Putney’s

It has slipped dramatically. From servers who can’t remember the specials (or the drinks ordered or even the fact that they serve wings) to drunken patrons pounding on tables (or passed out in a booth; real classy), it’s become the NW side’s premier dive bar.
That’s not a compliment.
I’m not sure how you can screw up chips and salsa, but the kitchen can. I don’t know how you can screw up a regular hamburger, but the kitchen can. Get the picture?
Did it change ownership? Do the bartenders and servers and the rest of the staff even give a damn anymore? I think the answer is as long as they can still get people to walk through the door, to eat crap food or watered down drinks, nothing will change.

I love Putney’s for a quick tasty bite, to catch a Blackhawks game, or to just unwind after a long day with a cocktail. Natasha and her fellow staff rock as bartenders and fun faces of Putneys. With that said, I am a little unhappy to have paid $ 14 for two draft pints of Dos Equis today. My kid had ordered two and when I got the bill I was very surprised since this is a neighborhood type bar. Seems out of line with the venue. I would expect to pay that at a higher end joint.

This review is long overdue I have been coming to putneys for over 15 years! It’s a solid sports bar with good bar food cold beers and excellent staff! Whether you want an IPA or a Coors they have you covered and there’s a tv in front of you no matter where you sit. And there’s no shortage of regulars who aren’t weirdos and won’t bother you unless you’re looking for great conversation… Eric (the owner) is always looking for ways to improve the experience while maintaining the old school sports bar feel from horseshoes to beer pong! This is a great spot to post up for the night, a quick one on the way home or jumping off point! When you go order the Blue boy and have a few beers for me!

Went on a Thursday afternoon. Good atmosphere and cold beer, the crowed was older 40’s+ wasn’t expecting it to be quite so old however, good vibes all around.

Fun place to grab a beer sometimes but the place needs a serious facelift.
It’s kinda old from the inside and that attracts the older population too so it’s not a place to hang if you are under 35 – 40 years old.

Putney’s is an average, run-​of-​the-​mill sports bar offering off-​track betting and a standard, average menu full of standard fare executed to average standards. We met at Putney’s for the Derby as it was «in the middle,» and oddly everything else was fair-​to-​middling as well. The drinks were nothing to write home about, but sufficed. Our appetizer platter provided the requisite fried zuke, shrooms, mozzarella sticks and fries and all were reliably mid-​level. The service is friendly and quick, and the patrons a snapshot of the middle class: railroad workers, teachers, and retirees line up to make dime-​bets on dogs and horses. Putney’s would be a good place to recoup from heart surgery, as one’s chances of becoming excited are minimal. The patio offers a horse-​shoe pit and one of the oddest collections of still-​working vintage TVs I’ve ever seen.

So if you like a place that is super clean and everything is in its place, you will hate it here. If you like a place that is a complete throwback to the 70’s and 80’s complete with an out of order cigarette machine and plywood tables you are in for a treat. Sports betting in the back and great burger and fries at a good price, complete with unpretentious staff and customers. This is your place to call home with all of that. I love it, even though I need to stay away sometimes for the sake of my waistline and my heart (not love but attack).

Putneys is a great hangout place if you like a clean neighborhood bar atmosphere. They have karaōke on Thursday and Friday nights and a live DJ on Saturdays.
There are drink specials for whatever you’re into served by very nice staff. There is a full kitchen serving all your favorite bar foods. I’m partial to the fish tacos. Very good!

Not a bad little spot that’s open late. I spent a few nights of extreme boredom here while visiting Tucson and this place helped pass the time. Carne Asada tacos were great, can’t recommend the grilled chicken sandwich. Staff was friendly.

Neighborhood sports bar with a low I.Q. I did enjoy watching the tight bloused bartender shortchange the drunken idiots at the bar. The whole scene was like watching a reality TV show. It made me feel much better about myself!

I’m going to go all out here with Putney’s — five stars. I’ve been here a few times over the last several years — all on weekdays and they possess most of the things I like at dive bars. Friendly staff, friendly patrons, cheap drinks, pool tables, and the table top video game machine (I can’t think of the name of it right now). I haven’t tried the food, so I can’t vouch for the food unfortunately, but I think I’ll give it a shot next time I’m in the ‘Olé Pueblo.’
Great selection of beers on tap for a dive bar, and when I say dive, it’s somewhat clean and not totally trashy like some dives in Tucson. Let me clarify — I used to live in Tucson, but never went to Putney’s when I lived here. I come back here for business once to twice per year and stay at the Hampton Inn, which is practically next door. Rather than wallow in loneliness in my hotel room, I usually stroll over to Putney’s for a beer or two. They probably have about 20 or so beers on tap, including at least two good IPA’s. $ 7 for a giant mug!
A friend/​co-​worker of mine and I were in Tucson last week and we went to Putney’s on a Tuesday night and they had free pool — score! I proceeded to school my supremely educated co-​worker on a little 8-​ball. Too bad we had to work the next day, or I may have gotten myself into trouble. Cool smoking patio outdoors, and it’s within a fenced area, so you can take your drinks out there while you smoke. I quit years ago, but occasionally get the urge for a single cigarette every now and then… the smokers there always let me bum one.
Putney’s is my kind of bar — unpretentious, good quality and cheap beer/​drinks, nice people — what more could you want in a bar?

