James Ballentine “Uptown” VFW Post 246

Good place over all, parking is free if you do the QR code so that's cool..even tho it doesn't say it in the parking lot. I often enjoy my nights at the VFW especially the fact that the staff and bartenders are always upbeat, helpful with vibrant personalities. Tuesday nights are definitely a Vibe 🔥.Coupled with my favorite bartender Erica, the night never seems to disappoint.

Every Wednesday at 9pm this VFW hosts “Transmission,” an 80s/90s dance night focused on new wave, alternative and early-days MTV video staples (i.e., Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Madonna). Local DJ Jake Rudh does a great job of playing the favorites for the majority, but also mixes in a few rarer tracks for the music heads (Ministry’s “Halloween”, Tears for Fears “Change”). As a former club DJ, I can appreciate technical mixing skill, but that’s not the focus here, as Jake segues the (mostly music videos) together, with the occasional microphone announcement. The crowd is a chill, generational mix: 40 and 50 somethings singing along with the lyrics, as well as a decent number of younger partiers especially as the evening progresses. All in all, a fun night out with your friends or solo.

Pretty sweet place but not budget friendly!!! I had an NA beer and it was almost $8 before tip!!! OMG after tip, an NA beer will be $10. Pretty cool place but just know you might get stiffed for a drink.

So ….. I drove 23 hours to come see a friend sing karaoke , get away from my job as a corrections officer and fellow security guard supervisor . I figured as a veteran I could go somewhere to support . The vfws in Rhode Island , Louisiana and Texas are awesome so I didn’t expect anything less here. Unfortunately I vaped once and put the vape down when I was told there was no vaping allowed in the facility . I totally understood. My vape was immediately taken by the bouncer with the dreads. I asked for it back before singing my second song . Then the bartender kicked me and my best friend out by walking up to the dj telling her that I wasn’t allowed to sing . I stood my ground asking for my vape back because I listened and did nothing wrong. Honestly IDC….we left. We felt burdened asking the bartenders for drinks anyway. It was unwelcoming to begin with but we dealt with it until this happened .it was super simple to just give me a warning and move on. No need to take the vape away from me. It’s not like I was still doing it. Such a turn off for our first night here in Minnesota.

Good dancing, fun karaoke, and the cleanest bathrooms on Lynlake. Plus free parking!! Love it here.

$10 was added to my bill for ice in 4 drinks. Are you effing kidding me charging for ice? And without telling us?! I used to love this place and now I'm so done.

Impressed after my first visit and second and third. You might not expect such well-prepared and well-presented food from a VFW, which means you’ll be in for a surprise. The entrees here deliver a lot of flavor and bang for your buck. Unless you have a hard time leaving anything on your plate (like me), you’ll probably have enough for two meals. The chimichanga first sold me. It’s the size of your forearm and sits on a mountain of crispy potatoes. They have a good-sized menu with some nice salad options if you’re looking for something on the lighter side.

Aways a fun place. Drinks are reasonable. Atmosphere every adult !

H VFW PEEPS, I need to share with you how absolutely amazing my experience was tonight, July 6, 2024. Your bartender X has so much charisma and personality when TouchTunes was playing horrible CUNTry music, as well as horrible rock music, X made the ear bleed bearable. X, had a positive command with the other patrons at the bar, engaging and making everyone feel at ease. He is absolutely a positive addition to your bar staff. I thank you for someone who has stellar customer service skills. He needs to teach the others on how to make patrons feel special. You hired a gem!!!!

I've been to a few shows at this venue and always have a fun time as it's small enough to get close. They have a main VFW bar with lots of seating, free popcorn and pulltabs. You have to walk through this area to get to the music venue and they have an additional bar in there. The bartender was great and kept the beer flowing. I will keep coming back here for future shows.

