Restaurants in Bloomington
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Best Restaurants
“Terri and Chelsea are true charms as owners. They have trained their staff to the highest levels to take care of each customer. The food is excellent and exquisite, which warrants compliments to the chef! The atmosphere in Mystic is lively and energetic. We always enjoy coming to this establishment!!”
“This is Bloomington’s best hidden gem - the menu is totally unique from anywhere else in town, the cocktails are staff-created and to die for, and you really can’t ask for better company! Pat hired the friendliest crew in town (shoutout to Stephen), so do yourself a favor and get to know them 🩷”
“I was in town for Cicada research and after a long first day, Rosie's was suggested by multiple people. I had the Special and (it was steak skewers thar night) everything was prepared beautifully. The staff are amazing. By request, I returned the favor and fed them. Fried Cicadas. kitchen staff, wait staff and bartenders. all of them are skilled and have great personalities. I will go out of my way to return. Thank you on behalf of myself and the "Name That Bug!" community.”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“We came here on Saturday afternoon and ordered all the 3 dishes on the special menu. Haleem and sheer kurma are delicious. We also ordered 2 person goat mandi and it is really good too.”
“Our waiter, Francisco was wonderful. He was very attentive and kind. He checked on us frequently. He went above and beyond! Next time we dine at Baxter's, we will be requesting him to be our server. Thanks. FRANCISCO.”
Restaurants with Delivery
“Culinary Chronicles of Central Illinois: An Adventure at Lil Beaver Brewery
Some adventures don’t require a passport — just a short drive across Bloomington. Our latest stop took us to Lil Beaver Brewery, a bold and creative hub of local beer innovation that has been delighting Central Illinois since 2016.
We were greeted by General Manager Brandon Ciasnocha, who shared stories of the brewery’s evolution and local impact. Owners Adam and Justin Bellas have taken their “small but mighty” brewery from a homegrown dream to a Bloomington favorite that’s crafted over 200 beers throughout the years. Their flagship hit — the ever-popular Wainbows — continues to fly off the taps.
Step inside and you’ll quickly sense the energy: the beer garden extends the space beautifully, offering room for friends, families, and laughter under the open sky. Sustainability also plays a proud role here — Lil Beaver partners with local farmers, sending their spent grains to feed cattle and close the local loop in true community fashion.
Tasting the Adventure
Our tasting flight read like a tour through the brewery’s creative DNA.
Wyezick – a crisp and refreshing wheat ale with balanced citrus notes.
Wainbow – their iconic fruited IPA that bursts with tropical character.
CHRA Space Crystals – a hazy IPA that’s smooth, juicy, and cosmic in both flavor and name.
Dipped and Deride – a dessert-inspired stout that turns indulgence into art.
Peach Crumble – like summer in a glass, softly sweet and fruit-forward.
Jitters – coffee lovers rejoice; a bold brew that marries rich roast with silky texture.
PDC Lager – clean, crisp, and perfect for a classic beer moment.
Amber Ale – toasted malt warmth for those who love tradition done right.
Brewers Collin Shaffer and Tyler bring creative fire to every keg they craft, while bartenders TJ and AJ make each pour a friendly experience that keeps regulars coming back.
Bites to Match the Brews
Don’t miss the Wisconsin white cheese curds — simply outstanding when paired with a pint of amber. The homemade pretzels dipped in beer cheese are another highlight — warm, flavorful, and flat-out addictive.
For mains, we couldn’t resist the Birria Nachos, piled high and full of rich flavor, and the Beaver Wrap, a crowd favorite featuring tender chicken and house-made flair.
Every corner of this brewery hums with creativity, community, and care — proof that great beer tastes even better when rooted in local pride.”
