Handlebar

I can’t stand the manager here. He’s such an asshole. So disrespectful, so rude, such a bad attitude. Completely ruined our sunday when we were out having so much fun. I never will come back.
I went here because the patio looked very nice. I was with a group of eight and the table they sat us was so hot that we wanted to move to the shade. He got so upset that we moved and made it a point to show us that he was upset. We don’t understand why he was so mad but we hope to never ever see him again.

Sam bal tofu is suuuuuuper spicy and salty, had to order a side of brown rice, which is super small and cost &3, this place is overrated and overpriced. Not coming back.

Don’t ever come here the manager is the biggest dick that I have ever met. It was a completely empty patio and he was so upset that we chose a table that was not to his liking. He was so disrespectful and was so rude to the patrons dining. We respectfully asked him if we could move and he bluntly told us no because that’s just the way it is. Fuck this place and the manager here. I wish I could rate a negative star.

Worse customer service I have EVER experienced!!! My girlfriend kindly asked the manager if we could switch tables to get more fresh air and he was so disrespectful and I could not listen to anyone speak to her the way he did. The patio was completely empty and he was so upset that we wanted to move. The food did not make up for this situation. There are far better places to go in the city to enjoy good food, a chill bar, and a pleasant atmosphere. Everything we ate was so dry and lacked any kind of unique flavor. I will never be coming back here ever.

Came here for lunch on a Sunday around 1 pm. The brunch crowd was in full effect and tables were scarce. We didn’t have a reservation so we were offered seats at the bar. We took them. We also took in the scenery, the sights and sounds. Dark walls covered in random art, records, posters, etc. Heavy metal playing and servers with intense beards, black nail polish and worn our band t-​shirts. So basically the REALLY cool kids.
There was a lot of energy here… there is also a patio aside from the packed dining room, so it was clear they were real busy… that being said we were at the bar, which meant constant face time with some level of staff… bartenders, servers, bussers — but no one spoke to us… perhaps it was our lululemon get ups or the mainstream highlights in our hair? We were eventually handed menus and when we were finally asked for our orders we ordered entrees, but it was only 1 pm and they don’t serve entrees until 3. Ok, our bad. But then we waited another 20 minutes to be approached for our orders again, all while watching staff actively ignore us. We were officially HANGRY.
We both went with the Mean Greenie in the interest of speed — it was a veggie sandwich with a humongous order of fries. It was fine. We were hungry and anything would have worked. I’m sure we didn’t make the best choice as there were breakfast items that sounded very good but we were there for lunch and we were too early for the food we wanted.
All this being said, obviously this place is a local hit, if done right. We didn’t know what to expect and our experience was disappointing. If you come here, just do everything opposite of what we did.

So many awesome options for vegans! I love this place! They also went so far out of their way to make sure none of our food was contaminated with tree nuts, as our son has a horrible allergy. They even prepared new vegan cheese without the cashews just for us. Everything we ate here was amazing!

Late night vegan eats in a dark & dreamy bar? Sign me the hell up! It’s been over a week, but I’m still fantasizing about Handlebar’s Buffalo «Chicken» wrap. And maybe the fried pickles, too.
If it seems like they are serving up basic comfort food for vegans & omnivores alike, you’re a little off the mark, though. I mean it’s anything but basic! My wrap was bursting with fresh ingredients and the «chicken» is unlike any fake meat I’ve ever had before, with phenomenal texture and taste. Because I’m a gal who always has «hot sauce in my bag,» I poured on extra and was possibly blind and deaf to everything going on around me so that I could concentrate on devouring this sandwich. Yeah, I’m an animal.
Fried pickles are spears and I’m more of a fan of chips, but no matter, really, when the batter is this good and the dipping sauce will have you sopping up the remains in the ramekin.
Handlebar would be the perfect place for me if it existed in New Orleans because I could totally be able to throw down and eat like a champ among my meat-​eating friends and boyfriend. For now, I’m just planning on staying walking distance next time I’m in Chicago.

Hubby and I got in a nice date night here before hitting our dance club. I got myself a good cider (some choices, not heaps, but decent) and we split some sides. Their guac is nice and flavorful without being too hot. But hands down my favorite was the smoked gouda mac and cheese. YUM.
Service was nice. Atmosphere lovely. If you are in Wicker Park and want plenty of vegetarian options that are well made but not fussy… this is the place.

