Halftime Restaurant Pizza &amp; Cocktails

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.

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!!

Salted Carmel Expressio Martini

Delicious old fashion. Loved the skeleton touch!

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Inside

Keagan’s Irish Pub

4.4

(22 reviews)

Always so good and the service is great! Their menu has so…read moremany options to choose from!

We popped in while visiting town recently and had so much fun! There was karaoke that night and a…read morenice small crowd of talented singers! The dj was so fun and welcoming! The drinks were fine. I would have preferred a glass to the plastic that was used. The service was slow but yet they were well staffed.

Pork Chop Sandwich with Blueberry BBQ Sauce

The bar has everything!

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Valentino’s Pasta and Wine

4.3

(33 reviews)

Vanessa! Amazing service. Food is fantastic. Cannot believe how awesome they renovated this…read more(formerly JJ's Pub). Upstairs is a beautiful speakeasy with gambling machines and velvet couches. A big variety of food. The specials are interesting. I chose the cheese ravioli special with wild mushrooms. Friend had marinara pasta with sausage. We had a starter the cheese burrata and the prosciutto on the side. The cheese was soooooo good. Vanessa went out of her way to make us happy. We had to send the pasta back as it was too spicy for my friend. They remade it and it was perfect for her. I had a blanc de blanc champagne but there was no fizz and the waitress happily got me a different sparkling. I loved the ravioli. Great ambiance. Highly recommend.

New Italian restaurant in Ottawa in the 100 block of W Main Street…read more Reservations are two days in advance but the walk up on a Saturday was about a 45 (and that's a long estimate) minute wait at the great bar !! Started off with some great draft beers $5 for a Yungling pint and an $18 bourbon flight that my husband raved about. After a bit of a wait but with drinks !! We got a table and since we had looked at the menu at the bar we were ready to order. (You could order food at the bar too we just chose not to as we were in no rush) We got a loaf of fresh bread that came with olive oil for dipping that had some chili flakes in it that gave it a bit of a zing. (My only thing is that it would have been nice to have some Parmesan to shake into it to give it a bit of body beyond just oil). But all in all it was yummy. Onto our main courses. I got the shrimp and calamari Diablo. And yes. It's hot. Spicy and also temperature from the kitchen. But the flavor was amazing and it was full of calamari rings and the little tentacles and some really good sized shrimps too and the linguini was so good. The sauce you could tell was fresh and full of tomato chunks. The husband got chicken shrimp and sausage carbonara. Again full of flavor and meat and peas and delicious pasta. Oh and dessert was two home made cannoli with the pistachios on the ends and the best not too sweet cream inside. For our two meals and two glasses of house red blend ($5 each) it was 80.00. It was plenty of food to make two fat kids very happy. The servers were very nice. The bartenders were friendly as they were super hopping. All in all we will Be back to try more dishes as they all looked great coming out of the kitchen. This is a great date night spot and something new and different than your normal burger, pizza or bar food kinda place. Try it. You will want to come back !!!

2nd level speak easy - soon to open

Cannoli dessert

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Country Rigatoni

Berta's Tap

If you're visiting and want a more relaxed vibe, I definitely recommend visiting Berta's Tap…read more Definitely a popular local hangout and the outdoor patio gets PACKED at night. Food and drinks are very reasonably priced. 4 stars because very few people here follow any of the CDC guidelines and there was a birthday party being hosted inside on one of the nights that we visited and ZERO people had masks on. Also didn't appreciate one of the locals coming up to our table and getting uncomfortably close to my face while proceeding to ask me if he could have the rest of my fries ... dude, we are in the middle of a pandemic ??? Staff is great and very friendly, but I do recommend you come early, hide in a corner, and leave before the locals come if you're worried about Covid lol.

If I could put negative stars, I would…read more I got ID'd for getting waters after 2 drinks over 3 hours. My boyfriend asked bartender if they did they started IDing for waters. He got kicked out right after asking. Sorry and pathetic bartenders who obviously hate tips (I didn't need to tip for waters but did since they were obviously busy for the holiday). I would say hire new bartenders but it seems like they all hate their lives working here, so actually keep them. Got ur charger btw #cooked Instagram.com/jxckbullock

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Dockside Bar & Grill

Good people, good drinks and food! Very friendly staff and they have live music too!…read moreWe have been there many times!

