Theory Sports Bar & Grill Reviews

Stopped for lunch and found everything to be perfect. Great service and food. High def TVs at every angle from your seat. Super cold beer and the sliders (all varieties) were excellent. I prefer the pork BBQ ones and wife preferred the turkey. You can mix and match any variety. Maybe a bit overpriced but for the area I suppose the price is comparable.

Theory Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays is AWESOME ! Steve is the best chef and Holly is a great Event co-ordinator. My husband and I went there on Saturday 8-2 for brunch and it was great. He had the con carne and I had the breakfast enchiladas. We were so stuffed after finishing our meal that we didn't have any thing to eat again until about 8pm! Every time we eat there is a taste treat. I would recommend Theory to anyone for food and drinks and fun.

Walking around Chicago on a Saturday night we ran across this small sports bar which supports the Hawkeyes! There was a huge crowd this night and moving around was difficult. There is a patio which was nice to be on until 12 when city statutes require it to close. Many bartenders to serve everyone and a few servers walking around. Not much seating with the crowd there that night but standing room near the back.

One of the best place to hang out with your friends in a Theory Sports Bar $ Grill. The drinks were fantastic, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was laid-back and inviting. I can't wait to come back and try more of their delicious cocktails!

Sunday 15Jul - World Cup final. Fado informed us half hour before kick-off we would not get. I recalled a number of places close by on Hubbard. One in particular, Theory, was the site of a restaurant called Kenny that'd I'd liked. My friend, who's not a football fan, was out just to support me and Croatia so I was very worried. The staff were fantastic. Phillip at the door had the number they could accommodate and a click ready. I almost hyperventilated when Joel came out and said no more; meant those further behind us. Joel was very kind to a very anxious friend and her friend. I did not find out until later he was the owner. WOW. We checked in with Caroline to see about the possibility of a table while Gwen took our order. The bartender was busy but took a minute to refill my water bottle. To return the kindness, I grabbed a bottle for later. No sooner had we placed our brunch order with Gwen that Caroline advised she had found us a table but with only 1 chair. I said it was perfect - I would not be able to sit anyway. Sheila took over from Gwen and was absolutely awesome. The food came out hot and delicious. For the first ever, my friend was satisfied with the portions and taste. On the busiest day in the WORLD, this place was on point at all times. We did not wait for the food, drinks or even the bathroom (hah). Everyone was at the top of their game, and knew where to be and what to do to make this day the best ever (even if Croatia did not win). I cannot say how much I loved Theory and how much it is my new sports, after-hours, happy hour, brunch location. Truly the best in the River North area - friendly, low-key with superb staff - bottom to top. Thank you for making our Sunday! We will return.

Stopped in for brunch after early voting on March 28. We were immediately seated. While we were still perusing the menu they served us each a homemade cinnamon donut and two of their breakfast nachos (a simple corn chip topped with homemade guacamole, scrambled egg, chorizo, chopped jalapeno and melted cheddar cheese.) both of these were fabulous. I ordered the BBQ Brisket Benedict which is 2 poached eggs on top of BBQ brisket served with a horseradish hollandaise sauce on a English muffin and a side of some of the best fries i have ever eaten! No lie! (this is a BBQ restaurant and they smoke all their own meat.) I definitely belonged to the "clean plate club". Sue went with the California Benedict. It included slices of fresh avocado with tomato and poached eggs on a English muffin topped with chipotle aioli. It was definitely the homemade aioli that made this dish pop. During the course of our meal (which gets a solid 4 stars), we met the owner Joel and the Chef Steve. They are both very in tune with what is happening at all times are genuinely interested in what you have to say. I think it would be a rare occasion when you didn't see them on your visit. We had such a good time that we went back the next day for the Deluxe Grilled Cheese (killer good) with American, cheddar, provolone and Swiss cheeses melted onto bacon, fresh avocado and sliced tomato (and more of the best fries in the world.) Sue built her own turkey burger which was great. The coolest thing about this sports bar is the TV's are broadcasting the SOUND of the program; not the typical turn on the TV and have music playing. For the Masters golf tournament next week they will have TV's split among the various holes. We are planning on spending the entire day there on Saturday. You should too!

It was very busy. Went on a night the Bull's were playing in the playoff. As soon as the game ended, the place cleared out. We got a table and got great food.

Stopped by after work with a few of my colleagues. Wanted to catch a game and have a little food. Wait staff was great, constantly coming by asking us if we had what we needed and was the food good. We had multiple appetizers such as buffalo wings, pizza bread,Tater tot’s covered in cheese, tacos and salads. Everything was very good and the service is great. Definitely will return

Hubbard street is the happening place and Theory is a terrific bar. We were there to watch soccer one afternoon/evening and returned on Sunday for brunch - you must try the chilaquiles - enough to share. Joel is such a warm host, Amber and Alexis good servers. This will be our destination on future visits to Chicago. This is the kind of place that you want to be successful because you feel so welcome and comfortable being there.

We were told twice by their staff that they will show formula 1. we were greeted and told to go upstairs only to be asked "is f1 racing?". 5 seconds later another staff member shouted "get out of my f****** way" as we were standing to see if we can actually see the f1 qualifying. It was also full anyway with people watching other sports so my recommendation for watching f1 is to go to other pubs and ask nicely to show it and that worked for us :)

A business colleague and I watched a Cubs game here one night. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff. The food was just OK. We had three rounds of appetizers, none of which stood out. There are better sports bars in Chicago -- The Billy Goat Tavern comes to mind. This one is fine. Just nothing to write home about.

What a great place to watch sports! There are TVs everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. Fantastic set up. The menu was really cool - I had a hard time deciding what I wanted, which is pretty rare for me. My meal was delicious and the server was really cool. Highly recommended.

We just stopped one afternoon for a couple beers and some appetizers. Lots of TVs with college games. Food was good and we'd stop back again.

This is one crazy bar in river north. Its right on hubbard amongst the trendy, pretentious, over priced bar scene in the area. The music is pretty good - with a loud non stop thumping beat ( its annoying when you walk in at first, but then you start to like it ). The crowd is weird - from the preppy banana republics to the 'i need to wear my pants down to my knees" ghetto crowd to the old uncles dressed like Charlie sheen. The bar tenders are good - they make good drinks. All in all its a decent bar to get crazy in.