Went here for a date because she is a vegetarian. It’s rated pretty high, so I figured I’d try it out. Plus, she looked at the menu beforehand and she really liked what she saw. She got the buffalo chicken sandwich and really liked it. Get the chili fries! They did do a really good job with whatever substitute they used for the chili.
I got the tacos which were good, but left me still hungry. With that said, I would give 5 stars if they offered a few non-​vegetarian dishes. But I think vegetarians would be very happy with this place though.

I wanted to love this place. I really did. But it was disappointing. And their menu had such promise. So many options that sounded amazingly delicious — but when the food arrived at the table, it was mostly meh. I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (made of tofu) and it was okay, but nothing special. The hot sauce was missing the OOMPF you expect. Although, the texture was right, especially considering it wasn’t real chicken. So I guess I can’t complain too much. Some vegan/​vegetarian places that offer Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (out of tofu) get the texture completely off.
The only reason I give this place 3 stars was the mac and cheese I ordered as a side. I honestly probably would’ve been happier if I had ordered it as my entrée. It was so creamy and delicious. It was everything a baked mac and cheese should be.

I like visiting news places. Parking on the street was free. Winning! Good service and super low key crowd. I had the green meanie sandwich and green beans. The sandwich was good and good for me. My coworkers broccoli was much better though. We started with chili cheese fries!!! It’s definitely worth a try. I’ll be back. Fewer stars because there’s no real meat in the place.

Great food and drinks. Very vegan friendly.
When coming to Chicago, it’s become a tradition that I check out Handlebar. I love that most of the menu can be made vegan and they have an array of interesting drink options.
The vegan sloppy joe was very good. I, for one, don’t care for messy meals, but this one holds true to its name… It was very delicious though. My only other complaint is that you can’t get a pretzel roll with it if you order vegan!
The Black Bean Maduro is another excellent choice. It’s a very savory dish that will fill you up. In general, portion sizes are very generous here.
Service has always been pleasant at Handlebar. On my last visit, we came here for dinner and our meals were done in less than 10 minutes. That is super fast!
The only other minor complaint I have is that this place is kind of cramped, especially on a busy night. It’s best for a party of two or smaller. I will still be coming back, though!

First of all the parking is a nightmare and then. the long wait. Our server Tom. was phenomenonal and very patient. We enjoyed the appetizers more than the entrees.

Having just arrived in Chicago, my BF and I walked down the street to grab some lunch and bumped into the eclectic awesomeness that is Handlebar. It was quite crowded, so we decided to sit outdoors even though this took place during the summer when it was super hot.
Inside, band posters and crazy artwork plastered the walls, and in addition to the inside and patio seats there were some stools at the bar.
Both of us were a bit skeptical as to how delicious vegan food could be, but when our sandwiches and mac and cheese came, we sang a different tune. My «green meanie» was thoroughly satisfying. Our table was also quite close to our neighbors’ and we ended up eavesdropping on their conversation about the logistics of touring as a band. Very hipster place, and very cool.

Oh my goodness I love this place and I’m a gal who usually needs meat in her food! Haha. Every item we got was delicious. I didn’t have my meat that night but dang my meal was so good. The sambal tofu was full of flavor and I loved that it was loaded with collard greens which is my favorite leafy greens. The sambal dressing/​sauce had the right amount of peanut sauce combined and packed with a punch. The mushroom and edamame peas were all great part of my meal in a bowl. The smoked Gouda mac and cheese is another side item to get. Samosas were well done too.
Only gripe was they used maraschino cherry in my old fashioned.

The place is humble and relax. Staff is very friendly. An interesting drink list. We went for brunch. We had the chimichanga and it was great. We also tried the french toast which was simple, yet tasty. Returning fot sure to try more things.

I just want to talk about that chili Mac n cheese because it was the only thing I ate and also because I miss it so much and wish we could be together again. Super genius creation, just the right amount of spicy plus tortilla chips on top (omg waaaat?! Yass! I know right?) J’reccommend!
The place itself is also very cool n cozy — music is bomb, $ 1 PBRs on Monday if you want to feel like you’re in college again.

