Skrine Chops
7230 Madison St, Forest Park, IL, 60130
Skrine Chops Menu
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Meals
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Sides
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Meals
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Sides
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Address :
7230 Madison St
Forest Park, IL, 60130 - Phone (708) 771-7230
- Website https://skrinechops.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Janelle L.
I'm giving it four stars, despite our last experience there. Normally, we love this place. The first time I went in, I was a little thrown off by the decor (once you go in, you'll know what I mean- and DO go in!) I don't really like meat... I don't generally enjoy the taste of it, and if you put a steak in front of me I wouldn't know what to do, but ohmygooodness their bbq chicken is amazing, and I really just want a bathtub full of those mashed potatoes. My husband swears they have the best ribs- maybe the best he's ever had, and he's an uber-carnivore, and very picky. We get the same things practically every visit, and the staff is usually pretty friendly, and rarely need to write down our orders (even though I'm usually a bit complicated with EVERYTHING) and they often remember us. I would like to comment about our last visit there. I'm hoping it's because it was a weekend, a Saturday night, because I really don't want this place to go downhill. I love it. There were no available tables, so we decided to wait at the bar (I was a bit aggravated because I was hungry and didn't want to drink until I'd eaten, and there was a gentleman sitting at a table all alone having a beer. Really wanted to ask him to sit at a bar) and we asked the bartender if we could just order there and then move to a table. That may have been our biggest mistake. After moving to a table, not a single staff member spoke to us. Now, we HAD already ordered, but normally communication between waitstaff isn't so good, so I was surprised no one asked if we wanted to see a menu, or at least ask if we needed a drink or anything at any point. My husband had ordered a small salad with his meal, which he never received, and we didn't see food for at least forty minutes- which wouldn't have been an issue if he'd gotten his salad, but he was very displeased. Even though all the tables were taken, they weren't that busy as far as food, so I don't really know what happened. When his burger came out, the man carrying it just kind of spun around looking lost for a minute until I started waving. He had asked for bleu cheese on his burger- he received no more than a tablespoon on top of it. My food didn't appear for another ten minutes. When I got it, the chicken was much tougher than usual, and there were gristly pieces, things that never happen! One of the wonders of Skrine Chops is their very high-quality meat, and even that failed! Even after we got our food, no one spoke to us. I finally flagged someone down to get some more water. We didn't see anyone until we got the check, and then the woman was overly nice and asking if we wanted boxes and etc... of course we didn't. I don't know who got our tip, because no one waited on us, but they're very lucky hubby signed the tab- I wanted to leave a dollar.
(4)Blas L.
Really Great Pork Sandwiches. I love that they have their own signature seasoning. Place has lots of character and uniqueness..
(4)Dennis C.
Meat was succulent, well-seasoned. Bloody mary's were well-mixed. Funeral party was a funeral party, no reflection on Skrine. Hurrah to the Kolovitz family for choosing a very non-traditional setting for their funral luncheons.
(5)A B.
While they have a limited menu, if you are looking for a piece of meat with potatoes, this the place to go in the area. However, if you don't like stuffed animals for decor...you might want to reconsider.
(4)Jennifer O.
We are regulars at Skrines! This isn't a place for the faint of heart...PETA folks wanna stay away. We LOVE the food here. The BBQ chicken and the pork chops are to die for. I always have a hard time deciding between the potato salad and the mashed!! We headed straight there one Stanley Cup Friday. Had great service, had great food and had crazy, but great company. The service is great...the staff isn't going to kiss your ass, but they are genuine and nice. We love this place!!!
(4)Anna S.
We went to Skrine Chops with another couple on Saturday night. My husband and I had never been there. Very cozy with lots of faces (taxidermy) looking at you. Three of us ordered the single pork chop w/ a side and one ordered the chicken. The food was good. The only complaint I have was the service. There was 1 server who I suppose tried his best, but we had to wait a long time for everything. There weren't many people in the restaurant - not sure if something else was going on that he was needed at. Is there a banquet room upstairs? We will give this place another try in the future. Maybe we were just there on a bad night.
(3)Vlad L.
Casual, honest place. Delicious BBQ.
(5)Jamie D.
The food here is great, but service is typically way below average..a smile goes along way
(3)Chicago D.
If you don't like animals staring at you while your eating this is NOT the place for you. Everywhere u look there is a stuffed animal staring you down. Not to mention the regulars who act like their The only ones there and talk so loudly that by the time u finish your meal you know their whole life story. Waiter didn't write our order down therefore he got it wrong. Ordered chicken wings , ribs, Greek salad. Everything was so gross couldn't eat it!!!!! But even if it was good I couldn't eat it with bear, buffalo, fish, and the rest of the animal kingdom staring at me. Will never go back
(1)W S.
If Skrine pork chops are what people think good pork chops should be, then I seriously think people need to get out more. A great porkchop is 6oz, paper thin and dried out? Burnt to a crisp, even when asked for rare, because it's so thin? They don't brine, the chops are thin, they are dry and worst of all, poorly cooked. If you're going to have a bad chop at least cook it correctly! I've been here four times (I don't know why) and every time it's the same, and the last two times the waitress brought out the chop, and then apologized. I didn't even say anything, she just said sorry because she knew it was bad food.
(1)Emily B.
We went here because my Aunt is on a quest to eat all thirty sandwiches on the Trib's "30 sandwiches in 30 days" list. I ordered the sandwich trio. It was ok. The buns were good and so was the mashed potatoes. The burger was the best of the three. There are no sides and the mini sandwiches looked a little lonely. I would have liked a bit more. It needed something. The beer was cold and I was happy to get out of the house on a Friday afternoon lest I waste away in front of the TV watching hours of GH or shows on HGTV; but, I am not planning any return trips.