Karaōke is awesome here. No judgment and a solid group of hard working people letting their hair down. Prices are fair and the waitresses are very nice and attentive!

A fun, casual place with cold beer and surprisingly good food. Use to come here more, but it’s still a fun place every once in a while to catch a game.

I was here last weekend.
Fun place, great people wish they would bring more young crowd in but it’s a fun neighborhood bar with fun atmosphere.
Need some remodeling inside.
Beers are great!

I am an OTR truck driver and I visit. «Local «places every chance I get. I have to say, been here twice, each time the 1^st initial greeting or service was slow. But once a waitress took my order, it was all good for the rest of the night. Great food, the chili is one of the best bar chilies I have ever had and I a member of the International Chili Society! Wings are good as are the hoagies !! Was in for the Michigan Vs Purdue BB game., it wasn’t on, but simply asking got it on a One of the 30 TV’s in the place and it was right in ft of me. At around 10 till close on thrus, karaōke is going on. Good dude running it, had every old out the chart song I asked for and all the locals had a wide range of request. This place is now in my GPS! You WILL love the chili!

I always have a good time when I’m here. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is fun and the food is pretty good… and on the topic of food, if you order a burger, sandwich, etc. it comes with chips, coleslaw or cottage cheese but if you want french fries-that’s $ 1.59 extra (which I think is a wee bit ridiculous).
There are horseshoes on the back patio which is pretty awesome, even though I suck at horseshoes… beer pong and karaōke on the weekends, two more things I also suck at… but it’s all very entertaining to watch!

Ohhhhhh putneys. You’re so close to my house… Why did we have to go down this dark road?
I went to putneys on an «off night», Monday night I think. We had a lot of fun hanging out on the patio, drinking a few beers and asked the bartender to pick us some shots. She made us something that wasn’t that good– but that’s our fault for leaving it up to her. No biggie. But when we made a comment about the shots in a joking manner as we were closing out the tab, the bartender told us we were 86d for life. Even after we left a very generous tip. I’ve worked in and been to lots of bars. The bartender had suuuuuuuuch a chip on her shoulder. I hope that she was just having a tough night for her sake.
We would like to go back even though it was a poor experience… Too bad we got 86d

My husband and I have been hanging out at Putney’s for years. Not so much over the last few as our tastes have… changed, but we still enjoy going for the occasional beer and game or 3 of pool. I don’t know what it is about this place but I turn into a total pool shark here. Of course I can’t have any more than 4 beers and no less than 2 in order to hit my pool shark peak, but it’s so much fun regardless!
I always enjoy hanging out because there is a local following and once you’re there long enough they start treating you like a local. It’s fun to talk to all the random walks of like that step toe in Putney’s.
I can’t really speak to the food so much. We usually get a plate of nacho’s to share which are good, but nothing spectacular. I’m not big on greasy bar food, but it sure looks good! While you’re here you can make an off-​track bet or two as well.
My only warning is to be careful of the bathrooms. They look the same they did 20 years ago… just dirtier. They’re pretty freakin’ nasty actually! But hey, at least you’ll have fun!

Was looking for a place to catch up with some friends, have a large beer, and not be surrounding by the college kids who are back in school. So, we decided to head to Putneys.
Its your typical sports bar. Lots of TV’s, lots of tables, pool tables as well.
Our waitress was pretty great. She was really busy, but we never had to wait. She split our checks and was great about it.
We had some bar food and I have no complaints there. The food was fine, the beer cold, and the service fast. I dig it.
Oh, and as a back to school special, it is Dirty School Girl Month at Putneys. Yes, the wait staff is dressed like a *dirty* school girl. The males in my group were shocked and offended. No. Not really. They enjoyed it. And us ladies got to discuss bra’s with the waitress.
I will probably be back/

Putney’s is a good solid bar with all the amenities you would want, but none of the frills. Pretty good prices on drinks, a decent menu, a good happy hour (both for food and drinks), and a large loyal clientele are some of the highlights.
The service is decent. Nothing to write home about, but you won’t wait too long for a refill on your beer. There is always pretty good entertainment for the nightlifers. Ive seen Kareoke, billiards tourneys, and beer pong during the three times Ive been. All three were fun and lively, and I think that has a large part to do with the layout of the bar.
Putneys is not small, but it feels smaller than it is. As such, its hard NOT to get swept up in the excitement of whatever is going on at that moment. The small patio out back is large enough for several groups to chat and mingle away from the loud stuff inside.
The bathrooms are pretty gross, but hey, its a bar. What would it be to piss at a bar without stepping in everyone else’s pee first? I wouldn’t know… and Putney’s has done nothing to enlighten me.
The menu, while extensive, changes to a short menu at 10. Food is served till midnight. The food is standard bar fare, but there are a few extras on the menu like calamari! Fairly decent, too! I do really wish they (and all bars for that matter) served food until close, but alas, they do not.
Every time Ive been, Ive had a good time. That’s hard for me to say at most bars, so I have to give putney’s props on that one. Ive never gone alone, but I could, and wouldn’t feel left out. The people here know how to have a good time without being completely stupid, so I enjoy that too. It does seem to operate towards a more middle-​aged crowd (like 30 – 50), but Ive never been one to infer much from those types of facts.
If you’re looking for a good place to have fun, throw back a few drinks, and leave at the end of the night with a smile on your face, give Putney’s a try. I doubt seriously you’d regret it.