Jaks Tap
Categories: Bars, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near West Side901 W Jackson Blvd
(between Peoria St & Sangamon St)
Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 666-1700
- Nearest Transit:
UIC-Halsted (Blue)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
42 reviews
Neighborhood: Near North Side
"Tuesday afternoon, 7pm: only two other patrons were at the bar. That weird sadistic show "WIPE OUT" was playing on television. The…" read more »
45 Reviews for Jaks Tap
You can find me at Jak's Tap for their beer selection [though lately they seem to be having an issue with inventory, anybody else notice!?] and their totally addictive chicken wings. I love the wings at Jak's. There is crack in the sauce, I'm convinced. I could live on the sauce alone. So good, and the wings are nice and big. Nothing like an afternoon of football with a pitcher [or two ... or ten] and Jak's wings!
A great little relatively unknown place in the West Loop. As a UIC student, I am a HUGE fan because it's close to school and it provides a good alternative to the KFC and Wendy's that is served in the UIC student unions. It also has beer, which is a definite plus.
For such a small little place, the beer selection is phenomenal! They have 40 on tap at all times and a huge bottled selection. Prices are fairly normal ($5-$6 for a pint of 'specialty' beer) and the bartenders are knowledgeable about the choices so they can better help you select something that you'd enjoy. Remember - always ask for a sample! They'll let you try anything you want.
Food is a bit pricey, but everything I've ever had has been good. The menu is pretty standard bar fare with a few extras (most Sports Bar type institutions don't have vegetarian options or a hummus plate). Their salads are good as are the entree selections (sandwiches, burgers, etc) and they also have plain old chips and salsa if you don't want something fancy (it's not on the menu but you can ask for it!).
Atmosphere is typical for a sports bar - lots of big screen TVs always showing a game, booths/tables, full bar with seating (both stools at the bar and tables behind it). Nothing out of the ordinary or extraordinary. Still a nice place to have lunch or dinner with friends.
Rather generic for me: a bar, food, pool tables, beer, burgers, lots of loud college students (apparently the bar of choice for UIC humanities)....location is good, the hosted party I went to there rather chaotic. Decent for a night out in the area.
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Meh.
I went there for lunch the other day. For being called Jaks TAP the server rattled off a big list of beers that they were OUT of. (Including the only hard cider choices-my fav). I settled for a 312. I ordered a burger. It was good, but the patties were obviously pre-formed (frozen?) and thin so even though they ask you how you want it cooked it's pretty much medium well no matter what. I opted for the jalapeno mac instead of fries and it was ok but nothing special.
$9+ for mediocre burgers....I doubt I'll be back to eat, but for an after work drink maybe.
I've worked about 2 blocks away from Jaks for a little over 10 years and I've been a more than loyal customer. Jaks is our office's "go to" spot, the sit down place for lunch that's better than Subway but not as fancy as Greektown. We have our holiday party there every year. Jaks is also our after-work-have-a beer spot, because there are limited options in the area.
Anyway, went there for lunch today. They completely rearranged their menu. Noticeably absent was the famous Jaks' Gumbo (with corn muffin) the ensemble upon which I have sustained myself through countless lunches and even after work snacks over the past few years.
I am sad. Can I say "WTF?" in a Yelp review? Well, "WTF?" Jaks! I just don't get it. A sign of the declining economy? A sign of the coming Apocalypse? I don't know, and don't really care--I just want my gumbo back!
PS--UIC people or other folks working in the area who wanna bring back the gumbo--send me a PM. It's on.
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Any bar that serves Delerium Tremens on tap is a friend of mine.
Jak's also serves Allagash White, a traditional Belgian wheat brewed in Portland, Maine. This makes Jak's Tap a dear friend.
