When walking into a local bar in Kearney for the first time, there couldn’t be a better way to be greeted than by a friendly golden retriever owned by one of the regulars. I never would’ve guessed that a dive bar with a primarily middle-aged crowd would become my friend group’s favorite place to go.

After searching for places to drink in Kearney, my roommate and I stumbled across Gillie’s and were surprised we had never heard of it before.

We’re both suckers for a good margarita, which was one of their featured menu items, so we knew we needed to go try it out.

I was just as excited for the food on the menu as I was to try one of the margaritas. Between the smothered breakfast burritos to the pork green Chile quesadilla, there are many unique food combinations that made me eager to see what they had to offer. There’s not a lot of places in Kearney that you can find such crazy and exciting meals and drinks.

The true hidden gem of Gillie’s Bar is one of the menu items: the jalapeño chicken popper sandwich.

It’s better than it sounds. And it sounds amazing.

The spice of the jalapeño pairs perfectly with the cool cream cheese and the smokiness of the pulled chicken. The jalapeño jelly adds just the right amount of sweetness to an already perfect sandwich.

Some call this sandwich a masterpiece, specifically my friend Kyle.

The bold food combinations aren’t the only thing that makes Gillie’s alternative. Gillie’s gives alternative artists a place to shine. My friend’s band, “Wild Roses” has played there, as well as other local bands and artists looking for gigs.

There is always something fun and exciting at Gillie’s, especially when it comes to the drink menu. My personal favorite is the French Inhale featuring Snoop Dogg’s liquor – “Indoggo” strawberry gin – which is advertised on the mirror above the bar.

There are not a lot of bars that my friend group would feel comfortable hanging out at as the youngest people in the place. There is a sense of community there, no matter your age. It’s a place where the worker’s kids run in behind the bar like it’s their own kitchen. It’s a place where the old woman who plays pool there every night brags about how she’s had her pool cue for 25 years. There’s just the right amount of quirkiness that brings my friends back every time.

From chalkboard walls in the bathrooms to an outdoor seating area, Gillie’s has great potential for being a hot spot for both young and old people in the community.

But Gillie’s is not meant to be a college bar. The best experiences at Gillie’s happen when the crowd is just the weekday regulars that just got off work. If you want to experience the true essence of Gillie’s, you won’t be finding it on a Friday or Saturday night with the weekend crowd.