It's sad to see other Houlihan's locations close, however this one is still open! I've lived in the area now for 6 years and finally made my way over to this location. They have indoor and outdoor seating here, and you can make a reservation online. As with any place after work, or on a weekend, making a reservation isn't a bad idea. Be sure to sign up with them online - you will get some pretty decent coupons and reminded of specials they have every now and then, and they are GOOD food & drink specials. I recently visited this place around 5:15 on a Friday. When I got there, it was pretty empty...a reservation wasn't needed but I had one anyway. Shortly after it did get pretty packed so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting. I ordered the mixed greens salad w/ chicken...very good, and a favorite of mine. They have a great selection on the menu, so you really can't go wrong with anything here. The service was very quick, though once our check came, our server didn't come back to refill our water - that was my drink for the evening. It's always a plus, and good customer service to keep getting water refills as long as you're sitting there.
(4)
Karen L.
Sorry, but lunch here was not exciting. Most of their salads seem to have pecans, fruit, or something sweet on them, which is annoying. I got a chicken salad without nuts or croutons, and it was...ok. Nothing that special. While our waiter was generally friendly, my water was never refilled. Also, though we were not in a hurry, when we ordered, the waiter said we would play a game -- if lunch took more than 20 minutes to arrive, it would be free. He set a timer and left it on our table, but when he brought out our salads, there was no announcement of what the timer said (I thought we were playing a game?), so, uh, I'll take his word it was under 20 minutes? And while we did sit there for quite a while, he got kind of weird about us eventually paying the check. He was kind of saying that we could take all the time we needed, when it was clear that he wanted us to pay up. Additionally, I do not understand why, in a mostly empty restaurant, we were seated immediately next to the wait station with a view of the kitchen. I didn't want to be annoying and ask for a different table, but really? If I hadn't been with a friend, I probably would have gone looking for the water pitcher myself... Honestly, this was not great and I would not return.
(2)
Jen R.
The same as usual with every Houlihan's. Great food, friendly people. The only downside is that their patio does not allow dogs. Which we all think is B.S., as my dog is as classy as they come. Oh well. I have to say that this location does have plenty of parking, and is kitty corner to a Whole Foods in case you want to get dessert (the desserts at Hou's leave a lot to be desired).
(4)
Mandy K.
Went over here after shopping at the nearby stores. My husband and I decided to split a couple appetizers. Wonderful drink deals, tonight was half priced bottles of wine! The food menu is not really our style so I can't get super excited about it. I will say the food we ordered was good. But I must comment on the terrific service! We ordered nachos without tomato. When it arrived neither of us noticed there was tomato on the dish. The waitress noticed first and commented, immediately toon action and ordered us a correct plate. The manager also came over to apologize. We didn't see it as a big deal but it was very nice to see the professionalism and care the team took to correct the dish.
(3)
Joni M.
One of our favorite spots for a meal, or apps, or drinks! The food is always great, the service typically as well and their specials help to make it all at a fair price too. They have drink specials during the week which a pitcher of Long Island for $5.95 has me ordering two! Food wise we love the stuffed chicken breast and usually split it and they are nice enough to put it on two plates. We split because we love their house salads which has corn on it which is really good. And their stuffed mushrooms are great too. Honestly everything we've had - with the exception of their tomato soup - which seems to be a recurring comment here, is really good. They probably should look at their tomato soup though, since it gets knocked on here a lot. Great atmosphere and if you sign up got their email or text program you will get great promotions to use and save a lot of money.
(5)
Carol R.
I have been to Houlihan's several times and it never disappoints. My husband and 3 young adult children all have a favorite menu item. The chicken tenders, salmon, stuffed chicken breast, nacho appetizers and stuffed mushrooms are just a few of our favorites. Houlihan's is great place to go with friends too. Fantastic sangria and a full selection of mixed drinks. We go out of our way to go to Houlihan's, it's about a 15 minute drive, but it's worth it.
(5)
Tim K.
We stopped in for a late (2:00) lunch. Our server Brett B was helpful. We started with a glass of wine. We asked if the pot roast was grass fed or corn fed beef. Brett didn't know but said he would check. A short time later a manager type came out and said she didn't know either since the box it came in had been thrown out. My question is, WHO'S IN THE KITCHEN? No one in the kitchen knows what product they are using? Next we had a house salad and tomato soup. The soup had a taste we didn't care for. The bowl it was served in was not clean. The salad was average at best. Next we had the scallops and the white bean salad. The scallops were a bit overcooked and the risotto that came with it was cooked to the consistency of mush. The white bean salad had no flavor. Brett never came back to ask how anything was.
(2)
Alayna T.
Very plain food. The menu was limited so there was not much to choose from. I will not come back to this restaurant ever again.
(1)
John S.
Food was ok. Soft pretzels were soft gooey sustenance. The bad thing was we went when a bunch of suburban moms brought their kids from their soccer game. Kids were yelling. Wish there were more pretzels. Screaming kids. So many screaming little girls discussing kid things. Entrees were delicious. But the screaming kids. Their parents were no help of controlling them. Few too many adult beverages. Lesson learned for next time.
(2)
Cori S.
Went here after a party for a drink in the bar. Found a spot to sit right away, waitress was there almost right after we sat down & our order was out fast. We only ordered drinks & a plate of fries but it was all prompt and delicious. I had the martini sampler & I think the key lime was one of the best ones I've had in a long time! Fries were good!!! My friends gigantic Long Island was really good too!! I want to go back and have an actual meal next time but they closed the one in Schaumburg and I'm not willing to drive over an hour. If I'm in the area I'll check it out again.
(4)
Drew L.
High and lows... French onion soup was great, but tomato soup was extremely salty. Chicken sandwich was the best, but my empty plate sat on the table for 15 minutes. Food is generally great, but service leaves a bit to be desired.
(2)
Joe V.
Was with a group of 6 people, several commented like myself that the menu was limited. Took me a long time to even find something I liked. Hope they add more items to the menu. Had a hamburger, nothing special about it.
(2)
Nicole L.
Houlihan's has a very generous birthday offer and they don't sing to you, so I decided to cash in. As always, I ordered the chicken cordon bleu which never disappoints, but also decided to get some soup. I usually shy away from the tortilla soups at restaurants because I'm consistently disappointed. I'm glad I was feeling adventurous, however, because it was the best chicken tortilla soup I've ever had. It includes a generous amount of chicken, veggies and tortilla strips, all of which exhibit a rich flavor I find lacking in other soups. I especially enjoyed the kick from the spices and practically licked my bowl clean. I won't be able to resist ordering soup with all my future meals now. Visited: January 2, 2012
(5)
Shin M.
I got the Scallop Risotto which was very good! I'm actually not the biggest fan of scallops but I looove risotto. The risotto was delicious. The 7 scallops that came with were okay for scallops I guess. My fiance got a bowl of the French Onion Soup and 2 Fish Tacos. He thought they were not bad but the fish was a bit overfried. The server was nice in the beginning but then didn't really come check up on us later or refill our waters even once. Overall, 3.5. Update: I came again with my mom this time. There were like 3 people that greeted me when I walked in. My server Phillip was super nice and my mom and I really liked him a lot. My mom and I both got the 5 oz steak which comes with a soup or salad, and 2 sides each. My mom got a bleu cheese salad, baked potato, and asparagus. I got a tomato bisque, mashed potatoes, and fries. Steak: it's tiny, of course. It tastes just ok. Mashed potatoes: it's ok Fries: too much seasoning Tomato bisque: yum!!!!!! Rich and creamy. It was my moms birthday so Phillip gave her a free dessert. We chose the cappuccino cake and OMG it was delicious!!!! Super chocolatey and a generous portion!!! I don't like coffee flavored desserts but this had just the right amount, even my sister who hates coffee was impressed. I increase my overall rating to four stars now.
(4)
Winchester D.
Houlihan's...Houlihan's....Houlihan's, this name will always remind me of (SIGH)..... 1 star to get your attention. i went here on friday, instead of going to corporate mexican food taco bell down the street. i should have gone to taco bell. i would have gotten A LOT more food for my money. i had 2 salads (WITHOUT MEAT OR CHICKEN) this is what the SALAD came with: NO TOMATOS, CARROTS, CUCUMBERS, OLIVES, OR ANY OTHER VEGGIES. it was just lettuce, croutons, and 3 fresh out of the oven bread type wedges (which were very good). i had 2 salads at $13.00 for both. NO VEGGIES!! what!?! come on. the honey mustard, and balsamic vinaigrette were awesome. BUT it would have been more awesome to put the dressings on VEGGIES. i also had 2 truck stop fries (i think that is what they were called), which was a mistake on my part. for dietary reasons. fries and salad, yes i'm a man........ will not be going back for a while, maybe they will have there act together, and put VEGGIES on a SALAD.
(1)
Sherill M.
Typical crappy Houlihans. Why are there so many of these and when will they just go away? The outdoor patio area was dirty and desolate. Doesn't seem like they pay much care to this area. The place was empty, yet there were several dirty tables with food sitting....ew The host guy was a real jerk too and wouldn't get off the phone to seat me. This place SUCKS! Food was bland, limited, and mediocre as expected. A few things floating in my drink. The mushrooms and edamame tasted pretty good. Salmon portion was the size of a nugget. The best part. The happy hour drinks were supposed to be $4. Of course, my bill came and I was charged $8 per drink. I quickly questioned my waiter and he blew it off as some mistake...YEAH RIGHT! He never told me about the happy hour or offered me the HH menu. I only knew from looking online. Had I not looked and checked him, he would have overcharged me by $12 bucks! Mistake... I think NOT! Hey waiter, if you are reading this, that $2 tip I gave you was no mistake! Next time think twice about scamming your customer.
