Snickers Bar & Grill

Chicago, Illinois

Field Note

The progressive gentrification of Chicago’s core River North neighborhood has claimed its share of dive bars, but holdouts like Snickers Bar & Grill still exist alongside nearby stalwarts Rossi’s Liquors and Shamrock Club. Once dubbed Snickers Deli, today’s incarnation of the space retains some of its rough-around-the-edges charm despite a series of renovations and a pivot toward a more upscale menu in what was once a much more straightforward diner-style dive.

Where once a green awning commanded the corner of State Street & Illinois Street, the shift to Snickers Bar & Grill brought with it what is now a signature red overhang of the same construction. Aside from the name of the bar, the awning features the River North dive bar’s slogan, “Your Neighborhood Place,” in addition to mentioning the food and drink available inside.

Window signage has long been a Snickers Bar & Grill feature, available specials mixed in with neon beer signs and posters related to one of the area Chicago sports teams. Though the precise nature of each special has some flexibility, three core offerings have long been depicted in the bar’s front windows, including a $3 mystery shot, $5.50 beer of the month and a $12.95 New York steak sandwich.

What was once a more simplified menu has expanded to include usual bar staples like burgers and sandwiches as well as more upscale options like steaks and seafood. The Greek heritage of the bar’s owner, Johnny, also features within the food options here, a small Greek section part of the menu with particularly positive reviews dedicated to the Snickers Bar & Grill gyro. But make no mistake given the increasing diversity of food options, this is still a dive bar at heart.

A central kitchen, serving and bartending area straddles two main rooms within the River North dive, one side a bit more polished than the other. Just inside the bar’s front door, this first room has a divey sports bar vibe thanks to a long bank of televisions, a nicely well-worn floor and string lights that ring the bar. In contrast, a second room found just behind the bar opens up into a more polished setting, the vibe here more neighborhood pub than true dive.

Bold green walls mix with strips of wood paneling in this secondary space, almost resembling an Irish pub look. The main room bar wraps around to an adjoining bar serving this rear room, a small portal of sorts between the two Snickers Bar & Grill halves open in between. The lighting here looks a little more modern, the seating comprised of plush, leather-like benches that run opposite the bar. An even more restaurant-oriented section can be found in back where leather booths offer a more sit-down setting than the rest of the space.