“First time here. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. Clean inside. Plenty of seating. We went around 4pm on a Saturday, so we were almost the only people there eating. Ordered 3 meals. 2 came out correctly. Order of Buffalo wings came out as BBQ wings. Waitress apologized and returned them. Came back to tell me it would be about 13 minutes and in meantime, she would give me a complimentary appetizer...ordered garlic cheese curds (said they take 3 minutes)...In the meantime, our waitress came over and asked if we minded cashing out our tab since her shift was ending.. we paid our bill. Not long after my corrected wings arrived. Food was fresh, hot and good. Highly recommend the potato oles with nacho cheese! My complimentary appetizer NEVER arrived and our new server never came back to check on us... So... great review for our initial waitress, not so great for the one who took over. Overall our experience was fine. Worth a shot if you are in the area.”
“Terri and Chelsea are true charms as owners. They have trained their staff to the highest levels to take care of each customer. The food is excellent and exquisite, which warrants compliments to the chef! The atmosphere in Mystic is lively and energetic. We always enjoy coming to this establishment!!”
“This is Bloomington’s best hidden gem - the menu is totally unique from anywhere else in town, the cocktails are staff-created and to die for, and you really can’t ask for better company! Pat hired the friendliest crew in town (shoutout to Stephen), so do yourself a favor and get to know them 🩷”
“Revery is an absolute gem! Their cocktails are expertly crafted, bursting with unique flavors that perfectly complement the atmosphere. The steaks are cooked to perfection—juicy, tender, and full of rich taste. The service is friendly and attentive, making every visit a memorable experience. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or a steak lover, Revery is the place to be for an exceptional dining experience. Highly recommend!”
“LOVE ANJU ABOVE!! Drinks were on point and sushi was amazing!Cant wait to go back!”
Online Reservation Available
“Revery is an absolute gem! Their cocktails are expertly crafted, bursting with unique flavors that perfectly complement the atmosphere. The steaks are cooked to perfection—juicy, tender, and full of rich taste. The service is friendly and attentive, making every visit a memorable experience. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or a steak lover, Revery is the place to be for an exceptional dining experience. Highly recommend!”
“we came for a birthday celebration. we had a party of 7. everyone got something different & everyone enjoyed their meals. we felt the quality & quantity of food was very very fair reflective of the price. our server was incredibly helpful & very observant of our tables needs. my family is already asking when we can go back.”
“We hosted a family milestone celebratory meal for nineteen people which exceeded even all our high expectations. Between DawnMichelle Alvarez, Biaggi’s Event Coordinator, and Christy, our primary server, we received fabulous treatment throughout our evening. We have celebrated family milestones at Biaggi’s for many years and will continue to do so because Biaggi’s in our opinion is the very best Bloomington has to offer.”
“We love Bakery & Pickle! Our food is always outstanding, good service, and quality cocktails. We love their bartender Cullen. He makes the best drinks in town and will even create something unique based on our tastes. We had so much fun at the bar last night that we skipped our dinner reservations in the dining room and enjoyed our anniversary dinner at the bar. This place is always a good time with great staff, food, and atmosphere. Cullen keeps us coming back for his excellent cocktails!”
“What a perfect little place with a great atmosphere!! The goat cheese balls and the potstickers are absolutely amazing! I had a season salad which was wonderful and the strawberry ganache cake is my new all-time favorite dessert!!!! Friendly, fast service!!! Love the menu selections and the drink selection is almost impossible to choose from!! So Many Great choices!!! Give Reality Bites a try! You won't be disappointed!!!”
“we came for a birthday celebration. we had a party of 7. everyone got something different & everyone enjoyed their meals. we felt the quality & quantity of food was very very fair reflective of the price. our server was incredibly helpful & very observant of our tables needs. my family is already asking when we can go back.”
“The food was awesome, hot & cooked perfect! The staff couldn’t have been better! My husband & I will be back!”
24 Hour Restaurants
“To Ava, I’m so sorry about my family freaking out today. You don’t deserve it at all. I couldn’t speak up for a fear of them losing it, but I truly did want to. You did not do anything wrong. Workers have it hard. Please have a good week, I hope this doesn’t happen too often.”
