Theory

Colton Glasgow

3 months ago

As a recently displaced Bostonian, it’s been a little tricky to call Illinois home. This place brought me right back, it was so nice to enjoy a patriots game with other massholes. Definitely a lively and friendly environment, enjoyed some good conversations with people about their hometowns. Highly recommend!

Grecia Bautista

a year ago

Theory in Chicago is a top-notch sports bar that delivers an exceptional experience. Located in the vibrant River North neighborhood, it’s the perfect spot for sports enthusiasts and food lovers alike. **Highlights:** 1. **Atmosphere:** The ambiance is lively and energetic, with multiple large screens ensuring you won't miss any game action. The decor is modern and stylish, creating a comfortable and inviting space. 2. **Food:** The menu offers a great selection of bar favorites and gourmet options. From delicious burgers to fresh salads, there's something for everyone. 3. **Drinks:** The bar features an extensive drink menu, including craft beers, creative cocktails, and a good wine selection. 4. **Service:** The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. **Tips:** - **Game Days:** Arrive early on game days to grab a good seat, as it can get quite busy. - **Reservations:** Consider making a reservation, especially on weekends or during major sports events. - **Specials:** Check out their daily specials and happy hour deals for great value. Overall, Theory offers a fantastic blend of great food, drinks, and a dynamic atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot in Chicago.

Micaela Chavez

a year ago

Can't say enough good things about Theory! Decided to come to this spot based on out of towner reviews with a group of 15 from San Diego to watch the Cubs home opener against the Padres. First off, the owner Joel is THE nicest guy and took care of us to make sure we had a great experience. The bar has wall to wall tvs -not one bad seat in place. Perfect location near main downtown hotels. The food was better than we expected. We tried the Mediterranean salad, carne asada sandwich, chicken wings, and waffle fries are a nice option. We had our own awesome setup in the back with sound on. Shout out to our fabulous waitress CJ who had the drinks flowing and provided excellent service. Couldn't have asked for a better Chicago sports bar experience. Highly recommend. Thank you for everything Joel!

Emilio Mora

a year ago

Great place to watch champions league games. We watched Arsenal Madrid. Service excellent, food ok I had a Mediterranean salad, and two Guinness pints. Great ambience and lots of TV screens

Melody Torabi

4 months ago

Went to a few other spots and were met with unkind and not accommodating services. When we walked into theory they were so nice and welcoming! We are from out of town and were looking to watch a different game than the bears and they were able to turn one of the TVs to the game. Plus their food was amazing! The sweet potato tots are mouth watering and that burger was the best I’ve had in a while! Plus their drinks are well crafted and super yummy! The atmosphere of this place was so friendly compared to other sports bars in the area and it really felt like you could be friends with the people in the bar and the staff! Would highly recommend to anyone and everyone!

Robert Rabin

2 months ago

Some Of the best damn bar food we’ve had in Chicago. Fresh. Not processed shit. We ate more than we should’ve and didn’t feel “process food” gross. Had several drinks. Mimosa, beers, bloody. The make a solid drink. Really friendly wait staff and bartenders. Outstanding Wings. Crab Rangoon off the hook. Great burger with fresh crisp veggies. During the commercials while watching sports they spin some Good tunes. Kill it when the game comes back on. Kind of fun.

Tasha Bush

5 months ago

I can't rave about this place enough. The food is exceptional and the service is great. My husband and I are African American. Noticeably, we were the only black people in this crowded bar. We've been in environments like this many times before and more times than not, we don't feel welcome or that they even care about or value our business. Not at Theory. The staff and patrons were very nice and "normal 😅" to us. I don't think they cared if we were purple or green. We were able to relax and enjoy the atmosphere while watching any sports event we wanted on any of the 5,000 TV's they had on, LOL! We went 2 days in a row while on our staycation in River North. Also, I can't leave out the drinks that were good as well. Will definitely go back.

William Baker

3 months ago

What a fabulous place to watch a sporting event. Have been to Theory several times with great experiences and last night was no exception. Great beer selection, great service from the staff, drinks were cold and brought quickly. We were there to watch the Bears and as expected all tvs were showing that game. But I have been there when we wanted to watch a specific game and they happily made a tv available with our game on. Place is great, food is great and the owner, Joel is great. Love this place!

Daniel Smith

7 months ago

Probably the best sports bar I have ever been to! They are open and ready for any and all sports, including early F1 starts! I had heard about an F1 bar in Chicago and as I was staying nearby I decided to check it out for qualifying. I ended up being the only one there for the start of it, and that gave me the chance to talk to the owner and the staff. They were all super friendly and they all gave me the vibe that it’s a great place to work and love the high energy environment that game day brings. They were gearing up for the Iowa game that day and you could feel the anticipation as the bar began to fill up as qualifying ended. Came back in for the race on Sunday and it was incredible to be in a place where everyone was locked into an F1 race! The atmosphere here is the best of any sports bar I’ve been to, hands down! I haven’t even mentioned the food & drink yet. The brunch options are short & sweet. All the classics including eggs, bacon, and baked goods. The Chilaquiles I got on Saturday tasted so fresh. They might actually make their own salsa verde because it was one of the best I’ve ever had. For the race they had French toast which was phenomenal; homemade batter and caked with cinnamon, every bite was a crunchy & sweet delight! Onto the drinks. The prices are pretty in line with other bars in the area. Drafts are $7 and house cocktails are $10. They definitely give you your moneys worth with the cocktails and don’t skimp on the liquor. Overall, absolutely fantastic experience. From the energy of the patrons to the staff, the food, and drinks. Put theory at the top of your list of places to visit in River North and if you’re into F1 and able to get to Chicago for race days, absolutely do not miss out on this! I will be coming back here any time I’m in Chicago and there’s a race on!

Keith Willitts

4 months ago

Used Open Table to find a spot to watch the Michigan Football game (Go Blue). They had an open table and told us which TVs that the game on so we were all good. Place was full and lively. No worries about getting food or drinks timely. Food came out 10 minutes after ordering. Music during commercials was a nice touch. Then game sounds when the commercials ended. I can't wait to go back!