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    Big Woods Bloomington

    3.7 (356 reviews)
    ModerateBreweries, American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Big Woods Bloomington Takeout or Delivery

    Big Woods Bloomington Photos

    BIG WOODS BLOOMINGTON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Big Woods Bloomington

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    Pepperoni personal pizza. More than big enough for one person.
    Colby T.

    This is a cozy little restaurant just off of Kirkwood Ave. near the IU Bloomington campus. Like many other Bloomington restaurants, it's a house modified into a sit-down restaurant. I've only ever had the pizza here but it is better than I had originally expected. The dough is fluffy and the cheese and marinara are flavorful. They all blend together very well, and I think the pizza is better here than at Mother Bear's. The building and atmosphere is welcoming and provides space for small or large parties, and though the servers are pulled in several directions at once all the time, they make sure to come back around and check on you often.

    Fish and Chips
    Eric B.

    Our long travel day began with a 6 AM flight from Reno to O'Hare, followed by a connection to Indianapolis and a rental car drive from the Airport to Bloomington. We arrived tired and hungry at Big Woods, only to be told that we had a 45 minute wait ahead of us. After informing the nice guy at the front desk of our day's adventures and asking for alternative dining suggestions, he let us have a table for 4 that I think was being saved for a larger party. The full house surprised us as UI is out, and we failed to consider the locals crowd. Big Woods in a regional chain with five restaurant locations, two pizza places, and two Hard Truth bars. These are pizza, burger, salad, etc. places which also feature in house brands such as Quaff On! Brewing Company, and spirits from Hard Truth Distilling Co. The ambiance is upscale brew pub casual, with nice woods and and a "woodsy" feel. Our dinner choice were very tasty, starting with Flash Fried Brussel Sprouts (really good, but not all that healthy) for the table, a gin martini for Gayle, and a Quaff On! Busted Knuckle Porter. I followed with beer battered fish and chips (cod) with pub fries, house-made tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge. Gayle then continued with fish tacos (cod with corn shells), with slaw, red onion, and chipotle sauce. The proof for both our fish dishes was the batter which we found to be light, fresh, very tasty, and perhaps the best we've experienced that way for awhile. This Big Woods location also has a nice outdoor patio, of which the elements were not cooperating that evening. When we return and if the weather is nice, we'll try that.

    Big Woods, Bloomington
    Bruce K.

    I already had dinner plans, which was the main reason I detoured to Bloomington, but there's always room for beer. And Big Woods got my beer craving satisfied. I spent nearly two hours this afternoon, sipping at one or two while working away with my laptop (not actual work, just Yelp). Comfortable space, great beer options, wifi worked well. I would hang out here again for sure! [Review 20561 overall - 99 in Indiana - 1542 of 2023.]

    Thai Steak Tacos (2 of 3), and Mexican street corn side
    Lou L.

    Been here a few times and the food does not disappoint. In the warm weather, you can even eat outside and might catch live music. Today is a cold wet day in January, so we are inside. It is warm, even near the windows, and finished like a hunting lodge. I really like the vibe. And it's just steps off Kirkwood in the heart of Campustown. It's a small place, but lots of tables, and a full bar. They have local craft beers and make cocktails with local spirits. I've never partaken of either because I am always driving somewhere after the meal. Tonight I had the Thai Steak Tacos. It was a light dinner, and a great choice. The steak in the taco was so tasty! Hit the spot. The Mexican Elote side dish is something I could take or leave. It's not the decadent creamy street corn we often see. It's less creamy and cheesy, and therefore healthier I'm sure. It's flavorful, but if you are looking for the indulgence, it's not that. The servers are always friendly, helpful when you ask for a suggestion, and they always smile.

    Candied Bacon Burger
    Paige S.

    First -- this restaurant is so cute! It's in an old home and is just so quaint and lovely. I thought the service was really good, she met all our needs during our visit! The pulled pork nachos were fantastic! So so good. Great toppings and a good amount of pulled pork on them. The candied bacon burger.....just delicious. The fries were also cooked and seasoned to perfection. I loved everything we tried!

    Hot Beer Cheese & Pretzels - best beer cheese in town
    Olivia S.

    So yummy!!!! Maybe one of the best burgers I have had! Very friendly service and a cute rustic ambiance! Great bartender making craft cocktails!

    pulled pork nachos
    Haley A.

    Three words: pulled pork nachos An absolute must when visiting Big Woods! I've waited three years for these nachos since graduating and they're just as good as I remember. We came Sunday morning just after opening and got in without a problem, even on Homecoming weekend. The dining area quickly filled up. Luckily there is plenty of outdoor space in the form of a deck and a patio. The service was excellent, offering many recommendations for seasonal beers and choices to eat. The flights of beer are 5 oz each - one ounce more per pour than other places like Upland. To eat I got the steak salad. Salad ?! at a place that makes their own beer?! Don't sleep on it!!! The steak was cooked to order, seasoned perfectly, and was still plenty filling. I would definitely order again. I used to always get a salmon sandwich but I don't think that is on the menu anymore. I think there is something for everyone on this menu, and anyone can find something to enjoy. The one downside - no coke products :( As a big diet coke girl, that would make this restaurant unbeatable.

