I'm having a hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars, but I'm keeping it at 2. FOOD: This is the reason for the low rating. I was surprised by how cheap all the food was, but when it was brought out, I understood. I ordered a burger, and was asked how I wanted it cooked. That was a laughable request! It was clearly a patty that was previously frozen, and it tasted like a cold hockey puck. The friend that brought me said their burgers were good, but I thought it was disgusting. I'm hoping I had a bad experience but I couldn't finish more than a quarter and threw out the rest. The saving grace was the amazing Cajun fries and ranch dressing, but I was not looking for a french fry-lunch. DRINK: I had a blood mary, which was also reasonably priced. Delicious, also! SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE: We sat at the bar, and the bartender was great and very nice. The place was completely empty otherwise, but I can see how this would be a fun place. It's pretty far out of my way, but close to a good friend, so I'll be giving it another try I'm sure. Hopefully I'll have a better follow-up review, then!
(2)
Mister T.
It's a great spot if you're a smoker. We sat outside on their outdoor deck on a beautiful Saturday evening. I guess all the local smokers know that Rafferty's does not enforce the smoking ban, hence every table, except ours, was occupied by smokers. Atmosphere was surprisingly smoky, despite being outside. Cobb salad with salmon was not great - very salty salmon. The waitress was very polite, but too busy to serve our party promptly. Appeared they were short staffed.
(1)
Meryl M.
Yelp, you have failed me TERRIBLY. If you are looking for a dive bar with a cheers atmosphere I imagine this is the place for you. If you are looking for a decent dinner spot to enjoy with your 6 year old... not so much. Went here on a Wednesday at 4:30 after grabbing my car from down the road. Yelp reviews seemed promising and I wanted something more than a chain restaurant. I was a bit surprised that there was a solid force of day drinkers there but to each their own so we sat down for our meal. I had the corn beef and cabbage soup. It tasted like it was previously frozen. Next tried the "button bites". These were pretty decent. How can you go wrong with breaded and fried jalapeños? It really went south with the ribs. They were disgusting. I am surprised they are advertised as their specialty and "#1 ribs in the area". They were made worse by the most terrible rendition of sir mix a lots baby got back I have ever heard BLASTING in the restaurant and copious F BOMBS being dropped by the patrons. My son had the grilled cheese and fries which he said he didn't like after he took one bite. To be fair that is kind of his m.o.
(1)
Kevin P.
Don't judge the place by the decor. A diversified crowd and great food. If you like meaty, juicy, tender ribs with a BBQ sauce that has a slight kick, I highly recommend the ribs here. I think they were the best I've ever had.
(4)
Barry B.
We love Rafferty's for a neighborhood pub with good sandwiches and burgers. Waitresses are very friendly and fun! Only complaint is the corned beef this past weekend was not up to par with an Irish pub on St. Pat's weekend. Too fatty and dry!
(4)
The J.
Been here a couple times for dinner and I have to say this place makes the best burgers in the area and they are very inexpensive. Rafferty's also has a large outdoor eating area which is managed by a very friendly front of the house staff. If you are looking to stop by for dinner, stop by early because this place tends to fill up quickly, especially on the weekends.
(5)
Stefanie A.
Was in the area and stopped here for lunch. Looks like not much on the outside but don't let looks deceive you- food is good. Not amazing but definitely good Irish bar food for the price. Our server was the only waitress in the place AND she was tending bar! She was great though- and mind you it was pretty crowded in there (Bears game). Crab cakes were delicious, and their chili is really good! I don't however, recommend the reuben sandwich...corned beef was a bit dry and the sauerkraut was as well.
(3)
Jackeline G.
The sign said "All you can eat Fish Fry" so we stopped in. What a Surprise !! Nice pub! Great Fish!! Not your all you can eat Stale Breaded Fish, but Yummy Fresh Battered Fish!! And Oh the Crab Cakes!! Try them!! Beer's good tooo.
(4)
Larry V.
Just an ok beer selection, but the pub food here is excellent. Our group of 4 gave very high marks to the Cubano and chicken parmesan sandwiches. The bleu cheeseburger was very good, but really too big (is that possible?). And shepard's pie...great. Excellent service as well.
(4)
Tara M.
