Fireplace Inn

04/14/12

Worse customer service!

by Lschwar

First off let me say that this place has changed a lot since I was here last. It used to be a restaurant that had good food and was a nice place to go with a large group.

Fast forward to tonight, I made reservations here to celebrate my birthday with 12 friends and going to Fire Place Inn was a HUGE mistake! We were seated at a long table next to the bar in the "restaurant" area right behind a speaker. The music was so loud that it was challenging to have a conversation with my friends. During the meal this huge projection screen drops down from the ceiling right next to our table. The black hawks game was on and they turned up the sound even louder than before, I felt like I was at a concert not a restaurant. Later groups of people from the bar area congregated over to where our table was so they could watch the game.

Now try to imagine yourself having a birthday party with your friends and trying to talk with one another only to have random strangers coming up to your table to they could see the game better. It was so invasive!

Finally, I couldn't take anymore so I asked to speak to their pathetic excuse of a manager. This guy was a total joke who knew nothing about customer service or managing a restaurant. I told him the situation and he was not apologetic at all or even offered to move our table. Instead he blames me, the paying customer, for having a large party at his "bar" and that Fire Place Inn isn't a "restaurant". He says they are a "sports bar" and since his customers come here to listen to music and watch the game he can't do anything for me. At that point I lost it on his sorry a$$, I said that from website it doesn't indicate that it is a "sports bar" and that I brought in 12 people tonight whom spend $300 and that he should at least do something to make this customers happy.

In this day and age he should be kissing up to his customers especially when they are paying $300 and up to have dinner at his establishment NOT tell them it is there fault to coming here and that he can't do anything for them.

Overall the food is mediocre, service is bad, not much of an atmosphere, and the management is incompetent! Take your money some where else.

07/08/10

Awesome Old Town establishment

by Mallory Ulaszek

Open for over 40 years, this restaurant and bar combo has been passed down amongst family members since it's inception.

There is NOTHING as toxic as their giant Vodka lemonades. I am fairly certain their "medium" is a 32 ounce monster. And their large is, well, larger.

But beyond their notorious reputation of being the place to be during Wells St festivals, they have a much much quieter indoor restaurant for those who want to enjoy their specialty, ribs. Besides the meat, they also have a new, much longer menu to select from.

Servers always polite, atmosphere always fun and lively, and about every game you can imagine being played at times are all reasons I come here very frequently. They also do takeout, which is amazing.

• Pros: drinks, food, atmosphere
• Cons: crowded during big games

05/11/09

Very disappointing

by Powrmom

We have ordered from Fireplace Inn more than once and generally enjoy it. It is expensive take-out but something different. The ribs are very tender. This last time however, we placed three orders. We were told it would take an hour and they were there promptly. Unfortunately, they only had 2 of the 3 orders. When we called to tell them they had forgotten one order they said they would send it right out. It took 65 minutes! By then we had shared what food we had and had cleaned up. The food was good but not great and with the lack of providing us with what we ordered I was very disappointed. In addition, when I picked up the bag of fries, the bottom fell out and all the fries fell on the floor. To be honest, I may have even overlooked it if anyone seemed to have cared. I rarely write anything like this, but when you pay almost $80 in take out, don't get it all, and no one cares, I am disgusted. I would have expected a coupon for the future or at least a simple, "I'm sorry" from someone who really meant it. I would have expected prompt recovery as well. I agree the place is attractive but I wasn't eating there. The service blew it for me.

• Pros: Decent ribs
• Cons: terrible delivery service

03/17/08

Overpriced but good food

by Laura1967

The food here is good, but not anything special. I was a little perturbed at the fact that I was paying $30.00 for a steak, and yet the wine was served to me in a plastic cup.... How 'bout a wine glass for goodness sake! My husband had a good meal also, but again was served a guiness beer in a plastic cup. Not the classiest of places, but just ok... Service was nothing to write home about, but the place was really busy with St. Patrick's day revelers.....

• Pros: Very close to Second City, great for dinner and a show
• Cons: Overpriced for average food...

03/11/08

Best Ribs ,,Best sport viewing ,Best service ,,,Best and Biggest Vodka Lemonades

by mreat

I live in the nieghborhood ,,Been a customer for years!! They have overr thirty plasmas ,,They have great attentive service and wonderful food ,I would recommend this 30 year plus restaurant to anyone ,, Don't forget to have a 32 oz vodka lemonade.....

• Pros: Vodka lemonades and Baby back Ribs
• Cons: none