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If you live in Kendall County or the surrounding area and haven't eaten at the Bristol Tap, be prepared to hear the following from someone who's lived in the area for a while, in an incredulous tone: "Wait, you've never been to the Bristol Tap?"
Having a large, juicy cheeseburger at the Tap (as some locals tend to call it) is sort of a rite of passage for those living in the area. The Tap moved to its current location in the late 1990s, and prior to that was in a smaller location for many years on the other side of the railroad tracks in the tiny town of Bristol.
The Tap has found itself on many a list for the best burger in the area, and even after many a competitor has moved into Kendall County, it still holds up as a great burger.
The Bristol Tap is a no-nonsense bar. They don't take credit or debit cards – it's cash only. And no young children or babies are allowed in the bar – it says so right on a sign taped to the door.
And its food is as no-nonsense as its rules and its decor – a visitor may feel like they've stepped back in time or have made a visit to the North Woods when they step inside. They don't ask you how you like your burger cooked here – you just order it and it's cooked to perfection. They do have a menu featuring a variety of items, such as brat burgers, grilled chicken and liverwurst sandwiches, but the Mystery Diner has only ever ordered a cheeseburger at the Tap.
Complimentary popcorn is available while you wait for your food and sip on a cold beer or pop and watch golf on TV, which is what the Mystery Diner did when he stopped by the Tap on a recent afternoon.
When the burger arrived, it was unsurprisingly cooked perfectly, sitting atop a fresh bun and adorned with the fixins' – onion, lettuce and tomato. There are no fries at the Tap, just chips. The beefy taste of the burger was incredible. The Mystery Diner is not sure what the Tap's secret is to making burgers, but he doesn't care as long as they keep on making them.
• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Record Newspapers. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a restaurant and then reports on the experience. The Mystery Diner is not intended to be a restaurant critic but does highlight the parts of a dining experience that he/she can recommend.
If you go
What: Bristol Tap
Where: 46 Cannonball Trail, Bristol
Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Information: Call 630-553-6229