(3)Fritz G.
They reopened in late fall 2012 and I understand that they are just as good as before (maybe better). Can't wait to try them out again! Welcome back!
(4)Nico s.
This place is phenomenal I can't wait for my steak, this is the place you want to go in order to enjoy the best steak in chicago.
(4)L J.
The food is delicious and they typically have a decent beer tap selection. Yeah, the wait staff could be a bit nicer. but if you want to enjoy a beer with a buddy (or by yourself) and have some good food, you'll be just fine. I could eat here every day.
(5)Thomas C.
Love this place. Locally owned and operated, you can find the Skrines in the place almost all the time. Pork chop sandwich with mashed potatoes on it is great. Blue cheese potato salad is also outstanding . Good beer selection and good feel. Definitely worth the trip.
(5)Grace N.
Ever find yourself torn between the sweet KC bbq sauce and the vinegary Carolina version? Here, you can find the perfect compromise on their ribs. Why we got ribs at a chop place, I don't know, but I have no regrets. The meat was fall-off-the-bone without losing its bark and overall texture, with a nice smokey flavor. The sauce was sweet with a kick, and it had real personality. My only gripe was that there was not enough of it. I asked for extra sauce on the side, and they gave me a pitiful thimble-full of it. Skrine - I promise you, if you give me more of it next time, I will immediately bump up your review to 5 stars. They should call their restaurant "Meat," since highlighting their chops alone doesn't do it justice.
(4)Allison M.
Kitschy decor is definitely the most memorable thing about this place... the stuffed animals everywhere were a topic of discussion for awhile. They have a pretty good selection of beers on tap and in the bottle. Can't speak to the food, since we just came here for drinks, but it was a great place for an earlyish part of the night, for everyone to talk and get the night started. One weird moment: definitely had some refrigerated whiskey. Couldn't figure that one out. Otherwise, a great bar on Madison with a cozy and friendly feel!
(4)ben c.
Good, not great. Server was friendly and helpful. Good beer on tap. Had the ribs, which were fine, but not outstanding. A bit pricey for what I got. Will try something else next time. Sat next to weird and kind of gross people. Guy was burping and screaming at the TVs. Not the restaurant's fault, but still kinda gross.
(3)Melissa T.
I had a sandwich and the meat had a lot of fatty pieces. There also was very little blue cheese on it, and the crumbles that were on there I had to keep from falling off the small plate that the sandwich came on. No sides, but the mash that came on the sandwich was good. It just got cold quickly since I was trying to cut the pile of meat. Boyfriend had the porkchops, which he seemed to like. Waitress was in yoga pants and kept forgetting about us. Overpriced. Wouldn't go back.
(3)Katie C.
The spirit of the 1890s is alive at Skrine. Food is out of this world! Decor is modern lodge. Try the Abe Lincoln!
(5)Rebecca L.
I just LOVE this place for so many reasons. The food and atmosphere are wonderful, but Skrine Chops perserverance warms the heart. After the restaurant burned down a few years ago, they REBUILT. You know you've got something to offer if you can muster up the courage to rebuild your dream. Love the owners. You must visit them and enjoy all of their hard work! The menu is simple and delicious. Simple menus show integrity. You will want to spend hours inside the place! Beautiful wood, and lovely down to earth staff. They don't bug you or pressure you at all. Just simple. Love it! Go here for the BBQ! Overstay your welcome because its cold outside!
(5)T B.
Took me awhile to get around to this review but here it is. I used to love this place. Food is good. I always got the bbq chicken over smashed potatoes. But the last time I was there, a few months ago, the service was beyond terrible. So terrible that I ordered some food to go before I left the rest of my party for my fiance who wasn't feeling too well at home. When my fiance opened up his food it was clearly SOMEONE ELSES LEFTOVERS from another table. WTF. This was seriously icing on the cake to already horrible horrible service during dinner its self. Disgusted and really pissed I called a friend who was still at Skrines to make sure they let the server know his mistake and to at least get the right meal and take it home with them since I paid for it and got someone elses leftovers instead. Won't ever be back here. Ever.
(1)David M.
Ate here twice this week, once at the bar with a work colleague during the week and again Sunday night with my family and in-laws (both in their 80's.) Burgers were as good as ever. My wife really enjoyed her chicken entree -- and she rarely orders chicken at restaurants because she's so particular about how its prepared. Mother in law enjoyed her mini- chicken sandwiches. The kitchen accommodated her request for blue cheese and bbq sauce on the side. Northwoods bar vibe is really comfortable. Add a few more tap beers and Skrine will remain one of the must-go spots on Madison in Forest Park
(4)Scott D.
What if you opened a restaurant but didn't know how to run one? The food is good. Not great. Prices are reasonable-high for the quality. The service is provided by young guys who don't know how to serve. Expect to get your food with no napkins or silverware. Expect the beans n rice to be soupy. Expect there to be no soap or paper towels in the men's room. Expect staff to disappear for 10 or more minutes at at time (no staff in dining room). Expect flat, not friendly service. This explains why I've been here 4x in 8+ years. Okay food but everything else is screwed up.
(3)Sue M.
