V F W Grant’s Bivouac

The bartender Bill is a real man among men, an inner-​child who is outward bound, laid back but fashion forward.
I was there in about August playing some tunes off my patented Selena Gomez playlist when four surprisingly handsome older men who were playing cards at the back round table started giving me some ‘flack’. These adult men looked like they had thrown down a time or two before and the bloodlust was apparent so I was ready for things to get crazy like they do back in Dunkerton. Bartender Bill sensed the situation escalating and swooped in with the International symbol of truce — 5 beers paid for by him.
I ended up downing Fireball and tossing right bowers for the next nine hours with my new BFFs — turns out they were great dudes (albeit horrendous card players).
To sum this place up: good times, good vibe, good camaraderie. This was 9AM on a Tuesday I’d love to see the place on a weekend once my probation gets over with.

This is the place to go in Galena if you want friendly people, good prices, and a fun time. If you are lucky Bill will be bar tendering and he is the best!

A definite dive with frequent brawls, not at all a family friendly VFW. A few of the bartenders are okay, but most are rude and incompetent. For food there’s stale snacks and frozen pizza cooked in a dirty little oven. The patrons are mostly foul mouthed local slobs, nothing is ever done to stop the constant flow of expletives, the staff rather eggs them on in their tirades. They sell carryout beer and booze at inflated prices. I stopped going because of all the nonsense, it’s ill run and ill managed.

Good deals on drinks. High Life was $ 2.50. Played some tracks off the jukebox. Popcorn available. Worth checking out. Low key.

Good service, cheap and cold beer, decent sound system or at least they aren’t afraid to turn it up like so many places, everything you need to have a good time. Not for everyone but if you can’t appreciate what this place has to offer you’re no fun anyway.

We love this place! Great prices and we have always been able to squeeze our groups in there.

I guess it’s a matter of personal perspective, but I would not really call this a «dive» bar. Having grown up in the Northwoods, I would just call is an old school, small town bar. But I will say, from the outside, it doesn’t look like a fern bar, either. And if you’re an urban hipster, I suppose it is a dive bar. Nonetheless, the good news is there is always a real diverse crowd, and not usually a huge one, except on holidays or special event days in downtown Galena. But there are patrons of all ages, locals and turistas, and great specials: $ 2 well cocktails, Bud Light and Busch on tap for $ 1.50, and my favorite craft beer, Bells’ Two Hearted Ale. That’s a big $ 3.50 out of your paycheck. Just a nice, unassuming old place with cigs behind the bar, and a nice choice of chips and pretzels. Pizza, too, but I may have to be somewhat sloshed to try that.

Had a tip that the Bloody Mary’s here were very good. They were cheap in $ but very small, half the size you get elsewhere. Tasty enough, I asked for horse radish and got a good amount. The only beer chaser available, when I asked, was Bud Lite or Miller Lite. (I don’t waste time on lite beer) The place was very busy on a Friday afternoon. It’s a dive beer for sure, nothing wrong with that…

I’m a big fan of old-​timey dive bars, so this place was quite a find! It was located a short 2 block walk from our hotel, so we stopped in thinking that we’d just have a quick beer. Well, their prices are so cheap, we wound up staying for two hours! The décor on the inside looks like it’s right out of the 1970s, lots of pictures of US Grant, and the bar staff is very friendly!

If you are looking for an old school dive bar, the VFW should scream your name. Great service + Great people watching + CHEAP drinks = A Fantastic time!
Hidden Gem for sure

Great atmosphere, a hidden gem in Galena! The most welcoming VFW I’ve been to, and the most age-​diverse. Bartender was friendly, patrons friendly, and a good time was had by all!

«Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way; not for him the slow, gracious wandering from the halls of sleep, but a summary, forcible ejection. He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-​crab on the tarry shingle of the morning. The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night, too, he’d somehow been on a cross-​country run and then been expertly beaten up by secret police. He felt bad.»

This place is awesome.
$ 1 drafts, $ 2 shooters, cash only. Lots of Johnny Cash on the jukebox. My kind of place.

Loved this bar! Best bloody mary and can NOT beat the price. Super relaxed atmosphere, great place to play some cards. They open at 7:30am and we were able to even buy locally grown produce at a buck a bag. I Love U VFW!!!

On a quaint little Main Street that caters to the hordes of flip-​flop wearing tourists is a gem ignored by the madding crowds. I saw the old sign a block away «VFW –public welcome»… well Hell, I’m a member of the public.
I entered and found everything I expected; old men, cheap beer, underemployed drunks, and a lot of pictures of U.S. Grant.
The girlfriend thought it was a great place to have a photo taken of us, so she asked the 300+ lb guy on the bar stool next to her to take a photo… I was amazed that someone who appeared to have been drinking constantly for the last 22 years with hands the size of catcher’s gloves was even able to find the little button.
So as the girl continued flirting with said mountain, I asked the bartender about our new friend… «Him? Oh, he’s a great guy, just don’t piss him off. I once saw him pick up a 220 lb guy over his head and threaten to throw him though the plate glass window. I was a golden gloves boxer, and I would NEVER fuck with him»
So, in summary… EXACTLY my kind of place.