This is one of the funnest restaurants in the area. We ordered the Baby Face menu pairing option. Wow that was good. We had the airline chicken and with 5 courses for $49 it's a great value too. The restaurant is very cool with big city chic vibe. The service is also fancy Chicago restaurant good. read more

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First off I have to say I am OBSESSED with the set up on this place, the speak easy vibe and mood lighting was seriously amazing! A small group went for drinks only and were served fairly quickly! Our waiter was so funny and super helpful choosing drinks. There is a large menu to choose from where everyone could find something they like! Unfortunately that wasn't our group. Only two of us finished our drink, we may have just chose poorly, cocktails are so up to interpretation by the persons preferences that I don't know I would say they didn't have good cocktails, they just didn't do it for our group. But I would definitely go back, and HIGHLY recommend at least trying it once! read more

Bakery and Pickle - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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My date was excited to take me here and have to say, have not been impressed with this restaurant group's joints. Menu was blah and gnocchi were dense like marbles. The pickles were disappointing, to say the least. Word of advice, David Chang's pickle recipe, people will be pleased with it. The "sexy" butter was not special either. Who puts oysters and a cheeseburgers on a menu? They could rebrand this place as Hooters. Another piece of advice, your server that looks like he walked out of Teen Wolf, have him wear nice shoes instead of the ones that look like he pulled em out of the dumpster. read more

Menu...meh Service... Food..."okay" but not memorable Not a busy Thursday night; server was at our table at least 15-20 times....way too often...forgot ice twice, took flatware away and didn't replace....just not up to the "reputation"....$15 corking fee...too high, Jims doesn't charge at all...prob won't go back.... read more

Such a fun and unique experience I definitely recommend stopping in! Don't forget the password when you make your reservation or the hostess will make you do a dance or tell a joke so be prepared! They had a future cocktail of the evening, but also an extensive full bar! The bar itself is beautiful and I would definitely come back just to sit there for cocktails in the future. The food was delicious even though it's not a large menu there's definitely something for everybody. The main highlight though was our server Kaitlin. She really made the experience exceptional - she was friendly, prompt with her service, offered great suggestions and ensured that we had a wonderful experience for our first time. The experience was very unique and I highly recommend stopping in - Just don't forget the password! read more

Bakery and Pickle - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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The bartenders here are completely unprofessional and downright disrespectful. I came in for a date with my girlfriend -- just a couple of drinks and an appetizer. The prices were already high for what we got, but the real issue was the behavior of the staff. While I stepped away to use the restroom, my girlfriend decided to close out the tab. Instead of simply handling the payment, the bartender started making unnecessary and inappropriate comments to her. He told her that I should be paying, joked that he'd "chase us down" like we were going to dine and dash, and even said he'd give her the wrong ticket to make it cheaper. All of this happened while I wasn't even standing there. When I got back and saw she paid, the bartender looked at me and said, "Chivalry's not dead, huh?" I have no idea why this employee felt entitled to comment on who pays for what, talk to my girlfriend like that, or disrespect both of us so blatantly. Completely out of line and absolutely unacceptable. This interaction alone is enough for me never to return. This place is way too pretentious for Bloomington Illinois. If I could leave less than one star I would :) read more

First off, WOW. So my family and I were traveling back from Chicago and we found this spot on Yelp. To be fair, I had no idea about the speakeasy component, I just saw good looking food. We walk in to what appears to be an extremely small shop; confused, we asked if food was only for takeout. The sweet hostess hinted that it was a speakeasy and asked for a password (which we very evidently did not know). After a few minutes, she told us to find a way in, which to our surprise, we did. Once we were in, we were met with a gorgeous, moody ambiance and more amazing staff. When we ordered and got our food I was blown away by the intense flavors and unique pairings like bone marrow cornbread and squash flatbread. Everything was delightful! read more

