LEAGUE LIFE

JOHNNY’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE 4751 Owen

Ayres Court, Eau Claire • (715) 830-9779 • johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/eauclaire • You would be hard-pressed to find swankier digs in town to enjoy beverages than the blue-lit bar at this south-side steakhouse. The bar at Johnny’s serves up classic and signature martinis, wines, coffee drinks. If you’re a connoisseur, explore the award-winning selection of 125 varietals in the new wine room. Hosts a rotating tap list, a wide variety of whiskeys, scotches, and liqueurs. O K-POINT BREWING AT THE COFFEE GROUNDS

4212 Southtowne Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 834-1733 • thecoffeegrounds.com/k-pointbrewing • Taking its name from a ski jumping term, this nano-brewery adjacent to the Coffee Grounds focuses on brewing small batches of beers “that are never out of style.” Enjoy one of their unique stouts, ales, or lagers paired with a full pub menu that includes pretzels that are made with spent grain from the brewery and delectable homemade beer cheese. K Point also hosts beer dinners, fish frys, and more. O MANNY’S COCINA 4207 Oakwood Hills Pkwy., Eau Claire • (715) 514-0818 • mannyscocina. com • Choose from over 20 specialty beers (domestic and imports) or six tap lines at this handsome darkwood bar within an upscale Mexican restaurant. Daily 3-6pm happy hour applies to margaritas, rail drinks, wine, domestic bottled beers, and appetizers. The setting is spacious with a high ceiling and exposed beams. Enjoy a margarita on their outdoor patio in the summertime. H O THE MAPLE LOUNGE 2507 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire • (715) 552-1998 • Located adjacent to the Maple Manor Motel, the Maple Lounge pairs a curved bar and dance floor with a full cafe. Expect to see lots of regulars and business-people enjoying the nine tap beers and some specialty options. Happy hour is a sprawling eight hours from 11am to 7pm – and if you’re lucky you might encounter some free snacks. Separate party room with TVs. H S MONK’S BAR & GRILL 3560 Oakwood Mall

Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 598-1820 • monksbarandgrill.com/locations/eau-claire/ • Around the corner from Oakwood Mall. Monk’s is both a family restaurant and a sports bar and grill. In addition to a full menu, the bar features more than a dozen taps, bottled beers, plus specialty drinks such as the Monkerita and the Purple Monkey (whose recipe is a closely guarded secret). There is seating for 250 patrons and 20 TVs, so you’ll always have a place to watch the big game. Happy hour from Monday-Friday 3-6pm. H O NORTHERN TAP HOUSE 5020 Keystone

Crossing, Eau Claire • 715-895-8226 • northerntaphouse.com • As a taphouse, Northern Tap House supplements its stone-fired pizzas, handcut wings, and Angus burgers with 40 rotating craft brew taps. Happy hour is from 3-6pm Monday-Friday, Bloody Marys are $1 off on Sundays, and $10 flights are served on Mondays. H O’LEARY’S PUB 809 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 834-6611 • facebook.com/ OLearys.Pub • Known for its nightly specials coupled with free live music Fridays and Saturdays, this large tavern within America’s Best Value Inn also has the convenience of an eatery (Mancino’s) and two party rooms (with capacities of 100 and 300) just down the hall. Happy hour is 3-7pm every day but Saturday. They have an outdoor patio, darts, arcade games, free snacks, six taps, and six specialties. H O S