Recently visited Chicago during the week and being a big NFL fan wanted to find a good sports bar to relax watch Thursday Night Football with some good snacks and drinks. What a fun spot! Upon arrival around 6:30pm we were escorted to a nice table with great views of everything inside and out. Big screen, music blasting with a lively after work crowd. Not a bad seat anywhere in the house. Attentive wait staff. Very good bar food. We had the BBQ Nacho Bites and Boneless Wings. Arrived hot and very tasty. Upbeat music played over the house speakers up until the game started. I loved that during the broadcast commercial breaks, music was switched on. No one wants to hear commercials and the music switched in and out on point. You never missed a play call! We stayed until half time and the crowd just got bigger and bigger. We had a great time! I would highly recommend checking out Theory Sports Bar when in Chicago.

Went here to eat and watch the game. Ended up playing trivia and meeting some cool people. Had 2 appetizers, several drinks and 4 shots. Our bill was 131.00. Ouch. We had a good time though. The crowd was a little young for us (we are 38 and 41). The place is small and we felt a little crowded. Food was ok (just had nachos and pretzels, they were good.) burgers looked good. Vegas bomb shots were 10.00 each. Dang!

My friends and I really enjoyed a day/night of eating/drinking at Theory for the Iowa/ISU football game. If you're in River North, this is the best place to watch a game... TVs everywhere, friendly staff, upscale vibe, and everyone into the game. This is a Hawkeyes bar so expect big crowds for their games. They had the game sound on and played the band music after every score. Fun atmosphere... which included free shots for nearly every Hawkeye TD. Food was fine, typical gastropub/beer bar bites. There were some drink specials for the games ($22 buckets of beer among others) but if you're looking for cheap drinks this probably isn't the place for that kind of outing. Theory is not your average sports bar... and that's a good thing.

An incredible space! the decoration, the food, the music, the very relaxed and pleasant atmosphere !!

We needed to kill about an hour before our hotel room was ready, so we took a short walk looking for a cool brew. The Good: Stones throw to our hotel. Good selection of beers. We had their version of nachos with some pulled pork/tator tot topping which was awesome. We also had their soft pretzel with a spicy cheese dipper. Also tasty. TV's everywhere you looked. The Bad: If you are not used to city dining, be ready for lots of road noise and the occasional siren. This is a bar, so it is noisy.

We had a very large table, but the service was great. The staff was so nice and accommodating. The food was quite good. The shrimp tacos were great. The salads were delicious. Everyone was happy with their items, and the price was pretty good.

We had actually booked a table for the superbowl next door at Mother Hubbards (separate review) but came here just as the game finished as we found it was a Patriots Bar (wish had known earlier!). Great atmosphere, fast servers behind the bar, and really friendly customers, we were welcomed and chatted to within 2 minutes of arriving ! Will definitely call in again next time we are in Chicago - great TV screens for watching sport.

Very nice ambiance and excellent food and drinks, coupled with friendly and professional service and a huge bank of TVs so you can watch any game you like. Outstanding!

Went today and it made our trip to Chicago!!! We were looking for somewhere to watch college football. This is the place. Andrea and Jess were our bartender who gave great recommendations on food and beverages. They also made fantastic margaritas!!!Joel the owner makes a point to meet customers and is a hands on person. Food was out of this world!!! Can't wait to go back the next time we are in town actually we might go back tomorrow!

Pleasantly surprised to find this little gem on my husband Gluten Free app. The atmosphere had a comfortable loft feel with the exposed brick and duct work; one could choose a booth, a high top, or the bar. Wednesdays offer 1/2 off the price of a bottle of wine!!! The menu had a good selection, quite a variety of foods that are gluten free. I unfortunately chose the Turkey Burger which by far is the WORST turkey burger I had ever eaten in my life. It tasted like the frozen Grade D meat one might buy at Walmart. The wait staff were so friendly and kind that I didn't bother to send it back...I was drinking 1/2 off wine!

Don't let the name fool you into thinking it is just a sports bar with typical bar food...Theory has a great menu menu and oh you get watch the game too! I enjoyed fresh made chipolte hummus, served with fresh cut veggies and warm pita bread. It was really good and enough for 2-4 people. They have sevaral flavors of hummus to chose from.as well. I then had a chopped salad with grilled shrimp. I ask for additional items to be added or put on the side and the waitress was very accommodating. The staff was friendly and attentive from the time I walked and when I was leaving. I will go back to Theory on future trips to Chicago. Bonus, half a block walk from Courtyard or Springhill. They also offer plenty of special deals throughout the week.

The football game is already in its second quarter and we just arrived from our flight from Columbus, Ohio to catch the Steelers-Colts game. Walking in, we were stopped by, for us at least, an unusual employee – a bouncer. He was a nice guy, but clearly his job is to make sure that unruly customers don’t make it in and if they do, to escort them out. But, it was just me and my wife and we were looking to enjoy a late lunch and catch the rest of the Steelers game. Looking around, the fans watching sports were from every generation. Millennials, Gen-X’ers and Baby Boomers were all represented but it was overwhelmingly a younger, 30-something crowd during this autumn Sunday afternoon. There was one table remaining for 2 people and the very nice hostess took us to our seats. Before doing so, I enquired whether we would be able to see the Steelers and she assured us that our table has a good view. She was right. We were seated next to the window at a 2-top with a clear view of a large TV displaying the Steelers. The eatery is loaded with large screen TV’s that were bright, and it was a good thing there were many. Theory is one of those restaurants that are more long than they are wide. The area near the front tables is wide, but most of the area extends along a more narrow section with the bar itself on the right and additional tables on the left. This is clearly a local bar with local fans, which, as a visitor is fun. The Chicago Bears were playing the Packers and it was a close game. We struck up easy-going conversations with people at tables near us. Even though there were four different games going on, It felt like real fans occupied the place because cheering at great plays and groans at disappointing outcomes echoed during our roughly two hours there. Because the Bears-Packers were between plays when the Steelers were running their plays, other patrons weren’t always sure what my wife and I were cheering about at times of Steeler exploits. Yet, we always felt welcome to express our disappointments and joys with appropriate moans and cheers. Our waitress, Bree, told us that the owners were Patriots fans and the bar is known as a “Patriots bar,” but it was not overly adorned with Blue & Red paraphernalia. It felt like fans from each sports team was welcome there (well, at least it felt that way because the Patriots were playing later in the day…) Somewhat not being used to Chicago prices for drinks, it took me a while to decide on a beverage and I ended up foregoing my usual taste in cocktails and went with an ole stand-by – Stella. Having ordered a Reuben at a restaurant while waiting for our flight in the Columbus airport, I settled on something with more vegetables – Theory’s Buffalo Chicken Salad. It was not only loaded with lettuce but also cucumber, carrots and celery along with a few onion slices. It was a good size and I felt full before it was finished. For a self-described “upscale” sports bar, I was surprised that they served cheap-tasting, sweet blue cheese dressing. My tastes prefer a sharper, thicker, blue-cheesy blue cheese dressing. Otherwise, it was a hearty salad and the fried buffalo chicken on top had a nice flavor and tang to it – enough spicy to bring out the flavors without being truly hot. My wife selected a small salad – a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Kale and served with a side of fresh hard-boiled egg cut in quarters that made a lasting impression of its presentation. During the game, the Steelers had a field goal kick hit the goal post and bounce to the side without scoring and a blocked extra point that was nearly run back for a touchdown, so we were anxious about the 17-17 tie score at the end of the 4th quarter. But, with 3 seconds left, the Steelers kicked a field goal that sailed through the middle of the uprights to win at the absolute final moment. The Colts played well but, for me, I’m glad the Steelers notched one more win.