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From the moment you check in and give the password, to get into the restaurant, it is a fun experience with great food great cocktails, and great service! We had shrimp cocktail, grilled oysters, and my boyfriend had MahiMahi which he loved. I had the chicken and it was delicious. Epiphany farms owns this restaurant and the food is just as yummy! Definitely recommend! Our waitress was sensational and made the experience even better! read more

Super fun and really good food. You can tell they get it all fresh from the farm. The staff was amazing too. We will definitely be back with friends. read more

A speakeasy and restaurant!!? Yessss please! I won't let the secret out but getting into the restaurant is an adventure on its own, which I love! The service was impeccable! We had our waiter and others checking on us constantly. They also gave great suggestions as we had several questions. There are several unique options for food and drink. Don't be afraid to drive in! All the food and drinks that we had were amazing. Atmosphere is a cool cozy romantic vibe. Good for girls night or a romantic date. 10/10 would recommend read more

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This is a very interesting, unique place! The bread and butter appetizer was amazing! The fried chicken sandwich was also really good and I appreciate that they could make it plain. The menu is fairly limited. I wish the menu had more options for those that are not adventurous with food. The place was also kind of dark and loud and it was difficult to talk among our table. It was also very odd that they charged $2 to pour whiskey neat. Why does that cost an additional $2???!! read more

Bakery and Pickle - Fried chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Very fun entry. Very laid back atmosphere. Had the ginger rum drink special. Very delicious. We were in a hurry to get to a 6:30 dance. Sat at a bar to order. Delicious salad big enough to share. Burgers were delicious served with a generous portion of waffle fries. Loved the atmosphere. read more

I love speakeasy's. This little hidden gem was all the rage. We entered through a book shelf and we're sat at a table. All the drinks were delicious and they have a mock tail list. The food is more tapas and family style sharing. The vibe is amazing. If the muscles are on the menu GET THEM. The adult lunchable is a huge charcuterie board and is had the most delicious pickles. read more

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Had the two for ten bucks which was very good. Two Shrimp which was good, service was great.

What a fun place! Cool vibe and great food. We shared a lot of food. Oysters, shrimp, beet ceviche, corn bread Madeline's, shishito peppers and pickle bowl. I had the gnocchi for my main and let's not forget dessert, peach dream cake and brownie. Yes, a lot of food. My favorite was the corn bread ceviche, gnocchi and peach dream cake! They had great cocktails as well. Have fun and order a few things. They also did a nice job in helping with dairy free options. read more

Went for my birthday. They sure did it right. Everything about this place is excellent. Over the top.

Damn good! Everyone was outstanding...as well,the food! I could have licked my plate! Big portions and piping hot! Need to go back! ...and don't forget your password! read more

Great Speakeasy!!! Love the ambiance. Really enjoyed going in here. Will definitely return

Ambiance was different and cool but food was very average. Service was fine but because of the food we will not be going again.

Cool Experience I've been to a couple speak easy style bars like this. You always end up paying up for the experience. The only thing I missed with this place was selection of cocktails. There was a lack of options in my opinion, and there were much less liquor options than most speak easy style bars offer. Usually there are multiple extra premium items that are mixed to create a 12-16 dollar cocktail. This was more run of the mill standard fair that every bar has to offer. I would definitely be willing to give it another try if the menu was buffed up, the decorum is great. read more

Amazing atmosphere. If you are looking for something cool, interesting, and upscale this s the place for you. They nailed the speak easy environment. The service was great. They have an excellent selection of liquor. The food was incredible. We went with the salmon and smash burger. Both were incredible, their fries are amazing. read more

This was a nightcap stop for us. The dessert menu had plenty of options. We had a banana croissant with fruit. It was tasty. There were plenty of drink specials. I had a whisky sour with egg whites. It's rare to find a bar that mixes drinks with egg whites. It was delish. The service was good and atmosphere was very speak easy. read more

