Resi's Bierstube

Resi's BierstubeResi's Bierstube
Resi's BierstubeResi's Bierstube
Bar, Eatery

2034 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, Illinois, 60618-3910
United States

(773) 472-1749 | map

Monday - Friday: 2pm - 2am
Saturday: 2pm - 3am
Sunday: 2pm - 12am
Kitchen opens at 5pm (closed Monday)
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
37
pDev:
8.51%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.39 by Eman17 from Illinois

Oct 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by cryptichead from Illinois

Feb 25, 2017
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Reviewed by bowzer4birdie from Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
This place has a neat little biergarten in back. You can tell you're walking back in time when you enter here. I like the fact that the owner has stayed true to the setup and décor.....yes, the tables and chairs are from the 70s but you have to put that aside to feel the true spirit of this place.
Sep 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Aug 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by puftdank from Illinois

May 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Apr 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.58 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by TheRealPour from Illinois

Nov 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by birdsellam from Indiana

Sep 03, 2014
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Reviewed by SandMan00 from District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
Resi's was a pioneer, being considered by many to have been among the first, if not the first, to serve Weiss beer in the U.S. My first experience was circa 1979-80 as a college student. Had never had a wheat beer and had barely heard of it. First visit, went in, sat down at the bar. Two or three old guy regulars sitting at the end of the bar, speaking German and drinking beer with lemon slices out of big glasses. I'll have what they're having. Long story short, after a few of those, some backslapping camaraderie, a jager schnitzel and complimentary shot of Flimm's apfel liqueur as a digestive, I was hooked. Thirty five years and 700 miles away now, I get to Chicago maybe once every 2-3 years. And I still make the pilgrimage out to W. Irving Park Rd.
Aug 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Beerpiggie from Illinois

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by cadaugherty from Illinois

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Jordanmtate from Illinois

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Tex_hex from Illinois

May 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by PopnLoads from Illinois

Feb 27, 2014
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Reviewed by USAF77 from Illinois

4.23/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
I wish I had a nickle for every afternoon I riled away in the stube. We even had a word for it back then amongst my friends, we called it "getting stube'ed". As in ,"lets go get stube'ed". I must have been 16 or 17 when I first started going to resis, it is after all, or was, old style German. I knew Carl the owner and his son, whom I hope still runs it. At one time it had the largest selection of beer of anywhere in the city. Resis had a big hand in educating the Chicago palate on what good beer was.

Because it was a German Bier garten. A place one spent hours at with good company, where one can hear the other talk and there was never any trouble. I used to take dates there. And most of all there was the good simple food and the great beer.

Before it became a yuppie hot spot it was the classic working man bier stube in a classic old German neighborhood in Chicago. Now Im going back to the '70s here. Then I came back from Military service and the Cubs crowd had started to find it but it was still a great place and I dont doubt it still is.

I always thought the kassler ribs and Brats were the best dishes. They had a great sour kraut and rye bread too and a very good cold potato salad, all with a good mustard. On tap was always Pschoor and Dab tho I imagine they have all kinda stuff on tap now. Remember this place is classic German which means a German brew is a must. Even if it isnt on tap they have a bottle selection that will blow you away.

Resis was a big part of my life at one time. I must go back one day, and do it soon. A medical condition made me give up drinking for many years but now Im allowed one or two and I'd love to go back. I hope its still in the family. I loved this place.
Nov 01, 2013
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Reviewed by philosobeer from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I'll put this very simply. It's definitely German in the sense that it was made by and for a German immigrant community whenever it was founded. Bric-a-brac celebrating German beer and culture on the walls.

It is by no means fancy and has a very working class feel and clientele. Good food though. The potato salad, wurst, sauerkraut, and potato pancakes are all worth a try.

