Old Chicago - Eagan

I’m a fan - love the pizza, which has great buttery crust. Sports on the TVs. And loads of beers, even if most aren’t very high end or rare, you can usually find a couple that are worth ordering.

Visited here twice while on vacation August 2009 - once for lunch and once to play pool and darts and watch a Twins game. Has a great variety of Midwestern macros - actually picked up five new ratings without really trying. Food menu is varied and reasonably priced - the beers could be priced a tad lower. Plenty of TVs and is very friendly - my 14 yr old son and I played pool and darts in the bar area with no problem. Plenty of signage to let you know what they have on tap and in the bottles and what is new and featured. Overall - about 40 taps and at least 100 bottles.

This chain carries the widest selection of beers that I’ve ever seen in a restaurant, with monthly specials and staff picks - though clearly not all of the staff is involved in picking. Fortunately, if your server knows nothing about the beer, they’ll bring you a free sample of any draft you’d like to try. Food is a consistently tasty assortment of pizzas, appetizers, pasta dishes and burgers. Smoking is confined to the bar, which is well separated from the dining room (though you have to go through the bar to get to the restroom).

More screaming children than I have ever seen at an Old Chicago, but this is the suburbs. Next time I will go late at night. Service was friendly but clueless about beer; not so good for a bar that advertises their beer selection. Food is pizza, sandwiches, burgers, standard OC fare. A few rare beers including regional specialties. If you are in the area and have to drink, or maybe want something from Surly on tap, this is the place to go. I normally wouldn’t enter this place, but all of the other Old Chicagos are listed so this should be as well.