Came through with a group of 7 for their twice annual beer tasting, Humulus Lupulus (no, nothing to do with hummus). Before the tasting, we grabbed a few pints and a couple of appetizers. Nice mix of young professionals and urban West Loop dwellers. Service was good considering the dense crowd, however, our server inadvertently left off a few beers and tracked us down an hour later (in the tasting room) to pay the deficit. He forgot, and we honestly overlooked the fact that our tab should have been about $20 higher. Slightly annoying.
Scene 2: Tasting room. Quite the assortment of seasonal and craft brews. Probably at least 20! Generous samples + complimentary pizza buffet to the tune of $15. What's not to love? I'll definitely return for the next Humulus Lupulus... and anytime I crave a delicious craft beer.
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I love Jak's! We order it for lunch quite a bit because they offer such a variety of food that almost everyone can find something - we've got several people who are primarily vegetarian. They are always friendly when taking the order and while delivery can be a little slow, they've never once screwed up an order.
I love their Mama Nature and their fish and chips. I also love the fact that I can get a fruit cup rather than fries (I'm not a big fry fan) and its actually fresh fruit.
I've never actually dined in so I have no clue about the atmosphere. However, being in the West Loop area we don't have a huge selection of places for lunch. And when we're ordering for the entire office its nice to have a place that offers so much variety.
I love Jak's. I work nearby and my coworkers and I eat at Jak's at least once a week (sometimes more). They've got Sprecher's root beer, which is great, and a really good menu variety. Of course, I almost always get the exact same thing every time I go (the chicken strip appetizer, or the fried chicken), but my coworkers like the variety.
They have a healthy number of televisions. Pretty much anywhere you sit will have an easy to see television (which is great when there are early start Cubs games), but there aren't so many that you feel like they are taking over your brain.
The real things to talk about with Jak's is their milkshake. It might be the best chocolate milkshake in the city. Nice and thin, so it doesn't take me an hour and a half to get it through my straw. It is almost like thick chocolate milk with ice cream mixed in.
Great pizza here. Wide and varied selection of beers on tap. Friendly staff!
I love Jak's and have for years.
I have to admit that i'm not crazy about the menu changes they've done in the past 2 years or so, and the tiny small plates are a little strange, but the food is still always great!!!
I LOVE the huge, yummy salads and they always have pleasant severs and waitstaff.
Try anything on the menu and you won't be dissappointed...there's something for everyone at Jaks.
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I eat here about once a month because I work in the same building. So when it's raining or snowing, I opt to throw down $13 for the Mama Nature (portabella sandwich), which I get with pita chips and hummus, and then a side of guacamole. I had the cajun veggie burger and that was pretty good too.
One thing I don't like is that they charge your card for the amount plus 20%, and yes, if you tipped, they add 20% on top of that too. I called about it and they explained that that's to keep your account from overdrawing (huh?), and that the charges will fall away once the sales slip or whatever gets sent in. I've only eaten here for lunch, but if you ran up a $100+ bar tab, and then add 20% tip, plus their special 20%, well then that can be scary to see on your bank activity.
Food's good, service is good, and they have great beers on tap. They handle large crowds well. It's a place where I spent many late nights while in college, but I still enjoy going back.
My favorite place for burgers in the west Loop. I work in the Loop. This is a great place to meet friends.
Even coming at noon we have always been seated immediately. All the burgers are fantastic. The service is really good, too.
Loopers you must try this place at least once.
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I was very disappointed in my Jak's Tap experience tonight. It's been a while since I was last in Jak's Tap, so I was extremely disappointed to see that they no longer have the daily specials.
I ordered a burger, medium, with fries. When the burger arrived, it was well-done and the fries were stale. To top it off, a server (not OUR server) delivered our food and then we didn't see the server again until we were finished with our meal. Thankfully there was a busser in charge of refilling water, so I didn't run out, but if I'd ordered soda, I would have been upset to not be offered any refills.
Tonight was a total disappointment because I've had much better experiences at Jak's Tap in the past. But, based on tonight, I don't know that I'll be going back anytime soon.