Chef Hering is absolutely killin' it behind the helm of the new location opened by Chef Mik German tucked away inside the Uptown VFW-- and us foodies are Livin' for it. While this VFW location was previously more of a strictly drinking spot for most, and Uptown certainly isn't short of eateries -- lemme tell ya, if you're in the mood for juicy burgers, killer sandwiches, and serious starters then you won't find better in the area. So while you still won't find many better drinking spots in Uptown, make it your stop for dinner & lunch, weekend brunch, or grub for game day as well. And if game day grub is your jam, I have a couple recommendations. Two fave menu items: MN Poutine ~ crispy tots * Ellsworth cheese curds * chicken wild rice soup **when Chef Mik first dropped these off to me at the opening of 328 Grill he said "please enjoy the most Minnesotan thing you'll ever eat." He wasn't lying and they're fan-friggin-tastic! The hot wild rice soup not only doubles as the gravy, it just slightly melts the curds to the perfect gooey compliment to the crispy tots. Having this dish at two eateries is advantageous for us all.** Cheeseburger Totchos ~ crispy tots * cheeseburger * house made cheese whiz * house pickles * roasted tomatoes **you'll find this exclusively at 246 Grill and it may be one of the best bites you'll ever try. Rather than using ground beef they take a full medium burger patty complete with melted cheese and chop it up before topping the tots. It's a bar menu revelation**

My first ever visit to a VFW... was on Independence Day...4th of July! What could be a better place than to celebrate America's Birthday! My friends and I enjoyed very delicious food for a very low cost. And WOW they have free popcorn to enjoy with your food and drink! Played Video Trivia (free) and had a blast! The service was wonderful, too. Thank you for a 4th of July to remember! Oh... and they have complimentary parking! There is a ramp located behind the VFW. What a wonderful surprise, since the VFW is located in uptown. Thank you again!

Never been here and I never even noticed it, until yesterday. It was a special day because it was the grand opening of the kitchen since quarantine 2020. Local Chef Mik German, who I tend to follow around has created a new menu that will have me coming back for more. It even satisfies the neighborhood vegans, but I'm coming back for the meat. It's advent lent for the Orthodox Christians so it was the hummus flight. 3 flavors and my favorite was the olive. And they serve lots of pitted Greek olives with it. You dip it with hot pita chips, not bread and so much more satisfying. It looked so good that bartender, Frito ordered some for himself. Soups are from scratch and I got the mushroom. Please fill the cup like everyone else. It was missing 1/4. Especially one this good. I really didn't want to come across the river, but they lured me back in.

Large dancing floor for salsa events, medium room for karaoke in the back, medium bar area in the front, seating outside, parking challenging. Restrooms of acceptable size for size of venue. It was my first tune. Convenient location since it is in the middle of town and no need to travel out to other towns on sat night. Many dining venues in the area if you are coming only for salsa dancing.

Where do I begin? An Uptown staple! You will have a different experience every time you go to the VFW. Make sure to check out the big stage room for random events, djs, and obscure touring acts. Karaoke room is one of the best in the world I'm sure! Great host and quality equipment you literally will not find anywhere else. With inflation, drinks are at that 7-9 range and you have a place where anyone 21-101 feels comfortable. Some of the staff don't want to be there, but hey it's like living with some of your relatives.

Man...I really had been looking forward to visiting this place ever since I read some pre-opening newspaper hype. The idea of opening a somewhat upscale restaurant in tired space and contributing to the better future of an inner city VFW Post was attractive to be sure. So, when we were finally able to visit on a Sunday morning, my hopes were high. The off street parking is a big plus but the area is still fairly sketchy. Big applause to those who conceived and followed up on this great alternative to parking on Lyndale. Even on a gloomy Minneapolis winter day the front room/bar/tables are nice and bright thanks to the broad windows. BTW, the back room bar is much darker but both areas are clean. Was also impressed with the "Perfect 100" health score...congrats! Bear in mind, my visit took place on a late morning so we did not have the benefit of participating in karaoke or other fun stuff offered in PM hours. I had the Reuben Sandwich soup that arrived nice and hot after a bit of a wait but at the same time as my crispy chicken sandwich (with honey) and tots. The soup was tasty and interesting while the sandwich, along with the server recommended hot honey, was neither. The bright spot was the soft and fresh bun that would be a great complement to a variety of sandwiches. Service was so-so. We did get a "how does everything taste?" stop but that was it. A smile was hard to come by and she scooped up the check folder before we left the table...bad form. So, my rating for Post 246 as a spot for lunch is a "3" as service was only fair and the soup and a bun were high spots. I'll give it an after dark try sometime in an effort to understand the number of 4+ star ratings.

Tonight I went out for a Burlesque show. First time ever seeing one. Other than the movie with Christina Aguilera in it. Yes, I know it doesn't count. I arrived about 915. Show started at 9. It was in a large room with a stage. A lot of seating options available. Full bar. I believe there were 6 performers. A 15 minute break in between the two parts. Very friendly staff and attendants. There was a karaoke room with another full bar. As well as a full bar in more of a 'sports bar' section with the TVs and connected to the outside patio. I know I will come here again. It was that much fun! They have Ballentine's Burlesque last Thursday of the month. I didn't get any food, but for the few items I did see go out to patrons, it did all look yummy.

