music in an intimate setting, with great food (try the cornbread with maple butter). Fried chicken was finger licking good.

We went here for lunch today because our Chicago Explorer Pass allowed us to buy two lunch entrees for the price of one--what a bargain for delicious and healthy meals! We both had the Salmon (my friend had blackened and I had grilled) with fresh vegetables--a tasty mixture of green beans, zucchini, peppers and onion. We spent over two hours visiting over a leisurely lunch and enjoyed the background music and attentive waitress.

We had some great chicken wings and drinks at the House of Blue. some great photos ops in the lobby.

We had drinks and appetizers here at the bar. It was early Friday and it was not busy yet. Food tasted great and came out quickly.

I was dreaming since i was 13 to see and dine at the very first House of Blues in Chicago. Finally i was able to eat there after a long working trip to Chicago. Obviously i had to book in advance to be aire to have a table since the place is quite crowded also in mid-week days. Good food, great location, awesome staff and fantastic music by Guy King and his band.

OK so here it is....HOB is a really cool small venue for a concert, great acoustics, cool atmosphere, great food. That being said, as you can see in the other reviews, it's a COMPLETE disaster in how it's run. The tickets for this show were cheap, $18 each, but that is only the start. $18 will get you a place to stand, that's it. The venue fills up quick and there are LITERALLY 6-8 chairs up on the 2nd floor bar level that are free (IF you are the first ones to get there). I had "Front of the Line Passes" that I paid an additional $20 each for, which got me the ability to get in at 7:30pm ahead of all those in line (The $20 pass gets you a $20 credit for merch or food and drink but more on that later) So now we are at $38/ticket. I got my 21+ wristband and RAN to the second floor and even though I was only 6th in line, those free seats were already gone! Hmmm, wonder how that happened?? (#greased palms). So now I will be standing, which doesn't work for me because i was with my wife, pregnant daughter and other daughter who has knee issues. I'm fine with standing (always do at concerts), but I needed seats for them, so the VIP rep came over and said we could buy a BARSTOOL ON THE EDGE OF THE STAGE FOR AN EXTRA $40 EACH. So... now we are at $78 per ticket (could go to a Dave Matthews show reserved seats for that $). It was complete chaos, with everyone jockeying for the attention of one VIP host to grab the remaining chairs and to boot they had issues getting our Chase credit card to run through. Granted, not a bad spot to watch the show, but by then we were stressed out!!. So I went up to the bar to use my $80 worth of credits and guess what - you can only use them for merch OR food and drinks IN THE RESTAURANT ONLY. So...I went to the restaurant to order food and drinks - guess what? Restaurant was closed for a private party!! So the Host says sorry, they cannot use the credits at the bars in the venue because there is no register function to do so, so now i can only use the credits for HOB t-shirts (which I don't want). So I showed my displeasure (loudly) to them since this is a ridiculous policy! Thankfully, I didn't have to raise my blood pressure too much as I was helped by a lovely manager named Holly (thank you Holly) who after a phone call to her boss was able to make an exception for me and arranged it with Max the bartender (nice fellow as well!) to accept my $80 in credits (which didn't go very far but I was grateful for) So, time to drink! Ordered a tall vodka and club soda ($14) and drained it quickly. Show was great and a good time was had by all. I hope this review gives everyone the proper insight to how this venue operates so you know what to expect.

We didn’t want to visit Chicago and miss the House of Blues and we were glad we didn’t. We arrived around 6.30pm for an early Sunday dinner. The place was already quite busy but we were found a nice table and served with drinks within a couple of minutes. We enjoyed a couple of hours of authentic Blues music with a very acceptable meal of ribs and southern style food at very good prices. Service was very good . Well worth a visit

A super location, and incredible decor, the music was Ok but nothing exceptional,we found the food quality to be below par and the service to be slow, we were however a big party.

We went with our 15yo daughter more for the music than for the food, but we were not disappointed. They have a good choice of plates, prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is great, the palce is very nice, the service is good. Recommended.

