John's Garage Sports Bar

I was in the area and needed a quick pick me up. Stopped here and had a great experience and sampled some excellent apps. The service was great and the whole vibe of this place is relaxing and chill. I sampled the sliders and Buffalo wings. The presentation of the sliders is quite unique and eye catching but the taste lives up to it. Super juicy and seasoned well. The Buffalo wings stand out as they came out with perfectly crispy skin which is I rarely get with other wings. The sauce isn't just a mild buttery typical Buffalo sauce; it definitely has a solid spicy flavor. I will be back for more wings and to try more.

My quest for the perfect Cobb salad brought me to John's Garage. Their take was outstanding. Everything was fresh with crispy romaine and bacon, and dressing already mixed in at the right amount. Not too heavy or lacking either. 10 bites in and there was still plenty of juicy chicken, bacon pieces, corn and tomatoes with every bite. Had a cup of chili first which was also delicious.

Came here for some drinks and wound up with nachos as well. It was beautiful weather and the street is closed off for outdoor seating, making plenty of room for people to sit outside. Our waiter was great and checked on us every so often to see if we needed anything. The nachos were good, but not the best. I would go back and try other food on the menu.

We were on our way to a different establishment when I looked at Johns Garage after finding parking by it and had a flashback. I remembered all the delicious photos I seen from reviews I read on Yelp. It was tonight that I discovered the true meaning of having Yelp by your side. We were impressed, me and my food critic date. She agreed, we loved the egg lemon soup as our starter/appetizer. We also were very impressed with the quality of the sweet potato fries, it's so easy to mess that up when it comes to preparing it. Not at this restaurant. The food tasted like nothing I have ever smelled or tasted before. Very good, excellent, standing ovation to the team at Johns Garage. They sold us on the bottle of wine just by the good aura we stumbled upon when we entered the building. Seriously can't wait to come back here again and again and create the best memories with my lovely friends, family and loved ones. Thank you for having us Johns Garage team, thank you to the bartender for being so laidback and welcoming. Thank you to all that work hard to make a difference in dining out and local hospitality industry. A place like this is worth raving about, I'm going to put my phone back down again now and enjoy the wine with my lovely food critic companion. Lysette was our server and we strongly recommend her.

We marvel at restaurateurs who think up creative ways to survive the pandemic. Previously a pub with a (ho-hum) Irish theme, it recently morphed into an American sports bar named John's Garage ("John's Garage" was also the name of a popular restaurant in Woodfield Mall that closed in 2005). Pizza, which seems to have become everyone's favorite pandemic comfort food, is featured on the expanded menu. There is attractive outdoor seating with propane patio heaters. The pub-turned-sports bar continues to offer an extensive bar menu with daily specials. My Missus ordered the $6 Bloody Mary Special (offered Saturdays). This was served in a pint glass and she savored every last drop. Joining her in the vampire realm, I indulged in a 16 oz. can of "Blood of the Unicorn" (Pipeworks Brewing), a hoppy red ale. We both ordered buttermilk fried chicken plus starter salads for $3 more. The green salads came with very good house-made dressings (go easy on the tart balsamic vinaigrette). The 4-piece chicken entrée was broasted, its moist meat cloaked in a crackly, greaseless crust. It's served with mashed potatoes & gravy, but I substituted grilled veggies. My Missus' mashed arrived cold and the kitchen had to whip up a fresh batch, which didn't arrive until she was nearly finished with her meal. Our server was delightful but the the runner who brought our food didn't follow through on requests for condiments. The outdoor ambience is another reason to dine here. Amid the string lights, torch lights, and the sound of live music drifting from across the street, it feels like a vacation place.