“Best Wendy's in America. As a truck driver that lives off Wendy's, Ive never seen the care that went into making food. Everything was clean inside. The staff who took my order( Clyde @1pm Thurday) was awsome. I watched the lady who makes the sandwiches and it was done with professionalism. Definitely the best.”
“We hosted a family milestone celebratory meal for nineteen people which exceeded even all our high expectations. Between DawnMichelle Alvarez, Biaggi’s Event Coordinator, and Christy, our primary server, we received fabulous treatment throughout our evening. We have celebrated family milestones at Biaggi’s for many years and will continue to do so because Biaggi’s in our opinion is the very best Bloomington has to offer.”
Takeout Restaurants
“Today was my first time eating at Lucca Grill. We went during lunch and I ordered their grilled chicken sandwich dipped in parmesan sauce and homemade chips. It was delicious! Our waitress was fantastic! She greeted us as we walked in and gave us great service! We are definitely going back and will have to try the pizza.”
“I was in town for Cicada research and after a long first day, Rosie's was suggested by multiple people. I had the Special and (it was steak skewers thar night) everything was prepared beautifully. The staff are amazing. By request, I returned the favor and fed them. Fried Cicadas. kitchen staff, wait staff and bartenders. all of them are skilled and have great personalities. I will go out of my way to return. Thank you on behalf of myself and the "Name That Bug!" community.”
“KEG GROVE BREWING COMPANY located at
712 Empire street (one way street traveling west.
Bloomington, illinois
It was founded by a group of friends.
They have been in business for 6.5 years. They make their own brew.
It is a fantastic environment for all walks of life.
ESPECIALLY MOLLY, THE BAR MAID! she would brighten anyone's day
With her down home friendly hospitality
They are having their summer fest
June 6th 2026.
They serve Beer all varieties, some wines, soft drinks.
Open are 2:00 p.m. during the week & Noon on the weekends.
If you are passing through or on vacation or local.
Stop in cool down and enjoy your brew.”
“I LOVE spicy food and have a high tolerance for heat. Like Hot Ones 11/10 hot sauce is a bit mild to me type tolerance or I eat raw ghost peppers to relish the little bit of heat type tolerance. I try spicy chicken all over the place and while some taste good, none are spicy. Enter Pop-Up Chicken Shop. I ordered the chicken sandwich with their Poultygeist seasoning and OH MY is this delicious! The chicken has heat, the slaw has heat and that heat builds with each bite. So good!! If you want actual spicy chicken, try this place out! If you don't tolerate heat as much, try their other heat levels -- excellent flavor and good portions!”
“Looking to replace Denny's for early morning breakfast. Another story, another time.
6 am opening, perfect. Had steak and eggs. Exactly what I ordered. Waitress checked on me more than once after food was served. Music was 80's but not too loud to have conversation. All in all, I will be back.”
“Amazing ! I haven’t had Jamaican food since I was in Florida and this is literally the most authentic taste I have tasted in central US since Florida. It is absolutely delicious and presentation is 100%. They literally took the time to wrap the boxes with saran wrap, so it wouldn’t leak Something that you don’t see every day a takeout place, they took the extra measurement which I thought was so thoughtful and it kept the food even warmer because I had to drive so 100% recommend would love to taste their oxtail next time I’m in town.”
“Ordered pickup pizzas for dinner. The ordering site easy to use as a guest. We only ordered calzones before. I need to come in for the beer and checkout the atmosphere. My wife enjoyed her pepperoni and I ordered the blackjack Mac which was a nice change. Lots of toppings. Nice crusts. We enjoy trying different places and their style of product. Another place that we now have to fit into our rotation. I timed my pickup just right pizzas just came out of the oven.”
“We love Bakery & Pickle! Our food is always outstanding, good service, and quality cocktails. We love their bartender Cullen. He makes the best drinks in town and will even create something unique based on our tastes. We had so much fun at the bar last night that we skipped our dinner reservations in the dining room and enjoyed our anniversary dinner at the bar. This place is always a good time with great staff, food, and atmosphere. Cullen keeps us coming back for his excellent cocktails!”
