The place is still great! Took some southside Biggen girl on a date here. She looked like miss piggy and smelled like Edward James Olmos. She got the Crab cakes and Fish tacos. I did the BBQ sampler, Ribs, Brisket and Pulled pork all wonderful. I wanted to mount this sow bc she was cute even though she looked like a sand bag on D-Day She slurped my boys from golf balls into craisins. She disappeared into the night.
(5)
Sean L.
The food is here is awesome
(5)
Rob P.
what can i say read the reviews !!!!! and you write my review a+++++ thousand times in my book
(5)
Breeanna G.
My favorite time to come to Chuck's is in the fall because they always have a pretty great selection of pumpkin and fall-themed craft beers. Their extensive beer menu is excellent--there are tons of beers on there that I don't see anywhere else in a lot of Chicago bars. This will likely sound weird to those who come here because it is a barbecue place, but I order the barbecue nachos without barbecue sauce and meat. Regardless, they are some of the best nachos I've ever had! Their mac-and-cheese is pretty great, and I've also had luck with their enchiladas verdes and Caesar salad. There is always a good selection on the menu for their tapas night, and their homemade cupcakes are awesome. The service can be kind of slow because it is nearly always busy. However, most of the servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and if there is a mistake, they are quick to make things right. There can sometimes be some pretty unsavory characters in the Voodoo Lounge (I'm talking old dudes who send over drinks to young women and then expect something to come of it in their disillusioned entitlement), but I guess one could say the same for any bar. I always enjoy eating at Chuck's and will definitely be back.
(4)
Kristy B.
Oh Chucks, you are so good to me. You serve the BEST homemade soups ever, the most delicious BBQ pulled pork and a MEAN country fried chicken breakfast! Not to mention, your portions are huge. I have never experienced bad service here, and have never tried anything here that wasn't absolutely delicious. I look forward to coming here when I'm out in this part of town. You've found the secret to good food and I couldn't be happier. Keep doing what you're doing...and open up more locations around the city!
(5)
Tiffany D.
My husband and came to Chuck's with cousins when visiting Chicago for a wedding. My husband's cousin raved about it but to us it wasn't that good. We started our dinner off with a Caesar salad that we shared. It wasn't bad. It was different. It was like a Cajun Caesar dressing and it had black beans in it. Like I said not the usual, but change is ok every now and then. We also had rolls that were served before the meals. They served the bread warm which made it better with a tad butter. Mmmmm!! For dinner we split the BBQ combo. This included a 1/2 rack of ribs with an additional meat option and 2 sides. We got pulled chicken for our 2nd meat with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans for the sides. To me the ribs were pretty good, they weren't my husbands favorite. The chicken was ok. Nothing special. The Mac & Cheese was awful. It tasted like box Mac & Cheese. Yuck! The Green Beans were seasoned really good but because they were fresh green beans that threw it off a little. I guess I like canned great beans seasoned really well. It's hard to get fresh green beans right to a tee. I also tried some of the Cajun crab cake. My husbands cousin ordered it and let me try some. It actually wasn't bad. They were a little thin. I like my crab cakes to be thick and meaty. I guess that comes from living in the DM(V) area. Places around the DMV area know how to make a mean crab cake. Overall Chucks was a nice experience to try something new, but it wasn't anything special. I wouldn't come back. I would definitely try other places considering I don't live there and there are so many other restaurants to try. First impressions are everything, and Chuck's just didn't do it for me.
(3)
Z B.
It's time to update my review on Chuck's. I went for dinner today, and it wasn't your typical crowd for a Sunday evening. There is parking, but if you park in the side streets, your car will get towed. It's pretty hard to park in the small parking lot when there is a big crowd. The service was great. The server was nice and friendly to my relatives and me. The food didn't take that long, which was good, but it was quite surprising. It usually takes a bit longer to get your food during a huge crowd. The food was pretty good! I tried the seafood gumbo. It was an amazing dish. I liked the broth and the mixture of seafood in the gumbo. I definitely recommend the seafood gumbo. Next, I had the beef brisket dinner. The brisket was okay. It wasn't as tender, but the meat tasted good. My sides of baked beans and Mac and cheese were good. The baked beans had a great flavor to them. The Mac and Cheese was ok. The cheese tasted good, but it didn't look melted enough. All in all, pretty good food, the service was good, and the location is pretty good too. I'll be coming back here.
(4)
Michelle K.
Great food....really enjoyed the BBQ nachos which was a meal in itself! Ron was our waiter and he was friendly and gave great recommendations since it was our first time here. Looking forward to coming back and trying something different because it was hard to decide....everything looked and smelled amazing!!!
(5)
steve i.
Worst Jambalaya ever...overcooked shrimp n crawfish...sauce tasted like pizza sauce...HUGE disappointment....probably the worst thing to order at this place...not a place I ever plan to return to in the future
(1)
Brian S.
Best food ever! Bbq nachos are great, bbq food spectacular, soups delicious, creole authentic. The muffuletta and the Taylor street sub are good but only available on special. I have spent many hours and dollars at Chuck's ...and many more to come. !!
(5)
Eddie S.
Had never been here and heard a lot about it and tried for the first time recently. Not it's all cracked up to be. Only thing i enjoyed was the biscuits and gravy!
(3)
JT M.
First time visiting Chucks, we ordered the meat sampler and got the pulled pork, brisket and the ribs. The ribs were outstanding! I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys smoked anything. Nice pink ring and the table had a variety of sauces to choose from. For the sides try the Cajun green beans. They weren't spicy but very flavorful. For drinks the special of the month was a1/2 blue moon 1/2 ginger beer concoction which was smooth, a very dangerous drink! Will definitely be back! Sorry no picture gobbled everything down before I remembered to take a pic.
(4)
Rita J.
Stopped by Chucks for dinner. I was impressed by the food just as much as I was by the waitress. Jess was knowledgeable and helpful about the meat and the sauces and any restaurant should strive to hire people like her. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very calm and suitable for any occasion.
(5)
Rick H.
Uh-Mazing. Everything was delicious. We came here with our two small kids early on a Sunday. Asked for a booth when they wanted to seat us at a table. The host discussed a little with the head host but they sat us...nice. Now to the craft beer. FINALLY! A place that gets it. Listen up you swill guzzling restaurants and take a tip from Chuck. They have a handful of craft drafts but a very large selection of cans and bottles, I ordered 2 different ones, so happy. Now the food. Perfect. I ordered the full slab of ribs with the rice and mac & cheese. Meaty & flavorful, hit the spot. The wife got the 2 meat sampler, pulled pork and beef brisket. Both were good but the ribs were night's winner. Oh yeah, and most importantly we were treated very well, we sat and ordered like civilized humans and weren't shuffled on our way with preheated garbage like some other places. If you want EXCELLENT food go here. Chuck was trained by Rick Bayless and has a culinary degree (hence the wall of "suns" in the main dining area). Decided to do BBQ over Mexican on the South Side because he's always enjoyed it and most importantly there was a need for good BBQ. You ain't kiddin' chuck, I think you found a niche. Highly recommended and we will be coming back.
(5)
Jeudi J.
Beignet breakfast! Cajun crabcakes are yummy and very reasonably priced. Beignets aren't NOLA good, but they are yummy with the chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. Great service. Gonna start working the new rewards program. BBQ nachos, here I come!
We were seated and our ordered were taken right away. We've literally been waiting for an hour for our food to come other people who arrived after us have been served before us. Our waitress hasn't even came to our table to even apologize or let us know what's going on with our food all we ordered were some grilled chicken sandwiches and a soup.
(1)
Melissa L.
First time here, table for 1..kinda got seated right by the door and right behind the lady seats everyone...ehhhh.not a great place to sit..people walking right behind me kept brushing up on the chair. Mike was my server, super friendly and pretty awesome at refilling my cherry Pepsi without me asking. Ordered a Shrimp poboy deluxe which came with 2 sides. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy. The macaroni was so cheesy and delicious and the gravy on these potatoes was a phenomenal. The po boy was delicious although it could have used a little bit more Chipotle mayo ( at least I think that's what it was). The shrimp in the po boy are huge and very good. It does take a minute to figure out how to grasp the sandwich so that all the lettuce and tomato on fallout. But overall besides the seating I have no complaints and will definitely be coming back here very soon.
(4)
Qleanne D.
If you live in Burbank you know Chucks is the hot place to eat! Great southern style food! May seem pricey but once you see how big your portion is you'll understand! Sides are fantastic! Everything about Chucks is great.
(5)
Kimber F.
The food was excellent, and the service was great too. The portions, even the kids menu items, were very big and two meal worthy. The music and atmosphere were upbeat. I had the Danish salad and it was huge and tasty. Great place and will definitely go again!
(5)
carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. Its places like this that remind me not to eat at chain restaurants. This place is everything you want in a BBQ restaurant. Just make sure you make reservations no matter what time it is. Started with the Seafood Gumbo. Great if not better than any Cajun Joint. A lot of Seafood. Excellent. I had the Beef Brisket, with side of Mac and Cheese, and Chipotle Rice. Tender Beef, Cheesy Mac. Tasted the Ribs. Tender and SMOKEY. And OH the GREEN BEANS, a must. Made with Bacon. Great portions at a reasonable price. And as I was eating my dessert, Coconut Banana Cream pie, Chuck himself came by and asked how everything was. He told me he tried making the pie I was eating with Merange instead of cream, but never came out right. He just hired a Pastry Chef and will soon put it back on the menu. There are some Mexican dishes on the menu from his days working for Rick Bayless. This was a Mothers Day that felt more like a Fathers Day!!!
(5)
Betty H.
Food 4: nachos, bbq platter, fried shrimp Service:5 Cleanliness:5 Will definitely be back
(5)
Diana G.
Went back and it was better this time around. We started off with the chicken tinga tostadas. Good flavors, but a bit pricey since it's just really served on 4 tortilla chips. Rib Tips were nice and meaty and my guy and I actually enjoyed the Carolina sauce. Cole slaw was okay, but the beans were too salty and peppery. I think we'll be back for the rib tips and some ribs next time. To me, their sides are lacking or not too my taste.
(3)
Grace J.
Walking in here I was very skeptical. A family member made reservations for a group of 8 on a Saturday night...i asked why? He said just wait and see. As soon as we arrived I saw several people waiting for a table. Since we had reservations we were seated right away! Awesome! Ordering was no problem, we all wanted the same thing...RIBS! The waitress and other staff members were very friendly and on point! Now the wait for the ribs begin. Sitting and having great conversation with great people made the time seem fast because before I knew it out food arrived. It looked and smelt wonderful. That first bite is pretty amazing. The meat melted in your mouth and had great flavor. However, I was not too fond of their sauces. The original was ok but the spicy version...no! Just no! Other than that it was great. I will probably come back again and try something else and see... thanks!
(4)
Michelle F.
Chuck's was fantastic! Every April to May 5th they do a special Cinco de Mayo special menu. My mouth was salivating at every day's specials. We ordered the appetizer of Caribbean jerk chicken wings with mango bbq sauce - AMAZING. Also the cinco de mayo special I ordered (forgive me I don't remember the name) filet skewered bobs over black bean rice and ancho-wild mushroom sauce. The meat was tender, black bean rice on point and the sauce divine. I plan my next visit this Sunday with the Caribbean jerk wings for sure!
(4)
Natalie D.
Oysters on the half shell were better than I expected. Tasted fresh however I need to pick on them a little: the juice was spilled out so they were dry (not how I like them), they didn't come with lemon, the cocktail sauce needed more horse radish, and most importantly, the oysters need to be cut from their shells!! It's frustrating bc SO many places don't do it and it's essential. The Cesar was blah but it's a bbq place so I wasn't shocked. My family loves the corn beef here: it tastes like the world"s juiciest bacon! It's amazing. I have to admit though that their BBQ sauce tastes gross! It was basically A.1 sauce which I am not a fan of. It's strange bc the place smelled like sweet bbq sauce. They have an amazing beer list! I am a huge fan of IPAs and they totally had me covered. Over all, I would go back. I want to try some of their specialty dishes.
(3)
Kouklah M.
Horrible experience I wish they would have done something about this because they have lost a customer the food was cold and bland the ribs were full of fat basically paid for the pig fat! Not a good dining experience and it sucks when they don't try to fix the problem to make the experience better save your money go somewhere else!!!!!
(1)
Rocky R.
Best breakfast ever! I work at a breakfast cafe and I go here on my days off (mostly because its closer) but the food is so good. My waitress mariam is the best I tried going to the other location in darien and they wouldn't give me what I wanted but every time I come here she gives me exactly what I want, I can never finish a full Benedict so she let's me order a half! Awesome! Def recommend coming here to all my friends and family. I always get the juavos ala frontera its black beans and chorizo in a sope instead of English muffin it's ridiculously good and the blueberry pancakes are right on point. Another favorite of mine is the biscuits and gravy you can't go wrong. I look forward to coming here!
(5)
Amy R.
Two words, my friends: BEIGNET BRUNCH. Chuck's has one. Oh yes they do. I completely dropped the mardi gras ball this year - didn't celebrate, didn't get beads, didn't anything. However, my extraordinarily pregnant dear friend DID remember, and was desperately craving beignets. A quick internet search unearthed Chuck's, and this past Saturday, we finally found time to go. We started our meal with - duh - beignets. Crispy fried on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and served with delicious creme anglais and chocolate dipping sauces. We devoured them. I could have had about six more orders of those, but we pushed onward to our meal. I had the Cajun eggs Benedict, which was a delightful mix of greens, andouille sausage, hollandaise, and eggs atop English muffins, served with a side of hash browns. It wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious, and it wasn't insanely inventive, but it was good. The husband got a skillet he wasn't head-over-heels for, and my friend got the stuffed french toast that looked AMAZE - pain perdu style, with big thick slices of french bread stuffed with creamy filling. Brunch for three with drinks and beignets, tax and tip was like 45ish bucks, which is not unreasonable, and our server was perfectly pleasant. The beignets themselves were 5 star, and everything else was decent enough to return if I was in the neighborhood. Worth checking out!
(3)
Bob D.
This is my third review over the last 7 years, it keeps plummeting in quality. I have given up actually reading the menu that is adorned with Chucks arrogant mug. The sides taste like someone went dumpster diving at the nearest nursing home, cold fries, mealy green beans, pasty black beans. No attempt in quality control can be seen. The host has been there for years, she still walks us to the table and turns and walks right through me, I know, it is petty, but I think it represents the culture of mediocrity that is rampant. Hey Chuck, how about some surprise taste tests on the line instead of having another portrait done, I nearly fucking choked when I saw the calendar of events that listed "Dinner with Chuck", it had your whole schedule lined up. I haven't seen you in a few years, but if I "dine with Chuck" I will be sure to ask you to bring my kids some freshly cooked catfish. Here is a short list of grievences, No dressing on salad Bread is of the lowest quality fries are never fresh Beans always taste like yesterdays Cream soups have reduced to the consistency of paste (add water genius!) The Tamale casserole is an abomination, please serve one to your mentor Rick Bayless and see if he can even swallow Chicken noodle soup was the overcooked debris from the bottom of the stock pot, you couldn't tell where the broth started and the bones /meat began, a class act of horror all the way. I have lost my motivation for this review, I will continue to get breakfast on occasion, and I will continue to get a bowl of brunswick stew while my friends and family gorge themselves on slop.
(2)
Denise C.
Chucks is a great restaurant if you haven't been! Good prices also. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was there food use to be better. Not only in taste but in quality. They would throw in more items and now it seems they charge you for the napkins! I get It though, they moved into a bigger location , so prices had to go up.
(3)
Tom C.
Great Southern BBQ! We came here for some lunch with my coworkers. I ordered the Chuck's Special and it was out of this world. The beef brisket was very tender. The Mac and Cheese was yummy and the cole slaw was delish. It's really rare to find a restaurant that has sweet tea. I was happy to know they had it on their menu. Our waiter took her time to explain today's specials. I will be back to try other BBQ goodies! I highly recommend this barbecue restaurant. #SeñorFood
(5)
Rico R.
Went here for dinner the other week, what a total waste! I ordered the BBQ Brisket which was a little pricey, but I was like hey this place sounds good so it should be worth it - it wasn't! Portions were very small, and the brisket was meh. The sides were so small I had to ration it in order to have some left for my undesirable brisket. And man the brisket... wasn't even tender, didn't even taste spectacular. I wasn't the only one either, others in my group didn't care for their food either. Unless you're desperate, don't go here.
(2)
Dymond B.
Everything is awesome about this place. Good drinks fantastic food, and great specials everyday.
(5)
Dawn C.
Good welcome when we arrived. Recommend getting a reservation. Parking lot was full at 6pm We started with the nachos Omg the nachos . Amazingly delicious . They have 3 separate types of toppings . With pulled pork . My side salad was good . Heirloom tomatoes red peppers . Saturday special is really good too!
(5)
Dolores Z.
We just got home after dining at Chuck's. It had been awhile since we were there, cold weather, so we gave it a go. We are always asked if we have a reservation. This time, we did, which seemed to delight the hostess. We were promptly seated. Server Jaqui greeted us, set us up with water, and shortly returned to take our drink orders. Chuck's has a notable beer list, I think 120 selections. There's a punch card program, and they put your name on a wall plaque somewhere if you manage to try all of them. Fun for the beer lovers, for sure. Good selection of hearty soups! I had chicken tortilla, very tasty. Hubby had cream chicken rice, rich and filling. Of course, Chuck's claim to fame is the barbecue, and it does not disappoint! I had a combo of pulled chicken and pulled pork with Carolina BBQ sauce. Hubby had brisket with mild sauce, lean and perfectly tender. There's several sauce choices, so you can pick your fave. For sides, we chose the creamy Mac n cheez, Creole green beans, mashed potatoes, and a tomato chipotle rice. All were well seasoned and quite satisfying. There was a Kahlua chocolate pecan pie for dessert, but I can't tell about that as I was pretty full and ordered it to go, can't wait to try it. It was a great experience, except for one thing. When we got home, hubby noticed the front license plate frame was broken, the plate was bent, and snow was packed into the car's grille. Valet service is free, but definitely was not a value added service. The car got messed up! It is new, only 1100 miles on it. Would not have tipped the kid $10 if we noticed it! I did call Chuck's, spoke with a manager, who took my contact info. Hopefully there's no other damage. Do yourself a favor and park it yourself!
(3)
Anabel S.
Service was great but food was tasteless. What a disappointment, the brisket lacked flavor, the barbecue sauce was too salty. We barely tasted the food and were kind of embarrassed to leave full plates on the table so when the waiter asked if we wanted to take them to go we said yes, but as soon as we got home I had to throw the food in the trash. Never going back for sure!
(2)
Harry M.
A good change in southern cooking. The flavors pop and the spice is quality. Pulled pork is the best and you choose the sauce to your liking. Try a pulled pork sandwich Memphis style.
(4)
Ellen M.
Chuck's is a friendly, comfortable joint, with great service. It's a place all can agree on, thinking multi-generationally. Good barbecue ribs and pulled pork. Excellent coleslaw. I will skip the ceviche next time. Good beer list. Many to choose from, from around the globe. I had a sazerac that surprised me; it appeared to have been shaken and strained, while I'm accustomed to a gentle stirring without ice. It grew on me as I sipped it.
(3)
Tom T.
Everything here is good. I almost always get the two meat combo; ribs and brisket. The brisket is always cooked perfectly and ribs are as well.
(5)
Kristin M.
This place has been featured on all those food shows and for good reason! It's so good! I always get the Chuck's special sandwich with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. Carb overload. Their macaroni and cheese will change your life. They also have a ton of beers on special, I think it's actually over 100. They have a club where if you try all the beers on the menu (not in one day!) you get a tshirt and your name on the wall. They recently added breakfast to the menu. When I had it there I had the French toast and thought it was excellent. My boyfriend had the stuffed French toast and that was kind of weird so I wouldn't recommend that. I love that they take reservations for breakfast because most breakfast places won't do that. Don't forget to bring you work ID! Wednesday health care workers get a discount and Thursday teachers get one!
(5)
Jay M.
I had the super sampler the brisket was pretty dry and the catfish was a little salty. I also tried the seafood cakes and they were delicious. The sides weren't bad but they didn't have a lot of flavor. Overall it was ok food but not worth the price.
(3)
Marcy S.
My son in-law always orders take-out dinner from Chucks and the food is always very good so my husband and I decided to stop in for breakfast, Awesome is all I could say! I was very pleased with the way the food taste and the friendly fast service.
(5)
Hugh P.
BBQ in Chicago, a treat!
(3)
Dena S.
Have had awesome food and service every time. On weekends I recommend reservations as it gets super busy. Highly recommend for any meal!
(5)
J C.
Love Cajun, Latin, and tex mex food. I've had some good food here and great catered party food too. But service can be rushed and spotty. Had good ribs one time- went back a month later and they were tough and fatty- so much so that my teenager would not eat. The gumbo was good as was the pibil. Would like to see a simple blackened piece of chicken or fish not slathered in sauce on the menu. Love the VooDoo lounge too
(3)
Steven M.
This is my second time here. The first was about 8 years ago and I don't remember the place being this big. I had a Groupon for a paint nite and I met a friend at the bar before hand. I had a chicken quesadilla and this honkin plate comes out with a hubcap filled with chicken and cheese. It was on the better side of delicious. I was pleasantly stuffed. The painting was my first time at bat and I had a wonderful time. I annoyed the instructor a bit as he babbled on. I just did my own thing. That's the concept of a good time!
(4)
Aesha W.
Last time I went to St. Louis, about a year ago, I stopped into Bogart's for some BBQ. After that, I found I got a craving and rather than drive 5+hours to Missouri, I decided to stop into Chuck's. They've been on Check Please and garnered other accolades, so I figured I'd start here on my Chicago BBQ tour. I really like Chucks, and it's been my default BBQ place when I have a hankering for it. It's a long drive from my place on the north side, so I don't get there terribly often--once a month or so. I don't like ribs, brisket, and what not, and Chuck's has pulled chicken so I have something that I can always get something I like (it seems that a lot of other places don't have the pulled chicken). They also have daily specials, which have always been great when I've had them. The staff is friendly, quick and the food is great, so don't hesitate to stop by the Burbank or Darien locations if you're nearby and want some great BBQ. There's a bar adjacent to the restaurant, so you can eat on either side. They have a large parking lot, but also offer free valet because there are times when it gets pretty packed. DO NOT park on the side streets; you've been warned. One last note--once per month, Chuck's has a beignet breakfast. They offer breakfast daily, but the beignets are only available on certain Saturdays (check the website for details). I have never had beignets before, but did visit here one Saturday to give them a taste. They were great, but I probably won't make the trip out there for them. Mostly it's because the breakfast was not much different than a breakfast I'd get a lot closer to my house, and it's too long a drive out there just for the beignets.
(5)
Lauren H.
Very disappointed in Chuck's. I went here years ago and the food was so much better. This time I ordered delivery and they forgot part of my order. It took an additional 30mins for the rest of my order to arrive and they didn't offer any compensation for the incomplete delivery or the wait. There was no free drink, no coupon for a future purchase, nothing. Why would I ever order anything from you again if you can't deliver a complete order? The food was mediocre and the portions very small for the price. There are better places to get "southern" food in Chicago that don't cost nearly as much. The catfish dinner is a few catfish strips not a dinner, the brownie is small, hard, and cold for $3. I could go on and on. This place is the definition of soul food made with no soul.
We went to Chuck's for Easter Brunch.... It was served family style, which was fine. It was all you can eat and our table only had one "round" of food. We had a good amount of the meats leftover and we had asked for a box to take it home. The waitress told us that they do not allow doggie bags for family style meals. She told us that they just throw it away, which is absolutely awful and very wasteful... Take away the fact that it was $21/person for the food. Very wasteful... The food was good, we just simply wanted to take some of it home so that we could enjoy it later as a sandwich or something.
(2)
Jaclyn H.
I think the mac and cheese is the bomb here. Never had any issues with that. The beef is normally pretty good occasionally kind of dry. Over all good place
(4)
Sandy V.
This place is amazing there food is so good for breakfast lunch or dinner everything is made to order . You can go there for a month n never have the same thing the staff is pleasant helpful all the time
(5)
Cory S.
Underwelmed.. but maybe because I had high expectations based on what I'd heard. They do have a HUGE selection of beer, local and far reaching. Absolutely no complaints about the service or beer selection. I had the brisket and pulled pork combo with mac and cheese and green beans. The green beans were the star of the show.. they were great and I'd eat them a few times a week if they were available. The mac n cheese are adequate, nothing horrible or amazing. The pulled pork was average. It was decent flavor and consistency.. not too fatty, not too lean. The brisket was cooked too hot. It wasn't as tender as it should have been and lacked a deep smoke ring. The flavor was lacking since it was cooked hot and probably burned off before it had a chance to penetrate the meat.
(3)
Michael J.
I lived in justice for sometime and I went their I love the crab cakes and the BBQ I would like to try it again.
(5)
Tony H.
Jack Frost drink special was nice. Pleasantly surprised by the depth of the beer list. First had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, great, with the jerk wings as an appetizer good flavor but super spicy, the cornbread is good also. Drinks are a good value. Had the smoked brisket dinner it was okay.
(4)
Eric A.
Great smoked brisket, pulled pork and links, The big three when I hear bar b q. Atmosphere is great, very spacious.
(5)
Debbie M.
great prices for high quality food. Was always 5 star but things have slipped just a bit. Hope they catch it before it slips further. Still, great, interesting food and fantastic drinks at reasonable prices
(4)
Loren T.
Great breakfast. Biscuits and gravy have soggy biscuits at most locations, but chucks biscuts are still crispy, eggs are superb. Lots of grest options, most people leave with doggy bags, lots of food. When available, is the best chicken fried steak around.
(5)
Liz M.
I walked in here for the first time ever tonight. Friendly staff, BUT.....my waitress notified me that they were out of ribs. I was disappointed because like I said before it was my first time here, and I've read that their ribs are delicious and I couldn't wait to try them for myself. I came here around 7:30pm so I don't understand how they ran out of ribs. I'm not sure if I will ever go back :(
(2)
J J.
Food was blah!! Ribs tasted like they were baked. Fell off the bone to easy for good smoked ribs and was also drowned in some weird bbq sauce. If the ribs are cooked right there's no need for all that sauce. A little is fine but they put way too much on. Mac n Cheese=Nope! Try Again. Green Beans tasted canned. The mash potatoes with the sage gravy was the best thing. If i do go back i'll try some of their cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, etc. I was told after the fact that those type of dishes are way better. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very nice though.
(2)
Matt F.
Always great food when you eat in. Sometimes delivey is not consistent. Pulled pork is always well done and the spicy bbq sauce is the bomb. I do know prices are going up on food, but prices have been increased alot.
(4)
Kevin S.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Despite the confusing name, the Mexican themed breakfast menu had so many delicious sounding options. My wife and I both order one of "Chuck's Favorites" (and were so angry that our stupid stomachs filled up so fast because we wanted to keep eating). I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy which was delicious (and a little sweet), but I couldn't eat very much because it was so rich (and might heart cried uncle). The chef has certainly done his mentor (Rick Bayless) well. I just wish we could have stayed for some brisket (the smell when you walk in is amazing!) . . . next time.
(5)
Paul C.
As a native burbank resident, I always see this restaurant lot jam-picked. And rightfully so.. As what I would call Burbank "A Good Restaurant Desert" similar to a good desert. As this suburb lack good quality food. This establishment serving as the one and only. Enough to appeal to a foodie that is... A dated-southern style decor greets you slam in the face when you walk in. It's like a clash of average restaurant meets a dive. Perhaps thats the reason this was featured on a certain Food Network show. Any who, there is a variety of options to satisfy any pick pallet. The food itself is, in very generic terms, is good. It's not memorable, but perhaps this critique is based upon Mr. Chuck and his culinary training w/Rick Bayless. I would've expected more. Still, this isn't saying anything bad about the food, as it is escalated the tier of food served in Burbank. Slightly above average food at slightly above average prices. If you're looking to take a small step above a dive, you found your spot. I will say that they do have quite the beer selection. Overall, this may not be for a foodie, but for an ordinary day in Burbank, this is your best bet.
(2)
Don L.
I want to give Chuck 4 stars. I really do, but just can't get myself to do it. Now, I know that when you come to a restaurant closer to its closing time, you're not going to get the freshest food...but even though that's the norm, it's a poor excuse. I arrived around 8:20 PM on a weeknight and ordered the Baby Back Ribs with Hot Link, with sides of baked beans and mac n cheese. The North Carolina BBQ sauce was DELICIOUS. You can taste the smokiness of the ribs and each rib had a generous portion of meat on it. However, one of my ribs was too burnt to finish. It was pitch black on one end. I love a good juicy hot link. This was NOT good, nor juicy. It was dry, overcooked, and nothing "hot" about it. Again, this may be because I'm came closer to closing time...who knows. The baked beans were watery. The Mac N Cheese tasted like melted Velveeta on the cheese, but I like some Velveeta. It wasn't a bad meal...Matter of fact, I have a hunch that if I came around 6 PM, it would have been much better. This is #52 on my quest to eat at all the Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives in America!
(3)
M K.
Been here a couple times now, great food! Great service! Pulled Pork nachos are delic.
(5)
Mike D.
This place is simply fantastic. Anyone giving it less than 4 stars is either a competitor or someone that had an isolated horrible incident. Yes. Sometimes you'll miss out on the stuffed shrimp, mac and cheese etc. It's simply because they have sold out of it by time you order. EVERYTHING is fresh and homemade. Unreal BBQ and just fantastic food - go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
John B.
So, the other day I was stuck in a snow storm with the wife and kids. I decided I was hungry and found this place on Yelp. DON'T TRUST YELP OR GOOGLE FOR DIRECTIONS!! Way off! Just get on the street and go to the address, its huge, can't miss it! Valet Park, it's just easy and free! This place is a mix of culture, it has lots of influences but I would say its first a BBQ Place, next a Cajun place and a little bit of Mexican influence. Wait staff was very attentive, made you feel like family. Food: I have to say that Flavor is king here. Huge Portions and everything is just right. First up, BBQ Pork nachos: Big plate covered and layered in toppings, fresh ingredients and real cheese, not that yellow gunk. I give it a solid 10! Jambalaya with Craw-fish and Shrimp: This one is a hot one, my wife could not eat it but I loved it! Very large portion with a tomato pepper sauce. I really like the flavors and they did not skimp on the seafood! The tomato sauce was a little strange, I dug it but having live in New Orleans kind of odd on the plate. Overall an 8! Rib tips: This was a solid rib tip, nice and tender, good smoke, good sauce. Had some slaw with it and it was a good cream based slaw. Think KFC but homemade. Solid 8 Kiddos: Let me say the Price/Portion was overly fair. Lots of food, Drink and a Dessert! Fried fish strips: This was really tasty, My wife and I ended up eating a bunch of it. I would have just ordered that myself. 10 Mac and Cheese... In a world of Baked mac and cheese ruling the BBQ Joint menus, I was amazed at the great flavor and creaminess. I also had a side on my plate and this was a good quality basic Mac. 9 BBQ Pork Sliders: Honey bun, great sweet pork, Nuff said! 9 All of the plates came with a big portion of homemade battered fries that were very tasty. That said I would have like to see a more healthy option for the side and admittedly I did not ask, but I did not see one.(I know I know, It's a f-ing BBQ place, but my kids like fruit and stuff, I didn't say I want it... Sheesh) Lastly, we had a Brownie ala-mode, this was much bigger than I was expecting. Good brownie, could use better ice-cream. 6 Over all this is one of the best Family style, huge portion, fair priced, friendly BBQ joints around!
(5)
David S.
We ate in the Voodoo Lounge. I liked the atmosphere - it's a fun place to have some food and drinks. But the server suggested a bourbon ale which wasn't great. I later came to find (from the same server) they were trying to finish the keg so they could tap a new Lagunitas beer, which I would have really preferred over her suggestion. I ordered the cochinita pibil. It was good but, to me, not worth the $13 price tag. Between the bourbon ale and the overpriced entree, I walked away like "meh."
(3)
Alex R.
Favorite date night spot. I'm currently attempting to climb the 120 hall of fame, and getting to try some awesome beers and food because of it. Always recommend, Great deals too!
(5)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review do not go here i live close by it n saw it on diners drive in n dives so i went the food was not good if u want the best barbeque food go to hog wild or wild hog i always forget which one comes first it is the best food its cheap n the portions are huge its far but trust me i live in midway n i go there as much as possible because its amaizin
(1)
Mike B.
I've been dating a girl that grew up in burbank, and since we started dating she's insisted that she had to take me to Chuck's. A few nights ago we finally made the trip down here, and I was amazed by the quality of the food. We ended up getting a bowl of the cream of chicken and rice soup, buffalo chicken strips, a plate of nachos, a couple of bloody marys, and a couple of dark beers. For me, the soup was the highlight. I've never had soup this delicious in my life, and I don't believe better soup exists in this world. It's very thick, and easy to eat by simply scooping it up with bits of bread they give you. The flavor of the chicken strips was also spicy but not too overpowering. The nachos were also very good. I believe they make their own tortilla chips? Aye, pretty much all of the food and drinks were great. I would like for the bloody marys to be a bit spicier, and served in a pint glass instead of the glass that they serve them in (don't know how big it is, but i prefer the shape of a pint glass). The waitress was a little slow, but that wasn't much of a problem, and perfectly understandable given how many people were there. I will definitely be coming back here in the near future. I would come here weekly if I could. Will probably make it a monthly routine, since it takes a while to get here from Bridgeport.
(5)
Barb W.
We went for the first time for Valentine's Day dinner and the food was excellent. The lobster bisque had huge chunks of lobster and was to die for! The side salad was big and very delicious! The prawns were a little too spicy where it over played the crab. The garlic mashed potatoes are amazing and I am not a fan of mashed potatoes. The creme brulee was the best I've had abd the profiteral melted in your mouth! Our waitress Dani was the best, very knowledgeable and friendly. If she didn't have an answer she immediately got one. We will most definitely make the trip back!
(5)
Charlene G.
The services is great, but the food is average to me. I expected it to be better than Famous Dave's and it was the same. In Bar B Que, I look for competition type food and Chuck's is simply ok.
(3)
Macon P.
Must try the Jalapeno cornbread! Brisket is perfect, moist & juicy with tons of favor. No other place close to perfection in barbeque in the area. You can't go wrong here with any choice. Was featured a few years ago on Diners, Drives & Dives with Guy Fieri.
(4)
Paul M.
Staff does not know any English I think they snuck across the border. Got my order wrong 3 times I even had to. And tell them what I wanted. Never going there again until they start hiring people who know English
(1)
Special E.
Chucks is a south side treasure. I am What one would call a regular. Or at least I was til I moved to floriduh. Breakfast lunch or dinner. Never a bad meal. While I have tried most items on the menu I keep going back for the brisket and ribs with the hot BBQ sauce. Honestly the only thing I don't like at chucks is the sausage gravy on the biscuits and gravy and that's only because it's more complex than a good old fashioned gravy. When I come back to Chicago first place I go is chucks for some food. Only a poet could describe chucks. And I'm a barbarian
(5)
Sandra A.
I had the ribs and rib tips. Neither was good, including the sauce. The service was terrible. Our server acted put out by having to take our order and was very unpleasant. At one point she almost walked away before we placed our dessert order. Then she disappeared for 20 minutes. When we got annoyed and said we didn't want it anymore, suddenly she was friendly and concerned. We won't be returning. Disappointed as the menu is well varied and environment is appealing.
(1)
Chris D.
Disappointed. Granted, we didn't get the regular barbeque. We got an off-menu Mexican pork special that takes all night to make that some of us had seen on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'. They had to check and see if it was available, and eventually they got back on the phone and let us order it. When it arrived it tasted like regular pulled pork with some Mexican seasoning mixed in, and one of our party who had eaten the dish before said it tasted like nothing like the last time they had it. Sort of a disjointed taste. I honestly really wonder if it wasn't just pulled pork that they threw the seasoning into. I tend to avoid doing things like ordering Mexican at a non-Mexican joint, but it came highly recommended. Either it was an honestly mediocre dish or a dishonest offering, either way, we were disappointed. I'll give them one more shot, order the real 'que, and update accordingly.
(2)
Marisa G.
Service is great and the food is awesome. I really enjoy their cafe de Olla in the mornings. Love this place!
(5)
Tish B.
Took my sister here for her birthday for breakfast. OMG!! The waitstaff,the atmosphere and the food was GREAT! We can't wait to get back for lunch & dinner LOL!!! They deserved 5 stars! The place was clean,we were seated right away. I can't wait to vist again and SOON and bring some more of my family!
(5)
Courtney M.
I am not going to lie...I was extremely suspicious of all the raving reviews regarding Chuck's. The reason for my suspicion was because I am in love with all things cajun and I grew up with cajun food on the table on a routine basis. My grams is cajun and well, let's just say I was ready to see what this place was all about. The building itself is nice and it was extremely calm and quiet when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The waitress was friendly and attentive as well. But I am not really writing this review to discuss the service (although it really was great). I am writing this review because of the joy and warm fuzzies I felt when I tasted my shrimp etouffee. Nothing can compare to good old n'awlins food, but this dish was truly delightful. The sauces were spicy and the shrimp was very tasty- both pleased my palate. After consuming the massive lunch portion placed before me, I moved on to the bananas foster with crepes. This too was delicious and an interesting change from the original style. Overall, this place had very good southern food for being in a random suburb in Illinois. I left full, fat and happy- what more could you ask for??!
(4)
Jessica H.
Have been here twice now, once for dinner (good) and most recently for breakast (subpar). Definitely wouldn't come back here for breakfast. At the recommendation of our server I had the chilaquiles which I found to be totally flavorless. The tomato sauce was bland and I asked for easy onions, and what I ended up with was none of the toppings that were supposed to come with the dish: monterey jack cheese, onions, and cilantro. Though I was hungry I ate virtually none of the food and came home and ate breakfast there, if that tells you anything. Would have been a two-star score if not for the good dinner experience. Would return for dinner, but not for breakfast.
(3)
Lashone E.
Great food! Once a month my sisters and I find a new place to eat. If the food is good we'll recommend it to our families and friends. Well, I ended up buying take out from Chucks the next day because the leftovers I brought home was demolished by my family. This is a winner! Great food, you get plenty of it and the service was awesome!
(5)
Cesar M.
I have been here many times over the years . I was here yesterday for lunch with a friend. This friend lives about an hour away and every time he comes to visit, he wants to come eat here, he says they have the best BBQ ribs he has ever had. Now that I write about it, does he come to see me and takes advantage to go eat here or? since he is coming to eat here he decides to spend some time with me??? I need to have a serious talk with this guy. The ribs are good and mostly everything, but every once in a while Chuck will come up with a new dish that is not as good as everything else, big points for the creativity but not for the taste. As an example, last time I was here we ordered some kind of quesadillas that were just a little odd in flavor. Normal, I guess for restaurants to try something and see if it works. Mostly everything is good here tough. Yesterday we had full slab of ribs with green beans and baked potato. Brisket sandwich with mash potatoes and coleslaw. Everything was good. I also had to have a bowl of Chuck's red, so good and flavorful reason enough to keep coming back just for this. My friend also ordered a poblano cream soup that was delicious. Chuck's good food, nice service
(4)
Joanne D.
I have been going to Chucks since 98 when I worked down the street from the little tiny building he had on the corner of the strip mall. Since I moved to the western suburbs anytime that I am near the south side of chicago I have to stop by and either dine in or take out. A lot of the same people from the early days of Chuck are still there when I pop in and out to eat. I really like the service and especially the amazing food. I highly recommend you try the salad with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette OMG that is to die for. I would eat that by the truck loads if I could. I don;t know if they still have it anymore but I was a BIG fan of his homemade Thai Noodle Salad another one to look out for if it's available. The soups are always made fresh so it does not taste like a processed soup at all. The ribs will fall off of the bone ...yum So if your in a hurry I would say pre order for take out, but if you have time and your kids are past that age of running around. Go there because you want to definitely make sure that you can sit down and soak in the amazing food. Oh yeah - order the homemade mac and cheese HEAVEN!
(5)
Andrew M.
Had lunch today, best Rib Tips I ever had, good Chili too, I have to invest in a smoker, made a really big difference from just baking in the oven then slapping on the grill, keep up the good work
(5)
Julia C.
The ribs are meaty and tender. I had the mild sauce and it was great! The baked beans were very good but a little spicy for me. The server was nice and efficient.
(4)
Paul S.
This is the go-to place for my wife and I. The rotating specials menu is always great and the regular items are always delicious. Pulled pork sandwich and the hot links are great. Mashed potatoes and green beans are amazing sides.
(5)
Stina N.
I've reviewed Chuck's Fest but never Chuck's; how did that even happen?!? Chuck's is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the south burbs. My favorite dish is definitely the fish tacos which are, regrettably, only available on Mondays. The BBQ nachos are fantastic. Truly, I don't think there's anything here that isn't delicious. The beer is list out of this world - over 120 options to choose from! And there's a prize if you managed to drink all 120 (not in one night of course. The only prize for that much beer is probably death by alcohol poisoning.) Beyond the awesome food and vast array of beers, I love the fact that Chuck's has also started producing some of their own produce. During the cooking demo at Chuck's Fest this year, I learned that they bought land in Hickory Hills and started farming, and if I remember correctly the goal is to make the farm self sustaining. Be still my tree-hugging heart! In the sea of chain restaurants and greasy spoon diners that make up the eateries of the south suburbs, Chuck's rises above as an absolute star.
(5)
Kevin M.
Simply the best
(5)
Star L.
You know a place is going to be great when the chef/owner has learned from Rick Bayless! What I love about Chuck's is it isn't a chain, and the food is very good! I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and Cajun green beans, and it did not disappoint. The portions were sizeable and filling, and everything was fresh (I had a takeout order and live 25 minutes away; it was still hot and tasty when I got home). There appears to always be a variety of food options to choose from, not to mention a small area where you can buy BBQ sauce and rubs, and daily food specials. The staff was also very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable about the menu. This was my first experience with Chuck's, and I will be definitely back when the craving for BBQ hits...or maybe breakfast, as it is also served here.
(5)
Steve H.
Finally got to try this place as my GF and I were in the area at a mechanic getting her car fixed. The menu is rather huge which can be intimidating as you may feel that the kitchen might lose focus for some or all of their dishes. Yet none of them disappoint. We went the EXACT opposite in our menu choices... I with their BBQ platter and she with their vegetarian enchiladas. The BBQ platter was ginormous for about $15!! It came with a side of fries and cajun style green beans. Both were quite tasty, but they certainly know how to smoke some quality BBQ cuts of meat. My half slab of ribs and pile of brisket were oh so tender with pink smoke rings bursting with flavor! The GF's vegetarian enchiladas were topped with a green mole sauce that was out of this world. My taste buds usually reject any mole sauce that touches them, but for some reason the taste just made them sing non-stop "Allelujah". Chuck has been quoted that he takes pride in adequately seasoning his kitchen creations and I couldn't agree anymore. Even though the tables are stocked with plenty of BBQ sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper dispensers, not once did I ever had to reach out for anyone of them! 120 Beers on hand in their Voodoo Lounge??? This place is amazing, I'm in love!
(5)
Ashley C.
Everything I have gotten here has been amazing! Their soup, sandwiches, sides and their breakfasts are all amazing! They have the best hands down biscuits and gravy I have ever had!!! I also love that they have a decent size craft beer selection! All for a decent price!
(5)
Marlyse W.
Brisket in brisket dinner had a lot of connective tissue which made it a bit hard to eat. Mac and cheese good but not spectacular. Service friendly very good and friendly. I would go again if I'm in the neighborhood but I wouldn't make a special trip. The roasted shrimp etoufee was tasty.
(3)
Roxy H.
Great BBQ smack dab in the middle of Burbank Illinois. Wow. I like this place. The barbeque sauces are great. The green beans are soooooooooo good! I love that they let you sample the many sauces they have to figure out what kind you want on your food. The portions are huge. The pulled chicken is great. I've had it for lunch while at work and I didn't have that sluggish sleepy feeling afterwards. Yay!
(5)
Tamika S.
Chuck's is a nice spot! They have indoor and outdoor seating The food is good & full of flavor! They have a nice variety of food on the menu (Creole, Mexican, & Southern highlights) and an array of yummy desserts! I've dined in and ordered take out. Both experiences were pleasant as the wait staff have all been friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. They have a lounge called the "Voodoo lounge" of which I have yet to try! I'll be returning to this place and will be sure to visit the lounge! If you are in the area check it out!
(4)
Michelle H.
I am not a saucy girl. I desire it dry, rubbed and smoked. (BBQ, that is.) So when heading to Chucks, I was glad to see their very extensive menu had not only BBQ, but a hodgepodge mix of comfort food, burgers, and Mexican inspired dishes. If you are heading there with a larger party (we had 8), call ahead for reservations. The Sunday afternoon we were here, the place was packed with a line out the door. Granted, it was St. Patrick's Day, and smoked corned beef brisket was the rage of the day. Our server was simply wonderful. He was able to time the appetizers and meals perfectly, offer menu suggestions, and explain in detail the odd assortment of decorations adorning the walls. We started out with jalapeno cornbread and butter, and a few orders of the pulled pork nachos. The cornbread was served in a skillet, with a small scoop of butter on top. It was good, but awfully dry and in need of extra sides of butter. The nachos were great! Your normal nacho toppings, but with juicy and flavorful shredded pork. To me, it was the highlight of the meal. After reading the descriptions of their different BBQ sauces, I decided on a pulled pork sandwich with North Carolina sauce. I specifically ordered my with sauce only, as opposed to "North Carolina Style," which means they dump cole slaw on your sandwich. Unfortunately it came out with the slaw on the meat. So after a few minutes of meticulously pulling cabbage shreds from my port, I thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich. The N.C. sauce was fabulous. I despise sweet sauce, and was pleased with the vinegar based spicy sauce that encased my gloriously tender pulled pork! Since the portions are huge, no one really had any room to sample deserts. I will be back here, since BBQ I love is hard to find. Plus, with the menu being so large, I will not run out of things to try. My only regret is that I didn't eat here when I lived in the area!
(4)
Larry F.
Don't go to a bbq place and order a pork chop like this person (((blast)))
(5)
Carm P.
I see all the 4 and 5 start reviews, that's the reason why we went. IDK? Off night I guess, I left there very disappointed. The one things that really stuck out for the night was the service, Granted we had a 12 top, 4 of which were kids. In no way shape or form do I ever expect a 12 top to come out all in once but it took 4 rounds to get the food out and another 3 trips to get everyone their to tortillas, 3 of the containers originally came to the table empty. The food runners kept trying to give our food to the table behind us on more then one occasion. I had the BBQ brisket sandwich, 3 chunks of meat held together by the burnt end of the skin. It wasn't very tasty.
(2)
Jenn S.
Sadly, as with a lot of other places, this place fries all their fried food (except fries themselves) with the same exact fryer/oil that they do shellfish in....so sadly we were unable to experience the alligator tail & other appetizers. The main entrees - BBQ wise - were very good!! Some of the best we have found in Chicago so far!!! We didnt try the Cajun stuff but from what I heard from people around us, it is supposed to be very good also. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS PLACE!!!
(3)
Raul D.
The food that I had tried, was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the tastes these different combinations happen to mix on your pallet. Also, the beer selection is rather vast as opposed to other traditional places. This is by far the best places I have the pleasure of eating at since I have the opportunity to travel the country. This place is the shyt!!!! I created an account on yelp to just comment on here! I already knew that this place must be tasty with the parking lot being rather full. That speaks volumes on the cuisine! Also I had the very delightful Cochinita Pebil platter, which happen to be the special of the day for Saturday. It's very tasty and reasonably priced. I probably paid more if they asked for it. Yes, it's that good!
(5)
Steve F.
This place was awesome back when they were just a little joint off central, but since the move, quality has gone down each time I go. It was barely noticeable at first, a few tough bites of chicken, a cold spot in the gumbo, but now, and I was there yesterday, its gotten out of hand. My table, who are all locals, decided to give Chucks one last go before totally writing it off and parting ways with an old friend, so we all ordered something different and something we had not had in a long while. Well, we all made bad decisions. Long story short, the mac and cheese tasted old, like the cheese on top gets that filminess to it; the pot roast taco (the special) looked like soup on a plate because it was so sparingly adorned with meat; the shrimp po boy was tolerable (I mostly attribute this to the fact that messing up a Po Boy is hard to do since its like 5 ingredients). The friends I went with still agree the Beignets are good enough to come back for, and that the drink specials are decent if you can sneak in while the servers aren't totally swamped. Sorry Chuck, but we've had some real bad meals in the past, this most recent one pretty tame by comparison, and its just too far gone.
(2)
Courtney B.
My bf and I love this place!!! We drive up to an hour sometimes from Des Plaines to eat here. Love the bbq, the drinks,and the prices!!!
(5)
Tim C.
I don't really understand why so many people rate this place with 4 and 5 stars. This was my second and last time I will visit this place. This time I had a pulled pork sandwich for lunch with a side of fries and chicken potato chowder. The soup was good, but the fries were terrible. Some sort of frozen crispy coated version of a fry with a mushy gross inside. How hard is it to just put a fresh whole potato through a fry slicer and make fresh delicious fries. As for the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, it was terrible. The pork was very very dry and the covered it with a sauce that tasted like insecticide. I couldn't believe it. It seriously tasted like chemicals. I couldn't even eat it. On a positive note, the service was not bad. Sorry, but I will never go back here again.
(1)
Candace W.
The service was good! And that's where the positive review ends. The food was o...k. I've had MUCH better bbq. Not sure what all the hoopla is about.
(2)
Sara M.
Parent/Teacher conferences? They kinda suck. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe? Awesome regardless of any suck happening in your life. Was able to swing by with a big group from my big-girl job to down some delightful treats for dinner. Originally I eyed up a yummy looking garden salad (unfortunately, one of the few vegetarian options). Then everyone told me I just HAD to have the mac n' cheese. So I figured it was okay to be a little sinful and have a small order on the side. Then someone else ordered quesadillas and once I heard they had guacamole all hell broke lose. Forget veggies. FEED ME CARBS! Mac n' cheese? Delightful. It's a nothing special, no frills, cheesy paradise of goodness. I seriously contemplated ordering another small container to take home with me. Though the macaroni and cheese was incredible, the real winner of the evening was my cheese quesadillas. Usually you see quesadillas on the menu and you know you're getting a hunk of cheese melted between a tortilla. Fortunately, the chef here rocks something fierce and kicked them up a few notches with simple additions. Peppers and onions melted inside? CHECK! Topped with kick-ass pico de gallo? CHECK! To-die-for guacamole on the side? DING DING DING! We have a winner! Waitress kept everything flowing and food coming quickly all afternoon- no complaints regarding service at all. She was super friendly and even had to enlist a few other servers to assist, which she did happily. Food came out relatively quickly and our bellies were fed before round 2 of parent teacher conferences. Now what to sample in Burbank next? This is going to be a tough act to follow. Give me your best, south suburbs!
(5)
Emily B.
I came here last week to meet some girlfriends for dinner. I was pretty excited based on other reviews and the chef's work with Rick Bayless. The good news is that I got to catch up with friends and laugh and carry on quite a bit. The bad news is that the food is pretty meh. Pros: - The food and drinks come out fairly quickly due to the electronic ordering system the wait staff uses. - The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. - The bus staff is very attentive and quick to clear your plates. - There is ample seating and you can make a reservation right here on Yelp. Cons: - Not many sauces to choose from. I went with the North Carolina and there was no real flavor. I couldn't tell that it was vinegar based. - The pulled pork was dried out and had an odd smell to it. - The fries are reminiscent of one Burger King's attempts at "new fries". They have a coating on them and I am pretty sure they are not made on site. Overall I am glad I tried it, but I will stick to other places for BBQ.
(3)
Michele T.
I have eaten here twice now. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times the service was horrible and had messed up orders. Had to request both times to be compensated for the inconvenience by the time the correct food came out everyone in our party was done eating. Next time I will try the Darien location to see how the service is. This location needs to work on the service and maybe some cooking tips. Was told we need to come earlier for breakfast because towards the end of the breakfast rush they are trying to get the orders out before lunch starts.
(2)
Tammy S.
My family and I went for the thanksgiving buffet today. Last year it was fabulous so why not make it a yearly tradition. Last year we waited to be seated and the place was packed(which was fine I'm not complaining about that we expected that) Today we were seated immediately even though we were 30 minutes early(should of been a sign) the restaurant was NOT crowded at all like last year. For the thanksgiving price $24.99 per person we did not even get our bellies full. Three slices of turkey on their smallest plate is hardly enough for a table of 9. We had to constantly keep asking for more of everything. They were bringing out the food as if they were feeding birds not adults that were paying $24.99 a plate. Stuffing was brought out one very small ice cream scoop of stuff in a very small soup cup:( it was good but we do not have enough to go around even after asking for more 2x. The food was not as Good this year(which explains the place being empty) we received our dessert which was a choice of two different parfaits they were served in a small soup cup dish and it was two spoonfuls of custard. My sister asked for another one and was immediately told by the server that she can not bring it home! Why would someone pack up two spoonfuls of a parade it to bring home ha what a tacky way to respond to a customer who asks for a little more than two spoonfuls of parfait who is paying $24.99 for the meal. Service was ok seeing the place was not busy but 3 slices of turkey and 3 slices of ham for 9 people at that price Bd to have to constantly ask for more and get small scoops and scarce slices of meat is ridiculous. Our yearly tradition of keeping Thanksgiving easy at chucks is no longer an option I will be cooking for Thanksgiving next year.
(1)
Chris L.
Pretty tasty BBQ, and decent sized portions, but after all the whoopla I heard about Chucks I was expecting it to be out of this world. I had the Beef Brisket Dinner, which is a plate of brisket along with 2 sides. I chose soup, which was delicious as well as Mac & Chesse, which was average. The Brisket itself was a large portion, and well flavored. I got the spicy bbq sauce on it which had good flavor, and enough spice to let you know it was spicy, but not so much your mouth was on fire. I would definitely give Chucks another try, and may have another star in the holster waiting for it.
(3)
Arthur M.
We got a reservation for 3 on Friday at 8:30 but was not necessary- I'm guessing the rush for the dining room is earlier. The voodoo lounge however was packed. We shared my favorite the complex red mole chili, jalapeño cornbread, and chicago wings to start. The girls got drinks for five dollars. For dinner I had the carne asada. The steak was sliced and a perfect medium rare. There was potatoes, corn and a chile mushroom sauce. I made tacos with the warm tortillas- real good. The dessert menu said banana cream pie hails from Sinoloa, Mexico. I had to get a slice.
Although I don't want to sound like everybody else. We went there for my son's birthday. The food is very good the rib tips are the best I've ever had good size and plenty of good meat on them. My son had the buffalo wings .He is like a wing expert. He is tried all the wings there and likes the buffalo wings the best the sauce is amazing. My wife asked about the soups and Carlos came out with a sample and she choose The seafood Bisque soup she gives it a 10 The only bummer was they were out of baked macaroni and cheese. But Carlos made it up to us by being a great server and very attentive. Even though the place was busy he took his time and recommended dishes we had a good time and a nice dessert was awesome with a candle on it. So give Chuck a try you'll love it..
(3)
Michael O.
Came here because we saw that Guy from DDD had this place on his show. To me, I think a good tasting sauce is the key. I really disliked it and I tried 2 or 3 different ones. Service was good but not worth the trip from Indiana.
(2)
John L.
It's a great place for food and cocktails but ribs are the bomb ...
(5)
Brian Y.
Maybe 7pm on a Friday was a bad time to make my second visit here. First forget finding a parking space in the lot, and the street is posted residential, which leaves valet as your only choice. Valet here is a bunch of unorganized 16 & 17 year old kids that run two blocks to, and from your car. Upon entering you are met with two teenage girls behind a register who don't say a word. The table service was good, however your server does not bring your order which allows for confusion. As for the reason your here, the food, it's only average. I've had brisket from some of the best places in Texas, and this was not even close. My wife had the chicken fried chicken which would have been excellent except it was way too salty. My first visit was about the same, so I'm not sure what all the hype is over this place.
(3)
Lupe G.
...not a fan of the meat itself; but I like their deserts! They make killer banana bread pudding which is served with ice cream & creole (chickory) coffee. They always have specials & their bar is kinda fun. Because I'm not big on their smoked meat & it's always packed, I don't go often but I want to go every first Sunday of the month because they have what they call a Beignet breakfast & I REALLY want to try it!!!
Fun little spot with a ~GREAT~ beer selection. Alligator is always great and it was here also. I had really high hopes for the ribs, but alas I was not overjoyed once they or the rib tips arrived. They were good, fall off the bone style, but required little fanfare. There are just too many other good rib places in Chicagoland, so I don't think I'll be getting that here again. The greens were ok, and the mac 'n cheese had pretty good flavor but nothing to write home about. As far as the Honey Chipotle sauce goes - it was OK, but i didn't get much honey flavor from it. I'd probably stick to the mild / hot sauce. The gumbo a friend got looked really fantastic, but I was not able to try it - next time. The hot sauce - not really hot at all. I found that a bit strange for a place with a wall display of a collection of hot sauces. Both sauces had some OK and different flavor, but where's the heat?! I could barely feel the teeniest amount of burn after loading up a rib with sauce. I visited on Fat Tuesday so we had the benefit of a live bayou style band which was fun. A bit loud in that direction for dinner, but it was a late dinner so I understand. I would definitely come back for some beer, but so far I'll stick to something that fills me up from what I've tried instead of going for great flavor here.
(3)
Nikki M.
I ate outside for my first time here about a month or two ago. Service was a little slow, but the food was well worth the wait! Our table for 2 left us with THREE take-out containers despite completely stuffing ourselves the entire way through. Fantastic BBQ, GIGANTIC half slabs(it took up the whole plate!), and yummy blue cheese salads. I also need to say that for a BBQ joint, this place has killer oysters Rockefeller. I would go back for these alone. The only thing that left something to be desired for me was the mac n cheese. Next time I would get a different side. Don't forget to order a beer as the list is gigantic... easily over 100 different kinds. You'll like the food. It's a very casual atmosphere with a lot of groups, so be prepared for it to be a bit loud.
(4)
Shawn L.
Tonight we headed into the city to visit a friend near Midway, so we all decided to go out for dinner. Of course, no one had any ideas on what they were hungry for...So I won :) I pulled out the handy Yelp app and searched for BBQ. Chuck's had great reviews so I was sold. The Service: 5 stars Our server was new and he was outstanding. He gave great recommendations on food choices as well as sauces. Also the beer menu is off the hook with over 150 choices. The Food: 5 stars I ordered the BBQ sampler dinner with half slab of ribs and pulled pork with the honey chipotle that the server recommended. I got the mac and cheese and mashed and gravy. It was huge plate and sooo good! My company got the pulled pork dinners as well and they really enjoyed the meals. Many reviews have said they are really busy. We came on a Sunday night about an hour before closing and no wait on seats, service, or food. Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe did everything to the book and we were all very happy. If I was in Chicago area more...This would def be the spot to go for some great BBQ. Thanks for the great experience. We will be back some day soon hopefully.
(5)
Kit A.
After seeing what a following this place has and now knowing how good the food is, I'm surprised I didn't know about this local hot spot before! The fried catfish was delicious! It literally falls apart once you put your fork in it and the taste was perfect - it was not overdone or fishy tasting at all. The mac and cheese is perfect for a cheese fanatic like me! There was a perfect ratio of cheese to pasta and I would gladly come back here just to get some more! I didn't get to enjoy the ribs nearly as much I had wanted to because they were a little cold (at no fault of the kitchen). Just like the fish though, they were perfectly good to have the meat fall right off the bone. The MICROBREW MENU IS AMAZING! There were so many different options on tap. I honestly could have a different beer every night for an entire month (if not more) based on the list alone. I can't wait till Chuck opens his place in Darien down the street from me, I may end up becoming a regular. You can't go wrong with a beer and mac'n'cheese!
(4)
Damian P.
Are they geniuses or what? So last night me and the partner decided we were in the mood for southern barbecue and you know that Chucks is the first choice. We were quickly seated and told by the waitress that if we would like something to drink? We said of course Purple Have to go with our dishes and she proceeded to tell us about this new "Chuck's Club 120", we were intrigued. What it is is this: You get a punch stamp card and when you taste ALL of the 120 beers on their menu, you will Win $25 Gift Card and a T-Shirt! Plus you get your name added to their "Beer Hall of Fame Plaque" hung in the bar. I though this was genius because they have an extensive beer list and I always say I am getting something different. This was (since I am a competitive little devil) I will be forced to buy something different. Each time you order a scrumptious beer, you get a stamp on your ticket. Now for the meal we had the Chucks Combo for myself that consisted of 3 meats (chicken wings, rib tips and rip short ribs), good lord I went into a Southern Coma it was so darn good. Highly recommend the specials and definitely if you like beer, join the club.
(5)
Alan L.
Great BBQ. We loved the brisket and sides. Not the ribs so much. I had a portobello sandwich and recommend it too. They gave us 5 BBQ Sauces to try and got the meat sampler plain so we could add sauce.
(5)
Tammy W.
Was here last night for their Mardi Gras celebration. I'm giving two stars for the service and disorganization. The food was fantastic when it finally arrived, but that was a long wait. We had reservations for a party of 10. The place was packed and a band was playing. Our server did a great job getting our drinks and getting that part of the order right, however; she really messed up the food order as well as the kitchen. The guys coming out to bring our food barely spoke English and had no clue what was going on. Some of us ordered from their Tapas menu. The point of Tapas is to share but when part of your order never comes out for over an hour and then they tell you they ran out. They also never brought out three of our party's order. They ordered their Hurricane special in a pitcher and never brought classes. The waitress offered to comp the food and brought out something else from the menu. But one was missing a fork and the waitress never brought one. Bad bad bad. There was guys coming to our table with dishes we never ordered and then some of us never received part of our order. One party ended up being overcharged with items they never ordered and items they did and never received. Just so unorganized, overbooked. Packed like sardines. Seating was a fire hazard I'm sure. Very disappointed. Chucks, get it together. You have no business hosting an event like this. Down right the worst experience. I was embarrassed. It's a wonder you get it together any other day.
(2)
Sweatytoothed M.
Chilaquiles! Very tasty! Not my Mama's chilaquiles, but definitely yummy--crispy in all the right spots!
(4)
Paul B.
It comes down to this; great food, good service, but if you eat outside be prepared to have cigarette smoke added to your dining experience. There is a sign on the inside of the fence of the patio that says smoking is not allowed when the patio is open. The trouble is the sign is very low and it is facing the patio - not the smokers so they puff away on their camels and drift the smoke right into our perfectly prepared brisket. Add the two off-duty servers one table away dropping more bombs than David Mamet - and you have to know the food is good to come back as often as we do. The environment is sub-par - the food is off the charts. The barbecue platter I got had the aforementioned perfectly prepared brisket; 1/4 chicken, and some pulled pork. This was complemented with a cup of chipotle rice (amazing) and Brunswick Stew (peerless meaty vegetable stew). I should point out that there is also a four meat option - but I want to live to see grand-kids - so I opted for the three meat platter. There are a lot of nabobs that walk around short-changing the barbecue scene in Chicago. I will admit that there are very few barbecue joints worth repeat visiting - but Chuck's is - without a doubt - one of the best. As a matter of fact - the entire menu is creative and thoughtful and worth repeat visits - but that beef brisket makes me forget every bad thing that has ever happened to me - EVER! So if you are smoke-sensitive (or don't want to be dodging f-Bombs) - just eat inside. Try the brisket, trust me.
(4)
Kristi K.
First time here and we Love the menu! We ordered skirt steak, corned beef and the filet. Everything was great! Wonderful service! We will be back! !
(5)
Jack G.
Chuck's Rocks! Great food. Great prices. Great location! It's marvelous to have a restaurant of this quality in the southwest suburbs. I don't know if I like it more for dinner or breakfast. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for great/unique breakfast. I tend to lean toward the Mexican inspired breakfast dishes. It's very hard for me to order here. I want everything!
(5)
Jennifer K.
I've been going to Chuck's for over 10 years. Recently, I've been hooked on the cochinita pibil, which i believe is only served on Saturday/weekends. Tender meat, tangy pickled onions (I'm not normally an onion fan), refried black beans, tortillas. My only criticism is that the rice that comes with it is decent, but not great. Another new favorite is the BBQ nachos. This appetizer is amazing and could pass as on entree by itself. Chunks of pulled pork with BBQ sauce, melted cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, on top of chips. This always ruins my appetite because it is so filling, but I just can't resist. My old favorite was always the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, but I stopped ordering it as of late because the green beans were getting a little too spicy for me. (I have an unusually low spice threshold--mild salsa is my limit.) However, I turned my boyfriend on to the dish and he loves it. Pulled pork sandwich is good, but not absolutely amazing. Good fries, mac & cheese. Soup is a little overpriced. Peach (or berry) cobbler with ice cream is awesome, warm brownie with ice cream is good, though I'm not always in the mood for chocolate. Tasted some of a friend's order of bread pudding, a dish i had never tried before, and it was definitely worth revisiting, though the friend (a real life southerner) claimed it was just okay. I tend to stick to the same stuff and would like to try some different menu items, but it's difficult to pass up on my favorites. I like coming here for my birthday dinners because the quality of the food is consistently high, and I like knowing that my birthday meal will not disappoint. I've taken various people here and recommended it to numerous others and everyone has always had enthusiastic responses and wanted to come back. Definitely make a reservation, especially on Saturday evenings.
(5)
Colleen M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This is my favorite place to go by my house. There is so much to choose from on the menu. I recommend their BBQ nachos. They are AMAZING! The only downside of this place is the parking, it is always packed, but that's how you know a place is good right? Be sure to try their beef brisket sandwich with the honey-chipotle BBQ sauce. Great sides as well. Be sure to get the mac n cheese as one of your sides, delicious!
(5)
Susan H.
Long, busy week. Finally got out for a little bit and some friends regretfully thought Chuck's would be a great idea to hit up since the previous place we'd swung by for a drink was packed. Started with a small cup of their pumpkin soup and a side salad. Salad - Fresh. Dressing - watery. Soup was excellent. Almost went with a beer, but the waitress, who was adorable and all that jazz, highly recommended the pumpkin martini. It not only came smothered in whipped cream, but sans martini glass. :/ Ordered the Filet Mignon medium rare. My filet arrived medium well. Boo hoo. I'll get over it. What put me off was that it was butterflied and plopped atop a sea of gravy; This thick, soggy onion and carrot coagulated splat resembling that sh*t janitors threw sawdust on back in grammar school. I transferred part of my steak to my bread plate and tried to stay positive but hey...guess what? They realllllly like to soak their steaks in Worcestershire sauce. Anywhoo, few bites and I'd had enough. Potato was underbaked and surprisingly small. Mac and cheese was on par with a cafeteria. BBQ sauce is sadly sour. Dessert ; yeh...it was left on the table barely touched. Cobbler crust was hard as hell and the apples had no zing, no savory sweetness, no hint of tart..nuttin', honey. I'm pretty laid-back and enjoyed the conversation so the evening wasn't a total wash, but I had expected so much more based on Yelpers' raves. In summation: This joint is pricey with unimpressive fare and as great as the bus staff was, no person who has *truly* had fabulous home-cooked, cloaked-in-comfort meals would come here and call this anything of the sort. Psst...My dogs loved the leftovers, but hey, they'd eat their own vomit if I didn't stop them. Sorry, not sorry.
(2)
Maria M.
Everything is amazing. People are very nice. Parking can suck but it's all worth it
(5)
jerry s.
Brisket w/Roasted peppers & Onions... Mac n Cheese and spicy string beans. Yummm.
(4)
Lydia W.
Very, very good barbecue and great southern/cajun/nawlins flare. The meats are incredible tender and simply melt in your mouth. Chuck is an excellent chef and gracious host (you may see him time to time greeting customers). The menu is beautiful and has many choices ranging from barbecue, to creole, to even mexican and everything is executed well, beyond par. Don't eat meat? The grilled mushroom portobello sandwich is amazing! And the sides (from mac and cheese, to greens to beans are always on point). The restaurant dining area is cheerful and upbeat with attractive artwork and decor. The tables and seating are very clean. Service is prompt and friendly as well. The voodoo lounge is busy and louder but the friendliness certainly carries over. I have yet to try the breakfast but I hear is phenomenal. Take the trip down to this Chicago suburb! Well worth it! P.S Discount for CPS employees on Thursdays!
(5)
Gary A.
My favorite restaurant in the whole chicagoland area. I discovered this little gem just outside of the city limits about 4 years ago and have been frequenting it every chance I get. Chucks spin on various dishes from Mexican to cajun are unique and very refreshing. The staff is always very courteous and the food is always prepared in a very timely manner. Amongst everything on his menu that is amazing, the small standouts that are a must try as a side to any order are the green beans and the jalapeño corn bread. Not to mention as weird as this may sound, with all the amazing bbq and cajun dishes available, chucks serves up a meannnnnn burger. By far the best burger ive had in the continental u.s.(I eat burgers every time I'm out of town in my search of the best burger). But yea all in all chucks is a must visit establishment, and if you're around after hours, the attached bar the voodoo lounge does not disappoint.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I love Chuck's! I've been twice for dinner and both meals have been excellent. The fish tacos are excellent and the crab cakes are delectable. My fellow diners rave about their meals. I really want to try their breakfasts.
(4)
pete w.
Food was great. Some of the best BBQ we have had, and they give you tons of it. Unless you have not eaten for days, you will walk out with a togo container filled with your leftovers. Their selection of sauces was vast and they were all great. The honey chipotle was outstanding. The staff were friendly and genuine in their smiles when the greeted us. Some small concerns to watch out for : 1.) We went with a group of 9. The waitress did not tell us that the gratuity would be included on the bill so we inadvertently tipped 2x. We did go back and got great service from the manager, Tim, for the refund of one of the tips. 2.) Make sure you specify that you want a kids meal for your children. We thought that we were clear on that, but when my son's meal came, it was a full adult meal and we were charged the full adult price. 3.) Drinks are a little pricey - order the water with a lemon/line. Outside of these small issues, I would safely state that when I next come to Chicago for a visit, I would absolutely stop by Chuck's for a nice meal. The soups and the jalapeño corn bread are to die for. We really enjoyed our meals and we left full and satisfied.
(3)
Jennifer F.
Amazing catfish, green beans, macaroni and cheese and jalapeno cheddar corn bread!! It is so good!!!!
(5)
Synn E.
I LOVE the knowledge Chuck ha with pairing spices with his food! I am also so glad he stayed in the neighborhood, because us locals know that he could easily be downtown! The place has been busy and the parking lot full since the day it opened! The lounge features local bands and has specialty drinks as well as various beers, some unusual! It is rare that Chuck himself doesn't walk up and ask how you're doing. Oh and the cupcakes! In from a local home business, you need to try them because when they sell out they are gone for the day! A little pricey sometimes, but all in all a great dining experience!
(4)
Mark S.
The first time I came here was about a month ago for lunch/dinner. I had some type of corn chowder habanero soup which was good and not too spicy. I tried Oysters Rockefeller for the first time. I haven't been too keen in the past about eating seafood, but I have decided for now on I will try anything within reason. Now I love Oysters Rockefeller. I also had the BBQ at this place, which was great and is one of my most favorite places for BBQ. It was definitely worth the drive for lunch/dinner. Today I came here for breakfast. The skillet with ham, bacon, sausage patties, green peppers and American cheese was good along with the homemade smoked corn beef hash and pancakes, but nothing worth going out of the way for. Here's my beef. Have you read my quick tip about this place? A southern comforts restaurant, you would think they would have some good biscuits and gravy. I can't even be funny about the gravy they served me. It was loaded with so much butter that the gravy was to the point where it wasn't even too sweet, it was just sickening to eat that much butter in one spoon full. I read through many of the reviews about this place and many people say they like the biscuits and gravy. I sure hope the gravy they had was not the same as what I had. I hope what I had was just a mistake and that is not how it is served everyday. I still give this place 4 stars for the reasons mentioned in the beginning of this review.
(4)
Dave Z.
There are enough sauses to satisfy your tastes for all things BBQ. Their beer list is extensive. Pulled pork sandwich is very good. The brisket is tasty without any sause and goes well with. Look for their specials, especially early Saturday afternoon ones.
(4)
Julie O.
We made a reservation via open table for 6 on a Saturday night, arrived at Chuck's on time and sure enough, there was a table waiting for us. Nice. Chucks has a lot of beer to choose from. I have been to NOLA quite a few times and after having a few, I have been known to say "abita" the way other folks might say aloha. Thankfully I did not take it that far this time. Chuck's is known for the large beer menu, boasting over 100 available beers, including Louisiana's Abita and locally produced 3 Floyds on tap. Duval Belgian Ale had a special that if you ordered two, you got a really kickass glass to take home. The food. We had appetizers. One was some sort of a crabby patty. Flavorful. We liked it. We had nachos too. They were hot as can be as the guac rocked. The best dinner at our table was the catfish. Lightly breaded in creole mustary goodness cooked to perfection. Yum. The Saturday special - pork with black beans and rice was flavorful and fresh. Love the corn tortillas. Our server brought a dessert for the birthday at our table. Ice cream, a real brownie and what may have been the best caramel ever. Nice touch. Why not 5 stars if I like it so much? Service, while very pleasant, could have been better. Our server never checked on us after the food was dropped off. She was elusive when it came to drinks as well. No thank you when we paid. I think that maybe she was just a bit overwhelmed. But again, she comped a dessert. I plan to get back for beignet Saturday. Cafe Au Lait, Bloody Mary and Beignets...