Three of us went today for dinner on the recommendation of a co-worker. The atmosphere is dimly-lit "cabin-in-the woods", but clean and not as fussy as Famous Dave's. The smashed potatoes really made the meal. The barbecue sauce was tasty, but the steak sandwich was too chewy for one party and the chicken was slightly over-cooked. The pork tenderloin sandwich special found an appreciative audience. The mac and cheese was more the cream sauce and breadcrumb type rather than cheesy, creamy. We went on a weekday early, when they weren't busy, so the service was fine, but not all of the food was served at once. The bathrooms were clean and well-stocked. We'd go back, if someone else wished to go there, but, eh-h, we probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Amy W.
The only way these pork chops would taste better is if they were dipped in chocolate...maybe...
(5)Thatgirl T.
We originally found this place because we wanted mashed potatoes on a Sunday afternoon and googled "mashed potatoes Forest Park". Skrine Chops popped up so we thought what the heck? Our initial impression was that the food was great. The service was mediocre but it was a Sunday so we left it at that. We went back several times and always liked the food. Particularly the sliders, the smashed potatoes, the house salad and the Skrine chop. We debated about having our rehearsal dinner in their event room upstairs, but then they had the unfortunate fire. Debated bc though we knew the food would be good we weren't sure how the service would be. We've been back several times since the fire. The food is always good, which makes this review four stars instead of 3. The service is spotty. All of the servers are very nice, they just seem undertrained. I've heard more than one of them mention that they just help out there, so I'm unsure who is regular staff, who is family and who is a friend playing restaurant on the weekend. We ate there last night and service was definitely improved. We chose it bc we wanted a local place that we knew we could get a good meal. Skrine has an easy atmosphere, almost like a roadhouse. Their upstairs now has live musicin the weekends which is a fun addition. Understand what you are going in for, relax and have some fun. Everyone else there is having a great time.
(4)Patricia M.
2 stars? on a place with good food. The worst service. Apparently a busy night but only 1 waitress and a bus boy on a Saturday. WTF. Wait to order your food. Wait for a drink order. Went to the bar to order another drink round for our table.
(2)Kristin S.
Had the pork tenderloin sandwich. Cooked nice, good seasonings. Red beans and rice side was subpar... Had bbq sauce dumped all over the top. Very nice staff... fun place to be... great decorating....
(3)Jane D.
I'm thrilled that Skrine Chops is back up and running. The chopped BBQ chicken over rice, the pork chop, and now, the Abe Lincoln are family faves. Check out the renovated upstairs space for parties, etc--it is amazing, in fact, I'm trying to invent an occasion so I have a reason to book it. Welcome back!
(5)Kimberly C.
mmmm...i was just about to become a vegetarian and then i had a skrine chop... the chops are perfectly seasoned, juicy and hot! i love the smashed potatoes, but i can't go to skrine without getting the blue cheese potato salad--soft potatoes, crisp celery, fresh red onions and chunky bits of blue cheese all mixed up in the perfect amount of mayo... i love that skrines does a few things in a really great way. i love that they don't have a menu full of cheesy cocktails, but they make a mean bloody mary. i love that the price is right, the place is comfortable and i love that they serve 'till 11 on the weekends... pork chops, potatoes, blue cheese, cocktails...you had me at pork chop...
(5)R J.
The food is really good, but the service is terrible! I've been there for lunch several times on Friday's and their service is just awful, and it's always freezing inside. But I must say their food is really good. It's just hard to keep going back when their lunch staff is slow and your eating in the cold.
(3)Jerome H.
Went and had dinner here. Didn't drink, but the beer selection looks decent for a small bar. And it is a fairly small space, maybe eight tables plus whatever the bar seats. Lots of wood and taxidermy. I think there was countryish music playing. And a model train running around up top. Has a nice little charm to it compared with places that just throw up some bud light posters. And there are TVs. Very chill (nicer than what I'd call "dive bar," but still with a "homey" feel) with near zilcho on the pretension scale. I had the Skrinechop (a pork chop) with blue cheese potato salad. The 'chop was not the best pork chop I've had in my life, but it was a very good piece of meat, very well-cooked, and well worth the $9 price tag. They go fairly heavy on the seasoning, and it's good, but twice I thought to myself "there's a lot of celery salt in this," which isn't the best thing to think while eating pork, but it was very good nonetheless. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a pork chop and I want to go back and try the ribs and the sandwiches. As for the potato salad, I'm a huge fan of potato salad and blue cheese, so I was an easy sell on this one. And this didn't disappoint. It's odd, but the blue cheese adds a nice kick. Although as a minor, minor complaint, I thought it was a little heavy on the celery and onion. (Don't get me wrong, I love celery, but I was tasting it so much I thought of the British soccer chant involving said vegetable). But again I could eat a giant bowl of the stuff as an entree. It's on the south of Madison and as someone else said, it's sooner than you'd think after Harlem. Parking was fairly easy on the side streets. Very casual, with lots of meat and potatoes. And it's fairly cheap. It sounds like a winning formula, and I think it just might be. Will be back to try more.
(4)Haroula K.
amazing food atmosphere is awful i went when there was a beer and wine option, might be different now have gone back twice for the ribs and burger is amazing the only annoying part is that instead of music they have sports on so loud that you feel like your not at a cool place, they spent all that money remodeling after the fire, they should play some music, makes people stay longer
(3)Joe M.
One of those places where everything is done right, every time. The place is small but hey it's tucked away in downtown Forest Park. The decor is unique and northern woodsy, much of the wood is from old barns that the owner buys. The staff is friendly. But really who cares about that?!? It's the food, right? And the food is fan-freakin-tabulous. Do yourself a favor when going to a place with 'chops' in the name: have the friggin chops. Best pork chops I've had in my life. The BBQ chicken was perfect with a thin coating of sauce that was sweet but you could still taste the meat through (you can always add more if you need). The potatoes and amazing too. Skin-on, garlic, smashed potatoes of the Gods. Apparently one of the things the owner insists on is nothing deep fried and I'd have no other way. One of my favorites in Forest Park.