It's a neighborhood bar, so if you're looking for a 5 star steak or gourmet burger you should turn around. With that said, the food is good. I had a veggie burger and the balsamic mushroom. Yummy yummy. I wasn't expecting that good of food from a local bar but it was delish! That's why I'm so confused as to why people are reviewing this place as if it were Fogo De Chao or something.
(5)
Debbie M.
Been there many tines. Love the clam chowder and fish fry. Also like the chicken pot pie asks bbq ribs. Friendly staff. Great prices, and karaoke weekends and Wednesday
(5)
Tammy E.
Food was good, service was excellent. Ordered the fish and chips. Ask for COURTNEY! She was quick, nice and very attentive!
(3)
Carol K.
When my regular Irish watering hole was out of Guinness on a recent hot night- we sought refuge at Rafferty's which turned out to be a really great choice! While the parking lot is small and you may find yourself parking along Brainard, once you step up to either taking a seat on their patio or sitting inside, you'll find a pretty decent Irish pub- complete with friendly locals and good food. The menu was much bigger than I thought is was going to be. Oh sure- there are the standard burgers, pub fare and Irish offerings, but their dinners were where I was surprised- from steaks to chicken pasta primavera. We were there on a Friday so the deep fried fish and chips seemed to be the dish of choice- but I went with a burger and my friend went with the pasta dish. Know that the dinners come with your choice of soup or salad and on this night the soup choices were chicken noodle or clam chowder. Burgers can be made in a quarter or third pound version (I went with the smaller one and it was plenty big!). The other nice thing is that there is a jukebox to play all your favorite tunes but the volume isn't such that you are screaming to be heard. Service was good, the beer was cold and the people watching was pretty good in this place! Seems like it's a local hangout so many that were sitting at the bar knew each other. I've driven by this place countless times and never have given it a second look. But if it's a cold one served with some tasty food that you are looking for, you might want to turn it and check it out. I think it just replaced my regular Irish watering hole!
(4)
Suzanne Z.
I love raffertys. Has a cozy vibe, and a good mix of crowd. I think the burgers are very good! One of my favorites is the caprese burger. The flavor is a nice surprise. I have also had some kind of Mexican/salsa burger that was good. Prices are very reasonable. Place is very crowded on their fish fry days, Wednesday and Friday. I definitely want to try that! Will be back soon!
(4)
Dorian D.
My girlfriend and some friends went to try this place out. Never again. Bad service left us with a bad taste in our mouth. Or was that the food. This place is your typical hole in the wall, the surrounding neighborhood should've set off red flags. I hate to say that this will be the last time we go there.
(2)
Chris M.
First time here, had lunch on a Friday afternoon. Friendly staff and good service. We had clam chowder- very good. The Irish Stew was fabulous. Fish and chips was good. Comfortable and friendly atmosphere, I'll be back.
(4)
Mickey W.
We stop for dinner weekly and the food is good. Service NOT GOOD! When they aren't busy there is no reason for bad service. Girls are rolling silverware and sitting down while there are tables needing refills. Disappointing that the owner allows this.
(2)
Bill M.
Great food and menu!! Been coming here for lunch for years, always good. Large selection of beers. They have a outside patio and the staff are always courteous.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
Awesome staff!! They are very personable and make you feel more than welcome! They don't rush you through your meal...ample time between courses to enjoy the company you've brought and sip on your drink. The outdoor area is addicting in the summer...perfect addition!! In the winter the fireplace makes this place and extra cozy, home-y feeling. The food is excellent, Irish pub fare, nothing fancy but that's how it should be. Stick to what's worked! It's a bar/ restaurant, not a five star formal dining place. Highly recommend if you're looking for a laid back place to hang with friends, enjoy some beers, and munch on good pub fare.
(5)
Kathryn S.
Great atmosphere and the food is the best around. Wonderful staff and a great selection of craft beers! Love this place!
(5)
Carm B.
On atmosphere, I give it an A+. Very nice pub like feel, warm and cozy. Great place to go and have some drinks and appetizers. On the food... hmm... mixed feelings. We ordered the Reuben appetizers (they were good) and the Friday Fish Fry. The fish was quality cod (no denying that), it just lacked taste. If they would have salted the fish after it came out of the fryer, it would have been awesome, honestly. It was just too bland for me. All of the sides (slaw, french fries, even the Clam Chowder) were very good and tasty. The fish needed seasoning. Also... the wait staff was awesome! Very attentive! The busboys are totally on their game! And the Spicy Bloody Mary's were very good!