I had some friends visiting and we spent the day in the city. We were walking around in River North trying to find somewhere reasonably price with a laid back atmosphere to eat. We were so happy when we found this place. In fact, it was so good that I came back a second time in the same week, and that says a lot because I don't spend much time in the city. The drinks are reasonably priced compared to others I've seen in the area (Domestic draft - $5, 312 - $6). The menu has quite a bit to choose from, without all of the upscale things you haven't heard of like some other places in the area. I really enjoyed the mac and cheese pizza and the beef brisket quesadillas. My friends ordered the buffalo chicken pizza and that was really good, too. One of the pizzas is more than enough for two people. The music and atmosphere here at night is great. We were able to get a seat right away at about 9 pm. The second time I came here was during the afternoon at about 4 pm. There was music playing, but very quietly. I probably wouldn't come here again for lunch just because it is more bar-ish, which I didn't realize until I came for lunch, but would definitely return at night.

it was great sportsbar, the bartenders I forget their names now but they were both 10's, it was packed too, plenty of action here in more ways than one. One of the biggest robberies with that non pass interference call at end of game... but the whole exp here was top notch as far as sports viewing and pretty staff viewing was concerned. do it, its great here!

Ok so we went to the place next door and it was ok but we wanted something a bit better to watch the ncaa final. Stepped into this place and it was pretty cool. Then we got served. The server was awesome. Was DETERMINED to make sure I liked my beer. The food was great and perfectly priced. The best part? The owner came around to check on us not once but twice! He also wanted to make sure I was happy with my beer. Keep in mind I never complained. THEY were the ones that cared. I tried to tell them it wasn't a big deal but they weren't happy with that. I will go back if I'm in town and I suggest you go there as well. Well done!

I highly recommend this restaurant for visitors. Great place to go and watch Sunday football, while having amazing food. The owner was very friendly, and appreciative. I would recommend this place for family who have older kids, if any. Not a place for little kids.

Excellent, friendly service and great atmosphere. We enjoyed some really tasty sliders, tots and beverages!

Me and my team were looking for a place to eat a nice burger near our hotel. We read the reviews and we saw photos of the place, we liked it, so we decided to visit. The staff was friendly so as our waitress Maria and the dishes we ordered were delicious (salad, Mac&cheese flatbread, Theory Burger etc) . There is a chance to watch a lot of matches there as all the store is covered with tvs. However, when the bill came, it was quite obvious that the owner had added in the bill and extra charge for the service (3% and quite well he did) so we payed without letting any extra tip. By the time we went out of the store, an irrelevant woman came near us, she started yelling that we had stole the waitress, to go back to our country and that we are very bad people because we did not let any extra tip besides the one added. Once I asked her if the owner knew the conversation that she made she left and never stopped calling (very bad and offensive) names. I had such a nice time at that restau-grill and I was planning to write a nice review, however you have to fix the things with the tipping if your staff is not okay with your current tip sharing system and be careful with the irrelevant people who are trying to destroy the nice work you guys are doing.

Came here to watch a game on the NHL network. I was very pleased with the service. The server went out of her way to find the game I was looking for. Food and drinks were good, but it was the great service that will bring me back. My wife met me after she was done shopping and noted Theory was much nicer than typical sports bars.

Visited during March Madness. Great environment with all the fans watching the games. Nice wait staff, manager (Jarod) and (Joel) owner. Food is very good and the prices are very reasonable. Gets very crowded up front so don't be afraid and make your way towards the back. You can usually find a seat with a small wait.

I was there on a Thursday for $5 burgers...and it was seriously the best burger I've ever eaten!!! I need it cooked thru---it was but still juicy!!! And the pretzel roll was to die for! I thought they'd charge me extra for the cheese (making it a cheeseburger) but they didn't! Awesome burger, wonderful fries and all for $5!!!!!

Came here last night to celebrate my sisters birthday and had an amazing time! Excellent service, delicious drinks, and great music! I would definitely return and highly recommend.

You can't beat a $5 burger menu for lunch on a Thursday. A group of us go there on a regular basis and are never disappointed. The host (manager/owner? ) is really attentive and the staff are all warm and friendly too. The menu is varied, but you really can't beat the specials. Plenty for vegetarians to enjoy...and the wine ain't half bad either.

Stopped in here for a meal with the family, this is not really a family place- more of a sports bar. The music and football game were playing so loud we couldn't hear each other. That being said, it would be an awesome place to watch a sporting event. The food was delicious and service was great!

We were looking for a place to catch a Bears game and stopped in at Theory just 15 min. before the game. At first glance, it looked a little too “fancy” for us… but, we were wrong… turned out to be a well-run place with a lot of class. The host asked for reservations, we didn’t have any… the bar was nearly full, but many seats appeared available at the tables; however, we were told they're all reserved- bummer. Despite that, the host went out of his way and "manufactured" seats for us at the bar. We had a great time watching the game on the nice HDTV screens and piped in surround sound. The service was the great and we made some new friends during the game- bonus! We’ll be back again!

