LimaMar Restaurant

Recommend the Seoul bites and rye Manhattan. Shout out to Anthony for barkeep of the year. Great…read morecocktail. Better service. Love the whole industrial recycled hotel from the sock monkey factory in Rockford Il. Always loved the hotel rebuild on the old manufacturing skeleton. Ambiance - industrial chic. That's my jam.

From the owner: Culinary Underground is a neighborhood kitchen where Rockford’s past collides with modern flavor…read more We make food that’s thoughtful, unpretentious, and a little bit rebellious — handcrafted plates meant to be shared, paired with craft cocktails and local brews. The room itself is part gallery, part playground: murals, vintage photographs, games, and neon that invite you to linger and laugh. We’re here for locals, late-night diners, and anyone who believes great hospitality should be colorful, creative, and a little loud.

Culinary Underground Full Bar Interior

Dessert Options at Culinary Underground

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Delicious Food & Drinks at Culinary Underground

Wood & Brick Tavern

5.0(1 review)

A fantastic new bar in downtown Rockford with a low key, small town atmosphere. The owner/operator…read moreis really friendly and attentive, and overall it is a chill place to hang out. I think that a menu of unique mixed drinks or a menu of small plates would be a nice touch to improve the experience. Or perhaps a few slot machines as an added thing to do would be great as well. But for what it is, they do a good job.

From the owner: Great selection of wine, beer & cocktails and Rockford’s coziest gaming lounge, all housed in a…read morehistoric bar in downtown Rockford. Offering Happy Hour 3-6pm, Old-Fashioned Fridays and cocktails to walk about with in the Downtown Entertainment District.

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The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge

3.3(28 reviews)

So 3.5 stars overall. Was here for Sunday brunch with a larger group. Arrived at 10am at open…read more Seated, the view is actually very good. Brunch cocktails were good. Ordered the avocado toast and the food itself tasted very good but arrived lukewarm warm. Some of the diners I was with described their meals as cold which was unfortunate. The server was good but could have been more attentive. Overall I would recommended but be prepared. A smaller party might have a better experience. Give them a try. Again good overall and I would return.

We stayed at the embassy suites and had a few drinks at the top. What a beautiful place! It has…read moresuch a history and it has been transformed into a hotel with The Top as the crown jewel. It was lovely! If you're downtown, stop in and take in the views! You won't regret it!

The Top Rooftop Private Hospitality Suite - Rockford Rooftop Meetings & Events

Salmon & Crab Deviled Eggs - Rockford Rooftop Dining

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Specialty Cocktail - Bars in Rockford, Illinois

Disco Chicken

4.3(22 reviews)

0.0 mi

When the Vibes are right, the vibes are right…read more My wife and I have been wanting to try this place out for awhile now and we finally made time to have lunch here. It was a beautiful day so we chose to sit on the rooftop. What a beautiful view of the city and the river. It was a little chilly with the wind but we endured because of the view. The restaurant itself was not super busy but definitely steady. Every single staff member we interacted with was so incredibly friendly. We felt very welcomed to be there. We shared their Imposter Sandwich (Tofu) and a large order of Tots with the Sauce Sampler. The sandwich was phenomenal! Crispy, flavorful, & large enough to share. Tots were also cooked perfectly and seasoned well. We both left VERY full. My Only complaints/criticism was that their sauces were mostly misses. We only liked 1 or two of the ones we tried. They also don't offer a sauce with any heat. I personally prefer super spicy and really wanted more spice with what was offered. Also as a vegetarian, I never understand how a Tofu sandwich can be significantly more expensive than regular meat sandwiches. That part is always frustrating to me knowing how cheap tofu is. I also do not run a restaurant and do not have intimate knowledge of the overhead cost of things so I am totally ignorant to that part. It just can feel "predatory" because it's the only option for people that dont eat meat. in closing, this place is Awesome! They have amazing food, an awesome location, great staff, and this place would be a good experience no matter the party you came with. I definitely recommend giving DIsco Chicken a try.

This place has a unique, fun atmosphere, and lots of different chicken choices. The layout is 3…read morestories and seating is a little tight but love that they have one of the only rooftop bars/dining areas in the city with a great view! Ordered one salad online and it said it would be ready around 6:25, but wasn't ready until 6:40. I was bummed at wasting 15 minutes waiting inside, especially since my order was small, so I wish their estimates and online ordering were better. I probably wouldn't recommend coming here if you're in a rush. Once I got the food, though, it was one of the best salads I've had in a long time (technically called the "Disco Greens"). It was delicious so I'm adding back a few stars for that. We'll give it another try soon, it might have just been an off night

Nice establishment

Bamboozeled and Elote

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Children of the corn !! Tater Tots, like esquites

Social Charcuterie Bar & Cocktails

4.5(193 reviews)

0.2 mi

Let's get social!…read more Vibey space teetering the line of eclectic hipster hangout spot and elevated modern dining with grace. The service is warm, welcoming. The lights are moody. And the food is cranked all the way up to 11. I do not know much about rockford, but I can only assume this is one of the best cocktail programs in the City. A good balance of familiar favorites riffed, and creative concoctions adorn the menu. The food? Absolutely absurd. The chicken is jumping with flavor. Pork tacos are some of the best. A lovely charcuterie board should be mandatory for all guests. This place is full of fun, flavor, and love!