(3)
Chris F.
It is a favorite place of mine to grab a beer and some food. The atmosphere is great - mainly because of the owner. Great place to go with a few friends.
(5)
amy t.
I have to agree that Rafferty's is a good laid back place. We have ended up there, almost on accident, several times, and have been pleased each time. I believe it is the same owners as Irish Times in Brookfield.
(3)
Paul B.
This place will never see another dime of my money. If they put a gun to my head or promised me a date with Helen Mirren - they couldn't force or entice me back. This place is miserable. We started the evening by being blasted with the ugliest, most vile hate rock I have ever heard. It was a lovely mid-August Sunday evening and this music was making me want to rip my own face off. We decided to eat on the patio to avoid the music - only there is an outside speaker system so we couldn't escape the devil's braying. Mercifully it got turned down after another couple came outside. After what seemed like 15 minutes the waitress finally greeted us. She had four tables - FOUR - and no one was getting any attention but she always seemed red faced and out of breath. I didn't help that she had on long sleeves and a floor-length sweater. It also didn't help that she had obviously been somewhere the day before and got enough sunburn that - combined with her other struggles - succeeded to make her look - I am not going to get mean - but let's just say she should have called in sick. Before I go any further I need to point out that I am zoftig. I have always been zoftig. When I was in the restaurant industry - I was aware of my build and was very careful to not make that a negative when it came to providing the best service possible. There are things you do and things you don't do if you are chunky - this girl did pretty much all of the don't dos. I finally ordered the Caprese Cheese Burger and well-done french fries. A Caprese salad is a very specific thing. To make the Caprese properly you layer FRESH Mozzarella and slices of tomato. You sprinkle basil and drizzle some olive oil. I love Caprese salads and I love cheeseburgers so I was excited. After what seemed like 30 minutes - I was seething but my friend was chatting away and I didn't want to make a fuss The waitress came out to the table with ice-tea and my friend's glass of water. She held the glass of water up under her arm - the rim of the cup tucked safely into her woolen-clad armpit. Suffice it to say that water never got touched. She talked about how "slammed" she is - I guess four tables is a lot. Fifteen minutes later she came out with my food. This is where the evening broke down completely for me. I was so hungry I dug in like my life depended on it. I grabbed a fry - perfectly brown and totally cold. It was like a small slab of press-board except less flavor. The bottom piece of the bun was as wet as the waitress's armpit - but not as salty. The soggy bun made the low-grade meat even that much lower. The cheese was as fresh as a Jackie Gleason joke. I asked for hot sauce - got the fleshy smile. Never got the hot sauce. This was the worst meal I have had in a restaurant - I think in my life. If you say two meals a day X seven days a week - that is 14. Multiply that by 52 you get 728. Multiply that by 25. (This is assuming I didn't eat in restaurants for the first 25 years of my life.) In roughly 18,200 meals - this was about the worst. There may have been one buffet on North Clark Street that was in the same ballpark - but this was pretty disgusting. It only gets one star because some random guy - who made a big awkward entrance - bought a shot of Rumchata for everyone. He literally bought and served everyone in the joint a shot of Rumchata. Had it not been for him - I would not even have be able to eek out that one lonely star.
(1)
Rose Emma M.
Great place to stop and hang-out. We sat outside and enjoyed a few beers and a burger. Very nice experience.
(4)
Stacey K.
Goin' with a 5..... You know what? I love this place. I wonder what people think when they drive by. "Just another waterin hole for tha micks, aye?" Yup. And it's fantastic. It's really tastefully decorated and cozy inside, not dive-y. Love it in the winter when we can score the table in front of the fireplace. In the spring and summer the deck out back is perfect, and backs up to the forest preserve so you don't have to look at dumb old Joliet Road. The service is friendly and prompt, and my husband and I have never once been even slightly disappointed in our food decisions. Now, I have never ordered an entree here; just burgers, salads and sandwiches. My husband loves the sheperd's pie, fish and chips, and the french dip sammie. I've had good burgers, a lovely crab cake sandwich, and my fave: the turkey and ham cubano. Dang - it rocks. Get it with waffle fries. Places that have waffle fries instantly earn my respect. Pssst......they make a good Bloody Mary too. Comes in handy Sunday mornings. I mean, ya know....on the rare occasion that I may have been overserved the night prior. Oh, why am I rambling? Just try this place!