(1)
Joseph M.
I've found this place to be a very good mid price range kind of restaurant that's decently kid friendly. I'm sure it's been posted here before but French onion soup is consistently excellent. Otherwise, I've only had the stuffed chicken breast and salmon dinners. Both were cooked to proper temperature and tasty all about 6 times I've been here. Basically, I just find this place to be the best for it's price range ie, better than TGIFridays, Chilis, Applebee's, etc. plus in my experiences service and atmosphere tops those as well.
(4)
Mary E.
Changed menu, took off things we liked. Food we ordered was good but wanted what I used to get. Waiter Eric was great.
(3)
Therese L.
Every year for my birthday I receive an email for my birthday that offers a free entree for my birthday. (up to $15). This year I chose the top sirloin steak which included a salad and two sides. The steak was cooked to my specifications, the salad was good (although a bit wilted) and the sides were generous. The restaurant area was full so I opted to sit in the bar where the bottles of wine were half off, which was a good deal in comparison to the cost per glass. The wait staff were very friendly and quick. The unfinished wine was recorked and put into a sealed bag so I could take it home. I left with a full stomach and a half bottle of wine.
(4)
Scott H.
Awesome place have been coming here for at least a year as much as possible great staff behind the bar cool down to earth servers the bar manager really nice guy. Drinks are reasonable price and I'm pretty sure they have specials Monday through Thursday. The food there is a must I recommend you start out with a bowl of the baked potatoes soup( heard the French onion is really good I just can't get enough baked potato) the chicken nachos are great the wings are actually pretty good ( not the best ever but certainly not the worst) salads I recommend the buffalo blue salads with crispy buffalo chicken( I'm not the healthiest guy lol) burger is really tasty Overall this is a great spot to take family to dinner catch up with old friends catch a little sports at the bar and relax
(5)
Kevin S.
Okay this is my second review for this place, and again I'm sorry to report nothing has changed much. Today is Easter so like many people we decided to have a family meal out. We got to the restaurant a little after noon, and saw very few cars parked in the lit as compared to the other open places we passed on the way here. So I completely understand this is a holiday and that the place will be busy, and filled with employees who don't want to be here. I don't think they should be here either, why are these places open on holidays like this? So the only reason this place gets an extra star is because my meal was better then last time. This is not the case for the others Two people complained their Italian beefs were flavorless and lackluster. The girlfriend thought the Italian sausage was lacking spice,while my sisters were disappointed in their vegetarian choices. Our server was attentive and nice ( don't remember her name but she was young and blonde) which I appreciate on a day like this but the wait of 45 minutes and the flavor of the food didn't quite reach the bar of what a Easter meal should be,
(2)
Ed C.
Very good service, never a problem. Go on Wednesday and get on the email club great savings.
(5)
Dr S.
The food, the ambiance, the service all 5 Star!! Very impressed and highly recommend this place for a cassual dinner or romantic date night!
(5)
Fran K.
I went there for my birthday meal (coupon worth $15). I ordered the grilled salmon Panzanella salad for the first time. It was fantastic. The salmon was cooked to perfection (moist). The service was outstanding. I could not have asked for anything more. The hot chocolate chip cookie with the check was an extra surprise that I was not expecting. I would recommend the Wheaton location for lunch or dinner. It is just a fun place to go with friends.
(5)
Debbie M.
Houlihan's has a great club which offers a free meal for your birthday - up to $15. I went for lunch and ordered the lemon salmon with asparagus with the roasted tomato bisque soup to start. The soup was amazing! It has fried cheese balls floating in a creamy bisque. The asparagus was crisp tender and the mashed potatoes are worth a special trip. The stuffed chicken and the steak were also delicious. Will definitely be back.
(4)
L F.
So I wrote a yelp review for here last week but we hadn't been here in awhile so after the review I thought let's to eat here. Well that was a mistake. We ate here tonight with friends. We forgot how limited the menu is. I ordered the French dip which was bland and basic. And it also came with cold French fries. I didn't mention this because it took a really long time for our food. My husbanded ordered the stuff chicken breast which the waiter said was the best item on the menu. It was alright but my husband said he wouldn't order again. We also got the kids grill cheese and for $6 you get 1/2 of a grill cheese sandwich (that's the actual portion size 1/2 of a sandwich). When we left there we felt the place has gone down hill and we wouldn't go back. Also they had happy hour specials but you aren't able to order them unless you sit in the bar.
(2)
Cindy S.
Delicious as usual! I got the Scallops- yummy, hubby ordered the meatloaf with a side of asparagus- both dishes were excellent. We were there on Saturday which was 1/2 price bottle wine night- BONUS !!!! Ordered a great bottle of Cabernet for only $10!!!!! We sat outside which was really relaxing & enjoyable. We've been here many times & have enjoyed it every time !
(4)
Don G.
We went there for my birthday and used our Birthday coupon. We both had the scrumptious almond crusted tilapia. It was very good! I especially like the berries (black berries, blueberries and strawberries) and the white sauce that embellished the entree. Service was great! We ordered the large portion and it was LARGE. Thank for a great birthday dinner.
(4)
Kara Z.
We were disappointed. We rediscovered Houlihan's through the Oak Brook location in the past few months and decided to give the Wheaton location a try. The restaurant seemed loud, it was really hard to understand our server and it seemed hard for him to understand us, and he was not very friendly. He brought me the wrong drink (diet instead of regular, a pet peeve of mine that people assume I'd drink diet pop- they always give my husband the regular and me the diet even though I'm the one who orders regular Coke) but my husband's beer was perfect and I understand mistakes happen so it wasn't a big deal and he brought it right away. I love the Chicken Asian Chop Chop Salad and have had it several times at the Oak Brook location- this one was not presented as nicely, had less toppings, and the toppings and salad mix seemed lower quality too. There was a dirty spoon on the plate- I have no idea why; it didn't seem to go with anything. There were a couple of bad (hard/gristly) pieces of chicken mixed in that I couldn't eat; I was surprised how different the salad was here as compared to the Oak Brook location. My husband liked his flatbread pizza (but thought it had too much arugula on it- that could be just personal taste). There were at least two managers (or other people in charge) walking around checking on people, and sometimes they just camped out right behind our booth and talked about their plan for the night and who would take what tables, etc.- it felt a little strange that we could hear them talk about all that. Overall it just didn't feel like an enjoyable experience, when we always enjoy our experience at the other location.
(2)
Joyce M.
Good service & their wi-fi works well... good plates, good coupons, good soup. + you can always count on decent service, even when relying on their generous coupons. If you prefer a sparkling day-time dive bar, then go to one of those instead, if you can even find one. The only negative was the lettuce wraps- I'd choose something more hearty, like ahi tuna fish, etc. (1/6/13)
(4)
Andrew J. S.
Okay... this is not going well... First, the hostess seats us at the booth next to the kitchen. The place is nearly empty, yet she thinks we would be more comfortable listening to the dishes clank so loud that my girlfriend and I can't hear each other speak. Second, upon seating ourselves at booth #2, I am fortunate enough to find a puddle of ketchup beneath the hand I used to usher myself into the booth... Onto booth #3... This restaurant is dark and filthy! SEND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLEASE
(1)
Lisa S.
honestly, I've never had a bad meal here. last night I had the scallops with asparagus risotto. delicious, and perfectly cooked, and a wonderful Tuscan white bean salad. half price bottles of wine are a great deal, and the service was excellent
(4)
John S.
Houlihan's has gone through so many changes over the years. Remember when they first opened they had a pretty good selection on the menu and the food was always quite good. Used to really enjoy the cheese fries when I went here but those have been off the menu for some time now. Now on this visit the frigitas were off the menu. They used to have the best frigitas here and now they are no longer offered. The menu now is just this card thing with very few selections. Not being too hungry I ordered soup and had them make cheese fries. The cheese fries were good but I didn't get many. The Soup however was very good. I must say if I was just going for soup Houlihans would be on my list of places to go. I had the french onion and tried some of my boyfriends cheese soup and both were very good. Both were fresh and hot. The service here was also top notch. Our waitress was very friendly and did a great job. The very limited menu is the reason I'm giving Houlihan's such a low rating.
(2)
Michelle I.
I don't know if I just overlooked Houlihan's but I don't think I've ever reviewed it!? I love, love this restaurant! They have a huge menu and their food is always top notch! They have little plates, fabulous salads, and tons of appetizers! I always get their Brentwood Chicken sandwich- yummo! You can't go wrong with Houlihan's!! I only get out here while visiting my friend but I always rush back because you don't have to twist my arm to dine at Houlihan's!! I'll never forget the cute little toys they used to sit on the end of the drink glass- very cool touch!! Don't think they do that anymore!
(5)
Mo D.
