Pauls has the best cheeseburger ever! Love the dive bar and all the taxidermy. If you want a cheap burger that tastes like a million go to Pauls! read more

By far the best cheeseburger I have ever had in my life!!! we had so much fun in this bar prices are more than reasonable

The hamburger was way over done, tough. The buns were stale. Cheap enough but not worth it. Draft beer 2.5$ for a bush light with a chilled mug so that is a win. Place smells like smoke and you will to when you leave. read more

Paul's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

First of all I always go as soon as they open.. beer and an old fashion cheeseburger always hits the right spot. You're always welcomed with a good gesture. Can't beat the taxidermy they have m, definitely old style place you want to visit for a cheap burger and beer read more

So, don't even think about bringing kids in, even if it's noon. We stopped in for lunch before we went back to the aquarium. Got shitty looks and drinks slammed on the bar. If you don't want kids put a sign up. Bartender was inconvenienced by us ordering. No smile, just a grumpy old man. Blew his nose and didn't see him wash his hands. I hope he did. Won't ever go back there again read more

After chatting with a Dubuque native at the top of Fenlon Elevator, he suggested that a visit to Paul's tavern was a must if I wanted a true Dubuque experience. Coincidentally it just so happened to be National Cheeseburger Day when I popped into Paul's just as they opened for the day. What can I say about Paul's? Old school, dive bar, authentic, taxidermy museum, friendly, inexpensive... I could continue with positive adjectives but I think you get the vibe and why this place gets an easy 5 star review. Cooking off a 1930's era grill that has been here since opening day in the 1940's the simple menu of cheeseburgers and ham and cheese sammys is all you need. For $4 this is unquestionably the best bargain of our five day road trip. A fat patty with some grilled onion and pickles and melted cheese along with a bag of chips (no fries - chips) is as American as it gets. Not only was it the perfect lil burger, there is so much eye candy to wander around and look at while the grill master plys his trade. Mounted wildlife are in display cases surrounding the bar, including a polar bear on the ceiling. This kinda collection usually charges an admission fee, but not at Paul's. Think of it as paying $4 for admission and getting a free cheeseburger! A great deal no matter how you look at it! The seasoned female behind the bar was quite pleasant and eager to talk about the history of Paul's but also seemed like the professional that could bounce someone out of there in a heartbeat for being a jerk. Fresh popcorn is 50 cents for a small grocery bag and provided a cheap snack to take with for the drive to the Quad cities later that day. One of my all-time favorite burger and dive bar experiences! I'm so glad that I chatted with Evan the night before for the recommendation. read more

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A local dive bar with nothing fancy but very nice patrons and bartenders make you feel right at home. Make sure you order a hamburger as it is extremely inexpensive and the talk of the town. It is a simple burger served on a paper plate, yet has amazing flavor and is cooked to perfection in a specialized oven which is older than the hills . For a dive bar it is quite a treat with no grease read more

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Best burgers and service! Have been eating here for years following in my father's footsteps! read more

Growing up in the Midwest corner bars, dive bars, and basement bars were everywhere. I walked into Paul's Tavern and was immediately taken back to my grandparents basement. I let out an audible gasp when I saw the Pabst Blue Ribbon lamp hanging from the ceiling. My grandfather had the same one in his basement bar. The only thing that was missing with the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. But I digress cigarettes and smoking is bad but dive bars, cheeseburgers and beer is not. The Menu is simple: burgers, potato chips (pick your flavor from the bags hanging on the wall), hot ham and cheese sandwich, or a tuna salad sandwich. That's it. Simple and to the point. Cheeseburgers were $4 and came with diced onions and pickles. Ketchup, mustard, and mayo were on the table. Our burgers were a tad well done but it still tasted good and hit the spot. While it's mostly a beer establishment they did have a full bar. My husband, the south Texas born and raised lad that he is, made the comment: there's a lot of bars in Iowa. Bless his heart he didn't grow up in the Midwest. I explained to him when you live somewhere where it's cold and dumb half of the year you need places to warm up and have a few drinks. Paul's Tavern is one of those places. While we were there a group of four older ladies came in, had a round of drinks, and were off to the next bar. They were doing a holiday pub crawl. I could see why Paul's made the list. Paul's Tavern is a solid choice for a burger and a beer. 3.5 stars for me but rounded up to 4 for the nostalgic Pabst Blue Ribbon lamp and cool dive bar ambiance. read more