(4)
Andrew T.
Chuck's was the winner of the two DDD's near Midway. We stopped in for lunch on a gray, rainy day, so the BBQ fare kind of hit the spot. I have a bowl of green chile chowder with shrimp, which was good, if not a little over thick. The shrimp tasted fine, but it was a little odd to see cut green beans in the chowder. Not bad, just odd. All in all, I'd get this guy again. I split a BBQ platter with my dining companion, and it was good. We got a half rack of ribs and a huge helping of pulled pork, along with some coleslaw and sage gravy mashed potatoes. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, and while I think I sound like a broken record, they tasted like pork (which is good) but didn't have a ton of smoke flavor. They had just a little sauce smeared over them, and I also detected cinnamon in the spice rub. The pulled pork was, as I said, plentiful, but was over sauced. It was very tender, and had good flavor, but was swimming in too much sauce. One of these days, I will remember to ask for my BBQ to come unsauced. If I want it, I can add it myself. Sides were average - potatoes were good, with plenty of sage in the gravy, while the coleslaw was the right kind of rough cut for me, but with too much onion. It needs to be mentioned that the menu here is ridiculous. Every Mexican and BBQ option you could ask for, including some absolutely mouthwatering specials on their various menu pages. Unfortunately for us, the only special that didn't sound incredible was the special the day we were there - Pot Pie for us, as opposed to achiote rubbed pork loin and all manner of other amazing options on other days. Oh well - just a good reason to come back.
(3)
Burbs P.
edited 5-20-14 - you can go to the Darien location they have cleaned up their act and run like clockwork. Their food is out of this world. I cannot believe that Im just now making the connection between this location-and their other location in Darien [don't go to the darien location]. I've been here 4 times over the past 2 months. My SO and I have made it a point to drive there from Wheaton at least twice a month. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, just an all around great breakfast place.
(5)
W T.
I have dined at Chucks many times. The breakfast is always deliscious & service is great. The dinner on the other hand not good. The pulled pork is dry & flavorless & bbq sauce isnt good either. I will definately return for breakfast but pass on the lunch & dinner.
(3)
susan c.
Nothing beats the variety at Chuck's, creole, BBQ, soups, seafood, salad. Generally very delicious we always order ribs, soup (shrimp poblano, Mexican greens and gumbo our favorites), 2 or 3 meat combo, special salads and seafood. Crazy good breakfast too. Very festive atmosphere, service good and improving. Fun lounge next door, specials for teachers, emt's, armed services. Personal best meal: lavender smoked lamb special.
(5)
K N.
Excellent food and craft beer selection. Their mac and cheese and jalepeno corn bread are some of my favorite menu items. I am not someone that eats that much so the 1/4 chicken plus 2 sides is a good choice for those looking for smaller portions. Parking lot is usually packed. Service is pretty good. Also, in the voodoo lounge on Tuesday nights there is free bar trivia which is pretty fun.
(5)
Heshan W.
IF YOUR WANT GREAT BBQ IN SOUTH-WEST CHICAGO, GO HERE!!! Although I have never eaten inside Chucks, I can say without a doubt in my mind in terms of my take-out experience that the bbq at this place is SUPERB!!! Large portions & reasonable prices for solid bbq!!! Half-rack of bbq ribs with honey-chiplote sauce: Simply amazing. The meat was "bbqed" and smoked to the point that it was falling off the bone and was very soft and flavorful!!! These are signs of well-cooked bbq ribs (5 out of 5). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream: They use real peaches on this, b/c there is no taste of fake syrupy peach concentrate in this at all. The vanilla ice cream definitely compliments this cobbler (4 out of 5). The baked beans and green beans were very good too (5 out of 5, for both). So far, this place is slightly better than my other bbq food experience in Chicago, "Smoke N Q". In addition, Chucks has unique special daily bbq meals ranging from Carne asada Chimichangas to Cajun Stuffed Pork Chops!!!
(4)
Federico C.
For some reason, I can't seem to put my finger on it, I have not been here as much as I would like.. Chuck's has great southern BBQ and a wide range of beer.. I am an avid fan of both , but everytime I plan on coming here, something comes up. Hopefully I can change that trend in the near future. The last time I was here, I was hanging out in the Voo Doo Lounge knocking back some cold beer and shots after a wedding, so my recollection can be a bit better than it seemed.. Do beer goggles work the same way on how fun a place actually was??? LOL The Voo Doo lounge is the bar portion of Chuck's. From what I can remember, It is a pretty cool place to hang out, listen to some rock and hang with the locals.. Hungry? try the pulled pork or brisket, fries & mac and cheese, .. Those have been my favorites so far. Chuck has pretty damn good BBQ so work your way thru the meats, you will thank yourself for it later. I haven't made it for brunch, but I have heard some really good things about Chucks brunch offerings.. I will be updating this soon to include more on the brunch and hopefully Chuck's fest!
(4)
O G.
Take in a game here in the back bar of the restaurant or sit up front in a more relaxed atmosphere (well kinda) it can get pretty crowded up front depending on what night you go. A must go to place if in the neighborhood!
(5)
Glenn B.
It was a Friday and when I decided to try this restaurant out I made a reservation and I am so glad I did. When me and a friend arrived it was packed and our table was ready. The food was great but the drinks were strong. The waiter was very attentive and this is what I like. I will be heading back to Chucks real soon.
(3)
Zachary S.
BBQ here is beyond Par, however if your new to entering, on a friday or saturday night, it's best to hear there early or call ahead as it can become packed. The sauce is amazing and the smoking quality is a 11/10. Pit masters from other Barbecue places beware, this place is insane! x
(5)
Barry W.
Absolutely off the charts! A casual place with absolutely delicious food! We ordered both specials and were just blown away. Simple, homestyle yet amazing! Do not miss it - great if you're near Midway
(5)
Candace M.
Have been coming to Chucks from the beginning, not sure if he got too big for his britches but sad to say everything has gone downhill. We always sit at the bar & eat, they had lost 2 of the best bartenders that the place ever had, now it's another "Burbank" bar, they used to be really busy & I believe it because the bartenders are so bad, had to constantly ask for a refill on our drinks, had to ask to order, not friendly at all, like they were being bothered. We had the ribs....were always very good in the past, they were terrible, we were "regulars" here at one point & very sad to say we may not be coming back
(2)
Laurence K.
Came by chance we were in area so went on yelp to find us a place to eat I saw the patio and another bbq place down the road but this looked much more interesting . The place was busy we sat down they have a nice selection if beers but we opted for iced teas I ordered brisket with potatoes salad and cole slaw Jim gas the chicken fried chicken with mashed and Cajun Greek beans . Hot rolls came out first which were pretty tasty I tried the bbq sauces on the table one regular and the other hot Both wee good! My mouth was watering for my food! The sever brought out 3 more sauces for me to try on North Carolina one Tennessee smokey and one honey chipotle wow.i real yelled the Tennessee sort of smokey our food arrived and looked good My brisket looked good I was surprised it had the point and deckle which are 2 different cuts of the brisket it was very tasty and it was a very large portion the cole slaw and the potato salad were both Homemade and good Joms chicken was very tasty with the mashed potatoes and gravy The Cajun beans was my only disappointment mainly I don't like canned beans But all in all a very good experience Sheri was our server she was knowledgeable and had a great personality
(4)
Jeannie A.
The restaurant is good and the food is great....but for a drinkin' good time, turn left instead of right...and get your VoodDoo on in the lounge! I've been going to Chuck's for years....and Chuck Fest is not to be missed (coming up in September at Toyota Park). Since moving to this new location and the expansion of the VoodDoo lounge, it has become a spot for many happy hours. They have an extensive list of beers on tap and a huge menu of IPAs and Craft Beers. If you are a beer lover, this is the place to be. If you go to the VoodDoo lounge website, they list the specials on tap. As always, the food is good, but better when paired with beer!! Love me some Chuck's!
(4)
G S.
The BBQ ribs are so big it took me 3 meals to finish them. I love the baked beans they make, very smokey and BBQ flavored. They also have the Brunswick stew for a side. What a great side as an alternative to not being a fry guy. This restaurant is a true treat to the senses. Enjoy fellow Yelpers
(5)
Alfonso T.
Been here plenty of times. Whether it's to catch a game at the Vooodoo Lounge or grab a bite this place never disappoints. Huge, HUGE beer list and amazing food. The Korean wings and his BBQ sandwiches are my go-to. Awesome specials too. Both drinks and dinner.
(5)
leonard f.
I'm a fan , I had the Carne Asada, the beef was so tender my wife even thought it was great . She had the cobia and liked it a lot , the martinis were great . Been there before and going again. Vicki was a darn good waitress.
(4)
Sarah S.
Best soups ever and they change daily depending on what fresh ingredients Chuck has either from his garden or flown in fresh! I'm a vegetarian and I eat here at least once a week. There really is something for everyone and I have never been disappointed! Recently hd the crawfish boil, not only fresh and delicious, but so much fun to eat. My whole family and all of my coworkers rave about Chucks regularly. So go eat there! (Before I went "veg" I would get the pulled pork all the time. Some of the best pulled pork ever!)
(5)
Robert C.
The only negative I have to say is there is absolutely nothing wrong with this place except not making a reservation and having to wait.
(5)
Tony P.
Went there 1/10/2015 and between my wife and I tried the pork shoulder and the catfish. The pork shoulder was terrific and I was very happy with the place. My wife's catfish though upstaged my meal as it was as she put it "the best fried catfish she has ever had". Great batter, not greasy at all, the fish remained moist and flaky ... Kids had a great time too as the mac and cheese was very good as well.
(5)
Kristina g.
Amazing food!!! Burgers are delicious, ribs delicious, fries are crazy good!! And OMG the bread pudding is to die for!! Awesome place for drinks and family time!
(5)
Cynthia C.
I have been to this place a few times but mostly for lunch. I want to say its been at least a year. Recently I decided to take the family to the newer Chucks in Darien. The place had a great lively atmosphere and my waitress was the best! Now for the food: The sides were de-licious (especially the mac & cheese), however my carne asada en mole was cold. They made another plate for me and it was pretty good and they also didn't charge me for it. Good experience there and I would go back. I finally decided to go back to the Chucks in Burbank for breakfast because my favorite was their cafe de la olla with a hint of orange and brown sugar..YUMMMM..as well as their famous cream of chicken soup (as most spots serve this on a Sunday). I even invited my friend with her kids. They only wanted the soup. Our waiter was okay. Nothing memorable. I ordered their chilaquiles and I believe my friend had huevo rancheros. Again, my food wasn't hot; barely warm. I did not like the chilaquiles at all. The sauce did not have any flavor and their was more sauce than tortillas. Besides that my food was VERY salty and I even mentioned it to the waiter and he basically just blew that off. My friends daughter asked for the soup and he said it wasn't available. I was surprised since that it one of their most recommend items. His response was "our kitchen isn't big enough to make that all day". okaaayyy???? Needless to say, I won't be back for breakfast but I might go to the one in Darien.
(3)
PAMELA W.
Best surprise in a while. Everything was delicious. Catfish was so hot and fresh. Ribs were meaty and tender. I loved the house BBQ sauce ( the mild ). The Mac and cheese really surprised me because I don't like Mac and cheese. I could not stop eating this one. Rib tips were good and generous. Our server Danni was very accommodating. Brought out samples of different sauces and even labeled them. We ordered the banana bread pudding to go because we were so full. Got it home and it was mouthwatering. I can't wait to bring my friends here!
(5)
Nanc A.
Amazing food amazing ribs and chicken. Don't forget the mash.
(5)
Chuck S.
I've been to Chuck's a few times and always enjoyed the meals. I got a few of the BBQ and it was very good, not amazing but good. I fish tacos are good, pulled pork was very good and all the sides are good as well. I'm never still hungry when I leave there. Went there this weekend for Breakfast and it was very good. I got the country breakfast, I ordered egg whites but there were chunks of yolk in my eggs. The ham was a little over cooked for my liking but everything else was good. I got a sweet potato pancake, oh my god was that good. I didnt even want to put syrup on it. I will be back to Chucks. It's good food.
(4)
Bex F.
Holy stuffed. I can barely type I'm so full. Hauling all the way down here, we picked up to go. The parking lot was a madhouse though it smelled fantastic. Somehow got indoors which was tricky as it was packed at 5 pm on a Sunday. Ordered the brisket dinner with Cajun green beans and mac for him, pulled pork sandwich Memphis style with fries and mac for me. Boy that was a long drive home, smelling it in the car. It was all really tasty. On it's own, the mild BBQ sauce didn't wow me but with the sandwich and slaw, it was good. Nummy fries. Mac and cheese was heavy on the black pepper but it was still good. The hubby enjoyed his meal quite well. Pretty good overall. And seriously, I am so full I don't know if I'm writing in English or not. Portion sizes were ginormous - even a quarter of my sandwich was a meal in itself. The menu is definitely interesting with all its influences and if we lived closer I'm sure we'd be back checking out the various offerings. So full.
(4)
Kelly D.
SOOOO Good!!! Best: Mac and cheese, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, crab cake appetizer. Huge beer list and some decent cocktails. Servers are always friendly and you cannot beat the price for the taste and quality. The owner, Chuck, is always checking in on customers, getting refills-that says a lot about how much pride he puts into his business. Only thing I wish they would change is having the mac and cheese on their late night menu-I always get cravings for it late night :(
(5)
roy l.
Well, again service was poor and the food was great. I'm going to try Darien location next time and they have the same issues I'll phone in a pick up order
(3)
Tim H.
Finally made it to the Beignet breakfast (3rd Saturday each month) and also really enjoyed Chuck's Chorizo Rancheros. A whole lot of food but always enjoy the left overs. I think a chunky cook is good but I'm not the cook. lol Chuck's certainly combines some great flavors to his meals... oh yeah, get the sauces with the beignets! Great live New Orleans music accompanies the beignet breakfast also. After seeing the size of George the crawfish, I need to make it to their crawfish boil before the month of May slips away. They sure offer up some great specials, sure hope they continue the tradition in the Darien locaton. Perhaps this time next month, I'll have a new review for the Darien location for Father's Day.
(5)
Diana H.
Service is good, employees really nice food is decent. When it comes to ordering to go they always mess up the order or the food is cold. For the food we get the price is really high.
(3)
Jason N.
Don't know what else can be said about Chuck's that already hasn't been, but the consensus is it's pretty darn good. They have an incredible variety of food. Think of BBQ, Cajun, and Mexican fare making sweet love and that's what you get. I'll actually start out with the breakfast, if you like corned beef hash this is a must try! Its homemade hash and yes, they actually smoke their corned beef. Now process that fact, breathe, and take a second to recover from the thought of the tasty possibility here. It tastes exactly as it sounds, delicious! The dinner options are plentiful and delish as well. The ribs, rib tips, chicken, and brisket are all smoked to perfection. They have several sauce options which are all good. Just read the description and if any tickle your fancy you'll probably enjoy it quite a bit. My favorite appetizer is the BBQ nachos. Take homemade tortilla chips, brisket, pulled pork, pico, guac, sour cream, cheese, and BBQ sauce and there you have an amazing appetizer good enough to be a main dish. Chuck's is one of those places that has something for everyone, and based on the constant crowd and people who travel from near and far that alone speaks for itself.
(4)
Jim B.
Whenever I cannot make up my mind where to go, I always default to Chucks. I go there for sporting events especially before Fire games. Huge selection of beer. Servers know their stuff. Waitstaff is quick. Food is absolutely to die for. Always good to see Chuck himself at the restaurant.
(5)
Oscar S.
Im glad I found this place!!!! Theres not too many places around this area with good southern cooking.I had a serious taste for gumbo and didnt want to drive 10 miles out of the way.Sooooo,I did my research.I lucked out!!!! Found this place only 2 miles from where I was.NIIICCCCE!!!!!! They definitely serve up some good food.Im a big eater so I ordered up a couple of things.Really good gumbo.Jambalaya was delicious as well.Service was great.I found a new spot!!!!!!!!!! YEEESSSSS!!!!!
(5)
Jasmine C.
I'm surprised this restaurant exists in Burbank (and now Darien, where Chuck, the owner, opened another restaurant). I would expect to find a restaurant with food of this caliber in downtown Chicago. The food is excellent, and friends and family I have brought here agree. You will be greeted by the rich BBQ smell of smoked meat as you walk through the parking lot. Staff is friendly and the waitstaff is knowledgeable. Portions are plentiful, and a variety of BBQ sauces are offered to suit different tastes. You can't go wrong with the brisket or ribs. The meat is tender and never dry. Besides BBQ dishes, there are also flavorful Mexican meals that are authentically prepared. I'm not talking Pepe's or Zaca Tacos here, as Chuck's has choices like chicken enchiladas in mole sauce (the serving is huge!) and poblano pepper soup. One of the specials offered on Sundays is Mexican pot roast, also very tasty. In addition, there are always creative Cajun dishes on the menu as daily specials. This is also one of my favorite breakfast places. Chuck's offers a variety unmatched by the bland, typical generic choices at the local Greek-owned family restaurants. And if you like coffee, get the urn of Mexican coffee--it's terrific! You know this place has to be good, as it was featured on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I highly recommend Chuck's! In fact, sometimes Chuck will even come out to the dining room to chat with guests.
(5)
Wendy C.
I love the BBQ nachos. The service is great. All of their food is great..their food is what I come back for every time. I've never had anything bad off of the menu. They have a lot of beer..like over 100. It's awesome. I love chucks!
(5)
Javier G.
Good food, good place but twice have been there and both times been out of the beef brisket. I will say that I've gone for dinner both times and it's been after 7pm so probably my fault. The corn bread is good, rib tips are awesome and gumbo pretty tasty.
(4)
Tiredofbadfood L.
Great bbq! good service and great beer. Mac & Cheese really delicious. Someone here understands how to smoke meat and pays attention to meat quality. Loved it. Good value for your dollar
(4)
Josh E.
Meh. I expected more out of this place given the reviews and the press it's gotten. I got the ribs and chicken - both were OK but nothing special. Chicken was a little on the dry side. Green beans and mashed were pretty good and they have a huge beer selection. Not worth the trek down there if you're a city dweller.
(3)
Leo P.
Nice BBQ place with sports Bar atmosphere on one end and dining on the other side. Food is good, if your crazy about BBQ. Great south side restaurant if your craving for good BBQ and a beer.
Normally I'm a huge fan. But, this time the service wasn't up to par. My main complaint for today was that we had to wait over 10 minutes for our check. We asked Carlos, our waiter, 3 times for it. After the second time he proceeded to take the orders of two large groups. Not nice at all. However, the food was great, as always.
(3)
Tony K.
Famous Daves BBQ is a good amount better than this place in every way. The ambiance, the service and especially the food. This place is WAY overrated. Its good, dont get me wrong but its not close to what you would imagine it to be. The interior looks like a greek restaurant. The parking is poor. There is a BBQ place a few blocks west that is BETTER and less expensive. I wouldnt go to this place again considering the prices, service, food & ambiance. I dont think South-siders know what great BBQ really is. Ive been all over the country and this is NOT great barbecue.
(2)
Elizabeth F.
Three strikes and I'm done. I was so excited to see a place featured on DDD from Food Network near my hometown. My first visit was for breakfast. Cajun eggs Benedict. The server was wonderful; the eggs had been poached so long the yolks were solid. The dish had to be sent back. The second visit was in the bar. Server was wonderful; BBQ sampler platter for $17 barely had any meat. It was more like an appetizer. Third visit was to the bar this past Monday evening. Horrible server! It was like we were a bother to her made only more apparent when we could overhear her being nice to what must have been regulars. Ordered the BBQ nachos. The guacamole was gray. How could that leave the kitchen? How the server think that was acceptable? She never checked back with us to see how the food was... Or give us extra napkins since it was nachos/finger food.... Never checked on us for more cocktails. Truly disappointing.
(2)
Misty S.
Came here on a Tuesday night, which happened to be Fat Tuesday. There was a live band playing and a fun atmosphere. The place was crowded but we got a table after 10 minutes. They had a tapas menu in addition to their regular menu offering atypical choices like alligator and egg roll sampler. There are so many things on their menus, there surely must be something for everyone here. The ribs and Honey Chipotle rib tips I tried were good, but nothing that stood out to me. Let's just say I've had better ribs and that's no fault of Chuck's. The BBQ combo came with a half a rack of ribs plus one choice or extra meat and 2 sides for $17. The mac and cheese and green beans were okay. The hot sauce available at the table wasn't that spicy but has a good flavor. Chuck's have an extensive beer menu (over 120 options!) and the one I tried was good. If you like Guinness, you will like the Arcadia Imperial Stout. Our waitress was fast and accurate. One warning about the bathroom, the water was freezing cold when I was washing my hands, but at least there was a hand dryer that can warm them afterwards.
(3)
Cesar R.
The name is deceiving as we expected your typical BBQ. Boy, were we wrong! The chefs combination of typical southern and Mexican spices makes his meals explode with flavor! We had the Carne Asada and several appetizers I can't remember. We were going from one dish to the other trying to savor it all. Finally, we decided we would just have to return. I highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed! Happy to have this type of food so close to the south side!
(5)
Daniel G.
I have been coming to Chucks for several years, and will keep coming back because the food is absolutely outstanding. Service has always been great and Chuck puts a lot of thought into the menu and I enjoy the rotation of specials that come out. Also the voodoo bar is a great place to catch a game and enjoy one of the many beers they have in their expansive beer menu
(5)
Christine O.
I checked this place out for lunch yesterday with my dad and his co-worker (they are both private pilots who were in town for just a few hours). My dad's co-worker recommended Chuck's and has been there a few times. The restaurant makes a huge selection of soups in house. We had a Mexican style chili, stuffed pepper soup, and chicken dumpling soup. I had the Bahn Mi, which I was told was a new menu item. The chicken was perfectly cooked, spicy and delicious with fresh asian slaw on top. It was a bigger sandwich than I should have eaten all at once being that it was such a late lunch, but it was just so good I couldn't help it. The staff was super accommodating when we got a last minute call that the passengers were headed back to the airport for a departure... 4 hours ahead of their scheduled departure. They quickly got our food packaged up in to-go containers so that we could get back Midway, get the airplane ready and an updated flight plan filed. I will have to go back with my boyfriend to enjoy this place again when we aren't rushed! A+ in my book.
(5)
James B.
Great for Cajun/Creole, Mexican, or BBQ. They have great specials everyday. And a beer list with 120 bottles and a few specials on tap everyday.
My meal was ok...nothing to write home about. Not special enough for me to return. Customer service was great though.
(3)
Catherine E.
The RIBS are fantastic! Best BBQ in the area! Pulled Pork sandwich was very good. Soups are so good there are addictive! Side dishes need work.
(3)
Dan D.
One of my buddies family owns this place so this review might be a bit biased, but either way before and after I found out the food and service have always been top notch. The first time I ate here I arrived with my girlfriend around 9pm and was seated quickly. The waiter was keen to mention the specials and his favorite choices of meat. We both decided on the Chuck Special, which is the signature beef brisket sandwich. The beef was tender, flavorful and well seasoned. The signature sauce is a bit sweet for my liking, almost with a cranberry note, but worked well with the beef. The side dishes were quite tasty. I had gumbo and my girlfriend had cream of chicken soup. Overall I would gladly return, great service and a definite pride of ownership. Everything is hot and fresh until close.
(4)
Gina W.
Love Chuck 's!! Dinner is always great. You can't go wrong sticking to the specials. Great daily soups. The cream of poblano is the best soup I have had in a long time.The bananas foster crepes are to die for but the best of all is the breakfast!! Hands down best breakfast/coffee on the south side!
(5)
Catherine P.
Chuck is a culinary genius and a savvy business man who serves to please. I'm always happy with whatever I order. The specials are ever changing so dining here is exciting. Chuck's also has one of the most extensive beer selections on the south side (mostly bottles). I wish this location had more on tap, but what is available on tap is good. Good service and a clean environment are provided too. Love me some Chuck's.
(5)
John K.
The place is still great! Took some southside Biggen girl on a date here. She looked like miss piggy and smelled like Edward James Olmos. She got the Crab cakes and Fish tacos. I did the BBQ sampler, Ribs, Brisket and Pulled pork all wonderful. I wanted to mount this sow bc she was cute even though she looked like a sand bag on D-Day She slurped my boys from golf balls into craisins. She disappeared into the night.
(5)
Breeanna G.
My favorite time to come to Chuck's is in the fall because they always have a pretty great selection of pumpkin and fall-themed craft beers. Their extensive beer menu is excellent--there are tons of beers on there that I don't see anywhere else in a lot of Chicago bars. This will likely sound weird to those who come here because it is a barbecue place, but I order the barbecue nachos without barbecue sauce and meat. Regardless, they are some of the best nachos I've ever had! Their mac-and-cheese is pretty great, and I've also had luck with their enchiladas verdes and Caesar salad. There is always a good selection on the menu for their tapas night, and their homemade cupcakes are awesome. The service can be kind of slow because it is nearly always busy. However, most of the servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and if there is a mistake, they are quick to make things right. There can sometimes be some pretty unsavory characters in the Voodoo Lounge (I'm talking old dudes who send over drinks to young women and then expect something to come of it in their disillusioned entitlement), but I guess one could say the same for any bar. I always enjoy eating at Chuck's and will definitely be back.
(4)
Kristy B.
Oh Chucks, you are so good to me. You serve the BEST homemade soups ever, the most delicious BBQ pulled pork and a MEAN country fried chicken breakfast! Not to mention, your portions are huge. I have never experienced bad service here, and have never tried anything here that wasn't absolutely delicious. I look forward to coming here when I'm out in this part of town. You've found the secret to good food and I couldn't be happier. Keep doing what you're doing...and open up more locations around the city!
(5)
Brian S.
Best food ever! Bbq nachos are great, bbq food spectacular, soups delicious, creole authentic. The muffuletta and the Taylor street sub are good but only available on special. I have spent many hours and dollars at Chuck's ...and many more to come. !!
(5)
Eddie S.
Had never been here and heard a lot about it and tried for the first time recently. Not it's all cracked up to be. Only thing i enjoyed was the biscuits and gravy!
(3)
Diana G.
Went back and it was better this time around. We started off with the chicken tinga tostadas. Good flavors, but a bit pricey since it's just really served on 4 tortilla chips. Rib Tips were nice and meaty and my guy and I actually enjoyed the Carolina sauce. Cole slaw was okay, but the beans were too salty and peppery. I think we'll be back for the rib tips and some ribs next time. To me, their sides are lacking or not too my taste.
(3)
Tiffany D.
My husband and came to Chuck's with cousins when visiting Chicago for a wedding. My husband's cousin raved about it but to us it wasn't that good. We started our dinner off with a Caesar salad that we shared. It wasn't bad. It was different. It was like a Cajun Caesar dressing and it had black beans in it. Like I said not the usual, but change is ok every now and then. We also had rolls that were served before the meals. They served the bread warm which made it better with a tad butter. Mmmmm!! For dinner we split the BBQ combo. This included a 1/2 rack of ribs with an additional meat option and 2 sides. We got pulled chicken for our 2nd meat with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans for the sides. To me the ribs were pretty good, they weren't my husbands favorite. The chicken was ok. Nothing special. The Mac & Cheese was awful. It tasted like box Mac & Cheese. Yuck! The Green Beans were seasoned really good but because they were fresh green beans that threw it off a little. I guess I like canned great beans seasoned really well. It's hard to get fresh green beans right to a tee. I also tried some of the Cajun crab cake. My husbands cousin ordered it and let me try some. It actually wasn't bad. They were a little thin. I like my crab cakes to be thick and meaty. I guess that comes from living in the DM(V) area. Places around the DMV area know how to make a mean crab cake. Overall Chucks was a nice experience to try something new, but it wasn't anything special. I wouldn't come back. I would definitely try other places considering I don't live there and there are so many other restaurants to try. First impressions are everything, and Chuck's just didn't do it for me.
(3)
Z B.
It's time to update my review on Chuck's. I went for dinner today, and it wasn't your typical crowd for a Sunday evening. There is parking, but if you park in the side streets, your car will get towed. It's pretty hard to park in the small parking lot when there is a big crowd. The service was great. The server was nice and friendly to my relatives and me. The food didn't take that long, which was good, but it was quite surprising. It usually takes a bit longer to get your food during a huge crowd. The food was pretty good! I tried the seafood gumbo. It was an amazing dish. I liked the broth and the mixture of seafood in the gumbo. I definitely recommend the seafood gumbo. Next, I had the beef brisket dinner. The brisket was okay. It wasn't as tender, but the meat tasted good. My sides of baked beans and Mac and cheese were good. The baked beans had a great flavor to them. The Mac and Cheese was ok. The cheese tasted good, but it didn't look melted enough. All in all, pretty good food, the service was good, and the location is pretty good too. I'll be coming back here.
(4)
Michelle K.
Great food....really enjoyed the BBQ nachos which was a meal in itself! Ron was our waiter and he was friendly and gave great recommendations since it was our first time here. Looking forward to coming back and trying something different because it was hard to decide....everything looked and smelled amazing!!!
(5)
steve i.
Worst Jambalaya ever...overcooked shrimp n crawfish...sauce tasted like pizza sauce...HUGE disappointment....probably the worst thing to order at this place...not a place I ever plan to return to in the future
(1)
JT M.
First time visiting Chucks, we ordered the meat sampler and got the pulled pork, brisket and the ribs. The ribs were outstanding! I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys smoked anything. Nice pink ring and the table had a variety of sauces to choose from. For the sides try the Cajun green beans. They weren't spicy but very flavorful. For drinks the special of the month was a1/2 blue moon 1/2 ginger beer concoction which was smooth, a very dangerous drink! Will definitely be back! Sorry no picture gobbled everything down before I remembered to take a pic.
(4)
Rita J.
Stopped by Chucks for dinner. I was impressed by the food just as much as I was by the waitress. Jess was knowledgeable and helpful about the meat and the sauces and any restaurant should strive to hire people like her. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very calm and suitable for any occasion.
(5)
Sean L.
The food is here is awesome
(5)
Rob P.
what can i say read the reviews !!!!! and you write my review a+++++ thousand times in my book
(5)
Grace J.
Walking in here I was very skeptical. A family member made reservations for a group of 8 on a Saturday night...i asked why? He said just wait and see. As soon as we arrived I saw several people waiting for a table. Since we had reservations we were seated right away! Awesome! Ordering was no problem, we all wanted the same thing...RIBS! The waitress and other staff members were very friendly and on point! Now the wait for the ribs begin. Sitting and having great conversation with great people made the time seem fast because before I knew it out food arrived. It looked and smelt wonderful. That first bite is pretty amazing. The meat melted in your mouth and had great flavor. However, I was not too fond of their sauces. The original was ok but the spicy version...no! Just no! Other than that it was great. I will probably come back again and try something else and see... thanks!
(4)
Michelle F.
Chuck's was fantastic! Every April to May 5th they do a special Cinco de Mayo special menu. My mouth was salivating at every day's specials. We ordered the appetizer of Caribbean jerk chicken wings with mango bbq sauce - AMAZING. Also the cinco de mayo special I ordered (forgive me I don't remember the name) filet skewered bobs over black bean rice and ancho-wild mushroom sauce. The meat was tender, black bean rice on point and the sauce divine. I plan my next visit this Sunday with the Caribbean jerk wings for sure!
(4)
Natalie D.
Oysters on the half shell were better than I expected. Tasted fresh however I need to pick on them a little: the juice was spilled out so they were dry (not how I like them), they didn't come with lemon, the cocktail sauce needed more horse radish, and most importantly, the oysters need to be cut from their shells!! It's frustrating bc SO many places don't do it and it's essential. The Cesar was blah but it's a bbq place so I wasn't shocked. My family loves the corn beef here: it tastes like the world"s juiciest bacon! It's amazing. I have to admit though that their BBQ sauce tastes gross! It was basically A.1 sauce which I am not a fan of. It's strange bc the place smelled like sweet bbq sauce. They have an amazing beer list! I am a huge fan of IPAs and they totally had me covered. Over all, I would go back. I want to try some of their specialty dishes.
(3)
Amy R.
Two words, my friends: BEIGNET BRUNCH. Chuck's has one. Oh yes they do. I completely dropped the mardi gras ball this year - didn't celebrate, didn't get beads, didn't anything. However, my extraordinarily pregnant dear friend DID remember, and was desperately craving beignets. A quick internet search unearthed Chuck's, and this past Saturday, we finally found time to go. We started our meal with - duh - beignets. Crispy fried on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and served with delicious creme anglais and chocolate dipping sauces. We devoured them. I could have had about six more orders of those, but we pushed onward to our meal. I had the Cajun eggs Benedict, which was a delightful mix of greens, andouille sausage, hollandaise, and eggs atop English muffins, served with a side of hash browns. It wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious, and it wasn't insanely inventive, but it was good. The husband got a skillet he wasn't head-over-heels for, and my friend got the stuffed french toast that looked AMAZE - pain perdu style, with big thick slices of french bread stuffed with creamy filling. Brunch for three with drinks and beignets, tax and tip was like 45ish bucks, which is not unreasonable, and our server was perfectly pleasant. The beignets themselves were 5 star, and everything else was decent enough to return if I was in the neighborhood. Worth checking out!
(3)
Tom C.
Great Southern BBQ! We came here for some lunch with my coworkers. I ordered the Chuck's Special and it was out of this world. The beef brisket was very tender. The Mac and Cheese was yummy and the cole slaw was delish. It's really rare to find a restaurant that has sweet tea. I was happy to know they had it on their menu. Our waiter took her time to explain today's specials. I will be back to try other BBQ goodies! I highly recommend this barbecue restaurant. #SeñorFood
(5)
Rico R.
Went here for dinner the other week, what a total waste! I ordered the BBQ Brisket which was a little pricey, but I was like hey this place sounds good so it should be worth it - it wasn't! Portions were very small, and the brisket was meh. The sides were so small I had to ration it in order to have some left for my undesirable brisket. And man the brisket... wasn't even tender, didn't even taste spectacular. I wasn't the only one either, others in my group didn't care for their food either. Unless you're desperate, don't go here.
(2)
Bob D.
This is my third review over the last 7 years, it keeps plummeting in quality. I have given up actually reading the menu that is adorned with Chucks arrogant mug. The sides taste like someone went dumpster diving at the nearest nursing home, cold fries, mealy green beans, pasty black beans. No attempt in quality control can be seen. The host has been there for years, she still walks us to the table and turns and walks right through me, I know, it is petty, but I think it represents the culture of mediocrity that is rampant. Hey Chuck, how about some surprise taste tests on the line instead of having another portrait done, I nearly fucking choked when I saw the calendar of events that listed "Dinner with Chuck", it had your whole schedule lined up. I haven't seen you in a few years, but if I "dine with Chuck" I will be sure to ask you to bring my kids some freshly cooked catfish. Here is a short list of grievences, No dressing on salad Bread is of the lowest quality fries are never fresh Beans always taste like yesterdays Cream soups have reduced to the consistency of paste (add water genius!) The Tamale casserole is an abomination, please serve one to your mentor Rick Bayless and see if he can even swallow Chicken noodle soup was the overcooked debris from the bottom of the stock pot, you couldn't tell where the broth started and the bones /meat began, a class act of horror all the way. I have lost my motivation for this review, I will continue to get breakfast on occasion, and I will continue to get a bowl of brunswick stew while my friends and family gorge themselves on slop.
(2)
Denise C.
Chucks is a great restaurant if you haven't been! Good prices also. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was there food use to be better. Not only in taste but in quality. They would throw in more items and now it seems they charge you for the napkins! I get It though, they moved into a bigger location , so prices had to go up.
(3)
Kouklah M.
Horrible experience I wish they would have done something about this because they have lost a customer the food was cold and bland the ribs were full of fat basically paid for the pig fat! Not a good dining experience and it sucks when they don't try to fix the problem to make the experience better save your money go somewhere else!!!!!
(1)
Rocky R.
Best breakfast ever! I work at a breakfast cafe and I go here on my days off (mostly because its closer) but the food is so good. My waitress mariam is the best I tried going to the other location in darien and they wouldn't give me what I wanted but every time I come here she gives me exactly what I want, I can never finish a full Benedict so she let's me order a half! Awesome! Def recommend coming here to all my friends and family. I always get the juavos ala frontera its black beans and chorizo in a sope instead of English muffin it's ridiculously good and the blueberry pancakes are right on point. Another favorite of mine is the biscuits and gravy you can't go wrong. I look forward to coming here!
(5)
Dymond B.
Everything is awesome about this place. Good drinks fantastic food, and great specials everyday.
(5)
Dawn C.
Good welcome when we arrived. Recommend getting a reservation. Parking lot was full at 6pm We started with the nachos Omg the nachos . Amazingly delicious . They have 3 separate types of toppings . With pulled pork . My side salad was good . Heirloom tomatoes red peppers . Saturday special is really good too!
(5)
Dolores Z.
We just got home after dining at Chuck's. It had been awhile since we were there, cold weather, so we gave it a go. We are always asked if we have a reservation. This time, we did, which seemed to delight the hostess. We were promptly seated. Server Jaqui greeted us, set us up with water, and shortly returned to take our drink orders. Chuck's has a notable beer list, I think 120 selections. There's a punch card program, and they put your name on a wall plaque somewhere if you manage to try all of them. Fun for the beer lovers, for sure. Good selection of hearty soups! I had chicken tortilla, very tasty. Hubby had cream chicken rice, rich and filling. Of course, Chuck's claim to fame is the barbecue, and it does not disappoint! I had a combo of pulled chicken and pulled pork with Carolina BBQ sauce. Hubby had brisket with mild sauce, lean and perfectly tender. There's several sauce choices, so you can pick your fave. For sides, we chose the creamy Mac n cheez, Creole green beans, mashed potatoes, and a tomato chipotle rice. All were well seasoned and quite satisfying. There was a Kahlua chocolate pecan pie for dessert, but I can't tell about that as I was pretty full and ordered it to go, can't wait to try it. It was a great experience, except for one thing. When we got home, hubby noticed the front license plate frame was broken, the plate was bent, and snow was packed into the car's grille. Valet service is free, but definitely was not a value added service. The car got messed up! It is new, only 1100 miles on it. Would not have tipped the kid $10 if we noticed it! I did call Chuck's, spoke with a manager, who took my contact info. Hopefully there's no other damage. Do yourself a favor and park it yourself!
(3)
Anabel S.
Service was great but food was tasteless. What a disappointment, the brisket lacked flavor, the barbecue sauce was too salty. We barely tasted the food and were kind of embarrassed to leave full plates on the table so when the waiter asked if we wanted to take them to go we said yes, but as soon as we got home I had to throw the food in the trash. Never going back for sure!
(2)
Harry M.
A good change in southern cooking. The flavors pop and the spice is quality. Pulled pork is the best and you choose the sauce to your liking. Try a pulled pork sandwich Memphis style.
(4)
Ellen M.
Chuck's is a friendly, comfortable joint, with great service. It's a place all can agree on, thinking multi-generationally. Good barbecue ribs and pulled pork. Excellent coleslaw. I will skip the ceviche next time. Good beer list. Many to choose from, from around the globe. I had a sazerac that surprised me; it appeared to have been shaken and strained, while I'm accustomed to a gentle stirring without ice. It grew on me as I sipped it.
(3)
Tom T.
Everything here is good. I almost always get the two meat combo; ribs and brisket. The brisket is always cooked perfectly and ribs are as well.
(5)
Kristin M.
This place has been featured on all those food shows and for good reason! It's so good! I always get the Chuck's special sandwich with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. Carb overload. Their macaroni and cheese will change your life. They also have a ton of beers on special, I think it's actually over 100. They have a club where if you try all the beers on the menu (not in one day!) you get a tshirt and your name on the wall. They recently added breakfast to the menu. When I had it there I had the French toast and thought it was excellent. My boyfriend had the stuffed French toast and that was kind of weird so I wouldn't recommend that. I love that they take reservations for breakfast because most breakfast places won't do that. Don't forget to bring you work ID! Wednesday health care workers get a discount and Thursday teachers get one!
(5)
Jay M.
I had the super sampler the brisket was pretty dry and the catfish was a little salty. I also tried the seafood cakes and they were delicious. The sides weren't bad but they didn't have a lot of flavor. Overall it was ok food but not worth the price.
(3)
Marcy S.
My son in-law always orders take-out dinner from Chucks and the food is always very good so my husband and I decided to stop in for breakfast, Awesome is all I could say! I was very pleased with the way the food taste and the friendly fast service.
(5)
J C.
Love Cajun, Latin, and tex mex food. I've had some good food here and great catered party food too. But service can be rushed and spotty. Had good ribs one time- went back a month later and they were tough and fatty- so much so that my teenager would not eat. The gumbo was good as was the pibil. Would like to see a simple blackened piece of chicken or fish not slathered in sauce on the menu. Love the VooDoo lounge too
(3)
Steven M.
This is my second time here. The first was about 8 years ago and I don't remember the place being this big. I had a Groupon for a paint nite and I met a friend at the bar before hand. I had a chicken quesadilla and this honkin plate comes out with a hubcap filled with chicken and cheese. It was on the better side of delicious. I was pleasantly stuffed. The painting was my first time at bat and I had a wonderful time. I annoyed the instructor a bit as he babbled on. I just did my own thing. That's the concept of a good time!
(4)
Aesha W.
Last time I went to St. Louis, about a year ago, I stopped into Bogart's for some BBQ. After that, I found I got a craving and rather than drive 5+hours to Missouri, I decided to stop into Chuck's. They've been on Check Please and garnered other accolades, so I figured I'd start here on my Chicago BBQ tour. I really like Chucks, and it's been my default BBQ place when I have a hankering for it. It's a long drive from my place on the north side, so I don't get there terribly often--once a month or so. I don't like ribs, brisket, and what not, and Chuck's has pulled chicken so I have something that I can always get something I like (it seems that a lot of other places don't have the pulled chicken). They also have daily specials, which have always been great when I've had them. The staff is friendly, quick and the food is great, so don't hesitate to stop by the Burbank or Darien locations if you're nearby and want some great BBQ. There's a bar adjacent to the restaurant, so you can eat on either side. They have a large parking lot, but also offer free valet because there are times when it gets pretty packed. DO NOT park on the side streets; you've been warned. One last note--once per month, Chuck's has a beignet breakfast. They offer breakfast daily, but the beignets are only available on certain Saturdays (check the website for details). I have never had beignets before, but did visit here one Saturday to give them a taste. They were great, but I probably won't make the trip out there for them. Mostly it's because the breakfast was not much different than a breakfast I'd get a lot closer to my house, and it's too long a drive out there just for the beignets.
(5)
Lauren H.
Very disappointed in Chuck's. I went here years ago and the food was so much better. This time I ordered delivery and they forgot part of my order. It took an additional 30mins for the rest of my order to arrive and they didn't offer any compensation for the incomplete delivery or the wait. There was no free drink, no coupon for a future purchase, nothing. Why would I ever order anything from you again if you can't deliver a complete order? The food was mediocre and the portions very small for the price. There are better places to get "southern" food in Chicago that don't cost nearly as much. The catfish dinner is a few catfish strips not a dinner, the brownie is small, hard, and cold for $3. I could go on and on. This place is the definition of soul food made with no soul.
We went to Chuck's for Easter Brunch.... It was served family style, which was fine. It was all you can eat and our table only had one "round" of food. We had a good amount of the meats leftover and we had asked for a box to take it home. The waitress told us that they do not allow doggie bags for family style meals. She told us that they just throw it away, which is absolutely awful and very wasteful... Take away the fact that it was $21/person for the food. Very wasteful... The food was good, we just simply wanted to take some of it home so that we could enjoy it later as a sandwich or something.
(2)
Jaclyn H.
I think the mac and cheese is the bomb here. Never had any issues with that. The beef is normally pretty good occasionally kind of dry. Over all good place
(4)
Sandy V.
This place is amazing there food is so good for breakfast lunch or dinner everything is made to order . You can go there for a month n never have the same thing the staff is pleasant helpful all the time
(5)
Cory S.
Underwelmed.. but maybe because I had high expectations based on what I'd heard. They do have a HUGE selection of beer, local and far reaching. Absolutely no complaints about the service or beer selection. I had the brisket and pulled pork combo with mac and cheese and green beans. The green beans were the star of the show.. they were great and I'd eat them a few times a week if they were available. The mac n cheese are adequate, nothing horrible or amazing. The pulled pork was average. It was decent flavor and consistency.. not too fatty, not too lean. The brisket was cooked too hot. It wasn't as tender as it should have been and lacked a deep smoke ring. The flavor was lacking since it was cooked hot and probably burned off before it had a chance to penetrate the meat.
(3)
Michael J.
I lived in justice for sometime and I went their I love the crab cakes and the BBQ I would like to try it again.
(5)
Tony H.
Jack Frost drink special was nice. Pleasantly surprised by the depth of the beer list. First had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, great, with the jerk wings as an appetizer good flavor but super spicy, the cornbread is good also. Drinks are a good value. Had the smoked brisket dinner it was okay.
(4)
Eric A.
Great smoked brisket, pulled pork and links, The big three when I hear bar b q. Atmosphere is great, very spacious.
(5)
Debbie M.
great prices for high quality food. Was always 5 star but things have slipped just a bit. Hope they catch it before it slips further. Still, great, interesting food and fantastic drinks at reasonable prices
(4)
Loren T.
Great breakfast. Biscuits and gravy have soggy biscuits at most locations, but chucks biscuts are still crispy, eggs are superb. Lots of grest options, most people leave with doggy bags, lots of food. When available, is the best chicken fried steak around.
(5)
Liz M.
I walked in here for the first time ever tonight. Friendly staff, BUT.....my waitress notified me that they were out of ribs. I was disappointed because like I said before it was my first time here, and I've read that their ribs are delicious and I couldn't wait to try them for myself. I came here around 7:30pm so I don't understand how they ran out of ribs. I'm not sure if I will ever go back :(
(2)
J J.
Food was blah!! Ribs tasted like they were baked. Fell off the bone to easy for good smoked ribs and was also drowned in some weird bbq sauce. If the ribs are cooked right there's no need for all that sauce. A little is fine but they put way too much on. Mac n Cheese=Nope! Try Again. Green Beans tasted canned. The mash potatoes with the sage gravy was the best thing. If i do go back i'll try some of their cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, etc. I was told after the fact that those type of dishes are way better. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very nice though.
(2)
Matt F.
Always great food when you eat in. Sometimes delivey is not consistent. Pulled pork is always well done and the spicy bbq sauce is the bomb. I do know prices are going up on food, but prices have been increased alot.
(4)
Kevin S.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Despite the confusing name, the Mexican themed breakfast menu had so many delicious sounding options. My wife and I both order one of "Chuck's Favorites" (and were so angry that our stupid stomachs filled up so fast because we wanted to keep eating). I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy which was delicious (and a little sweet), but I couldn't eat very much because it was so rich (and might heart cried uncle). The chef has certainly done his mentor (Rick Bayless) well. I just wish we could have stayed for some brisket (the smell when you walk in is amazing!) . . . next time.
(5)
Candace M.
Have been coming to Chucks from the beginning, not sure if he got too big for his britches but sad to say everything has gone downhill. We always sit at the bar & eat, they had lost 2 of the best bartenders that the place ever had, now it's another "Burbank" bar, they used to be really busy & I believe it because the bartenders are so bad, had to constantly ask for a refill on our drinks, had to ask to order, not friendly at all, like they were being bothered. We had the ribs....were always very good in the past, they were terrible, we were "regulars" here at one point & very sad to say we may not be coming back
(2)
Paul C.
As a native burbank resident, I always see this restaurant lot jam-picked. And rightfully so.. As what I would call Burbank "A Good Restaurant Desert" similar to a good desert. As this suburb lack good quality food. This establishment serving as the one and only. Enough to appeal to a foodie that is... A dated-southern style decor greets you slam in the face when you walk in. It's like a clash of average restaurant meets a dive. Perhaps thats the reason this was featured on a certain Food Network show. Any who, there is a variety of options to satisfy any pick pallet. The food itself is, in very generic terms, is good. It's not memorable, but perhaps this critique is based upon Mr. Chuck and his culinary training w/Rick Bayless. I would've expected more. Still, this isn't saying anything bad about the food, as it is escalated the tier of food served in Burbank. Slightly above average food at slightly above average prices. If you're looking to take a small step above a dive, you found your spot. I will say that they do have quite the beer selection. Overall, this may not be for a foodie, but for an ordinary day in Burbank, this is your best bet.
(2)
Don L.
I want to give Chuck 4 stars. I really do, but just can't get myself to do it. Now, I know that when you come to a restaurant closer to its closing time, you're not going to get the freshest food...but even though that's the norm, it's a poor excuse. I arrived around 8:20 PM on a weeknight and ordered the Baby Back Ribs with Hot Link, with sides of baked beans and mac n cheese. The North Carolina BBQ sauce was DELICIOUS. You can taste the smokiness of the ribs and each rib had a generous portion of meat on it. However, one of my ribs was too burnt to finish. It was pitch black on one end. I love a good juicy hot link. This was NOT good, nor juicy. It was dry, overcooked, and nothing "hot" about it. Again, this may be because I'm came closer to closing time...who knows. The baked beans were watery. The Mac N Cheese tasted like melted Velveeta on the cheese, but I like some Velveeta. It wasn't a bad meal...Matter of fact, I have a hunch that if I came around 6 PM, it would have been much better. This is #52 on my quest to eat at all the Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives in America!
(3)
M K.
Been here a couple times now, great food! Great service! Pulled Pork nachos are delic.
(5)
Synn E.
I LOVE the knowledge Chuck ha with pairing spices with his food! I am also so glad he stayed in the neighborhood, because us locals know that he could easily be downtown! The place has been busy and the parking lot full since the day it opened! The lounge features local bands and has specialty drinks as well as various beers, some unusual! It is rare that Chuck himself doesn't walk up and ask how you're doing. Oh and the cupcakes! In from a local home business, you need to try them because when they sell out they are gone for the day! A little pricey sometimes, but all in all a great dining experience!
(4)
John B.
So, the other day I was stuck in a snow storm with the wife and kids. I decided I was hungry and found this place on Yelp. DON'T TRUST YELP OR GOOGLE FOR DIRECTIONS!! Way off! Just get on the street and go to the address, its huge, can't miss it! Valet Park, it's just easy and free! This place is a mix of culture, it has lots of influences but I would say its first a BBQ Place, next a Cajun place and a little bit of Mexican influence. Wait staff was very attentive, made you feel like family. Food: I have to say that Flavor is king here. Huge Portions and everything is just right. First up, BBQ Pork nachos: Big plate covered and layered in toppings, fresh ingredients and real cheese, not that yellow gunk. I give it a solid 10! Jambalaya with Craw-fish and Shrimp: This one is a hot one, my wife could not eat it but I loved it! Very large portion with a tomato pepper sauce. I really like the flavors and they did not skimp on the seafood! The tomato sauce was a little strange, I dug it but having live in New Orleans kind of odd on the plate. Overall an 8! Rib tips: This was a solid rib tip, nice and tender, good smoke, good sauce. Had some slaw with it and it was a good cream based slaw. Think KFC but homemade. Solid 8 Kiddos: Let me say the Price/Portion was overly fair. Lots of food, Drink and a Dessert! Fried fish strips: This was really tasty, My wife and I ended up eating a bunch of it. I would have just ordered that myself. 10 Mac and Cheese... In a world of Baked mac and cheese ruling the BBQ Joint menus, I was amazed at the great flavor and creaminess. I also had a side on my plate and this was a good quality basic Mac. 9 BBQ Pork Sliders: Honey bun, great sweet pork, Nuff said! 9 All of the plates came with a big portion of homemade battered fries that were very tasty. That said I would have like to see a more healthy option for the side and admittedly I did not ask, but I did not see one.(I know I know, It's a f-ing BBQ place, but my kids like fruit and stuff, I didn't say I want it... Sheesh) Lastly, we had a Brownie ala-mode, this was much bigger than I was expecting. Good brownie, could use better ice-cream. 6 Over all this is one of the best Family style, huge portion, fair priced, friendly BBQ joints around!
(5)
David S.
We ate in the Voodoo Lounge. I liked the atmosphere - it's a fun place to have some food and drinks. But the server suggested a bourbon ale which wasn't great. I later came to find (from the same server) they were trying to finish the keg so they could tap a new Lagunitas beer, which I would have really preferred over her suggestion. I ordered the cochinita pibil. It was good but, to me, not worth the $13 price tag. Between the bourbon ale and the overpriced entree, I walked away like "meh."
(3)
Alex R.
Favorite date night spot. I'm currently attempting to climb the 120 hall of fame, and getting to try some awesome beers and food because of it. Always recommend, Great deals too!
(5)
Michelangelo V.
Honest review do not go here i live close by it n saw it on diners drive in n dives so i went the food was not good if u want the best barbeque food go to hog wild or wild hog i always forget which one comes first it is the best food its cheap n the portions are huge its far but trust me i live in midway n i go there as much as possible because its amaizin
(1)
Rick H.
Uh-Mazing. Everything was delicious. We came here with our two small kids early on a Sunday. Asked for a booth when they wanted to seat us at a table. The host discussed a little with the head host but they sat us...nice. Now to the craft beer. FINALLY! A place that gets it. Listen up you swill guzzling restaurants and take a tip from Chuck. They have a handful of craft drafts but a very large selection of cans and bottles, I ordered 2 different ones, so happy. Now the food. Perfect. I ordered the full slab of ribs with the rice and mac & cheese. Meaty & flavorful, hit the spot. The wife got the 2 meat sampler, pulled pork and beef brisket. Both were good but the ribs were night's winner. Oh yeah, and most importantly we were treated very well, we sat and ordered like civilized humans and weren't shuffled on our way with preheated garbage like some other places. If you want EXCELLENT food go here. Chuck was trained by Rick Bayless and has a culinary degree (hence the wall of "suns" in the main dining area). Decided to do BBQ over Mexican on the South Side because he's always enjoyed it and most importantly there was a need for good BBQ. You ain't kiddin' chuck, I think you found a niche. Highly recommended and we will be coming back.
(5)
Jeudi J.
Beignet breakfast! Cajun crabcakes are yummy and very reasonably priced. Beignets aren't NOLA good, but they are yummy with the chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. Great service. Gonna start working the new rewards program. BBQ nachos, here I come!
We were seated and our ordered were taken right away. We've literally been waiting for an hour for our food to come other people who arrived after us have been served before us. Our waitress hasn't even came to our table to even apologize or let us know what's going on with our food all we ordered were some grilled chicken sandwiches and a soup.
(1)
Melissa L.
First time here, table for 1..kinda got seated right by the door and right behind the lady seats everyone...ehhhh.not a great place to sit..people walking right behind me kept brushing up on the chair. Mike was my server, super friendly and pretty awesome at refilling my cherry Pepsi without me asking. Ordered a Shrimp poboy deluxe which came with 2 sides. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy. The macaroni was so cheesy and delicious and the gravy on these potatoes was a phenomenal. The po boy was delicious although it could have used a little bit more Chipotle mayo ( at least I think that's what it was). The shrimp in the po boy are huge and very good. It does take a minute to figure out how to grasp the sandwich so that all the lettuce and tomato on fallout. But overall besides the seating I have no complaints and will definitely be coming back here very soon.
(4)
Qleanne D.
If you live in Burbank you know Chucks is the hot place to eat! Great southern style food! May seem pricey but once you see how big your portion is you'll understand! Sides are fantastic! Everything about Chucks is great.
(5)
Kimber F.
The food was excellent, and the service was great too. The portions, even the kids menu items, were very big and two meal worthy. The music and atmosphere were upbeat. I had the Danish salad and it was huge and tasty. Great place and will definitely go again!
(5)
carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. Its places like this that remind me not to eat at chain restaurants. This place is everything you want in a BBQ restaurant. Just make sure you make reservations no matter what time it is. Started with the Seafood Gumbo. Great if not better than any Cajun Joint. A lot of Seafood. Excellent. I had the Beef Brisket, with side of Mac and Cheese, and Chipotle Rice. Tender Beef, Cheesy Mac. Tasted the Ribs. Tender and SMOKEY. And OH the GREEN BEANS, a must. Made with Bacon. Great portions at a reasonable price. And as I was eating my dessert, Coconut Banana Cream pie, Chuck himself came by and asked how everything was. He told me he tried making the pie I was eating with Merange instead of cream, but never came out right. He just hired a Pastry Chef and will soon put it back on the menu. There are some Mexican dishes on the menu from his days working for Rick Bayless. This was a Mothers Day that felt more like a Fathers Day!!!
(5)
Betty H.
Food 4: nachos, bbq platter, fried shrimp Service:5 Cleanliness:5 Will definitely be back
(5)
Tish B.
Took my sister here for her birthday for breakfast. OMG!! The waitstaff,the atmosphere and the food was GREAT! We can't wait to get back for lunch & dinner LOL!!! They deserved 5 stars! The place was clean,we were seated right away. I can't wait to vist again and SOON and bring some more of my family!
(5)
Jennifer F.
Amazing catfish, green beans, macaroni and cheese and jalapeno cheddar corn bread!! It is so good!!!!
(5)
Laurence K.
Came by chance we were in area so went on yelp to find us a place to eat I saw the patio and another bbq place down the road but this looked much more interesting . The place was busy we sat down they have a nice selection if beers but we opted for iced teas I ordered brisket with potatoes salad and cole slaw Jim gas the chicken fried chicken with mashed and Cajun Greek beans . Hot rolls came out first which were pretty tasty I tried the bbq sauces on the table one regular and the other hot Both wee good! My mouth was watering for my food! The sever brought out 3 more sauces for me to try on North Carolina one Tennessee smokey and one honey chipotle wow.i real yelled the Tennessee sort of smokey our food arrived and looked good My brisket looked good I was surprised it had the point and deckle which are 2 different cuts of the brisket it was very tasty and it was a very large portion the cole slaw and the potato salad were both Homemade and good Joms chicken was very tasty with the mashed potatoes and gravy The Cajun beans was my only disappointment mainly I don't like canned beans But all in all a very good experience Sheri was our server she was knowledgeable and had a great personality
(4)
Jeannie A.
The restaurant is good and the food is great....but for a drinkin' good time, turn left instead of right...and get your VoodDoo on in the lounge! I've been going to Chuck's for years....and Chuck Fest is not to be missed (coming up in September at Toyota Park). Since moving to this new location and the expansion of the VoodDoo lounge, it has become a spot for many happy hours. They have an extensive list of beers on tap and a huge menu of IPAs and Craft Beers. If you are a beer lover, this is the place to be. If you go to the VoodDoo lounge website, they list the specials on tap. As always, the food is good, but better when paired with beer!! Love me some Chuck's!
(4)
G S.
The BBQ ribs are so big it took me 3 meals to finish them. I love the baked beans they make, very smokey and BBQ flavored. They also have the Brunswick stew for a side. What a great side as an alternative to not being a fry guy. This restaurant is a true treat to the senses. Enjoy fellow Yelpers
(5)
Alfonso T.
Been here plenty of times. Whether it's to catch a game at the Vooodoo Lounge or grab a bite this place never disappoints. Huge, HUGE beer list and amazing food. The Korean wings and his BBQ sandwiches are my go-to. Awesome specials too. Both drinks and dinner.
(5)
leonard f.
I'm a fan , I had the Carne Asada, the beef was so tender my wife even thought it was great . She had the cobia and liked it a lot , the martinis were great . Been there before and going again. Vicki was a darn good waitress.
(4)
Sarah S.
Best soups ever and they change daily depending on what fresh ingredients Chuck has either from his garden or flown in fresh! I'm a vegetarian and I eat here at least once a week. There really is something for everyone and I have never been disappointed! Recently hd the crawfish boil, not only fresh and delicious, but so much fun to eat. My whole family and all of my coworkers rave about Chucks regularly. So go eat there! (Before I went "veg" I would get the pulled pork all the time. Some of the best pulled pork ever!)
(5)
Robert C.
The only negative I have to say is there is absolutely nothing wrong with this place except not making a reservation and having to wait.
(5)
Tony P.
Went there 1/10/2015 and between my wife and I tried the pork shoulder and the catfish. The pork shoulder was terrific and I was very happy with the place. My wife's catfish though upstaged my meal as it was as she put it "the best fried catfish she has ever had". Great batter, not greasy at all, the fish remained moist and flaky ... Kids had a great time too as the mac and cheese was very good as well.
(5)
Kristina g.
Amazing food!!! Burgers are delicious, ribs delicious, fries are crazy good!! And OMG the bread pudding is to die for!! Awesome place for drinks and family time!
(5)
Cynthia C.
I have been to this place a few times but mostly for lunch. I want to say its been at least a year. Recently I decided to take the family to the newer Chucks in Darien. The place had a great lively atmosphere and my waitress was the best! Now for the food: The sides were de-licious (especially the mac & cheese), however my carne asada en mole was cold. They made another plate for me and it was pretty good and they also didn't charge me for it. Good experience there and I would go back. I finally decided to go back to the Chucks in Burbank for breakfast because my favorite was their cafe de la olla with a hint of orange and brown sugar..YUMMMM..as well as their famous cream of chicken soup (as most spots serve this on a Sunday). I even invited my friend with her kids. They only wanted the soup. Our waiter was okay. Nothing memorable. I ordered their chilaquiles and I believe my friend had huevo rancheros. Again, my food wasn't hot; barely warm. I did not like the chilaquiles at all. The sauce did not have any flavor and their was more sauce than tortillas. Besides that my food was VERY salty and I even mentioned it to the waiter and he basically just blew that off. My friends daughter asked for the soup and he said it wasn't available. I was surprised since that it one of their most recommend items. His response was "our kitchen isn't big enough to make that all day". okaaayyy???? Needless to say, I won't be back for breakfast but I might go to the one in Darien.
(3)
PAMELA W.
Best surprise in a while. Everything was delicious. Catfish was so hot and fresh. Ribs were meaty and tender. I loved the house BBQ sauce ( the mild ). The Mac and cheese really surprised me because I don't like Mac and cheese. I could not stop eating this one. Rib tips were good and generous. Our server Danni was very accommodating. Brought out samples of different sauces and even labeled them. We ordered the banana bread pudding to go because we were so full. Got it home and it was mouthwatering. I can't wait to bring my friends here!
(5)
Nanc A.
Amazing food amazing ribs and chicken. Don't forget the mash.
(5)
Chuck S.
I've been to Chuck's a few times and always enjoyed the meals. I got a few of the BBQ and it was very good, not amazing but good. I fish tacos are good, pulled pork was very good and all the sides are good as well. I'm never still hungry when I leave there. Went there this weekend for Breakfast and it was very good. I got the country breakfast, I ordered egg whites but there were chunks of yolk in my eggs. The ham was a little over cooked for my liking but everything else was good. I got a sweet potato pancake, oh my god was that good. I didnt even want to put syrup on it. I will be back to Chucks. It's good food.
(4)
Bex F.
Holy stuffed. I can barely type I'm so full. Hauling all the way down here, we picked up to go. The parking lot was a madhouse though it smelled fantastic. Somehow got indoors which was tricky as it was packed at 5 pm on a Sunday. Ordered the brisket dinner with Cajun green beans and mac for him, pulled pork sandwich Memphis style with fries and mac for me. Boy that was a long drive home, smelling it in the car. It was all really tasty. On it's own, the mild BBQ sauce didn't wow me but with the sandwich and slaw, it was good. Nummy fries. Mac and cheese was heavy on the black pepper but it was still good. The hubby enjoyed his meal quite well. Pretty good overall. And seriously, I am so full I don't know if I'm writing in English or not. Portion sizes were ginormous - even a quarter of my sandwich was a meal in itself. The menu is definitely interesting with all its influences and if we lived closer I'm sure we'd be back checking out the various offerings. So full.
(4)
Kelly D.
SOOOO Good!!! Best: Mac and cheese, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, crab cake appetizer. Huge beer list and some decent cocktails. Servers are always friendly and you cannot beat the price for the taste and quality. The owner, Chuck, is always checking in on customers, getting refills-that says a lot about how much pride he puts into his business. Only thing I wish they would change is having the mac and cheese on their late night menu-I always get cravings for it late night :(
(5)
roy l.
Well, again service was poor and the food was great. I'm going to try Darien location next time and they have the same issues I'll phone in a pick up order
(3)
Kevin M.
Simply the best
(5)
Tim H.
Finally made it to the Beignet breakfast (3rd Saturday each month) and also really enjoyed Chuck's Chorizo Rancheros. A whole lot of food but always enjoy the left overs. I think a chunky cook is good but I'm not the cook. lol Chuck's certainly combines some great flavors to his meals... oh yeah, get the sauces with the beignets! Great live New Orleans music accompanies the beignet breakfast also. After seeing the size of George the crawfish, I need to make it to their crawfish boil before the month of May slips away. They sure offer up some great specials, sure hope they continue the tradition in the Darien locaton. Perhaps this time next month, I'll have a new review for the Darien location for Father's Day.
(5)
Diana H.
Service is good, employees really nice food is decent. When it comes to ordering to go they always mess up the order or the food is cold. For the food we get the price is really high.
(3)
Jason N.
Don't know what else can be said about Chuck's that already hasn't been, but the consensus is it's pretty darn good. They have an incredible variety of food. Think of BBQ, Cajun, and Mexican fare making sweet love and that's what you get. I'll actually start out with the breakfast, if you like corned beef hash this is a must try! Its homemade hash and yes, they actually smoke their corned beef. Now process that fact, breathe, and take a second to recover from the thought of the tasty possibility here. It tastes exactly as it sounds, delicious! The dinner options are plentiful and delish as well. The ribs, rib tips, chicken, and brisket are all smoked to perfection. They have several sauce options which are all good. Just read the description and if any tickle your fancy you'll probably enjoy it quite a bit. My favorite appetizer is the BBQ nachos. Take homemade tortilla chips, brisket, pulled pork, pico, guac, sour cream, cheese, and BBQ sauce and there you have an amazing appetizer good enough to be a main dish. Chuck's is one of those places that has something for everyone, and based on the constant crowd and people who travel from near and far that alone speaks for itself.
(4)
Josh E.
Meh. I expected more out of this place given the reviews and the press it's gotten. I got the ribs and chicken - both were OK but nothing special. Chicken was a little on the dry side. Green beans and mashed were pretty good and they have a huge beer selection. Not worth the trek down there if you're a city dweller.
(3)
Leo P.
Nice BBQ place with sports Bar atmosphere on one end and dining on the other side. Food is good, if your crazy about BBQ. Great south side restaurant if your craving for good BBQ and a beer.
(4)
Catherine P.
Chuck is a culinary genius and a savvy business man who serves to please. I'm always happy with whatever I order. The specials are ever changing so dining here is exciting. Chuck's also has one of the most extensive beer selections on the south side (mostly bottles). I wish this location had more on tap, but what is available on tap is good. Good service and a clean environment are provided too. Love me some Chuck's.
(5)
Jasmine C.
I'm surprised this restaurant exists in Burbank (and now Darien, where Chuck, the owner, opened another restaurant). I would expect to find a restaurant with food of this caliber in downtown Chicago. The food is excellent, and friends and family I have brought here agree. You will be greeted by the rich BBQ smell of smoked meat as you walk through the parking lot. Staff is friendly and the waitstaff is knowledgeable. Portions are plentiful, and a variety of BBQ sauces are offered to suit different tastes. You can't go wrong with the brisket or ribs. The meat is tender and never dry. Besides BBQ dishes, there are also flavorful Mexican meals that are authentically prepared. I'm not talking Pepe's or Zaca Tacos here, as Chuck's has choices like chicken enchiladas in mole sauce (the serving is huge!) and poblano pepper soup. One of the specials offered on Sundays is Mexican pot roast, also very tasty. In addition, there are always creative Cajun dishes on the menu as daily specials. This is also one of my favorite breakfast places. Chuck's offers a variety unmatched by the bland, typical generic choices at the local Greek-owned family restaurants. And if you like coffee, get the urn of Mexican coffee--it's terrific! You know this place has to be good, as it was featured on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I highly recommend Chuck's! In fact, sometimes Chuck will even come out to the dining room to chat with guests.
(5)
Wendy C.
I love the BBQ nachos. The service is great. All of their food is great..their food is what I come back for every time. I've never had anything bad off of the menu. They have a lot of beer..like over 100. It's awesome. I love chucks!
(5)
Javier G.
Good food, good place but twice have been there and both times been out of the beef brisket. I will say that I've gone for dinner both times and it's been after 7pm so probably my fault. The corn bread is good, rib tips are awesome and gumbo pretty tasty.
(4)
Tiredofbadfood L.
Great bbq! good service and great beer. Mac & Cheese really delicious. Someone here understands how to smoke meat and pays attention to meat quality. Loved it. Good value for your dollar
(4)
Tony K.
Famous Daves BBQ is a good amount better than this place in every way. The ambiance, the service and especially the food. This place is WAY overrated. Its good, dont get me wrong but its not close to what you would imagine it to be. The interior looks like a greek restaurant. The parking is poor. There is a BBQ place a few blocks west that is BETTER and less expensive. I wouldnt go to this place again considering the prices, service, food & ambiance. I dont think South-siders know what great BBQ really is. Ive been all over the country and this is NOT great barbecue.
(2)
Jim B.
Whenever I cannot make up my mind where to go, I always default to Chucks. I go there for sporting events especially before Fire games. Huge selection of beer. Servers know their stuff. Waitstaff is quick. Food is absolutely to die for. Always good to see Chuck himself at the restaurant.
Normally I'm a huge fan. But, this time the service wasn't up to par. My main complaint for today was that we had to wait over 10 minutes for our check. We asked Carlos, our waiter, 3 times for it. After the second time he proceeded to take the orders of two large groups. Not nice at all. However, the food was great, as always.
(3)
Oscar S.
Im glad I found this place!!!! Theres not too many places around this area with good southern cooking.I had a serious taste for gumbo and didnt want to drive 10 miles out of the way.Sooooo,I did my research.I lucked out!!!! Found this place only 2 miles from where I was.NIIICCCCE!!!!!! They definitely serve up some good food.Im a big eater so I ordered up a couple of things.Really good gumbo.Jambalaya was delicious as well.Service was great.I found a new spot!!!!!!!!!! YEEESSSSS!!!!!
(5)
Elizabeth F.
Three strikes and I'm done. I was so excited to see a place featured on DDD from Food Network near my hometown. My first visit was for breakfast. Cajun eggs Benedict. The server was wonderful; the eggs had been poached so long the yolks were solid. The dish had to be sent back. The second visit was in the bar. Server was wonderful; BBQ sampler platter for $17 barely had any meat. It was more like an appetizer. Third visit was to the bar this past Monday evening. Horrible server! It was like we were a bother to her made only more apparent when we could overhear her being nice to what must have been regulars. Ordered the BBQ nachos. The guacamole was gray. How could that leave the kitchen? How the server think that was acceptable? She never checked back with us to see how the food was... Or give us extra napkins since it was nachos/finger food.... Never checked on us for more cocktails. Truly disappointing.
(2)
Misty S.
Came here on a Tuesday night, which happened to be Fat Tuesday. There was a live band playing and a fun atmosphere. The place was crowded but we got a table after 10 minutes. They had a tapas menu in addition to their regular menu offering atypical choices like alligator and egg roll sampler. There are so many things on their menus, there surely must be something for everyone here. The ribs and Honey Chipotle rib tips I tried were good, but nothing that stood out to me. Let's just say I've had better ribs and that's no fault of Chuck's. The BBQ combo came with a half a rack of ribs plus one choice or extra meat and 2 sides for $17. The mac and cheese and green beans were okay. The hot sauce available at the table wasn't that spicy but has a good flavor. Chuck's have an extensive beer menu (over 120 options!) and the one I tried was good. If you like Guinness, you will like the Arcadia Imperial Stout. Our waitress was fast and accurate. One warning about the bathroom, the water was freezing cold when I was washing my hands, but at least there was a hand dryer that can warm them afterwards.
(3)
Cesar R.
The name is deceiving as we expected your typical BBQ. Boy, were we wrong! The chefs combination of typical southern and Mexican spices makes his meals explode with flavor! We had the Carne Asada and several appetizers I can't remember. We were going from one dish to the other trying to savor it all. Finally, we decided we would just have to return. I highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed! Happy to have this type of food so close to the south side!
(5)
Daniel G.
I have been coming to Chucks for several years, and will keep coming back because the food is absolutely outstanding. Service has always been great and Chuck puts a lot of thought into the menu and I enjoy the rotation of specials that come out. Also the voodoo bar is a great place to catch a game and enjoy one of the many beers they have in their expansive beer menu
(5)
Christine O.
I checked this place out for lunch yesterday with my dad and his co-worker (they are both private pilots who were in town for just a few hours). My dad's co-worker recommended Chuck's and has been there a few times. The restaurant makes a huge selection of soups in house. We had a Mexican style chili, stuffed pepper soup, and chicken dumpling soup. I had the Bahn Mi, which I was told was a new menu item. The chicken was perfectly cooked, spicy and delicious with fresh asian slaw on top. It was a bigger sandwich than I should have eaten all at once being that it was such a late lunch, but it was just so good I couldn't help it. The staff was super accommodating when we got a last minute call that the passengers were headed back to the airport for a departure... 4 hours ahead of their scheduled departure. They quickly got our food packaged up in to-go containers so that we could get back Midway, get the airplane ready and an updated flight plan filed. I will have to go back with my boyfriend to enjoy this place again when we aren't rushed! A+ in my book.
(5)
James B.
Great for Cajun/Creole, Mexican, or BBQ. They have great specials everyday. And a beer list with 120 bottles and a few specials on tap everyday.
My meal was ok...nothing to write home about. Not special enough for me to return. Customer service was great though.