This place is ok. The service is decent, the prices are right, and the bar service is pretty good. However, last time I went to eat there, service at the table was pretty dismal. It took a while between waitress visits, and we ended up getting visits from a few different servers, even though it was not that busy and our server was right around the corner. It took a long time to get our drink refills. Our server was polite and friendly, though. The food is pretty good. Instead of banning all raw or semi-cooked meats and fish, they write a warning on the menu that the asterixed foods contain raw ingredients, and raw meat ingredients may cause food-borne illnesses. This means I was able to get my burger cooked rare, which most places aren't too keen on doing. Nice variety in the menu, with Thai, American, Canadian, and foods of other areas included. They've got an interesting variety of "small plates," which are small, complete meals. The menu also includes a "frites" section (fries), which has poutine in it (called disco fries). For dessert, I tried their snicker-oreo ice cream thing, though I forget what it's called. It was very good. If I hadn't been going to bed in a few hours, I would have tried the capuccino-chocolate cake. It seemed delicious, but the capuccino would have done a number on me. This is a good place to spend an evening, but service can get a little slow. I'd still go there occasionally to get a drink or a good dinner at a fair price.
(3)
Dave F.
A lot of the negative reviews here seem to forget that Houlihan's is a national chain restaurant, not a boutique restaurant interested in occupying any space on the foodie frontier. The proper question to ask is whether Houlihan's tops Chilis, Friday's, and Outback -- and objectively, it does. The burgers, salads, and wings here are pretty delicious for chain fare. The newly condensed menu also has helped give the kitchen focus (the old menu was literally a 20 page book). I grew up coming here many times with my parents (who are big fans), and the service has always been pleasant and prompt. The food is also reasonably priced. There are definitely better options in Wheaton and Naperville, but in terms of the chain restaurants nearby, Houlihan's is your best bet.
(3)
Dean H.
Went to lunch here with my wife last Sunday afternoon. While the food was good, the service was terrible and it wasn't as if the place was packed. Also, what is the deal with the ever-shrinking bowl out soup? I overheard the waiter say that the serving size was, "between a bowl a cup". Actually, it's more like a small cup trending toward a thimble, and it seems to be getting smaller every time we visit... which won't be too many more times if the service doesn't improve.
(2)
Jay V.
I'm picky about ribs, they have to be cooked so they come off the bone with the slightest effort and and they have to be tender. I was very pleased!
(4)
Josh M.
I would have never given this place a chance if the movie wasn't sold out that night. That being said this place isn't too bad. The menu seems to be striving for more than your TGI or Applebys sort of fair. We ordered the chipotle chicken nachos and the disco fries both were pretty decent with the nachos being huge although for $10 I would kinda expect that. The fries were almost over seasoned which is hard to do but they accomplished salt lick status. The french onion soup was good as expected and the stuffed mushrooms were what I always remembered them to be. Nothing great nothing bad. The menu looks good enough to come back and try some stuff out again but ill prob look for the happy hour times cause the specials at the bar looked really good.
(3)
Elton R.
Zero stars! Took a half day off to run errands and thought I would grab a good lunch and a beer at Houlihan's. What a mistake! I went to the bar and sat down, after 2 employees behind the bar ignored me I thought maybe just busy with the 3 customers at the bar! Then the bartender took another customers order, OK she'll be right over I thought. No then she was too busy cleaning bottles to walk 5 feet to even acknowledge I was there. After 10 minute I got up and requested a manager. Explained what happened and in his defense he did ask to make it right but by that time I was so pissed there was no way I was spending my money in that restaurant! Might have been a fluke but I will never step foot in this location again!
(1)
Karen P.
This place is a step up from a diner. I went out after a rehearsal with some friends. One ordered a sandwich, one ordered a small side salad and I ordered a BBQ flatbread pizza. The sandwich looked typical, the salad was typical but my flat bread pizza for $8.95 was like a cracker with a tiny bit of chicken, drizzled with BBQ sauce and probably no more than a tablespoon of cheese. All in all, it is a nice place for friends and families to gather and share a meal but I won't go out of my way to go there in the future. Service was good. They served my friend Yellow Tail Wine and it was $7.50 for a small glass. This is cheap wine and I would not bother. It sells at Jewel for $8.99 a bottle.
(2)
Jen F.
It's a chain, so I don't expect much when I go, and I'm pleasantly surprised sometimes when the drinks are good and the food is good. I like the new small-plates concept they've got on the menu much better than the heavier same-old they've had forever. I've never had great service here, though, so that's a major downer. I primarily like to go during the week for their cheap long island iced tea special - it really can't be beat for value on booze. The patio is a nice touch in the summer but keep in mind you're basically sitting in the parking lot - not much to look at. It's close to my house, though, and good for a fairly inexpensive date night with my hubby, so we'll keep going.
(3)
Pat E.
Pretty solid specials, (2.25 domestics on Monday). Our waiter didn't seem very interested, I hope he didn't spit on my steak (done medium) which was very good!!
(3)
Jesse K.
For casual dining, this is very, very good. They have a bottomless soup and salad lunch - great deal. Go for the Tuscan Bean Salad - it is exquisite. Their soups are all good. The Caesar and house salads suck.
(3)
Erik T.
My wife and I heard good things about Houlihan's, but after eating there we were a little disappointed. Maybe it was what we ordered, but to us it was nothing special. Would we try it again? Probably. But we'll give it some time. The service was good, and it had a nice atmosphere.
(3)
Mary J.
This restaurant hosted a benefit last night where a donation was made from your order to help the homeless. This place was packed! Hubby was seated even though I wasn't there yet and the waitress took care of him. When I got there, she appeared asking for my drink order and mentioned no pressure on picking our food. We decided to only eat appetizers. The calamari was ok - fresh, but kind of greasy. At least it didn't taste like rubber bands! Have you had that? Yuck! The bruschetta was like chopped up tomatoes with cream cheese. Kind of different and not for me. The chicken nachos were great as well as the quesadillas. How can you screw those up? The waitress we had really hustled. We figured that she had a large area that she was covering, but she still managed to keep tabs on us. We told her we didn't have a lot of time and she remembered, being prompt with the check and some takeout boxes. Going to these chains is such a hit or miss, one place can be wonderful while the other one sucks. This place to quite Eric H. was "surprisingly good".
(3)
Nari H.
I don't come here much, but they do serve good food and seem to have lots of different special offers or events going on. Pros: Good service, good quality of food, there is a nice variety on the menu and they seem to have a good amount of specials or promotions going on which I enjoy seeing at a restaurant. Cons: Honestly, I can't really think of any if this is the cuisine you enjoy. But i've only been here once in the last ten years.
(4)
Mahmoud A.
Decent food (average or just below average). Decent service (again, only average at best). Doesn't shine in either area, but at the price they charge, it works (barely, but it works).
(2)
Karen T.
I have never had a bad meal at this Houlihan's...seriously. And honestly have always had wonderful experiences with the wait staff. I am shocked by the bad reviews...I have to wonder if these people are reviewing the correct location.
(5)
mike r.
I like Houlihan's. I usually come here to drink after work. I like their long island and lettuce wrap.
(4)
Julie M.
Bad Service and it wasn't even busy. I'm also never impressed with the food I got a pesto pasta. It tasted really strongly flavored from the artichokes in it. It was over powering the whole dish. I still cant get that taste out of my mouth.
(1)
Nick L.
Service could be better. Food was pretty good though. Highly recommend the Frito burger
(4)
Emily C.
I actually do enjoy this chain, every once and a while they surprise me with a good dish. For a while they had the vegetarian lettuce wraps that were to die for. Turns out you can now buy the same product by Yves at WholeFoods (and surprise you can actually get something cheaper at wholefoods). The burgers are always a hit with my husband, and so are the fries. I enjoy these chains mostly because of the decorations - antiques, etc. Servers can be iffy - we have had some great ones, we have had some crap ones. We stopped going here when they last changed the menu because it seemed as though there was less for me too eat here.
(4)
mike l.
wow. I am seriously impressed. definitely a step above the other TGI Vomit's. I got dragged today, but some coworkers and was pleasantly surprised. I figured I'd be wallowing in my hatred for chains the whole time, but it was really great. no, seriously. we started with the cheesy lavosh with spinach dip, moved on to fish tacos, grilled chicken with mushrooms, onions & swiss and the balsamic chicken panini. finished off with some crazy desserts. the desserts were neat because you could get mini desserts. $2 each 3 for $5. They've got these wicked smores - they put marshmallow & fudge inside a piece of folded wax paper and toast it. serve it with graham crackers and you just dip it in the mess. awesome. read some of my other reviews. you'll learn i HATE naperville. hate hate HATE. This was great. I don't do great with Naperville. I'm going back.
(4)
Justin H.
A nice, simple restaurant. They do what they do well, lacks imagination though. If you are going to eat here, you should probably just eat at Cozymels across the street. Seriously.
(3)
Zach T.
Did this place change their menu and jack up the prices or what? I used to go here a lot, and went back recently after seeing Borat. Of the 4 of us there, none of us could find anything on the menu that sounded good. My wife and I split the "Ultimate" Nachos or whatever. They weren't that Ultimate.
(2)
Eric H.
Surprisingly good for a chain. A step above the Fridays, Bennigans, Chilis and Applebees of the world. The service here has always been excellent. The food quality is superior. Menu: good variety and it is always being freshened. Great burgers, soups, and salads. This is always a better choice than the other clones.
(4)
Michele S.
