My friend and I went to Vintage for a mid afternoon appetizer after reading a few good reviews on yelp. The place was completely empty. I'm pretty sure the bartender/server hated life as he never smiled and stiffly interacted with us. We ordered the fried pickles which were pretty yummy. We also had the pasta salad that was on the specials list. I'm sure I could not make a worse pasta salad of I tried. The noodles were dry and hard, there were very dry/old looking cubes up chicken, and it was smothered in ranch dressing. So gross.
(2)
Gaia B.
I had dinner at Vintage@51 with my family. I was with my Husband, my mom and my step-dad and we were looking for some real american restaurant where eat a good hamburger. We we arrived nobody was in there( as restaurants nearby were full of people) but the environment was nice, so we decided to give them a shot. The waitress was nice and the appetizer, we shared a portion of onion loaf, was really good and abundant. So we are all excited to try the main course. My husband and my step-dad ordered the special burger, my mom a caprese and I ordered a veggie burger. After the first bite we were all disappointed. my husband burger was totally unsalty and flavorless. All our breads were old, hard ,and cold and my size of sweet potatoes ( I payed 1 dollar more for having them ) was almost inexistent. After that we ordered two dessert to share. The special dessert, an apple pie, and a double chocolate cake. Both of them were cold and they tasted as a supermarket cake. We had a pretty bad experience in this restaurant and I feel sorry because the spot is really nice and the staff polite.
(2)
Angela M.
Great atmosphere. Food was delicious and the drinks were trendy. Great waitstaff too!
(5)
Holly E.
I love coming to Vintage when I'm in the downtown area! Super unique and welcoming, and the food is amazing. One of my favorites :)
(5)
Callie K.
My husband and I always walk by this place but never want to go in for dinner because it's really more like a bar than a dinner venue (loud bar music playing, crowded tables, people standing outside smoking). But we wanted to try their food so we got take out. We ordered the farmers green salad -- pretty good, but I did not like the dressing. Almond crusted tilapia--fish and rice were moist but bland, green beans were really tasty. We also got the veggie flatbread with cheese--a little spicy, but lots of veggies. All in all, the food was ok but not great. The atmosphere is ok if you want to go out for drinks, but not if you're interested in having a nice sit down meal where you can easily chat with your table mates. Portions were pretty good for the price.
(3)
Jenae G.
Such a cool - relaxing place to be! To my great surprise they offer a variety of Gluten Free options which made my taste buds very happy! Great for a quick meet-up with friends after a long day or for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking. The menu incorporates some classic dishes (like the burger) with those for a more advanced pallet ( like out-of-this-world hummus w/GF pita). This is truly a place where everyone will know your name.... Cheers #Fun&Food #HappyTasteBuds
(4)
Cory N.
Went back for lunch today. Free bacon Sunday! That should be enough said, but again the service was good, food awesome, atmosphere pleasant, and its a place downtown on Sundays and welcoming of kiddos. Quickly becoming a local favorite. We frequent this place, as my review would suggest. However, the last two visits have been subpar. They're seem to have menu items they can't provide (kids hot dog, chocolate milk, and adult float flights). This doesn't even account for the draught list that includes 4 of 9 seasonal selections the staff doesn't know and replacements they don't mention. Get it together, buy a sharpie, and reprint when necessary. Only costs them a start because I expect a return to their excellence soon.
(4)
D L.
There are certain things you just HAVE to order at Vintage. First, your beer in a schooner. Which is their 3 pound goblet of beer of your choice on tap. It's stays cold till the end which is amazing. Who like warm beer? For food I've never gone wrong with the classic BLT. Who knew something so simple could be so delicious!? Also the 50/50 burger, wedge salad, sweet potato fries and fried pickles. If you want good American food and a great spot downtown to watch the game this is your place.
(5)
Brad S.
Had a great time with friends last night. Ordered the bacon appetizer, and the 50-50 Burger. Delish. The bacon was sweet and spicy, pepper and brown sugar. The burger was great with a fried egg. My only complaint is that the 10oz beer seemed more like a 6 oz pilsner glass. Everything else was great.
(4)
Andrea E.
Friendly wait staff, delicious food, and fun atmosphere. The Godfather meatball sandwich is a must have along with the hand cut fries.
(5)
Alyssa T.
I would give it 5 stars but I ordered a bacon salad and it came out with no bacon... What???! Other than that, fantastic beer served up in an ice-cold chalice & the staff has always been very friendly and on top of their game... Can't complain about that!
(4)
Brooke Z.
I've never had a bad experience at Vintage. Great beer selection and awesome food! Had the bacon last time and have been craving it ever since! We sat at the bar last time and really enjoyed talking with the bartender. Great place to add to the downtown experience!
(5)
Daniella D.
Nothing to rave about in my opinion. Standard pub grub. Standard service. Not a fan of the atmosphere. I wouldn't purposely choose to come back but if friends were here I would meet them.
(2)
Ben W.
THe 50/50 burger is amazing. taco tuesday is also a huge success. go on a blackhawks game and usually there is a crowd!
(5)
Nikki T.
I Love Vintage@501 I've been to vintage for everything for lunches, meetings, quick appetizers, dinner, and after work celebrations. Their drinks are very reasonably priced. I usually get a schooner of cider or if I'm feeling sweeter I'll go for a pop rock martini or other flavor.. The martinis are all delicious. But they have a pretty good selection of beers as well. For food I've had: Wedge salad - delicious and cut into separate sections so it's much easier to cut and eat then what I was used to at other places Million dollar bacon- delicious. I don't normally eat this kind of thing but it's definitely with a try Soups- the cheddar ale and broccoli cheese are amazing. After work I tend to go for just a soup and cider The wraps are yummy- I haven't had one I didn't like yet Hummus and sides are nice on a lighter food kind of night- the hummus is served with pita bread pieces and fresh veggies Pulled pork sliders were okay- but I'm not a big pork person so I'm a bit biased on that one Hand cut fries are freshly cut and fried and you can definitely taste the difference. But the fried pickles here are definitely my absolute favorite. They are pickle spears lightly fried and seasoned perfectly. I order fried pickles everywhere and so far these are always my favorite. Service is great too. The owner and staff are all very friendly and attentive which is usually a reason to go back over and over again :)
(5)
Dv V.