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I always thought this bar was a really fun place. It is by the university but not crawling with bonehead students like Hawkeye's. The food here is fantastic but is surpassed by the amazing beer list. There are always 40 beers on tap including Chicago favorites (like Goose Island), classic domestics, as well as some more exotic choices. I have really explored my beer taste buds at this place. I hope to be back soon!!
Jaks Tap has GREAT service! I went in without reserving a table on a busy night. At first they said they could not do a table for 8 since I did not have reservations but low and behold, they moved a few people and found a table for all of us. 5Miller Lites in a bucket for $15 is not bad at all and were nicely frosted. The Chicken Wings were delicious!!! The cheese on the nachos were ok but not the greatest. They have 40 beers on tap. The waitress was really nice and deserved the nice tip we gave her.
Definitely a great place to visit with friends to socialize and talk.
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Been here twice now and occasionally order pick up. Not a bad place, but they never seem "packed". Great beer selection, tried the Goose Island Christmas today and was very pleased with my selection. The nachos are awesome, especially with chicken. Had the 1/2 sandwich (Jacko) and soup combo. I choose the chili and it wasn't bad, but just lacked a little something, maybe it was too soupy? My companion had the fish and chips and was rather happy with them...Super great staff, very friendly and accommodating. Just can't understand why this place is never jumping, it is great especially their pizza!
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Jaks Tap:
I love the fact that they have tons of brews on draft. There are around 25 local beers & 15 or so imports, which is kinda unexpected for such an unpretentious bar. Anyway, watch out for the Young's Double Chocolate & the O'Hara's Celtic Stout, it's good stuff.
As far as the food is concerned, Jak's has a pretty varied menu (burgers, salads, pizza, sandwiches). I had the cajun veggie burger last time I was there, but it was only so-so. However, the fries & onion rings were good, so it's not like I starved to death...
Also, the atmosphere is casual & not at all stuffy. The service is good, too. And the crowd - well it's not exactly the kind of bar that people come to "to be seen," which makes it all the more comfy for me.
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PROS: I really appreciated the expansive and not overly expensive list of beers on tap - a pitcher of Anchor Steam was only $19 and arrived cold, fast. I also enjoyed the slightly pricey but delicious appetizers - our "hot house" chicken wings and beer-battered onion rings were outta-sight. Ambiance is friendly, cozy and unpretentious, and service is fast and cheerful. And whoa, one can still smoke at the bar!
CONS: The kitchen closes at 11. Typical, but to heck with that. We stayed until closing at 2 and would have spent much more on food if the kitchen were open. Maybe hire an insomniac chef for late nights? As I say, food's a bit steep but well worth it.
JUKEBOX: Yes. Didn't notice price, but it sounded like one of those wall-mounted super-search things, so it might be 3/$1.
OVERALL: Good fun in UIC-land.
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This is a tavern & restaurant affiliated with the Village Tap in Roscoe Village [3400 N. & 2200 W.]. It was one of Chicago's first multi-tap taverns. In a prior life, it was the home of Chicago's *third* modern-era brewpub, the Tap & Growler.
It is in a very intriguing neighborhood in central Chicago (neither in the loop, nor downtown). It wraps in nicely with your transit options. The #8 Halsted quits running at 1:15 am northbound. The #60 Blue Island - 26th bus will take you back to the west and south (even into Cicero) all night long; but you're only two blocks north of the Blue Line "L" "UIC - Halsted" station [Peoria entrance | exit] which runs all the time (unless the CTA is doing track maintenance).
The beers on tap here are very good. I became very familiar with them during the two seasons when the tavern was where indoor soccer post-game parties were held. There are some macros, and some clunks, on offer here, but for me, the snag was that, probably due to the cost of the location, the beers bore higher-than-average prices. A lot of the beers are $5.50 | pint. There's a one-page sheet which shows you the beers on draft [The styles are dutifully listed; except for Stella Artois, which was described as a "Belgian Beer".], and the prices for each. Summit and Point are usually the low-priced draft beers.