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BloNo, get slightly dressed up ( bus casual) and sashay in here! We had a great 2 hours of feasting and drinking and then waddled home. It's a nice space with comfy atmosphere - not stuffy or pretentious at all. The excellent: Walk in and get greeted with an apertif cocktail and small pintxos nibble plate before being escorted to your table. The tables are set with actual silver and a mix of old timey china. The apertif was light and lemony topped with prosecco. The nibbles consisted of a variety of meats, seafood, pickled veggies and cracker. We sat first at the bar to start with some giggle water. ;) Super comfy barstools! I had The Final Word. It was light, fruity and had a yummy, dark, sweet cherry garnish. There's an option to add on egg white but I skipped that this time. Once settled at our table, The Experience menu ($35/person) was looked over to decide entree. Everything else on the menu comes out so the only choice you make is the entree. All courses are served family style with one entree per two people. So a vegan and a carnivore have to arm wrestle for it! Kidding! All the entrees that we saw come out to other tables looked fantastic. We opted for the prime grade NY strip steak ($10/person upcharge). It was buttery soft, moist, PERFECTLY cooked medium rare (possibly cooked sous vide). Best NY strip I've ever had. However, the shape of it was odd and the texture really threw me because it was sooo soft. We also ordered an additional course - house baked bread with sexy butter. Very nice but it's a lot of bread for two people especially along with the meal. Then came the three 1st course items: flatbread, salad loaded with farm to table goodies and crispy bluegill sliders. Desserts were a delightful funnel cake and chocolate cake with frozen custard. Neither was overly sweet - just right! Servers/bartenders were great and everything was timed nicely. We were told their late menu, after 8:30, includes snacky items plus a steak and a burger option. The ONLY flaws: sexy butter, while excellent, came out too hard. And they are having a/c issues so it was a little warm in there. Otherwise, a most excellent evening. Thanks, B&P! read more

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The best restaurant in Bloomington. It has the best food in Blono and it is all organic. The bar is excellent and the bartenders are well trained. The cocktails are unique and delicious. James the bartender is awesome, and Vincent is one of the coolest guys you'll ever meet. I cannot recommend this place enough for someone interested in a different dining experience with incredible food. read more

Excellent staff and ambience! Nice little hidden gem in downtown Bloomington. Bartender is awesome!

Never in my life... $2.00 extra to pour whiskey neat... I need 34 more characters to post this. I didn't want to take that much time. Do not recommend. read more

Always a great experience here, delicious food, good selection of quality spirits, the bread and sexy butter are amazing, definitely try the cheese plate, and the tasting experience is always a ton of food! Welcoming service and a quaint ambiance with the cool speakeasy feel. read more

So impressed with the food service and above and beyond love they showed to our graduate! Served a bottle of venue champagne to our family. Totally unexpected and fully appreciated!!!! read more

Incredible experience. The atmosphere was warm, dimly lit, and inviting. The dining area was intimate. Our service was excellent-so prompt and friendly. The food. How can I even describe how delicious? We ordered "The experience" and it truly was. From the fresh veg, to the sexy butter to the shrimp on grits I was in heaven. My husband said the banana tiramisu was the best he had ever had. We enjoyed two Old Fashions throughout. I will recommend this gem to everyone I know and we will be returning. Epiphany Farms you have done it again! read more

Love the atmosphere and love the speakeasy entrance. Music notes on the wall were nice. The drinks are great and so is the bartender and waitress read more

Second best in Bloomington Normal. The little password thing at the door is charming. Good and drinks are great.

