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.
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
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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Source: dszc / Getty Images
Arizona: Casa Molina
> Location: Tucson
> Specialty: Cheese crisp
Source: Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas: Butcher & Pint
> Location: Bentonville
> Specialty: “¿Se Hablo Delicioso Y Caliente? ” (roasted poblano, avocado, and queso dip)
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Source: albertc111 / Wikimedia Commons
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
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Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
Delaware: McGlynn’s Pub
> Location: Dover
> Specialty: Philly queso dip
Source: Maisna / Getty Images
Florida: Sloppy Joe’s
> Location: Key West
> Specialty: Conch fritters
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Source: A Softer Answer / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: ghornephoto / Getty Images
Illinois: Rosie’s Pub
> Location: Bloomington
> Specialty: BBQ bacon-glazed shrimp
Source: Daniel Schwen / Wikimedia Commons
Indiana: The Rathskeller
> Location: Indianapolis
> Specialty: Hot wurst platte
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Source: Stephen Matthew Milligan / Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: El Bait Shop
> Location: Des Moines
> Specialty: Velvet Elvis Dip (sausage, Velveeta, Rotel)
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Kansas: The Rusty Nail
> Location: Wichita
> Specialty: Kristi Approved Fried Pickles
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Kentucky: Hammerheads
> Location: Louisville
> Specialty: Pork belly tacos
Source: Judy Darby / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Old Rail Brewing Company
> Location: Mandeville
> Specialty: Tempura alligator
Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
Maine: Blaze
> Location: Bangor
> Specialty: Duck gravy poutine
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Source: Abhijit Tembhekar / Wikimedia Commons
Maryland: Max’s Taphouse
> Location: Baltimore
> Specialty: Taphouse Tater Bowl (tots with BBQ pulled pork, beer cheese, bacon)
Source: MarkinBoston CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: culbertson / iStock via Getty Images
Minnesota: Giggles Campfire Grill
> Location: St. Paul
> Specialty: Duck bacon wontons
Source: C5Media / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Mississippi: Hobie’s on Main
> Location: Starkville
> Specialty: Hot tamale balls
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: The Post Sports Bar
> Location: St. Louis i
> Specialty: Toasted ravioli
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Montana: Charlie’s Bar
> Location: Missoula
> Specialty: Gumbolaya (gumbo-jambalaya combination)
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Source: Ammodramus CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication / Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Sandy’s South Bar
> Location: Red Cloud
> Specialty: Onion rings with homemade ranch
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Nevada: The Golden Tiki
> Location: Las Vegas
> Specialty: Orange chicken boneless wings
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Backyard Brewery
> Location: Manchester
> Specialty: OG prime rib egg rolls
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Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey: dullboy
> Location: Jersey City
> Specialty: Arepas with chile verde braised pork
Source: Ron Reiring / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina: Lucky Lou’s Tavern
> Location: Charlotte
> Specialty: Pimento cheese fritters with smoked tomato jelly
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
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
Source: Caleb Long / Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma: The Tavern
> Location: Tulsa
> Specialty: Angry Mac & Cheese
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Source: DC_Colombia / Getty Images
Oregon: Horse Brass Pub
> Location: Portland
> Specialty: Sausage roll with homemade mustard
Pennsylvania: Bier’s Pub
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Specialty: Soft pretzels with various dips
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Rhode Island: The Tavern on Broadway
> Location: Newport
> Specialty: Fried calamari
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Source: Daniel Mayer / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee: Stock and Barrel
> Location: Knoxville
> Specialty: Duck confit fries
Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images
Texas: Whip In
> Location: Austin
> Specialty: Tandoori chicken nachos
Source: legacyimagesphotography / Getty Images
Utah: Purgatory Bar
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Specialty: Pork belly baos
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Vermont: Ruben James
> Location: Burlington
> Specialty: Corn dog basket with fries
Source: Morgan Riley / Wikimedia Commons
Virginia: Rappahannock Oyster Co.
> Location: Richmond
> Specialty: Rappahannock River, Rochambeau, and Olde Salt oysters
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Source: RomanKhomlyak / Getty Images
Washington: Some Random Bar
> Location: Seattle
> Specialty: Crab nachos
Source: matejphoto / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: Parkersburg Brewing Company
> Location: Parkersburg
> Specialty: The Fairmont (four house-made pepperoni rolls)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Wisconsin: The Old Fashioned
> Location: Madison
> Specialty: Cheese curds
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Source: Riderolga / Getty Images
Wyoming: Snake River Brewing
> Location: Jackson
> Specialty: WYO bison & beef chili
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