4 IL 'Dive Bars' Named Among Best In U.S. For Food

ILLINOIS — Four Illinois "dive bars" have been named among the best in the United States for food, according to a new ranking.

The Green Door Tavern and The Globe Pub in Chicago, The Blue Room in downstate New Minden, and The Curve Inn in Springfield were included in the list of 120 dive bars compiled by Geek Nexus, a personal finance and pop culture website. The establishments came in at eighth, 34th, 45th and 82nd places, respectively.

To determine which businesses made the list, Geek Nexus surveyed 3,000 bar-goers to find the top dive bars serving "surprisingly good food."

"Dive bars have always been about community and character, but now they’re becoming known for their unexpectedly great food," Jake Valentine, operations manager of Geek Nexus, said in a news release.

"The results of our survey highlight just how diverse and creative dive bar menus have become, proving that you don’t need a fancy setting to enjoy a standout meal," he continued. "From inventive burgers to iconic local flavors, these bars are redefining what it means to eat well on a budget."

Touted on its website as Chicago's oldest tavern, The Green Door serves up elevated classics such as bacon-wrapped dates with chorizo, poutine with Italian beef gravy and giardiniera, and Scotch eggs. With brunch, lunch and dinner, diners at The Globe can enjoy everything from Guinness French toast to shepherd's pie.

The Blue Room offers tavern standards like burgers and fries, but also chicken hearts, livers and gizzards for the more adventurous eater. At The Curve Inn, diners can enjoy a Springfield Shoe sandwich, which features Texas toast, fries in the sandwich and cheese sauce.

See the full list of dive bars at GeekNexus.com.