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    Downing's

    3.2 (31 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars, Irish
    Closed Closed

    Downing's Photos

    DOWNING'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Downing's

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    Thursday special
    Doug A.

    Great food, Thursday night Mexican specials, friendly bartenders. Good place to relax and watch a game with friends.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Jenn is the best! Not to mention, that chicken sandwich is my fave! Great place to chat and hang out with friends.

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    10 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Amazing Pretzel bites, cheese sticks, and chicken tenders. The workers are also very kind.

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Great Food and cheap beer! Thanks for the service and meal!!! Best tacos in Libertyville by far!

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    11 years ago

    I only come here for the free pool on Sundays. Average draft selection. Sink was ripped out of the wall once.

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    13 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    21 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Downing's

    Review Highlights - Downing's

    The new food menu is AMAZING.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Mickey Finn's Brewery

    Mickey Finn's Brewery

    3.4
    (574 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Solid local brewery downtown. Good variety of food. Friendly service. Huge place with lots of…read morerooms for anyone looking for semi- to fully private events. Forgot to take a photo but they have unique cubed cheese curds. They were good but I personally like more of a crust on my curds. The Mexican bowl was a huge serving. Photo is misleading. Fish and chips was great. Will be back to try the other menu items.

    I came here for an office happy hour and it was my first time hearing about it…read more I was blown away. The private room was perfect for our group. The bartender was kind and quick and took care of us sitting at the high tops when no one was at the bar. I had the Amber Ale and I would definitely recommend. I'm not a fan of the IPAs and I don't like the light beers much, so this ale is on my list as one of the best local beers around! The food that was catered was amazing. Great spinach dip, cheese bites, and the pizza was surprisingly delicious. It's rare that a bar pizza stands out, but I swear by this one. Loved the sausage and pepperoni and had my fair share before leaving. They even gave us take home containers so that I could take more home. All the employees here were kind and helpful. I definitely recommend you host an event here or come for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Mickey Finn's Brewery
    100%-certified, all-natural, sustainable, grass-fed,  hormone free Organic burger.  It even tastes better than it looks.
    100%-certified, all-natural, sustainable, grass-fed, hormone free Organic burger. It even tastes better than it looks.
    Stout, hefe weizen and pineapple express

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    Stout, hefe weizen and pineapple express
    Up North Axe & Tap

    Up North Axe & Tap

    4.4
    (22 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Went on a Saturday night with my best friend and it was surprisingly not too busy. Service was…read moregreat and the food did not disappoint. Axe throwing with more restaurant seating in the back with a bar cute aesthetic. They don't have steak sauce for the steak, but the garlic butter makes up for it. We also tried a couple of their Old Fashioneds, solid variety and really good. Definitely a good experience overall!

    Up North Axe & Tap occupies the former Chili U location. There are entrances from Milwaukee Avenue…read moreand the parking in the back. If you're interested in the axe throwing, enter on Milwaukee Avenue as the restaurant is in back and easier to get to from the rear. You can enter either way. I didn't get a chance to check out the axe throwing part during this visit so I won't discuss it. We met another couple and entered from the parking lot at the rear. When you walk in the vestibule, you can only enter or exit on the left as the right side corner of the restaurant is used for live music. On this occasion there was a singer/guitarist playing when we arrived. The other party was seated already so we made our way to the table. There are a bunch of tables and seats at the bar. And the place was packed. Clearly people knew the singer and were there in support. The speakers were turned up and it was hard to hear the conversation at the table. It's a nice menu and has a lot of options. This would be a good spot for our Burger Club, as there were a few options to choose between. In addition to the burgers, there were other handhelds, some nice looking entrees, salads, and nice starters. I opted for one of their burgers and asked for it medium rare. It was perfectly prepared and was quite delicious. My wife got a salad and added chicken. There was a ton of chicken in it. It looked nice and she said it was good. Our two companions ordered burgers and a chicken sandwich respectively and also commented on how good the food was. Our server was very attentive and was constantly refilling drinks before being asked, asked how we were doing, if the food was to our liking, and cleared up finished plates. By the way, their ranch is a dill ranch and is quite tasty. I'd give five stars, except it was extremely loud and hard to hear.

    Photos
    Smoked Brisket Sandwich 10/5 that good!!!!
    Smoked Brisket Sandwich 10/5 that good!!!!
    Cheese Curd Burger  4/5
    Cheese Curd Burger 4/5
    Mystic pink drink

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    Mystic pink drink
    Yana's Speakeasy

    Yana's Speakeasy

    4.8
    (27 reviews)
    11.7 mi

    Yana's has a really cool vibe. When you get there you'll ring a bell and a "special " door opens…read moreinto the restaurant. The ambiance, from the lighting, music and decor is very seductive! We had caviar and drinks that were served in fun glasses and were topped with pretty little flowers. The whole experience really blew us away! I could've stayed all night but it was a stretch on the pocketbook. I truly recommend Yana's especially if you want to impress your friends. Great experience all around!