Jak's Tap has a preferred customer program for which you can sign up to receive a monthly coupon offering savings on a food item [usually, buy one entree, get one equally-priced entree free]. A recent coupon promoted its renovated hamburger menu. It also presents "Humulus Lupulus", a twice-annual beer tasting event early in the evening on a Thursday; and a one-night-per-month beer special in which you buy the beer and get to keep the brewery's glass. I thought the food here was average, and the restaurant management may have felt similarly when it decided upon this recent menu enhancement.
It has installed lots of new plasma and flat-screen television sets, and signed up for a lot of sports programming packages. I also alert you to the free advertisement postcards in the rack near the front revolving door.
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Jak's Tap has fed me, quenched my thirst and given me sturdy stools to sit on while I watch my main sporting events & socialize. They have about 30 beers on draft to appease everyone's palate. I can't speak for the entire menu but I highly recommend the 'Jimmy the Greek' pizza w/extra garlic. It's unforgettable!
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While I've never dined here in person, the delivery guy sure knows me well. I feel that the prices are a little steep, but the quality and quantity of food you recieve are amazing. Delivery is usually in about 40 minutes, and the driver that comes over all the time is really sweet. Well, he's a guy, so I guess he'd have to be "tough?" I don't know. He's nice, and super friendly. I'm a huge fan of the mini-cheese burgers (be sure to have a friend to share with, or be cursed with left overs!) and any of their salads. They're huge!
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Sometimes I'm in desperate need of a beer after a long day of classes or work - and Jaks Tap fits the bill. It serves as the local watering hole for many of the students in my program - on most nights you can find a group of students gathered around a long table or crammed into one of their booths.
We come because it's close and it serves a wide variety of beers. There's not much in terms of specials, so be prepared to drop $5 or more on a pint. But, sometimes I want something that doesn't end in "lite", so it's worth a little extra.
The food is average, and I'm basing this on more than a fair share of visits. I've found things to be exceptionally greasy and, at times, very heavy. So, don't go looking for a light meal.
The service is always great, though. The wait staff is friendly and on point without being in your business.
If you're in the Greektown and looking for a place to grab a beer and a burger, Jaks Tap is probably your best bet.
Jak's has become a little tradition among us education students at UIC after our weekly night class. And I'd give it a very solid 3 stars, with the occasional hint of 3.5-4...
For being what it is, essentially a sports bar in the West Loop, it's not too bad. No real specials to speak of, but a wide selection of draft beers in the $5-6/pint range. The "cheap option" is a bottle of Point for $2.75; it used to be, according to the menu, PBR for $2.50. The menu does suggest beer parings, which is cool, and the waitresses will offer their opinions if you ask. Occasionally, though, it might be a little difficult to flag one down, but overall they're there when you need the... and pleasant to boot.
TVs are all over, playing whatever sport is in season, but they're not loud or terribly distracting if you're trying to have a conversation with your table. It is still smoking over by the bar area, but it's not too bad over in the dining room. I leave smelling like pub food with a tinge of smoke rather than reeking of smoke. So I guess I'll count that as a plus.
Food has been decent. Nothing stellar, and a bit on the pricey side. But large portions make sharing easy.
If I wasn't in this neighborhood, I'm sure I could find better food with ample beer selections at lower prices... but it's here, and it does its job well.
Jak's Tap is one of my regular delivery places since moving to the West side of the Loop. It's decent bar food that arrives fast and hot. Their burgers are good, but the buns are too huge even for the burgers. The salads are average. It's bar food, just not the greatest that I've had.
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Since I invaded Greektown during office hours (here it seems appropriate to genuflect to Metra for getting me to Greektown in under an hour - Metra, you're badass!) I've had lunch here a couple times. The servers are quick and efficient and the food is pretty good. The sandwiches and salads are simple and good.