(5)Tim R.
We have wanted to try this place since they reopened after the fire that gutted the building! Wish we passed it up! While the bar seemed appealing, I hate to say the food and service at the tables, were not. The bartender seemed like she was servicing the bar well! We ordered A Skrine chop and a Skrine chop and rib combo. The chop was very overly spicey. I could only eat about three bites of the chop. The ribs were ok, nothing great. The only thing that made them ok, was that the sauce was pretty good. The smashed potatoes were kind of dry. Some of the sandwiches LOOKED good that were served to other tables. Our server seemed very overwhelmed. He had six tables total. He was running through the dining room. He would yell out to us as he ran passed the table. I asked for a glass of water, so that I could try to eat more of the chop. He brought me a glass with about two ounces of water in it. When I requested our check, he asked if I was "still working on my chop" , I told him that I really did not care for it. He took it. Did not seem to care that we did not enjoy the chops or inquire further. Since we were both still hungry, we asked for a dessert menu. They do not offer any desserts at all! With so many other choices in downtown Forest Park/Oak Park, I think there is much better alternatives! I MAY return for a drink at the bar, but would probably eat somewhere else!
(1)Sienna B.
5 for taste; 3 for portion size and price. The sides are very small! Glad to see that they rebuilt after the fire, but it seems the portions got even smaller than before. They should kill the sports bar atmosphere, though, as there's more than enough of that already on Madison. Every time I have been there the place has been empty except for a few losers at the bar watching sports.
(3)M H.
Decent food, but keeps getting more and more expensive. Bigger problem is they dont know how to run a restaurant. Maybe let people know when youre going to be open or closed? Once you can forgive, twice I'll go to O'Sullivans from now on.
(2)Christina R.
I don't know what Steve Skrine does to those chops, but they are delicious! They're spiced perfectly, and the golden mashed spuds are an Irish girl's dream. I like the lodgy feel, the toy train along the ceiling, the stuffed bear, and the pork chop salad. The tables are a little wobbly, but I'll still stay for seconds. There's a beer garden in back. My bf feels the portions are too small, but I think you can add extra to the meal, and also he is just never satiated.
(4)Victoria B.
Great ribs! I don't even like ribs usually, and these left me wanting more, and more, and more!
(5)Mike M.
I went there for the Thursday night comedy show and really enjoyed it. I didn't get a chance to eat there but the menu looks like a reason to visit again soon. I will say drink specials were a good pairing with a $5 cover comedy show.
(4)Lindsey H.
VERY DELICIOUS. Serious taste. We got porkchops and ribs and they were perfect. The kind of meal that stops all conversation. Kevin the waiter was awesome, like meeting an old friend. The decor is super fun, and I would say its a really family friendly place, good for big groups, or for a date. I will be coming back here with everyone I know! YUM!
(5)Angela D.
Been driving by this place for years, finally decided to stop in. LOVED the smell, smoky BBQ sauce and chafrred meats, YUM! :) We had the ribs, porkchops, sides of red beans n rice, smashed potatoes and a salad. I was even adventurous and tried a new beer (something with Juniper in the name). Everything was DELICIOUS!! Ribs were fall off the bone tender and the sauce was thick and rich without being too sweet or tangy. Definitely texas style BBQ. Potatoes were standard smashed, red beans n rice was way better than I expected, and I married into a cajun family so I'm picky about my red beans. These had just enough kick and were not all rice like most people serve. Service was really spotty and slow, which they apologized for and blamed on the Cubs opener which happenned in the city, which confused me. The place was NOT that busy, but apparently there was just the bartender doing everything for the first hour and a half we were there. I got over it, the BBQ was SO GOOD! Just a warning, the place actually gets smoky as the night goes on. I did not see this as a bad thing because it smelled divine, but some people might not appreciate that. Seemed to be upstairs seating if you want to escape that...
(4)P R.
We've only had carry-out, so I can't comment on the service, which I see some people aren't happy about. But the food is very good! I had ribs, which I thought were superior to the dried-out strangely sauced ribs around the corner at a supposed "specialty" bar. (You know who I mean ;-) Skrine ribs taste to me like the real deal. My husband likes plain fare, and was very happy with their hamburger. We also had the yummy smashed potatoes and the potato salad. Will definitely return for more carry-outs, since cooking ribs is something I don't like to do. Give these people a try!
(4)Theresa C.
Really wanted some BBQ and can never think of a good BBQ place around the home neighborhood. Found this place and decided to give it a try. My stomach was very glad that I did! Tried the chicken, pork chop, ribs, and smashed potatoes and thought they were all really really tasty. Next time I think it will be ribs and potatoes! Yummmm! The service was a bit slow but it seemed like there was only one person taking orders and he was also the bartender... The decor is indeed interesting but I really liked the cabin like feel of the place. Cozy!
(4)Elizabeth H.
Becareful you might drive past it! It is closer to Harlem than you might expect. The sign is not big or well lit so keep your eyes open. Once you get find it an get settled, get the pork chops. They are amazing. They are perfectly cooked and have a great seasoning on them. You will not be disappointed. As for the rest of the place... it is a homey, dark, but clean bar. Steven Skrine, the owner is the nicest person you will ever meet and he has a story to tell about everything in the place. He claims he hunted the taxadermy animals on the walls even though the people who work there say he made it up. He also takes down old barns and built all the furniture out of the old barn wood. Pretty cool place. The beer selection is not the best but Steve is working on it. They usually have the Leiney seasonal, Guiness, Harp, and some other mainstream beer. I believe they recently tapped Rouge, which is awesome. You can also get Sierra Nevada in a bottle. Sadly, the later the night gets the more empty the place becomes so go early for dinner and stay for a few drinks if you want. It is open unitl 3am if you feel like sitting alone in a bar.