So far one of my favorite restaurants! I drive in from an hour away just for the fried pickles because THEY ARE THE BEST! Everything on the menu is great! Love the buffalo «chicken» wrap & fries! The management there is also super accommodating and really sweet! I recommend this place to everyone I know!

Solid vegetarian brunch spot in Wicker Park. Came in here for brunch with my boyfriend and was pleasantly surprised to find their was no wait. It’s a small place and it definitely has a sort of biker vibe to it – rock music playing, tables tightly packed together and posters/​signs scattered across the walls.
Our waiter was very attentive and took time explaining food items, since their menu can be a little overwhelming to non-​vegetarians (definitely more unique menu items than Native Foods, which is pretty mainstream). We opted for the diablos with the eggs and jack cheese, as well as the Pepita scamble. Both items were great choices! The diablo came with black beans, rice and corn tostadas. A bit spicy, but nothing too crazy. The pepita was sweeter, and the kale and sweet potatoes made a great combination. Nice healthy option for brunch.
Although we didn’t opt for bloody marys this time around, I will say that they look badass and I’m looking forward to trying them next time. This place serves super creative dishes, and I’m excited to come back again.

I ordered a Buffalo Chicken Wrap no ranch with side of collard greens — pretty good. The wrap was a regular white tortilla grilled filled with romaine, tomato, red onion and buffalo mock chicken. The buffalo sauce had a nice kick to it. Wrap was light and fresh tasting. The collard greens were sauteed with garlic. Still crunchy. Not over cooked. Good flavor.
This place has a nice atmosphere. Typical bar like appearance, but not as loud or dark. I could hold a conversation with someone with them still being able to hear me. They were just setting up for evening when I got there and were setting candles out on all the table. Warm and cozy here. Good for singles, dates, or friends.

Whoa — last time I was here was in 2011? Well, nothings changed. Still great food, still cool atmosphere, and my husbo (dedicated meat eater) loved the biz and gravy. Bloody was fantastic so they must have dolled it up a bit.
Love this place and we’ll definitely be back.

This place is awesome. When I went, I was from out of town on business. This place was a perfect mix of friendly, funky, interesting people combined with awesome vegan grub– delicious, and super drinks. I’d come back in a heartbest. Next time I’m in chicago, I’m totally there.
Ps their vegan ranch– I could easily take a warm bath in it. ;)

2 tacos, 1 beer, and 1 shot of tequila for $ 10 on Sunday after 3PM. What???
Now I really need to go eat here. We stopped by on our way to get sushi at the place next door and just happened to stumble in to grab a drink. The bartender was plenty nice and overall had a very… «hipster vibe» going on. Beer on tap was names I’ve never heard of and the food looked pretty wild. When I asked him for a menu there was something that stuck out that just blew my mind. 2 tacos, a beer, and a shot for $ 10. That is amazing. Now its gonna force me to come back to try it. Damn you handlebar! You haven’t seen the last of me!

Handlebar, handlebar, handlebar
I’ve been coming here a long ass time, can’t believe I never reviewed it, Hun?
They have MAD drink specials here, check the menu,
In the warm months there is outdoor seating,
And now they have delivery, whut? Yes, I said it.
If you plan on coming here on a weekend for breakfast, you may have to wait…
I can’t give them five stars because the vegan biscuits & gravy are not served past 3pm,
Which one day really pissed me off cause I got there at 3:10pm and I was denied, and I couldn’t get past it, that is what I crave!
The vegan burrito is good, but nothin beats that gravy YO!
Tried: Fried pickles w/​vegan ranch, greens, sandwiches (not a big fan of faux meat), samosas, those tostadas (more like sopes, not like a thin tostada, but still yummy) all were good.
Bloody hammer is their Bloody Mary with fried pickle, but if you don’t like that, I usually get tanqueray & they charge me $ 1 for the pickle, you can get a high life pony for extra $ 1
Don’t think you have to dress nice to come here, it’s nothing fancy, t shirt & jeans kinda place

Great place with great beers and food. We went on a Friday night and expected a wait. We were quoted a half hour wait for a table for two, or given the option to eat at the bar. We decided we could wait to eat, but sat at the bar for a beer while we waited. Within five minutes the host came over and said there was a table waiting.
The menu is pescatarian, with several vegetarian amid vegan options. Our food came out very quickly and it was everything we had hoped for. I got the smoked gouda and cavatappi with minced veggie bacon. It didn’t disappoint. When the guy at the table next to us saw the server drop it off, he ordered it as well.
Highly recommended for a delicious, reasonably-​priced, casual meal.

