Never been here before despite living in the town for 6 years. Â
The food:
First off, I don't like buffalo wings, ever, but the buffalo wings here were delicious!! I would get them again. But would probably never venture to try them anywhere else. Like I said, I don't like buffalo wings. Also, the corn fritters are to die for. Amazing amounts of powdered sugar on a HUGE corn fritter? Yes please! Then I had the cheddar, bbq, bacon burger... mmm! It had generous amounts of  bacon. Overall, it was cooked to perfection.
The atmosphere:
Small town restaurant feel. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside. Service was prompt and friendly. Very crowded but not overwhelming. Reasonable prices. I think the bill was $50 or so for the 3 us including alcohol, appetizers, and entrees.
Excellent!!! First time trying this place. I would highly recommend the onion rings and the battered wings! Possibly the best traditional wings in town. Sorry Hooters but I found a new restaurant with much better wings and service! We did a carryout order but it was still delicious. The only take cash though.
Review Source:At the recommendation of a friend and the reviews here on Yelp I gave this place a try for dinner. Â I must have gotten there right in time as I immediately got a seat, right before the place filled up.
I had the wings to start; Â very good wings, much better than most chain places (Buffalo Wild Wings, I'm looking at you). Â The smallest size you can order is a pound, which was more wings than I wanted, but whatever. Â They should offer a smaller order for those dining alone that want some wings to go with their dinner. Â Bonus points for serving them with blue cheese though (ranch wasn't even offered).
I also had the mini tenderloin, as it seemed that the tenderloin was the thing to get here. Â They were good, but not great. Â Basically it seemed like I was eating a pork version of Chick-fil-a. Â The onion rings served with it were great though.
The service was a bit off. Â The waitresses were friendly, but they seemed to expect that I had been there often and knew the routine. Â
Thanks to the previous reviews I knew to bring cash, but they really need to get with the times. Â Heck, I've seen vending machines that can take cards, so it can't be that hard.
Over all I like this place, and will probably be back, just next time I'll try something other than the tenderloin.
I love this bar! Â
I have been a loyal customer to Schooners for more than 8 years and I love it. Â The food, the staff, the drinks and of course those loud guys in the bar! Â The wings are great, the soups (always homemade), and the burgers are great. Â The pricing is fair and although I am not a beer garden person, it is fun. Â
Keep it up Schooners!
I was not impressed and i came with such high hopes. I've seen my share of low bars which are fun, but this wasn't. Ill just list out the problems.
1. Beer specials good, not great
2. Interior super cheap, even for a dive, looks like they robbed a third rate dinning hall to furnish the dinning area.
3. food was alright, way over priced.
4. no credit card, come on give me a break.
5. I can't blame the bar but others mentioned it in their comments. It was really annoying having a bunch of loud men who were well over forty. I don't have any problem with people getting drunk or having fun, but this was just pathetic and annoying.
some of the best wings in town. A close 2nd to Mugsy's, IMO.
I love, love, love their beergarden. I just wish their full menu was available outside. I don't understand ... the other food is just 15 feet away. Please bring me some of it.
Cash only is also annoying. It's 2012. I've paid for groceries with nothing more than my fingerprint, but I need cash to buy wings and beer? It's time to upgrade.
I'm picking nits . . . i still really like Schooners. It's a good place to go. Nothing fancy, just good stuff.
If there was a hall of fame for local awesome sauce resteraunts this place would be a first ballot.
Amazing food, friendly staff, love the local/hometown feel to the place. If you wanted to dine at a visually appealing resteraunt go to the olive garden. A must for those who love greasy food and dig the small town local owned type resteraunt. Battered Hot Wings for the win!
Dining area is a little dated and a bit on the small side. Â If your looking for your daily dose of grease, your in luck. Â I had the corn fritters, onion rings, and the deep fried pork chop sandwich. Â The onion rings were great! Â Hand dipped freshly battered, fried perfectly. Â The corn fritters were better than than I expected. Â Fried pork chop was pretty good. Â A little heavy on the batter but good. Â Overall a good lunch, service was good. Â If your in the mood for grease, they can fix you up. Â Cash only!
Review Source:Schooners is a neighborhood sort of place. Â Has a bar and serves food. Â Mostly famous for the giant tenderloin sanwhiches. Â On Wednesday and Sunday they have a fried chicken special that includes along with it, mashed potatoes, green beans and its pretty good. Â Some of their soups are good as well but the bowls they come in are not too deep, so you don't get as much soup as I'd like. Â They do not take credit cards. Â In the summer they have a place out back to eat and drink outside.
