The SoFo Tap

We went here for a brief drink on a Thursday night after a night of board games. The bar is located in Andersonville, a part of Chicago that has finally arrived, and has a great amount of other bars and restaurants in the area. The ambiance is reasonably laid back, and I was delighted that while the music was a little bit loud, I didn’t have to scream to be heard.
I had a very large cider, which came with a $ 9 price tag. Not bad, not amazing pricing wise, but any bar that has cider on tap gets extra points with me. I love beer, but variety is the spice of life.
The barstaff were extremely pleasant and seemed to be enjoying the customers at the bar, a rare occurrence in many of the bars in Boystown where the staff is inundated with orders and just seems to scowl at anyone who approaches.
Overall, great place to have a quick pint of whatever you choose. I look forward to visiting in warmer weather when the patio is open.

This is a hard review to write because I have such mixed feelings on this place.
Overall it’s a fun neighborhood bar with several fun themes nights — Bear, DILF, Otter etc etc and the crowd is good looking if you like older furry men. The new owners really are trying hard to make it something. The back patio is a very fun place to hangout.
On the other hand I have never seen any attempt at good customer service or relation skills there. There used to be a really rude nasty bartender there (who has now moved away) and I complained to the owners about him but nothing was done.
The service is notoriously slow (just like lots of these reviews state), no one has trained their bartenders how to take multiple orders at one time. You spend a lot of time standing in line. (especially on the patio),
That last straw was really last night. It’s a hot humid night. I was out on the patio. I bought several drinks and over tipped for them. My friends bought a round and shots. I asked for a glass or water and the bartender refused saying he can only sell me a bottle. They really don’t care about their customers.
It’s sad because everything else is really working there. I certainly hope this isn’t the expectations of their servers/​staff at their new cantina down the block.

Visited this establishment some months back to meet up with some gaming friends, and though it seemed odd to me it was close by a cemetery and an auto repair shop, the area and pub is still nice and respectable.
Place is a bit dark, but has plenty of bar stools along the bar and some other chairs and tables, played some music though one can still have a conversation here. Washrooms are towards the back, with a back lounge.
Bartender and staff were attentive and competent — cleaned up the place nicely, and got my pint served well, though I just stayed only for 15 minutes.
Metered parking is fairly available, even by the aforementioned cemetery, though it becomes less available towards Foster Ave, where Hop Leaf is at. The CTA busses for Foster and Clark can be had though the UP-​N Metra and the CTA Brown line Montrose train stations are a bit of a hike.
If I am back in the area, I’ll come back for a pint or two — this is a good place to put in the books!

Jeremy is amazing! He had the best playlist of music I’ve experienced in Chicago to date. I’ve been to this bar many times. He brought a whole new element to my neighborhood bar. Thumbs way up.

Bartender couldn’t bother to smile, ask how I was doing or even check back in with me. Was there early (7ish) on a Wednesday when they were not at all busy.
Tending bar is more than just mixing a drink! Try creating community.

Fabulous little dive bar! With friendly bartenders and polite patrons, it was a very fun visit. Drinks were good, prices were right, and there was popcorn. I’ll be back for sure! Oh, and someone brought this adorable puppy, which made my night complete. (They let him bring his lil doggie into the bar with him!)
I’d say ask before bringing your own dog with you though.

The music is good. The patio is very nice in the summertime and they do put some effort into offering some theme nights which can be a fun change of pace, so i feel bad leaving a 3 star review… but only slightly.
The thing that makes this place drop in points for me is that the beer selection is very lack luster. I don’t need 300 taps and bottles to pick from but I do like a little variety. They have one beer i like on the menu, Daisy Cutter, but I’m not sure they actually stock it as I don’t think i’ve actually been able to get one.
Free popcorn, darts, and patio are my biggest reasons for going.

This is a great neighborhood spot with an extensive beer menu. They have a nice patio that’s great during the summer.

I like the place. the inside is very nice. I typically try a place out on a night when the crowd isn’t as large. Just to get a feel of the place and it’s features.
Sofo has nice lighting for folk like myself who are half blind at night. Bar seating which fills up fast, with some seats on the outside. If you’re tardy for the party you will be in the standing room only section. Hope you wear the good shoes. Over all I think this is a great place and cant wait to try it out on a more busy night. Maybe have a bear sandwich or a D.I.L.F cocktail.

Casual bar. Friendly staff. I thought it was pricey for a «corner bar» but then … I’m cheap LOL. Saturday when the weather is good they have «Doggie Saturday» where you can bring your dog in. I did that once, it turned out to be a good idea! Nice patio area in back for the summer months, too.

