Must stop in and hang at Nick's before any IU event! Excellent interior with historic pictures,…read moreStromboli is on point, and friendly staff makes this place a local gem! Pro Tip: 1st come 1st serve seating! Will be packed before a game

With both of our kids at IU, we came to Bloomington for a visit. I thought a good empty-nest…read moreactivity for my husband and I to start would to become eccentric day drinkers. So for lunch, we headed to our favorite place from when we were both at IU, Nick's. Eager to start our new hobby, I ordered a cosmopolitan and my husband ordered an old fashioned. We also ordered delicious appetizers (mozzarella sticks and mushrooms) and lunch (pizza and a grilled chicken sandwich) from our super friendly waiter. I was about 3/4 of the way through my cosmo and fell asleep. So my new middle-aged hobby ended just as soon as it started. Our waiter brought the check and we paid and tipped generously. The moral of this review: the food is good, the service is fast and friendly, and the drinks are strong. We'll be back again. And again and again. But next time I'm probably having a Diet Coke.

Made a reservation for my wife's birthday, and once again it was awesome! We absolutely love this…read moreplace. The drinks are on point, and the atmosphere is great. Highly recommend!

I went to this place with a couple of friends one night and it definitely exceeded my expectations!…read moreThere are not a ton of places that you can get a good craft cocktail in Bloomington but this is definitely one of them. You do have to make sure you get a reservation, which can be tricky but if you do it's worth it. There is a time limit on the reservation, but there's plenty of time for you to enjoy a couple drinks and take in the atmosphere. It's a really small spot, but the vibes are strong. They give you popcorn to munch on while you sip your drinks and the noise of the upstairs is completely drowned out. I highly recommend checking this place out.

I have been going there for years and always liked it. Service is good. The beer selection is…read moreexcellent, of course and they now have seltzers and liquor which is great. The food is pretty good. Fries are always great and their sliders are the best in town. But here is the bad: for the last year or so, the place stinks! I can only describe it as a burnt, rancid grease smell. It permeates the entire restaurant and sticks to clothes and hair. Don't plan on going anywhere afterward because you will stink. Please do something about the ventilation in the kitchen!

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 love this place. I want to own it or simply move in. Badly…read more This is a day drinkers paradise: peanut shells on the floor, solid selection of taps, natural light from street windows (but not too much) and a salty and well seasoned bartender/owner/operator. This very tiny dive is stashed away between two popular destinations, so you might go right past it if you are not in-the-know. This is the kind of bar you belly up with a stool and make yourself at home. The owner will warm up to you after a couple drinks/tips and realizes you are not some college kid bar puker. Definitely one of B-Towns best kept secrets.

The Alley is one of the better bars in Bloomington. I really like the overall vibe and atmosphere…read more-- it's a great place to hang out with friends. The location is convenient, and it has a fun, welcoming feel that keeps me coming back. Definitely a solid choice for a night out!

Excellent food, high quality beer & wine, and very friendly service. Glad we came! The stout and…read moreporter with both smooth and flavorful, and the burgers and pork tacos were delectable. Will visit again next we're in town.

Generally this is a great place to go ! We're locals & love the beer & food. The service is hit &…read moremiss. We went for dinner on a Sat (no home games) at 5-pm & over half of the restaurant was empty & we were told if we didn't have a reservation (never in 17-ish yrs have I never had them ask me this) we wouldn't get seated for over an hr. So we left . Very disappointing Uplands!! A coach gives a shoutout on Tv & all of a sudden they can't seat you w/o a reservation ‍

Ah yes - the Upstairs Pub. I've been there precisely once, and I never left. The first and only…read moretime I came here was because I am a sucker for roof decks, and this is the only place in Bloomington that has anything close to that. Anyway, I mosey on in on a Tuesday and am told that all drinks were $2. Damn. Blacked out underneath the eponymous stairs on an old cot some kindly doorman deposited me on, and next thing I know it's Wednesday. So I decided I'd head back up the stairs to the Upstairs Pub. Was promptly informed that Jello shots are a mere $2 each. So, rinse, repeat, understairs cot (cheap rent) and sleep and--voila--it is Thursday it is Upstairs Pub o'clock and now they are telling me the whole menu is $3. I think you know what happened. When I woke up Friday they told me that Coronas are only $2 any day of the week, and I'm free to sit on the porch and pretend I'm at the beach, even though I'm in the middle of Indiana, and the closest beach is a fetid lake and lakes don't have beaches they have shores. So I made the Pub my beach and I stayed the weekend and woke up on Monday and now they are telling me anything in a can is $3--including Sun King Osiris Pale Ale. This all happened a year ago. 11/10 close all the other bars. Only downside of the Pub is that a guy cannot survive subsisting on popcorn alone.