I really liked having some drinks and light food at this place while watching the football game. My wife enjoyed the atmosphere where as some other spots were too guy oriented. Very nice period, but not fancy.

went here twice when I was in town. Great service, food was average...drinks were great. Stop in on a Wednesday for 1/2 price bottles of wine!

Thursday night special with Absolut cocktails for $5; rather young crowd

(Last visited 7/24/2021.) Hanging out downtown Chicago for the weekend with a bunch of friends and you already know what time it is... time for brunch! So before coming out here I did some research to find out who serves bottomless mimosas because... that's of the utmost importance to me. Lol. So I found this place, Theory, only a 10-minute walk from my hotel so here we are! Here's how it went. Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on Hubbard Street is this gem. It's like a sports bar, but a little more upscale. It gave me GOOD hipster vibes, good energy and I really liked hanging out here. The restaurant was of a medium size, which I think it great for a big city downtown location. Service: I can't remember the young lady's name who took care of us, but she was awesome. She was snarky, fun, energetic and made sure our table of 6 had everything we needed for the hours we stayed there. Lol. Food: So any chance I can try a restaurant's wings, I like to. It's my thing, if you haven't learned that by now. Lol. Check out "The Hungry Road" on YouTube to see how serious I am about my wings. Lol. The first of 2 flavors was the "Kill Bill" wings. These reminded me a lot of the "Bang Bang" sauce that I've seen at so many restaurants. It was delicious, creamy, savory, garlicy and just a TTAADD bit sweet. Decent. The next flavor was their Buffalo. It had a great, classic flavor which I really enjoyed. The bottomless mimosas were on point and had me feeling GGRREEAATT. Lol. Value: The wings are sold by the pound. So you could get 6, 7 or 8 depending on their size. My Kill Bill order came with 7, but Buffalo came with 8. $16.00. That's STEEP. I know we're downtown, but eh... whatever. Still steep no matter how you look at it. Drinking unlimited sparkling wine helps with paying more for stuff. Lol. So, on Saturdays and Sundays this place offers a bottomless mimosa package for $45.00 that lets you drink from 11:00am to 2:00pm. In the package include the drinks, unlimited Bloody Marys and an entrée. (The wings counted, though I can't remember if they let me combine 2 orders or if I payed for the extra one. No matter.). Bring your wallet if you're coming to hang out. In conclusion, I'd totally come back here and try out some of their other menu options out. I know they are more than their wings so I'd love to try out a burger or one of their specials! If you'd made it this far in the review, I appreciate you reading. Please do me a favor and head on over to "The Hungry Road" on YouTube and subscribe! My channel features a lot of food, car and exclusive shoe related content! Help me grow!Thank you so much!

Great place to watch sports! We walked in the door, and the guy at the door asked what game we wanted to watch. He was all over it and kept us up to date about when the game would start. Wow! We sat at the bar! Good queso! Jason, or bartender, was great!

We got a table to watch the game and got there several hours early, so we watched football. Had no idea it was a Patriots backer bar! Yuck! But thankfully the place was awesome anyway. The food was all really good. Go Cubs!

I have been to several sports bars in Chicago and this is definitely the best. They even asked me when I made the Reservation that NFL game wanted to see since they put the fans by zones. Excellent food, wings, burritos, potatoes, micheladas even

A gathering of the faithful (UNC Tarhills) to watch the NCAA finals required a special place with plenty of room and numerous Tv screens. Theory was just the place with a raised table holding all of us that was surrounded by large screens. Good beer and wine along with tasty bar food provided needed sustenance as the tightly played game progressed. The final seconds were exciting with the wrong team on the winning side, but we had a great time. Our waitress was outstanding, clearly of all star caliber with her patience, constant attention and willingness to serve. Trophy is an excellent place for sports fans!

My husband and I were in town for a Blackhawks game and were looking for a casual spot to watch some football and have some good beers and food before the game. We randomly found Theory and I'm so glad we did! We didn't know it was a NE Patriots bar and it happened to be packed when we got there, but the owner was super hospitable and made sure we felt welcome the minute we walked in. Once we were able to get a table the craft beer list (and menu) was very impressive. We had some beers and shared an app as well as ordered dinner and the food was delicious! It was nice how there was SO many TVs to watch football on and the service was top notch - we were continually checked on throughout our time there! We will be back the next time we're in Chicago!

If you are serious about fresh beer from a tap. This place has beer taps on some of the large tables. So you can pour your own beer, when needed. We had a great night there, the staff were very friendly.

We just kind of wondered into this place while looking for dinner and a drink. They have high quality tap beer by the pitcher and nice food. The flatbread pizzas are great and too large for one person. The burgers and salads are also great. Their food prices are extremely reasonable. Service was good. My only complaint was the volume of the TVs when the football game came on the tube. It was hard to talk and just too loud to stay once our food was eaten. During non-game times the sound level us reasonable.

Went the for da Bears/Broncos game! Sound on, great atmosphere! Owner there and wonderfully accomondating! Bar tender was quick and the beer was great. Perfect Guinness temp!! Food was great. Exactly what the doctor ordered!!!! Will be back!

We had my boyfriend's 30th birthday dinner at Theory and couldn't have been more pleased with the food/drinks/service. Everything was delicious and Joel, Brian and Danielle were all so accommodating. I'm definitely recommending this place to all my friends and family.

What a great place! We popped in for snacks and a drink with business friends. The staff was friendly and the service was fast. We only shared appetizers and picked this place because of the online nacho pictures. They came exactly as pictured, and tasted great. Prices were reasonable for Chicago. Drink selection was good. The only negative for us was how loud the TVs were. I know its a sports bar but there was at least one TV over every table. Just made it hard to talk with our table. If I lived in Chicago, I think this would be my regular spot to.hang with friends!

Very different and "higher end" (upstairs especially) look for a place that is basically a sports bar. Menu was decent and drinks made well (and beer cold). Glad we "fell" into on our visit!

