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    Checkerboard Tavern

    4.2 (19 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

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    Breaded tenderloin and fries.
    Dan H.

    The Checkerboard Tavern is the epitome of a true neighborhood bar. It is located in a neighborhood and there are lots of locals there. This never deters me because it really is a neat place that has been around for a long time. We decided to stop in on a Sunday afternoon. I have to be in the mood to stop in here though, because the bar does allow smoking. I certainly know that there is an audience for this and the audience has no problem finding this place. The cigarette smoke was not too bad. The cigars being lit up one table over made parts of our experience slightly unbearable. If you do not like a smoking-allowed bar, do not visit here. On a side note- I believe that part of the ordinance that allows/disallows smoking indoors in Lafayette should have included placing a decal with a Green Cigarette (smoking allowed) or a Red Cigarette (smoking prohibited) on the door. Would make it easier for people to navigate the world of smoking bars. The crowd was a lively, regular-type Sunday afternoon crowd. We sat on the bar side and were promptly greeted and served. The draft beer options are limited, but manageable. It had been a few years since I had eaten here and I remember the food always being good. This visit did not disappoint. I do not recall if I had ever had the breaded tenderloin here so I ordered one. I was NOT disappointed. It was not overly large, but it was thick and the breaded was just right. It is in the Top 3 tenderloins in town for me. Our basket of fries came in a cute fryer fry basket. It was a nice touch. There were alot of fries though so be prepared to take some home with you. Overall, it was a good experience. Again, I understand and appreciate the need for bars that allow smoking; I just wish this bar didn't allow it because I would be able to visit more and not have to leave all of my clothes in my garage when I got home.

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Great food, friendly service. Not date night ambience but good food for a quick lunch or dinner.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great food, great atmosphere. The servers are the best. My favorite bar in Lafayette.

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    7 years ago

    Great neighborhood bar. Daily specials that are great especial $1 sliders on Sundays!

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Friendly neighborhood bar. Great bartenders ... relaxed atmosphere...great food specials. You won't be disappointed !

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Been going since '84. Best wings around. Waitresses are great and make you feel like home.

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    Spot Tavern - spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot Tavern

    4.1(31 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This controversial mural is the work of The Droops, an Indianapolis-based artist collective who…read morewere commissioned by The Spot to do the piece in 2015. It located on the side of the Spot and overlooks their parking lot. It takes up 2 sections of the bar's side wall. The mural is in great shape but as you can see in the photos, its lower park is obstructed by parked vehicles. It is a collogue of random images that include a guillotine, a beer on a folding chair, a tombstone, a skull, a in a bikini with four eyes holding a beer up, a knife, a clown, a bomb, a trumpet, a cigarette butt, a foot, a face being punched by a fist, a hand holding a knife, and an odd character holding a beer while playing a piano. The mural also depicts a naked woman tied to a tree and male genitalia in between a hotdog bun, which caused quite a site as you can imagine. There were calls by the community to have the offensive piece removed, covered up or fenced off. The change.org petition ended with 20 supporters. At one point the Lafayette police issued a warning that artwork was violation of the city's graffiti ordinance. There was a point during all of this that they used a Mike Pence head (who was governor at the time) to cover the male genitalia. Ultimately, the Spot won and the city decided that the mural was not graffiti and did not meet the criteria for a citation. The mural is standing today. Even though there are a lot of images to digest. The artwork is very nice. This is a provocative piece that definitely generates conversation. You can deiced for yourself what your thoughts on the piece are. Parking to get a closer look at the mural is easy, even though it overlooks a parking lot, the lot is kind of tight. There is however, some free parking pretty close to the mural too. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. There of tons of murals to check out in the immediate area.

    Good bar with friendly staff. On weeknights it's a chill place that makes good drinks at a decent…read moreprice. They have a turntable and offer to play records if you bring them in. On weekends it can get packed and they open up the dance area with loud music. The vibe is still good, just a lot more going on. The outdoor area is a great place to hang out for a more chill experience on these nights.

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    Spot Tavern - Spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot tavern lafayette indiana

    Spot Tavern
    Spot Tavern

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    Checkerboard Tavern - bars - Updated May 2026

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