The laid back, chill place..that being said..I like it. I haven't tried many of their dishes and the one I had was average, I wasn't crazy about it. In my opinion I'd recommend it mostly as a place to have a drink and chill
(3)
Cole D.
The food here is fucking fabulous. End of story. I like the grilled boneless half chicken. Comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus and it's just awesome. Only downsides are that for the price I would expect larger portions. If you eat like a normal person, portions are be fine. If you eat like you mean it, Order extra sides or an appetizer.
(5)
JJ N.
So far so good...20mon wait for a party of 10 on a Friday night at 7:30, not bad. Decor is not bad, the "vintage" Harley is a very nice touch. Drink selections are also good, several choices for win end mixed drinks that are certainly unique. Appetizers, artichoke dip and fried pickles, both very very good, but would have to tip the hat to the dip. Very well made with a good blend of flavored that just melt in your mouth. Flat breads, burgers and tilapia...all good! No complaints from any in our group. Firehouse burger was good, could have a bit more kick, but still tasty. The 50/50 burger was tempting but no one could take the leap. It does get packed which slows the service so be prepared for this on a Friday night.
(4)
Bella H.
Nice place. Cute record menus. Kinda pricey. Good beer choices. Good service. Love the atmosphere.
(5)
Kris L.
Ok, not gonna lie - I know nothing about Rockford... we were just driving through on our way back home to Chicago from Galena and needing something to eat. The main street was completely barren and looked like a ghost town - i don't know if it's always like that or what, but we pretty much chose to go to Vintage because it was the only place open! Anyway, I am soooo glad we did! We were a little nervous to go in at first because we felt out of place, but that soon changed when we were greeted by the friendliest waitress ever! she was so nice and even helped to make suggestions on drinks and food. Speaking of, both the drinks and food were delicious!!! I tried the Pineapple Mango martini and pretty much chugged it down like it was water. The sweet potato fries were some of the best I ever had, and my husband and friend who were with me loved the flatbread pizza they ordered. I honestly don't know if I'll ever be in the area again, but if I am, I will definitely make Vintage my lunch/dinner stop!
(4)
Megan M.
We stopped in for dinner on a Thursday evening, and it was completely dead. The bartender barely acknowledged us, and the server was acceptable - not terribly quick or attentive considering there was maybe 1 or 2 other couples in the restaurant. Other than service, I have only good things to say. The burgers my husband and I had were delicious (although I ordered it medium rare and it was a solid medium - no pink at all). We came in after having their fries at Screw City Beer fest and other local festivals. They are amazing - fresh, salty, homemade, that little bit of greasy goodness. We had a chocolate creme brulee that was rich and yummy. Dropped to 3 stars due to service being only okay - otherwise a solid 4 on food.
(3)
Kirsten R.
I can't say enough about how much I love this place. After moving back to Rockford from Chicago after 13 years I was looking for a place to feel comfortable at while cocktailing and eating. I found just what I was looking for when I discovered Vintage@501. Great staff, great food and great atmosphere. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Brandon F.
I love to go for what they do well this place is clean, nice, and priced nearly the same as any chain restaurant on state. This place isn't a social or an Abreo and does not strive to be those places which are wonderful but in a whole other price point then Vintage 501. This place is an extremely great value for the quality of the food with great cocktails and really a cool atmosphere. This place has a menu that really could make any group of people extremely happy. Their pork chop is the best in the city it comes with an amazing fig sauce very thick large bone in cut and they do amazing burgers. Anybody that reviewed that said they used frozen patties because they are uniform it is obvious they have a burger press to form the burger. They have have a great wine list and make some tasty martinis and Wednesday's it's half priced wine.
(5)
Lindsey G.
Vintage has great food. Everything we have had (burgers, pizza, beef) has been great. A couple times we have been it has been terribly busy and slow service. We have also heard some complaints on empty Draft beer kegs, though that doesn't bother me. If we are downtown and Social or Abreo has too long of a wait, we end up here or Capri.
Ordered the burger and fries having known that Vintage is known for their burgers and I wasn't disappointed. However the place seemed very cramped. We had three people, sat in one of the half circle booths and the actual table was meant for two. It also took them forever to being out our food. Makes me wonder how express lunch is possible. Will possibly return if I'm on that side of town but overall I'm very disappointed in food quality in downtown Rockford and this makes me remember why I avoid eating in this area
(3)
Angie M.
I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the negative reviews, this place was great! Neat atmosphere, good service, and yummy food. I had the chipotle chicken wrap, husband had the double decker grilled cheese, and daughter had the buffalo chicken sandwich (she said it was the best sandwich she ever had!). We all enjoyed our meals. And the fries are fresh and hand-cut, so good. Added bonus, Sundays are free bacon days, good idea to sell more beer, other bar and grills take note! Also a great place to watch the games on tv, and Icehogs arena is just around the corner - it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat nearby that was open before a 4pm game. Vintage@501 has been added to my GPS' favorite places.
(5)
Katie H.
NEVER GO HERE! We waited over 50 minutes for burgers and wraps, and there was barely anyone in there at lunchtime. The server checked on us once, and whenever we tried to get her attention bc the food was taking so long she avoided eye contact with us. We were starving by the time the food came, so we ate what little bit of food was given. I ordered the 50/50, which is supposed to be half hamburger and half bacon, but if there was any bacon, i didn't see or taste it. I tried the sweet potato fries, which were good, but I was so hungry that I ignored the fact that they were way over cooked. One of the people that I was with ordered their grilled cheese, and the cheese wasn't even melted! For the time that we waited, you think that they could get a grilled cheese right. Needless to say, it was a VERY disappointing experience.