“Amazing food, top-notch service. The honey bread was transcendant. Don’t talk yourself out of it due to pricing. It was worth every dollar and every bite. Cannot recommend it enough.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“If you’ve never eaten gluten free, you might not know that it actually can be really defeating at times. Your favorite treats are something you can no longer enjoy, and then some companies FINALLY offer a GF version and it’s always gritty, dry, or just down right disgusting. Having to change your diet this way can make you feel like you have to settle and you have to gaslight yourself into liking this new version. So personally for me when GF alternatives come out I get nervous because I don’t want to hate it or have to settle. Last night I had my favorite iced sugar cookie from Grove Street Bakery for the first time in years, and it was gluten free. It was amazing. It was soft, it was delicious, and I truly could not tell it was a gluten free recipe! Thank you so much to Lizzie for bringing out these treats last night and sharing some AMAZINNGGGGG cookies!💕”
“My birthday cakes growing up were always from Janet’s and were always something I looked forward to. When I was planning my wedding I knew I wanted Janet’s for my cake and cupcakes! They did an AMAZING job with desserts for my wedding. Everything was fresh and delicious. They were great with communication and accommodating to my requests. I will continue to be a repeat customer!”
“We stop in anytime we are in the area. Kari (spelling) is the early morning person behind the bar-and he is amazing! Had the best sandwich ever-The Philly Sandwich covered in their homemade cheese. I would drive 2 hours right now just to have another. Overall, it is a great place to visit, but tough to leave! My apologies, I don't remember the bartender that came in at 10...but she was equally amazing! Can't wait to go back”
“I just had my first Bao from Bao Destination today. I steamed a pork dumpling & a veggie. They are so good. The homemade sauce I also purchased is a must. Love them & so easy to cook. Just used my double boiler with parchment under them & steamed for maybe 10 minutes. Very good, highly recommend 😋👍”
“Fantastic food!!!!! Can’t wait to test it all to figure out my favorite!!! Definitely recommend Healthy in a Hurry!”
“I recently went to the Hy-Vee bakery looking for a cake for my sons birthday. As I was looking through the cake selection book I happened to look over and up behind the bakery counter and I saw the most fantastic cheeseburger cake. I spoke with Monika, and found out that it was a specialty cake that she had just added to display. I asked if it was possible to customize it as my son eats plain hamburgers and would find the humor in that and Monika was very accommodating. The cake turned out so amazing. Monika is so creative and the cake turned out so good. A big THANK YOU to Monika for being just so nice and accommodating but also a fantastic creator of beautiful tasty cakes!”
Cheap Eats
“We had a graduation party at Casper Brewing Company and it was absolutely perfect! Everyone was amazing to work with and the room is comfortable, with several tables and sitting areas. You can bring in your own food and the drinks are fabulous! We would definitely recommend Casper Brewing Company for your next party!”
“12/10 one of my FAVORITE restaurants I've ever been to!! The atmosphere is amazing. It's super relaxing, and I love the music. Everyone working there is kind and the facilities are clean. I am always impressed with the quality of the food and drink. The build your own poké bowl is a great deal. The portion sizes are nice; I always get two full meals out of one poké bowl. I highly recommend this place to anyone I can! Plus it's nice to support a local business!”
“Food is not too bad, the service for picking up needs more to be desired, and needs work. The guy that Food is not too bad, but the service for picking up needs more to be desired, and needs work. The guy who served me was rude, and he put the bag on the table instead of handing it to me! He was rude, and he put the bag on the table instead of handing it to me!”
“Servers are rude...I told my waitress I was unhappy with the eggs because I wanted real eggs. She assured me that it was indeed real eggs. ((Look for yourself) see pic below if I can add it) then she told the other waitress who was even more rude and made sure we heard her disdain. For the situation. Very unprofessional the hashbrowns looked like filet of sole (from a shoe)...I had a spinach feta and tomato omelet with no taste the egg was so watered down it was disgusting. staff digusted among themselves my experience but only the cashier apologize for it...smh”
“Definitely a favorite casual spot for a burger & pint! This visit we tried the cheese curds and I would recommend them. The OG fries are a good choice too. The smash burgers are cooked to perfection, add some bacon and enjoy the soft potato bun.
