Bloomington, Illinois, discovered something special when this locally-owned pizzeria opened its doors and brought the craft pizza concept to a city dominated by chain restaurants. 🍕
Flingers Pizza Pub’s secret dough recipe, combined with top-quality ingredients and innovative topping combinations, has transformed pizza night into an unforgettable experience.
Voted the #1 Best Pizza, Best Restaurant, and Best Bar in Bloomington for multiple consecutive years, this pub has proven that craft beats chains every single time.
How Flingers Pizza Pub won Bloomington’s hearts
The journey of Flingers Pizza Pub reads like a classic American underdog story full of setbacks and perseverance that ultimately created something bigger than anyone imagined. 🏆
In a small city known for its chains, this local restaurant embraced the craft concept and refused to compromise on quality—from their homemade dough to their innovative topping combinations that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Their dedication to excellence earned them the Best Overall Restaurant award for the sixth consecutive year in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, along with Best Bar for the ninth year in a row and Best Pizza for the eighth straight year.
What really sets this pub apart is how they transformed customers into collaborators through fun programs and Monthly Fling specials that keep the menu fresh and exciting.
Locals rallied behind this independent business during tough times, encouraging them to persevere when it would have been easy to give up.
Their craft beer selection features 25+ beers on tap (including options from local breweries such as Destihl, Keg Grove, and Triptych), and their innovative baseball card beer menu adds another layer of creativity that makes them one of the best bars in the region.
Food Highlights
- The Venetian: Ricotta cheese dollops, fire-roasted tomatoes, basil, oregano, and red onion topped with olive oil and grated parmesan.
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Smokehouse: Hardwood-smoked pulled chicken, peppadew, green pepper, and bacon with a cheddar and smoked provolone cheese blend on a chipotle honey BBQ sauce base. 🔥
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Mac Attack: This wildly popular creation features white cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese, bacon, diced tomato, and green onion on a cheesebomb crust. 🧀
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Ticking Time Bomb: Smoked chicken, bacon, peppadew, and jalapeño deliver a slow burn that builds with every bite—customers who love it spicy rave about this heat-packed specialty. 🔥
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The Samoan: Ham, pineapple, bacon, green pepper, and yellow onion create the perfectly balanced South Pacific pizza.
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The White Chick: A ranch base topped with breaded chicken, bacon, and red onion makes this savory spin on the classic chicken bacon ranch combo anything but basic.
- Mimaw Bomb: Fresh basil and sliced Roma tomato create a simple, vintage veggie bomb combo that remains a fan favorite with its classic Italian flavors.
- El Guapo: Fire-roasted corn, red and green bell peppers, black beans, tomato, and onion on a garlic butter base, topped with chipotle sauce, cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and limes.
Atmosphere
This craft beer pub combines the energy of a sports bar with the creativity of an artisan pizzeria, featuring multiple TVs perfect for catching games while enjoying your meal. 📺
The outdoor beer garden (weather permitting) provides a fantastic space to enjoy craft pizza and cold beer under the open sky during warmer months.
Inside, the innovative baseball card beer menu featuring vital stats on the front and understandable flavor descriptions on the back helps guests navigate their impressive selection with confidence.
The multiple seating spaces create an open, welcoming environment that feels both casual and fun—the kind of place where you want to linger over another round.
Bottom Line
Visit for the award-winning craft pizza that’s won Best Pizza eight years running. 🎯
Experience the secret dough recipe and innovative topping combinations you won’t find at chains, and try their famous Flinger Rolls and cheesebombs that have become local legends.
Address:
1503 E Vernon Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701
🕔 Open Mon-Thu 11 AM–11 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM–12 AM, Sun 11 AM–10 PM