(1)
Erin W.
Potential is there. Vintage pub burger - pre made frozen patty with zero flavor. Paper thin onion and tomato. Bun awesome, to good for this burger. Burger gets 2 stars. Fries - fresh cut, awesome. Most of them burned and started curling, not awesome. Atmosphere- not bad, cool idea. Wish there was a little more lighting for day time but just being picky. Lots of tvs, lots of seating, great music, nice server. Wish they had a little more variety of beer. Modelo- flat, very very flat. And old. Kinda gross. Pricing- ok but that burger was not 8.50 Like I said, has potential. Maybe the other food is good.
(2)
Tomasz I.
Awesome! I came in on a Monday and had one of their beer and food specials! The beer comes in a frosted glass. Which made the beer taste excellent. The right amount of beer in a glass and the special price was only $4 for a premium beer! Had the steak burger! Better than most burgers I have had. Bun was fresh and soft, topping and sauce were the right amount. Fresh cut home made fries, come on. Places don't even take the time or effort to do this. Awesome fries! Everything about my experience was great! But I won't forget the server either. Friendly and always asking if I needed anything else. If I lived in the area I would be here all the time.
(5)
Margie L.
When I want a great burger, Vintage is my new go-to. I'm in love with their fries as well! I'm not a big fan of the atmosphere, but the food is more important to me. Never had any complaints about food or service, so I'll continue to patronize the joint!
(4)
Tod T.
First time visit and would return. One of the servers it was her first night and did fine with her trainer following behind to make sure things were okay. The wings are some of the best that have ever past my lips.
(4)
Michael H.
I have gone back many times since and I am completely in love with this place. Great beer (try the Angry Orchard Cider!) and since my first visit I have tried something new everytime I have gone. It just keeps getting better. Without a doubt one of my favorite places to eat in Rockford. Service is fantastic, everyone is attentive and the food is always out quickly. The owner always comes by to check and us and see how things are. I would say the only very small issue is that there is only a one person bathroom per sex which if the place gets busy can start to develop a line. Very very small issue it isn't enough to have me stop going or recommending the place to all of my friends.
(5)
Brian C.
I am intrigued by what Vintage @ 501 could (should?) be. But ultimately disappointed in what it is. The website showed an awesome burger. The style of the decor seemed catchy and cool. Great location. Great staff. Our waitress was so attentive and the owner stopped by to check on everything. All great things! The burger in the website picture? That bad boy made me question why I hadn't heard of this joint. Patty looked hand-formed, bun looked fresh-baked. Check out the website! Looks phenomenal! But then go order one. It is standard bar fare. Made me sad. It is definitely not a hand-formed patty. Definitely standard frozen stuff. Fries weren't spectacular. Just not what I had hoped for. Aspiring restaurateurs in Rockford! Your food has to be up to par if you are going to market it as such. Otherwise you are going to have the exact opposite effect that you are hoping to achieve. Suffice it to say this is a nice little bar. But I am not a bar person. So that means little to me. Upscale the burgers a bit. Rockford has Culvers and Five Guys- outside of that I haven't found a great burger joint around here (and that includes Red Robin. Overrated). A locally owned joint that owns the burger scene would be awesome. I want one so bad. This place isn't it. Too bad too, because the location and service are great.
(2)
Dan E.
Cool hometown owner with a ton of stories and experiences. Good American pub food, locally owned in revived downtown Rockford. Stop going to the East-side chains and spend your money downtown.
(5)
Marisa V.
I love this place because, its close to my work and we need great places near my work. :) Today, met a couple of girls for appetizers, wine after work. We had the spinach and artichoke dip(excellent), jumbo lump crab cake (awesome) and the chicken satay (yummy). We had our wine and we were happy. I'd go back, staff was really friendly, owner's mom was there and she made sure we were all happy.
(5)
Holly G.
This is a really great restaurant! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and pretty good food. There's a lot of options in downtown Rockford, and this is definitely one of my favorites. It's a fairly small restaurant but we had no problem finding a table on a Friday night. As a previous reviewer said, the Angry Orchard Cider beer is great, I wish I could've had more! We had the fried pickles as an appetizer and they were mediocre. But I had the turkey burger as my entree and it was great, very flavorful and moist. My brother reported the same with his regular burger. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again though, and I can't wait to try more of their menu options!
(4)
Ruth C.
The service was great but if you order anything other then bar food you are going to be disappointed. My mothers rare steak came out refrigerator cold and I made the mistake of ordering the macaroni and cheese it was sour and the noodles were vastly overcooked.
(3)
Bill S.
This place is great. I've only been three times and three times I've had a great experience. I highly recommend the 50/50 burger.
(5)
Becky H.
I love this restaurant! The waitstaff is friendly and does there best to take care of you. Megan is the best! She is always so wonderful! The french fries are to DIE FOR! One of the only places I have ever seen the owner jump in and wait tables when they were busy. Thank you for making us visit downtown more often!
Was in from out of town. Yelp told us that Vintage was nearby and had food and beer. Very pleasantly surprised. Good food and beer. Really comfortable space. Nice owner. This is exactly what Rockford needs. Give them a try!
(5)
Terri M.
I've dined here twice now - once for lunch and once for dinner. The food is stellar. Best steak I've had in years - perfectly cooked. Love the comfortable, everyone-is-welcome atmosphere. Both times the owner checked in to ensure that we were happy. A great addition to downtown Rockford!
(5)
Amy D.
