Manito Tap

Manito Tap
110 N Broadway St,
Manito, IL

After a recent afternoon at Willets' Winery in Manito, we spotted a local pub, obvious only by the beer signs on a building in the small downtown. I was game, but my wife needed a little bit of coaxing. After all, her palate had been tasting wine all afternoon and now I was offering a cheap beer.

We had a seat at the bar and I ordered an Old Milwaukee Light, and she, a Bud Light. Although the service was fine, and the bartender friendly, glares from some of the customers assured us that this was a 'locals only' bar. But all was not lost as a few of the others made room for us at the bar, and offered up some free chili.

The Main Gate, Springfield, IL

The Main Gate
East Sangamon Rd
Springfield, IL








Friendliness: 5
Kitsch Factor: 1
Neighborhood: 4

Two words- STAG BEER.

We were walking into the State Fair this year, when I spied a banner advertising Stag beer- The bar was located right outside the main gate of the fair, and was named "The Main Gate". An interesting name, I wonder where it came from? Anyway, I told Jeep that we would be stopping for a beer on the way out. She rolled her eyes, and reluctantly agreed.

After the short time at the Blagojevich love-a-thon, we retrieved our vehicle and convinced the gent guarding the parking lot at "The Main Gate" that we were going in for drinks, and hence, shouldn't have to pay the $5 parking fee. He agreed, and we entered the bar.

The bar cant really be considered a 'dive' bar, a recent remodeling showed clean walls and new equipment. But just the fact that it served "Stag Beer" is enough for a mention in this blog. After a few short minutes, I took a deep breath and ordered my very first Stag Beer. I couldn't believe they still made this stuff! The flavor was actually quite bold, hearkening back to the 70s before Lite beers polluted the American adult beverage scene.

So, Kudos to G Heileman brewing company for continuing this brand, and Huzzah! to "The Main Gate" for providing it!

Dome Tap, Peoria IL

Dome Tap
2305 W Lincoln Ave
Peoria, IL
Map It!




Friendliness: 5
Kitsch Factor: 2
Neighborhood: 2


On tap: Miller Lite, Bud Light, Busch, Michelob Amber Bock

Peoria, Illinois; A mecca of blue collar jobs, and blue collar bars. Home of Caterpillar tractors, Peoria has an untold amount of neighborhood taverns that cater to locals, and as we found, welcome strangers as well.
On a recent Saturday afternoon we stopped at the Dome Tap. We easily found a parking place and made our way to the front door. The sidewalk was a mosaic advertising an old Peoria beer called Gipps.
The dome of the "Dome Tap" was apparently a stained glass structure above the bar, which the bartender claimed to be over 100 years old.
We made our way the to the bar, and ordered a few beers. "Jeep" ordered a Bud light, and I ordered a Busch. Our beers went down cool and quick, and we didn't hesitate when the bartender offered two more. After we bought a round of drinks for the bar (6 drinks, $11.25), everyone seemed to warm up to our presence.
We were soon joined by a local to thank us for buying his beer. He introduced himself as 'Sal'. During our conversation, he referred to the old Black Angus, a restaurant that had been on IL Rt 29 in Peoria Heights. It became clear that he had been involved in the ownership or management of the restaurant. After a few complimentary beers bought by fellow drinkers, we said our good byes and headed out the door.
Overall, we found the bar to be quite friendly, very reasonably priced, and a very nice experience. The staff is happy and friendly, and the customers were very welcoming.