Review Source:I am really torn about this review because it has one really great thing going for it but a few down sides.
The great thing up front is the onion rings and corn fritters. They are unique and taste awesome. The Rings have extra batter that is so crispy and flavorful that you have a hard time saving room for the rest of your meal.
The down sides are the price, the wait times, and they do not take credit cards.
I have had the hot wings and the beer battered chicken and thought both were okay. I would really prefer that they use the same batter used for the onion rings on the fried chicken adding a little more spice for kick, but this tends to be a place I will go back for the onion rings alone maybe once every few months.
Very down to earth place with a friendly atomosphere. Secluded bar area and seperate sit down dine in provide a good time for one person who wants to drink a beer and watch a game, and also a family who just wants to eat good food at a good price. Nicely done, Schooners. (Skoo-ners) CASH ONLY!
Review Source:How have I not reviewed Schooners yet? Â I took the lead photo! Â
Schooners is a townie-mostly bar, something I crave occasionally to get away from the Medici or Fat Jacks (Tuesday only) crowd. Â Best beer you'll find is the Sam Adams, but it always tastes good and is served cold. Â I love, love, love the big glasses that they come in. Â
It can be very crowded, but we've never had too much trouble finding a place to sit and dive in to some onion rings, which I agree may be the best in town.
It's not someplace I seek out often, but when I'm in the mood for a super casual spot where I likely won't see anyone I know and want to eat greasy food and gripe about work, this place is magic.
Great outdoor patio in summer months, too!
Bring cash.
I love big beers. And cold beers. Â And cheap beers! :) Schooners has 'em.
Cash only. Could be worse, right?
Pork tenderloin, OMG. Get the one for 4 and it's under 10 bucks and it is so delish. I've never had a pork tenderloin until I tried it at Schooners, and I will never ever have one from somewhere else. Hands down, one of the best sandwiches ever.
The onion rings are amazing. Yum yum yum! :)
The wings are pretty good too.
It's a great bar and I definitely suggest you get over there and get yourself a big ol' beer. :)
I really like that indian statue looking guy on the bar too. Awesome.
Some of my earliest memories of eating out aren't McDonalds, they are getting a tenderloin pizza and some yummy onion rings.
Simply put: this is the ultimate divey greasy pub style restaurant. Â That is what makes it great, their prices are super low and there is an attached bar, if you prefer bar seating.
I grew up in Illinois but now I live in Atlanta. You can't get a pork tenderloin sandwich in the south. Every single time I return home to Illinois, I go to Schooners and get one of their giant pork tenderloin sandwiches. The are amazing! The whole family goes, and makes it a reunion.
Review Source:I should like Schooner's more than I do, but that is their fault, not mine. I love divey beer bars with decent food and laid-back places frequented by regular folks who find that five o'clock sometimes comes early. It doesn't bother me if I'm the youngest guy in the bar, and I'm not even that young.
But Schooner's does one crucial thing wrong (on purpose), and they get 2 stars from me for it.
If you're here with a group, and especially if you are drinking, the tab can go beyond what most folks carry on hand. Unlike every other bar/restaurant that is this big and well-established they only take cash. They are too stingy to take the small percentage rip from the card companies that every other small business does and instead pass that cost on to you, their customer. But wait, it gets worse. They refuse to take the hit that every other similar business does, and then they offer to let you use their on-premises ATM at $2 a pop, plus whatever your bank charges you at the end of the month. Since the ATM is either theirs, leased by them, or leasing space from them, they get a slice of every transaction. Prices on food and drinks here are average to high for the quality before all this nickel and dime garbage. The irony is that (I have a buddy that works with bars to diminish their losses from theft) they probably lose more money doing this because it is easier for staff to steal from them this way than with cards.
So, they inconvenience you, cost you extra money, and make money at your expense. That leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Onion rings and chicken wings.oh my! Â So I really had no idea this was a full-service restaurant, because as we walked up, all I saw was a beer garden with a guy singing and playing guitar. It was nice out and it was summertime and well, you get the picture. Â The beer is cheap, the atmosphere great and the onion rings are awesome.
Cash only is a bit of a hardship, but I have endured worse.
The tenderloin is over-rated and dried out, HOWEVER... there are two things you have to go there to enjoy. Â And bring cash... no plastic here.
The onion rings. Â Oh my goodness the onion rings. Â Best in town. Seriously, lightly beer battered flavor, get the biggest basket you can and don't share. Â Be greedy and make others get their own.
They have a special, I think its the first Tuesday of every month. Â Chicken Fried Steak, Corn and Mashed Potatoes. Â Best I've ever had.
