The Council Bluffs 100 Block is the oldest commercial neighborhood in the metro area. Dating back…read moreto 1853, most of the block's buildings celebrated their sesquicentennial a couple of presidents ago. Omaha's first newspaper was printed on this block. This block is older than the invention of cocktails, imagine that. It was pretty rough and full of scoundrels in those halcyon days: journalists, lawyers, land speculators, railroad magnates, Abraham Lincoln. Eventually things improved as saloons, social clubs, gambling halls and bordellos moved in. Today, the 100 Block is to Council Bluffs what Buckhead is to Atlanta and a new whiskey bar called The Barrel is in the middle of it. The Barrel is a swanky, crafty, well-appointed, beautifully decorated, two-story lounge featuring cocktails made according to original recipes with top shelf brands. No mixes, no shortcuts. Every drink is a double just as our shameless forebears intended them. The interior is full of local art including the Barrel sign over the bar. It's well lit with high ceilings reflecting the warmth of the architecture and the staff.     The night I stopped in was moderately busy for a Friday night before 9 p.m. A dozen or so patrons filled the upstairs bar room before wandering downstairs to the more lounge-y Bottom of the Barrel. This is where the bands play and the furnishings swing more to the comfortable side of things. There is a bar here as well, but the craft cocktails were being made upstairs that night. So back upstairs, I asked for a recommendation to show me the takeaway, the thing I should know about The Barrel. Now normally, if a bartender recommends a whiskey sour I assume he thinks I'm in high school or doesn't want a tip, but the gregarious gent behind the bar that night was telling sincere stories, and not just with his beautiful scalp tattoos. The Whiskey Sour was a great place to start. The simple classic has been denigrated for decades by shortcuts and mixes. But this Whiskey Sour is born again hard made with Cody Road Rye, fresh lemon, egg white and love for only $8. Spectacular. And foamy. There is a literal wall of 130 whiskeys at The Barrel Each shelf is higher than the last. Your taste is limited only by your credit. Their Old Fashioned had me at spherical ice, but I intend to return for more classics (Manhattan, Negroni, Tom Collins) or clever originals (Brockway Bulldog, Baltimore Zoo or The Night is Dark and Full of Terror). And there's beer. Exile Beatnik Sour and Lagunitas IPA ($5), Burning Skye Scottish Ale, Lucky Bucket Wide Eye Coffee Stout, Millstream Pale Ale, Brickway Maple Pecan Brown Ale, Empyrean Dark Side Vanilla Porter ($4.50) and Bud Light ($3). There is live music on Fridays and Saturdays, an open jam from 4-8 Sundays followed by an open mic until close, and comedy every second Wednesday. The Bottom of the Barrel has $3 premium wells on weekends and there is never a cover. With drinks like this, it's obvious why our ancestors were so unapologetic about drinking doubles.

Nice friendly place; Nice friendly bartenders; Excellent whiskey sours…read more Definitely recommend we will come back

This is a nice place to have a drink with friends. I meet a friend there once a regular basis to…read moretalk and enjoy a cold beer (and free popcorn). It may be small, and does not serve food, but for my purposes, it is perfect. The bartenders always are ready with our next beer and are easy to talk to. I go in the late afternoon when it is not very crowded and enjoy the experience every time. I have been when it is later...busy...and standing room only...and it was still a good time.

My friend and I went here to top off a fun night this past weekend…read more The bar tender was really cool, fun, and personable. The other patrons, although very few, were really nice as well. I've been to this bar in the past and it was super packed, loud, and unpleasant. When there aren't a lot of people here, it's a nice bar. I'd go back again.

Owner likes to throw people out for no reason but can't get rid of the mice in the building. Owner…read morealso don't like to pay the employees. Would not recommend this place for anybody

My friend and I went here this past weekend for a couple drinks and it was a good experience…read more There weren't a lot of people here and the downstairs area was desolate. The bar tender was friendly. The drinks were good. The outside, back area was nice too. All in all, it was a good bar that I would go back to.