We travel to Chicago from Boston a couple times a year ago least and this trip Google let me to Theory to watch the pats game. Not only was I amazed that the entire bar was full of like minded enthusiasts but the bar itself was great. Their service was awesome. The food was great. The drink/beer selection made me want to stay all day! Theory really put on a good show for the game and I look forward to going back and watching again next time but with the food, atmosphere, and decor we're excited to return to Theory on a next trip no matter what!

We spent several days here watching bowl games and they are truly grateful for your business. The 20 plus tvs are all top notch and large for great viewing from anywhere in the restaurant. The bar was our favorite place to sit and the bartenders were all friendly and very helpful with menu and drinks. The owner Joel comes around to meet and greet and you can tell he runs a tight ship. Everything is clean and neatly kept. The food takes bar food/sports grub to the next level. Very large, crispy wings and the honey Siracha was a favorite. The buffalo mac and cheese is a standout as well as the bbq sliders. Just an overall fantastic experience.

The atmosphere of this place is great. Service rocked, and the drinks were delicious! Try the Peach Fizz! The queso with chorizo was amazing. The tacos were pretty good... But not as impressive as the appetizer. Overall a great experience. Worth paying about $15-20 a person.

My wife and I went to this restaurant after seeing a play at the Looking Glass Theater with friends. Our daughter joined us after the play. We had a good time here. The food was great and so was the service. I would recommend this place if you are looking for a good place to eat.

My buddies and I stopped in for brunch on Saturday, and ended up staying through until the end of game 4 of the World Series. Food and drinks were very good, and Joel and his team were very friendly, and had great execution. Lots of tvs, and they will try to get the game on you are looking for. Highly recommend this place.

Decided to watch the basketball game on Friday and didn't want to sit in our hotel room. We got here around 8:00 and we're put on a waiting list for a table. We were seated in about 15 minutes. Ordered some appetizers and watched the game. Angie was our server and was incredibly attentive. Always smiling and quick to grab a refill. We were wandering around Hubbard St on Saturday night and decided to pop in for one last drink. Standing be the bar and Angie recognized us from the night before and quickly got us our drinks. Top notch service.

I popped in to watch the Superbowl (when in Rome and all that), I have to say that although the place was heaving the staff did their best to find me somewhere to perch and were extremely friendly. I had a few beers and a cheesy nacho dip thing which was all great before I succumbed to jet lag and headed back to my hotel. I'll definitely be back when I am next in town.

We stopped here for quick lunch, and wish we could have stayed longer. It would be an ideal spot to watch a sporting event, as there are TVs everywhere. They have a large menu and good food. The staff was super-friendly and the atmosphere was great. And they take reservations! We will be back!

This place has plenty of TVs, great service and friendly staff. The menu has a lot of variety. We came to see World Cup of soccer and had an excellent time. There is no bad seat in the house.

A New England Patriots bar in Chicago? Sure why not, the owner, Joel, is a Pats fan after all. Great service. Friendly welcome. Excellent food. Had a great time last Sunday...shots after every Pats TD too. Nice touch...lol.

Although we are not Patriots fans and them being known as the home of New England Patriots Football we had a fabulous time. Staff was very attentive and food was delicious. If you are looking for a quiet afternoon of watching football this is not your place to go however. We would easily go there again! Get there real early if the Patriots are playing or you will never get a place to sit. Definetly give it a try. Best sports bar we have found downtown!

I wanted a pizza for dinner one night and wanted to bring it back to my hotel. I looked up online and ordered from Theory as it was a short 4 minute walk from my hotel. When I entered, I was carded and saw that the place was packed--fire trap packed and loud. Not really what I would call a "grill". The staff was nice and I waited 3 minutes or so for the pizza. It wasn't the best I've have though and I wouldn't order from them again.

We met another couple at Theory on a Friday night. Good location near the El and right downtown near tons of things to do and see. Place is small and was pretty packed, but we got right in. Place is loud and you have to shout to have a conversation with the music playing, but nice, friendly overall atmosphere. They have tons of TVs to choose from -- two were just inches from us, which made them very easy to watch games. Service was good and attentive. Everyone's food was very good and big servings, especially the chicken tenders, sliders and burgers. although the chicken pizza/panini was kind of dry and tasteless. I'd recommend.

Nice selection of beers, good menu and well prepared & tasty at a very good price. Try the sweet potato fries!

What do you look for in a classic sports bar? Good conversation? A wide selection of imported beers? Great food? Lots of TVs tuned into several sports events? All of the above? Theory Sports Bar & Grill in Chicago's River North neighborhood features all of what you would expect in a top-notch sports bar. And more. The menu offers some unique and delicious items that set Theory apart from others. Located at 9 West Hubbard Street, at State Street, on the first floor, Theory is a loft-like upscale sports bar that was opened in 2008 with an eclectic menu in a slick, lounge space with many plasma TVs, a sports lounge, restaurant and bar. Open from 5 to midnight on Thursday, 10:45 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 to 11 on Sunday, Theory attracts serious sports fans. My wife and I started with the Cubs and ended with the Dodgers. Along the way we had mac and cheese flatbread, pretzel sticks, a bowl of tomato soup and tacos with grilled chicken and ground beef, nacho cheese doritos, romaine, tomato, red salsa and shredded cheese. For the main course, we had a Theory burger with two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles and a turkey wrap with house-smoked turkey, avocado, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato, romaine and honey mustard in a wheat wrap. We don't drink alcohol so ginger ale and root beer satisfied our thirst.

Excellent!! I have the veggie burger with some personal twists and sweet potato fries. It was perfect and delicious! The best service waitress ever.

My companion and I ordered appetizers and dinner at this sports bar. The calamari was more tentacles than anything else and had a bland floury taste. The crab dip which looked appealing was really oily and also had no taste. Our dinner entrees were also really bland and tasteless. If you are heading here for drinks and to watch the game the atmosphere is great and the bartenders are very accomodating.

This is a great place to take in a game with friends. It probably is not your best option for a dinner out. There are plenty of TVs and a very good drink/food selection to enjoy your favorite sporting event. The quality of service of up is inconsistent, but is not a big issue for most sports fans.