Often changing tap list includes a great German selection. The food is somewhat expensive, but the beer and liquor (a great selection of schnapps, brandies, and liqueurs) is not. If I lived closer, I would be a regular.
Sep 09, 2011
Photo of jrallen34
Reviewed by jrallen34 from Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -35%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3
Trying to tick all the top rated Chicago places, and this joint is somehow on the first page. Just around the corner from WLV we stopped here after a WLV tasting. A Friday night, we figured it would be busy, walked into a basically empty spot. The atmosphere is something I would like to call homey and nostalgic, but coms across as trashy and chessy. Very old inside, not much updating at all. Some generic German knick knacks, but its forced. Ugly old tables, stools are huge and clunky and make it difficult to sit at the bar....The service is severely lacking and outright weird. Sitting at the bar you have to order and pay from two different people, one for your beer, one for food. The server had a decent but fairly limited knowledge. Neither food nor beer service were attentive...The beers on tap were mostly German, a few things that are not common, but most was easy to find lagers. Bottle list of about 20 beers, more common beers, but mixed with quite a few bmc's...The food that everyone raves about was ok. Potato pancakes are pretty good but too thick and a tad plain. The schnitzel was big but plain. I got a brat but the bun was totally soaked. A plus was some really good sauerkraut....To me this is NOTHING like a real German bar. I would not venture here ever again.
Jan 22, 2011
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Reviewed by SFLpunk from Vermont

3.88/5  rDev -8.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went last night with a group of four total. No wait (on a Saturday in Chicago, impressive) to sit down at a table. If you order draft you'll get a .5L unless you specify (I think Liter is the only other option). The waitstaff was knowledgeable about the beers which is always appreciated.

The atmosphere is low-class in a good way. It's not hipster low class, it's just actually. I picture this being a Royal Order of the Something guys' hang out after meetings.

The beers are fresh and tasty. There were only two things on draft that I'd never heard of, and a handful of bottles that I didn't recognize.

Potato pancakes are the straight dope here.

Cool, relaxed, unpretentious place for a good time with old friends.
Mar 07, 2010
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Reviewed by Bierguy5 from Ohio

4/5  rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon. Small and old looking on the inside. A bit dark, and worn but gives it a nice touch. Bartender greeted us immediately, and told us what was on tap. He told us to have a seat out in the beergarden if we wanted, and someone would take our order. The outside, althoug small was quite comfortable. Several trees provided shade, while there were a dozen or so tables with umbrellas. Very comfortable, although I couldn't believe there place was practically empty.

Beers were German. Nothing outstanding, but some good solid choices. Julius Echter Heferweizen, Spaten Optimator, and BBK were the ones that stood out. All served in appropriate glassware, and tasted pretty nice.

Our waitress was frinedly and attentive. We split some potato pancakes that were very good. Standard German fare on the menu. Prices were reasonable. Overall, a good stop. Love the beer garden.
May 10, 2009
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Reviewed by yemenmocha from Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5
Old-fashioned German decor and 70's diner (seats, tables) make this an interesting stop in Chicago.

BBK and others that aren't on tap at many places can always be found at Resis. In the past, I've noticed servers speak fluent German, as well as the kitchen staff. They've hired a more diverse set of employees on my 2008 visit though.

No food on current visit, but in the past I found it to be traditional Bavarian, and worthwhile if you like the cuisine in general.

Usually on my list for places to go when visiting Chicago. Small, intimate, and always a great German beer selection.
Nov 10, 2008
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A small piece of Munich dropped into Chicago's north side. The inside is chintzy but the beer garden is very comfortable, and reminded me a little of the backyard behind our apartment off Bryn Mawr when I was a kid. The beer garden is smallish, ~15 tables, seating for maybe 40. There were two large oak trees in the middle providing ample shade.

