We had been to this place several times years ago when we lived in BloNo, and always had a great…read moreexperience. When we were back visiting recently, we decided to stop back in. We went on a Friday afternoon, and there were people in there, but still quiet, which was nice. We sat at the bar, and our server was helpful and checked us without being overbearing. The menu selection is great - not too small, not too big. Wines from different US locations, but also France, Italy, etc., so a nice option for everyone. They also had a board with special limited releases. We each had our own glass of wine and shared a third to try 3 different wines. Their prices are super reasonable, and they have quality selections. We also ordered some cheese to snack on. Delicious charcuterie options, as well as some other items like The Rock's hummus - yum! This is such a gem for the area. You can also take items home and shop from their storefront. Nice staff and a thoughtful menu. We will be back next time we are in town!

Got our drinking on at this Normal wine bar. It happens to be located close to the ISU campus…read more Stave doesn't get many students. Mostly because they're elsewhere slamming bad beers and Jell-O shots probably. That leaves more room for us here though. Choosing was made easier by the limited choices. It's got a wine list with only a few each of reds and whites, with quite a few California ones. They have some Italian ones too. Good prices for a glass. It's about $9 for a glass of the Sandhi. Basically this is a Chardonnay from the Central Coast. The Central Coast of California that is. It's about $2 for munchies such as apricots. They also have charcuterie boards with cheeses and meats. For sure it's a chill place compared to other bars on campus. It's open from the afternoons to the evenings. They're closed Sundays.

Nice place. Had nice live music when we were there, nice bar, pretty nicely displayed antiques…read more Very friendly employees. Definitely be going back

Great service!!! Both Gordy and Cara were very knowledgeable about the wines and very friendly.read more

Nate is the best! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a family trip and had the best time :) Nate is…read moresuper knowledgeable and sociable. Highly highly recommend the cocktail "children of the corn". Perfect drinks and perfect vibe!!

I was really excited to check this place out after seeing their cocktail menu online, and in some…read moreways it definitely lived up to the hype. The drinks were excellent--well-balanced, creative, and clearly made with skill. There was also a live musician performing during my visit who was amazing and added a great atmosphere and really elevated the overall vibe. Service, however, was a mixed experience. One of the bartenders (a newer female bartender) was very friendly, attentive, and showed a lot of potential--she made a great impression despite seeming a bit new. Unfortunately, the other bartender completely brought the experience down. He came across as rude, disengaged, and honestly like he didn't want to be there at all. I understand it was a busy night, but there was very little sense of urgency from him, and wait times felt longer than they should have been--even factoring in the crowd. That said, I do understand everyone can have an off night, and given how good the drinks and atmosphere were (plus the positive reviews I've seen elsewhere), I'd likely be willing to give it another shot. Overall, great cocktails and ambiance, but inconsistent service keeps it from being a top-tier experience--for now. I will be happy to update following a repeat visit.

We were there on a warm summer evening and dined outside where the classic downtown buildings…read moreprovided shade for the setting sun. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We ordered drinks and two special appetizers, shrimp in a spicy cream sauce and pork belly bits with diced mango. Both were delicious. For our mains, we chose: Sassy Chicken Thighs and Brown Sugar Brined Pork Chop. The chicken thighs melted in my mouth. We spoke at length with the manager after our dinner and tried to guess the ingredients in the outstanding sauces. The sassy sauce had in addition to the honey and Dijon, some cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and cumin. Not too spicy, just enough zip to make it interesting. The pork chop was also amazing. Tender and juicy with a cherry balsamic glaze. We would definitely recommend a visit and plan to return the next time we're in town.

This place was really good but my judgement all the way until we got our food was mixed. Very good…read moreYelp reviews but we were able to walk in and be seated immediately on a Friday night. The menu was several pages but only one page with food, drinks were the remainder. We got the dipper appetizer and I had the Sassy Chicken Thighs. Both were good and the thigh was boneless. My wife had the loaded potato salad, asparagus, and broccoli which she enjoyed. My son had the Steak Sliders with the potato salad which he really enjoyed. I suppose when the chef can master a menu there's no need for multiple pages. I misjudged and would definitely come back if I'm in town again.

This was a beacon of light in the area. Met a friend halfway from her house to mine in Pontiac for…read moresome girl time. Looking for things to do and this popped up. We decided to give it a try. It was a nice place to relax and have wine and food. There was enough parking in front and I believe some on the side. Chairs and tables and sofas were available to sit at. There was also another seating area on the side should you not want to be on the music side. Wine is available for purchase and there is a wine club if live in the area. There was music on this particular evening, acoustic rock. It was two men with guitars and you can request music via a scan code. Great idea! They were good and had a lot of songs to choose from. We went for the flight, nachos and a flatbread pizza. The flight was good as we were able to determine what glass/bottle we wanted with our food. The nachos may have been good but unfortunately they arrived cold. I assume as they were sitting waiting for the pizza. The pizza was good and hot. We had the meat pizza with the sauce. It was a little sweet for me, so maybe they were going for a bbq twist on the tomato sauce but still decent. The people at the counter were very nice and answered any questions.

These are difficult times for many of us but especially so for small business owners so it's very…read moregood to meet them and get to shop at their stores or eat at their restaurants. They offer unique experiences that can't be matched. We stopped in Pontiac on our drive up Route 66 and walked around the beautiful courthouse on the day after Christmas, we encountered 4 people total, incredible. We almost walked by without stopping but something caught my eye so we stepped in. Beautiful, well maintained and tastefully renovated shop. Great selection of wine of all varieties and we enjoyed a nice conversation with the owner who suggested a red and white, which we bought. Highly recommended.

The staff are very friendly and it's a very clean place…read more Usually, the Midwest is not known for good wines because of the type of grapes that are grown around here, but this place has found a way to create ones that are very drinkable and refreshing

We pulled up and I wanted to move in. The front entrance had beautiful, seating, and lots of fall…read moredecor. Once you walked in, they had breathtaking ceilings and beautifully decorated walls, and a great ambience. We were greeted by a very friendly Bryce, who is one of the owners. He was beyond knowledgeable about his wine selections, and was so easy to talk to. You could tell how passionate him and his family are about this Vineyard. We tried so many delicious wines and brought home a few. We will definitely be back and highly recommend visiting this winery if you live nearby or on vacation. They also host so many different events here such as yoga, weddings, showers, charcuterie, events. If we lived closer, I would be a regular!

Fun, friendly place with great menu!! I got the Special…read more"Bloomin Mayer" Tomato bowl, chicken salad, boiled eggs, cottage cheese on a bed of lettuce $8.25

Good food and good people. Very comfortable and roomy dining area. Definitely will be back for that…read moreshrimp salad again.