(4)Jake B.
I can walk to this place from my apartment which is probably why I ever set foot in it. I never would have known how cool the dining room is, with its amusing collection of "stuffed animals". I would never have known the joy of a pork chop sandwich with mashed potatoes on it. I would never have stuffed myself with meat, potatoes and ale. All considered, this place is a bit strange. Optimists would call it "quirky". The food is pretty good. Better execution would make it great. My only complaint came when my bone-in pork chop (notorious as a cut that takes FOREVER to cook) came cooked beyond the point of well done. It's ok in this day and age to eat your pork at a nice, juicy medium. The service is a bit aloof, so don't be surprised if it takes them a few minutes to notice you and a few more minutes to acknowledge you. It's not a place for a quick in-and-out meal.
(4)JASON H.
I have been here about 7-8 times and every time the food is amazing. My favorite item is the Pork Chops as it is Juicy with the perfect blend of seasoning. I tried the Tri Tip last night and the next time I go in I may have to get the sandwich. Also if your a Rib fan you have to try them as they are so tender and the meat falls right off the bone. Oh and I almost forgot the sides. The smashed potatoes are to die for and if you love mashed potatoes you have to try them. The Blue cheese Potato Salad is pretty good and spicy. I personally love the red beans and rice which are spicy and mixed with their barbecue sauce. The barbecue sauce is to die for. I just know the place is awesome and the people who work there are very helpful and friendly. So if you have a chance check this place out if you have time
(5)Mike L.
I think Skrine Chops has been in Forest Park for about 4 years and I never tried it until tonight - WOW!! WHAT A FANTASTIC HIDDEN GEM! Not sure Christina Z or Sally N were at the same place - and since Sally N thinks it's only 'mediocre', I believe that Sally would most likely be the type who thinks the Olive Garden has great authentic Italian Cuisine... Skrine Chops has a great atmosphere, a very cool bar with an electric train that circles overhead, an unbelievable BBQ Chicken Salad on REAL Greens, NOT ICEBERG lettuce (Like the Olive Garden) an AWESOME Blue Cheese and whole sliced potato salad, Guinness on draught, and friendly service! What more can one ask for? I give you a 10 and I WILL be back! There was nothing mediocre about the place Sally. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC!!!
(5)Margo L.
Skrine Chops is great! We first tried it out on a very rainy St. Patrick' s day and lucked out by getting a seat right by the window (thus could watch the parade without getting soaked). My husband loves the ribs and I thought the chicken was great. The atmosphere is super friendly and very cozy (especially on a cold day). The prices are also very reasonable. My only complaint is that they do not offer appetizers. I don't always want a full meal (especially mid-day) and it would be great if they had some options for smaller plates.
(4)Tommaso S.
The ambiance is not my favorite in town , but that's me, I don't like hanging dead animals in the walls. Especially when I am eating. But I understand it's not a perfect world and people still like to show off their idols to re-enforce how manly they are. Over all the food is really, really good. I had the pork chop and the rice and beans. The chili had just the perfect kick.
(3)Katie J.
Skrine Chops is one of my favorite places to hang out on Madison Street. It never gets too crowded and the bartenders are always friendly. They also have a great juke box. Its know for their rustic food with a "mans world" feel. My husband is a big pork chop fan which is Skrine's signature but only finds his chop to be ok. Even with his love of Pork Chops, he usually prefers the "Skribeye" sandwich which is a grilled ribeye with blue cheese & mashed potatoes on the sandwhich. He really like this. I usually have the chicken and it is always prepared well. The Blue Cheese potato salad is awesome and the Yukon Mashed are awesome as well but they are VERY heavy! One highlight is their Wednesday Night $4 Burger Nights. Burgers aren't typically on the menu so they just have them one night per week. They also have beer specials on Wednesday and usually have live music as well. This is always a good time. For me, there are better places to eat on Madison but it is one of the best places to hang out with your friends.
(3)Mrs P.
Awesome neighborhood place. The food is fantastic, great BBQ and sides. The menu isn't large, just covers the basic meats. Nothing fancy--just good home cooked BBQ. The staff is very nice, welcoming and loved the cozy atmosphere. The taxidermy on the walls was quite fitting. This is my new favorite place in the oak park area.
(5)Mark W.
You simply can not beat a skrine chop with a cold drink. i mean, my mom makes a mean pork chop, but i would throw hers to the dog if i had the option of a skrine chop. the sides are all great as well (rice and beans, smashed, not mashed, potatoes, blue cheese potato salad) mmmmmmmm. i recently had their skrineye (ribeye) sandwich, which comes smothered with the smashed potatoes.... omg, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. service is not outstanding, but it isnt bad. extremely friendly. go in with the idea that this is a bar that serves food rather than a restaurant and you wont be disappointed!! i almost forgot to mention the ribs. the fucking ribs, omfg. fall off the bone, so tender, so fresh, so clean. mmm catering available, and there is also a banquet room. drinks are cheap, dinner is moderately priced. enjoy!
(5)Pam F.
