Stagger Inn

We were starving and this was the only place without a wait. Typical bar food, no table service we had to order at the window. He did bring the food to our table when it was finished. Fried food everywhere. They had all of your favorites: fried mushrooms, fried cauliflower, fried pickles, French fries and potato skins. They were all served with ranch on the side. Beers were cold, service was fair.

Owner is a complete prick. White bearded overweight fellow, you suck. I am assuming he is the owner. He had the nerve to get lippy with me after I changed from using cash to credit card. Sorry to inconvenience you, now you won’t be getting any of my cash or credit. He should not be a part of a feel good hippie bar like this. I won’t go back until ownership change. Sell the bar and get out of Edwardsville, you don’t belong anymore.

Probably the most negative review I’ll ever do on Unilocal.But, for the right reasons. I haven’t come in here in many years because I never feel welcome here, and its all because of Tim. Tim is the older, depressed guy (looks like Trey Anastasio) who tends bar and always gives back rude service. I’ve been nothing but respectful to him but in return I get crapped on. I didn’t tip him because of this. After the third time, he called me out on it and I straight up ignored him and told my old h.s. friends (who worship Stagger of all the bars in Edwardsville) that I’m choosing somewhere else. Hey, if you’re rude and disrespectful to your client/​customer/​guest/​whatever, do you really expect something back in return? Ask yourself that once in a while. If people want to consider ‘being rude’ as service, please count me out. I’ve heard it said that he’s that way with just about everyone, but not hot, young women. Many people tell me never to take Tim seriously, but he’s also rude when he’s NOT working. One time he was off the clock and sitting by the door and he yelled at me because I accidentally left the secondary small doors open. I really don’t understand why people love this place; I mean, I really do want to like it. Because Tim still works there I refuse to set foot in good ol’ Stagger. It wouldn’t do me any good to complain to the owner (s) because they know that somehow their boy brings in all the drunk college kids/​kool-​aid drinkers. I usually go to other bars in Edwardsville where I always feel welcome. And yes, I usually am a great tipper! But that’s just me :).

Ah, yes. Stagger Inn. Edwardsville’s most (arguably) infamous dive bar. Whenever i’m in the area, this is my local watering hole.
There’s a good amount of craft beer offerings and some decent draught selections (be warned if you decide to go for the latter; rumor is the location doesnt clean their lines often. just another reason to get a pitcher of the flagship Stag swill). If you’re lucky you also may meet Stagger’s most notorious bartender/​resident; Tim. This guy will call you a «cawksucka» if you order a Rolling Rock and praise you if you take two back-​to-​back shots of Jaegermeister with him. Try not to take offense to him you’re new to this location… he just likes to speak his mind and lay it out as it is… drunkenly mostly.
The food servings are relatively decent. I’m not a frequent visitor of Stagger’s menu, but the Reuben is mighty good. On a side note too, Stag also offers late night munchies Wednesday-​Saturday; Cheese Fries, Burgers, Toasted Ravioli, etc at decent prices.
While Stagger is considered an institution as a bar in Edwardsville, it’s also a decent music venue for local musicians and up-​and-​coming regional groups. Many of times I have witnessed some great bands ranging from Folk, Reggae and even Metal… all the while getting rowdy and having fun with my friends.
Final side note on Stagger Inn: if you’re into bar games such as Shuffleboard, the staff take great care of their table. It has some long history behind it but the board is almost like new… immaculate.

Hands down, the best place in Edwardsville for live music. Incredible rustic and hipster vibe. They have tons of beer and late night munchies. Shuffleboard available in the bar.

A good neighborhood bar with a divey feel. The food is good & the beer selection is good. Generally, there’s a decent-​to-​great band playing on the weekends, which is nice. The service is good, fast, and generally courteous, but you have to understand that no one is going to go the extra mile to kiss your *ss, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Definitely recommend it.

This place is a classic dive. The food is way better than you would expect. Yummy onion rings.

