Merkle’s

Stopped in here today before a day game at Wrigley because I looked online at BeerMenus and saw they had some unique beers on draft. Unfortunately they were out of a lot of those beers. They did have a couple of decent craft beers so we were OK. For a game day it wasn’t super packed, which was nice. They had some kind of buffet in covered chafing dishes upfront that I didn’t see anyone going near. Most of the people were happily drinking domestic cans of beer that cost $ 5 each. It didn’t seem like a well managed bar, it was grungy inside, pretty typical dive Wrigley bar, a few TVs weren’t working, but those $ 5 cans of cheap beer were selling like hot cakes!
By the way, 12 hours later I checked BeerMenus online and they still hadn’t updated the beer list with the beers that they don’t have.
If you are looking for a dive bar close to Wrigley, check this place out. It’s an Iowa bar, if that’s your thing. The staff was helpful enough and the bathrooms were ok.

I’ve been to bigger dumps before but I can’t remember when so if you like chicks, good food, and Guinness this is not your place! Wings were average and it’s all dudes however our waitress Madeline was attractive and so she gets the only star.

Great place to watch the Xavier game!
Free skyline chili ??? Count me in.
Their menu has changed in the last year and is not AS good as it has been.
Still decent bar food.

Great fries! Dropping a star because they trashed their 25cent wing night and greatly slashed down the beer list

Food good, service very good even though busy. Anne was our waitress, worked hard, fixed a kitchen mistake promptly and apologetically. We’ll be back.

I’ve only been here once, so maybe this review is unfair, but I wasn’t impressed. My boyfriend had a friend coming to town, and we thought it would be fun to get the night started with some trivia before going out on a Friday night. We looked up what bars had trivia on Fridays, and there was only one — Merkle’s. We were stoked because I live in Wrigleyville, and this bar was only about a block and a half from my house. Also, the website listed an all you can drink special for $ 15 as well as a sweet deal on wings. It couldn’t have been more perfect if we planned it!
Why the negative review then? Well, we show up and ask the bouncer when trivia starts. He says it’s been cancelled. Disappointing, but what can you do? We decided to stay anyway. There was a band, and the guys were hungry, so why not? Our waitress comes by and while screaming over the super loud music we ask «What specials do you have tonight?». She says, a little rudely I might add, «None». No explanation, or elaboration or anything. Here is the thing, I’m not super high maintenance or nit-​picky when it comes to bars (especially not Wrigley bars) but if you say you are going to have something — be it an event, a special, or whatever, is it really so hard to just to have it?
My boyfriend ordered the tacos, they were all right. His friend ordered a grilled cheese and fries, which he says were pretty spectacular. The fries and the band (which was loud, but played good songs) are why they get two stars. However, we left feeling disappointed and frankly a little cheated.
I’m not saying I’ll never go back, or that this is the worst bar around, I’m just saying it wasn’t a good experience and when there are thousands of other bars to pick from, ones that actually deliver on what they promise, Merkle’s will never be the top of my list.

Generic Wrigleville bar. Cheap beer, loud music and typical bar food. Nothing memorable — more of a place you stumble upon if you’re coming or going to a Cubs game.

The least offensive bar in Wrigleyville. We went on a Wednesday for the rock ‘n roll Bingo, which was pretty fun. You get a Bingo card with a bunch of songs on it, and when they play one (assuming you can recognize it, as they don’t tell you the song title), then you cross it off until someone gets Bingo. Although I wouldn’t plan my week around this event, it’s something different to do on a Wednesday. The bartenders were knowledgeable about the beer (good-​not-​great selection), and much friendlier and more patient than the typical Wrigleyville bartenders. I liked them a lot.
I got the «award-​winning» wings because I live for wings. They were very good, but nothing extraordinary. The beers ran about $ 5-​$ 7 per pint. All in all, this place is the fastest runner in the one-​legged race that is the Wrigleyville bar scene.
Also, they do not appear to have air conditioning. It was 90 degrees outside… and 90 degrees inside. We were baking. The ceiling fans do nothing. Nothing, I tell you.

All local beer on tap! Excellent staff in a great location with good simple food. Get the El Pastor… This is not a typical Wrigleyville bar… This is a neighborhood joint mashed between douche bag haven bars. This is the place to hangout before a Cubs game, enjoy local beer and eat.