Bakery and Pickle provides an amazing dining experience! Great food, exceptional service, and a fun atmosphere. If you want to really treat yourself on a special occassion, order "the experience". It's an incredible culinary experience. read more

The atmosphere and concept were absolutely amazing. Retro speakeasy vibes, elegant and creative decor. The waiter and waitress were well dressed too. The food had a wonderful presentation. Very cool ideas but too many options. I'm slightly upset about some of the food, such as the mussels. They're just average in terms of taste. But the pickle bowl, pork flatbread, and peanut butter chicken were very tasty. Another thing that upsets me is that how exclusive they try to be. It's hard to be walk in, and you will feel judged by the waitress if you underdress. Those things make the eating not fun read more

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I was really excited to try this place. The ambiance was okay, food was a 5/10. First course, the corn bread was really dry and the dessert was such a let down. The waitress and staff were fabulous. Really wish it was a 10/10, bur left feeling let down. read more

I should have written this review 3 months ago. I would probably have more to say and more details. I had gone all out for Valentine's Day to give my lady something special. The only thing I had not done it make reservations anywhere to eat. I don't know why I thought that any places would have availability. I stumbled across Bakery and Pickle. They were offering "The Ultimate Valentines Day Experience." I had never heard of it and knew very little about the restaurant. The price tag for the experience was pretty high. However, I had very little options so I decided to make reservations. I parked in the parking garage like the website suggestions. I was not quite sure where it was located. They do not have sign outside which was confusing at first. We were greeted by the friendly hostess. My wife informs me that she has heard of the place before and it's a speakeasy-style restaurant. The no sign made sense after that. I did not need the password provided. I do not want to give away all the fun of entering the dining room. Even though, I'm sure other reviews give it away. The Bakery and Pickle has appeared to remove the list of the food provided for The Ultimate Valentines Day Experience. I will say this...AMAZING. I have tried foods that I thought I would never eat. I'm not a seafood fan but I had the most delicious oyster. Best thing I have tasted in years. There were around 6 courses including dessert. Our server was really friendly and attentive. A gentleman...not sure if he was the owner...came to our table to get our opinion of the place. When I discuss my experience here, I rate it as my top dining experience. I read someone knock the place giving the vibes you can be under-dressed. I thought getting dressed up was part of the fun. I rarely eat anywhere that requires more than a shirt and jeans. I bought some new clothes just to wear for it. I want to return for one of there regular dining experiences soon. I am glad Bloomington has place like this now. read more

Grading on a curve here as this is Blo-No. . .There is a cheese/kitsch factor; mismatched dinnerware, silly speakeasy-style entry and password, use of the word "experience" in abundance. Nonetheless, the atmosphere/aesthetic is super cool and unmatched in this geographical area. The vibe is chill and sophisticated. (Side note: loud backward baseball hat people/t-shirt people, please go elsewhere) I was impressed with the skill of cookery, flavors were solid, and the ingredients were fresh and well thought out. It was great to see the diversity in the staff. Definitely going back and so pleased that this town even has a place as cool as this. read more

The food was good, and I really want to like this place, but the service and ambience were lacking. The service was amateurish. The waiter rushed us even though there were empty tables and our drinks were taking forever (pushing us to order before we had our drinks, asking us if we wanted dessert while we were only halfway through our meals) and the timing was off. The music was uncomfortably loud -like we were in a late night bar or nightclub, rather than a restaurant at 6:30pm -which made it difficult to converse without shouting. We asked several times, and several staff members, if they could lower the volume. They'd say sure, and then wouldn't. The food can't compensate for an unpleasant experience, sadly. read more

I love the speakeasy style entrance (you pull a book to open a door to dining room), and make sure you note the address because there's no outdoor signage. The food was decent, though not stellar (especially for this acclaimed restaurant group) I did enjoy having raw oysters as those are so difficult to find in central Illinois read more

I loved Bakery and Pickle! A work partner of mine recommended this spot, and it did not disappoint. When you first enter the restaurant they offer you your first course in front of one of the chefs at a bar with a drink. Once you sit down they bring several seasonal dishes and one large entree that you choose to share. My coworker and I chose the vegan risotto and were not disappointed. I think this was one of the best meals I've ever had. read more

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Great experience. Hoping they are able to open up more evenings and hours Food, service, environment were great read more