Resi’s Bierstube

March 28, 2008
Old school place that reminded me of a yellow themed O’Brians (as opposed to the green theme of there)...bartender was super friendly and the food smelled great...only German beers here and nothing amazing, but I will definitely be back...

January 28, 2007
I counted 41 beers total on their beer board, a few over 10 on draft. I was a little disappointed with Resi’s for a few reasons. Our waitress was not very good, she was not knowledgeable about beer, and had to go ask the bartender if they had the beers we wanted, which they did not 5 times. The first 3 beers I tried to order I was told I could not have. One they said they had the keg in the basement, but it were not hooking it up yet. Why is it on your drafts board then? seemed like a good question. Food was good, not great, ambience was cozy and I did not notice much smoke. I will try again when the beer garden is open.

November 28, 2006
Great beer selection. Smallish room with a garden. Seems to be open only at night. Small selection of food. There are better places in Chicago.

February 6, 2006
I have been to Resi’s twice in about 5 years not that I dont like it I just dont have the time to get there that often. I like the varied German beer selection however the 20+ taps of earlier reviews is very off, more like 12-14. Table service is spotty later at night and it can get smokey ( although CHI has supposedly passed a smoking ordiance in public places so we shall see how strictly this is enforced). The Kutscher Alt is amazing, worth the stop in itself. Ordering a Konig Pils and getting a liter mug is somewhat unsettling if not rewarding and satisifying, especially in Chicago. Overall a very good bar unless you are looking for a hopped up American micro in which case this is not the bar for you. As a side note Resi’s has their own "Norm", as there is a large man who sits by the door who I remember from both times I have visited.

January 27, 2006
Resi’s is a real gem. I’ve not found it that smoky, and I am not a big fan of cigarettes. The food is outstanding if you want a decen German meal. Ditto on the vegetarian comment - if you don’t enjoy meat, you won’t be a happy camper. As for the beer - ever fresh, ever fine German lagers, a nice alt bier of all things every time I go, and a good selection of weiss beers, tap and bottle, if that’s your thing. This for me and my wife is a must stop when the biergarten is open and again when the Oktoberfestbiers arrive.

August 19, 2005
Finally made it to this place. It was damn cool. The food was pretty good and the beer was impeccable. Nothing like Weisswurst with my Spaten lager! Only downside is the tons of smoke. Generally, they have all Germans on tap, but occassionally others. Damn fine drink, though.

July 24, 2005
I went to Resi’s for dinner, a few beers and to watch a Cubs game on TV. A true Chicago neighborhood German bar. The wood panelled walls are plastered with various bar coasters and German posters. I had the Sheboygan style wurst and a BBK Alt. Mystery beers are available for two bucks. Mystery beer was City Brewery lager cans during my visit. You get the best of both worlds @ Resi’s; a German and Chicago bar experience at once.

June 3, 2005
Best German drinking establishment in the city of Chicago. Excellent selection of German beer both on tap and in bottles, excellent, knowledgable, and very friendly service, and usually a very good and friendly crowd to drink with even if it’s your first time visiting. Oh, and the food is AMAZING - German comfort food at its best. Their potato salad alone is worth coming for, and when you can wash it down with Aventinus (served in its proper glass), all the better. One of the three best beer bars in Chicago.

March 14, 2004 [ Updated August 21, 2008 ]
The first thing you need to know about Resi’s is though they don’t have the glasses out, you can buy masses. That’s right, beer by the liter. Other than that, what’s amazing about Resi’s is the freshness of the beers they stock. A brew that I purchased at a typical bottle shop in found to be unmemerable might taste vibrant and complex from the taps at Resi’s The single best place to drink German beer in Chicago.

February 8, 2004
One of the three absolute must-stops in Chicago, beer-bar-wise, IMHO (the others are Hopleaf and the Map Room), Resi's is probably the most fun, and the most essential for me despite having overall a less impressive selection. Not that it's lacking, not at all; just that it focuses very strongly on German styles and really has few locals except the aforementioned Two Brothers. They usually have quite a few Belgians, well chosen generally, including Westmalle and Grimbergen. Great cheap German food, with excellent sauerkraut and German potato salad enhancing most plates. Correct glassware, typically 20+ taps of mostly German stuff, 100+ bottles. Outstanding, unmissable, especially when the biergarden out back is open.