We have enjoyed time at Cardinal Spirits twice recently. The first visit was fantastic (and…read moreprompted us to make reservations for Mother's Day for the second visit). The second visit was okay. First, the best parts: the cocktails were delicious and I loved trying a few of the different spirits when our server brought us samples to try. Also, the patio atmosphere was lovely as the weather was perfect for both visits. The bingo was also a lot of fun! Overall, the food was good, but on our second visit the service was incredibly slow. Our server told us that the kitchen was running behind, but our friends were at the table next to us (with a different server) and they ordered when we did and had finished eating before our food even arrived - and I had to go find someone to inquire about it as our server never returned after dropping off drinks. She did apologize and take an item off the bill and hand us a few drink coupons which was appreciated, but the experience had put a damper on our enthusiasm (especially after we told the rest of our party how awesome the place was). Will I go back? Yes, but maybe with tempered expectations.

Pretty impressed! Decided to come here for Saturday lunch with my family and made a reservation…read moreonline at the last minute, but we would have been able to get in without. Without the patio open though, I can see it filling up easily. The atmosphere is fun (board games!) and bright but somewhat industrial with the distillery next door. The staff was friendly and very enthusiastic but just a little overbearing for me. The samples they brought around of two of their spirits (a gin and amaro) were very good and much appreciated. As appealing as the cocktails sounded, I didn't feel like drinking, so I got the Last Call mocktail. I couldn't pick up much 5 spice, but it was still a pleasant and refreshing light drink. I had a sip of my parents' old fashioned and Smokin' in the Girls' Room, and those were both really good - I was really into the lapsang souchong tea-infused rum in the Smokin' in the Girls' Room and would've ordered it for myself if I'd been drinking. To eat, I had a mushroom melt (the veganized version with vegan cheese) with the OMG fries. I really liked the sandwich; I loved the giardiniera and the jus, and you usually can't get that sort of thing in a vegetarian or vegan sandwich, so I was really happy to have it here and thought it was done well. The OMG fries were also really good. I don't like fries if they're plain, but these were heavily seasoned with a delicious spice blend. The vegan version of the fries omits the truffle aioli that they normally come with, but they were plenty flavorful with just ketchup. We shared a Thai tea creme brulee for dessert. I am crazy about Thai tea so I expected to like this, and it was everything I hoped for. The tea flavour was nice and strong, and the tapioca pearls were a nice little enhancement. They do an auto-gratuity of 20% no matter the party size, which I'm not completely opposed to, but I think if you're doing that you at least need to have a note on the menu rather than have the waiter tell you as they're giving you the bill, or better (in my opinion) to just raise the prices by 20% and sell yourself as a no-tipping restaurant. But it wasn't a huge deal in this situation; our waitress was good and we would've left a good tip anyway.

Sleepers is definitely a sleeper favorite in Bloomington. The bar has a nice chill, relaxed vibe,…read morewhich can be hard to find in a college town. The prices were also very reasonable for both food and drinks. You can get the typical no-frills bar food, but if you're just looking for a space to relax before an IU game I'm not sure there's a better spot in Bloomington. We had great service and our whole group kept talking about how it was such a great find. It's attached to a motel and can be easily overlooked when driving into town.

Perfect Nitro Guinness plus great wings. Very chill atmosphere. Bartender reminded me of years…read morespent in beach bars near the Gulf of Mexico.

We made a reservation online, but it probably wasn't necessary since the restaurant was fairly…read moreempty with the college students gone for summer break. Despite all the open seating, we were placed right between two other parties, which was a little annoying. The service itself was just okay. Nothing terrible, but nothing particularly memorable either--mostly just taking orders and bringing out food. The portions were on the smaller side, though you'll definitely get full if you order enough dishes. The frites were good and reminded me of Five Guys fries. I ordered the chicken, while my husband got the chef's special: homemade potato gnocchi with tenderloin. The chicken was decent but a little dry and really depended on the sauce for flavor. The chef's special, however, was excellent. We also enjoyed the Rosebud cocktail and the lemon tart for dessert.