(5)
Diane F.
Good service! Nice atmosphere! Loved their crab cakes!
(4)
Matt P.
The Guiness was a good pour. The fish fry was good- nice, light batter. Do not try the cubano. It's 4 ingredients short of a cubano. So bad on me for giving it a try. The place is pretty small but the warm fire was nice. Stick to good beer and fish.
(3)
Cheryl V.
I like this place. I give it my 3 F's for fast, focused and friendly service. They've got a great little patio that I understand to be newly added. But as a general rule, this place is known for good food. We just did drinks and a mini Reuben appetizer that was pretty good. Nice, lean corned beef, rye bread but I was surprised that there was no sauerkraut or Thousand Island dressing on their version of the Reuben. Because the service and ambiance was just right for a warm summer night, we're going to give this place another shot and try either the Shepard's pie, french dip or steak sandwich which we heard from neighboring tables that all are good bets.
(4)
Linda A.
Don't order the wings unless you like pigeon......they were minuscule
(2)
Andy M.
A neat looking Irish bar with the usual Irish food and beer to go with it. The place is on a difficult to find stretch in Chicagoland and most likely patroned by locals. There is outdoor seating but not that much parking.
(3)
Nina M.
Burgers are great. Cajun fries are yummy. Servers/bartenders are friendly and personable.
(5)
Gina V.
I went here two weeks ago for the first time, and I thought it was a good, quaint little place to meet a friend, have a couple beers, and catch up! I brought my friend here last week...we don't quite fit the "persona" that comes here....we were kind of dressed up with heels after a dinner downtown, and the bartender did not even acknowledge us. When she finally glanced, I said "Hi." She said "Hi" and walked over to the other side of the bar to have a personal conversation with another patron. It seemed as if everyone knew each other, and took her another 10 minutes to come over and take our simple order of 2 beers. I'm sorry we don't "fit in" with the regulars and you are a middle aged jealous woman, but do yourself a favor; serve every patron that walks in so you don't turn people off to this place because it really is a cute, comfortable little spot that I would like to hang out at more often.
(3)
Scott J.
What a great place with great food. You can not beat the service no matter what horseface says. The manager Eileen is the best. Plenty of shots flowing when she is working. Good luck trying to out drink her. The part-timer Darcy is awesome as well. Dance party every day she works.Pajamas is an OK bartender and he loves to wear capris. You really can not beat the atmosphere when it turns in to Club R. Always a friendly crowd. I would recommend a night out at Raffs with a nightcap at the country cup.
(5)
kristen s.
Nice little place to have a couple beer with some friends. The only time I ate there the food was fantastic. I plan on checking it out a bit more.
(4)
Mark J.
This building has been around for a long, long time as some sort of bar or another. A few years ago, a new owner moved in and opened Rafferty Pub. In the past I have been in here for drinks and have always had a good time. Good music, flat screen TV's, a great choice of beer. This past week I went there for dinner and was very pleased. Their menu has the usual sandwich suspects (burgers, french dips, etc.) but they also have a number of Irish dishes that looked great. The Shepards Pie for example looked really good and I'm going to be getting that next time. I opted for a bacon and blue-cheese pub burger and was happy with the choice. The decor is very nice, and they have a fireplace going in the dining area. Overall the ambiance is very nice, and if your looking for an out of the way place to spend some time with someone, then this may be a great place to check out.
(3)
KAITLIN O.
great place, great outdoor seating available, friendly atmosphere, excellent shepherd's pie
(5)
Lori H.
I absolutely love Rafferty's! It is a warm, cozy place with great food! They have great drink specials, and great food specials on a daily basis! The staff is wonderful and very friendly, and the owner is very personable and goes out of her way to speak to everyone and get to know her customers! I live in the area and have many places to choose from, but I pick Rafferty's over all the rest and have and will continue to recommend them to everyone! Their shepards pie is by far the best I have ever had, and they also have a wonderful burger, and delicious homemade soup! My family, friends and I have never been dissapointed!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rachael Z.
