Drum & Monkey

Quaint little Irish pub with plenty of seats. Good beer selection & friendly bartender. We didn’t try the food this time but if we return I’ll update the review.

Place is still rockin, but the fries are different than they used to be and I’m sad.

Went there just for drinks. Good selection and cool environment. The music was awesome all night. Drink prices weren’t the best but a good time.

We came in late after a concert. It was perfect.
Do you remember that TV show about a bar where everyone knows your name? By George, this is it! While we were talking and people-​watching, there were clearly regulars who knew the bartender, who knew what they liked because he pulled down a bottle, lined up the shot glasses and filled up the pint glasses. It was dark and kind of a hodgepodge in décor but that really is what it should be. I saw a sign saying there was free shuffle board but I didn’t venture downstairs to check it out.
I ordered the Disco Tots. These are tator tots smothered in nacho cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, tomatoes. Basically, think typical nacho roping in tots. Brilliant as it was yummy. It billed as an appetizer but I’m a selfish and greedy woman and refused to shared with my mate after he got his one free sample.
Mr. ordered a BBQ-​type cheeseburger. It came in at above your standard ¼ pounder. It looked like a fresh, hand-​formed patty covered with cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce and was served with a side fries. He had no complaints and left little or no evidence of his meal.
The beer, spirits and cocktail menus were great. Hamm’s beer in a can for two bucks. Macallen’s 12 year scotch. I had a cocktail of some sort cocktail whose name completely escapes me but I remember it was awesome.
We were there on a Wednesday night after 10 PM and the crowd was not a crowd. But the music was great (not too loud that we couldn’t talk to each other.) The high top tables along the wall and seats at the bar had hooks for purses (bonus!). It was really a great end to a great evening that left us wishing we could make it our own neighborhood hang-​out.

I give it one star since I don’t think I can give zero. Stood by the bar for 15 minutes ad the blonde bartender made eye contact several times before walking away and serving others. No amount of hand waving or screaming «excuse me!» seemed to do the trick. Pre-​gamimg from now on, since I don’t want to give this place any of my money

Great irish bar where I can come chill and de-​stress after work. Bar food is actually pretty good for it being at a bar. I love how the bartenders make you feel as if your VIP even if you dont come here often. Friday nights is awesome. You see people of every walk of life and I LOVE THAT. None of that pretentious shit going on here. Everyone is treated the same and with respect. I have been here twice and both times, I came in scrub pants, since I was just coming out of work.
There were people with ties, tshirts, heck I saw a man with a green/​purple mohawk that let me touch his mohawk (thanks scott!!) This is a great neighborhood bar.
Parking is hard to find especially when you come in after 10pm.

Great place. Went there after another friend (back in Wisconsin) saw were were in Chicago and he recommended it. Bartenders were fast and very friendly. Warmed right up to us and made us welcome. Tim and I think the gal was Alissa but unsure. We did not eat but saw others eating and food looked and smelled good. A quaint place with a nice feel and older look. Great selection of beers and liquors with a good drink menu. Nice selection of Irish whiskeys. Be sure to try the Irish Mule. Nice twist on the Moscow mule. Prices were cheapest we found in Chicago.
Also has a nice little spot out back for us smokers so we don’t have to stand out front right where non smokers walking in and out and on the sidewalk. Nice clean joint.
Only reason we left is cause it was St Patricks weekend and we needed to get to our hotel and check in. Will be back for sure next trip

I love it. Free Jameson shots from regular patrons. Good looking bartenders with nice boobies. A black guy playing amazing Irish Music, what the hell else do you need? Good times and good vibes.

I have never been in love with this place. It is a crappy Irish pub. It is very cramped and difficult to get a drink. Their drinks are overpriced compared to everywhere else on Taylor Street. I wish my friends did not keep dragging me here! I do enjoy the shuffle board in the back though and their music is entertaining. Tuesday is karaōke night and can be fun but is really hit or miss. Too few TVs to watch sports as well.

Decent bar food. A neighborhood place that sometimes is drowning in over served college kids. But exactly what somebody would expect from a bar next to a university.

