Tucked away as Bloomington’s best-kept secret, Shantytown Bar & Grill is the city’s oldest bar, offering a nostalgic dive-bar experience with a laid-back vibe. Known for its legendary burgers and welcoming atmosphere, this local gem has been serving up great food and cold drinks for decades. Whether you’re a long-time regular or a first-time visitor, Shantytown is the perfect spot for those looking to unwind and enjoy a true Bloomington classic.
Shantytown Grill
1561 Google Reviews
This was our first time at Shantytown and we loved it. We both went no frills burger and I added bacon. We both agree it was one of the better burgers we’ve had in a long time. The staff is friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is awesome. Combine all that with the fair prices and you get one of the better values in the area. If you haven’t been here, do yourself a favor and stop in soon!
Great little restaurant. The shantytown burger and spiced cake were both tasty. The cheese curds and tater tots were also done well. We had the daily special which was a chicken sandwich, sauce was lovely. Reasonable prices, would highly recommend!
Great shanty burger and tater tots. I was asked how I wanted the burger and ordered it medium rare. Like many who order their burgers this way I’m accustomed to ending up with a medium well and just accept it. I actually heard one of the chefs comment that a burger was too done for medium rare and that it needed to be remade. I confirmed it was mine and enjoyed an excellent medium rare. In my many years of burger eating this may have happened in kitchens before without me realizing it but I am extremely appreciative in this case. Thank you! 🍔♥️
This place used to be a secret gem, no more because the word is out and it’s good. Great burgers, sandwiches and tots! (Get seasoned sour cream on the side, you’re welcome) The staff is always friendly and great. Go here and feel free to soak up the charm.
Honestly one of the best hole-in-the-wall bars I’ve ever been to. The staff is really friendly, the food is really good, and the prices on both food and drink are very reasonable. If you’re in the area, check this place out!
This little hole in the wall is one that you don’t want to miss. Conveniently located near the airport, it’s a great place to fill up before your flight. The burgers are tasty, the beer is cold, and the servers are heart-warming. It’s hard to get a full meal like this for less than $20 these days. Stop in and see for yourself!
Really good place. I ordered the Shanty burger which had cheddar and Swiss cheese along with crispy bacon and guacamole. The overall burger was really great with the only lackluster component being the guacamole. This the kind of place where you get a bacon cheeseburger and it’s solid. Moreover, the service was outstanding. Our waiter was fun & quirky and made it a great experience. Despite it being a small place, the Christmas lights on the ceiling made it seem really homely. I would definitely come back.
On a visit to the Twin cities for a weekend the family decided to check out some not “big box” restaurants, and this little diner fell right into our line of sight. We checked out some reviews, and of course the $ rating of it, and found it to be just what we were looking for, especially since we are on a tight budget.
The establishment is on a quiet street, but easy to find, and it was packed for a Tuesday night. That was a good sign. The food was great, the portions moderate and the service even though it was so busy was exceptional. We were a family of 5 with a teen and two 6 yr olds and everyone thought that the food was great and nobody went away hungry, as a matter of fact we had a to-go box when all was said and done.
All in all this was a place that we would recomend to visit. Nothing about our visit was negative including the bill at the end which was a mild $74 including the tip. So if you are in the cities and looking for one of those “not big box” resturants, Check out Shantytown Grill.
The establishment is on a quiet street, but easy to find, and it was packed for a Tuesday night. That was a good sign. The food was great, the portions moderate and the service even though it was so busy was exceptional. We were a family of 5 with a teen and two 6 yr olds and everyone thought that the food was great and nobody went away hungry, as a matter of fact we had a to-go box when all was said and done.
All in all this was a place that we would recomend to visit. Nothing about our visit was negative including the bill at the end which was a mild $74 including the tip. So if you are in the cities and looking for one of those “not big box” resturants, Check out Shantytown Grill.
