Cattails Bar

Was not expecting much — boy was I wrong! This place was great! Clean, not smokey (they allow smoking and everyone but me was lighting up), decent beer selection, real northwoods feel all-​around. Very friendly staff and customers. One regular, played about $ 20 worth of Irish music when he realized my wife was from Ireland.
Great time there, we’ll be back!

My favorite local bar BY FAR! I love every staff member and the prices are ALWAYS reasonable. The local crowd is extremely enjoyable, and you’ll see knew faces all through out the summer. My only wish is if they got their coin-​dozer machine back. That was my favorite activity.

This is place is PERFECT! I have been here over 20 times! I always take my groups of friends here when they come in from Chicago & they never want to leave this place! Great dive bar kinda feel WITHOUT the dive bar crappy service! The service is great here! If you like homey, great service, incredible drink selection, great prices and ambiance that is one-​of-​a-​kind from the fireplace, to the ceramic cat by the fireplace, dartboards, TV’s it is great! When I went recently I was only with my husband mid-​day on a Saturday, the fireplace was not on yet and the owners, happily turned it on, opened-​up the side room with the fireplace & were super-​duper nice! We stayed for one drink-​Yum Hot-​buttered Rum! If you don’t like cigarette smoke, then you may want to check out the bar anyway but may not want to stay long. They do have an «open air/​windows» throughout the bar so that takes a lot of the smoke out, but some does stick around. It is sooo worth the trip! The owners are SUPER friendly! I can’t wait to go back!

Chris O: I too, am originally from Crystal Lake… Hello Brother. Let me offer the following. I have been going to Cattails for a very short while-​after moving up this way. I am on call a lot, so I do not get to have a cold drink on every visit (about once a month) but when I do, it is a wonderful mix-​and sorry, the price is what I pay-​everywhere else-​sometimes lower, including bars I still visit in CL.
Though I have only been there a few times-​, I find your negative comments to be un-​founded. In fact-​your negativity was probably picked up by the «Locals» –and well, being negative in a fun place-​I am sure was not met with smiles and Wisconsin welcomes. If I may add-​these «Local Drunks“you brough up — I have not met any of them yet. Those folks that I have met there, are good, hardworking folks and retiree’s, just out to have a cold drink and conversation. I have not met these «drunks» yet-​but will keep my eyes open. The only agreement I have is with your comments about The Inn and The Goat: Also nice places to stop in for a drink, too — That’s about it. There are times I am in my sport coat or scrubs: So far, no negative comments or stares – Others there too-​some dressy-​some not. So again-​at a loss reading your negative comments on dress.
To me-​Cattails is what it is: a Lake Delavan bar/​gathering place. Yes-​I get a good ribbing about the Bears/​Cubs and being from Illinois (They enjoy a good ribbing back-​too, I have found)-but I have found-​MANY of the seem-​to-​be regulars-​are ALSO formally-​from Illinois or elsewhere-​or seasional. I am just kinda getting to know Rick and Lona — they seem to be very good people-​and run a nice clean place. The regulars are just that-​and the same-​good folks. May I remind you-​Cattails is a bar, located in Wisconsin. Nuff said.
I give 5 stars to Cattails-​and if I may: The few I have asked up to meet me there from McHenry County-​LOVE THIS BAR! I highly recommend Cattails-​and it is one of the only bars left-​where smoking is allowed-​at the bar. Just as in Crystal lake-​if you want a RT:14 bar-​you head out to Rt. 14… Here, if you want a good drink-​and lively conversation, come to Cattails… If you want a Rt. 14 bar-​may I suggest The Abbey on Hwy: 50… Cattails: Great drinks-​at a fair price-​and great people… And Emil’s pizza… THE BEST! Baileys and Coffee for 4 dollars – Expensive? Order that at the Squire back home-​and let me know what it costs. Great Bar — Great people-​FROM EVERYWHERE!

I have stopped in Cattails a few times and it is a pretty small dive bar that has been empty every time I’ve dropped in. I’ll usually stop and chat with the owner Rick or Rich and he generally seems nice but it turns out he would prefer you take your money elsewhere if you aren’t a local.
The last time I dropped in I had one beer and there were only 3 patrons in the bar one of which was the owner, I decided to push on to greener pastures and told everyone to have a good night. As I walked out the door, I got a text message from a friend and stopped to reply just outside the screen door. I got to hear the owner unleash a litany of insults about the fact that I wasn’t a local, hadn’t stayed longer and my clothing was apparently too refined. I waited a until the insults died down, opened the door and thanked him for letting me know that my business wasn’t wanted.
Cons
Most expensive drinks in town
Clientele is entirely local drunks assuming there is any clientele
Apparently jeans and a button shirt are too classy so you may want to roll around in dog shit if you want to fit in with the dress code and look like a regular
Out of town patrons aren’t welcome
Pros
Free insults
In summary if you are from out of town and want to have a good time and drink in a bar that welcomes you and wants to please skip this dump and hit up Hogan’s Goat or The Inn Between.