The food and service were very good. The building and deck could use a bit of freshening up.read more

View from the patio upstairs.

Fish n Chips Breaded and fried whitefish with fries and tartar sauce.

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Bloody Mary

Misfits Ottawa

4.4

(7 reviews)

Located in a historic building with exposed brick walls, there's a relaxed atmosphere. The…read moreowner/bartender was friendly & personable, and she makes amazing cocktails!! Both the pinktini & Paloma were flavorful without being overly sweet or watery. Food was good too, there's a few vegan options beyond the usual veggie burger!

The food was great, and the service was amazing, but the only thing that stops it from being 5…read morestars is the atmosphere, it could have been a tad bit better but otherwise great!

Chickpeas Just Wanna Have Fun

Chickpea wrap & burger wrap - sides of chips

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Better than a cosmopolitan!

Burger and Sushi House-Ottawa

BASH (Burger And SusHi) in Ottawa IL: Why you should go there instead of fast food chains. If you…read moreget a $16 roll and a $10 roll and really take the time to enjoy each mouth full of those true works of art (tip of the hat to Hadi).. eyes closed ..face skyward.. all attention on your tastebuds to give the experience the attention it deserves.. you'll take half of each home and get two meals. Technically that $30+ tab is more than you'd spend for a burger and fries and a shake someplace.. but thats one meal..and its fast and its done and did you really need or want that calorie count? that fat and sugar? starch and salt? It tastes good you say? ok.. try this instead.. take half home. two meals at about the same price per meal.. much better for you and when I say ART.. I mean ART. Like taking your tastebuds to a live concert with Bach and Mozart playing and the opener is OG Queen. As to the economics.. If you buy at a chain..thats an organization designed to funnel money up and OUT of your community as much as possible.. if you eat at say Cinco in Streator or any locally owned and operated and incorporated restaurant more of the money stays local to swish around in the local economy. OH and of course, healthier eating in both cases. real food. A solid platter at Cinco usually gets me at least two meals and thats if i dont mix in the leftovers to punch up my own tacos or soup or whatever I'm cooking

It's a very upscale and modern cute and large establishment. The vibes are there and the space but…read moreit will never not be packed and loud. Rightfully so. Service has always been good when I went. I've probably gone under 10x and given enough tries at the new and old locations. Every time there's always something that goes wrong but I continue to come back because family and friends love it and I always try something else when I come in. Food is always edible most of the time but not great. I've had hair in my burger before. Other Burgers were overcooked and flavorless. Mac and cheese is disgusting. Sushi menu is kinda repeat and all fried / tempora. Pretty basic and boring and if you're gluten free you're kinda SOL. Crab Rangoon is imitation crab. Gross. This last time I went for a goodbye dinner to a coworker moving: Drinks- Table got a pitcher of white sangria- it was ok but way overpriced. I got the strawberry basil lemonade drink and it sucked. It lacked taste. I'n convinced it was water and not lemonade, nothing puree about it, & there was no basil in it besides used as a piece of decor. Sushi- I showed the waitress a picture of the roll I saw on someone review and that it claimed it was a Ottawa roll but it was not and 10/10 a different role that was given to me. Luckily I will eat anything and it actually wasn't bad but what the hell. Truffle fries- beer battered. Yuck. Mac & Cheese- I thought it used to be not bad but I got it this last time as a side and it was different noodles, thick, no creamy cheese sauce, & no seasoning. Dessert- 10/10 made the trip worth it. I hate fried ice cream and not a huge brownie person but that dessert was amazing. The beignet with caramel- yessss. I never get the hype of the food but think it's because there's not much around like this for locals. If someone wanted to go back I wouldn't not go but I am not a fan.

