Harry Caray’s Tavern

10 Reviews on “Harry Caray’s Tavern”

• Priya Oberoi

  We had a family of 6 and sat outside on the patio. Even on a Saturday night in July, the wait was only about 30 minutes. It was a beautiful night to sit out on the patio watch all of the activity of Navy Pier. Good food. Good service. Fair price.

  November 28, 2020, 4:36 pm

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• Just Jamie

  Sadly, their new menu offerings are very disappointing. After back-to-back visits over the last three weeks, our neighborhood Harry Carays has fallen off our Must See list when entertaining visiting friends and family.The newly revised Burgers & BBQ-centric menu is woefully limited, featuring two nearly identical beef + bacon hamburger options. Also available is a turkey patty with bourbon and sugar glaze, a plant-based burger (served with goat cheese?), and the Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich ($13.95). The barbecue, touted as smoked in-house, includes pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs, quartered chickens and something that resembles beef brisket.Gone are the amazing Fried Calamari Rings and Toasted Ravioli, replaced by a smallish $8.95 plate of similarly-breaded Fried Pickles, a basket of Jalapeno Hushpuppies ($9.95) and a simple Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($11.95). Unfortunately, the classic Italian Beef Sandwich is no more, along with all the pasta dishes and seafood offerings. Three salads remain on the menu; a $12.95 Cobb Salad, a Caesar Salad ($12.95 after adding grilled chicken) and the Sante Fe Salad ($12.95), featuring an ample, nicely-blackened chicken breast over simple greens, black beans, canned corn, pico de gallo and served with a chipotle-tinged dressing.Our early evening four-top was immediately seated during the most recent visit and we started with a pair of well-crafted cocktails including a boozy $12 New Old Fashioned- and a couple frosty, local brews ($7 for the 12-ounce mug) from the expansive beer menu. We followed up with the Fried Pickles appetizer, which were lightly battered, perfectly-fried dill slices served with a spicy Sriracha Ranch dipping sauce. The TGI Friday-inspired artichoke dip was tepid and quite flavorless. Our entres came out rocket fast and included the Brisket Dinner ($18.95) and Brisket Sandwich ($13.95), a Santa Fe Salad and the Smokehouse Burger ($14.95), which featured bacon jam on the pretzel roll, smoked mozzarella, a small tear of lettuce, a slice of tomato and finally topped with a massive pile of fried onion strings.Unfortunately, the meat on both the Brisket Dinner and Brisket Sandwich was just horrible. At nearly $19, the tiny portion of protein on the dinner platter resembled a half serving of gyro meat gray and dry, with no visible moisture. And despite being $5 cheaper, an identical portion of the lifeless meat was found hidden under the two huge pieces of oleo-soaked Texas Toast on the sandwich plate.In forty-plus years of eating pork barbecue and beef brisket from the heart of Texas to my native home in North Carolina- I have never (ever!) sent a plate of cue back to the kitchen. But I did this time. Yeah, Im soooo sorry, our waiter said, Thats, like, the second or third brisket weve sent back tonight. … Soooo, I asked, why are you recommending the brisket if its so bad?. Yeah, I dunno, he replied.Our two side dishes of Roasted Corn on the Cob were also overcooked shriveled kernels of tiny-nibbed corn dusted in a blend of chili powder and parmesan cheese. The coleslaw was a classic cabbage and carrot shred, served in a watery blend of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar.After returning our briskets to the kitchen, the very (very) apologetic server brought out a HolyCow! Burger ($15.95) and a Bacon Mac & Cheese Melt ($13.95). Served on a brioche roll that was lightly slathered in bacon jam, the smallish eight-ounce (?) burger was topped with two slices of super-smoky candied bacon, a half sliver of un-melted gouda cheese, a tomato slice and finally topped in Harrys savory steak sauce. While both of our burgers were cooked to a perfect medium rare, any beef flavor was completely lost under the smokiness of the bacon jam and candied bacon. The grilled cheese fared a bit better gooey and sloppy, but in a good way. However, the bacon also overpowered any of the Monterey jack flavor in the cheesy bchamel sauce.All total, two burgers, a lone appetizer and a pair of craft cocktails tallied up to over $79.00, before the tip.Even by Navy Piers standards, Harrys new menu is overpriced and woefully under portioned. If youre hankering for world-class barbecue when visiting the lake, you can walk a few steps to the new Carsons Ribs in the River East Center there youll enjoy massive portions of world-class ribs, tender chicken and mammoth pork chops, all at lower price points. For more flavorful burgers, stick with Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville on Navy Pier, which has a half-dozen burger options and a more extensive menu for the entire family.To paraphrase the late, great Harry Caray, With a little experience, it might get better.Man, I sure hope so.

  August 23, 2020, 6:19 pm

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• Prayanshu Gill

  We hit up Portillos several times each trip to Chicago. Always great Italian beef sandwiches and dogs. Can be a little crazy inside during peak hours so be prepared! Id recommend knowing what you want before you jump in line so the process go smoother.

  May 8, 2020, 4:53 am

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