Galena Taphouse - (Near Galena, IL)

Amy Dexter We have been twice recently, and the food and service was very good. We really liked the chicken and pork options. The steak had wonderful flavor, but was a little tough (but still good). The bread, salad bar, and sides are very tasty as well. (We really enjoyed the wild rice with the chicken) Very nice place to eat in town if you want a more upscale meal. Not a lot of options in town, so it is nice to have this gem locally. Very pleasant staff, and the restaurant is clean! Give them a try!

Jeremy Gee On my first visit to Ottawa, I set out to experience some of the local dining scene and found myself at The Lone Buffalo, a restaurant that reflects the charm of this small but vibrant town. From the moment I stepped through the door, the atmosphere suggested I was in for something memorable. To begin, my daughter and I shared Aunt Bee’s Biscuits, accompanied by a cinnamon butter that struck the perfect balance of sweetness and warmth. They were tender, flavorful, and an excellent introduction to the meal. For the main course, we both gravitated toward the burgers—always a reliable measure of a kitchen’s skill. The Cease & Desist Burger, my choice for the evening, delivered an impressive depth of flavor and arrived perfectly juicy, complemented by a side of crisp, well-seasoned fries. Across the table, the BBQ Brewmaster Burger proved equally satisfying, rich with smoky notes and a bold character that paired beautifully with the restaurant’s own craft ales. Service was another highlight. Our server, Kyle, was attentive without being intrusive, checking in at just the right moments to ensure everything was to our liking. By the end of the evening, it was clear that The Lone Buffalo is more than just a casual stop—it’s a place where thoughtful hospitality, well-executed food, and a robust beer program come together to create a meal worth remembering.

ramon Sykes I love this bar- great food and drinks. No juvenile riff-raff. The staff is AWESOME! Great small town feel where everyone does know your name. Try the Big Willie burger.

N & J Finnberg Absolutely awesome find. The protein donuts were soft and delicious, chocolate is my fav. They also have protein waffles and crepes. The protein coffee is amazing. More importantly the family who owns this place are so kind and welcoming, we enjoyed our visit!

Dustin Campbell My wife, kids, and I took the two-hour trip to visit. We recently drove to Texas from St. Louis just to try BBQ and were excited to try some Texas-style BBQ closer to home. The staff couldn’t have been nicer. You could tell just by speaking to them that they love BBQ. My wife got the loaded brisket potato that was on special. It was enough for both lunch and dinner—and it was amazing. My boys both tried a pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese. I personally did not try the pulled pork, but my boys loved it. The sandwich was huge, and I’ll probably eat some later. I tried 1/3 lb of turkey, 1/3 lb of brisket, and half a rack of ribs. Turkey is an absolute staple in BBQ restaurants and is often overlooked by brisket and pork. The turkey was fall-apart tender and definitely the best in the area. The brisket had a delicious bark and held up to the “pull test” standards. It was a moist brisket that clearly hadn’t been sitting out all day. The ribs were very flavorful and had a beautiful smoke ring. They had very little pull and were extremely tender. I talked with the staff about my love for BBQ and found some nice little treats in my bag. I found a couple of samples of jalapeño cheddar sausage and smoked bologna. The sausage is something I never order because I usually love trying everything else. If this is what it tastes like everywhere, then I’ve been missing out. The heat from the jalapeños was perfect with the cheese. The bologna chub had a sweet rub and was also very good. These were two things I would’ve never tried, and I’m super grateful they allowed me to sample them because I’ll definitely be ordering them now. It’s nice to have a place close to home where I can get my Texas BBQ fix without driving 12+ hours. Thanks for all the hospitality—we’ll be seeing you guys again soon.