Skrinechops has reopened. Same menu, just a bit higher priced. Had tried this place when they first opened and the food was good but for some reason never returned. Well.....went last night and now I can't wait to go back again. I'm not a big pork eater so I had the chunked chicken breast (BBQ) with smashed potatoes. DELISH. Other half had the famous Skrine Chop with smashed potatoes. He wished he'd ordered 2 chops (which he could have added but decided to just stick with the one). The menu is small but good. You won't find french fries here.....blue cheese potato salad (to die for), yukon gold smashed potatoes (ditto) and red beans and rice (haven't tried as yet). There's a train running on a track that goes around the ceiling. If it's not running when you come, ask the bartender to turn it on. It's cute. The decor is rustic. Wooden tables and chairs and a bar. Decorations include a stuffed turkey and a big stuffed bear and other assorted dead stuffed animals. Bartenders are usually pretty nice folks. We'll be back!
(4)Christina Z.
We were celebrating a birthday and the birthday girl chose this place. I had never heard of this before and after being there I now know why. It's absolutely awful and no I'm not kidding. The menu only has approximately four things on it and their RIDICULOUSLY PRICED. All of the items on the menu were entrees and all but one entree contained meat in it. There were no appetizers, drink menu, or even a dessert menu. When I also for a liquor menu the guy told me they didn't have one of those either. When I told him my beverage of choice and asked for a price him and the bartender gave me two different costs. This told me they didn't know what the prices were because there was no clear consensus that they had one fair price. For dinner we ordered ribs, steak salad, and pork chop sandwhichs. To say that this was the best meal of our lives would be a complete lie. 1/2 half slab of BBQ- When the food came I was shocked to find that at $12 I was getting a little piece of meat on a huge bone. It weighed two pounds and it was not very fulfilling. Although i will admit the potatoes and sauce on the bbq was appetizing. Just could have been a little bit larger and more fulfilling. Steak salad- Came in what looked like a doggy bowl. At least that's the impression that most of us got. There was a small amount of salad and the steak was small as well. It definitely wasn't enough food for the person who ate it. I'll explain later on about this. Now for the pork chops with mashed potatoes. Well the potatoes were on the bun which wasn't stated on the menu. They were a good size for a sandwich. Just needed to separate the potatoes from the bun. The meals came out at different times which was a huge flaw because it left half of us waiting for everyones food to come. This made our food really cold and unappetizing. This place charges for bbq sauce as well. The waiter asked if we wanted some and not thinking it was part of the price we said yell. Well they charged us for three of them. It was ridiculous. The person behind the bar talked about us to her friend in front of us. It was very unprofessional. Not to mention that they spoke loud enough to be heard by several people. We spent $100 on six meals at Skrine Chops and we still left hungry. Not to mention that we ended up going for ice cream and making a pizza afterwards. Oh and I also had severe stomach pains that kept me up at night. Overall, I say save your money. This place isn't worth it.
(1)Emily C.
If you read my reviews, you can probably tell I'm a sucker for barbeque sauce-coated meat. But this place gets raves for THE BEST ribs I have ever consumed in a public place. (My uncle Don still makes the best ever, but I digress...) One star off for not having anyplace to park and being kind of small. I don't care though. Ribs, people. Ribs are delicious here.
(4)Dee S.
this awesome restaurant re-opened yesterday!!! Please update your listing!!
(5)c d.
I have been to Skrine Chops many times, but never to eat. The decor is very rustic and homey. Lots of stuffed animals adorn the wall, and a train rides around the room on the ceiling. Great atmosphere. They often have live bands. They have a second floor party room, I have been to a few parties there and it is great. We ate dinner at Skrine's recently and I was pleasantly surprised how good the food was. I got a Skrine chop, which they are famous for, with a side of blue cheese potato salad. The chop was delicious, as was the side! It is not too thick and seasoned really well. Had a taste of the chicken and pork tenderloin sandwich, all were very delicious.
(4)Timothy D.
Probably the best food on Madison street for the price. Limited selection but what they do have they do amazingly well. Try to go on Tuesday when they have pulled pork...its delicious. Thankfully they added the burger to the everyday menu...big plus. Decor is unique, electric train running on a track around the room near the ceiling, TVs strategically placed, awesome furniture and tables....just all around a real cozy place with great chops, steaks and burgers. Oh yeah...they put smashed potatoes on all the sandwiches, nice touch.
(5)Christina S.
I had my husband's 40th birthday party here on 4/4 and it was great! The upstairs party room is perfect for parties and large gatherings. The ambiance is amazing it has a very cozy feel. You feel like your hanging out at a friend's house. Everything is hand made out of barn wood and the custom bar is incredible. Their customer service is great and it's family owned so everyone works together so well. I preorder appetizers which were the mini sandwiches, quesadillas, pico de gallo with chips, grilled jumbo shrimp and chicken wings. I would have never thought that a BBQ place would have some of the best pico de gallo I've ever tasted! The mini sandwiches were also a big hit. I also ordered more food as the night went on and they had no problem accommodating my order. Our bartender for the night was great. He was quick, friendly and very helpful. He even stayed and extra hour since we were not ready to end the night. After we finally had our fare share of fun he helped us load our car with gifts and any party supplies we had that night. Overall I would highly recommend hosting and event here. The staff is great, food is amazing and the price is right!!
(5)Frank R.
Definitely on my shortlist of places to eat in forest park... Pork Chop and pulled pork were amazing
(5)Susie C.