It has been ages since I've ventured into a Houlihan's restaurant. The menu was quite different than I remember. They still offer the home-style American classics that one would expect, but with a heftier price tag. I got the stuffed chicken breast, and I don't know what was so $16 about it. The entree was good, but was way too greasy to have been "baked" as the description said. That chicken breast was most definitely fried. It was served with some creamy mashed potatoes, and asparagus that was tough. Our waitress was attentive and funny at times. I liked her personality, and was glad she was our server. She brought our drink refills before we could get to the bottom of the one we were on, and she stopped by periodically to make sure all was well with our meals. This lady was on top of her game.
(3)
Joseph D.
Took my family of six. Ordere fish tacos, the fish tasted bad, a cheap frozen product. Came with chips, the "salsa" tasted reallly odd, more like ketchup. Two of my kids ordered ckicken tenders, $14.50 a plate, you kidding me? Not good.
(1)
Nichole C.
I know what you're thinking. Houlihan's? She is really yelping HOULIHAN'S? Yes, I am...Let me tell you why: 1. They may have crappy beer overall, but they do have good drink specials for the non-craft beer snobs, AND they do have a few bombers of decent stuff (overpriced, but there none the less) if you do want to drink something good. 2. The small bites menu makes an indecisive person like me very happy. I can get a bunch of small dishes and call it a day. In related news: Disco Fries? The bomb. Give 'em a try. 3. The burgers are actually pretty good here. The Burger 72 is DELICIOUS. (It has a stuffed mushroom on top, horseradish sauce, and parmesan.) The Spicy Fritos one isn't bad either, but it is a little Steak and Shake-y. Next time, I'm going to try to "Build My Own" and see how much crap they let me throw on there...I'll keep you posted. 4. THEY HAVE THE BEST DAMN SALAD YOU'LL EVER HAVE. Or so my husband claims. I don't eat vegetables, but if I ever do, I'll start here. 5. The French onion soup is really good too. Cheesy, brothy, salty goodness. I swear.
(4)
Justin L.
MEH... less than impressive food. I came here for a late night meal, about an hour before doors closed, and stuck to some smaller dishes. I tried the potato soup and some of their spring rolls. The spring rolls were not very well made, and definitely no where near authentic. The potato soup was also mediocre at best. So yep... I think I'll stick to fast food for the late night meals from now on.
(2)
Jennifer S.
It had been many years since I had been to a Houlihan's until this week. I was looking for a place in the area where I could enjoy dinner with a friend (anywhere) with a wide variety of options (not quite everywhere) with their nutritional information online (Houlihan's!). I am counting calories these days and wanted to have more than one option that would work for me for the day. Thankfully, that wasn't a problem. We sat in a cozy booth which was nice. The menus themselves have a metal cover on them. That was weird. I don't usually comment on what a menu is actually made of, but this was so unusual and the whole thing felt dirty, so it's worth mentioning. I decided on a cup of chicken tortilla soup (no cheese) and the scallops with asparagus risotto (no cheese). My girlfriend went with a cup of their baked potato soup and a chicken & bacon wrap (plain) with fries. Our server didn't write down the order. We are both picky and have some dietary issues, so we suggested that she might want to jot it down to avoid any mistakes and she declined to do so. :-( The soups arrived and they were both very good. My girlfriend was looking for crackers, but our server was MIA. Within minutes our entrees arrived via someone other than our server. Seriously?!?!? This is definitely one of my pet peeves. It's Tuesday night at seven o'clock in a fairly empty restaurant. Someone can't time this a little better? Why? So now what? My friend pushes her soup to the side and moves on to her entree. This isn't an option for me because my entire meal is covered with grated cheese. When the server arrives, I point out the cheese and she takes it back to the kitchen. At least I can finish my soup although my friend's goes to waste. My entree returns. The server says that the chef 'de-cheese-ified' it for me. Aka changed the greens on top, flipped the scallops over and mixed the rest of the cheese into the already overly mushy risotto. I take a bite. It's cold. Ah hem. Can we please try this again? Oh sure! Ten-ish minutes later a new plate arrives. The scallops are hot and seem fresh. The risotto is basically warm enough to eat some of it. The plate has been redressed. $19ish and it took three times to ALMOST get it right. Here, have a scoop of ice cream for your inconvenience. Sure thanks. Calories I didn't want but who cares because I didn't come close to eating my meal. You can guess that I will let years go by again before I consider stopping in. Nutrition information is nice, but so not worth the less than enjoyable Houlihan's experience.
(2)
Lydia Z.
Received my birthday coupon so we figured we would give it another try. Previous visits weren't bad, but nothing that makes you really want to go back again. So in we go...it was a beautiful evening and the outside patio was hopping. The inside much less busy so we sat inside. The hostess apparently didn't like us because she sat us right at the entrance to the bathroom. With so many tables available, why...why I ask, would you sit people there. It's one of those tables you would seat last. It's like the table next to the kitchen...Hostess: "do you want to wait 15 minutes or sit next to the kitchen"... Customer: "We will take it!" But since it was a birthday meal and we were in a good mood we decided to let it go and just watch people to make sure they washed their hands. The food was average. My fish tacos were pretty good. My husbands half slab of ribs was Meh. It was pricey for what you get. The service was terrible. She was friendly but either she noticed the birthday coupon or sniffed it out, or I suppose she could have been just lazy but either way we received lousy service for a place like Houlihans. (not that I expect great service but for a place that is trying to be an upscale Fridays you would expect more) She dropped off the meals and the next time we saw her she was dropping off the check. No checking in. No refills. No nothing. We didn't leave much of a tip. She probably thought "those cheap bastards" instead of thinking "I gave them crappy service, maybe I should try harder or find another line of work". We will probably be back at some point when our memories fade. We usually don't hold it against a place that gives us bad service because often times it's a bad server, not the establishment. However, high prices, bad service, and average food doesn't make me want to return.
(2)
Stephanie R.
Went here for dinner last night before going to see a movie at Studio Movie Grill. After our server brought our drinks, it was close to 30 minutes before we saw her again. We had been wanting a refill on drinks for most of that time, but she never stopped by our table. After 40 minutes, our food finally arrived. It was cold, seemed like it had been sitting for awhile before she had time to get it to us. She offered to "re-heat" it, but we declined as it had been too long of a wait already. The food was not that great either, which didn't make the meal any more memorable. This was our first visit to Houlihan's, and it will likely be our last.
(1)
Kari M.
We love the happy hour deals at Houlihans. It is a fun place to hang out and grab food and drinks. I also like the variety of items and enjoy the Scallops, Filet, Chicken Salad Sandwich, SW Chicken Wrap and Long Island Iced Teas.
(5)
Maria D.
I love Houlihan's so when I saw the not-so-good reviews, I thought I should weigh in. I love their food, and that you can get "small plates" -- smaller portions of their appetizers and main dishes -- so you can try a couple of things. I LOVE their Thai Chile Chicken Wings (huge portion) and their Lettuce Wraps. Of course, the Shrooms are a sentimental favorite...thank goodness you can get a small portion (3 shrooms) so that you still have room for other food! My recent favorite is the petite Salmon with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. It's a small piece, but is grilled and delicious. The mashed potatoes are really good too. I also like their mini desserts, especially the Creme Brulee. The other day my friend and I shared the Banana Cream Pie and it was delicious! The first time I ordered the Smore's dessert, I was extremely disappointed. The picture shows lots of chocolate, and in reality there was very little. We told our waiter and he offered to bring us more chocolate sauce. With that, it was really delicious -- so if you order this, ask for extra chocolate sauce. We have never had a problem with service -- in fact, they are usually bringing me a new Diet Coke while I'm still working on the first one, and sometimes I wish they would not come by to check up so often. I think they're required to check in every few minutes, but I find that annoying anywhere, so sometimes I will just say that we aren't in any hurry and we'll let them know when we need something. Then they don't hover so closely. It helps to get on their email list (and their text message list) for specials. For your birthday you always get a free entree, and there are many free appetizer or free mini dessert emails. Also, on your receipt there's almost always a chance to get a free appetizer on your next visit if you fill out their survey online. I also go to other Houlihan's in the area -- I can't tell any difference pro or con between this one and the others -- I just really like their food!
(5)
Steve W.
The family and I decided to drop in here on a slow Sunday morning. I was super hungry, looking for a good burger. Let me preface this by saying I am anything but picky; several years in the Army have led me to eat almost anything as long as it's not breathing. I ordered a big juicy looking burger, when it arrived it looked fantastic -fries were satisfactory, burger APPEARED ok. When I lifted the burger to apply my ketchup I noticed some brown spots on the lettuce. I assumed the lettuce was simply old and would happily discard, eat, and not say a word. Upon closer inspection the brown spot had a thick consistency. Hmmm, was it dirt, or something worse??? I ran my fingernail across the top and fetched a heaping lump of mud! Not in just one spot, but a few nickel sized spots on the lettuce. I politely informed the waitress that she can take it back (as I watched my wife and 2 toddlers eating....). She insisted on bringing substitutions for me; but I politely declined (I only eat mud burgers on Tuesdays). Alas, the manager appeared. Typical apology would be forthcoming I assumed. Nope. He insisted that they wash the lettuce (not this time obviously), and continued to repeat "we're not charging you...so we fixed it..OK!" No, not ok. He gave a few "houlihan's lotto ticket things", Which I deposited in the closest trash can upon leaving. Again, I understand where food comes from and have worked in a kitchen or two. This lettuce wasn't coming from a backyard organic garden; this was shipped across country, left to fester in the back kitchen, then served to me and my kiddos. Never coming back Houlihan's.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Fri Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Janine K.