For our dogs BirthDay, Becky and Me went out to celebrate at C3 (dog had to stay home, LOL!)…read more Making a resrevation was super easy, and we were seated in a cosy table in a roomy dining nook. We knew the food would be good because the menu was small- Hats Off to Exacutuve Chef Matthew Smits!!! Becky got the 'Chicken' and loved the savory broth and decadent cilantro(?) sproutes. The chicken VERY juicy too! I got the Fulaful- I don't even know what that is, but I felt adventerous! I loved the orange sweet potatoes and Pistashio Nuts, and the savory Spinach was incredible! The feta cheese on the fulafel got swallowed by all the other flavors, but an incredible meal none theless!! Keep up the GREAT COOKING!!!

If I lived around here this would easily be one of my go-to bars. They have a full bar plus 10 or…read moreso craft beers on tap and a PBR tap inside an old Chevy on the other side of the bar. Cozy, chill vibes, great low lighting, clean, unique decor...idk about the deer, but there's a lil something for everyone.  While we were there, the music made me feel like I was at The Bronze. They also have shuffleboard, ski ball, and foosball tables. Note: They do card everyone and ask for proof of vaccination. This is a great place to hang out with friends. All love.

Pretentious bar. No go. Lame. Friends from out of town wanted a nice bar. They accused us of being…read morea bar crawl. We were not. In fact rather aggressive. Bloomington deserves better.

I am a millennial and probably too old to be here on a Saturday night, but there we were! DJ Bongo…read morewas lighting it up. It almost feels like a speak easy with the not-super-obvious entrance. I like that there are smaller, more intimate spaces for conversations in the Cellar in addition to a small dance floor. I loved the twinkly lights and the vibes. Also, coming from Indy my jaw was on the floor at drink prices -- amazing. What took the cake? A SLUSHIE machine that actually still had slushie drinks in it.

One of my favorite bars in town! Whenever we go out we always make a stop at the root cellar for…read morethe cheap drinks and lively atmosphere. I always suggest going on a dance party night or a themed night because it is always more fun that way. The bartenders are a little rude but that is to be expected from a packed bar on a Saturday night where you aren't trying to get good service just a quick cheap drink

Average martini bar. Bartender was nice but seemed very high and just out of it while making our…read moredrinks. The place was empty from 9:00 to 10:00 and the dj was just vibing by himself. I could see is being more fun later in the evening.

Serendipity has a split personality. Classy (well, classy for Bloomington) lounge upstairs, your…read moretrendy cousin's basement downstairs. The martinis served upstairs are delicious and unique. Drinks downstairs are strong and super affordable - $6 singles and $8 doubles. i show up for their Latin dance nights, which are always a good time.

The orbit room is always wonderful! They have wonderful music acts come in, both local and touring,…read moreand the YUMMIEST brown butter popcorn I have ever had.

This review is strictly for food--I'm glad this place exists presenting the weird music that they…read moreare. That said, the hot dogs are...not great for a place specializing in hot dogs. They're a bit too squishy, probably due to being steamed rather than charred, and I found the bun to be soggy and untoasted, the vegan "chili" to really just be black beans, and the "horseradish aioli" to just be ordinary mayo. I'm sure I'll be back for music, but I'll probably just order a drink next time.

This is the new sour house built by Upland. It's right next to the Upland brewpub so you can't…read moremiss it. This is definitely a good place to try a specific style of beer (sours of course). They have several on tap and available for carryout. Start with the Basis which is their plain Jane sour. Then move onto all the flavors to see which you like best.

Another stop on one of our YelpLouINvasions!…read more After hearing about and subsequently missing an Upland takeover at Westport Whiskey and Wine, I was newly aware of a new-to-me provider of sour beers that was within visiting distance in Bloomington! So while we were in town to drink cocktails at Cardinal Spirits and have some wine at Oliver Winery, we also decided to stop at Upland for some beer. Cover all our alcohol bases, you know? :-P Anywho, the Wood Shop is the tap room and brewing facility right next door to Upland Brewing Co. We got there just a liiiiittle too late for a tour. But it is never too late for a flight! I love sours. LOVE them. So the menu excited me! Our server, Adam I believe, was friendly and patient with us (most of us being a tidbit tipsy since this was our fourth stop of the day!) I really enjoyed all the beers I tried. I honestly couldn't tell you a favorite! We were also able to call in an order for food from next door, pick it up and eat it at the Wood Shop. The space is big and it is fun to drink among the barrels, it is clean and looks brand-spanking new. I only wish Bloomington was closer to Louisville, so I could visit more often.