I've heard many good things about t his place especially since I have friends coming from the city to eat here! We live pretty close to this restaurant and finally decided to try it out. I must admit..this is really good BBQ food!! It is a very casual place..the table and seats are made out of wood. Service is quick and there really is not much of a wait! They have an upstairs to hold parties and all that jazz, too. I ordered the half slab with a side of blue cheese potato salad. It was so good! I wanted to order more! The price is decent - my dinner was just $11 for this yummy food. My husband ordered the Cowboy which was a 16 oz steak. No sauce came with it, and he said it was tasty! He gave this place a 4 star but I will give it a 5 because the taste and service are really that good! I enjoyed my time and definitely will come back!
(5)M K.
Have gone there about 4 times now and love it! The service is friendly the food is simply delicious!
(4)Michalia A.
Not the most welcoming place. We came based on other good reviews and we were all left a little disappointed. My sister ordered ribs and only half were edible. The other half was burned/charred. I would compare the food to typical backyard bbq. The service was also not the greatest. We had to ask for a waitress to stop by at the bar. When we were waited on, she was so quick to walk away. I didn't even get to order a drink before she walked away. Not the most satisfying meal to say the least.
(2)Thomas C.
Visited Skrine as part of a birthday party but have been meaning to try this place for a while. Waitress said the draw were the Pork Chops and the Ribs ... so I skipped the Rib eye I had my eye on and did the Skrine Chop with a side of Red Beans and rice. Chop was good, overcooked, but good. Beans were excellent. Portion was not huge, which is a plus these days, service was choppy, but we were a big group and they were very friendly. Will go back and try the ribs and some of the sandwiches sounded really good, including the tri tip (not a lot of places can do a good tri-tip.
(3)Neville M.
The pulled pork sandwhich with smashed potatoes on it was amazing! My girl friend was less pleased with her tri tip - thought it could have used some heat, but still liked her sandwich. Service was great. Atmosphere was Northwoods cabin. We'll be back!
(5)Peter C.
Went there Saturday night based on past reviews and CB. Was disappointed in the chop which was very dry. The smashed potatoes were the star. The vegetable dish zucchini and peppers was bland three pieces of zucchini to 9 pieces of red and green pepper. Service was slow even though there were two people at the bar and 4 tables in use. if I go back I'll try the rib eye which looked like a better choice.
(2)Matt M.
Nice atmosphere, but have had much better bbq, for better price. Not a great beer selection, service was s l o w. Red beans and rice were great, better than the pulled pork.
(3)Christina B.
I love the food here, don't get me wrong, but man, I refuse the pay the prices for the service and the small portions. I've been to Skrines 3 times since they reopened from the fire. Each time I feel like the portions got smaller and the prices were the same. I understand that there is some rebuilding that needs to be done after a sucky situation...but there comes a point where the prices need to match the portions. I give them 4 stars mainly for the food. Anyone who wants good food- Skrines is the place. It's phenomenonal. So phenomenonal. If you're picky about customer service and prices...This place is not for you.
(4)James K.
The pork chop sandwich is the way to go. Also, can't go wrong with the Skribs. Both are excellent.
(5)Hannah A.
We stumbled upon this place and I'm happy we did. Before I write anymore, I have to say that I'm sad to see the 2 star reviews. Our experience was the complete opposite. Although, I will agree with the mixed veggies. It's all peppers and a couple of token pieces of zucchini. We mentioned that in our second visit and "it's the way the chef prepares it" was the response. We've had the steak sandwich, pork chops, ribs and mashed potatoes. All of the meat was good, but like someone else wrote, the potatoes were the star. YUM! I'll go back... The pricing wasn't out of range to make this a regular place. We found the staff friendly and accommodating. MMMM.... Thinking about this place makes me want to go back for the steak sandwich. *drool*
(4)Matt D.
Created an account just to leave a review, because I have never had a worse customer service experience prior to today. I have been a frequent customer in the past but will not be returning again. I stopped in earlier this evening with a friend to grab a bite after the US World Cup match. Upon being seated we waited 5 minutes for anyone to come by and ask for drinks. Our waitress then preceded to question our masculinity after we chose not to order beers. After placing our order (a rib eye sandwich and a cheeseburger), we were then ignored for an hour as plate after plate of food left the kitchen for a private event upstairs, without a single mention of how long it may be or god forbid an apology for the delay. A full 50 minutes later, a different waitress stopped by to bring our checks and say "the food will be out in a few minutes" and storming off. Finally, 55 minutes later, our two sandwiches were delivered. At which point I didn't even want it. Frankly, the only reason I didn't walk out was because my friend insisted on waiting, and I didn't want to leave him behind. Skrine chops sandwiches are alright, but you would think they would treat their customers better when they only have 2 tables seated. I liked Skrine Chops because it was local and decent. But it's pricy ($12 for a sandwich), and SLOW, combined with an unfriendly front of the house. I won't be coming here again and will recommend my colleagues avoid it. With piggyback down the street there are better options if you feel like BBQ.
(1)Deena H.
This place is delicious! The Smashed potatoes with the BBQ chicken (sort of like a bowel) is so good. We came here with family and they loved their Sandwich the skribeye 8oz rib eye w/blue cheese and it had the smashed potatoes on them. My husband had the special that night, the Beef ribs and he liked it. He was not amazed but he was satisfied overall with his meal. Smashed Potatoes, Potato Salad Red "B" potatoes, Red Beans & Rice Red bean Pasta Salad were all shared that evening and no one had anything negative to say and all the sides were flavorful. LOVE THE decor and seating. Everything has the feel of a cabin and it is just a really great place to come as a group or even as a couple. The night we were there, our waiter seemed overwhelmed but still was super courteous and when we walked in, the bartender smiled and said, please sit where you would like. We really liked that. This place has a great FEEL to it and the people working there do too. The menu is not HUGE but they also have this chalkboard towards the back that has some specials on it. Food is 4.5 stars Restaurant overall with staff, food, and decor is 5
(5)Len W.
