Absolutely best wings in town and a great locally focused beer list, and the service is solid! Get the burger if you aren't feeling wings - it's amazing. read more

One of the best local Bloomington restaurants. Buffa Louie's specializes in wings, and they do not disappoint. I ordered 15 boneless wings, and they were delicious. I also ordered a side salad which was pretty good as well (I try to rationalize my wings with a healthy salad)! The inside of the restaurant is so awesome. The walls are covered with all sorts of IU decorations. You have to check this place out if you are ever in Bloomington! read more

BuffaLouie's - Sweet BBQ boneless wings with a side salad - Chicken Wings Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

To be honest, I am not a huge sports bar fan. And wings always seemed way more expensive than they needed to be. All that being said, I like Buffa Louie's. Yes, there are TVs plastered over pretty much every square inch of wall, and yes, sometimes it can be hard to have a conversation when you constantly feel like the person you're talking to is watching the game over your shoulder, and yes, you might leave with a neck cramp from looking up the whole time, but all of those things are an exercise in expectations. Come here on IU or Colts game day, and the atmosphere is awesome. No, maybe this isn't the place to have a long, heart-to-heart conversation, but if you're just looking for a place to relax, watch the game, and order some good food for a decent price. this is the place for you. Order at the counter, and they'll bring the food to you. I'd highly recommend their boneless wings and/or their Sweet Lou burger. Both are going to leave your fingers feeling sticky, so make sure to stock up on paper towels. They've also got beers on tap alongside the usual fountain, so if you're of age, make sure to check that out. All in all, a solid wings place and a great option on game day! read more

A Bloomington staple for a reason! Great staff and service. Hard to beat a hometown spot like this. We prefer BL over any other wing place in town. I love the boneless wings, but the bone-in here are far superior to other wing places. read more

This place is awesome. The wings are much smaller than most places, but personally I like that. They are still super filling, but you don't have to shove half a chicken in your mouth at the dinner table. The flavors are unique but not so unique that they're gross or unrecognizable, and the chicken is crispy but also tender (and actually tastes like real chicken!) Unlike most wing spots (such as BW3) these wings actually have adequate sauce to cover all of them. The vibe of the restaurant is also nice, you get the feel of a mom & pop sports bar without hearing sports on the TV so loud that you can't hear your own thoughts. The cheesy bread is also a god send :) Staff is super nice & outdoor seating is available too! read more

BuffaLouie's has been my go to for all of college. I graduate this year and in the wake of this global pandemic I am making my exit from Bloomington for good today. My sister and I stopped in for one last meal. They were so busy and understaffed but every employee thanked us for supporting their small business in this tough time. We got our usual veggie wings which are the best food item I have ever put into my mouth. The owner remembered us from all the times we have been in before and wished us well with a smile on his face. They are still open for carry out and delivery so make sure you stop in or order if you get a chance!! read more

this place forgot half my hour and was very rude. they forgot our sides an d were sarcastic when we legt read more

I got the spiciest wings they had and it seemed like the were just covered in salsa or something.. the sauce wasn't that spicy and it was chunky. The sauce had terrible flavor as well.. just wasn't my cup of tea. For the wait and the taste.. I think I'll just stick to B Dubs. read more

We were super disappointed -- we usually have great luck finding places based on Yelp ratings (at the time of our visit, this restaurant had a 4-star rating with 170 reviews). The young man taking our order was a new employee and he politely apologized when he got hung up a bit entering our order. He attempted to get help from the dozen or so employees milling around behind him, but two just looked and him and walked away before a third stopped to help with an exasperated sigh. The new hire gave us a sheepish, apologetic look while the "helper" jabbed her finger on the screen (not showing him how to do it, just doing it for him) -- however we didn't blame him one bit. He acted like an absolute professional, considering how little training and assistance he was given. Our food arrived surprisingly fast (earned 1 star of the rating), however we immediately noticed part of our order was wrong. We explained to the server that we ordered a side of loaded fries, not a side of plain fries. She gave us an odd look, then walked away -- we assumed to correct our order. But I could see her from our table... she went to the kitchen window to chat with another employee, then shrugged her shoulders and turned around to stand at the counter. We finished our burgers (but not the fries in case they took them back) and she was still standing there. So I went to the counter to ask if they had been able to rectify our order. She said we didn't order loaded fries and... well... that's it. That's all she said. She just stared at me. Because we didn't receive a receipt, I couldn't prove anything, so I just went back to our table and we ate our now-cold fries. Regarding the burgers. My son LOVED the All-American he ordered (earned the 2nd rating star), but the one my husband and I shared was sorely lacking. Granted the meat was very tasty, there was very little of it. It was supposed to be two patties, but they barely added up to one and didn't go to the edge of the bun, so we ate mostly bread. The burger came without any garnishment -- we weren't asked, so we didn't know we had to request lettuce, tomato, onion, etc. With all of the restaurant options in Bloomington, this one has been stricken from our list. read more

amazing food. amazing atmosphere and during games it's always so fun watching the tvs while eating great food.

