Friday 27th of August 2010 02:28:12 PM

link

Duffy's is a diamond in the rough in the small town of Utica near Starved Rock state park.

It seems to attract locals, families, and tourists alike, and for good reason. It has an authentic worn-in charm, as if it's been here for decades, and will be for years to come. It's a wedge shaped building with a corner entrance draped in pine boughs and holiday decor. Once inside, the long antique bar extends to the left, with table and booth seating along the wall on the right. Next to our table there was an old beer label for "Shabbona Brew" from Ottawa Brewing Co., 2 3/4% abv. Above the bar there were all sorts of dusty antique instruments, and vintage decor in general.

The 16 taps rotate frequently I was told, with Dark Horse, Southern Tier, Capital, Founders, Rogue, and a few other crafts. The house beers were actually Warsteiner Dunkel, and Leinies Special Amber. They also had O'Haras and the obligatory Irish taps. Bottle selection was "extensive" I was told, but didn't get a list, so that was hard to verify. The bartender mentioned about 5 different Oktoberfests, one on special for only $2. Pints of Crooked Tree IPA and Capital Winter Skål were $4.

The service was timely, and the food was excellent. I had the corned beef sandwich, which was a thick lean cut with a tender texture. The complimentary bread basket was a nice touch also. I'll be back here as often as I can for an authentic small town tavern experience.