Kamikaze roll

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Bluegill Boathouse & Marina Bar

4.5

(2 reviews)

1.9 mi

We didn't eat but we had drinks at the sand bar! How fun is it to put your feet in the sand while…read moresitting on a swing bar in Ottawa, Illinois. DJ was a little load for just a couple people but I guess if you hear it from a distance you would go check it out. We moved to the outside part of the restaurant and had a couple more drinks. Service was a little slow but our wait staff said he was new. Can't fault him for that. Bathrooms were clean, and I noticed they are now gender neutral. Ok. When we left I looked to see if anyone was sitting in the sand pit area and there where a few people, majority older. So I wondered if the DJ was going to switch up the today's hits to something the overall crowd would like. Play music for the crowd you have? Just a thought. It was a beautiful day and I would recommend checking this place out. It's definitely evolving since they opened many years ago! (It's the only picture I took.)

We had a Burger, fries, baked goat cheese, cheese curd, & creme brulee donuts. Each bite was better…read morethan the last. Everything so so delicious. I cannot wait to go back.

Zeller Inn

This establishment has been preserved well as it is is very old (established 1871). Although I did…read morenot care for the vibe of the place I do admire the historic preservation. Walking in through the beer garden it reeked of w e e d. It was very quiet there as it was a weekday evening, except for a male screaming in the beer garden as we entered and a few other times as we were inside the bar. Inside the floor mosaic tiling is neat and so are the ceilings. I also like the big vintage cash register which I assume is originally from the bar when it opened. The ceilings are high and beautifully restored. We did not get food. Our two vodka club sodas were $14 total. They were served in clear plastic cups. The bartender smiled at us and was polite but she didn't say much. We couldn't stand how the place smelled so we quickly paid, finished our drinks and left.

Beautiful Bar, just outstanding preservation of History. The owners gave a bit of a tour showing…read moresome of Amazing features of the historic tavern. The Bloody Mary was delicious. Drink menu with great drinks. They feature the TripTych Brewery for their craft beers. The patio was a pleasant surprise. They are Pet Friendly, they brought our dog water and asked if he could have a beef stick they use for the Bloodys. Will Definitely be back.

THE ZELLER INN IS OPEN AND BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

Beautiful bar

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NIKU Japanese Kitchen

4.1

(19 reviews)

For starters they are open for lunch !! Yay sushi for lunch !!…read more Started with some appetizers. The spring rolls were ok. I was hoping for fresh wrapped in rice paper but they were deep fried. Not my favorite. For the next week got the tuna takati. Now that was so good !! A beautiful light sear and a delicious taste and the presentation was also so nicely done !!! For mains I got the seafood ceviche salad. My does that have some good heat !! Nice amounts of seafood and you can really taste it all, it isn't overpowered at all like some I have had in the past. Totally one I would order again. Also split a white sox roll with the husband and again a great tasting dish !! The restaurant is clean. The staff is really nice and the ice tea is great as well. Try this place, you won't be disappointed !!!

This restaurant has perhaps been open a few months and they did a really nice job with the space…read more We were warmly greeted and allowed to choose where to sit so we chose to be seated near the window. Shea was our waitress and did a great job. We started with the soft shell crab appetizer which was a bit underwhelming. It was tempura battered but it contained just two pieces of crab, two onions and two pieces of broccoli. I would not get this again as I thought there would be more crab. The tuna tataki appetizer made up for it. The pieces are generous, covered in sesame seeds and melted in your mouth. The dipping sauce was a great addition. We also shared an MJ roll which was wrapped in soy paper and had tempura shrimp, yellowtail, jalapeño and cucumber. It was quite good. We also had a dragon roll which my husband really enjoyed. It had shrimp tempura, BBQ eel, avocado, cucumber and eel sauce. My aunt ordered avocado salad and added chicken. It had generous pieces of cut chicken on top and was a nice looking salad. My husband also enjoyed the gyoza which were six large potstickers filled with chicken. They serve wine and beer, plus have a small selection of sake. They were sold out of all sake except Gekkeikan sake, which we tried cold. The waitress made a little mistake at the end with the bill and credit card payments, which she credited and redid. We paid cash for one meal and card for the rest but the cash item was accidentally added to the total bill and credit card. It was corrected and all was fine. We loved the food and atmosphere and would definitely come back.