My husband and I went today for a "quick" lunch and saw online that they have an express menu. To start, my husband ordered the Cheddar Ale soup and after 15 minutes it came out and it looked like orange water with parsley on top. The taste was awful and we each only had one bite. Then after about 25 minutes our lunch came out and it was just ok...nothing special. I ordered the Pub Burger with cheese and it was VERY greasy and the fries were over cooked and brown. My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and he said it was just alright...nothing special. We probably will not return after todays experience.
(2)
Alejandro G.
Okay, so I almost gave these guys a break, but further thought says Rockford can do better than this. Food: Like a prior review indicated, the menu is overkill for this day and age. They need to focus on a few items, done well. Speaking of done well, the beef filet sliders were way over done, not to mention poor quality (the owner basically stated quality is compromised due to the price point). I get it, but no one wants a poor quality steak sandwich. I'd rather settle for an equally priced and much tastier waygu beef burger. Drink: Schooner what? I don't see what's American vintage about a schooner glass, it's an oversized glass designed for German wheat beer. Why not use the classic and more manageable beer mug? Even pint glasses are more appropriate. Lastly, the owner attempted to debate that a 6 oz. rocks glass can hold the same amount of liquid as a 10 oz. rocks glass. Last I checked, 10 oz. - 6 oz. = 4 oz extra. I applaud the young, entrepreneurial spirit of the young lad, but he's not going anywhere without quality food, honest business conduct, and a working website. So if you're passing by, I recommend you SAIL!
(1)
Alison L.
Love this restaraunt/bar!!! Quick and delicious at lunch!! My favorite menu item is the Ahi Tuna sliders!!! Yummy! Service has been great!! Experienced a time there when I had a group of 15 during a big downtown event and not one person had a complaint everyone was actually very impressed with the restaurant that was chosen and the service for as busy as they were!! Thank you Vinage @ 501!!
(5)
Shauna L.
Come here for lunch a lot and we love it. Usually get the pub burger and sweet potato fries because it's so good. We get the kids Mac n cheese for my daughter and that is very tasty as well!
(4)
Craig S.
First of all, it's name is Vintage@501, not Vintage 502..:) I have been there 3 times since it opened last Wednesday (their grand opening). They had only been open a couple hours when I stopped in for a bite before work. I had the Vintage burger w/ fries (1/3 lb. and not greasy). It was cooked correctly (medium well) and very tasty! Fries were very good and not too salty, too. My wife and I went Sunday afternoon before The IceHogs game. I decided to try one of the seafood entrees-there is a handful of different fish entrees (salmon, tuna, tilapia, and mahi mahi) that I was told will change regularly. I tried the salmon entree which was covered in a wonderful sauce and cooked perfectly. The salmon was on top of a bed of rice and fresh spinach leaves. It was so tasty I actually went back yesterday for more! My wife had the Vintage burger and unfortunately had problems with how it was cooked. No need to go into details because to err is human-it happens in EVERY restaurant from time to time...not a deal breaker for a nice new establishment. The atmosphere is nice and bright. White tiles and a nice selection of vintage Americana adorn the walls. Glad they didn't overdo it with the wall hangings (like chain restaurants do.), too. The wait staff was very pleasant and attentive. The owner (Matt) is very attentive with every customer ordering food, which shows he really cares about it's start up reputation. He handled our small problem with the burger professionally. We like to support local businesses (especially restaurants) and it's easy to say we will definitely be regular customers here if the food stays at such a high level! Good job! One last note: We have recommended this restaurant to a few friends already and they have both been very happy with it, too....
(5)
Royce E.
First off, the place looks great. They did a great job with the decor with Vintage. It's truly unlike any other place in Rockford. I had the Filet Sliders (which comes w/3) which were incredible. They were cooked to perfection with a dab of horseradish sauce. The meat was very tender and flavorful, even the buns tasted great. I also ordered a side of fries, which was a mistake on my part, not because they weren't great, but because I ended up with too much food and had to bring a lot of it home. The fries are cut there on premises and I thought they tasted great and weren't greasy like a lot of places have. They have a good sized menu so I can't imagine there not being something for everyone on there, and I am definitely going back to try some of them. The service was great. Our server was very efficient and friendly without hovering and the owner even thanked us for coming in and invited us back. It's nice to have an owner who appreciates business and let's his guests know it. That right there means a lot to me.
(4)
Don V.
The rock valley ski assoc had a social gathering at vintage last night and it was the first time many of us in attendance ate here.the food was great and the service was awesome! Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Rebecca M.
We went there for appetizers and the food was really good. We started with the salmon and it was so good we ordered another. We also had the filet sliders and the chicken satay. Decor is nice and a big upgrade from before they opened. I will definitely be back to visit and try some new items!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Hannah A.
My friend and I went to Vintage for a mid afternoon appetizer after reading a few good reviews on yelp. The place was completely empty. I'm pretty sure the bartender/server hated life as he never smiled and stiffly interacted with us. We ordered the fried pickles which were pretty yummy. We also had the pasta salad that was on the specials list. I'm sure I could not make a worse pasta salad of I tried. The noodles were dry and hard, there were very dry/old looking cubes up chicken, and it was smothered in ranch dressing. So gross.
(2)Gaia B.
I had dinner at Vintage@51 with my family. I was with my Husband, my mom and my step-dad and we were looking for some real american restaurant where eat a good hamburger. We we arrived nobody was in there( as restaurants nearby were full of people) but the environment was nice, so we decided to give them a shot. The waitress was nice and the appetizer, we shared a portion of onion loaf, was really good and abundant. So we are all excited to try the main course. My husband and my step-dad ordered the special burger, my mom a caprese and I ordered a veggie burger. After the first bite we were all disappointed. my husband burger was totally unsalty and flavorless. All our breads were old, hard ,and cold and my size of sweet potatoes ( I payed 1 dollar more for having them ) was almost inexistent. After that we ordered two dessert to share. The special dessert, an apple pie, and a double chocolate cake. Both of them were cold and they tasted as a supermarket cake. We had a pretty bad experience in this restaurant and I feel sorry because the spot is really nice and the staff polite.
(2)Angela M.
Great atmosphere. Food was delicious and the drinks were trendy. Great waitstaff too!
(5)Holly E.
I love coming to Vintage when I'm in the downtown area! Super unique and welcoming, and the food is amazing. One of my favorites :)
(5)Callie K.
My husband and I always walk by this place but never want to go in for dinner because it's really more like a bar than a dinner venue (loud bar music playing, crowded tables, people standing outside smoking). But we wanted to try their food so we got take out. We ordered the farmers green salad -- pretty good, but I did not like the dressing. Almond crusted tilapia--fish and rice were moist but bland, green beans were really tasty. We also got the veggie flatbread with cheese--a little spicy, but lots of veggies. All in all, the food was ok but not great. The atmosphere is ok if you want to go out for drinks, but not if you're interested in having a nice sit down meal where you can easily chat with your table mates. Portions were pretty good for the price.
(3)Jenae G.
Such a cool - relaxing place to be! To my great surprise they offer a variety of Gluten Free options which made my taste buds very happy! Great for a quick meet-up with friends after a long day or for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking. The menu incorporates some classic dishes (like the burger) with those for a more advanced pallet ( like out-of-this-world hummus w/GF pita). This is truly a place where everyone will know your name.... Cheers #Fun&Food #HappyTasteBuds
(4)Cory N.
Went back for lunch today. Free bacon Sunday! That should be enough said, but again the service was good, food awesome, atmosphere pleasant, and its a place downtown on Sundays and welcoming of kiddos. Quickly becoming a local favorite. We frequent this place, as my review would suggest. However, the last two visits have been subpar. They're seem to have menu items they can't provide (kids hot dog, chocolate milk, and adult float flights). This doesn't even account for the draught list that includes 4 of 9 seasonal selections the staff doesn't know and replacements they don't mention. Get it together, buy a sharpie, and reprint when necessary. Only costs them a start because I expect a return to their excellence soon.
(4)D L.
There are certain things you just HAVE to order at Vintage. First, your beer in a schooner. Which is their 3 pound goblet of beer of your choice on tap. It's stays cold till the end which is amazing. Who like warm beer? For food I've never gone wrong with the classic BLT. Who knew something so simple could be so delicious!? Also the 50/50 burger, wedge salad, sweet potato fries and fried pickles. If you want good American food and a great spot downtown to watch the game this is your place.
(5)Brad S.
Had a great time with friends last night. Ordered the bacon appetizer, and the 50-50 Burger. Delish. The bacon was sweet and spicy, pepper and brown sugar. The burger was great with a fried egg. My only complaint is that the 10oz beer seemed more like a 6 oz pilsner glass. Everything else was great.
(4)Andrea E.
Friendly wait staff, delicious food, and fun atmosphere. The Godfather meatball sandwich is a must have along with the hand cut fries.
(5)Alyssa T.
I would give it 5 stars but I ordered a bacon salad and it came out with no bacon... What???! Other than that, fantastic beer served up in an ice-cold chalice & the staff has always been very friendly and on top of their game... Can't complain about that!
(4)Brooke Z.
I've never had a bad experience at Vintage. Great beer selection and awesome food! Had the bacon last time and have been craving it ever since! We sat at the bar last time and really enjoyed talking with the bartender. Great place to add to the downtown experience!
(5)Daniella D.
Nothing to rave about in my opinion. Standard pub grub. Standard service. Not a fan of the atmosphere. I wouldn't purposely choose to come back but if friends were here I would meet them.
(2)Ben W.
THe 50/50 burger is amazing. taco tuesday is also a huge success. go on a blackhawks game and usually there is a crowd!
(5)Nikki T.
I Love Vintage@501 I've been to vintage for everything for lunches, meetings, quick appetizers, dinner, and after work celebrations. Their drinks are very reasonably priced. I usually get a schooner of cider or if I'm feeling sweeter I'll go for a pop rock martini or other flavor.. The martinis are all delicious. But they have a pretty good selection of beers as well. For food I've had: Wedge salad - delicious and cut into separate sections so it's much easier to cut and eat then what I was used to at other places Million dollar bacon- delicious. I don't normally eat this kind of thing but it's definitely with a try Soups- the cheddar ale and broccoli cheese are amazing. After work I tend to go for just a soup and cider The wraps are yummy- I haven't had one I didn't like yet Hummus and sides are nice on a lighter food kind of night- the hummus is served with pita bread pieces and fresh veggies Pulled pork sliders were okay- but I'm not a big pork person so I'm a bit biased on that one Hand cut fries are freshly cut and fried and you can definitely taste the difference. But the fried pickles here are definitely my absolute favorite. They are pickle spears lightly fried and seasoned perfectly. I order fried pickles everywhere and so far these are always my favorite. Service is great too. The owner and staff are all very friendly and attentive which is usually a reason to go back over and over again :)
(5)Dv V.
The laid back, chill place..that being said..I like it. I haven't tried many of their dishes and the one I had was average, I wasn't crazy about it. In my opinion I'd recommend it mostly as a place to have a drink and chill
(3)Cole D.
The food here is fucking fabulous. End of story. I like the grilled boneless half chicken. Comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus and it's just awesome. Only downsides are that for the price I would expect larger portions. If you eat like a normal person, portions are be fine. If you eat like you mean it, Order extra sides or an appetizer.
(5)JJ N.