On night 2 of my «Vegan Chicago Weekend», my friend and I came here. It a restaurant that caters to pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan eaters. The menu is easy to read, the place is totally «hipster» with lots of fun posters, cards and sayings on the wall. I had the stew, the name escapes me at the moment, but it was very good. It was SO filling and such a good value for $ 11.00. We also shares fried pickles as an appetizer. The atmosphere is lively and the staff there make you feel right at home. I highly recommend this place to anyone, even the carnivores.

Veggie, vegans and pescitarians unite!
I hate to admit that it has taken me this long to get over here! Brunch on a Saturday is not as bad as a brunch on Sunday but was still definitely crowded. And the crowds are right on!
The space is small and very one of a kind. The staff is nice to have their recommendations ready to go and knowledgeable of the whole menu.
I had the diablos and I would have to fight myself to get it a second time! This dish was beyond flavorful and delicious. I could eat it all day! But knowing this I have faith that just about everything is probably just as good and I want to try more. The Diablo is
a choice of fried eggs & jack cheese or seitan chorizo & tofu, hand-​pressed corn tostadas, chipotle sauce, black beans, brown rice. I did the fried egg and cheese minus the rice. The hand pressed corn tostadas and chipotle sauce is what made this dish spot on. It had the right hint of heat and spice to keep you digging in for another bite.
Overall the menu keeps me intrigued to try it all and I will have to do my best to come back sooner this time!

I’m not a vegetarian. I don’t use bicycles as my primary mode of transportation in the city… yet I love this place.
I came here at the recommendation of a friend when I was trying to find a place to eat with my vegan friend that would be open past 10pm.
The set up is kind of weird– weird steps and not exactly spacious. The service has been good and the food delicious. Their grilled cheese is amazing.
I’m writing this review mostly for myself, because I need to avoid getting green beans here. I love green beans, but here they’re covered in lemon, which I do not like so much. It sucked last time, since the fall weather had chapped my lips more than usual.
They obviously have plenty of bike parking out front, as well as regular parking.
This is my go-​to place to take any vegan/​vegetarian buds, and it’s really great.

We came here for brunch on a Sunday. We were quoted a 20−30-minute wait, but it was only about 15 minutes. It was hard to narrow down the menu because everything looked so amazing. We finally decided to split two entrees that looked the most delicious to us (vegetarian friendly options for my girlfriend).
The hash dish was definitely my favorite of the two, so luckily my girlfriend agreed to eat the bulk of the veggie sandwich. The portion sizes were perfect. We usually take home leftovers after dining out, but this time we were able to finish everything on our plates while still feeling sated once we finished. We enjoyed the people watching as we ate (plenty of Wicker Park hipsters with their tattoos and man buns to ogle). The food was good, and we also liked the mustache-​y décor.
Why only four stars? The service wasn’t the most attentive. It was a bit apathetic (though not rude at all) and very to-​the-​point. It really felt like they were trying to turn the table quickly so they could seat other people. The wait time had increased considerably by the time we had finished eating because the front area by the hostess desk was crowded with people. Still, I’m sure we would come back here for brunch, especially when we want brunch, but don’t want to eat something unhealthy (like at The Bongo Room – those pancakes should be dessert).

After such rave reviews and my sis being a veggie, we thought this was worth checking out, especially as my cousin and I also aren’t huge meat eaters. We were able to snag a table in their lovely outside patio Saturday evening around 7:30pm.
It took a long time for our server to come by to place orders. We finally did and our food took an extra long time to come. We heard that they have a small kitchen, but the table next to us got their food well before we did when they were seated a half hour after us. Our server was friendly, but he never really checked up on us. I understand the casual laidback ‘hipster’ atmosphere and certainly wasn’t expecting fancy shmancy service, but it seemed like many of the servers had a ‘did not care’ attitude and/​or were drunk. The server for a table next to us constantly came back and had to be reminded of what they wanted and seemed ultra aloof.
This could all be remedied by their apparent stellar food, but that was such a disappointment. Almost everything was mad salty, especially their fries and catfish. I got the Chicago style tofu sandwich with mashed potatoes. The potatoes were meh. The sandwich was decently tasty and I enjoyed the giardiniera. However, one sad little tofu steak was swallowed by the hefty focaccia. The only positive thing was the black bean tostadas as those were very good. Everything else was barely average.
Really don’t understand why people think the food is so good here.

