T Bock's — Restaurant in Decorah

Spring 2023 Update:

Since last year, T-Bock's seems to have made a little effort to improve its food, so I've increased its rating from 3 to 4 stars. I had The Ringer burger again. My burger buns and patty were bigger; the patty was more tender and more carefully cooked; the ingredients were less sloppily stacked. However, the beer battered french fries were a bit undercooked. The sweet potato fries and spicy aioli were delicious. The menu was smaller but mostly the same (I'm glad the classic burgers have remained). The servers seemed a bit more friendly and attentive, though the evening was less hectic. The seating environment remained pleasant. Overall, my experience was slightly better (for which I thank you, T-Bock's). However, for the prices, the food still has room to impress when compared to the likes of the Ragin' Riley burger at Good Times Grill.

Summer 2022 Review:

T-Bock's Sports Bar & Grill is one of the few remaining longstanding Decorah dining and drinking institutions, and that status is the biggest boon for T-Bock's business. It stands out for its bar-and-grill combination, sports features, busy crowds, multi-roomed seating, free popcorn or peanuts, and central location.

The menu is sufficient and has thus remained relatively unchanged for a long time. It has several unique burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The food is good, especially the Brew City beer-battered fries. The burgers are tasty and hastily made.

Though good, the food is no longer great. Over time (since years before the recent inflation and pandemic), T-Bock's has become lax in both its food and service. It doesn't have to try hard to fill its seats with patrons, so the prices have inclined as the food taste, presentation, and portion sizes have declined. Service ranges in quality, but the overpriced and underwhelming food is by far the biggest weakness. Many customers are drawn because they don't know any better, but an increasing number of longtime patrons like me are disappointed.

Though I have many fond memories thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere, drinks, and food at T-Bock's, its overratedness since the mid-2010s deters me from visiting. I drive to other towns (or other Decorah restaurants) for better quality (and better value) American food. I would love to see T-Bock's step up to the plate to reclaim its former place at the top of bar-and-grills in the area. It already has it made, but to reap the benefits of its full potential, it...

We went twice while in Decorah. The first was mid day and mid week. The place was fairly full and the service was great, if not slightly confused, but in their defense the boy who acted as host was obviously new and making sure we were well attended to. Our server had been working there for well over a decade, and did his job exceedingly well. My burger was slightly overcooked but nothing to complain or write home about.

The second time we went I'd planned on leaving my boyfriend there to drink beer and watch college football while I shopped. It was full, we had a 20 min wait, and we'd thought he could move to a bar seat once one opened up. But we'd told the server that we needed time between drinks and food, a request he took so wholeheartedly I got tired of waiting to order an appetizer after having drank my very (best in town) middling bloody mary, and left to shop. When the server finally came back around my boyfriend ordered nachos. Now, I wasn't there and I really don't know how nachos could ever be bad, even if they're just chips and cheese but apparently they were the worst nachos known to God or man and the cheese wasn't even melted. He cut his football visit short which cut my shopping short which essentially ruined the one day in Decorah that's I'd planned and...

First off, let me say it’s strange to us to go to a sports BAR and for there to be no hard-liquor… except for vodka? R was disappointed to not to be able to get his usual Jamo & ginger, and then they were out of the cider he wanted, so the whole meal started off on the wrong foot. My bloody was fine, though the mix wasn’t my favorite. I guess I prefer something less tomato-y.

Then came the meals themselves. Good news first – the BLT and fries was pretty darn good. Nicely toasted bread, a good balance of meat to veggies and the right amount of mayo, but friends… these are NOT chicken strips! These are chickie nuggies at best and the thing I always fear when I roll the dice on ordering chicken at a bar. I guess I expect for $13.50 that there will be actual strips of chicken tenders. Juicy and meaty…the kind I can peel the breading off of (my favorite way to eat chicken) first and then dunk the meat into the sauce. But no – these are sad and spongey affairs and frankly sucked. The coleslaw was GREAT, so you should definitely get that, and I always love a beer-battered fry.

Verdict: 👎👍 This wouldn’t be my first stop if I were to find myself back in downtown Decorah, but, if you avoid the chicken “strips” and are thirsty for beer, you...