I saw 8 taps, serving BBK Kutscher Alt, BBK Gold Export, Bitburger, Julius Echter weisse, Hacker Pschorr lager, Konig pilsner, Kostritzer schwarzbier, Spaten Optimator. The food tasted authentic and was sort of cheap, most things on the menu were <$10. A very good stop for German beer and food.
Jun 11, 2008
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Reviewed by nocheinsbitte from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Resi's is really two different bars; the winter bar and the summer bar. In the spring and summer, the bier garten in the back of the bar is the best place in Chicago to go and have a few biers, talk, eat good Bavarian fare, and begin to think you were in Munich. In the winter, it is a smallish kitschy bar that before the smoking ban, was almost unbearable to be in late in the evening. Now, with the smoking ban, the bar is charming and allows me and my friends to enjoy the great bier selection year round. It does have one of the best Weizen selections I have seen this side of the Atlantic as well as a nice BBK, DAB, and many other bottles.
Service: the bartenders are great and attentive. The waitresses can be a bit aloof and inattentive, but when asked, they respond well and take care of you.
Food: Great food for the prices...don't tell my mom, but they have the best potato pancakes I have had!
Overall, this is one of the my favorite places to go anytime of year, but especially in the summer. If you are coming to Chicago, make sure your stop by Resi's, you will not be disappointed.
Feb 11, 2008
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Reviewed by malcontent from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Oh, Lord. I curse you, Resi's, for letting me find you. Single-handedly responsible for my current German beer kick, Resi's is dangerously close to my workplace making it a more than tempting option after a grueling shift.

Despite the subtle, pretty brick facade, the interior of Resi's is all kitsch. Think a combination of a VFW and your grandpa's basement/barroom. All sorts of nick-nacks adorn the back bar and the furniture is, shall we say, unpretentious. There is a beergarten in the back but I'm a drinker, nature be damned! There are 2 TV's and neither generally has the volume very high. Instead, one of the two barkeeps (both genuine, low-key dudes) will generally have their music on over the overhead speakers.

Service is top-notch and very personalized although I've never been waited on outside of the bar (although a few of the waitresses are pretty darn cute...). I'm always offered samples of anything on tap, which is a huge plus.

The selection, while not huge, offers a damned good cross-section of German beer (they lose a half point for no Berliner Weisse). On draft count on at least two of the seasonal (Oktoberfest, Hefe, Dopplebock, etc.) along with Kutcher Alt, BBK, Spaten and some other, funkier options. Bottled selection is strong as well with plenty of Avinitus, Ayinger and the like.

The food, while predictably German (read: meaty and heavy) is of the highest quality. Any foodie I know would be impressed to find that all of the sausage served at Resi's is purchased fresh daily from Paulina Market.

Resi's is my new favorite haunt.
Sep 13, 2007
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Reviewed by KevBrews from Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Resi's is one of the last remaining German biergardens in Chicago. Before my trip, I had read a review that stated that Resi's was like a German VFW hall. Can't agree more. The decor isn't much, but this place is still a find. If you like big, hearty Eastern European fare, as well as a wide selection of German brews, this is the place.

I tried a BBK, which I had never heard of. The bartender described it as a German pils, although the beer itself was too sweet and not crisp enough to be a pils. BeerAdvocate lists a BBK Dortmunder, which might be the same beer I tried. Either way, it was pleasant enough, but not something I'd get again.

I would, however, order the Aventinus I had as my second choice again. And again. And again. This beer was big and malty--very tasty. However, if I ever make it back to Resi's, it'll be tough to limit myself to just the beers I've had before. There were about 25 beers on the list, all authentically German or microbrews true to German styles. Very impressive beer list.

And the food was terrific, too. I had Knackwurst, with kraut and German potato salad. Delicious. Made my German heritage proud!

I've heard Resi's is even more spectacular when it's warm enough that you can sit out in the actual biergarden. That may be true, but I'd eagerly head back any time of the year.
Apr 09, 2007
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.06/5  rDev -4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
What a place!

I walk in to down a few liters in preparation for the next days 2nd CTA Pub Crawl and I couldn’t possibly be more pleased.

This place looks like it was carefully pieced together in the sixties and then left untouched. Cute little orange tables line one wall. A simple bar lines the other. In the center of that bar are several huge German beer engines. A couple coolers in the corner boast an impressive selection of German bottles. Classic shtick is everywhere.