V1 NIGHT OUT 2022

BAR GUIDE

OLE’S SOUTHSIDE TAVERN 2435 S. Hastings

Way, Eau Claire • (715) 832-9321 • The crowd and the music vary at this Southside bar. They have a designated outdoor smoking area, pool, darts (league available), five tap beers, free popcorn, as well as pizza served all night. They also host karaoke on Thursday nights and bean bags when weather permits. O S OLIVE GARDEN 4920 Golf Road, Eau Claire • (715) 838-0707 • olivegarden.com • The bar at this popular Italian restaurant chain is best known for an extensive wine list composed of more than 30 wines from America, Australia, and (of course) Italy. The staff is knowledgeable and provides the rare opportunity to taste several wines before purchasing one. Food until 11pm on weekends, and four taps. Happy hour runs 3-6pm every day and includes discounted wine, beer, and appetizers. H OLIVER’S TAVERN 3228 London Road, Eau Claire • facebook.com • A neighborhood tavern that often hosts live music and sports watching events. OLYMPIC FLAME 2920 London Road, Eau Claire • (715) 835-7771 • facebook.com/ olympicfl ameec • Olympic Flame isn’t your typical drinking spot. It’s a restaurant that happens to have a physical bar where you can eat your Greek cuisine and enjoy popular items like Mythos (a Greek beer) and ouzo (a Greek liqueur that tastes like black licorice). They also mix standard drinks. THE PUB AT METROPOLIS RESORT 5150

Fairview Drive, Eau Claire • 855-656-1529 • metropolisresort.com • The Pub is a family-friendly sports-themed bar and restaurant inside the Metropolis Resort on the south side of Eau Claire. The Pub offers a full menu featuring flame-grilled burgers, wraps, salads, and an assortment of appetizers, and breakfast is served daily. There are eight beers on tap, and more specialty brews are available in bottles. Happy hour specials are available 4-7pm Monday-Friday and all day Sunday, and food is served until 11pm on weekends. H O RED LOBSTER 1019 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 833-0184 • redlobster.com • This is mainly a service bar for the restaurant, but there is seating as well. The bar has four taps, a large selection of wines, and a specialty drink menu including daiquiris, margaritas, and sangria. THE RED MIXER 2526 Golf Road, Eau Claire • (715) 514-2106 • theredmixer.com • The Red Mixer is a relaxing yet elegant bar that focuses on a range of speciality cocktails, including their signature Red Mixer (vodka, raspberry lemonade, red wine and a splash of lemon-lime soda). Also serves a broad range of whiskeys, wines, and domestic and specialty beers. Nightly drink specials include discount whiskey and bourbon on Wednesdays and $1 off martinis on Fridays. Happy hour runs 4-6pm Tuesday-Friday. Expect additional options, including more food, when the bar expands in late 2022. H S Q RED ROBIN 3005 Golf Road, Eau Claire • (715) 834-4438 • redrobin.com • At Red Robin, the bar area is separate from the restaurant, creating a lounge area away from the kids. To accompany those bottomless steak fries, try one of their many specialty drinks, which include Can-Crafted Cocktails (which, as the name implies, are made right in the can), the Screaming Red Zombie, and Sand in Your Shorts. They also have eight specialty beers and eight taps. Food is served until 11pm Friday and Saturday and 10 pm Sunday-Thursday. SAMMY’S PIZZA RESTAURANT & PUB 2812

London Rd, Eau Claire • (715) 831-1300 • Sammy’s Pizza Eau Claire • This massive establishment is one-half eatery and one-half bar, known best for its 11 Wisconsin beers on tap and pizza (which is served late on weekends). Everyday happy hour (4:30-6:30pm), darts (with leagues), and a party room that can hold about 50. H S SOUTHTOWNE PUB 4260 Southtowne Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 514-5421 • southtownepub. com • They have 16 taps with a mix of national and local beers, such as Farmer’s Daughter by Lucette Brewing in Menomonie. Or you can choose from an assortment of cans and bottles of beer or full and singlesize bottles of wine. Liquors include the usual suspects as well as New Richmond Rye, 45th Parallel Vodka, and Border Bourbon, all made at the family-run 45th Parallel Distillery in New Richmond. You can get pizza, soft pretzels, corndogs, and popcorn at the bar, or even bring takeout or get delivery from any local restaurant and enjoy it on site. H TEXAS ROADHOUSE 5019 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire • (715) 838-0035 • texasroadhouse. com • While the restaurant serves up steaks and ribs, the bar side of things at the Roadhouse has legendary margaritas plus 10 ice-cold tap beers and a few specialties with free peanuts and fresh baked bread. Food served until close (10:30pm) on weekends. S