It's sad to see other Houlihan's locations close, however this one is still open! I've lived in the area now for 6 years and finally made my way over to this location. They have indoor and outdoor seating here, and you can make a reservation online. As with any place after work, or on a weekend, making a reservation isn't a bad idea. Be sure to sign up with them online - you will get some pretty decent coupons and reminded of specials they have every now and then, and they are GOOD food & drink specials. I recently visited this place around 5:15 on a Friday. When I got there, it was pretty empty...a reservation wasn't needed but I had one anyway. Shortly after it did get pretty packed so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting. I ordered the mixed greens salad w/ chicken...very good, and a favorite of mine. They have a great selection on the menu, so you really can't go wrong with anything here. The service was very quick, though once our check came, our server didn't come back to refill our water - that was my drink for the evening. It's always a plus, and good customer service to keep getting water refills as long as you're sitting there.
(4)Karen L.
Sorry, but lunch here was not exciting. Most of their salads seem to have pecans, fruit, or something sweet on them, which is annoying. I got a chicken salad without nuts or croutons, and it was...ok. Nothing that special. While our waiter was generally friendly, my water was never refilled. Also, though we were not in a hurry, when we ordered, the waiter said we would play a game -- if lunch took more than 20 minutes to arrive, it would be free. He set a timer and left it on our table, but when he brought out our salads, there was no announcement of what the timer said (I thought we were playing a game?), so, uh, I'll take his word it was under 20 minutes? And while we did sit there for quite a while, he got kind of weird about us eventually paying the check. He was kind of saying that we could take all the time we needed, when it was clear that he wanted us to pay up. Additionally, I do not understand why, in a mostly empty restaurant, we were seated immediately next to the wait station with a view of the kitchen. I didn't want to be annoying and ask for a different table, but really? If I hadn't been with a friend, I probably would have gone looking for the water pitcher myself... Honestly, this was not great and I would not return.
(2)Jen R.
The same as usual with every Houlihan's. Great food, friendly people. The only downside is that their patio does not allow dogs. Which we all think is B.S., as my dog is as classy as they come. Oh well. I have to say that this location does have plenty of parking, and is kitty corner to a Whole Foods in case you want to get dessert (the desserts at Hou's leave a lot to be desired).
(4)Mandy K.
Went over here after shopping at the nearby stores. My husband and I decided to split a couple appetizers. Wonderful drink deals, tonight was half priced bottles of wine! The food menu is not really our style so I can't get super excited about it. I will say the food we ordered was good. But I must comment on the terrific service! We ordered nachos without tomato. When it arrived neither of us noticed there was tomato on the dish. The waitress noticed first and commented, immediately toon action and ordered us a correct plate. The manager also came over to apologize. We didn't see it as a big deal but it was very nice to see the professionalism and care the team took to correct the dish.
(3)Joni M.
One of our favorite spots for a meal, or apps, or drinks! The food is always great, the service typically as well and their specials help to make it all at a fair price too. They have drink specials during the week which a pitcher of Long Island for $5.95 has me ordering two! Food wise we love the stuffed chicken breast and usually split it and they are nice enough to put it on two plates. We split because we love their house salads which has corn on it which is really good. And their stuffed mushrooms are great too. Honestly everything we've had - with the exception of their tomato soup - which seems to be a recurring comment here, is really good. They probably should look at their tomato soup though, since it gets knocked on here a lot. Great atmosphere and if you sign up got their email or text program you will get great promotions to use and save a lot of money.
(5)Carol R.
I have been to Houlihan's several times and it never disappoints. My husband and 3 young adult children all have a favorite menu item. The chicken tenders, salmon, stuffed chicken breast, nacho appetizers and stuffed mushrooms are just a few of our favorites. Houlihan's is great place to go with friends too. Fantastic sangria and a full selection of mixed drinks. We go out of our way to go to Houlihan's, it's about a 15 minute drive, but it's worth it.
(5)Tim K.
We stopped in for a late (2:00) lunch. Our server Brett B was helpful. We started with a glass of wine. We asked if the pot roast was grass fed or corn fed beef. Brett didn't know but said he would check. A short time later a manager type came out and said she didn't know either since the box it came in had been thrown out. My question is, WHO'S IN THE KITCHEN? No one in the kitchen knows what product they are using? Next we had a house salad and tomato soup. The soup had a taste we didn't care for. The bowl it was served in was not clean. The salad was average at best. Next we had the scallops and the white bean salad. The scallops were a bit overcooked and the risotto that came with it was cooked to the consistency of mush. The white bean salad had no flavor. Brett never came back to ask how anything was.
(2)Alayna T.
Very plain food. The menu was limited so there was not much to choose from. I will not come back to this restaurant ever again.
(1)John S.
Food was ok. Soft pretzels were soft gooey sustenance. The bad thing was we went when a bunch of suburban moms brought their kids from their soccer game. Kids were yelling. Wish there were more pretzels. Screaming kids. So many screaming little girls discussing kid things. Entrees were delicious. But the screaming kids. Their parents were no help of controlling them. Few too many adult beverages. Lesson learned for next time.
(2)Cori S.
Went here after a party for a drink in the bar. Found a spot to sit right away, waitress was there almost right after we sat down & our order was out fast. We only ordered drinks & a plate of fries but it was all prompt and delicious. I had the martini sampler & I think the key lime was one of the best ones I've had in a long time! Fries were good!!! My friends gigantic Long Island was really good too!! I want to go back and have an actual meal next time but they closed the one in Schaumburg and I'm not willing to drive over an hour. If I'm in the area I'll check it out again.
(4)Drew L.
High and lows... French onion soup was great, but tomato soup was extremely salty. Chicken sandwich was the best, but my empty plate sat on the table for 15 minutes. Food is generally great, but service leaves a bit to be desired.
(2)Joe V.
Was with a group of 6 people, several commented like myself that the menu was limited. Took me a long time to even find something I liked. Hope they add more items to the menu. Had a hamburger, nothing special about it.
(2)Nicole L.
Houlihan's has a very generous birthday offer and they don't sing to you, so I decided to cash in. As always, I ordered the chicken cordon bleu which never disappoints, but also decided to get some soup. I usually shy away from the tortilla soups at restaurants because I'm consistently disappointed. I'm glad I was feeling adventurous, however, because it was the best chicken tortilla soup I've ever had. It includes a generous amount of chicken, veggies and tortilla strips, all of which exhibit a rich flavor I find lacking in other soups. I especially enjoyed the kick from the spices and practically licked my bowl clean. I won't be able to resist ordering soup with all my future meals now. Visited: January 2, 2012
(5)Shin M.
I got the Scallop Risotto which was very good! I'm actually not the biggest fan of scallops but I looove risotto. The risotto was delicious. The 7 scallops that came with were okay for scallops I guess. My fiance got a bowl of the French Onion Soup and 2 Fish Tacos. He thought they were not bad but the fish was a bit overfried. The server was nice in the beginning but then didn't really come check up on us later or refill our waters even once. Overall, 3.5. Update: I came again with my mom this time. There were like 3 people that greeted me when I walked in. My server Phillip was super nice and my mom and I really liked him a lot. My mom and I both got the 5 oz steak which comes with a soup or salad, and 2 sides each. My mom got a bleu cheese salad, baked potato, and asparagus. I got a tomato bisque, mashed potatoes, and fries. Steak: it's tiny, of course. It tastes just ok. Mashed potatoes: it's ok Fries: too much seasoning Tomato bisque: yum!!!!!! Rich and creamy. It was my moms birthday so Phillip gave her a free dessert. We chose the cappuccino cake and OMG it was delicious!!!! Super chocolatey and a generous portion!!! I don't like coffee flavored desserts but this had just the right amount, even my sister who hates coffee was impressed. I increase my overall rating to four stars now.
(4)Winchester D.
Houlihan's...Houlihan's....Houlihan's, this name will always remind me of (SIGH)..... 1 star to get your attention. i went here on friday, instead of going to corporate mexican food taco bell down the street. i should have gone to taco bell. i would have gotten A LOT more food for my money. i had 2 salads (WITHOUT MEAT OR CHICKEN) this is what the SALAD came with: NO TOMATOS, CARROTS, CUCUMBERS, OLIVES, OR ANY OTHER VEGGIES. it was just lettuce, croutons, and 3 fresh out of the oven bread type wedges (which were very good). i had 2 salads at $13.00 for both. NO VEGGIES!! what!?! come on. the honey mustard, and balsamic vinaigrette were awesome. BUT it would have been more awesome to put the dressings on VEGGIES. i also had 2 truck stop fries (i think that is what they were called), which was a mistake on my part. for dietary reasons. fries and salad, yes i'm a man........ will not be going back for a while, maybe they will have there act together, and put VEGGIES on a SALAD.
(1)Sherill M.
Typical crappy Houlihans. Why are there so many of these and when will they just go away? The outdoor patio area was dirty and desolate. Doesn't seem like they pay much care to this area. The place was empty, yet there were several dirty tables with food sitting....ew The host guy was a real jerk too and wouldn't get off the phone to seat me. This place SUCKS! Food was bland, limited, and mediocre as expected. A few things floating in my drink. The mushrooms and edamame tasted pretty good. Salmon portion was the size of a nugget. The best part. The happy hour drinks were supposed to be $4. Of course, my bill came and I was charged $8 per drink. I quickly questioned my waiter and he blew it off as some mistake...YEAH RIGHT! He never told me about the happy hour or offered me the HH menu. I only knew from looking online. Had I not looked and checked him, he would have overcharged me by $12 bucks! Mistake... I think NOT! Hey waiter, if you are reading this, that $2 tip I gave you was no mistake! Next time think twice about scamming your customer.
