Resi's Bierstube

Bumpon10s

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
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.

09-08-2005 20:11:02 | More by Bumpon10s

philosobeer

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
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.

09-09-2011 19:13:41 | More by philosobeer

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
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.

06-11-2008 13:38:17 | More by TurdFurgison

marksto

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
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!

11-30-2006 01:26:03 | More by marksto

tjdemon

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
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.

10-24-2006 20:21:01 | More by tjdemon

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.06/5  rDev -2.9%
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.

03-20-2007 15:20:58 | More by DaPeculierDane

4thoseabout2bock

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.3%
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.

08-22-2006 00:54:26 | More by 4thoseabout2bock

Bierguy5

Ohio

4/5  rDev -4.3%
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.

05-10-2009 19:24:55 | More by Bierguy5

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.88/5  rDev -7.2%
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.

03-07-2010 16:10:28 | More by SFLpunk

KevBrews

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
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.

04-09-2007 11:56:14 | More by KevBrews