Absolutely a must-​do for vegans and non-​vegans alike! The food, drinks and Service are spot on. I love all of the «familiar» food that can be made vegan and I nearly broke down when I saw fried pickles. My absolute fav that I haven’t been able to have in 2 years!!!
Out of two — four thumbs up!!!

I’d give Handlebar five stars if it wasn’t for the hair on our server. It was long, untamed, greasy and in his eyes. I worried it’d fall out any moment and into my food or drink. I get it, we’re in Wicker Park, but… a brush will do ya wonders.
OK service (forgot a drink order, got one wrong, barely checked on us — did he know I didn’t like his hair?), great food and good prices. If you’re in the area and want some excellent vegetarian and vegan options (and just good stuff all around), check it out.

No doubt about it — I’ve got a soft spot for vegetarian food. But, the Handlebar will also win over the stomachs of the more carnivorous-​leaning crowds. We brunched on the off-​street, backyard patio on an unseasonably delightful mid-​March Sunday. On the menu for us…
*Chimichanga, more or less a breakfast burrito smothered in creamy queso, chile sauce (low intensity heat levels), pico de gallo, and guac. This beast of a breakfast is highly recommended — but you’ll likely be busting at the seams if you finish single-​handedly in one sitting.
* Roasted Mushroom Omelet (served with a side of breakfast potatoes, don’t think along the lines of greased up hashbrowns) was also really good, but couldn’t quite live up to the sinful deliciousness of the Chimichanga. The mushrooms were sliced thick and had plenty of flavor — clearly not the oft-​used canned variety.
The drawbacks.
*The service was discombobulated, nearly disoriented, when it came to the logistics of turning over tables and seating the constant stream of new customers. However, this did not too drastically impact speed of service or server attitude.
*The punk vibe just does not jive too well with me. It is easy to overlook when dining outside, but you will be subjected to terrible music if you are seated indoors.

I’m typically a meat eater so when I had a friend visiting from out of town and said she wanted to try a vegan/​vegetarian place, I was hesitant but soldiered on and found this place on Unilocal.
I was impressed.
We came on a Saturday night around 8pm and the restaurant was full with a good 30 minute wait before we got seated. The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely of the Wicker Park variety with a little angst and soft lit candlelight.
For food, we ordered the nachos with chorizo seitan, polenta and sweet potato tots, bbq chicken seitan wrap, and blackened catfish with chili and greens. The good held its own and if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought it was normal meat. Actually, I’ve had normal meat that tasted worse than this in restaurants so Handlebar has definitely changed my stance on vegetarian food. All of the food was seasoned and cooked well. The chorizo seitan in the nachos didn’t make me miss ground beef one bit. The chili was so so tasty and the greens were cooked perfectly and seasoned just with garlic and salt. It was simple yet delicious. Obviously we over ordered a bit but I’m glad I tried everything that we did.
I would encourage everyone to come here and try some of their dishes with open minds and you’ll probably come out having more appreciation for vegetarian/​vegan dishes like me!

Looks like vegetarians and vegans can have fun too. Handlebar is not your average brunch spot – even in the early morning people are crowded around the bar drinking. And everyone here is sporting a very impressive beard. Why? I do not know but I thought it added character.
It was a laid back atmosphere and getting a table was pretty easy at 11 on a Saturday. We were placed in the elevated seating area adjacent to the bar and our server immediately took our orders. Our party shared fried pickles and French toast as appetizers. The pickles were addictive and the my friend and I wished that they served them in French fry quantities. Following with French toast was perfect since it wasn’t too sweet and came crispy while topped with fresh berries.
For my main dish I had the vegan style pepita scramble. Damn good. The kale and tofu provided for a hearty dish while the onion petals added a tasty crunch. Also loved that the dish packed some good heat. Only complaint is that the potatoes looked a bit lifeless but that wasn’t a big issue.
Service here is friendly and my friends all enjoyed their dishes. Will hopefully be back!