this should be the top rated place in Bloomington in my opinion, some of the best wings i have ever had. every time i come back to bloomington i will 100% make it a priority to make it back here! read more

2 stars simply for the wing flavor. Yesterday was my first time ever ordering from Buffa Louie's. Out of respect for small businesses during COVID, I chose to order wings from here. This was my experience: 1. Placed a pickup order online that was to be ready at 6:20pm (I also tipped 15% on this order). 2. I show up at 6:30. The order isn't ready and came out about 5 minutes later (15 minutes late). They have about 6 employees standing around giggling and laughing. 3. They give me my order. I drive home (15 minutes away) and notice that they didn't include the side I ordered ($3 worth of food). 4. I call and was immediately put on hold, so I got back in my car. I told the girl on the phone what happened. No apology, no anything besides "the tots will be ready for you". 5. Walk in, again no apology or anything. I drove back for $3 worth of food, which isn't worth the time or gas, but I figured they would make it right and they didn't. Very disappointed. The wings are flimsy and don't have much meat. The flavors are amazing,however. Due to their poor customer service, I won't be supporting this small business ever again. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in Bloomington. A sweet locally owned wing place. Draft beer on tap. go on Wednesday for boneless wing specials. And as an added bonus they have diet Mountain Dew on tap read more

I love the atmosphere and the traditions that go along with it! Good food for decent prices is a huge plus! The only thing is they can't really cater to bigger groups, you will have to split up somehow. read more

Best place I've ever been too. Definitely recommend the the hot garlic or Asian with some fries!!!

Hot spot in Bloomington. Definitely a place to go to if you're visiting. Super busy on game days and weekends. Open seating, they take your name and order at the counter and then call it out when your food's ready. Great beer and wings! I love their classic medium sauce and the garlic parm wings. Super casual place to get dinner before you hit Kirkwood! read more

The food was great and the guy who took our order over the phone was a hoot, like I seriously want to be friends with him. However, we did curbside pick up with the COVID chaos and they told us to be there at 6, but our food didn't come out until 6:23. The wait was just a bit annoying, but worth it for the food. If you are a spicy/bleu cheese fan, you must try a side of the buffamac. My favorite sauces are the spicy garlic and Korean bbq. Great place that was very grateful for our business! read more

Loooooooove BuffaLouie's. Friendly staff. Speedy service. Good atmosphere (if you like sports and/or B-Town history). Host lots of local, live events and competitions like Karaoke Night and Battle of the Bands type things. All the food is good. A little greasy, really hits the spot when you have a craving. Captures the essence of B-Town and IU with every visit. read more

Memphis BBQ was too dry. I did not really like it. TnT was not that hot at all. I also did not like the blue cheese sauce.

Me and my friends had a poopy day due to a potential nader comin at us and we were all sad and hungry little 20 year olds moping around the house until one of my so called friends requested wings. I DONT EVEN LIKE WINGS & I NEVER WILL. I was hurt by this request because I thought they were my friends:/ when we first arrived the ambiance was nothing out of the ordinary. It was a perfectly wood and brick structure I've never seen anything like it before. Walking in there was the most upbeat music playing that really made me happy to be alive and I couldn't help but bust a move. Ashlyn the woman at the register was the most beautiful human I've ever laid eyes on. As respectfully as possible this woman needs to be in HOLLYWOOD. She had the most gracious ora to her and it really soothed my stress filled soul. This place is a 10/10 and I didn't eat a single bite of anything because I was so struck in love. BTW don't even know if the foods good or not I would look below at the other food reviews for suggestions read more

