Village Tap

Village TapVillage Tap
Village TapVillage Tap
Bar, Eatery

2055 W Roscoe St
Chicago, Illinois, 60618-6225
United States

(312) 883-0017 | map
villagetap.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.91
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
17
pDev:
9.46%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Storning:
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Rated by Storning from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

Mar 06, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by cadaugherty from Illinois

May 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.55 by Gorf_Minor from Illinois

Jan 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.15 by Eman17 from Illinois

Nov 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by Haubs1 from Illinois

Apr 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.55 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.83 by dexterk1 from Illinois

Dec 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.95 by drewone from California

Dec 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Nov 01, 2014
Photo of choyle1
Reviewed by choyle1 from Oregon

4.45/5  rDev +13.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4
I've been frequenting the Village Tap since the mid-90s. It hasn't changed much in that time--it still looks pretty much the same--which isn't a bad thing! The beer garden is great and can be used year around. They've been improving their tap offerings recently--I would say they were in a bit of a routine for several years--but lately they seem to be getting interesting selections. For example, at Christmas, they had an excellent selection of Christmas/Winter beers, both micros and Belgians. One thing I definitely like is the variety--a good selection of micro session beers all the way to Belgians. I would definitely recommend a stop here! It can also be part of a Roscoe Village/West Lakeview pub crawl.
Aug 27, 2012
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Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.5
October 2017: RIP Mike Green. I was lucky to have met the guy once or twice, he was a kind and genuine soul.

2015: Village Tap wins the most improved award, which is fitting since they always had the potential. Key highlights include a local heavy selection with the occasional obscure import. Drafts come in several sizes, nice if you want to try a broad variety. Menu has been upgraded, the food is much improved. After work it's fairly laid back and the bartenders are friendly. Occasional beer events are also a plus. Village Tap has reclaimed it's classic status in my view.

2011 re-review: Village Tap got a bum rap in the past largely due to the crowd there, and lack of great tap choices. Well, that's all changed, and they have stepped up their game recently. Plenty of rotating taps with interesting selections, they keep a current draft list at beermenus. Falafel and hummus plates here are pretty good. When the patio isn't crowded it feels like you're in someone's backyard, which is nice. Overall worth a look if you're in the area.

3/2011: A bit better tap selection, Stone, FFF, Aventinus, Lost Abbey, a few more rotating craft taps. Bonus that you can always find current issues of Great Lakes Brewing News & Ale St. News here. Modest variety of burgers under $10 also.

2010: Looks like I manage to still visit a few times a year. Not a bad bar, just a bit of a static selection. Two Hearted, Alpha King, Metro Krankshaft are the staples here. Good hummus plate. Now that Four Moon has upped their beer selection, I rarely come in here, although it's improving.

2009:
Hop Stoopid bombers added for $8.50. Two Hearted pints for $5. Ale St. News delivers here.

2008:
Tried the gumbo here, which was very good and cheaper than burger/sandwich options at $5.50. They had Surly Furious, and about 18-20 decent craft/belgian tap options, but dismal bottles. The crowd still prefers Miller Lite & mixed drinks.

11-04-2007 C/3.0
This is my local, but definitely not my first choice in the neighborhood. By proximity, both Four Moon Tavern and Underbar have this place beat on beer selection and atmosphere. Jak's Tap is also a better establishment, under the same ownership in the West Loop.

At the bar, it's generally macro swilling folks, despite the blatant 26 taps in the house. The crowd is generally clueless and non-discriminating when it comes to beer. Several nice draft options here, but the bottles are dismal. Ten bottles, all macro crap. A round of Heinekens with your nachos? Sure, no problem...

Best draft options, few rotating: DFH 60 min., 3F Alpha King, Lagunitas Imp. Red, Ska Porter, Rogue Imp. Stout, 2 Bros. Cane & Ebel, Hennepin. Had a Matilda on draught tonight, served in proper glassware.

Food is decent, nachos are especially decent. Can't say the food is all that creative, your average pub fare mostly. Go across the street for super excellent Guatemalan food at El Tinajon, wood-fired pizza at Robeys, or Four Moon for homestyle pub grub. Also worth the trek up to head to Resi's or Laschett's for dinner instead. There's a heated patio in back, though you will compete for space with stroller jockeys and herds of sheeple bros. Kind of sterile atmosphere overall. Several TV's play sports above the bar. Local art on the exposed brick walls, and a photo booth in back. Better options are within walking distance...
Jul 15, 2011
Photo of semihobo
Reviewed by semihobo from Michigan

2.9/5  rDev -25.8%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 2
Stopped by last Friday after work, around 5, it was pretty empty. Nice HD TVs were showing the White Sox games all around, good stuff (although they lost).

I started with the sampler: 3 8 oz. beers for $10. The menu made it look as if the three would be predetermined, but the proprietor said that she was rotating her taps and because she was out of two of the beers (one was Gumballhead), she would let me pick from any. I took my time reading over the options; she decided that I was stupid, and treated me condescendingly the rest of the night (although my friends got a kick out of it). Not mean, and she was just fine about serving beer. The waitress was okay once we moved out to the beer garden. Also service-wise, I got billed for a "Snakebite," which I definitely never ordered or saw... however, it replaced a Brooklyn Lager that I wasn't billed for, so I just paid up. Check your bill, though.

The beers, though, that's why I'm writing this. They were good. Good selection, among others we had 3F Alpha King, Surly Furious, Lagunitas Imperial Red, DFH brown ale, St. Bernardus Abt 12, Two Brothers Cane & Ebel as well as Domaine Dupage. The beer was fresh and quality.

There is a year-round beer garden in the back, it is a closed in tent with a massive space heater. Picnic tables for seating. They fired up the heater when we moved out back and it did the trick. The men's room has a sticky door, so if you visit, don't wait for 5 minutes outside thinking that someone is in there -- shove on it hard.

I had a burrito, it wasn't very good, just boring. My friends got chips and salsa and nachos, those looked better.

Worth visiting, I guess, for a tasty draft beer that really makes the hops pop (that Imperial Red from Lagunitas was delicious). Check out the beer garden and eat somewhere in the neighborhood first.
Oct 07, 2008
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Reviewed by tjdemon from Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
My roommate and I ambled over to the Village Tap last night for some food and a few pints.

Fairly long bar on your left as you walk in with tables on the right that go all the way to the back door. We took a peek at the beer garden (in back), although the heat index was 110 so we grabbed a couple seats at the bar.

Service was good - we each had three pints and just as we were draining them the barkeep would wander over and ask if we needed another. Both the bartender and the bar back were quick to fill our water glasses (big plus) and clear away empty plates and glasses.

I thought the selection was impressive, especially considering this is very much a "neighborhood bar". The focus of their 26 taps is midwestern craft beer (2-3 offerings from Goose Island, 3 Floyds, 2 Brothers and Bells), although they also had selections from Rogue, Allagash, and Sierra Nevada. No BMC polluting their tap lines, either, although they do carry bottles to satisfy the heathens. Food was decent, although nothing to write home about.

I was really impressed that they have a $3.50 pint special everyday (not exactly common in Chicago). Definitely worth a stop.
Aug 02, 2006
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Reviewed by silenius from Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
As Chicago beer bars go, this one doesn't seem to be frequented often by me, but it is a mainstay when I want to entertain out of town friends for a weekday dinner with good beer.

The place is a little worn with the wood tables and floors clearly showing exposed wood through the finish. I guess that is homey. There is an "outside" that is really a big tent covering a back deck. I counted 3 TVs, but there may be more. A gas fire burns when it gets cold out. Patrons are those that probably smoke too much and drink too much and whose social life surrounds getting drunk. Average age varies, but I usually see late 30s in there. Younger on a Fri or Sat.

They always have some nice regional micros on tap like Three Floyds, Bell's, and Goose Island. I go there for those beers. Other are the "upscale" Euro-lagers like Staropramen, Harp, Pilsner Urquell, etc. Other micros are represented as well. Daily draft specials usually don't include the better beers.

Bartenders are nice and offer samples to those who ask which is a plus in my book.

Food is decent filling pub food like burgers, chili, nachos, burritos (this IS Chicago), quesedillas for the ladies, and salads. Nothing mind blowing, but that's not what I'm looking for in bar food. Service is usually fast and they clean up quickly. Lots of softball and volleyball league teams meet there after games. A nice local crowd.
Nov 08, 2004
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Reviewed by CRJMellor from Arkansas

4.14/5  rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
This is my local when visiting Chicago. (My wife's Uncle lives about 10 blocks away.) I've been here at all times of the day and night and the place always has a crowd but is never uncomfortable. Its got that classic Chicago neighborhood bar feeling but the beer is much better than Old Style. Have almost any regional or micro from the Midwest available. Also bring in the Allagashes of the world. Add a few Belgian, English and Germans to the mix and you've got a tap house. Another thing about the place is that prices are just right $3-4 for a pint. If you are anywhere near I'd encourage you to take some time and stop by and enjoy.
Dec 27, 2003
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Reviewed by Redrover from Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
This is a wonderful beer bar in the very cool Roscoe Village neighborhood. Huge selection of 30+ Taps. The selection is great, you can choose from Goose Island, Bells, 3 Floyds, Rouge, etc. In fact this was the very first place I sampled a Bells beer! No Bud/Coors/Miller on tap here! They seem to have no problem turning over their beer & keeping it fresh. Lines seem to be very well taken care off. Serving temperature is spot-on. . I've only had one past prime beer here and that one they cheerfully exchanged for another. Bottle selection is more limited, but who cares when you have such great choices on tap.

Atmosphere is nice and the clientele is friendly. The crowds have changed a bit as the neighborhood became more gentrified, less artsy than before, but still a serious beer lovers type place. It is not a sports bar atmosphere, you get cool music, some pinball and good conversation. Be sure and check out the very cool all season garden in back. Very relaxing.

Service can vary from truly outstanding to a "I can't be bothered" attitude. Mostly good though. The food is decent. Good Mexican & Cajun offerings which are easy to pair with beer.

I really like this place and miss not being able to walk there anymore. Put this one on your beer itinerary while in Chicago!
Mar 19, 2003
Village Tap in Chicago, IL
Place rating: 3.91 out of 5 with 17 ratings