EAU CLAIRE WATER STREET

AMERICAN LEGION POST 53 634 Water St.,

Eau Claire • (715) 834-4091 • This bar, open to the public, often serves up its beers in iced mugs. Their dance floor and jukebox make a winning combination, and happy hour specials will satiate your thirst. Choose from three specialty beers and five on tap or join in their dart and cribbage leagues. Monthly chicken and fried fish dinners. Upstairs and downstairs party halls – which can service up to 200 people – are available for private booking. H S THE BRAT BAR & DANCE 314 Water Street,

Eau Claire • (715) 833-0091 • facebook.com/ TheBratEC • The Brat is night club and dance venue open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. BROTHERS 324 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-2202 • Find it on Facebook • Brothers is a college-town kind of bar known for its nightly specials and happy hour (4-8pm with free pool and darts). They have an impressive 30 taps, 18 of which are specialties, as well as foosball and free popcorn. And, of course, you can dance to the latest pop, country, and hip-hop hits. H S BURRITO XPRESS 408 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 855-8590 • burritox.com • While its name has changed from El Patio to Burrito Xpress, this Mexican bar and restaurant still serve up fantastic strawberry, watermelon, peach, or lime margaritas either on the rocks or blended. Burrito Xpress is a comfy place to lounge before hitting the “dancier” bars. Chill out with a drink and chips with salsa in this relaxed atmosphere or try one of their delicious burritos. H S

H = HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS • F = SERVES FOOD (OTHER THAN PIZZA) • O = OUTDOOR PATIO • S = FREE SNACKS • Q = WINNER, 2022 BEST OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY 25

V1 NIGHT OUT 2022

BAR GUIDE

ANDREA PAULSETH

SILVER DOLLAR SALOON

DOOLEY’S PUB 442 Water St, Eau Claire • (715) 834-2388 • dooleyspub.com • Located a Blarney Stone’s throw from UW-Eau Claire, this Irish-themed bar is bursting with happy hour specials offered from 2-6pm and 9pm to close every day. Free popcorn, darts, and video games are available as well as 12 tap beers, and over 100 specialty crafts and bottles. Extensive menu which includes some of the best cheese curds in the Valley. Free shot on your birthday. H S THE GRAND ILLUSION 418 Water St.,

Eau Claire • (715) 835-7797 • Find it on Facebook • This college crowd hangout is known for their specialty drink – the Delusion – the contents of which are unknown to all but the bartenders. It’s blue and fruity – that’s all you really need to know. With two levels (the open balcony on the second level looks out onto the rest of the bar, under which there are cozy booths), seating options abound. Don’t miss out on the free popcorn, pool, darts, pinball machine, touchscreen games, and foosball. Eight beers on tap and 30 specialty brews. The Delusion was voted Best Specialty Drink for seven straight years by V1 readers. H S MOGIE’S PUB 436 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 836-9666 • mogiespub.com • An Eau Claire original known for its unique appetizers, including the beloved Spuds O’ Plenty, Mogie’s Pub has a vast assortment of food and drink. Happy hour specials are offered 3-6pm daily and all day on Thursdays. Pitcher specials run Monday through Wednesday. Aside from specials, Mogie’s offers an outdoor patio, food after 10pm, pool, darts, free popcorn, numerous specialty beers and 20 taps. Private party room. Closed Sundays. H O

MONA LISA’S 428 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-8969 • monalisas.biz • The

THE JOYNT 322 Water St, Eau Claire • (715) 835-6959 • facebook.com • The Joynt is an Eau

dining menu at this Eau Claire original is known for its constant rotation, LISTINGS, REVIEWS and what’s available at the bar is no