Preface: I am limited to words to describe my disappointment. The "Hurryin Hoosier" has long been my favorite sandwich in town, and a constant that has given my life purpose. Sadly, upon changing from 12 inches to 6inches as the standard size without notification, menu change, or price change. I have lost faith and trust in what was once a loyal food spouse. Discovering my delivery box with 6 inches of sandwich was the equivalent of seeing my mother have unprotected sex with my uncle, traumatic and Life changing. I can never unsee that abhorrent half a sandwich. Disappointment has a physical form now...the "Hurryin Hoosier." Written by a friend -Gabe read more

Iconic Bloomington restaurant, known for its wings. Near the equally iconic Samples Gates of Indiana University. BuffaLouie's theme is IU, and they go all-in on displaying their Hoosier spirit. From the light fixtures, to the stools, to every inch of memorabilia on the wall, BuffaLouie's is maxed out with the IU logo. Once you enter, walk through the cream and crimson decor to reach the counter where you order. For wings, choose between boneless or regular. Choose snack (5), single (10), Louie Dozen (15), double (20), or a half bucket (25) if you're eating in. Lots of sauces to choose from; ask your server about them at the counter. I recommend curly fries as a side. There are also burgers, subs, wraps, and sandwiches as well as chicken tenders. Last time I was at BuffaLouie's, food delivery to my table was pretty disorganized. Servers just yell out your name and hope to find you...it's an issue because there's the main level, a lower level, upper levels, and outdoor seating. Unpopular opinion...I don't care for the owner. Most people love him. I thought he was a little too overbearing. He gave me a hard time once because I'd never been to his restaurant before. Personally, I don't want someone razzing me when I'm trying to order. Pro tip: I suggest ordering wings for take-out on Superbowl Sunday. Easy meal. read more

Best wings in the world. Anyone who know Btown knows Buffa Louis and their famous wings. Been getting wings from this place for over three decades. read more

Friendly staff. Wings were great. Burgers were great. Chicken tenders were awesome. Overall a great dining experience. I plan on coming back everytime I come up to see my Wolverines come to spank IU! read more

Their Sweet Lou burger is utterly divine. I'm not a wings person, or a sports bar person...but this burger, along with their loaded fries...well, they are partially to blame for my higher-than-is-probably-good cholesterol...and it was entirely worth it, because a life without food that might eventually kill you is a life lived blandly and rather unadventurous. Hard place to have a serious conversation about the world, because it is kind of loud, but the food (if you like bar food, which, sometimes, just hits the spot) is good, and the location (right across the street from the Sample Gates) is hard to beat. read more

I know that Buffa Louie's is known for their wings and they are great, no doubt. But my other favorite item here is their Shroom and Swiss burger. Absolutely unreal. I've even tried their "impossible burger" version and it's also incredible. The burgers have been cooked to perfection each time I've had them. The bun (grilled to perfection as well) and the tater tots were top shelf material. The vibe and the staff (especially Sierra) here are also great, definitely a Bloomington destination. read more

I spent about a week in Bloomington and I found this place to be the best burger in town. I've tried the Sweet Lou's burger. It's an amazing burger topped with extra barbecue sauce, double patties, with the onion rings as well. It's an amazing burger that I will definitely recommend. I've also tried the Shroom N Swiss burger which is great but not as good. Double patty filled with melted cheese, an onion ring and a lot of mushrooms. Still a great burger but I would still recommend a Sweet Lou's. I love that branding stamp on every burger. As to the wings I was not very impressed with the quality. Average size wings and there was nothing special about them. read more

It is so disappointing to see how Buffa Louie's level of quality and care has disappeared. My most recent experience on 12/16. I ordered hot BBQ boneless wings and asked for extra sauce on the wings (they charged me 69 cents for that). The picture below shows what I received. Barely any sauce and just sad frozen nuggets sitting in a box. I could have made something better in my microwave. Safe to say I won't be returning soon. read more