(3)
Catherine E.
The RIBS are fantastic! Best BBQ in the area! Pulled Pork sandwich was very good. Soups are so good there are addictive! Side dishes need work.
(3)
Dan D.
One of my buddies family owns this place so this review might be a bit biased, but either way before and after I found out the food and service have always been top notch. The first time I ate here I arrived with my girlfriend around 9pm and was seated quickly. The waiter was keen to mention the specials and his favorite choices of meat. We both decided on the Chuck Special, which is the signature beef brisket sandwich. The beef was tender, flavorful and well seasoned. The signature sauce is a bit sweet for my liking, almost with a cranberry note, but worked well with the beef. The side dishes were quite tasty. I had gumbo and my girlfriend had cream of chicken soup. Overall I would gladly return, great service and a definite pride of ownership. Everything is hot and fresh until close.
(4)
Gina W.
Love Chuck 's!! Dinner is always great. You can't go wrong sticking to the specials. Great daily soups. The cream of poblano is the best soup I have had in a long time.The bananas foster crepes are to die for but the best of all is the breakfast!! Hands down best breakfast/coffee on the south side!
(5)
Courtney M.
I am not going to lie...I was extremely suspicious of all the raving reviews regarding Chuck's. The reason for my suspicion was because I am in love with all things cajun and I grew up with cajun food on the table on a routine basis. My grams is cajun and well, let's just say I was ready to see what this place was all about. The building itself is nice and it was extremely calm and quiet when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The waitress was friendly and attentive as well. But I am not really writing this review to discuss the service (although it really was great). I am writing this review because of the joy and warm fuzzies I felt when I tasted my shrimp etouffee. Nothing can compare to good old n'awlins food, but this dish was truly delightful. The sauces were spicy and the shrimp was very tasty- both pleased my palate. After consuming the massive lunch portion placed before me, I moved on to the bananas foster with crepes. This too was delicious and an interesting change from the original style. Overall, this place had very good southern food for being in a random suburb in Illinois. I left full, fat and happy- what more could you ask for??!
(4)
Jessica H.
Have been here twice now, once for dinner (good) and most recently for breakast (subpar). Definitely wouldn't come back here for breakfast. At the recommendation of our server I had the chilaquiles which I found to be totally flavorless. The tomato sauce was bland and I asked for easy onions, and what I ended up with was none of the toppings that were supposed to come with the dish: monterey jack cheese, onions, and cilantro. Though I was hungry I ate virtually none of the food and came home and ate breakfast there, if that tells you anything. Would have been a two-star score if not for the good dinner experience. Would return for dinner, but not for breakfast.
(3)
Lashone E.
Great food! Once a month my sisters and I find a new place to eat. If the food is good we'll recommend it to our families and friends. Well, I ended up buying take out from Chucks the next day because the leftovers I brought home was demolished by my family. This is a winner! Great food, you get plenty of it and the service was awesome!
(5)
Cesar M.
I have been here many times over the years . I was here yesterday for lunch with a friend. This friend lives about an hour away and every time he comes to visit, he wants to come eat here, he says they have the best BBQ ribs he has ever had. Now that I write about it, does he come to see me and takes advantage to go eat here or? since he is coming to eat here he decides to spend some time with me??? I need to have a serious talk with this guy. The ribs are good and mostly everything, but every once in a while Chuck will come up with a new dish that is not as good as everything else, big points for the creativity but not for the taste. As an example, last time I was here we ordered some kind of quesadillas that were just a little odd in flavor. Normal, I guess for restaurants to try something and see if it works. Mostly everything is good here tough. Yesterday we had full slab of ribs with green beans and baked potato. Brisket sandwich with mash potatoes and coleslaw. Everything was good. I also had to have a bowl of Chuck's red, so good and flavorful reason enough to keep coming back just for this. My friend also ordered a poblano cream soup that was delicious. Chuck's good food, nice service
(4)
Joanne D.
I have been going to Chucks since 98 when I worked down the street from the little tiny building he had on the corner of the strip mall. Since I moved to the western suburbs anytime that I am near the south side of chicago I have to stop by and either dine in or take out. A lot of the same people from the early days of Chuck are still there when I pop in and out to eat. I really like the service and especially the amazing food. I highly recommend you try the salad with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette OMG that is to die for. I would eat that by the truck loads if I could. I don;t know if they still have it anymore but I was a BIG fan of his homemade Thai Noodle Salad another one to look out for if it's available. The soups are always made fresh so it does not taste like a processed soup at all. The ribs will fall off of the bone ...yum So if your in a hurry I would say pre order for take out, but if you have time and your kids are past that age of running around. Go there because you want to definitely make sure that you can sit down and soak in the amazing food. Oh yeah - order the homemade mac and cheese HEAVEN!
(5)
Hugh P.
BBQ in Chicago, a treat!
(3)
Dena S.
Have had awesome food and service every time. On weekends I recommend reservations as it gets super busy. Highly recommend for any meal!
(5)
Andrew M.
Had lunch today, best Rib Tips I ever had, good Chili too, I have to invest in a smoker, made a really big difference from just baking in the oven then slapping on the grill, keep up the good work
(5)
Julia C.
The ribs are meaty and tender. I had the mild sauce and it was great! The baked beans were very good but a little spicy for me. The server was nice and efficient.
(4)
Paul S.
This is the go-to place for my wife and I. The rotating specials menu is always great and the regular items are always delicious. Pulled pork sandwich and the hot links are great. Mashed potatoes and green beans are amazing sides.
(5)
Stina N.
I've reviewed Chuck's Fest but never Chuck's; how did that even happen?!? Chuck's is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the south burbs. My favorite dish is definitely the fish tacos which are, regrettably, only available on Mondays. The BBQ nachos are fantastic. Truly, I don't think there's anything here that isn't delicious. The beer is list out of this world - over 120 options to choose from! And there's a prize if you managed to drink all 120 (not in one night of course. The only prize for that much beer is probably death by alcohol poisoning.) Beyond the awesome food and vast array of beers, I love the fact that Chuck's has also started producing some of their own produce. During the cooking demo at Chuck's Fest this year, I learned that they bought land in Hickory Hills and started farming, and if I remember correctly the goal is to make the farm self sustaining. Be still my tree-hugging heart! In the sea of chain restaurants and greasy spoon diners that make up the eateries of the south suburbs, Chuck's rises above as an absolute star.
(5)
Star L.
You know a place is going to be great when the chef/owner has learned from Rick Bayless! What I love about Chuck's is it isn't a chain, and the food is very good! I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and Cajun green beans, and it did not disappoint. The portions were sizeable and filling, and everything was fresh (I had a takeout order and live 25 minutes away; it was still hot and tasty when I got home). There appears to always be a variety of food options to choose from, not to mention a small area where you can buy BBQ sauce and rubs, and daily food specials. The staff was also very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable about the menu. This was my first experience with Chuck's, and I will be definitely back when the craving for BBQ hits...or maybe breakfast, as it is also served here.
(5)
Steve H.
Finally got to try this place as my GF and I were in the area at a mechanic getting her car fixed. The menu is rather huge which can be intimidating as you may feel that the kitchen might lose focus for some or all of their dishes. Yet none of them disappoint. We went the EXACT opposite in our menu choices... I with their BBQ platter and she with their vegetarian enchiladas. The BBQ platter was ginormous for about $15!! It came with a side of fries and cajun style green beans. Both were quite tasty, but they certainly know how to smoke some quality BBQ cuts of meat. My half slab of ribs and pile of brisket were oh so tender with pink smoke rings bursting with flavor! The GF's vegetarian enchiladas were topped with a green mole sauce that was out of this world. My taste buds usually reject any mole sauce that touches them, but for some reason the taste just made them sing non-stop "Allelujah". Chuck has been quoted that he takes pride in adequately seasoning his kitchen creations and I couldn't agree anymore. Even though the tables are stocked with plenty of BBQ sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper dispensers, not once did I ever had to reach out for anyone of them! 120 Beers on hand in their Voodoo Lounge??? This place is amazing, I'm in love!
(5)
Ashley C.
Everything I have gotten here has been amazing! Their soup, sandwiches, sides and their breakfasts are all amazing! They have the best hands down biscuits and gravy I have ever had!!! I also love that they have a decent size craft beer selection! All for a decent price!
(5)
Marlyse W.
Brisket in brisket dinner had a lot of connective tissue which made it a bit hard to eat. Mac and cheese good but not spectacular. Service friendly very good and friendly. I would go again if I'm in the neighborhood but I wouldn't make a special trip. The roasted shrimp etoufee was tasty.
(3)
Roxy H.
Great BBQ smack dab in the middle of Burbank Illinois. Wow. I like this place. The barbeque sauces are great. The green beans are soooooooooo good! I love that they let you sample the many sauces they have to figure out what kind you want on your food. The portions are huge. The pulled chicken is great. I've had it for lunch while at work and I didn't have that sluggish sleepy feeling afterwards. Yay!
(5)
Tamika S.
Chuck's is a nice spot! They have indoor and outdoor seating The food is good & full of flavor! They have a nice variety of food on the menu (Creole, Mexican, & Southern highlights) and an array of yummy desserts! I've dined in and ordered take out. Both experiences were pleasant as the wait staff have all been friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. They have a lounge called the "Voodoo lounge" of which I have yet to try! I'll be returning to this place and will be sure to visit the lounge! If you are in the area check it out!
(4)
Michelle H.
I am not a saucy girl. I desire it dry, rubbed and smoked. (BBQ, that is.) So when heading to Chucks, I was glad to see their very extensive menu had not only BBQ, but a hodgepodge mix of comfort food, burgers, and Mexican inspired dishes. If you are heading there with a larger party (we had 8), call ahead for reservations. The Sunday afternoon we were here, the place was packed with a line out the door. Granted, it was St. Patrick's Day, and smoked corned beef brisket was the rage of the day. Our server was simply wonderful. He was able to time the appetizers and meals perfectly, offer menu suggestions, and explain in detail the odd assortment of decorations adorning the walls. We started out with jalapeno cornbread and butter, and a few orders of the pulled pork nachos. The cornbread was served in a skillet, with a small scoop of butter on top. It was good, but awfully dry and in need of extra sides of butter. The nachos were great! Your normal nacho toppings, but with juicy and flavorful shredded pork. To me, it was the highlight of the meal. After reading the descriptions of their different BBQ sauces, I decided on a pulled pork sandwich with North Carolina sauce. I specifically ordered my with sauce only, as opposed to "North Carolina Style," which means they dump cole slaw on your sandwich. Unfortunately it came out with the slaw on the meat. So after a few minutes of meticulously pulling cabbage shreds from my port, I thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich. The N.C. sauce was fabulous. I despise sweet sauce, and was pleased with the vinegar based spicy sauce that encased my gloriously tender pulled pork! Since the portions are huge, no one really had any room to sample deserts. I will be back here, since BBQ I love is hard to find. Plus, with the menu being so large, I will not run out of things to try. My only regret is that I didn't eat here when I lived in the area!
(4)
Larry F.
Don't go to a bbq place and order a pork chop like this person (((blast)))
(5)
Carm P.
I see all the 4 and 5 start reviews, that's the reason why we went. IDK? Off night I guess, I left there very disappointed. The one things that really stuck out for the night was the service, Granted we had a 12 top, 4 of which were kids. In no way shape or form do I ever expect a 12 top to come out all in once but it took 4 rounds to get the food out and another 3 trips to get everyone their to tortillas, 3 of the containers originally came to the table empty. The food runners kept trying to give our food to the table behind us on more then one occasion. I had the BBQ brisket sandwich, 3 chunks of meat held together by the burnt end of the skin. It wasn't very tasty.
(2)
Jenn S.
Sadly, as with a lot of other places, this place fries all their fried food (except fries themselves) with the same exact fryer/oil that they do shellfish in....so sadly we were unable to experience the alligator tail & other appetizers. The main entrees - BBQ wise - were very good!! Some of the best we have found in Chicago so far!!! We didnt try the Cajun stuff but from what I heard from people around us, it is supposed to be very good also. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS PLACE!!!
(3)
Raul D.
The food that I had tried, was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the tastes these different combinations happen to mix on your pallet. Also, the beer selection is rather vast as opposed to other traditional places. This is by far the best places I have the pleasure of eating at since I have the opportunity to travel the country. This place is the shyt!!!! I created an account on yelp to just comment on here! I already knew that this place must be tasty with the parking lot being rather full. That speaks volumes on the cuisine! Also I had the very delightful Cochinita Pebil platter, which happen to be the special of the day for Saturday. It's very tasty and reasonably priced. I probably paid more if they asked for it. Yes, it's that good!
(5)
Steve F.
This place was awesome back when they were just a little joint off central, but since the move, quality has gone down each time I go. It was barely noticeable at first, a few tough bites of chicken, a cold spot in the gumbo, but now, and I was there yesterday, its gotten out of hand. My table, who are all locals, decided to give Chucks one last go before totally writing it off and parting ways with an old friend, so we all ordered something different and something we had not had in a long while. Well, we all made bad decisions. Long story short, the mac and cheese tasted old, like the cheese on top gets that filminess to it; the pot roast taco (the special) looked like soup on a plate because it was so sparingly adorned with meat; the shrimp po boy was tolerable (I mostly attribute this to the fact that messing up a Po Boy is hard to do since its like 5 ingredients). The friends I went with still agree the Beignets are good enough to come back for, and that the drink specials are decent if you can sneak in while the servers aren't totally swamped. Sorry Chuck, but we've had some real bad meals in the past, this most recent one pretty tame by comparison, and its just too far gone.
(2)
Courtney B.
My bf and I love this place!!! We drive up to an hour sometimes from Des Plaines to eat here. Love the bbq, the drinks,and the prices!!!
(5)
Arthur M.
We got a reservation for 3 on Friday at 8:30 but was not necessary- I'm guessing the rush for the dining room is earlier. The voodoo lounge however was packed. We shared my favorite the complex red mole chili, jalapeño cornbread, and chicago wings to start. The girls got drinks for five dollars. For dinner I had the carne asada. The steak was sliced and a perfect medium rare. There was potatoes, corn and a chile mushroom sauce. I made tacos with the warm tortillas- real good. The dessert menu said banana cream pie hails from Sinoloa, Mexico. I had to get a slice.
(5)
Tim C.
I don't really understand why so many people rate this place with 4 and 5 stars. This was my second and last time I will visit this place. This time I had a pulled pork sandwich for lunch with a side of fries and chicken potato chowder. The soup was good, but the fries were terrible. Some sort of frozen crispy coated version of a fry with a mushy gross inside. How hard is it to just put a fresh whole potato through a fry slicer and make fresh delicious fries. As for the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, it was terrible. The pork was very very dry and the covered it with a sauce that tasted like insecticide. I couldn't believe it. It seriously tasted like chemicals. I couldn't even eat it. On a positive note, the service was not bad. Sorry, but I will never go back here again.
(1)
Candace W.
The service was good! And that's where the positive review ends. The food was o...k. I've had MUCH better bbq. Not sure what all the hoopla is about.
(2)
Sara M.
Parent/Teacher conferences? They kinda suck. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe? Awesome regardless of any suck happening in your life. Was able to swing by with a big group from my big-girl job to down some delightful treats for dinner. Originally I eyed up a yummy looking garden salad (unfortunately, one of the few vegetarian options). Then everyone told me I just HAD to have the mac n' cheese. So I figured it was okay to be a little sinful and have a small order on the side. Then someone else ordered quesadillas and once I heard they had guacamole all hell broke lose. Forget veggies. FEED ME CARBS! Mac n' cheese? Delightful. It's a nothing special, no frills, cheesy paradise of goodness. I seriously contemplated ordering another small container to take home with me. Though the macaroni and cheese was incredible, the real winner of the evening was my cheese quesadillas. Usually you see quesadillas on the menu and you know you're getting a hunk of cheese melted between a tortilla. Fortunately, the chef here rocks something fierce and kicked them up a few notches with simple additions. Peppers and onions melted inside? CHECK! Topped with kick-ass pico de gallo? CHECK! To-die-for guacamole on the side? DING DING DING! We have a winner! Waitress kept everything flowing and food coming quickly all afternoon- no complaints regarding service at all. She was super friendly and even had to enlist a few other servers to assist, which she did happily. Food came out relatively quickly and our bellies were fed before round 2 of parent teacher conferences. Now what to sample in Burbank next? This is going to be a tough act to follow. Give me your best, south suburbs!
(5)
Nicole R.
good southern food, good drinks, good service.
(4)
Michele T.
I have eaten here twice now. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times the service was horrible and had messed up orders. Had to request both times to be compensated for the inconvenience by the time the correct food came out everyone in our party was done eating. Next time I will try the Darien location to see how the service is. This location needs to work on the service and maybe some cooking tips. Was told we need to come earlier for breakfast because towards the end of the breakfast rush they are trying to get the orders out before lunch starts.
(2)
Emily B.
I came here last week to meet some girlfriends for dinner. I was pretty excited based on other reviews and the chef's work with Rick Bayless. The good news is that I got to catch up with friends and laugh and carry on quite a bit. The bad news is that the food is pretty meh. Pros: - The food and drinks come out fairly quickly due to the electronic ordering system the wait staff uses. - The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. - The bus staff is very attentive and quick to clear your plates. - There is ample seating and you can make a reservation right here on Yelp. Cons: - Not many sauces to choose from. I went with the North Carolina and there was no real flavor. I couldn't tell that it was vinegar based. - The pulled pork was dried out and had an odd smell to it. - The fries are reminiscent of one Burger King's attempts at "new fries". They have a coating on them and I am pretty sure they are not made on site. Overall I am glad I tried it, but I will stick to other places for BBQ.
(3)
Tammy S.
My family and I went for the thanksgiving buffet today. Last year it was fabulous so why not make it a yearly tradition. Last year we waited to be seated and the place was packed(which was fine I'm not complaining about that we expected that) Today we were seated immediately even though we were 30 minutes early(should of been a sign) the restaurant was NOT crowded at all like last year. For the thanksgiving price $24.99 per person we did not even get our bellies full. Three slices of turkey on their smallest plate is hardly enough for a table of 9. We had to constantly keep asking for more of everything. They were bringing out the food as if they were feeding birds not adults that were paying $24.99 a plate. Stuffing was brought out one very small ice cream scoop of stuff in a very small soup cup:( it was good but we do not have enough to go around even after asking for more 2x. The food was not as Good this year(which explains the place being empty) we received our dessert which was a choice of two different parfaits they were served in a small soup cup dish and it was two spoonfuls of custard. My sister asked for another one and was immediately told by the server that she can not bring it home! Why would someone pack up two spoonfuls of a parade it to bring home ha what a tacky way to respond to a customer who asks for a little more than two spoonfuls of parfait who is paying $24.99 for the meal. Service was ok seeing the place was not busy but 3 slices of turkey and 3 slices of ham for 9 people at that price Bd to have to constantly ask for more and get small scoops and scarce slices of meat is ridiculous. Our yearly tradition of keeping Thanksgiving easy at chucks is no longer an option I will be cooking for Thanksgiving next year.
(1)
Chris L.
Pretty tasty BBQ, and decent sized portions, but after all the whoopla I heard about Chucks I was expecting it to be out of this world. I had the Beef Brisket Dinner, which is a plate of brisket along with 2 sides. I chose soup, which was delicious as well as Mac & Chesse, which was average. The Brisket itself was a large portion, and well flavored. I got the spicy bbq sauce on it which had good flavor, and enough spice to let you know it was spicy, but not so much your mouth was on fire. I would definitely give Chucks another try, and may have another star in the holster waiting for it.
Although I don't want to sound like everybody else. We went there for my son's birthday. The food is very good the rib tips are the best I've ever had good size and plenty of good meat on them. My son had the buffalo wings .He is like a wing expert. He is tried all the wings there and likes the buffalo wings the best the sauce is amazing. My wife asked about the soups and Carlos came out with a sample and she choose The seafood Bisque soup she gives it a 10 The only bummer was they were out of baked macaroni and cheese. But Carlos made it up to us by being a great server and very attentive. Even though the place was busy he took his time and recommended dishes we had a good time and a nice dessert was awesome with a candle on it. So give Chuck a try you'll love it..
(3)
Michael O.
Came here because we saw that Guy from DDD had this place on his show. To me, I think a good tasting sauce is the key. I really disliked it and I tried 2 or 3 different ones. Service was good but not worth the trip from Indiana.
(2)
John L.
It's a great place for food and cocktails but ribs are the bomb ...
(5)
Brian Y.
Maybe 7pm on a Friday was a bad time to make my second visit here. First forget finding a parking space in the lot, and the street is posted residential, which leaves valet as your only choice. Valet here is a bunch of unorganized 16 & 17 year old kids that run two blocks to, and from your car. Upon entering you are met with two teenage girls behind a register who don't say a word. The table service was good, however your server does not bring your order which allows for confusion. As for the reason your here, the food, it's only average. I've had brisket from some of the best places in Texas, and this was not even close. My wife had the chicken fried chicken which would have been excellent except it was way too salty. My first visit was about the same, so I'm not sure what all the hype is over this place.
(3)
Lupe G.
...not a fan of the meat itself; but I like their deserts! They make killer banana bread pudding which is served with ice cream & creole (chickory) coffee. They always have specials & their bar is kinda fun. Because I'm not big on their smoked meat & it's always packed, I don't go often but I want to go every first Sunday of the month because they have what they call a Beignet breakfast & I REALLY want to try it!!!
Fun little spot with a ~GREAT~ beer selection. Alligator is always great and it was here also. I had really high hopes for the ribs, but alas I was not overjoyed once they or the rib tips arrived. They were good, fall off the bone style, but required little fanfare. There are just too many other good rib places in Chicagoland, so I don't think I'll be getting that here again. The greens were ok, and the mac 'n cheese had pretty good flavor but nothing to write home about. As far as the Honey Chipotle sauce goes - it was OK, but i didn't get much honey flavor from it. I'd probably stick to the mild / hot sauce. The gumbo a friend got looked really fantastic, but I was not able to try it - next time. The hot sauce - not really hot at all. I found that a bit strange for a place with a wall display of a collection of hot sauces. Both sauces had some OK and different flavor, but where's the heat?! I could barely feel the teeniest amount of burn after loading up a rib with sauce. I visited on Fat Tuesday so we had the benefit of a live bayou style band which was fun. A bit loud in that direction for dinner, but it was a late dinner so I understand. I would definitely come back for some beer, but so far I'll stick to something that fills me up from what I've tried instead of going for great flavor here.
(3)
Nikki M.
I ate outside for my first time here about a month or two ago. Service was a little slow, but the food was well worth the wait! Our table for 2 left us with THREE take-out containers despite completely stuffing ourselves the entire way through. Fantastic BBQ, GIGANTIC half slabs(it took up the whole plate!), and yummy blue cheese salads. I also need to say that for a BBQ joint, this place has killer oysters Rockefeller. I would go back for these alone. The only thing that left something to be desired for me was the mac n cheese. Next time I would get a different side. Don't forget to order a beer as the list is gigantic... easily over 100 different kinds. You'll like the food. It's a very casual atmosphere with a lot of groups, so be prepared for it to be a bit loud.
(4)
Shawn L.
Tonight we headed into the city to visit a friend near Midway, so we all decided to go out for dinner. Of course, no one had any ideas on what they were hungry for...So I won :) I pulled out the handy Yelp app and searched for BBQ. Chuck's had great reviews so I was sold. The Service: 5 stars Our server was new and he was outstanding. He gave great recommendations on food choices as well as sauces. Also the beer menu is off the hook with over 150 choices. The Food: 5 stars I ordered the BBQ sampler dinner with half slab of ribs and pulled pork with the honey chipotle that the server recommended. I got the mac and cheese and mashed and gravy. It was huge plate and sooo good! My company got the pulled pork dinners as well and they really enjoyed the meals. Many reviews have said they are really busy. We came on a Sunday night about an hour before closing and no wait on seats, service, or food. Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe did everything to the book and we were all very happy. If I was in Chicago area more...This would def be the spot to go for some great BBQ. Thanks for the great experience. We will be back some day soon hopefully.
(5)
Kit A.
After seeing what a following this place has and now knowing how good the food is, I'm surprised I didn't know about this local hot spot before! The fried catfish was delicious! It literally falls apart once you put your fork in it and the taste was perfect - it was not overdone or fishy tasting at all. The mac and cheese is perfect for a cheese fanatic like me! There was a perfect ratio of cheese to pasta and I would gladly come back here just to get some more! I didn't get to enjoy the ribs nearly as much I had wanted to because they were a little cold (at no fault of the kitchen). Just like the fish though, they were perfectly good to have the meat fall right off the bone. The MICROBREW MENU IS AMAZING! There were so many different options on tap. I honestly could have a different beer every night for an entire month (if not more) based on the list alone. I can't wait till Chuck opens his place in Darien down the street from me, I may end up becoming a regular. You can't go wrong with a beer and mac'n'cheese!
(4)
Damian P.
Are they geniuses or what? So last night me and the partner decided we were in the mood for southern barbecue and you know that Chucks is the first choice. We were quickly seated and told by the waitress that if we would like something to drink? We said of course Purple Have to go with our dishes and she proceeded to tell us about this new "Chuck's Club 120", we were intrigued. What it is is this: You get a punch stamp card and when you taste ALL of the 120 beers on their menu, you will Win $25 Gift Card and a T-Shirt! Plus you get your name added to their "Beer Hall of Fame Plaque" hung in the bar. I though this was genius because they have an extensive beer list and I always say I am getting something different. This was (since I am a competitive little devil) I will be forced to buy something different. Each time you order a scrumptious beer, you get a stamp on your ticket. Now for the meal we had the Chucks Combo for myself that consisted of 3 meats (chicken wings, rib tips and rip short ribs), good lord I went into a Southern Coma it was so darn good. Highly recommend the specials and definitely if you like beer, join the club.
(5)
Alan L.
Great BBQ. We loved the brisket and sides. Not the ribs so much. I had a portobello sandwich and recommend it too. They gave us 5 BBQ Sauces to try and got the meat sampler plain so we could add sauce.
(5)
Tammy W.
Was here last night for their Mardi Gras celebration. I'm giving two stars for the service and disorganization. The food was fantastic when it finally arrived, but that was a long wait. We had reservations for a party of 10. The place was packed and a band was playing. Our server did a great job getting our drinks and getting that part of the order right, however; she really messed up the food order as well as the kitchen. The guys coming out to bring our food barely spoke English and had no clue what was going on. Some of us ordered from their Tapas menu. The point of Tapas is to share but when part of your order never comes out for over an hour and then they tell you they ran out. They also never brought out three of our party's order. They ordered their Hurricane special in a pitcher and never brought classes. The waitress offered to comp the food and brought out something else from the menu. But one was missing a fork and the waitress never brought one. Bad bad bad. There was guys coming to our table with dishes we never ordered and then some of us never received part of our order. One party ended up being overcharged with items they never ordered and items they did and never received. Just so unorganized, overbooked. Packed like sardines. Seating was a fire hazard I'm sure. Very disappointed. Chucks, get it together. You have no business hosting an event like this. Down right the worst experience. I was embarrassed. It's a wonder you get it together any other day.
(2)
Sweatytoothed M.
Chilaquiles! Very tasty! Not my Mama's chilaquiles, but definitely yummy--crispy in all the right spots!
(4)
Paul B.
It comes down to this; great food, good service, but if you eat outside be prepared to have cigarette smoke added to your dining experience. There is a sign on the inside of the fence of the patio that says smoking is not allowed when the patio is open. The trouble is the sign is very low and it is facing the patio - not the smokers so they puff away on their camels and drift the smoke right into our perfectly prepared brisket. Add the two off-duty servers one table away dropping more bombs than David Mamet - and you have to know the food is good to come back as often as we do. The environment is sub-par - the food is off the charts. The barbecue platter I got had the aforementioned perfectly prepared brisket; 1/4 chicken, and some pulled pork. This was complemented with a cup of chipotle rice (amazing) and Brunswick Stew (peerless meaty vegetable stew). I should point out that there is also a four meat option - but I want to live to see grand-kids - so I opted for the three meat platter. There are a lot of nabobs that walk around short-changing the barbecue scene in Chicago. I will admit that there are very few barbecue joints worth repeat visiting - but Chuck's is - without a doubt - one of the best. As a matter of fact - the entire menu is creative and thoughtful and worth repeat visits - but that beef brisket makes me forget every bad thing that has ever happened to me - EVER! So if you are smoke-sensitive (or don't want to be dodging f-Bombs) - just eat inside. Try the brisket, trust me.
(4)
Kristi K.
First time here and we Love the menu! We ordered skirt steak, corned beef and the filet. Everything was great! Wonderful service! We will be back! !
(5)
Jack G.
Chuck's Rocks! Great food. Great prices. Great location! It's marvelous to have a restaurant of this quality in the southwest suburbs. I don't know if I like it more for dinner or breakfast. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for great/unique breakfast. I tend to lean toward the Mexican inspired breakfast dishes. It's very hard for me to order here. I want everything!
(5)
Jennifer K.
I've been going to Chuck's for over 10 years. Recently, I've been hooked on the cochinita pibil, which i believe is only served on Saturday/weekends. Tender meat, tangy pickled onions (I'm not normally an onion fan), refried black beans, tortillas. My only criticism is that the rice that comes with it is decent, but not great. Another new favorite is the BBQ nachos. This appetizer is amazing and could pass as on entree by itself. Chunks of pulled pork with BBQ sauce, melted cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, on top of chips. This always ruins my appetite because it is so filling, but I just can't resist. My old favorite was always the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, but I stopped ordering it as of late because the green beans were getting a little too spicy for me. (I have an unusually low spice threshold--mild salsa is my limit.) However, I turned my boyfriend on to the dish and he loves it. Pulled pork sandwich is good, but not absolutely amazing. Good fries, mac & cheese. Soup is a little overpriced. Peach (or berry) cobbler with ice cream is awesome, warm brownie with ice cream is good, though I'm not always in the mood for chocolate. Tasted some of a friend's order of bread pudding, a dish i had never tried before, and it was definitely worth revisiting, though the friend (a real life southerner) claimed it was just okay. I tend to stick to the same stuff and would like to try some different menu items, but it's difficult to pass up on my favorites. I like coming here for my birthday dinners because the quality of the food is consistently high, and I like knowing that my birthday meal will not disappoint. I've taken various people here and recommended it to numerous others and everyone has always had enthusiastic responses and wanted to come back. Definitely make a reservation, especially on Saturday evenings.
(5)
Colleen M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This is my favorite place to go by my house. There is so much to choose from on the menu. I recommend their BBQ nachos. They are AMAZING! The only downside of this place is the parking, it is always packed, but that's how you know a place is good right? Be sure to try their beef brisket sandwich with the honey-chipotle BBQ sauce. Great sides as well. Be sure to get the mac n cheese as one of your sides, delicious!
(5)
Susan H.
Long, busy week. Finally got out for a little bit and some friends regretfully thought Chuck's would be a great idea to hit up since the previous place we'd swung by for a drink was packed. Started with a small cup of their pumpkin soup and a side salad. Salad - Fresh. Dressing - watery. Soup was excellent. Almost went with a beer, but the waitress, who was adorable and all that jazz, highly recommended the pumpkin martini. It not only came smothered in whipped cream, but sans martini glass. :/ Ordered the Filet Mignon medium rare. My filet arrived medium well. Boo hoo. I'll get over it. What put me off was that it was butterflied and plopped atop a sea of gravy; This thick, soggy onion and carrot coagulated splat resembling that sh*t janitors threw sawdust on back in grammar school. I transferred part of my steak to my bread plate and tried to stay positive but hey...guess what? They realllllly like to soak their steaks in Worcestershire sauce. Anywhoo, few bites and I'd had enough. Potato was underbaked and surprisingly small. Mac and cheese was on par with a cafeteria. BBQ sauce is sadly sour. Dessert ; yeh...it was left on the table barely touched. Cobbler crust was hard as hell and the apples had no zing, no savory sweetness, no hint of tart..nuttin', honey. I'm pretty laid-back and enjoyed the conversation so the evening wasn't a total wash, but I had expected so much more based on Yelpers' raves. In summation: This joint is pricey with unimpressive fare and as great as the bus staff was, no person who has *truly* had fabulous home-cooked, cloaked-in-comfort meals would come here and call this anything of the sort. Psst...My dogs loved the leftovers, but hey, they'd eat their own vomit if I didn't stop them. Sorry, not sorry.
(2)
Maria M.
Everything is amazing. People are very nice. Parking can suck but it's all worth it
(5)
jerry s.
Brisket w/Roasted peppers & Onions... Mac n Cheese and spicy string beans. Yummm.
(4)
Lydia W.
Very, very good barbecue and great southern/cajun/nawlins flare. The meats are incredible tender and simply melt in your mouth. Chuck is an excellent chef and gracious host (you may see him time to time greeting customers). The menu is beautiful and has many choices ranging from barbecue, to creole, to even mexican and everything is executed well, beyond par. Don't eat meat? The grilled mushroom portobello sandwich is amazing! And the sides (from mac and cheese, to greens to beans are always on point). The restaurant dining area is cheerful and upbeat with attractive artwork and decor. The tables and seating are very clean. Service is prompt and friendly as well. The voodoo lounge is busy and louder but the friendliness certainly carries over. I have yet to try the breakfast but I hear is phenomenal. Take the trip down to this Chicago suburb! Well worth it! P.S Discount for CPS employees on Thursdays!
(5)
Gary A.
My favorite restaurant in the whole chicagoland area. I discovered this little gem just outside of the city limits about 4 years ago and have been frequenting it every chance I get. Chucks spin on various dishes from Mexican to cajun are unique and very refreshing. The staff is always very courteous and the food is always prepared in a very timely manner. Amongst everything on his menu that is amazing, the small standouts that are a must try as a side to any order are the green beans and the jalapeño corn bread. Not to mention as weird as this may sound, with all the amazing bbq and cajun dishes available, chucks serves up a meannnnnn burger. By far the best burger ive had in the continental u.s.(I eat burgers every time I'm out of town in my search of the best burger). But yea all in all chucks is a must visit establishment, and if you're around after hours, the attached bar the voodoo lounge does not disappoint.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I love Chuck's! I've been twice for dinner and both meals have been excellent. The fish tacos are excellent and the crab cakes are delectable. My fellow diners rave about their meals. I really want to try their breakfasts.
(4)
pete w.
Food was great. Some of the best BBQ we have had, and they give you tons of it. Unless you have not eaten for days, you will walk out with a togo container filled with your leftovers. Their selection of sauces was vast and they were all great. The honey chipotle was outstanding. The staff were friendly and genuine in their smiles when the greeted us. Some small concerns to watch out for : 1.) We went with a group of 9. The waitress did not tell us that the gratuity would be included on the bill so we inadvertently tipped 2x. We did go back and got great service from the manager, Tim, for the refund of one of the tips. 2.) Make sure you specify that you want a kids meal for your children. We thought that we were clear on that, but when my son's meal came, it was a full adult meal and we were charged the full adult price. 3.) Drinks are a little pricey - order the water with a lemon/line. Outside of these small issues, I would safely state that when I next come to Chicago for a visit, I would absolutely stop by Chuck's for a nice meal. The soups and the jalapeño corn bread are to die for. We really enjoyed our meals and we left full and satisfied.
(3)
Mike D.
This place is simply fantastic. Anyone giving it less than 4 stars is either a competitor or someone that had an isolated horrible incident. Yes. Sometimes you'll miss out on the stuffed shrimp, mac and cheese etc. It's simply because they have sold out of it by time you order. EVERYTHING is fresh and homemade. Unreal BBQ and just fantastic food - go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Mark S.
The first time I came here was about a month ago for lunch/dinner. I had some type of corn chowder habanero soup which was good and not too spicy. I tried Oysters Rockefeller for the first time. I haven't been too keen in the past about eating seafood, but I have decided for now on I will try anything within reason. Now I love Oysters Rockefeller. I also had the BBQ at this place, which was great and is one of my most favorite places for BBQ. It was definitely worth the drive for lunch/dinner. Today I came here for breakfast. The skillet with ham, bacon, sausage patties, green peppers and American cheese was good along with the homemade smoked corn beef hash and pancakes, but nothing worth going out of the way for. Here's my beef. Have you read my quick tip about this place? A southern comforts restaurant, you would think they would have some good biscuits and gravy. I can't even be funny about the gravy they served me. It was loaded with so much butter that the gravy was to the point where it wasn't even too sweet, it was just sickening to eat that much butter in one spoon full. I read through many of the reviews about this place and many people say they like the biscuits and gravy. I sure hope the gravy they had was not the same as what I had. I hope what I had was just a mistake and that is not how it is served everyday. I still give this place 4 stars for the reasons mentioned in the beginning of this review.
(4)
Dave Z.
There are enough sauses to satisfy your tastes for all things BBQ. Their beer list is extensive. Pulled pork sandwich is very good. The brisket is tasty without any sause and goes well with. Look for their specials, especially early Saturday afternoon ones.
(4)
Julie O.
We made a reservation via open table for 6 on a Saturday night, arrived at Chuck's on time and sure enough, there was a table waiting for us. Nice. Chucks has a lot of beer to choose from. I have been to NOLA quite a few times and after having a few, I have been known to say "abita" the way other folks might say aloha. Thankfully I did not take it that far this time. Chuck's is known for the large beer menu, boasting over 100 available beers, including Louisiana's Abita and locally produced 3 Floyds on tap. Duval Belgian Ale had a special that if you ordered two, you got a really kickass glass to take home. The food. We had appetizers. One was some sort of a crabby patty. Flavorful. We liked it. We had nachos too. They were hot as can be as the guac rocked. The best dinner at our table was the catfish. Lightly breaded in creole mustary goodness cooked to perfection. Yum. The Saturday special - pork with black beans and rice was flavorful and fresh. Love the corn tortillas. Our server brought a dessert for the birthday at our table. Ice cream, a real brownie and what may have been the best caramel ever. Nice touch. Why not 5 stars if I like it so much? Service, while very pleasant, could have been better. Our server never checked on us after the food was dropped off. She was elusive when it came to drinks as well. No thank you when we paid. I think that maybe she was just a bit overwhelmed. But again, she comped a dessert. I plan to get back for beignet Saturday. Cafe Au Lait, Bloody Mary and Beignets...
(4)
Andrew T.
Chuck's was the winner of the two DDD's near Midway. We stopped in for lunch on a gray, rainy day, so the BBQ fare kind of hit the spot. I have a bowl of green chile chowder with shrimp, which was good, if not a little over thick. The shrimp tasted fine, but it was a little odd to see cut green beans in the chowder. Not bad, just odd. All in all, I'd get this guy again. I split a BBQ platter with my dining companion, and it was good. We got a half rack of ribs and a huge helping of pulled pork, along with some coleslaw and sage gravy mashed potatoes. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, and while I think I sound like a broken record, they tasted like pork (which is good) but didn't have a ton of smoke flavor. They had just a little sauce smeared over them, and I also detected cinnamon in the spice rub. The pulled pork was, as I said, plentiful, but was over sauced. It was very tender, and had good flavor, but was swimming in too much sauce. One of these days, I will remember to ask for my BBQ to come unsauced. If I want it, I can add it myself. Sides were average - potatoes were good, with plenty of sage in the gravy, while the coleslaw was the right kind of rough cut for me, but with too much onion. It needs to be mentioned that the menu here is ridiculous. Every Mexican and BBQ option you could ask for, including some absolutely mouthwatering specials on their various menu pages. Unfortunately for us, the only special that didn't sound incredible was the special the day we were there - Pot Pie for us, as opposed to achiote rubbed pork loin and all manner of other amazing options on other days. Oh well - just a good reason to come back.
(3)
Burbs P.
edited 5-20-14 - you can go to the Darien location they have cleaned up their act and run like clockwork. Their food is out of this world. I cannot believe that Im just now making the connection between this location-and their other location in Darien [don't go to the darien location]. I've been here 4 times over the past 2 months. My SO and I have made it a point to drive there from Wheaton at least twice a month. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, just an all around great breakfast place.
(5)
W T.
I have dined at Chucks many times. The breakfast is always deliscious & service is great. The dinner on the other hand not good. The pulled pork is dry & flavorless & bbq sauce isnt good either. I will definately return for breakfast but pass on the lunch & dinner.
(3)
susan c.
Nothing beats the variety at Chuck's, creole, BBQ, soups, seafood, salad. Generally very delicious we always order ribs, soup (shrimp poblano, Mexican greens and gumbo our favorites), 2 or 3 meat combo, special salads and seafood. Crazy good breakfast too. Very festive atmosphere, service good and improving. Fun lounge next door, specials for teachers, emt's, armed services. Personal best meal: lavender smoked lamb special.
(5)
K N.
Excellent food and craft beer selection. Their mac and cheese and jalepeno corn bread are some of my favorite menu items. I am not someone that eats that much so the 1/4 chicken plus 2 sides is a good choice for those looking for smaller portions. Parking lot is usually packed. Service is pretty good. Also, in the voodoo lounge on Tuesday nights there is free bar trivia which is pretty fun.
(5)
Heshan W.
IF YOUR WANT GREAT BBQ IN SOUTH-WEST CHICAGO, GO HERE!!! Although I have never eaten inside Chucks, I can say without a doubt in my mind in terms of my take-out experience that the bbq at this place is SUPERB!!! Large portions & reasonable prices for solid bbq!!! Half-rack of bbq ribs with honey-chiplote sauce: Simply amazing. The meat was "bbqed" and smoked to the point that it was falling off the bone and was very soft and flavorful!!! These are signs of well-cooked bbq ribs (5 out of 5). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream: They use real peaches on this, b/c there is no taste of fake syrupy peach concentrate in this at all. The vanilla ice cream definitely compliments this cobbler (4 out of 5). The baked beans and green beans were very good too (5 out of 5, for both). So far, this place is slightly better than my other bbq food experience in Chicago, "Smoke N Q". In addition, Chucks has unique special daily bbq meals ranging from Carne asada Chimichangas to Cajun Stuffed Pork Chops!!!
(4)
Federico C.
For some reason, I can't seem to put my finger on it, I have not been here as much as I would like.. Chuck's has great southern BBQ and a wide range of beer.. I am an avid fan of both , but everytime I plan on coming here, something comes up. Hopefully I can change that trend in the near future. The last time I was here, I was hanging out in the Voo Doo Lounge knocking back some cold beer and shots after a wedding, so my recollection can be a bit better than it seemed.. Do beer goggles work the same way on how fun a place actually was??? LOL The Voo Doo lounge is the bar portion of Chuck's. From what I can remember, It is a pretty cool place to hang out, listen to some rock and hang with the locals.. Hungry? try the pulled pork or brisket, fries & mac and cheese, .. Those have been my favorites so far. Chuck has pretty damn good BBQ so work your way thru the meats, you will thank yourself for it later. I haven't made it for brunch, but I have heard some really good things about Chucks brunch offerings.. I will be updating this soon to include more on the brunch and hopefully Chuck's fest!
(4)
O G.
Take in a game here in the back bar of the restaurant or sit up front in a more relaxed atmosphere (well kinda) it can get pretty crowded up front depending on what night you go. A must go to place if in the neighborhood!
(5)
Glenn B.
It was a Friday and when I decided to try this restaurant out I made a reservation and I am so glad I did. When me and a friend arrived it was packed and our table was ready. The food was great but the drinks were strong. The waiter was very attentive and this is what I like. I will be heading back to Chucks real soon.
(3)
Zachary S.
BBQ here is beyond Par, however if your new to entering, on a friday or saturday night, it's best to hear there early or call ahead as it can become packed. The sauce is amazing and the smoking quality is a 11/10. Pit masters from other Barbecue places beware, this place is insane! x
(5)
Barry W.
Absolutely off the charts! A casual place with absolutely delicious food! We ordered both specials and were just blown away. Simple, homestyle yet amazing! Do not miss it - great if you're near Midway
(5)
Mike B.
I've been dating a girl that grew up in burbank, and since we started dating she's insisted that she had to take me to Chuck's. A few nights ago we finally made the trip down here, and I was amazed by the quality of the food. We ended up getting a bowl of the cream of chicken and rice soup, buffalo chicken strips, a plate of nachos, a couple of bloody marys, and a couple of dark beers. For me, the soup was the highlight. I've never had soup this delicious in my life, and I don't believe better soup exists in this world. It's very thick, and easy to eat by simply scooping it up with bits of bread they give you. The flavor of the chicken strips was also spicy but not too overpowering. The nachos were also very good. I believe they make their own tortilla chips? Aye, pretty much all of the food and drinks were great. I would like for the bloody marys to be a bit spicier, and served in a pint glass instead of the glass that they serve them in (don't know how big it is, but i prefer the shape of a pint glass). The waitress was a little slow, but that wasn't much of a problem, and perfectly understandable given how many people were there. I will definitely be coming back here in the near future. I would come here weekly if I could. Will probably make it a monthly routine, since it takes a while to get here from Bridgeport.
(5)
Barb W.
We went for the first time for Valentine's Day dinner and the food was excellent. The lobster bisque had huge chunks of lobster and was to die for! The side salad was big and very delicious! The prawns were a little too spicy where it over played the crab. The garlic mashed potatoes are amazing and I am not a fan of mashed potatoes. The creme brulee was the best I've had abd the profiteral melted in your mouth! Our waitress Dani was the best, very knowledgeable and friendly. If she didn't have an answer she immediately got one. We will most definitely make the trip back!
(5)
Charlene G.
The services is great, but the food is average to me. I expected it to be better than Famous Dave's and it was the same. In Bar B Que, I look for competition type food and Chuck's is simply ok.
(3)
Macon P.
Must try the Jalapeno cornbread! Brisket is perfect, moist & juicy with tons of favor. No other place close to perfection in barbeque in the area. You can't go wrong here with any choice. Was featured a few years ago on Diners, Drives & Dives with Guy Fieri.
(4)
Paul M.
Staff does not know any English I think they snuck across the border. Got my order wrong 3 times I even had to. And tell them what I wanted. Never going there again until they start hiring people who know English
(1)
Special E.
Chucks is a south side treasure. I am What one would call a regular. Or at least I was til I moved to floriduh. Breakfast lunch or dinner. Never a bad meal. While I have tried most items on the menu I keep going back for the brisket and ribs with the hot BBQ sauce. Honestly the only thing I don't like at chucks is the sausage gravy on the biscuits and gravy and that's only because it's more complex than a good old fashioned gravy. When I come back to Chicago first place I go is chucks for some food. Only a poet could describe chucks. And I'm a barbarian
(5)
Sandra A.
I had the ribs and rib tips. Neither was good, including the sauce. The service was terrible. Our server acted put out by having to take our order and was very unpleasant. At one point she almost walked away before we placed our dessert order. Then she disappeared for 20 minutes. When we got annoyed and said we didn't want it anymore, suddenly she was friendly and concerned. We won't be returning. Disappointed as the menu is well varied and environment is appealing.
(1)
Chris D.
Disappointed. Granted, we didn't get the regular barbeque. We got an off-menu Mexican pork special that takes all night to make that some of us had seen on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'. They had to check and see if it was available, and eventually they got back on the phone and let us order it. When it arrived it tasted like regular pulled pork with some Mexican seasoning mixed in, and one of our party who had eaten the dish before said it tasted like nothing like the last time they had it. Sort of a disjointed taste. I honestly really wonder if it wasn't just pulled pork that they threw the seasoning into. I tend to avoid doing things like ordering Mexican at a non-Mexican joint, but it came highly recommended. Either it was an honestly mediocre dish or a dishonest offering, either way, we were disappointed. I'll give them one more shot, order the real 'que, and update accordingly.
(2)
Marisa G.
Service is great and the food is awesome. I really enjoy their cafe de Olla in the mornings. Love this place!
(5)
Danny K.
I love Chuck's. Been a regular customer for over 2 yrs. My personal faves: Ribs, Rib Tips, Brisket, Winglets (try the Korean style), Brunswick Strew, any of their breakfast entrees, Cafe De Olla French Pressed Coffee. Can't go wrong with any of the Specials of the day. Beer. If you like beer Chuck's has a WIDE variety of well known and unique brews. Amazing value for the food. You won't break the bank eating here but you will gain some pounds. If you don't live close to the restaurant, trust me, it's worth the drive. Chuck is there. 9/10 times Chuck is present at the restaurant and he always walks around the tables asking about your dinning experience. The man knows how to cook.
(5)
Adlyyn Z.
Lived in Atlanta for a few years, I know what good BBQ is supposed to taste like. The restaurants that I eat at that serve excellent BBQ two important things in common: - simple menu - ONLY focus on BBQ Chuck's has ok BBQ. However I will not be going back. The menu is too complex for specialize in BBQ. On their menu they have seafood, mexican food, chicken wings, and bbq. I'm sorry but if you are going to claim that you have good bbq, please don't offer oysters on your menu. Excellent BBQ places only sell BBQ, that's it. I understand you want to cater to all taste buds. I suggest you focus on one thing, perfect it and keep it simple.
(2)
Edward B.
Finally tried Chuck's today after having it on my "to try" list for at least a couple of years. I was torn between trying some BBQ or having the Saturday special Cochinata Pibil. Decided on the Super Sampler BBQ platter because I wanted to try brisket, a hot link and rib tips, my three favorites. Excellent choice. The hot link was extremely good, the rib tips were some of the best I've had and the brisket, oh my. It is some of the best I've ever had if not the best. I found out I like the hot sauce better than the mild, though the mild has a really interesting fruity note in the background which was different. There are other things on the menu I would try, but after having that brisket, passing it up would be difficult. Even though it's a bit of a drive for me, I'll be back for sure. Some of the best BBQ I have ever had.
(5)
Sonia I.
I was introduced to Chuck's wing's last football season. my family would get their wings to go for games. YYYUUMMM! Last week I went for a real meal inside the restaurant., HOLY YUM! I was amazed by the menu. And Holy Cow Voodoo Lounge Martini List! We'll be happy houring it there SOON! The service was great. The Food completely wonderful. Love, Love, Love! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Gigi F.
My first visit to Chuck's! I had the Soup Shooters -Seafood Gumbo, Beans and Rice Gumbo and Shrimp and Poblano! Delicious! A great way to try a lot of soups at once! I also tried the BBQ Sampler - smoked chicken, brisket and rib tips with Chucks HOT BBQ sauce - the portion was HUGE, the meats all tender and flavorful. Even the unsweet ginger peach iced tea was different and so GOOD! Finished the meal with a homemade cookie! Guy from DDD was right! This is a great place to eat!
(4)
Emily N.
Recently I discovered two amazing things. One is that the ladies of my crew are not only serious drinkers, but serious readers too! The other was Chucks. Chucks was the scene of the "Ladies who lunch AND read" a few Sundays ago. When we all started planning this lunch, the crew looked to me for advice. They said it was because I was a Yelper, but I think it's just because I love food more than most people, and they are all aware of that. Anywho, turns out that Chucks was a pretty much in the middle of all of us, and had booze and BBQ. Easy peasy. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much out of a joint in Burbank with a giant pig outside, which is why I was pleasantly surprised. The menu here is HUGE! I swear I must have gone back and forth between ten different things before our server came around for our orders. I also tried to convince the girls to order the other entrees that I wanted so we could go halfsies. I'm so glad that worked, because I got to sample a ton of different items. Between the starters, entrees, and desserts of 7 women, I only found one thing I wasn't a fan of- the cream of chicken rice soup. Everything else was fantastic, from the BBQ, to the southern style dishes, to the sides. My Mexican pot roast was melt in your mouth delicious. The Mac n cheese was super creamy and rich. The BBQ was smokey and had a variety of sauces to choose from. Oh, lest I forget the banana coconut cream pie. So good! I have to mention the service. They sat seven hungover and raucous ladies in record time. Our server was friendly and super accommodating. Not to mention patient. It took us FOREVER to figure out our orders. He let us linger over our fantastic bloody Mary's and appetizers. He brought extra plates for sharing our food. He offered dessert suggestions, even though we'd already been there for an hour and a half. He never even judged us (out loud anyway) when one of the books on the table was bright red with the weird C**t on the cover. That's a good man. I was so happy that everyone had a great time, and then I realized why. I saw, scrolling across their sign, that they had been featured on Triple D. Say what you will about Guy and his douche level, he goes to some great spots. Chucks is no exception. Winner Winner BBQ Dinner!
(4)
Kevin M.
Great food. Meatloaf, pulled pork, mac and cheese, baked beans, Brunswick stew all delicious. Also enjoyed the Cajun eggs benedict for breakfast. Atmosphere is always lively, service is friendly. Lots of special events throughout the year. A favorite place for BBQ/Cajun/Mexican.
(5)
Lu S.
Better seafood etoufette than in New Orleans in the French Quarter. Everything is awsome. You simply cannot go wrong here. Banana's Foster is thee best dessert I've ever had. Save room for dessert!
(5)
Karl S.
The pulled pork and the ribs are oh so slowly cooked for a tender and delicious meal!
(5)
Pascal M.
Crack addicts rob their families for crack. I'd rob my family for Chuck's Red, i.e. his chili. Chuck's has a huge menu and plenty of space. Their a little far from the western suburbs and even Chicago, but I like that our city has hidden gems all over the place. As i was driving out of town for work, I thought it would be a perfect time to stop and finally try this spot. So I stopped in and picked up a Super Sampler, that I made a little more super. I got their rib tips, brisket, pulled pork, winglets, and hot link. For sides, I had their mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans. Plus added a cup of their Chuck's Red. The rib tips were tender, juicy, and a nice size. The brisket was not very good, pretty dry and simply didn't blow me away. Although I'm kind of a brisket snob. Pulled pork was pretty good, but not the greatest. I liked their wings with their chipolte BBQ sauce a lot, had a great heat. The hot link was pretty damn good. Nice snap and a good amount of heat. For the sides, the slaw was so-so and the mac was a no go. The mac reminded me of a slightly upscale version of Kraft mac n cheese. However I do recall the beans being really good. Last, but SO far from least...is Chuck's Red. This chili should be written into the record books, maybe even the Koran, Bible, and somehow make an appearance in The Catcher and the Rye. Perhaps a bowl of Red would have made Holden Caulfield not be such a beyotch! Chuck's is good. The menu is probably a lot of hit and miss, but its absolutely worth trying out a few times. He's got a diverse menu, aside from BBQ there's a lot of Mexican and Creole inspired dishes that I'd like to try. Plus he's always running specials, which is something that would keep a regular come back for more and more and more and more and more and.............
(4)
Dominic L.
Started going here about 8 months ago. Never really paid attention to the place before until I went here with a few of the guys from work. Food was very good, and the restaurant was clean. Staff is always friendly. Been back here a few times with the family since then. Kid-friendly atomosphere, and they dont mind if your kids throw a fit at the table, which mine sometime do. My two year old tossed a plate across the main dining room. Our waiter smiled, and went and got it for us. Thought they were going to ask us to leave after that, but he said the boy should try out for the white sox. Havent had a chance to try out the bar, but from what I see, they have a nice selection of drinks and different beers too. Glad I found this place
(5)
Griselda V.
This place is amazing! I love the BBQ sauce they make here, best I've ever had. I love their rib tips and wings. Just about everything in their menu is delish. The service is awesome!! I recommend this place if your looking for a southern comfort meal in the southwest side.
(5)
Peter D.
The pulled pork is delicious. The chili is awesome. Their pulled pork nachos are the best on the earth! Service is very good and fast. If you love pork, this is the place to go to. They also have the Voodoo Lounge which is open at night. They serve drinks and can also get some of the menu items there to eat when Chuck's is closed.
(5)
Linda H.
This place has seriously great BBQ, not that I'm an expert on it, but I do believe it's the best pulled pork I've ever had. BF loves the Jamaican jerk wings, as well as the ribs. On the most recent visit, I had the Mexican pot roast and it was quite good, but I could have used a bit more the excellent cheesy potatoes, and the vegetable selection was curious - cooked celery and carrots (two veggies that I despise in cooked form). Service varies between very good and average, but the food makes up for it (the service has never been BAD, just sometimes not great). Chuck himself is typically walking around greeting people, which is really very nice. AND, my biggest beef is that they are ALWAYS out of the cobbler, and I almost deducted another star because of this. In fact, on our last visit they were out of all three cobblers AND two other desserts (the other two we wanted). Oh well, we once again got the brownie sundae, and suffered through it, haha (actually, probably the best brownie I've ever had, too). This is one of my favorite spots when on the south side. There really are many more things I want to try, and I'm sure there will be another visit in my near future.
(4)
Will V.
I tried Chuck's BBQ catered at a private party I recently attended. The party hosts ordered rib tips and chicken. The rib tips were fairly tender, and almost had a Chinese five spice flavor to them. The chicken was moist and very tender. Both had a great smokey flavor to them, almost too much smoke for most people (which is just right for me). It's easy to get really bad BBQ, or oven-baked "BBQ", in Chicago, and so I was pleasantly surprised by Chuck's. I'd like to visit for an actual dining room experience and try the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Oink!
(4)
Shari G.
I tried this place when in the Chicago area on business, and was very pleased! Very friendly (although you really learn what it's like to be invisible when you dine alone) and the food was ... well, without unnecessary hyperbole, it was awesome. Soooo good. I had the pulled pork (didn't feel like doing a face-plant in a slab of ribs that night) with the NC sauce. (you get a choice of bbq sauces) One big advantage of going solo to a popular restaurant is you usually don't have to wait long for a seat. I was taken to a table immediately, and had a chilled glass of wine in front of me within minutes. This would be a fun place to hang out with friends, if I lived closer. The *only* reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of a small mix up with the dessert I ordered to take back to the hotel with me. It wasn't what I ordered, and I discovered later that they didn't *have* what I ordered, but instead of telling me that, the waiter just brought me something else. I didn't discover that until the next day, since I didn't get around to opening it till then. All in all, though, I was impressed with the food, the service and the atmosphere, and I would definitely come back again if I'm in the area! OH, ps- I think it's impressive that this place has a 4 star rating with nearly 250 reviews showing. Well deserved. It's an awesome place to eat!
(4)
john g.
Look I'm going to make this short and simple, everything was good like always, serves, the food was tasty, but and it's a big BUT, I had their Cajun Meat Loaf special a couple of months ago, I felt fine when I left, but when I got home started feeling not so good, needless to say, I haven't felt like that since I had food poisoning 5 years ago after eating somewhere else. I wasn't right for a couple of days, I really like this place, but after that day I haven't been back, if you do go just don't try the Meatloaf. Maybe one day I'll return, but it might just be to the bar to have a beer.
(1)
Carol K.
I don't get it. The rave reviews? The accolades? The people driving across town to eat here? Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe is okay BBQ at best. What a confusing menu. I think it has an identity crises. Is it a BBQ joint? A Mexican Restaurant? Cajun? Is that the reason for the name? It covers any type food that originates south of Chicago? The place smells like BBQ yet the menu has a wide range of other types of entrees and sandwiches. You could have jambalaya , nachos, crabcakes and BBQ all at the same meal. Very strange assortment. I stayed true to course and went with the BBQ- 1/2 rack of ribs and beef brisket which came with 2 sides (mashed potatoes with sage gravy and the much mentioned green beans) although there are several other choices. The brisket was really disappointing- kind of like "steak ums" drowned in sauce. The ribs were better- thick and juicy. You have a choice of sauce- mild, spicy or chipotle honey. I went with the spicy- it wasn't really too spicy and it had a little too much smoke flavor for me. As for the sides- I love green beans- but fresh crisp ones. Maybe this is how they cook them down south but these were like green beans from a can (limp, soggy) and tasting a bit like pork. And don't even get me started on the mashed potatoes with sage gravy. Let's just say that the greenish gravy made me long for french fries. They also serve beer (pretty good selection), wine and some specialty soft drinks. I must be missing something, though, as the place was packed (it was featured on Check, Please earlier this year which may have helped). Not a table to sit at and people were waiting to get in. Maybe it's because you get quite a bit of food for a little price (everything listed about was only $14.75.) Whatever the reason- Chuck's is getting ready for a move up the street to their new, larger location which is supposed to be opening in September. I will say this- the staff were great. Friendly, quick to seat us- quick to take our order and patient in answering my questions. The owner even shouted out good bye to us as we walked out the door. I doubt I will be back . . .but the mystery of why so many people love this place may entice me to give it another try. There must be something I'm missing. There has to be.
(3)
Eric J. U.
visited the restaurant this afternoon and was expecting BBQ. I have had BBQ in my life an this place is a pretender. Everything is overcooked or over-fried. The beef brisket was dry partially warm and uninteresting. However, the pumpkin soup was good. There are plenty of local BBQ joints with better food near by and for Cajun try Heaven on Seven. This is NOT a destination location but a local legend. So, if you find yourself on 79th then drive by but don't go out of your way. Funny Chuck Pine touts his experience with Rick Bayless as his formative years. Bayless' food is weird and his interpretation of food that shouldn't have been improved upon.
(2)
Luan N.
I was headed to this part of town all the way from the north edge of Chicago to help a friend purchase a car. Like a true yelper, I did not let this long commute go in vain and made the most of it. I remembered Matt L's review on Chuck's and thought this was a great option. I shared the 1/2 slab in mild BBQ sauce and pulled pork combo with Anh. I thought the ribs were tender and smoked nicely. They provide a squeezer full of mild and hot BBQ sauce on the table as well, so I made a pool of hot BBQ sauce to dip my ribs. I just wish I ordered the ribs in hot instead of mild. The hot is really not that hot and thought it had a better balance of sweet, tangy, and heat. Also, I loved the fries. I think it was fried in peanut oil, not sure, but it was a good change of pace. On the other hand, the pulled pork was a no go for me. It resembled too much of a cafeteria sloppy joe for me. Sure, pulled pork is supposed to have sauce layered in it, but I think the sauce overpowered the flavor of the pork and I felt like I was drinking BBQ sauce straight from the bottle. I also sampled the grilled mahi topped with veracruzano sauce, tomato-chipotle rice, and side salad. Everything on this dish had a high approval rating. For $13.50 I think it's a very fair deal, considering if I made this myself using Jewel groceries, I would maybe save only 2 bucks. So for the ribs and mahi I give it 4+ stars, but for the pulled pork = 2 stars and 2 thumbs down. To me, Chuck's is like that friend that you think is pretty cool and you would probably hang out more often if he lived closer. But you just can't be bothered to travel all that way unless their is an occasion.
(4)
melissa p.
i would have written this review right after leaving chuck's last night, but i was in a food coma instead! brought a group of 9 for a late lunch/early dinner for my birthday last night. we didn't wait for a table at all, the staff was really nice, and our waiter was quite funny! my husband started with the cream of chicken and rice soup...which was AMAZING! then we got some jalapeno cornbread. i'm not a huge fan of jalapenos, but i thought i'd try it! it was awesome! the butter on it gave it a little extra sweetness and countered the spice nicely! as for entrees...everything got RAVE reviews! i got ribs and brisket with incredibly delicious mac and cheese and some baked beans. the meat was great...got it with the honey chipotle sauce..and i have enough left for at least one or two more meals! my husband got a mexican dish that he has been craving since we vacationed in mexico a year and a half ago...cochinitas maybe? he said it wasn't quite as good as it was in the little mayan village he had them in, but it was still very good. chicken fried chicken, grilled chicken sandwich, pulled pork...all passed the test! my son got mac and cheese and fries. the fries looked so good that my dad tasted them and then ordered his own! apparently these are the best fries ever according to everyone with me. i didn't get to try them though because i was so full. and then our waiter brought me a brownie sundae for my birthday. the bite i was able to squeeze in was delicious. i can't say enough great things about chuck's! i WILL be going back. tried a different southern place for my birthday last year, but this one was definitely the winner!
(5)
B. A.
A lot of great reviews set high expectations. I'll start with the waitress. She was beyond great! Very nice and attentive to such a large party (8). Next, the oysters were great also! So far so good! Now on to the entrees....mediocre. Bland, odd combinations of dishes. Such as a Carne Asada with mashed potatoes. Everyone ordered different meals and the general consensus was the same. I don't plan on going back to Chuck's anytime soon
(2)
Bill B.
Heard about this restaurant on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and it was our first stop when we got in town. We ordered the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwich and both were delicious. Huge portions and friendly service made this a great indie dinner spot!
(4)
Baby Bear H.
I went here for dinner and while the service was good (we had an awesome waitress) and the place was clean I wasn't to impressed with the food. I had the rib tips and the portion was HUGE so that was good I just thought they were on the fatty side and I didn't like their sauce all that much. That being said BBQ sauce is a personal choice on flavor so don't not try eating here because I didn't care for it. Tried the Jerk Chicken too and that was good.
(2)
Steve G.
Duh! I watched the "Check Please" episode that featured Chuck's this weekend and I've got to go back. The place I visited and what was on CP are two different results. I'll take the wife and we'll try the Latin stuff -- we love Cuban food and Mexican food, so that may be the key!
(3)
Mark G.
This was a new experience for me. I've been to a few barbaque places in my short amount of time on this earth, but none quite like this. There are just some places you have a good feeling about even before stepping a foot in the door and ordering. I have to say this was one of them. The funny thing is how indistinguishable this place is from the outside. I wasn't sure what to expect, but located in a tiny strip mall next to a 7-11 kinda took me by surprise. I was also expecting to have to wait for a table, and we did. But only for about ten minutes or so. You can kill a lot of time looking at all their comical hot sauces they have at the counter. They had one called "baboon ass". For some reason I remember that one the most. Their menu is quite large and versatile, it's kinda hard to choose when it's your first time. One thing I knew I had to try was the seafood gumbo. The mistake I made was not ordering a larger bowl. It was fantastic! For a main course I had the pulled pork sandwich with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese on the side. Also very satisfying. My girl ordered the chicken fried chicken. Which was a bonless fried chicken breast served atop garlic mashed potatoes, smothered in gravy with green beans on the side. Magnificent. She also ordered a side of french fries which were so crunchy and crispy. Some of the best fries I've had in a while. I also recommend the dreamsicle float if you're into that sort of thing. Prices here are excellent as well. We ordered an appetizer, two soups, and three meals (she brought home food to her dad), totalling just under $50. I'm glad she lives so close to this place. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Jim D.
My wife and I stopped Into Chuck's last night to kick off Mardi gras season Chicago style with some wonderful Cajun food. Our night was complemented with a special taste of the New Orleans flavor with the band Hurricane Gumbo. We ordered jalapeno cornbread and jambalaya for an appetizer. For our entrees we were delighted with pulled pork and pulled chicken, accompanied by cole slaw, black beans and a homemade mac and cheese. For a while we pictured ourselves in the Bayou instead of the city. Be sure to put this one on your to do list if you're in the neighborhood. We stayed long after dinner to enjoy the sweet sounds of zydeco music.
(4)
Andy M.
Great barbeque place and cool lounge right next to it. The place is always packed and that says something about the place. There is plenty of seating and the Voodo lounge is a good enough place by itself. The best place on 79 th street without a doubt.
(4)
David G.
Eat here as much as possible. Po-Boys are straight out of New Orleans, the BBQ is on point, and the Soups are so good you'll eat them in the summer. I saw Sherman Klump and his whole family eating here for 13 days straight. I would eat here, make myself throw up in the bathroom just so I can eat here some more. It really is that good.
(5)
Pierre W.
I've been to Chuck's a few times. I haven't been screaming about the greatness of the BBQ. However, to me, it's solid BBQ. A nice balance of smoke,and sauce. The meat is always cooked well. The sides are fine. I return to Chuck's because the portions are hearty,and the food is solid(good)...not great...but good. It's good enough to return,and the prices are reasonable. I will be going back to Churk's again...
(3)
Tom W.
Chuck was highly recommended for his wedding catering services. He came through big time! The guest raved about how great the food was. Smoked sausage, chicken, Cajun style Italian Beef, pulled pork. Chuck is a great guy who is very easy going and easy to work with. What a great deal! It came out to be about $12 a person after sides and sausage apps.
(5)
Carmel T.
Since, I was craving some ribs (due to watching 3 hours of "rib" shows), I decided to yelp places in my area for ribs. This place had so many good to (borderline) great reviews, so we went here last night around 8:30 pm as my hubby doesn't get home from work until 7:30ish. Place was really packed! Good thing I reserved a table online. Which could mean that they really do have good food... So, we sat down, and the server took our drink orders after about 5-10 mins. He then brought our drink orders soon after(which was pretty cool). However, upon ordering our food(after bringing our drinks), he then decides to tell us that they ran out of all ribs! Seriously?!? This place is supposed to be well-known for their ribs! Which was the MAIN reason why I decided to try it in the first place! Pretty aggravated! My hubby and I stared at each other with an "empty/confused" look on our faces. At that point, we really didn't know what to order anymore as we both had our hearts set on ribs for the night. Hesitantly, we ordered something else as we didn't want to be rude. We got the brisket, pulled pork and sausage links, which were ok. Sauce was ok too. If they didn't run out of ribs for me to sample, maybe I would've liked the food here better! We ended up paying $60 including tip and disappointments! If only the person in the front who welcomes the patrons warned us that they ran out of ribs, we would've never sat down in the first place!
(1)
Frank K.
First time diner and very sorry that Chuck's is about an hour away. We had the ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken pot pie and Brunswick Stew. The brisket is the best I have ever had and the Brunswick Stew is delicious. The ribs are cooked just right and very meaty. There are five different sauces to try as you wish and a fantastic staff. Looking forward to going back, and going on the third Saturday of the month for the Beignet Breakfast along with chicory coffee.
(4)
J. V.
My husband and I came here for dinner for the first time recently. We had a reservation and were seated right away on a Saturday night. We were seated at a two seat table, which was a little small, and it was very close to the tables around it. The place was a little noisy, too. Other than that, our experience was terrific. The waiter was busy and unable to take our drink order right away, but he did acknowledge us right away and then apologized for the wait. I don't mind having to wait as long as I'm acknowledged! Our waiter was extremely attentive and genuinely seemed to care. The busboys were on the ball and were there almost immediately to remove dishes and turn the vacated tables. The food was very good and portions were ample, and the prices were reasonable. The cream of chicken soup was one of the best I have ever had. The green beans were a little spicier than I would've liked, but I knew that going in. My husband had the cat fish and I had the chicken. Two thumbs up indeed! We will definitely be going back to Chuck's before long!
(5)
Luis C.
My experience at Chuck's was fantastic! I had the Chicken Fried Chicken and my date had the Chuck's Sampler. We also shared an order of Baked Beans which were great, but be warned, they were a bit on the spicy side! The pulled pork, brisket, and rib-tips were off the hook! Cooked to perfection, but what really kicked it up a notch was the BBQ sauce! We bought a bottle after our meal. The Chicken Fried Chicken was great. Chicken was tender sitting on top of some creamy, rich garlic mash potatoes with a side of greens which were also spicy...very delicious! If you're on the south side, and in the mood for some BBQ, a stop at Chuck's is a must. I plan on hitting this spot way more often! The only thing I didn't get was the African art on the walls...connection with food or just Chuck's taste in art? Still, great place to go no matter what the occasion. Highly recommended!
(4)
Nisey M.
I can't say enough nice things about the staff and the quality of food at Chuck's. I prefer to hang at the Voodoo lounge(no surprise there) because of the cocktails and the ability to order really delicious southern cuisine while watching Da Bears. Adrian (great bartender) is so nice and can handle a full bar without keeping his customers waiting, not to mention he can whip up some amazing cocktails! I also noticed the staff there is really well versed in customer service, they always are making sure that people have what they need. The food is really quality and good bbq is really not that easy to find, they have it down here...it's so good! I also had the oysters rockefeller as well as a dozen raw, both were delicious and fresh. The servings are generous and diversity on the menu is also a great. They have a lot of choices and from what I have tried so far you can't go wrong. Overall this is a neighborhood gem and a well respected business for all the right reasons. I am a huge fan and will be a repeat customer without question!
(5)
Fredrick B.
I was surprised at how good the B-que was at this southwest suburban bar & cafe--particularly the variety of sauces varying in spice and sweetness. Scrumptious! The Oysters Rockefeller was surprising to see on a Burbank late night bar menu, and even more surprising was how good (and fresh) they tasted. Highly recommended. The Chicago wing dinner was more than my daughter could eat by herself; the portions of everything we ordered were generous for the prices charged. The cocktails were reasonably priced. The service was acceptable. The only draw back was the ambience, or the lack thereof. Burbank still isn't the most inviting place for African Americans. My daughter and I separately noticed the cafe side was filled primarily with Hispanic couples and families, and the bar was 100% Caucasians--save us! In this regard, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
(4)
Billy S.
Chuck's is, quite simply, my favorite restaurant. No matter how often I go there (once every 2 weeks, or so) I am never left wanting. Normally, a very large menu is a big mistake, but here it works because everything is so darn scrumptious. Huge portions, wonderful food, and the best service in the Chicagoland area. Chuck's Special sandwich, the smoked corned beef, and Mexican Pot Roast (when available) are favorites of mine. An unbelievably pleasant surprise is the breakfast. Mix of Mexican and traditional southern American fare is all simply wonderful. Also, Chuck Pine has come over to our table and spoken to our group, at length (he's a very engaging dude) every one of the 40, or so, times I have been there. The enormous Voodoo Lounge is well staffed, and a ton of fun as well. Plus, it's hard to find a place on the south side with the huge selection of beer and wine that place has. I know I'm gushing, but like I said, Chuck's is my favorite joint.
(5)
Jim S.