So far so good...20mon wait for a party of 10 on a Friday night at 7:30, not bad. Decor is not bad, the "vintage" Harley is a very nice touch. Drink selections are also good, several choices for win end mixed drinks that are certainly unique. Appetizers, artichoke dip and fried pickles, both very very good, but would have to tip the hat to the dip. Very well made with a good blend of flavored that just melt in your mouth. Flat breads, burgers and tilapia...all good! No complaints from any in our group. Firehouse burger was good, could have a bit more kick, but still tasty. The 50/50 burger was tempting but no one could take the leap. It does get packed which slows the service so be prepared for this on a Friday night.
(4)Bella H.
Nice place. Cute record menus. Kinda pricey. Good beer choices. Good service. Love the atmosphere.
(5)Kris L.
Ok, not gonna lie - I know nothing about Rockford... we were just driving through on our way back home to Chicago from Galena and needing something to eat. The main street was completely barren and looked like a ghost town - i don't know if it's always like that or what, but we pretty much chose to go to Vintage because it was the only place open! Anyway, I am soooo glad we did! We were a little nervous to go in at first because we felt out of place, but that soon changed when we were greeted by the friendliest waitress ever! she was so nice and even helped to make suggestions on drinks and food. Speaking of, both the drinks and food were delicious!!! I tried the Pineapple Mango martini and pretty much chugged it down like it was water. The sweet potato fries were some of the best I ever had, and my husband and friend who were with me loved the flatbread pizza they ordered. I honestly don't know if I'll ever be in the area again, but if I am, I will definitely make Vintage my lunch/dinner stop!
(4)Megan M.
We stopped in for dinner on a Thursday evening, and it was completely dead. The bartender barely acknowledged us, and the server was acceptable - not terribly quick or attentive considering there was maybe 1 or 2 other couples in the restaurant. Other than service, I have only good things to say. The burgers my husband and I had were delicious (although I ordered it medium rare and it was a solid medium - no pink at all). We came in after having their fries at Screw City Beer fest and other local festivals. They are amazing - fresh, salty, homemade, that little bit of greasy goodness. We had a chocolate creme brulee that was rich and yummy. Dropped to 3 stars due to service being only okay - otherwise a solid 4 on food.
(3)Kirsten R.
I can't say enough about how much I love this place. After moving back to Rockford from Chicago after 13 years I was looking for a place to feel comfortable at while cocktailing and eating. I found just what I was looking for when I discovered Vintage@501. Great staff, great food and great atmosphere. I highly recommend it.
(5)Brandon F.
I love to go for what they do well this place is clean, nice, and priced nearly the same as any chain restaurant on state. This place isn't a social or an Abreo and does not strive to be those places which are wonderful but in a whole other price point then Vintage 501. This place is an extremely great value for the quality of the food with great cocktails and really a cool atmosphere. This place has a menu that really could make any group of people extremely happy. Their pork chop is the best in the city it comes with an amazing fig sauce very thick large bone in cut and they do amazing burgers. Anybody that reviewed that said they used frozen patties because they are uniform it is obvious they have a burger press to form the burger. They have have a great wine list and make some tasty martinis and Wednesday's it's half priced wine.
(5)Lindsey G.
Vintage has great food. Everything we have had (burgers, pizza, beef) has been great. A couple times we have been it has been terribly busy and slow service. We have also heard some complaints on empty Draft beer kegs, though that doesn't bother me. If we are downtown and Social or Abreo has too long of a wait, we end up here or Capri.
(4)James R.
My wife and I decided to go to Vintage@501 for lunch. The restaurant itself is nice. It's not as large as I thought it would be, but it's a good size. There is a bar area, and a dining area separated by a half wall with a motorcycle on it. There is also a smaller back area with another, smaller bar and a couple of tables. The décor was done tasteful. They have some older signs on the wall, but it wasn't so busy as to be tacky. The tables were a little crowded. Were we were seated at the staff had to squeeze between us and the walls in order to deliver food or take orders. Overall everything was clean and in good shape. We walked in and sat ourselves per the sign. The waitress was on it. We were still settling in when she was asking us what we wanted to drink. I ordered one of their "Famous Frozen Schooners" according to the radio commercials at least. It's a 22 ounce goblet of beer (see photo) I'm not really a fan of frozen glassware for beer, but that's the beer snob in me. I ordered the Firehouse burger and a cup of the Cheddar Ale Soup. My wife had the Vintage Mac and Cheese. The soup came first and was very delicious. It was thinner than I would expect. Normally a cheese soup is thick, this was more watery. It still tasted good. The firehouse burger was amazing; A half-pound patty with pepper jack cheese, Jalapenos, avocado, onions, tomato and lettuce. It was amazing. They used fresh jalapenos, not pickled like most places. They were fresh and crispy when I would bite into them. I loved it. Great flavor and it was cooked to perfection. I couldn't help but rave to my wave about how much I enjoyed it while eating it. The best part, for every burger ordered Vintage donates $1 to a fire fighting charity. My wife liked her Mac and Cheese. She thought it was very delicious. She let me try a bite and I enjoyed it as well. They have an okay beer selection. Some craft beers, some imports, some Major brands. So you do have a choice. They also have Gluten Free beer and food for those that need that. The only complaint I have is that it's loud. Not the sound over the speakers, but just the ambient din of people talking. It made it hard to have a conversation with my wife. Overall I was impressed with Vintage@501 and look forward to my next visit.
(4)Meg N.
Ordered the burger and fries having known that Vintage is known for their burgers and I wasn't disappointed. However the place seemed very cramped. We had three people, sat in one of the half circle booths and the actual table was meant for two. It also took them forever to being out our food. Makes me wonder how express lunch is possible. Will possibly return if I'm on that side of town but overall I'm very disappointed in food quality in downtown Rockford and this makes me remember why I avoid eating in this area
(3)Angie M.
