Sports 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!“

“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.“

“The VFW Post 454 Riders Group are very community minded, with a focus on supporting our Veterans. All of the proceeds they raise are donated to area organizations such as Home Sweet Home Ministries Homeless Veterans, Illiana VA PTSD and Military Suicide Prevention and Awareness, Hooah Deer Hunt for Heroes, and Marine Corps Toys For Tots of McLean County.“

“The Saturday and Sunday burger specials are a great deal, with a single cheeseburger and fries for $3.99!!! Awesome food, and ice cold drinks! In the summer they have a great outdoor dining area as well! The Buffalo grilled chicken sandwich with waffle fries was great as always! Thanks for a great dining experience!“

“We stayed at a nearby hotel and went to Joe’s not knowing what to expect. Well we had a wonderful dinner. I had an Italian beef sandwich and my wife had chicken tenders. Both meals were excellent. Our server was handling the entire dining area and the bar but she was terrific and had a great sense of humor. Highly recommended. Eat at Joe’s!“

“I've been here several times because I CANNOT get enough of their lemon pepper chicken with the Mac n cheese! But all of their food is amazing. Especially the cheese balls! My husband is taking me there tonight and I'm gonna try some fried oreos and a few more things so I will be adding food pictures soon. If you haven't eaten at Gill St before, you're missing out on one of the top 3 restaurants in Bloomington!!Kid-friendliness: It's not a rowdy environment considering that it's a sports bar and restaurant mix. It's relaxing and the people at the bar don't get wild or crazy. There's seating away from the bar also, separated by a wall if you don't want your children near the bar area. You can also eat on the outdoor heated patio in the back.“

“Ordered a couple of half sized appetizers plus a blt. Very tasty. The potato skins are to die for. Unconventional in that they are potato pieces but delicious!! BLT great! And the server was absolutely amazing. So attentive!! Definitely coming back here when I'm in town again.“

“A decent place for cheap eats. Overall value is very good compared to other chain restaurants. Wings were tasty and burgers cooked to order. Good specials and an occasional deal on gift cards too (usually during holiday seasons). Plenty of free parking. Easy access on shopping malls outlet.“

“Came here last night after a longgggg drive from NYC. This was our first time in Bloomington and was unaware that pretty much everything shuts down food wise by 10pm. After driving around for sometime and McDonald drive thru line being down the block, We walked in to BWW around 11:45 knowing they close at 12 and was greeted with a smile :) . We didn’t think they would serve us being it was almost closing time but we were actually allowed to sit and eat which we were so grateful. We took a seat at the bar and was taken care of by Naomi and a young woman she was training. They were both great. Naomi was able to give me some valuable information as she grew up not far from the Chicago area which i expressed that i may want to go on the way home to grab some pizza. Being a bartender for over 15 years i really appreciate great service with a smile … especially when it’s almost closing time and most people are looking to run out the door after a day of work . The food was okay, We took our food to go … we had an appetizer there but decided to eat everything else at the hotel. We Def will go back because it’s close to our hotel, the food is fast and convenient without it being fast food quality and the customer service was top impeccable.Parking: Easy and available“