I had to take time to write this review. I was in town for the weekend and wanted to watch football on Sunday. I stumbled across this bar Sunday morning on Hubbard street. I was greeted warmly and the manager made sure the game I wanted to watch was on a TV that I could see from my table. Waitress very attentive as well. Manager did keep checking on us to make sure everything was okay (food, drink, tv). I noticed him doing this with literally EVERY other table in the bar. I hadn't seen service like this in quite some time, so I wanted to commend the team! If you're in the downtown Chicago area, make the trip over to Theory!

In Chicago for a quick business trip during the coldest week of the year! Looking to watch a few games, grab a bite to eat and a couple of drinks, headed over to Theory Sports Bar & Grill based on the reviews; good food, lots of TVs and open late. Nice set up; lots of TVs showing any game people had asked for. Sat at the bar; staff was friendly and attentive.....to start. I say to start because it was not a busy night due to the weather. A couple of hours into the night I was informed the kitchen would be closing early and if I wanted to get something to eat I needed to order now. The game hadn't even started and I was getting my food, which was a foreshadow of things to come. After I received my food until I left, all Liz (bartender) wanted to do was go home. She kept asking the manager/owner when they were closing in front of all the customers at the bar. I fully appreciate the fact that the weather is terrible and the place might not be as busy as you expect. However, you are in downtown Chicago, in the winter, with PAYING customers at the bar all of which were in town on business looking to have a bite to eat and watch a few games.......have some respect. THEN the manager/owner (at least I hope he owned it because if he was the manager, the owner must be losing money) started walking around with bottles of liquor and shot glasses to what ended up being the "regulars" and pouring up free drinks "on the house" as he said. AGAIN, have some respect to your other "non-regulars". May I suggest being more discreet about "shots on the house". THEN Liz FINALLY got her wish; they were closing early.......LAST CALL! Again I realize that it is miserable outside and the bar is not busy, but you have customers sitting there spending their money trying to make the best of a miserable weather situation and you push them out the door at 11pm. In fact so early, we didn't even get to watch the end of our game. Disappointing end to a disrespectful night! Based on experience, unlikely to revisit next time in Chicago.

Outstanding service and great overall vibe! Mac and cheese flatbread is to die for! And they show KU basketball games. What could be better?!?

We live in suburbs but were in the city for the day. Heard this was a great place to catch a Pats game and were told to come early as tables are reserved over a week in advance. The place did totally fill up with Pats fans. The manager is awesome, welcomes everyone and makes sure every patron is happy. The gentleman next to me was in town for a convention, and chose Theory because it looked like it had the most vibrant scene for a game. He is not a Pats fan but they put his game on one of the TVs. Food was very good, as were the drinks and beer.We had some of their brunch items, they were very tasty. Shots for all when the Pats score is a plus Will be back for sure.

We stopped by on "New Girl" trivia night for drinks and food. We had the quesadilla, turkey stack, and one of the wraps with fries and tater tots. The food was so good! We loved the atmosphere and had amazing service - thank you for taking great care of us, Maria!

This is a nice sports bar with a good food. The waitress was kind and friendly, but it took a while for the food to arrive. The place was crowded and this can be understandable.

The Theory advertises itself as "Chicago's best upscale sports lounge." In other words, it's a classy sports bar with 35 TVs, a private room with a massive 133-inch screen, a menu of food you love to eat when watching a football game and a list of drinks to go with it. Located at 9 West Hubbard Street, Theory Sports Bar & Grill opened in 2008 and has gradually earned a reputation as River North's No. 1 sports bar. It caters to Iowa sports, New England Patriots football and Georgetown basketball. That said, it is the best place to watch college football on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It probably isn't good for your waistline, however, not with a steady diet of nachos, shrimp, tacos, tomato basil soup and chips, two Vienna beef hot dogs with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle spear, sport pepper and celery salt, cheeseburgers and a 1/2 slab of baby back ribs with tangy barbecue sauce. Don't forget the chicken tenders and house smoked turkey sandwich. After watching parts of 32 football games and sampling nearly everything on the menu, it's hard to recall who played and who won. One thing I know for sure: we all had a very good time.

Stopped in for a couple drinks because it was listed as an Iowa Hawkeyes bar. Drinks and food were great! The nacho bites were amazing!

Stopped in before the Bears game today for our favorite brunch in Chicago. a half price mimosa and a Moscow Mule for starters along with our fresh cinnamon donut "amuse bouche." We have a hard time not ordering the pulled pork enchiladas (enough for two!) and the brisket Benedict. That's what we had a gain this morning. Not disappointed and fully happy. Burgers are great, fries are amazing. A great place to go. Note: this is a Blackhawks and Patriots bar and a Iowa Haweyes bar. Come early and expect huge crowds for every game.

My husband and I went to this bar to watch the hockey game but little did we know it was a Patriots bar. By that I mean, 90% of the tvs were on the Patriots game and 90% of the people there were Patriots fans. For a Chicago bar we were quite surprised but saw after on their menu that they do claim to be a Patriots bar. Nothing wrong with it, just a heads up for further football games. We watched the game for a bit and eventually were given a table by the staff which was nice. My husband got the boneless buffalo wings which were good. I got the garlic Parmesan chicken tenders with fries. Their fries were delicious and had a good seasoning. The tenders were surprisingly spicy for garlic Parmesan. They were good but I'm pretty weak when it comes to spice so my husband ended up having more than me. I'd be interested to try their other flavors in the future.

Be aware this is a New England Patriots bar so as we found out it's not the kind of bar that, as a default, will have other games on. That said, the super-friendly manager was happy to put on three non-Pats games on while the other approximately 35 TV's were reserved for the Gronk and Brady show. It's a fun place and all the Pats fans were super friendly. Food was good. Service was good. The place gets packed during football games so go early or call ahead for a reservation. The buffalo chicken sandwich was good and the whole table enjoyed the hot wings. Great beer specials during the game.

Bachelorette weekend downtown Chicago and Theory was our first stop of the night. Great music, fun atmosphere, and friendly bartenders.

Great atmosphere and excellent bar staff, but get there early if you want to see the game..it's a popular spot.

We stopped by to catch the buckeyes game on Saturday. Had all the big games on a variety of tvs. The owner helped us grab a table. He was very inviting and helpful to everyone coming in and out. Always thanking people for stopping by. Would highly recommend stopping by to patronize this place.

