Got some great drinks and pretty okay food at this Lexington bar and grill. It turned out a lot…read morebetter than we expected to be honest. Kemp's is probably the best place to go eat in town it seems. A good reason is because there's not much else. The food is pretty average but there's some good things for adults and families. Chill atmosphere even at times when it's crowded. It's located in the middle of downtown or whatever you call it. There's not a whole lot else to go to for a meal. Certainly explains why it gets busy. People only have a few choices and this is one of these. It's about $6 for a basic cocktail. Whole lot of great stuff including whiskey. It's about $5 to get appetizers. We got the Chips And Salsa. Has a lot of greasy fried things like wings and other meats. The menu is pretty standard as far as fried stuff. Has a lot of the basics. It's closed Sundays. That's pretty strange for them to lose out on all that revenue on weekends.

Fantastic local pub in downtown Lexington, Illinois. We selected this location as it already had…read moregreat reviews and was very close to the northeast trailhead of the "Constitution Trail" of the Bloomington/Normal area. The staff here was fabulous with a special shout-out to John. What I found particularly impressive was the amazing selection of craft brews for a small town. The staff was particularly knowledgeable about both the selection and even the breweries that supplied them! I even found some of my favorite and uncommon Chicagoland brews, although I selected some excellent brews from the Bloomington/Normal area. ( Drink local!) Food was wonderful and quickly delivered. I gave five stars on food because it is top quality relative to pubs in general. The Blue Cheese burger was great. I sampled the butterflied pork chop sandwich of the other meal we had and that was a standout! Ambiance is nice as if fitting a local pub in an older downtown building. One notable feature is the walls and ceiling are covered in banners and flags of various kinds which dramatically limits the amount of background noise that would normally be in such a building. There is also a nice outdoor beer garden. This local establishment is well worth the extra minutes off Interstate 55. Also highly recommended to cycling who travel out to the northeast terminus of the trail!

Lexington, Illinois ---…read more "Dat Bar" is a TRUE neighborhood bar with great atmosphere, friendly interactive customers who will welcome the Route 66 roadies & super bartenders (Chanda being a "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite ). "Dat Bar" offers some very unique features: 1. FREE peanuts (shells on the floor) & if you find one shaped like a duck (& stands up) it gets mounted on the Dat Duck wall. 2. drink coasters are blue jeans' back pockets ... really cool. 3. the "gin bucket" ... flip your beer can tab in the mini bucket hanging on the ceiling and you are a winner! Not sure what you win, but lots of fun! Tasty-riffic food specials each day after 5 ... quality, quantity & fair pricing. Plenty of parking for this corner bar. I mention corner parking because you ask "Where is Dat Bar?" since the sign blew down "kinda" recently. "Dat Bar" was bar 417 of the "Run-A-Way Bill" "666 Bars of 2017" and was one-of-the BEST! "Run-A-Way Bill" was here! #RunAwayBill #DUSA2018 #Bars #BarsUSA #BAR_RAB #BarsRAB2018 #Route66 #Route66RunAwayBill #HistoricRoute66 #USroute66 #MotherRoad #Ruta66 #WillRogersHighway #MainStreetOfAmerica #RAB66_2018.2 #FoodUSA #FoodRAB 09.17.18

This is a great bar I always have an awesome time when I go here. They also have a great menu and…read morepool table and dart boards. Thers is not a better place to go in Lexington. Friendly staff and patrons.

Found out about this in the middle of nowhere brewery outside Fairbury. It certainly is one of the…read morefew places around here to get beers or anything it seems. Emancipation is a brewery not a lot of people have heard of because it's not close to anything of course. Has a surprising amount of variety on tap and in cans to go. They may not have a whole lot but everything is full of flavor and quenches one's thirst. Even with it being a smaller brewery it still has quite a lot. It's got several of their own beers on tap along with a few others. There's also more cans in a refrigerator. Has the basics along with a few interesting ones. More than just the IPAs and the usual. It's about $7 a pint. The Farmer's Favorite is the IPA and is a pretty good medium one that's crisp and smooth. Has a few things to snack on here. It's about $3 for the Krack Mix. Basically like Chex Mix but it's made locally. They also will let you bring in stuff. Great place that's pretty hard to find the first time going here. It's located on N. 2500 East Rd. a few miles north of Fairbury surrounded by corn fields pretty much. They're closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

We love the fact you can find a little beverage get away in rural Illinois. We stopped here with…read moreextended family for a quick drink. Our group had a variety of beverages including a mule, red lager, homemade radler, wine, and even a homemade non-alcoholic lemonade. The ambiance is rustic and comfortable. The bartender was friendly and helpful as our group was sampling a few of their offerings before we landed on our orders.