Clearly a college bar. Cheap drinks and interesting people.

Drum is my favorite bar in the area. 5 dollar rum and coke is my drink, and they make drinks well and strong. There is one bar, shuffleboard, and plenty of tables. If you’re a smoker, there is a back patio where you can bring your drinks instead of leaving them with someone.
The bartenders are all very nice, will make a basic drink really quick, and don’t mind making something more complicated if you ask.

This is my favorite bar. I’ve rarely seen a more consistently welcoming staff. Always a fun time.

Great spot for late night drinks and DJ music. We ha our wedding after party there since it’s right next to the Grand Piazza.

This bar was pretty empty on a warm early Saturday evening when I met up with some friends. The bartender was very attentive with drink orders, refills and food. The food was alright. Standard bar fare. I got fried mac and cheese which was good, though I’m not sure if it was completely fried. Sometimes I’d bite into it and it would feel cool. I still ate it, because I was hungry.
The tater tots that the table ordered were delicious. The cider selection isn’t as great (Vandermill Peach Ginger and Magner’s), but everything else seemed reasonable.

Update: went back because a friend is moving, and the group wanted to go. First beer: Lagunitas IPA (a personal favorite) tasted terrible, and the reason? Not cold! The tap was pouring too warm of beers. Maybe some people can find that acceptable when they are drinking cheap beer, but the flavor profile of craft beer changes when they are served anywhere above 55. Not wanting to risk another warm pour, I ditched the idea of a draft, and went for a can they had displayed on the shelf, Revolution’s Anti-​Hero. Bartender didn’t think they had it, and then checked the fridge. She said she thought it was $ 6 (really, for a 12 oz can? whatever) so i paid and took my beer back to my seat. This beer was ALSO warm. Why have fridges under the bar if they don’t keep your drinks cold?
later i went to pay for my gf’s vodka and soda and their credit card machine was not working. wtf?
this night was not a busy night there, yet service still disappointing.
Since no one cared to assure me that my last visit (and review) was a fluke, i’ll take that to mean this is business as usual.
Disappointing. Drum: LOST MY BUSINESS!

I came here last month with a bunch of friends. It definitely comes across as a college bar. Why not since UIC is right there.
I didn’t really have any of their drinks, but I did play some shuffleboard! I have never played it before, so it was a lot of fun. The music wasn’t anything special. We got the occasional odd stares because it was a bunch of Asians together.

Finding myself going here more and more often. This is a hidden gem — their burgers are truly legit, not to mention they have one of my favorite salads. Hope the word doesn’t get out — this is getting to be one of my fave lunch spots, not just for the great food, but their friendly staff.

Western burger, onion ring 8 oz burger, and thick! Now this is what i’m talking about as far as burgers go. When someone ask’s you to go get a real burger, maybe you need to mozzie on down to this location. Their fries were actually really good shoe string style and they have vinegar on the tables so that you can pick it up a notch.
The place looks like an old brothel with its brick walls and vintage look so this for me is always a good sign. Truly a gem nestled inside of Taylor Street and a hidden gem amongst burger joints.
We came for lunch so of course we couldn’t taste their large selection of beers, but next time I will if I am not working.

I honestly don’t remember what exactly we ordered unless I look at my foodie photos. Non-​memorable dinner experience I guess.
I had a salad with avocado, bacon, onion, egg, goat cheese and balsamic dressing. It was alright. The bacon and lettuce were fresh and so crisp. This is the salad you’d order if you had a craving for something crunchy. The hubby ordered a burger, something with jalapeño’s on it. It was a massive burger served on Texas toast. He said he was a little worried it would be too hot, but it was just the right amount of heat.
We were just having dinner, using a Groupon NOW. There wasn’t exactly a waitress, so the bartender doubled as our server. They came only to take our order and bring our drinks, the kitchen brought out our food. We had to flag down our check when we were done. We were never checked on for refills or asked if we needed anything else. Glad we didn’t pay full price for that kind of dining experience. I would never come here for dinner again, drinks maybe (and that’s a big MAYBE).