(1)Joseph M.
I've found this place to be a very good mid price range kind of restaurant that's decently kid friendly. I'm sure it's been posted here before but French onion soup is consistently excellent. Otherwise, I've only had the stuffed chicken breast and salmon dinners. Both were cooked to proper temperature and tasty all about 6 times I've been here. Basically, I just find this place to be the best for it's price range ie, better than TGIFridays, Chilis, Applebee's, etc. plus in my experiences service and atmosphere tops those as well.
(4)Mary E.
Changed menu, took off things we liked. Food we ordered was good but wanted what I used to get. Waiter Eric was great.
(3)Therese L.
Every year for my birthday I receive an email for my birthday that offers a free entree for my birthday. (up to $15). This year I chose the top sirloin steak which included a salad and two sides. The steak was cooked to my specifications, the salad was good (although a bit wilted) and the sides were generous. The restaurant area was full so I opted to sit in the bar where the bottles of wine were half off, which was a good deal in comparison to the cost per glass. The wait staff were very friendly and quick. The unfinished wine was recorked and put into a sealed bag so I could take it home. I left with a full stomach and a half bottle of wine.
(4)Scott H.
Awesome place have been coming here for at least a year as much as possible great staff behind the bar cool down to earth servers the bar manager really nice guy. Drinks are reasonable price and I'm pretty sure they have specials Monday through Thursday. The food there is a must I recommend you start out with a bowl of the baked potatoes soup( heard the French onion is really good I just can't get enough baked potato) the chicken nachos are great the wings are actually pretty good ( not the best ever but certainly not the worst) salads I recommend the buffalo blue salads with crispy buffalo chicken( I'm not the healthiest guy lol) burger is really tasty Overall this is a great spot to take family to dinner catch up with old friends catch a little sports at the bar and relax
(5)Kevin S.
Okay this is my second review for this place, and again I'm sorry to report nothing has changed much. Today is Easter so like many people we decided to have a family meal out. We got to the restaurant a little after noon, and saw very few cars parked in the lit as compared to the other open places we passed on the way here. So I completely understand this is a holiday and that the place will be busy, and filled with employees who don't want to be here. I don't think they should be here either, why are these places open on holidays like this? So the only reason this place gets an extra star is because my meal was better then last time. This is not the case for the others Two people complained their Italian beefs were flavorless and lackluster. The girlfriend thought the Italian sausage was lacking spice,while my sisters were disappointed in their vegetarian choices. Our server was attentive and nice ( don't remember her name but she was young and blonde) which I appreciate on a day like this but the wait of 45 minutes and the flavor of the food didn't quite reach the bar of what a Easter meal should be,
(2)Ed C.
Very good service, never a problem. Go on Wednesday and get on the email club great savings.
(5)Dr S.
The food, the ambiance, the service all 5 Star!! Very impressed and highly recommend this place for a cassual dinner or romantic date night!
(5)Fran K.
I went there for my birthday meal (coupon worth $15). I ordered the grilled salmon Panzanella salad for the first time. It was fantastic. The salmon was cooked to perfection (moist). The service was outstanding. I could not have asked for anything more. The hot chocolate chip cookie with the check was an extra surprise that I was not expecting. I would recommend the Wheaton location for lunch or dinner. It is just a fun place to go with friends.
(5)Debbie M.
Houlihan's has a great club which offers a free meal for your birthday - up to $15. I went for lunch and ordered the lemon salmon with asparagus with the roasted tomato bisque soup to start. The soup was amazing! It has fried cheese balls floating in a creamy bisque. The asparagus was crisp tender and the mashed potatoes are worth a special trip. The stuffed chicken and the steak were also delicious. Will definitely be back.
(4)L F.
So I wrote a yelp review for here last week but we hadn't been here in awhile so after the review I thought let's to eat here. Well that was a mistake. We ate here tonight with friends. We forgot how limited the menu is. I ordered the French dip which was bland and basic. And it also came with cold French fries. I didn't mention this because it took a really long time for our food. My husbanded ordered the stuff chicken breast which the waiter said was the best item on the menu. It was alright but my husband said he wouldn't order again. We also got the kids grill cheese and for $6 you get 1/2 of a grill cheese sandwich (that's the actual portion size 1/2 of a sandwich). When we left there we felt the place has gone down hill and we wouldn't go back. Also they had happy hour specials but you aren't able to order them unless you sit in the bar.
(2)Cindy S.
Delicious as usual! I got the Scallops- yummy, hubby ordered the meatloaf with a side of asparagus- both dishes were excellent. We were there on Saturday which was 1/2 price bottle wine night- BONUS !!!! Ordered a great bottle of Cabernet for only $10!!!!! We sat outside which was really relaxing & enjoyable. We've been here many times & have enjoyed it every time !
(4)Don G.
We went there for my birthday and used our Birthday coupon. We both had the scrumptious almond crusted tilapia. It was very good! I especially like the berries (black berries, blueberries and strawberries) and the white sauce that embellished the entree. Service was great! We ordered the large portion and it was LARGE. Thank for a great birthday dinner.
(4)Kara Z.
We were disappointed. We rediscovered Houlihan's through the Oak Brook location in the past few months and decided to give the Wheaton location a try. The restaurant seemed loud, it was really hard to understand our server and it seemed hard for him to understand us, and he was not very friendly. He brought me the wrong drink (diet instead of regular, a pet peeve of mine that people assume I'd drink diet pop- they always give my husband the regular and me the diet even though I'm the one who orders regular Coke) but my husband's beer was perfect and I understand mistakes happen so it wasn't a big deal and he brought it right away. I love the Chicken Asian Chop Chop Salad and have had it several times at the Oak Brook location- this one was not presented as nicely, had less toppings, and the toppings and salad mix seemed lower quality too. There was a dirty spoon on the plate- I have no idea why; it didn't seem to go with anything. There were a couple of bad (hard/gristly) pieces of chicken mixed in that I couldn't eat; I was surprised how different the salad was here as compared to the Oak Brook location. My husband liked his flatbread pizza (but thought it had too much arugula on it- that could be just personal taste). There were at least two managers (or other people in charge) walking around checking on people, and sometimes they just camped out right behind our booth and talked about their plan for the night and who would take what tables, etc.- it felt a little strange that we could hear them talk about all that. Overall it just didn't feel like an enjoyable experience, when we always enjoy our experience at the other location.
(2)Joyce M.
Good service & their wi-fi works well... good plates, good coupons, good soup. + you can always count on decent service, even when relying on their generous coupons. If you prefer a sparkling day-time dive bar, then go to one of those instead, if you can even find one. The only negative was the lettuce wraps- I'd choose something more hearty, like ahi tuna fish, etc. (1/6/13)
(4)Andrew J. S.
Okay... this is not going well... First, the hostess seats us at the booth next to the kitchen. The place is nearly empty, yet she thinks we would be more comfortable listening to the dishes clank so loud that my girlfriend and I can't hear each other speak. Second, upon seating ourselves at booth #2, I am fortunate enough to find a puddle of ketchup beneath the hand I used to usher myself into the booth... Onto booth #3... This restaurant is dark and filthy! SEND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLEASE
(1)Lisa S.
honestly, I've never had a bad meal here. last night I had the scallops with asparagus risotto. delicious, and perfectly cooked, and a wonderful Tuscan white bean salad. half price bottles of wine are a great deal, and the service was excellent
(4)John S.
Houlihan's has gone through so many changes over the years. Remember when they first opened they had a pretty good selection on the menu and the food was always quite good. Used to really enjoy the cheese fries when I went here but those have been off the menu for some time now. Now on this visit the frigitas were off the menu. They used to have the best frigitas here and now they are no longer offered. The menu now is just this card thing with very few selections. Not being too hungry I ordered soup and had them make cheese fries. The cheese fries were good but I didn't get many. The Soup however was very good. I must say if I was just going for soup Houlihans would be on my list of places to go. I had the french onion and tried some of my boyfriends cheese soup and both were very good. Both were fresh and hot. The service here was also top notch. Our waitress was very friendly and did a great job. The very limited menu is the reason I'm giving Houlihan's such a low rating.
(2)Michelle I.
I don't know if I just overlooked Houlihan's but I don't think I've ever reviewed it!? I love, love this restaurant! They have a huge menu and their food is always top notch! They have little plates, fabulous salads, and tons of appetizers! I always get their Brentwood Chicken sandwich- yummo! You can't go wrong with Houlihan's!! I only get out here while visiting my friend but I always rush back because you don't have to twist my arm to dine at Houlihan's!! I'll never forget the cute little toys they used to sit on the end of the drink glass- very cool touch!! Don't think they do that anymore!
(5)Mo D.
