Leave the rest of the day open
The VIG doesn’t make you choose what kind of outing you’re having. A large central bar gives this busy Old Town room its energy, with stools at the counter, smaller tables close by and booths that let a group settle in without losing the sense of being part of the action. The crowd is part of the pleasure. This is a place for joining in.
For a group, the booths near the bar strike the best balance. You have your own space, but the camaraderie of the counter remains close. A smaller party can take stools and put itself directly in the middle of things. Neither setup requires a carefully planned evening. Brunch, a game and another round all feel at home here.
Familiar drinks, a little more polish
The cocktail menu understands that flexibility. Its strength is an expansive selection of recognizable drinks with enough personality to make them interesting, while remaining approachable for a table with different tastes. A Bloody Mary makes sense over brunch; the wider cocktail offering carries just as naturally into dinner or drinks later on.
The Espresso Martini has a strong coffee flavor, but it is one part of the appeal. The more useful reason to come is the range: familiar formats, thoughtful twists and enough quality to make The VIG a destination for cocktails in their own right. You do not need a meal or a game as the excuse to order a round.
Food, sports and drinking coexist easily. Meet friends for brunch, gather old classmates to watch your alma mater, or start with dinner before heading out. The room accommodates each version without making any of them feel like the wrong use of the place.
A booth, a group and no fixed ending
Service brings friendly Midwestern warmth to a room that has plenty going on. Expect the rhythm of a busy bar and a smile, with attentiveness calibrated to the scale of the operation. That friendliness makes the crowd feel approachable and helps the social energy hold together.
The same energy sets the limits. Quiet conversation and an intimate setting call for a different room, as does an evening built around highly original cocktails. The VIG’s appeal is more social: familiar pleasures with better drinks and a setting that gives a group room to enjoy itself.
Come with friends and leave the ending open. Its Old Town location makes moving on easy, while the atmosphere gives you a good reason to stay. Brunch can become game day. Dinner can become drinks. One round can become the night.
Is this your night?
- Go if
- You want a lively group gathering, a game on the agenda and cocktails worth staying for.
- Choose another bar if
- You want quiet conversation, a luxury setting or highly original cocktails as the main event.
