The Parched Pug image

The Parched Pug

Bar Gastropub

👍 Good concept, but some kinks to work out. Took over an hour to get food which was only a Flatbread and fries. When it was finally brought out we were still missing a side of fries and that took another 45 minutes and had to ask again. We had also asked for napkins and silverware, which we never got... People often mention games, great, service, delicious, beer, good, selection, staff, play, wall,


Address

1590 S Milwaukee Ave Suite 100, Libertyville, IL 60048, United States

Website

theparchedpug.com

Contact

+1 224-433-6752

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (208 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 am to 9 pm
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 3 to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 3 to 10 pm
  • Friday: 3 pm to 12 am
  • Saturday: 11 am to 12 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: games (12) great (12) service (12) delicious (10) beer (10) good (10) selection (8) staff (8) play (7) wall (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Carrie B. 1 year ago on Google
    Good concept, but some kinks to work out. Took over an hour to get food which was only a Flatbread and fries. When it was finally brought out we were still missing a side of fries and that took another 45 minutes and had to ask again. We had also asked for napkins and silverware, which we never got. Need to work on connecting the food orders to tables as lots of food was being walked around the dining room aimlessly. We were going to play a couple games, but decided otherwise once realizing there is a $5 fee per person to play board games for 90 minutes. Would definitely look at reconsidering the game play and maybe only charge for select (more expensive) games. Lots of opportunities to be a great place given the space! We are hoping suggestions are taken into consideration.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lu G. 1 year ago on Google
    This is by far the most unique restaurant in Lake County! It's a quadruple threat of delicious fresh food, a versatile coffee bar, a wonderful self-service beer & wine wall, and a very well-rounded selection of board games - great options for both novice and experienced players alike. The place has Gloomhaven for heaven's sake! (If you know, you know). My partner and I just came back from Gen Con and this was the perfect spot for us to grab some delicious food & play some games. A very mindful place in terms of how they pay their employees, too. Will definitely be coming back and bringing friends!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Miki (. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful location, loved the place. Food was really good… especially the wings and the short rib sliders. Only reason for the missing star was I emailed, but never got a response. Definitely an awesome place to try !
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Katie M. 5 months ago on Google
    This place is a gem! I attended on a stand-up comedy night and was totally delighted by the experience. Parking is easy-peasy. The main dining area is spacious and vaulted, but cozy. Sampled several tasty (and local) lagers from the self-pour wall as well as the huge and crisp Wedge salad (blue cheese dressing was excellent and bacon bits were warm. yum). General "vibe" among staff and patrons was really fun and friendly. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu next time I'm in Libertyville.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Gregory S. 8 months ago on Google
    I've visited here several times since it opened. It was pretty good at first. But, the food quality has certainly declined. We gave it a second chance, and we were very disappointed. My short rib tasted like overdone pot roast. Hardly a few ounces. Wish we could have asked a waiter their recommendation, but everything is electronic, yet they still "charge" a 15% service fee, for less service I would get elsewhere. Disappointed
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 David The Apple Tech G. 1 year ago on Google
    It was my first time coming here and it was St. Patrick’s Day when I went so they had karaoke and green alcoholic drinks. The place is really nice and clean. The environment is very nice. I highly recommend coming here. The only think I don’t like is they are cashless and didn’t accept cash or Apple Pay. I left my debit card at home and only had cash or my Apple Pay. Had to have Mh friend pay for my drink. It’s annoying
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TANYA G. 9 months ago on Google
    One of my favorite places :) They have a great outdoor patio that's dog friendly. The pond view is beautiful. They have a self serve beer wall and a couple of self serve cocktails too. Overall love the atmosphere whether you're eating inside or out. The short rib sliders are delicious and the cookie skillet is a fave too. I think this place is great for any occasion. We'll definitely be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 j g. 1 year ago on Google
    Stopped in to check out this concept. It is cool! Butternut squash soup was delicious and hand made hibiscus tea was wonderful. We will definitely be back for a full meal. Staff was polite and informative. Additional positive is that there is no tipping. Staff receive a fare wage, have benefits including profit sharing. Good job, Parched Pug!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth E. 1 year ago on Google
    My girlfriend and I stopped by for lunch, and couldn’t have been more delighted all around! Both our meals (which included a side of delicious soup or salad, AND a soft drink!) were yummy and generous in portion. The ordering is easy, as is paying. We loved that they support local animal rescues, and have a very unique beer and wine wall. It was a cool and fun experience; we’ll be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Andrea G. 1 year ago on Google
    DO NOT TIP YOUR WAITSTAFF HERE. There is a 15% service charge on your tab already. Apparently we were supposed to get a sheet explaining that they are a no tipping establishment. We did not. I really really hope that means that they are paying their staff a living wage and not a standard restaurant staff wage. The food was fine and the staff was very friendly. I had the Pug burger which was good and cooked perfectly to medium. Sweet potato waffle fries are always a win. If you like IPAs they had a huge selection in their beer wall. Our dog loved the Pup Cup! He also liked the nachos.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Katrina H. 1 year ago on Google
    Overpriced cafeteria vibes...you get literally everything yourself besides food. Even the board games were really overpriced. Had to get up and find someone just for water refills. Honestly, the burgers were pretty good but the nachos were gross. Had hardly any cheese and the guac tasted funny. Better nachos at a state carnival from a food truck for $5. All the chips on the bottom had hardly anything on them. Kind of a hassle ordering through the phone and it's hard to make changes if you have any allergies. I like how they pay the workers a livable wage which is why you don't have to tip but I guess that means minimal service or effort. If you happen to be elderly, have little kids, can't afford a phone, or just don't use a cell phone in general while at the dinner table the whole dining experience just won't work. The whole point of going out to dinner is that you don't have to get things yourself. I get it's supposed to be more convenient doing it yourself but the cellphones honestly complicate it even more. It's a cool concept, location, and all but doesn't execute very well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Andrea B. 1 year ago on Google
    Fun atmosphere. Lots of little nooks to hang out with your friends. Either playing games of your own or other games. The drinks are self poor. Which is a matter of preference. Our service was wonderful, Dan was very attentive in a busy time when our meal order went missing, he came in for the rescue! As for food quality there is room for improvement. The buffalo chicken dip was ice cold on the bottom so you need to stir it to get the warm sides mixed in. I ordered my medium burger and it was quite rare. I would definitely get the burgers again though they were delicious. Just be more precise on the temperature! The fish and chips I heard were really good also. Unique experience. I would go back.