AND MORE AT different. Mona’s 10 taps are always VOLUMEONE.ORG/FOOD specialties and are always rotating; the same goes for the wine list, which offers more than 20 options sold by the glass. The items that don’t change are the famous Mona Margaritas, espresso martinis, Lisa’s seasonal mezcal cocktail, and house-made infusions of fruit and herbs. The Mediterranean bistro vibe continues on the outdoor patio (with a fireplace), and the party room is suitable for 99 people. H O

Claire institution with walls lined with pictures of blues/jazz/folk musicians that played there, art by Robert Crumb, tons of historic beer cans, and the infamous neon “No Light Beer” sign behind the bar. Considered one of the best talking bars in town with one of the best jukeboxes, this is one of the locals’ favorite spots for sure. The Joynt also has pool, darts, and pinball. Their happy hour is a local fave from 5-7pm every day with eight taps and 15 specialty beers to choose from. H Q

THE PICKLE 341 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 830-0638 • facebook.com/PickleEc/ • The Pickle is one of those bars where you never know what to expect. Some game days they offer free beer and sometimes food is delivered. They occasionally have a beer pong set up as well as darts in the back bar. If you’re looking to dance, The Pickle prides itself on its dance floor and hot new music. The Pickle also has annual events throughout the year (Pickle Fest, Pickle Palooza, and Xmas Fest), nightly specials, the infamous Aaron Rodgers shot, and you can spin the wheel for drink deals or cash prizes on your birthday. Thirteen beers on tap. H O PIONEER TAVERN 401 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-4455 • facebook.com/pioneer. tavernwaterst • A Water Street staple for more than 30 years, the Pioneer Tavern is a classic bar in a beautiful space just a few steps from the Chippewa River. Housed in a building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, the Pioneer features nightly drink specials as well as a beer garden out back. Indoor games include pool, foosball, and darts, and volleyball leagues in the summer. Available for graduations, birthdays, and other events. Free peanuts on Tuesdays. Bingo on Wednesdays. H O RAY’S PLACE 838 Water St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-3991 • Known for its hot beef sandwiches, Ray’s is the perfect place to relax with some grub and a beer. It has a foundation of regulars, but they make newcomers feel as welcome as Norm at Cheers. An outdoor patio, specialty beers, and nine taps are available. Delectable homemade food is available after 10am. O SHE-NANNIGANS & LUCKY’S 415 Water St,

Eau Claire • (715) 836-8333 • “You’ve got the best of both worlds,” a long-time bartender said, referring to the sports bar vibe of Lucky’s (mostly playing rock and country music) and the dance club tiki bar vibe of She-Nans (pop). Known for one of the best dance floors in town and speedy service, She-Nans also has a huge outdoor patio, nightly specials, free popcorn, and karaoke on Tuesdays. They have a myriad of games from pool, darts, and arcade, to touch-screen, beer pong (Thursdays), and bean bags. She-Nans has six taps, while Lucky’s has a dozen. Between them both, they have a couple specialty beers. According to our 2015 reader poll, She-Nannigans ranks among the best places to dance in the Valley. O S Q VALLEY BURGER CO. 1004 Menomonie

Street, Eau Claire • (715) 836-8333 • This lowkey burger joint in an old brick building has a full bar that serves your favorite bottled beers, taps, and cocktails. All of this helps wash down some of the area’s newest and most popular burgers.

EAU CLAIRE WESTSIDE

3RD & VINE 1929 3rd Street, Eau Claire • (715) 514-1997 • 3rdandvine.com • A new establishment on Eau Claire’s near West Side, 3rd & Vine brings together two of Wisconsin’s favorite things: beer and cheese. And not just the kind of stuff you can grab at the grocery store: You’d be hard pressed to find many of the cheese or brews anywhere else in the Valley. The six draft beer taps are changed up regularly, and 150+ beers are available in bottles and cans, which you can enjoy there or take

26 H = HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS • F = SERVES FOOD (OTHER THAN PIZZA) • O = OUTDOOR PATIO • S = FREE SNACKS • Q = WINNER, 2022 BEST OF THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY