Hooper's Sports Bar & Grill

Everyone,

I have decided to start writing reviews on Yelp because, while I use the site frequently to read others reviews, I have found some times that the reviews are not reflective of my experience.  

My own imposed rules for any review:

1. Must visit at least three times.  Two of which must be distinctly different formats; i.e. one weekday night and one weekend night.
2. Must order something unique each visit.
3. If they have any "signature" items on the menu, you must order a "signature" item at least once.
4. Ratings are based on a 10 point scale with 5 being average, which does not mean bad.  What a score of 5 means is that the category meets expectations for that establishments format.

Thanks.

Hooper's

Location/Layout - 3.5/10:  Located right on route McLean Blvd just south of Big Timber; the bar is very accessible and easily visible.  The interior offers some standard Pub décor with neon signs and a dry erase board listing drink and food specials, but you can tell that itwas designed when it opened in the late 80s/early 90s with the brass trimmings  and rose with forest green color scheme.  There are a couple standard bar games, including two dart boards horribly located adjacent to the bar and in the path of the washroom and a couple of console games.  They also have a dining room off of the main bar/eating area that can accommodate larger gatherings or events.  The small utilitarian kitchen is open and directly behind the bar which is unique and kind of nice given that you can see everything going on with your food.  The main issue though is the place is in desperate need of both a cleaning and update.  The Formica is pulling away from the table tops, the carpet is stained and duct taped down, tiles are cracked and missing, and the bathrooms are a little scary.  

Menu - 6/10: Hoopers offers a wide selection of Pub Grub including burgers, sandwiches, apps, and pizza but they usually offer a nightly specials including a Friday Fish Fry.  Drinks are standard bar offerings and they are limited in both their beer and top shelf offerings, but usually have amazing domestic draft and/or bottle specials and a well drink special that make it easy to have a great night out if you are looking for quantity over quality.    

Service - 5/10: the service is usually solid and is never terrible.  I have been going to Hoopers since before I was old enough to drink and some people treat us like regulars while others treat us as an average customer, which not a bad thing.

Food - 3.5/10: This category, along with the Overall Experience section, is really tough for me to write.  Hooper's for years was my go to place for Pub Food.  I took everyone that came to town looking for great greasy eats here.  But more importantly this was my Burger, and when you are a burger person that is important.  I can remember a time that I went and they were out of burgers because they ran out of fresh ground beef.  But they went to the store and bought more in order to make not only my order but the others waiting for a burger.  Now the burger is a frozen premade patty, with none of the character or flavor that made it special.  Other items have fallen off in quality over the years as well, most notably the pizza.  Sides for the sandwiches were always ala carte but worth it for the nominal charge and value that the fresh sandwiches offered.  Other items remain the same including their unique take on potato skins which are oddly baseball shaped and filled with an unimaginable amount of liquid cheese and topped with imitation bacon, which is exactly how my girlfriend likes them.  The Fish Fry remains tasty although is not the value it once was which has allowed us to venture out and try other Fish Fries over the past couple of years.

Drinks - 5/10:  Hooper's offerings are fairly limited but are priced very reasonably.  They offer free refills for those that choose pop and always offer specials that change daily.

Overall Experience - 4/10:  Writing this review is really hard for me because this place has served me and my family for many stages in our lives, most especially mine.  I had my confirmation gathering in their side room, we celebrated our high school graduation with family and friends here; I sat there until midnight with family and friends on my 21st birthday to have my first official legal drink at our favorite bar.  Regrettably, they have not changed or maintained the bar or restaurant which over the years I have been blind to as people asked me why I took them to such a dump, but I said withhold judgment until you taste the food.  Unfortunately, I can no longer use the food as justification, as the quality of food has plummeted and until there are changes to both location and menu, I fear that while Hooper's will always hold a place in my heart, it will have to be from afar.

This place was horrendous and had the most awful smell I have ever smelled in a bar. The aroma may of been coming from the fact that the cooking area and bar were basically the same area. The food the were cooking seemed to be the greasist food out of the fifties. The servicce was terrible and the only nice size screened television was off to the side where there are no seating

We have been coming here for a couple of year since we moved to Elgin.  As another poster said, yes it is a dive, but that's the atmosphere we love!  They always have good beer specials, affordable food, and good wait staff.  My husband loves the Hooper's Burger and I am partial to the Phili Cheese Steak sandwich (I get it every time we go there).  I would also recommend their hot wings.  Large portion and large wings!  

Keep up the good work guys!