Is The Lucky Monk open in Downers Grove?
Yes. The Lucky Monk opened at 1461 Butterfield Road in the former Brick House Tavern & Tap space. It is the second location of the South Barrington brewpub, open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Mondays.
The Brick House Tavern & Tap space on Butterfield Road sat empty for a while. It is not empty anymore.
The Lucky Monk opened its second location there this summer, and this one is personal for me. I have been to the South Barrington original many times over the years and it has long been a favorite, so having one twenty minutes from my front door instead of an hour is a genuinely good development. The original has won CBS Chicago "Best Of" honors and OpenTable Diners' Choice awards in both 2023 and 2024, and the reputation is earned.
What It Is
A restaurant and taproom. The distinction matters if you are a beer person: every Lucky Monk beer is brewed at the original South Barrington brewhouse, then poured fresh here. So this is not a working brewery on Butterfield Road, it is a taproom serving beer made about 40 miles north.
The lineup rotates, mixing regulars with seasonal and experimental releases. The menu leans into elevated pub food with burgers as the calling card, alongside Bavarian pretzels with cheddar beer fondue, Wisconsin cheese curds, wings, tacos, sandwiches, and salads. Full bar with cocktails, wine, ciders, and mocktails.
One thing the Downers Grove location has that the original does not: lunch. South Barrington does not open until 3 p.m. Butterfield Road opens at 11 a.m.
Hours
- Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Monday: Closed
Reservations are available, and walk-ins are seated when there is room. There is a patio, and the village approved a liquor license permitting outdoor service.
Why It Matters Beyond Dinner
Butterfield Road is a commercial corridor, not a downtown block, and corridors like it live or die on whether their anchor spaces stay occupied. A vacant restaurant with a full commercial kitchen and a patio is a hard space to fill, and it sat that way for a stretch after Brick House closed.
Filling it with an operator that already has a track record and a following is a better outcome than another long vacancy, and it is the kind of thing that quietly matters to the neighborhoods around it.
If you go, get a burger. That is what they are known for and it is what I order every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Lucky Monk in Downers Grove?
At 1461 Butterfield Road, in the former Brick House Tavern & Tap space.
What are The Lucky Monk's hours in Downers Grove?
Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Mondays.
Is the beer brewed in Downers Grove?
No. All Lucky Monk beer is brewed at the original South Barrington brewhouse and served at both locations. The Downers Grove location is a restaurant and taproom.
New restaurants and filled storefronts are part of what makes a community work. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Downers Grove, call or text Rob Brannigan at 847.609.0570 or visit robbrannigan.com.
Additional Resources
- The New Restaurants Coming to Downtown Downers Grove This Fall
- 10 Best Coffee Shops in Downers Grove and the Western Suburbs
Written by Rob Brannigan (IL License #475.164040), RENE + SRS. Lifelong Downers Grove resident. Data-driven guidance for sellers and buyers in Downers Grove and surrounding communities.