  • 3/5 Joyce R. 1 year ago on Google
    I really enjoyed my meal, the adult grilled cheese sandwich. My husband ordered the atomic burger, and it is no lie really well, atomic. To be fair, he was trying to order the pub burger, but the food is ordered by scanning a QR code. They automatically add 15% tip onto the bill.

  • 3/5 Andrea C. 1 year ago on Google
    There were things we really liked and things we didn't like at all about this place. We've been to restaurants where we had to order through an app, but this was the first where no server was assigned to the table. It's an odd experience and you have to chase down people when you need something. The people were friendly but service was incredibly slow. We waited 30 minutes for our beet and goat cheese salad (which was excellent) and a total of 50 minutes for our main course (which was mixed - my fish fry was excellent but his pulled pork was very greasy without much sauce. Btw, you get 3 pieces of fish but I'd already eaten one.) The worst part about waiting was the uncomfortable metal chairs. I was pretty miserable. We sat by the beautiful arched windows, but it was incredibly loud. Not good for a date night. We didn't mind having to go get our own drinks, but the Malbec was very chilled and had almost no flavor until I warmed it up with my hands. It took awhile though. I asked someone, and it wasn't a mistake. It was intentional. Not good.

  • 4/5 B. P. 10 months ago on Google
    First off, the boneless wings were a real standout. They were made with fresh chicken and homemade sauce that was packed with flavor; probably the best boneless I’ve ever had! Even the blue cheese dressing was exceptional - I could have eaten it on its own! The beet salad was also a highlight, with the perfect combination of sweet and tangy flavors. The beer selection was impressive, and I was really impressed by the unique pay by ounce process. The fries were hot and fresh, and the candie bacon had awesome flavor and chew...special shout out to Chef Frankie... he made great food from scratch and offered a taste of the sauce to make sure it was the right choice for us. His attention to detail and dedication to quality really showed in every dish. It's no wonder people keep coming back to this restaurant! Overall, I highly recommend the Parched Pug. The food, drink, and service are all exceptional, and it's the perfect spot for a night out with friends or family.