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Good atmosphere, excellent prices and never a problem with any sort attitude with regulars/locals. Love it. Slice of Iowa that is the best thing I've experienced. read more

Service was beyond subpar. Waited 10 minutes for everyone around me to be served. Even the polar bear couldn't bring me back! 0/5 if I could. read more

Great customer service. Great food excellent prices. Come grab a Paul's burger and a cold beer enjoy the hospitality.

If you want simple, quirky and local, this place is great. A damn fine double cheeseburger and cold Coors stubbies with great service. No fries, only chips. I didn't try the hot ham and cheese or tuna salad sammy but I was stuffed after my burger. I would hang here regularly if this were local to me. read more

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This is not a normal restaurant and they just serve burgers. Real burgers not the thin ones you get from a chain restaurant, burgers made on a special grill that they only have. My husband saw this restaurant on YouTube as a recommended place in Dubuque. It's very small and you may be hesitant to order but let me tell you it's worth stopping in. What a great value for a great burger and we loved our bartender Jen and next time we are in Dubuque we will be stopping in to see her. read more

The old lady in there is definitely racist. Waiting 15 mins and she just kept walking past me, finally walked out after she served another person that walked in 15 mins after me first. read more

A Step Back in Time with Outstanding Food Walking into Paul's Tavern is like stepping into a time capsule from the 1960s. The vintage electric signs cast their nostalgic glow over what has to be an original bar from the 1950s, creating an authentic atmosphere that you simply can't find anymore. This isn't a themed restaurant trying to look retro--this is the real deal. Exceptional Service and Personal Touch The service was absolutely excellent. What really made the experience special was when the owner took the time to show me exactly how their famous hamburgers are made using their vintage Norge Broilator. It's rare to find this level of personal attention and pride in craftsmanship at any restaurant, let alone at these prices. The Burgers: Simple Perfection The hamburgers themselves were everything I'd heard about and more--tasty, moist, and a genuinely good size. They're cooked using that historic broiler method that creates a distinctive flavor you won't find anywhere else. While I'm a fan of In-N-Out burgers, Paul's offers something completely different and equally worthwhile. Unbeatable Value The prices are extremely reasonable, especially considering the quality and the unique experience. This is honest, unpretentious food at prices that remind you of a simpler time. Bottom Line Paul's Tavern delivers an experience that's well worth your visit. Between the authentic vintage atmosphere, outstanding service, and genuinely delicious burgers, this place offers something special that's becoming increasingly rare. Don't miss it if you're in Dubuque. read more

After all these years and returning to Dubuque, I finally righted a wrong and stopped by for my first-ever bar burger! Grilled onions, why of course. Melty American cheese, don't mind if I do. Sliced dill pickles, why did you even ask? They grill these simple burgers in a grilling contraption that has to date back to the 40's (maybe 50's)? It produces a fantastic burger that comes in a plain bun and topped with the aforementioned goodies. Accompany that with a bag of chips (or Funyuns as one does!) and a cold can of PBR and you got yourself one heck of a meal. Extra hungry...order two...they're super inexpensive and you'll be in a food come in no time. One last thing...pretty sure they are CASH ONLY, so come prepared. read more

