Not a nice place but it never claims to be. I love shitty dive bars and this fits the bill. This is the type of place that you won't look weird pounding Irish car bombs and fingering a fat girl in the dark back corner. The wings are good, but the hot isn't really hot. read more

As someone whose parents met at Duffy's (and hence someone who must in some small way credit his existence to it), I feel like I owe it a lot more than the review I'm about to give it. Nonetheless, the truth must be told. Is it a dive bar? Absolutely. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. Is the beer selection good? No, not really, unless you stick to the domestics. Before I left they were showing improvements, but still not the best selection in town. Who goes there? A healthy mix of mill workers, bikers, college students, and maybe a few normal people here and there. What's good about the place? They always have live music and are a great venue for upcoming local bands. The drinks are cheap and the people are generally friendly. What's bad about the place? They always have live music and you can't even hear yourself think, let alone talk. The fact of the matter is that it's a small, noisy, smokey bar and makes no pretenses to the contrary. I haven't been there in the daytime and I'm sure it's quite different then, but the handful of times I've been there, my friends and I (except the DD of course) made sure we had a pretty heavy buzz before making our entry. Final verdict? If its the place for you, then its the place for you. If not, drink til it is! read more

I've gone to a few different places in town and man i think this is the best for wings. We seat outside and it was a great time with live music! read more

Duffy's.. The place where senior citizens, union laborers, and biker gangs meet during the day. The place where senior citizens, hipsters, and students come out in the night to play. The food is good and the touch tunes music box plays as it should. I have come to love this place, for it describes the northwest Indiana scene to a T. It's everything you would want and Indiana bar to be. A mixture of hip cool kids meeting the old resentful seniors and nobody is in the bathroom, trying to show their wieners. You can sit inside at the bar where your hopes for a drink are best. But you will quickly understand, that you will just have to wait like the rest. So you put your hopes outside, to try and enjoy the weather. But you will soon find out, the service isn't any better. Long story short, it might take a minute to be served. But you will soon understand, that the wait was well deserved. read more

Went here for my son's 21st birthday. Service was slow, but I was warned about this ahead of time. Had one beer before the waitress came with a partial order of wings. Son's girlfriend, who is not 21 yet, was told she had to leave. Ok, but she was not very polite about it. We were sitting on the deck outside, nowhere near the bar. If that's their policy, it should've been made known before the waitress put the poor girl in tears. She drove over 300 miles for his birthday and was treated badly. Will not return. read more

The wings here are a little different, but I love them. I am not sure but I think they fry them and then grill them afterwards? Regardless of how they do it, they are really very good, but don't expect the typical orange buffalo sauce. They come out much darker and have a little bit of a smokey flavor. Fries are typical. I go here quite often but I always order the wings and fries, so i can't comment on anything else. There is usually very cheap beer/drinks of some sort. Great outdoor area to play bags, horseshoes, or sit outside. In addition to the patio with bags/horseshoes, there is also now a huge outdoor deck in back. My only gripe is that there are no TVs outside (first world problems). Duffy is a cordial guy, hangs out at the end of the bar near the backdoor. Manager and waitstaff aren't the fastest but they are usually very accommodating and kind. You can still smoke in here, and it seems like everyone does. - It's a very typical dive bar, you have to expect to leave smelling like smoke, unless its warm and you can sit outside. If you want cheap beer and good bar food in valparaiso this is your place. There really aren't any other bars like this in Valpo (Franklin House, maybe). Everything else is a little more upscale or commercialized (Pikks, BWW). Ceteris paribus, this place is a 3/5, but in the Dive Bar Category it's probably a 4.5/5 Check out more of my reviews at: www.ShawnKemp.yelp.com read more

Terrible place. Bathrooms are horrendous. They can never keep up even if it is slightly busy. Matt is very rude. I have talked to people in multiple occasions who have said that Matt, the bartender, is very rude. read more

Great tasting wings!!!! DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HOT WINGS! When they say hot it's no joke. Great service and draft beer was only a $1.50 so I'm a happy camper. read more

Smoke smell is horrible! Wings are delicious! night time bouncers are terrible and rude!