The variety of beers on tap is excellent. Try some some samples, 4oz pours or have a few pints... It's all good!”
“What a perfect little place with a great atmosphere!! The goat cheese balls and the potstickers are absolutely amazing! I had a season salad which was wonderful and the strawberry ganache cake is my new all-time favorite dessert!!!! Friendly, fast service!!! Love the menu selections and the drink selection is almost impossible to choose from!! So Many Great choices!!! Give Reality Bites a try! You won't be disappointed!!!”
“Was nervous for my first flight, the bartender gave me a piece of gum and said it helped with popping ears. She also made sure my liquid courage was strong. Told me what to expect and had good conversation. Great service, and drinks!”
“Tonight, had my birthday meal with my husband. We got a table by the fire place. The food and service were excellent. Mary Jo was our waitress and she was fabulous. She kept checking on us to make sure everything was fine and if we needed anything. My husband ordered the beef stroganoff which came with garlic bread and I ordered the chicken rolantine with baked potato. We loved them. We also had a salad with the Brittany dressing. Plus they gave us plenty of Ciabatta bread with butter. The complimentary birthday dessert was strawberry cheesecake. The food portions were a good size so we had leftovers to take home. Thank you to Jim’s Steak House for making my birthday so special.”
“Had a great evening at Gill Street celebrating the holiday season with work friends. Special thanks to our axe throwing specialist who provided his expertise and friendly guidance for everyone in our party. Greatly appreciated how you took great care of us and helped us newbies have a safe and fun time! Thank you! 😀”
“We tried this place out for the first time tonight and we ABSOLUTELY loved it! It is now our favorite pizza place in town. We ordered the cheese bread and pepperoni pizza. The flavor was so unique and great. The service was lightening fast. Everything about our experience exceeded our expectations!”
Latest Reviews
“We hosted a family milestone celebratory meal for nineteen people which exceeded even all our high expectations. Between DawnMichelle Alvarez, Biaggi’s Event Coordinator, and Christy, our primary server, we received fabulous treatment throughout our evening. We have celebrated family milestones at Biaggi’s for many years and will continue to do so because Biaggi’s in our opinion is the very best Bloomington has to offer.”
“I’m sooooo heartbroken this is closed I just got back into town and have been looking forward to this for quite a long time and had a big group I was going to bring! This is the absolute best food I have ever ever had! Breakfast and lunch! With the best service!! I wish it would open up another location I would travel to it for sure! Yiu will be missed!”
“Food is not too bad, the service for picking up needs more to be desired, and needs work. The guy that Food is not too bad, but the service for picking up needs more to be desired, and needs work. The guy who served me was rude, and he put the bag on the table instead of handing it to me! He was rude, and he put the bag on the table instead of handing it to me!”
“We stop in anytime we are in the area. Kari (spelling) is the early morning person behind the bar-and he is amazing! Had the best sandwich ever-The Philly Sandwich covered in their homemade cheese. I would drive 2 hours right now just to have another. Overall, it is a great place to visit, but tough to leave! My apologies, I don't remember the bartender that came in at 10...but she was equally amazing! Can't wait to go back”
“I love Recreation Coffee! The food is always fresh! The coffee and other beverages are always excellent. Each time I stop in, I'm always greeted warmly and like I'm in for the first time. This ensures I get the best service and experience. Keep up the excellent work friends! Give it a shot. And I may be very fortunate, but I don't think the prices are unreasonable for the quality of coffee the establishment serves and the special techniques used. Cheers!”
Most Popular Restaurants
“Egg Republic has no competition. They are the BEST in town We've been there multiple times and have always had great service and food. The server Brock did a great job. Very attentive and never had to ask for refills. Great menu though I'm partial to the Crab Benedict. Thank you John for stopping by our table, as I had to let you know how much we appreciate the quality of the restaurant. Keep up the great work and KUDOS to your staff.”
