Remember "Cheers," with Sam hanging out behind the bar, often leaving his post to do some classic, cheesy sitcom activity with Cliff and Norm? Paddy Mac's offers its own take on Sam with Brian at the bar. Walk in this old-school Chicago corner establishment, and within three beers you'll be treated as if you've been holding the bar down forever. Paddy Mac's has the requisite flat screen HDTVs (usually tuned to sports or the Game Show Network) along with a couple of dart boards and a pool table squeezed next to the massive liquor command center. Brian also recently added a removable ping pong top for the pool table for anyone looking to challenge him at beer pong or an actual ping pong game. Even if he’s not working, he can be often be found hanging out or challenging patrons to friendly pool games.
But college drinking events are far from all Paddy's has to offer. They have one of the best cheeseburgers we have found for $5.50 (or a mere $3.00 on Monday nights). A sizable half-pound burger seasoned with their own mix of special ingredients gives the burgers a hint of chili-like flavor, but without overpowering the natural taste of the beef. All sandwiches on the menu are served with fries or tater tots and coleslaw. While Chicagoist isn’t normally a fan of coleslaw, Paddy Mac's slaw is crunchy with a hint of sweetness that gives it a pleasant flavor.
But what if you had a little too much beer last night? Or maybe Brian was too liberal with the Jameson shots? Skip the Mickey D’s and order Paddy Mac’s potato skins instead. These thick slices of potato are loaded with bits of bacons and loads of cheese, topped off with scallions. They're cooked just to the point of crispy skins (but not crispy cheese) and served with a centerpiece of sour cream; these skins will make the previous night’s debauchery disappear and get you ready for another night of shocking your liver.
Speaking of liver abuse, when we’re looking for a crowded yet casual bar scene close to home, Paddy Mac’s fits the bill. It’s equally good during the week when a much more chill vibe runs through the bar. It’s a great place for Chicagoist to relax, work on our dart skills and catch up with friends we may have been neglecting. While this isn’t the place to go if you want to try a specialty microbrew or a trendy import, Paddy’s basic yet ample beer selection, including Foster’s, Fat Tire, Blue Moon, Heineken and Guinness, will suit most palates.
The only downer about Paddy Mac’s is that the kitchen is only open until 10 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on the weekends. So don’t plan on finishing your night off with preventive potato skins. But, the next time you’re looking to get a hangover or cure one, head over to Paddy Mac’s at 4157 N. Pulaski and introduce yourself to Brian. By the end of your visit, you’ll feel like everybody knows your name.
Review submitted by Meghan Clark.
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i want to climb through my monitor right now and have at that burger. mmm.
You missed two key details about Paddy Mac's, as I have certainly wasted many hours there.
First, the true appeal of the place is in the summer where you can sit outside on the street.
Second, this bar has ashtrays by the urinals. Which is just so. cool.
That is a picture of prostate cancer on a bun. Bend over big boy, Dr Jellyfingers lubed rubber glove has a date w yer pie hole soon!
well, i'm not the type to get prostate cancer, so HA! bring it!
Hey Gekgirl- I'll bring it: your swollen colons gonna need a toilet plunger. Your IQ is about as high as the fecal count of that turd burger. But don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to eat shitty meat - that is until you collapse from a massive heart attack. FREE WILLY!
I heard Irish people make burgers out of dogs. It's true, my Chinese cousin told me.
Eating meat generates really bad karma, man. Don't you realize that when you bite into that big juicy cow meat - it's really the same thing as going home one day and deciding to shoot your dog and eat it? It's exactly the same. You meat eaters are all murderers and the souls you consume will haunt - until they get their revenge.
I feel you are doing a great place a disservice. You left wing liberal vegetarians will not be happy until you are burning fetuses with copies of the constitution. Go buy an electric car and drive to Canada with Michael Moore, Howard Dean and Jane Fonda.
Veggiegurl: I'm sure a spoonful of Pepto will make the ghosts go away. You're mistaking haunting with indigestion.
As a bonafide Buddhist (in the Karma Kaygu lineage) it always irks me when people misuse the word "karma".
When you eat meat, the karma you generate is high cholesterol and fat content which can lead to poor health. Not the souls of dead things to haunt you.
I don't care what the bookseller at the new age store told you, it's not very bright to antagonize people.
:-)
Your not a bonafide Buddhist (in the Karma Kaygu lineage). If you were, you'd never get irked. HA!
Don't mess with those Karma Kaygu lineage Budhist dudes, they can kick some butt (didn't you see 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon?').
Skipping the pro-colon cancer/bad karma argument, I used to live 2 blocks from Paddy Macs. Inside of 3 visits I felt like a regular and by 5 visits I was. The burgers really are that good, and if you like wings Paddy Macs are pretty good and if you're drinking on a budget, pretty cheap.
I've got a great fiancee now, but it cost me living near Paddy Macs. I don't know if I should be happy or sad...
Be happy for your colon....
People getting irked happens everyday. You don't think a monk doesn't get irked (like in Sri Lanka where they get into fist fights and such)
The real problem starts in what you do with it when it happens.
Sri Lankan monks fist fighting, book store bought karma, and toilet plungers: what does this all have to do with an Irish bar that serves hamburgers? Get a life people!
That burger looks divine! I know it's going to get me fat and mess w/ my cholestrol like an oil tanker leak in the ocean- but I don't care. It tastes good!
Brian here.
If you think the burger looks good you should see the ribs. mmmmmm Ribs...