Beer garden is nice too, shaded with tables, tree cover and umbrellas. Â Local place with regulars, but don't be afraid to stop here, everyone is more than friendly.
So I've been to Schooner's twice since my last review. Â I never liked their steak fries that came with each entree, now they have crinkle cut which I like less. Â But what I do like is that you have an option for your side instead of getting stuck with fries. Â I still get the onion rings though they are not as good as they once were. Â The breading is much thicker and I often have onion skin. Â I like their cheese sticks as an appetizer and both times I've had the ham po'boy and it was really, really good.
Review Source:Good food, great price! Â You can't beat schooners if you are looking for greasy good bar food (but they also have healthy options like the Mesquite Chicken Salad!). Â
I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu! Â But if you go, you must order a rootbeer shooter, it's the bars non-advertised specialty drink - it's a large shot (hints the name shooter) that taste like soda - you become a regular once you try this!!!
Oh Schooner's, how I miss thee.
Grew up in Bloomington and we would go here every week. I'd play pinball. Parents would drink beer. We'd leave smelling like cigarettes and come back the next week anyways. The owners now are the same owners from when I was growing up, so every time we go back there are always the familiar faces of both the managers and the customers.
The place is like frozen in time, I tell you. Minus the smoke, now.
I worked here in college for a couple of years as well and yes, the place is a total grease bomb. Â Having gone back recently, If I had to guess I'd say that there was a change in staff in the kitchen based on the quality of the food. But regardless, the favorites:
1. Chicken Strips - the sauce that comes with them is out of this world. It does have a kick which I love. Â The strips themselves almost seem double battered. Crunchy batter.
2. Onion Rings - They have the best onion rings there, but be prepared for some major indigestion.
3. Pork Tenderloin - served on a pizza pan, big enough for your entire family.
4. Chicken Wings - This is probably the first place that I ever had chicken wings. They set the bar pretty high.
5. Beer - If you are getting beer here, make sure you get the schooner glass. It's cheap, and freezing cold!!
Don't go to Schooner's expecting out of this world service. It's a super casual place. Also don't go there with your kids and then get ticked off if there are people there that are using words that you may not think are appropriate for your children. It's not a family joint unless you are pretty laid back.
i grew up going to schooners and usually try to make it there when i am back in b-n visiting my parents or friends. Â definitely a local spot - not typically where the college kids hang out. Â growing up in the area, i thought "everyone" knew about schooners. Â i'm glad i was naive - i much prefer the local crowd. Â
the food is greasy, but completely delicious. Â my family always gets the same appetizers each time we go - corn fritters and onion rings. Â i'm sure we are taking years off of our lives by eating these things, but i guess you only live once. Â i've tried to explain schooners onion rings to people who haven't been there and i just can't do them justice. Â you have to try them for yourself!
the beer garden is fun during the summer and now that the smoking ban exists, sitting in the bar isn't bad either!
Schooner's was my spot while I was going to ISU... though it definitely isn't the healthiest around. But any chance I had, I would go to Schooner's.
I've tried a variety of the food, Â but not all (the menu is pretty big)... I've enjoyed everything I've tried, but my regular meal became the grilled chicken sandwich in the hot buffalo sauce. So good and not as bad, considering the chicken is grilled... I also love the HUGE schooners (hence the name) of beer!
I first fell in love with this place because of the character... All of the townies hang out here and I love a good people watching session. So fun, can't wait to visit Bloomington so I can hit up my old spot!
Not a great place to look at, but a wonderful place to eat. Â As mentioned by others, their pork tenderloin sandwich is very good and extremely generous. Â It really is a meal for 2-3 people. Â You know it is going to be a monster when they ask you how many buns you want with it. Â It is about a 9-10 inch round tenderloin.
Buffalo wings are great, and ordered by the pound. Â Burgers, other sandwiches and fried chicken are also very good. Â
Go for the food and reasonable prices, not for the atmosphere.
Love this place, although the kitchen hygiene has a reputation for being pretty grotesque (out of sight, out of mind, though). Beer-battered onion rings are the best in town, pork tenderloin spans 3 hamburger buns (each extra bun is $0.25), their burgers are known to be good, but excessively greasy. House dressing is a combo of ranch and bleu cheese - perfect. All meals are around $5. Beer garden outside. This is a local place, incredibly popular with the 40-50 crowd. Every Friday and Saturday night you can count on seeing the same people there (school teachers are a bulk of these regulars). Pin ball machine and a few booths in the small and always back-to-back crowded bar area.
Review Source:
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