The Chicago Traveler

Moody’s Pub

by Matt B on August 8th, 2007

I was brought to Moody’s Pub for the first time last week. I had heard of the place before, and with it being just a few blocks from home, I was looking forward to trying what this historical restaurant had to offer.

Established in 1959, the exterior of Moody’s looked a bit like a ’60s bank, I thought. Once through the heavy wooden door, I had to let my eyes adjust. It was dark in there! I noticed that there were paintings and decorations on the walls, but it was so dark, I couldn’t even make out what they were. There is a large, multi-level beer garden outside that the restaurant is known for, but my guest and I opted to sit indoors, where it was much less crowded.

We seated ourselves at a booth' uf. I’m not a small guy, so it was a bit of a tight fit. We switched to a table instead. The dark wooden tables are tightly packed together; there was another table only inches away from my elbow. I was grateful that there weren’t more people sitting inside.

I looked over the small menu. It’s obvious that burgers are the way to go here. The smell of the grill in the back permeated the rustic space. The barely lit bar serves out a handful of draft-only beers (Michelob, Michelob Lite, Anchor Steam, Becks, Berghoff), half a dozen wines, cheap pitchers of sangria, and plenty of cocktails. We decided on what we would order, and waited for an available waitress… and waited… and waited. As much as I wanted to like this “secret” spot in Edgewater, I was yet to be impressed.

Our waitress finally arrived, and she looked like she had stepped right out of a Vegas diner. You know what I mean… pencil behind the ear, hand on her hip, I was surprised she didn’t belt out, “Wadda ya want?” Instead, she greeted us with, “Hey guys, let’s talk food, let’s talk drinks, what can I get ya?” My friend got the Moody Bleu burger. I’m not a fan of bleu cheese, so I opted for a Moodyburger with cheddar. Each came with fries. I’m usually a beer guy, but I decided to try something different: the Summer Crush-a mix of vodka, orange juice, and 7-Up. Mmm… tangy.

When our half-pound burgers arrived, nothing else mattered. The darkness, the sardine-packed tables, the long wait for service… all was forgiven with one bite of that burger. Cooked to perfection and full of a flavor that only comes from a decades-old grill, it’s no surprise that these burgers have earned themselves the title “Best Burger” from the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Reader, and the Chicago Sun-Times. The fries were delicious and greasy, long-cut with the skin on. Granted, our waitress never did come back to check on us or offer refills, a “must” in my personal expectations of service. Regardless, I had no problems clearing my plate basket, and Moody’s is the best burgers-and-beer joint I have encountered so far. If I had to give it a rating, I would give it four out of five stars.

For more b5media Travel & Culture reviews, check out “Reviews, Reviews, Reviews” at The Paris Traveler.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) rixmail99, Somewhat Frank

Moody’s Pub ($): 5910 N Broadway St; 773-275-2696
Mon - Sat: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun: 12 noon - 1:00 a.m.
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 36 or Red Line train (Thorndale)
http://www.moodyspub.com/

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POSTED IN: Bars and Clubs, Restaurants