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    Stopped here during an IU visit. Great service, really good food! There beer they brew also really good.

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    1 year ago

    Had the bbq nachos vegetarian style and they were great! Service was good and the location great for an after game meal.

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    Fantastically adorable place with wonderful ambience and lovely employees. And it didn't hurt that the food was amazing!

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    Upland Brewing - Wood Shop

    4.6
    (26 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Takes reservations

    This is the new sour house built by Upland. It's right next to the Upland brewpub so you can't…read moremiss it. This is definitely a good place to try a specific style of beer (sours of course). They have several on tap and available for carryout. Start with the Basis which is their plain Jane sour. Then move onto all the flavors to see which you like best.

    Another stop on one of our YelpLouINvasions!…read more After hearing about and subsequently missing an Upland takeover at Westport Whiskey and Wine, I was newly aware of a new-to-me provider of sour beers that was within visiting distance in Bloomington! So while we were in town to drink cocktails at Cardinal Spirits and have some wine at Oliver Winery, we also decided to stop at Upland for some beer. Cover all our alcohol bases, you know? :-P Anywho, the Wood Shop is the tap room and brewing facility right next door to Upland Brewing Co. We got there just a liiiiittle too late for a tour. But it is never too late for a flight! I love sours. LOVE them. So the menu excited me! Our server, Adam I believe, was friendly and patient with us (most of us being a tidbit tipsy since this was our fourth stop of the day!) I really enjoyed all the beers I tried. I honestly couldn't tell you a favorite! We were also able to call in an order for food from next door, pick it up and eat it at the Wood Shop. The space is big and it is fun to drink among the barrels, it is clean and looks brand-spanking new. I only wish Bloomington was closer to Louisville, so I could visit more often.

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    Cardinal Spirits

    Cardinal Spirits

    4.5
    (247 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We have enjoyed time at Cardinal Spirits twice recently. The first visit was fantastic (and…read moreprompted us to make reservations for Mother's Day for the second visit). The second visit was okay. First, the best parts: the cocktails were delicious and I loved trying a few of the different spirits when our server brought us samples to try. Also, the patio atmosphere was lovely as the weather was perfect for both visits. The bingo was also a lot of fun! Overall, the food was good, but on our second visit the service was incredibly slow. Our server told us that the kitchen was running behind, but our friends were at the table next to us (with a different server) and they ordered when we did and had finished eating before our food even arrived - and I had to go find someone to inquire about it as our server never returned after dropping off drinks. She did apologize and take an item off the bill and hand us a few drink coupons which was appreciated, but the experience had put a damper on our enthusiasm (especially after we told the rest of our party how awesome the place was). Will I go back? Yes, but maybe with tempered expectations.

    Pretty impressed! Decided to come here for Saturday lunch with my family and made a reservation…read moreonline at the last minute, but we would have been able to get in without. Without the patio open though, I can see it filling up easily. The atmosphere is fun (board games!) and bright but somewhat industrial with the distillery next door. The staff was friendly and very enthusiastic but just a little overbearing for me. The samples they brought around of two of their spirits (a gin and amaro) were very good and much appreciated. As appealing as the cocktails sounded, I didn't feel like drinking, so I got the Last Call mocktail. I couldn't pick up much 5 spice, but it was still a pleasant and refreshing light drink. I had a sip of my parents' old fashioned and Smokin' in the Girls' Room, and those were both really good - I was really into the lapsang souchong tea-infused rum in the Smokin' in the Girls' Room and would've ordered it for myself if I'd been drinking. To eat, I had a mushroom melt (the veganized version with vegan cheese) with the OMG fries. I really liked the sandwich; I loved the giardiniera and the jus, and you usually can't get that sort of thing in a vegetarian or vegan sandwich, so I was really happy to have it here and thought it was done well. The OMG fries were also really good. I don't like fries if they're plain, but these were heavily seasoned with a delicious spice blend. The vegan version of the fries omits the truffle aioli that they normally come with, but they were plenty flavorful with just ketchup. We shared a Thai tea creme brulee for dessert. I am crazy about Thai tea so I expected to like this, and it was everything I hoped for. The tea flavour was nice and strong, and the tapioca pearls were a nice little enhancement. They do an auto-gratuity of 20% no matter the party size, which I'm not completely opposed to, but I think if you're doing that you at least need to have a note on the menu rather than have the waiter tell you as they're giving you the bill, or better (in my opinion) to just raise the prices by 20% and sell yourself as a no-tipping restaurant. But it wasn't a huge deal in this situation; our waitress was good and we would've left a good tip anyway.

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    Bloody Mary

    Big Woods Bloomington - breweries - Updated June 2026

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