Poor Phil's Bar and Grill
Peter Myers · 242 Google reviewsPoor Phil's Bar and Grill — straightforward bar & grill in Forest Park. Strong bar program alongside the food. Staff knows what to recommend, and solid veggie options. [$$, patio]
What 1,344 diners keep saying
What 1,344 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“The food is absolutely delicious, especially the burger and cheesecake! The staff is so friendly and the atmosphere is so fun!”
“Nice little spot in the downtown area. Service especially was great”
“Love me some Poor Phil's located at the side end of the Carlton Hotel. This restaurant is big and spacious with outdoor seating where they are dog friendly. I didn't get the Lobster rolls this time but that's one of my menu selections. The cheese fish sandwich and sweet potatoes will melt in your mouth. Full sea food menu where you can get your oysters fix. Full bar with several drink specials and beers on tap.”
“Good beer selection and food is generally good. Can get quite busy in the evenings especially Friday. Nice outdoor eating area. Dogs not allowed, they must be outside of the fence.”
“The draw here is two-fold: a quaint outdoor cafe and a menu built around seafood (oysters/lobster/shrimp/crab) and bar fare (burgers/pizza/fried everything). Tonight it's the outdoor cafe made more magical by the perfect weather, moonlight and the strands of patio lights strung across Marion Street. I chose the calamari to start. It was prepared in a beer batter. The batter in and of itsself wasn't terrible, but it's not meant to coat something as fragile as calamari. By the time the batter is fully cooked, the calamari is way over done, tough and rubbery. It was disappointing. My entree, however, more than made up for this shortfall. I had the Maine Lobster Roll. The bread perfectly buttered and toasted. The lobster salad was light and not drowning in mayo. It was to die for and the tots on the side were, well, they're tots and I'm a confirmed tot hound. I've dined here before but this is my first review. In those prior visits I found the menu to be hit and miss. Give it a go, especially for the Maine Lobster Roll!”
“Still an Oak Park stand-by, but getting a bit tired after many years. Here’s a radical idea— drop the sports theme. Mike Ditka on the wall? The man who said he was smarter than Obama? Really?”
“The good: They have a HUGE selection of draft beer and a constantly large list of rotating craft beers. The bad: The food is basic.”
“I had high hopes for these buffalo wings, but unfortunately they didn’t meet expectations. They looked and tasted more like pre-cooked frozen wings you’d find at a grocery store rather than fresh, restaurant-quality. The flavor was underwhelming, and the texture lacked the crispness I associate with good wings. Disappointed overall, especially considering the price. I hope future batches improve.”
“Sadly we ate prior to our visit or I would have enjoyed some of amazing seafood on the menu. Super beer selection and the service was awesome. Thank you for a great experience!”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More dining in Chicago
See the ranking →
In the same lane · mid-range
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Forest Park, minutes away.