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Chicago Restaurants

Billy Goat Tavern

2 reviews | Write a review

Good for: Solo Travellers, service, atmosphere, food

  • Address
    • 430 N Michigan Ave lower level
  • Transport
    • Red Line to Grand
  • Phone
    • 312-222-1525
  • Price
    • mains $4-6
  • Hours
    • from 6am Mon-Fri, from 10am Sat & Sun

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Lonely Planet review for Billy Goat Tavern

Literally beneath the pie-eyed mobs on the Magnificent Mile, the subterranean Billy Goat, which enjoyed the fame of John Belushi’s SNL skit (‘Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries! Cheeps!’), remains a deserving tourist magnet. Skip the franchise locations for the original: a windowless haunt with an entire wall dedicated to former Tribune columnist Mike Royko, famously cantankerous Greeks at the grill and scads of old-Chicago charm. Greasy-spoon fare is the only option, and you’ll have to order a double cheeseburger if you’re interested in tasting meat within the substantial bun. Schlitz on tap helps wash it down.

 

Traveller reviews for Billy Goat Tavern (2)

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    Home in a Tavern

    johntolley recommends this,

    Below the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s main boulevard of fashion, below the clatter of those well-heeled heels, below the touristy hoi polloi marching from Millennium Park to the John Hancock Tower, the original Billy Goat Tavern sits buried in the sidewalk, a squatting totem to Old Chicago, serving a regular crowd of shirt-sleeve newspapermen, blue collars, and general appreciators of the slower life.
    The bar is features the usual panoply of liquors. The beers are mostly domestic, with a few very standard imports. Recommended are the “Haus” beers of which there are two choices: Light and Dark. Complex, it ain't, but who cares.
    The menu is even more austere: “Cheezborgers.” The beef patties are made special for owner Sam Sianis as are the doughy buns and the sharp, crisp dill pickle slices. And conveniently enough, the patties are so thin you can order a single patty snacker (although this has resulted in some eye-rolls from the griddleman) or a quad-patty delight that was, until recently, know as the Sosa (till that fink skipped town.) And yes, there are “no fries, cheeps,” but who cares.
    The space has the look of a punch-drunk pugilist, squat and broad in the nose with a couple of cauliflower ears, but genuinely happy enough to smile. On the walls hang the names of writers from both major local papers (including former regular and renowned columnist Mike Royko), and stories of Billy Goat Sianis and his legendary curse of the Chicago Cubs. The two bar TVs are usually tuned to the news, or a late afternoon game show, or the nightly sporting event, or any other program that seems to say that this is a bar to sit a while, chat a while, drink a while, and generally while away the time.

    Good for: atmosphere, food, Solo Travellers, service

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    only average

    vivekw recommends this,

    This place doesn't live up to the tourist hype. Sure, it's fun to say that you've been here - but the portions are pretty small and the prices a bit inflated. You can find better fare for cheaper elsewhere in town.

    Good for: Solo Travellers

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