Chicago Q
Chicago Q — reliable american in Gold Coast. The cocktail program is serious. Good service that doesn't feel rehearsed. Keith Lally: "We came down here for a Christmas dinner and drinks, and the service was incredible" [$$, patio]
What 1,493 diners keep saying
This spot has closed for good. Its reviews stay up for the record — the rankings have already moved on.
What 1,493 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“First went for happy hour, and enjoyed the $5 happy hour rye old fashioned and brisket tacos. Have been back many times, usually for lunch. The brisket and pulled pork are my favorites. My family likes the kale salad and the biscuits and gravy. The homemade potato chips are great too.”

“I came here on Valentine's day. They had a very cute Valentine's day menu. I opted for the Q2 with the brisket and the St. Louis ribs with a side of baked beans and Brulee macaroni and cheese. I also had 2 pistachio espresso martinis. Everythjng was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be returning!”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chicago Q is an excellent spot for upscale BBQ in the heart of the Gold Coast. The location is perfect, the atmosphere is stylish yet comfortable, and the music creates a great vibe without being too loud. The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, which really elevates the experience. Cocktails are well crafted and pair perfectly with the food. The barbecue is flavorful, high quality, and served in generous portions, with standout sides that feel both classic and elevated. Overall, Chicago Q delivers great food, great drinks, and a great environment. I have been many times including my birthday where they surprised me with a delicious cheesecake. I am always delighted with the service. Definitely a visit that is worth it.”

“Elegant and professional place. Great place for happy hour and events. Staff is very attentive and go above and beyond to keep you satisfied. Best drink and food variety. Definitely love this place and keep coming back for more.”

“Elegant and classy place to take friends and family. Had a great New Year’s Eve bringing in 2026. Service is hands down top notch 👏”

“My husband and I have come here for Christmas Eve dinner every year they've been open on the 24th for the last...maybe 14 years? The brisket chill is wildly good and they know how to cook a steak to a perfect medium. Hush puppies, Mac and Cheese and carrot cake are also must orders. The service is also amazing and the bartender (I wish I remembered her name!) deserves a major shout out. We've had her the last two years and she's attentive, friendly and makes a great cocktail. Parking is relatively easy and it's just a warm friendly holiday vibe. We don't get her as often as we would like throughout the year they have a great front patio that would be perfect for spring/summer months. Definitely will try to get there and have a cocktail outdoors in 2026!”

“This place is fantastic. It is out second time dining here. The bbq is smoked but not over sauced. We got our exact same menu selections two times in a row. I grabbed the Pit sandwich which is loaded with pulled pork, brisket and links. The sandwich is on a brioche type bun and topped with Cole slaw. For a side, I upgraded to the Mac and cheese. My husband likes the burger that comes with brisket. He likes his with a side of mash potatoes. Both of us had some leftovers and we are excited for the second day run through of the meal. This restaurant is so good. The service on our second occasion was superior, Ece. The food was delicious and we enjoyed the chops and pickles that the meal starts with. The drinks are hearty snd there is so many choices. The dessert is in a category of its own. We for the carrot cake and it did not disappoint. On the second occasion we also got the carrot cake. Too good to leave here.”

“Very good BBQ and especially the baked beans. The brisket is a little dry but overall very nice food.”

“Had a blast with two friends to celebrate our Libra birthdays. It was my second visit here but hadn't been in a while and chose it because we wanted a place that had the Yankees/BoSox game but was a bit more upscale. Kevin was our server and he was exceptionally patient and attentive. We came during Happy Hour and had quite a few $5 Old Fashioneds. My friends were tickled that we had chips and sweet pickles on the table instead of bread. I had pulled pork and ribs. Friends also had ribs but with brisket. The meats were great. Mac and Cheese was okay (friend said Kitchen + Kocktais version is a bit better). Mashed potatoes and vinegary coleslaw were also good. Kevin brought us a slice of delicious chocolate cake for our birthdays. All in all a great evening and my friends were mad that I had "been gatekeeping" this place from them.”

“A friend recommended Q as a place to check out and I wasn't disappointed. Nice location a 30 min walk from the Chicago river. Nice covered terrace to the front and nice decor inside. It wasn't busy on a Saturday at 5pm. Food was nice and service pleasant. I sat on the terrace and there was no one else there for the majority of the meal so can't comment on atmosphere.”

“Really yummy bbq! Really enjoyed our sandwiches. Brisket, pulled pork, and sausage all in one! And the fried chicken sandwich was delicious as well! Very generous portions. Great sides, the mashed potatoes and cornbread were delicious. We ate out on the deck since the day was beautiful. The house made chips and pickles were some of the best I’ve had. They also have multiple sauces for you to try.”

“I was pretty excited for this since I love BBQ and was sincerely hoping this would be one of those good spots considering it's reviews. Well... let's get to it. Food: Mac and cheese was the best here. Mashed potatoes came in second, fried green tomatoes and wings tied for 3rd, and the Pitt Boss Platter was the worst. The briskets were dry and that should have been one of the stars of the show in my opinion. The pulled chicken was also dry, but that was within expectation. The pulled pork was ok. The sauce assisted just as it did with the pulled chicken. The sausage was the best out of what was put on the plate. Not worth the 50 dollars. I could drive 2 states over and get BBQ that is exceptionally better by all standards. The smoked wings were dry and luckily the sauce was there to bring back some moisture. The ribs were also terrible. My fiancé couldn't stomach the ribs and she almost threw up after a couple bites. Overall, the food was severely disappointing. Service: The waiter we had spoke so quickly and answered our questions with annoyance. He checked in from time to time, but the attitude needed some serious adjustments. Unless this is a Chicago thing? I am from out of town, but it seemed as though the entire staff didn't want our business. It was so bizarre. Some people (not our waiter) who delivered our food seemed friendly enough, but it was almost awkward at times like they didn't know how to talk to us or what good communication was. I did notice that our waiter was much more receptive and friendly with another table. So this definitely rubbed me the wrong way. We're paying customers too. Atmosphere: Fairly comfortable and generally clean.”
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