On January 19th, the night of the IU vs. Miami game, my friend and I decided to celebrate the win…read moreat Upstairs Pub. We are both Black women. Upon arriving, we showed our IDs to the first bouncer, who directed us to a second bouncer for an additional ID check before entering the pub. The second bouncer reviewed my ID and approved me without issue. For context, I am a current graduate student at IU, born in 1997. He then examined my friend's ID. She was born in 1998, yet he told her that her ID was fake and attempted to confiscate it. My friend firmly insisted that the ID was legitimate and asked what she could do to verify her identity. The bouncer claimed that the ID did not look like her and stated that she could prove it by using Face ID on her phone -- a request that made no sense, as Face ID can be used by anyone with access to a phone and is not a valid form of identification. While this interaction was taking place, white women were continuously passing us in line without being subjected to the same scrutiny or additional ID checks. The bouncer did not stop or question them at all. It is important to note that in my friend's ID photo, she was wearing a blonde wig and eyelash extensions, which she was not wearing that night. Despite these differences, it was still very clear that the ID belonged to her. Eventually, the bouncer stated that he was done speaking with us and suggested that we take the issue up with management. Once inside the pub, the first employee we spoke to was dismissive. He waved his hand at us as if to shut down the conversation and said, "You're here, you can just stay." We explained that the issue was not about being allowed inside -- it was about being racially profiled and feeling unsafe and unwelcome spending money at the establishment. As we attempted to explain this, a man standing next to the employee aggressively turned toward me and shouted, "WHAT," in a threatening manner. As a woman, I felt unsafe and intimidated. Engaging in a confrontation with a visibly intoxicated man who could physically harm me was not an option. Another employee, Connor, eventually stepped in and attempted to provide some comfort. He expressed empathy and stated that although he is white, he understands what it feels like to be a minority. While he cannot fully understand the experience of being a minority in America, I did appreciate his effort to acknowledge our feelings and the fact that he was the only employee who showed us any compassion. Based on this experience, I encourage people of color to be cautious when supporting Upstairs Pub, as our treatment made it clear that this is not an environment where we felt respected, protected, or supported.

Honestly surprised reviews are not higher for this place. Stopped in for a Monday lunch while…read morevisiting Bloomington. There's a bar side and a less bar side, but overall it does have a bar feel. The menu however, is elevated bar food. Not quite approaching Gastropub level, but more than what you're going to find in a dive bar situation. We enjoyed the breaded tenderloin sliders, the salmon BLT (that hoagie bun was pillowy soft), the sautéed brussels sprouts, and the potato pancakes. Although maybe they didn't call them pancakes? They were smashed potatoes. Loaded with butter, salt and pepper, and boy were they delicious. We had excellent service from Morgan, who was very attentive. And I don't know what mixture they're using of syrup and carbonation for their Diet Coke, but it was seriously good. Don't sleep on this place.

We reserved the back room for our daughter's 21st birthday. It was perfect! Brittany took such good…read morecare of us. The food was amazing, and that room just has a great ambiance. We will definitely come back for other events. We also just love going to the restaurant in general. Great place!!!

I didn't know this place existed but am glad I do now! This is a hole in the wall type dive, with a…read moresuper friendly staff and a great selection & variety of craft beer.  We stopped by in the middle of the day during the weekend & all the other patrons were regulars and people who work in the attached strip mall. Very chill, local vibe. Plus, you can bring in your own food! 10/10

Trivia, lots of great local music, and great beers! Highly recommend this hidden gem on the west…read moreside of Bloomington.

Great little restaurant. The French onion soup was a nice treat and the pizza was so fantastic,…read morefresh and delicious. High recommend this place.

Very warm and inviting staff. Wide menu selection and wonderful food! Nice, relaxing interior…read more Interesting that a Hallmark movie was playing on the only screen.

I was down in Bloomington for work, and stayed overnight before continuing on my work travels and I…read morenoticed signs for the vault, and was curious. I wandered down into the basement of the IMU, and found the vault, I was able to seat myself, and my server was very attentive! I had a gin and tonic and a tasty gimlet, they offer some food options, I had some fries that were hot, fresh, thick cut and seasoned well! This is a great place to hang out, and I hope I have the chance to visit again.

I can't believe it has taken me a year to try this place out, it's truly a hidden gem!…read more Thursday Trivia Friday Live Music on the Patio Kids Eat Free on Saturdays Free Validated Parking Drinks we tried: - House Signature - Ol' Red: Bone Snapper Rye Whiskey, bitters, grenadine, simple syrup, Luxardo Maraschino cherry, peeled orange. My favorite drink! - The Vault Lager: Brewed by Taxman Brewing featuring a light body, subtle earthy hop bitterness, and a touch of mild malt - Espresso Martini: Cardinal Spirits Songbird Coffee Liqueur, chocolate pocky stick - Sazerac: Bone Snapper Rye Whiskey, Absinthe, Peychaud's bitters, simple syrup, lime peel   Food we tried: - Southwest Tofu Wrap: fried tofu, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and pickled jalapeños. A part of the Bloomington Vegan Chef Challenge! - Pub Nachos: pico, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, hot sauce, and house-made beer cheese sauce. I would recommend the load it up option: add Fischer Farm pulled pork, smoked chicken, or chili - Hoosier Classic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich: An Indiana classic served with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion on a King's Hawaiian bun. Served with French fries + added Dill Pickle Aioli & Special Sauce. A CLASSIC for a reason, you can't go wrong with this one! Shout-out to Myles, Jordan, and the rest of the team for amazing service!