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    Big Woods Bloomington

    3.7 (354 reviews)
    ModerateBreweries, American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Big Woods Bloomington Takeout or Delivery

    Big Woods Bloomington Photos

    BIG WOODS BLOOMINGTON ATMOSPHERE

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

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    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.

    Lauren H.

    You know them you love them. This is probably my number one spots in Bloomington. This is where I recommend everyone to go and when ask. The nachos are phenomenal and out of this world. I order them every time I go. They also serve Oliver's hard cider. Which is absolutely insane. But today....... I went with my roommate. And we are huge soup girls. And we found out that the soup of the day was chili.....So we decided to order a bowl of chili and split an order of their infamous mac & cheese that we already knew was amazing. And I give you... chili Mac.

    Mock tail

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    1 year ago

    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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    1 year ago

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

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    The Tap

    4.0(429 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Really cool place - they have a ton of beer to try! Their beer menu (which was fully printed and…read moreavailable at our table - no scanning a QR code or squinting to read a board at the bar) had a whole page of beers by The Tap Brewery, followed by two pages of guest craft beer representing every major type of beer and with some unique options, all on tap. For drinks, cocktails (and a few mocktails) and a smaller selection of wine are also available. I wanted to get beer but I was kind of tempted by the cocktails. My first choice was a flight that included a mix of The Tap beers and guest beers, but the waiter came back after taking the order and told me that they could only do flights with their beers but could let me sample the beers I wanted to try, so I did that, and the samples were probably around 2 oz each so I basically got half a flight. After that, I ended up ordering a real flight of their beer. The Tap beers I tried were: Kill the Lights stout (regular and barrel-aged), Tapenator dark lager, Frost Bite winter ale, Nefarious Nectar blonde. Guest beers: Jacob Leinenkugel white mocha stout, Weihanstephaner Hefeweissbier, BrewDog Winter Staycation. Not going to waste space reviewing all of these, but they were all fantastic. I was really grateful that they let me sample so many! And they also have food. The menu isn't huge but does have some variety, and it's not just basic pub food. I had the ahi tuna crunch bowl and it was pretty good! It kind of had the vibe of stuff thrown together in a poke bowl, but it worked and I thought the fish was done really well. Our waiter was wonderful! He was really friendly and just the right amount of attentive. My friend and I stayed for a while talking after we had paid and he didn't rush us out at all. Granted, it was a pretty quiet night. We both really liked the vibe of the place. I would love to be back soon!

    I've been to the tap many a time - but this particular visit I was focused on the fries. See - I…read morewas on a quest to find the best fry in Bloomington. So here's how the tap came out: It was a busy Saturday night. Easy to grab a high top, but being over 30 - it's not fun sitting on a bar stool. That's fine. The service - like I said, they were busy. But one of my friends never even got his drink, and he ended up telling the waitress to cancel it because we were already eating our fries. The fries - - 4 dipping sauces equals 5 stars! Love the ability to try different flavors and find your fav. My fav is the pesto aioli because its unique! I give the seasoning 4 stars, and it was a little heavy handed, and kind of overpowered the sauces. Texture was good, some were a lil soggy, overall they were good! I've had the other food at the tap, and always enjoyed myself. Definitely worth a visit - but be prepared if they're super slammed!

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    Malibu Grill - House Salad with ranch

    Malibu Grill

    3.7(351 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Malibu Grill is one of those places that feels stitched into the identity of Bloomington. It's not…read morejust a restaurant, it's a downtown staple with a lively, slightly upscale energy that works just as well for date nights as it does for celebrations. The food never misses. The ahi tuna is absolutely fantastic--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully done every time. And the filet sliders are a must: tender, rich, and perfectly indulgent. What really sets Malibu apart, though, is the people. Owner JB (John Bailey) has created something special here, and it shows in every detail. The staff is consistently excellent, and Tyler at the bar is one of our favorites--always welcoming and on point. Great food, great atmosphere, and genuinely great people. This is one of those iconic Bloomington spots that keeps you coming back.

    Disappointing! We had a reservation for Valentine's Day. We showed up on time, checked in, and were…read moretold it would be "just a few minutes." Turns out "a few minutes" meant an hour. Other guests were frustrated with the poor planning and left, but we stuck it out because the weather was bad and, well, we figured a reservation should actually mean something. Then came the food wait. We ordered quickly and still waited another hour and a half. The cherry on top was that the takeout containers wouldn't even close properly. The food was okay. Dry. I would rather go somewhere else. We won't be back.

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    BuffaLouie's - Medium Traditional Wings with Celery & Carrots with a Soft Drink

    BuffaLouie's

    3.9(456 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    BuffaLouie's is a Bloomington staple that I failed to adequately utilize during my time at IU…read more However, anytime that I go back to visit, this is always a stop on my trip. The wings are simply the best. There's plenty of sauces with different heat levels to choose from. It's a great environment in a prime location on campus. Just expect crowds during games.

    Onion Rings: 10/10 -- i would come back just for these!!! the crisp was immaculate and the batter…read morewas so good the onion stayed in tact with each bite. the house sauce was a creamy aoili-like mix which was super yummy too. Buffalo Chicken: 6/10 -- my sister got this and rated it a 6 (because there are no 7s on my scale). for $15+ and no side of fries this was kind of a scam sandwich lol #recessionindicator Sweet Lou's: 6/10 -- heavy on the sweet i was a fool i looooove bbq but their special "q sauce" was a bit like molasses rather than classic bbq. the patty, onion ring, and bacon were perfect but i literally could not taste them without scraping off the sticky sauce. again, $15+ and no side i feel like the flavor wasn't enough for me to recommend this to anyone. Tender & Fries: 6/10 -- what in the walmart brand frozen curly fries without salt nonsense on a plate was this... they got us LOOOOL... great value??? YEAH hard pass!!!! I was visiting my sister and she recommended this place because she had heard about it from fellow IU students. My thoughts: come for the IU memorabilia, and ambience, eat an order of onion rings (maybe sip a beer) while you watch a game and leave! The food was mediocre at best and wayyy overpriced.

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    Big Woods Bloomington - breweries - Updated May 2026

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