I'm having a hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars, but I'm keeping it at 2. FOOD: This is the reason for the low rating. I was surprised by how cheap all the food was, but when it was brought out, I understood. I ordered a burger, and was asked how I wanted it cooked. That was a laughable request! It was clearly a patty that was previously frozen, and it tasted like a cold hockey puck. The friend that brought me said their burgers were good, but I thought it was disgusting. I'm hoping I had a bad experience but I couldn't finish more than a quarter and threw out the rest. The saving grace was the amazing Cajun fries and ranch dressing, but I was not looking for a french fry-lunch. DRINK: I had a blood mary, which was also reasonably priced. Delicious, also! SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE: We sat at the bar, and the bartender was great and very nice. The place was completely empty otherwise, but I can see how this would be a fun place. It's pretty far out of my way, but close to a good friend, so I'll be giving it another try I'm sure. Hopefully I'll have a better follow-up review, then!
(2)Mister T.
It's a great spot if you're a smoker. We sat outside on their outdoor deck on a beautiful Saturday evening. I guess all the local smokers know that Rafferty's does not enforce the smoking ban, hence every table, except ours, was occupied by smokers. Atmosphere was surprisingly smoky, despite being outside. Cobb salad with salmon was not great - very salty salmon. The waitress was very polite, but too busy to serve our party promptly. Appeared they were short staffed.
(1)Meryl M.
Yelp, you have failed me TERRIBLY. If you are looking for a dive bar with a cheers atmosphere I imagine this is the place for you. If you are looking for a decent dinner spot to enjoy with your 6 year old... not so much. Went here on a Wednesday at 4:30 after grabbing my car from down the road. Yelp reviews seemed promising and I wanted something more than a chain restaurant. I was a bit surprised that there was a solid force of day drinkers there but to each their own so we sat down for our meal. I had the corn beef and cabbage soup. It tasted like it was previously frozen. Next tried the "button bites". These were pretty decent. How can you go wrong with breaded and fried jalapeños? It really went south with the ribs. They were disgusting. I am surprised they are advertised as their specialty and "#1 ribs in the area". They were made worse by the most terrible rendition of sir mix a lots baby got back I have ever heard BLASTING in the restaurant and copious F BOMBS being dropped by the patrons. My son had the grilled cheese and fries which he said he didn't like after he took one bite. To be fair that is kind of his m.o.
(1)Kevin P.
Don't judge the place by the decor. A diversified crowd and great food. If you like meaty, juicy, tender ribs with a BBQ sauce that has a slight kick, I highly recommend the ribs here. I think they were the best I've ever had.
(4)Barry B.
We love Rafferty's for a neighborhood pub with good sandwiches and burgers. Waitresses are very friendly and fun! Only complaint is the corned beef this past weekend was not up to par with an Irish pub on St. Pat's weekend. Too fatty and dry!
(4)The J.
Been here a couple times for dinner and I have to say this place makes the best burgers in the area and they are very inexpensive. Rafferty's also has a large outdoor eating area which is managed by a very friendly front of the house staff. If you are looking to stop by for dinner, stop by early because this place tends to fill up quickly, especially on the weekends.
(5)Stefanie A.
Was in the area and stopped here for lunch. Looks like not much on the outside but don't let looks deceive you- food is good. Not amazing but definitely good Irish bar food for the price. Our server was the only waitress in the place AND she was tending bar! She was great though- and mind you it was pretty crowded in there (Bears game). Crab cakes were delicious, and their chili is really good! I don't however, recommend the reuben sandwich...corned beef was a bit dry and the sauerkraut was as well.
(3)Jackeline G.
The sign said "All you can eat Fish Fry" so we stopped in. What a Surprise !! Nice pub! Great Fish!! Not your all you can eat Stale Breaded Fish, but Yummy Fresh Battered Fish!! And Oh the Crab Cakes!! Try them!! Beer's good tooo.
(4)Larry V.
Just an ok beer selection, but the pub food here is excellent. Our group of 4 gave very high marks to the Cubano and chicken parmesan sandwiches. The bleu cheeseburger was very good, but really too big (is that possible?). And shepard's pie...great. Excellent service as well.
(4)Tara M.