Based on atmosphere in the bar/restaurant area, I’d have to say I was unimpressed. We didn’t have anything to eat. It was an evening with a concert upstairs, but we decided to just have a few drinks watching the live music in the restaurant area. Unfortunately you couldn’t hear the musician very well. At times his words were unintelligible. I became bored. I had higher hopes for this place. I expected to love the atmosphere, and we were disappointed.

The concerts and shows have a very small amount of sitting around the bar area upstairs. So plan on standing the whole time you're there. They closely monitor if you sit on a stair or anything and threaten to kick you out. My biggest problem was the way their staff treated customers. They act like your in a prison and treat you like a herd of cattle. I won't be going back.

Went there before our show and we were happy with the food and service. We also got the pass the line option which was great!

If you want to listen to some music, than this is the right place. Every night there are two shows. Food is nothing special

Nice atmosphere with live music and a place with a great decoration. Service was also very good. Food was normal, it was tasty but nothing really special.

Went there New Year's day, Vino Loudern was playing live. The atmosphere was great, the food was good, and the drinks was great. The prices was a little high for the drinks. We had the insane hurricane and cranberry mojito. Both drinks was 16 bucks each, you got to take your glass home. The voodoo shrimp was good but I wasn't to fond of the corn bread because it was too sweet. The place was clean and the bathrooms was clean as well. Overall the place was great for photos, and a great time with friends.

We love The House of Blues! Had drinks here one very hot afternoon on our recent trip to lovely Chicago - just to cool us down you know - and returned at night for dinner which was delicious. Attentive service, huge portions as usual and great surroundings. Live band were great. It's a terrific place. Thanks guys.

This was right across the street from my hotel, the Westin River North. It could not have been more convenient. I didn't see any big shows, but visited the main bar/live stage area three times. The staff was friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed each of the acts including Omar Coleman and Funky Mojo Daddy. I took advantage of the "no cover before 9pm" deal to enjoy live music for the price of a drink or two.

Very good music and tasty dishes, especially if you like meat! If you are with your family and you have children who are younger than 21 years old you can have dinner before 9 o clock. You won't spend too much, it's surely worth it! The "House of Blues" can offer you a great variety of groups, also gospel shows at lunch time during the weekend!

We went here primarily to listen to the music. They first tried to give us a table where we really couldn't have seen or heard anything, then a table where one person's back was to the stage. The first musician was pretty good, but the sound was very low, and we could hardly hear it. The second musician was easier to hear but just ok. We asked for our food to come out slowly, and that was fine; our waitress was attentive and did everything right. The food was ok. I had the steak salad, and it seems like they had heated the whole thing before it came out, so the lettuce and some other veggies were pretty wilted. It was supposed to have avocado on it, and there might have been two pieces. I don't really recall what appetizers or desserts we ordered, so nothing really great there either. It was fine to try once, and we don't regret going, but it wasn't something we would do over again.

We had no reservation but we were seated anyway on the side by a very friendly waitress. They had a guitar player not singing though 'blues' though. Known american pop songs sung in his own style from like the 50's-60's. It was ok. The inside was decorated different...little funny. I could not rate it anymore because it was..okay only. Nothing...WOW. but the jambalaya (spelling ?😕) was very good. Tip. Make a reservation. Ask for a table in the center. The side tables have a bad view to the stage.

We came here for a Social D concert and had a great view on the stage. The bar guys are working super quickly so you never have to wait long for drinks. Fantastic atmosphere!

Well, with a prime location and a catchy name "House of Blues" , one would expect a good experience. Even though we had reserved in advance, we were given seats where you couldn't see the stage. The person performing may be a good person, but tired with average skills, amounted to jarring performance. we were expecting a reasonable quality of food. We do not care about the price. Though it was not cheap, the food quality was worse that a rural bar serving pre cooked food in their $2 menu. Hope they listen and improve quality. Their front desk person who is expected to be welcome people did everything to make us uncomfortable by seating at worst booth even when the whole time better booths were open. He needs to be fired if there any modicum of business like dealing. In sum, the location and name are good, everything else is wrong. If you are traveling from outside Chicago, look elsewhere. Just skip. And also unsurprisingly the bathrooms really reek of urine all the time. Food: 2/5 | Service: 1/5 | Atmosphere: 1/5

The menu in the restaurant is a bit limited mainly burgers chicken and salads but the food was cooked well and tasty. The service was excellent and the waitress was friendly and informative but the best thing about this place is the live music on the night we went there was a blues guitarist called Keith Simon playing and he was superb he got the audience clapping and singing along which made for a fantastic fun evening. Well worth a visit

Went for A quick stop over to watch the Cubs game to music and grab a couple beers. The appetizers were excellent. And of course the music was great.

