21 Best Bars near Downs

“So you move downstate from the Chicagoland area to a super small town outside Bloomington and what are the chances the couple restaurants in that small town are outstanding for what they offer? Well, Game Day Grill, is one of those local places that simply does what they set out to do - "relaxed sports bar in a small town" - exceptionally well!A nicely appointed, casual sports bar with the typical TV's playing sports, some video games like Golden Tee, darts and pinball, in addition to a "video gaming/gambling area" if you're into that. Been there a couple times, both on weekends, with a decent crowd. Our first server; Ashley, was wonderful. Hustling around the room, but super gracious to explain their menu and offer up some popular selections. Second time, we had Liz, who was busy as well, but also provided great service. I'm giving this place 5 stars for a variety of reasons. One this place excels at what it sets out to do. 1) Better than average food & better than what you'd honestly expect a small town restaurant to plate & serve. 2) Portion sizes are great & Pricing for what you get is amazingly cheap! 3) Everything you'd expect a small town sports bar to be with daily/weekly specials and even an outdoor patio if you choose to sit out back and enjoy the weather. 4)Comfortable location - come as you are, with down to earth, friendly people here. Overall, you can't go wrong with their Burgers or Wings and the must order for families or bigger parties is the Grand Slam Sampler - a huge salted pretzel with your choice of 3 other appetizers. Cheese Curds & Fried Pickles are solid. I know they also have some BBQ that I'm yet to try but hear is good as well. If you're in the area, this place is a must if you're looking for a laid back spot/sports bar with cheap food & drinks! A+!“

“There was a party of six of us that came here for lunch on a Friday. Awesome restaurant with a neat history behind it. Service, food, and atmosphere was amazing! We couldn’t decide what we wanted to eat because it was hard to choose. So in other words, we’ll be back to eat at Lucca Grill!“

“Absolutely thrilled with our first visit to Run n Erin's! The food was not just good but truly phenomenal. The service was impeccable, and our dishes arrived promptly, making for a delightful experience. Plus, they offer a fantastic selection of drinks. Can't wait to go back!“

“I planned a work happy hour for Shake It Up and it was such a great experience!! The owner and co-owner were both so incredibly friendly! The drinks were great and very creative! The food was also so delicious!! The event was seriously such an awesome experience and the service was fantastic! Thank you to them for such a great time!“

“Can we just acknowledge that Brewe-Ha's has the most amazing bartender in the U.S. of A! Her name is Kimber. And she was the lone bartender with at least 100 patrons...and she served them all well (including myself) with speed, accuracy, and precision. Her work ethic is second to none, and I gave her a $20 tip on a $12 tab. "Why," you may ask? Because she deserved it! She has non-stop energy and focus, AND she even remembers names and what her patrons had to drink. Kimber is AMAZING!!! i've been to many bars across the U.S., yet no other bartender can hold a candle to her.“

“Small local bar that serves a good burger and has typical selection of beers. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The Tap has adequate seating during colder days, and in the summer there is outdoor seating. The decor is your average bar scene. Good place for car enthusiasts, bikers, and families who like to venture out.“

“Lillian Grace our friend is the best server in North America. Great surprise excellent food. Beer looked great I was driving so none for me. My Business partner and friend Waz came in from Chicago and he was blown away with the food the tree and the updated uptown. One last compliment to the preachers daughter from Springfield, IL. Thanks for all the tea and water. One Love BC“

“The food and drink menu is put together very well! Well balanced cocktails served with a smile. Definitely recommend stopping in for a bite to eat and a drink! Adam and his staff are very friendly and helpful when you can't make a decision!“

“I loved this place. The outdoor seating was so quaint, it was like being at a little bistro in Europe. The server was attentive and gave good recommendations. I was traveling with a grown man that has the palette of a toddler. If it is not a burger and Miller Lite he is not interested. So this place was a stretch. Exotic cheese and micro brews. She gave us the micro brew closest to a Miller Lite for him, and I went with a smoked Gouda with crackers. I tried one of the bitters, it was awesome. A random side note: people that have a cult following to any beer- it can be bitter or taste like armpit but they like their canned beer because it is consistently bitter and armpit flavored. They don't like change, so microbrews are scary. For me, this cafe was refreshing change. For my partner it was culture and strangeness being forced upon him. There is a sterile pub down the street....we visited there next and had a Miller Lite for compromise.“

“This was our first time stopping in. Just wanted to give it a try. What a wonderful place. Nice decor friendly staff and amazing food. I would definitely recommend giving it a try.Kid-friendliness: First time here and the staff was super friendly with amazing service!“