It's a neighborhood bar, so if you're looking for a 5 star steak or gourmet burger you should turn around. With that said, the food is good. I had a veggie burger and the balsamic mushroom. Yummy yummy. I wasn't expecting that good of food from a local bar but it was delish! That's why I'm so confused as to why people are reviewing this place as if it were Fogo De Chao or something.
(5)Debbie M.
Been there many tines. Love the clam chowder and fish fry. Also like the chicken pot pie asks bbq ribs. Friendly staff. Great prices, and karaoke weekends and Wednesday
(5)Tammy E.
Food was good, service was excellent. Ordered the fish and chips. Ask for COURTNEY! She was quick, nice and very attentive!
(3)Carol K.
When my regular Irish watering hole was out of Guinness on a recent hot night- we sought refuge at Rafferty's which turned out to be a really great choice! While the parking lot is small and you may find yourself parking along Brainard, once you step up to either taking a seat on their patio or sitting inside, you'll find a pretty decent Irish pub- complete with friendly locals and good food. The menu was much bigger than I thought is was going to be. Oh sure- there are the standard burgers, pub fare and Irish offerings, but their dinners were where I was surprised- from steaks to chicken pasta primavera. We were there on a Friday so the deep fried fish and chips seemed to be the dish of choice- but I went with a burger and my friend went with the pasta dish. Know that the dinners come with your choice of soup or salad and on this night the soup choices were chicken noodle or clam chowder. Burgers can be made in a quarter or third pound version (I went with the smaller one and it was plenty big!). The other nice thing is that there is a jukebox to play all your favorite tunes but the volume isn't such that you are screaming to be heard. Service was good, the beer was cold and the people watching was pretty good in this place! Seems like it's a local hangout so many that were sitting at the bar knew each other. I've driven by this place countless times and never have given it a second look. But if it's a cold one served with some tasty food that you are looking for, you might want to turn it and check it out. I think it just replaced my regular Irish watering hole!
(4)Suzanne Z.
I love raffertys. Has a cozy vibe, and a good mix of crowd. I think the burgers are very good! One of my favorites is the caprese burger. The flavor is a nice surprise. I have also had some kind of Mexican/salsa burger that was good. Prices are very reasonable. Place is very crowded on their fish fry days, Wednesday and Friday. I definitely want to try that! Will be back soon!
(4)Dorian D.
My girlfriend and some friends went to try this place out. Never again. Bad service left us with a bad taste in our mouth. Or was that the food. This place is your typical hole in the wall, the surrounding neighborhood should've set off red flags. I hate to say that this will be the last time we go there.
(2)Chris M.
First time here, had lunch on a Friday afternoon. Friendly staff and good service. We had clam chowder- very good. The Irish Stew was fabulous. Fish and chips was good. Comfortable and friendly atmosphere, I'll be back.
(4)Mickey W.
We stop for dinner weekly and the food is good. Service NOT GOOD! When they aren't busy there is no reason for bad service. Girls are rolling silverware and sitting down while there are tables needing refills. Disappointing that the owner allows this.
(2)Bill M.
Great food and menu!! Been coming here for lunch for years, always good. Large selection of beers. They have a outside patio and the staff are always courteous.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Awesome staff!! They are very personable and make you feel more than welcome! They don't rush you through your meal...ample time between courses to enjoy the company you've brought and sip on your drink. The outdoor area is addicting in the summer...perfect addition!! In the winter the fireplace makes this place and extra cozy, home-y feeling. The food is excellent, Irish pub fare, nothing fancy but that's how it should be. Stick to what's worked! It's a bar/ restaurant, not a five star formal dining place. Highly recommend if you're looking for a laid back place to hang with friends, enjoy some beers, and munch on good pub fare.
(5)Kathryn S.
Great atmosphere and the food is the best around. Wonderful staff and a great selection of craft beers! Love this place!
(5)Carm B.
On atmosphere, I give it an A+. Very nice pub like feel, warm and cozy. Great place to go and have some drinks and appetizers. On the food... hmm... mixed feelings. We ordered the Reuben appetizers (they were good) and the Friday Fish Fry. The fish was quality cod (no denying that), it just lacked taste. If they would have salted the fish after it came out of the fryer, it would have been awesome, honestly. It was just too bland for me. All of the sides (slaw, french fries, even the Clam Chowder) were very good and tasty. The fish needed seasoning. Also... the wait staff was awesome! Very attentive! The busboys are totally on their game! And the Spicy Bloody Mary's were very good!
