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    Kemp's Upper Tap

    4.6 (59 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Kemp's Upper Tap Photos

    Business Info

    KEMP'S UPPER TAP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kemp's Upper Tap

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    Alicia K.

    Excellent service, drink options are many and delicious. The food is excellent. Garlic cheese curds holy yummmm! My boyfriend got the jalapeño bbq pork sandwich...I took a bite..so juicy and flavorful! I got garlic parmesan tossed chicken tenders....buttery garlic with fresh parmesan! I am impressed. Such a cool atmosphere. Good music, super friendly workers, met the owner and his wife who are so friendly! Definitely recommend and I definitely will come back!

    Cool Oberon license plate.
    Mike P.

    A fun environment with a great beer selection, especially for a tiny town near route 66. The pepper jack bites were quite nice and the service was good as well.

    Connie H.

    Good quantity of okay food. Cute decor. Good minimal service. Also, didn't like being offered a choice of meat on nacho like it comes standard and learning there's a charge for it when I get the receipt. There's also a dollar charge for water, FYI. I know I appreciate transparency.

    Tiffany H.

    The food was sooooo good. Best I've had in awhile. I'd drive back to Lexington just to revisit this place. Please order the loaded fries and a slushy. Service was also great. I have 0 complaints.

    10$ for fries? It seems like I always get charged differently each time I eat here... none of these prices match what they have on the menu.

    Im always surprised by the prices at this place. Food is good but 40$? I saw no signs or updates on food prices increasing. None of these prices match what they have on their menu online. :(

    Mister Meister- amazing!! Cheeseburger with bacon, light jalapeño, fried egg, and sweet aioli.
    Azsure D.

    You must eat here!! Today's special is the Mister Meister- a gianormous cheeseburger with bacon, a fried egg, a few jalapeños, and sweet aioli on a pretzel bun. Holy hell this is fabulous!! It paired perfectly with my Buckle Down Brewing favorite: Belt and Suspenders, best beer in the whole wide world. How lucky am I today?? And on tap at that! We also had some tater tots, typical bar fare. They were fine. Our server was sweet. The place was super full. We were lucky to get a seat.

    Chance the Rampper. Life changing.

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    3 years ago

    Gluten free options rock! Burgers are delicious and sweet potato fries. Highly recommend

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food is awesome!! If you are wanting to try greAt food in a small town setting this is the place!

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    7 years ago

    Nice place good selection of beers and good (but maybe a bit hot) back outdoor space. Solid pub good. But it's in Lexington!

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    8 years ago

    Great food, killer beer selection and incredible owners. My new favorite place off 55.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kemp's Upper Tap

    Review Highlights - Kemp's Upper Tap

    I even found some of my favorite and uncommon Chicagoland brews, although I selected some excellent brews from the Bloomington/Normal area.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    DaT Bar at the End Row - "Run-A-Way Bill" ate here!

    DaT Bar at the End Row

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    Lexington, Illinois ---…read more "Dat Bar" is a TRUE neighborhood bar with great atmosphere, friendly interactive customers who will welcome the Route 66 roadies & super bartenders (Chanda being a "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite ). "Dat Bar" offers some very unique features: 1. FREE peanuts (shells on the floor) & if you find one shaped like a duck (& stands up) it gets mounted on the Dat Duck wall. 2. drink coasters are blue jeans' back pockets ... really cool. 3. the "gin bucket" ... flip your beer can tab in the mini bucket hanging on the ceiling and you are a winner! Not sure what you win, but lots of fun! Tasty-riffic food specials each day after 5 ... quality, quantity & fair pricing. Plenty of parking for this corner bar. I mention corner parking because you ask "Where is Dat Bar?" since the sign blew down "kinda" recently. "Dat Bar" was bar 417 of the "Run-A-Way Bill" "666 Bars of 2017" and was one-of-the BEST! "Run-A-Way Bill" was here! #RunAwayBill #DUSA2018 #Bars #BarsUSA #BAR_RAB #BarsRAB2018 #Route66 #Route66RunAwayBill #HistoricRoute66 #USroute66 #MotherRoad #Ruta66 #WillRogersHighway #MainStreetOfAmerica #RAB66_2018.2 #FoodUSA #FoodRAB 09.17.18

    This is a great bar I always have an awesome time when I go here. They also have a great menu and…read morepool table and dart boards. Thers is not a better place to go in Lexington. Friendly staff and patrons.

    Photos
    DaT Bar at the End Row - "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite customer "Pam"

    "Run-A-Way Bill" Favorite customer "Pam"

    DaT Bar at the End Row - Tasty-riffic food & lots of it!

    Tasty-riffic food & lots of it!

    DaT Bar at the End Row

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    Emancipation Brewing Co. - Farmer's Favorite And The Krack Mix

    Emancipation Brewing Co.