The bartender’s lamb chops greet me and shortly thereafter I am greeted by the bartender himself who kindly pours me a half liter of Jever, followed by another of BBK, and then a cute little ¼ liter of some other German pilsner I’ve never heard of. I’m amazed by the number of German beers here that I’ve never seen anywhere else in America. I mean, the BBK only has one review on BA and this place seems to have a limitless supply of fresh barrels of it. Most of the taps are pilseners but Aventinus, Kostritzer, and Optimator smile proudly at me to round out the list.

Prices were a touch high but so were the pours and the bartender threw in the last round on the house. What service! Solid rock was playing the whole time we were there. Propper glassware was used. I didn’t try any food but I would like to. It looks like a fun place to eat.

I’ll definitely be back and am very excited that one of my best friends is living just down the block.
Mar 20, 2007
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Reviewed by marksto from Florida

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
One of the last of a sadly dying breed of true German bistro/beer gardens in Chicago's near northside. Gets big numbers for me for atmosphere because of its authenticity. I love the history in places like this. It is owned and operated by the same friendly family who opened it in the early 50's and they still live upstairs. Doesn't look like it has changed much since. The centerpiece behind the bar is a large old display of a German beer wagon being pulled by horses. Apparently it was given to them by the Pschorr brewing company before the merger with Hacker.

All the beers served here are German, and the selection is excellent. About 12 are on tap, and run the gamut from a kolsch, an alt, weiss, and pils. One of the them, BBK pils (stands for Bayerische Brauerei Kaiserslautern), was a beer I had never even heard of much less tasted - and I am a real German beer fan. Even more are found in the bottle in two large coolers beside the bar.

I did not eat during my visit, but the menu appeared good and offered all sorts of German fare. Most of the other patrons, all of whom appeared to be locals, were eating - a sure sign of good food.

Overall, a place that I really enjoyed. Look forward to going back sometime in the warmer months to enjoy the outdoor bier garten. Prost!
Nov 30, 2006
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Reviewed by tjdemon from Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A buddy and I went to Resi's early on a Friday evening (10/20) and had a great time.

They had around 10 German beers on tap (many more in bottles) and the obviously knowledgeable bartender (Sonny) was quick to recommend specific beers when we asked about a particular style.

The food is not fancy but very good, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs German fare. The potato pancakes were particularly good and are available every day, contrary to a past beerfly review.

The service was very good: prompt, polite, but not overbearing.

Atmosphere, as mentioned in other reviews, isn't the best, especially when it's too cold for the beer garden, but when the service, selection, and quality are top notch, I'm not going to split hairs over the decorating style, or lack thereof. A highly recommended stop if you're looking for quality German beer.
Oct 24, 2006
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Reviewed by 4thoseabout2bock from Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Two of the my favorite and most authentic Chicago/Germanic experiences are found on this block on Irving Park. Resi's and Lachet's are conveniently located across the street (Irving Park) from each other are the venerable remaining veterans of a host of fine German bars that used to populate the near northside of Chicago. They are easily reachable via the Irving Park brown line stop (walk three blocks west).

When you walk into Resi's you enter bar in a small town somewhere in southern Germany. The bar runs the length of the side you enter on, and the bar wall is covered with German postcards and beermats. The other side of the room has a half dozen booths with are a few free standing tables in the center of the room. The kitchen is at the back of the one room bar/restaurant and the hallway to the back patio is between the kitchen and the bathrooms. The patio is not a "beer garten" in any authentic German sense, but it is a nice outdoor backyard with eight tables round plastic tables.

Resi's has about a half dozen German beers on tap at any given time. Steins are 8-10 dollars which can seem pricey, but they are also about a pint and a half. The quality has always been good, the lines are clean and they go through their beer at a decent pace.

Service has always been good here, although sometimes the waitresses have sort of a friendly gruffness about them.

Resi's is a Bierstube moreso than a restaurant. Their food is german, good and satisfying (and they offer potato pancakes on Fridays, whereas Laschet's does not offer potato pancakes at all). Its a little more expensive than most bar food, but as you might expect, it is homemade, hardy and filling.