(3)Chris F.
It is a favorite place of mine to grab a beer and some food. The atmosphere is great - mainly because of the owner. Great place to go with a few friends.
(5)amy t.
I have to agree that Rafferty's is a good laid back place. We have ended up there, almost on accident, several times, and have been pleased each time. I believe it is the same owners as Irish Times in Brookfield.
(3)Paul B.
This place will never see another dime of my money. If they put a gun to my head or promised me a date with Helen Mirren - they couldn't force or entice me back. This place is miserable. We started the evening by being blasted with the ugliest, most vile hate rock I have ever heard. It was a lovely mid-August Sunday evening and this music was making me want to rip my own face off. We decided to eat on the patio to avoid the music - only there is an outside speaker system so we couldn't escape the devil's braying. Mercifully it got turned down after another couple came outside. After what seemed like 15 minutes the waitress finally greeted us. She had four tables - FOUR - and no one was getting any attention but she always seemed red faced and out of breath. I didn't help that she had on long sleeves and a floor-length sweater. It also didn't help that she had obviously been somewhere the day before and got enough sunburn that - combined with her other struggles - succeeded to make her look - I am not going to get mean - but let's just say she should have called in sick. Before I go any further I need to point out that I am zoftig. I have always been zoftig. When I was in the restaurant industry - I was aware of my build and was very careful to not make that a negative when it came to providing the best service possible. There are things you do and things you don't do if you are chunky - this girl did pretty much all of the don't dos. I finally ordered the Caprese Cheese Burger and well-done french fries. A Caprese salad is a very specific thing. To make the Caprese properly you layer FRESH Mozzarella and slices of tomato. You sprinkle basil and drizzle some olive oil. I love Caprese salads and I love cheeseburgers so I was excited. After what seemed like 30 minutes - I was seething but my friend was chatting away and I didn't want to make a fuss The waitress came out to the table with ice-tea and my friend's glass of water. She held the glass of water up under her arm - the rim of the cup tucked safely into her woolen-clad armpit. Suffice it to say that water never got touched. She talked about how "slammed" she is - I guess four tables is a lot. Fifteen minutes later she came out with my food. This is where the evening broke down completely for me. I was so hungry I dug in like my life depended on it. I grabbed a fry - perfectly brown and totally cold. It was like a small slab of press-board except less flavor. The bottom piece of the bun was as wet as the waitress's armpit - but not as salty. The soggy bun made the low-grade meat even that much lower. The cheese was as fresh as a Jackie Gleason joke. I asked for hot sauce - got the fleshy smile. Never got the hot sauce. This was the worst meal I have had in a restaurant - I think in my life. If you say two meals a day X seven days a week - that is 14. Multiply that by 52 you get 728. Multiply that by 25. (This is assuming I didn't eat in restaurants for the first 25 years of my life.) In roughly 18,200 meals - this was about the worst. There may have been one buffet on North Clark Street that was in the same ballpark - but this was pretty disgusting. It only gets one star because some random guy - who made a big awkward entrance - bought a shot of Rumchata for everyone. He literally bought and served everyone in the joint a shot of Rumchata. Had it not been for him - I would not even have be able to eek out that one lonely star.
(1)Rose Emma M.
Great place to stop and hang-out. We sat outside and enjoyed a few beers and a burger. Very nice experience.
(4)Stacey K.
Goin' with a 5..... You know what? I love this place. I wonder what people think when they drive by. "Just another waterin hole for tha micks, aye?" Yup. And it's fantastic. It's really tastefully decorated and cozy inside, not dive-y. Love it in the winter when we can score the table in front of the fireplace. In the spring and summer the deck out back is perfect, and backs up to the forest preserve so you don't have to look at dumb old Joliet Road. The service is friendly and prompt, and my husband and I have never once been even slightly disappointed in our food decisions. Now, I have never ordered an entree here; just burgers, salads and sandwiches. My husband loves the sheperd's pie, fish and chips, and the french dip sammie. I've had good burgers, a lovely crab cake sandwich, and my fave: the turkey and ham cubano. Dang - it rocks. Get it with waffle fries. Places that have waffle fries instantly earn my respect. Pssst......they make a good Bloody Mary too. Comes in handy Sunday mornings. I mean, ya know....on the rare occasion that I may have been overserved the night prior. Oh, why am I rambling? Just try this place!