Delicious pork chops. I would rate them higher but they just don't have a big enough variety of side dishes. They pour a good pint of beer, and I'm told one of the bartenders looks likes Adam Levine (who?) but there it is.
(3)Mary Ann C.
One of the few spots we have not been to in Forest Park, so we were pretty excited to check it out with friends last night. The decor is awesome... A lodge type of feel with wood everywhere. Somewhat of an escape, which is awesome. My first impression was not good from a service perspective. No drink list. No beer list. The beer I ordered was sold out. It is not difficult to print out a daily list of available beers, and I am perplexed why they don't do this. The other thing about the service....the people waiting on our large group didn't know which meal went to which person (big pet peeve) and were yelling around the table to find out what went where. A little organization could have fixed that. So odd. The pulled pork sandwich with mashed potatoes on top was very good. There is no side included, which is not appealing at the price point. The red beans and rice my husband got were fantastic, but he said the pork chop was overlooked. Somewhat bizarre since this is a pork chop place. We will come back for a second, and hopefully easier, visit.
(3)Sherwin C.
For me, delicious but not quite as good as the downtown location. I feel that the food here is flavorful but not quite as much as the other location and that the meat is a little overcooked. With that said, the food is still delicious especially the smashed potatoes. I'm a big fan of the skribeye and tri-tip sandwiches which are among the best I've found around Chicagoland.
(4)John L.
I had higher hopes for this place, which I thought was fairly mediocre. Nothing incredibly horrible or anything, just slow service, no beer list, and my mac and cheese was almost flavorless. The skribs were pretty good, though. In light of the other options for BBQ nearby, I'll probably pass on going here again.
(3)Sarah S.
This place was the best... What's not to love? The pork was awesome and service was good. Drinks were good, but bar is limited. Only advice if have is to warm the place up a little since it was so cold
(4)Jay F.
Went for dinner730 Sat. night. Pork chops, as recommended, just ok.Really, no big deal at all!! the side of grilled vegetables was 1/4 of a green pepper oiled to the hilt with no seasoning and definitely not grilled. also, a slice of yellow zucchini so oiled it was wilted.if i wanted an 8th grader to cook for me i would have gone to one of those pancake breakfasts in the country. just one slice. no seasoning here either. the other side was the potatoe bleu cheese concoction, which was only interesting because of the bleu cheese. big deal, boiled red potatoes and bleu cheese. we waited for our check for a very long time, some woman, maybe a bar back? came to our table and i had my credit card out, thinking she was bringing the check,but no. she had 2 teeny brownies she said were free and home made. nice. can i get my check since no one has been over to see if i need a coffee or a drink? sheesh. what's wrong with a little service? Will not return, so many other great places in the area!
(2)John S.
I've had dinner here many times and it was always great! But Saturday night I had my wife's 50th birthday party here. What a blast!!! The upstairs party room is awesome!!! The food was great as was the staff! Every single guest commented to me on what a great time they had! Thanks Steve and Mary! I will definitely recommend you guys to everyone!!!
(5)Jacob J.
WTF They are closed! Website says it was due to a fire. That freaking blows. I was out of town for awhile and all kinds of shit happens. I was just thinking of their chops a week ago and trying to set up a dinner date here. My review is solely for the owners, I hope they re-open this one or keep a second location in this area. Gives us (outer city dwellers) reason to travel to another part of Chicagoland and enjoy the food and local nightlife. Yeah I could go downtown, but it was nice here and laid back. Easy to score parking and not feel rushed. I like people watching also, it's different in these parts. I want a Skrine chop damnit! My two previous reviews of this location are chocked full of useful info on the place if you are a newbie and thinking about trying it sometime. If you like mash and BBQ, it's worth the bookmark. The first line of my first review, said it all "Inexpensive grill and BBQ fare with great flavor and an eagerness to please. " Come back soon guys. I'm missing the Skrine chops!
(4)Phillip M.
The food and atmosphere are great. Nice spot for a party or event upstairs.
(5)Kathleen M.
Adventure Fridays + Trib article on the 30 best sandwiches in Chicago = visit to Skrine Chops. The ambiance is pretty much like every family room in Wisconsin - lots of dead animals on the walls. I could pretty much ignore them. We got there when the place opened and the Ladies Room was dirty, that was not so cool. Sweep the floor guys! Empty the trash and wipe down that sink; not so hard! The food was pretty darn good and our server very patient. We all had the mini trio. I thought the hamburger with the smash was smashing. The barbecued chicken was also darn good, the smash didn't add as much to the flavor as it did to the beef. The pork was too spicy for me and that was the sandwich which got it in the newspaper. We shared a blue cheese potato salad which was superb. I'm glad I came. I might even come back for those tasty burgers if the bathroom was clean.
(4)Dawn B.
Food was good. I will start with that, but the service was horrible. Girls in yoga pants on iPhones who give you the impression they ate doing you a favor taking your order. I asked "do you have cider on tap?" Answer: no. Not, no, but we have xyz.... It was like having the Kardshians wait on you. Blank stares and lots of 'duh' looks on their faces. But the food, prices and portions were good---so what do you do? Tip 15% instead of 20% and then go back and hope today's service was a fluke?
(1)Tarah B.
I could eat here every day. EVERYTHING is good. I usually go for the ribs, and I'm not sure what they put in the 'smashed' potatoes (probably a pound of butter!)... but YUM! If you haven't been.... go immediately!
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