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.

Best watering hole in Sterling. Selection is the best in Northern Illinois, vibe is conversational…read morecool, and the staff is awesome. If you want to feel like Norm on Cheers the first and every time you walk in, stop at the Rusty Fox.

Good wine, great old fashions with ton of variety, and the owner makes sure the service is right on…read morepoint!

Perfect bar! Great and kind owner, always doing barrel picks, always getting the good stuff! Love…read morethis bar! Good hearted people always helping out others!

From the bartenders to the people that come into this bar, the energy is amazing! My drinks are…read morealways expensive-looking when they are actually inexpensive. ($10 is what I paid for this apple pie old fashioned) BEST DRINK IVE EVER HAD!!!

Checked out this pretty cozy local brewery and distillery in Batavia. Grainology is a terrific use…read moreof an old building in the historic downtown. It adds a certain charm that newer shiny places can't match. Has a pretty good variety in the draft list. The prices are pretty good for being local and making smaller batches of stuff. A lot here to drink. It's both a brewery and distillery, which is an interesting process. This means you can get something with hops, or something less filling and smoother. Has plenty of room inside if there's not some party going on. It's about $6 a pint. A way to be charitable is to pay a few more bucks to get the Ability Amber. This is an amber ale, of which the proceeds benefits Project Mobility, which gives bicycles to disabled children. This has notes of plum and raisin. Has a kitchen but food is limited. There's often a food truck out front where you can get things like chips for $2, lobster rolls, and more. Good place to get locally made beers and liquors. It's closed Mondays. They often have food trucks.

They seem closed. I hope they open again soon, since the outdoor spaces looked great! Their…read morewebsite implies they are trying to reopen but everything is shuttered. I had a chance to go more than a year ago and liked their beers. Now I wish I had gone more often.

Pizza is great! Good size for two to share or one hungry guy! Pretzels are HUGE, can get salted or…read moresweet raspberry! Two or three can definitely share a pretzel! They have such a huge selection of different of specialty beers from different local and distant breweries, both canned and on tap. They are connoisseurs so they will help you find a drink you like based on what you tell them you already like. You can also buy cans to go! Outdoor patio is set up for social distancing and also dog friendly! Ordering online for pick up is also an option!

To be honest, I hadn't heard of McCarty Mills before. We were looking for a new place to try, as…read morepart of Aurora's restaurant week, that had a good beer selection. The food offered, as part of restaurant week, the beer selection, and service were all fantastic. I'm very glad we stopped here and would definitely stop again!

Stella's Backstreet is my favorite weekday chill bar with the friendliest bar tender and great…read moredrinks!

AMAZING drink selection!!! Any and every flavor you can hope for with the coolest bartenders! Super…read morecute dog and goldfish, too!

First time experience here. I met two friends there…read moreprimarily to see a solo musical artist called FiddleRock, but also to socialize, eat, drink, and be merry. The restaurant/bar is on the second floor of the building, located on the south side of the Illinois river between two marinas. We sat on the deck and had a meal and drinks. The view was great from the deck, overlooking the river, especially this time of year (summer). We all had Mexican style food, and all agreed it was very good. The drinks were cold and reasonably priced, and our server was adorable. The other staff we we interacted were also very nice. After eating, we moved inside and enjoyed the music, continued socializing, and of course, enjoyed more drinks. Both food and drink prices were very reasonable, in my opinion. I plan on returning. I just wish it wasn't so far away from me!

Worse place ever sat there with no crowd just wanted a burger and a beer we waited for over an…read morehour and still no service but the one beer when we first walked in. We finally had enough of waiting with no updates on our order or even seeing a worker so we left. Glad we did the kitchen was totally disgusting. Never go there again

We just love The Bavarian Lodge, and every time we go, we say, "we need to come here more often!"…read moreSo much old world goodness, comfort food! Sausages are great! Love the mashed and the way they cook up their sauerkraut! We often get weinerschnitzel, and have tried a variety of toppings. My favorite is "Hunter Schnitzel." The smell, the warmth, the decor', and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves! Our server was fantastic!! And the prices are really quite reasonable! Desserts are yummy too! But we had to take out to enjoy at home, because we were too full!

Cozy neighborhood spot great for family and friends meet up…read more The ambiance and cuisine are perfect for a cold Chicago day and offer a good value for dinner plate options. I have tried a few things off the menu but have found the schnitzel is the best. I have also grown fond of their liver dumpling soup and extensive* draft beer selection.

The food came out quick, unbelievable flavor and will definitely be back…read more Service was pretty slow/poor, especially for being one of only two people dining in but aside from that, great atmosphere and an even better menu.

We were In town for a motorcycle event and wanted a good pizza. Forno seemed like the best option…read moreand did not disappoint. In fact this place exceeded all expectations. Great service, food, and atmosphere.

Fantastic boat experience on the Illinois River! We loved every minute of it. Super easy to book by…read morecalling. Friendly staff on phone and on the boat. We were warmly greeted when we arrived. Given the option of indoor or outdoor seating. We sat outside as it was a beautiful night. The captain drove carefully and we loved all the history on this two hour ride. We even got to see a majestic bald Eagle and its nest. SO COOL. They have a cash bar inside with any beverage you desire. Reasonable prices. This is a great idea for someone visiting from out of town. Or even someone who grew up here would enjoy - it is very educational. Awesome guy on acoustic guitar playing mellow tunes throughout. Definitely a MUST DO when you are in Ottawa IL!

Just got off the Saint Genevieve boat, and wow, what a great experience. Such a beautiful historic…read moreboat with the most ornate bar that serves incredible well priced cocktails, wine and beer. We were fortunate enough to listen to a singer, Aaron Kelly. Really great singer songwriter with a great bluegrass twist. He told the best stories and made his songs come alive. It was really cool! Beautiful view of the houses, saw bald eagle, and lots of neat infrastructure pieces like the railroad bridge etc. Price right, and a wonderful time. Highly recommended!