  • 5/5 Abbie K. 1 year ago on Google
    New Favorite Place! Went on a Sunday at about 3 pm, and it was not very busy. The service was fast and the few staff members that were there were super helpful. It was our first time going and we didn't quite understand how everything worked as the beer is self service and you have to use a card to pour it. The menu and ordering system is based off of a QR code coordinated to your table number. Simply open the QR code on your phone and it opens a tab for your table. We had the short rib sliders, which were absolutely delicious. The meat was so tender. The drunken chicken sliders were also very good. The selection of beer, wine and cocktails was extensive. There is definitely something here for everyone. They also had a great selection of board games to play and you order those through the tab as well, but they are free to play. We will definitely be back and plan to bring many of our friends! 12/10 recommend

  • 5/5 Martha G. 1 year ago on Google
    Laid back and fun atmosphere. Celebrated my husband's birthday here and they even let me bring a small cake! Food and drinks were delicious. A good amount of variety to choose from. Loved the pug decor!!! Can't wait to come back again.

  • 5/5 Vitor G. 10 months ago on Google
    The grilled fish tacos were flavorful, just missing some lime wedges. The wedge fries were on point and the Brussel sprouts were some of the best I've had recently, though still a bit oily. There is no table service except for bringing the food, but we had an issue with our food and they resolved immediately, friendly and helpful. The self pour wall is quite fun if you're into it, and there a good variety of beers. The margarita was ok. The garden, the water, and the sunset shinning in were very pleasant.

  • 5/5 Liezl J. 11 months ago on Google
    Love the pug theme and artwork everywhere. Tons of game options (a few bookshelves worth) from cards to board games to strategy games for all ages available. Food was great. We tried the pretzel flight which was amusing. Great setup for the self pour alcohol. We visited during Lake County Restaurant Week so we had the deal for a burger and a drink card. Saw baggo in the back in the reserved party area. Hoping we can visit again once Nanoputt is available!

  • 4/5 Dan O. 1 year ago on Google
    The burgers are delicious. The beer selection and the innovative tap system you have to see. The game selection in the bar is awesome. No actual wait staff. You order off an app which makes it more difficult to ask questions when ordering. Make the trip. This place is fun.

  • 5/5 Michael C. 10 months ago on Google
    Great place with pour your own taps!! I believe over 40 taps with beer, wine, hard selters and mixed drink. Make a flight or pour a full glass. Food was great too you order through an app and they bring it to your table. Great for family with hundreds of games to play.

  • 5/5 kelsey van m. 8 months ago on Google
    We had a great time hanging out on the patio. Food was delicious and staff was very friendly. The only small issue we had was the fault of other guest not the restaurant itself. If your looking for a nice casual place to eat chill and relax this is it

  • 5/5 Villan 1. 4 months ago on Google
    Come here for food and fun! A great place to escape to with friends and family. Enjoy the wide selection the beer wall has to offer - help support local breweries too. Delicious food - check out their night menu 😏 And let loose with karaoke on Friday nights! Friendly and welcoming staff, I highly recommend any and all to check out this hidden gem. I'm glad I did!

  • 4/5 Paul T. 6 months ago on Google
    It is a beautiful restaurant and great service. The Mac and cheese wasn't to my taste as it lacked depth in it's flavor. Glad I added chicken or it'd be a definite not worth my purchase. The many drink options were a nice touch since many were from local brewers.

  • 5/5 Reeping F. 1 year ago on Google
    Great atmosphere, service is on point, the owners made a special visit to our table to introduce themselves. There are some great tap options with a strong variety of beers. Just awesome! We'll done. Can't wait to come back! I def recommend the candy bacon followed by chick or rib sliders!!!


Call +1 224-433-6752 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Food at bar
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as veteran-owned

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