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I do a lot of research when I plan my trips to find the cool things that are off the beaten path and this was one of my stops that I really wanted to stop at but they were temporarily closed. I was so disappointed that I was not going to get a an old fashioned cheeseburger here so I decided to call one last time and OMG the phone was answered, this was opening day after the shut down. The place is an old school bar with a few booths and a small bar that serves famous burgers cooked on a 1935 Norge broilator so I'm stopping for a cheeseburger and I'm going to do a PBR to wash it down. The place is filled with all kinda of taxidermy animals which is also unique and just adds to how cool this place is. The burgers come with onions and pickles only but you get ketchup and mustard to put on them. I asked for a rare cheeseburger with pickles and onions and they said ok. The cheeseburger was cooked perfect rare with pickles and onions on a generic white bun and pretty good. The cheeseburger was not very large but it was juicy and looked like a fresh hand formed patty and delicious. No it's not the best cheeseburger in the world but it's the whole experience of eating in this old school bar. read more

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Where gloves when handling food after touching money. Smells like smoke.Wash hands after touching raw meat.

Nice little local bar, dive classification. Cheeseburger chips no fries just chips! Worth the stop for lunch and a beer. read more

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What a fun place and a real landmark in Dubuque. Folks are friendly and all reasonably priced. Limited menu but a must visit kind of local bar. Lots of trophy animals from the past. The bar hasn't chanced much in 50 years. We were looking for a fun place to grab a burger and a beer. We were not disappointed. Not sure but this has to be one of the oldest bars in Dubuque. Enjoy! read more

Paul's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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friendly local tap, limited menu to (4) sandwiches. Only toppings onions, pickles, mustard and ketchup. $4.00 for a basic cheeseburger. good snack burger. lots of taxidermy on display read more

That burger totally lives up to the hype. Delicious and delightful. Great jukebox, although it's one of the fancy ones that gets expensive fast. Connie and Amber took great care of us. Drinks are strong and come quickly. Decent variety of beers and spirits. Easy off street parking in the lot next to the building. You can even leave your car there overnight if you need to get a ride home after a full night of fun. read more

Paul's Tavern - The Holy Trinity - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Wow, this traditional old school Dubuque! The service was wonderful and prompt. I would highly recommend getting some pictures or selfies with the taxidermy of multiple animals, from fish to fowl and big game wildlife. The screen in the late evening is very lively to say the least and the crowd is a bit on the older side, but the drink prices are very affordable compared to other locations in the neighborhood. read more

Some of the best burgers around. Friendly folks and a nice little hometown spot. Been there for many years and always been the place to get a great burger at a good price. Don't go to fast food places go to Paul's tap for a tasty, fresh burger. read more

This place is a must go to in downtown Dubuque. Grab yourself a cheeseburger loaded with pickles and onions along with your choice of a wide selection of drinks. Some really nice mounts along with some trophy whitetail deer mounts inside the establishment. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a small dive bar. Thank you Paul! read more

This is the finest burger i have had, ever. Its the seasoned grill. Not much more to say when it's perfect. So many places claim to have the best this or that. The people here didn't claim anything. They just told me to try the burger. I heard Paul, the namesake of the place, died recently. Paul, we visitors are not worthy of this burger. Dubuque has some fine and friendly folks. I shall miss them and this nice little city. Dubuque was, I am told, first a Wisconsin city and the oldest city of now Iowa, before Iowa existed. It is a good place of which i am fond. And this is the finest burger i may ever eat. read more

Paul's Tavern - Cheeseburger - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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What an absolute let down. I used to be a local to dubuque and this was my favorite place to go. I came in this past weekend for my bachelorette party looking to get a late night drink at 1:15am. The bartender was very rude and let us know that she would only service shots, whereas the rest of the people in the bar had beers and other drinks. She treated us VERY poorly. We were wanting to spend some money! I get it if the food was closed, that's fine, but we were told that she didn't want to provide us anything except for shots so we could get out of there fast and she could close (mind you the bar full still). Worst bartender I've ever met in my life. I hope the owners realize that she's losing money for their company. If she's the owner, well wow. Horrible customer service. read more

Who doesn't love a broiled burger at midnight! Pure joy when you've had a couple drinks under your belt ;)

