Richard's Bar

This neighborhood is loaded with yuppie bars of all types. These feature expensive booze, nasty bitter ales, and all variety of foo foo drinks :-( If you’re looking for a beer (and I mean real beer like Pabst or Millers) and a shot hit Richard‘s fire! The atmosphere is here reminds me of the neighborhood bars back in Chicago in the 70s. Friendly staff, talkative chatty patrons, a blaring TV, and yes actual cigarette smoke complete the scene. I don’t really care for smoking but this neighborhood Tavern was a breath of fresh air.

Come here if you like smoking indoors so you can feel like you’re living in 1968 again. Go elsewhere to avoid secondhand smoke for a more “modern” (post-Reagan) fresh air feel. It’s a shame they allow smoking indoors despite various signs to the contrary because this place obviously has a lot of character and history, and would otherwise be a great hang if not for the indoor smoking. At this rate I’ll be surprised if this bar is still here in 5-10 years because now it’s only ever frequented by old men driving in from the suburbs. Now that all the kids are vaping specifically to avoid cigarettes, maybe it’s time for a pivot to Juul…

We were taken to Richards bar when we visited friends in Chicago. At one point the bartender was very busy so she put my wife to work behind the bar. I passed 4 bud bottles to a gentleman in a very expensive suite he passed me a $100 bill and when I went to give him his change which was if I remember about $80 he said it was for me. I told him I didn't work there he just repeated that it was for me. The bartender told me to just take it because if I didn't he would consider it an insult. It really was a strange experience that I wouldn't trade for anything! The bar was cramped but the atmosphere was second to none. If you are looking for a authentic dive bar experience without having to worry about getting onto a bar fight this is the place. Just make sure you respect the regulars and the bartenders.