If I wrote a review of Theory every time we went there you would just think we were boring. This is the 3rd review in the last year and the consistency has never changed. Yeah, yeah it is a great sports bar that takes reservations for games. We go for Steve's food and Joel's hospitality. For brunch, get the pulled pork enchiladas. There is literally enough for two people but we always take half home for breakfast the next day. Next choice is burgers. Enough said. It is a great sports bar with excellent food.

We were looking for a Sports Bar to be able to watch the game on Sunday. We had been given the names of a few possible places. Theory was next to one suggested. I liked the way it looked from the outside and the menu looked like food we were interested in. We were greeted at the door by a very nice bouncer. As soon as we walked in we were greeted with smiles and welcomes. We got to choose the TV we wanted to watch the game on. Our experience was top notch - from the service, to the owner Joel buying us a shot, to the "regulars" who were lots of fun. I cannot say enough positive things about this place. Would love to return to Chicago just to go there.

Storms chased us back to our hotel from a Friday afternoon Cubs game and we looked around River North for a good spot for dinner and some game watching. Theory exceeded expectations of typical bar food. The bar area was crowded and loud with after work 20-somethings, but there were tables available towards the back. The staff was friendly, changing TV channels for us upon request, and we stayed for a couple of hours through a few rounds of beers and several shared appetizers. The brisket quesadillas were fantastic. Like I'd go back for them. The other items were above average bar fare as well. It was a good find in River North.

We popped in and parked ourselves at the bar. Staff was fast and friendly. The tv in front of us was huge and we were totally happy hanging out watching the game. We tried a couple of signature cocktails, and found my new favorite wine there as well. We had the lamb tacos and although not my favorite, the hubs loved them. Food and drink came out fast, even though they were very busy. The manager helped us pick out a t-shirt, and was very helpful. It seems obvious the bartenders all enjoyed being there. Hip, clean. Loved it!

If there is a obscure sporting event that you want to watch then Theory is the place for you. Just ask and they will tune a TV for your viewing pleasure. The food is best bar food in Chicago with a huge menu cooked by Steve and his staff. Joel and Jared share the job of making sure that your visit is perfect and are the first to let you know that your presence is appreciated. This is our goto place for brunch on the weekends and any sporting event. Where can you go watch the Masters golf tournament and have the sound on? Theory. Best burgers, best brunch (enchiladas) and best bar. Tell Joel, Jared or Steve that John and Sue sent you. You will not be disappointed!

Nestled just of State Street, Theory was nice and easy to find. I wanted somewhere I could watch the Europa League final, and so I went to Theory once to check it out. I was greeted so warmly, and the decor of the place was so inviting, I knew i’d come back. I went back to Theory two days later and the friendliness was just the same, I was even thanked just for turning up and having a beer. They had a good selection of beer and the food was great too. I couldn’t fault the place, so i’d highly recommend that people visit it when they go to Chicago.

They have a great brunch! Loved the build your own Bloody Mary bar! So many garnishes and hot sauces to choose from! Service was wonderful too! We really enjoyed it!

The place has a lot of screens to watch sports. The service was very nice us finding the soccer game we wanted to wants and showing it in an screen. The food was average: Tacos were acceptable but burgers were not very tasty.

My mom and sis arrived here from out of state to watch a football game. When we arrived at opening, the owner was gracious and accomodating even though all the tables were reserved. He checked in on us all day long, in addition to our waitress. We had a day long snack attack choosing various apps and sandwiches on the menu. Order the sliders, mac and cheese and the tacos. All amazing!!

We showed up after looking for a good bar to watch the Hawkeye game. We were lucky to get 2 seats at the bar. I would arrive at least an hour before the game next time, to ensure a spot, and would sit at the bar again. We loved the atmosphere, this place makes you feel welcome! IPA and good bloody marys, then ordered really good warm pretzel sticks with cheese and mustard and a half cobb salad that was super fresh!! The music was loud and hopping during commercials, which I appreciated, and made me laugh, because it made them funny. The owner asked us if we were all good and commented on how he makes sure everyone is happy while in his place. Done dude. We loved this bar! Top notch service and food and they were slammed.

Nice place. Service was good. Beer selection was great. Food was excellent! The only complaint is the music was way too loud and the employees gathered in area, making it homely but maybe they own the place? I will go back!

Bar was awesome, service amazing, a locals friend suggested we go here! All the food Was so yummy! Very busy on Friday nights!

Swerved food after 11 pm on a Thursday. We had a pizza & a sandwich, both were very good tasting & quality seemed better than just bar food. Atmosphere was definitely "a bar."

We were really hungry and this was one of the options nearby. I'm sure sports enthusiasts have several other criteria but for us this worked- the beer (Goose Island OMG and Goose Island Green Line) was tasty, as well as the cheeseburger my husband had and the rock shrimp tacos I had. If around the corner, I would recommend this over the Public House.

We were the only ones interested in the Miami Hurricane game but, we were early for brunch and the game, they were pleased to accommodate us! The biscuits and gravy was excellent, as was the avocado toast! We had some beers as the place filled up with Iowa fans and a good time was had by all!

My wife and I were in the city for the weekend and wanted to watch some of the NCAA games and have lunch! Utilize the reserve table via opentable.com We opted to walk in and had to wait for about 30 minutes for a table. There's plenty of Plasma TV's to watch while we waited! We grabbed a cocktail and in no time we were seated! Hip place! Our waitress Summer was polite and efficient! She kept us well supplied with cocktails and water! The menu was extensive with choices for most any taste! Not your typical bar food! We had fish tacos and brussel sprout salad! Both were very good! Would have loved to try some of the other offerings but we were filled! Fun place to watch the games! During commercials they play high energy music! Highly recommend!!

This place has [--] written all over it on a Saturday night, which is sad considering the food is actually pretty decent and the bar itself has a ton of TV's and a great location in River North. The bar area itself is a bit narrow, which means navigating the place when it is packed isn't exactly a ton of fun. I remember having the crab dip with pita chips which was a lot better than we expected. The drinks were good, about the same price as any other bar around the few blocks of Hubbard lined with bars and clubs. Next time I'm going to watch some sports, I'm skipping Theory. But, if I just need a place to meet up with friends after work or something, I'd definitely go to check out their daily drink and food specials which are all pretty legit.