Chuck P emailed me asking for more detail stating they are known for more than just ribs. BUT....they call their ribs FAMOUS BBQ , so basically thats what we went there for "FAMOUS BBQ" He asked me to go into more detail which I should have done at the time. We ordered Cajun Crabcakes which were just ok... the rib tips were fatty the sauce was decent. One member ordered Jambalya and split ribs with his date. He said the Jambalya was ok nothing great. The other 3 of us had the BBQ Babybacks and they were not fall off the bone, and not very meaty (not tough but not what famus ribs should taste like) We did not have dessert. We attended several months ago and wish to assure Chuck the review in no way reflects because I had to park far away and walk in the drizzle. Sure I was saying this place better be great for walking in the rain but who wouldnt? I based my review on the food and the fact they had a spot on TV saying how great they were. if the reviews allowed for 2 1/2 stars I rate it thus, cuz it was average at best. I cannot give it an A-okay. The waitress was very friendly.
(2)
Mike P.
I've only been here twice but I've enjoyed the experience each time. Each time I've gotten their beef brisket which is wonderful and last night when I went I tried their Brunswick Stew...wow it has a bit of a kick to it but oh so good. Last night when my brother and I went it wasn't too crowded and the service was great. Its a fantastic place to bring friends and I am definitely coming back. Their prices are very reasonable and won't set you back much. Hope to try the po'boys and even breakfast at sometime after seeing everyone's comments.
(5)
Carrie K.
One of the top 5 worst meal experiences I've ever had. Might throw up on the ride home. Service, wait, food, everything was awful. Sorry, just terrible all around. Just a clue, the ribs still had the membranes on them. Rib BBQ 101
(1)
Scott P.
There's absolutely nothing negative that I can say about this place. There really isn't. There's a lot of extremely awesome shit that I can say about this place. Their barbecue is spot on. It's really, really good. Their links are juicy with just enough crispness on the skin. Their ribs fall off the bone, and are probably some of the best that I've made in recent memory. The brisket falls apart when you lick it. The pulled pork is deliciously smoky and sweet. Their beer menu is extensive, and this is coming from a guy who just moved to Chicago from Denver. I knows me some beer, and this place has got some goods to offer. The Voodoo Lounge is a nice little place, and I'm not generally a fan of sportsbars. The food is RIGHT. The beers are RIGHT. The service is RIGHT. ... what the hell else can I really say about it??
(5)
John M.
I remember when this was a GOOD spot out on the south side. They moved into the new, bigger digs, and it is average at best. Went for dinner the other night. I was recommended the Cajun Meat Loaf as a special. The meatloaf was served on a bed of mashed potatoes with some gravy, along with a side of Cajun green beans. The meat loaf was good, if a little on the small size as far as a main course (especially if it is meat loaf). The potatoes and gravy were fine. However the green beans had a odd chemical after taste to them. Ate two fork fulls, and left the rest. With a glass of soda pop, and tip, the total was eighteen bucks. Eighteen bucks for meat loaf, gravy, potatoes and green beans. With better portion size and palatable green beans maybe. I doubt I will be back.
(2)
Edgar P.
I have only great things to say about Chuck's! This place knows how to do it right!!! I've been going to Chuck's for a little over a decade now and I'm glad that they finally moved to a bigger location to accommodate the masses of people that want to try their delicious food!! If you are going for lunch or dinner, I would probably recommend an endless list of possibilities for you! I would start off with some BBQ nachos, BBQ Chicken quesadillas (or regular ones), the cajun cakes, Rib tips (one of my favs), Chicago Wings (very crispy), or the oysters. Once you've loosened up your pants, I would then go order a Chuck's Special, their awesome Po'Boy, any type of BBQ option on the menu (although I'd be lying if I told you I was a fan of their brisket personally), amazing hot links, chicken enchilladas, and their awesome jambalaya (try this!). Take a breather and come back for basically any dessert on the menu...you can't go wrong! They also have a pretty lively bar attached to the restaurant named The Voodoo Lounge that always draws me in for a drink or five! I personally love going on Wednesday's because it's their Blues Night and they'll bring in acts from around town to play some blues for the crowd. I actually love this place also because of there good beer selection that they have. 120 beers from all over the states and world. I'm pretty sure they have a good wine selection too but I'm more of a beer nut more than anything else, so I just stick to that. Check the specials on their website to see if any of them interest you on whatever day of the week is best for you. This is actually one of my favorite places to have a bite to eat and drink..almost tied to Palmer's Place in LaGrange. Check It Out!! You Just Gotta!!!
There are very few places on the south end of Chicago, where you can find great food. Chuck's has been our "go to" place for the last two years. And although they are known for their barbecue, the menu has constant specials. If you love beer, they have over a hundred varieties. Whether you're in the mood for bar atmosphere or a quiet sit down meal, Chuck's is divided into two main areas; the Voodoo Lounge and the regular restaurant. This is also the only restaurant on the south side that participates in Whatdayaknow trivia nights. Great food. Atmosphere. Events. They have it all.
(5)
Courtney K.
The profile pic of Chuck's is from the old location & needs to be changed PRONTO! Ok, having said that, I will begin the lovefest that is my review for Chuck's. My favorite restaurant, hands down. Breakfast, love it, lunch, love it, dinner, love it. A major foodie like myself appreciates homemade tortillias (believe me, there's a difference) and Mexican coffee. (was I Mexican in a past life? OLE!) Being a lifelong south sider, I would have to travel outside of my comfort AND safety zone to get quality food in other hipper neighborhoods. No more, people. We have been going to Chuck's since it's inception, and we have never been disappointed. Don't get me started on the sawdust pie. :)
(5)
William L.
Their soups/stews are great. You can never go wrong with their Seafood Gumbo and their portions are huge. You won't leave here hungry, that's for sure and the prices are reasonable. Their BBQ is good but I prefer dry rub and their BBQ has too much sauce for me. Good beer selection as well.
(5)
Rob J.
Excellent beer menu! BBQ nachos are amazing. I have gotten the BBQ platter three times, wings, burger and po boy and enjoyed every bite.
(5)
Johnny H.
There are no words to explain how good this place is. I have NEVER heard anyone complain about it. Anyone I have ever brought here has become a LIFER! LOL. Seiously, All the BBQ you can handle. I love the wings, fries, and macNcheese... smothered in BBQ!!! Ask anyone I know and they'll recommend it!!!
(5)
Patrick E.
I've been coming to Chuck's now for five years and it keeps getting better. I was at the Hillbilly Halloween last month and the music was fun, the crowd was great, but the kicker is the LATE NIGHT MENU that they offer. Seriously, after eating burritos and white castles for so long, you crave something better and Chuck's offers it. I had their Chicken Wings with chipotle and it was amazing. So good that I'm never eating wings at BW3 again. Dinner, lunch and breakfast are all top notch and while everyone raves about the BBQ, for me its the Cajun that I crave. And Chuck's does it really really well. I've never been to New Orleans, so I"m not even going to comment on authenticity. As long as its fresh, well presented and tasty, I'm all over it. I've brought family, friends, girlfriends and clients here and they've all raved about their meal. Patronize this place with an open mind and you'll see why its so highly rated! Open mind as in, you're going to see items on the menu that are NOWHERE else and don't 'fit into a box' of tex/mex/cajun/bbq. So, just order whatever tickles your fancy and be sure to review the specials menu before tackling their main menu. Cheers!
(5)
Jeffery A.
I see a lot of mixed reviews about this place, so I'll just relate my experience. We were seated in the bar area and it was quite comfortable, the noise level is low enough to allow for conversation, that is of one of my pet peeves, noise levels so high that you cannot have a conversation without yelling. My wife and I went here on a Saturday night around 7 pm to help someone celebrate their birthday. I found a parking spot right away and later found out that I was lucky to do so. It seems that their parking lot, though fairly big, sometimes is not enough to accommodate everyone. Bear in mind that this is probably the busiest time of the week for them. Don't park on the street or you'll risk a ticket as a sign near the door clearly states. After we found our party the waitress quickly took our drink order and returned with our drinks a short time later. Our party was about 10-15 people and after the food order was taken, the food appeared in a timely manner. I had a half slab of ribs and a quarter chicken and it was delicious. I chose cole slaw as a side and it was the best cole slaw I've had in many, many years. I also had the cajun green beans, but frankly I could not taste any cajun spices in them, although they were still very good. Everyone else seemed to be happy with both the food and the service. The amazing thing that happened is when I asked the waitress for the check for myself and my wife. I was expecting a bit of eye-rolling and such, but the waitress was completely unfazed and delivered our check without any trouble at all. The other guests had the same pleasant experience. Be on the lookout for the gratuity to be added to the check as ours was -- not unusual for large parties such as ours. I'm not a beer enthusiast, but if you are, you'll be in suds heaven as this place has beer from all over -- me? -- I just stick to my Miller Lite. I will definitely be going back here to try some of the delicious, southern style foods they offer.
(4)
Linda K.
Excellent food, service, and value! Our party of 4 tried BBQ, Cajun, Chuck's sandwich, Mexican, and several homemade desserts. All were outstanding! Servers are very knowledgeable on menu and very efficient and friendly. Most of the servers have been there for years and are great ambassadors for the restaurant. Prices are very reasonable and affordable. Our family has been to Chuck's a dozen times in the last year and has never been disappointed. Chuck's has great food, great menu variety, great value, and great service. Chuck's also has a fun bar (i.e. Voodoo lounge) with an extensive list of domestic and international beers.
(5)
Scott A.
I wish I had found this place a lot sooner. The BBQ Ribs are amazing and have a great smoke ring and very flavorful. We also had the Chicago wings and they were perfectly crispy and the sauces were fantastic/ My wife tried the cajun side of the menu and it didn't disappoint. We have been 2 times and we were able to make reservations the same day both times. A great family restaurant with amazing comfort food, my wife keeps wanting to go back.
(5)
Margaret B.
Went to Chuck's yesterday for a late lunch. I had the Chuck's Special sandwich - it involves beef brisket, peppers, onions, and cheese. Wow - pot roast as a religious experience - it's wonderful. And get the fries and green beans with it; you won't be sorry.
(5)
George N.
This place used to be amazing but has gone down the tubes in the last year. I've been going here a while for dinner and to watch Bears games in the Voodoo Lounge. I keep hoping it's just a fluke but, sadly, I've had too many bad dinner services as of late and I no longer can recommend this place to friends. Latest visit was on 07/03 at about 7pm. The lot was full but the dining room was at most half full which is alarming and should have been my warning to stay away. Seating was prompt. We ordered with no issues. After that, it was all down hill. It was Tapas day. I ordered a hot tapas which was a tamale basically covered in their mole/chili. It was room temp, bordering on cold. Flavor was good, just wish it was hot and fresh. Next item was the seafood gumbo. This is one of my favorite items on the menu but I don't know what happened this night. It looked old, like a skin was forming on top, was not hot and again room temp, and smelled/tasted off. For dinner, I had a bbq sampler with brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. Again, room temp food was served. It was not hot at all and tasted old or like it had been sitting there. Flavor was off on everything except for the ribs. Ribs tasted like they should. Sides were cold as well. Wife's salad was fine. Her quarter chicken dinner was overcooked, dried out, room temp/cold and the flavor was off. Kid's chicken tenders, surprisingly, were fine. I guess we all should have ordered tenders that night. Service started out satisfactory but then dropped off. The server or bus boy was hardly to be found after the initial order and we ended up with plates and bowls piled up on the table that were not cleared before dinner was brought. It was difficult to get drink refills. I watched our server spend 15 minutes flirting with two middle aged women who were wearing short skirts and no shortage of cleavage. Overall, annoying, but no where near as bad as an offense as the food was that night. The biggest issue with Chuck's is the consistency. The food is great and the flavors are normally great but this lack of consistency is killing this place. I don't know who runs the kitchen at night for dinner service but they are terrible. If you have to try this place, try it during the morning/lunch hours. I really can't recommend this place for dinner until the consistency returns.
(1)
Ashley B.
I've been into Chucks several times, making the drive from the Naperville area, and it is the best. Everything I have had there has been amazing, from the nachos to the crab cakes eggs benedict for breakfast. It's all amazing. Things to try: the chili--its mexican influenced, with a hint of mole to it the french press coffee--if you go for breakfast get this, you won't be sorry. its delicious and hard to explain the ribs--yum! they will fill you up, but get yourself a full rack and take the rest home for later. prices are reasonable and they post their specials online every week.
(5)
Michele C.
AMAZING!!!! The hardest part of eating there is what to order because its all so good. AMAZING desserts!!!!!!!!!!!! The service is great.
(4)
Jacob J.
I was lucky to come across Chuck's by catching a broadcast special about Chicagoland's favorite eateries. Some weeks later I find a Groupon on-line so I jumped at that chance. I'm a Northsider, so for me, the voyage was hella long. It's important to find other things to do in the surrounding locale, so that you don't feel that you are making a long ass trek, (approx 42 miles) just for some bangin barbecue. Chuck's is a diner. Not a white tablecloth fine dining establishment or your run of the mill dirty barbecue shop. Its fine dining barbecue in the sense that the setup is like a four star diner, think Bakers square style of venue. There were all kinds of people there enjoying meals. There were also some interesting characters there which made for some exciting "people watching". Their barbecue is excellent. If you have the time, patience and stomach space, go with people that enjoy food. Make sure to order up a few items and enjoy a potluck. We made sure to sample their rib tips with the hot BBQ sauce. Let me tell you that this sauce was HOT, there was a nice sheen of sweat that appeared on my nostrils and I was excited about it. Was not expecting that kind of heat and we loved it. Tips were prepared perfectly and to top off the great food the amount of waiting time was next to none. Once we placed our order, it was ready within ten minutes. Surprising since, it was a busy evening. If there is a next time and I hope there is, I plan to take some time tasting around their diverse Southern menu. Chuck's has also got a bar which is dubbed the Voodoo lounge and separate from the rest of the dining area. Surprisingly, Chuck's has an extensive beer menu with almost four pages of beer selections. We had a go with a few of their beers, mixed drinks and sangria and to be honest, I've now tasted the worst mojito I have ever had. As if someone mixed a "mojito" mix with Bacardi. Also tried the Sangria which was above average. Great BBQ for a great price. If trying them out in the summer months, best to call for hours. They are open late on weekends and pretty late on weekdays. Rib tips! Rib tips! Make sure you make it out for Chuck's Fest September 10 - 12, 2010.
(5)
Hans C.
Drove down here from the burbs for lunch with my Southsider brother today at his recommendation. I had an overall good experience. I've been to barbecue joints all over the South, and this place is legit, on par with the good ones. We enjoyed the appetizers (potato skins and chipotle corn bread). The sides were pretty standard. I had the Mexican rice and baked beans. The meat was perfect. Being a first-timer, I opted for a sampler plate of ribs, pulled pork, and bone-in chicken. I also sampled the beef brisket, so I experienced the full trifecta of flesh. All were juicy and cooked to optimal. However, I wasn't a fan of their sauces, at least the ones I tried. I thought the honey chipotle and the North Carolina sauces were way too rich and sweet and overpowered the natural flavors of the meat. Next time, I'll go with the mild or get the sauce on the side. Other than that, Chuck's has some pretty tasty meat parts going on.
(4)
Diana M.
The building that houses Chuck's used to be a rock/punk venue a few years ago. So imagine my surprise when we roll up after a Chicago Fire game and now it's a BBQ joint! From Murphy's Law and Sham 69 to a delicious, food coma inducing BBQ joint! I approve! 20 of us showed up on a Sunday after yet another Chicago Fire draw and were promptly seated in the back room. Our server, Gary, may have been a little overwhelmed (lots of Fire fans showed up and there was a shift change at about the same time) but no biggie, we all understood! The fried alligator appetizer was pretty good. The horseradish/cocktail sauce it came with was delicious. I ordered the brisket sandwich and it was perfect. Not too fatty, meat was still juicy and melted in my mouth PLUS there was a ton of meat! The sauce was good too. My husband's crawfish po'boy was, by all accounts, "awesome" (his words). As for my side dishes, I had the mac and cheese and baked beans. The mac and cheese was very good, but holy cow those baked beans were fantastic!! Spicy, meaty, beany goodness. I will be back for the brisket and beans, for sure. BONUS: If you show your Chicago Fire ticket stub, you get a discount on your meal. Score! Or better yet, gooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaallll!!!!
(4)
Char Y.
Armed with a groupon (can you see that I'm a HUGE fan?), we came back for dinner on a Sat night. The place was super busy with a 30 minute wait, and the bar was crowded as well. After looking through the ginormous menu of everything southern, we decided on: dinner roll - dry pulled pork platter - LOVE the pulled pork! HUGE portion half slab of rib - juicy & tender rib tips - LOVE it! Meaty & tangy mac & cheese - soggy fries - AMAZING fries that are lightly battered & fried. banana foster crepe - crepe was soggy, everything else (ice cream, caramel & bananas) were good. But again, I can't resist any of them. overall, good experience with spotty yet attentive service (checked on every 15-20 minutes) due to the huge place being busy. I thought the food was a great value ($40 including tip & tax for 2 of us). I would venture back!
(4)
James T.
Wouldn't expect to get BBQ of this quality in Burbank. All around tasty and a great place for some early week day drinking with some nice ( nothing special) beers. The bartender Julie made everyone feel very comfortable. We will be back.
(5)
Jackie G.
Went there for lunch this week with a party of eight and no reservations. We were seated rather quickly and received friendly and attentive service. I was able to try the BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac n cheese, which were all pretty good. What blew me away were the rib tips, cream oh chicken chipotle soup, and fries... I wanted more of all three! I can't wait to go back, wish I'd been there sooner!
(4)
Jan M.
We had breakfast here the day after Christmas; good service and food. The beans and rice that accompanied my breakfast were wonderful, a rarity in Mexican establishments. We will be back when in the area
(3)
Ken H.
Good food. Terrible service. This could easily be a 4 or even a 5 star review if not for the inept wait staff. First the food. The jambalaya was very good. The blackened chicken could have been a little more blackened but was still tasty. The Tennessee pulled pork was awesome. I tried some of the kids meal chicken tenders and they were awful. I heard great things about the chili (Chucks Red) but the bowl that was ordered never made it to the table. The cheese on the kids meal cheeseburgers was also conspicuously absent. The waitress didn't seem to care, while the guy who actually delivered the food was very attentive and helpful. This was a late lunch on a weekday so maybe his was the B team wait staff, and the dinner staff would have fared better, but overall the good food was undermined badly by the indifferent service.
(2)
Rouzbeh A.
No peach cobbler or oysters as on menu. Bbq rack was amazing. Lots of meat on it.
(4)
Kristy H.
We went here last night for my brother's birthday. There was a party of 10 of us. 1 star for the service. It was impeccable. Seriously. Bravo to our server. I can't remember her name. She knew everything about the menu and was prompt, but not interruptive. 1 star for the beer menu. 120 beers?! Holler! And at reasonable prices. My purple haze was on special for $3. Every other regular beer you'd want was between $4 and $5. Even Chimay was a mere $8. But then again, we were in Burbank and I am used to 60657 prices. 1 star for the selection and quality of appetizers. 1 star for everyone else's food and that they cut the b-day cake we brought and that Chuck came out and said hey. Minus one star because the pork shoulder special that I had was incredibly salty. I could hardly eat it. In fact, I didn't eat it. I'll be back to try something else.
(4)
Pre J.
I am sooooo in LOVE. I had the smoked chicken with mashed potatoes and mac&cheese. The boyf had the chicken fried chicken whisch was also delish. I also joined the 120 club. Had 6 beers and they were all good.
(5)
Jennifer S.
The BBQ is always delicious. Everyone must try the bananas foster french toast at breakfast. It is awesome.
(5)
Dee D.
The food is great, the location is great, parking's great, but it's just too crowded and noisy in here for me to enjoy my food. My Grandma used to love their BBQ anything, lol, but I'd rather get mine to go.
(3)
Kal B.
I usually regular at Chucks during the 1st quarter of the year because of my hectic schedule and they're about the best thing you can get delivered. Well the other day I tried the Po'boy Filet Mingon, Mac-N-Cheese and a house salad and everything hit right on as far as freshness of the salad, tenderness of the meat (felt like the meat could have had a better kick to it, instead of just the sauce since it is the star of the dish), but his Mac-N-Cheese is UNBELIEVABLE! He just might have to open a food cart selling Mac-N-Cheese in multiple fashions, because if anybody can do that it would be Chuck! I do have to say, for the most part they're almost always right on.
Great BBQ...the sampler is lots of food while getting to try a good cross section. Cant imagine anything being bad here.
(4)
Amanda A.
I was really impressed with Chuck's menu and beer list. We were lured by a Groupon, and even though we were using the Groupon on the last night before expiration, there was no wait at the huge restaurant. The four of us who went ordered from all parts of the menu. The barbeque was outstanding, although I was glad they provided more sauce on the side. I loved the jalapeno cornbread, the fiesta salad won rave reviews from my friend. My other friend brought the gumbo home, it was so good, and I ordered the crawfish ettouffee which was spicy and GOOD. It was even better the next day. I need to learn how to make the tomato-chipotle rice, or whatever it was. Yum! The best part though (for me) was the complementary beer list. Each beer was listed with the food it tastes best with. Since I really like beer and I don't like it when they don't match, but I'm not good enough to know, it was great to have this handy guide. I ended up with the Abita Golden Ale, which was really a nice complement to the spiciness of the ettouffee. Yes, it's in the suburbs. Yes, it's kind of a hike to get to from the North Side. But if you're looking for something different and tasty, Chuck's is a nice option!
(4)
Zan F.
For 1 week I lived as a Chicago Southsider on business. My native Chicago'an co-worker wrangled up some of the crew and insisted we go to Chuck's for a mid-week beer and BBQ break. It was a much needed break and he picked the perfect place for beer and grub! I knew I was going to like this place as soon as I parked over a block away to find an open spot and smelled the deliciousness in the air as I stepped out. Inside I was hit instantly w/friendly service and a damn impressive beer menu. Even the organization of the beer menu was impressive. I ordered up a Ska Brewing Double IPA and set my focus on the food. As I've said on other reviews I tend to order dishes named after the the joint or order thier signature dish, etc. Low and behold...'Chuck's Special...Done. A beef brisket sandwich w/roasted peppers, sauteed onions, Jack cheese, and a side of insanely tasty au jus. Chuck, you're a genius...a bbq sandy served w/au jus...deadly! With this plate came a side of the Cajun Green Beans and the Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. I'll get the only negative out of the way...the Green Beans. They were cooked fine but really didn't have the cajun zing I was hoping for. The brisket was piled I and slow smoked to tender perfection. I found my self ditching the bun to better savor the flavor. Although my first bites combined w/the peppers, onions, and cheese really jived well. The mashed potatoes themselves were good but not that memorable, but throw in the gravy and it take the side to a new level. I'm not sure what they spice the gravy with, but it was similar to the au jus and is liquid gold...solid stuff! If I were a Bears fan almost every game day Sunday would be here! Nice work Chuck!
(4)
nestor h.
BEST. CHILI. EVER! I am diagnosed with a serious gastrointestinal affliction that keeps me up at night and most days but it is all worth Chuck's Red Chili!! You must try it plain to appreciate the love that goes into making this masterpiece. I have looked high and low through this city of ours, traveling 25 miles to just try someones chili recommendation and this is the best I have eaten. And the ribs??? Delicious. So tender you can it the ribs with a fork. I have also eaten at rib joints featured in magazines and TV shows and I have found my place forever. I look for places that have my staples. I have a restaurant for my burgers, sushi and now ribs! You must check this place out!
(5)
Bernadette B.
Been here twice. The first time used a google search for surrounding restaurants. It was on a wkend nite and the place was pretty busy. The wait wasn't long about 5-10 mins. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of macNcheese and mashed potatoes. My food was excellent. The pork sandwich was smothered in a honey, chipolte bbq sauce! I didn't get the eat much of my macNcheese since the kids took that from me! But coming from those two critics, it must of been good. The second time was for my husbands bday dinner. He had the spicy links and I tried the catfish dinner. The links were spicy but good. My dinner was great. Nice portion and the tarter sauce had a zing to it that was different from other tarter sauces. My son on the other hand had the bbq ribs and he didn't like it b/c of the sauce. I tasted it and it was yummy! He's a picky eater tho. I recommend coming here for a casual dinner out especially if you want some good bbq and great comfort food!
(4)
Tim H.
I'm from Arizona, everytime I come to visit my brothers. let's head to Chucks! Great food and i love there beer selection! love this place.
(5)
David W.
Had a great meal there last night. The chicken was very tender and moist and the hot b sauce had a very nice kick to it. The portions were perfect and the price very reasonable.
(4)
Tina B.
I wish I could tell about the delicious and interesting red chili with the mole base and the decent gumbo and the creamy mashed potatoes and the crunchy chicken fried fries and how the menu is large and eclectic and exciting and what a welcome flair a Rick Bayless-connected hand lends to southern cuisine and how I hope to return real soon. Instead I'll tell about how they double charged my credit card, sending my finances into a tailspin for several days, how they never really apologized when I called them and asked only for the matter to be fixed and to have my tip returned to me because of these service issues and about how I'm still waiting for that tip back - two weeks later - and I'm still waiting for them to call me back in "two or three days" - two weeks later. Thankfully - after only six or seven calls with my bank - and with zero thanks to Chuck's - all has been fixed, but it was still an unwelcome pain in the ass. Feel free to go, the food's not bad - just pay in cash unless you're feeling lucky.
(1)
Sandra L.
Went to Chucks on a recommendation although I had been wanting to give it a try for some time. Started out wanting to watch the Blackhawks parade. The lounge wasn't open yet,so the staff accommodated us by letting us in the party room and turned the tv on for just us! Started with a Bloody Mary,pretty good,but the breakfast was out of this world! We shared the eggs,bacon,sausage,ham,biscuits and gravy and hash browns. Finished up with the Pain Perdu,I have to say it was one of the best things I have ever eaten! After finishing up our coffee,we decided to check out the Voodoo Lounge. Nice size room,great service and terrific beer selection. Also they had a decent amount of tvs for us to finish watching the Blackhawks celebration!. Checked out the dinner menu and I can't wait to go back! We will be revisiting soon and bringing more friends! My only problem will be deciding what to order!
(4)
Sarah M.
Good value for money! I couldn't resist the $3 bloody mary special and the $5 hurricanes- just what you need on a Sunday afternoon! The food menu was pretty large, and, as usual I had to deliberate long and hard, but finally I chose the seafood jambalaya. It was tasty, but it was nothing special- too much spicy tomato sauce and not enough crawfish. I tried some of my husband's gumbo and that was pretty good too. Very casual atmosphere and great for groups and families. Check out the array of hot sauces and bbq sauces on your way out or waiting for a table- some of the artwork and names are just pure comedy!
(3)
Gina M.
I know this may sound over the top and exaggerated, but Chuck's is the best food I have ever put into my mouth. EVER. The BBQ nachos, the wings, the buffalo chicken sandwich. OMG! Not to mention Voodoo Lounge next store makes some kick a** drinks. Try their hurricane, so tasty! During Bears season they have an all you can eat and/or drink buffet on game days. It's a steal and a half!!!
(5)
Ray W.
great place to eat. great atmosphere and great food. a very interesting menu that you can't get just anywhere. bold flavors and great portions.
(4)
Mary S.
Great BBQ! Ribs, brisket (with Carolina sauce), Mac and cheese and Brunswick stew was beyond expectations. Big group and problems were taken care of. My niece never had rib tips and did not really like them. The manager/owner not sure was told and she quickly had a replacement entree. I live in Michigan but have family in the area and I will be sure to return.
(4)
carol h.
Our family loves this place. We eat here at least once per month. The staff is great and so is Chuck. He walks to each table and says hi and asks how everything is. We love the pulled pork, brisket, Jambalaya, pork chops, mexican style pot roast, smoked corned beef, crab cakes, Korean wings, green beans, Mac n cheese and beans. We never have a bad meal! We love the banana foster, apple crisp and cookies. We have also purchased their BBQ sauce and loved it! Highly recommend! Going again tomorrow :). We also hear the breakfast and St Patrick Day specials are amazing as well so we definitely be heading back to try those.
(5)
Steve Z.
Had to submit a much needed update from my previous 1 star review. The new chucks finally got there act together since moving. Great food and much better service. I must say there bar area (voo doo Lounge) Is where it's at they have abita beers on tap which are fantastic and only 3 bucks a pop. They have full menu in there untill later at nite then it turns into bar menu. Cool place to hang out drink sum turbo dogs, watch some Chicago sports and listen to some cool louisiana style bands for no extra charge
(5)
Phil W.
i like it all at chucks. great stop
(5)
Carolynne M.
So, what do you do when you find yourself stuck in Joliet all day and need a place to have lunch? Answer: You travel to Burbank. I knew the chances of me being able to travel down here simply to come to this restaurant were pretty slim, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity while I had it. Chuck's bills itself as a "southern" cafe, but really, thats quite an umbrella they are using that word to cover. "Southern" in this case means Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cajun-Creole as well as St Louis style BBQ. The interior of the restaurant (they are moving sometime this month to a much larger location down the street) has sort of a Mexican cantina look to it, with a deep golden hue to the walls and lots of Spanish style chotchkes hanging from them. I ordered a catfish po'boy which came with two sides. For this I chose the mac & cheese and the Brunswick Stew. I also ordered the rib tip appetizer to take for dinner later. The catfish po'boy was nothing short of incredible. Huge, creamy pieces of fresh catfish, lightly coated in a mildly spiced batter, nestled in a chewy, soft roll amongst lettuce, tomato and a light drizzle of roasted red pepper mayonnaise. This is definitely in the top 5 of po'boys for me. The mac & cheese was excellent, very rich and smooth with a great cheese flavour. The Brunswick Stew, which is a meaty Southern stew of smoked chicken, beef and pork with tomato, corn, cabbage and potato, was loaded with ingredients, very dense and hearty. The overall flavour was good, but nothing spectacular. The one disappointment was the rib tips. When I was handed the bag I thought I had been given the wrong order. For an appetizer portion this is a massive offering. Giant, gorgeous meaty pieces bathed in a sauce of your choice (I chose Hot). Except when all is said and done you probably get 1/4 cup of meat off these things. The first bite was an explosion of gristle and other unappealing hard bits while the meat itself was difficult to remove from the bones and chew. (and to anyone who says they are supposed to be that way I say Too bad - I dont like gristle!) The sauce was Not Hot in any way, shape or form, but it has a pleasant sweetness that complimented what little meat I was able to actually eat. All in all, a pretty good place located in an area that appeared to not have many other dining choices, southern or otherwise. They have really interesting looking specials (one in particular was a lamb and huitlacoche quesadilla - yum!) so in case I am ever out Joliet way again I might have to make a second trip.
(4)
Joanna K.
I love Chuck's! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I always order the same thing there, so I am not an expert on the whole menu. It looks great though and everyone I am with always loves the dishes they choose. I am a huge fan of the pulled pork sandwich, mac & cheese & fries. That's all I ever get and I never tire of it. Chuck's offers daily specials and all kinds of southern specialties so check out their website to see that they have going on.
(4)
rick a.
New location, new bar and new parking lot!!! The food and service remain the same as they were before the move, excellent, the real news is the new bar. The Voodoo Lounge is a new addition and was desperately needed at the old location. There are plenty of tables if you have decided to visit but still need to watch a sporting event, and there are enough flat screen TVs to around. The HUGE news for all is that Chucks now offers 120 different beers on the menu from around the world. I would say that they could use a better tap beer selection but at least I can enjoy a first rate IPA with my BBQ, which pair nicely with the spiciness. Coming soon for the beer lover is some sort of card system so that if you drink all 120 beers (hopefully not all in 1 sitting!) you will get some sort of recognition which may be a shirt or plaque. This is in the works but the management is still working out the logistics.
(4)
Paul S.
It's good quality eatin here! It's funny - I could have sworn that I reviewed Chuck's previously - but I can't find that review. I have eaten at the new location twice and once at the old place. The new facility is much larger and much nicer. The service is down home and friendly. And last time I got to meet Chuck! He is down home Burbank with a flair for cookin. And he seems real nice too! The mexican dishes are very good quality and often quite unique - apparently they are his specialities! However, I am a BBQ kind of guy, and therefore I always getting something with sauce on it. All is excellent. My only dissapointment is that by the time I get done with about 1/2 of my dinner I am too full to order any of the great sounding desserts. So next time - I am ordering the dessert first and then I will just have to take home more of my meal for the next day! :) Happy eatin!
(5)
Tony L.
Been slackin' on reviews, time to play catch up. My wife and I saw Chuck's on Check, Please and thought it would be a good place to go since the person who reviewed it on Check, Please had a pretty good time and was really into the food. Also, we never really spend any time on the south side so we took a trip. When we got there, we just beat the rush, (this is the old location) and everything was pretty quiet and moved pretty quickly. We had the gumbo, rib tips, and another dish that I can't seem to find on the menu, something-pibil? I'm not sure of the name, but it was mighty tasty. The rib tips and sauce were pretty good and the dish I had was very tender. Definitely return in the summer and try some of their other dishes and check out the new place.
(4)
Joellen F.
The food was delish! Had the chucks special with fries and slaw. We also had the nachos everything was great! The service was terrific! I would recommend it!
(5)
Bret G.
Great southern comfort food, haven't found anything I didn't like
(5)
Kevin T.
i cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. there's even a "chucksfest" around september at toyota park, which gives everyone a nice idea about how big their beer collection actually is and what their food tastes like. anyway the BBQ/cajun/mexican food here is the best. i have yet to be disappointed with a plate that i have ordered. my personal favorites include chuck's special, pulled pork, shrimp and crab au gratin, and all of their breakfast. this place may not be the best option for your arteries, but if you want food that makes you feel good in every sense of the word, this is the place to be. mad props for the beer menu as well, where you can choose from over 120 beers, catering to the likes of any beer snob out there. still curious? check out their DDD (diners, drive-ins, and dives) segment on youtube! so good!
(5)
Edonna O.
Awesome as usual
(4)
Erica M.
From a Memphian / Mississippian, I can tell you that everything you read online about the BBQ is true! It is delicious. I tried the pulled pork sandwich dressed out Memphis style with coleslaw and hot BBQ sauce. The sandwich had an unusual, very memorable flavor--unlike any other I've tried anywhere in the South because it had a hint of Cajun / Creole spices / seasoning (reminiscent of jambalaya or etouffee). The best description is "completely original". It's like New Orleans + Memphis served in Chicago. I had the baked beans with mac n cheese as my sides. Those were great. AND, I drank real sweet tea with my meal. Well done!
(5)
Kelly S.
Very hit or miss! Some things are awesome, but some things are way too salty and over done. I REALLY wanted this place to cater my wedding. None of my phone calls or emails were answered. After a month of trying to contact someone/anyone I gave up. Sad.
(4)
Wes D.
Without a doubt the best bbq in the area! I love the different bbq sauces to chose from. All are good, and it's fun to experiment and see which goes best with which meat. I also recently tried the smoked corned beef sandwich, which is their bbq version of a rueben sandwich, and that was delicious! Someone had recommended I try their Mexican special on Saturdays, which was a braised pork dish. It felt wrong not getting bbq while at Chuck's, but the braised pork was very good and I'm glad I tried it. They also have a huge beer selection!
(4)
David M.
A friend introduced me to Chucks, and I immediately became a customer for like. The prices beat anything you can get in the city, and the brisket is always nearly as good as I've had in Texas when traveling on business, and on good days, Chuck's is better. The owner always comes out and greets patrons, and that adds a nice touch. The only thing better than Chuck's for dinner? Chuck's for breakfast.
(5)
Brian G.
This is one of my go to places in the neighborhood. I've never had a bad experience here with the food or service. BBQ nachos are addicting and my all time favorite appetizer anywhere.
(4)
Jeff K.
I used to like this place. But messing up my order 3 of the last 4 times I have had enough and never will go back...
(2)
Alexis F.
First impression..... Not so good!!! Went about 530 pm and got take out. Full slab of ribs..... Dry and not very tasteful. Jalapeño cheddar cornbread..... Didn't taste like cornbread. Baked beans.... Tasted like barely cooked beans in tomato sauce. The super sampler must have been good because my children ate it. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and rib tips. I would give chucks a second look because I've heard nothing but great things. But in my mind, when i pay $50, I don't care if I come 20 mins before closing, food should be as fresh then as it is when you open. Portillos ribs has chucks beat right now....
(2)
Kay N.
SSSOOOOOUUUUPPPP!!! Sweet Jesus...the SOUP! Any soup they have is INSANELY good! Yes..the food is awesome..but .....SOOOOUUUPPP!
(5)
Jennifer G.
Check another bbq "to do" off the list. I had been wanting to try this place for quite some time and when I heard they would soon be on Triple D, I knew my time was limited. We started with the chili and gumbo. The chili is a little on the sweet/Mexican flavored side, which is a little offputting when you are expecting "texas red"....but very flavorful. The seafood gumbo was fantastic. We split a bbq super sampler and a few sides. The standouts were the brisket and the mashed potatoes and gravy. As others have mentioned, the mac and cheese is very cheesy and thick and the beans are pretty good, especially with the addition of meat. The bbq sauces on the table were both very good, the rib tips were so-so and the pulled pork was pretty good, but all paled in comparison to that brisket. Chuck is doing that right!
(4)
Tobin h.
Great. I highly reccomend it. Ribs, Red hots, brunswick stew, soups, are perfecto. I'd stay away from the brisket but the sauces are out of this world. Service and efficiency are top notch and I will definitely be back as well as bring out of towners to this gem. If I have any complaint, it was running into a string of 5 dry "wet-naps" and the brand suggests it was bought at Restaurant depot. I hope they don't shop there on a regular basis. I'd pay a little extra to be at a restaurant that avoids being "cheap".
(4)
Pam D.
If I were in the area, I would probably eat here again. There were a few things that were really good, but much of what we ordered was simply "ok". First, the fabulous. They have really great chili. It was so good we bought a pint to take home. It has a nice, rich and unique flavor. We also loved the sawdust pie ala mode. Yes, it did kind of have a sawdust texture, but it was very flavorful and the vanilla ice cream topped it off perfectly. Second, the good. We liked the mashed potatoes a lot. They had a very nice flavor. I liked the slaw and the mac n' cheese. Mom liked the mushroom soup I brought her, though I did have to add some milk to think it out a bit. The service was really good and the place was clean. The bathrooms were nicely decorated, clean and roomy. Third, the simply ok. Sadly for me and Christopher as well, the BBQ did not knock our socks off. Chris had the brisket. He said it tasted ok, but was rather tough. I had the super combo of BBQ chicken, pulled pork and rib tips. The flavor was ok, but the chicken was kind of dry, the rib tips were only fair and the pulled pork was dry and stringy. We were both kind of disappointed. It wasn't bad, but it sure did not live up to some of the great BBQ places we have visited lately. Fourth, the yucky. The Brunswick Stew. I normally love Brunswick Stew, but this was just a mushy gruel. Avoid it. Chuck's is an ok neighborhood spot, but to me it is not a BBQ destination.
(3)
Shelly S.
The food was very good; the prices moderate. The reason I am giving this restaurant such a high rating is that we had 19 people in our group; we were placed in a separate room; and we were given our own waitstaff, including bartender!! Our waiter, Gary, was fantastic. He even went so far as to give each of us our own separate check, which is totally up to the waiter to decide if he/she will do so. We really, really appreciated that!! We will definitely return to this place!!
(5)
Larry L.
I've been to Chuck's Southern BBQ hundreds of times before last Saturday night, and although there has been a gradual decline in the service and quality of food over the past year, it has always been one of my favorite places to go... Until now. A group of us went to Chuck's Voodoo Lounge after a wedding and ordered a few drinks. We noticed the Redbull and Vodka, didn't really taste like Redbull, so we asked the waitress about it who appeared annoyed we had the nerve to ask. We then ordered a round of chilled Grey Goose shots. As soon as we drank them, we immediately knew there was something wrong, no one tasted or felt any sign of alcohol. I've ordered this shot many times over the years, and one of us at the table had over 8 years of bar-tending experience. I understand shots get watered down when you mix them with ice and shake them up, but this was shocking. The waitress advised us the shots were watered down because we asked for them chilled, but offered to get us new ones anyway. The new shots came, and although they were a little better, they were still way too watered down to be charging over $5 for them. As we finished the second set of shots, I notice Chuck was standing behind me talking to two female customers. Since I was only about two feet away from him, I turned around and asked if I could speak with him when he got a chance. He said no problem, and continued his conversation with the two customers. After about 20 minutes (we were all standing up with our jackets on), I asked Chuck again if I could talk to him. He said no problem and walked over. Within seconds the bartender raced from behind the bar and began to engage us in a conversation that should have never happen. The bartender started to tell the group that we didn't know what we are fu*king talking about, and yes he used those words. His demeanor in my opinion was erratic and although I'm not accusing him of anything like drinking on the job, the question needs to be asked why a bartender would think it appropriate to come from behind the bar to insult customers in front of the owner. Meanwhile Chuck is asking me questions such as, "Are you saying he is shorting you on purpose?".... "Are you saying he is picking on you because he doesn't like you?".... "Why would he do that?". I attempted to try to explain to Chuck that I had no idea why the shots were not done right, that I had been coming to his bar for years, had ordered these same shots more times then I could count, and they were just not done right. The bartender continued to hurl insults at the group, as Chuck looked on. I asked Chuck why he would allow an employee to talk to customers like that and he responded with, "Well he is upset that you are insulting his drinks, he is my best bartender, and he has been working for me for years". I advised Chuck that he may need a new bartender, at which point, the bartender in plain view of Chuck and anyone else within ear shot, offered to take me outside and show me how great of a bartender he was. (I'm still not sure why he needed to go outside to show me he couldn't pour a drink) but I suspect it was normal behavior at the Voodoo Lounge since Chuck never addressed his employee's misconduct and continued to smile and laugh. As the conversation continued to get out of hand, Chuck continued to provide excuses like a 6-year-old boy. He finally offered to take the drinks off the bill, as bouncers started to stack up to observe the sideshow. The waitress came by the table while Chuck was still doing his best to avoid taking responsibility and slammed the bill on the table. But don't worry folks, Chuck didn't disappoint, he had an excuse for this as well. He contributed it to her being crabby and having a bad day... lol. As Chuck finished up his conversation with us, he slid back over to the table with the two girls, and said, "Anyway..." (sorry to bother you chuckie) I've had bad service before, and drinks that were made wrong, but I've never been witness to an owner that stood around and watch his employees disrespect a table full of paying customers. His excuses were that of a small child, and his employees were about as unprofessional and untrained as I've ever seen. The saddest part is Chuck's food and recipes are still unbeatable on the south-side of Chicago, and now I will no longer be able to talk about that without telling my story of Chuck being more concerned about talking to a table of female customers than stopping his employee's from treating customers like crap. His behavior and that of his employee's is about as embarrassing as it gets, and I know I speak for everyone who was disrespected that night when I say how disheartened I am to see a grown man with a million dollar business acting like a child and belittling his customers. If you love great food, and don't mind exposing your family, friends, or significant others to a night of humiliation, Chucks Southern BBQ is the place for you.
(1)
Kelly G.
I've been going to Chuck's since it was on Central and have always enjoyed the food. When they moved and added on the Voodoo Lounge, I was thrilled! The beer selection seems endless, and the staff couldn't be better. I do have to say, I feel the food is not as great as it used to be, but it's still worth the trip!
(4)
ray t.
four of use go to chucks for dinner and here are the results:#1 cold and fatty ribs,very good mac n cheese, soup very good.#2 ribs dried out!! green beans very good, mac n cheese good.#3 soup very good, chicken fried chicken hot but salty, mash potatoes good.corn bread dry.#4 beef brisket dinner dry like it was re heated,frie nothing to talk about.very slow service.had way better BBQ all over chicago. will stick with hog wild and bon a pit
(1)
Keri W.
Been here twice now and loved it both times! Crazy beer selection and the food is great!!! Brisket and pulled pork are delish!! Worth the trip!!
(4)
Mike O.
You're unlikely to find me in Burbank by chance, so if I'm in the neighborhood it's because I am on the way to, or have just returned from Chuck's. It's certainly worth a drive from the city or burbs to enjoy food from this Bayless-trained chef. This is my go-to breakfast spot outside of Chicago because it serves both traditional fare as well as Cajun, southern and south-of-the-border inspired dishes. My favorite breakfast item at Chuck's is the chilaquiles - his rendition of this Mexican hangover helper is delicious. For those of you looking for a standard American breakfast, Chuck's delivers. The applewood smoked bacon is delicious, the eggs are cooked to order and the biscuits and gravy are really fantastic. On the other hand, the sausage patties were nothing special, in my estimation. The new location across from the fire station has a much larger dining area, which removes any tinge of a glorified fast-food box that the previous spot had. The booths are high-backed, which means that your neighbors fore and aft won't be hungrily eyeing your meal. All in all, it's great food which won't bust your budget. Give it a shot.
(5)
Jeremy A.
I came here twice within two weeks, and it's about an hour drive each way! The beer selection is the best I know of. The majority of the beers on the menu are bottled. I was hoping for draft, but bottled is fine when there are that many beers available. I think about 120 beers! The pulled pork sandwich is the best one I can think of (I always get the pork at BBQ places). The baked beans are the best! There seems to be some pulled pork or something in the beans too, which really adds some flavor and consistency. The brisket is pretty lean, but not dry. It's great! I need to try some of the other menu items, possibly move closer to Chuck's!
(5)
Luis B.
Great BBQ, southern food, and Tex-Mex dishes. Great service too.
(5)
Gregory P.
Well worth the drive wherever you are in Chicago. Great BBQ, very meaty ribs done perfectly. The hot links are the best, I wish I access to these in St. Louis. Great job!
(5)
Neisha G.
I stopped in to Chuck's for lunch on Sunday after church. we were seated right away and noticed the relaxed, down home feel of the restaurant. We ordered the bbq shrimp appetizer which was absolutely delicious, and had the bbq platter as the meal which is a huge portion for $16 . I chose the Chicago wings, the rib tips ad the hotlink, all of which were cooked very well. (although the presentation was quite sloppy). For sides I chose the mac and cheese and baked beans both of which were slightly underwhelming. Our service was good, but it was a little slow. The bottom line: I would visit the restaurant again if I am in the area, I would love to try their Tapas night.
(4)
Rochelle S.
After reading some great yelp reviews I had to check Chuck's out myself. I was able to get a preview of the menu online prior to arriving, but, walking through the restaurant looking at the dishes that people had ordered I knew the decision of what to order was going to be tough. I was very lucky to get a table outside on the patio and had the best service. My waiter was more than willing to go through the menu, the specials and what was popular. I opted for the pulled chicken, beans and fries. They started off with fresh rolls to the table which were so much better tasting than some of the bbq joints that give you a slice of white bread or something that was taken out of a bulk bread bag. Within minutes my food arrived. The chicken was smokey without being over kill. I opted for the mild sauce and even though I should have asked for it on the side, it wasn't overwhelming on the sandwich. The beans had a unique flavor that I really liked but still can't put my finger on, and the fries had a light coating on them and were cooked perfectly. My waiter suggested their famous cobbler for desert with 3 choices of mixed berry, peach or mango. Sadly it was so famous he had to come back to tell me they were out of the peach. Now I'll have to return for the cobbler and to try out their brisket that I was told melts in your mouth. I will definitely be going back to Chuck's!
(5)
Chris H.
I'm not totally in love with this place like many other South Siders, but I enjoy it and it is fun for Bears games. I'd also note for trivia's sake that Chuck Pine (Chuck) worked under Rick Bayless. -Beloved by many. It is of the Carolina sort of style of BBQ (vinegar). -Very reasonable prices. -The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. -There is ample seating -Separate bar area and restaurant area (Although the bar area has a full menu)
(4)
Scott M.
Planned for weeks to come to the Benet Breakfast they have once a month. They were dry & over cooked (did they make them the night before??). The service was lousy and when my 'mexican eggs benedict' came out-- the eggs where rock hard. I have been to these place several times---it keeps getting progressively worse--- WAKE UP!
(5)
Colleen B.
I had a blast at Chuck's last night. Spread word to my friends that we were going here and got immediate responses that the food here is good, the beer selection is amazing, try the peach cobbler, try this.... etc. We came up here late, about 10:30 and sat at the bar. A lot of us ordered food. My friend liked the crab cakes, my two friends raved about the BBQ nacho's. I would have tried the nachos but it had onions in it and I dislike onions. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, mild, with fries. The fries were awesome, very crispy and flavorful. The pulled pork did not have a lot of sauce on it. I would have had the hot sauce if I'd known how much goes on it. The mild was good though, next time I'd ask for extra sauce on it or on the side. The drinks were good. We all got punch cards. If try every beer they have, all 120 of them, you get a t-shirt and your name on the wall. Seven people have completed this task and my group was so down for this challenge. I had three punched last night and we will definitely go back and try to keep ordered all of their specialty beers. My only dislike was that it wasn't closer to my home. The service was good, the bartender we had was new and needed to ask for help from the other bartending every so often. But she was super nice and helpful and patient with us as we tried to pick a beer from the 120 on the list. Will be back at Chuck's and bringing more friends there.
(5)
Cristie F.
I have driven many, many miles just for some succulent BBQ from Chuck's. What's not to like?? Pig//BBQ sauce//chicken fried chicken//mac n' cheese? Not to mention, the chef/owner, Chuck Pine, studied under Rick Bayless and his Mexican flavors for several years. Sounds pretty flippin' fantastic if you want my opinion. My faves - 1. Definitely the pulled pork. If you're not hungry enough for a combo platter and have to choose one meat, go for the pork. 2. The ribs. Not the fall-off-the-bone type, but are meaty and packed with flavor nonetheless. 3. Mac N' Cheese!! I'm a sucker for a good mac n' cheese. This one is fairly on the plain side. Nothing fancy in it...no bacon, no bread crumbs, no jalapenos. However, it's cheesy and creamy - just how I like it. 4. Banana Bread Pudding. If you've read my review of the Publican, you will see that I said I would never find a better bread pudding. I lied. As of Saturday, January 28th, 2012, Chuck's officially has the best freakin' bread pudding around! 5. Fried alligator. I had never tried it, but it's tasty. The good ol' saying "Tastes like chicken" definitely holds true with alligator. 6. The soups. Try one - you won't regret it. I vote for the cream of chicken with rice. As for the Mexican dishes & specials.... If you can tear yourself away from the BBQ dishes, I would highly recommend giving one of those a whirl as well. The enchiladas, tamales, and cochinita pibil, and cajun prime rib are worth passing up the BBQ for. Service isn't always the greatest. The restaurant is often packed and the servers are usually running around like crazy. Attentive servers isn't Chuck's forte. However, they are always friendly and usually apologetic. Since the food is so tasty, I let it slide. Decor is unique. I'm reminded of being in a house in Mexico - which is strange since Chuck specializes in BBQ. There's definitely a warm and home-like feel which I definitely enjoy. I've heard nothing but great things about breakfast at Chuck's. I have to admit, I haven't gotten my lazy butt out of bed on a weekend morning to trek down to the south 'burbs for breakfast. But, I definitely plan on it. It's probably a good thing I don't live around the corner. Chuck's for breakfast and Chuck's for dinner?! Can't beat that!
(5)
Joseph D.
There were four of us that ate here and we shared everything. Appetizers and entrees were all delicious. Shrimp and crawfish au gratin; seafood gumbo, Sunday special roast beef; bbq brisket; filet mignon; and shrimp and crawfish etouffe were all delicious.
(5)
J T.
This is a favorite for my friends and family. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my favorites are the ribs, mac and cheese, and pulled pork. The amount of food compared to the price is unbelievable. I almost always leave with leftovers. The only downfall is it's usually crowded and you can be forced to wait for a table, but it's always worth it.
(5)
Lucie O.
Just came home from there and I have to tell you that being a bartender and manager of restaurants for twelve years, this was the best experience me and my husband had in a while. I had the smoked chicken dinner and my husband had pulled pork dinner, both very delicious entrees. The bartender working was very friendly and helpful in every way. Great job!!!
(5)
Sarah E.
I am sad to say that I have to update this review. I went there last Friday night (8/22) to celebrate a birthday (after the boys got off of work at 11 PM). The service was beyond slow and the music was blaring. I think that the waitress forgot about us. She was out of shape and trying to make tips by showing off her sagging breasts. It was unappealing and if she wants a job like that then apply to Polekats. My husband ordered mild chicken strips and the sauce was beyond sweet. We were wiping the sauce off with our napkins. We waited over 30 minutes for that? When one of the guys ordered shots to celebrate the birthday I took a pass (8 months pregnant) and she had the most obnoxious voice. She kept saying and hand motioning "Take it and pass it." She obviously thought that she was cute when she was just plain rude and obnoxious. I passed it for obvious reasons and I am sure that the guys didn't need to be told what to do with a shot. (Duh). I really used to like this place. Maybe it is going through a bad staff change right now. My husband and I used to go to Chucks when it was a tiny hole in the wall place when we dated.
(1)
Michael W.
Some of the best, tastiest food you'll ever eat. Excellent service. We haven't had a single food item we did not enjoy.
(5)
Dave J.
This isn't Memphis. This ain't New Orleans, or Kansas City. This is Chicago, and while we may be famous for deep dish pizza, or the eponymous hot dog, Chuck's Southern Comforts is SO good that this restaurant ALONE could put Chicago (okay, technically Burbank) on the map for having outstanding barbeque. Four of us dined here after a White Sox game and four of us left the restaurant so FULL of delicious, top-notch barbeque that I don't think we ate anything for at least 18 hours afterward. Everything is so fantastically delicious here, that you'd be wise to order one of the combo platters. The "big" combo platter lets you choose from two different meats, and two side dishes, but the "super" combo platter lets you choose from three meats and two sides. Guess which one YOU should choose? Mine had brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were my choices on the side. It's a lot of food, I kid you not. That's why Chuck's conveniently provides carry-out containers for your leftovers. I highly recommend the Mac and Cheese as a side dish. It's creamy and delicious and perfectly compliments whatever main course you order. One tell tale sign of a great meal is when everyone at the table is focused on the food and conversation is kept to a minimum. Our table was silent, save for some lip smacking, finger licking, and chewing sounds. And now, the beer selection. Absolutely incredible. More than 100 to choose from. The mind-boggling choices range from commonly available macro-brews to specialty crafted and hard to find micro-brews. G'head, be adventurous and try one of the micro-brews. I had a Dragon's Milk Stout, but later, and at the waiter's helpful recommendation, switched to Turbo Dog when the meals were served. I don't know if Chuck's enters in any barbeque contests, but it should, and it would win first prize every single time. And it's solely because of Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe, that I hereby declare Chicago, Illinois (even though technically the restaurant is in Burbank) as the barbeque capital of the world!
(5)
Carm B.
Have eaten here twice so far... Things I liked... Pulled pork sandwich, ribs, cornbread, gumbo, and honey chipotle wings (very good). I didn't care for the beef brisket. My portion was chopped up chunks (like the scraps) and our other order was nice slices. It was pretty dry and tough with the sauce on. It gets extremely crowded on the weekends, valet parking for $2 is available and necessary. Waitresses were not overly friendly BUT Chuck himself stopped at our table to say hello and ask how our food was, very cool!! Also, a Mango Margarita is a must!!
(4)
Leticia M.
I went for the first time on Saturday and as we pulled up I was surprised at how popular this place is! We had an 8pm reservation but had to wait for a little bit in the Voo-Doo Lounge. It was a typical bar type area that wasn't too impressive, but the dining area at Chuck's was pretty nice. I loved the Mexican artesanias that were on the wall. My husband and others that we went with were excited about the Saturday special which was the Cochinita Pibil, but they had run out of it! They were disappointed but it soon went away when they tasted their food. I ordered the Sampler platter with ribs, chicken, and catfish. It was very good but my all time favorite was the fish. I think I would definitely get the fish platter next time I go. My husband got a BBQ combo as well but his side of mac and cheese was just delish! Everyone in our group was satisfied with their meal. I will definitely go back to try other options!
(4)
Darren F.
forgot how i found out about this place but I'm so happy that i did! nothing fancy about this place.. inside looks like an old school dine in restaurant... the service was nice and attentive... first time i came, i ordered the 2 lbs of crawfish.. been craving for them for over a year! it came with a corn, a sausage, a cup of butter, and a bucket for your shells haha... it sure satisfied my craving for crawfish! oh.. if you are a lazy person.. i do not suggest you order this, because there is ALOT of peeling, twisting, and what not... second time i came, i ordered the bbq rib tips... it was delicious! i had french fries and mac-n-cheese for my sides since i get to pick two for my order... the fries was just average.. the mac-n-cheese was good.. the rib tips was yummy! the meat was tender and the bbq sauce they use is very good!.. third time i came, i ordered the shrimp and crawfish jambalaya... it taste very good.. good amount of shrimp and crawfish! the sauce and flavored rice makes a delicious combination! i love this place and will return very soon!
(5)
Buddy M.
Was here for the first time last night but it might be the last time I go. I love burgers and was happy to see that they have a 10oz burger there. The staff was good and got in fast to our seats. I ordered a double burger with fries. I asked for medium rare and got medium burnt. I still tried it and it had a heavy flavor of onion. I do not onion and was gross out by it. They did not charge for the burger. I love the fries and there bbq sauce. I took home a bottle of the hot bbq sauce. We tried to get the mixed berry cobbler but the were out of it. not a good ending to a bad start.
(2)
Jennifer S.
Never imagined I would get the best enchilada meal ever here! Along with a HUGE beer selection!
(5)
Rich K.
Disclaimer up front. I've only been here once and had the ribs, beans and potato salad. The sides were fine but let's talk ribs. I guess the term "baby back ribs" is for real because now I've experienced back ribs that were definitely NOT from a baby. These were the biggest meatiest ribs I ever had and, judging from the lack of fat in them, must have been from the Mr. Olympia of pigs, like Schwarzenegger of old. They must have had this pig pumping iron and taking 'roids, or the porcine equivalent thereof. I got a full slab and filled up after only half of it, and that is unheard of for me. Now this might sound like I thought the ribs were excellent but I do not. On the whole they were dry - you see, you want some fat so that the meat is juicy. And despite the fact that they were smoked, there was little to no smoke flavor. I don't know why but there wasn't. Also, there was little sauce on my carryout ribs - if you go there for ribs, which I don't recommend, ask for extra sauce. Dry ribs with sauce is still better than dry ribs without sauce. Why is it so hard to find good ribs? I think part of the answer is that most white people - in Chicago anyway - have never had really good ribs so they are satisfied with what places like Chuck's serves. Since they can get away with it, these places skimp on the wood in the smoker and serve inferior monster ribs because people are more impressed with quantity over quality. IMHO. So, white people, if you like ribs, do yourself a favor and find out what really good ribs are. Get thee to a traditional place that buys good meat (from young pigs!), uses an aquarium smoker with lots of hickory, and has good sauce. Ribs 'n Bibs in Hyde Park or Lem's further south in the city are two of the best. P.S. - I'm white but was blessed with discovering Ribs 'n Bibs at an early age.
(2)
Peter D.
Hands down the best food in the area. Full disclosure I've been eating Chef Chuck Pine's food since he had his small spot with only a few tables and it's been fun to watch (and taste) his business evolve into the can't miss place that it is now. As I sit here writing this review I'm finding it hard to focus on a few dishes since there are so many amazing options. From Cajun favorites to authentic Mexican dishes to the main event; the barbecue. My favorites include the Brisket. So moist and tender with great smoke flavor. You have a choice of four homemade sauces; Mild, Hot, Honey-Chipotle and my families person favorite the Carolina sauce. We buy a bottle or two every time we are there. Also don't miss out on the daily selection of homemade soups. There is around ten or so choices every day. If you're thirsty they have a fantastic drink menu at amazing prices. I am not much of a frozen drink fan but my wife raves over Chuck's Mango Margarita. Says it is her favorite drink anywhere, ever. The beer list is amazing, between you typical domestics, the imports and the amazing craft beers there is an option for any taste. Just when you thought that was enough don't forget breakfast. My absolute favorite is the homemade corned beef hash made with leftover smoked corned beef. It is heaven served with eggs and toast. Don't miss this star in the middle of a culinary desert.
(5)
Rebel N.
Southern fried shrimp dinner, YUMMY. My husband had the rib tips and loved them. My sons had pulled pork sandwiches and Mac n cheese, they said they can't wait to go back to have it again.
(5)
Maria G.
I'm way into BBQ so after hearing good reviews of this place (formerly known as Chapms Rock Room) my fam and I decided to head out here. I ordered the Rib Tips with mashed potatoes and mac n' cheese as my sides. I was NOT a fan of the sauce! Way too much of a vinegar flavor which i was not OK with. On the plus side-Mac n' Cheese was UBER cheesy and the highlight of my meal! I also ordered the coffee which was also above my expectation. Will probably be back but will not be ordering the ribs.
(3)
Lauren M.
What is not to LOVE at Chuck's?! We've been here 4-5 times now and the food never disappoints. The BBQ nachos are outstanding and I personally love the Cochinita Pibil (marinated pork)! Ribs, pulled pork and Chiles en Nogada are awesome too. We also just went for our first Tappas Tuesday (first Tuesday of the month) and really enjoyed the small bites menu. Their tequila and beer menus help to round out a delicious dining experience. My 7 year old son has even asked Chuck if he could live there! Not a bad idea when you think about it! LOL
(5)
Jay W.
Was looking forward to this, but a total let down. The mild BBQ sauce did not taste good. Mac and cheese was real good as well as the service. Otherwise will not be going back.
(2)
Amanda T.
I'm really glad that I don't live near Chuck's because I would be eating here multiple times a week and weighing over 500 lbs. Chuck's is out of my way, but it's worth the drive. It's even worth waking up before 11:00am on a Sunday for brunch-a near impossible task for me. The brunch is fantastic. I was a little skeptical about getting the crab cake benedict. I wasn't too sure how well poached eggs and crab cakes went together, but I took the risk and it paid off. Loved it! Their hashbrowns are to die for. They're perfectly crispy and perfectly excellent. Definitely will satisfy a hashbrown slut like myself. The cafe de olla is really good too. I thought it was a bit watered down and normally it would be too sweet for my liking, but I really enjoyed it. Aaaand their lunch/dinner menu is pretty friggin awesome too. I love the pulled pork sandwiches and the ribs. And the fries! ZOMG the fries. Best of all, the prices won't break the bank. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jackie C.
Chucks has a lot going for it--it is definitely worth a drive out to the "south side" for some good comfort food eats. Menu: -Absolutely the best smoked meats and BBQ food. Very tasty. -Great variety of items, soups, sandwiches, salads, dinner plates...but you should really choose a BBQ combo..maybe pulled pork or some ribs! -Excellent breakfast menu with the best biscuits and gravy! Restaurant itself: -The new location is a lot nicer than the old location. -Generally lively and packed with lots of families, etc. -Not romantic but a fun place to start a date night -Would be an awesome place to have a party! We wanted to book this place for our rehearsal lunch, but it was already booked (2 months in advance!) Chuck's is definitely one of our favorite places to go for a great reasonably priced dinner.
(4)
M M.
I think in two words my experience with Chuck's was "pleasantly surprised." Burbank is one of those suburbs that gets looked over for absolutely everything. There are probably even a decent number of life-long Chicagoans who aren't even aware such a town exists. It's the Wood Dale of the south side. Well just like it's O'Hare area counterpart, Burbank has a surprisingly excellent barbeque joint that provides some of the best slow cooked meats in the area. I got a Carolina style pulled pork sandwich which was nice and tender and the sauce was amazing with a little bit of a kick to it. My coworkers and I also split an order of the BBQ nachos which were pretty good and had a nice blend of pulled pork and chicken on fresh chips. The service left a little bit to be desired. It had that kinda curt diner feel to it. A sort of "Yeah, what'll ya have?" atmosphere didn't quite seem to fit. Plus, a few of us who had made minor special requests got those messed up, namely I got coleslaw on my sandwich when I had asked for none. Overall, those are minor complaints when the barbeque is that delicious. SBR is still my gold standard, but it's good to see there are other locales that do Chicago's BBQ scene a great service.
(4)
Keith B.
If this was anywhere but the southside I would have given it 4 stars. Southside needs more places like this though so I am kicking it up a star. Everything I have had was good and whats not to like about all those beers? Definitely try the crabcakes... so delicious.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
John K.
The place is still great! Took some southside Biggen girl on a date here. She looked like miss piggy and smelled like Edward James Olmos. She got the Crab cakes and Fish tacos. I did the BBQ sampler, Ribs, Brisket and Pulled pork all wonderful. I wanted to mount this sow bc she was cute even though she looked like a sand bag on D-Day She slurped my boys from golf balls into craisins. She disappeared into the night.
(5)Sean L.
The food is here is awesome
(5)Rob P.
what can i say read the reviews !!!!! and you write my review a+++++ thousand times in my book
(5)Breeanna G.
My favorite time to come to Chuck's is in the fall because they always have a pretty great selection of pumpkin and fall-themed craft beers. Their extensive beer menu is excellent--there are tons of beers on there that I don't see anywhere else in a lot of Chicago bars. This will likely sound weird to those who come here because it is a barbecue place, but I order the barbecue nachos without barbecue sauce and meat. Regardless, they are some of the best nachos I've ever had! Their mac-and-cheese is pretty great, and I've also had luck with their enchiladas verdes and Caesar salad. There is always a good selection on the menu for their tapas night, and their homemade cupcakes are awesome. The service can be kind of slow because it is nearly always busy. However, most of the servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and if there is a mistake, they are quick to make things right. There can sometimes be some pretty unsavory characters in the Voodoo Lounge (I'm talking old dudes who send over drinks to young women and then expect something to come of it in their disillusioned entitlement), but I guess one could say the same for any bar. I always enjoy eating at Chuck's and will definitely be back.
(4)Kristy B.
Oh Chucks, you are so good to me. You serve the BEST homemade soups ever, the most delicious BBQ pulled pork and a MEAN country fried chicken breakfast! Not to mention, your portions are huge. I have never experienced bad service here, and have never tried anything here that wasn't absolutely delicious. I look forward to coming here when I'm out in this part of town. You've found the secret to good food and I couldn't be happier. Keep doing what you're doing...and open up more locations around the city!
(5)Tiffany D.
My husband and came to Chuck's with cousins when visiting Chicago for a wedding. My husband's cousin raved about it but to us it wasn't that good. We started our dinner off with a Caesar salad that we shared. It wasn't bad. It was different. It was like a Cajun Caesar dressing and it had black beans in it. Like I said not the usual, but change is ok every now and then. We also had rolls that were served before the meals. They served the bread warm which made it better with a tad butter. Mmmmm!! For dinner we split the BBQ combo. This included a 1/2 rack of ribs with an additional meat option and 2 sides. We got pulled chicken for our 2nd meat with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans for the sides. To me the ribs were pretty good, they weren't my husbands favorite. The chicken was ok. Nothing special. The Mac & Cheese was awful. It tasted like box Mac & Cheese. Yuck! The Green Beans were seasoned really good but because they were fresh green beans that threw it off a little. I guess I like canned great beans seasoned really well. It's hard to get fresh green beans right to a tee. I also tried some of the Cajun crab cake. My husbands cousin ordered it and let me try some. It actually wasn't bad. They were a little thin. I like my crab cakes to be thick and meaty. I guess that comes from living in the DM(V) area. Places around the DMV area know how to make a mean crab cake. Overall Chucks was a nice experience to try something new, but it wasn't anything special. I wouldn't come back. I would definitely try other places considering I don't live there and there are so many other restaurants to try. First impressions are everything, and Chuck's just didn't do it for me.
(3)Z B.
It's time to update my review on Chuck's. I went for dinner today, and it wasn't your typical crowd for a Sunday evening. There is parking, but if you park in the side streets, your car will get towed. It's pretty hard to park in the small parking lot when there is a big crowd. The service was great. The server was nice and friendly to my relatives and me. The food didn't take that long, which was good, but it was quite surprising. It usually takes a bit longer to get your food during a huge crowd. The food was pretty good! I tried the seafood gumbo. It was an amazing dish. I liked the broth and the mixture of seafood in the gumbo. I definitely recommend the seafood gumbo. Next, I had the beef brisket dinner. The brisket was okay. It wasn't as tender, but the meat tasted good. My sides of baked beans and Mac and cheese were good. The baked beans had a great flavor to them. The Mac and Cheese was ok. The cheese tasted good, but it didn't look melted enough. All in all, pretty good food, the service was good, and the location is pretty good too. I'll be coming back here.
(4)Michelle K.
Great food....really enjoyed the BBQ nachos which was a meal in itself! Ron was our waiter and he was friendly and gave great recommendations since it was our first time here. Looking forward to coming back and trying something different because it was hard to decide....everything looked and smelled amazing!!!
(5)steve i.
Worst Jambalaya ever...overcooked shrimp n crawfish...sauce tasted like pizza sauce...HUGE disappointment....probably the worst thing to order at this place...not a place I ever plan to return to in the future
(1)Brian S.
Best food ever! Bbq nachos are great, bbq food spectacular, soups delicious, creole authentic. The muffuletta and the Taylor street sub are good but only available on special. I have spent many hours and dollars at Chuck's ...and many more to come. !!
(5)Eddie S.
Had never been here and heard a lot about it and tried for the first time recently. Not it's all cracked up to be. Only thing i enjoyed was the biscuits and gravy!
(3)JT M.
First time visiting Chucks, we ordered the meat sampler and got the pulled pork, brisket and the ribs. The ribs were outstanding! I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys smoked anything. Nice pink ring and the table had a variety of sauces to choose from. For the sides try the Cajun green beans. They weren't spicy but very flavorful. For drinks the special of the month was a1/2 blue moon 1/2 ginger beer concoction which was smooth, a very dangerous drink! Will definitely be back! Sorry no picture gobbled everything down before I remembered to take a pic.
(4)Rita J.
Stopped by Chucks for dinner. I was impressed by the food just as much as I was by the waitress. Jess was knowledgeable and helpful about the meat and the sauces and any restaurant should strive to hire people like her. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very calm and suitable for any occasion.
(5)Rick H.
Uh-Mazing. Everything was delicious. We came here with our two small kids early on a Sunday. Asked for a booth when they wanted to seat us at a table. The host discussed a little with the head host but they sat us...nice. Now to the craft beer. FINALLY! A place that gets it. Listen up you swill guzzling restaurants and take a tip from Chuck. They have a handful of craft drafts but a very large selection of cans and bottles, I ordered 2 different ones, so happy. Now the food. Perfect. I ordered the full slab of ribs with the rice and mac & cheese. Meaty & flavorful, hit the spot. The wife got the 2 meat sampler, pulled pork and beef brisket. Both were good but the ribs were night's winner. Oh yeah, and most importantly we were treated very well, we sat and ordered like civilized humans and weren't shuffled on our way with preheated garbage like some other places. If you want EXCELLENT food go here. Chuck was trained by Rick Bayless and has a culinary degree (hence the wall of "suns" in the main dining area). Decided to do BBQ over Mexican on the South Side because he's always enjoyed it and most importantly there was a need for good BBQ. You ain't kiddin' chuck, I think you found a niche. Highly recommended and we will be coming back.
(5)Jeudi J.
Beignet breakfast! Cajun crabcakes are yummy and very reasonably priced. Beignets aren't NOLA good, but they are yummy with the chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. Great service. Gonna start working the new rewards program. BBQ nachos, here I come!
(5)Jeff L.
Cream of chicken and rice soup is my favorite!
(5)Chris W.
Sometimes you find a place that doesn't seem to fit in an area, but blows you away. A southern soul food, cajun cooking joint in Chicago? SOLD! Ribs were sweet but with a serious kick, had a nice smoke flavor as well. Would be the perfect tailgating entrée. Cajun green beans are outstanding. Was disappointed in the pulled pork but that was it. Started with the seafood gumbo which was very good. Finished off with bananas foster crepes, better be sitting down for that. Drink menu looks awesome but stayed away. They have hop, skip and go naked?! Only time I've ever seen that is in a kitchen with college students or drunk adults concocting it.
(4)Johnny C.
We were seated and our ordered were taken right away. We've literally been waiting for an hour for our food to come other people who arrived after us have been served before us. Our waitress hasn't even came to our table to even apologize or let us know what's going on with our food all we ordered were some grilled chicken sandwiches and a soup.
(1)Melissa L.
First time here, table for 1..kinda got seated right by the door and right behind the lady seats everyone...ehhhh.not a great place to sit..people walking right behind me kept brushing up on the chair. Mike was my server, super friendly and pretty awesome at refilling my cherry Pepsi without me asking. Ordered a Shrimp poboy deluxe which came with 2 sides. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy. The macaroni was so cheesy and delicious and the gravy on these potatoes was a phenomenal. The po boy was delicious although it could have used a little bit more Chipotle mayo ( at least I think that's what it was). The shrimp in the po boy are huge and very good. It does take a minute to figure out how to grasp the sandwich so that all the lettuce and tomato on fallout. But overall besides the seating I have no complaints and will definitely be coming back here very soon.
(4)Qleanne D.
If you live in Burbank you know Chucks is the hot place to eat! Great southern style food! May seem pricey but once you see how big your portion is you'll understand! Sides are fantastic! Everything about Chucks is great.
(5)Kimber F.
The food was excellent, and the service was great too. The portions, even the kids menu items, were very big and two meal worthy. The music and atmosphere were upbeat. I had the Danish salad and it was huge and tasty. Great place and will definitely go again!
(5)carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. Its places like this that remind me not to eat at chain restaurants. This place is everything you want in a BBQ restaurant. Just make sure you make reservations no matter what time it is. Started with the Seafood Gumbo. Great if not better than any Cajun Joint. A lot of Seafood. Excellent. I had the Beef Brisket, with side of Mac and Cheese, and Chipotle Rice. Tender Beef, Cheesy Mac. Tasted the Ribs. Tender and SMOKEY. And OH the GREEN BEANS, a must. Made with Bacon. Great portions at a reasonable price. And as I was eating my dessert, Coconut Banana Cream pie, Chuck himself came by and asked how everything was. He told me he tried making the pie I was eating with Merange instead of cream, but never came out right. He just hired a Pastry Chef and will soon put it back on the menu. There are some Mexican dishes on the menu from his days working for Rick Bayless. This was a Mothers Day that felt more like a Fathers Day!!!
(5)Betty H.
Food 4: nachos, bbq platter, fried shrimp Service:5 Cleanliness:5 Will definitely be back
(5)Diana G.
Went back and it was better this time around. We started off with the chicken tinga tostadas. Good flavors, but a bit pricey since it's just really served on 4 tortilla chips. Rib Tips were nice and meaty and my guy and I actually enjoyed the Carolina sauce. Cole slaw was okay, but the beans were too salty and peppery. I think we'll be back for the rib tips and some ribs next time. To me, their sides are lacking or not too my taste.
(3)Grace J.
Walking in here I was very skeptical. A family member made reservations for a group of 8 on a Saturday night...i asked why? He said just wait and see. As soon as we arrived I saw several people waiting for a table. Since we had reservations we were seated right away! Awesome! Ordering was no problem, we all wanted the same thing...RIBS! The waitress and other staff members were very friendly and on point! Now the wait for the ribs begin. Sitting and having great conversation with great people made the time seem fast because before I knew it out food arrived. It looked and smelt wonderful. That first bite is pretty amazing. The meat melted in your mouth and had great flavor. However, I was not too fond of their sauces. The original was ok but the spicy version...no! Just no! Other than that it was great. I will probably come back again and try something else and see... thanks!
(4)Michelle F.
Chuck's was fantastic! Every April to May 5th they do a special Cinco de Mayo special menu. My mouth was salivating at every day's specials. We ordered the appetizer of Caribbean jerk chicken wings with mango bbq sauce - AMAZING. Also the cinco de mayo special I ordered (forgive me I don't remember the name) filet skewered bobs over black bean rice and ancho-wild mushroom sauce. The meat was tender, black bean rice on point and the sauce divine. I plan my next visit this Sunday with the Caribbean jerk wings for sure!
(4)Natalie D.
Oysters on the half shell were better than I expected. Tasted fresh however I need to pick on them a little: the juice was spilled out so they were dry (not how I like them), they didn't come with lemon, the cocktail sauce needed more horse radish, and most importantly, the oysters need to be cut from their shells!! It's frustrating bc SO many places don't do it and it's essential. The Cesar was blah but it's a bbq place so I wasn't shocked. My family loves the corn beef here: it tastes like the world"s juiciest bacon! It's amazing. I have to admit though that their BBQ sauce tastes gross! It was basically A.1 sauce which I am not a fan of. It's strange bc the place smelled like sweet bbq sauce. They have an amazing beer list! I am a huge fan of IPAs and they totally had me covered. Over all, I would go back. I want to try some of their specialty dishes.
(3)Kouklah M.
Horrible experience I wish they would have done something about this because they have lost a customer the food was cold and bland the ribs were full of fat basically paid for the pig fat! Not a good dining experience and it sucks when they don't try to fix the problem to make the experience better save your money go somewhere else!!!!!
(1)Rocky R.
Best breakfast ever! I work at a breakfast cafe and I go here on my days off (mostly because its closer) but the food is so good. My waitress mariam is the best I tried going to the other location in darien and they wouldn't give me what I wanted but every time I come here she gives me exactly what I want, I can never finish a full Benedict so she let's me order a half! Awesome! Def recommend coming here to all my friends and family. I always get the juavos ala frontera its black beans and chorizo in a sope instead of English muffin it's ridiculously good and the blueberry pancakes are right on point. Another favorite of mine is the biscuits and gravy you can't go wrong. I look forward to coming here!
(5)Amy R.
Two words, my friends: BEIGNET BRUNCH. Chuck's has one. Oh yes they do. I completely dropped the mardi gras ball this year - didn't celebrate, didn't get beads, didn't anything. However, my extraordinarily pregnant dear friend DID remember, and was desperately craving beignets. A quick internet search unearthed Chuck's, and this past Saturday, we finally found time to go. We started our meal with - duh - beignets. Crispy fried on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and served with delicious creme anglais and chocolate dipping sauces. We devoured them. I could have had about six more orders of those, but we pushed onward to our meal. I had the Cajun eggs Benedict, which was a delightful mix of greens, andouille sausage, hollandaise, and eggs atop English muffins, served with a side of hash browns. It wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious, and it wasn't insanely inventive, but it was good. The husband got a skillet he wasn't head-over-heels for, and my friend got the stuffed french toast that looked AMAZE - pain perdu style, with big thick slices of french bread stuffed with creamy filling. Brunch for three with drinks and beignets, tax and tip was like 45ish bucks, which is not unreasonable, and our server was perfectly pleasant. The beignets themselves were 5 star, and everything else was decent enough to return if I was in the neighborhood. Worth checking out!
(3)Bob D.
This is my third review over the last 7 years, it keeps plummeting in quality. I have given up actually reading the menu that is adorned with Chucks arrogant mug. The sides taste like someone went dumpster diving at the nearest nursing home, cold fries, mealy green beans, pasty black beans. No attempt in quality control can be seen. The host has been there for years, she still walks us to the table and turns and walks right through me, I know, it is petty, but I think it represents the culture of mediocrity that is rampant. Hey Chuck, how about some surprise taste tests on the line instead of having another portrait done, I nearly fucking choked when I saw the calendar of events that listed "Dinner with Chuck", it had your whole schedule lined up. I haven't seen you in a few years, but if I "dine with Chuck" I will be sure to ask you to bring my kids some freshly cooked catfish. Here is a short list of grievences, No dressing on salad Bread is of the lowest quality fries are never fresh Beans always taste like yesterdays Cream soups have reduced to the consistency of paste (add water genius!) The Tamale casserole is an abomination, please serve one to your mentor Rick Bayless and see if he can even swallow Chicken noodle soup was the overcooked debris from the bottom of the stock pot, you couldn't tell where the broth started and the bones /meat began, a class act of horror all the way. I have lost my motivation for this review, I will continue to get breakfast on occasion, and I will continue to get a bowl of brunswick stew while my friends and family gorge themselves on slop.
(2)Denise C.
Chucks is a great restaurant if you haven't been! Good prices also. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was there food use to be better. Not only in taste but in quality. They would throw in more items and now it seems they charge you for the napkins! I get It though, they moved into a bigger location , so prices had to go up.
(3)Tom C.
Great Southern BBQ! We came here for some lunch with my coworkers. I ordered the Chuck's Special and it was out of this world. The beef brisket was very tender. The Mac and Cheese was yummy and the cole slaw was delish. It's really rare to find a restaurant that has sweet tea. I was happy to know they had it on their menu. Our waiter took her time to explain today's specials. I will be back to try other BBQ goodies! I highly recommend this barbecue restaurant. #SeñorFood
(5)Rico R.
Went here for dinner the other week, what a total waste! I ordered the BBQ Brisket which was a little pricey, but I was like hey this place sounds good so it should be worth it - it wasn't! Portions were very small, and the brisket was meh. The sides were so small I had to ration it in order to have some left for my undesirable brisket. And man the brisket... wasn't even tender, didn't even taste spectacular. I wasn't the only one either, others in my group didn't care for their food either. Unless you're desperate, don't go here.
(2)Dymond B.
Everything is awesome about this place. Good drinks fantastic food, and great specials everyday.
(5)Dawn C.
Good welcome when we arrived. Recommend getting a reservation. Parking lot was full at 6pm We started with the nachos Omg the nachos . Amazingly delicious . They have 3 separate types of toppings . With pulled pork . My side salad was good . Heirloom tomatoes red peppers . Saturday special is really good too!
(5)Dolores Z.
We just got home after dining at Chuck's. It had been awhile since we were there, cold weather, so we gave it a go. We are always asked if we have a reservation. This time, we did, which seemed to delight the hostess. We were promptly seated. Server Jaqui greeted us, set us up with water, and shortly returned to take our drink orders. Chuck's has a notable beer list, I think 120 selections. There's a punch card program, and they put your name on a wall plaque somewhere if you manage to try all of them. Fun for the beer lovers, for sure. Good selection of hearty soups! I had chicken tortilla, very tasty. Hubby had cream chicken rice, rich and filling. Of course, Chuck's claim to fame is the barbecue, and it does not disappoint! I had a combo of pulled chicken and pulled pork with Carolina BBQ sauce. Hubby had brisket with mild sauce, lean and perfectly tender. There's several sauce choices, so you can pick your fave. For sides, we chose the creamy Mac n cheez, Creole green beans, mashed potatoes, and a tomato chipotle rice. All were well seasoned and quite satisfying. There was a Kahlua chocolate pecan pie for dessert, but I can't tell about that as I was pretty full and ordered it to go, can't wait to try it. It was a great experience, except for one thing. When we got home, hubby noticed the front license plate frame was broken, the plate was bent, and snow was packed into the car's grille. Valet service is free, but definitely was not a value added service. The car got messed up! It is new, only 1100 miles on it. Would not have tipped the kid $10 if we noticed it! I did call Chuck's, spoke with a manager, who took my contact info. Hopefully there's no other damage. Do yourself a favor and park it yourself!
(3)Anabel S.
Service was great but food was tasteless. What a disappointment, the brisket lacked flavor, the barbecue sauce was too salty. We barely tasted the food and were kind of embarrassed to leave full plates on the table so when the waiter asked if we wanted to take them to go we said yes, but as soon as we got home I had to throw the food in the trash. Never going back for sure!
(2)Harry M.
A good change in southern cooking. The flavors pop and the spice is quality. Pulled pork is the best and you choose the sauce to your liking. Try a pulled pork sandwich Memphis style.
(4)Ellen M.
Chuck's is a friendly, comfortable joint, with great service. It's a place all can agree on, thinking multi-generationally. Good barbecue ribs and pulled pork. Excellent coleslaw. I will skip the ceviche next time. Good beer list. Many to choose from, from around the globe. I had a sazerac that surprised me; it appeared to have been shaken and strained, while I'm accustomed to a gentle stirring without ice. It grew on me as I sipped it.
(3)Tom T.
Everything here is good. I almost always get the two meat combo; ribs and brisket. The brisket is always cooked perfectly and ribs are as well.
(5)Kristin M.
This place has been featured on all those food shows and for good reason! It's so good! I always get the Chuck's special sandwich with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. Carb overload. Their macaroni and cheese will change your life. They also have a ton of beers on special, I think it's actually over 100. They have a club where if you try all the beers on the menu (not in one day!) you get a tshirt and your name on the wall. They recently added breakfast to the menu. When I had it there I had the French toast and thought it was excellent. My boyfriend had the stuffed French toast and that was kind of weird so I wouldn't recommend that. I love that they take reservations for breakfast because most breakfast places won't do that. Don't forget to bring you work ID! Wednesday health care workers get a discount and Thursday teachers get one!
(5)Jay M.
I had the super sampler the brisket was pretty dry and the catfish was a little salty. I also tried the seafood cakes and they were delicious. The sides weren't bad but they didn't have a lot of flavor. Overall it was ok food but not worth the price.
(3)Marcy S.
My son in-law always orders take-out dinner from Chucks and the food is always very good so my husband and I decided to stop in for breakfast, Awesome is all I could say! I was very pleased with the way the food taste and the friendly fast service.
(5)Hugh P.
BBQ in Chicago, a treat!
(3)Dena S.
Have had awesome food and service every time. On weekends I recommend reservations as it gets super busy. Highly recommend for any meal!
(5)J C.
Love Cajun, Latin, and tex mex food. I've had some good food here and great catered party food too. But service can be rushed and spotty. Had good ribs one time- went back a month later and they were tough and fatty- so much so that my teenager would not eat. The gumbo was good as was the pibil. Would like to see a simple blackened piece of chicken or fish not slathered in sauce on the menu. Love the VooDoo lounge too
(3)Steven M.
This is my second time here. The first was about 8 years ago and I don't remember the place being this big. I had a Groupon for a paint nite and I met a friend at the bar before hand. I had a chicken quesadilla and this honkin plate comes out with a hubcap filled with chicken and cheese. It was on the better side of delicious. I was pleasantly stuffed. The painting was my first time at bat and I had a wonderful time. I annoyed the instructor a bit as he babbled on. I just did my own thing. That's the concept of a good time!
(4)Aesha W.
Last time I went to St. Louis, about a year ago, I stopped into Bogart's for some BBQ. After that, I found I got a craving and rather than drive 5+hours to Missouri, I decided to stop into Chuck's. They've been on Check Please and garnered other accolades, so I figured I'd start here on my Chicago BBQ tour. I really like Chucks, and it's been my default BBQ place when I have a hankering for it. It's a long drive from my place on the north side, so I don't get there terribly often--once a month or so. I don't like ribs, brisket, and what not, and Chuck's has pulled chicken so I have something that I can always get something I like (it seems that a lot of other places don't have the pulled chicken). They also have daily specials, which have always been great when I've had them. The staff is friendly, quick and the food is great, so don't hesitate to stop by the Burbank or Darien locations if you're nearby and want some great BBQ. There's a bar adjacent to the restaurant, so you can eat on either side. They have a large parking lot, but also offer free valet because there are times when it gets pretty packed. DO NOT park on the side streets; you've been warned. One last note--once per month, Chuck's has a beignet breakfast. They offer breakfast daily, but the beignets are only available on certain Saturdays (check the website for details). I have never had beignets before, but did visit here one Saturday to give them a taste. They were great, but I probably won't make the trip out there for them. Mostly it's because the breakfast was not much different than a breakfast I'd get a lot closer to my house, and it's too long a drive out there just for the beignets.
(5)Lauren H.
Very disappointed in Chuck's. I went here years ago and the food was so much better. This time I ordered delivery and they forgot part of my order. It took an additional 30mins for the rest of my order to arrive and they didn't offer any compensation for the incomplete delivery or the wait. There was no free drink, no coupon for a future purchase, nothing. Why would I ever order anything from you again if you can't deliver a complete order? The food was mediocre and the portions very small for the price. There are better places to get "southern" food in Chicago that don't cost nearly as much. The catfish dinner is a few catfish strips not a dinner, the brownie is small, hard, and cold for $3. I could go on and on. This place is the definition of soul food made with no soul.
(1)Dan B.
BBQ in the S Chicago burbs hmmm? Well sure, why not?? Good menu with a ton of selections. From Tapas to Mexican Food to BBQ...they've got you covered. Meat was likely smoked in a commercial smoker. Not a strong smoke flavor or much from the rub on the ribs and chicken. Both were a bit dry and needed the Honey Chipotle sauce which was pretty good. Baby Back Ribs - OK Smoked Chicken - OK Mac and Cheese - OK Baked Beans - Good Banana Bread Pudding - GOOD Café De Olla French Pressed Coffee - GOOD It was really tough to decide which way to go since Tuesday was Tapas night and they place seemed to have an Interior Mexican slant but the waitress said the BBQ was what they were know for and I'm a purist so if that's your thing then let's what you've got. Mid-Western BBQ is in a tough place without a strong identity of it's own. Mexican plates looked pretty good....next time
(3)Chas P.
We went to Chuck's for Easter Brunch.... It was served family style, which was fine. It was all you can eat and our table only had one "round" of food. We had a good amount of the meats leftover and we had asked for a box to take it home. The waitress told us that they do not allow doggie bags for family style meals. She told us that they just throw it away, which is absolutely awful and very wasteful... Take away the fact that it was $21/person for the food. Very wasteful... The food was good, we just simply wanted to take some of it home so that we could enjoy it later as a sandwich or something.
(2)Jaclyn H.
I think the mac and cheese is the bomb here. Never had any issues with that. The beef is normally pretty good occasionally kind of dry. Over all good place
(4)Sandy V.
This place is amazing there food is so good for breakfast lunch or dinner everything is made to order . You can go there for a month n never have the same thing the staff is pleasant helpful all the time
(5)Cory S.
Underwelmed.. but maybe because I had high expectations based on what I'd heard. They do have a HUGE selection of beer, local and far reaching. Absolutely no complaints about the service or beer selection. I had the brisket and pulled pork combo with mac and cheese and green beans. The green beans were the star of the show.. they were great and I'd eat them a few times a week if they were available. The mac n cheese are adequate, nothing horrible or amazing. The pulled pork was average. It was decent flavor and consistency.. not too fatty, not too lean. The brisket was cooked too hot. It wasn't as tender as it should have been and lacked a deep smoke ring. The flavor was lacking since it was cooked hot and probably burned off before it had a chance to penetrate the meat.
(3)Michael J.
I lived in justice for sometime and I went their I love the crab cakes and the BBQ I would like to try it again.
(5)Tony H.
Jack Frost drink special was nice. Pleasantly surprised by the depth of the beer list. First had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, great, with the jerk wings as an appetizer good flavor but super spicy, the cornbread is good also. Drinks are a good value. Had the smoked brisket dinner it was okay.
(4)Eric A.
Great smoked brisket, pulled pork and links, The big three when I hear bar b q. Atmosphere is great, very spacious.
(5)Debbie M.
great prices for high quality food. Was always 5 star but things have slipped just a bit. Hope they catch it before it slips further. Still, great, interesting food and fantastic drinks at reasonable prices
(4)Loren T.
Great breakfast. Biscuits and gravy have soggy biscuits at most locations, but chucks biscuts are still crispy, eggs are superb. Lots of grest options, most people leave with doggy bags, lots of food. When available, is the best chicken fried steak around.
(5)Liz M.
I walked in here for the first time ever tonight. Friendly staff, BUT.....my waitress notified me that they were out of ribs. I was disappointed because like I said before it was my first time here, and I've read that their ribs are delicious and I couldn't wait to try them for myself. I came here around 7:30pm so I don't understand how they ran out of ribs. I'm not sure if I will ever go back :(
(2)J J.
Food was blah!! Ribs tasted like they were baked. Fell off the bone to easy for good smoked ribs and was also drowned in some weird bbq sauce. If the ribs are cooked right there's no need for all that sauce. A little is fine but they put way too much on. Mac n Cheese=Nope! Try Again. Green Beans tasted canned. The mash potatoes with the sage gravy was the best thing. If i do go back i'll try some of their cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, etc. I was told after the fact that those type of dishes are way better. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very nice though.
(2)Matt F.
Always great food when you eat in. Sometimes delivey is not consistent. Pulled pork is always well done and the spicy bbq sauce is the bomb. I do know prices are going up on food, but prices have been increased alot.
(4)Kevin S.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Despite the confusing name, the Mexican themed breakfast menu had so many delicious sounding options. My wife and I both order one of "Chuck's Favorites" (and were so angry that our stupid stomachs filled up so fast because we wanted to keep eating). I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy which was delicious (and a little sweet), but I couldn't eat very much because it was so rich (and might heart cried uncle). The chef has certainly done his mentor (Rick Bayless) well. I just wish we could have stayed for some brisket (the smell when you walk in is amazing!) . . . next time.
(5)Paul C.
As a native burbank resident, I always see this restaurant lot jam-picked. And rightfully so.. As what I would call Burbank "A Good Restaurant Desert" similar to a good desert. As this suburb lack good quality food. This establishment serving as the one and only. Enough to appeal to a foodie that is... A dated-southern style decor greets you slam in the face when you walk in. It's like a clash of average restaurant meets a dive. Perhaps thats the reason this was featured on a certain Food Network show. Any who, there is a variety of options to satisfy any pick pallet. The food itself is, in very generic terms, is good. It's not memorable, but perhaps this critique is based upon Mr. Chuck and his culinary training w/Rick Bayless. I would've expected more. Still, this isn't saying anything bad about the food, as it is escalated the tier of food served in Burbank. Slightly above average food at slightly above average prices. If you're looking to take a small step above a dive, you found your spot. I will say that they do have quite the beer selection. Overall, this may not be for a foodie, but for an ordinary day in Burbank, this is your best bet.
(2)Don L.
I want to give Chuck 4 stars. I really do, but just can't get myself to do it. Now, I know that when you come to a restaurant closer to its closing time, you're not going to get the freshest food...but even though that's the norm, it's a poor excuse. I arrived around 8:20 PM on a weeknight and ordered the Baby Back Ribs with Hot Link, with sides of baked beans and mac n cheese. The North Carolina BBQ sauce was DELICIOUS. You can taste the smokiness of the ribs and each rib had a generous portion of meat on it. However, one of my ribs was too burnt to finish. It was pitch black on one end. I love a good juicy hot link. This was NOT good, nor juicy. It was dry, overcooked, and nothing "hot" about it. Again, this may be because I'm came closer to closing time...who knows. The baked beans were watery. The Mac N Cheese tasted like melted Velveeta on the cheese, but I like some Velveeta. It wasn't a bad meal...Matter of fact, I have a hunch that if I came around 6 PM, it would have been much better. This is #52 on my quest to eat at all the Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives in America!
(3)M K.
Been here a couple times now, great food! Great service! Pulled Pork nachos are delic.
(5)Mike D.
This place is simply fantastic. Anyone giving it less than 4 stars is either a competitor or someone that had an isolated horrible incident. Yes. Sometimes you'll miss out on the stuffed shrimp, mac and cheese etc. It's simply because they have sold out of it by time you order. EVERYTHING is fresh and homemade. Unreal BBQ and just fantastic food - go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)John B.
So, the other day I was stuck in a snow storm with the wife and kids. I decided I was hungry and found this place on Yelp. DON'T TRUST YELP OR GOOGLE FOR DIRECTIONS!! Way off! Just get on the street and go to the address, its huge, can't miss it! Valet Park, it's just easy and free! This place is a mix of culture, it has lots of influences but I would say its first a BBQ Place, next a Cajun place and a little bit of Mexican influence. Wait staff was very attentive, made you feel like family. Food: I have to say that Flavor is king here. Huge Portions and everything is just right. First up, BBQ Pork nachos: Big plate covered and layered in toppings, fresh ingredients and real cheese, not that yellow gunk. I give it a solid 10! Jambalaya with Craw-fish and Shrimp: This one is a hot one, my wife could not eat it but I loved it! Very large portion with a tomato pepper sauce. I really like the flavors and they did not skimp on the seafood! The tomato sauce was a little strange, I dug it but having live in New Orleans kind of odd on the plate. Overall an 8! Rib tips: This was a solid rib tip, nice and tender, good smoke, good sauce. Had some slaw with it and it was a good cream based slaw. Think KFC but homemade. Solid 8 Kiddos: Let me say the Price/Portion was overly fair. Lots of food, Drink and a Dessert! Fried fish strips: This was really tasty, My wife and I ended up eating a bunch of it. I would have just ordered that myself. 10 Mac and Cheese... In a world of Baked mac and cheese ruling the BBQ Joint menus, I was amazed at the great flavor and creaminess. I also had a side on my plate and this was a good quality basic Mac. 9 BBQ Pork Sliders: Honey bun, great sweet pork, Nuff said! 9 All of the plates came with a big portion of homemade battered fries that were very tasty. That said I would have like to see a more healthy option for the side and admittedly I did not ask, but I did not see one.(I know I know, It's a f-ing BBQ place, but my kids like fruit and stuff, I didn't say I want it... Sheesh) Lastly, we had a Brownie ala-mode, this was much bigger than I was expecting. Good brownie, could use better ice-cream. 6 Over all this is one of the best Family style, huge portion, fair priced, friendly BBQ joints around!
(5)David S.
We ate in the Voodoo Lounge. I liked the atmosphere - it's a fun place to have some food and drinks. But the server suggested a bourbon ale which wasn't great. I later came to find (from the same server) they were trying to finish the keg so they could tap a new Lagunitas beer, which I would have really preferred over her suggestion. I ordered the cochinita pibil. It was good but, to me, not worth the $13 price tag. Between the bourbon ale and the overpriced entree, I walked away like "meh."
(3)Alex R.
Favorite date night spot. I'm currently attempting to climb the 120 hall of fame, and getting to try some awesome beers and food because of it. Always recommend, Great deals too!
(5)Michelangelo V.
Honest review do not go here i live close by it n saw it on diners drive in n dives so i went the food was not good if u want the best barbeque food go to hog wild or wild hog i always forget which one comes first it is the best food its cheap n the portions are huge its far but trust me i live in midway n i go there as much as possible because its amaizin
(1)Mike B.
I've been dating a girl that grew up in burbank, and since we started dating she's insisted that she had to take me to Chuck's. A few nights ago we finally made the trip down here, and I was amazed by the quality of the food. We ended up getting a bowl of the cream of chicken and rice soup, buffalo chicken strips, a plate of nachos, a couple of bloody marys, and a couple of dark beers. For me, the soup was the highlight. I've never had soup this delicious in my life, and I don't believe better soup exists in this world. It's very thick, and easy to eat by simply scooping it up with bits of bread they give you. The flavor of the chicken strips was also spicy but not too overpowering. The nachos were also very good. I believe they make their own tortilla chips? Aye, pretty much all of the food and drinks were great. I would like for the bloody marys to be a bit spicier, and served in a pint glass instead of the glass that they serve them in (don't know how big it is, but i prefer the shape of a pint glass). The waitress was a little slow, but that wasn't much of a problem, and perfectly understandable given how many people were there. I will definitely be coming back here in the near future. I would come here weekly if I could. Will probably make it a monthly routine, since it takes a while to get here from Bridgeport.
(5)Barb W.
We went for the first time for Valentine's Day dinner and the food was excellent. The lobster bisque had huge chunks of lobster and was to die for! The side salad was big and very delicious! The prawns were a little too spicy where it over played the crab. The garlic mashed potatoes are amazing and I am not a fan of mashed potatoes. The creme brulee was the best I've had abd the profiteral melted in your mouth! Our waitress Dani was the best, very knowledgeable and friendly. If she didn't have an answer she immediately got one. We will most definitely make the trip back!
(5)Charlene G.
The services is great, but the food is average to me. I expected it to be better than Famous Dave's and it was the same. In Bar B Que, I look for competition type food and Chuck's is simply ok.
(3)Macon P.
Must try the Jalapeno cornbread! Brisket is perfect, moist & juicy with tons of favor. No other place close to perfection in barbeque in the area. You can't go wrong here with any choice. Was featured a few years ago on Diners, Drives & Dives with Guy Fieri.
(4)Paul M.
Staff does not know any English I think they snuck across the border. Got my order wrong 3 times I even had to. And tell them what I wanted. Never going there again until they start hiring people who know English
(1)Special E.
Chucks is a south side treasure. I am What one would call a regular. Or at least I was til I moved to floriduh. Breakfast lunch or dinner. Never a bad meal. While I have tried most items on the menu I keep going back for the brisket and ribs with the hot BBQ sauce. Honestly the only thing I don't like at chucks is the sausage gravy on the biscuits and gravy and that's only because it's more complex than a good old fashioned gravy. When I come back to Chicago first place I go is chucks for some food. Only a poet could describe chucks. And I'm a barbarian
(5)Sandra A.
I had the ribs and rib tips. Neither was good, including the sauce. The service was terrible. Our server acted put out by having to take our order and was very unpleasant. At one point she almost walked away before we placed our dessert order. Then she disappeared for 20 minutes. When we got annoyed and said we didn't want it anymore, suddenly she was friendly and concerned. We won't be returning. Disappointed as the menu is well varied and environment is appealing.
(1)Chris D.
Disappointed. Granted, we didn't get the regular barbeque. We got an off-menu Mexican pork special that takes all night to make that some of us had seen on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'. They had to check and see if it was available, and eventually they got back on the phone and let us order it. When it arrived it tasted like regular pulled pork with some Mexican seasoning mixed in, and one of our party who had eaten the dish before said it tasted like nothing like the last time they had it. Sort of a disjointed taste. I honestly really wonder if it wasn't just pulled pork that they threw the seasoning into. I tend to avoid doing things like ordering Mexican at a non-Mexican joint, but it came highly recommended. Either it was an honestly mediocre dish or a dishonest offering, either way, we were disappointed. I'll give them one more shot, order the real 'que, and update accordingly.
(2)Marisa G.
Service is great and the food is awesome. I really enjoy their cafe de Olla in the mornings. Love this place!
(5)Tish B.
Took my sister here for her birthday for breakfast. OMG!! The waitstaff,the atmosphere and the food was GREAT! We can't wait to get back for lunch & dinner LOL!!! They deserved 5 stars! The place was clean,we were seated right away. I can't wait to vist again and SOON and bring some more of my family!
(5)Courtney M.
I am not going to lie...I was extremely suspicious of all the raving reviews regarding Chuck's. The reason for my suspicion was because I am in love with all things cajun and I grew up with cajun food on the table on a routine basis. My grams is cajun and well, let's just say I was ready to see what this place was all about. The building itself is nice and it was extremely calm and quiet when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The waitress was friendly and attentive as well. But I am not really writing this review to discuss the service (although it really was great). I am writing this review because of the joy and warm fuzzies I felt when I tasted my shrimp etouffee. Nothing can compare to good old n'awlins food, but this dish was truly delightful. The sauces were spicy and the shrimp was very tasty- both pleased my palate. After consuming the massive lunch portion placed before me, I moved on to the bananas foster with crepes. This too was delicious and an interesting change from the original style. Overall, this place had very good southern food for being in a random suburb in Illinois. I left full, fat and happy- what more could you ask for??!
(4)Jessica H.
Have been here twice now, once for dinner (good) and most recently for breakast (subpar). Definitely wouldn't come back here for breakfast. At the recommendation of our server I had the chilaquiles which I found to be totally flavorless. The tomato sauce was bland and I asked for easy onions, and what I ended up with was none of the toppings that were supposed to come with the dish: monterey jack cheese, onions, and cilantro. Though I was hungry I ate virtually none of the food and came home and ate breakfast there, if that tells you anything. Would have been a two-star score if not for the good dinner experience. Would return for dinner, but not for breakfast.
(3)Lashone E.
Great food! Once a month my sisters and I find a new place to eat. If the food is good we'll recommend it to our families and friends. Well, I ended up buying take out from Chucks the next day because the leftovers I brought home was demolished by my family. This is a winner! Great food, you get plenty of it and the service was awesome!
(5)Cesar M.
I have been here many times over the years . I was here yesterday for lunch with a friend. This friend lives about an hour away and every time he comes to visit, he wants to come eat here, he says they have the best BBQ ribs he has ever had. Now that I write about it, does he come to see me and takes advantage to go eat here or? since he is coming to eat here he decides to spend some time with me??? I need to have a serious talk with this guy. The ribs are good and mostly everything, but every once in a while Chuck will come up with a new dish that is not as good as everything else, big points for the creativity but not for the taste. As an example, last time I was here we ordered some kind of quesadillas that were just a little odd in flavor. Normal, I guess for restaurants to try something and see if it works. Mostly everything is good here tough. Yesterday we had full slab of ribs with green beans and baked potato. Brisket sandwich with mash potatoes and coleslaw. Everything was good. I also had to have a bowl of Chuck's red, so good and flavorful reason enough to keep coming back just for this. My friend also ordered a poblano cream soup that was delicious. Chuck's good food, nice service
(4)Joanne D.
I have been going to Chucks since 98 when I worked down the street from the little tiny building he had on the corner of the strip mall. Since I moved to the western suburbs anytime that I am near the south side of chicago I have to stop by and either dine in or take out. A lot of the same people from the early days of Chuck are still there when I pop in and out to eat. I really like the service and especially the amazing food. I highly recommend you try the salad with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette OMG that is to die for. I would eat that by the truck loads if I could. I don;t know if they still have it anymore but I was a BIG fan of his homemade Thai Noodle Salad another one to look out for if it's available. The soups are always made fresh so it does not taste like a processed soup at all. The ribs will fall off of the bone ...yum So if your in a hurry I would say pre order for take out, but if you have time and your kids are past that age of running around. Go there because you want to definitely make sure that you can sit down and soak in the amazing food. Oh yeah - order the homemade mac and cheese HEAVEN!
(5)Andrew M.
Had lunch today, best Rib Tips I ever had, good Chili too, I have to invest in a smoker, made a really big difference from just baking in the oven then slapping on the grill, keep up the good work
(5)Julia C.
The ribs are meaty and tender. I had the mild sauce and it was great! The baked beans were very good but a little spicy for me. The server was nice and efficient.
(4)Paul S.
This is the go-to place for my wife and I. The rotating specials menu is always great and the regular items are always delicious. Pulled pork sandwich and the hot links are great. Mashed potatoes and green beans are amazing sides.
(5)Stina N.
I've reviewed Chuck's Fest but never Chuck's; how did that even happen?!? Chuck's is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the south burbs. My favorite dish is definitely the fish tacos which are, regrettably, only available on Mondays. The BBQ nachos are fantastic. Truly, I don't think there's anything here that isn't delicious. The beer is list out of this world - over 120 options to choose from! And there's a prize if you managed to drink all 120 (not in one night of course. The only prize for that much beer is probably death by alcohol poisoning.) Beyond the awesome food and vast array of beers, I love the fact that Chuck's has also started producing some of their own produce. During the cooking demo at Chuck's Fest this year, I learned that they bought land in Hickory Hills and started farming, and if I remember correctly the goal is to make the farm self sustaining. Be still my tree-hugging heart! In the sea of chain restaurants and greasy spoon diners that make up the eateries of the south suburbs, Chuck's rises above as an absolute star.
(5)Kevin M.
Simply the best
(5)Star L.
You know a place is going to be great when the chef/owner has learned from Rick Bayless! What I love about Chuck's is it isn't a chain, and the food is very good! I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and Cajun green beans, and it did not disappoint. The portions were sizeable and filling, and everything was fresh (I had a takeout order and live 25 minutes away; it was still hot and tasty when I got home). There appears to always be a variety of food options to choose from, not to mention a small area where you can buy BBQ sauce and rubs, and daily food specials. The staff was also very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable about the menu. This was my first experience with Chuck's, and I will be definitely back when the craving for BBQ hits...or maybe breakfast, as it is also served here.
(5)Steve H.
Finally got to try this place as my GF and I were in the area at a mechanic getting her car fixed. The menu is rather huge which can be intimidating as you may feel that the kitchen might lose focus for some or all of their dishes. Yet none of them disappoint. We went the EXACT opposite in our menu choices... I with their BBQ platter and she with their vegetarian enchiladas. The BBQ platter was ginormous for about $15!! It came with a side of fries and cajun style green beans. Both were quite tasty, but they certainly know how to smoke some quality BBQ cuts of meat. My half slab of ribs and pile of brisket were oh so tender with pink smoke rings bursting with flavor! The GF's vegetarian enchiladas were topped with a green mole sauce that was out of this world. My taste buds usually reject any mole sauce that touches them, but for some reason the taste just made them sing non-stop "Allelujah". Chuck has been quoted that he takes pride in adequately seasoning his kitchen creations and I couldn't agree anymore. Even though the tables are stocked with plenty of BBQ sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper dispensers, not once did I ever had to reach out for anyone of them! 120 Beers on hand in their Voodoo Lounge??? This place is amazing, I'm in love!
(5)Ashley C.
Everything I have gotten here has been amazing! Their soup, sandwiches, sides and their breakfasts are all amazing! They have the best hands down biscuits and gravy I have ever had!!! I also love that they have a decent size craft beer selection! All for a decent price!
(5)Marlyse W.
Brisket in brisket dinner had a lot of connective tissue which made it a bit hard to eat. Mac and cheese good but not spectacular. Service friendly very good and friendly. I would go again if I'm in the neighborhood but I wouldn't make a special trip. The roasted shrimp etoufee was tasty.
(3)Roxy H.
Great BBQ smack dab in the middle of Burbank Illinois. Wow. I like this place. The barbeque sauces are great. The green beans are soooooooooo good! I love that they let you sample the many sauces they have to figure out what kind you want on your food. The portions are huge. The pulled chicken is great. I've had it for lunch while at work and I didn't have that sluggish sleepy feeling afterwards. Yay!
(5)Tamika S.
Chuck's is a nice spot! They have indoor and outdoor seating The food is good & full of flavor! They have a nice variety of food on the menu (Creole, Mexican, & Southern highlights) and an array of yummy desserts! I've dined in and ordered take out. Both experiences were pleasant as the wait staff have all been friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. They have a lounge called the "Voodoo lounge" of which I have yet to try! I'll be returning to this place and will be sure to visit the lounge! If you are in the area check it out!
(4)Michelle H.
I am not a saucy girl. I desire it dry, rubbed and smoked. (BBQ, that is.) So when heading to Chucks, I was glad to see their very extensive menu had not only BBQ, but a hodgepodge mix of comfort food, burgers, and Mexican inspired dishes. If you are heading there with a larger party (we had 8), call ahead for reservations. The Sunday afternoon we were here, the place was packed with a line out the door. Granted, it was St. Patrick's Day, and smoked corned beef brisket was the rage of the day. Our server was simply wonderful. He was able to time the appetizers and meals perfectly, offer menu suggestions, and explain in detail the odd assortment of decorations adorning the walls. We started out with jalapeno cornbread and butter, and a few orders of the pulled pork nachos. The cornbread was served in a skillet, with a small scoop of butter on top. It was good, but awfully dry and in need of extra sides of butter. The nachos were great! Your normal nacho toppings, but with juicy and flavorful shredded pork. To me, it was the highlight of the meal. After reading the descriptions of their different BBQ sauces, I decided on a pulled pork sandwich with North Carolina sauce. I specifically ordered my with sauce only, as opposed to "North Carolina Style," which means they dump cole slaw on your sandwich. Unfortunately it came out with the slaw on the meat. So after a few minutes of meticulously pulling cabbage shreds from my port, I thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich. The N.C. sauce was fabulous. I despise sweet sauce, and was pleased with the vinegar based spicy sauce that encased my gloriously tender pulled pork! Since the portions are huge, no one really had any room to sample deserts. I will be back here, since BBQ I love is hard to find. Plus, with the menu being so large, I will not run out of things to try. My only regret is that I didn't eat here when I lived in the area!
(4)Larry F.
Don't go to a bbq place and order a pork chop like this person (((blast)))
(5)Carm P.
I see all the 4 and 5 start reviews, that's the reason why we went. IDK? Off night I guess, I left there very disappointed. The one things that really stuck out for the night was the service, Granted we had a 12 top, 4 of which were kids. In no way shape or form do I ever expect a 12 top to come out all in once but it took 4 rounds to get the food out and another 3 trips to get everyone their to tortillas, 3 of the containers originally came to the table empty. The food runners kept trying to give our food to the table behind us on more then one occasion. I had the BBQ brisket sandwich, 3 chunks of meat held together by the burnt end of the skin. It wasn't very tasty.
(2)Jenn S.
Sadly, as with a lot of other places, this place fries all their fried food (except fries themselves) with the same exact fryer/oil that they do shellfish in....so sadly we were unable to experience the alligator tail & other appetizers. The main entrees - BBQ wise - were very good!! Some of the best we have found in Chicago so far!!! We didnt try the Cajun stuff but from what I heard from people around us, it is supposed to be very good also. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS PLACE!!!
(3)Raul D.
The food that I had tried, was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the tastes these different combinations happen to mix on your pallet. Also, the beer selection is rather vast as opposed to other traditional places. This is by far the best places I have the pleasure of eating at since I have the opportunity to travel the country. This place is the shyt!!!! I created an account on yelp to just comment on here! I already knew that this place must be tasty with the parking lot being rather full. That speaks volumes on the cuisine! Also I had the very delightful Cochinita Pebil platter, which happen to be the special of the day for Saturday. It's very tasty and reasonably priced. I probably paid more if they asked for it. Yes, it's that good!
(5)Steve F.
This place was awesome back when they were just a little joint off central, but since the move, quality has gone down each time I go. It was barely noticeable at first, a few tough bites of chicken, a cold spot in the gumbo, but now, and I was there yesterday, its gotten out of hand. My table, who are all locals, decided to give Chucks one last go before totally writing it off and parting ways with an old friend, so we all ordered something different and something we had not had in a long while. Well, we all made bad decisions. Long story short, the mac and cheese tasted old, like the cheese on top gets that filminess to it; the pot roast taco (the special) looked like soup on a plate because it was so sparingly adorned with meat; the shrimp po boy was tolerable (I mostly attribute this to the fact that messing up a Po Boy is hard to do since its like 5 ingredients). The friends I went with still agree the Beignets are good enough to come back for, and that the drink specials are decent if you can sneak in while the servers aren't totally swamped. Sorry Chuck, but we've had some real bad meals in the past, this most recent one pretty tame by comparison, and its just too far gone.
(2)Courtney B.
My bf and I love this place!!! We drive up to an hour sometimes from Des Plaines to eat here. Love the bbq, the drinks,and the prices!!!
(5)Tim C.
I don't really understand why so many people rate this place with 4 and 5 stars. This was my second and last time I will visit this place. This time I had a pulled pork sandwich for lunch with a side of fries and chicken potato chowder. The soup was good, but the fries were terrible. Some sort of frozen crispy coated version of a fry with a mushy gross inside. How hard is it to just put a fresh whole potato through a fry slicer and make fresh delicious fries. As for the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, it was terrible. The pork was very very dry and the covered it with a sauce that tasted like insecticide. I couldn't believe it. It seriously tasted like chemicals. I couldn't even eat it. On a positive note, the service was not bad. Sorry, but I will never go back here again.
(1)Candace W.
The service was good! And that's where the positive review ends. The food was o...k. I've had MUCH better bbq. Not sure what all the hoopla is about.
(2)Sara M.
Parent/Teacher conferences? They kinda suck. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe? Awesome regardless of any suck happening in your life. Was able to swing by with a big group from my big-girl job to down some delightful treats for dinner. Originally I eyed up a yummy looking garden salad (unfortunately, one of the few vegetarian options). Then everyone told me I just HAD to have the mac n' cheese. So I figured it was okay to be a little sinful and have a small order on the side. Then someone else ordered quesadillas and once I heard they had guacamole all hell broke lose. Forget veggies. FEED ME CARBS! Mac n' cheese? Delightful. It's a nothing special, no frills, cheesy paradise of goodness. I seriously contemplated ordering another small container to take home with me. Though the macaroni and cheese was incredible, the real winner of the evening was my cheese quesadillas. Usually you see quesadillas on the menu and you know you're getting a hunk of cheese melted between a tortilla. Fortunately, the chef here rocks something fierce and kicked them up a few notches with simple additions. Peppers and onions melted inside? CHECK! Topped with kick-ass pico de gallo? CHECK! To-die-for guacamole on the side? DING DING DING! We have a winner! Waitress kept everything flowing and food coming quickly all afternoon- no complaints regarding service at all. She was super friendly and even had to enlist a few other servers to assist, which she did happily. Food came out relatively quickly and our bellies were fed before round 2 of parent teacher conferences. Now what to sample in Burbank next? This is going to be a tough act to follow. Give me your best, south suburbs!
(5)Emily B.
I came here last week to meet some girlfriends for dinner. I was pretty excited based on other reviews and the chef's work with Rick Bayless. The good news is that I got to catch up with friends and laugh and carry on quite a bit. The bad news is that the food is pretty meh. Pros: - The food and drinks come out fairly quickly due to the electronic ordering system the wait staff uses. - The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. - The bus staff is very attentive and quick to clear your plates. - There is ample seating and you can make a reservation right here on Yelp. Cons: - Not many sauces to choose from. I went with the North Carolina and there was no real flavor. I couldn't tell that it was vinegar based. - The pulled pork was dried out and had an odd smell to it. - The fries are reminiscent of one Burger King's attempts at "new fries". They have a coating on them and I am pretty sure they are not made on site. Overall I am glad I tried it, but I will stick to other places for BBQ.
(3)Michele T.
I have eaten here twice now. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times the service was horrible and had messed up orders. Had to request both times to be compensated for the inconvenience by the time the correct food came out everyone in our party was done eating. Next time I will try the Darien location to see how the service is. This location needs to work on the service and maybe some cooking tips. Was told we need to come earlier for breakfast because towards the end of the breakfast rush they are trying to get the orders out before lunch starts.
(2)Tammy S.
My family and I went for the thanksgiving buffet today. Last year it was fabulous so why not make it a yearly tradition. Last year we waited to be seated and the place was packed(which was fine I'm not complaining about that we expected that) Today we were seated immediately even though we were 30 minutes early(should of been a sign) the restaurant was NOT crowded at all like last year. For the thanksgiving price $24.99 per person we did not even get our bellies full. Three slices of turkey on their smallest plate is hardly enough for a table of 9. We had to constantly keep asking for more of everything. They were bringing out the food as if they were feeding birds not adults that were paying $24.99 a plate. Stuffing was brought out one very small ice cream scoop of stuff in a very small soup cup:( it was good but we do not have enough to go around even after asking for more 2x. The food was not as Good this year(which explains the place being empty) we received our dessert which was a choice of two different parfaits they were served in a small soup cup dish and it was two spoonfuls of custard. My sister asked for another one and was immediately told by the server that she can not bring it home! Why would someone pack up two spoonfuls of a parade it to bring home ha what a tacky way to respond to a customer who asks for a little more than two spoonfuls of parfait who is paying $24.99 for the meal. Service was ok seeing the place was not busy but 3 slices of turkey and 3 slices of ham for 9 people at that price Bd to have to constantly ask for more and get small scoops and scarce slices of meat is ridiculous. Our yearly tradition of keeping Thanksgiving easy at chucks is no longer an option I will be cooking for Thanksgiving next year.
(1)Chris L.
Pretty tasty BBQ, and decent sized portions, but after all the whoopla I heard about Chucks I was expecting it to be out of this world. I had the Beef Brisket Dinner, which is a plate of brisket along with 2 sides. I chose soup, which was delicious as well as Mac & Chesse, which was average. The Brisket itself was a large portion, and well flavored. I got the spicy bbq sauce on it which had good flavor, and enough spice to let you know it was spicy, but not so much your mouth was on fire. I would definitely give Chucks another try, and may have another star in the holster waiting for it.
(3)Arthur M.
We got a reservation for 3 on Friday at 8:30 but was not necessary- I'm guessing the rush for the dining room is earlier. The voodoo lounge however was packed. We shared my favorite the complex red mole chili, jalapeño cornbread, and chicago wings to start. The girls got drinks for five dollars. For dinner I had the carne asada. The steak was sliced and a perfect medium rare. There was potatoes, corn and a chile mushroom sauce. I made tacos with the warm tortillas- real good. The dessert menu said banana cream pie hails from Sinoloa, Mexico. I had to get a slice.
(5)Nicole R.
good southern food, good drinks, good service.
(4)Jamie P.
the food was so good like they said on 190 north, and Chicago's best and diners, dives, diners, well I had the sample platter, the bqchicken was so good and the ribs where smoked. my fiancée had the hamburger with swiss cheese, and a side of mashed potatos and rice, we left full and happy, we will go back soon, we ate a late lunch/ dinner there today
(5)Larry T.
Although I don't want to sound like everybody else. We went there for my son's birthday. The food is very good the rib tips are the best I've ever had good size and plenty of good meat on them. My son had the buffalo wings .He is like a wing expert. He is tried all the wings there and likes the buffalo wings the best the sauce is amazing. My wife asked about the soups and Carlos came out with a sample and she choose The seafood Bisque soup she gives it a 10 The only bummer was they were out of baked macaroni and cheese. But Carlos made it up to us by being a great server and very attentive. Even though the place was busy he took his time and recommended dishes we had a good time and a nice dessert was awesome with a candle on it. So give Chuck a try you'll love it..
(3)Michael O.
Came here because we saw that Guy from DDD had this place on his show. To me, I think a good tasting sauce is the key. I really disliked it and I tried 2 or 3 different ones. Service was good but not worth the trip from Indiana.
(2)John L.
It's a great place for food and cocktails but ribs are the bomb ...
(5)Brian Y.
Maybe 7pm on a Friday was a bad time to make my second visit here. First forget finding a parking space in the lot, and the street is posted residential, which leaves valet as your only choice. Valet here is a bunch of unorganized 16 & 17 year old kids that run two blocks to, and from your car. Upon entering you are met with two teenage girls behind a register who don't say a word. The table service was good, however your server does not bring your order which allows for confusion. As for the reason your here, the food, it's only average. I've had brisket from some of the best places in Texas, and this was not even close. My wife had the chicken fried chicken which would have been excellent except it was way too salty. My first visit was about the same, so I'm not sure what all the hype is over this place.
(3)Lupe G.
...not a fan of the meat itself; but I like their deserts! They make killer banana bread pudding which is served with ice cream & creole (chickory) coffee. They always have specials & their bar is kinda fun. Because I'm not big on their smoked meat & it's always packed, I don't go often but I want to go every first Sunday of the month because they have what they call a Beignet breakfast & I REALLY want to try it!!!
(3)Tina T.
My fiance and I are fans of southern comfort food so we were really excited to try this place. Between our two visits here we have tried: Various BBQ combos: chicken and ribs were food but we found our brisket to be on the dry side even after drenching it in North Carolina BBQ sauce Fried catfish: fish was fresh and tasty and wasn't fishy at all. The jalapeno corn bread side (not too hot) and French fries were amazing. They're really crispy as if they were put in some sort of batter before they were fried. You have to ask for the honey butter for the cornbread. For whatever reason, they don't automatically bring it out when it's a side dish but it's paired with the cornbread as an appetizer. Our waitress brought it out when we asked about it. Shrimp and craw fish jambalaya: very flavorful and had adequate amount of tomato sauce so the dish wasn't dry. I have jambalaya at some places who skimp on the sauce and the entire dish is ruined. Craw fish étouffée: my fiance and I really enjoyed this dish. It was slightly salty when you just eat the sauce alone but once you get the right amount of the rice pilaf on there, it's perfect. The green bean side it came with was okay...it didn't stand out or anything. We would definitely visit again if we're in the area and have a craving for southern comfort food.
(4)Jon F.
Fun little spot with a ~GREAT~ beer selection. Alligator is always great and it was here also. I had really high hopes for the ribs, but alas I was not overjoyed once they or the rib tips arrived. They were good, fall off the bone style, but required little fanfare. There are just too many other good rib places in Chicagoland, so I don't think I'll be getting that here again. The greens were ok, and the mac 'n cheese had pretty good flavor but nothing to write home about. As far as the Honey Chipotle sauce goes - it was OK, but i didn't get much honey flavor from it. I'd probably stick to the mild / hot sauce. The gumbo a friend got looked really fantastic, but I was not able to try it - next time. The hot sauce - not really hot at all. I found that a bit strange for a place with a wall display of a collection of hot sauces. Both sauces had some OK and different flavor, but where's the heat?! I could barely feel the teeniest amount of burn after loading up a rib with sauce. I visited on Fat Tuesday so we had the benefit of a live bayou style band which was fun. A bit loud in that direction for dinner, but it was a late dinner so I understand. I would definitely come back for some beer, but so far I'll stick to something that fills me up from what I've tried instead of going for great flavor here.
(3)Nikki M.
I ate outside for my first time here about a month or two ago. Service was a little slow, but the food was well worth the wait! Our table for 2 left us with THREE take-out containers despite completely stuffing ourselves the entire way through. Fantastic BBQ, GIGANTIC half slabs(it took up the whole plate!), and yummy blue cheese salads. I also need to say that for a BBQ joint, this place has killer oysters Rockefeller. I would go back for these alone. The only thing that left something to be desired for me was the mac n cheese. Next time I would get a different side. Don't forget to order a beer as the list is gigantic... easily over 100 different kinds. You'll like the food. It's a very casual atmosphere with a lot of groups, so be prepared for it to be a bit loud.
(4)Shawn L.
Tonight we headed into the city to visit a friend near Midway, so we all decided to go out for dinner. Of course, no one had any ideas on what they were hungry for...So I won :) I pulled out the handy Yelp app and searched for BBQ. Chuck's had great reviews so I was sold. The Service: 5 stars Our server was new and he was outstanding. He gave great recommendations on food choices as well as sauces. Also the beer menu is off the hook with over 150 choices. The Food: 5 stars I ordered the BBQ sampler dinner with half slab of ribs and pulled pork with the honey chipotle that the server recommended. I got the mac and cheese and mashed and gravy. It was huge plate and sooo good! My company got the pulled pork dinners as well and they really enjoyed the meals. Many reviews have said they are really busy. We came on a Sunday night about an hour before closing and no wait on seats, service, or food. Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe did everything to the book and we were all very happy. If I was in Chicago area more...This would def be the spot to go for some great BBQ. Thanks for the great experience. We will be back some day soon hopefully.
(5)Kit A.
After seeing what a following this place has and now knowing how good the food is, I'm surprised I didn't know about this local hot spot before! The fried catfish was delicious! It literally falls apart once you put your fork in it and the taste was perfect - it was not overdone or fishy tasting at all. The mac and cheese is perfect for a cheese fanatic like me! There was a perfect ratio of cheese to pasta and I would gladly come back here just to get some more! I didn't get to enjoy the ribs nearly as much I had wanted to because they were a little cold (at no fault of the kitchen). Just like the fish though, they were perfectly good to have the meat fall right off the bone. The MICROBREW MENU IS AMAZING! There were so many different options on tap. I honestly could have a different beer every night for an entire month (if not more) based on the list alone. I can't wait till Chuck opens his place in Darien down the street from me, I may end up becoming a regular. You can't go wrong with a beer and mac'n'cheese!
(4)Damian P.
Are they geniuses or what? So last night me and the partner decided we were in the mood for southern barbecue and you know that Chucks is the first choice. We were quickly seated and told by the waitress that if we would like something to drink? We said of course Purple Have to go with our dishes and she proceeded to tell us about this new "Chuck's Club 120", we were intrigued. What it is is this: You get a punch stamp card and when you taste ALL of the 120 beers on their menu, you will Win $25 Gift Card and a T-Shirt! Plus you get your name added to their "Beer Hall of Fame Plaque" hung in the bar. I though this was genius because they have an extensive beer list and I always say I am getting something different. This was (since I am a competitive little devil) I will be forced to buy something different. Each time you order a scrumptious beer, you get a stamp on your ticket. Now for the meal we had the Chucks Combo for myself that consisted of 3 meats (chicken wings, rib tips and rip short ribs), good lord I went into a Southern Coma it was so darn good. Highly recommend the specials and definitely if you like beer, join the club.
(5)Alan L.
Great BBQ. We loved the brisket and sides. Not the ribs so much. I had a portobello sandwich and recommend it too. They gave us 5 BBQ Sauces to try and got the meat sampler plain so we could add sauce.
(5)Tammy W.
Was here last night for their Mardi Gras celebration. I'm giving two stars for the service and disorganization. The food was fantastic when it finally arrived, but that was a long wait. We had reservations for a party of 10. The place was packed and a band was playing. Our server did a great job getting our drinks and getting that part of the order right, however; she really messed up the food order as well as the kitchen. The guys coming out to bring our food barely spoke English and had no clue what was going on. Some of us ordered from their Tapas menu. The point of Tapas is to share but when part of your order never comes out for over an hour and then they tell you they ran out. They also never brought out three of our party's order. They ordered their Hurricane special in a pitcher and never brought classes. The waitress offered to comp the food and brought out something else from the menu. But one was missing a fork and the waitress never brought one. Bad bad bad. There was guys coming to our table with dishes we never ordered and then some of us never received part of our order. One party ended up being overcharged with items they never ordered and items they did and never received. Just so unorganized, overbooked. Packed like sardines. Seating was a fire hazard I'm sure. Very disappointed. Chucks, get it together. You have no business hosting an event like this. Down right the worst experience. I was embarrassed. It's a wonder you get it together any other day.
(2)Sweatytoothed M.
Chilaquiles! Very tasty! Not my Mama's chilaquiles, but definitely yummy--crispy in all the right spots!
(4)Paul B.
It comes down to this; great food, good service, but if you eat outside be prepared to have cigarette smoke added to your dining experience. There is a sign on the inside of the fence of the patio that says smoking is not allowed when the patio is open. The trouble is the sign is very low and it is facing the patio - not the smokers so they puff away on their camels and drift the smoke right into our perfectly prepared brisket. Add the two off-duty servers one table away dropping more bombs than David Mamet - and you have to know the food is good to come back as often as we do. The environment is sub-par - the food is off the charts. The barbecue platter I got had the aforementioned perfectly prepared brisket; 1/4 chicken, and some pulled pork. This was complemented with a cup of chipotle rice (amazing) and Brunswick Stew (peerless meaty vegetable stew). I should point out that there is also a four meat option - but I want to live to see grand-kids - so I opted for the three meat platter. There are a lot of nabobs that walk around short-changing the barbecue scene in Chicago. I will admit that there are very few barbecue joints worth repeat visiting - but Chuck's is - without a doubt - one of the best. As a matter of fact - the entire menu is creative and thoughtful and worth repeat visits - but that beef brisket makes me forget every bad thing that has ever happened to me - EVER! So if you are smoke-sensitive (or don't want to be dodging f-Bombs) - just eat inside. Try the brisket, trust me.
(4)Kristi K.
First time here and we Love the menu! We ordered skirt steak, corned beef and the filet. Everything was great! Wonderful service! We will be back! !
(5)Jack G.
Chuck's Rocks! Great food. Great prices. Great location! It's marvelous to have a restaurant of this quality in the southwest suburbs. I don't know if I like it more for dinner or breakfast. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for great/unique breakfast. I tend to lean toward the Mexican inspired breakfast dishes. It's very hard for me to order here. I want everything!
(5)Jennifer K.
I've been going to Chuck's for over 10 years. Recently, I've been hooked on the cochinita pibil, which i believe is only served on Saturday/weekends. Tender meat, tangy pickled onions (I'm not normally an onion fan), refried black beans, tortillas. My only criticism is that the rice that comes with it is decent, but not great. Another new favorite is the BBQ nachos. This appetizer is amazing and could pass as on entree by itself. Chunks of pulled pork with BBQ sauce, melted cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, on top of chips. This always ruins my appetite because it is so filling, but I just can't resist. My old favorite was always the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, but I stopped ordering it as of late because the green beans were getting a little too spicy for me. (I have an unusually low spice threshold--mild salsa is my limit.) However, I turned my boyfriend on to the dish and he loves it. Pulled pork sandwich is good, but not absolutely amazing. Good fries, mac & cheese. Soup is a little overpriced. Peach (or berry) cobbler with ice cream is awesome, warm brownie with ice cream is good, though I'm not always in the mood for chocolate. Tasted some of a friend's order of bread pudding, a dish i had never tried before, and it was definitely worth revisiting, though the friend (a real life southerner) claimed it was just okay. I tend to stick to the same stuff and would like to try some different menu items, but it's difficult to pass up on my favorites. I like coming here for my birthday dinners because the quality of the food is consistently high, and I like knowing that my birthday meal will not disappoint. I've taken various people here and recommended it to numerous others and everyone has always had enthusiastic responses and wanted to come back. Definitely make a reservation, especially on Saturday evenings.
(5)Colleen M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This is my favorite place to go by my house. There is so much to choose from on the menu. I recommend their BBQ nachos. They are AMAZING! The only downside of this place is the parking, it is always packed, but that's how you know a place is good right? Be sure to try their beef brisket sandwich with the honey-chipotle BBQ sauce. Great sides as well. Be sure to get the mac n cheese as one of your sides, delicious!
(5)Susan H.
Long, busy week. Finally got out for a little bit and some friends regretfully thought Chuck's would be a great idea to hit up since the previous place we'd swung by for a drink was packed. Started with a small cup of their pumpkin soup and a side salad. Salad - Fresh. Dressing - watery. Soup was excellent. Almost went with a beer, but the waitress, who was adorable and all that jazz, highly recommended the pumpkin martini. It not only came smothered in whipped cream, but sans martini glass. :/ Ordered the Filet Mignon medium rare. My filet arrived medium well. Boo hoo. I'll get over it. What put me off was that it was butterflied and plopped atop a sea of gravy; This thick, soggy onion and carrot coagulated splat resembling that sh*t janitors threw sawdust on back in grammar school. I transferred part of my steak to my bread plate and tried to stay positive but hey...guess what? They realllllly like to soak their steaks in Worcestershire sauce. Anywhoo, few bites and I'd had enough. Potato was underbaked and surprisingly small. Mac and cheese was on par with a cafeteria. BBQ sauce is sadly sour. Dessert ; yeh...it was left on the table barely touched. Cobbler crust was hard as hell and the apples had no zing, no savory sweetness, no hint of tart..nuttin', honey. I'm pretty laid-back and enjoyed the conversation so the evening wasn't a total wash, but I had expected so much more based on Yelpers' raves. In summation: This joint is pricey with unimpressive fare and as great as the bus staff was, no person who has *truly* had fabulous home-cooked, cloaked-in-comfort meals would come here and call this anything of the sort. Psst...My dogs loved the leftovers, but hey, they'd eat their own vomit if I didn't stop them. Sorry, not sorry.
(2)Maria M.
Everything is amazing. People are very nice. Parking can suck but it's all worth it
(5)jerry s.
Brisket w/Roasted peppers & Onions... Mac n Cheese and spicy string beans. Yummm.
(4)Lydia W.
Very, very good barbecue and great southern/cajun/nawlins flare. The meats are incredible tender and simply melt in your mouth. Chuck is an excellent chef and gracious host (you may see him time to time greeting customers). The menu is beautiful and has many choices ranging from barbecue, to creole, to even mexican and everything is executed well, beyond par. Don't eat meat? The grilled mushroom portobello sandwich is amazing! And the sides (from mac and cheese, to greens to beans are always on point). The restaurant dining area is cheerful and upbeat with attractive artwork and decor. The tables and seating are very clean. Service is prompt and friendly as well. The voodoo lounge is busy and louder but the friendliness certainly carries over. I have yet to try the breakfast but I hear is phenomenal. Take the trip down to this Chicago suburb! Well worth it! P.S Discount for CPS employees on Thursdays!
(5)Gary A.
My favorite restaurant in the whole chicagoland area. I discovered this little gem just outside of the city limits about 4 years ago and have been frequenting it every chance I get. Chucks spin on various dishes from Mexican to cajun are unique and very refreshing. The staff is always very courteous and the food is always prepared in a very timely manner. Amongst everything on his menu that is amazing, the small standouts that are a must try as a side to any order are the green beans and the jalapeño corn bread. Not to mention as weird as this may sound, with all the amazing bbq and cajun dishes available, chucks serves up a meannnnnn burger. By far the best burger ive had in the continental u.s.(I eat burgers every time I'm out of town in my search of the best burger). But yea all in all chucks is a must visit establishment, and if you're around after hours, the attached bar the voodoo lounge does not disappoint.
(5)Jennifer L.
I love Chuck's! I've been twice for dinner and both meals have been excellent. The fish tacos are excellent and the crab cakes are delectable. My fellow diners rave about their meals. I really want to try their breakfasts.
(4)pete w.
Food was great. Some of the best BBQ we have had, and they give you tons of it. Unless you have not eaten for days, you will walk out with a togo container filled with your leftovers. Their selection of sauces was vast and they were all great. The honey chipotle was outstanding. The staff were friendly and genuine in their smiles when the greeted us. Some small concerns to watch out for : 1.) We went with a group of 9. The waitress did not tell us that the gratuity would be included on the bill so we inadvertently tipped 2x. We did go back and got great service from the manager, Tim, for the refund of one of the tips. 2.) Make sure you specify that you want a kids meal for your children. We thought that we were clear on that, but when my son's meal came, it was a full adult meal and we were charged the full adult price. 3.) Drinks are a little pricey - order the water with a lemon/line. Outside of these small issues, I would safely state that when I next come to Chicago for a visit, I would absolutely stop by Chuck's for a nice meal. The soups and the jalapeño corn bread are to die for. We really enjoyed our meals and we left full and satisfied.
(3)Jennifer F.
Amazing catfish, green beans, macaroni and cheese and jalapeno cheddar corn bread!! It is so good!!!!
(5)Synn E.
I LOVE the knowledge Chuck ha with pairing spices with his food! I am also so glad he stayed in the neighborhood, because us locals know that he could easily be downtown! The place has been busy and the parking lot full since the day it opened! The lounge features local bands and has specialty drinks as well as various beers, some unusual! It is rare that Chuck himself doesn't walk up and ask how you're doing. Oh and the cupcakes! In from a local home business, you need to try them because when they sell out they are gone for the day! A little pricey sometimes, but all in all a great dining experience!
(4)Mark S.
The first time I came here was about a month ago for lunch/dinner. I had some type of corn chowder habanero soup which was good and not too spicy. I tried Oysters Rockefeller for the first time. I haven't been too keen in the past about eating seafood, but I have decided for now on I will try anything within reason. Now I love Oysters Rockefeller. I also had the BBQ at this place, which was great and is one of my most favorite places for BBQ. It was definitely worth the drive for lunch/dinner. Today I came here for breakfast. The skillet with ham, bacon, sausage patties, green peppers and American cheese was good along with the homemade smoked corn beef hash and pancakes, but nothing worth going out of the way for. Here's my beef. Have you read my quick tip about this place? A southern comforts restaurant, you would think they would have some good biscuits and gravy. I can't even be funny about the gravy they served me. It was loaded with so much butter that the gravy was to the point where it wasn't even too sweet, it was just sickening to eat that much butter in one spoon full. I read through many of the reviews about this place and many people say they like the biscuits and gravy. I sure hope the gravy they had was not the same as what I had. I hope what I had was just a mistake and that is not how it is served everyday. I still give this place 4 stars for the reasons mentioned in the beginning of this review.
(4)Dave Z.
There are enough sauses to satisfy your tastes for all things BBQ. Their beer list is extensive. Pulled pork sandwich is very good. The brisket is tasty without any sause and goes well with. Look for their specials, especially early Saturday afternoon ones.
(4)Julie O.
We made a reservation via open table for 6 on a Saturday night, arrived at Chuck's on time and sure enough, there was a table waiting for us. Nice. Chucks has a lot of beer to choose from. I have been to NOLA quite a few times and after having a few, I have been known to say "abita" the way other folks might say aloha. Thankfully I did not take it that far this time. Chuck's is known for the large beer menu, boasting over 100 available beers, including Louisiana's Abita and locally produced 3 Floyds on tap. Duval Belgian Ale had a special that if you ordered two, you got a really kickass glass to take home. The food. We had appetizers. One was some sort of a crabby patty. Flavorful. We liked it. We had nachos too. They were hot as can be as the guac rocked. The best dinner at our table was the catfish. Lightly breaded in creole mustary goodness cooked to perfection. Yum. The Saturday special - pork with black beans and rice was flavorful and fresh. Love the corn tortillas. Our server brought a dessert for the birthday at our table. Ice cream, a real brownie and what may have been the best caramel ever. Nice touch. Why not 5 stars if I like it so much? Service, while very pleasant, could have been better. Our server never checked on us after the food was dropped off. She was elusive when it came to drinks as well. No thank you when we paid. I think that maybe she was just a bit overwhelmed. But again, she comped a dessert. I plan to get back for beignet Saturday. Cafe Au Lait, Bloody Mary and Beignets...
(4)Andrew T.
Chuck's was the winner of the two DDD's near Midway. We stopped in for lunch on a gray, rainy day, so the BBQ fare kind of hit the spot. I have a bowl of green chile chowder with shrimp, which was good, if not a little over thick. The shrimp tasted fine, but it was a little odd to see cut green beans in the chowder. Not bad, just odd. All in all, I'd get this guy again. I split a BBQ platter with my dining companion, and it was good. We got a half rack of ribs and a huge helping of pulled pork, along with some coleslaw and sage gravy mashed potatoes. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, and while I think I sound like a broken record, they tasted like pork (which is good) but didn't have a ton of smoke flavor. They had just a little sauce smeared over them, and I also detected cinnamon in the spice rub. The pulled pork was, as I said, plentiful, but was over sauced. It was very tender, and had good flavor, but was swimming in too much sauce. One of these days, I will remember to ask for my BBQ to come unsauced. If I want it, I can add it myself. Sides were average - potatoes were good, with plenty of sage in the gravy, while the coleslaw was the right kind of rough cut for me, but with too much onion. It needs to be mentioned that the menu here is ridiculous. Every Mexican and BBQ option you could ask for, including some absolutely mouthwatering specials on their various menu pages. Unfortunately for us, the only special that didn't sound incredible was the special the day we were there - Pot Pie for us, as opposed to achiote rubbed pork loin and all manner of other amazing options on other days. Oh well - just a good reason to come back.
(3)Burbs P.
edited 5-20-14 - you can go to the Darien location they have cleaned up their act and run like clockwork. Their food is out of this world. I cannot believe that Im just now making the connection between this location-and their other location in Darien [don't go to the darien location]. I've been here 4 times over the past 2 months. My SO and I have made it a point to drive there from Wheaton at least twice a month. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, just an all around great breakfast place.
(5)W T.
I have dined at Chucks many times. The breakfast is always deliscious & service is great. The dinner on the other hand not good. The pulled pork is dry & flavorless & bbq sauce isnt good either. I will definately return for breakfast but pass on the lunch & dinner.
(3)susan c.
Nothing beats the variety at Chuck's, creole, BBQ, soups, seafood, salad. Generally very delicious we always order ribs, soup (shrimp poblano, Mexican greens and gumbo our favorites), 2 or 3 meat combo, special salads and seafood. Crazy good breakfast too. Very festive atmosphere, service good and improving. Fun lounge next door, specials for teachers, emt's, armed services. Personal best meal: lavender smoked lamb special.
(5)K N.
Excellent food and craft beer selection. Their mac and cheese and jalepeno corn bread are some of my favorite menu items. I am not someone that eats that much so the 1/4 chicken plus 2 sides is a good choice for those looking for smaller portions. Parking lot is usually packed. Service is pretty good. Also, in the voodoo lounge on Tuesday nights there is free bar trivia which is pretty fun.
(5)Heshan W.
IF YOUR WANT GREAT BBQ IN SOUTH-WEST CHICAGO, GO HERE!!! Although I have never eaten inside Chucks, I can say without a doubt in my mind in terms of my take-out experience that the bbq at this place is SUPERB!!! Large portions & reasonable prices for solid bbq!!! Half-rack of bbq ribs with honey-chiplote sauce: Simply amazing. The meat was "bbqed" and smoked to the point that it was falling off the bone and was very soft and flavorful!!! These are signs of well-cooked bbq ribs (5 out of 5). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream: They use real peaches on this, b/c there is no taste of fake syrupy peach concentrate in this at all. The vanilla ice cream definitely compliments this cobbler (4 out of 5). The baked beans and green beans were very good too (5 out of 5, for both). So far, this place is slightly better than my other bbq food experience in Chicago, "Smoke N Q". In addition, Chucks has unique special daily bbq meals ranging from Carne asada Chimichangas to Cajun Stuffed Pork Chops!!!
(4)Federico C.
For some reason, I can't seem to put my finger on it, I have not been here as much as I would like.. Chuck's has great southern BBQ and a wide range of beer.. I am an avid fan of both , but everytime I plan on coming here, something comes up. Hopefully I can change that trend in the near future. The last time I was here, I was hanging out in the Voo Doo Lounge knocking back some cold beer and shots after a wedding, so my recollection can be a bit better than it seemed.. Do beer goggles work the same way on how fun a place actually was??? LOL The Voo Doo lounge is the bar portion of Chuck's. From what I can remember, It is a pretty cool place to hang out, listen to some rock and hang with the locals.. Hungry? try the pulled pork or brisket, fries & mac and cheese, .. Those have been my favorites so far. Chuck has pretty damn good BBQ so work your way thru the meats, you will thank yourself for it later. I haven't made it for brunch, but I have heard some really good things about Chucks brunch offerings.. I will be updating this soon to include more on the brunch and hopefully Chuck's fest!
(4)O G.
Take in a game here in the back bar of the restaurant or sit up front in a more relaxed atmosphere (well kinda) it can get pretty crowded up front depending on what night you go. A must go to place if in the neighborhood!
(5)Glenn B.
It was a Friday and when I decided to try this restaurant out I made a reservation and I am so glad I did. When me and a friend arrived it was packed and our table was ready. The food was great but the drinks were strong. The waiter was very attentive and this is what I like. I will be heading back to Chucks real soon.
(3)Zachary S.
BBQ here is beyond Par, however if your new to entering, on a friday or saturday night, it's best to hear there early or call ahead as it can become packed. The sauce is amazing and the smoking quality is a 11/10. Pit masters from other Barbecue places beware, this place is insane! x
(5)Barry W.
Absolutely off the charts! A casual place with absolutely delicious food! We ordered both specials and were just blown away. Simple, homestyle yet amazing! Do not miss it - great if you're near Midway
(5)Candace M.
Have been coming to Chucks from the beginning, not sure if he got too big for his britches but sad to say everything has gone downhill. We always sit at the bar & eat, they had lost 2 of the best bartenders that the place ever had, now it's another "Burbank" bar, they used to be really busy & I believe it because the bartenders are so bad, had to constantly ask for a refill on our drinks, had to ask to order, not friendly at all, like they were being bothered. We had the ribs....were always very good in the past, they were terrible, we were "regulars" here at one point & very sad to say we may not be coming back
(2)Laurence K.
Came by chance we were in area so went on yelp to find us a place to eat I saw the patio and another bbq place down the road but this looked much more interesting . The place was busy we sat down they have a nice selection if beers but we opted for iced teas I ordered brisket with potatoes salad and cole slaw Jim gas the chicken fried chicken with mashed and Cajun Greek beans . Hot rolls came out first which were pretty tasty I tried the bbq sauces on the table one regular and the other hot Both wee good! My mouth was watering for my food! The sever brought out 3 more sauces for me to try on North Carolina one Tennessee smokey and one honey chipotle wow.i real yelled the Tennessee sort of smokey our food arrived and looked good My brisket looked good I was surprised it had the point and deckle which are 2 different cuts of the brisket it was very tasty and it was a very large portion the cole slaw and the potato salad were both Homemade and good Joms chicken was very tasty with the mashed potatoes and gravy The Cajun beans was my only disappointment mainly I don't like canned beans But all in all a very good experience Sheri was our server she was knowledgeable and had a great personality
(4)Jeannie A.