BuffaLouie's - Chicken Wings Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I wish I was here longer, or just should've had a big appetite because this place has the best wings in Bloomington. To begin, the place has the looks; its wooden decor really makes it feel more like a fun place to be. There's no wonder why it attracts so many people here to watch IU games and other sports. The environment is always filled with excitement every time when there is a football game on the television or even any basketball game. Now, for me, it was our last time to be on campus with my sister, and moving boxes and furniture into a trailer made us hungry. So, we went to this restaurant around 11 pm, which was almost close to their closing time. The ordering process went smoothly, especially with me, because I just wanted some boneless wings that was really spicy. So, that's basically what I got; a 10-piece (Lucifer) Boneless Wings (the hottest sauce that the cashier recommended). There are also other things on the menu, that's if you aren't interested in their amazing wings, like burgers, chicken, salads, subs, and more. My mom and dad both got burgers, and what was really interesting was that they printed the restaurant's logo on top of the bun, which is pretty cool! Afterwards, we got some sides as well, which was curly fries and chili fries. Both of the sides were stunning, and I couldn't stop eating this stuff because of how delicious it was! The only concern that I had was their delivery process. In order for them to find you, they would call out the name that you provided to the cashier from the beginning. To be honest, if I worked there, I would have a hard time trying to find someone when the place is noisy, especially when there is 3 levels to sit at; I would be all over the place. At the end, the food was fascinating, and the experience was brilliant, even the service was great. The looks, the food, all of it was just incredible! read more

First timer. Had burgers and boneless wings. Burgers were spot-on. Curly fries seemed a bit tough, almost stale. Had boneless HoneyGarlic wings. Fantastic. Pepsi is served, which sucks. Hopefully, they upgrade to Coca Cola products in the future. read more

Hard not to give this wing shop five stars. This was our second visit to Buffa Louie's We were in Bloomington to visit our senior son. He was not with us and we have been to the restaurant two years earlier. The last time there we didn't try the wings we had something else. But this time all three of us tried the wings, We all had different varieties. They were very good. Actually they were some of the best we've ever had. We also had the beer battered onion rings they were good too. We had a chance encounter with the proprietor of the restaurant who is in the witness protection program. That is the response I got when I asked him how he got from New York to Bloomington Indiana. Ed Schwartzman probably had too much shtick! but you could tell he had a good time making sure his customers were happy and enjoying the environment of Buffa Louie's. That is why this fun food place gets five stars. read more

In reply to Owner Comment. $6.49 with nothing on it. After you add everything else to make it taste it good its most definitely not $6.49. This doesn't include a drink or fries. You can literally go anywhere in town and get a full meal for 8 dollars but in your restaurant that just covers the basics. How much do potatoes cost? One lb of russet potatoes costs a dollar per pound on whole sale price. With 1/3 lb being a large serving size of french fries that equates to 33 cents for french fries plus a fountain drink which is literally cents. So let's say fries and drink will cost you 80 cents which includes other ingredients. You charge 2.79 plus 60 cents for cheese. Put it all together plus tax the cheapest a chicken sandwich meal will cost is 10.57. Really man? C'mon let's be real about this. A meal for nearly 11 dollars you would go to a sit down restaurant where people bring you water and take your order when you've been seated. I've been around for a while and am not a fool. I know the worth and value of things and know when I'm being ripped off. At your place you have to wait in line to put in an order and sometimes you get the "I called the name no one came". Give me a break. It wouldn't kill the business if someone walked in and paid 9 dollars for a burger with cheese a drink and fries. Also, I didn't even mention the times I didn't get my food and had to bother the staff for them to either put out my food or give me back my money. Seriously man I don't have an agenda here just telling it from my experience and in my experience I have not enjoyed my visits to your restaurant. I don't look for specials when going out for food just go a place that I think will be good quality food. Specials are nothing more than extreme forms of advertisements which hide the the true nature of the business or a way to get rid of a certain product before it goes bad so I don't put much stock into specials. Why not just run a "special" price as your going rate if you can afford to do that. No business man would run a special at a loss. read more

The boyfriend took me to Buffa Louie's because he loved the place as a kid. Unfortunately, it is no longer the place he remembered. Buffa Louie's has morphed from a family-friendly restaurant to a loud, obnoxious sports bar. They installed an enormous television for the young men to swarm around--we had to go upstairs and hide in a corner in order to hear each other. But I must give the place four stars regardless, because the food was fantastic. I ordered a basic chiken sandwich, not expecting much, but it was so moist and flavorful! I snagged a few fries too, and they were delicious--not the dry over-salted type you find in most Bloomington restaurants. I would definitely vote for Buffa Louie's again, as long as we picked a time when there weren't any major games on TV. read more

Pot Roast sandwich. Try it, you'll love it. Friends had the wings with several different homemade sauces, but I went with the pot roast sandwich with horseradish. Very satisfied with the counter service because I didn't have to wait to order food. read more