    4.9(14 reviews)
    21.3 mi

    Found out about this in the middle of nowhere brewery outside Fairbury. It certainly is one of the…read morefew places around here to get beers or anything it seems. Emancipation is a brewery not a lot of people have heard of because it's not close to anything of course. Has a surprising amount of variety on tap and in cans to go. They may not have a whole lot but everything is full of flavor and quenches one's thirst. Even with it being a smaller brewery it still has quite a lot. It's got several of their own beers on tap along with a few others. There's also more cans in a refrigerator. Has the basics along with a few interesting ones. More than just the IPAs and the usual. It's about $7 a pint. The Farmer's Favorite is the IPA and is a pretty good medium one that's crisp and smooth. Has a few things to snack on here. It's about $3 for the Krack Mix. Basically like Chex Mix but it's made locally. They also will let you bring in stuff. Great place that's pretty hard to find the first time going here. It's located on N. 2500 East Rd. a few miles north of Fairbury surrounded by corn fields pretty much. They're closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

    We love the fact you can find a little beverage get away in rural Illinois. We stopped here with…read moreextended family for a quick drink. Our group had a variety of beverages including a mule, red lager, homemade radler, wine, and even a homemade non-alcoholic lemonade. The ambiance is rustic and comfortable. The bartender was friendly and helpful as our group was sampling a few of their offerings before we landed on our orders.

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    Emancipation Brewing Co.
    Emancipation Brewing Co. - Inside

    Inside

    Emancipation Brewing Co.

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    The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House - wings

    The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House

    4.0(18 reviews)
    14.2 mi

    wow this food was so good. came a little after open and got helped right away. drinks didn't take…read morelong just got some waters and sodas. then ordered food and that didn't take too long either, timing was reasonable. the server was very nice and the bartender as well. i got the cesar wrap 9/10, towards the bottom is was thigh meat i think and i didn't like that very much. the wings 10/10 it was half off as well. super flavorful. off the menu the spicy chicken pita 7/10, could use a little more flavor. all fries were very good and the ranch was very good reminded me of wing stop ranch.

    Local Tap Craft Kitchen and Ale House in El Paso, Illinois, has quickly become a culinary standout…read moresince its 2022 opening, blending community roots with inventive Midwest flavors. Owned and Managed by Aaron Thomas with his really great team. This family-friendly alehouse prioritizes local partnerships and menu creativity, earning its place as a surprise standout in central Illinois' dining scene. Culinary Highlights The menu shines with elevated bar classics, including Ropp Jersey Cheese curds sourced from Normal, Illinois. ~a crispy, creamy nod to regional agriculture.  Wings tossed in bourbon-Sriracha glaze and lemon-pepper buffalo rub draw regulars, while the Italian beef sandwich, paired with sweet potato fries and maple mayo, offers a sweet-savory twist. The showstopper is the custom steak-blend burger: certified Angus beef smashed on a brioche bun, smothered in American cheese, and served with loaded fries-a "step above" typical pub fare. Surprise Standout Culinary Chronicles' sleeper hit is the maple mayo dip, a sweet-smoky companion to crispy sweet potato fries. While rumors swirl about its cult following, the dip exemplifies The Local Tap's knack for balancing familiarity with innovation. Community and Craft True to its name, the restaurant champions local breweries such as White Oak, Riggs Beer Company, and Casper Brewing. Also, fostering a patio-to-indoor vibe that's equally suited for family dinners or friend gatherings. Weekly cocktail features, like the raspberry Long Island iced tea and barrel-aged Old Fashioned, underscore their bar program's versatility. With its commitment to Midwestern flavors, community ties, and dishes that surprise even seasoned foodies, The Local Tap is a destination worth the drive. As Osborn and Thomas expand their culinary playbook-including this week's chicken cordon bleu ciabatta with white wine cream sauce-the restaurant solidifies its role as El Paso's flavorful heartbeat.

    Photos
    The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House
    The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House - Chicken tenders

    Chicken tenders

    The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House - Cranberry Mojito

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    Cranberry Mojito

    Keg Grove Brewing Company - The Show Me Your Stem

    Keg Grove Brewing Company

    4.6(37 reviews)
    14.9 mi
    $

    Checked out this local brewery in Bloomington. It has quite a surprising amount of variety on the…read morebeer list. Keg Grove is a good place for groups and hanging out. Far away enough from the craziness of the college campus and downtown bars but still not too far away. They have events and food trucks, so there's some good times to be had. A brewery that's located in a shopping plaza with a patio and indoor area. It's bigger than it looks. There's arcade games and even more tables upstairs. For sure anyone can find something fun. It's about $7 a pint. Last time I got the Show Me Your Stem. Good one. This is a pumpkin pie wheat. On the rim is graham crackers. The rest of the beers include IPAs as well as wheat beers in flavors such as blueberry and peach. For sure we could come here again. It's located on Empire Street in a shopping plaza. There's no food menu but usually there's a food truck.

