Berta’s Tap is located at 616 Clinton St. Ottawa, Il 61350. Their hours of operation are Mon-Thurs: 11 am to 12 am, Fri: 11 am to 2 am, Sat: 11 am to 3 am, Sun: 11 am to 2 am. For all things Berta’s, follow their Facebook page or check out their website.

Ottawa’s Restaurant Weeks are underway! We’re almost through the first week of exciting menu options in the Middle of Everywhere. Our bite-sized interview series continues, with Michelle Pattelli of Berta’s Tap. She told us a bit of the recent history behind Berta’s. A historic bar, Berta’s has been a local favorite for decades.

“So, Berta’s actually just celebrated their 80th anniversary here in Ottawa. The owners here purchased Berta’s in 2021. It is a group of friends that purchased Berta’s as a hobby,” Michelle said.  

Berta’s Tap was founded in 1945. It has been a gathering place for trivia, entertainment, and more for years now. Of course, the business is also famous for its delicious food! Michelle told us about the Restaurant Weeks special menu items.

“We picked our specialty burgers. Berta’s is known for their cheeseburgers. We have a one-third angus burger, that is quite popular, and then our specialty burgers that we have, are also what we’re featuring for Restaurant Week,” she explained.

“The one-third burger, you can dress it yourself. The specialty burgers, for example. we have a Firehouse, we have a Sunrise, we have a Moonshine, and our most famous, is our Beer Cheese and Bacon burgers.”

 Specialty Burgers:

1/3 Angus Burger 

Firehouse Burger – Hot giardiniera, pepper jack cheese, topped with onion rings

Sunrise Burger – Crispy bacon, over-easy egg, ham, American cheese

Moonshine Burger – Bacon, Moonshine BBQ, cheddar cheese, topped with onion rings

Beer Cheese & Bacon Burger – Homemade beer cheese, crispy bacon, served on a pretzel bun

Berta’s Tap will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the Restaurant Weeks specials to the Ottawa Food Pantry.

With so many iconic burger selections available at Berta’s we asked Michelle if she has a favorite of her own. We hope some of the food options discussed here or above can help inspire your next order at Berta’s Tap!

“My favorite is the Mushroom Swiss Burger. Fresh mushrooms, it’s fantastic, But I would say our most popular again is the beer cheese, and bacon burger. Gina makes the beer cheese homemade. It’s her recipe, and it has become quite famous here with people.” 

There are plenty of great choices to make when ordering a meal at Berta’s Tap. But its not just about the food, it’s about the bonds we make together. We asked Michelle what she enjoys about being in the restaurant scene in Ottawa.

“I have regulars that come in daily, to see me. We have people from out of town that come in, and once they eat here, and they make it a point to travel back to Ottawa to eat here again.” 

Michelle, a former healthcare industry worker, explained that since she left the field, working at Berta’s “has been a joy.” Ottawa’s restaurants are clearly perfect places to have a good meal, make good friends, and experience creative cuisine. In regards to Restaurant Weeks, Michelle said that “Community grows with new things.”

Many thanks to Michelle for taking the time to sit down with us! Stay tuned for more from us, Berta’s and the rest of the participating locations.