It looks like a good place to have an unpretentious drinking experience after work. I might just do that.
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Not a dud, but not a wow either.
With 40 draft beers, I felt a littl like a kid in the candy store at first. The bartenders were very responsive--I never had to wait more than 30 secs to get their attention (we were sitting in the bar area and did not have a server).
The food wasn't priced outrageously but wasn't budget-friendly either--my *mediocre* quesadillas were $12 ($8 + $4 for steak). Burgers start around $8. There were a lot of extra charge items (steak, chicken, tuna salad, etc.) that could really drive up the cost of a salad.
The jukebox was one of those newfangled computerized versions and didn't play my songs in order--I'll take the jukebox that flips through actual album covers over that anyday.
The one thing I truly appreciated--the very clean bathroom with classic original tile and pictures of its former life as a hair salon--at least, I think that's what they were about. I wasn't there to spend time in the bathroom.
At the end of the day, this seems a decent neighborhood spot but no better or worse than the average/generic CHicago bar.
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Been going here for years! I love the atmosphere and the WINGS w/ the Jak's Hot House sauce! I also love the burgers and their HUGE quesadillas. I had a few roommates from college that worked at Jak's and they said the owner was extremely clean, which is a pre-requisite for me.
A little disappointed after they changed the fries a few times, and had some consultants come in and tell them to discontinue the daily specials; however, I wrote the manager an email detailing my disdain and he replied very professionally and urged my continued patronage.
I will always come to Jak's Tap and continue to bring my friends and family to this establishment.
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We're lucky in Chicago - we have lots of great bars with good bar food - and Jak's is one of them.
I went there specifically to try the Chicken Wings.
Good? Yes.
Great? No.
Best in the city? Please!
There oughta be a law:
If you have chicken wings on your menu, and you list them as 'hot,' two things should be required:
1) they be hot, and
2) they be a traditional hot sauce base (like Frank's Hot Sauce, for example).
The hot wings at Jak's are something like the jerk flavored wings at BW3 - cool taste, but not hot. Flavorful, but not hot. Good eats, but not hot. Big, juicy, and plump - but again, not hot.
Anyway - that's my take on Jak's chicken wings. I didn't try the barbeque wings, because that's not my thing.
Service was good on a beautiful, lazy Saturday afternoon. Nice vibe - I bet this place really gets popping at evening time...
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This is a standard bar and grill establishment in the West Loop. It gets points because:
(1) It's just about the only bar in the immediate area
-and-
(2) It's right down the street from my academic department
They have a nice drink selection, but it's slightly on the pricey side. The fare is your burgers-and-pizza type stuff, nothing special, although I did enjoy a burger here once. Solid, but a little expensive for a place of its kind.
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An average bar & grill with above-average eats. Lunch specials are an excellent bargain. Try the country fried chicken on Thursdays. Private rooms are perfect for larger gatherings.
Service can be iffy, but it's a reliable place for a satisfying lunch or a pleasant after-work cocktail with colleagues.
As my friend Doug said as we sat down "they are always out of the first beer I order" While they were not out of that beer, they were out of many....First, the beefs:
1. The fish and chips I had would make a brit sputter with rage. While there were five pieces of fish, rather than the standard three, the fish was dry and crusty. Even dousing the stuff with malt vinegar didnt help.
2. All the TV's were tuned to the "NFL channel" in the middle of July, when there was a Cubs and Sox game on that night
3. Pints of beer were $5.50
The good:
1. Great service. We were a rowdy party of transit geeks, and we never had to wait too long for a beer
2. The entry way was a beautiful. Looked like it was ripped (probably was) from an old diner
3. Nice interior space with lots of natural light
4. Great selection of beer (including some obscurities hard to find in Chicago) on tap
In sum: Would go here again if stuck in the far West Loop instead of the awful sporto Union Park bar. But don't get the food.