The back patio which can be delightful on summer nights with a breeze. In all other respects I have to say the food is a cut above at Lachet's, but Resi's feels more like you are in a bar in a small town in Germany.

If Resi's is more of a bar than Laschett's, both of them seem more German than Glunz's (around the corner on Lincoln) which is pretty much primarily a restuarant in this incarnation. We had a fine meal at Glunz's, but there is more German spoken by the clientele at both Resi's and Laschet's.

Between Resi's and Lachet's you will experience the best of Germany in Chicago. Berghoff downtown recently closed, but they were a shadow of their former selves for quite a while before they did. Another great German restobar (Edelweiss in Norridge) is much further out and harder to get to unless you are driving. (Mirabell has a nice beer selection but I wouldn't rate them as highly for their food).

Resi's is a fine stop for German beer and food, especially potato pancakes. The ambiance is not black forest German kitsch (which Edelweiss, Mirabell and even Glunz have more of). It is more real German like the bars we experienced in small towns around Frankfurt, Munich and Bamberg. German VFW is dead on. If you love German beer, it's a cheap trip to Germany.
Aug 22, 2006
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Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
What else can I say about this place? It's one of my favorite bars anywhere.

Existing as a bar since 1913, Resi's first opened in 1965, and the Stober family has owned it since 1971. They were instrumental in introducing German craft beer to Chicago, and even the first to import Weiss bier to the US, as the story goes. Now Resi's is one of very few last holdouts in the neighborhood, still carrying the torch for over 50 years.

Right down the road, where O'Donovans is now, was once the oldest operating bar in Chicago (c. 1881), Schulien's.

If you crave authentic German cuisine paired with a hefty liter mug of fresh Hefe, Maibock, or Doppelbock, this may be your kind of place. The seasonal biergarten in the back is easily the most quaint and intimate I have ever visited. It feels like a laid-back backyard party, with vintage beer lanterns, flowerboxes, and two giant trees towering over the patio.

Inside the decor relies heavily on wood paneling and decades-worth of vintage kitsch. Deer and antelope horns are mounted alongside old German beer signage, woodcuts, a cuckoo clock, and assorted photos. A vintage bottle collection sits above the back coolers, including Tannenzapfle, and other oddities. Clay krugs line the back wall near the kitchen. Behind the bar is a wooden slat roof, under which dozens of vintage oddities decorate the wall. Taps pour from vintage porcelain beer towers. There is a classic worn-in vibe to it, but updated to the present somewhat by the varied clientele and tunes from the bartender's ipod.

If you arrive late after the kitchen closes, and still happen to be hungry, don't worry. Ask for a couple Landjager sausages which are smoky and truly excellent with a giant liter of lager. Thuringer dinner can't be beat either. Laschet's may have a more extensive menu, but Resi's definitely satisfies the craving for hearty German comfort food. All meats are sourced locally from nearby Paulina Market.

Here's a great article comparing & contrasting the sausage preparation at Resi's & Laschets: http://chicago.seriouseats.com/2012/03/sausage-city-resis-bierstube-and-laschets-inn.html

Beer wise, Resi's has a well-rounded and medium-sized collection of quality German imports. Weihenstephaner, Ayinger, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr are the staples, plus a few others that rotate on tap. Always a rotating seasonal (Maibock, Zwickl, Oktoberfest, etc), but nothing too obscure on draft. Bottle selection is best represented on the menu (or by looking in the coolers), it's more current than what's listed on the boards in the back, and you may find occasional hidden gems in there (1809 Berliner Weisse for example). I wish they'd carry Metro or German style US craft beers, but they seem a little stuck in the past in that regard. Sooner or later they'll carry more than just Bells. Still, it's easily my home away from home...