I've eaten in a few times, and have ordered delivery a few times from Buffa Louie's, so here goes--a review from both sides of the fence! I love the decor of Buffa Louie's. Walking in, you just feel...well, it's not exactly homie, I wouldn't say, but it's certainly welcoming. I don't go for the game, and maybe I'm just a long time Bloomingtonite at this point, but it didn't feel OVERLY sports bar to me. I mean, it still gave off the feeling of being a sports bar, but it came across in the sort of way that that one relative everyone has who is obsessed with sports's house comes across--homie, just with a particular passion. Anyway, I've gone back and forth on the food at Buffa Louie's as I ate here over the years. I could never decide if I really liked it or not, yet I always came back. I tried nearly every single type of sauce they had, and I liked the wings (boneless, because I'm a pansy), I liked some of the sauces, but nothing ever wowed me. Then we get to about four months ago, when I finally ordered the sweet bbq for the first time and ordered the loaded curly fries. And, well, something finally clicked, as if I'd finally picked out the right things for me. The sweet barbecue is, as it says on the tin, a sweet barbecue, and it's delightful. The loaded curly fries come with bacon, ranch, and barbecue sauce--and it's amazing. I've gotten both things delivered and in person, and they're delicious either way. And I want to note too that my earlier comment doesn't mean the food is bad, because it was delicious; it just wasn't the thing that I particularly wanted at the location. It's like going to a restaurant, and having your favorite food you love above all else, or choosing to try something else which is good but not your favorite. It's that. Delivery from the location has always been prompt for me, even on busy nights. I ordered last week, for example, during the Michigan game where it was impossible to get most anything, and then suddenly...thirty minutes after I ordered, bam, at my door. Amazing speed for the night. So, Buffa Louie's, you've won me over. At first I wasn't too sure about you, but now I love everything you do, what can I say? read more

"Notice how the reviews went completely south after 2008?" Yeah that's sounds about right for Buffa Louies. Its kinda hard to not go while you're in Bloomington, because they have this huge neon sign and it's so well decorated. They honestly spent more time on their decor than on their menu. I feel like this is a Bloomington legend that went south as other people took over. The wings are totally forgettable so then you move on to a chicken sandwich or a hot dog and they are worse than fast food. Drink specials aren't great either so you wonder why you would waste your time at this place to watch the game. I spent 5 years living in Bloomington, and I can tell you first hand, Buffa Louie's is one to ignore, totally overrated. read more

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by my recent visit to Buffa Louis. Since it's in a historical Bloomington building (the Gables has been around since the 1930's at least) the interior is extremely cool and unique, sporting three levels of seating and Bloomington history and lore, as well as multiple plasma screen TV's to watch sporting events. And my food was even good. The side salad was crisp and fresh and my Chicken Louie sandwich was juicy, smothered in provolone, and topped by an excellent sweet BBQ sauce. I shall definately return. read more

The service was so terrible I was totally shocked. The caucasian female cashier was soooooo rude. She didn't put our order in so after all of our friends got our food and we didn't we checked on it. She said your burgers will be the next ones out. 15 more minutes still no burgers so we asked her again. This time she said oh your orders weren't put in so it hasn't even been started yet. Then offers us a cookie as if that would fix anything. So she offers us a refund and goes to talk to her manager about it. Then she comes back and feverishly types on her little touch screen not saying a word. So we ask if they are still going to be making our food and she SNAPS at us saying I just got yelled at by manager about this so if you want you can go talk to him! First of all it isn't our fault you suck at your job, you deserve to be yelled at by your manager if you can't take and put in orders at a restaurant. Secondly I think it is disgusting that you guys spit all over our food as you run around yelling our names. Seriously get a better system for getting food to your customers without the side of spit. Our group of seven is definitely not ever going back after that fiasco. read more

We regularly stop at Buffa Louie's when we are in Bloomington with the kids. They love the chicken fingers and tomato cheese bread, and we love the wings. My only (minor) complaint is that the loucifer and volcanic sauces aren't really that hot. Overall, a fun place with good food near IU. read more

Food is ok but owner behaves like an ass every time I'm there. Today saw him publicly embarrass/shame a server that forgot to use microphone in the middle of a huge post game rush and then made an incredibly sexist and demeaning remark towards two women ordering wings "oh you want traditional? So we aren't men then" Have good wings and food but you can find that lots of places in Bloomington, not worth putting up with the negative comments from the owner. However, the servers were fantastic! On top of their game, fast, and ready to help even when getting stomped on. read more