This place is ok. The service is decent, the prices are right, and the bar service is pretty good. However, last time I went to eat there, service at the table was pretty dismal. It took a while between waitress visits, and we ended up getting visits from a few different servers, even though it was not that busy and our server was right around the corner. It took a long time to get our drink refills. Our server was polite and friendly, though. The food is pretty good. Instead of banning all raw or semi-cooked meats and fish, they write a warning on the menu that the asterixed foods contain raw ingredients, and raw meat ingredients may cause food-borne illnesses. This means I was able to get my burger cooked rare, which most places aren't too keen on doing. Nice variety in the menu, with Thai, American, Canadian, and foods of other areas included. They've got an interesting variety of "small plates," which are small, complete meals. The menu also includes a "frites" section (fries), which has poutine in it (called disco fries). For dessert, I tried their snicker-oreo ice cream thing, though I forget what it's called. It was very good. If I hadn't been going to bed in a few hours, I would have tried the capuccino-chocolate cake. It seemed delicious, but the capuccino would have done a number on me. This is a good place to spend an evening, but service can get a little slow. I'd still go there occasionally to get a drink or a good dinner at a fair price.
(3)Dave F.
A lot of the negative reviews here seem to forget that Houlihan's is a national chain restaurant, not a boutique restaurant interested in occupying any space on the foodie frontier. The proper question to ask is whether Houlihan's tops Chilis, Friday's, and Outback -- and objectively, it does. The burgers, salads, and wings here are pretty delicious for chain fare. The newly condensed menu also has helped give the kitchen focus (the old menu was literally a 20 page book). I grew up coming here many times with my parents (who are big fans), and the service has always been pleasant and prompt. The food is also reasonably priced. There are definitely better options in Wheaton and Naperville, but in terms of the chain restaurants nearby, Houlihan's is your best bet.
(3)Dean H.
Went to lunch here with my wife last Sunday afternoon. While the food was good, the service was terrible and it wasn't as if the place was packed. Also, what is the deal with the ever-shrinking bowl out soup? I overheard the waiter say that the serving size was, "between a bowl a cup". Actually, it's more like a small cup trending toward a thimble, and it seems to be getting smaller every time we visit... which won't be too many more times if the service doesn't improve.
(2)Jay V.
I'm picky about ribs, they have to be cooked so they come off the bone with the slightest effort and and they have to be tender. I was very pleased!
(4)Josh M.
I would have never given this place a chance if the movie wasn't sold out that night. That being said this place isn't too bad. The menu seems to be striving for more than your TGI or Applebys sort of fair. We ordered the chipotle chicken nachos and the disco fries both were pretty decent with the nachos being huge although for $10 I would kinda expect that. The fries were almost over seasoned which is hard to do but they accomplished salt lick status. The french onion soup was good as expected and the stuffed mushrooms were what I always remembered them to be. Nothing great nothing bad. The menu looks good enough to come back and try some stuff out again but ill prob look for the happy hour times cause the specials at the bar looked really good.
(3)Elton R.
Zero stars! Took a half day off to run errands and thought I would grab a good lunch and a beer at Houlihan's. What a mistake! I went to the bar and sat down, after 2 employees behind the bar ignored me I thought maybe just busy with the 3 customers at the bar! Then the bartender took another customers order, OK she'll be right over I thought. No then she was too busy cleaning bottles to walk 5 feet to even acknowledge I was there. After 10 minute I got up and requested a manager. Explained what happened and in his defense he did ask to make it right but by that time I was so pissed there was no way I was spending my money in that restaurant! Might have been a fluke but I will never step foot in this location again!
(1)Karen P.
This place is a step up from a diner. I went out after a rehearsal with some friends. One ordered a sandwich, one ordered a small side salad and I ordered a BBQ flatbread pizza. The sandwich looked typical, the salad was typical but my flat bread pizza for $8.95 was like a cracker with a tiny bit of chicken, drizzled with BBQ sauce and probably no more than a tablespoon of cheese. All in all, it is a nice place for friends and families to gather and share a meal but I won't go out of my way to go there in the future. Service was good. They served my friend Yellow Tail Wine and it was $7.50 for a small glass. This is cheap wine and I would not bother. It sells at Jewel for $8.99 a bottle.
(2)Jen F.
It's a chain, so I don't expect much when I go, and I'm pleasantly surprised sometimes when the drinks are good and the food is good. I like the new small-plates concept they've got on the menu much better than the heavier same-old they've had forever. I've never had great service here, though, so that's a major downer. I primarily like to go during the week for their cheap long island iced tea special - it really can't be beat for value on booze. The patio is a nice touch in the summer but keep in mind you're basically sitting in the parking lot - not much to look at. It's close to my house, though, and good for a fairly inexpensive date night with my hubby, so we'll keep going.
(3)Pat E.
Pretty solid specials, (2.25 domestics on Monday). Our waiter didn't seem very interested, I hope he didn't spit on my steak (done medium) which was very good!!
(3)Jesse K.
For casual dining, this is very, very good. They have a bottomless soup and salad lunch - great deal. Go for the Tuscan Bean Salad - it is exquisite. Their soups are all good. The Caesar and house salads suck.
(3)Erik T.
My wife and I heard good things about Houlihan's, but after eating there we were a little disappointed. Maybe it was what we ordered, but to us it was nothing special. Would we try it again? Probably. But we'll give it some time. The service was good, and it had a nice atmosphere.
(3)Mary J.
This restaurant hosted a benefit last night where a donation was made from your order to help the homeless. This place was packed! Hubby was seated even though I wasn't there yet and the waitress took care of him. When I got there, she appeared asking for my drink order and mentioned no pressure on picking our food. We decided to only eat appetizers. The calamari was ok - fresh, but kind of greasy. At least it didn't taste like rubber bands! Have you had that? Yuck! The bruschetta was like chopped up tomatoes with cream cheese. Kind of different and not for me. The chicken nachos were great as well as the quesadillas. How can you screw those up? The waitress we had really hustled. We figured that she had a large area that she was covering, but she still managed to keep tabs on us. We told her we didn't have a lot of time and she remembered, being prompt with the check and some takeout boxes. Going to these chains is such a hit or miss, one place can be wonderful while the other one sucks. This place to quite Eric H. was "surprisingly good".
(3)Nari H.
I don't come here much, but they do serve good food and seem to have lots of different special offers or events going on. Pros: Good service, good quality of food, there is a nice variety on the menu and they seem to have a good amount of specials or promotions going on which I enjoy seeing at a restaurant. Cons: Honestly, I can't really think of any if this is the cuisine you enjoy. But i've only been here once in the last ten years.
(4)Mahmoud A.
Decent food (average or just below average). Decent service (again, only average at best). Doesn't shine in either area, but at the price they charge, it works (barely, but it works).
(2)Karen T.
I have never had a bad meal at this Houlihan's...seriously. And honestly have always had wonderful experiences with the wait staff. I am shocked by the bad reviews...I have to wonder if these people are reviewing the correct location.
(5)mike r.
I like Houlihan's. I usually come here to drink after work. I like their long island and lettuce wrap.
(4)Julie M.
Bad Service and it wasn't even busy. I'm also never impressed with the food I got a pesto pasta. It tasted really strongly flavored from the artichokes in it. It was over powering the whole dish. I still cant get that taste out of my mouth.
(1)Nick L.
Service could be better. Food was pretty good though. Highly recommend the Frito burger
(4)Emily C.
I actually do enjoy this chain, every once and a while they surprise me with a good dish. For a while they had the vegetarian lettuce wraps that were to die for. Turns out you can now buy the same product by Yves at WholeFoods (and surprise you can actually get something cheaper at wholefoods). The burgers are always a hit with my husband, and so are the fries. I enjoy these chains mostly because of the decorations - antiques, etc. Servers can be iffy - we have had some great ones, we have had some crap ones. We stopped going here when they last changed the menu because it seemed as though there was less for me too eat here.
(4)mike l.
wow. I am seriously impressed. definitely a step above the other TGI Vomit's. I got dragged today, but some coworkers and was pleasantly surprised. I figured I'd be wallowing in my hatred for chains the whole time, but it was really great. no, seriously. we started with the cheesy lavosh with spinach dip, moved on to fish tacos, grilled chicken with mushrooms, onions & swiss and the balsamic chicken panini. finished off with some crazy desserts. the desserts were neat because you could get mini desserts. $2 each 3 for $5. They've got these wicked smores - they put marshmallow & fudge inside a piece of folded wax paper and toast it. serve it with graham crackers and you just dip it in the mess. awesome. read some of my other reviews. you'll learn i HATE naperville. hate hate HATE. This was great. I don't do great with Naperville. I'm going back.
(4)Justin H.
A nice, simple restaurant. They do what they do well, lacks imagination though. If you are going to eat here, you should probably just eat at Cozymels across the street. Seriously.
(3)Zach T.
Did this place change their menu and jack up the prices or what? I used to go here a lot, and went back recently after seeing Borat. Of the 4 of us there, none of us could find anything on the menu that sounded good. My wife and I split the "Ultimate" Nachos or whatever. They weren't that Ultimate.
(2)Eric H.
Surprisingly good for a chain. A step above the Fridays, Bennigans, Chilis and Applebees of the world. The service here has always been excellent. The food quality is superior. Menu: good variety and it is always being freshened. Great burgers, soups, and salads. This is always a better choice than the other clones.
(4)Michele S.
