Had to stop in this bar and grill in Pontiac after seeing the prices are cheap. It has about what…read moreyou can expect. The Backstretch has an auto racing kind of theme. Lots of TVs tuned into various games. You can get pretty strong drinks and food that's better than it looks. Certainly there's a greasy feeling about it. It's not exactly the cleanest or nicest but it's better than a whole lot of other places in town to go to. This mostly gets crowded on weekends. Actually it's never too crowded. There's happy hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It's about $7 for a basic cocktail. Whiskey and whatever. It's about $7 for most appetizers. The Giant Pretzel is great for sharing. Comes with a beer cheese or something else. The rest of the menu includes things like fish sandwiches. Good place to watch games. It's one of the few places around here that's open on Sundays. That makes sense because races are usually on the weekends.

It has been a while since I have been to this location. In fact, it was called Chump's and Bonz…read morebefore. The old sign is still there but so is the sign for The Backstretch Bar & Grill? I heard some good things about the pizza they serve so I figured I would give it a shot for myself. I placed a carry out order over the phone and was told it would be 20 minutes. The place wasn't that busy when I arrived, and it looked just like I remembered. There were two employees working and I spoke with both. They were both very friendly and my pizza was ready as promised. The crust was about par for the course around here. Not much taste outside of flour. The sauce was decent, and the toppings were plentiful. The cheese is the type mozzarella that turns a bit rubbery, but I must admit, I like that. All in all, I enjoyed the pizza, and the service was friendly. Was it my favorite pizza in Pontiac? No. But, I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

Checked out this divy bar in Pontiac, where locals come and chill. It isn't anything to be…read moreimpressed about, but that's not the idea obviously. PJ's Pub is where to get cold drinks, and if you're lucky there's frozen pizzas. A place that looks like someone's backyard bar. The prices are pretty cheap at least. Basically it's a neighborhood bar. It's close to a lot of things in the so called downtown. The bar is located along some kind of back street with a sketchy looking parking lot. Inside it's not much better. The good thing is they have tons of beers, including a few that are on tap. It's about $4 for a basic cocktail. We got some and these were pretty watery. Food is nonexistent except for bags of chips for about $1 or so. They also apparently have frozen pizzas, but last time they were out of these. Has a few TVs for watching games. The bar is pretty close to houses so there's been lots of noise complaints of patrons. For a bar in a small town like this, it's pretty okay compared to others around it. It's located on Ladd at Madison. They're open every day and early, so customers can have fun in the morning or something.

Awesome people! Awesome atmosphere! Come and relax a bit,…read moretake a load off! Have a cold one one, try a yummy pizza! Just enjoy some good company!

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.

The atmosphere was great above and beyond what I thought it would be. The charcuterie board was…read moreneat and I love the fact that we barely sat down and they offered us a free sample of wine to try. The price for the board was I think a little high not major but a little but a glass of wine was I think very competitive very good no matter where you are. My overall rating for this place is either a 4 or 4 1/2 out of 5. It was a great first experience and will go back again.

Patrick is awesome! What a cool dude! So chill, we had no idea he owned the place until well after…read moreour first interaction. So kind, caring, interested. For sure wanted to make his customers smile. He succeeded!! We will definitely be back each time we travel from the middle of Michigan to the middle of Kansas and back! #happythreeyears #happytwentyyears #happyfiftyyears #letsmeetinireland2026

Food was amazing! The garlic curds are fantastic. The burgers were also delicious with the homemade…read morechips. The owner is very sweet and friendly. Very fast service. Would absolutely go back.

Absolutely LOVE Nightjar!! The vibe is amazing and the beer and cocktails are incredible!! I love…read morethat they switch up the menu so often and the cocktail classes and events are super fun! Great for date nights and hanging out with friends!

Such a cool place with amazing cocktails. The owner really knows what's she talking about. I did a…read morecocktail class here and it was great! My only complaint is the prices are high

We came here while in town for graduation at Illinois State University. While on the outside it is…read moreunassuming, the inside reveals a clean, large dining room that feels upscale. We had a reservation so we were seated promptly at a large table in its own little alcove in the back. While the place was busy, we could chat comfortably with one another and felt adequately separate from other tables. The menu has a bit of everything, so everyone should be able to find something they like on it. We started with cocktails, mozzarella sticks, and pretzel bites. The cocktails were good but I could've used less sweetness in mine. The mozzarella sticks and pretzels bites were standard, which means they were great as usual. For a group of 5 of us, an order of each was enough to hold us over until the main meal. I personally got the fish sandwich for my dinner with fries. The fish was great and large enough that it hung over the sides of the bun. My only complaint about the sandwich was the lack of tartar sauce on it. The cook must have just added the smallest dash, as the only sign it was there was a little spot of discoloration on the bun. The fish was good but the sandwich would have been better with more moisture from that tartar. The fries it came with were standard shoe string fries. Nothing special but hit the spot all the same. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals as well and we left comfortably full with no leftovers. Overall the meal came at a good pace, the atmosphere was nice, and the prices were reasonably. If in town again we would come back here.

Food was okay. The Fish & chips, the fish was soggy(ish). The REV burger wasn't anything special…read more The bacon jam was delicious. Baked Brie was delicious. The bread was soft. Our waiter was attentive and polite. The gentleman was prompt with filling waters. The restaurant itself is well lit. The tables have enough space to not feel claustrophobic. They are spread out pretty decent. There's some dead space though which feels a little odd. I did feel that the noise level was a little loud.