If you want to start a love affair with vintage spirits -- this is the spot. Luxury Cocktails…read more--&--premium ingredients are perfect in this sultry restaurant. The back-drop has such a sense of time & place. The graceful mixologist did not condescend to my curiosity. I tried the 43 problems at his suggestion and it was delicious ! I'll try the entrees next time and of course another new cocktail.

Vibe

Small Charcuterie Board

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Cocktails Late Night

Sheilas Daiquiri Lounge

4.9(7 reviews)

The atmosphere was very laid back the owners made you feel very welcome, not to mention the drinks…read morewere amazing and the pizza was pretty good too. Definitely will go back for more delicious drinks.

What a great place! We had noticed this as we drove by on our way to the Music on the Rock every…read moreWednesday at the Burpee Museum, and when we finished walking through the Rockford City Market on Friday, we decided we had to stop it. Ambiance wise, you have brick combined with stone, interesting tables and chairs, a blacked out ceiling with very nice lighting - this place is stylin! We walked in, selected a seat, and were greeted and promptly ordered. My wife had their regular daiquiri, and I had their Bomb Cherry version. Both were perfectly chilled and were very good. We'd eaten at the City Market, and regretted that because we didn't know that they also have food. Beef sandwiches, pizza, and other stuff. We're going back for a full experience in the near future! FIND this place. If you like daiquiris, this is for you.

A look into the business, to the south. There is also an upstairs area we didn't explore.

The heart of the operation - a rainbow of daiquiri flavors, all perfectly chilled!

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A flyer for an upcoming event

The Music Box

5.0(1 review)

0.0 mi

i'm partial because i'm a Roger Clyne fan but this place rocks!…read more creative drinks, clean fun atmosphere. great sound. what else can you ask for?? miles was coming around seeing how everyone was doing. i'm from the western suburbs and we would kill for a cool place like this!! i move to chicago a few years ago and always heard mixed reviews of Rockford. False. Really nice downtown and this spot is most excellent! here's to life!

From the owner: The Music Box is a premier music venue, listening lounge, and bar located in Downtown Rockford, IL…read morewith an art deco elegant yet cozy vibe and affordable craft cocktails and beers. The Music Box stage houses touring music artists from around the world with quality sound and an intimate atmosphere.

Stage View

Bar View

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Bar Area

27 Aluna

4.1(164 reviews)

Me and my boyfriend went for dinner before a concert and nothing disappointed!! Absolutely nothing…read morewas not a 10 !! We had the curry salmon bowl and the chicken adobe I had the ube drink which tasted like fruity pebbles but so good we ended with ube cheesecake which was gone in seconds will definitely return !!

Interesting concept. Admittedly I'm not familiar with Filipino cuisine but it was convenient to…read morewhere we were going next and wanted to give it a try. Kudos for having two mocktail options and each for only $10. Appetizers were amazing. Pork bowl with fried egg was good but mildly seasoned so a bit bland. Bao were good. Ube cheesecake was delicious but the coconut ice cream was distracting, would get it on the side next time. Friendly service if somewhat slow. Nice to support a small business in downtown.

Bistek Sammie

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Prairie Street Brewing Company

4.1(544 reviews)

Prairie Street is a great place to go in Rockford! Whether for a nice Dinner,…read more Shareable's, or enjoying the Deck - You'll always meet a friend in there!,

Everyone Deserves a second Chance…read more I visited PSB on my lunch because they have a Plant based Gyro and that in itself is very difficult to find. They were steady for lunch but not nearly as busy as I expected at 1230 on a Friday. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was very nice. She was very polite and attentive. I ordered the one thing I came for (obviously), and was surprised by how quickly It was ready. Something I appreciated as I was on lunch at work, so I had limited time to begin with. The Gyro was delicious! I got their pickled onions on the side as I wasn't sure how strong they'd be. They were actually very good and an excellent compliment to the gyro itself. The Gyro was served with Potato Wedges. These I could have done without, they differed in size so the cook was drastically different depending on which one you got. The small ones were almost over done and the large ones weren't cooked enough. The Sandwich was definitely the highlight of my meal. This place is so cool, Such a beautiful building with amazing outdoor seating. My other complaint is the price. $20+ for a sandwich (after tax) is outrageous. I am very happy to have tried it, It was delicious. I most likely won't go back for that sandwich though. Too many options around at a fraction of the price. This place definitely deserves to be tried by everyone. They are one of the best spots in all of Rockford.

Cheese Curds

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Exterior that my husband took.

The Norwegian

4.6(229 reviews)

1.4 mi

We drove to Rockford from Madison to eat here specifically and tagged on going to the Anderson…read moregardens. We were not disappointed! Fantastic food and service! The place is really adorable too. We just happened to swing by here once after a flight delay and they were booked, so we knew it must be good. If you're up for some excellent Scandinavian fusion cooking with some adorable ambiance you found your place! Just be sure to have a reservation on the weekend. This was absolutely worth the wait and the drive!

I tell you what, Rockford, Il is a pretty quiet town. I posit it is so quiet because all of the…read morelife is situated in a rustic, vibrant, warm cafe serving up fresh brunch behind incredible hospitality. The energy inside norwegian is contagious. Everyone is your friend. The service is warm, not stuffy. The food is exactly what you want: hearty, but not heavy, flavorful and still fresh. An absolute gem in a small town. A place that acts as a glue for a community. A space for people to come together share life along an excellent, farm to table meal. Every small town needs their norwegian!