Above average bar-food (including barbecue items that appear to have been put together by someone who gives a darn about the art form, praise be -- there's a difference between grilling and barbecuing, people), with occasional nods in the direction of adventurousness. TVs tuned to The Game, whatever that may be at the time. A very nice beer selection on tap -- 40 beers including some semi-obscure favorites. Nothing really remarkable about this place, but there's nothing not to like, either.
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I came here for lunch a few times and the food and drinks are reasonably priced. There's a good selection of beer to choose from, and the mini burgers are huge for being called "mini." Our server hooked us up with some shots so extra points there.
I tried this place for the first time tonight. We got someone else's pizza, which when you order delivery is a real drag. They sent us a fresh and correct pizza, plus they gave me back my money (I didn't ask for my $ back). Gotta give Jak's credit, they sure try.
The bummer: I didn't like the pizza. But I will try something different next time.
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Went here to grab a burger and beer last night as I was in the neighborhood and didn't want Greek food.
Jak's Tap is your corner neighborhood bar complete with the requisite sports games on every TV and a list of beers that rivals most brew houses. There must have been 40 different beers on the clipboard list that was given to us and that are listed in chalk above the bar. Thank heaven for my knowledgeable dinner companion as he was quickly able to sort out something that I would actually like!
We sat in the bar area which may have been our problem with service as the bartender seemed to be responsible for taking care of our table but she did it from behind the bar.
After shouting out our beer order to her, she put them on the bar for us to pick up. We then had to go to the bar to place our food order. Someone did actually bring the food to the table, although at one point I was wondering if I was going to have to pick that up in the kitchen as well! Yelled out an additional beer order and again went and got them. And to end our visit- yeah, you guessed it- we even had to go to the bar to pay . . . . very strange as the place was not that busy.
Next time I go- think I'll sit in the non bar area and see what happens!
Food was good (although how bad can a Reuben and a burger get?) the fries were hot, the beer was cold and the company that I was with was excellent which always makes for a better review.
Probably would have given it 4 stars if only I hadn't had to be my own server for the night!
We stopped by Jak's on a Saturday, early evening, to grab a bite to eat before an appointment in the west loop. The service was very friendly, though we did have to walk up to the bartender to place our food order (I think we ended up sitting outside of the waitress' domain). The food was really good - and amazing for bar food. I had the hummus and pita plate (the small was plenty - I can't imagine how big the large is!), and I have never had hummus that was so tasty. Delicious! My fiance had the fish and chips on his friend's recommendation, and it was fantastic. We were able to snag a great parking spot in front of the restaurant too, since street parking seems to be relatively easy to find in that area of town, still.
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Seriously, foodwise...I go there for the hot house wings. That's it, 5 stars on the wings as far as I'm concerned! Their other food...ehhhh... it is what it is. But there is something strangely fascinating and fabulous about those wings, I just love 'em. They're not your typical bar wings, they're...well they're just kinda special and yummy...Oh wait, I love their mashed potatoes too...
Service...well it usually sucks, but they have their moments. Nothing ticks me off more than my entree coming out 30seconds after they set down my appetizer. It happens a lot there...they have some serious timing issues.
They have a nice beer selection and really really crappy ice tea...
A decent place to head on Sunday's to catch some games, it's rarely packed and they're usually willing to turn your game on...even a Packer game... ;)
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Great beer selection and never packed. I value a place where I can just walk in and sit down. The food has always been pretty good, but the service can be shaky. All in all its a basic bar that is easy to eat and drink inside, and thats all that matters in a place like this.
Jaks gets a lot of credit for playing gracious host to all kinds of student functions from UIC. I've never been disappointed by the food there. In fact, I would go back there to eat more if it weren't for a few people on the wait staff, which is totally hit or miss. You could get a gracious, but busy waitress one week and a surly jerk the next. They need to either hire more people to keep the staff from being overworked, or outright fire one or two of them.
For some reason, the bus stuff is really great though. Go figure. Maybe they should just trade jobs.
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