Lexington Social is definitely a destination dining experience. They are only open Thursday through…read moreSaturday, 5 pm-9pm unless they are having a special event such as Lexington on the Shore, a one day Maine Lobster shack experience with Maine and Connecticut style lobster rolls, clam chowder, fresh oysters, fish and chips, and fried clams. The petite Sea Kist oysters from Rhode Island were very good as were the Pleasant Cove oysters from Maine. We had the Connecticut style lobster rolls ( butter instead of mayonnaise salad style.) The fried clams were also very tasty. I liked the briny taste of the Rhode Island oysters slightly more than the Maine ones. Lobster rolls were only $34 which was quite reasonable. All in all, our dinner including Column Like I See 'Em' American lager from White Oak Brewing in Normal, Illinois came to about $82 each including tip. They also feature local beers from Fairbury, Illinois. Lexington is just outside of Bloomington-Normal and about an hour from Champaign, Illinois. It is worth the drive for such a fantastic dining experience.

Always love the food and service at Lexington Social. It's definitely on of the best, if not the…read morebest, in the Bloomington Normal area.

wow this food was so good. came a little after open and got helped right away. drinks didn't take…read morelong just got some waters and sodas. then ordered food and that didn't take too long either, timing was reasonable. the server was very nice and the bartender as well. i got the cesar wrap 9/10, towards the bottom is was thigh meat i think and i didn't like that very much. the wings 10/10 it was half off as well. super flavorful. off the menu the spicy chicken pita 7/10, could use a little more flavor. all fries were very good and the ranch was very good reminded me of wing stop ranch.

Local Tap Craft Kitchen and Ale House in El Paso, Illinois, has quickly become a culinary standout…read moresince its 2022 opening, blending community roots with inventive Midwest flavors. Owned and Managed by Aaron Thomas with his really great team. This family-friendly alehouse prioritizes local partnerships and menu creativity, earning its place as a surprise standout in central Illinois' dining scene. Culinary Highlights The menu shines with elevated bar classics, including Ropp Jersey Cheese curds sourced from Normal, Illinois. ~a crispy, creamy nod to regional agriculture.  Wings tossed in bourbon-Sriracha glaze and lemon-pepper buffalo rub draw regulars, while the Italian beef sandwich, paired with sweet potato fries and maple mayo, offers a sweet-savory twist. The showstopper is the custom steak-blend burger: certified Angus beef smashed on a brioche bun, smothered in American cheese, and served with loaded fries-a "step above" typical pub fare. Surprise Standout Culinary Chronicles' sleeper hit is the maple mayo dip, a sweet-smoky companion to crispy sweet potato fries. While rumors swirl about its cult following, the dip exemplifies The Local Tap's knack for balancing familiarity with innovation. Community and Craft True to its name, the restaurant champions local breweries such as White Oak, Riggs Beer Company, and Casper Brewing. Also, fostering a patio-to-indoor vibe that's equally suited for family dinners or friend gatherings. Weekly cocktail features, like the raspberry Long Island iced tea and barrel-aged Old Fashioned, underscore their bar program's versatility. With its commitment to Midwestern flavors, community ties, and dishes that surprise even seasoned foodies, The Local Tap is a destination worth the drive. As Osborn and Thomas expand their culinary playbook-including this week's chicken cordon bleu ciabatta with white wine cream sauce-the restaurant solidifies its role as El Paso's flavorful heartbeat.

Love Copper & Oak in Lincoln, IL! The atmosphere is fantastic, warm, and inviting. The drinks were…read moreexcellent, and you can tell a lot of thought went into the menu. We were there on a night with a one-man band who was seriously impressive, and when he wasn't playing, the music on TouchTunes kept the vibe going perfectly. The owners were there, super friendly and down to earth, and you can genuinely feel how much heart and soul they're putting into the place. Copper & Oak has absolutely raised the bar for Lincoln. Highly recommend! Can't wait to go back!

Great atmosphere, excellent selection of craft beers on tap, mixed drinks, and wines. Nice helpful…read morestaff, service at the bar. Snack menu looked nice also. Cool layout!