We got thrown out for literally no reason. We were accused of bringing in liquor, yet we spent $50 at the bar. Some hot shot bouncer threw us out without cause. As a local student, that is the last time my friends and I give Duffy's business. By the way, the bouncer must of thought he was a real tough guy for cursing at and degrading the girl we were with. Patrons beware. read more

Five stars for the wings and onion rings. Best most flavorful wings I've had,the hottest ones are way too intense for me,but the level down is perfect. Couldn't imagine eating in,it's super busy/rowdy on the weekends with all the college kids,we definitely always do take out. read more

Food is really good and the kitchen is quick, outdoor deck is nice except the uncomfortable aluminum seating of which they call a "stool" makes for a crappy arrangement. The service is terrible you have to literally flip a table to get a bartenders attention. read more

Duffy's Place - a woman sitting at a table - Dive Bars Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I will try my best to keep this review in the present and not overly influenced by my experiences as a Valpo college student a decade ago. I came here for a VU "Young Alumni" homecoming event over the weekend, and mused on how little has changed since I graduated college. It's still a divey college bar, where the cheap American lagers flow free. Since I was at the private event on the back patio, I can't speak to the service at the bar as an individual patron. But, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the music when the DJ started. I mean, it's good for what it is: a bar where locals and students can hang out, throw some darts, and drink cheap beer. It's not a hip lounge, or a classy bar, or charming, but it's not a dump, either. read more

Terrible service. Food took forever. Zero beer selection. Food was awful and not what we ordered. No drink menus. Never coming back.

This is a true dive bar! With a great patio. Bartender were all amazing and never let our beers go empty. Food was great! Would've given it 5 stars but the women's bathroom was gross. read more

Definitely not the best bar in town! Poor food and a beat down bar that could definitely use some improvements! Will probably stick to more bars in town. Sorry! read more

Had a fantastic time at Valpo jazz night tonight! Great people and dollar drafts, what more could you want! :)

I can say I was a spit skeptical at first glance. Walked in scoped the crowd, mostly locals out having a good time on a Saturday. Then the DJ took off, playing the type of music I could dance to. Not to mention i had 2 tall beers and a shot for $10!!!! this was the best part about it!. Hot girls, diverse crowd, cheap drinks, and good music. I will definitely go again. read more

I really did like this place, it could be described as the more approachable, maybe less loud & crowded older brother to Franklin House. I loved that there was plently of space outside on the covered deck, bonus! Would definitely go back. read more

Great place. Friendly staff, nice drink specials daily and always has entertainment. The manager Matt is always working his bar and is a very nice guy. Oh yeah...the wings are grilled pieces of chicken from heaven. Saying they are good is an understatement....they are incredible! Cajun and honey bbq....try it. read more

Not much one can say about a dive bar that's not to be expected...except that their cheeseburgers are outta sight! Great, homemade taste! Big juicy patties. My husband & I go there from time to time just for a burger. Love it!! read more

Wings were awesome! Honey BBQ were the best. Great food, great service (thanks cool ponytail dude) we will be back. Hubby was happy they have Guiness on tap. read more

Good wings and a nice deck, but be careful and watch your tab. Questionable charges on the tab. Arguing over them seems to do no good. Door guys pretty sketchy. read more

Omg I love this place, meet the owner was so awesome,I felt I was at home and I'm from Bourbon Ind and I will be back.! Amazing

Food is pretty good, nothing special. Good amount of outdoor seating and service is overall poor

Awesome service. Bartenders are friendly and fun to talk to. Wings are amazing! If I could give 6 stars I would!

DUFFY'S IS AWESOME! Perfect for anyone who is laid back and just wants to have fun. BY FAR the best prices on beer in Valparaiso, friendly staff, and it seems like everyone who goes there becomes a regular, it's a family there. They are always having fun events and parties. You may not be able to have crab races anymore but you can still throw hams at the wall during xmas, wear funny costumes, and be involved in whatever wacky type of competitions they are having or that the bartenders have made up. If you want a laid back place where everyone is just trying to have a great time and have fun, then go leave your cares behind at duffs! read more

It is a dive bar for sure! But a kick butt one at that. I like calling it "club duff". Gives it a better feel!