Adrian is the best, most expedient bartender that I have seen in a very long time. Her customer…read moreservice skills are up there with Nordstrom quality!!!

I recently went to Glory Days to use a gift certificate. I…read moresat at the bar. Ordered classic beef Philly sandwich & fries. The girl behind the bar was not attentive, only to the men that she knew drinking a beer. There was another gentlemen, 2 seats down, having sandwich and drinking water. This waitress ONLY talked to the two men that she apparently knew. She refilled the man's water and walked right past me. She did not refill my water until I was at the end of my meal. There was no conversation with myself or the man eating and drinking water. Now I use to eat at this place all of the time several years ago. IT USE TO BE VERY GOOD! Now, not much favor. The damn girl gave me a ketchup that was empty. She would of known by the weight of it. I asked for a different ketchup, she gave me one that still had the safety seal on it!!! This place needs a completely different person for the lunch crowd. Someone who can carry on a conversation with whomever comes in. Not just the younger men that come in that she knows that is drinking beer at noon. Unfortunately, I have a gift card for this place with plenty of money left on it. Next time I come in for lunch, I will make sure this girl is not there. AND, the food is NOT as good as it use to be. No flavor what so ever.

I never thought that going to a courthouse would be such a good time. Be it the owner, the friendly…read moreand welcoming bartenders, or the patrons this bar is the place to go when you're in the know. The two happy hours a day and vast selection of libations available are reason enough to stop in and strike up a conversation and it becomes your bar. Five tv's, an app friendly jukebox, a pool table, and vending machine are also appealing for a visit. Come in a stranger, leave a friend

In the daytime it's a quiet neighborhood bar where the locals (mostly older) sit to gossip or watch…read moresports on TV. At night, though the crowd stills seems to skew older than at some other bars, it's a pretty busy and lively place to hang out. Karaoke night at Quarthouse is a blast -- there's no pretense and no one cares how badly you sing, it's all about the fun. I've been in a few times and would have to say this is my favorite dive to visit when I'm in Council Bluffs.

Food is fire. Service is good. Hella pool tables if you're into that…read more Don't judge a book by its cover..

Service Excellent polite…read more Food Good portions great taste Lunch price can't be beat Was great atmosphere and experience Will definitely be back

My friend and I went to this bar on the CB strip last night and it was a great experience; (other…read morethan the country music........lol) The bartenders were nice and friendly. The drinks were good and 'cheap'. The place looked clean. My friend and I played darts for over an hour and some skeeball and had a good time. Everything worked fine. All in all we had a good experience and wouldn't mind going back.

Went here at 1:30 for a drink with some friends and started getting told to "chug" our drinks at…read more1:50 because they had people stay late and got in trouble with cops the week before. Then at 1:55 we started getting harassed by the bartender in which a yelling match started when we told them we were just in town for our fathers funeral she said "I don't give a fuck bitch none of us have dads".... Then one of the locals started physically pushing us out. One of the other female bartenders tried to calm down the other bartender but she wasn't listening and continued to yell and call us bitches telling us to get the fuck out. I can't believe this is what is going on at this place. All because they messed up a week before they decided to take it out on us. Please don't give these people money they don't deserve it.

My husband and I found this on Yelp when traveling through. We both have to say this place has the…read morebest wings ever!! They were super meaty with a tasty crunch! They also have a healthier dish with grilled chicken tenders, served with carrots, celery, and cottage cheese. This was great too! Service was wonderful! A lot of locals go here and we can see why! We'll definitely be back on our next road trip!

You have to get the famous charbuff wings. How can you say you've been here if you haven't had…read moretheir famous charbuff wings? They got the classic causes for their wings but I was a big fan of their buffaque sauce. I also got their cheese curds. The seating is pretty open, mostly tables and chairs, and bar seating at the back. Decent amount of tvs all around the room. Plenty of parking in the front. Overall had a good visit here.