It has been ages since I've ventured into a Houlihan's restaurant. The menu was quite different than I remember. They still offer the home-style American classics that one would expect, but with a heftier price tag. I got the stuffed chicken breast, and I don't know what was so $16 about it. The entree was good, but was way too greasy to have been "baked" as the description said. That chicken breast was most definitely fried. It was served with some creamy mashed potatoes, and asparagus that was tough. Our waitress was attentive and funny at times. I liked her personality, and was glad she was our server. She brought our drink refills before we could get to the bottom of the one we were on, and she stopped by periodically to make sure all was well with our meals. This lady was on top of her game.
(3)Joseph D.
Took my family of six. Ordere fish tacos, the fish tasted bad, a cheap frozen product. Came with chips, the "salsa" tasted reallly odd, more like ketchup. Two of my kids ordered ckicken tenders, $14.50 a plate, you kidding me? Not good.
(1)Nichole C.
I know what you're thinking. Houlihan's? She is really yelping HOULIHAN'S? Yes, I am...Let me tell you why: 1. They may have crappy beer overall, but they do have good drink specials for the non-craft beer snobs, AND they do have a few bombers of decent stuff (overpriced, but there none the less) if you do want to drink something good. 2. The small bites menu makes an indecisive person like me very happy. I can get a bunch of small dishes and call it a day. In related news: Disco Fries? The bomb. Give 'em a try. 3. The burgers are actually pretty good here. The Burger 72 is DELICIOUS. (It has a stuffed mushroom on top, horseradish sauce, and parmesan.) The Spicy Fritos one isn't bad either, but it is a little Steak and Shake-y. Next time, I'm going to try to "Build My Own" and see how much crap they let me throw on there...I'll keep you posted. 4. THEY HAVE THE BEST DAMN SALAD YOU'LL EVER HAVE. Or so my husband claims. I don't eat vegetables, but if I ever do, I'll start here. 5. The French onion soup is really good too. Cheesy, brothy, salty goodness. I swear.
(4)Justin L.
MEH... less than impressive food. I came here for a late night meal, about an hour before doors closed, and stuck to some smaller dishes. I tried the potato soup and some of their spring rolls. The spring rolls were not very well made, and definitely no where near authentic. The potato soup was also mediocre at best. So yep... I think I'll stick to fast food for the late night meals from now on.
(2)Jennifer S.
It had been many years since I had been to a Houlihan's until this week. I was looking for a place in the area where I could enjoy dinner with a friend (anywhere) with a wide variety of options (not quite everywhere) with their nutritional information online (Houlihan's!). I am counting calories these days and wanted to have more than one option that would work for me for the day. Thankfully, that wasn't a problem. We sat in a cozy booth which was nice. The menus themselves have a metal cover on them. That was weird. I don't usually comment on what a menu is actually made of, but this was so unusual and the whole thing felt dirty, so it's worth mentioning. I decided on a cup of chicken tortilla soup (no cheese) and the scallops with asparagus risotto (no cheese). My girlfriend went with a cup of their baked potato soup and a chicken & bacon wrap (plain) with fries. Our server didn't write down the order. We are both picky and have some dietary issues, so we suggested that she might want to jot it down to avoid any mistakes and she declined to do so. :-( The soups arrived and they were both very good. My girlfriend was looking for crackers, but our server was MIA. Within minutes our entrees arrived via someone other than our server. Seriously?!?!? This is definitely one of my pet peeves. It's Tuesday night at seven o'clock in a fairly empty restaurant. Someone can't time this a little better? Why? So now what? My friend pushes her soup to the side and moves on to her entree. This isn't an option for me because my entire meal is covered with grated cheese. When the server arrives, I point out the cheese and she takes it back to the kitchen. At least I can finish my soup although my friend's goes to waste. My entree returns. The server says that the chef 'de-cheese-ified' it for me. Aka changed the greens on top, flipped the scallops over and mixed the rest of the cheese into the already overly mushy risotto. I take a bite. It's cold. Ah hem. Can we please try this again? Oh sure! Ten-ish minutes later a new plate arrives. The scallops are hot and seem fresh. The risotto is basically warm enough to eat some of it. The plate has been redressed. $19ish and it took three times to ALMOST get it right. Here, have a scoop of ice cream for your inconvenience. Sure thanks. Calories I didn't want but who cares because I didn't come close to eating my meal. You can guess that I will let years go by again before I consider stopping in. Nutrition information is nice, but so not worth the less than enjoyable Houlihan's experience.
(2)Lydia Z.
Received my birthday coupon so we figured we would give it another try. Previous visits weren't bad, but nothing that makes you really want to go back again. So in we go...it was a beautiful evening and the outside patio was hopping. The inside much less busy so we sat inside. The hostess apparently didn't like us because she sat us right at the entrance to the bathroom. With so many tables available, why...why I ask, would you sit people there. It's one of those tables you would seat last. It's like the table next to the kitchen...Hostess: "do you want to wait 15 minutes or sit next to the kitchen"... Customer: "We will take it!" But since it was a birthday meal and we were in a good mood we decided to let it go and just watch people to make sure they washed their hands. The food was average. My fish tacos were pretty good. My husbands half slab of ribs was Meh. It was pricey for what you get. The service was terrible. She was friendly but either she noticed the birthday coupon or sniffed it out, or I suppose she could have been just lazy but either way we received lousy service for a place like Houlihans. (not that I expect great service but for a place that is trying to be an upscale Fridays you would expect more) She dropped off the meals and the next time we saw her she was dropping off the check. No checking in. No refills. No nothing. We didn't leave much of a tip. She probably thought "those cheap bastards" instead of thinking "I gave them crappy service, maybe I should try harder or find another line of work". We will probably be back at some point when our memories fade. We usually don't hold it against a place that gives us bad service because often times it's a bad server, not the establishment. However, high prices, bad service, and average food doesn't make me want to return.
(2)Stephanie R.
Went here for dinner last night before going to see a movie at Studio Movie Grill. After our server brought our drinks, it was close to 30 minutes before we saw her again. We had been wanting a refill on drinks for most of that time, but she never stopped by our table. After 40 minutes, our food finally arrived. It was cold, seemed like it had been sitting for awhile before she had time to get it to us. She offered to "re-heat" it, but we declined as it had been too long of a wait already. The food was not that great either, which didn't make the meal any more memorable. This was our first visit to Houlihan's, and it will likely be our last.
(1)Kari M.
We love the happy hour deals at Houlihans. It is a fun place to hang out and grab food and drinks. I also like the variety of items and enjoy the Scallops, Filet, Chicken Salad Sandwich, SW Chicken Wrap and Long Island Iced Teas.
(5)Maria D.
I love Houlihan's so when I saw the not-so-good reviews, I thought I should weigh in. I love their food, and that you can get "small plates" -- smaller portions of their appetizers and main dishes -- so you can try a couple of things. I LOVE their Thai Chile Chicken Wings (huge portion) and their Lettuce Wraps. Of course, the Shrooms are a sentimental favorite...thank goodness you can get a small portion (3 shrooms) so that you still have room for other food! My recent favorite is the petite Salmon with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. It's a small piece, but is grilled and delicious. The mashed potatoes are really good too. I also like their mini desserts, especially the Creme Brulee. The other day my friend and I shared the Banana Cream Pie and it was delicious! The first time I ordered the Smore's dessert, I was extremely disappointed. The picture shows lots of chocolate, and in reality there was very little. We told our waiter and he offered to bring us more chocolate sauce. With that, it was really delicious -- so if you order this, ask for extra chocolate sauce. We have never had a problem with service -- in fact, they are usually bringing me a new Diet Coke while I'm still working on the first one, and sometimes I wish they would not come by to check up so often. I think they're required to check in every few minutes, but I find that annoying anywhere, so sometimes I will just say that we aren't in any hurry and we'll let them know when we need something. Then they don't hover so closely. It helps to get on their email list (and their text message list) for specials. For your birthday you always get a free entree, and there are many free appetizer or free mini dessert emails. Also, on your receipt there's almost always a chance to get a free appetizer on your next visit if you fill out their survey online. I also go to other Houlihan's in the area -- I can't tell any difference pro or con between this one and the others -- I just really like their food!
(5)Steve W.
The family and I decided to drop in here on a slow Sunday morning. I was super hungry, looking for a good burger. Let me preface this by saying I am anything but picky; several years in the Army have led me to eat almost anything as long as it's not breathing. I ordered a big juicy looking burger, when it arrived it looked fantastic -fries were satisfactory, burger APPEARED ok. When I lifted the burger to apply my ketchup I noticed some brown spots on the lettuce. I assumed the lettuce was simply old and would happily discard, eat, and not say a word. Upon closer inspection the brown spot had a thick consistency. Hmmm, was it dirt, or something worse??? I ran my fingernail across the top and fetched a heaping lump of mud! Not in just one spot, but a few nickel sized spots on the lettuce. I politely informed the waitress that she can take it back (as I watched my wife and 2 toddlers eating....). She insisted on bringing substitutions for me; but I politely declined (I only eat mud burgers on Tuesdays). Alas, the manager appeared. Typical apology would be forthcoming I assumed. Nope. He insisted that they wash the lettuce (not this time obviously), and continued to repeat "we're not charging you...so we fixed it..OK!" No, not ok. He gave a few "houlihan's lotto ticket things", Which I deposited in the closest trash can upon leaving. Again, I understand where food comes from and have worked in a kitchen or two. This lettuce wasn't coming from a backyard organic garden; this was shipped across country, left to fester in the back kitchen, then served to me and my kiddos. Never coming back Houlihan's.
(1)