The mothership. An Edwardsville institution for young and old. I’m a little biased, but I still consider this one of the best bars in the area and probably the best in Edwardsville. No fufu drinks allowed, but great music — good food — and always a crowd. :) Beer selection gets better each time I’m there.

I frequent Stagger quite a bit, I would call it my hometown favorite. I’m going to try and make this short and sweet!
The Food — If you’re looking for a good big sandwich or just a few appetizers to munch on, during the day there’s just about anything you can ask for. My favorite is a Turkey Rueben with a side of Fried Green Beans. They do have a late night menu during the week, Wednesday to Saturday, but the menu cuts down tremendously. Some burgers, including a black bean for you vegetarians, fries, nachos and the like. It’s a perfect deal when you’re out having some drinks late, as there’s not much choice downtown for pub grub at 12:30am. If you’re around during a Friday, make sure you get some of their Gumbo. It’s amazing. I wouldn’t put it up against a chef made menu by any means, but it holds its own and is affordable.
The Drinks — There’s a large beer collection and occasionally they have something real special laying around. Both bottles and drafts. Now, if you’re into frilly girly drinks, this probably isn’t your spot. Although you can get a mean vodka and cranberry, special cocktails aren’t their thing. You can find a pretty good selection of liquors, but mostly the classics — Jamison, Fireball, Sailor, ect.
The Service — Now, I can really speak nicely of these guys because I’ve gotten to know most of them pretty well. Everyone is pretty friendly and treats ya well, you may get a sarcastic joke here and there from a few but it’s all in good fun and adds to your experience. You’ll definitely never get snub nosed or treated like an outcast.
Other than that. you can play shuffle board or catch a small act band from Nashville on a Wednesday or a fun cover band on a Friday. Also a couple of open mic nights for you independent artists out there. If there’s a game on, you can bet it’s on the big screen.
Stagger is definitely a place to go if your looking for somewhere to go around Edwardsville to have some fun. I saw a lot of people calling this a dive bar, but I would disagree. it’s its own little nook in town and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

This is also on my list of places i try to go to when i find myself around Edwardsville. Many a night of drunken revelry have taken place at this dingy dive. Stagger is more than a dive tho. They offer a good selection of beers, late night chow, lots of live, local music, open mic nights, and bartenders that can be both endearing and abrasive (but the abrasiveness only adds to the charm of this place). The Stagger Inn has personality for sure.
Perhaps it’s how you frame this place in your mind. It’s not quite a dive; it’s not just a pub; it’s more than a restaurant and concert venue.
To me, Stagger is a place to feel at ease. It’s a place where i’ll always see a familiar face or two. It’s a hatchery of ideas and schemes. It’s a congregation of open minded people. I’ve had some of the best times of my life with my favorite people in this place. I’ve given a lot of time and money to the Stagger Inn but I wouldn’t take any of it back for a second.

Stagger Inn Again, still the place to go in Edwardsville for a good stiff drink, shuffleboard on Sundays, decent kitchen, great live music

Great bar to get some cheap beers and listen to good live sets. When the University is in session it can get a little crowded and hard to get to the bar, but most of the time it’s a chill spot. Also, this is a classic bar, so don’t expect specialty drinks or fancy presentation. Regardless, the prices are right and food is pretty spot-​on for lunch and late nights. I do have to agree with another commenter that the staff can tend to cater regulars over typical customers, but I can’t say I blame them for it. However, that’s only a problem when it’s really crowded at night (past 11). Lunch and evenings the service is great.