I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the negative reviews, this place was great! Neat atmosphere, good service, and yummy food. I had the chipotle chicken wrap, husband had the double decker grilled cheese, and daughter had the buffalo chicken sandwich (she said it was the best sandwich she ever had!). We all enjoyed our meals. And the fries are fresh and hand-cut, so good. Added bonus, Sundays are free bacon days, good idea to sell more beer, other bar and grills take note! Also a great place to watch the games on tv, and Icehogs arena is just around the corner - it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat nearby that was open before a 4pm game. Vintage@501 has been added to my GPS' favorite places.
(5)Katie H.
NEVER GO HERE! We waited over 50 minutes for burgers and wraps, and there was barely anyone in there at lunchtime. The server checked on us once, and whenever we tried to get her attention bc the food was taking so long she avoided eye contact with us. We were starving by the time the food came, so we ate what little bit of food was given. I ordered the 50/50, which is supposed to be half hamburger and half bacon, but if there was any bacon, i didn't see or taste it. I tried the sweet potato fries, which were good, but I was so hungry that I ignored the fact that they were way over cooked. One of the people that I was with ordered their grilled cheese, and the cheese wasn't even melted! For the time that we waited, you think that they could get a grilled cheese right. Needless to say, it was a VERY disappointing experience.
(1)Erin W.
Potential is there. Vintage pub burger - pre made frozen patty with zero flavor. Paper thin onion and tomato. Bun awesome, to good for this burger. Burger gets 2 stars. Fries - fresh cut, awesome. Most of them burned and started curling, not awesome. Atmosphere- not bad, cool idea. Wish there was a little more lighting for day time but just being picky. Lots of tvs, lots of seating, great music, nice server. Wish they had a little more variety of beer. Modelo- flat, very very flat. And old. Kinda gross. Pricing- ok but that burger was not 8.50 Like I said, has potential. Maybe the other food is good.
(2)Tomasz I.
Awesome! I came in on a Monday and had one of their beer and food specials! The beer comes in a frosted glass. Which made the beer taste excellent. The right amount of beer in a glass and the special price was only $4 for a premium beer! Had the steak burger! Better than most burgers I have had. Bun was fresh and soft, topping and sauce were the right amount. Fresh cut home made fries, come on. Places don't even take the time or effort to do this. Awesome fries! Everything about my experience was great! But I won't forget the server either. Friendly and always asking if I needed anything else. If I lived in the area I would be here all the time.
(5)Margie L.
When I want a great burger, Vintage is my new go-to. I'm in love with their fries as well! I'm not a big fan of the atmosphere, but the food is more important to me. Never had any complaints about food or service, so I'll continue to patronize the joint!
(4)Tod T.
First time visit and would return. One of the servers it was her first night and did fine with her trainer following behind to make sure things were okay. The wings are some of the best that have ever past my lips.
(4)Michael H.
I have gone back many times since and I am completely in love with this place. Great beer (try the Angry Orchard Cider!) and since my first visit I have tried something new everytime I have gone. It just keeps getting better. Without a doubt one of my favorite places to eat in Rockford. Service is fantastic, everyone is attentive and the food is always out quickly. The owner always comes by to check and us and see how things are. I would say the only very small issue is that there is only a one person bathroom per sex which if the place gets busy can start to develop a line. Very very small issue it isn't enough to have me stop going or recommending the place to all of my friends.
(5)Brian C.
I am intrigued by what Vintage @ 501 could (should?) be. But ultimately disappointed in what it is. The website showed an awesome burger. The style of the decor seemed catchy and cool. Great location. Great staff. Our waitress was so attentive and the owner stopped by to check on everything. All great things! The burger in the website picture? That bad boy made me question why I hadn't heard of this joint. Patty looked hand-formed, bun looked fresh-baked. Check out the website! Looks phenomenal! But then go order one. It is standard bar fare. Made me sad. It is definitely not a hand-formed patty. Definitely standard frozen stuff. Fries weren't spectacular. Just not what I had hoped for. Aspiring restaurateurs in Rockford! Your food has to be up to par if you are going to market it as such. Otherwise you are going to have the exact opposite effect that you are hoping to achieve. Suffice it to say this is a nice little bar. But I am not a bar person. So that means little to me. Upscale the burgers a bit. Rockford has Culvers and Five Guys- outside of that I haven't found a great burger joint around here (and that includes Red Robin. Overrated). A locally owned joint that owns the burger scene would be awesome. I want one so bad. This place isn't it. Too bad too, because the location and service are great.
(2)Dan E.
Cool hometown owner with a ton of stories and experiences. Good American pub food, locally owned in revived downtown Rockford. Stop going to the East-side chains and spend your money downtown.
(5)Marisa V.
I love this place because, its close to my work and we need great places near my work. :) Today, met a couple of girls for appetizers, wine after work. We had the spinach and artichoke dip(excellent), jumbo lump crab cake (awesome) and the chicken satay (yummy). We had our wine and we were happy. I'd go back, staff was really friendly, owner's mom was there and she made sure we were all happy.
(5)Holly G.
This is a really great restaurant! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and pretty good food. There's a lot of options in downtown Rockford, and this is definitely one of my favorites. It's a fairly small restaurant but we had no problem finding a table on a Friday night. As a previous reviewer said, the Angry Orchard Cider beer is great, I wish I could've had more! We had the fried pickles as an appetizer and they were mediocre. But I had the turkey burger as my entree and it was great, very flavorful and moist. My brother reported the same with his regular burger. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again though, and I can't wait to try more of their menu options!
(4)Ruth C.
The service was great but if you order anything other then bar food you are going to be disappointed. My mothers rare steak came out refrigerator cold and I made the mistake of ordering the macaroni and cheese it was sour and the noodles were vastly overcooked.
(3)Bill S.
This place is great. I've only been three times and three times I've had a great experience. I highly recommend the 50/50 burger.