The service here was terrible to start. We waited awhile to be acknowledged and then we waited fo ever for our drink order even though it didn't seem that busy when we got here. She also didn't ask what kind of potatoes I wanted and then gave my girlfriend the wrong meal (which she later comped because it was wrong so big points on that). The screwdriver wasn't mixed up, the booze was on top and no straw with it so it was all vodka to start until I stirred it with my spoon. Mimosa was super strong which was good. Our waitress felt bad about things and comped is an entree which was a class move. The food itself was good. Country fried steak had a cumin gravy that was delicious and the hash browns had a good crust. The portions were massive. My girlfriend had the Ballentine Breakfast and the sausages were fat and delicious. All in all I'm giving it four stars and a promise to come back based on good food. Service was bad but acknowledged as bad by server and she made it right. Can't complain about that.

I asked for a song three times to be played and she promised I was next, played 8 more songs and never played ours. Went up again and asked, she lied again. Not a place I would ever tell someone to go to. Good vibes for a old person night out, not for a late night vibe. Go to up down.

A great place to kick back and suck down cheap pitchers of suds. The vibe is very laid back for uptown, and it's a relief. While the establishment does draw heavily upon the ironic hipster set, they are well-paired with the more salt of the earth customers who have been coming here for years. This place is definitely on the divey side, but it's a good kind of divey. Service is quick and earnest. The interior is spartan and a bit ragged, but they do have some extremely comfy booths where you can sink in and people watch.

I really only go out to look for good Karaoke bars. The Ballentine VFW is consistently one of the best Karaoke bars in the Twin Cities, if the THE best. When there's a ton of people there or not, the interaction with the DJ is excellent: polite and good natured. The sound is great. The Songbook Online system works well enough, and it allows you to put songs on the list without having to wait. You can put a whole bunch of songs on the list and allow the DJ to facilitate / plan out the set list. Definitely recommend going out with a bunch of friends, put all of your songs up there and allow the night play out. If going on a high volume day (Friday, Saturday around 11pm) be prepared to wait a while for your song to get on but it's still a great time singing to everyone else's set.

Terrible service (again). Waited 25 minutes to get waited on...waitress tells us she doesn't bother approaching people who got drinks at the bar...What? Why? We complain to the manager who says this is not policy ..but he does nothing. We leave to get food elsewhere and on the way out the waitress makes fun of us for complaining...Seriously? Will never go back. Lots of places nearby.

This VFW is fascinating because it stands as a giant middle finger to all the shiny new condos and developments in Uptown. They have built around it like the highway was built around Bugs Bunny's hole. The front bar is a hipper version of a VFW, shiny bar, new TVs, booths, etc. The back bar is the original version of itself - old school, roughed up by the years, pull tabs, etc. There is also a giant meeting room/event room for sports and gatherings. As others have mentioned, a very diverse mix of people getting their drink on for VFW prices.

This is an awesome bar to go to if you want to have a fun night out with friends. Keep that in mind, with friends. It gets kinda crazy on the weekends but in a good way. The crowd is always a good mix. They have three different areas to check out - the main bar, the karaoke room and bar, and then the dance floor with a small bar. I like this layout because it's nice to wander. You can choose the kind of thing you want to do, depending on how you're feeling. I have never ordered food here but the drinks are the usual. They have a parking lot behind the place but it does fill up fast, so parking can be tricky.

I'm torn between 3 or 4 stars.... I visited the VFW because of the karoke night. One of my gf's is in a national, Grammy Award-winning singing group based out of the Twin Cities, and one of the members wanted to celebrate their bday singing karoke at VFW. So we did! Upon entering, they guy at the door, security guy, was cool.. did his job and had a personality and not rude... we're starting off good. Joined the crew... our server was really awesome too. Attentive, fast, answered questions and split bills with no problem. Still doing great. The problem, for me, was when the karoke guy, had the volume turned down on the singers... before they started, one of the members had asked if he could turn the volume up and he just side-eyed him and played him off... that is ... until he heard her belt out her lines towards the end of her song. He apologized much later... but by then, everyone was slightly irritated and was ready to go. To be honest, most of the people who sang that night, were pretty good singers and the crew I was with was SOOOO GOOOD, if felt like a concert. LOLBVVS People were leaving one room, to come to our room to see what was going on. This place has a music venue, like a club or small concert space in one room, and two rooms with serve drinks and food. The music venue room also has a bar. Parking can be a problem, trying to park on Lyndale Avenue So, but there is a parking ramp BEHIND the VFW on Aldrich. You're welcome.