I am surprised that I haven’t gotten around to review The Stagger Inn yet, however its usually a stop when I am in Edwardsville and am craving a drink or some good music. Stagger is a true neighborhood bar focusing on great beers, good food, and great entertainment with live music from Thursday-​Sunday and shuffleboard table located along the bar.
Service here is usually pretty good, you find an eclectic mix of people from college students to your regulars who have been coming for years. However the crowd varies greatly by night. Stagger frequently hosts local bands and is a great place to spend the evening, there is often a small cover charge on nights that they have live music however it is worth it. The stage is small and slightly raised, and is home to tables during the rest of the week. The bands frequently linger in the crowd between songs, and sometimes you might even catch a few dancing along with the groove. The kitchen here is open late, which is great for those pulling a late night and crave some food to go along with their ice cold beer.
Ask anyone from Edwardsville, I am sure they have stories about Stagger. It is a true Edwardsville landmark and has been here as long as I can remember and I am sure it will be around for many more years to come.

Ok. I’ve been bartending around 8+ years. It’s sad when I hit an establishment that caters to its regulars like royalty an treats new guests like they don’t exist. Also, drink knowledge is far from exceptional but it is an established dive in eville. Hell i wouldn’t even mind if they pulled specs from a phone. Just as long as the drinks came out legit.

Love love their food, great lobster Rangoon & always have great soup! Every week they have a feature beer which is always cheap & good!

All my peeps work at the Stag… It’s a good time with phenomenal kitchen and bar staff. Family friendly.

We simply couldn’t visit Edwardsville without stopping in at the famous Stagger Inn. Loved that the ‘older’ crowd was rockin’ it. A great bar, good music, friendly staff and patrons and NO SMOKE!!!

The Stagger Inn is somewhere I have to go every time I’m back in Edwardsville.
As a lunch spot, it’s great. Since the smoking ban, it’s very clean in there, and it has a lot of history. The Snyder is a classic, and so delicious, and the Triple Decker Grilled Cheese is unparalleled. I also highly recommend getting a basket of fries. I’ve never had a bad meal at the Stagger. Their food is much better than typical bar food, and the atmosphere is fun.
I don’t really understand the people that have complained about the smell or cleanliness level. I have been to Stagger more times than I could possibly count, and I’ve never been put off by anything like that.
If you want a bar with a wide selection of beers, great live music, and tasty, unique food, Stagger is your place.

An E’ville landmark, one of a handful of tried and true places that every local seems to know. It closed and reopened in the 80s, a fact alluded to by the final word on its sign: «The Stagger Inn Again.» If you google the name, you’ll come across a 2010 article detailing its history.
Regarding the question of whether it’s a dive bar, I’m on the side answering «No.» In its current incarnation, the drinks are not poor quality, and it’s not really dirty, especially since Illinois enacted smoke-​free legislation. Plus, when I’m there with friends keeping it classy, you would feel comfortable with the clientele. I can’t speak to late night, when old guys like me are in bed, but just can’t imagine it’s often bad here on the most prominent corner in old E’ville.
I joined a large group here on a Thursday night, and sampled a wide variety of fried appetizers (the onion rings are HUGE). Several ladies were ordering mixed drinks or splitting bottles of wine. Among the taps, I spotted Bell’s Two-​hearted Ale. When newly 21-​ed Son arrived, we ordered dinner at the window: a lettuce-​wrapped burger for him, and, for me, a spinach salad topped with strips of medium-​rare steak (does a dive bar serve a fresh spinach salad?). There was no live music at that hour, but when there is, it’s usually pretty good.
Parking here may present a problem for newcomers. There are some spaces directly off Main St. on the north side of the NAPA auto parts store and behind Stagger. People seem to find parking southeast at the library lot, or behind main street businesses directly north. I don’t think you’re supposed to park at Walgreens (west).

If you’re in Edwardsville and want a non-​pretentious spot to have a beer and listen to a good band, then I suggest Stagger Inn. This is mostly because there are few other bars in town that have good live music on a steady basis. (Laurie’s is another good spot, but they do not have live bands as frequently).
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, then don’t bother. It is a «dive,» by definition — I will agree with that. Dark, musty, and far from fancy. Also, if you are like me and don’t drink beer, you may very well be out of luck. They either cannot make (due to lack of ingredients) or don’t know how to make over 70% of the drinks I’ve requested.
In short, go for the bands, not the booze or the atmosphere.