The restaurant is good and the food is great....but for a drinkin' good time, turn left instead of right...and get your VoodDoo on in the lounge! I've been going to Chuck's for years....and Chuck Fest is not to be missed (coming up in September at Toyota Park). Since moving to this new location and the expansion of the VoodDoo lounge, it has become a spot for many happy hours. They have an extensive list of beers on tap and a huge menu of IPAs and Craft Beers. If you are a beer lover, this is the place to be. If you go to the VoodDoo lounge website, they list the specials on tap. As always, the food is good, but better when paired with beer!! Love me some Chuck's!
(4)G S.
The BBQ ribs are so big it took me 3 meals to finish them. I love the baked beans they make, very smokey and BBQ flavored. They also have the Brunswick stew for a side. What a great side as an alternative to not being a fry guy. This restaurant is a true treat to the senses. Enjoy fellow Yelpers
(5)Alfonso T.
Been here plenty of times. Whether it's to catch a game at the Vooodoo Lounge or grab a bite this place never disappoints. Huge, HUGE beer list and amazing food. The Korean wings and his BBQ sandwiches are my go-to. Awesome specials too. Both drinks and dinner.
(5)leonard f.
I'm a fan , I had the Carne Asada, the beef was so tender my wife even thought it was great . She had the cobia and liked it a lot , the martinis were great . Been there before and going again. Vicki was a darn good waitress.
(4)Sarah S.
Best soups ever and they change daily depending on what fresh ingredients Chuck has either from his garden or flown in fresh! I'm a vegetarian and I eat here at least once a week. There really is something for everyone and I have never been disappointed! Recently hd the crawfish boil, not only fresh and delicious, but so much fun to eat. My whole family and all of my coworkers rave about Chucks regularly. So go eat there! (Before I went "veg" I would get the pulled pork all the time. Some of the best pulled pork ever!)
(5)Robert C.
The only negative I have to say is there is absolutely nothing wrong with this place except not making a reservation and having to wait.
(5)Tony P.
Went there 1/10/2015 and between my wife and I tried the pork shoulder and the catfish. The pork shoulder was terrific and I was very happy with the place. My wife's catfish though upstaged my meal as it was as she put it "the best fried catfish she has ever had". Great batter, not greasy at all, the fish remained moist and flaky ... Kids had a great time too as the mac and cheese was very good as well.
(5)Kristina g.
Amazing food!!! Burgers are delicious, ribs delicious, fries are crazy good!! And OMG the bread pudding is to die for!! Awesome place for drinks and family time!
(5)Cynthia C.
I have been to this place a few times but mostly for lunch. I want to say its been at least a year. Recently I decided to take the family to the newer Chucks in Darien. The place had a great lively atmosphere and my waitress was the best! Now for the food: The sides were de-licious (especially the mac & cheese), however my carne asada en mole was cold. They made another plate for me and it was pretty good and they also didn't charge me for it. Good experience there and I would go back. I finally decided to go back to the Chucks in Burbank for breakfast because my favorite was their cafe de la olla with a hint of orange and brown sugar..YUMMMM..as well as their famous cream of chicken soup (as most spots serve this on a Sunday). I even invited my friend with her kids. They only wanted the soup. Our waiter was okay. Nothing memorable. I ordered their chilaquiles and I believe my friend had huevo rancheros. Again, my food wasn't hot; barely warm. I did not like the chilaquiles at all. The sauce did not have any flavor and their was more sauce than tortillas. Besides that my food was VERY salty and I even mentioned it to the waiter and he basically just blew that off. My friends daughter asked for the soup and he said it wasn't available. I was surprised since that it one of their most recommend items. His response was "our kitchen isn't big enough to make that all day". okaaayyy???? Needless to say, I won't be back for breakfast but I might go to the one in Darien.
(3)PAMELA W.
Best surprise in a while. Everything was delicious. Catfish was so hot and fresh. Ribs were meaty and tender. I loved the house BBQ sauce ( the mild ). The Mac and cheese really surprised me because I don't like Mac and cheese. I could not stop eating this one. Rib tips were good and generous. Our server Danni was very accommodating. Brought out samples of different sauces and even labeled them. We ordered the banana bread pudding to go because we were so full. Got it home and it was mouthwatering. I can't wait to bring my friends here!
(5)Nanc A.
Amazing food amazing ribs and chicken. Don't forget the mash.
(5)Chuck S.
I've been to Chuck's a few times and always enjoyed the meals. I got a few of the BBQ and it was very good, not amazing but good. I fish tacos are good, pulled pork was very good and all the sides are good as well. I'm never still hungry when I leave there. Went there this weekend for Breakfast and it was very good. I got the country breakfast, I ordered egg whites but there were chunks of yolk in my eggs. The ham was a little over cooked for my liking but everything else was good. I got a sweet potato pancake, oh my god was that good. I didnt even want to put syrup on it. I will be back to Chucks. It's good food.
(4)Bex F.
Holy stuffed. I can barely type I'm so full. Hauling all the way down here, we picked up to go. The parking lot was a madhouse though it smelled fantastic. Somehow got indoors which was tricky as it was packed at 5 pm on a Sunday. Ordered the brisket dinner with Cajun green beans and mac for him, pulled pork sandwich Memphis style with fries and mac for me. Boy that was a long drive home, smelling it in the car. It was all really tasty. On it's own, the mild BBQ sauce didn't wow me but with the sandwich and slaw, it was good. Nummy fries. Mac and cheese was heavy on the black pepper but it was still good. The hubby enjoyed his meal quite well. Pretty good overall. And seriously, I am so full I don't know if I'm writing in English or not. Portion sizes were ginormous - even a quarter of my sandwich was a meal in itself. The menu is definitely interesting with all its influences and if we lived closer I'm sure we'd be back checking out the various offerings. So full.
(4)Kelly D.
SOOOO Good!!! Best: Mac and cheese, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, crab cake appetizer. Huge beer list and some decent cocktails. Servers are always friendly and you cannot beat the price for the taste and quality. The owner, Chuck, is always checking in on customers, getting refills-that says a lot about how much pride he puts into his business. Only thing I wish they would change is having the mac and cheese on their late night menu-I always get cravings for it late night :(
(5)roy l.
Well, again service was poor and the food was great. I'm going to try Darien location next time and they have the same issues I'll phone in a pick up order
(3)Tim H.
Finally made it to the Beignet breakfast (3rd Saturday each month) and also really enjoyed Chuck's Chorizo Rancheros. A whole lot of food but always enjoy the left overs. I think a chunky cook is good but I'm not the cook. lol Chuck's certainly combines some great flavors to his meals... oh yeah, get the sauces with the beignets! Great live New Orleans music accompanies the beignet breakfast also. After seeing the size of George the crawfish, I need to make it to their crawfish boil before the month of May slips away. They sure offer up some great specials, sure hope they continue the tradition in the Darien locaton. Perhaps this time next month, I'll have a new review for the Darien location for Father's Day.
(5)Diana H.
Service is good, employees really nice food is decent. When it comes to ordering to go they always mess up the order or the food is cold. For the food we get the price is really high.
(3)Jason N.
Don't know what else can be said about Chuck's that already hasn't been, but the consensus is it's pretty darn good. They have an incredible variety of food. Think of BBQ, Cajun, and Mexican fare making sweet love and that's what you get. I'll actually start out with the breakfast, if you like corned beef hash this is a must try! Its homemade hash and yes, they actually smoke their corned beef. Now process that fact, breathe, and take a second to recover from the thought of the tasty possibility here. It tastes exactly as it sounds, delicious! The dinner options are plentiful and delish as well. The ribs, rib tips, chicken, and brisket are all smoked to perfection. They have several sauce options which are all good. Just read the description and if any tickle your fancy you'll probably enjoy it quite a bit. My favorite appetizer is the BBQ nachos. Take homemade tortilla chips, brisket, pulled pork, pico, guac, sour cream, cheese, and BBQ sauce and there you have an amazing appetizer good enough to be a main dish. Chuck's is one of those places that has something for everyone, and based on the constant crowd and people who travel from near and far that alone speaks for itself.
(4)Jim B.
Whenever I cannot make up my mind where to go, I always default to Chucks. I go there for sporting events especially before Fire games. Huge selection of beer. Servers know their stuff. Waitstaff is quick. Food is absolutely to die for. Always good to see Chuck himself at the restaurant.
(5)Oscar S.
Im glad I found this place!!!! Theres not too many places around this area with good southern cooking.I had a serious taste for gumbo and didnt want to drive 10 miles out of the way.Sooooo,I did my research.I lucked out!!!! Found this place only 2 miles from where I was.NIIICCCCE!!!!!! They definitely serve up some good food.Im a big eater so I ordered up a couple of things.Really good gumbo.Jambalaya was delicious as well.Service was great.I found a new spot!!!!!!!!!! YEEESSSSS!!!!!
(5)Jasmine C.
I'm surprised this restaurant exists in Burbank (and now Darien, where Chuck, the owner, opened another restaurant). I would expect to find a restaurant with food of this caliber in downtown Chicago. The food is excellent, and friends and family I have brought here agree. You will be greeted by the rich BBQ smell of smoked meat as you walk through the parking lot. Staff is friendly and the waitstaff is knowledgeable. Portions are plentiful, and a variety of BBQ sauces are offered to suit different tastes. You can't go wrong with the brisket or ribs. The meat is tender and never dry. Besides BBQ dishes, there are also flavorful Mexican meals that are authentically prepared. I'm not talking Pepe's or Zaca Tacos here, as Chuck's has choices like chicken enchiladas in mole sauce (the serving is huge!) and poblano pepper soup. One of the specials offered on Sundays is Mexican pot roast, also very tasty. In addition, there are always creative Cajun dishes on the menu as daily specials. This is also one of my favorite breakfast places. Chuck's offers a variety unmatched by the bland, typical generic choices at the local Greek-owned family restaurants. And if you like coffee, get the urn of Mexican coffee--it's terrific! You know this place has to be good, as it was featured on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I highly recommend Chuck's! In fact, sometimes Chuck will even come out to the dining room to chat with guests.
(5)Wendy C.
I love the BBQ nachos. The service is great. All of their food is great..their food is what I come back for every time. I've never had anything bad off of the menu. They have a lot of beer..like over 100. It's awesome. I love chucks!
(5)Javier G.
Good food, good place but twice have been there and both times been out of the beef brisket. I will say that I've gone for dinner both times and it's been after 7pm so probably my fault. The corn bread is good, rib tips are awesome and gumbo pretty tasty.
(4)Tiredofbadfood L.
Great bbq! good service and great beer. Mac & Cheese really delicious. Someone here understands how to smoke meat and pays attention to meat quality. Loved it. Good value for your dollar
(4)Josh E.
Meh. I expected more out of this place given the reviews and the press it's gotten. I got the ribs and chicken - both were OK but nothing special. Chicken was a little on the dry side. Green beans and mashed were pretty good and they have a huge beer selection. Not worth the trek down there if you're a city dweller.
(3)Leo P.
Nice BBQ place with sports Bar atmosphere on one end and dining on the other side. Food is good, if your crazy about BBQ. Great south side restaurant if your craving for good BBQ and a beer.
(4)Melissa B.
I really feel like this is 3-3.5 star worthy, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. First thing is first. Make reservations! They accept (and seem to honor) open table reservations easily, so save yourself the headache. This place gets packed. The staff was really friendly and our server was always around when we needed her even though she had several large parties as well. Parking is a nightmare. Make sure you watch out for the residential only parking along the side streets. The beer list is great. I have no complaints there. They have about a 4 page beer menu. I switched to a hurricane after my first beer to check out the mixed drinks and wasn't disappointed. That one hurricane did the trick. Nice and strong. They also had several different tea choices. I thought that was unique. I was all set to order the boneless rib sandwich on the special menu. Our server then realized she had given us an old menu and the sandwich wasn't available. Major bummer. I was really craving it at that point. I went ahead with the 1/2 slab ribs with Carolina sauce, cole slaw and fries instead. We also ordered the brisket dinner with mac and cheese and a cup of gumbo for our other entrée and an order of wings as our appetizer. This is where they lost me. The server recommended the wings. I loved them. They were well done (how I prefer). I thought they had a great flavor. We only made it through 2 wings and the gumbo showed up though. Literally 20 seconds after the gumbo and the rest of our food shows up and is thrown on the table (by a runner). So now we have our app, soup and meals in front of us. A restaurant that is this popular and has been around this long should have the timing issue down. I liked the ribs. I thought they were a little fatty, but still enjoyed them. The cole slaw seemed store bought (like from Jewel) and the fries were horrible. They tasted like Burger King to me. The BBQ sauce was a winner though and that's the important thing. The brisket and gumbo got sort of meh reviews at the table, so I didn't bother trying those. The dessert menu looked amazing. I was really excited to try it along with some interesting sounding coffee on the menu, but I was stuffed. I think next time I will sit at the bar and just stick to apps and dessert. I'm hoping they just had an off night and the timing will work out much better next time.
(4)Elizabeth L.
Normally I'm a huge fan. But, this time the service wasn't up to par. My main complaint for today was that we had to wait over 10 minutes for our check. We asked Carlos, our waiter, 3 times for it. After the second time he proceeded to take the orders of two large groups. Not nice at all. However, the food was great, as always.
(3)Tony K.
Famous Daves BBQ is a good amount better than this place in every way. The ambiance, the service and especially the food. This place is WAY overrated. Its good, dont get me wrong but its not close to what you would imagine it to be. The interior looks like a greek restaurant. The parking is poor. There is a BBQ place a few blocks west that is BETTER and less expensive. I wouldnt go to this place again considering the prices, service, food & ambiance. I dont think South-siders know what great BBQ really is. Ive been all over the country and this is NOT great barbecue.
(2)Elizabeth F.
Three strikes and I'm done. I was so excited to see a place featured on DDD from Food Network near my hometown. My first visit was for breakfast. Cajun eggs Benedict. The server was wonderful; the eggs had been poached so long the yolks were solid. The dish had to be sent back. The second visit was in the bar. Server was wonderful; BBQ sampler platter for $17 barely had any meat. It was more like an appetizer. Third visit was to the bar this past Monday evening. Horrible server! It was like we were a bother to her made only more apparent when we could overhear her being nice to what must have been regulars. Ordered the BBQ nachos. The guacamole was gray. How could that leave the kitchen? How the server think that was acceptable? She never checked back with us to see how the food was... Or give us extra napkins since it was nachos/finger food.... Never checked on us for more cocktails. Truly disappointing.
(2)Misty S.
Came here on a Tuesday night, which happened to be Fat Tuesday. There was a live band playing and a fun atmosphere. The place was crowded but we got a table after 10 minutes. They had a tapas menu in addition to their regular menu offering atypical choices like alligator and egg roll sampler. There are so many things on their menus, there surely must be something for everyone here. The ribs and Honey Chipotle rib tips I tried were good, but nothing that stood out to me. Let's just say I've had better ribs and that's no fault of Chuck's. The BBQ combo came with a half a rack of ribs plus one choice or extra meat and 2 sides for $17. The mac and cheese and green beans were okay. The hot sauce available at the table wasn't that spicy but has a good flavor. Chuck's have an extensive beer menu (over 120 options!) and the one I tried was good. If you like Guinness, you will like the Arcadia Imperial Stout. Our waitress was fast and accurate. One warning about the bathroom, the water was freezing cold when I was washing my hands, but at least there was a hand dryer that can warm them afterwards.
(3)Cesar R.
The name is deceiving as we expected your typical BBQ. Boy, were we wrong! The chefs combination of typical southern and Mexican spices makes his meals explode with flavor! We had the Carne Asada and several appetizers I can't remember. We were going from one dish to the other trying to savor it all. Finally, we decided we would just have to return. I highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed! Happy to have this type of food so close to the south side!
(5)Daniel G.
I have been coming to Chucks for several years, and will keep coming back because the food is absolutely outstanding. Service has always been great and Chuck puts a lot of thought into the menu and I enjoy the rotation of specials that come out. Also the voodoo bar is a great place to catch a game and enjoy one of the many beers they have in their expansive beer menu
(5)Christine O.
I checked this place out for lunch yesterday with my dad and his co-worker (they are both private pilots who were in town for just a few hours). My dad's co-worker recommended Chuck's and has been there a few times. The restaurant makes a huge selection of soups in house. We had a Mexican style chili, stuffed pepper soup, and chicken dumpling soup. I had the Bahn Mi, which I was told was a new menu item. The chicken was perfectly cooked, spicy and delicious with fresh asian slaw on top. It was a bigger sandwich than I should have eaten all at once being that it was such a late lunch, but it was just so good I couldn't help it. The staff was super accommodating when we got a last minute call that the passengers were headed back to the airport for a departure... 4 hours ahead of their scheduled departure. They quickly got our food packaged up in to-go containers so that we could get back Midway, get the airplane ready and an updated flight plan filed. I will have to go back with my boyfriend to enjoy this place again when we aren't rushed! A+ in my book.
(5)James B.
Great for Cajun/Creole, Mexican, or BBQ. They have great specials everyday. And a beer list with 120 bottles and a few specials on tap everyday.
(5)Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This review is solely based on visits during the Beignet Saturday brunch experience.* The restaurant's unique combo of classic Southern/Nawlins style with Tex-Mex dishes yields an eclectic menu, especially for breakfast (which is offered every day, but the beignets are only on the third Saturday of the month).My husband and I have brought friends here from out of town as well as have patronized it as a party of two. We were not disappointed either time with the atmosphere, service or food. Atmosphere with attitude - From the outside, it looks a bit dated and kitschy with the huge pig. But I got over that once inside because it's cozy and bright. The building is split into dining rooms and the bar. The restaurant area has sunshine orange and yellow tones of wall paint in addition to lots of windows. Upholstery for the chairs and booths is basic, but the decor ranges in African tribal masks, colorful paintings and brass shaped into instruments and suns. On Beignet Saturdays, there is live music of the Southern jazzy quality, which definitely adds to the transformation of the environment. It's more so instrumental, which is the perfect accompaniment to conversation. Solid service - Service started well both times by following accommodations I had outlined in my Opentable reservations from setting up for a large group when our friends visited to saving a booth for two when it was just my husband and me. Service has also been consistent and friendly, probably to go along with the Southern charm, by making suggestions and small talk but also knowing when to leave us alone. Funky food (in a good way) - As far as food is concerned, Chuck's certainly ranks up there for a brunch fan such as myself. I'm always looking for twists on the staples. Almost all the bfast food will have a classic American base like eggs, potatoes and sausage but then the chef kicks it up a notch with bold spices and flavors. Even with the beverages here, we discovered a version of coffee that we need to replicate at home. The Café de Olla is a French press pot enough for two with orange, cinnamon and brown sugar. I love drinking this black to really savor all the nuances of sweet and zesty. With the entrees, a skillet or benny are my go-to brunch items. I've tried the Cajun skillet and the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict here, and now prefer the skillet only because I am a bit picky when it comes to crab cakes. The crab cakes here tasted and looked like they were made in-house, but they were just not up to the standard of flaky fresh meat that I require. But the skillet had the balanced ratio of potato slices, peppers and Chorizo sausage so that it had a solid kick but was not painful. I also love ordering eggs either poached or over-medium (which they have cooked to my liking here) so that I get a little runny yolk to break open over the other ingredients, acting as a sort of sauce. Now, the toast to accompany the dishes definitely leaves a LOT to be desired. The bread looks and tastes like it came out of a grocery chain bag. I am also a major stickler for quality, from scratch bread, so I need it thick with a definitive crust on the outside and a soft middle on the inside. What REALLY makes this place shine is that special on beignets. We've ordered it as an appetizer when with a big group and as a dessert when just for my husband and me. I've never been to New Orleans, but my husband proclaims himself an expert of the area due to his business trips so he can attest to the quality of the beignets of Chuck's. It's obvious they are homemade because they are made fresh to order, coming out irregularly shaped and hot. In fact, on our most recent visit we almost missed our chance at eating them because we asked for them close to the end of brunch and they were almost out. I would have been saddened if I did not get a chance to eat these heavenly pillows of sugar. Let me emphasize that I am NOT a sweets kind of gal. Give me a bag of chips over chocolate bar any day. But on this day, all bets are off. I am absolutely in love with these bite-size, doughnut-like treats because of the consistency with the slightly crunchy shell covered in powdered sugar and the ultra soft, cakey interior. By dipping them in the chocolate and/or the vanilla sauces on the side, it adds another level of flavor and texture that completes the dish. For only $5.50, this special is a steal. In the end, I can at least recommend Chuck's to you for brunch, my all-time fav meal of the day. It's a place I'm willing to come back to more than once for this particular meal, and it's certainly a place I'd love to try during dinner.
(4)Gypsy G.
My meal was ok...nothing to write home about. Not special enough for me to return. Customer service was great though.
(3)Catherine E.
The RIBS are fantastic! Best BBQ in the area! Pulled Pork sandwich was very good. Soups are so good there are addictive! Side dishes need work.
(3)Dan D.
One of my buddies family owns this place so this review might be a bit biased, but either way before and after I found out the food and service have always been top notch. The first time I ate here I arrived with my girlfriend around 9pm and was seated quickly. The waiter was keen to mention the specials and his favorite choices of meat. We both decided on the Chuck Special, which is the signature beef brisket sandwich. The beef was tender, flavorful and well seasoned. The signature sauce is a bit sweet for my liking, almost with a cranberry note, but worked well with the beef. The side dishes were quite tasty. I had gumbo and my girlfriend had cream of chicken soup. Overall I would gladly return, great service and a definite pride of ownership. Everything is hot and fresh until close.
(4)Gina W.
Love Chuck 's!! Dinner is always great. You can't go wrong sticking to the specials. Great daily soups. The cream of poblano is the best soup I have had in a long time.The bananas foster crepes are to die for but the best of all is the breakfast!! Hands down best breakfast/coffee on the south side!
(5)Catherine P.
Chuck is a culinary genius and a savvy business man who serves to please. I'm always happy with whatever I order. The specials are ever changing so dining here is exciting. Chuck's also has one of the most extensive beer selections on the south side (mostly bottles). I wish this location had more on tap, but what is available on tap is good. Good service and a clean environment are provided too. Love me some Chuck's.
(5)John K.
The place is still great! Took some southside Biggen girl on a date here. She looked like miss piggy and smelled like Edward James Olmos. She got the Crab cakes and Fish tacos. I did the BBQ sampler, Ribs, Brisket and Pulled pork all wonderful. I wanted to mount this sow bc she was cute even though she looked like a sand bag on D-Day She slurped my boys from golf balls into craisins. She disappeared into the night.
(5)Breeanna G.
My favorite time to come to Chuck's is in the fall because they always have a pretty great selection of pumpkin and fall-themed craft beers. Their extensive beer menu is excellent--there are tons of beers on there that I don't see anywhere else in a lot of Chicago bars. This will likely sound weird to those who come here because it is a barbecue place, but I order the barbecue nachos without barbecue sauce and meat. Regardless, they are some of the best nachos I've ever had! Their mac-and-cheese is pretty great, and I've also had luck with their enchiladas verdes and Caesar salad. There is always a good selection on the menu for their tapas night, and their homemade cupcakes are awesome. The service can be kind of slow because it is nearly always busy. However, most of the servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and if there is a mistake, they are quick to make things right. There can sometimes be some pretty unsavory characters in the Voodoo Lounge (I'm talking old dudes who send over drinks to young women and then expect something to come of it in their disillusioned entitlement), but I guess one could say the same for any bar. I always enjoy eating at Chuck's and will definitely be back.
(4)Kristy B.
Oh Chucks, you are so good to me. You serve the BEST homemade soups ever, the most delicious BBQ pulled pork and a MEAN country fried chicken breakfast! Not to mention, your portions are huge. I have never experienced bad service here, and have never tried anything here that wasn't absolutely delicious. I look forward to coming here when I'm out in this part of town. You've found the secret to good food and I couldn't be happier. Keep doing what you're doing...and open up more locations around the city!
(5)Brian S.
Best food ever! Bbq nachos are great, bbq food spectacular, soups delicious, creole authentic. The muffuletta and the Taylor street sub are good but only available on special. I have spent many hours and dollars at Chuck's ...and many more to come. !!
(5)Eddie S.
Had never been here and heard a lot about it and tried for the first time recently. Not it's all cracked up to be. Only thing i enjoyed was the biscuits and gravy!
(3)Diana G.
Went back and it was better this time around. We started off with the chicken tinga tostadas. Good flavors, but a bit pricey since it's just really served on 4 tortilla chips. Rib Tips were nice and meaty and my guy and I actually enjoyed the Carolina sauce. Cole slaw was okay, but the beans were too salty and peppery. I think we'll be back for the rib tips and some ribs next time. To me, their sides are lacking or not too my taste.
(3)Tiffany D.
My husband and came to Chuck's with cousins when visiting Chicago for a wedding. My husband's cousin raved about it but to us it wasn't that good. We started our dinner off with a Caesar salad that we shared. It wasn't bad. It was different. It was like a Cajun Caesar dressing and it had black beans in it. Like I said not the usual, but change is ok every now and then. We also had rolls that were served before the meals. They served the bread warm which made it better with a tad butter. Mmmmm!! For dinner we split the BBQ combo. This included a 1/2 rack of ribs with an additional meat option and 2 sides. We got pulled chicken for our 2nd meat with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans for the sides. To me the ribs were pretty good, they weren't my husbands favorite. The chicken was ok. Nothing special. The Mac & Cheese was awful. It tasted like box Mac & Cheese. Yuck! The Green Beans were seasoned really good but because they were fresh green beans that threw it off a little. I guess I like canned great beans seasoned really well. It's hard to get fresh green beans right to a tee. I also tried some of the Cajun crab cake. My husbands cousin ordered it and let me try some. It actually wasn't bad. They were a little thin. I like my crab cakes to be thick and meaty. I guess that comes from living in the DM(V) area. Places around the DMV area know how to make a mean crab cake. Overall Chucks was a nice experience to try something new, but it wasn't anything special. I wouldn't come back. I would definitely try other places considering I don't live there and there are so many other restaurants to try. First impressions are everything, and Chuck's just didn't do it for me.
(3)Z B.
It's time to update my review on Chuck's. I went for dinner today, and it wasn't your typical crowd for a Sunday evening. There is parking, but if you park in the side streets, your car will get towed. It's pretty hard to park in the small parking lot when there is a big crowd. The service was great. The server was nice and friendly to my relatives and me. The food didn't take that long, which was good, but it was quite surprising. It usually takes a bit longer to get your food during a huge crowd. The food was pretty good! I tried the seafood gumbo. It was an amazing dish. I liked the broth and the mixture of seafood in the gumbo. I definitely recommend the seafood gumbo. Next, I had the beef brisket dinner. The brisket was okay. It wasn't as tender, but the meat tasted good. My sides of baked beans and Mac and cheese were good. The baked beans had a great flavor to them. The Mac and Cheese was ok. The cheese tasted good, but it didn't look melted enough. All in all, pretty good food, the service was good, and the location is pretty good too. I'll be coming back here.
(4)Michelle K.
Great food....really enjoyed the BBQ nachos which was a meal in itself! Ron was our waiter and he was friendly and gave great recommendations since it was our first time here. Looking forward to coming back and trying something different because it was hard to decide....everything looked and smelled amazing!!!
(5)steve i.
Worst Jambalaya ever...overcooked shrimp n crawfish...sauce tasted like pizza sauce...HUGE disappointment....probably the worst thing to order at this place...not a place I ever plan to return to in the future
(1)JT M.
First time visiting Chucks, we ordered the meat sampler and got the pulled pork, brisket and the ribs. The ribs were outstanding! I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys smoked anything. Nice pink ring and the table had a variety of sauces to choose from. For the sides try the Cajun green beans. They weren't spicy but very flavorful. For drinks the special of the month was a1/2 blue moon 1/2 ginger beer concoction which was smooth, a very dangerous drink! Will definitely be back! Sorry no picture gobbled everything down before I remembered to take a pic.
(4)Rita J.
Stopped by Chucks for dinner. I was impressed by the food just as much as I was by the waitress. Jess was knowledgeable and helpful about the meat and the sauces and any restaurant should strive to hire people like her. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very calm and suitable for any occasion.
(5)Sean L.
The food is here is awesome
(5)Rob P.
what can i say read the reviews !!!!! and you write my review a+++++ thousand times in my book
(5)Grace J.
Walking in here I was very skeptical. A family member made reservations for a group of 8 on a Saturday night...i asked why? He said just wait and see. As soon as we arrived I saw several people waiting for a table. Since we had reservations we were seated right away! Awesome! Ordering was no problem, we all wanted the same thing...RIBS! The waitress and other staff members were very friendly and on point! Now the wait for the ribs begin. Sitting and having great conversation with great people made the time seem fast because before I knew it out food arrived. It looked and smelt wonderful. That first bite is pretty amazing. The meat melted in your mouth and had great flavor. However, I was not too fond of their sauces. The original was ok but the spicy version...no! Just no! Other than that it was great. I will probably come back again and try something else and see... thanks!
(4)Michelle F.
Chuck's was fantastic! Every April to May 5th they do a special Cinco de Mayo special menu. My mouth was salivating at every day's specials. We ordered the appetizer of Caribbean jerk chicken wings with mango bbq sauce - AMAZING. Also the cinco de mayo special I ordered (forgive me I don't remember the name) filet skewered bobs over black bean rice and ancho-wild mushroom sauce. The meat was tender, black bean rice on point and the sauce divine. I plan my next visit this Sunday with the Caribbean jerk wings for sure!
(4)Natalie D.
Oysters on the half shell were better than I expected. Tasted fresh however I need to pick on them a little: the juice was spilled out so they were dry (not how I like them), they didn't come with lemon, the cocktail sauce needed more horse radish, and most importantly, the oysters need to be cut from their shells!! It's frustrating bc SO many places don't do it and it's essential. The Cesar was blah but it's a bbq place so I wasn't shocked. My family loves the corn beef here: it tastes like the world"s juiciest bacon! It's amazing. I have to admit though that their BBQ sauce tastes gross! It was basically A.1 sauce which I am not a fan of. It's strange bc the place smelled like sweet bbq sauce. They have an amazing beer list! I am a huge fan of IPAs and they totally had me covered. Over all, I would go back. I want to try some of their specialty dishes.
(3)Amy R.
Two words, my friends: BEIGNET BRUNCH. Chuck's has one. Oh yes they do. I completely dropped the mardi gras ball this year - didn't celebrate, didn't get beads, didn't anything. However, my extraordinarily pregnant dear friend DID remember, and was desperately craving beignets. A quick internet search unearthed Chuck's, and this past Saturday, we finally found time to go. We started our meal with - duh - beignets. Crispy fried on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, and served with delicious creme anglais and chocolate dipping sauces. We devoured them. I could have had about six more orders of those, but we pushed onward to our meal. I had the Cajun eggs Benedict, which was a delightful mix of greens, andouille sausage, hollandaise, and eggs atop English muffins, served with a side of hash browns. It wasn't earth-shatteringly delicious, and it wasn't insanely inventive, but it was good. The husband got a skillet he wasn't head-over-heels for, and my friend got the stuffed french toast that looked AMAZE - pain perdu style, with big thick slices of french bread stuffed with creamy filling. Brunch for three with drinks and beignets, tax and tip was like 45ish bucks, which is not unreasonable, and our server was perfectly pleasant. The beignets themselves were 5 star, and everything else was decent enough to return if I was in the neighborhood. Worth checking out!
(3)Tom C.
Great Southern BBQ! We came here for some lunch with my coworkers. I ordered the Chuck's Special and it was out of this world. The beef brisket was very tender. The Mac and Cheese was yummy and the cole slaw was delish. It's really rare to find a restaurant that has sweet tea. I was happy to know they had it on their menu. Our waiter took her time to explain today's specials. I will be back to try other BBQ goodies! I highly recommend this barbecue restaurant. #SeñorFood
(5)Rico R.
Went here for dinner the other week, what a total waste! I ordered the BBQ Brisket which was a little pricey, but I was like hey this place sounds good so it should be worth it - it wasn't! Portions were very small, and the brisket was meh. The sides were so small I had to ration it in order to have some left for my undesirable brisket. And man the brisket... wasn't even tender, didn't even taste spectacular. I wasn't the only one either, others in my group didn't care for their food either. Unless you're desperate, don't go here.
(2)Bob D.
This is my third review over the last 7 years, it keeps plummeting in quality. I have given up actually reading the menu that is adorned with Chucks arrogant mug. The sides taste like someone went dumpster diving at the nearest nursing home, cold fries, mealy green beans, pasty black beans. No attempt in quality control can be seen. The host has been there for years, she still walks us to the table and turns and walks right through me, I know, it is petty, but I think it represents the culture of mediocrity that is rampant. Hey Chuck, how about some surprise taste tests on the line instead of having another portrait done, I nearly fucking choked when I saw the calendar of events that listed "Dinner with Chuck", it had your whole schedule lined up. I haven't seen you in a few years, but if I "dine with Chuck" I will be sure to ask you to bring my kids some freshly cooked catfish. Here is a short list of grievences, No dressing on salad Bread is of the lowest quality fries are never fresh Beans always taste like yesterdays Cream soups have reduced to the consistency of paste (add water genius!) The Tamale casserole is an abomination, please serve one to your mentor Rick Bayless and see if he can even swallow Chicken noodle soup was the overcooked debris from the bottom of the stock pot, you couldn't tell where the broth started and the bones /meat began, a class act of horror all the way. I have lost my motivation for this review, I will continue to get breakfast on occasion, and I will continue to get a bowl of brunswick stew while my friends and family gorge themselves on slop.
(2)Denise C.
Chucks is a great restaurant if you haven't been! Good prices also. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was there food use to be better. Not only in taste but in quality. They would throw in more items and now it seems they charge you for the napkins! I get It though, they moved into a bigger location , so prices had to go up.
(3)Kouklah M.
Horrible experience I wish they would have done something about this because they have lost a customer the food was cold and bland the ribs were full of fat basically paid for the pig fat! Not a good dining experience and it sucks when they don't try to fix the problem to make the experience better save your money go somewhere else!!!!!
(1)Rocky R.
Best breakfast ever! I work at a breakfast cafe and I go here on my days off (mostly because its closer) but the food is so good. My waitress mariam is the best I tried going to the other location in darien and they wouldn't give me what I wanted but every time I come here she gives me exactly what I want, I can never finish a full Benedict so she let's me order a half! Awesome! Def recommend coming here to all my friends and family. I always get the juavos ala frontera its black beans and chorizo in a sope instead of English muffin it's ridiculously good and the blueberry pancakes are right on point. Another favorite of mine is the biscuits and gravy you can't go wrong. I look forward to coming here!
(5)Dymond B.
Everything is awesome about this place. Good drinks fantastic food, and great specials everyday.
(5)Dawn C.
Good welcome when we arrived. Recommend getting a reservation. Parking lot was full at 6pm We started with the nachos Omg the nachos . Amazingly delicious . They have 3 separate types of toppings . With pulled pork . My side salad was good . Heirloom tomatoes red peppers . Saturday special is really good too!
(5)Dolores Z.
We just got home after dining at Chuck's. It had been awhile since we were there, cold weather, so we gave it a go. We are always asked if we have a reservation. This time, we did, which seemed to delight the hostess. We were promptly seated. Server Jaqui greeted us, set us up with water, and shortly returned to take our drink orders. Chuck's has a notable beer list, I think 120 selections. There's a punch card program, and they put your name on a wall plaque somewhere if you manage to try all of them. Fun for the beer lovers, for sure. Good selection of hearty soups! I had chicken tortilla, very tasty. Hubby had cream chicken rice, rich and filling. Of course, Chuck's claim to fame is the barbecue, and it does not disappoint! I had a combo of pulled chicken and pulled pork with Carolina BBQ sauce. Hubby had brisket with mild sauce, lean and perfectly tender. There's several sauce choices, so you can pick your fave. For sides, we chose the creamy Mac n cheez, Creole green beans, mashed potatoes, and a tomato chipotle rice. All were well seasoned and quite satisfying. There was a Kahlua chocolate pecan pie for dessert, but I can't tell about that as I was pretty full and ordered it to go, can't wait to try it. It was a great experience, except for one thing. When we got home, hubby noticed the front license plate frame was broken, the plate was bent, and snow was packed into the car's grille. Valet service is free, but definitely was not a value added service. The car got messed up! It is new, only 1100 miles on it. Would not have tipped the kid $10 if we noticed it! I did call Chuck's, spoke with a manager, who took my contact info. Hopefully there's no other damage. Do yourself a favor and park it yourself!
(3)Anabel S.
Service was great but food was tasteless. What a disappointment, the brisket lacked flavor, the barbecue sauce was too salty. We barely tasted the food and were kind of embarrassed to leave full plates on the table so when the waiter asked if we wanted to take them to go we said yes, but as soon as we got home I had to throw the food in the trash. Never going back for sure!
(2)Harry M.
A good change in southern cooking. The flavors pop and the spice is quality. Pulled pork is the best and you choose the sauce to your liking. Try a pulled pork sandwich Memphis style.
(4)Ellen M.
Chuck's is a friendly, comfortable joint, with great service. It's a place all can agree on, thinking multi-generationally. Good barbecue ribs and pulled pork. Excellent coleslaw. I will skip the ceviche next time. Good beer list. Many to choose from, from around the globe. I had a sazerac that surprised me; it appeared to have been shaken and strained, while I'm accustomed to a gentle stirring without ice. It grew on me as I sipped it.
(3)Tom T.
Everything here is good. I almost always get the two meat combo; ribs and brisket. The brisket is always cooked perfectly and ribs are as well.
(5)Kristin M.
This place has been featured on all those food shows and for good reason! It's so good! I always get the Chuck's special sandwich with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. Carb overload. Their macaroni and cheese will change your life. They also have a ton of beers on special, I think it's actually over 100. They have a club where if you try all the beers on the menu (not in one day!) you get a tshirt and your name on the wall. They recently added breakfast to the menu. When I had it there I had the French toast and thought it was excellent. My boyfriend had the stuffed French toast and that was kind of weird so I wouldn't recommend that. I love that they take reservations for breakfast because most breakfast places won't do that. Don't forget to bring you work ID! Wednesday health care workers get a discount and Thursday teachers get one!
(5)Jay M.
I had the super sampler the brisket was pretty dry and the catfish was a little salty. I also tried the seafood cakes and they were delicious. The sides weren't bad but they didn't have a lot of flavor. Overall it was ok food but not worth the price.
(3)Marcy S.
My son in-law always orders take-out dinner from Chucks and the food is always very good so my husband and I decided to stop in for breakfast, Awesome is all I could say! I was very pleased with the way the food taste and the friendly fast service.
(5)J C.
Love Cajun, Latin, and tex mex food. I've had some good food here and great catered party food too. But service can be rushed and spotty. Had good ribs one time- went back a month later and they were tough and fatty- so much so that my teenager would not eat. The gumbo was good as was the pibil. Would like to see a simple blackened piece of chicken or fish not slathered in sauce on the menu. Love the VooDoo lounge too
(3)Steven M.
This is my second time here. The first was about 8 years ago and I don't remember the place being this big. I had a Groupon for a paint nite and I met a friend at the bar before hand. I had a chicken quesadilla and this honkin plate comes out with a hubcap filled with chicken and cheese. It was on the better side of delicious. I was pleasantly stuffed. The painting was my first time at bat and I had a wonderful time. I annoyed the instructor a bit as he babbled on. I just did my own thing. That's the concept of a good time!
(4)Aesha W.
Last time I went to St. Louis, about a year ago, I stopped into Bogart's for some BBQ. After that, I found I got a craving and rather than drive 5+hours to Missouri, I decided to stop into Chuck's. They've been on Check Please and garnered other accolades, so I figured I'd start here on my Chicago BBQ tour. I really like Chucks, and it's been my default BBQ place when I have a hankering for it. It's a long drive from my place on the north side, so I don't get there terribly often--once a month or so. I don't like ribs, brisket, and what not, and Chuck's has pulled chicken so I have something that I can always get something I like (it seems that a lot of other places don't have the pulled chicken). They also have daily specials, which have always been great when I've had them. The staff is friendly, quick and the food is great, so don't hesitate to stop by the Burbank or Darien locations if you're nearby and want some great BBQ. There's a bar adjacent to the restaurant, so you can eat on either side. They have a large parking lot, but also offer free valet because there are times when it gets pretty packed. DO NOT park on the side streets; you've been warned. One last note--once per month, Chuck's has a beignet breakfast. They offer breakfast daily, but the beignets are only available on certain Saturdays (check the website for details). I have never had beignets before, but did visit here one Saturday to give them a taste. They were great, but I probably won't make the trip out there for them. Mostly it's because the breakfast was not much different than a breakfast I'd get a lot closer to my house, and it's too long a drive out there just for the beignets.
(5)Lauren H.
Very disappointed in Chuck's. I went here years ago and the food was so much better. This time I ordered delivery and they forgot part of my order. It took an additional 30mins for the rest of my order to arrive and they didn't offer any compensation for the incomplete delivery or the wait. There was no free drink, no coupon for a future purchase, nothing. Why would I ever order anything from you again if you can't deliver a complete order? The food was mediocre and the portions very small for the price. There are better places to get "southern" food in Chicago that don't cost nearly as much. The catfish dinner is a few catfish strips not a dinner, the brownie is small, hard, and cold for $3. I could go on and on. This place is the definition of soul food made with no soul.
(1)Dan B.
BBQ in the S Chicago burbs hmmm? Well sure, why not?? Good menu with a ton of selections. From Tapas to Mexican Food to BBQ...they've got you covered. Meat was likely smoked in a commercial smoker. Not a strong smoke flavor or much from the rub on the ribs and chicken. Both were a bit dry and needed the Honey Chipotle sauce which was pretty good. Baby Back Ribs - OK Smoked Chicken - OK Mac and Cheese - OK Baked Beans - Good Banana Bread Pudding - GOOD Café De Olla French Pressed Coffee - GOOD It was really tough to decide which way to go since Tuesday was Tapas night and they place seemed to have an Interior Mexican slant but the waitress said the BBQ was what they were know for and I'm a purist so if that's your thing then let's what you've got. Mid-Western BBQ is in a tough place without a strong identity of it's own. Mexican plates looked pretty good....next time
(3)Chas P.
We went to Chuck's for Easter Brunch.... It was served family style, which was fine. It was all you can eat and our table only had one "round" of food. We had a good amount of the meats leftover and we had asked for a box to take it home. The waitress told us that they do not allow doggie bags for family style meals. She told us that they just throw it away, which is absolutely awful and very wasteful... Take away the fact that it was $21/person for the food. Very wasteful... The food was good, we just simply wanted to take some of it home so that we could enjoy it later as a sandwich or something.
(2)Jaclyn H.
I think the mac and cheese is the bomb here. Never had any issues with that. The beef is normally pretty good occasionally kind of dry. Over all good place
(4)Sandy V.
This place is amazing there food is so good for breakfast lunch or dinner everything is made to order . You can go there for a month n never have the same thing the staff is pleasant helpful all the time
(5)Cory S.
Underwelmed.. but maybe because I had high expectations based on what I'd heard. They do have a HUGE selection of beer, local and far reaching. Absolutely no complaints about the service or beer selection. I had the brisket and pulled pork combo with mac and cheese and green beans. The green beans were the star of the show.. they were great and I'd eat them a few times a week if they were available. The mac n cheese are adequate, nothing horrible or amazing. The pulled pork was average. It was decent flavor and consistency.. not too fatty, not too lean. The brisket was cooked too hot. It wasn't as tender as it should have been and lacked a deep smoke ring. The flavor was lacking since it was cooked hot and probably burned off before it had a chance to penetrate the meat.
(3)Michael J.
I lived in justice for sometime and I went their I love the crab cakes and the BBQ I would like to try it again.
(5)Tony H.
Jack Frost drink special was nice. Pleasantly surprised by the depth of the beer list. First had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, great, with the jerk wings as an appetizer good flavor but super spicy, the cornbread is good also. Drinks are a good value. Had the smoked brisket dinner it was okay.
(4)Eric A.
Great smoked brisket, pulled pork and links, The big three when I hear bar b q. Atmosphere is great, very spacious.
(5)Debbie M.
great prices for high quality food. Was always 5 star but things have slipped just a bit. Hope they catch it before it slips further. Still, great, interesting food and fantastic drinks at reasonable prices
(4)Loren T.
Great breakfast. Biscuits and gravy have soggy biscuits at most locations, but chucks biscuts are still crispy, eggs are superb. Lots of grest options, most people leave with doggy bags, lots of food. When available, is the best chicken fried steak around.
(5)Liz M.
I walked in here for the first time ever tonight. Friendly staff, BUT.....my waitress notified me that they were out of ribs. I was disappointed because like I said before it was my first time here, and I've read that their ribs are delicious and I couldn't wait to try them for myself. I came here around 7:30pm so I don't understand how they ran out of ribs. I'm not sure if I will ever go back :(
(2)J J.
Food was blah!! Ribs tasted like they were baked. Fell off the bone to easy for good smoked ribs and was also drowned in some weird bbq sauce. If the ribs are cooked right there's no need for all that sauce. A little is fine but they put way too much on. Mac n Cheese=Nope! Try Again. Green Beans tasted canned. The mash potatoes with the sage gravy was the best thing. If i do go back i'll try some of their cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, etc. I was told after the fact that those type of dishes are way better. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very nice though.
(2)Matt F.
Always great food when you eat in. Sometimes delivey is not consistent. Pulled pork is always well done and the spicy bbq sauce is the bomb. I do know prices are going up on food, but prices have been increased alot.
(4)Kevin S.
One of the best breakfasts I've ever had. Despite the confusing name, the Mexican themed breakfast menu had so many delicious sounding options. My wife and I both order one of "Chuck's Favorites" (and were so angry that our stupid stomachs filled up so fast because we wanted to keep eating). I also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy which was delicious (and a little sweet), but I couldn't eat very much because it was so rich (and might heart cried uncle). The chef has certainly done his mentor (Rick Bayless) well. I just wish we could have stayed for some brisket (the smell when you walk in is amazing!) . . . next time.
(5)Candace M.
Have been coming to Chucks from the beginning, not sure if he got too big for his britches but sad to say everything has gone downhill. We always sit at the bar & eat, they had lost 2 of the best bartenders that the place ever had, now it's another "Burbank" bar, they used to be really busy & I believe it because the bartenders are so bad, had to constantly ask for a refill on our drinks, had to ask to order, not friendly at all, like they were being bothered. We had the ribs....were always very good in the past, they were terrible, we were "regulars" here at one point & very sad to say we may not be coming back
(2)Paul C.
As a native burbank resident, I always see this restaurant lot jam-picked. And rightfully so.. As what I would call Burbank "A Good Restaurant Desert" similar to a good desert. As this suburb lack good quality food. This establishment serving as the one and only. Enough to appeal to a foodie that is... A dated-southern style decor greets you slam in the face when you walk in. It's like a clash of average restaurant meets a dive. Perhaps thats the reason this was featured on a certain Food Network show. Any who, there is a variety of options to satisfy any pick pallet. The food itself is, in very generic terms, is good. It's not memorable, but perhaps this critique is based upon Mr. Chuck and his culinary training w/Rick Bayless. I would've expected more. Still, this isn't saying anything bad about the food, as it is escalated the tier of food served in Burbank. Slightly above average food at slightly above average prices. If you're looking to take a small step above a dive, you found your spot. I will say that they do have quite the beer selection. Overall, this may not be for a foodie, but for an ordinary day in Burbank, this is your best bet.
(2)Don L.
I want to give Chuck 4 stars. I really do, but just can't get myself to do it. Now, I know that when you come to a restaurant closer to its closing time, you're not going to get the freshest food...but even though that's the norm, it's a poor excuse. I arrived around 8:20 PM on a weeknight and ordered the Baby Back Ribs with Hot Link, with sides of baked beans and mac n cheese. The North Carolina BBQ sauce was DELICIOUS. You can taste the smokiness of the ribs and each rib had a generous portion of meat on it. However, one of my ribs was too burnt to finish. It was pitch black on one end. I love a good juicy hot link. This was NOT good, nor juicy. It was dry, overcooked, and nothing "hot" about it. Again, this may be because I'm came closer to closing time...who knows. The baked beans were watery. The Mac N Cheese tasted like melted Velveeta on the cheese, but I like some Velveeta. It wasn't a bad meal...Matter of fact, I have a hunch that if I came around 6 PM, it would have been much better. This is #52 on my quest to eat at all the Diner, Drive-ins, & Dives in America!
(3)M K.
Been here a couple times now, great food! Great service! Pulled Pork nachos are delic.
(5)Synn E.
I LOVE the knowledge Chuck ha with pairing spices with his food! I am also so glad he stayed in the neighborhood, because us locals know that he could easily be downtown! The place has been busy and the parking lot full since the day it opened! The lounge features local bands and has specialty drinks as well as various beers, some unusual! It is rare that Chuck himself doesn't walk up and ask how you're doing. Oh and the cupcakes! In from a local home business, you need to try them because when they sell out they are gone for the day! A little pricey sometimes, but all in all a great dining experience!
(4)John B.
So, the other day I was stuck in a snow storm with the wife and kids. I decided I was hungry and found this place on Yelp. DON'T TRUST YELP OR GOOGLE FOR DIRECTIONS!! Way off! Just get on the street and go to the address, its huge, can't miss it! Valet Park, it's just easy and free! This place is a mix of culture, it has lots of influences but I would say its first a BBQ Place, next a Cajun place and a little bit of Mexican influence. Wait staff was very attentive, made you feel like family. Food: I have to say that Flavor is king here. Huge Portions and everything is just right. First up, BBQ Pork nachos: Big plate covered and layered in toppings, fresh ingredients and real cheese, not that yellow gunk. I give it a solid 10! Jambalaya with Craw-fish and Shrimp: This one is a hot one, my wife could not eat it but I loved it! Very large portion with a tomato pepper sauce. I really like the flavors and they did not skimp on the seafood! The tomato sauce was a little strange, I dug it but having live in New Orleans kind of odd on the plate. Overall an 8! Rib tips: This was a solid rib tip, nice and tender, good smoke, good sauce. Had some slaw with it and it was a good cream based slaw. Think KFC but homemade. Solid 8 Kiddos: Let me say the Price/Portion was overly fair. Lots of food, Drink and a Dessert! Fried fish strips: This was really tasty, My wife and I ended up eating a bunch of it. I would have just ordered that myself. 10 Mac and Cheese... In a world of Baked mac and cheese ruling the BBQ Joint menus, I was amazed at the great flavor and creaminess. I also had a side on my plate and this was a good quality basic Mac. 9 BBQ Pork Sliders: Honey bun, great sweet pork, Nuff said! 9 All of the plates came with a big portion of homemade battered fries that were very tasty. That said I would have like to see a more healthy option for the side and admittedly I did not ask, but I did not see one.(I know I know, It's a f-ing BBQ place, but my kids like fruit and stuff, I didn't say I want it... Sheesh) Lastly, we had a Brownie ala-mode, this was much bigger than I was expecting. Good brownie, could use better ice-cream. 6 Over all this is one of the best Family style, huge portion, fair priced, friendly BBQ joints around!
(5)David S.
We ate in the Voodoo Lounge. I liked the atmosphere - it's a fun place to have some food and drinks. But the server suggested a bourbon ale which wasn't great. I later came to find (from the same server) they were trying to finish the keg so they could tap a new Lagunitas beer, which I would have really preferred over her suggestion. I ordered the cochinita pibil. It was good but, to me, not worth the $13 price tag. Between the bourbon ale and the overpriced entree, I walked away like "meh."
(3)Alex R.
Favorite date night spot. I'm currently attempting to climb the 120 hall of fame, and getting to try some awesome beers and food because of it. Always recommend, Great deals too!
(5)Michelangelo V.
Honest review do not go here i live close by it n saw it on diners drive in n dives so i went the food was not good if u want the best barbeque food go to hog wild or wild hog i always forget which one comes first it is the best food its cheap n the portions are huge its far but trust me i live in midway n i go there as much as possible because its amaizin
(1)Rick H.
Uh-Mazing. Everything was delicious. We came here with our two small kids early on a Sunday. Asked for a booth when they wanted to seat us at a table. The host discussed a little with the head host but they sat us...nice. Now to the craft beer. FINALLY! A place that gets it. Listen up you swill guzzling restaurants and take a tip from Chuck. They have a handful of craft drafts but a very large selection of cans and bottles, I ordered 2 different ones, so happy. Now the food. Perfect. I ordered the full slab of ribs with the rice and mac & cheese. Meaty & flavorful, hit the spot. The wife got the 2 meat sampler, pulled pork and beef brisket. Both were good but the ribs were night's winner. Oh yeah, and most importantly we were treated very well, we sat and ordered like civilized humans and weren't shuffled on our way with preheated garbage like some other places. If you want EXCELLENT food go here. Chuck was trained by Rick Bayless and has a culinary degree (hence the wall of "suns" in the main dining area). Decided to do BBQ over Mexican on the South Side because he's always enjoyed it and most importantly there was a need for good BBQ. You ain't kiddin' chuck, I think you found a niche. Highly recommended and we will be coming back.
(5)Jeudi J.
Beignet breakfast! Cajun crabcakes are yummy and very reasonably priced. Beignets aren't NOLA good, but they are yummy with the chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. Great service. Gonna start working the new rewards program. BBQ nachos, here I come!
(5)Jeff L.
Cream of chicken and rice soup is my favorite!
(5)Chris W.
Sometimes you find a place that doesn't seem to fit in an area, but blows you away. A southern soul food, cajun cooking joint in Chicago? SOLD! Ribs were sweet but with a serious kick, had a nice smoke flavor as well. Would be the perfect tailgating entrée. Cajun green beans are outstanding. Was disappointed in the pulled pork but that was it. Started with the seafood gumbo which was very good. Finished off with bananas foster crepes, better be sitting down for that. Drink menu looks awesome but stayed away. They have hop, skip and go naked?! Only time I've ever seen that is in a kitchen with college students or drunk adults concocting it.
(4)Johnny C.
We were seated and our ordered were taken right away. We've literally been waiting for an hour for our food to come other people who arrived after us have been served before us. Our waitress hasn't even came to our table to even apologize or let us know what's going on with our food all we ordered were some grilled chicken sandwiches and a soup.
(1)Melissa L.
First time here, table for 1..kinda got seated right by the door and right behind the lady seats everyone...ehhhh.not a great place to sit..people walking right behind me kept brushing up on the chair. Mike was my server, super friendly and pretty awesome at refilling my cherry Pepsi without me asking. Ordered a Shrimp poboy deluxe which came with 2 sides. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy. The macaroni was so cheesy and delicious and the gravy on these potatoes was a phenomenal. The po boy was delicious although it could have used a little bit more Chipotle mayo ( at least I think that's what it was). The shrimp in the po boy are huge and very good. It does take a minute to figure out how to grasp the sandwich so that all the lettuce and tomato on fallout. But overall besides the seating I have no complaints and will definitely be coming back here very soon.
(4)Qleanne D.
If you live in Burbank you know Chucks is the hot place to eat! Great southern style food! May seem pricey but once you see how big your portion is you'll understand! Sides are fantastic! Everything about Chucks is great.
(5)Kimber F.
The food was excellent, and the service was great too. The portions, even the kids menu items, were very big and two meal worthy. The music and atmosphere were upbeat. I had the Danish salad and it was huge and tasty. Great place and will definitely go again!
(5)carmen b.
Hello, FOOD SNOB here. Its places like this that remind me not to eat at chain restaurants. This place is everything you want in a BBQ restaurant. Just make sure you make reservations no matter what time it is. Started with the Seafood Gumbo. Great if not better than any Cajun Joint. A lot of Seafood. Excellent. I had the Beef Brisket, with side of Mac and Cheese, and Chipotle Rice. Tender Beef, Cheesy Mac. Tasted the Ribs. Tender and SMOKEY. And OH the GREEN BEANS, a must. Made with Bacon. Great portions at a reasonable price. And as I was eating my dessert, Coconut Banana Cream pie, Chuck himself came by and asked how everything was. He told me he tried making the pie I was eating with Merange instead of cream, but never came out right. He just hired a Pastry Chef and will soon put it back on the menu. There are some Mexican dishes on the menu from his days working for Rick Bayless. This was a Mothers Day that felt more like a Fathers Day!!!
(5)Betty H.
Food 4: nachos, bbq platter, fried shrimp Service:5 Cleanliness:5 Will definitely be back
(5)Tish B.
Took my sister here for her birthday for breakfast. OMG!! The waitstaff,the atmosphere and the food was GREAT! We can't wait to get back for lunch & dinner LOL!!! They deserved 5 stars! The place was clean,we were seated right away. I can't wait to vist again and SOON and bring some more of my family!
(5)Jennifer F.
Amazing catfish, green beans, macaroni and cheese and jalapeno cheddar corn bread!! It is so good!!!!
(5)Laurence K.
Came by chance we were in area so went on yelp to find us a place to eat I saw the patio and another bbq place down the road but this looked much more interesting . The place was busy we sat down they have a nice selection if beers but we opted for iced teas I ordered brisket with potatoes salad and cole slaw Jim gas the chicken fried chicken with mashed and Cajun Greek beans . Hot rolls came out first which were pretty tasty I tried the bbq sauces on the table one regular and the other hot Both wee good! My mouth was watering for my food! The sever brought out 3 more sauces for me to try on North Carolina one Tennessee smokey and one honey chipotle wow.i real yelled the Tennessee sort of smokey our food arrived and looked good My brisket looked good I was surprised it had the point and deckle which are 2 different cuts of the brisket it was very tasty and it was a very large portion the cole slaw and the potato salad were both Homemade and good Joms chicken was very tasty with the mashed potatoes and gravy The Cajun beans was my only disappointment mainly I don't like canned beans But all in all a very good experience Sheri was our server she was knowledgeable and had a great personality
(4)Jeannie A.
The restaurant is good and the food is great....but for a drinkin' good time, turn left instead of right...and get your VoodDoo on in the lounge! I've been going to Chuck's for years....and Chuck Fest is not to be missed (coming up in September at Toyota Park). Since moving to this new location and the expansion of the VoodDoo lounge, it has become a spot for many happy hours. They have an extensive list of beers on tap and a huge menu of IPAs and Craft Beers. If you are a beer lover, this is the place to be. If you go to the VoodDoo lounge website, they list the specials on tap. As always, the food is good, but better when paired with beer!! Love me some Chuck's!
(4)G S.
The BBQ ribs are so big it took me 3 meals to finish them. I love the baked beans they make, very smokey and BBQ flavored. They also have the Brunswick stew for a side. What a great side as an alternative to not being a fry guy. This restaurant is a true treat to the senses. Enjoy fellow Yelpers
(5)Alfonso T.
Been here plenty of times. Whether it's to catch a game at the Vooodoo Lounge or grab a bite this place never disappoints. Huge, HUGE beer list and amazing food. The Korean wings and his BBQ sandwiches are my go-to. Awesome specials too. Both drinks and dinner.
(5)leonard f.
I'm a fan , I had the Carne Asada, the beef was so tender my wife even thought it was great . She had the cobia and liked it a lot , the martinis were great . Been there before and going again. Vicki was a darn good waitress.
(4)Sarah S.
Best soups ever and they change daily depending on what fresh ingredients Chuck has either from his garden or flown in fresh! I'm a vegetarian and I eat here at least once a week. There really is something for everyone and I have never been disappointed! Recently hd the crawfish boil, not only fresh and delicious, but so much fun to eat. My whole family and all of my coworkers rave about Chucks regularly. So go eat there! (Before I went "veg" I would get the pulled pork all the time. Some of the best pulled pork ever!)
(5)Robert C.
The only negative I have to say is there is absolutely nothing wrong with this place except not making a reservation and having to wait.
(5)Tony P.
Went there 1/10/2015 and between my wife and I tried the pork shoulder and the catfish. The pork shoulder was terrific and I was very happy with the place. My wife's catfish though upstaged my meal as it was as she put it "the best fried catfish she has ever had". Great batter, not greasy at all, the fish remained moist and flaky ... Kids had a great time too as the mac and cheese was very good as well.
(5)Kristina g.
Amazing food!!! Burgers are delicious, ribs delicious, fries are crazy good!! And OMG the bread pudding is to die for!! Awesome place for drinks and family time!
(5)Cynthia C.
I have been to this place a few times but mostly for lunch. I want to say its been at least a year. Recently I decided to take the family to the newer Chucks in Darien. The place had a great lively atmosphere and my waitress was the best! Now for the food: The sides were de-licious (especially the mac & cheese), however my carne asada en mole was cold. They made another plate for me and it was pretty good and they also didn't charge me for it. Good experience there and I would go back. I finally decided to go back to the Chucks in Burbank for breakfast because my favorite was their cafe de la olla with a hint of orange and brown sugar..YUMMMM..as well as their famous cream of chicken soup (as most spots serve this on a Sunday). I even invited my friend with her kids. They only wanted the soup. Our waiter was okay. Nothing memorable. I ordered their chilaquiles and I believe my friend had huevo rancheros. Again, my food wasn't hot; barely warm. I did not like the chilaquiles at all. The sauce did not have any flavor and their was more sauce than tortillas. Besides that my food was VERY salty and I even mentioned it to the waiter and he basically just blew that off. My friends daughter asked for the soup and he said it wasn't available. I was surprised since that it one of their most recommend items. His response was "our kitchen isn't big enough to make that all day". okaaayyy???? Needless to say, I won't be back for breakfast but I might go to the one in Darien.
(3)PAMELA W.
Best surprise in a while. Everything was delicious. Catfish was so hot and fresh. Ribs were meaty and tender. I loved the house BBQ sauce ( the mild ). The Mac and cheese really surprised me because I don't like Mac and cheese. I could not stop eating this one. Rib tips were good and generous. Our server Danni was very accommodating. Brought out samples of different sauces and even labeled them. We ordered the banana bread pudding to go because we were so full. Got it home and it was mouthwatering. I can't wait to bring my friends here!
(5)Nanc A.
Amazing food amazing ribs and chicken. Don't forget the mash.
(5)Chuck S.
I've been to Chuck's a few times and always enjoyed the meals. I got a few of the BBQ and it was very good, not amazing but good. I fish tacos are good, pulled pork was very good and all the sides are good as well. I'm never still hungry when I leave there. Went there this weekend for Breakfast and it was very good. I got the country breakfast, I ordered egg whites but there were chunks of yolk in my eggs. The ham was a little over cooked for my liking but everything else was good. I got a sweet potato pancake, oh my god was that good. I didnt even want to put syrup on it. I will be back to Chucks. It's good food.
(4)Bex F.
Holy stuffed. I can barely type I'm so full. Hauling all the way down here, we picked up to go. The parking lot was a madhouse though it smelled fantastic. Somehow got indoors which was tricky as it was packed at 5 pm on a Sunday. Ordered the brisket dinner with Cajun green beans and mac for him, pulled pork sandwich Memphis style with fries and mac for me. Boy that was a long drive home, smelling it in the car. It was all really tasty. On it's own, the mild BBQ sauce didn't wow me but with the sandwich and slaw, it was good. Nummy fries. Mac and cheese was heavy on the black pepper but it was still good. The hubby enjoyed his meal quite well. Pretty good overall. And seriously, I am so full I don't know if I'm writing in English or not. Portion sizes were ginormous - even a quarter of my sandwich was a meal in itself. The menu is definitely interesting with all its influences and if we lived closer I'm sure we'd be back checking out the various offerings. So full.
(4)Kelly D.
SOOOO Good!!! Best: Mac and cheese, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, crab cake appetizer. Huge beer list and some decent cocktails. Servers are always friendly and you cannot beat the price for the taste and quality. The owner, Chuck, is always checking in on customers, getting refills-that says a lot about how much pride he puts into his business. Only thing I wish they would change is having the mac and cheese on their late night menu-I always get cravings for it late night :(
(5)roy l.
Well, again service was poor and the food was great. I'm going to try Darien location next time and they have the same issues I'll phone in a pick up order
(3)Kevin M.
Simply the best
(5)Tim H.
Finally made it to the Beignet breakfast (3rd Saturday each month) and also really enjoyed Chuck's Chorizo Rancheros. A whole lot of food but always enjoy the left overs. I think a chunky cook is good but I'm not the cook. lol Chuck's certainly combines some great flavors to his meals... oh yeah, get the sauces with the beignets! Great live New Orleans music accompanies the beignet breakfast also. After seeing the size of George the crawfish, I need to make it to their crawfish boil before the month of May slips away. They sure offer up some great specials, sure hope they continue the tradition in the Darien locaton. Perhaps this time next month, I'll have a new review for the Darien location for Father's Day.
(5)Diana H.
Service is good, employees really nice food is decent. When it comes to ordering to go they always mess up the order or the food is cold. For the food we get the price is really high.
(3)Jason N.
Don't know what else can be said about Chuck's that already hasn't been, but the consensus is it's pretty darn good. They have an incredible variety of food. Think of BBQ, Cajun, and Mexican fare making sweet love and that's what you get. I'll actually start out with the breakfast, if you like corned beef hash this is a must try! Its homemade hash and yes, they actually smoke their corned beef. Now process that fact, breathe, and take a second to recover from the thought of the tasty possibility here. It tastes exactly as it sounds, delicious! The dinner options are plentiful and delish as well. The ribs, rib tips, chicken, and brisket are all smoked to perfection. They have several sauce options which are all good. Just read the description and if any tickle your fancy you'll probably enjoy it quite a bit. My favorite appetizer is the BBQ nachos. Take homemade tortilla chips, brisket, pulled pork, pico, guac, sour cream, cheese, and BBQ sauce and there you have an amazing appetizer good enough to be a main dish. Chuck's is one of those places that has something for everyone, and based on the constant crowd and people who travel from near and far that alone speaks for itself.
(4)Josh E.
Meh. I expected more out of this place given the reviews and the press it's gotten. I got the ribs and chicken - both were OK but nothing special. Chicken was a little on the dry side. Green beans and mashed were pretty good and they have a huge beer selection. Not worth the trek down there if you're a city dweller.
(3)Leo P.
Nice BBQ place with sports Bar atmosphere on one end and dining on the other side. Food is good, if your crazy about BBQ. Great south side restaurant if your craving for good BBQ and a beer.
(4)Catherine P.
Chuck is a culinary genius and a savvy business man who serves to please. I'm always happy with whatever I order. The specials are ever changing so dining here is exciting. Chuck's also has one of the most extensive beer selections on the south side (mostly bottles). I wish this location had more on tap, but what is available on tap is good. Good service and a clean environment are provided too. Love me some Chuck's.
(5)Jasmine C.
I'm surprised this restaurant exists in Burbank (and now Darien, where Chuck, the owner, opened another restaurant). I would expect to find a restaurant with food of this caliber in downtown Chicago. The food is excellent, and friends and family I have brought here agree. You will be greeted by the rich BBQ smell of smoked meat as you walk through the parking lot. Staff is friendly and the waitstaff is knowledgeable. Portions are plentiful, and a variety of BBQ sauces are offered to suit different tastes. You can't go wrong with the brisket or ribs. The meat is tender and never dry. Besides BBQ dishes, there are also flavorful Mexican meals that are authentically prepared. I'm not talking Pepe's or Zaca Tacos here, as Chuck's has choices like chicken enchiladas in mole sauce (the serving is huge!) and poblano pepper soup. One of the specials offered on Sundays is Mexican pot roast, also very tasty. In addition, there are always creative Cajun dishes on the menu as daily specials. This is also one of my favorite breakfast places. Chuck's offers a variety unmatched by the bland, typical generic choices at the local Greek-owned family restaurants. And if you like coffee, get the urn of Mexican coffee--it's terrific! You know this place has to be good, as it was featured on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I highly recommend Chuck's! In fact, sometimes Chuck will even come out to the dining room to chat with guests.
(5)Wendy C.
I love the BBQ nachos. The service is great. All of their food is great..their food is what I come back for every time. I've never had anything bad off of the menu. They have a lot of beer..like over 100. It's awesome. I love chucks!
(5)Javier G.
Good food, good place but twice have been there and both times been out of the beef brisket. I will say that I've gone for dinner both times and it's been after 7pm so probably my fault. The corn bread is good, rib tips are awesome and gumbo pretty tasty.
(4)Tiredofbadfood L.
Great bbq! good service and great beer. Mac & Cheese really delicious. Someone here understands how to smoke meat and pays attention to meat quality. Loved it. Good value for your dollar
(4)Tony K.
Famous Daves BBQ is a good amount better than this place in every way. The ambiance, the service and especially the food. This place is WAY overrated. Its good, dont get me wrong but its not close to what you would imagine it to be. The interior looks like a greek restaurant. The parking is poor. There is a BBQ place a few blocks west that is BETTER and less expensive. I wouldnt go to this place again considering the prices, service, food & ambiance. I dont think South-siders know what great BBQ really is. Ive been all over the country and this is NOT great barbecue.
(2)Jim B.
Whenever I cannot make up my mind where to go, I always default to Chucks. I go there for sporting events especially before Fire games. Huge selection of beer. Servers know their stuff. Waitstaff is quick. Food is absolutely to die for. Always good to see Chuck himself at the restaurant.
(5)Melissa B.
I really feel like this is 3-3.5 star worthy, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. First thing is first. Make reservations! They accept (and seem to honor) open table reservations easily, so save yourself the headache. This place gets packed. The staff was really friendly and our server was always around when we needed her even though she had several large parties as well. Parking is a nightmare. Make sure you watch out for the residential only parking along the side streets. The beer list is great. I have no complaints there. They have about a 4 page beer menu. I switched to a hurricane after my first beer to check out the mixed drinks and wasn't disappointed. That one hurricane did the trick. Nice and strong. They also had several different tea choices. I thought that was unique. I was all set to order the boneless rib sandwich on the special menu. Our server then realized she had given us an old menu and the sandwich wasn't available. Major bummer. I was really craving it at that point. I went ahead with the 1/2 slab ribs with Carolina sauce, cole slaw and fries instead. We also ordered the brisket dinner with mac and cheese and a cup of gumbo for our other entrée and an order of wings as our appetizer. This is where they lost me. The server recommended the wings. I loved them. They were well done (how I prefer). I thought they had a great flavor. We only made it through 2 wings and the gumbo showed up though. Literally 20 seconds after the gumbo and the rest of our food shows up and is thrown on the table (by a runner). So now we have our app, soup and meals in front of us. A restaurant that is this popular and has been around this long should have the timing issue down. I liked the ribs. I thought they were a little fatty, but still enjoyed them. The cole slaw seemed store bought (like from Jewel) and the fries were horrible. They tasted like Burger King to me. The BBQ sauce was a winner though and that's the important thing. The brisket and gumbo got sort of meh reviews at the table, so I didn't bother trying those. The dessert menu looked amazing. I was really excited to try it along with some interesting sounding coffee on the menu, but I was stuffed. I think next time I will sit at the bar and just stick to apps and dessert. I'm hoping they just had an off night and the timing will work out much better next time.
(4)Elizabeth L.
Normally I'm a huge fan. But, this time the service wasn't up to par. My main complaint for today was that we had to wait over 10 minutes for our check. We asked Carlos, our waiter, 3 times for it. After the second time he proceeded to take the orders of two large groups. Not nice at all. However, the food was great, as always.
(3)Oscar S.
Im glad I found this place!!!! Theres not too many places around this area with good southern cooking.I had a serious taste for gumbo and didnt want to drive 10 miles out of the way.Sooooo,I did my research.I lucked out!!!! Found this place only 2 miles from where I was.NIIICCCCE!!!!!! They definitely serve up some good food.Im a big eater so I ordered up a couple of things.Really good gumbo.Jambalaya was delicious as well.Service was great.I found a new spot!!!!!!!!!! YEEESSSSS!!!!!
(5)Elizabeth F.
Three strikes and I'm done. I was so excited to see a place featured on DDD from Food Network near my hometown. My first visit was for breakfast. Cajun eggs Benedict. The server was wonderful; the eggs had been poached so long the yolks were solid. The dish had to be sent back. The second visit was in the bar. Server was wonderful; BBQ sampler platter for $17 barely had any meat. It was more like an appetizer. Third visit was to the bar this past Monday evening. Horrible server! It was like we were a bother to her made only more apparent when we could overhear her being nice to what must have been regulars. Ordered the BBQ nachos. The guacamole was gray. How could that leave the kitchen? How the server think that was acceptable? She never checked back with us to see how the food was... Or give us extra napkins since it was nachos/finger food.... Never checked on us for more cocktails. Truly disappointing.
(2)Misty S.
Came here on a Tuesday night, which happened to be Fat Tuesday. There was a live band playing and a fun atmosphere. The place was crowded but we got a table after 10 minutes. They had a tapas menu in addition to their regular menu offering atypical choices like alligator and egg roll sampler. There are so many things on their menus, there surely must be something for everyone here. The ribs and Honey Chipotle rib tips I tried were good, but nothing that stood out to me. Let's just say I've had better ribs and that's no fault of Chuck's. The BBQ combo came with a half a rack of ribs plus one choice or extra meat and 2 sides for $17. The mac and cheese and green beans were okay. The hot sauce available at the table wasn't that spicy but has a good flavor. Chuck's have an extensive beer menu (over 120 options!) and the one I tried was good. If you like Guinness, you will like the Arcadia Imperial Stout. Our waitress was fast and accurate. One warning about the bathroom, the water was freezing cold when I was washing my hands, but at least there was a hand dryer that can warm them afterwards.