Pretty much what you would expect from a VFW - good drink deals, interesting bunch of folks, and often moody bartenders. They've got pull tabs in the corner and 3 different rooms - one of which has karaoke and the other turns into a club (from what I can remember) late in the night. I've never had a bad time here, and it's in an easy location to pop in for a drink or two and some gambling.

The Service is a joke (unless you like to wait). The bartenders seem to be overwhelmed and unorganized. However, it might be unreasonable on my behalf to compare this place to other ordinary taverns. This place isn't average, it doesn't quite hit that level yet but, with a few changes, they could become a fine average bar in the future (maybe). Make sure you are tipsy when you enter, that will help you enter into a multiverse in which this place is a fine bar with an inviting atmosphere and a good service. In that multiverse I am sure I will keep coming back here. Lol

Free wings on Sunday during the vikings games. Need I say more???? Ok well the bartender in the back room was awesome. He served up sodas with a smile and made this Packer fan feel pretty welcome, even as I prayed for the vikings to lose. Lots of loud and exuberant fans (though none as nearly crazy excited as the packer fans next door). Lots of televisions and a huge projector big screen in the back. The wings were pretty dang tasty. I don't normally like bone in wings but I liked the little "drummys". They had buffalo sauce, BBQ and blue cheese dressing in bowls for slathering on your wings. I would come here and get those wings even if I had to pay for them, they were that good. This might be a good Sunday afternoon tradition for me and my guy when the Vikes play..... eating good wings makes up for having to watch the purple and gold. Oh, and in a place where parking is at a premium, they have a private parking lot in the back. Score on convenience!

We were going to a 9 PM transmission dancing show and decided to eat supper before hand. The menu was quite extensive, but you do have to walk up to the bar to get the menu and walk up to the bar to order your food but they will deliver it to your table. I had a steak salad and it was really quite delightful, especially for the price which was about $12. We also walked up to the bar to order drinks, I'm not sure if they have waitresses there or if that was just a quirk of that evening? They did have sort of security people they came around and cleared plates later. I don't drink alcohol but I watched the bartender pour a drink. They looked very strong! This is actually a large bar, there was the food small bar area we ate in, then there was the large transmission bar area for dancing, then there was another, I think, karaoke bar. We got there early and parked in their free parking in back which was very nice. Covered. Love! Very eclectic crowd of people young, old, black, white, etc. Try it, you might like it!

We went here for a show and decided to come early to eat. It was St. Patrick's day and they had a corned beef special for only $5! It was magnificent and the corned beef was so tender and so good!! The cabbage was also awesome! Shane our server was very nice. He messed up the happy hour specials but then corrected it so I was super happy! The show was awesome and I love the vfw! Every though it is so fancy now I can still go in the back room and relive so many of my favorite memories from when I first moved to Minneapolis. Service is really stellar at vfw so I plan to be back soon! And, the happy hour specials are awesome and the food is delicious! One of my go to spots in the Cities!

Initial thoughts, "Whoa, is this what people in my hometown do at the VFW? WTF have I been missing?" I didn't even realize it was legal to run a bar out of a VFW. I went on Veteran's Day and assumed it would be packed. I loved the layout of this bar because you can choose your level of intensity. Level 1 intensity, the first room which is a large square bar with lots of TVs, it's a sports bar vibe. The room inside on the left, level 2 intensity, has terribly, yet fun karaoke with another bar and free popcorn. Level 3 intensity was in the room on the right. This room had an average live band with an awesome DJ between acts. There's a bar on the side of this room and has darts lining the back wall. This was definitely a unique, large venue where it was easy to grab a drink due to the many large bars throughout the building.

Love this place. Though you can't enjoy the experience, you can definitely enjoy their food during the restrictions. If you do curb-side pickup, you can also get beers and even mimosas! I still get to enjoy brunch, on the cheap. Plus, they have gluten-free bread. It's become my weekly go-to.

