GRADING RUBRIC:

All bars are rated on a sliding 1 – 10 scale using the following criteria:

1. Bar Atmosphere
2. Song Selection
3. M.C. (Master of Ceremonies)
4. Wait Time
5. Drink Specials

Atmosphere: 9/10
Inspired by ye olde Irish pub, with a little Bostonian flair thrown in, Friar Tuck feels like the Cheers of Chicago. A reoccurring cast of characters ensures friendly faces every time you come in, so if you’re the nervous type this is the best place to break your karaoke cherry. If Robin Hood lived in 21st Century Chicago he would most certainly hang out here with his band of merry men.
Song Selection: 5/10
The karaoke books haven’t been updated in a few years, and the volume of songs is small compared to most places, but they’ve got all the standard bar classics alphabetized by artist and song for your ease.
M.C.: 8/10
Hosted by the same girl every week, allowing you to build a steady rapport. She has a great pair of lungs, and sets the bar for the other singers. Occasionally other bartenders will sing any song you request if you tip them.
Wait Time: 8/10
The bar is small, so it gets packed pretty quickly, but most patrons on karaoke nights show up for the atmosphere rather than the opportunity to sing. You should be able to get 3 to 4 songs in before last call, with about 20 – 30 min between songs.
Drink Specials: 7/10
$5 mini-pitchers and $10 full-pitchers mean you will be able to get nice and wasted before you embarrass yourself. $3 Beer of the Month, but no specials on shots or mixed drinks. Prices are fair. Hey! free popcorn!
AVERAGE SCORE: 7.4

Atmosphere: 10/10
A little slice of Hawaiian paradise in the middle of Chicago. Especially attractive during those bitter Chicago winters. Walking into Todd’s is like walking into a living cartoon jungle, and it’s impossible to feel down in here. Make sure to check out the beer garden in the Summer, and extra points for a great Caribbean inspired menu.
Song Selection: 3/10
For a bar that has karaoke four nights a week, they sure don’t take it seriously. Basic song selection, with more contemporary songs populating the list. Unorganized, so it usually takes a beer before finding your favorite song.
M.C.: 7/10
Rotating M.C. means you get a different flavor every night, but there is a general lack of enthusiasm often present.
Wait Time: 6/10
Impossible to predict. On any given night there could be anywhere from 5 to 60 people in the bar. I suggest going on a weekday if you want to get some practice, and on weekends if you would rather enjoy the spectacle.
Drink Specials: 7/10
Fantastic selection of imported beers and tropical themed mixed drinks, but they don’t come very cheap. Few specials if any.
AVERAGE SCORE: 6.6

Atmosphere: 10/10
The “Original Swingers Club” (swing dancing, not wife-swapping) is a hot spot for celebrity cameos. With pictures of classic celebs on the walls, from Old Blue Eyes to The [Former] Hardest Working Man In Show Buisiness, you’ll always see somebody you know. If you come on the right night, you might even catch some D-list celebrity sing (I saw Principal Blackman from Strangers With Candy!).
Song Selection: 10/10
One of the best selections in the city. More often than not you will find whatever song your little heart desires to wreck. Everything is neatly organized alphabetically to boot. The only problem here is picking the perfect song.
M.C.: 9/10
Your weekly host is a Rockabilly rockstar who really knows how to bring down the house with his rendition of Ballroom Blitz. Tip him well if you want to summoned to the stage more frequently.
Wait Time: 4/10
Ah, here in lies the problem. Since the Holiday Club is such a hot spot for karaoke, the place is usually packed from 9:00 until last call. If you want to get more than 2 songs in, you better show up early.
Drink Specials: 7/10
An above average selection, with a few surprises. Alcohol is fairly priced, and $10 buckets of mini-Coronas means everybody in your party can buy a round.
AVERAGE SCORE: 8

Atmosphere: 4/10
Carol’s is your classic hole-in-the-wall dive – a country western bar displaced in the middle of the city. If you went to college in a state school in the middle of nowhere it will definitely take you back. Of course it has all the amenities of your classic college-town bar: darts, billiards, geriatric regulars, jukebox full of Kenny Chesney… you get the idea. On the plus side the bar is open until 4 AM.
Song Selection: 6/10
A great bar to be at if you love to get back to your American roots and sing some down home country classics. Johnny Cash is synonymous with God here. If you’re looking for Fall Out Boy you might want to try somewhere else. Lots of hidden gems in their easy to navigate karaoke book.
M.C.: 7/10
If you come in on Wednesday nights you will be treated like a star by the band, who will perform any country/bluegrass song you can think of from memory for a small donation. Thursdays aren’t as personal.
Wait Time: 9/10
The bar is usually sparse on weekdays, even on karaoke nights, so you should be able to get through the rotation fairly quickly, AND since it is open until 4 in the morning you can hit it after you hit the other bars and still manage to get a few songs in.
Drink Specials: 4/10
Nothing special about drinks here. All of your classic American domestics, but don’t even bother asking for an imported beer. $13 pitchers are your best bet.
AVERAGE SCORE: 6.0

Atmosphere: 8/10
A sports and singles bar through and through with big screens mixed with mood lighting. Two floors, both with karaoke on Wednesdays, but I recommend the second floor if you’re more serious about your singing. They’re still a recently young business, so they hold weekly promotional events and offer premium memberships to repeat customers where you can host parties (and drink for free) or even reserve their illustrious Green Room.
Song Selection: 9/10
Above average selection which is organized immaculately. No matter who you are, or what music you’re feeling, you will definitely find something to suit your mood.
M.C.: 8/10
There are two M.C.’s, one on each level, and both are very happy to do what they do. They don’t talk much, just play songs, which in this case is a plus. As an extra bonus on some Wednesdays KaraokeNation, a karaoke themed web site, will film performers and uploads the vids online to be voted on. You could win $100 a week, or $1000 a month! Not bad.
Wait Time: 6/10
It really depends on how many people are there, but the M.C.’s really don’t offer much expediting by playing whole songs in between performers. Luckily they start karaoke early, so you should have plenty of time to sing the songs you want, but you might just have to buy more drinks to bide the time.
Drink Specials: 3/10
If you show up on any given Wednesday you are going to end up forking over a hefty portion of your paycheck ($6 draft ANYTHING!). So unless you are hosting a party (where the house buys you drinks for 2 hours), or attending one (slashed prices on everything), expect to leave with empty pockets.
AVERAGE SCORE: 6.8