The Alley is one of the better bars in Bloomington. I really like the overall vibe and atmosphere…read more-- it's a great place to hang out with friends. The location is convenient, and it has a fun, welcoming feel that keeps me coming back. Definitely a solid choice for a night out!

Neighborhood bar. Good sound level, small, close knit, local feel. Not an amazing beer selection,…read morebut varied enough.

Nick's never disappoints, and when it's summer in Bloomington and the outdoor seating is available,…read morewe make it a point to visit more often. In this case, a couple of buddies and I met for dinner and drinks. It's a shame Kirkwood isn't closed to cars completely, as the space was limited and there were kids on motorcycles driving up and down the road. Other than that, another great experience. As usual I ordered the Stromboli with no pickles. Word to first timers, when they say pickles they mean a LOT of pickles and the juice will run into the bread. So if that's not your thing, tell them to put them on a separate plate far far away or simply skip them. The strom at Nick's is, without a doubt, the single best sandwich in Bloomington. I ordered a side of fried mushrooms with mine, which are admittedly overpriced but also delish. Friends ordered a breaded tenderloin with fries and a burger with onion rings. Both enjoyed their meals, but other than the onion rings those wouldn't be anywhere the top of my list for a Nick's visit. The rings are fantastic, but I just love the pizza, stroms, Italian beef and some other things before I'd go the more traditional tenderloin or burger route. The place is a landmark in Bloomington with great food, great service and is a great place to hang out, have a great meal and a few beers and enjoy the night.

Management/ownership at the establishment is horrendous. My…read moreson turned 21 six months ago. Family had their welcome drinks for an event at this establishment. Bought out the Hoosier room. Wouldn't serve my son even though he had student ID, debit cards, credit cards and an address on his license that matches mine and my wife's (obviously). Still wouldn't do anything and said even if we called the cops to validate the ID he wouldn't accept it as valid. Need the "Real ID" to get on an airplane to get here. But this guy apparently knows something everyone else doesn't. Hmmmm. Crazy.

Honestly surprised reviews are not higher for this place. Stopped in for a Monday lunch while…read morevisiting Bloomington. There's a bar side and a less bar side, but overall it does have a bar feel. The menu however, is elevated bar food. Not quite approaching Gastropub level, but more than what you're going to find in a dive bar situation. We enjoyed the breaded tenderloin sliders, the salmon BLT (that hoagie bun was pillowy soft), the sautéed brussels sprouts, and the potato pancakes. Although maybe they didn't call them pancakes? They were smashed potatoes. Loaded with butter, salt and pepper, and boy were they delicious. We had excellent service from Morgan, who was very attentive. And I don't know what mixture they're using of syrup and carbonation for their Diet Coke, but it was seriously good. Don't sleep on this place.

Not sure why this place doesn't have a five star rating. The food and service has been amazing the…read moretwo times we have visited from out of town. A random Yelp find, we ordered the blackened salmon and a burger. The salmon is the best I have ever had. I feared the seasoning as I am not a pepper or spicy girl. It was neither. Whatever they use, it's perfect. The grilled seasonal vegetables that came with it were unique and top notch. On my second visit, I couldn't bring myself to order anything but the salmon - doubt I ever will. The mozzarella sticks were HUGE and filled with cheese. The wings were great too and our server was kind and prompt. The hostess took time to answer our questions about the history of the location and is the one who recommended the salmon. We later spoke to a manager who relayed it is fresh salmon that makes it so good - so much so that IU sports team request it frequently. The inside of the pub-like setting is spacious with different levels and sides. There is small outdoor seating where dogs are welcomed. The only negative is parking. There is very little street parking nearby and no adjoining parking lot. This can be a problem for this with mobility issues and in busy downtown days. I wish they could fix this issue. Highly recommend this enchanting restaurant.

If I lived around here this would easily be one of my go-to bars. They have a full bar plus 10 or…read moreso craft beers on tap and a PBR tap inside an old Chevy on the other side of the bar. Cozy, chill vibes, great low lighting, clean, unique decor...idk about the deer, but there's a lil something for everyone.  While we were there, the music made me feel like I was at The Bronze. They also have shuffleboard, ski ball, and foosball tables. Note: They do card everyone and ask for proof of vaccination. This is a great place to hang out with friends. All love.

Yep, you're not imagining it. I too, quit going here when I was asked for my Covid vaccination card…read morein 2023 (have alwaus been vaxxed). Which was made sadly amusing by the fact that I sat there for 25 minutes trying to look for it before ordering anything -- at which point you'd think they would be anxious I spread the virus all over the bar. Ridiculous. Brainless America at its best.

Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to go out with the MBA program and had the best time that I…read morehave had in Bloomington. Shelby took care of our entire party and Sarah was so sweet. Could not recommend this place enough. 5/5.

Bouncers are weird and touchy, asked to pat down my girl friends but not me... would not recommend…read moreto the female crowd

The orbit room is always wonderful! They have wonderful music acts come in, both local and touring,…read moreand the YUMMIEST brown butter popcorn I have ever had.

This review is strictly for food--I'm glad this place exists presenting the weird music that they…read moreare. That said, the hot dogs are...not great for a place specializing in hot dogs. They're a bit too squishy, probably due to being steamed rather than charred, and I found the bun to be soggy and untoasted, the vegan "chili" to really just be black beans, and the "horseradish aioli" to just be ordinary mayo. I'm sure I'll be back for music, but I'll probably just order a drink next time.

Best pork tenderloin - never disappoints Good beer. Always…read morean interesting crowd Total dive bar but don't let that keep you away!!

So I typically eat lunch at The Office Lounge on Monday or Wednesday, as it's the day their 'Butt…read moreSteak Special' takes place, but this week I did a Thursday with a small group of friends and realized I haven't ever reviewed the place. Figured I should fix that. It's a great dining option, and I'm sure if I was a bar-going person it would be an amazing bar option in Bloomington if you want to stay away from the downtown/student/club like vibes. The office lounge is located on the East side of town, and has all the 'dive bar' feels with great food and people, good service and reasonable prices. The steak special lunch is a nice piece of sirloin, French fries, and a piece of Texas Toast for less than a basic meal at McDonalds. And it's good. This week I tried the sirloin burger for the first time, also with fries, and everything was great. The tenderloin is also a favorite (it's Indiana, of course it is) and I hear great things about other meals. Service is always quick, though it can get pretty crowded at lunch so keep that in mind. Plenty of parking if you're creative in the lot. All in all, a great option for anyone looking for a great bar-level food menu and good prices.

My daughter and I had a great night out after watching one of favorite dancers on The Crimsonette…read moreTeam. We had NO wait, received fast, and friendly service. The Breadsticks with delicious marinara, and our cheese pizza were truly the best we've ever had. There are SO many options for vegetarians, as well as a kids menu, and SO much more than only breadsticks, and pizza. We can't wait to dine there on our next visit to IIU.

I actually found this place when someone walked by with a pizza. It smelled so good!…read more Meatball app. Yes please. Thin crust pepperoni & sausage. Yummy. Plenty filling. My associate also had the "works" salad. Very fresh and filling. Limited wine choices. Server Abby. Took great care of us. Sorry. Scarfed it down before I could get a pic!