    We recently made our way to Yana's for an after dinner cocktail on Valentine's…read more They take reservations which is nice for a cocktail spot! We had reservations for 9pm and were able to be seated straight away. We arrived to find the address brought us to a barber shop. Fortunately, my husband had done some research and knew the drill--we made our way to a organ against a brick looking wall. On top of the organ was a bell--we rang the bell and shortly after the brick wall swung open and a woman came out to greet us. She had us play a tune on the organ and then brought us back into the speakeasy. The vibes are pitch perfect. Dimly lit with candles on tables and artful films playing on screens. We loved it. We were greeted straight away and brought water. You can also get a full meal here which we did not know but noted for our next visit. They had a special Valentine's menu as well as their regular cocktail menu. For my first cocktail, I got the paper plane which was light, lemony, and lovely with the adorable touch of a small paper plane pinned to the cocktail with a clothespin. For my second, I got one of their Valentine's specials which was essentially a Boulevardier made with a small float of mezcal on top. What an amazing addition to this classic cocktail! Truly, gave it added dimension, depth, and smoky flavor. I loved it. We also enjoyed their Valentine's dessert special, which was princess cake. It was a lovely blend of tart raspberry and warm almond--we loved it! The service was lovely throughout our experience. Get to it!

    Photos
    Valentine's special
    Valentine's special
    Milada's Aura
    Milada's Aura
    Entrance to the speakeasy

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    Entrance to the speakeasy
    Libertyville's Tavern In The Town

    Libertyville's Tavern In The Town

    4.0
    (245 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    Went out to dinner with a friend and family. Decided on The Tavern…read more Overall ambiance is still an old world steakhouse. Hostess and servers were very nice. Patient and helpful. We started with Caesar Salad and a Prosciutto and Mozzarella dish. Both were good. The Caesar greens were a little "old and brown" but still tasted good. The Prosciutto dish was really good and fresh. Everyone doing great. We ordered some cocktails that were on point as well. Service was slow - probably had a little to do with being on a second floor of the restaurant. But we enjoyed the pace. Entrees ordered were 2 different steaks and one Bacon wrapped chicken. The steaks were amazing. A lot of places, even steakhouses, are cutting back on quality due to costs. These steaks were delicious. I ordered the Allen Bros Ribeye which was cooked perfect and was sooooooo flavorful. It was awesome. The Bacon Wrapped Chicken however, was actually black on top and the chicken dry and over cooked. My wife couldn't eat it. To the restaurant's strength, when we alerted the waiter, they immediately took it off the bill and offered to get anything else. When my wife passed (she ate some of our steaks), they bought dessert for our table too. It was the carrot cake and delicious. We will be back and enjoyed our evening out.

    The Tavern in Libertyville continues to distinguish itself as one of the stronger steakhouse…read moreexperiences in the area. After several visits, it is clear this is a restaurant that understands the fundamentals of fine dining: atmosphere, execution, and a menu that extends well beyond its steakhouse label. What first sets The Tavern apart is its ambiance. The space leans into a dark, romantic, dimly lit aesthetic that feels both polished and inviting. On our most recent visit, we were seated upstairs according to our reservation, and that remains the preferred setting. The quieter noise level above the main floor allows for more comfortable conversation and a more intimate dining experience. Service was solid, if not especially memorable. Our server was efficient and capable throughout the evening, though somewhat lacking in warmth and guidance. Fortunately, the kitchen carried the night with ease. Every entrée at the table was excellent. My wife's lobster was particularly well received, while the steaks were cooked properly, deeply flavorful, and presented with the kind of care expected at this level. Presentation across the board was refined and appealing. The wine program also deserves recognition. The list is extensive, thoughtfully selected, and offers strong choices for diners who appreciate pairing a serious bottle with dinner. The Tavern is undeniably a high-price-point experience, but it largely delivers the quality and atmosphere to justify it. For those seeking a refined steakhouse meal in Libertyville with strong food, notable wine, and an intimate setting, it is easy to recommend.

    Photos
    Gorgeous private party rooms available
    Gorgeous private party rooms available
    Creamed spinach
    Creamed spinach
    Delicious Whisky Sour

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    Delicious Whisky Sour

    Downing's - bars - Updated August 2026

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