Well, it all started well the first time we came here. It was midweek early in the afternoon around 3pm. We sat at the bar and were waited on by a very nice bartending gentleman. This is not our typical hangout spot; the only reason why we made it in is because we bought the TC Bud and Burgers deal where you can go to up to 3 restaurants and get a burguer and bud (weiser... pun intended... keep on reading, you'll get it) all for $10. Fantastic deal right? Yes indeed. Alright so we got our food and beer... fantastic food ,especially the whiskey flavored burger. Left our bartender a 20% tip (rare for me... I'm a firm believer to save it for outstanding service such as in this case) and left. Was ready to give this place 4 stars. So when friends asked us to meet them there this past week we were like sure, we still have some tickets left. It was a great experience last time. Boy were we in for a change. First, there were about 50 patrons in the place and only one girl manning the bar. So we had to get up to order our drinks and food. No biggie I'm not that entitled. This is where it take a wrong turn. I ask the bartender for the beer and burguers and give her the tickets and she gives me this quizzical look and goes: "yeah, I'm not sure about that, it will be a while because that transaction requires a manager...". Ummmmmm............I ask how long it will be and she says "oh it will be a while". WOW. ok.... She asks for IDs for the two beers and notices one is a girl, and she brilliantly realizes after looking at it for 10 seconds that the one is not mine, but my wife, who is smiling and waving over from the table. Took her a while. As all this unfolds I notice that she is taking a really long time to fulfill all the other drink orders.... 10 minutes go by and no manager is in sight, so I get up to the bar and ask her what's going on? We are hungry and thirsty and still waiting for a manager to come by and execute our really complicated transaction. Her response? "What manager?" WHAT THE *%&$^%(!!!!? At this point I noticed she was COMPLETELY STONED, her eyes red and glassy, she could barely talk and she was spilling everything she was holding in her hands. The funny thing is nobody else seemed to care much about it either, I was the only one that seemed shocked and pissed off. When we finally got a hold of the manager I asked him if he was aware that he had a bartender that was under the influence and he was like "yeah, that's why I'm taking care of your order." Wait? What? WHAT IS SHE STILL DOING HERE?!?!?! She should be on her ass on the side of the curve, not still employed!!! Poor guy tried to semi-correct the situation. It took them about 20 minutes to change the channel to the NFL game. He was extremely nervous every time he came to our table, noticeably shaking. The bartender did end up leaving about 15 minutes later, so the manager had to take over the action. Food was as good as last time. The evening however, had taken a wrong turn and we downed our beers and left, with 0% tip as you may have guessed. If you don't like to be treated like a 10 year old by an 18-year old pothead bartender stay away from this place. And nothing against potheads, but if you can't handle it in public, save it for when you're at home not making a living.

Come on guys..If it wasn't for the ridiculously stiff drinks this would have earned one star. The Karaoke MC was less than kind. We were visiting from out of town and we arrived early and put our name in with everyone else. We waited patiently as we were told we were 7th in line. 20 performances later..we asked when it would be our turn. He then mentioned we had to wait for 6 more people to go on. We asked why we had to wait after we had put our names in and were 7th in line. He had no answer. Then we gave him a $20 and suddenly he put us up next. Completely unprofessional and we left right after we crushed our rendition of Uptown Funk. We walked across the street to a different karaoke bar that conversely had an incredible MC!

Great place for drinks with a group and karaoke! Definitely your standard VFW location.

Long story short, I have a mild booze headache today after a really fun night and the VFW is the cause. I can always count on the VFW for that. The booze is cheap (cash only), the clientele is a great mix of very drunk people from all walks of life and the staff is always on their game in every way. Last night, for example, we had VFW employees open the door for us at the front, give us the down-low on what was going on in both sides of the building and serve us delicious drinks very quickly. It's always crowded on the weekends because it's such a solid bar. Objectively, the karaoke is terrible. The actual singing is terrible to be sure (especially when I get up there), but the song catalog is pretty bad and the microphones don't work well either. It's a little busted compared to the Vegas Lounge or the 1029, but it's always fun regardless! Last night I saw how heart-stoppingly stiff they poured my friend's vodka drink, so I ended up drinking Fulton Sweet Child Of Vine all night for $4.50 each. There were Fulton posters on the walls, so it might be a new development. Not too shabby getting one of my favorite local beers in one of my favorite local bars! The other side of the building is a VFW hall, where they have traditional VFW activities like bingo and such (I think bingo is on Saturday or Sunday afternoons). They sometimes have it open to bar patrons for live music or some kind of dance party. Yesterday there was a one-man-band in there. I think you can rent it out too. That's all I wanted to say, so now I'm going to go back to my couch and let this hangover fester.