(3)Cesar R.
The name is deceiving as we expected your typical BBQ. Boy, were we wrong! The chefs combination of typical southern and Mexican spices makes his meals explode with flavor! We had the Carne Asada and several appetizers I can't remember. We were going from one dish to the other trying to savor it all. Finally, we decided we would just have to return. I highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed! Happy to have this type of food so close to the south side!
(5)Daniel G.
I have been coming to Chucks for several years, and will keep coming back because the food is absolutely outstanding. Service has always been great and Chuck puts a lot of thought into the menu and I enjoy the rotation of specials that come out. Also the voodoo bar is a great place to catch a game and enjoy one of the many beers they have in their expansive beer menu
(5)Christine O.
I checked this place out for lunch yesterday with my dad and his co-worker (they are both private pilots who were in town for just a few hours). My dad's co-worker recommended Chuck's and has been there a few times. The restaurant makes a huge selection of soups in house. We had a Mexican style chili, stuffed pepper soup, and chicken dumpling soup. I had the Bahn Mi, which I was told was a new menu item. The chicken was perfectly cooked, spicy and delicious with fresh asian slaw on top. It was a bigger sandwich than I should have eaten all at once being that it was such a late lunch, but it was just so good I couldn't help it. The staff was super accommodating when we got a last minute call that the passengers were headed back to the airport for a departure... 4 hours ahead of their scheduled departure. They quickly got our food packaged up in to-go containers so that we could get back Midway, get the airplane ready and an updated flight plan filed. I will have to go back with my boyfriend to enjoy this place again when we aren't rushed! A+ in my book.
(5)James B.
Great for Cajun/Creole, Mexican, or BBQ. They have great specials everyday. And a beer list with 120 bottles and a few specials on tap everyday.
(5)Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This review is solely based on visits during the Beignet Saturday brunch experience.* The restaurant's unique combo of classic Southern/Nawlins style with Tex-Mex dishes yields an eclectic menu, especially for breakfast (which is offered every day, but the beignets are only on the third Saturday of the month).My husband and I have brought friends here from out of town as well as have patronized it as a party of two. We were not disappointed either time with the atmosphere, service or food. Atmosphere with attitude - From the outside, it looks a bit dated and kitschy with the huge pig. But I got over that once inside because it's cozy and bright. The building is split into dining rooms and the bar. The restaurant area has sunshine orange and yellow tones of wall paint in addition to lots of windows. Upholstery for the chairs and booths is basic, but the decor ranges in African tribal masks, colorful paintings and brass shaped into instruments and suns. On Beignet Saturdays, there is live music of the Southern jazzy quality, which definitely adds to the transformation of the environment. It's more so instrumental, which is the perfect accompaniment to conversation. Solid service - Service started well both times by following accommodations I had outlined in my Opentable reservations from setting up for a large group when our friends visited to saving a booth for two when it was just my husband and me. Service has also been consistent and friendly, probably to go along with the Southern charm, by making suggestions and small talk but also knowing when to leave us alone. Funky food (in a good way) - As far as food is concerned, Chuck's certainly ranks up there for a brunch fan such as myself. I'm always looking for twists on the staples. Almost all the bfast food will have a classic American base like eggs, potatoes and sausage but then the chef kicks it up a notch with bold spices and flavors. Even with the beverages here, we discovered a version of coffee that we need to replicate at home. The Café de Olla is a French press pot enough for two with orange, cinnamon and brown sugar. I love drinking this black to really savor all the nuances of sweet and zesty. With the entrees, a skillet or benny are my go-to brunch items. I've tried the Cajun skillet and the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict here, and now prefer the skillet only because I am a bit picky when it comes to crab cakes. The crab cakes here tasted and looked like they were made in-house, but they were just not up to the standard of flaky fresh meat that I require. But the skillet had the balanced ratio of potato slices, peppers and Chorizo sausage so that it had a solid kick but was not painful. I also love ordering eggs either poached or over-medium (which they have cooked to my liking here) so that I get a little runny yolk to break open over the other ingredients, acting as a sort of sauce. Now, the toast to accompany the dishes definitely leaves a LOT to be desired. The bread looks and tastes like it came out of a grocery chain bag. I am also a major stickler for quality, from scratch bread, so I need it thick with a definitive crust on the outside and a soft middle on the inside. What REALLY makes this place shine is that special on beignets. We've ordered it as an appetizer when with a big group and as a dessert when just for my husband and me. I've never been to New Orleans, but my husband proclaims himself an expert of the area due to his business trips so he can attest to the quality of the beignets of Chuck's. It's obvious they are homemade because they are made fresh to order, coming out irregularly shaped and hot. In fact, on our most recent visit we almost missed our chance at eating them because we asked for them close to the end of brunch and they were almost out. I would have been saddened if I did not get a chance to eat these heavenly pillows of sugar. Let me emphasize that I am NOT a sweets kind of gal. Give me a bag of chips over chocolate bar any day. But on this day, all bets are off. I am absolutely in love with these bite-size, doughnut-like treats because of the consistency with the slightly crunchy shell covered in powdered sugar and the ultra soft, cakey interior. By dipping them in the chocolate and/or the vanilla sauces on the side, it adds another level of flavor and texture that completes the dish. For only $5.50, this special is a steal. In the end, I can at least recommend Chuck's to you for brunch, my all-time fav meal of the day. It's a place I'm willing to come back to more than once for this particular meal, and it's certainly a place I'd love to try during dinner.
(4)Gypsy G.
My meal was ok...nothing to write home about. Not special enough for me to return. Customer service was great though.
(3)Catherine E.
The RIBS are fantastic! Best BBQ in the area! Pulled Pork sandwich was very good. Soups are so good there are addictive! Side dishes need work.
(3)Dan D.
One of my buddies family owns this place so this review might be a bit biased, but either way before and after I found out the food and service have always been top notch. The first time I ate here I arrived with my girlfriend around 9pm and was seated quickly. The waiter was keen to mention the specials and his favorite choices of meat. We both decided on the Chuck Special, which is the signature beef brisket sandwich. The beef was tender, flavorful and well seasoned. The signature sauce is a bit sweet for my liking, almost with a cranberry note, but worked well with the beef. The side dishes were quite tasty. I had gumbo and my girlfriend had cream of chicken soup. Overall I would gladly return, great service and a definite pride of ownership. Everything is hot and fresh until close.
(4)Gina W.
Love Chuck 's!! Dinner is always great. You can't go wrong sticking to the specials. Great daily soups. The cream of poblano is the best soup I have had in a long time.The bananas foster crepes are to die for but the best of all is the breakfast!! Hands down best breakfast/coffee on the south side!
(5)Courtney M.
I am not going to lie...I was extremely suspicious of all the raving reviews regarding Chuck's. The reason for my suspicion was because I am in love with all things cajun and I grew up with cajun food on the table on a routine basis. My grams is cajun and well, let's just say I was ready to see what this place was all about. The building itself is nice and it was extremely calm and quiet when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The waitress was friendly and attentive as well. But I am not really writing this review to discuss the service (although it really was great). I am writing this review because of the joy and warm fuzzies I felt when I tasted my shrimp etouffee. Nothing can compare to good old n'awlins food, but this dish was truly delightful. The sauces were spicy and the shrimp was very tasty- both pleased my palate. After consuming the massive lunch portion placed before me, I moved on to the bananas foster with crepes. This too was delicious and an interesting change from the original style. Overall, this place had very good southern food for being in a random suburb in Illinois. I left full, fat and happy- what more could you ask for??!
(4)Jessica H.
Have been here twice now, once for dinner (good) and most recently for breakast (subpar). Definitely wouldn't come back here for breakfast. At the recommendation of our server I had the chilaquiles which I found to be totally flavorless. The tomato sauce was bland and I asked for easy onions, and what I ended up with was none of the toppings that were supposed to come with the dish: monterey jack cheese, onions, and cilantro. Though I was hungry I ate virtually none of the food and came home and ate breakfast there, if that tells you anything. Would have been a two-star score if not for the good dinner experience. Would return for dinner, but not for breakfast.
(3)Lashone E.
Great food! Once a month my sisters and I find a new place to eat. If the food is good we'll recommend it to our families and friends. Well, I ended up buying take out from Chucks the next day because the leftovers I brought home was demolished by my family. This is a winner! Great food, you get plenty of it and the service was awesome!
(5)Cesar M.
I have been here many times over the years . I was here yesterday for lunch with a friend. This friend lives about an hour away and every time he comes to visit, he wants to come eat here, he says they have the best BBQ ribs he has ever had. Now that I write about it, does he come to see me and takes advantage to go eat here or? since he is coming to eat here he decides to spend some time with me??? I need to have a serious talk with this guy. The ribs are good and mostly everything, but every once in a while Chuck will come up with a new dish that is not as good as everything else, big points for the creativity but not for the taste. As an example, last time I was here we ordered some kind of quesadillas that were just a little odd in flavor. Normal, I guess for restaurants to try something and see if it works. Mostly everything is good here tough. Yesterday we had full slab of ribs with green beans and baked potato. Brisket sandwich with mash potatoes and coleslaw. Everything was good. I also had to have a bowl of Chuck's red, so good and flavorful reason enough to keep coming back just for this. My friend also ordered a poblano cream soup that was delicious. Chuck's good food, nice service
(4)Joanne D.
I have been going to Chucks since 98 when I worked down the street from the little tiny building he had on the corner of the strip mall. Since I moved to the western suburbs anytime that I am near the south side of chicago I have to stop by and either dine in or take out. A lot of the same people from the early days of Chuck are still there when I pop in and out to eat. I really like the service and especially the amazing food. I highly recommend you try the salad with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette OMG that is to die for. I would eat that by the truck loads if I could. I don;t know if they still have it anymore but I was a BIG fan of his homemade Thai Noodle Salad another one to look out for if it's available. The soups are always made fresh so it does not taste like a processed soup at all. The ribs will fall off of the bone ...yum So if your in a hurry I would say pre order for take out, but if you have time and your kids are past that age of running around. Go there because you want to definitely make sure that you can sit down and soak in the amazing food. Oh yeah - order the homemade mac and cheese HEAVEN!
(5)Hugh P.
BBQ in Chicago, a treat!
(3)Dena S.
Have had awesome food and service every time. On weekends I recommend reservations as it gets super busy. Highly recommend for any meal!
(5)Andrew M.
Had lunch today, best Rib Tips I ever had, good Chili too, I have to invest in a smoker, made a really big difference from just baking in the oven then slapping on the grill, keep up the good work
(5)Julia C.
The ribs are meaty and tender. I had the mild sauce and it was great! The baked beans were very good but a little spicy for me. The server was nice and efficient.
(4)Paul S.
This is the go-to place for my wife and I. The rotating specials menu is always great and the regular items are always delicious. Pulled pork sandwich and the hot links are great. Mashed potatoes and green beans are amazing sides.
(5)Stina N.
I've reviewed Chuck's Fest but never Chuck's; how did that even happen?!? Chuck's is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the south burbs. My favorite dish is definitely the fish tacos which are, regrettably, only available on Mondays. The BBQ nachos are fantastic. Truly, I don't think there's anything here that isn't delicious. The beer is list out of this world - over 120 options to choose from! And there's a prize if you managed to drink all 120 (not in one night of course. The only prize for that much beer is probably death by alcohol poisoning.) Beyond the awesome food and vast array of beers, I love the fact that Chuck's has also started producing some of their own produce. During the cooking demo at Chuck's Fest this year, I learned that they bought land in Hickory Hills and started farming, and if I remember correctly the goal is to make the farm self sustaining. Be still my tree-hugging heart! In the sea of chain restaurants and greasy spoon diners that make up the eateries of the south suburbs, Chuck's rises above as an absolute star.
(5)Star L.
You know a place is going to be great when the chef/owner has learned from Rick Bayless! What I love about Chuck's is it isn't a chain, and the food is very good! I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and Cajun green beans, and it did not disappoint. The portions were sizeable and filling, and everything was fresh (I had a takeout order and live 25 minutes away; it was still hot and tasty when I got home). There appears to always be a variety of food options to choose from, not to mention a small area where you can buy BBQ sauce and rubs, and daily food specials. The staff was also very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable about the menu. This was my first experience with Chuck's, and I will be definitely back when the craving for BBQ hits...or maybe breakfast, as it is also served here.
(5)Steve H.
Finally got to try this place as my GF and I were in the area at a mechanic getting her car fixed. The menu is rather huge which can be intimidating as you may feel that the kitchen might lose focus for some or all of their dishes. Yet none of them disappoint. We went the EXACT opposite in our menu choices... I with their BBQ platter and she with their vegetarian enchiladas. The BBQ platter was ginormous for about $15!! It came with a side of fries and cajun style green beans. Both were quite tasty, but they certainly know how to smoke some quality BBQ cuts of meat. My half slab of ribs and pile of brisket were oh so tender with pink smoke rings bursting with flavor! The GF's vegetarian enchiladas were topped with a green mole sauce that was out of this world. My taste buds usually reject any mole sauce that touches them, but for some reason the taste just made them sing non-stop "Allelujah". Chuck has been quoted that he takes pride in adequately seasoning his kitchen creations and I couldn't agree anymore. Even though the tables are stocked with plenty of BBQ sauce, ketchup, salt and pepper dispensers, not once did I ever had to reach out for anyone of them! 120 Beers on hand in their Voodoo Lounge??? This place is amazing, I'm in love!
(5)Ashley C.
Everything I have gotten here has been amazing! Their soup, sandwiches, sides and their breakfasts are all amazing! They have the best hands down biscuits and gravy I have ever had!!! I also love that they have a decent size craft beer selection! All for a decent price!
(5)Marlyse W.
Brisket in brisket dinner had a lot of connective tissue which made it a bit hard to eat. Mac and cheese good but not spectacular. Service friendly very good and friendly. I would go again if I'm in the neighborhood but I wouldn't make a special trip. The roasted shrimp etoufee was tasty.
(3)Roxy H.
Great BBQ smack dab in the middle of Burbank Illinois. Wow. I like this place. The barbeque sauces are great. The green beans are soooooooooo good! I love that they let you sample the many sauces they have to figure out what kind you want on your food. The portions are huge. The pulled chicken is great. I've had it for lunch while at work and I didn't have that sluggish sleepy feeling afterwards. Yay!
(5)Tamika S.
Chuck's is a nice spot! They have indoor and outdoor seating The food is good & full of flavor! They have a nice variety of food on the menu (Creole, Mexican, & Southern highlights) and an array of yummy desserts! I've dined in and ordered take out. Both experiences were pleasant as the wait staff have all been friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. They have a lounge called the "Voodoo lounge" of which I have yet to try! I'll be returning to this place and will be sure to visit the lounge! If you are in the area check it out!
(4)Michelle H.
I am not a saucy girl. I desire it dry, rubbed and smoked. (BBQ, that is.) So when heading to Chucks, I was glad to see their very extensive menu had not only BBQ, but a hodgepodge mix of comfort food, burgers, and Mexican inspired dishes. If you are heading there with a larger party (we had 8), call ahead for reservations. The Sunday afternoon we were here, the place was packed with a line out the door. Granted, it was St. Patrick's Day, and smoked corned beef brisket was the rage of the day. Our server was simply wonderful. He was able to time the appetizers and meals perfectly, offer menu suggestions, and explain in detail the odd assortment of decorations adorning the walls. We started out with jalapeno cornbread and butter, and a few orders of the pulled pork nachos. The cornbread was served in a skillet, with a small scoop of butter on top. It was good, but awfully dry and in need of extra sides of butter. The nachos were great! Your normal nacho toppings, but with juicy and flavorful shredded pork. To me, it was the highlight of the meal. After reading the descriptions of their different BBQ sauces, I decided on a pulled pork sandwich with North Carolina sauce. I specifically ordered my with sauce only, as opposed to "North Carolina Style," which means they dump cole slaw on your sandwich. Unfortunately it came out with the slaw on the meat. So after a few minutes of meticulously pulling cabbage shreds from my port, I thoroughly enjoyed my sandwich. The N.C. sauce was fabulous. I despise sweet sauce, and was pleased with the vinegar based spicy sauce that encased my gloriously tender pulled pork! Since the portions are huge, no one really had any room to sample deserts. I will be back here, since BBQ I love is hard to find. Plus, with the menu being so large, I will not run out of things to try. My only regret is that I didn't eat here when I lived in the area!
(4)Larry F.
Don't go to a bbq place and order a pork chop like this person (((blast)))
(5)Carm P.
I see all the 4 and 5 start reviews, that's the reason why we went. IDK? Off night I guess, I left there very disappointed. The one things that really stuck out for the night was the service, Granted we had a 12 top, 4 of which were kids. In no way shape or form do I ever expect a 12 top to come out all in once but it took 4 rounds to get the food out and another 3 trips to get everyone their to tortillas, 3 of the containers originally came to the table empty. The food runners kept trying to give our food to the table behind us on more then one occasion. I had the BBQ brisket sandwich, 3 chunks of meat held together by the burnt end of the skin. It wasn't very tasty.
(2)Jenn S.
Sadly, as with a lot of other places, this place fries all their fried food (except fries themselves) with the same exact fryer/oil that they do shellfish in....so sadly we were unable to experience the alligator tail & other appetizers. The main entrees - BBQ wise - were very good!! Some of the best we have found in Chicago so far!!! We didnt try the Cajun stuff but from what I heard from people around us, it is supposed to be very good also. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS PLACE!!!
(3)Raul D.
The food that I had tried, was absolutely AMAZING! I loved the tastes these different combinations happen to mix on your pallet. Also, the beer selection is rather vast as opposed to other traditional places. This is by far the best places I have the pleasure of eating at since I have the opportunity to travel the country. This place is the shyt!!!! I created an account on yelp to just comment on here! I already knew that this place must be tasty with the parking lot being rather full. That speaks volumes on the cuisine! Also I had the very delightful Cochinita Pebil platter, which happen to be the special of the day for Saturday. It's very tasty and reasonably priced. I probably paid more if they asked for it. Yes, it's that good!
(5)Steve F.
This place was awesome back when they were just a little joint off central, but since the move, quality has gone down each time I go. It was barely noticeable at first, a few tough bites of chicken, a cold spot in the gumbo, but now, and I was there yesterday, its gotten out of hand. My table, who are all locals, decided to give Chucks one last go before totally writing it off and parting ways with an old friend, so we all ordered something different and something we had not had in a long while. Well, we all made bad decisions. Long story short, the mac and cheese tasted old, like the cheese on top gets that filminess to it; the pot roast taco (the special) looked like soup on a plate because it was so sparingly adorned with meat; the shrimp po boy was tolerable (I mostly attribute this to the fact that messing up a Po Boy is hard to do since its like 5 ingredients). The friends I went with still agree the Beignets are good enough to come back for, and that the drink specials are decent if you can sneak in while the servers aren't totally swamped. Sorry Chuck, but we've had some real bad meals in the past, this most recent one pretty tame by comparison, and its just too far gone.
(2)Courtney B.
My bf and I love this place!!! We drive up to an hour sometimes from Des Plaines to eat here. Love the bbq, the drinks,and the prices!!!
(5)Arthur M.
We got a reservation for 3 on Friday at 8:30 but was not necessary- I'm guessing the rush for the dining room is earlier. The voodoo lounge however was packed. We shared my favorite the complex red mole chili, jalapeño cornbread, and chicago wings to start. The girls got drinks for five dollars. For dinner I had the carne asada. The steak was sliced and a perfect medium rare. There was potatoes, corn and a chile mushroom sauce. I made tacos with the warm tortillas- real good. The dessert menu said banana cream pie hails from Sinoloa, Mexico. I had to get a slice.
(5)Tim C.
I don't really understand why so many people rate this place with 4 and 5 stars. This was my second and last time I will visit this place. This time I had a pulled pork sandwich for lunch with a side of fries and chicken potato chowder. The soup was good, but the fries were terrible. Some sort of frozen crispy coated version of a fry with a mushy gross inside. How hard is it to just put a fresh whole potato through a fry slicer and make fresh delicious fries. As for the BBQ pulled pork sandwich, it was terrible. The pork was very very dry and the covered it with a sauce that tasted like insecticide. I couldn't believe it. It seriously tasted like chemicals. I couldn't even eat it. On a positive note, the service was not bad. Sorry, but I will never go back here again.
(1)Candace W.
The service was good! And that's where the positive review ends. The food was o...k. I've had MUCH better bbq. Not sure what all the hoopla is about.
(2)Sara M.
Parent/Teacher conferences? They kinda suck. Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe? Awesome regardless of any suck happening in your life. Was able to swing by with a big group from my big-girl job to down some delightful treats for dinner. Originally I eyed up a yummy looking garden salad (unfortunately, one of the few vegetarian options). Then everyone told me I just HAD to have the mac n' cheese. So I figured it was okay to be a little sinful and have a small order on the side. Then someone else ordered quesadillas and once I heard they had guacamole all hell broke lose. Forget veggies. FEED ME CARBS! Mac n' cheese? Delightful. It's a nothing special, no frills, cheesy paradise of goodness. I seriously contemplated ordering another small container to take home with me. Though the macaroni and cheese was incredible, the real winner of the evening was my cheese quesadillas. Usually you see quesadillas on the menu and you know you're getting a hunk of cheese melted between a tortilla. Fortunately, the chef here rocks something fierce and kicked them up a few notches with simple additions. Peppers and onions melted inside? CHECK! Topped with kick-ass pico de gallo? CHECK! To-die-for guacamole on the side? DING DING DING! We have a winner! Waitress kept everything flowing and food coming quickly all afternoon- no complaints regarding service at all. She was super friendly and even had to enlist a few other servers to assist, which she did happily. Food came out relatively quickly and our bellies were fed before round 2 of parent teacher conferences. Now what to sample in Burbank next? This is going to be a tough act to follow. Give me your best, south suburbs!
(5)Nicole R.
good southern food, good drinks, good service.
(4)Michele T.
I have eaten here twice now. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times the service was horrible and had messed up orders. Had to request both times to be compensated for the inconvenience by the time the correct food came out everyone in our party was done eating. Next time I will try the Darien location to see how the service is. This location needs to work on the service and maybe some cooking tips. Was told we need to come earlier for breakfast because towards the end of the breakfast rush they are trying to get the orders out before lunch starts.
(2)Emily B.
I came here last week to meet some girlfriends for dinner. I was pretty excited based on other reviews and the chef's work with Rick Bayless. The good news is that I got to catch up with friends and laugh and carry on quite a bit. The bad news is that the food is pretty meh. Pros: - The food and drinks come out fairly quickly due to the electronic ordering system the wait staff uses. - The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. - The bus staff is very attentive and quick to clear your plates. - There is ample seating and you can make a reservation right here on Yelp. Cons: - Not many sauces to choose from. I went with the North Carolina and there was no real flavor. I couldn't tell that it was vinegar based. - The pulled pork was dried out and had an odd smell to it. - The fries are reminiscent of one Burger King's attempts at "new fries". They have a coating on them and I am pretty sure they are not made on site. Overall I am glad I tried it, but I will stick to other places for BBQ.
(3)Tammy S.
My family and I went for the thanksgiving buffet today. Last year it was fabulous so why not make it a yearly tradition. Last year we waited to be seated and the place was packed(which was fine I'm not complaining about that we expected that) Today we were seated immediately even though we were 30 minutes early(should of been a sign) the restaurant was NOT crowded at all like last year. For the thanksgiving price $24.99 per person we did not even get our bellies full. Three slices of turkey on their smallest plate is hardly enough for a table of 9. We had to constantly keep asking for more of everything. They were bringing out the food as if they were feeding birds not adults that were paying $24.99 a plate. Stuffing was brought out one very small ice cream scoop of stuff in a very small soup cup:( it was good but we do not have enough to go around even after asking for more 2x. The food was not as Good this year(which explains the place being empty) we received our dessert which was a choice of two different parfaits they were served in a small soup cup dish and it was two spoonfuls of custard. My sister asked for another one and was immediately told by the server that she can not bring it home! Why would someone pack up two spoonfuls of a parade it to bring home ha what a tacky way to respond to a customer who asks for a little more than two spoonfuls of parfait who is paying $24.99 for the meal. Service was ok seeing the place was not busy but 3 slices of turkey and 3 slices of ham for 9 people at that price Bd to have to constantly ask for more and get small scoops and scarce slices of meat is ridiculous. Our yearly tradition of keeping Thanksgiving easy at chucks is no longer an option I will be cooking for Thanksgiving next year.
(1)Chris L.
Pretty tasty BBQ, and decent sized portions, but after all the whoopla I heard about Chucks I was expecting it to be out of this world. I had the Beef Brisket Dinner, which is a plate of brisket along with 2 sides. I chose soup, which was delicious as well as Mac & Chesse, which was average. The Brisket itself was a large portion, and well flavored. I got the spicy bbq sauce on it which had good flavor, and enough spice to let you know it was spicy, but not so much your mouth was on fire. I would definitely give Chucks another try, and may have another star in the holster waiting for it.
(3)Jamie P.
the food was so good like they said on 190 north, and Chicago's best and diners, dives, diners, well I had the sample platter, the bqchicken was so good and the ribs where smoked. my fiancée had the hamburger with swiss cheese, and a side of mashed potatos and rice, we left full and happy, we will go back soon, we ate a late lunch/ dinner there today
(5)Larry T.
Although I don't want to sound like everybody else. We went there for my son's birthday. The food is very good the rib tips are the best I've ever had good size and plenty of good meat on them. My son had the buffalo wings .He is like a wing expert. He is tried all the wings there and likes the buffalo wings the best the sauce is amazing. My wife asked about the soups and Carlos came out with a sample and she choose The seafood Bisque soup she gives it a 10 The only bummer was they were out of baked macaroni and cheese. But Carlos made it up to us by being a great server and very attentive. Even though the place was busy he took his time and recommended dishes we had a good time and a nice dessert was awesome with a candle on it. So give Chuck a try you'll love it..
(3)Michael O.
Came here because we saw that Guy from DDD had this place on his show. To me, I think a good tasting sauce is the key. I really disliked it and I tried 2 or 3 different ones. Service was good but not worth the trip from Indiana.
(2)John L.
It's a great place for food and cocktails but ribs are the bomb ...
(5)Brian Y.
Maybe 7pm on a Friday was a bad time to make my second visit here. First forget finding a parking space in the lot, and the street is posted residential, which leaves valet as your only choice. Valet here is a bunch of unorganized 16 & 17 year old kids that run two blocks to, and from your car. Upon entering you are met with two teenage girls behind a register who don't say a word. The table service was good, however your server does not bring your order which allows for confusion. As for the reason your here, the food, it's only average. I've had brisket from some of the best places in Texas, and this was not even close. My wife had the chicken fried chicken which would have been excellent except it was way too salty. My first visit was about the same, so I'm not sure what all the hype is over this place.
(3)Lupe G.
...not a fan of the meat itself; but I like their deserts! They make killer banana bread pudding which is served with ice cream & creole (chickory) coffee. They always have specials & their bar is kinda fun. Because I'm not big on their smoked meat & it's always packed, I don't go often but I want to go every first Sunday of the month because they have what they call a Beignet breakfast & I REALLY want to try it!!!
(3)Tina T.
My fiance and I are fans of southern comfort food so we were really excited to try this place. Between our two visits here we have tried: Various BBQ combos: chicken and ribs were food but we found our brisket to be on the dry side even after drenching it in North Carolina BBQ sauce Fried catfish: fish was fresh and tasty and wasn't fishy at all. The jalapeno corn bread side (not too hot) and French fries were amazing. They're really crispy as if they were put in some sort of batter before they were fried. You have to ask for the honey butter for the cornbread. For whatever reason, they don't automatically bring it out when it's a side dish but it's paired with the cornbread as an appetizer. Our waitress brought it out when we asked about it. Shrimp and craw fish jambalaya: very flavorful and had adequate amount of tomato sauce so the dish wasn't dry. I have jambalaya at some places who skimp on the sauce and the entire dish is ruined. Craw fish étouffée: my fiance and I really enjoyed this dish. It was slightly salty when you just eat the sauce alone but once you get the right amount of the rice pilaf on there, it's perfect. The green bean side it came with was okay...it didn't stand out or anything. We would definitely visit again if we're in the area and have a craving for southern comfort food.
(4)Jon F.
Fun little spot with a ~GREAT~ beer selection. Alligator is always great and it was here also. I had really high hopes for the ribs, but alas I was not overjoyed once they or the rib tips arrived. They were good, fall off the bone style, but required little fanfare. There are just too many other good rib places in Chicagoland, so I don't think I'll be getting that here again. The greens were ok, and the mac 'n cheese had pretty good flavor but nothing to write home about. As far as the Honey Chipotle sauce goes - it was OK, but i didn't get much honey flavor from it. I'd probably stick to the mild / hot sauce. The gumbo a friend got looked really fantastic, but I was not able to try it - next time. The hot sauce - not really hot at all. I found that a bit strange for a place with a wall display of a collection of hot sauces. Both sauces had some OK and different flavor, but where's the heat?! I could barely feel the teeniest amount of burn after loading up a rib with sauce. I visited on Fat Tuesday so we had the benefit of a live bayou style band which was fun. A bit loud in that direction for dinner, but it was a late dinner so I understand. I would definitely come back for some beer, but so far I'll stick to something that fills me up from what I've tried instead of going for great flavor here.
(3)Nikki M.
I ate outside for my first time here about a month or two ago. Service was a little slow, but the food was well worth the wait! Our table for 2 left us with THREE take-out containers despite completely stuffing ourselves the entire way through. Fantastic BBQ, GIGANTIC half slabs(it took up the whole plate!), and yummy blue cheese salads. I also need to say that for a BBQ joint, this place has killer oysters Rockefeller. I would go back for these alone. The only thing that left something to be desired for me was the mac n cheese. Next time I would get a different side. Don't forget to order a beer as the list is gigantic... easily over 100 different kinds. You'll like the food. It's a very casual atmosphere with a lot of groups, so be prepared for it to be a bit loud.
(4)Shawn L.
Tonight we headed into the city to visit a friend near Midway, so we all decided to go out for dinner. Of course, no one had any ideas on what they were hungry for...So I won :) I pulled out the handy Yelp app and searched for BBQ. Chuck's had great reviews so I was sold. The Service: 5 stars Our server was new and he was outstanding. He gave great recommendations on food choices as well as sauces. Also the beer menu is off the hook with over 150 choices. The Food: 5 stars I ordered the BBQ sampler dinner with half slab of ribs and pulled pork with the honey chipotle that the server recommended. I got the mac and cheese and mashed and gravy. It was huge plate and sooo good! My company got the pulled pork dinners as well and they really enjoyed the meals. Many reviews have said they are really busy. We came on a Sunday night about an hour before closing and no wait on seats, service, or food. Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe did everything to the book and we were all very happy. If I was in Chicago area more...This would def be the spot to go for some great BBQ. Thanks for the great experience. We will be back some day soon hopefully.
(5)Kit A.
After seeing what a following this place has and now knowing how good the food is, I'm surprised I didn't know about this local hot spot before! The fried catfish was delicious! It literally falls apart once you put your fork in it and the taste was perfect - it was not overdone or fishy tasting at all. The mac and cheese is perfect for a cheese fanatic like me! There was a perfect ratio of cheese to pasta and I would gladly come back here just to get some more! I didn't get to enjoy the ribs nearly as much I had wanted to because they were a little cold (at no fault of the kitchen). Just like the fish though, they were perfectly good to have the meat fall right off the bone. The MICROBREW MENU IS AMAZING! There were so many different options on tap. I honestly could have a different beer every night for an entire month (if not more) based on the list alone. I can't wait till Chuck opens his place in Darien down the street from me, I may end up becoming a regular. You can't go wrong with a beer and mac'n'cheese!
(4)Damian P.
Are they geniuses or what? So last night me and the partner decided we were in the mood for southern barbecue and you know that Chucks is the first choice. We were quickly seated and told by the waitress that if we would like something to drink? We said of course Purple Have to go with our dishes and she proceeded to tell us about this new "Chuck's Club 120", we were intrigued. What it is is this: You get a punch stamp card and when you taste ALL of the 120 beers on their menu, you will Win $25 Gift Card and a T-Shirt! Plus you get your name added to their "Beer Hall of Fame Plaque" hung in the bar. I though this was genius because they have an extensive beer list and I always say I am getting something different. This was (since I am a competitive little devil) I will be forced to buy something different. Each time you order a scrumptious beer, you get a stamp on your ticket. Now for the meal we had the Chucks Combo for myself that consisted of 3 meats (chicken wings, rib tips and rip short ribs), good lord I went into a Southern Coma it was so darn good. Highly recommend the specials and definitely if you like beer, join the club.
(5)Alan L.
Great BBQ. We loved the brisket and sides. Not the ribs so much. I had a portobello sandwich and recommend it too. They gave us 5 BBQ Sauces to try and got the meat sampler plain so we could add sauce.
(5)Tammy W.
Was here last night for their Mardi Gras celebration. I'm giving two stars for the service and disorganization. The food was fantastic when it finally arrived, but that was a long wait. We had reservations for a party of 10. The place was packed and a band was playing. Our server did a great job getting our drinks and getting that part of the order right, however; she really messed up the food order as well as the kitchen. The guys coming out to bring our food barely spoke English and had no clue what was going on. Some of us ordered from their Tapas menu. The point of Tapas is to share but when part of your order never comes out for over an hour and then they tell you they ran out. They also never brought out three of our party's order. They ordered their Hurricane special in a pitcher and never brought classes. The waitress offered to comp the food and brought out something else from the menu. But one was missing a fork and the waitress never brought one. Bad bad bad. There was guys coming to our table with dishes we never ordered and then some of us never received part of our order. One party ended up being overcharged with items they never ordered and items they did and never received. Just so unorganized, overbooked. Packed like sardines. Seating was a fire hazard I'm sure. Very disappointed. Chucks, get it together. You have no business hosting an event like this. Down right the worst experience. I was embarrassed. It's a wonder you get it together any other day.
(2)Sweatytoothed M.
Chilaquiles! Very tasty! Not my Mama's chilaquiles, but definitely yummy--crispy in all the right spots!
(4)Paul B.
It comes down to this; great food, good service, but if you eat outside be prepared to have cigarette smoke added to your dining experience. There is a sign on the inside of the fence of the patio that says smoking is not allowed when the patio is open. The trouble is the sign is very low and it is facing the patio - not the smokers so they puff away on their camels and drift the smoke right into our perfectly prepared brisket. Add the two off-duty servers one table away dropping more bombs than David Mamet - and you have to know the food is good to come back as often as we do. The environment is sub-par - the food is off the charts. The barbecue platter I got had the aforementioned perfectly prepared brisket; 1/4 chicken, and some pulled pork. This was complemented with a cup of chipotle rice (amazing) and Brunswick Stew (peerless meaty vegetable stew). I should point out that there is also a four meat option - but I want to live to see grand-kids - so I opted for the three meat platter. There are a lot of nabobs that walk around short-changing the barbecue scene in Chicago. I will admit that there are very few barbecue joints worth repeat visiting - but Chuck's is - without a doubt - one of the best. As a matter of fact - the entire menu is creative and thoughtful and worth repeat visits - but that beef brisket makes me forget every bad thing that has ever happened to me - EVER! So if you are smoke-sensitive (or don't want to be dodging f-Bombs) - just eat inside. Try the brisket, trust me.
(4)Kristi K.
First time here and we Love the menu! We ordered skirt steak, corned beef and the filet. Everything was great! Wonderful service! We will be back! !
(5)Jack G.
Chuck's Rocks! Great food. Great prices. Great location! It's marvelous to have a restaurant of this quality in the southwest suburbs. I don't know if I like it more for dinner or breakfast. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a sucker for great/unique breakfast. I tend to lean toward the Mexican inspired breakfast dishes. It's very hard for me to order here. I want everything!
(5)Jennifer K.
I've been going to Chuck's for over 10 years. Recently, I've been hooked on the cochinita pibil, which i believe is only served on Saturday/weekends. Tender meat, tangy pickled onions (I'm not normally an onion fan), refried black beans, tortillas. My only criticism is that the rice that comes with it is decent, but not great. Another new favorite is the BBQ nachos. This appetizer is amazing and could pass as on entree by itself. Chunks of pulled pork with BBQ sauce, melted cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, on top of chips. This always ruins my appetite because it is so filling, but I just can't resist. My old favorite was always the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, but I stopped ordering it as of late because the green beans were getting a little too spicy for me. (I have an unusually low spice threshold--mild salsa is my limit.) However, I turned my boyfriend on to the dish and he loves it. Pulled pork sandwich is good, but not absolutely amazing. Good fries, mac & cheese. Soup is a little overpriced. Peach (or berry) cobbler with ice cream is awesome, warm brownie with ice cream is good, though I'm not always in the mood for chocolate. Tasted some of a friend's order of bread pudding, a dish i had never tried before, and it was definitely worth revisiting, though the friend (a real life southerner) claimed it was just okay. I tend to stick to the same stuff and would like to try some different menu items, but it's difficult to pass up on my favorites. I like coming here for my birthday dinners because the quality of the food is consistently high, and I like knowing that my birthday meal will not disappoint. I've taken various people here and recommended it to numerous others and everyone has always had enthusiastic responses and wanted to come back. Definitely make a reservation, especially on Saturday evenings.
(5)Colleen M.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This is my favorite place to go by my house. There is so much to choose from on the menu. I recommend their BBQ nachos. They are AMAZING! The only downside of this place is the parking, it is always packed, but that's how you know a place is good right? Be sure to try their beef brisket sandwich with the honey-chipotle BBQ sauce. Great sides as well. Be sure to get the mac n cheese as one of your sides, delicious!
(5)Susan H.
Long, busy week. Finally got out for a little bit and some friends regretfully thought Chuck's would be a great idea to hit up since the previous place we'd swung by for a drink was packed. Started with a small cup of their pumpkin soup and a side salad. Salad - Fresh. Dressing - watery. Soup was excellent. Almost went with a beer, but the waitress, who was adorable and all that jazz, highly recommended the pumpkin martini. It not only came smothered in whipped cream, but sans martini glass. :/ Ordered the Filet Mignon medium rare. My filet arrived medium well. Boo hoo. I'll get over it. What put me off was that it was butterflied and plopped atop a sea of gravy; This thick, soggy onion and carrot coagulated splat resembling that sh*t janitors threw sawdust on back in grammar school. I transferred part of my steak to my bread plate and tried to stay positive but hey...guess what? They realllllly like to soak their steaks in Worcestershire sauce. Anywhoo, few bites and I'd had enough. Potato was underbaked and surprisingly small. Mac and cheese was on par with a cafeteria. BBQ sauce is sadly sour. Dessert ; yeh...it was left on the table barely touched. Cobbler crust was hard as hell and the apples had no zing, no savory sweetness, no hint of tart..nuttin', honey. I'm pretty laid-back and enjoyed the conversation so the evening wasn't a total wash, but I had expected so much more based on Yelpers' raves. In summation: This joint is pricey with unimpressive fare and as great as the bus staff was, no person who has *truly* had fabulous home-cooked, cloaked-in-comfort meals would come here and call this anything of the sort. Psst...My dogs loved the leftovers, but hey, they'd eat their own vomit if I didn't stop them. Sorry, not sorry.
(2)Maria M.
Everything is amazing. People are very nice. Parking can suck but it's all worth it
(5)jerry s.
Brisket w/Roasted peppers & Onions... Mac n Cheese and spicy string beans. Yummm.
(4)Lydia W.
Very, very good barbecue and great southern/cajun/nawlins flare. The meats are incredible tender and simply melt in your mouth. Chuck is an excellent chef and gracious host (you may see him time to time greeting customers). The menu is beautiful and has many choices ranging from barbecue, to creole, to even mexican and everything is executed well, beyond par. Don't eat meat? The grilled mushroom portobello sandwich is amazing! And the sides (from mac and cheese, to greens to beans are always on point). The restaurant dining area is cheerful and upbeat with attractive artwork and decor. The tables and seating are very clean. Service is prompt and friendly as well. The voodoo lounge is busy and louder but the friendliness certainly carries over. I have yet to try the breakfast but I hear is phenomenal. Take the trip down to this Chicago suburb! Well worth it! P.S Discount for CPS employees on Thursdays!
(5)Gary A.
My favorite restaurant in the whole chicagoland area. I discovered this little gem just outside of the city limits about 4 years ago and have been frequenting it every chance I get. Chucks spin on various dishes from Mexican to cajun are unique and very refreshing. The staff is always very courteous and the food is always prepared in a very timely manner. Amongst everything on his menu that is amazing, the small standouts that are a must try as a side to any order are the green beans and the jalapeño corn bread. Not to mention as weird as this may sound, with all the amazing bbq and cajun dishes available, chucks serves up a meannnnnn burger. By far the best burger ive had in the continental u.s.(I eat burgers every time I'm out of town in my search of the best burger). But yea all in all chucks is a must visit establishment, and if you're around after hours, the attached bar the voodoo lounge does not disappoint.
(5)Jennifer L.
I love Chuck's! I've been twice for dinner and both meals have been excellent. The fish tacos are excellent and the crab cakes are delectable. My fellow diners rave about their meals. I really want to try their breakfasts.
(4)pete w.
Food was great. Some of the best BBQ we have had, and they give you tons of it. Unless you have not eaten for days, you will walk out with a togo container filled with your leftovers. Their selection of sauces was vast and they were all great. The honey chipotle was outstanding. The staff were friendly and genuine in their smiles when the greeted us. Some small concerns to watch out for : 1.) We went with a group of 9. The waitress did not tell us that the gratuity would be included on the bill so we inadvertently tipped 2x. We did go back and got great service from the manager, Tim, for the refund of one of the tips. 2.) Make sure you specify that you want a kids meal for your children. We thought that we were clear on that, but when my son's meal came, it was a full adult meal and we were charged the full adult price. 3.) Drinks are a little pricey - order the water with a lemon/line. Outside of these small issues, I would safely state that when I next come to Chicago for a visit, I would absolutely stop by Chuck's for a nice meal. The soups and the jalapeño corn bread are to die for. We really enjoyed our meals and we left full and satisfied.
(3)Mike D.
This place is simply fantastic. Anyone giving it less than 4 stars is either a competitor or someone that had an isolated horrible incident. Yes. Sometimes you'll miss out on the stuffed shrimp, mac and cheese etc. It's simply because they have sold out of it by time you order. EVERYTHING is fresh and homemade. Unreal BBQ and just fantastic food - go here. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Mark S.
The first time I came here was about a month ago for lunch/dinner. I had some type of corn chowder habanero soup which was good and not too spicy. I tried Oysters Rockefeller for the first time. I haven't been too keen in the past about eating seafood, but I have decided for now on I will try anything within reason. Now I love Oysters Rockefeller. I also had the BBQ at this place, which was great and is one of my most favorite places for BBQ. It was definitely worth the drive for lunch/dinner. Today I came here for breakfast. The skillet with ham, bacon, sausage patties, green peppers and American cheese was good along with the homemade smoked corn beef hash and pancakes, but nothing worth going out of the way for. Here's my beef. Have you read my quick tip about this place? A southern comforts restaurant, you would think they would have some good biscuits and gravy. I can't even be funny about the gravy they served me. It was loaded with so much butter that the gravy was to the point where it wasn't even too sweet, it was just sickening to eat that much butter in one spoon full. I read through many of the reviews about this place and many people say they like the biscuits and gravy. I sure hope the gravy they had was not the same as what I had. I hope what I had was just a mistake and that is not how it is served everyday. I still give this place 4 stars for the reasons mentioned in the beginning of this review.
(4)Dave Z.
There are enough sauses to satisfy your tastes for all things BBQ. Their beer list is extensive. Pulled pork sandwich is very good. The brisket is tasty without any sause and goes well with. Look for their specials, especially early Saturday afternoon ones.
(4)Julie O.
We made a reservation via open table for 6 on a Saturday night, arrived at Chuck's on time and sure enough, there was a table waiting for us. Nice. Chucks has a lot of beer to choose from. I have been to NOLA quite a few times and after having a few, I have been known to say "abita" the way other folks might say aloha. Thankfully I did not take it that far this time. Chuck's is known for the large beer menu, boasting over 100 available beers, including Louisiana's Abita and locally produced 3 Floyds on tap. Duval Belgian Ale had a special that if you ordered two, you got a really kickass glass to take home. The food. We had appetizers. One was some sort of a crabby patty. Flavorful. We liked it. We had nachos too. They were hot as can be as the guac rocked. The best dinner at our table was the catfish. Lightly breaded in creole mustary goodness cooked to perfection. Yum. The Saturday special - pork with black beans and rice was flavorful and fresh. Love the corn tortillas. Our server brought a dessert for the birthday at our table. Ice cream, a real brownie and what may have been the best caramel ever. Nice touch. Why not 5 stars if I like it so much? Service, while very pleasant, could have been better. Our server never checked on us after the food was dropped off. She was elusive when it came to drinks as well. No thank you when we paid. I think that maybe she was just a bit overwhelmed. But again, she comped a dessert. I plan to get back for beignet Saturday. Cafe Au Lait, Bloody Mary and Beignets...
(4)Andrew T.
Chuck's was the winner of the two DDD's near Midway. We stopped in for lunch on a gray, rainy day, so the BBQ fare kind of hit the spot. I have a bowl of green chile chowder with shrimp, which was good, if not a little over thick. The shrimp tasted fine, but it was a little odd to see cut green beans in the chowder. Not bad, just odd. All in all, I'd get this guy again. I split a BBQ platter with my dining companion, and it was good. We got a half rack of ribs and a huge helping of pulled pork, along with some coleslaw and sage gravy mashed potatoes. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, and while I think I sound like a broken record, they tasted like pork (which is good) but didn't have a ton of smoke flavor. They had just a little sauce smeared over them, and I also detected cinnamon in the spice rub. The pulled pork was, as I said, plentiful, but was over sauced. It was very tender, and had good flavor, but was swimming in too much sauce. One of these days, I will remember to ask for my BBQ to come unsauced. If I want it, I can add it myself. Sides were average - potatoes were good, with plenty of sage in the gravy, while the coleslaw was the right kind of rough cut for me, but with too much onion. It needs to be mentioned that the menu here is ridiculous. Every Mexican and BBQ option you could ask for, including some absolutely mouthwatering specials on their various menu pages. Unfortunately for us, the only special that didn't sound incredible was the special the day we were there - Pot Pie for us, as opposed to achiote rubbed pork loin and all manner of other amazing options on other days. Oh well - just a good reason to come back.
(3)Burbs P.
edited 5-20-14 - you can go to the Darien location they have cleaned up their act and run like clockwork. Their food is out of this world. I cannot believe that Im just now making the connection between this location-and their other location in Darien [don't go to the darien location]. I've been here 4 times over the past 2 months. My SO and I have made it a point to drive there from Wheaton at least twice a month. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, just an all around great breakfast place.
(5)W T.
I have dined at Chucks many times. The breakfast is always deliscious & service is great. The dinner on the other hand not good. The pulled pork is dry & flavorless & bbq sauce isnt good either. I will definately return for breakfast but pass on the lunch & dinner.
(3)susan c.
Nothing beats the variety at Chuck's, creole, BBQ, soups, seafood, salad. Generally very delicious we always order ribs, soup (shrimp poblano, Mexican greens and gumbo our favorites), 2 or 3 meat combo, special salads and seafood. Crazy good breakfast too. Very festive atmosphere, service good and improving. Fun lounge next door, specials for teachers, emt's, armed services. Personal best meal: lavender smoked lamb special.
(5)K N.
Excellent food and craft beer selection. Their mac and cheese and jalepeno corn bread are some of my favorite menu items. I am not someone that eats that much so the 1/4 chicken plus 2 sides is a good choice for those looking for smaller portions. Parking lot is usually packed. Service is pretty good. Also, in the voodoo lounge on Tuesday nights there is free bar trivia which is pretty fun.
(5)Heshan W.
IF YOUR WANT GREAT BBQ IN SOUTH-WEST CHICAGO, GO HERE!!! Although I have never eaten inside Chucks, I can say without a doubt in my mind in terms of my take-out experience that the bbq at this place is SUPERB!!! Large portions & reasonable prices for solid bbq!!! Half-rack of bbq ribs with honey-chiplote sauce: Simply amazing. The meat was "bbqed" and smoked to the point that it was falling off the bone and was very soft and flavorful!!! These are signs of well-cooked bbq ribs (5 out of 5). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream: They use real peaches on this, b/c there is no taste of fake syrupy peach concentrate in this at all. The vanilla ice cream definitely compliments this cobbler (4 out of 5). The baked beans and green beans were very good too (5 out of 5, for both). So far, this place is slightly better than my other bbq food experience in Chicago, "Smoke N Q". In addition, Chucks has unique special daily bbq meals ranging from Carne asada Chimichangas to Cajun Stuffed Pork Chops!!!
(4)Federico C.
For some reason, I can't seem to put my finger on it, I have not been here as much as I would like.. Chuck's has great southern BBQ and a wide range of beer.. I am an avid fan of both , but everytime I plan on coming here, something comes up. Hopefully I can change that trend in the near future. The last time I was here, I was hanging out in the Voo Doo Lounge knocking back some cold beer and shots after a wedding, so my recollection can be a bit better than it seemed.. Do beer goggles work the same way on how fun a place actually was??? LOL The Voo Doo lounge is the bar portion of Chuck's. From what I can remember, It is a pretty cool place to hang out, listen to some rock and hang with the locals.. Hungry? try the pulled pork or brisket, fries & mac and cheese, .. Those have been my favorites so far. Chuck has pretty damn good BBQ so work your way thru the meats, you will thank yourself for it later. I haven't made it for brunch, but I have heard some really good things about Chucks brunch offerings.. I will be updating this soon to include more on the brunch and hopefully Chuck's fest!
(4)O G.
Take in a game here in the back bar of the restaurant or sit up front in a more relaxed atmosphere (well kinda) it can get pretty crowded up front depending on what night you go. A must go to place if in the neighborhood!
(5)Glenn B.
It was a Friday and when I decided to try this restaurant out I made a reservation and I am so glad I did. When me and a friend arrived it was packed and our table was ready. The food was great but the drinks were strong. The waiter was very attentive and this is what I like. I will be heading back to Chucks real soon.
(3)Zachary S.
BBQ here is beyond Par, however if your new to entering, on a friday or saturday night, it's best to hear there early or call ahead as it can become packed. The sauce is amazing and the smoking quality is a 11/10. Pit masters from other Barbecue places beware, this place is insane! x
(5)Barry W.
Absolutely off the charts! A casual place with absolutely delicious food! We ordered both specials and were just blown away. Simple, homestyle yet amazing! Do not miss it - great if you're near Midway
(5)Mike B.
I've been dating a girl that grew up in burbank, and since we started dating she's insisted that she had to take me to Chuck's. A few nights ago we finally made the trip down here, and I was amazed by the quality of the food. We ended up getting a bowl of the cream of chicken and rice soup, buffalo chicken strips, a plate of nachos, a couple of bloody marys, and a couple of dark beers. For me, the soup was the highlight. I've never had soup this delicious in my life, and I don't believe better soup exists in this world. It's very thick, and easy to eat by simply scooping it up with bits of bread they give you. The flavor of the chicken strips was also spicy but not too overpowering. The nachos were also very good. I believe they make their own tortilla chips? Aye, pretty much all of the food and drinks were great. I would like for the bloody marys to be a bit spicier, and served in a pint glass instead of the glass that they serve them in (don't know how big it is, but i prefer the shape of a pint glass). The waitress was a little slow, but that wasn't much of a problem, and perfectly understandable given how many people were there. I will definitely be coming back here in the near future. I would come here weekly if I could. Will probably make it a monthly routine, since it takes a while to get here from Bridgeport.
(5)Barb W.
We went for the first time for Valentine's Day dinner and the food was excellent. The lobster bisque had huge chunks of lobster and was to die for! The side salad was big and very delicious! The prawns were a little too spicy where it over played the crab. The garlic mashed potatoes are amazing and I am not a fan of mashed potatoes. The creme brulee was the best I've had abd the profiteral melted in your mouth! Our waitress Dani was the best, very knowledgeable and friendly. If she didn't have an answer she immediately got one. We will most definitely make the trip back!
(5)Charlene G.
The services is great, but the food is average to me. I expected it to be better than Famous Dave's and it was the same. In Bar B Que, I look for competition type food and Chuck's is simply ok.
(3)Macon P.
Must try the Jalapeno cornbread! Brisket is perfect, moist & juicy with tons of favor. No other place close to perfection in barbeque in the area. You can't go wrong here with any choice. Was featured a few years ago on Diners, Drives & Dives with Guy Fieri.
(4)Paul M.
Staff does not know any English I think they snuck across the border. Got my order wrong 3 times I even had to. And tell them what I wanted. Never going there again until they start hiring people who know English
(1)Special E.
Chucks is a south side treasure. I am What one would call a regular. Or at least I was til I moved to floriduh. Breakfast lunch or dinner. Never a bad meal. While I have tried most items on the menu I keep going back for the brisket and ribs with the hot BBQ sauce. Honestly the only thing I don't like at chucks is the sausage gravy on the biscuits and gravy and that's only because it's more complex than a good old fashioned gravy. When I come back to Chicago first place I go is chucks for some food. Only a poet could describe chucks. And I'm a barbarian
(5)Sandra A.
I had the ribs and rib tips. Neither was good, including the sauce. The service was terrible. Our server acted put out by having to take our order and was very unpleasant. At one point she almost walked away before we placed our dessert order. Then she disappeared for 20 minutes. When we got annoyed and said we didn't want it anymore, suddenly she was friendly and concerned. We won't be returning. Disappointed as the menu is well varied and environment is appealing.
(1)Chris D.
Disappointed. Granted, we didn't get the regular barbeque. We got an off-menu Mexican pork special that takes all night to make that some of us had seen on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'. They had to check and see if it was available, and eventually they got back on the phone and let us order it. When it arrived it tasted like regular pulled pork with some Mexican seasoning mixed in, and one of our party who had eaten the dish before said it tasted like nothing like the last time they had it. Sort of a disjointed taste. I honestly really wonder if it wasn't just pulled pork that they threw the seasoning into. I tend to avoid doing things like ordering Mexican at a non-Mexican joint, but it came highly recommended. Either it was an honestly mediocre dish or a dishonest offering, either way, we were disappointed. I'll give them one more shot, order the real 'que, and update accordingly.
(2)Marisa G.
Service is great and the food is awesome. I really enjoy their cafe de Olla in the mornings. Love this place!
(5)Danny K.
I love Chuck's. Been a regular customer for over 2 yrs. My personal faves: Ribs, Rib Tips, Brisket, Winglets (try the Korean style), Brunswick Strew, any of their breakfast entrees, Cafe De Olla French Pressed Coffee. Can't go wrong with any of the Specials of the day. Beer. If you like beer Chuck's has a WIDE variety of well known and unique brews. Amazing value for the food. You won't break the bank eating here but you will gain some pounds. If you don't live close to the restaurant, trust me, it's worth the drive. Chuck is there. 9/10 times Chuck is present at the restaurant and he always walks around the tables asking about your dinning experience. The man knows how to cook.
(5)Adlyyn Z.
Lived in Atlanta for a few years, I know what good BBQ is supposed to taste like. The restaurants that I eat at that serve excellent BBQ two important things in common: - simple menu - ONLY focus on BBQ Chuck's has ok BBQ. However I will not be going back. The menu is too complex for specialize in BBQ. On their menu they have seafood, mexican food, chicken wings, and bbq. I'm sorry but if you are going to claim that you have good bbq, please don't offer oysters on your menu. Excellent BBQ places only sell BBQ, that's it. I understand you want to cater to all taste buds. I suggest you focus on one thing, perfect it and keep it simple.
(2)Edward B.
Finally tried Chuck's today after having it on my "to try" list for at least a couple of years. I was torn between trying some BBQ or having the Saturday special Cochinata Pibil. Decided on the Super Sampler BBQ platter because I wanted to try brisket, a hot link and rib tips, my three favorites. Excellent choice. The hot link was extremely good, the rib tips were some of the best I've had and the brisket, oh my. It is some of the best I've ever had if not the best. I found out I like the hot sauce better than the mild, though the mild has a really interesting fruity note in the background which was different. There are other things on the menu I would try, but after having that brisket, passing it up would be difficult. Even though it's a bit of a drive for me, I'll be back for sure. Some of the best BBQ I have ever had.
(5)Sonia I.
I was introduced to Chuck's wing's last football season. my family would get their wings to go for games. YYYUUMMM! Last week I went for a real meal inside the restaurant., HOLY YUM! I was amazed by the menu. And Holy Cow Voodoo Lounge Martini List! We'll be happy houring it there SOON! The service was great. The Food completely wonderful. Love, Love, Love! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Gigi F.
My first visit to Chuck's! I had the Soup Shooters -Seafood Gumbo, Beans and Rice Gumbo and Shrimp and Poblano! Delicious! A great way to try a lot of soups at once! I also tried the BBQ Sampler - smoked chicken, brisket and rib tips with Chucks HOT BBQ sauce - the portion was HUGE, the meats all tender and flavorful. Even the unsweet ginger peach iced tea was different and so GOOD! Finished the meal with a homemade cookie! Guy from DDD was right! This is a great place to eat!
(4)Emily N.
Recently I discovered two amazing things. One is that the ladies of my crew are not only serious drinkers, but serious readers too! The other was Chucks. Chucks was the scene of the "Ladies who lunch AND read" a few Sundays ago. When we all started planning this lunch, the crew looked to me for advice. They said it was because I was a Yelper, but I think it's just because I love food more than most people, and they are all aware of that. Anywho, turns out that Chucks was a pretty much in the middle of all of us, and had booze and BBQ. Easy peasy. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much out of a joint in Burbank with a giant pig outside, which is why I was pleasantly surprised. The menu here is HUGE! I swear I must have gone back and forth between ten different things before our server came around for our orders. I also tried to convince the girls to order the other entrees that I wanted so we could go halfsies. I'm so glad that worked, because I got to sample a ton of different items. Between the starters, entrees, and desserts of 7 women, I only found one thing I wasn't a fan of- the cream of chicken rice soup. Everything else was fantastic, from the BBQ, to the southern style dishes, to the sides. My Mexican pot roast was melt in your mouth delicious. The Mac n cheese was super creamy and rich. The BBQ was smokey and had a variety of sauces to choose from. Oh, lest I forget the banana coconut cream pie. So good! I have to mention the service. They sat seven hungover and raucous ladies in record time. Our server was friendly and super accommodating. Not to mention patient. It took us FOREVER to figure out our orders. He let us linger over our fantastic bloody Mary's and appetizers. He brought extra plates for sharing our food. He offered dessert suggestions, even though we'd already been there for an hour and a half. He never even judged us (out loud anyway) when one of the books on the table was bright red with the weird C**t on the cover. That's a good man. I was so happy that everyone had a great time, and then I realized why. I saw, scrolling across their sign, that they had been featured on Triple D. Say what you will about Guy and his douche level, he goes to some great spots. Chucks is no exception. Winner Winner BBQ Dinner!
(4)Kevin M.
Great food. Meatloaf, pulled pork, mac and cheese, baked beans, Brunswick stew all delicious. Also enjoyed the Cajun eggs benedict for breakfast. Atmosphere is always lively, service is friendly. Lots of special events throughout the year. A favorite place for BBQ/Cajun/Mexican.
(5)Lu S.
Better seafood etoufette than in New Orleans in the French Quarter. Everything is awsome. You simply cannot go wrong here. Banana's Foster is thee best dessert I've ever had. Save room for dessert!
(5)Karl S.
The pulled pork and the ribs are oh so slowly cooked for a tender and delicious meal!
(5)Pascal M.
Crack addicts rob their families for crack. I'd rob my family for Chuck's Red, i.e. his chili. Chuck's has a huge menu and plenty of space. Their a little far from the western suburbs and even Chicago, but I like that our city has hidden gems all over the place. As i was driving out of town for work, I thought it would be a perfect time to stop and finally try this spot. So I stopped in and picked up a Super Sampler, that I made a little more super. I got their rib tips, brisket, pulled pork, winglets, and hot link. For sides, I had their mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans. Plus added a cup of their Chuck's Red. The rib tips were tender, juicy, and a nice size. The brisket was not very good, pretty dry and simply didn't blow me away. Although I'm kind of a brisket snob. Pulled pork was pretty good, but not the greatest. I liked their wings with their chipolte BBQ sauce a lot, had a great heat. The hot link was pretty damn good. Nice snap and a good amount of heat. For the sides, the slaw was so-so and the mac was a no go. The mac reminded me of a slightly upscale version of Kraft mac n cheese. However I do recall the beans being really good. Last, but SO far from least...is Chuck's Red. This chili should be written into the record books, maybe even the Koran, Bible, and somehow make an appearance in The Catcher and the Rye. Perhaps a bowl of Red would have made Holden Caulfield not be such a beyotch! Chuck's is good. The menu is probably a lot of hit and miss, but its absolutely worth trying out a few times. He's got a diverse menu, aside from BBQ there's a lot of Mexican and Creole inspired dishes that I'd like to try. Plus he's always running specials, which is something that would keep a regular come back for more and more and more and more and more and.............
(4)Dominic L.
Started going here about 8 months ago. Never really paid attention to the place before until I went here with a few of the guys from work. Food was very good, and the restaurant was clean. Staff is always friendly. Been back here a few times with the family since then. Kid-friendly atomosphere, and they dont mind if your kids throw a fit at the table, which mine sometime do. My two year old tossed a plate across the main dining room. Our waiter smiled, and went and got it for us. Thought they were going to ask us to leave after that, but he said the boy should try out for the white sox. Havent had a chance to try out the bar, but from what I see, they have a nice selection of drinks and different beers too. Glad I found this place
(5)Griselda V.
This place is amazing! I love the BBQ sauce they make here, best I've ever had. I love their rib tips and wings. Just about everything in their menu is delish. The service is awesome!! I recommend this place if your looking for a southern comfort meal in the southwest side.
(5)Peter D.
The pulled pork is delicious. The chili is awesome. Their pulled pork nachos are the best on the earth! Service is very good and fast. If you love pork, this is the place to go to. They also have the Voodoo Lounge which is open at night. They serve drinks and can also get some of the menu items there to eat when Chuck's is closed.
(5)Linda H.
This place has seriously great BBQ, not that I'm an expert on it, but I do believe it's the best pulled pork I've ever had. BF loves the Jamaican jerk wings, as well as the ribs. On the most recent visit, I had the Mexican pot roast and it was quite good, but I could have used a bit more the excellent cheesy potatoes, and the vegetable selection was curious - cooked celery and carrots (two veggies that I despise in cooked form). Service varies between very good and average, but the food makes up for it (the service has never been BAD, just sometimes not great). Chuck himself is typically walking around greeting people, which is really very nice. AND, my biggest beef is that they are ALWAYS out of the cobbler, and I almost deducted another star because of this. In fact, on our last visit they were out of all three cobblers AND two other desserts (the other two we wanted). Oh well, we once again got the brownie sundae, and suffered through it, haha (actually, probably the best brownie I've ever had, too). This is one of my favorite spots when on the south side. There really are many more things I want to try, and I'm sure there will be another visit in my near future.
(4)Will V.
I tried Chuck's BBQ catered at a private party I recently attended. The party hosts ordered rib tips and chicken. The rib tips were fairly tender, and almost had a Chinese five spice flavor to them. The chicken was moist and very tender. Both had a great smokey flavor to them, almost too much smoke for most people (which is just right for me). It's easy to get really bad BBQ, or oven-baked "BBQ", in Chicago, and so I was pleasantly surprised by Chuck's. I'd like to visit for an actual dining room experience and try the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Oink!
(4)Shari G.
I tried this place when in the Chicago area on business, and was very pleased! Very friendly (although you really learn what it's like to be invisible when you dine alone) and the food was ... well, without unnecessary hyperbole, it was awesome. Soooo good. I had the pulled pork (didn't feel like doing a face-plant in a slab of ribs that night) with the NC sauce. (you get a choice of bbq sauces) One big advantage of going solo to a popular restaurant is you usually don't have to wait long for a seat. I was taken to a table immediately, and had a chilled glass of wine in front of me within minutes. This would be a fun place to hang out with friends, if I lived closer. The *only* reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of a small mix up with the dessert I ordered to take back to the hotel with me. It wasn't what I ordered, and I discovered later that they didn't *have* what I ordered, but instead of telling me that, the waiter just brought me something else. I didn't discover that until the next day, since I didn't get around to opening it till then. All in all, though, I was impressed with the food, the service and the atmosphere, and I would definitely come back again if I'm in the area! OH, ps- I think it's impressive that this place has a 4 star rating with nearly 250 reviews showing. Well deserved. It's an awesome place to eat!
(4)john g.
Look I'm going to make this short and simple, everything was good like always, serves, the food was tasty, but and it's a big BUT, I had their Cajun Meat Loaf special a couple of months ago, I felt fine when I left, but when I got home started feeling not so good, needless to say, I haven't felt like that since I had food poisoning 5 years ago after eating somewhere else. I wasn't right for a couple of days, I really like this place, but after that day I haven't been back, if you do go just don't try the Meatloaf. Maybe one day I'll return, but it might just be to the bar to have a beer.
(1)Carol K.
I don't get it. The rave reviews? The accolades? The people driving across town to eat here? Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe is okay BBQ at best. What a confusing menu. I think it has an identity crises. Is it a BBQ joint? A Mexican Restaurant? Cajun? Is that the reason for the name? It covers any type food that originates south of Chicago? The place smells like BBQ yet the menu has a wide range of other types of entrees and sandwiches. You could have jambalaya , nachos, crabcakes and BBQ all at the same meal. Very strange assortment. I stayed true to course and went with the BBQ- 1/2 rack of ribs and beef brisket which came with 2 sides (mashed potatoes with sage gravy and the much mentioned green beans) although there are several other choices. The brisket was really disappointing- kind of like "steak ums" drowned in sauce. The ribs were better- thick and juicy. You have a choice of sauce- mild, spicy or chipotle honey. I went with the spicy- it wasn't really too spicy and it had a little too much smoke flavor for me. As for the sides- I love green beans- but fresh crisp ones. Maybe this is how they cook them down south but these were like green beans from a can (limp, soggy) and tasting a bit like pork. And don't even get me started on the mashed potatoes with sage gravy. Let's just say that the greenish gravy made me long for french fries. They also serve beer (pretty good selection), wine and some specialty soft drinks. I must be missing something, though, as the place was packed (it was featured on Check, Please earlier this year which may have helped). Not a table to sit at and people were waiting to get in. Maybe it's because you get quite a bit of food for a little price (everything listed about was only $14.75.) Whatever the reason- Chuck's is getting ready for a move up the street to their new, larger location which is supposed to be opening in September. I will say this- the staff were great. Friendly, quick to seat us- quick to take our order and patient in answering my questions. The owner even shouted out good bye to us as we walked out the door. I doubt I will be back . . .but the mystery of why so many people love this place may entice me to give it another try. There must be something I'm missing. There has to be.
(3)Eric J. U.
visited the restaurant this afternoon and was expecting BBQ. I have had BBQ in my life an this place is a pretender. Everything is overcooked or over-fried. The beef brisket was dry partially warm and uninteresting. However, the pumpkin soup was good. There are plenty of local BBQ joints with better food near by and for Cajun try Heaven on Seven. This is NOT a destination location but a local legend. So, if you find yourself on 79th then drive by but don't go out of your way. Funny Chuck Pine touts his experience with Rick Bayless as his formative years. Bayless' food is weird and his interpretation of food that shouldn't have been improved upon.
(2)Luan N.
I was headed to this part of town all the way from the north edge of Chicago to help a friend purchase a car. Like a true yelper, I did not let this long commute go in vain and made the most of it. I remembered Matt L's review on Chuck's and thought this was a great option. I shared the 1/2 slab in mild BBQ sauce and pulled pork combo with Anh. I thought the ribs were tender and smoked nicely. They provide a squeezer full of mild and hot BBQ sauce on the table as well, so I made a pool of hot BBQ sauce to dip my ribs. I just wish I ordered the ribs in hot instead of mild. The hot is really not that hot and thought it had a better balance of sweet, tangy, and heat. Also, I loved the fries. I think it was fried in peanut oil, not sure, but it was a good change of pace. On the other hand, the pulled pork was a no go for me. It resembled too much of a cafeteria sloppy joe for me. Sure, pulled pork is supposed to have sauce layered in it, but I think the sauce overpowered the flavor of the pork and I felt like I was drinking BBQ sauce straight from the bottle. I also sampled the grilled mahi topped with veracruzano sauce, tomato-chipotle rice, and side salad. Everything on this dish had a high approval rating. For $13.50 I think it's a very fair deal, considering if I made this myself using Jewel groceries, I would maybe save only 2 bucks. So for the ribs and mahi I give it 4+ stars, but for the pulled pork = 2 stars and 2 thumbs down. To me, Chuck's is like that friend that you think is pretty cool and you would probably hang out more often if he lived closer. But you just can't be bothered to travel all that way unless their is an occasion.
(4)melissa p.
i would have written this review right after leaving chuck's last night, but i was in a food coma instead! brought a group of 9 for a late lunch/early dinner for my birthday last night. we didn't wait for a table at all, the staff was really nice, and our waiter was quite funny! my husband started with the cream of chicken and rice soup...which was AMAZING! then we got some jalapeno cornbread. i'm not a huge fan of jalapenos, but i thought i'd try it! it was awesome! the butter on it gave it a little extra sweetness and countered the spice nicely! as for entrees...everything got RAVE reviews! i got ribs and brisket with incredibly delicious mac and cheese and some baked beans. the meat was great...got it with the honey chipotle sauce..and i have enough left for at least one or two more meals! my husband got a mexican dish that he has been craving since we vacationed in mexico a year and a half ago...cochinitas maybe? he said it wasn't quite as good as it was in the little mayan village he had them in, but it was still very good. chicken fried chicken, grilled chicken sandwich, pulled pork...all passed the test! my son got mac and cheese and fries. the fries looked so good that my dad tasted them and then ordered his own! apparently these are the best fries ever according to everyone with me. i didn't get to try them though because i was so full. and then our waiter brought me a brownie sundae for my birthday. the bite i was able to squeeze in was delicious. i can't say enough great things about chuck's! i WILL be going back. tried a different southern place for my birthday last year, but this one was definitely the winner!
(5)B. A.
A lot of great reviews set high expectations. I'll start with the waitress. She was beyond great! Very nice and attentive to such a large party (8). Next, the oysters were great also! So far so good! Now on to the entrees....mediocre. Bland, odd combinations of dishes. Such as a Carne Asada with mashed potatoes. Everyone ordered different meals and the general consensus was the same. I don't plan on going back to Chuck's anytime soon
(2)Bill B.
Heard about this restaurant on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and it was our first stop when we got in town. We ordered the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwich and both were delicious. Huge portions and friendly service made this a great indie dinner spot!
(4)Baby Bear H.
I went here for dinner and while the service was good (we had an awesome waitress) and the place was clean I wasn't to impressed with the food. I had the rib tips and the portion was HUGE so that was good I just thought they were on the fatty side and I didn't like their sauce all that much. That being said BBQ sauce is a personal choice on flavor so don't not try eating here because I didn't care for it. Tried the Jerk Chicken too and that was good.
(2)Steve G.
Duh! I watched the "Check Please" episode that featured Chuck's this weekend and I've got to go back. The place I visited and what was on CP are two different results. I'll take the wife and we'll try the Latin stuff -- we love Cuban food and Mexican food, so that may be the key!
(3)Mark G.
This was a new experience for me. I've been to a few barbaque places in my short amount of time on this earth, but none quite like this. There are just some places you have a good feeling about even before stepping a foot in the door and ordering. I have to say this was one of them. The funny thing is how indistinguishable this place is from the outside. I wasn't sure what to expect, but located in a tiny strip mall next to a 7-11 kinda took me by surprise. I was also expecting to have to wait for a table, and we did. But only for about ten minutes or so. You can kill a lot of time looking at all their comical hot sauces they have at the counter. They had one called "baboon ass". For some reason I remember that one the most. Their menu is quite large and versatile, it's kinda hard to choose when it's your first time. One thing I knew I had to try was the seafood gumbo. The mistake I made was not ordering a larger bowl. It was fantastic! For a main course I had the pulled pork sandwich with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese on the side. Also very satisfying. My girl ordered the chicken fried chicken. Which was a bonless fried chicken breast served atop garlic mashed potatoes, smothered in gravy with green beans on the side. Magnificent. She also ordered a side of french fries which were so crunchy and crispy. Some of the best fries I've had in a while. I also recommend the dreamsicle float if you're into that sort of thing. Prices here are excellent as well. We ordered an appetizer, two soups, and three meals (she brought home food to her dad), totalling just under $50. I'm glad she lives so close to this place. Will definitely be back.
(4)Jim D.
My wife and I stopped Into Chuck's last night to kick off Mardi gras season Chicago style with some wonderful Cajun food. Our night was complemented with a special taste of the New Orleans flavor with the band Hurricane Gumbo. We ordered jalapeno cornbread and jambalaya for an appetizer. For our entrees we were delighted with pulled pork and pulled chicken, accompanied by cole slaw, black beans and a homemade mac and cheese. For a while we pictured ourselves in the Bayou instead of the city. Be sure to put this one on your to do list if you're in the neighborhood. We stayed long after dinner to enjoy the sweet sounds of zydeco music.
(4)Andy M.
Great barbeque place and cool lounge right next to it. The place is always packed and that says something about the place. There is plenty of seating and the Voodo lounge is a good enough place by itself. The best place on 79 th street without a doubt.