This is a newer restaurant in our area, so we thought we'd give it a try. Went here with my kids…read more(x2) for dinner one evening. It was ok. That's about it. Our order: (3 items) -- sauced boneless wings, Mac and Cheese burger, and a Rodeo burger. Service was decent but a bit slow for drinks and food order. I ordered the 6 boneless wings ($9) -- this is just the wings and a ranch dipping sauce, no side, etc. They brought them in a basket - they were the size of small nuggets, a couple that were smaller than a McDs nugget. So, 6 small nuggets sitting in a basket. They were small enough that they could sit in the basket and not even touch each other... for $9. I mean, have some discretion in the kitchen; if they're that small, maybe include a couple smaller ones together that would count as a whole. I'm glad we also got some garlic cheese curds ($11), because otherwise, I probably would've needed to stop to get another meal on the way home to feel like I had eaten. My kids both got burgers and took pity on my and shared some of their fries with me. Ok, enough on the nuggets, my kids thought the burgers were ok. Nothing special, despite being somewhat premium priced ($16ea), plus they upgraded to fries. So, overall, mid- quality, specialty burgers, low-quality boneless wings, and overall overpriced food. We live in the area, and might try it again after they've had some time under their belt, but not a pleasing first experience.

A friend and I stopped in to give this place a try since they just opened. They had about 10 people…read morein the place and 3 employees that were visible. It took them about 5 minutes just to seat us. After waiting almost an hour just to get appetizers we decided to leave. We walked across the street to another restaurant and got immediate service. Before leaving a woman was still waiting to be seated after standing for nearly 15 min. And a family near us was still waiting to give their order. They really need to work on this before they go down hill fast. The menu was just bar food of only 5 main items and appetizers. We will not be returning.

You park your car in the strip mall lot and approach the front door while you're thinking, "Is this…read moreplace open?" You open the door and bam! Tables filled, low lights, and lots of chatter! It was great! Cocktails and service were excellent (Dirty martini and smoky ol fashioned). Charcuterie board was wonderful and yes, if you run out of crackers you can ask for more. A+

In from out of town and looking for a place for a cocktail or two on a Friday afternoon. Read the…read morevery positive yelp reviews for Mauve online and decided to give it a try. It was great! The drinks were inventive and tasty. The service was great. Kevin was very attentive, but not overbearing. Would recommend Mauve to anyone looking for a great cocktail or a great place to enjoy a happy hour.

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.

The Loft has entirely been renovated since I was last here. The inside is gorgeous with a large…read morebar, tons of seating, bowling alley in the back, and rustic/mid-century design features. My friend and I visited for Saturday lunch and it wasn't crowded. We were able to sit where we wanted which was nice. For drinks, I got a French Martini and she got a Dirty Martini. Both were delicious and served in beautiful glasses. We later shared an espresso martini. The server asked if we wanted cream in it; get the cream. We definitely second guessed ourselves with being asked; but thankfully, it was easy to add in after the fact. For food, we shared some bites. The Caesar Salad was the most underwhelming items but we thoroughly enjoyed everything else. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Truffle Fries were my favorites. The boneless wings were good but we got sauces on the side. My Garlic Parm sauce wasn't my favorite but my friend enjoyed her Spicy Garlic sauce. Overall, this is a great spot in Downtown Frankfort to get together with a big group, enjoy a date night, or catch up with friends. They have a good variety of good and drinks as well as a fun atmosphere. Definitely recommend visiting when in the area!

Ugh the coolest and cutest place!!! I am obsessed with the ambiance and the drinks. They only have…read more6 lanes fyi. They really need to put a sign on the building by the stairwell or on the stairs because it's confusing looking for it. It seems like we're walking to the roof or someone's apartment and doesn't feel like a public business. We tried going before to check it out but it was st Patrick weekend and it looked like party or bar crawl and packed. We came back this past weekend and it was better but did look like one party was wrapping up on bar side but it was all adults with a couple kids of theirs laying on the couches. I would say this place is best for adults only honestly. As a mom I won't bring my daughter here and we can go bowling elsewhere but for myself I will 100% be back. I love that everything is themed and some original things inside but the water damage, rust, and mold is badddddd. Can't put lipstick on a pig and with people having health issues this is a big no no for people with mold illness or autoimmune diseases. The lanes are looking original and I don't think I've ever seen the ball returns like that so it was cool and vintage but dangerous lol. The balls come back SO fast and they were flying off the rack. Not really safe. The lanes were warped and uneven and didn't seem waxed so I sucked at bowling no matter what I tried. It was $45 an hour plus shoe rental was maybe $3 each? We got cocktails and apps. There could be more appetizers on the list but the dip was okay and my margaritas were great. We got two games and like 4 frames in an hour with two adults. We were really just trying to relax and have fun so the bowling and prices were expected and just whatever that day. I don't ever treat myself or drink much anymore and gladly was spending it on those. Not really a fan of how awkward the combined lanes are and the people who were there first had us basically walk into their date with all of their food on the table for us to sit over because it was so small and somehow supposed to share tables. They picked all their food and drinks up and moved them and stood to eat to give space between us. Literally all the lanes were open and they put us with them at the end together. Odd. The workers were all nice but there was a lot of workers and no one was really working? A bunch of them were talking in the chairs behind the lanes and the bartenders were talking to each other. Our waitress said her shift was ending/ wanting us to close our tab out as soon as our game ended and we said that's fine we can go up to the bar and keep chatting/ drinking. But she never left so we thought maybe they wanted our lane even though all the others except one were open but no one took our lane after.. The bartenders were talking to each other a lot and lacked eyes on the bar. The bar back seemed super young and out of it and didn't ask if we needed something or wanted to grab the bartenders even though he could hear us and we were staring at him and the bartenders. Whatever still enjoyed our time and the bartender came and brought me another drink. The 2nd drink she repeated it and then brought me a 3rd drink that was completely different but it was still good lol. The bathrooms are cute and clean. The dining side is probably better than the bowling side. The bar is cool. Overall liked it but seems like kids are running the place and could use some tweaks. 10/10