Since my last review, Sofo has turned around. Apparently the same people who own Crew in Uptown own Sofo now. The new owners definitely have their pulse on the neighborhood, and have made the place vastly better with weekly events, theme nights, and a much better selection of music. The back patio is wonderful.
The clientele mostly fall into the bear type, although you get a good mix of people regardless of the theme of the night. During off hours, it’s a great neighborhood bar and folks from the neighborhood often stop in with their dogs to get a beer and talk with friends and neighbors. Later at night, there’s much more of crowd.

I went to this bar on a Friday night around 10:30. It is def a gay bear bar. More beards in that place than I have ever seen haha. Bartenders are great and make great drinks. MUCH more reasonably priced than going to say Mini Bar or what not. I drank SoCo and coke all night and they were only $ 6. P. S. They were in pint glasses not those short ones! The music was great at first but got very odd later in the evening. That would really be my only complaint. No cover and also has a beer garden area. Plenty of street parking nearby. Would def return

Nice neighborhood bar, with a sweet patio area. Came here on a Saturday night and was pretty busy. This place is definitely for the bear/​hairy/​older crowd and the men who love them.

Great place, love the «back porch». The scene is laid back and comfortable. I’m from a small town and enjoyed this place immensely; much better area and bar than Boys Town.

I have lived in the neighborhood for over 10 years and when SoFo came along, it wasn’t Earth shattering, but it was a nice, casual bar with good service. I have been a frequenter there for a while, however, since it has become the Sofo Tap (apparently changed owners) the last few times I found the service rude and very slow. Most recently my friend and I walked in on a Saturday night around 9pm; the bar was sparse with customers. There were three people behind the bar. We were never greeted and stood at the service part of the bar for ten minutes. Finally, after not even being recognized that we were there, I convinced my friend we should leave. Only a small group in the corner was being served and they apparently knew the bartenders well.
A gentleman next to us at the bar, with a disconcerting expression, said he had been standing there longer and nobody ever even acknowledged him.
I won’t be back, I don’t think my friend will be either.

The place attracts a nice looking crowd for special events, but the service has been lacking. The last time I was there, my friend and I stood at a station with cash in hand as the bartenders ignored us and actually waved people around us to serve them first. After 15 – 20 minutes of suppressing my reflexive eye roll to the point of inducing a migraine, we were grudgingly acknowledged and served before quickly scampering away with our beers as not to annoy them any more than we already had. If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn we were in a episode of Seinfeld.
I’d give this place one star, but the crowd and the space are pretty nice if you don’t plan on ordering a drink or interacting with the staff in any other way while you’re there.

After spending 15yrs in San Francisco, it’s no surprise I judge all things (gay) by CA standards. And Sofo Tap, you could hold your own in the Castro. If any of you go to the Castro, go to the Pilsner (or The Pils, as the locals call it) and you will find a very comparable bar/​vibe.
I love me some friendly gay boys and the bartenders were the most helpful in helping me navigate Andersonville on my maiden voyage. Thank you boys! Sofo is wonderfully divey and if I lived in the hood I would be a frequent consumer. The bar is dog friendly and just plain friendly. I felt very comfortable kicking back at the bar and enjoying my beer. There is an awesome little nicely lit back patio that I can’t wait to go back to enjoy in the warmer months!
Sofo I like you and would like to go steady. Circle yes or no.

Cool place. Mixed crowd, not too cramped, outdoor patio, friendly bartenders.

Yuck. WTF happened to SoFo? I know it was sold and all but, man, it’s a completely different bar.
What I loved most about SoFo was that it was like a typical neighborhood/​sports bar. But now it’s got some crappy theme every night. Also, when did it become a bear bar? I walked in on a Thursday at like 8pm and the bartenders were walking around shirtless, their bulging bellies and man-​sweaters on display for all to «enjoy».
Lastly, and the main reason I’m downgrading my original review, we were asked to close our tab because the bartender was going off duty. While we’ve never been asked that before, we obliged. We were rewarded with a triple charge! It eventually remedied itself… but not for *6 days*. If we were some brokies (which thank goodness we’re not), having $ 72 tied up for 6 days in mistakes made by a bartender (who shouldn’t have asked us to close and reopen our tab in the first place) could have been bad news. As it was, it was annoying to have to follow up on and frankly, I’m over SoFo if this is what the new owners are bringing to the table.
Oh, but they have a popcorn machine. Yay.

Any place that is DOG FRIENDLY gets many stars in my book.
Went here last Saturday with a few of the usual suspects and some new suspects, and really liked it. John B., had an accurate description — it’s a casual corner bar that just happens to cater to a mostly gay clientele — and, of course, the straight women who love them. Friendly, cute bartenders. Anyone would enjoy coming here. Very welcoming.
And, in fact, completing the SoFo experience. .. the aforementioned, the Good Fairy of Unilocal,John B., showed up randomly to hang out with all of us! Mon dieu, now my night was complete!
Even the crowd itself was friendly and polite, but hey. .. this is why we love Andersonville. Live and let live, darlings, live and let live!