Stopped in here to watch hockey & Cubbies games. The bar was quite nice. The food was good. The brisket nachos were my favorites & we also had the wings & chicken nachos. The owner was so nice & vested in his business. Recommend!!!

There's only one word to describe the place accurately. Loud. I mean "The person next to you is shouting and you can't QUITE make out what they are saying" loud. Not what I expected from a place that styles itself as a sports bar (there were several screens with sports on) it felt at least on this particular Saturday evening more like a pickup joint/meat market. Packed with twentysomethings and a smattering of thirtysomethings all nodding and smiling at each other because they couldn't really hear what the other person is saying. The food was good (the Tater Tot poutin is not to be missed) and for a bar in the Loop - it was extremely affordable. ($7.00 for a Bombay Sapphire). Maybe the atmosphere is different during the daytime or weekend evenings, but on weekend nights, it can only be described as - well, you know....

Standard bar food. GOOD Sliders, we ordered twice. Juicy, seasoned decent and fresh with a toasted buttered bun. The accompanying Tator Tots were lukewarm and disappointing. Not worth sending them back. Service is efficient but listless if you are not a regular then it becomes a bit more perky. The exception is the Angela Bassett doppelganger, who was friendly, very welcoming and personable, while remaining productive with our seating and other guests who came behind us. The Buffalo wings were coated and came room temp at best. You can tell they're pre-cooked with possibly a quick refry then maybe a light toss in sweetish sauce that soaked into the floured coating. This is why a hard fry without a floured coating is better, unless you fry the coated wings FRESH, which they did not do by a longshot! Additional Buffalo sauce will cost extra, which sucks because the sauce they toss in is soaked into the breaded chicken and come dry. A "sports" bar/pub, in particular, SHOULD BE providing unlimited condiments! The accompanying dressing is your choice of either flavorless Ranch or Blue Cheese with a few sparse pieces Celery and Carrot crudite. The drinks are NOT worth the price. If anything, maybe the "strong" Manhattan with Pig Whistle Bourbon at $16. The Apple Cider Mimosa, at best, ONLY should have been $7-9. The $11 price is robbery, especially when I told them a splash of Cider and the wait person stated, "Well, you won't get anymore Champagne, your glass will be a little over half full." Overall, this place can easily be a HARD pass!

This was a fun place - glad we stopped. Good beer selection and great appetizers. Downside was that it was very noisy, but it is basically a pub, so that's not unexpected. We'd go back.

We spent a weekend in Chicago and wanted to watch the Iowa game. Looked online and found this bar which hosts Hawkeye games. Many times we've been to bars hosting sporting events and we know they are crowded with lousy service and mediocre food. NOT SO AT THEORY. This place is a well oiled machine. I've rarely been this impressed. The service was superb. The food was exceptional. They have a wide selection and diversity of beverages. During commercials, they shift to music which was fantastic. GREAT place to watch HAWKEYE FOOTBALL but I can't wait to go back for any reason and try more of their food.

We just happened to hear this was a good place for "pregaming" a Saturday night. It was a great place to get appetizers and cocktail on the way out for the night. We had the buffalo chicken salda ( pretty warm) and smoked chicken quesadilla. It was pretty average fare, good vibe with pretty loud electronic music. If you want a more partying atmosphere, good place... not for a quiet conversation.

During our visit to Chicago, myself and two other friends decided to visit Theory Sports Bar and Grill for Sunday football based on it's positive Trip Advisor reviews. As soon as we entered the establishment the manager Joel introduced himself and asked which games we were interested in watching. All three of us had separate games we wanted to watch but this was no problem, I have never seen so many TV's in a sports bar which made it possible for all of us to watch our desired game. Joel thanked us for our business, before we even ordered anything, and throughout the day constantly checked up on our table to make sure we were doing okay. The food was absolutely delicious, specifically their Nacho Bites. They're a unique spin on a popular appetizer that everyone at the table wolfed down. We definitely felt appreciated as customers which is certainly a rarity nowadays. I highly, highly recommend Theory, it was certainly one of the highlights of our Chicago visit.

Visiting Chicago for first time. We wanted to be able to see the baltimore-oakland football he. Found theory on trip advisor and decided to try it. My wife and and were impressed not only with the food but we cannot say enough about how great the staff, manager Joel and our waitress Emily were. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed or wanted. Would highly recommend this to everyone.

We stumbled across Theory looking for a place to watch the Iowa v Illinois football game. Saw the Hawkeye flags outside and TOUCHDOWN! I expected it to be a typical sports bar with average food, slow service, and complacent attitudes from the staff. It was none of those. First, the staff was engaging and fun. Second, the food was great. I have Celiac and they have gluten free pasta...I was skeptical but the bar maid convinced me it was safe and good. She was right it was excellent. They also offer GF beer. Lastly, the service was excellent considering the place was packed. We even went back to celebrate after I ran the Chicago Marathon.

This is a good bar for Iowa Hawkeyes fans. 10 of us went here late Friday afternoon. We were the first ones there so we got seated immediately. Our waitress was very attentive. We had LOTS of drinks and appetizers - pita with hummus, chips with 3 kinds of salsa, chips with guacamole, quesidillas, and buffalo wings. All were good and reasonably priced.For dinner we had salads, burgers,chicken panini, and beef tenderloin sliders. The sliders were really good and only $3.00 or $4.00. The sliders were on a sidebar of smaller portions for a less expensive price. There were a lot of TVs and nice bar. It looked like there was a party room/lounge in the back for a small group. The place was not big. There were a lot of young people -mid 20's as the evening developed. It is on Hubbard between State and Dearborn.

We found out Theory has a New England Patriots fan club for every game, so we went on our visit to Chicago...it was fantastic! We arrived early to view several NFL games on large screens while we ate and drank, followed by the Patriots on most screens for the afternoon game. The Theory venue is great, but our Patriots are mediocre like in the 80s and 90s...

We popped into this restaurant before heading to the jazz club. OMG this place was so fun! The bartender was attentive and never left us with an empty glass. The food looked amazing, even though we did not eat here (would have been better than what we ate for dinner that's for sure!). The music was jamming, lots of space to move around in and a great crowd. So many tvs, I think it would be a great place to watch any sporting event!! Highly recommend and will return!!!