This was the first wrigley bar I have ever been to and love it. It’s narrow but cozy. We would always come on a Friday night because they have $ 15 all you can drink wells and beers wristbands that also include free food (usually pizza and wings). The deal last as long as their trivia does and it’s a lot of fun! We usually try to get a group of 6. Of course, there’s always a bunch of people cheating but one one really takes the trivia too seriously so it’s a good time. I really suggest this place as a bar to start out at.

Just went here after Cubs game. Met a group of friends and they have a good beer selection.

Drifted away near Wrigley and honestly, accidentally walked into this place but glad we did.
We were there on dollar taco night and even though small, they were mighty. SO tasty! Not only was the food great but the service was even better. The beer range was solid too. A few cleaning issues for my taste, but overall it was a great stumble.

Merkle’s is my kind of bar! GO HAWKEYES! It is a great atmosphere for Iowa games and gets packed with alumni. Even on days when Iowa does not have a game, I always enjoy Merkle’s. The staff is friendly and the food is pretty good. The wings are a favorite of many of my friends. I have enjoyed many Iowa games here as well as Blackhawks games. When we won the cup — I was in Merkle’s as Wrigleyville went crazy. Great memories — great bar.

This is the only place in Wrigley I will ever step foot into because of their beer selection and the tall blonde bartender named Anastasia. She’s so cute!

Went there for an Iowa Basketball game. Every single person that came into the bar was an Iowa fan so it was a great atmosphere. They’ve embraced the Iowa crowd and it is a wonderful place to watch a game for any Hawkeye. The beer was great, service was great, and the food was good, as well.
I really enjoyed the wings and the mac and cheese bites.

Merkles!!! It’s the start of the Bears season and I thought I was going to my favorite bar that has Bears brunch. Nope. I am so disappointed. I had to go to Dueces. I hate Dueces! But it doesn’t suck as much as Merkles without Bears brunch.

The type of place I would take a date I didn’t want to take on another date. The food is greasy and hit or miss. They like to talk about their wings «best in show bla bla» …sort of like giving yourself a nickname nobody else in the world calls you by. The drinks come often and cheap. Most importantly as far as the date goes it’s loud and full of the same guy that walked out of the Wrigleyville clone factory – model cargo shorts and sandals. Yet I’ve been here…

I loved this bar so much, until last night.
I tried to go to Merkle’s with a group of 15 last night and one of our friends was turned away because he was wearing «gym shoes” — black basketball shoes with black jeans, a nice shirt and a vest. The door man then preceded to let a group of 3 guys in wearing the same style of shoes. When I protested this, I was told to «get the fuck out of the doorway».
I typically really enjoy this bar and chatting with Russ. My friends Megan and Christie and I have watched many hockey games here. However, I don’t know if I can handle coming back to a bar that clearly has some type of racist agenda. The three guys that were turned away were black, the group that was let in was white.
Really disappointing to see this bar perpetuating the negative things mentioned in your Unilocal Reviews. We went across the street to Red Ivy and the Deuces and had no problem getting in.
Just thought I’d let you know in case you didn’t already that your dress code policy is randomly enforced, and it seemed racist to me.

What was a five star… Favorite bar in Wrigley is 1 star after some insane treatment yesterday. After the Cubs game, being a hawkeye, this is where I take visitors. Lower chad factor than most Wrigley bars; reasonable drink prices; and usually a good guy playing music. That coupled with the 50+ Iowa games I have watched here makes it my go to. Never again. I am 31, I was with my cousin 25 and her boyfriend 26 from
Ireland We get to the door they hand their passports to the door guy who says. And I quote… We don’t let people from Ireland in. I thought he was kidding. Is that even legal?!? Needless to say not a place for foreign visitors– was a completely embarrassing experience and I will never set foot in Merkles. Jack & Gingers /​Four Shadows for all Iowa games.

I’ve only ever been here on a Friday night, so I can’t comment on how gross this place is on Cubs home game days or during weekend late-​nights with the gross bro crowd.
Friday night at Merkle’s is trivia night! From 6 – 9 p.m., the bar offers a wristband special: $ 15 for domestic draft beers and wings or $ 25 for better beers, well drinks and wings. This is a great special to have on trivia night because I can definitely drink $ 15 worth of light beer and have a few wings, which makes that entire bracelet worth it.
Trivia gets pretty busy, so arrive by 630 to grab a table for trivia at 7. Parking outside sucks and its terrible, so don’t even plan on that as an option. Take a bus, train or cab. The bar seems to empty out around 10 since trivia is over, but I’m not sure what happens later in the evening. Come for trivia — it’s worth it.