(4)David G.
Eat here as much as possible. Po-Boys are straight out of New Orleans, the BBQ is on point, and the Soups are so good you'll eat them in the summer. I saw Sherman Klump and his whole family eating here for 13 days straight. I would eat here, make myself throw up in the bathroom just so I can eat here some more. It really is that good.
(5)Pierre W.
I've been to Chuck's a few times. I haven't been screaming about the greatness of the BBQ. However, to me, it's solid BBQ. A nice balance of smoke,and sauce. The meat is always cooked well. The sides are fine. I return to Chuck's because the portions are hearty,and the food is solid(good)...not great...but good. It's good enough to return,and the prices are reasonable. I will be going back to Churk's again...
(3)Tom W.
Chuck was highly recommended for his wedding catering services. He came through big time! The guest raved about how great the food was. Smoked sausage, chicken, Cajun style Italian Beef, pulled pork. Chuck is a great guy who is very easy going and easy to work with. What a great deal! It came out to be about $12 a person after sides and sausage apps.
(5)Carmel T.
Since, I was craving some ribs (due to watching 3 hours of "rib" shows), I decided to yelp places in my area for ribs. This place had so many good to (borderline) great reviews, so we went here last night around 8:30 pm as my hubby doesn't get home from work until 7:30ish. Place was really packed! Good thing I reserved a table online. Which could mean that they really do have good food... So, we sat down, and the server took our drink orders after about 5-10 mins. He then brought our drink orders soon after(which was pretty cool). However, upon ordering our food(after bringing our drinks), he then decides to tell us that they ran out of all ribs! Seriously?!? This place is supposed to be well-known for their ribs! Which was the MAIN reason why I decided to try it in the first place! Pretty aggravated! My hubby and I stared at each other with an "empty/confused" look on our faces. At that point, we really didn't know what to order anymore as we both had our hearts set on ribs for the night. Hesitantly, we ordered something else as we didn't want to be rude. We got the brisket, pulled pork and sausage links, which were ok. Sauce was ok too. If they didn't run out of ribs for me to sample, maybe I would've liked the food here better! We ended up paying $60 including tip and disappointments! If only the person in the front who welcomes the patrons warned us that they ran out of ribs, we would've never sat down in the first place!
(1)Frank K.
First time diner and very sorry that Chuck's is about an hour away. We had the ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken pot pie and Brunswick Stew. The brisket is the best I have ever had and the Brunswick Stew is delicious. The ribs are cooked just right and very meaty. There are five different sauces to try as you wish and a fantastic staff. Looking forward to going back, and going on the third Saturday of the month for the Beignet Breakfast along with chicory coffee.
(4)J. V.
My husband and I came here for dinner for the first time recently. We had a reservation and were seated right away on a Saturday night. We were seated at a two seat table, which was a little small, and it was very close to the tables around it. The place was a little noisy, too. Other than that, our experience was terrific. The waiter was busy and unable to take our drink order right away, but he did acknowledge us right away and then apologized for the wait. I don't mind having to wait as long as I'm acknowledged! Our waiter was extremely attentive and genuinely seemed to care. The busboys were on the ball and were there almost immediately to remove dishes and turn the vacated tables. The food was very good and portions were ample, and the prices were reasonable. The cream of chicken soup was one of the best I have ever had. The green beans were a little spicier than I would've liked, but I knew that going in. My husband had the cat fish and I had the chicken. Two thumbs up indeed! We will definitely be going back to Chuck's before long!
(5)Luis C.
My experience at Chuck's was fantastic! I had the Chicken Fried Chicken and my date had the Chuck's Sampler. We also shared an order of Baked Beans which were great, but be warned, they were a bit on the spicy side! The pulled pork, brisket, and rib-tips were off the hook! Cooked to perfection, but what really kicked it up a notch was the BBQ sauce! We bought a bottle after our meal. The Chicken Fried Chicken was great. Chicken was tender sitting on top of some creamy, rich garlic mash potatoes with a side of greens which were also spicy...very delicious! If you're on the south side, and in the mood for some BBQ, a stop at Chuck's is a must. I plan on hitting this spot way more often! The only thing I didn't get was the African art on the walls...connection with food or just Chuck's taste in art? Still, great place to go no matter what the occasion. Highly recommended!
(4)Nisey M.
I can't say enough nice things about the staff and the quality of food at Chuck's. I prefer to hang at the Voodoo lounge(no surprise there) because of the cocktails and the ability to order really delicious southern cuisine while watching Da Bears. Adrian (great bartender) is so nice and can handle a full bar without keeping his customers waiting, not to mention he can whip up some amazing cocktails! I also noticed the staff there is really well versed in customer service, they always are making sure that people have what they need. The food is really quality and good bbq is really not that easy to find, they have it down here...it's so good! I also had the oysters rockefeller as well as a dozen raw, both were delicious and fresh. The servings are generous and diversity on the menu is also a great. They have a lot of choices and from what I have tried so far you can't go wrong. Overall this is a neighborhood gem and a well respected business for all the right reasons. I am a huge fan and will be a repeat customer without question!
(5)Fredrick B.
I was surprised at how good the B-que was at this southwest suburban bar & cafe--particularly the variety of sauces varying in spice and sweetness. Scrumptious! The Oysters Rockefeller was surprising to see on a Burbank late night bar menu, and even more surprising was how good (and fresh) they tasted. Highly recommended. The Chicago wing dinner was more than my daughter could eat by herself; the portions of everything we ordered were generous for the prices charged. The cocktails were reasonably priced. The service was acceptable. The only draw back was the ambience, or the lack thereof. Burbank still isn't the most inviting place for African Americans. My daughter and I separately noticed the cafe side was filled primarily with Hispanic couples and families, and the bar was 100% Caucasians--save us! In this regard, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
(4)Billy S.
Chuck's is, quite simply, my favorite restaurant. No matter how often I go there (once every 2 weeks, or so) I am never left wanting. Normally, a very large menu is a big mistake, but here it works because everything is so darn scrumptious. Huge portions, wonderful food, and the best service in the Chicagoland area. Chuck's Special sandwich, the smoked corned beef, and Mexican Pot Roast (when available) are favorites of mine. An unbelievably pleasant surprise is the breakfast. Mix of Mexican and traditional southern American fare is all simply wonderful. Also, Chuck Pine has come over to our table and spoken to our group, at length (he's a very engaging dude) every one of the 40, or so, times I have been there. The enormous Voodoo Lounge is well staffed, and a ton of fun as well. Plus, it's hard to find a place on the south side with the huge selection of beer and wine that place has. I know I'm gushing, but like I said, Chuck's is my favorite joint.
(5)Jim S.
Chuck P emailed me asking for more detail stating they are known for more than just ribs. BUT....they call their ribs FAMOUS BBQ , so basically thats what we went there for "FAMOUS BBQ" He asked me to go into more detail which I should have done at the time. We ordered Cajun Crabcakes which were just ok... the rib tips were fatty the sauce was decent. One member ordered Jambalya and split ribs with his date. He said the Jambalya was ok nothing great. The other 3 of us had the BBQ Babybacks and they were not fall off the bone, and not very meaty (not tough but not what famus ribs should taste like) We did not have dessert. We attended several months ago and wish to assure Chuck the review in no way reflects because I had to park far away and walk in the drizzle. Sure I was saying this place better be great for walking in the rain but who wouldnt? I based my review on the food and the fact they had a spot on TV saying how great they were. if the reviews allowed for 2 1/2 stars I rate it thus, cuz it was average at best. I cannot give it an A-okay. The waitress was very friendly.
(2)Mike P.
I've only been here twice but I've enjoyed the experience each time. Each time I've gotten their beef brisket which is wonderful and last night when I went I tried their Brunswick Stew...wow it has a bit of a kick to it but oh so good. Last night when my brother and I went it wasn't too crowded and the service was great. Its a fantastic place to bring friends and I am definitely coming back. Their prices are very reasonable and won't set you back much. Hope to try the po'boys and even breakfast at sometime after seeing everyone's comments.
(5)Carrie K.
One of the top 5 worst meal experiences I've ever had. Might throw up on the ride home. Service, wait, food, everything was awful. Sorry, just terrible all around. Just a clue, the ribs still had the membranes on them. Rib BBQ 101
(1)Scott P.
There's absolutely nothing negative that I can say about this place. There really isn't. There's a lot of extremely awesome shit that I can say about this place. Their barbecue is spot on. It's really, really good. Their links are juicy with just enough crispness on the skin. Their ribs fall off the bone, and are probably some of the best that I've made in recent memory. The brisket falls apart when you lick it. The pulled pork is deliciously smoky and sweet. Their beer menu is extensive, and this is coming from a guy who just moved to Chicago from Denver. I knows me some beer, and this place has got some goods to offer. The Voodoo Lounge is a nice little place, and I'm not generally a fan of sportsbars. The food is RIGHT. The beers are RIGHT. The service is RIGHT. ... what the hell else can I really say about it??
(5)John M.
I remember when this was a GOOD spot out on the south side. They moved into the new, bigger digs, and it is average at best. Went for dinner the other night. I was recommended the Cajun Meat Loaf as a special. The meatloaf was served on a bed of mashed potatoes with some gravy, along with a side of Cajun green beans. The meat loaf was good, if a little on the small size as far as a main course (especially if it is meat loaf). The potatoes and gravy were fine. However the green beans had a odd chemical after taste to them. Ate two fork fulls, and left the rest. With a glass of soda pop, and tip, the total was eighteen bucks. Eighteen bucks for meat loaf, gravy, potatoes and green beans. With better portion size and palatable green beans maybe. I doubt I will be back.
(2)Edgar P.
I have only great things to say about Chuck's! This place knows how to do it right!!! I've been going to Chuck's for a little over a decade now and I'm glad that they finally moved to a bigger location to accommodate the masses of people that want to try their delicious food!! If you are going for lunch or dinner, I would probably recommend an endless list of possibilities for you! I would start off with some BBQ nachos, BBQ Chicken quesadillas (or regular ones), the cajun cakes, Rib tips (one of my favs), Chicago Wings (very crispy), or the oysters. Once you've loosened up your pants, I would then go order a Chuck's Special, their awesome Po'Boy, any type of BBQ option on the menu (although I'd be lying if I told you I was a fan of their brisket personally), amazing hot links, chicken enchilladas, and their awesome jambalaya (try this!). Take a breather and come back for basically any dessert on the menu...you can't go wrong! They also have a pretty lively bar attached to the restaurant named The Voodoo Lounge that always draws me in for a drink or five! I personally love going on Wednesday's because it's their Blues Night and they'll bring in acts from around town to play some blues for the crowd. I actually love this place also because of there good beer selection that they have. 120 beers from all over the states and world. I'm pretty sure they have a good wine selection too but I'm more of a beer nut more than anything else, so I just stick to that. Check the specials on their website to see if any of them interest you on whatever day of the week is best for you. This is actually one of my favorite places to have a bite to eat and drink..almost tied to Palmer's Place in LaGrange. Check It Out!! You Just Gotta!!!
(5)Chris M.
Excellent again!! We had the Cajun meatloaf and étouffée. Great serve and huge portions.
(5)Nicole W.
There are very few places on the south end of Chicago, where you can find great food. Chuck's has been our "go to" place for the last two years. And although they are known for their barbecue, the menu has constant specials. If you love beer, they have over a hundred varieties. Whether you're in the mood for bar atmosphere or a quiet sit down meal, Chuck's is divided into two main areas; the Voodoo Lounge and the regular restaurant. This is also the only restaurant on the south side that participates in Whatdayaknow trivia nights. Great food. Atmosphere. Events. They have it all.
(5)Courtney K.
The profile pic of Chuck's is from the old location & needs to be changed PRONTO! Ok, having said that, I will begin the lovefest that is my review for Chuck's. My favorite restaurant, hands down. Breakfast, love it, lunch, love it, dinner, love it. A major foodie like myself appreciates homemade tortillias (believe me, there's a difference) and Mexican coffee. (was I Mexican in a past life? OLE!) Being a lifelong south sider, I would have to travel outside of my comfort AND safety zone to get quality food in other hipper neighborhoods. No more, people. We have been going to Chuck's since it's inception, and we have never been disappointed. Don't get me started on the sawdust pie. :)
(5)William L.
Their soups/stews are great. You can never go wrong with their Seafood Gumbo and their portions are huge. You won't leave here hungry, that's for sure and the prices are reasonable. Their BBQ is good but I prefer dry rub and their BBQ has too much sauce for me. Good beer selection as well.
(5)Rob J.
Excellent beer menu! BBQ nachos are amazing. I have gotten the BBQ platter three times, wings, burger and po boy and enjoyed every bite.
(5)Johnny H.
There are no words to explain how good this place is. I have NEVER heard anyone complain about it. Anyone I have ever brought here has become a LIFER! LOL. Seiously, All the BBQ you can handle. I love the wings, fries, and macNcheese... smothered in BBQ!!! Ask anyone I know and they'll recommend it!!!
(5)Patrick E.
I've been coming to Chuck's now for five years and it keeps getting better. I was at the Hillbilly Halloween last month and the music was fun, the crowd was great, but the kicker is the LATE NIGHT MENU that they offer. Seriously, after eating burritos and white castles for so long, you crave something better and Chuck's offers it. I had their Chicken Wings with chipotle and it was amazing. So good that I'm never eating wings at BW3 again. Dinner, lunch and breakfast are all top notch and while everyone raves about the BBQ, for me its the Cajun that I crave. And Chuck's does it really really well. I've never been to New Orleans, so I"m not even going to comment on authenticity. As long as its fresh, well presented and tasty, I'm all over it. I've brought family, friends, girlfriends and clients here and they've all raved about their meal. Patronize this place with an open mind and you'll see why its so highly rated! Open mind as in, you're going to see items on the menu that are NOWHERE else and don't 'fit into a box' of tex/mex/cajun/bbq. So, just order whatever tickles your fancy and be sure to review the specials menu before tackling their main menu. Cheers!
(5)Jeffery A.
I see a lot of mixed reviews about this place, so I'll just relate my experience. We were seated in the bar area and it was quite comfortable, the noise level is low enough to allow for conversation, that is of one of my pet peeves, noise levels so high that you cannot have a conversation without yelling. My wife and I went here on a Saturday night around 7 pm to help someone celebrate their birthday. I found a parking spot right away and later found out that I was lucky to do so. It seems that their parking lot, though fairly big, sometimes is not enough to accommodate everyone. Bear in mind that this is probably the busiest time of the week for them. Don't park on the street or you'll risk a ticket as a sign near the door clearly states. After we found our party the waitress quickly took our drink order and returned with our drinks a short time later. Our party was about 10-15 people and after the food order was taken, the food appeared in a timely manner. I had a half slab of ribs and a quarter chicken and it was delicious. I chose cole slaw as a side and it was the best cole slaw I've had in many, many years. I also had the cajun green beans, but frankly I could not taste any cajun spices in them, although they were still very good. Everyone else seemed to be happy with both the food and the service. The amazing thing that happened is when I asked the waitress for the check for myself and my wife. I was expecting a bit of eye-rolling and such, but the waitress was completely unfazed and delivered our check without any trouble at all. The other guests had the same pleasant experience. Be on the lookout for the gratuity to be added to the check as ours was -- not unusual for large parties such as ours. I'm not a beer enthusiast, but if you are, you'll be in suds heaven as this place has beer from all over -- me? -- I just stick to my Miller Lite. I will definitely be going back here to try some of the delicious, southern style foods they offer.
(4)Linda K.
Excellent food, service, and value! Our party of 4 tried BBQ, Cajun, Chuck's sandwich, Mexican, and several homemade desserts. All were outstanding! Servers are very knowledgeable on menu and very efficient and friendly. Most of the servers have been there for years and are great ambassadors for the restaurant. Prices are very reasonable and affordable. Our family has been to Chuck's a dozen times in the last year and has never been disappointed. Chuck's has great food, great menu variety, great value, and great service. Chuck's also has a fun bar (i.e. Voodoo lounge) with an extensive list of domestic and international beers.
(5)Scott A.
I wish I had found this place a lot sooner. The BBQ Ribs are amazing and have a great smoke ring and very flavorful. We also had the Chicago wings and they were perfectly crispy and the sauces were fantastic/ My wife tried the cajun side of the menu and it didn't disappoint. We have been 2 times and we were able to make reservations the same day both times. A great family restaurant with amazing comfort food, my wife keeps wanting to go back.
(5)Margaret B.
Went to Chuck's yesterday for a late lunch. I had the Chuck's Special sandwich - it involves beef brisket, peppers, onions, and cheese. Wow - pot roast as a religious experience - it's wonderful. And get the fries and green beans with it; you won't be sorry.
(5)George N.
This place used to be amazing but has gone down the tubes in the last year. I've been going here a while for dinner and to watch Bears games in the Voodoo Lounge. I keep hoping it's just a fluke but, sadly, I've had too many bad dinner services as of late and I no longer can recommend this place to friends. Latest visit was on 07/03 at about 7pm. The lot was full but the dining room was at most half full which is alarming and should have been my warning to stay away. Seating was prompt. We ordered with no issues. After that, it was all down hill. It was Tapas day. I ordered a hot tapas which was a tamale basically covered in their mole/chili. It was room temp, bordering on cold. Flavor was good, just wish it was hot and fresh. Next item was the seafood gumbo. This is one of my favorite items on the menu but I don't know what happened this night. It looked old, like a skin was forming on top, was not hot and again room temp, and smelled/tasted off. For dinner, I had a bbq sampler with brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. Again, room temp food was served. It was not hot at all and tasted old or like it had been sitting there. Flavor was off on everything except for the ribs. Ribs tasted like they should. Sides were cold as well. Wife's salad was fine. Her quarter chicken dinner was overcooked, dried out, room temp/cold and the flavor was off. Kid's chicken tenders, surprisingly, were fine. I guess we all should have ordered tenders that night. Service started out satisfactory but then dropped off. The server or bus boy was hardly to be found after the initial order and we ended up with plates and bowls piled up on the table that were not cleared before dinner was brought. It was difficult to get drink refills. I watched our server spend 15 minutes flirting with two middle aged women who were wearing short skirts and no shortage of cleavage. Overall, annoying, but no where near as bad as an offense as the food was that night. The biggest issue with Chuck's is the consistency. The food is great and the flavors are normally great but this lack of consistency is killing this place. I don't know who runs the kitchen at night for dinner service but they are terrible. If you have to try this place, try it during the morning/lunch hours. I really can't recommend this place for dinner until the consistency returns.
(1)Ashley B.
I've been into Chucks several times, making the drive from the Naperville area, and it is the best. Everything I have had there has been amazing, from the nachos to the crab cakes eggs benedict for breakfast. It's all amazing. Things to try: the chili--its mexican influenced, with a hint of mole to it the french press coffee--if you go for breakfast get this, you won't be sorry. its delicious and hard to explain the ribs--yum! they will fill you up, but get yourself a full rack and take the rest home for later. prices are reasonable and they post their specials online every week.
(5)Michele C.
AMAZING!!!! The hardest part of eating there is what to order because its all so good. AMAZING desserts!!!!!!!!!!!! The service is great.
(4)Jacob J.
I was lucky to come across Chuck's by catching a broadcast special about Chicagoland's favorite eateries. Some weeks later I find a Groupon on-line so I jumped at that chance. I'm a Northsider, so for me, the voyage was hella long. It's important to find other things to do in the surrounding locale, so that you don't feel that you are making a long ass trek, (approx 42 miles) just for some bangin barbecue. Chuck's is a diner. Not a white tablecloth fine dining establishment or your run of the mill dirty barbecue shop. Its fine dining barbecue in the sense that the setup is like a four star diner, think Bakers square style of venue. There were all kinds of people there enjoying meals. There were also some interesting characters there which made for some exciting "people watching". Their barbecue is excellent. If you have the time, patience and stomach space, go with people that enjoy food. Make sure to order up a few items and enjoy a potluck. We made sure to sample their rib tips with the hot BBQ sauce. Let me tell you that this sauce was HOT, there was a nice sheen of sweat that appeared on my nostrils and I was excited about it. Was not expecting that kind of heat and we loved it. Tips were prepared perfectly and to top off the great food the amount of waiting time was next to none. Once we placed our order, it was ready within ten minutes. Surprising since, it was a busy evening. If there is a next time and I hope there is, I plan to take some time tasting around their diverse Southern menu. Chuck's has also got a bar which is dubbed the Voodoo lounge and separate from the rest of the dining area. Surprisingly, Chuck's has an extensive beer menu with almost four pages of beer selections. We had a go with a few of their beers, mixed drinks and sangria and to be honest, I've now tasted the worst mojito I have ever had. As if someone mixed a "mojito" mix with Bacardi. Also tried the Sangria which was above average. Great BBQ for a great price. If trying them out in the summer months, best to call for hours. They are open late on weekends and pretty late on weekdays. Rib tips! Rib tips! Make sure you make it out for Chuck's Fest September 10 - 12, 2010.
(5)Hans C.
Drove down here from the burbs for lunch with my Southsider brother today at his recommendation. I had an overall good experience. I've been to barbecue joints all over the South, and this place is legit, on par with the good ones. We enjoyed the appetizers (potato skins and chipotle corn bread). The sides were pretty standard. I had the Mexican rice and baked beans. The meat was perfect. Being a first-timer, I opted for a sampler plate of ribs, pulled pork, and bone-in chicken. I also sampled the beef brisket, so I experienced the full trifecta of flesh. All were juicy and cooked to optimal. However, I wasn't a fan of their sauces, at least the ones I tried. I thought the honey chipotle and the North Carolina sauces were way too rich and sweet and overpowered the natural flavors of the meat. Next time, I'll go with the mild or get the sauce on the side. Other than that, Chuck's has some pretty tasty meat parts going on.
(4)Diana M.
The building that houses Chuck's used to be a rock/punk venue a few years ago. So imagine my surprise when we roll up after a Chicago Fire game and now it's a BBQ joint! From Murphy's Law and Sham 69 to a delicious, food coma inducing BBQ joint! I approve! 20 of us showed up on a Sunday after yet another Chicago Fire draw and were promptly seated in the back room. Our server, Gary, may have been a little overwhelmed (lots of Fire fans showed up and there was a shift change at about the same time) but no biggie, we all understood! The fried alligator appetizer was pretty good. The horseradish/cocktail sauce it came with was delicious. I ordered the brisket sandwich and it was perfect. Not too fatty, meat was still juicy and melted in my mouth PLUS there was a ton of meat! The sauce was good too. My husband's crawfish po'boy was, by all accounts, "awesome" (his words). As for my side dishes, I had the mac and cheese and baked beans. The mac and cheese was very good, but holy cow those baked beans were fantastic!! Spicy, meaty, beany goodness. I will be back for the brisket and beans, for sure. BONUS: If you show your Chicago Fire ticket stub, you get a discount on your meal. Score! Or better yet, gooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaallll!!!!
(4)Char Y.
Armed with a groupon (can you see that I'm a HUGE fan?), we came back for dinner on a Sat night. The place was super busy with a 30 minute wait, and the bar was crowded as well. After looking through the ginormous menu of everything southern, we decided on: dinner roll - dry pulled pork platter - LOVE the pulled pork! HUGE portion half slab of rib - juicy & tender rib tips - LOVE it! Meaty & tangy mac & cheese - soggy fries - AMAZING fries that are lightly battered & fried. banana foster crepe - crepe was soggy, everything else (ice cream, caramel & bananas) were good. But again, I can't resist any of them. overall, good experience with spotty yet attentive service (checked on every 15-20 minutes) due to the huge place being busy. I thought the food was a great value ($40 including tip & tax for 2 of us). I would venture back!
(4)James T.
Wouldn't expect to get BBQ of this quality in Burbank. All around tasty and a great place for some early week day drinking with some nice ( nothing special) beers. The bartender Julie made everyone feel very comfortable. We will be back.
(5)Jackie G.
Went there for lunch this week with a party of eight and no reservations. We were seated rather quickly and received friendly and attentive service. I was able to try the BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac n cheese, which were all pretty good. What blew me away were the rib tips, cream oh chicken chipotle soup, and fries... I wanted more of all three! I can't wait to go back, wish I'd been there sooner!
(4)Jan M.
We had breakfast here the day after Christmas; good service and food. The beans and rice that accompanied my breakfast were wonderful, a rarity in Mexican establishments. We will be back when in the area
(3)Ken H.
Good food. Terrible service. This could easily be a 4 or even a 5 star review if not for the inept wait staff. First the food. The jambalaya was very good. The blackened chicken could have been a little more blackened but was still tasty. The Tennessee pulled pork was awesome. I tried some of the kids meal chicken tenders and they were awful. I heard great things about the chili (Chucks Red) but the bowl that was ordered never made it to the table. The cheese on the kids meal cheeseburgers was also conspicuously absent. The waitress didn't seem to care, while the guy who actually delivered the food was very attentive and helpful. This was a late lunch on a weekday so maybe his was the B team wait staff, and the dinner staff would have fared better, but overall the good food was undermined badly by the indifferent service.
(2)Rouzbeh A.
No peach cobbler or oysters as on menu. Bbq rack was amazing. Lots of meat on it.
(4)Kristy H.
We went here last night for my brother's birthday. There was a party of 10 of us. 1 star for the service. It was impeccable. Seriously. Bravo to our server. I can't remember her name. She knew everything about the menu and was prompt, but not interruptive. 1 star for the beer menu. 120 beers?! Holler! And at reasonable prices. My purple haze was on special for $3. Every other regular beer you'd want was between $4 and $5. Even Chimay was a mere $8. But then again, we were in Burbank and I am used to 60657 prices. 1 star for the selection and quality of appetizers. 1 star for everyone else's food and that they cut the b-day cake we brought and that Chuck came out and said hey. Minus one star because the pork shoulder special that I had was incredibly salty. I could hardly eat it. In fact, I didn't eat it. I'll be back to try something else.
(4)Pre J.
I am sooooo in LOVE. I had the smoked chicken with mashed potatoes and mac&cheese. The boyf had the chicken fried chicken whisch was also delish. I also joined the 120 club. Had 6 beers and they were all good.
(5)Jennifer S.
The BBQ is always delicious. Everyone must try the bananas foster french toast at breakfast. It is awesome.
(5)Dee D.
The food is great, the location is great, parking's great, but it's just too crowded and noisy in here for me to enjoy my food. My Grandma used to love their BBQ anything, lol, but I'd rather get mine to go.
(3)Kal B.
I usually regular at Chucks during the 1st quarter of the year because of my hectic schedule and they're about the best thing you can get delivered. Well the other day I tried the Po'boy Filet Mingon, Mac-N-Cheese and a house salad and everything hit right on as far as freshness of the salad, tenderness of the meat (felt like the meat could have had a better kick to it, instead of just the sauce since it is the star of the dish), but his Mac-N-Cheese is UNBELIEVABLE! He just might have to open a food cart selling Mac-N-Cheese in multiple fashions, because if anybody can do that it would be Chuck! I do have to say, for the most part they're almost always right on.
(4)Michael P.
"Barbecue" is a tsunami. (Check out Yelp "Talk"). Fights over what it is, who eats it, where it started, why it started, how to make it, how to eat it, what's original and whose tastes the best have been going on forever. It is the stuff of legend more so than historical fact (food fights are fun). I have always wondered why - with the Chicago connection to Memphis and New Orleans, the proximity to St. Louis, and being the local home of the Weber grill manufacturing company, Chicago has never really developed its own "style" of barbecue joint. Maybe it has. Welcome to Chuck's Southern Comforts Café in Burbank. Evolution is a wonderful thing. Crab-cakes benedict, churrasco, chicken fried chicken and cochinita pibil along with the pulled pork sandwiches, brisket and ribs. What a concept! Chuck has come up with a menu combining super-slow, wood smoked barbecue meats, tossed in Cajun style items and spices and for good measure, added some interesting home-style Mexican dishes not usually available in the local taqueria. Barbecue, Tex-Mex, Cajun - oh my! Did I mention Creole? That convoluted menu description fits my old Chicago neighborhood to a "T" (when friends and neighbors of differing backgrounds gathered at each others houses) and I think the combination works pretty well to get your taste buds working. With daily specials and event menus (a monthly menu celebrating Cinco de Mayo for example) there is always something new to try. The barbecue is good stuff hands down - the ribs are advertised as "Limited Availability" - get them when they are (try the smoked corned beef!) and the Mexican inspired dishes use spices and sauces in combos that bring out flavors new to this gringo - not the usual taco, rice and beans combos - (It seems that Chuck spent some time with Rick Bayless in fact). The New Orleans inspired dishes hit the mark (I have been there) and the breakfasts - well you need to check this place out if you are tired of the same old eggs over easy or Denver omelet crap. How's Bananas Foster Crepes grab ya? Home made deserts - brownies, Chuck's Mom's Cookie, cobblers, might even make some of my Yelp friends give up their damn cupcakes (at least for a day)! If you are looking for a place to try new tastes and flavors - give your mouth a reason for being and check out Chucks. If you like barbecue, if you like Southern cooking, you simply need to go here. It is unique (in a wonderfully good way). Check out the website menu before you go, but be prepared to change your mind when you get there. Good place for families - there is a kids menu, but get the kids to try something different (so you can try ..er.., share with them). The place is popular, expect a wait - but don't fret - Chucks has a great bar and people watching space next door in The Voodoo Lounge (attached to the restaurant)! The Lounge is a primary destination in itself - a good sized venue with regular entertainment on the schedule, evenings and weekends. Good drinks, friendly people. On a side note, while discussing upcoming entertainment, my bartender told me that he felt the "north side" bands they have scheduled lately must not have much of a following as they don't get much of a crowd in the Lounge... I heartily disagreed and suggested that is it is not that the "nordtsiders" don't follow their bands, their lack of attendance was simply because Harlem is a shitty bike path and there are not enough Zip Cars to go around....(he bought me a round)! What a joint.
(5)Cory A.
Great BBQ...the sampler is lots of food while getting to try a good cross section. Cant imagine anything being bad here.
(4)Amanda A.
I was really impressed with Chuck's menu and beer list. We were lured by a Groupon, and even though we were using the Groupon on the last night before expiration, there was no wait at the huge restaurant. The four of us who went ordered from all parts of the menu. The barbeque was outstanding, although I was glad they provided more sauce on the side. I loved the jalapeno cornbread, the fiesta salad won rave reviews from my friend. My other friend brought the gumbo home, it was so good, and I ordered the crawfish ettouffee which was spicy and GOOD. It was even better the next day. I need to learn how to make the tomato-chipotle rice, or whatever it was. Yum! The best part though (for me) was the complementary beer list. Each beer was listed with the food it tastes best with. Since I really like beer and I don't like it when they don't match, but I'm not good enough to know, it was great to have this handy guide. I ended up with the Abita Golden Ale, which was really a nice complement to the spiciness of the ettouffee. Yes, it's in the suburbs. Yes, it's kind of a hike to get to from the North Side. But if you're looking for something different and tasty, Chuck's is a nice option!
(4)Zan F.
For 1 week I lived as a Chicago Southsider on business. My native Chicago'an co-worker wrangled up some of the crew and insisted we go to Chuck's for a mid-week beer and BBQ break. It was a much needed break and he picked the perfect place for beer and grub! I knew I was going to like this place as soon as I parked over a block away to find an open spot and smelled the deliciousness in the air as I stepped out. Inside I was hit instantly w/friendly service and a damn impressive beer menu. Even the organization of the beer menu was impressive. I ordered up a Ska Brewing Double IPA and set my focus on the food. As I've said on other reviews I tend to order dishes named after the the joint or order thier signature dish, etc. Low and behold...'Chuck's Special...Done. A beef brisket sandwich w/roasted peppers, sauteed onions, Jack cheese, and a side of insanely tasty au jus. Chuck, you're a genius...a bbq sandy served w/au jus...deadly! With this plate came a side of the Cajun Green Beans and the Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. I'll get the only negative out of the way...the Green Beans. They were cooked fine but really didn't have the cajun zing I was hoping for. The brisket was piled I and slow smoked to tender perfection. I found my self ditching the bun to better savor the flavor. Although my first bites combined w/the peppers, onions, and cheese really jived well. The mashed potatoes themselves were good but not that memorable, but throw in the gravy and it take the side to a new level. I'm not sure what they spice the gravy with, but it was similar to the au jus and is liquid gold...solid stuff! If I were a Bears fan almost every game day Sunday would be here! Nice work Chuck!
(4)nestor h.
BEST. CHILI. EVER! I am diagnosed with a serious gastrointestinal affliction that keeps me up at night and most days but it is all worth Chuck's Red Chili!! You must try it plain to appreciate the love that goes into making this masterpiece. I have looked high and low through this city of ours, traveling 25 miles to just try someones chili recommendation and this is the best I have eaten. And the ribs??? Delicious. So tender you can it the ribs with a fork. I have also eaten at rib joints featured in magazines and TV shows and I have found my place forever. I look for places that have my staples. I have a restaurant for my burgers, sushi and now ribs! You must check this place out!
(5)Bernadette B.
Been here twice. The first time used a google search for surrounding restaurants. It was on a wkend nite and the place was pretty busy. The wait wasn't long about 5-10 mins. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of macNcheese and mashed potatoes. My food was excellent. The pork sandwich was smothered in a honey, chipolte bbq sauce! I didn't get the eat much of my macNcheese since the kids took that from me! But coming from those two critics, it must of been good. The second time was for my husbands bday dinner. He had the spicy links and I tried the catfish dinner. The links were spicy but good. My dinner was great. Nice portion and the tarter sauce had a zing to it that was different from other tarter sauces. My son on the other hand had the bbq ribs and he didn't like it b/c of the sauce. I tasted it and it was yummy! He's a picky eater tho. I recommend coming here for a casual dinner out especially if you want some good bbq and great comfort food!
(4)Tim H.
I'm from Arizona, everytime I come to visit my brothers. let's head to Chucks! Great food and i love there beer selection! love this place.
(5)David W.
Had a great meal there last night. The chicken was very tender and moist and the hot b sauce had a very nice kick to it. The portions were perfect and the price very reasonable.
(4)Tina B.
I wish I could tell about the delicious and interesting red chili with the mole base and the decent gumbo and the creamy mashed potatoes and the crunchy chicken fried fries and how the menu is large and eclectic and exciting and what a welcome flair a Rick Bayless-connected hand lends to southern cuisine and how I hope to return real soon. Instead I'll tell about how they double charged my credit card, sending my finances into a tailspin for several days, how they never really apologized when I called them and asked only for the matter to be fixed and to have my tip returned to me because of these service issues and about how I'm still waiting for that tip back - two weeks later - and I'm still waiting for them to call me back in "two or three days" - two weeks later. Thankfully - after only six or seven calls with my bank - and with zero thanks to Chuck's - all has been fixed, but it was still an unwelcome pain in the ass. Feel free to go, the food's not bad - just pay in cash unless you're feeling lucky.
(1)Sandra L.
Went to Chucks on a recommendation although I had been wanting to give it a try for some time. Started out wanting to watch the Blackhawks parade. The lounge wasn't open yet,so the staff accommodated us by letting us in the party room and turned the tv on for just us! Started with a Bloody Mary,pretty good,but the breakfast was out of this world! We shared the eggs,bacon,sausage,ham,biscuits and gravy and hash browns. Finished up with the Pain Perdu,I have to say it was one of the best things I have ever eaten! After finishing up our coffee,we decided to check out the Voodoo Lounge. Nice size room,great service and terrific beer selection. Also they had a decent amount of tvs for us to finish watching the Blackhawks celebration!. Checked out the dinner menu and I can't wait to go back! We will be revisiting soon and bringing more friends! My only problem will be deciding what to order!
(4)Sarah M.
Good value for money! I couldn't resist the $3 bloody mary special and the $5 hurricanes- just what you need on a Sunday afternoon! The food menu was pretty large, and, as usual I had to deliberate long and hard, but finally I chose the seafood jambalaya. It was tasty, but it was nothing special- too much spicy tomato sauce and not enough crawfish. I tried some of my husband's gumbo and that was pretty good too. Very casual atmosphere and great for groups and families. Check out the array of hot sauces and bbq sauces on your way out or waiting for a table- some of the artwork and names are just pure comedy!
(3)Gina M.
I know this may sound over the top and exaggerated, but Chuck's is the best food I have ever put into my mouth. EVER. The BBQ nachos, the wings, the buffalo chicken sandwich. OMG! Not to mention Voodoo Lounge next store makes some kick a** drinks. Try their hurricane, so tasty! During Bears season they have an all you can eat and/or drink buffet on game days. It's a steal and a half!!!
(5)Ray W.
great place to eat. great atmosphere and great food. a very interesting menu that you can't get just anywhere. bold flavors and great portions.
(4)Mary S.
Great BBQ! Ribs, brisket (with Carolina sauce), Mac and cheese and Brunswick stew was beyond expectations. Big group and problems were taken care of. My niece never had rib tips and did not really like them. The manager/owner not sure was told and she quickly had a replacement entree. I live in Michigan but have family in the area and I will be sure to return.
(4)carol h.
Our family loves this place. We eat here at least once per month. The staff is great and so is Chuck. He walks to each table and says hi and asks how everything is. We love the pulled pork, brisket, Jambalaya, pork chops, mexican style pot roast, smoked corned beef, crab cakes, Korean wings, green beans, Mac n cheese and beans. We never have a bad meal! We love the banana foster, apple crisp and cookies. We have also purchased their BBQ sauce and loved it! Highly recommend! Going again tomorrow :). We also hear the breakfast and St Patrick Day specials are amazing as well so we definitely be heading back to try those.
(5)Steve Z.
Had to submit a much needed update from my previous 1 star review. The new chucks finally got there act together since moving. Great food and much better service. I must say there bar area (voo doo Lounge) Is where it's at they have abita beers on tap which are fantastic and only 3 bucks a pop. They have full menu in there untill later at nite then it turns into bar menu. Cool place to hang out drink sum turbo dogs, watch some Chicago sports and listen to some cool louisiana style bands for no extra charge
(5)Phil W.
i like it all at chucks. great stop
(5)Carolynne M.
So, what do you do when you find yourself stuck in Joliet all day and need a place to have lunch? Answer: You travel to Burbank. I knew the chances of me being able to travel down here simply to come to this restaurant were pretty slim, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity while I had it. Chuck's bills itself as a "southern" cafe, but really, thats quite an umbrella they are using that word to cover. "Southern" in this case means Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cajun-Creole as well as St Louis style BBQ. The interior of the restaurant (they are moving sometime this month to a much larger location down the street) has sort of a Mexican cantina look to it, with a deep golden hue to the walls and lots of Spanish style chotchkes hanging from them. I ordered a catfish po'boy which came with two sides. For this I chose the mac & cheese and the Brunswick Stew. I also ordered the rib tip appetizer to take for dinner later. The catfish po'boy was nothing short of incredible. Huge, creamy pieces of fresh catfish, lightly coated in a mildly spiced batter, nestled in a chewy, soft roll amongst lettuce, tomato and a light drizzle of roasted red pepper mayonnaise. This is definitely in the top 5 of po'boys for me. The mac & cheese was excellent, very rich and smooth with a great cheese flavour. The Brunswick Stew, which is a meaty Southern stew of smoked chicken, beef and pork with tomato, corn, cabbage and potato, was loaded with ingredients, very dense and hearty. The overall flavour was good, but nothing spectacular. The one disappointment was the rib tips. When I was handed the bag I thought I had been given the wrong order. For an appetizer portion this is a massive offering. Giant, gorgeous meaty pieces bathed in a sauce of your choice (I chose Hot). Except when all is said and done you probably get 1/4 cup of meat off these things. The first bite was an explosion of gristle and other unappealing hard bits while the meat itself was difficult to remove from the bones and chew. (and to anyone who says they are supposed to be that way I say Too bad - I dont like gristle!) The sauce was Not Hot in any way, shape or form, but it has a pleasant sweetness that complimented what little meat I was able to actually eat. All in all, a pretty good place located in an area that appeared to not have many other dining choices, southern or otherwise. They have really interesting looking specials (one in particular was a lamb and huitlacoche quesadilla - yum!) so in case I am ever out Joliet way again I might have to make a second trip.
(4)Joanna K.
I love Chuck's! The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I always order the same thing there, so I am not an expert on the whole menu. It looks great though and everyone I am with always loves the dishes they choose. I am a huge fan of the pulled pork sandwich, mac & cheese & fries. That's all I ever get and I never tire of it. Chuck's offers daily specials and all kinds of southern specialties so check out their website to see that they have going on.
(4)rick a.
New location, new bar and new parking lot!!! The food and service remain the same as they were before the move, excellent, the real news is the new bar. The Voodoo Lounge is a new addition and was desperately needed at the old location. There are plenty of tables if you have decided to visit but still need to watch a sporting event, and there are enough flat screen TVs to around. The HUGE news for all is that Chucks now offers 120 different beers on the menu from around the world. I would say that they could use a better tap beer selection but at least I can enjoy a first rate IPA with my BBQ, which pair nicely with the spiciness. Coming soon for the beer lover is some sort of card system so that if you drink all 120 beers (hopefully not all in 1 sitting!) you will get some sort of recognition which may be a shirt or plaque. This is in the works but the management is still working out the logistics.
(4)Paul S.
It's good quality eatin here! It's funny - I could have sworn that I reviewed Chuck's previously - but I can't find that review. I have eaten at the new location twice and once at the old place. The new facility is much larger and much nicer. The service is down home and friendly. And last time I got to meet Chuck! He is down home Burbank with a flair for cookin. And he seems real nice too! The mexican dishes are very good quality and often quite unique - apparently they are his specialities! However, I am a BBQ kind of guy, and therefore I always getting something with sauce on it. All is excellent. My only dissapointment is that by the time I get done with about 1/2 of my dinner I am too full to order any of the great sounding desserts. So next time - I am ordering the dessert first and then I will just have to take home more of my meal for the next day! :) Happy eatin!
(5)Tony L.
Been slackin' on reviews, time to play catch up. My wife and I saw Chuck's on Check, Please and thought it would be a good place to go since the person who reviewed it on Check, Please had a pretty good time and was really into the food. Also, we never really spend any time on the south side so we took a trip. When we got there, we just beat the rush, (this is the old location) and everything was pretty quiet and moved pretty quickly. We had the gumbo, rib tips, and another dish that I can't seem to find on the menu, something-pibil? I'm not sure of the name, but it was mighty tasty. The rib tips and sauce were pretty good and the dish I had was very tender. Definitely return in the summer and try some of their other dishes and check out the new place.
(4)Joellen F.
The food was delish! Had the chucks special with fries and slaw. We also had the nachos everything was great! The service was terrific! I would recommend it!
(5)Bret G.
Great southern comfort food, haven't found anything I didn't like
(5)Kevin T.
i cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. there's even a "chucksfest" around september at toyota park, which gives everyone a nice idea about how big their beer collection actually is and what their food tastes like. anyway the BBQ/cajun/mexican food here is the best. i have yet to be disappointed with a plate that i have ordered. my personal favorites include chuck's special, pulled pork, shrimp and crab au gratin, and all of their breakfast. this place may not be the best option for your arteries, but if you want food that makes you feel good in every sense of the word, this is the place to be. mad props for the beer menu as well, where you can choose from over 120 beers, catering to the likes of any beer snob out there. still curious? check out their DDD (diners, drive-ins, and dives) segment on youtube! so good!
(5)Edonna O.
Awesome as usual
(4)Erica M.
From a Memphian / Mississippian, I can tell you that everything you read online about the BBQ is true! It is delicious. I tried the pulled pork sandwich dressed out Memphis style with coleslaw and hot BBQ sauce. The sandwich had an unusual, very memorable flavor--unlike any other I've tried anywhere in the South because it had a hint of Cajun / Creole spices / seasoning (reminiscent of jambalaya or etouffee). The best description is "completely original". It's like New Orleans + Memphis served in Chicago. I had the baked beans with mac n cheese as my sides. Those were great. AND, I drank real sweet tea with my meal. Well done!
(5)Kelly S.
Very hit or miss! Some things are awesome, but some things are way too salty and over done. I REALLY wanted this place to cater my wedding. None of my phone calls or emails were answered. After a month of trying to contact someone/anyone I gave up. Sad.
(4)Wes D.
Without a doubt the best bbq in the area! I love the different bbq sauces to chose from. All are good, and it's fun to experiment and see which goes best with which meat. I also recently tried the smoked corned beef sandwich, which is their bbq version of a rueben sandwich, and that was delicious! Someone had recommended I try their Mexican special on Saturdays, which was a braised pork dish. It felt wrong not getting bbq while at Chuck's, but the braised pork was very good and I'm glad I tried it. They also have a huge beer selection!
(4)David M.
A friend introduced me to Chucks, and I immediately became a customer for like. The prices beat anything you can get in the city, and the brisket is always nearly as good as I've had in Texas when traveling on business, and on good days, Chuck's is better. The owner always comes out and greets patrons, and that adds a nice touch. The only thing better than Chuck's for dinner? Chuck's for breakfast.
(5)Brian G.
This is one of my go to places in the neighborhood. I've never had a bad experience here with the food or service. BBQ nachos are addicting and my all time favorite appetizer anywhere.
(4)Jeff K.
I used to like this place. But messing up my order 3 of the last 4 times I have had enough and never will go back...
(2)Alexis F.
First impression..... Not so good!!! Went about 530 pm and got take out. Full slab of ribs..... Dry and not very tasteful. Jalapeño cheddar cornbread..... Didn't taste like cornbread. Baked beans.... Tasted like barely cooked beans in tomato sauce. The super sampler must have been good because my children ate it. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and rib tips. I would give chucks a second look because I've heard nothing but great things. But in my mind, when i pay $50, I don't care if I come 20 mins before closing, food should be as fresh then as it is when you open. Portillos ribs has chucks beat right now....
(2)Kay N.
SSSOOOOOUUUUPPPP!!! Sweet Jesus...the SOUP! Any soup they have is INSANELY good! Yes..the food is awesome..but .....SOOOOUUUPPP!
(5)Jennifer G.
Check another bbq "to do" off the list. I had been wanting to try this place for quite some time and when I heard they would soon be on Triple D, I knew my time was limited. We started with the chili and gumbo. The chili is a little on the sweet/Mexican flavored side, which is a little offputting when you are expecting "texas red"....but very flavorful. The seafood gumbo was fantastic. We split a bbq super sampler and a few sides. The standouts were the brisket and the mashed potatoes and gravy. As others have mentioned, the mac and cheese is very cheesy and thick and the beans are pretty good, especially with the addition of meat. The bbq sauces on the table were both very good, the rib tips were so-so and the pulled pork was pretty good, but all paled in comparison to that brisket. Chuck is doing that right!
(4)Tobin h.
Great. I highly reccomend it. Ribs, Red hots, brunswick stew, soups, are perfecto. I'd stay away from the brisket but the sauces are out of this world. Service and efficiency are top notch and I will definitely be back as well as bring out of towners to this gem. If I have any complaint, it was running into a string of 5 dry "wet-naps" and the brand suggests it was bought at Restaurant depot. I hope they don't shop there on a regular basis. I'd pay a little extra to be at a restaurant that avoids being "cheap".
(4)Pam D.
If I were in the area, I would probably eat here again. There were a few things that were really good, but much of what we ordered was simply "ok". First, the fabulous. They have really great chili. It was so good we bought a pint to take home. It has a nice, rich and unique flavor. We also loved the sawdust pie ala mode. Yes, it did kind of have a sawdust texture, but it was very flavorful and the vanilla ice cream topped it off perfectly. Second, the good. We liked the mashed potatoes a lot. They had a very nice flavor. I liked the slaw and the mac n' cheese. Mom liked the mushroom soup I brought her, though I did have to add some milk to think it out a bit. The service was really good and the place was clean. The bathrooms were nicely decorated, clean and roomy. Third, the simply ok. Sadly for me and Christopher as well, the BBQ did not knock our socks off. Chris had the brisket. He said it tasted ok, but was rather tough. I had the super combo of BBQ chicken, pulled pork and rib tips. The flavor was ok, but the chicken was kind of dry, the rib tips were only fair and the pulled pork was dry and stringy. We were both kind of disappointed. It wasn't bad, but it sure did not live up to some of the great BBQ places we have visited lately. Fourth, the yucky. The Brunswick Stew. I normally love Brunswick Stew, but this was just a mushy gruel. Avoid it. Chuck's is an ok neighborhood spot, but to me it is not a BBQ destination.
(3)Shelly S.
The food was very good; the prices moderate. The reason I am giving this restaurant such a high rating is that we had 19 people in our group; we were placed in a separate room; and we were given our own waitstaff, including bartender!! Our waiter, Gary, was fantastic. He even went so far as to give each of us our own separate check, which is totally up to the waiter to decide if he/she will do so. We really, really appreciated that!! We will definitely return to this place!!
(5)Larry L.
I've been to Chuck's Southern BBQ hundreds of times before last Saturday night, and although there has been a gradual decline in the service and quality of food over the past year, it has always been one of my favorite places to go... Until now. A group of us went to Chuck's Voodoo Lounge after a wedding and ordered a few drinks. We noticed the Redbull and Vodka, didn't really taste like Redbull, so we asked the waitress about it who appeared annoyed we had the nerve to ask. We then ordered a round of chilled Grey Goose shots. As soon as we drank them, we immediately knew there was something wrong, no one tasted or felt any sign of alcohol. I've ordered this shot many times over the years, and one of us at the table had over 8 years of bar-tending experience. I understand shots get watered down when you mix them with ice and shake them up, but this was shocking. The waitress advised us the shots were watered down because we asked for them chilled, but offered to get us new ones anyway. The new shots came, and although they were a little better, they were still way too watered down to be charging over $5 for them. As we finished the second set of shots, I notice Chuck was standing behind me talking to two female customers. Since I was only about two feet away from him, I turned around and asked if I could speak with him when he got a chance. He said no problem, and continued his conversation with the two customers. After about 20 minutes (we were all standing up with our jackets on), I asked Chuck again if I could talk to him. He said no problem and walked over. Within seconds the bartender raced from behind the bar and began to engage us in a conversation that should have never happen. The bartender started to tell the group that we didn't know what we are fu*king talking about, and yes he used those words. His demeanor in my opinion was erratic and although I'm not accusing him of anything like drinking on the job, the question needs to be asked why a bartender would think it appropriate to come from behind the bar to insult customers in front of the owner. Meanwhile Chuck is asking me questions such as, "Are you saying he is shorting you on purpose?".... "Are you saying he is picking on you because he doesn't like you?".... "Why would he do that?". I attempted to try to explain to Chuck that I had no idea why the shots were not done right, that I had been coming to his bar for years, had ordered these same shots more times then I could count, and they were just not done right. The bartender continued to hurl insults at the group, as Chuck looked on. I asked Chuck why he would allow an employee to talk to customers like that and he responded with, "Well he is upset that you are insulting his drinks, he is my best bartender, and he has been working for me for years". I advised Chuck that he may need a new bartender, at which point, the bartender in plain view of Chuck and anyone else within ear shot, offered to take me outside and show me how great of a bartender he was. (I'm still not sure why he needed to go outside to show me he couldn't pour a drink) but I suspect it was normal behavior at the Voodoo Lounge since Chuck never addressed his employee's misconduct and continued to smile and laugh. As the conversation continued to get out of hand, Chuck continued to provide excuses like a 6-year-old boy. He finally offered to take the drinks off the bill, as bouncers started to stack up to observe the sideshow. The waitress came by the table while Chuck was still doing his best to avoid taking responsibility and slammed the bill on the table. But don't worry folks, Chuck didn't disappoint, he had an excuse for this as well. He contributed it to her being crabby and having a bad day... lol. As Chuck finished up his conversation with us, he slid back over to the table with the two girls, and said, "Anyway..." (sorry to bother you chuckie) I've had bad service before, and drinks that were made wrong, but I've never been witness to an owner that stood around and watch his employees disrespect a table full of paying customers. His excuses were that of a small child, and his employees were about as unprofessional and untrained as I've ever seen. The saddest part is Chuck's food and recipes are still unbeatable on the south-side of Chicago, and now I will no longer be able to talk about that without telling my story of Chuck being more concerned about talking to a table of female customers than stopping his employee's from treating customers like crap. His behavior and that of his employee's is about as embarrassing as it gets, and I know I speak for everyone who was disrespected that night when I say how disheartened I am to see a grown man with a million dollar business acting like a child and belittling his customers. If you love great food, and don't mind exposing your family, friends, or significant others to a night of humiliation, Chucks Southern BBQ is the place for you.
(1)Kelly G.
I've been going to Chuck's since it was on Central and have always enjoyed the food. When they moved and added on the Voodoo Lounge, I was thrilled! The beer selection seems endless, and the staff couldn't be better. I do have to say, I feel the food is not as great as it used to be, but it's still worth the trip!
(4)ray t.
four of use go to chucks for dinner and here are the results:#1 cold and fatty ribs,very good mac n cheese, soup very good.#2 ribs dried out!! green beans very good, mac n cheese good.#3 soup very good, chicken fried chicken hot but salty, mash potatoes good.corn bread dry.#4 beef brisket dinner dry like it was re heated,frie nothing to talk about.very slow service.had way better BBQ all over chicago. will stick with hog wild and bon a pit
(1)Keri W.
Been here twice now and loved it both times! Crazy beer selection and the food is great!!! Brisket and pulled pork are delish!! Worth the trip!!
(4)Mike O.
You're unlikely to find me in Burbank by chance, so if I'm in the neighborhood it's because I am on the way to, or have just returned from Chuck's. It's certainly worth a drive from the city or burbs to enjoy food from this Bayless-trained chef. This is my go-to breakfast spot outside of Chicago because it serves both traditional fare as well as Cajun, southern and south-of-the-border inspired dishes. My favorite breakfast item at Chuck's is the chilaquiles - his rendition of this Mexican hangover helper is delicious. For those of you looking for a standard American breakfast, Chuck's delivers. The applewood smoked bacon is delicious, the eggs are cooked to order and the biscuits and gravy are really fantastic. On the other hand, the sausage patties were nothing special, in my estimation. The new location across from the fire station has a much larger dining area, which removes any tinge of a glorified fast-food box that the previous spot had. The booths are high-backed, which means that your neighbors fore and aft won't be hungrily eyeing your meal. All in all, it's great food which won't bust your budget. Give it a shot.
(5)Jeremy A.
I came here twice within two weeks, and it's about an hour drive each way! The beer selection is the best I know of. The majority of the beers on the menu are bottled. I was hoping for draft, but bottled is fine when there are that many beers available. I think about 120 beers! The pulled pork sandwich is the best one I can think of (I always get the pork at BBQ places). The baked beans are the best! There seems to be some pulled pork or something in the beans too, which really adds some flavor and consistency. The brisket is pretty lean, but not dry. It's great! I need to try some of the other menu items, possibly move closer to Chuck's!
(5)Luis B.
Great BBQ, southern food, and Tex-Mex dishes. Great service too.
(5)Gregory P.
Well worth the drive wherever you are in Chicago. Great BBQ, very meaty ribs done perfectly. The hot links are the best, I wish I access to these in St. Louis. Great job!
(5)Neisha G.
I stopped in to Chuck's for lunch on Sunday after church. we were seated right away and noticed the relaxed, down home feel of the restaurant. We ordered the bbq shrimp appetizer which was absolutely delicious, and had the bbq platter as the meal which is a huge portion for $16 . I chose the Chicago wings, the rib tips ad the hotlink, all of which were cooked very well. (although the presentation was quite sloppy). For sides I chose the mac and cheese and baked beans both of which were slightly underwhelming. Our service was good, but it was a little slow. The bottom line: I would visit the restaurant again if I am in the area, I would love to try their Tapas night.
(4)Rochelle S.
After reading some great yelp reviews I had to check Chuck's out myself. I was able to get a preview of the menu online prior to arriving, but, walking through the restaurant looking at the dishes that people had ordered I knew the decision of what to order was going to be tough. I was very lucky to get a table outside on the patio and had the best service. My waiter was more than willing to go through the menu, the specials and what was popular. I opted for the pulled chicken, beans and fries. They started off with fresh rolls to the table which were so much better tasting than some of the bbq joints that give you a slice of white bread or something that was taken out of a bulk bread bag. Within minutes my food arrived. The chicken was smokey without being over kill. I opted for the mild sauce and even though I should have asked for it on the side, it wasn't overwhelming on the sandwich. The beans had a unique flavor that I really liked but still can't put my finger on, and the fries had a light coating on them and were cooked perfectly. My waiter suggested their famous cobbler for desert with 3 choices of mixed berry, peach or mango. Sadly it was so famous he had to come back to tell me they were out of the peach. Now I'll have to return for the cobbler and to try out their brisket that I was told melts in your mouth. I will definitely be going back to Chuck's!
(5)Chris H.
I'm not totally in love with this place like many other South Siders, but I enjoy it and it is fun for Bears games. I'd also note for trivia's sake that Chuck Pine (Chuck) worked under Rick Bayless. -Beloved by many. It is of the Carolina sort of style of BBQ (vinegar). -Very reasonable prices. -The beer list is varied and carries a lot of local craft brews. -There is ample seating -Separate bar area and restaurant area (Although the bar area has a full menu)
(4)Scott M.
Planned for weeks to come to the Benet Breakfast they have once a month. They were dry & over cooked (did they make them the night before??). The service was lousy and when my 'mexican eggs benedict' came out-- the eggs where rock hard. I have been to these place several times---it keeps getting progressively worse--- WAKE UP!
(5)Colleen B.
I had a blast at Chuck's last night. Spread word to my friends that we were going here and got immediate responses that the food here is good, the beer selection is amazing, try the peach cobbler, try this.... etc. We came up here late, about 10:30 and sat at the bar. A lot of us ordered food. My friend liked the crab cakes, my two friends raved about the BBQ nacho's. I would have tried the nachos but it had onions in it and I dislike onions. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, mild, with fries. The fries were awesome, very crispy and flavorful. The pulled pork did not have a lot of sauce on it. I would have had the hot sauce if I'd known how much goes on it. The mild was good though, next time I'd ask for extra sauce on it or on the side. The drinks were good. We all got punch cards. If try every beer they have, all 120 of them, you get a t-shirt and your name on the wall. Seven people have completed this task and my group was so down for this challenge. I had three punched last night and we will definitely go back and try to keep ordered all of their specialty beers. My only dislike was that it wasn't closer to my home. The service was good, the bartender we had was new and needed to ask for help from the other bartending every so often. But she was super nice and helpful and patient with us as we tried to pick a beer from the 120 on the list. Will be back at Chuck's and bringing more friends there.
(5)Cristie F.
I have driven many, many miles just for some succulent BBQ from Chuck's. What's not to like?? Pig//BBQ sauce//chicken fried chicken//mac n' cheese? Not to mention, the chef/owner, Chuck Pine, studied under Rick Bayless and his Mexican flavors for several years. Sounds pretty flippin' fantastic if you want my opinion. My faves - 1. Definitely the pulled pork. If you're not hungry enough for a combo platter and have to choose one meat, go for the pork. 2. The ribs. Not the fall-off-the-bone type, but are meaty and packed with flavor nonetheless. 3. Mac N' Cheese!! I'm a sucker for a good mac n' cheese. This one is fairly on the plain side. Nothing fancy in it...no bacon, no bread crumbs, no jalapenos. However, it's cheesy and creamy - just how I like it. 4. Banana Bread Pudding. If you've read my review of the Publican, you will see that I said I would never find a better bread pudding. I lied. As of Saturday, January 28th, 2012, Chuck's officially has the best freakin' bread pudding around! 5. Fried alligator. I had never tried it, but it's tasty. The good ol' saying "Tastes like chicken" definitely holds true with alligator. 6. The soups. Try one - you won't regret it. I vote for the cream of chicken with rice. As for the Mexican dishes & specials.... If you can tear yourself away from the BBQ dishes, I would highly recommend giving one of those a whirl as well. The enchiladas, tamales, and cochinita pibil, and cajun prime rib are worth passing up the BBQ for. Service isn't always the greatest. The restaurant is often packed and the servers are usually running around like crazy. Attentive servers isn't Chuck's forte. However, they are always friendly and usually apologetic. Since the food is so tasty, I let it slide. Decor is unique. I'm reminded of being in a house in Mexico - which is strange since Chuck specializes in BBQ. There's definitely a warm and home-like feel which I definitely enjoy. I've heard nothing but great things about breakfast at Chuck's. I have to admit, I haven't gotten my lazy butt out of bed on a weekend morning to trek down to the south 'burbs for breakfast. But, I definitely plan on it. It's probably a good thing I don't live around the corner. Chuck's for breakfast and Chuck's for dinner?! Can't beat that!
(5)Joseph D.
There were four of us that ate here and we shared everything. Appetizers and entrees were all delicious. Shrimp and crawfish au gratin; seafood gumbo, Sunday special roast beef; bbq brisket; filet mignon; and shrimp and crawfish etouffe were all delicious.
(5)J T.
This is a favorite for my friends and family. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my favorites are the ribs, mac and cheese, and pulled pork. The amount of food compared to the price is unbelievable. I almost always leave with leftovers. The only downfall is it's usually crowded and you can be forced to wait for a table, but it's always worth it.
(5)Lucie O.
Just came home from there and I have to tell you that being a bartender and manager of restaurants for twelve years, this was the best experience me and my husband had in a while. I had the smoked chicken dinner and my husband had pulled pork dinner, both very delicious entrees. The bartender working was very friendly and helpful in every way. Great job!!!
(5)Sarah E.
I am sad to say that I have to update this review. I went there last Friday night (8/22) to celebrate a birthday (after the boys got off of work at 11 PM). The service was beyond slow and the music was blaring. I think that the waitress forgot about us. She was out of shape and trying to make tips by showing off her sagging breasts. It was unappealing and if she wants a job like that then apply to Polekats. My husband ordered mild chicken strips and the sauce was beyond sweet. We were wiping the sauce off with our napkins. We waited over 30 minutes for that? When one of the guys ordered shots to celebrate the birthday I took a pass (8 months pregnant) and she had the most obnoxious voice. She kept saying and hand motioning "Take it and pass it." She obviously thought that she was cute when she was just plain rude and obnoxious. I passed it for obvious reasons and I am sure that the guys didn't need to be told what to do with a shot. (Duh). I really used to like this place. Maybe it is going through a bad staff change right now. My husband and I used to go to Chucks when it was a tiny hole in the wall place when we dated.
(1)Michael W.
Some of the best, tastiest food you'll ever eat. Excellent service. We haven't had a single food item we did not enjoy.
(5)Dave J.
This isn't Memphis. This ain't New Orleans, or Kansas City. This is Chicago, and while we may be famous for deep dish pizza, or the eponymous hot dog, Chuck's Southern Comforts is SO good that this restaurant ALONE could put Chicago (okay, technically Burbank) on the map for having outstanding barbeque. Four of us dined here after a White Sox game and four of us left the restaurant so FULL of delicious, top-notch barbeque that I don't think we ate anything for at least 18 hours afterward. Everything is so fantastically delicious here, that you'd be wise to order one of the combo platters. The "big" combo platter lets you choose from two different meats, and two side dishes, but the "super" combo platter lets you choose from three meats and two sides. Guess which one YOU should choose? Mine had brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were my choices on the side. It's a lot of food, I kid you not. That's why Chuck's conveniently provides carry-out containers for your leftovers. I highly recommend the Mac and Cheese as a side dish. It's creamy and delicious and perfectly compliments whatever main course you order. One tell tale sign of a great meal is when everyone at the table is focused on the food and conversation is kept to a minimum. Our table was silent, save for some lip smacking, finger licking, and chewing sounds. And now, the beer selection. Absolutely incredible. More than 100 to choose from. The mind-boggling choices range from commonly available macro-brews to specialty crafted and hard to find micro-brews. G'head, be adventurous and try one of the micro-brews. I had a Dragon's Milk Stout, but later, and at the waiter's helpful recommendation, switched to Turbo Dog when the meals were served. I don't know if Chuck's enters in any barbeque contests, but it should, and it would win first prize every single time. And it's solely because of Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe, that I hereby declare Chicago, Illinois (even though technically the restaurant is in Burbank) as the barbeque capital of the world!
(5)Carm B.
Have eaten here twice so far... Things I liked... Pulled pork sandwich, ribs, cornbread, gumbo, and honey chipotle wings (very good). I didn't care for the beef brisket. My portion was chopped up chunks (like the scraps) and our other order was nice slices. It was pretty dry and tough with the sauce on. It gets extremely crowded on the weekends, valet parking for $2 is available and necessary. Waitresses were not overly friendly BUT Chuck himself stopped at our table to say hello and ask how our food was, very cool!! Also, a Mango Margarita is a must!!
(4)Leticia M.
I went for the first time on Saturday and as we pulled up I was surprised at how popular this place is! We had an 8pm reservation but had to wait for a little bit in the Voo-Doo Lounge. It was a typical bar type area that wasn't too impressive, but the dining area at Chuck's was pretty nice. I loved the Mexican artesanias that were on the wall. My husband and others that we went with were excited about the Saturday special which was the Cochinita Pibil, but they had run out of it! They were disappointed but it soon went away when they tasted their food. I ordered the Sampler platter with ribs, chicken, and catfish. It was very good but my all time favorite was the fish. I think I would definitely get the fish platter next time I go. My husband got a BBQ combo as well but his side of mac and cheese was just delish! Everyone in our group was satisfied with their meal. I will definitely go back to try other options!
(4)Darren F.
forgot how i found out about this place but I'm so happy that i did! nothing fancy about this place.. inside looks like an old school dine in restaurant... the service was nice and attentive... first time i came, i ordered the 2 lbs of crawfish.. been craving for them for over a year! it came with a corn, a sausage, a cup of butter, and a bucket for your shells haha... it sure satisfied my craving for crawfish! oh.. if you are a lazy person.. i do not suggest you order this, because there is ALOT of peeling, twisting, and what not... second time i came, i ordered the bbq rib tips... it was delicious! i had french fries and mac-n-cheese for my sides since i get to pick two for my order... the fries was just average.. the mac-n-cheese was good.. the rib tips was yummy! the meat was tender and the bbq sauce they use is very good!.. third time i came, i ordered the shrimp and crawfish jambalaya... it taste very good.. good amount of shrimp and crawfish! the sauce and flavored rice makes a delicious combination! i love this place and will return very soon!
(5)Buddy M.
Was here for the first time last night but it might be the last time I go. I love burgers and was happy to see that they have a 10oz burger there. The staff was good and got in fast to our seats. I ordered a double burger with fries. I asked for medium rare and got medium burnt. I still tried it and it had a heavy flavor of onion. I do not onion and was gross out by it. They did not charge for the burger. I love the fries and there bbq sauce. I took home a bottle of the hot bbq sauce. We tried to get the mixed berry cobbler but the were out of it. not a good ending to a bad start.
(2)Jennifer S.
Never imagined I would get the best enchilada meal ever here! Along with a HUGE beer selection!
(5)Rich K.
Disclaimer up front. I've only been here once and had the ribs, beans and potato salad. The sides were fine but let's talk ribs. I guess the term "baby back ribs" is for real because now I've experienced back ribs that were definitely NOT from a baby. These were the biggest meatiest ribs I ever had and, judging from the lack of fat in them, must have been from the Mr. Olympia of pigs, like Schwarzenegger of old. They must have had this pig pumping iron and taking 'roids, or the porcine equivalent thereof. I got a full slab and filled up after only half of it, and that is unheard of for me. Now this might sound like I thought the ribs were excellent but I do not. On the whole they were dry - you see, you want some fat so that the meat is juicy. And despite the fact that they were smoked, there was little to no smoke flavor. I don't know why but there wasn't. Also, there was little sauce on my carryout ribs - if you go there for ribs, which I don't recommend, ask for extra sauce. Dry ribs with sauce is still better than dry ribs without sauce. Why is it so hard to find good ribs? I think part of the answer is that most white people - in Chicago anyway - have never had really good ribs so they are satisfied with what places like Chuck's serves. Since they can get away with it, these places skimp on the wood in the smoker and serve inferior monster ribs because people are more impressed with quantity over quality. IMHO. So, white people, if you like ribs, do yourself a favor and find out what really good ribs are. Get thee to a traditional place that buys good meat (from young pigs!), uses an aquarium smoker with lots of hickory, and has good sauce. Ribs 'n Bibs in Hyde Park or Lem's further south in the city are two of the best. P.S. - I'm white but was blessed with discovering Ribs 'n Bibs at an early age.
(2)Peter D.
Hands down the best food in the area. Full disclosure I've been eating Chef Chuck Pine's food since he had his small spot with only a few tables and it's been fun to watch (and taste) his business evolve into the can't miss place that it is now. As I sit here writing this review I'm finding it hard to focus on a few dishes since there are so many amazing options. From Cajun favorites to authentic Mexican dishes to the main event; the barbecue. My favorites include the Brisket. So moist and tender with great smoke flavor. You have a choice of four homemade sauces; Mild, Hot, Honey-Chipotle and my families person favorite the Carolina sauce. We buy a bottle or two every time we are there. Also don't miss out on the daily selection of homemade soups. There is around ten or so choices every day. If you're thirsty they have a fantastic drink menu at amazing prices. I am not much of a frozen drink fan but my wife raves over Chuck's Mango Margarita. Says it is her favorite drink anywhere, ever. The beer list is amazing, between you typical domestics, the imports and the amazing craft beers there is an option for any taste. Just when you thought that was enough don't forget breakfast. My absolute favorite is the homemade corned beef hash made with leftover smoked corned beef. It is heaven served with eggs and toast. Don't miss this star in the middle of a culinary desert.
(5)Rebel N.
Southern fried shrimp dinner, YUMMY. My husband had the rib tips and loved them. My sons had pulled pork sandwiches and Mac n cheese, they said they can't wait to go back to have it again.
(5)Maria G.
I'm way into BBQ so after hearing good reviews of this place (formerly known as Chapms Rock Room) my fam and I decided to head out here. I ordered the Rib Tips with mashed potatoes and mac n' cheese as my sides. I was NOT a fan of the sauce! Way too much of a vinegar flavor which i was not OK with. On the plus side-Mac n' Cheese was UBER cheesy and the highlight of my meal! I also ordered the coffee which was also above my expectation. Will probably be back but will not be ordering the ribs.
(3)Lauren M.
What is not to LOVE at Chuck's?! We've been here 4-5 times now and the food never disappoints. The BBQ nachos are outstanding and I personally love the Cochinita Pibil (marinated pork)! Ribs, pulled pork and Chiles en Nogada are awesome too. We also just went for our first Tappas Tuesday (first Tuesday of the month) and really enjoyed the small bites menu. Their tequila and beer menus help to round out a delicious dining experience. My 7 year old son has even asked Chuck if he could live there! Not a bad idea when you think about it! LOL
(5)Jay W.
Was looking forward to this, but a total let down. The mild BBQ sauce did not taste good. Mac and cheese was real good as well as the service. Otherwise will not be going back.
(2)Amanda T.
I'm really glad that I don't live near Chuck's because I would be eating here multiple times a week and weighing over 500 lbs. Chuck's is out of my way, but it's worth the drive. It's even worth waking up before 11:00am on a Sunday for brunch-a near impossible task for me. The brunch is fantastic. I was a little skeptical about getting the crab cake benedict. I wasn't too sure how well poached eggs and crab cakes went together, but I took the risk and it paid off. Loved it! Their hashbrowns are to die for. They're perfectly crispy and perfectly excellent. Definitely will satisfy a hashbrown slut like myself. The cafe de olla is really good too. I thought it was a bit watered down and normally it would be too sweet for my liking, but I really enjoyed it. Aaaand their lunch/dinner menu is pretty friggin awesome too. I love the pulled pork sandwiches and the ribs. And the fries! ZOMG the fries. Best of all, the prices won't break the bank. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jackie C.
Chucks has a lot going for it--it is definitely worth a drive out to the "south side" for some good comfort food eats. Menu: -Absolutely the best smoked meats and BBQ food. Very tasty. -Great variety of items, soups, sandwiches, salads, dinner plates...but you should really choose a BBQ combo..maybe pulled pork or some ribs! -Excellent breakfast menu with the best biscuits and gravy! Restaurant itself: -The new location is a lot nicer than the old location. -Generally lively and packed with lots of families, etc. -Not romantic but a fun place to start a date night -Would be an awesome place to have a party! We wanted to book this place for our rehearsal lunch, but it was already booked (2 months in advance!) Chuck's is definitely one of our favorite places to go for a great reasonably priced dinner.
(4)M M.
I think in two words my experience with Chuck's was "pleasantly surprised." Burbank is one of those suburbs that gets looked over for absolutely everything. There are probably even a decent number of life-long Chicagoans who aren't even aware such a town exists. It's the Wood Dale of the south side. Well just like it's O'Hare area counterpart, Burbank has a surprisingly excellent barbeque joint that provides some of the best slow cooked meats in the area. I got a Carolina style pulled pork sandwich which was nice and tender and the sauce was amazing with a little bit of a kick to it. My coworkers and I also split an order of the BBQ nachos which were pretty good and had a nice blend of pulled pork and chicken on fresh chips. The service left a little bit to be desired. It had that kinda curt diner feel to it. A sort of "Yeah, what'll ya have?" atmosphere didn't quite seem to fit. Plus, a few of us who had made minor special requests got those messed up, namely I got coleslaw on my sandwich when I had asked for none. Overall, those are minor complaints when the barbeque is that delicious. SBR is still my gold standard, but it's good to see there are other locales that do Chicago's BBQ scene a great service.
(4)Keith B.
If this was anywhere but the southside I would have given it 4 stars. Southside needs more places like this though so I am kicking it up a star. Everything I have had was good and whats not to like about all those beers? Definitely try the crabcakes... so delicious.
(5)