So much fun here... I must say it mostly has to do with the bartenders! Nate was on point, went above and beyond, even with a full bar! Food was hot and delicious and happy hour is great.

Admittedly the VFW is one of my favorite watering holes in Uptown. The combination of salt-of-the-earth staff, friendly bartenders, stiff while at the same time cheap drinks coupled with the young and hipster crowd of Uptown seems to strike the right balance for me. Either on their own would be nothing special or could even be annoying, but the VFW is a great combination of each. Be forewarned it will be packed on the weekends, the majority of the patrons will be drunk (cheap booze + stiff drinks + hipsters/20 somethings = obvious outcome) and whomever is 'singing' karaoke will likely be tone deaf and belting out something written by Journey. But you won't care. All-in-all a great place to grab some cheap libations, people watch and strike up a random conversation.

Went there for my first time a couple weekends ago because my boyfriend had a gig at their big room. People were very friendly and nice; the atmosphere was different from what I'm used to, but it was still a great experience. Our party ordered fries and wings because we eventually got hungry. Their food and bar service was really great and definitely exceeded my expectations for a VFW, honestly. I loved the diversity there and the overall vibe.

I've been to this VFW numerous times for the nightlife, which is great! Little crowded in the karaoke room, but it's so fun to sing along and many times there are really good singers who participate. I recently tried the chicken bacon ranch wrap and it did not disappoint! The chicken was crispy and there was a good amount of bacon. The best part was that it wasn't drowned in ranch, which tends to happen with ranch wraps. I chose the chips as a side, they were nice and crunchy but super salty. Next time I'll probably try the fries. The drinks are strong and not too expensive. If it's summer time I recommend sitting outside. There is smoking, but if you can ignore that the area is big and shady and the service is quick.

My first time at the VFW since it was redesigned. Also my last time. Do read my YELP Tip on this VFW. It's a BRO bar, with a short, compensating, angry bar-back "douche" who wrecked our evening. I haven't heard that word used since high school. Really? I will withhold a feminist rant on stupid language used by an idiot with no vocabulary. Strong drinks? Check. Testosterone? Check AND Check. Veterans? Not that I could see. Rude staff? Check. Venue warrants attitude? Not in a million years. Three good things I can say about this place: 1. The room to see a show is a nice size with clear site lines, but poorly attended. Remember to wear black, "accidentally" shoulder-chuck someone as you walk by them, and you'll be fine. It also helps to be male. 2. The mission of this nonprofit is to raise funds for MN vets. There is a humbling tribute to the WWI Vet for whom this venue is named. Lt. James Ballantine KIA on the French front in 1918. He was an accomplished Minnesotan who died too young in service to his country. Perhaps THE STAFF should remember what it is that they represent and strive to act in a more honorable and gracious manner. YOU REPRESENT SOMETHING IMPORTANT. Act like it. 3. NICE TRIBUTE TO FEMALE VETS IN THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM. It was heartening, as a woman, that someone thought to include this. But maybe put it out in the main areas so everyone can see it and not just women who are trying to relieve themselves biologically and psychologically from the CRAPPY TREATMENT in the rest of the bar.

Pull tabs suck, drinks are okay. Brings in a diverse group. They have like 3 different bars in one. That's pretty neat. 7.9/10 would recommend to a friend

This place is awesome! Good, known American foods, friendly service, and you're helping your local community by you patronage! Like most all VFW's across the nation, drinks are cheap and poured stiff, and it's an All Welcome bar with no membership required to come drink and hang out.