“It's a bar. It's got good vibes and GREAT food. They're right in the middle of a renovation right now (May of '24), but they've repaved their whole back lot of ease of parking, and the inside has the OG charm. Their pony shoe is delicious, and so are their sandwiches. Appetizers aren't special, just simple bar fare. But the price is right, the people are nice, and I'm pretty sure they serve RC, which is a win for me.Parking: Don't park out front. Go around back.Kid-friendliness: It's a bar. It's not kid friendly. Don't go here with kids, don't ask for a high chair. Just get takeout.“

“Owner waited on us at first. He was great, but waitress who came on after that could screw up a wet dream. Could not get drinks right, brought us someone else's order, could just not get it together. Food was good, waitress who was there on her day off visited and was extremely personable. I debated over a 3 or 4 ☆, but everything else was good except for her, so gave them a 4.¹“

“GREAT FOOD, friendly staff and fast service, also see a lot of them smiling while working which is unusual at most places I've been so it does add sparkle to the place. They got a neat decor setup and a patio in the back which is super cozy !! Prices are about average. Would recommend!!Parking: Depending on how busy it is you may have to walk a little bit to get there from where you parkKid-friendliness: They do have food options for kids and most of their food is kid-friendly with lots of options!Wheelchair accessibility: They have a ramp and plenty of space once inside“

“I ordered brunch through Uber Eats. I was born and raised in Mexico and I reside near Chicago where we have little village or little Mexico with all the delicious authentic foods from Mexico. When I travel I crave my food but I’m a bit skeptical because most of the times it’s disappointing. NOT THIS TIME!!! I had brunch which included pozole, green chilaquiles with eggs and steak and a carnitas taco. I order different stuff because from traveling sometimes only one of the things I order are good or sometimes none. Here, everything was delicious. The pozole was sooo good and had lots of meat, the chilaquiles, WOW the sauce was just like the one my mom makes, and the carnitas taco was delish, definitely like the tortilla. Sometimes the food is good but if the tortilla is not, it just ruins everything. But here the tortilla was good. I had a delish brunch and now I have left overs for the week ☺️ Will definitely order from here again. Oh one last thing, although I ordered through Uber eats, I did call the restaurant asking what type of sauce the chilaquiles come in and asked for green since that was not an option on Uber eats.“

“This might have been one of the BEST experiences I've had in 2023. 8pm arrival with four people. The bartender was welcoming, patient, and attentive. The food was incredible! The overall service was outstanding. We did not have to ask for a single thing! The employees went out of their way to be sure that we had EVERYTHING we needed. Random weekday night w/ friends and food are a MUST at Crawford's Pub!“

“We twice had occasion to eat lunch here recently, and both times were outstanding. The food selection is remarkable, with many unique offerings that are well prepared, and the sheer number of things on the menu makes the decision difficult. I enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken wrap, which came with a delicious cup of soup and onion rings. I had their cheese omelette the second time, along with excellent hash browns. Both were excellent and consisted of large portions. Our grandson loved his huge chocolate chip pancakes. Everyone in our group of five remarked about the quality, service, and reasonable prices. Both of our servers were pleasant and helpful and really knew what they were doing. All agreed that we wished we had a place like this in our home towns. Le Roy is lucky to have Jack's.“

“My dining experience at Anju Above tonight was nothing short of delightful.From the moment I walked into the restaurant, I was captivated by its elegance. Service was prompt; we were seated quickly, and our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.For starters, I indulged in the Fried Veggie Dumplings and a Yellowfin Tuna Hand Roll. The fried dumplings were a true delight, perfectly crispy on the outside and bursting with flavor. They paired wonderfully with the tangy pickled vegetables on top. As for the hand roll, it was a taste sensation. The yellowfin tuna practically melted in my mouth.Moving on to the main course, I was thoroughly impressed with the Pork Belly Ramen. The pork belly was exceptionally flavorful and tender, adding a richness to the dish. What truly elevated the ramen experience was the side of sweet and spicy sauce, which, when added to the broth, turned the dish into something extraordinary. The soft-boiled egg was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right, while the mushrooms added a depth of flavor that left me craving more.Overall, my dining experience at Anju Above exceeded my expectations.I'll definitely be returning to explore more of their enticing menu options.“

“Neat little place. Staff was fun, polite, and attentive to drink refills but not pushy or trying to "get that extra tip/sale." Patrons were middle-aged, not the young ones who party, get drunk and obnoxious. Music was great. It was my first time here in a long time, and even though there seemed to be a lot of "regulars," the place was welcoming. I'd absolutely stop by again.“