Naruto Maki (with cucumber) and Alaskan Roll

Alcatraz roll (left) and sassy crawfish roll (right)

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MJ Roll

Valentino’s Pasta and Wine

4.3

(33 reviews)

Vanessa! Amazing service. Food is fantastic. Cannot believe how awesome they renovated this…read more(formerly JJ's Pub). Upstairs is a beautiful speakeasy with gambling machines and velvet couches. A big variety of food. The specials are interesting. I chose the cheese ravioli special with wild mushrooms. Friend had marinara pasta with sausage. We had a starter the cheese burrata and the prosciutto on the side. The cheese was soooooo good. Vanessa went out of her way to make us happy. We had to send the pasta back as it was too spicy for my friend. They remade it and it was perfect for her. I had a blanc de blanc champagne but there was no fizz and the waitress happily got me a different sparkling. I loved the ravioli. Great ambiance. Highly recommend.

New Italian restaurant in Ottawa in the 100 block of W Main Street…read more Reservations are two days in advance but the walk up on a Saturday was about a 45 (and that's a long estimate) minute wait at the great bar !! Started off with some great draft beers $5 for a Yungling pint and an $18 bourbon flight that my husband raved about. After a bit of a wait but with drinks !! We got a table and since we had looked at the menu at the bar we were ready to order. (You could order food at the bar too we just chose not to as we were in no rush) We got a loaf of fresh bread that came with olive oil for dipping that had some chili flakes in it that gave it a bit of a zing. (My only thing is that it would have been nice to have some Parmesan to shake into it to give it a bit of body beyond just oil). But all in all it was yummy. Onto our main courses. I got the shrimp and calamari Diablo. And yes. It's hot. Spicy and also temperature from the kitchen. But the flavor was amazing and it was full of calamari rings and the little tentacles and some really good sized shrimps too and the linguini was so good. The sauce you could tell was fresh and full of tomato chunks. The husband got chicken shrimp and sausage carbonara. Again full of flavor and meat and peas and delicious pasta. Oh and dessert was two home made cannoli with the pistachios on the ends and the best not too sweet cream inside. For our two meals and two glasses of house red blend ($5 each) it was 80.00. It was plenty of food to make two fat kids very happy. The servers were very nice. The bartenders were friendly as they were super hopping. All in all we will Be back to try more dishes as they all looked great coming out of the kitchen. This is a great date night spot and something new and different than your normal burger, pizza or bar food kinda place. Try it. You will want to come back !!!

2nd level speak easy - soon to open

Cannoli dessert

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Country Rigatoni

Court Street Pub

4.2

(86 reviews)

Highly recommend the buffalo shrimp & tots! Best tots…read moreanywhere!!! Server was awesome!

Passing through and stopped for lunch. I noticed from other reviews the pretzel seemed to be a hit…read more, and well damn, it did not disappoint! The SW egg rolls were just okay. The bartender was also friendly and attentive. Nice place as it is very modern and I like the bathroom tiles lol

Mango Habanero Shrimp Tacos

Tap wall

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Keagan’s Irish Pub

4.4

(22 reviews)

Always so good and the service is great! Their menu has so…read moremany options to choose from!

We popped in while visiting town recently and had so much fun! There was karaoke that night and a…read morenice small crowd of talented singers! The dj was so fun and welcoming! The drinks were fine. I would have preferred a glass to the plastic that was used. The service was slow but yet they were well staffed.

Pork Chop Sandwich with Blueberry BBQ Sauce

The bar has everything!

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Muffy's Tap

3.6

(8 reviews)

1.5 mi

Went in for lunch on taco Tuesday and had a very good lunch at a very decent price. Service was…read moreextremely fast and very friendly. Will be headed back to try other specials and menu items.

Definitely a dive-y little bar but that's what gives it character. My cousin loves this place and…read moreits owners, and insists that I meet her here when I'm in town. We just happened to go there on Taco Tuesday night (yeeeessss tacos and nachos!!!) Yes, it's bar food but it's not bad. For about $20 I fed myself and my husband and we got a lot of food. We ordered two different kinds of quesadillas which came out grilled and melty good with a ton of mozzarella cheese. It was a pretty good sized portion. The nachos and cheese are tortilla chips with a ton of cheese sauce and jalapeños on the side. My auntie got some crispy tacos, I didn't even get a photo because she inhaled them before I had a chance. Cousin got carry out so again no pic. The owner and bartender Terry is super friendly and makes you feel like a valued customer. The interior has cool beer signage and the bathrooms are very clean. Good times.