The Uptown VFW is a long running and well known Uptown institution. It's one of those places like Williams where everyone seems to know about it, it's been open for a very long time, and shows no signs of closing. My friends who have never been there before always assume a VFW (or VF for short) is for older people. Well it's true that VFWs were originally meant as a place for Veterans to hang out, over the years, it's been expanded so everyone is welcome at VFWs. The Uptown VFW is no different. The clientele at the Uptown VFW is often diverse. It's a good representation of Uptown in general. It skews younger but there are often people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and seemingly older hanging out at the VFW on any given night. Until recently, the VFW only had one bar that was pretty divey and often had karaoke going. This winter, the Uptown VFW used money generated by the sale of air rights to the neighboring Lime Apartments to fund a major renovation. Don't fear however, the original bar is totally unchanged. There is now a hallway that connects to the existing, divey bar area to the new bar areas. The new bar area is actually split into 2 bar areas so the VFW currently effectively has 3 bars independent of each other. An interesting choice but last Friday night, all 3 were packed. I'd imagine only 1 or 2 are open during the slower weekdays. In terms of service, the VFW is one of the places where the bartender can be your best friend or worst enemy. If you get along with the bartender, you'll likely get stiff drinks and maybe even a free shot here or there. On the flip side, if the bartender doesn't particularly like you, you'll basically get ignored. The old VFW bar was like this and it doesn't seem to have changed. Just don't be rude or demanding and you'll be fine. That is true of any bar but it's especially true at the VFW. In terms of food and drink specials, the updated VFW offers various food options and a breakfast but I have yet to try it out. However, prices seemed reasonable for what was offered. The VFW has always had some of the cheapest drinks in the Uptown area and that hasn't changed. Overall, despite the renovation, the heart and soul of the old Uptown VFW is still there. I'm glad they expanded and I think it is a good thing for the bar. It's worth checking out. If you haven't been there before, just keep expectations in check. The VFW has and likely will always be a place to get drink a lot, it's not a place for a first date or a casual night out. That said, if you just want to go out with some friends and drink, go to the VFW and you're almost guaranteed to walk away with a good story and a good time.

Took a friend here for a birthday brunch, and was very pleased! The omelets were fantastic. The entire menu, although limited, is very reasonably priced. We were in the back bar where there was no wait staff, but the bartender took our order without raising an eyebrow. My friend's son is in a wheelchair, and I was a bit surprised to find that the tables were so close together. We had to move chairs so he could get through, but there was no crowd, so we were able to get him to the table without any trouble. The food was well prepared, and arrived quickly. We both took home leftovers from the generous portions provided. Over all, a very nice place. I would highly recommend it!

The VFW has recently been renovated and it looks beautiful! We came here for breakfast and got the steak and eggs combo--the steak had a wonderful flavor and the eggs were perfect. Service was friendly and extremely helpful. I will definitely be coming back many times in the future!

This place is v hip. Just popped in for a quick drink after dinner on a Wednesday night and the place was hoppin'. So many cool millennials throwing out that uber cool vibe. What used to be a popular watering hole for our nation's veterans, has now morphed into a hipster vibin' dance party, complete with ninties throwbacks in the speakers and Hiro Miyasaki films on the screens. All you need is some flannel, a denim jacket, a nose ring, and some avocado toast, and you'll fit right in.

Tip: Watch for the free LynLake Block Party this VFW hosts during the summers. This VFW is by far one of the few better drinking establishments in LynLake worth a trip and as much as parking is a nightmare in this neighborhood, this VFW has its own parking lot in the back. The cocktails are strong and cheap. $6.00 pitchers of crappy beers (MGD, Miller and Bud) are available during Bingo, Trivia night and Sundays. Other selected drink specials are on a board inside. On Tap: Two Hearted Ale, Summit Maibock + EPA , New Castle Brown Ale, Sweet Child of Vine. Bingo and Meat Raffles are on Mondays and Saturdays. Trivia on Wednesdays and a chance to win free drinks. Karaoke are Wednesdays - Sunday. The song lists are as many as are the waiting lists to perform. Tuesday nights are music nights, playing old records and the patrons are always a mix of toothless cretins, veterans, uptowners, suburbanites, college co-eds, and more gray-haired men carrying oxygen tanks than anywhere else on the planet. I was startled out of a drunken stupor few nights ago, when honest to God, I thought someone was sexually molesting a goat on stage. Come to find out two gals were doing karaoke of Sonny & Cher. That's all I remember.

My favorite part of going to the VFW is signing the guest book. Makes me feel special. My next favorite part is the cushy swivel chairs that circle the bar. My next next favorite part is the Elvis karaoke signer that works the room an serenades the ladies with "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You". Damn nice chops as well. My next next next favorite part is the cheap drinks. Nothing but great times to be had here.