(5)Becky H.
I love this restaurant! The waitstaff is friendly and does there best to take care of you. Megan is the best! She is always so wonderful! The french fries are to DIE FOR! One of the only places I have ever seen the owner jump in and wait tables when they were busy. Thank you for making us visit downtown more often!
(5)Sarah B.
Though the décor was nice, the service was just average my food was a major disappointment. I ordered the turkey burger with fries. Sadly, my burger was extremely dry and bland, and the fries were limp and greasy. Though the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, I wouldn't come here if I was actually hungry.
(2)Ladybird G.
Was in from out of town. Yelp told us that Vintage was nearby and had food and beer. Very pleasantly surprised. Good food and beer. Really comfortable space. Nice owner. This is exactly what Rockford needs. Give them a try!
(5)Terri M.
I've dined here twice now - once for lunch and once for dinner. The food is stellar. Best steak I've had in years - perfectly cooked. Love the comfortable, everyone-is-welcome atmosphere. Both times the owner checked in to ensure that we were happy. A great addition to downtown Rockford!
(5)Amy D.
My husband and I went today for a "quick" lunch and saw online that they have an express menu. To start, my husband ordered the Cheddar Ale soup and after 15 minutes it came out and it looked like orange water with parsley on top. The taste was awful and we each only had one bite. Then after about 25 minutes our lunch came out and it was just ok...nothing special. I ordered the Pub Burger with cheese and it was VERY greasy and the fries were over cooked and brown. My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and he said it was just alright...nothing special. We probably will not return after todays experience.
(2)Alejandro G.
Okay, so I almost gave these guys a break, but further thought says Rockford can do better than this. Food: Like a prior review indicated, the menu is overkill for this day and age. They need to focus on a few items, done well. Speaking of done well, the beef filet sliders were way over done, not to mention poor quality (the owner basically stated quality is compromised due to the price point). I get it, but no one wants a poor quality steak sandwich. I'd rather settle for an equally priced and much tastier waygu beef burger. Drink: Schooner what? I don't see what's American vintage about a schooner glass, it's an oversized glass designed for German wheat beer. Why not use the classic and more manageable beer mug? Even pint glasses are more appropriate. Lastly, the owner attempted to debate that a 6 oz. rocks glass can hold the same amount of liquid as a 10 oz. rocks glass. Last I checked, 10 oz. - 6 oz. = 4 oz extra. I applaud the young, entrepreneurial spirit of the young lad, but he's not going anywhere without quality food, honest business conduct, and a working website. So if you're passing by, I recommend you SAIL!
(1)Alison L.
Love this restaraunt/bar!!! Quick and delicious at lunch!! My favorite menu item is the Ahi Tuna sliders!!! Yummy! Service has been great!! Experienced a time there when I had a group of 15 during a big downtown event and not one person had a complaint everyone was actually very impressed with the restaurant that was chosen and the service for as busy as they were!! Thank you Vinage @ 501!!
(5)Shauna L.
Come here for lunch a lot and we love it. Usually get the pub burger and sweet potato fries because it's so good. We get the kids Mac n cheese for my daughter and that is very tasty as well!
(4)Craig S.
First of all, it's name is Vintage@501, not Vintage 502..:) I have been there 3 times since it opened last Wednesday (their grand opening). They had only been open a couple hours when I stopped in for a bite before work. I had the Vintage burger w/ fries (1/3 lb. and not greasy). It was cooked correctly (medium well) and very tasty! Fries were very good and not too salty, too. My wife and I went Sunday afternoon before The IceHogs game. I decided to try one of the seafood entrees-there is a handful of different fish entrees (salmon, tuna, tilapia, and mahi mahi) that I was told will change regularly. I tried the salmon entree which was covered in a wonderful sauce and cooked perfectly. The salmon was on top of a bed of rice and fresh spinach leaves. It was so tasty I actually went back yesterday for more! My wife had the Vintage burger and unfortunately had problems with how it was cooked. No need to go into details because to err is human-it happens in EVERY restaurant from time to time...not a deal breaker for a nice new establishment. The atmosphere is nice and bright. White tiles and a nice selection of vintage Americana adorn the walls. Glad they didn't overdo it with the wall hangings (like chain restaurants do.), too. The wait staff was very pleasant and attentive. The owner (Matt) is very attentive with every customer ordering food, which shows he really cares about it's start up reputation. He handled our small problem with the burger professionally. We like to support local businesses (especially restaurants) and it's easy to say we will definitely be regular customers here if the food stays at such a high level! Good job! One last note: We have recommended this restaurant to a few friends already and they have both been very happy with it, too....
(5)Royce E.
First off, the place looks great. They did a great job with the decor with Vintage. It's truly unlike any other place in Rockford. I had the Filet Sliders (which comes w/3) which were incredible. They were cooked to perfection with a dab of horseradish sauce. The meat was very tender and flavorful, even the buns tasted great. I also ordered a side of fries, which was a mistake on my part, not because they weren't great, but because I ended up with too much food and had to bring a lot of it home. The fries are cut there on premises and I thought they tasted great and weren't greasy like a lot of places have. They have a good sized menu so I can't imagine there not being something for everyone on there, and I am definitely going back to try some of them. The service was great. Our server was very efficient and friendly without hovering and the owner even thanked us for coming in and invited us back. It's nice to have an owner who appreciates business and let's his guests know it. That right there means a lot to me.
(4)Don V.
The rock valley ski assoc had a social gathering at vintage last night and it was the first time many of us in attendance ate here.the food was great and the service was awesome! Highly recommend this place.
(5)Rebecca M.
We went there for appetizers and the food was really good. We started with the salmon and it was so good we ordered another. We also had the filet sliders and the chicken satay. Decor is nice and a big upgrade from before they opened. I will definitely be back to visit and try some new items!
(5)