It's a great place to just drink and dance some. The bathrooms are dirty and nasty and never plenty of paper. The paper towels are usually broken. The wait time is ridiculous and you never can get an appetizer before your dinner. The help are usually rude and always talking bad about something. The cooks never wear gloves and for that reason, we will not be eating there anymore,,,, It needs a good make over. Good luck. read more

If I could give this place no stars I would. I waited 40 minutes to just get a beer. Then they tried to kick me out for possible argument about how long it took to get my drink. This place is the worst! Don't even give business. #screwduffys read more

I really want to like this place because I like the food and love the wings. But, when I feel like you're trying to mess with me or my money, it bothers me. Here's the story... I go there meet some friends. Have 3 beers and wings. Get the tab. Tab says 4 beers and wings. I don't mention it to them but say something to my friend. Next visit, same friend with me. Waitress says she will leave the tab on the table and just write on it when i order. PERFECT. After 2 drinks and wings, she takes the tab inside. Get my 3rd drink and the tab. 4 drinks on tab. THIRD visit. Have 3 people with us. Told them the story, they pay close attention. Same deal with the waitress saying she will leave the tab on table. Didn't have any food. She takes the tab in after a drink or 2. Had 3 drinks again. Get the tab. 4 drinks on tab again. All 3 of my drinks were the same too and i was charged 2 at one price and 2 at another. Sorry, 3 strikes = 1 star. I've read reviews of people bringing up discrepancies to staff and it not ending well. read more

give me all of the cajun garlic wings! delicious wings! seriously the best in town! awesome perogies! dollar beers mon, tue, & wed chill, relaxed place, cool servers. and duffy is there a good amount of the time. they have a big awesome outside area & new big side porch. great summer spot. trivia on tuesdays. and I think live music every tues & wed, I think tues is kind of open mic & wed is 1 guy doing acoustic... the bathroom situation sucks, but meh. monday night football is awesome here. the game is actually played through the speakers, and tvs are at a good height. if they had good deals on sundays this would be my bears den. gets busy on fridays & Saturdays. & can be hard to get service. friday there a different live band every week. Saturday its like a totally different place. it suddenly turns into a club... I like electronic music, but I do not like what the dj plays. I have to be very drunk to enjoy a Saturday night here. occasionally people get overcharged, so pay attention to your tab... a lot of the time, people get undercharged too though ;) read more

Duffy's is a great Place to go for some drinks, food, sports, whatever. I went there with my two brothers and my brother's girlfriend. I was visiting town from Houston. This was our last night, so we wanted to do something low key after a long weekend of drinking. We went up to Duffy's and got a large round table. We brought Cards Against Humanity because we had planned to post up here for a while and drink and eat. We ordered some appetizers -- wings, tots, fried cheese. All were good. Wings were huge, tots were crispy, and the fried cheese was out of this world... crispy and gooey. There were a bunch of laid-back country folk at the bar drinkin' and smokin'. It was the first time I had been at a bar where you can smoke inside in quite a long time (but that doesn't bother me). The have a TouchTunes jukebox, and I just so happen to have the app on my phone. Someone was playing some awful country music, so I decided to troll the bar with some not-country music, and also some ridiculous country from the early 90s. People looked around confused when "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs came on, but many sang along when Redneck Woman came on. Ahhhh it was nice to be around Hoosiers again. I plan to visit Valpo again in July, and I'm sure we'll make it here again. read more

I went there once with two friends after trying to object to it. I've heard very bad things about the atmosphere here. We ended up going around 2PM and while there were a few people here it wasn't packed. It was pretty nice inside and the outside seating is pretty nice too. I didn't order anything but someone ordered something for me - they don't card you. They saw me drink it and they didn't card me. The workers were very friendly though. read more

Wow! What a dive. Me and some friends were in the area visiting family and someone referred us to a :great bar." Duffy's was far from that! The place is dingy and dirty. The people are friendly and the drinks were good and reasonably priced, but the bar was dirty, the stools were ripped and tattered, it was dusty and very very dark! I would not go back again. read more

Cajun Garlic wings are the best wings in town. It is a "dive bar," but that's pretty much the point. Staff is always great and food is good.

Great bar, cheap drinks, what more could you want? Live music is only 2-3 days a week now instead of practically every day. Great summertime bar with the beer garden and games out back. You won't go wrong here folks! read more

Pretty much a dive bar and we love it. Expect lots of smoke but it is what it is. The House Burger is the best in Valpo. The wings are top notch... Don't wear flip flops in the mens room. It needs help. The staff is amazing. read more

Greatest dive bar in the Midwest. ...great wings too! Great live music venue with little to no competition in that aspect.