Great food and great music. Love, love, love it. My husband and I did a concert/dinner package and the food was so good we went back for dinner the very next week.

I don't know much about blues but I appreciate good music and entertainment...the band was brilliant! The food was also very good American style food.

This place came recommended from friends and I've also heard it does a great Gospel brunch which I wish I'd gone too. We popped along one evenings (no booking but I would suggest making one as it was busy). Nevertheless we were luckily seated right away. The restaurant was funky, colourful and a great atmosphere. We enjoyed the love music too, a really cool band and just added to the experience. Staff were really friendly and efficient. We particularly enjoyed the chicken dish. I would definitely recommend to anyone in Chicago, a cool way to enjoy delish food and embrace some blues.

Regular food you will find in a quick service restaurant. Nothing special and the service was plain and cold.

Everything was perfect except for the watered-down drinks. Drink beer or non-alcoholic drinks. Expensive drinks. Watch your tab.

We went to the Dec 11th brunch. I started planning for it months before and called there couple time to ask questions. Each time the woman I spoke with was just great. Answered my questions and gave me valuable information not available on the website nor in TA forum. Seven of us got our own table behind the sound crew which is a great spot. The main area would be too loud for conversation and seating seemed a bit tight. Plus we were closer to the food and drinks! This is a classy operation, we'll put together and executed. Upon entering the theater, the hostess pairs you up with your server who explains the details of the buffet, drinks and answers all of your questions then takes you to your table. From there it's self-service. The he/she cleans your table promptly. Food and drinks were great. Can't complain at all. Chicken and waffles were great and so were the jambalaya and peel and eat shrimp! And all you care to drink mimosas, yes! So big thumbs up! We've been to HOB brunch in Myrtle Beach too. Their buffett was more southern influenced and very good too. Now the but... the music. Now we thought the leader was great. So much energy and good singer. Ok, we thought he was fantastic. The but is the choir. The ladies can't sing well at all. They are all out of tune and at times we just looked at each other surprised at how amateur they were. But we quickly put that aside and just enjoyed the entire experience. I would definitely go back. I think for what you get, the price is very good. Thank you HOB for offering this experience at a reasonable price.

Very good selection of BBQ food, great appetizers, fun atmosphere. Slow on the cocktail service, food was prompt.

Great friends and family outing... a must do in Chicago . Great gospel voices and lots of audience participation! Food stations delicious... chicken and waffles my fave!

I am not a big blues fan but this was an awesome evening, great band, lovely salmon meal, good local beers, couldn't ask for anything more.

I have been here previously and my friends thought it was great to have a mini concert playing for dinner. ribs were great and the band was terrific.

Food was better than I expected, I had the blackened salmon which was delicious and my son had a bbq burger which he loved. Service was great and entertainment was great too.

good music, good vibe, i spent five hours and have not even noticed. this place a character, i recommended

Had lunch here. Good selection, burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads... Good cocktails. Advantage was we were staying at the Hotel Chicago and could charge to our room. Had the Pulled Pork sandwich. Good quantity of meat. Sauce was not very tangy. Service was very good.

Close to our hotel. The food was fine and more reasonably priced than other places in the area.. Service was excellent.

I'm writing a review for both dates I've came here. The first date, it was the day before the our anniversary, and we decided to eat dinner here before the the Big K.R.I.T. concert going on at the venue. It was our first time here for dinner at least. The Voodoo shrimp appetizer was delectable, and we enjoyed it very much. For dinner he had the shrimp and grits, and I had the jambalaya, also very tasty. The drinks were delicious, and the live music was very good. I also liked that after we ate dinner, because we ate dinner there, we were able to get in the concert early, very nice touch. The second time we decided to to bring friends and family there to enjoy a New year's Eve dinner there before a night out, and once again it was amazing. We tried new things with the etouffee and nachos. The only con is I wished the bar food was on the menu too, because the bar menu looked very appetizing too. We'll just have to come back during happy hour to enjoy. All and all, good job

We went with a group of teenage girls and their parents during a basketball tournament. The waitress and management were initially uncomfortable with the concept of multiple checks (seemed to be a Chicago thing) but they figured it out. We ordered a wide variety of dishes and everyone was happy. I had the tomato and cucumber salad to start, which was huge -- could be shared as an appetizer for several -- and very tasty. Then I had the jambylaya, which was excellent as well. There was a nice blues band playing most of the time -- loud enough to get a good feel for the music but not blasting. This was a good place for a large group to go where we didn't have to worry about taking up too much room or making too much noise. Cool artwork on the walls too.

It sounded like a great idea......Sunday Brunch and Gospel Music......but it disappointed. Timing and direction was a problem.The programme was unclear. There were queues at various serving places but the overall sequence was unclear. When the gospel singing started it was all about the main performer who dominated. The young choir was very energetic but the tunes and songs were unfamiliar for an international audience. And then it was all over, less than 90 minutes after we entered. It may be popular with many, but for this punter the overall experience was somewhat disappointing.

Our large (over 200 hundred) group had reserved the entire facility for 2 hours on a Friday night. Open bar and a number of heavy appetizers. Fun place to spend a couple of hours.

Whilst we listed to the blues we had dinner. The food was fairly basic but very tasty and they served good portions so you were satisfied. I had a burger which had been cooked exactly as I asked for and my partners chicken was excellent. The drink prices were on par with most pubs and the service was with a smile. When you go to this venue you should eat in!

Great place for events. The decoration is almost psychedelic and the bar has a great selection of beers. Biggest drawback was that the food wasn’t very good during my last visit.

Food great, service good, Friday night entertainment very good, not overly crowded, fun ambiance! HAd eaten there before, but took friends who had not been...everyone had a great time and good food! Will return definitely!

Shrimp and Grits were delicious! They had a good amount of heat and the grits were a bit crispy. We got a table with a good view of the stage and the music was not to loud.

We ate here because we had a Restaurant.com coupon so it was a great value. We were seated immediately and our server was very good. We started with corn bread and voodoo shrimp which were delicious. We both had the NY strip for our entrée which was a great price for $27. They were prepared perfectly and the sides were yummy. We also got to enjoy great live music while we ate. The one BIG negative was the fact that the room and ceiling literally moved and shook like we were experiencing an earthquake. Apparently the concert venue upstairs has a spring loaded/shock absorbing dance floor and we were directly below it. They were having a hip/hop concert upstairs and the server said that was the worst she's ever felt it shake. The staff seemed as concerned as the patrons!

I have absolutely have loved this venue since attending my first concert here. The service has always been amazing. But my wife and I had dinner at this establishment yesterday and had one significant issue. We both ordered the fried chicken with garlic mashed potatoes expecting a great meal for the high price tag. The chicken had absolutely NO seasoning whatsoever. The same went for the potatoes. We did not verbalize it to the staff waitress because we know how uncomfortable that can be. But HOB Chicago, if you happen to read this, for the love of God please improve this meal specifically. I'm assuming the rest have flavor, but this one greatly needs it. Otherwise, I am grateful for the awesome service and good music.

Our nearby organization had the staff Christmas party in a bar space last December. The large room had a pleasant low light and many tables and booths for our group. We were served some excellent hors d'oeuvres and the party package gave us each one free drink. In addition, there was a table of various self-serve items. We also had a DJ and were handed a pair of shades when we entered. The only things missing were an appearance by the Blues Brothers, a speech about getting the band back together and a nice blues set!

This is a must institution in Chicago, go the baby back ribs while listening to the live gig. Book ahead to ensure a table.

PROS: Great location, great interior, well laid out and clean. Staff is nice and friendly. Food is good and nice size portions. Entertainment is great, listened to a local blues band and they were awesome, felt like i was in the French Quarter. CONS: Bar drinks are a little on the light side, they don't have a great offering and they don't make the drinks very strong at all, especially for the prices they charge. Parking is very expensive too, if you plan on being here for dinner and drinks plan on spending some cash to park.

We got there early on a Saturday night so we didn't get to hear the band that was to play later on. Our server was awesome and talked with us some about our trip. The food was so good. I had a BBQ pulled pork sandwich that was the best I've ever eaten. (Seconded by my husband's opinion). He ordered the blackened Salmon and it to was some of the best salmon we've had. We will definitely put this on our list of things to come back to when we visit Chicago again and go a little later to hear the band.

It’s a very nice place, you can hear a good music and you can eat a tipical American dishes. Nice staff and nice people

We have been in HOB For a private party. Very nice place really tipical with nice ambient. Live music is frequently performed. Very nice place to visit

Thoroughly enjoyed our food and drink but due to the timing of our trip couldn't stay late enough to catch the shows. Place is well decorated and looks to have an excellent set up for shows. Good sized gift shop as well.

Reasonable food but overpriced. Fast and efficient service. The location close to Chicago River is convenient.

Gospel brunch is well worth a visit. Food was delicious - great buffet with loads of options, including gluten free ones. Highlights were chicken and waffle, and mac & cheese. Mimosas were mostly orange juice, but for under $50 we'll worth it. The gospel music was great, and really good fun.

I went with a large group, so it can hold all of you. Great music and dance floor and so close to venture out to other places.

Abysmal, the attention is very bad, but bad, there are two areas, a peeled and a lady who attended unwillingly, were not attentive, one had to be calling them and did not have the willingness to answer or give recommendations of the letter, at the time of payment are limiting, could not pay for each as they allowed only two cards in a table of 5 and for a change they were not easy if one paid in cash. The BAD drinks, they looked like juice and cold pizza, I don't want to imagine if we requested that they heat it... that happens when the owners or are present, unfortunately leaves much to be desired the place that for a change is locked, it was very hot inside... lousy experience ....

Went for dinner on our second evening in Chicago, short walk about 10 minutes from our hotel. You go into the restaurant around the back, not the nicest little walk as you are on a car park ramp, but i am still alive to tell the tale so okay i suppose. You go in ad it is immense, we sat in a booth, and drank and ate, ate and drank, drank some more, ate some more, and after we had drak a little more we staggared home, hate to say i cannot remember the name of the lady who sang, but i sure do remember her singing beautiful voice. Amazing food. A good night had by all..

We had to hit up a blues bar on this trip, and thanks to all the lovely trip advisor ratings, we chose here. The guys playing were excellent, so talented. Service was great, the buffalo chicken salad was the hugest thing ever, so good. Would immediately return here on my next visit

Went here for an evening, food was excellent as were the drinks. The band played blues all evening and were very talented, well worth a visit

Good south state food. I had a shrimp Po-Boy, huge portion with many shrimps and a good sauce on the toated bread, the cole slaw also tastes fresh and home-made. I am happy with my choice of food so is my husband with his Taco Briskets, service is friendly, efficient. The server brought us the regular menu and later on menu on tablets with fotos because the lighting is quite dark, very thoughtful of him. The bread pudding is also quite good, the tab is reasonable for a big city like Chicago. Live music starts around 18:30, quite nice without being overloud. I would recommend this place if you are looking for something not too too fancy.

Excellent environment, mixed crowd. Love the food, music . The waitress was on point , making sure everything was fine!

I selected this place, as it was next door to our hotel (Hotel Chicago - formerly the House of Blue Hotel). Upon entering we were promptly seated in a booth not too far from the stage. I really enjoyed the live band there, but my retired parents found it a little loud and thus had to take out their hearing aids (LOL). As for the food I ordered the fried chicken drizzled with a honey glaze and served with corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and cole slaw. My food was very tasty and the chicken was crispy, moist, and tender. My mom ordered the pulled pork sandwich that came on a bun that was little over toasted (slightly burnt). She also said that some of the pork was though. My step-dad ordered the Muffalata sandwich and had nothing but good things to say about it. It looked like it was loaded with lots of meat and cheese. Both of my parents said their fries only lukewarm when they arrived at the table and thus were cold by the time they got around to eating them. In closing, I really enjoyed this restaurant and venue, but not sure if my parents did too much.

Wow! An awesome place to enjoy a nice dinner with live music. If you want to enjoy dinner and conversation... this is not the place for you. But if you want great music in a funky place, don't miss HOB. The bands change - when we visited Funky Mojo Daddy was playing. Amazing band and great music. Our server was very nice and we had the best burger ever, the Juicy Lucy.

Good location and restaurant for dinner as couple or with friends.Reserve a table near musician to enjoy your time.A wide selection of food and drinks and comfortable tables.Every event is worth of your attention .

If you want a great experience and love incredible music, then go! The food is bar food but a little bit better than the usual stigma. However, everything else about this place is fantastic. Music, customer service, the building and being at the House of Blues. Jam out, eat and prepare to have a great time.

Such a nice place We went there for dinner ( made reservations through their website) and had such a great time Really good food and cool entertainment. Not all tables could se the stage and you could see some other guests getting a bit upset while trying to switch tables. But we were lucky and had a nice table. Would definitely go back

My wife and I are there on Saturday night. Wanted to hear some blues but the act never showed up. Had to use the flashlight on my cell phone to read the muem. She had the voodoo shrimp. She couldn't eat much of it. Too salty! I would rate this place in the "tourist trap" category. Once was enough.

Great food. Prices are reasonable. Great location! Unique place! Friendly staff and was able to enjoy amazing Blues by well known musician for free. Make sure you check their website for info who is playing first.

Very impressive to walk into, great music, friendly staff!!! The Menu wasn't unique but the atmosphere was ! Be prepared for dim lighting as it is a live stage, makes for interesting reading of the menu , However the place is great fun, food was awesome!, the dessert was exceptional!!! Great night out thanks

The House of Blues was very close to our hotel so we decided to stop for a bite to eat. Our server was excellent. I would go back.

Great music and atmosphere. Easy to get in, service was good. Great watching peoples reaction to the music.

My server was helpful in his recommendation. The music was great and I loved the look/feel of the building. I would definitely visit again AND order the same thing!

House Of Blues made for an enjoyable evening. We ordered a combination of entrees and mains, and thoroughly enjoyed them all. The blues music throughout the night was excellent, the hostess was helpful and the bathrooms even have attendants.

Our expectations were pretty high, and it beat them. Lots of great food choices (blackened catfish, prime rib, shrimp, jambalaya, breakfast fare, mimosa, chicken and waffles, pasta, desserts....) and all of them were terrific. The servers were attentive and very friendly, and the music and atmosphere were exceptional and uplifting! Could not have been a better experience, and we would certainly go again.

Great service, great atmosphere and great food. A nice gift shop. Lots to look at inside. Nothing to dislike here!

We had booked a reservation for 7:45 but showed up early at 6:30 and it was no problem to seat us right away. We ordered the wings, street tacos and a salad to share between the two of us. It was enough food and everything was great. The tacos were small but good and very filling as well as very messy. We saw Chicago Slim alone at first, then a woman with a great voice joined him and then four others joined him. The bass player was amazing! All in all it was a great night out.

Good food, good drinks, good service and a lot of fun. I like this place and a great evening out with work colleagues or friends.

We stopped in for a drink during our bar hop evening in the CHI and found the bartender overwhelmed but very accommodating. My margarita was just so-so and they were preparing for a private event coming up that evening so it seemed as though the staff was more engaged in preparation than actually taking care of their customers. It's ok for a drink but I probably wouldn't go back.

A genuin experience. Experience live jamming/music while dining. The food was not gourmet, but the BBQ ribs (do not order the full rack unless your very hungry) were really good. So is the price, as you get good quality, live entertainment with your meal. Will surely visit again next time in Chicago.

We went early and toured around the place. The amount of Blues history and memorabilia is really a sight to see. The Gospel Brunch is a very nice buffet that ends in a Gospel service. Lots of great music and preaching. The buffet features lots of southern dishes, a carving station, chicken and waffles and a cash bar. Mimosas are complimentary. A worthwhile and enjoyable experience on a Sunday morning in Chicago

Ribs were dry, food was average. Music was great but my view of stage was blocked by a pillar. Still, could hear the music well. Dislike restaurants that have a washroom attendant, as they are unnecessary. However, House of Blues has one.

