Maplewood Inn

Continuing my (extended) tour of Blue Island neighborhood bars, I recently found myself at George & Linda’s Maplewood Inn. How this neighborhood fixture escaped me for so long, I’m not sure. But it’s the real deal, a perfectly dim dive that, in the «right» hood would be overrun with hipsters. I’m sure the locals would be pissed.
Cheap drafts in the true southside dive tradition, you can also get bottles of the same Miller and Bud products you find everywhere, plus a few «imports» to go along with them. The bartender was friendly when four strangers popped in for a quick beer, and even a few of the regulars good-​naturedly asked why we hadn’t been there before. Ambiance consists of 80s vintage breweriana, which fit the bar just fine.
Noticing the sign for booze-​soaked cherries at the super bargain price of 4 for a buck, we opted for the cherries over a shot with our beers. Good choice! I went back for another round.