(5)Diane F.
Good service! Nice atmosphere! Loved their crab cakes!
(4)Matt P.
The Guiness was a good pour. The fish fry was good- nice, light batter. Do not try the cubano. It's 4 ingredients short of a cubano. So bad on me for giving it a try. The place is pretty small but the warm fire was nice. Stick to good beer and fish.
(3)Cheryl V.
I like this place. I give it my 3 F's for fast, focused and friendly service. They've got a great little patio that I understand to be newly added. But as a general rule, this place is known for good food. We just did drinks and a mini Reuben appetizer that was pretty good. Nice, lean corned beef, rye bread but I was surprised that there was no sauerkraut or Thousand Island dressing on their version of the Reuben. Because the service and ambiance was just right for a warm summer night, we're going to give this place another shot and try either the Shepard's pie, french dip or steak sandwich which we heard from neighboring tables that all are good bets.
(4)Linda A.
Don't order the wings unless you like pigeon......they were minuscule
(2)Andy M.
A neat looking Irish bar with the usual Irish food and beer to go with it. The place is on a difficult to find stretch in Chicagoland and most likely patroned by locals. There is outdoor seating but not that much parking.
(3)Nina M.
Burgers are great. Cajun fries are yummy. Servers/bartenders are friendly and personable.
(5)Gina V.
I went here two weeks ago for the first time, and I thought it was a good, quaint little place to meet a friend, have a couple beers, and catch up! I brought my friend here last week...we don't quite fit the "persona" that comes here....we were kind of dressed up with heels after a dinner downtown, and the bartender did not even acknowledge us. When she finally glanced, I said "Hi." She said "Hi" and walked over to the other side of the bar to have a personal conversation with another patron. It seemed as if everyone knew each other, and took her another 10 minutes to come over and take our simple order of 2 beers. I'm sorry we don't "fit in" with the regulars and you are a middle aged jealous woman, but do yourself a favor; serve every patron that walks in so you don't turn people off to this place because it really is a cute, comfortable little spot that I would like to hang out at more often.
(3)Scott J.
What a great place with great food. You can not beat the service no matter what horseface says. The manager Eileen is the best. Plenty of shots flowing when she is working. Good luck trying to out drink her. The part-timer Darcy is awesome as well. Dance party every day she works.Pajamas is an OK bartender and he loves to wear capris. You really can not beat the atmosphere when it turns in to Club R. Always a friendly crowd. I would recommend a night out at Raffs with a nightcap at the country cup.
(5)kristen s.
Nice little place to have a couple beer with some friends. The only time I ate there the food was fantastic. I plan on checking it out a bit more.
(4)Mark J.
This building has been around for a long, long time as some sort of bar or another. A few years ago, a new owner moved in and opened Rafferty Pub. In the past I have been in here for drinks and have always had a good time. Good music, flat screen TV's, a great choice of beer. This past week I went there for dinner and was very pleased. Their menu has the usual sandwich suspects (burgers, french dips, etc.) but they also have a number of Irish dishes that looked great. The Shepards Pie for example looked really good and I'm going to be getting that next time. I opted for a bacon and blue-cheese pub burger and was happy with the choice. The decor is very nice, and they have a fireplace going in the dining area. Overall the ambiance is very nice, and if your looking for an out of the way place to spend some time with someone, then this may be a great place to check out.
(3)KAITLIN O.
great place, great outdoor seating available, friendly atmosphere, excellent shepherd's pie
(5)Lori H.
I absolutely love Rafferty's! It is a warm, cozy place with great food! They have great drink specials, and great food specials on a daily basis! The staff is wonderful and very friendly, and the owner is very personable and goes out of her way to speak to everyone and get to know her customers! I live in the area and have many places to choose from, but I pick Rafferty's over all the rest and have and will continue to recommend them to everyone! Their shepards pie is by far the best I have ever had, and they also have a wonderful burger, and delicious homemade soup! My family, friends and I have never been dissapointed!
(5)