Bars mean drinking (unless the words “tapas” or “sushi” are appended), but the majority of such establishments also serve food. The cynical view is that bars offer things to eat — sometimes free (though peanuts on the bar and such have pretty much disappeared in these coronavirus times) — not out of any gastronomic pretensions or concern for their customers’ nutrition, but because bar food, which is usually salty, encourages patrons to imbibe more freely.
Increasingly, though, bars take pride in their food. That doesn’t mean that it’s fancy stuff. By definition, bar food is accessible, unpretentious, and not very expensive. Finger foods, often fried, are typical fare. Potatoes are frequently involved (primarily fries or tots, generously garnished), and nachos and dips are common. The definitive American bar food, though, might be Buffalo wings, said to have been invented at the 86-year-old Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. though perhaps a little better today at a few other local places. (Click here to see the oldest bar in every state we can visit when this is over.)
24/7 Tempo has put together a list of bars around the country serving excellent food, calling out one specialty for each place — quite possibly the best bar food in every state.
Whether or not such standard menu items as burgers or pizza should be considered bar food is up for debate — but the burger at Father’s Office in Culver City, California, and the hot oil pizza at the Colony Grill in Stamford, Connecticut, to take two examples, are so iconic and such an essential part of the bar-going experience in those places that they’ve been included here. So have regional specialties like fried crab claws in Mobile, Alabama; tempura alligator in Mandeville, Louisiana; and toasted ravioli in St. Louis, Missouri.
Click here to see the best bar food in every state
You’ll find meat, seafood, fowl, and vegetables in various forms on this list, but remember that this is food meant to be consumed while you’re knocking back a beer, a shot, a glass of wine, or a cocktail or three, so don’t look here for healthier things like soups or salads. (Anyway, we’ve identified 48 salads that are worse than a slice of cheese pizza.)
To assemble this list, 24/7 Tempo reviewed listings of best bar-food venues appearing on Yelp, The Daily Meal, Thrillist, and Eat This, Not That, as well as numerous state, regional, and local review sites. Most of the bars on this list were ranked by multiple sources as having the best bar food in their respective states.
Alabama: T. P. Crockmiers
> Location: Mobile
> Specialty: Fried crab claws
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Alaska: The Blue Line Pub & Café
> Location: Anchorage
> Specialty: Loaded fries
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Arizona: Casa Molina
> Location: Tucson
> Specialty: Cheese crisp
Arkansas: Butcher & Pint
> Location: Bentonville
> Specialty: “¿Se Hablo Delicioso Y Caliente? ” (roasted poblano, avocado, and queso dip)
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California: Father’s Office
> Location: Culver City
> Specialty: The Office Burger
Colorado: My Brother’s Bar
> Location: Denver
> Specialty: Cornucopia (eight mini corn dogs)
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Connecticut: Colony Grill
> Location: Stamford
> Specialty: Hot oil pizza
Delaware: McGlynn’s Pub
> Location: Dover
> Specialty: Philly queso dip
Florida: Sloppy Joe’s
> Location: Key West
> Specialty: Conch fritters
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Georgia: Universal Joint
> Location: Lawrenceville
> Specialty: Boiled peanuts
Hawaii: South Shore Tiki Lounge
> Location: Kihei, Maui
> Specialty: Teri Tiki Fries
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Idaho: Sockeye Brewing
> Location: Boise
> Specialty: Smoked salmon Rangoons
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Illinois: Rosie’s Pub
> Location: Bloomington
> Specialty: BBQ bacon-glazed shrimp
Indiana: The Rathskeller
> Location: Indianapolis
> Specialty: Hot wurst platte
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Iowa: El Bait Shop
> Location: Des Moines
> Specialty: Velvet Elvis Dip (sausage, Velveeta, Rotel)
Kansas: The Rusty Nail
> Location: Wichita
> Specialty: Kristi Approved Fried Pickles
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Kentucky: Hammerheads
> Location: Louisville
> Specialty: Pork belly tacos
Louisiana: Old Rail Brewing Company
> Location: Mandeville
> Specialty: Tempura alligator
Maine: Blaze
> Location: Bangor
> Specialty: Duck gravy poutine
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Maryland: Max’s Taphouse
> Location: Baltimore
> Specialty: Taphouse Tater Bowl (tots with BBQ pulled pork, beer cheese, bacon)
Massachusetts: The Haven
> Location: Jamaica Plain (Boston)
> Specialty: Finnan haddie croquettes
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Michigan: Brewery Vivant
> Location: Grand Rapids
> Specialty: Roasted marrow bones
Minnesota: Giggles Campfire Grill
> Location: St. Paul
> Specialty: Duck bacon wontons
Mississippi: Hobie’s on Main
> Location: Starkville
> Specialty: Hot tamale balls
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Missouri: The Post Sports Bar
> Location: St. Louis i
> Specialty: Toasted ravioli
Montana: Charlie’s Bar
> Location: Missoula
> Specialty: Gumbolaya (gumbo-jambalaya combination)
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Nebraska: Sandy’s South Bar
> Location: Red Cloud
> Specialty: Onion rings with homemade ranch
Nevada: The Golden Tiki
> Location: Las Vegas
> Specialty: Orange chicken boneless wings
New Hampshire: Backyard Brewery
> Location: Manchester
> Specialty: OG prime rib egg rolls
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New Jersey: dullboy
> Location: Jersey City
> Specialty: Arepas with chile verde braised pork
New Mexico: Two Fools Tavern
> Location: Albuquerque
> Specialty: Cashel blue cheese dip with Irish brown bread
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New York: 911 Tavern
> Location: Buffalo
> Specialty: Buffalo wings
North Carolina: Lucky Lou’s Tavern
> Location: Charlotte
> Specialty: Pimento cheese fritters with smoked tomato jelly
North Dakota: Würst Bier Hall
> Location: Fargo
> Specialty: Bacon flight (four kinds)
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Ohio: The Rowley Inn
> Location: Cleveland
> Specialty: Poutine pierogi
Oklahoma: The Tavern
> Location: Tulsa
> Specialty: Angry Mac & Cheese
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Oregon: Horse Brass Pub
> Location: Portland
> Specialty: Sausage roll with homemade mustard
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Pennsylvania: Bier’s Pub
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Specialty: Soft pretzels with various dips
Rhode Island: The Tavern on Broadway
> Location: Newport
> Specialty: Fried calamari
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South Carolina: Swig & Swine
> Location: Charleston
> Specialty: Chopped prime brisket sandwich
South Dakota: Safari Bar & Grill
> Location: Renner
> Specialty: Chislic (mini deep-fried kebabs)
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Tennessee: Stock and Barrel
> Location: Knoxville
> Specialty: Duck confit fries
Texas: Whip In
> Location: Austin
> Specialty: Tandoori chicken nachos
Utah: Purgatory Bar
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Specialty: Pork belly baos
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Vermont: Ruben James
> Location: Burlington
> Specialty: Corn dog basket with fries
Virginia: Rappahannock Oyster Co.
> Location: Richmond
> Specialty: Rappahannock River, Rochambeau, and Olde Salt oysters
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Washington: Some Random Bar
> Location: Seattle
> Specialty: Crab nachos
West Virginia: Parkersburg Brewing Company
> Location: Parkersburg
> Specialty: The Fairmont (four house-made pepperoni rolls)
Wisconsin: The Old Fashioned
> Location: Madison
> Specialty: Cheese curds
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Wyoming: Snake River Brewing
> Location: Jackson
> Specialty: WYO bison & beef chili
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