    My husband and I were just in Bloomington/Normal for a conference and decided to hit up the local…read morebreweries. We enjoyed all of our stops, but Keg Grove continued getting recommendations from locals. As a result, we had to stop by. And, in the end, Keg Grove WAS our favorite! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a kind warm welcome from the bartender. The space was also welcoming. It was wide open, clean, and spacious. My husband each got our own flights (see pictured). We loved all 8 of the beers that we got, but here were our 4 favorites: 1. #3 Malo Pina Colada Wheat, 2. #1 Holey Jeans Blueberry Wheat with a sugar rimmed glass, 3. #11 Love is Love Orange Guava Passionfruit Hard Seltzer, and 4. #7 Cornfuzed Corn Ale. There was not a bad beer and there were several more we would have loved to try. We ended up getting a 4 pack of the Hokey Jeans because the Malo was sold out. Prices are great, portions are reasonable, and presentation was solid. There was nothing to complain about and much to praise. We will definitely be back at Keg Grove the next time we are in town! Thanks for a great visit!

    Photos
    Keg Grove Brewing Company - Fun spot with brew machinery

    Fun spot with brew machinery

    Keg Grove Brewing Company - Large area

    Large area

    Keg Grove Brewing Company - Coffee oatmeal stout

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    Coffee oatmeal stout

    Coal Creek Brewing

    Coal Creek Brewing

    4.8(11 reviews)
    61.7 mi

    Best thing about this village of Princeton is this brewery. Coal Creek is one of the few places…read morearound here to get beers that aren't crap. It certainly is a welcome change from the corporate swill. Also just a nice place to hang. The prices are pretty good for being small and local. A long trip to out here deserves a cold one and this is where to go. It's one of the few places in town that isn't some dive bar or fast food chain it seems. They actually have a pretty good variety. Kind of unexpected with it being a small one. There's actually a good amount including some fruity sours. It's about $7 a pint. We had a few with the best of these being the More Than A Weekend. It's a summer melon lager. They also make cocktails if that's a preference. For sure it's the best place in town for beers. It's located in downtown in a historic building that's cool to check out. There's no food but you can bring in stuff.

    A locally owned brewery located in the heart of downtown Princeton. This brewery is housed in an…read moreold historic building serving up a variety of beers. From Pale Ales,Stouts,Rye IPA,Wheat and Fruit beers,Coal Creek offers something for everyone. They offer flights as well as a full bar serving crafted cocktails. They didn't have any ciders but they did have a few seltzers for the non beer drinker. I tried a flight of 4 5 oz pours. Each tasting was 3.00. I really liked their Homestead Lager . 4.8 ABV. They do not serve food. They now offer cans and growlers to go. You can sit by the open windows in the front of the tap room ,at the bar or at one of the hi tops. There is a gaming area in the back of the taproom as well. Plenty of street parking available. Nice place to relax and enjoy a locally sourced beer in Princeton.

    Photos
    Coal Creek Brewing
    Coal Creek Brewing
    Coal Creek Brewing

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    OB’s Cervezaria - Front corner - golf simulator entry

    OB’s Cervezaria

    4.5(6 reviews)
    7.9 mi

    Found out about this local brewery in Chenoa. It happens to be just one part of a larger operation…read more OB's Cervezaria is one of this building's vendors. Has kind of limited hours. This makes sense because they only brew a few of their own beers and keep it simple. Cool place that's fun for the entire family. It's got something to please everyone it seems. The worst thing is the limited hours though. Brewery is only open in the evenings mostly and other times is often closed. This also isn't much of a brewery as you pour everything yourself. It's one of those places that gives you a card. Then you insert it into the slots to get the beers pouring. It's about 50 cents or so an ounce. The only one from this brewery was the Fresh Hope, which is a blonde ale that's crisp and smooth. Food is lacking. There's another vendor that has pizza. Good place as far as around here for entertainment. It's one of the vendors and is one of the best places around for groups and parties. The brewery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

    I went here for a banquet which was basically a wedding reception. They did a really nice job with…read moreexplaining things. the service, and the food was pretty decent too. Pizza was good, the chicken chunks were decent. What gave it four stars was the fact that you could go up to a tap, you get this white card before beforehand like a library card and they swipe your debit/credit card and then you walk around and put the white card up and tap your beer. The interesting thing about it was after you close your tap it puts your name on and how many ounces of beer you poured. I was really impressed considering I'm out in the middle of nowhere and they have better technology than what's around my house. Pretty impressive. They had a blueberry wheat beer which came from Keg Grove that the spouse & I enjoyed. After your done, you take ur white card, go to cashier and close out ur tab. The wedding reception was fun and I would go back . Bathrooms were reasonably clean and parking was good.

    Photos
    OB’s Cervezaria - Entry to the golf simulator

    Entry to the golf simulator

    OB’s Cervezaria - The Fresh Hope And Chips

    The Fresh Hope And Chips

    OB’s Cervezaria

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    Kemp's Upper Tap - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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