2019: Still a fun place to visit, a unique timewarp with a peaceful biergarten and tasty German food. Stick to the drafts, some of the bottles are getting old. They have some obscure ones from Alpirsbacher, Andechs, etc., but they aren't on the laminated beer list, so no one orders them. We tried several that had to be dumped, sadly. We're talking Paulaner Hefe that was dark brown with no head. Yuck. Oddly they had a Band of Bohemia beer, which was also getting old (brewery has since closed). Dovetail is down the street, and is the best local destination for high quality German-style lagers. Laschet's Inn for fresh taps and food. Stop at Resi's for the food and atmosphere, the biergarten is a hidden gem.
Aug 17, 2006
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Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Second stop on the German Pub Walk. This is located right across the street from Laschet's. Cool old world German styling on the exterior with a big Warsteiner sign leading you in. Upon entering you sorta feel like you stepped back in time a bit. Brown vinyl chairs, wood paneling, German knick knacks and plenty of steins adorn the well lit interior. The bar is on the right and features cool beer castles. The interior is really laid back and casual, but as previous posters have said it does have a sort of VFW hall vibe as well.

Lots of good German brews on tap again here..Spaten, BBK, Köstritzer Schwarzbier, and many more. Probably around 20 in total. There were some coolers with bottles but I didn't really look them over that closely. I grabbed a big ol glass of the Schwarzbier and headed out back to the wonderful beer garden. Lots of shade is provided by the mature trees and there are plenty of picnic tables and small tables, which made it really easy for our large group to hang out and drink in the wonderful sunshine of a beautiful Chicago afternoon.

Our bartender was nice and our glasses were kept full. Again, I didn't try the food here...might have to do that on my next trip. A great place to go for some tasty German beers and to hang out with friends. Pick a nice evening, grab some food and a big mug of beer and enjoy the beer garden...that'll be my itinerary for the next time I stop in. Check this place out if you're in the city...an easy one/two stop if you wanna hit Laschet's as well!
Jun 05, 2006
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Reviewed by silenius from Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
The 4.0 I gave the atmosphere is a combination of the beer garden and the inside. The beer garden is great with lots of tables and chairs and two huge trees. The inside (minus the actual bar) looks like a german VFW hall with lots of brown paneling, brown chairs, brown stained ceiling, etc. with lots of beer kitsch knick knacks and flourescent lighting. Not my idea of great "atmosphere." The bar itself is pretty fun and all the great beer on tap makes it beautiful. Obviously the room outside the bar isn't attractive, but it could be fun in a kitschy kind of way. The bartender is friendly and asks if you want a lemon in your weiss or not. Plus! I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. Lots of beer on tap. Probably a total of 30 differnt German beers with maybe 10 on tap. The food is decent German food which is filling, but I'm not a fan of everything being brown. Try the schnitzel and an Erdinger Weiss!
Mar 31, 2006
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Reviewed by Bumpon10s from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
While one might be shyed away by some of the prices, it was some incredible food. I had their schnitzel platter and had to loosen the belt and sit back to fully enjoy everything. I had an oktoberfest brew and a Samuel Smith India Ale with my meal and enjoyed it. We sat in the resturant enjoyed our beers and let our food settle, I really wanted to go out to their beer garden and have one more, but we still had one more german place to hit, and I had to save the little space I had. Really the only thing you could gripe about is prices, I believe my meal was $14, as delicous as it was, it was a shade high. I was impressed by their bar, they had a decent liquor selection and thier german beer selection wasn't bad either. The real gem was their authentic beer castle's, you just don't see those anywhere.

All in all, I reccomend everyone try this place once, I wouldn't say I'd make it a regular stop by way of price, but it's a good meal.
Sep 08, 2005
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Reviewed by 12vUnion from Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I'm German. It's no secret. I love German culture, beer and food!

I took my friends here for dinner one night. Irving Park stop off the brown line. In a neighborhood like this one, Resi's classic German facade stands out. On the inside it's a little restaurant. It's not very big at all. Very cozy. Some people would call this place dank, sparse, or some other unkind work. I disagree. It's very warm and cozy. It very much reminds me of my grandfather's home. Wood paneling, vinyl covers chairs, knick-knacks and flower boxes. Steins hanging about. Add some old cans and a small dog and you have the traditional German-American house. I love it.