“I LOVE spicy food and have a high tolerance for heat. Like Hot Ones 11/10 hot sauce is a bit mild to me type tolerance or I eat raw ghost peppers to relish the little bit of heat type tolerance. I try spicy chicken all over the place and while some taste good, none are spicy. Enter Pop-Up Chicken Shop. I ordered the chicken sandwich with their Poultygeist seasoning and OH MY is this delicious! The chicken has heat, the slaw has heat and that heat builds with each bite. So good!! If you want actual spicy chicken, try this place out! If you don't tolerate heat as much, try their other heat levels -- excellent flavor and good portions!”
“This Popeyes is the worst. They made me wait over 20 minutes for chicken because they said they have any ready. That was your one job to make chicken. The chicken they gave me was dark meat, but I paid for white meat. They always just give you whatever they have available, no matter what you order. The staff is always rude and they act like they are doing you a favor. I didn't realize until I got home that my order was incorrect. I figured if I had wait to for 20 minutes it would have been right. Throw away the whole store and all of the employees in it. Their chicken and their customer service is TRASH!!!”
“Today was my first time eating at Lucca Grill. We went during lunch and I ordered their grilled chicken sandwich dipped in parmesan sauce and homemade chips. It was delicious! Our waitress was fantastic! She greeted us as we walked in and gave us great service! We are definitely going back and will have to try the pizza.”
“First time here. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. Clean inside. Plenty of seating. We went around 4pm on a Saturday, so we were almost the only people there eating. Ordered 3 meals. 2 came out correctly. Order of Buffalo wings came out as BBQ wings. Waitress apologized and returned them. Came back to tell me it would be about 13 minutes and in meantime, she would give me a complimentary appetizer...ordered garlic cheese curds (said they take 3 minutes)...In the meantime, our waitress came over and asked if we minded cashing out our tab since her shift was ending.. we paid our bill. Not long after my corrected wings arrived. Food was fresh, hot and good. Highly recommend the potato oles with nacho cheese! My complimentary appetizer NEVER arrived and our new server never came back to check on us... So... great review for our initial waitress, not so great for the one who took over. Overall our experience was fine. Worth a shot if you are in the area.”
“Very helpful and pleasant staff. I used a birthday reward from the app and was also surprised with my own giant cookie with Happy Birthday written on it! Two staff members said Happy Birthday as we ate. Table was cleared off quickly and food was hot and refilled quickly. We love the Christian music playing. Not one bad tasting item on the buffet.
Sometimes the salad bar veggies differ from visit to visit. A little too much sage in dressing the one time; otherwise usually it’s very good!”
“Amazing ! I haven’t had Jamaican food since I was in Florida and this is literally the most authentic taste I have tasted in central US since Florida. It is absolutely delicious and presentation is 100%. They literally took the time to wrap the boxes with saran wrap, so it wouldn’t leak Something that you don’t see every day a takeout place, they took the extra measurement which I thought was so thoughtful and it kept the food even warmer because I had to drive so 100% recommend would love to taste their oxtail next time I’m in town.”
New Restaurants
“We stopped in here while attending a concert at The Castle Theater just around the corner. One of the coolest hangout spots ever. Great cold drinks great service! Place is Super clean and friendly managerThe arcade is awesome some great games we will definitely come back when In the area! Easy parking! We had a blast!”
“I love Recreation Coffee! The food is always fresh! The coffee and other beverages are always excellent. Each time I stop in, I'm always greeted warmly and like I'm in for the first time. This ensures I get the best service and experience. Keep up the excellent work friends! Give it a shot. And I may be very fortunate, but I don't think the prices are unreasonable for the quality of coffee the establishment serves and the special techniques used. Cheers!”
Recommended
“Excellent at its Best Food Fit for The Queen an Daughter Queen Enjoyed The Food an conversation very interesting keep Rising”