This was some of the worst service I've ever experienced. We went here for brunch on a Sunday, and the front bar was about half full. We sat down at a table, and after waiting about 10 minutes without seeing a waiter, my friend went up to the bar to see if we could order drinks. The bartender refused to get us drinks and told us we had to wait for the waiter. I thought this was a strange policy. What type of bar doesn't let you order drinks at the bar? After waiting another 15 minutes, the waiter finally comes around to take our drink order. We had not been given menus yet, but he rushed away before we could ask. We tried several times to get his attention to ask to see a menu, but he straight up ignored our attempts. We were finally able to get a menu from the bar, and sat around for another 20 minutes before the waiter came by to take our order. At this point we'd been here for at least 45 minutes and decided to cut our losses and go somewhere else for brunch. We asked for our check for the drinks we had ordered, and he walked away without saying a word. Another 15 minutes passed before he finally came by with our check which he dropped on the table (again without saying a word to us). Every interaction we had with our waiter was off putting. The entire experience could've been salvaged with a small amount of politeness and an acknowledgment that they had kept us waiting for close to an hour. Unfortunately, every member of the staff that we interacted with was rude and created an unwelcoming atmosphere. Save yourself the time and frustration, and don't bother with this VFW.

I have a question for you. Have you ever watched karaoke sang by Elvis? I have, at this VFW outpost. True, it's not the "real" Elvis. And true, this Elvis doesn't look a lot like the famous version. But, he has some serious chops and can really belt out the tunes. I also wasn't aware that regular people could just go hang out at the VFW these days. But, I guess you can. You can also drink cheap beers and eat cheap snacks if you are interested in doing so. You just have to be 21 like at all bars. So go, sing, and be serenaded by Elvis. It'll definitely be a night to remember.

New Years Eve tries awfully hard to suck the money out of your wallet. Not having much, and preferring to get my moneys worth when I do spend it, I'm a little New Years Eve adverse. So winding up at the VFW for some cheap drinks didn't sound like the worst thing to me. No cover, free champagne toast and overall cheap drinks. Fair enough, usually the company is more entertaining aspect of any evening. What I didn't expect was to have by far the most traditional New Years Eve I'd ever had. Lots o' drinks, stupid hats and noise makers, counting down the ball drop, champagne toast and kissing a pretty young lady. Oh, and then the entire bar sang Auld Lang Syne (good use of the karaoke machines!). The place was packed, but everyone was friendly and I didn't have much trouble getting or drink or anything like that. The bartender would join in with on a shot more than a few times (miracle that man was standing). I don't think I've ever had a better (or more traditional) New Years Eve. Worked out pretty damn nice, if you ask me.

Pretty much exactly what I wanted to do on Friday in Minneapolis. Kind of a weird place but that's what I like sooo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Had a great time here for the NYE celebrations so two thumbs up. Good crowd and some exceptional talent at the karaoke section. Free popcorn and readily accessible water without having to hassle the bartender.

The new Uptown VFW is awesome. Old bar is still in the back with a few renovations and add ons. Third Friday of the month is funk night which is a MUST.

I have lived right up the street from here for about 6 months, but it took me until two weeks ago to finally come here, and I am just kicking myself for all the good times I most assuredly would have had! I came here for my birthday, and was very pleasantly surprised. They were selling pints of Grain belt for $2.00 (they are cash only, but they have an ATM) and the karaoke was hopping. It was pretty busy when we got there, so finding seating can be kinda tricky, but luckily we got some prime access to karaoke performances! As for the karaoke, I really enjoyed it. It didn't seem as crowded as the Vegas lounge or the 1029, so you could actually sing more than one song. I think that is because the lady who runs it is super old fashioned, and doesn't pull rank with friends or anything like that. She is super strict about language, though. My friend performed a what could only be described as 'epic' version of Hollaback Girl, and she definitely scolded him about his overly enthusiastic 'that's my SHIT' lines. Oh well, it is a VFW, which is kind of hard to remember with all the young patrons! The catalog is a little outdated, but I'm 100% fine with that, as I tend to go a bit vintage with my picks. Leah G and I performed a cousinly '16 Tons' by Tennessee Ernie Ford which got some serious applause from the Vets. Next time I need some cheap beer and some great karaoke, I'll be able to simply walk down the street!

As a veteran of a foreign war I'm obligated to give all VFW's 5 stars. However, I hope that this VFW is here decades from now as a throwback to all the flashy corporate structures and niche eateries rising around it. It is a dive but the people are real, the beer is cheap (cash only ATM on site), and there's all the free popcorn you could want. Stating the obvious with trivia and karaoke, but yes you should check it out. You can't bring food in but if you have something delivered then it's ok (go figure that one out).