Checked out this local brewery in Bloomington. It has quite a surprising amount of variety on the…read morebeer list. Keg Grove is a good place for groups and hanging out. Far away enough from the craziness of the college campus and downtown bars but still not too far away. They have events and food trucks, so there's some good times to be had. A brewery that's located in a shopping plaza with a patio and indoor area. It's bigger than it looks. There's arcade games and even more tables upstairs. For sure anyone can find something fun. It's about $7 a pint. Last time I got the Show Me Your Stem. Good one. This is a pumpkin pie wheat. On the rim is graham crackers. The rest of the beers include IPAs as well as wheat beers in flavors such as blueberry and peach. For sure we could come here again. It's located on Empire Street in a shopping plaza. There's no food menu but usually there's a food truck.

My husband and I were just in Bloomington/Normal for a conference and decided to hit up the local…read morebreweries. We enjoyed all of our stops, but Keg Grove continued getting recommendations from locals. As a result, we had to stop by. And, in the end, Keg Grove WAS our favorite! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a kind warm welcome from the bartender. The space was also welcoming. It was wide open, clean, and spacious. My husband each got our own flights (see pictured). We loved all 8 of the beers that we got, but here were our 4 favorites: 1. #3 Malo Pina Colada Wheat, 2. #1 Holey Jeans Blueberry Wheat with a sugar rimmed glass, 3. #11 Love is Love Orange Guava Passionfruit Hard Seltzer, and 4. #7 Cornfuzed Corn Ale. There was not a bad beer and there were several more we would have loved to try. We ended up getting a 4 pack of the Hokey Jeans because the Malo was sold out. Prices are great, portions are reasonable, and presentation was solid. There was nothing to complain about and much to praise. We will definitely be back at Keg Grove the next time we are in town! Thanks for a great visit!

Coal Creek has brews for diverse tastes. If you're in Princeton for the first time and you like…read moregreat beer, you absolutely want to visit it. My only complaint is that they are too often out of my favorite, Shift Track.

Best thing about this village of Princeton is this brewery. Coal Creek is one of the few places…read morearound here to get beers that aren't crap. It certainly is a welcome change from the corporate swill. Also just a nice place to hang. The prices are pretty good for being small and local. A long trip to out here deserves a cold one and this is where to go. It's one of the few places in town that isn't some dive bar or fast food chain it seems. They actually have a pretty good variety. Kind of unexpected with it being a small one. There's actually a good amount including some fruity sours. It's about $7 a pint. We had a few with the best of these being the More Than A Weekend. It's a summer melon lager. They also make cocktails if that's a preference. For sure it's the best place in town for beers. It's located in downtown in a historic building that's cool to check out. There's no food but you can bring in stuff.

Found out about this local brewery in Chenoa. It happens to be just one part of a larger operation…read more OB's Cervezaria is one of this building's vendors. Has kind of limited hours. This makes sense because they only brew a few of their own beers and keep it simple. Cool place that's fun for the entire family. It's got something to please everyone it seems. The worst thing is the limited hours though. Brewery is only open in the evenings mostly and other times is often closed. This also isn't much of a brewery as you pour everything yourself. It's one of those places that gives you a card. Then you insert it into the slots to get the beers pouring. It's about 50 cents or so an ounce. The only one from this brewery was the Fresh Hope, which is a blonde ale that's crisp and smooth. Food is lacking. There's another vendor that has pizza. Good place as far as around here for entertainment. It's one of the vendors and is one of the best places around for groups and parties. The brewery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

I went here for a banquet which was basically a wedding reception. They did a really nice job with…read moreexplaining things. the service, and the food was pretty decent too. Pizza was good, the chicken chunks were decent. What gave it four stars was the fact that you could go up to a tap, you get this white card before beforehand like a library card and they swipe your debit/credit card and then you walk around and put the white card up and tap your beer. The interesting thing about it was after you close your tap it puts your name on and how many ounces of beer you poured. I was really impressed considering I'm out in the middle of nowhere and they have better technology than what's around my house. Pretty impressive. They had a blueberry wheat beer which came from Keg Grove that the spouse & I enjoyed. After your done, you take ur white card, go to cashier and close out ur tab. The wedding reception was fun and I would go back . Bathrooms were reasonably clean and parking was good.

Fun, small town bar/grill with character and good food and friendly customers! Service is always…read moregreat!