What an upbeat spirited gospel choir we enjoyed during Palm Sunday! So much heart, spirit, enthusiasm & talent*** The lines were very long & slow to even seat everyone. Then the Food lines took a long time with the main Food line was in another room. There was not enough time to really finish the meal when the show began so that a bummer. They should have provided more time for eating so people can enjoy the show better. Overall, wonderful experience though!

Got off blue line and just started walking. Saw the sign so had to stop by for a beer and a bite. Bartender was great. Friendly, prompt, and helpful with beer and food suggestions. Ordered fish street tacos with Ruben side of chicken gumbo. Delicious! And priced right. Plus, there is some kind of St. Patrick's day celebration going on here tomorrow. The parade starts right down street from here so it's going to be packed. He gave me a ticket to get in early at 9am for the breakfast. Very nice.

We had a great meal at this franchise in Disney village sometime ago. Skip this one if your going for the food. Clean facilities friendly staff . Loud and noisy . Mediocre food.

We when there for lunch, were seated immediately. After 10 minutes the bar tender yelled he would be right there. Ten minutes later we left and in the time we were there no one approached us.

The music was amazing. We bought a CD from the guitarist. I ordered shrimp and grits but it wasn't the typical grits. These grits were fried. I was skeptical about eating it but it was amazing. I would definitely recommend this dish.

Decided to eat here before a concert. Was very good. Jalapeno corn bread as an app with a sweet butter, amazing. Had the bbq bacon burger, huge burger, good bun, very tasty, good fries. Wife had shrimp tacos, 3 of them stuffed with lots of shrimp. Best part, have them validate your parking, saved me 20 bucks. Definitely return if we see another show.

House of Blues is like no other restaurant I had seen in Chicago. If you enjoy music and great food, great service this place must be on your list of places to visit!

Went there for the music and didn't expect much of the food. However, it was excellent and not outrageously priced. Good waitstaff.

The evening with Fans and Friends was fantastic. The atmosphere is conducive to mixing and mingling. The food is average. Lower expectations of quality food helps to enjoy the experience. Repeat visits not required.

Favorite travel companion was surprised that this location was generic just like the others in the chain. I was not. It's a touristy chain and there's no getting around that. We had a terrible table right in the serving lanes, with a very bright light over it and no stage view so any ambiance was blown for me. I had the jambalaya pasta and it was good - pasta wasn't over cooked and theRe was decent amount of sausage. FTC had Loretta's meatloaf and it was quite good. Service was fast and we always had drinks - I asked for and never received Tabasco, which is kind of a miss for a place that specializes in southern comfort food.

Stopped in here on a Friday night for dinner and live music. Food was quick and well prepared, the wife had gumbo and is was right on spicy and great flavor. Had a few beers and enjoyed the show all around was a good visit with great Friday night people watching.

Went on a Monday night. Live music was good. Food was good. Steer clear of the large mixed drinks. Not only are they $16 a piece they are not that good. Otherwise we had a good time.

Had an excellent band two nights in a row. Was directly across the street from our hotel. Very clean and the service was great!

We went to this restaurant early on a Tuesday evening so it was only moderately busy and therefore, we were immediately led to a table. The menu is not extensive and we both opted for a burger which was ok but not fantastic. Our server was very attentive at the start but as more tables arrived he no longer came to ask us if we wanted more drinks, dessert etc. I think there are far better places to eat in the vicinity which are better value.

A must do if your in Chicago. The atmosphere is fun and lively. Staff are great and food is amazing. Most things on the menu are Cajun style but they

Some interesting menu items, but not a huge selection. French fries weren't worth getting as a side dish though.

We visiting the House of Blues as it was directly opposite our hotel and always had a queue of people waiting to get in. There are lots of different areas but all seemed lively. The bar was very reasonably priced especially considering there was a live act playing all in all it was a very good value night out.

The food was okay but the drinks were good and the atmosphere was tremendous. The service was very good and a good time was had by all.

Enter in house of blues it's the some you enter in a amazing show of high music talent singers. And at the some time you drink a eat something. The food will not surprised you, but forget drink and listening the music it's the best you will find here.