The bar...the bar! The bar mostly runs from the front to the back of the dinning area. It's smaller than it sounds. It's topped with tap castles with German beer tap handles coming out. I'd say at least a dozen. Behind the bar is a large, bearded bald fellow who looks like he's straight out of Bavaria if you didn't talk to him. Beer is everything from BBK, Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, etc. Mostly what you'd expect. Germany is well represented in these taps. There's also a fridge or two filled with bottles. I didn't see an actual list, but my friends also got some Samuel Smith's and some bottles of various Dopplebocks. I would guess you could get just about any German style style here.

The food! The food is great! I had the jagerschnitzel. A big portion of pork schnitzel covered in a peppery mushroom sauce and a big lump of Spätzle on the side. After a liter or two, it was obvious that I was not going to finish. That's a good meal.

Resi's does allow smoking in the dining room. It wasn't bad at all. At least until someone lit up a cigar. But what the hell. I was feeling too good to care. If the smoke does bother you, there is a beer garden out back. It's shaded by two large trees. It would be great on a warm summer night or a crisp fall day. Resi's is going to be a new regular for my nights on the town. Prost!
Sep 08, 2005
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Reviewed by Longstaff from Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
If you're looking for a German meal with a wide selection of German beers to go with it, this is the place to go in Chicago. Thier beer selection is the biggest I've seen for a German bar anywhere. Spaten-Fransikaner, Weihenstephaner, Bitburger, Paulaner, and other big breweries were represented on the tap handles while some other lesser known goodies were in the fridge including Augustiner Maximator which I was able to try for the first time. Huge portions of food for a good price and tasty German beers more than make up for the bar's diner like atmosphere.
Oct 20, 2003
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Reviewed by jackndan from Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Resi’s Bierstube: In Chicago, just West of Lincoln on Irving Park. Surprisingly small, with a huge selection of imported beers, pored well and served in appropriate glassware. Every major German brewer is represented, and the beer was terrific.

The main room is relatively small, and yes, a little dingy. There is a long bar that runs along the wall, with a few booths on the other wall. However, there is a small, but very comfortable beer garden out back, with 4 or five picnic benches and a hand full of smaller tables. The primary decorations were flower boxes, and two massive trees right in the middle of the concrete patio. The atmosphere was perfect, low key, and the service was knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful.

The food was phenomenal. Nothing fancy, just very well made and huge portions. The sauerkraut was simply the best I have ever had, bar none. Very tender and flavorful.

If you can go while the Beer Garden is open, this is a fine spot to enjoy good beers, good food and a nice atmosphere.
Jul 28, 2003
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Reviewed by Redrover from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Here is another great German institution in the St Bens neighborhood. While not shiny, bright and new inside, it does have some charm that really grows on you.

I have always had top-notch service here. The bartenders are respectful of beer and their customers. The waitresses are efficient and friendly. Who knows, they may even pull-up a seat at your table for a chat!

A fantastic selection of German beers. There are 20+ taps and man I don’t know how many bottles (I would hazard a conservative guess of 75+, maybe over a 100). There is always something new to try. Tap lines seem to be kept in immaculate condition. Glasses are always clean.

They serve good, inexpensive German food. It is easy to pair a favorite food with a good beer. Try the schnitzel, thuringer plate, or the hunters stew.

The beer garten is great, I wish it were bigger. Lots of tables to share and nice shade trees. I have met some interesting people here while sharing tables.

Nice bonus, If your at Resi’s, make sure you cross the street to visit Laschetts Inn, another great local German bar.

This is a fun bar and gives you a taste of what the ethnic places in Chicago used to be like. Now, if they would only make it nonsmoking…..
Mar 06, 2003
Resi's Bierstube in Chicago, IL
Place rating: 4.23 out of 5 with 37 ratings