Seriously.....how drunk do you have to be to say this is a great burger? The "grill" looks like something out of a sci-fi film. I don't think it's ever been cleaned, even once. I'd rather dumpster dive behind a Casey's for last months breakfast pizza then eat here again. The bar is kind of cool at least until you need to use the men's room. But I like the taxidermy. read more

Every time my wife and I go to Dubuque, this is on the list to stop, eat and drink. The atmosphere is exactly what I thrive for. The two brothers work their magic at flinging drinks and burgers. The old broilerator (not sure on spelling) makes the burgers a touch of heaven. No greasy fries here, get off your butt and walk down to the end of the bar and pick out your favorite bag of potato chips. Thanks for the friendly hospitality every time we're in town. read more

According to one of the locals this is one of the "original blue collar bars" in Dubuque. We were attending a local car show a few blocks away and wanted a liquid intermission. Yelpers recommended this place as a good dive and as soon as we saw the place we knew we were in the right place. It was actually pretty busy for a frigid Saturday before noon but we squeezed into the last two barstools. You can tell they aren't used to "strangers" and my husband said something about the bartender being 'mad' but you can tell that's just the way this place is. You don't come for the service. I thought the mixed drinks were average priced/poured but their beer was cheap. What caught us was their menu, posted on their beer cooler; two burgers and a few grilled grilled sandwich options...all under $3.50. No fried side options, just bags of chips. The burgers came served on a small paper plate with a napkin on top, you had the option for onions and pickles. That's the way to do it! Everyone we sat next to was super friendly. One person pointed out that their burgers are cooked in a 100+ year old stove, just at the end of the bar. We'll definitely stop here any time we happen to be in Dubuque. read more

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Service is friendly and fast, and the ambiance is solid. However, let's talk about the real belles of the ball: the burgers are one of the better choices I've made in my life. They've got a season to them that is unparalleled, and the price is similarly unbeatable. I love dives. Paul's is a dive, and it's one on which other dives should model themselves. read more

Great lil bar in dBQ. We stopped in on a Tuesday night snout midnight. Had a cold beer and an awesome cheeseburger-- complete with a toasted bun! Locals were friendly to our group (half of us had never been there in Our party of 6). Great place , we will def stop in again the next night out! read more

Awesomee place! We went in for one drink and stayed for a couple! Loved the atmosphere, bartender was great, bummed we decided not to stay for a meal. Will be back soon! read more

Great local fun! Nice clean and eclectic. Highly recommend. Great cheeseburgers and honest helpful staff. Nice neighborhood bar. read more

Paul's Tavern - Decor - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

I'm on the 4 year Paul's Tavern rotation. I've been here twice now and have already booked a reservation for 2021...yep a bar stool overlooking the vintage "Broilator". This little piece of nostalgia has been working overtime 6 days a week since 1948 cooking burgers served on a paper plate. The 3 amigos working the lunch time crowd take it in stride...one cooks, one takes your order while the other tends to the cash register with an occasional exchange with the Juke Box. As expected, its all well choreographed! As for the Burger..."it's Paul's Tavern". read more

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Dubuque Staple.. this place is an absolute must to finish off and continue a long night of drinking.. which is pretty much the only thing to do in Dubuque. Belly up to the bar order a Scoop of whatever's on tap and a cheeseburger. They are broiled perfection. Staff is great, crowd is great, burgers are top notch. I accidentally forgot to take a photo of the burger as I must have inhaled it. But don't skip this place late night. read more

Paul's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Awesome time. Dive bar. Greasy burger. Good people. Good times. Go to have fun and you will be delighted. They have five items on their menu. Cheeseburger, hamburger, ham sandwich hit ham and cheese sandwich and tuna salad. People there are friendly and you're in downtown Dubuque! Wide selection of beer ranging from Hamm's and Old Milwaukee and something called Potosi's to Sam Adams. read more

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Best old school bar burger in Dubuque. They grill the onions and burgers on this little machine at the bar and trust me, it all works. No shortage of moose and deer heads read more

Paul's Tavern - Best old school burger in Dubuque - Bars Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa