handlebar

this past saturday, my boyfriend requested that if we were to have a date night, that it be somewhere within a short walk of home. i read some good reviews on yelp about handlebar, a hipster vegetarian (with a couple fish items) restaurant andbarwhich seemed like a good choice after having a meat-heavy birthday celebration meal at smak-tak the night before. handlebar is located on north ave in wicker park, between western and damen. with ever changing storefronts and restaurants in the neighborhood, handlebar has been a neighborhood constant for over a decade.

this is a really funbarin the heart of downtown. it does get crowded but its usually fun and unbeat. i've been there multiple times on the weekend and the dj is usually pretty good and plays songs everyone knows and wants to sing to. the bartenders are usually pretty good looking as well.

handlebar is a cool spot, albeit crowded and bro-y. the bartenders are really nice and there is a cool photobooth that you can get handlebar themed prints from. they have some playground equipment on the roof, like seesaws. the view is great from the roof too. it's a chillbarin the early evening and turns to a crowded clubby type in the evenings.

good, divebaresque atmosphere, friendly service and good selection of beers and special menu offers. i went there in the afternoon on a saturday so missed the night time festivities but i'm not too upset by that fact. it was nice and chill, we were able to enjoy our drinks talk, and actually be able to hear, thebartender and had an overall pleasant experience.

beards, beer and good music. need more señoritas to look at, but it's still early. great balance of drafts, cans and bombers. gotta love abarthat supports it local brew community as well.

ughhhhhh handlebar, i really wanted to love you. vegan+tattoos+skinny men in black shirts? what more could this hipster want? handlebar is not the place to take your mom though, even if your mom rides harleys or requested to visit a tattoo parlor on damen, like my mom. but, i've been meaning to visit this place for awhile and my mom was paying, so like why not.

this place would make your average every day hipster blush. they take it to a whole new level, with a gritty (some may say messy)barlike feel. the staff is all super friendly, but super slow. that's what knocked the score down for me. my mom and i were starving, but we waited at least 45 min for our food. which would have been cool if we were drinking, but we desperately needed food before we could partake in any libations. it was a terrible conundrum to be in. 

however, it was the food that will make me return to handlebar. people often assume that veganism=vegetables, but i can tell ya i did not eat one green thing during this meal. i got the vegan diablos and ohmygod it was good. seitan chorizo?! that's a thing?! served with rice, beans, salsa, and homemade tortillia, hollllyyyy shiiiittt it was good. my mom got the pepitas with scrambled eggs, and it was equally as delicious. 

i'll be back but won't come hungry.