Dizzy Horse

Dizzy Horse Local "dive" bar and grill featuring creative, FUN, chef-inspired Midwest Americana.

Star date: May 30, 2026. Captains log......Still floating through this vast universe, destination unknown. Hopeful, d...
05/30/2026

Star date: May 30, 2026. Captains log......

Still floating through this vast universe, destination unknown.

Hopeful, determined, frustrated, angry, momentarily happy and all the rest. You know. I know you know. Us too.

What to do?

"Embrace the suck." ???

"enjoy the ride." ???

Ugh. 🤣

Just sayin' what everyone is feelin'. I know. Truly know. To the core.

Despite it all, some things bring ya' back to center. And it's priceless. Raw. Organic. Just let it happen. And here we are.

But it's not by accident.

It takes effort. Lots of it. Faith, belief, teamwork, community and trust.

Thank you for that. We're not perfect, far from. 'Specially me.
I know.

Just wanna give a shout out to these ladies (Brent not pictured), for workin' their tales off for my delusional vision of what could be. They seriously bust it. Hours before and after you leave.

It takes a village. And we're blessed to have one.

Thank you all for gettin' it. I know you know.

There's an easier way, and we refuse to go down that path.

So..............

"enjoy the ride."

or don't. There's other rides. 🤣

p.s. they really do care, and for that I am speechless and honored to work alongside them all. Don't tell em', might go to their heads. 🤣

Deciding to add some more items to the menu, so I'll be prepping more batches of THIS tonight, including several new ite...
05/27/2026

Deciding to add some more items to the menu, so I'll be prepping more batches of THIS tonight, including several new items. (Closed Wednesday)

My oven is small and can only do a couple loaves at a time, but wanted to bring this one back for you. It's been quite a while.

We'll see ya' tomorrow at 4:00.

"Catcher in the rye..............D*mn you high school lit class."IYKYK. It's been a while since we've had a heart to hea...
05/22/2026

"Catcher in the rye..............D*mn you high school lit class."
IYKYK.

It's been a while since we've had a heart to heart. There's been a reason. I know. Survival. On all our parts. I know you know, RIGHT? Keep on keeping on, as they say. Or, embrace the suck, they say that too. Both apply.

Per my usual, late at night and anxiously looking-forward-to/dreading tomorrow and the new set of unexpected/expected challenges to muddle through, can't help myself to sit down and vomit thoughts.

If you've been along for the ride, you know. If not, jump on board, tickets are free and if the seats are full, sit on someone's lap. It's how it works here. We're a community. And I'll take that. 2026.

Just wanted you to know, things haven't changed, they'll always be pretty DIZZY round here, it wasn't my intention. But still leaning into it. Most of you have figured it out by now.

Not proud of much, try to do better on the daily and still fall flat on my d*mn face. Ugh. But when I look around, listen to what others tell me and why they're here, it makes the nonsense make sense.

Through your efforts and energy, that's happened. And on behalf of the DIZZY collective community, THANK YOU! Truly. You might have made a strangers night. And maybe yours. IYKYK.

Not chasing viral post, clicks, likes, etc. That's not a smart move in this "social" world. I know. Prolly shouldn't go quiet on social, but there's been a reason I've done that as of late. Many of you know. Maybe a bad decision, maybe not. Don't care.

The true wins come from seeing so many of YOU embracing the vision of community, true social connection and genuine positive energy that transpires here on the nightly. I don't get to participate personally much, but sometimes. IYKYK. 🤣 Who knew a slice meatloaf or pot pie would force people to talk? 🤣

Guess that lit class in high school paid off. Whether I knew it or not, it would come in handy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and good ol' Holden Caulfield have been either on my wall or coffee table for quite some time.

Thank you DIZZIES for also "catching others while in the rye". I see it. Nightly. *see holden caulfield quotes. You'll get it. Many already do.

Salinger was right. Holden was right. Emerson was right.

Maybe we're collectively not all done just yet.

Drinks are drinks, food is food. But..........Community and relationships are HARD. Thanks for making my job "easy". 🤣

Stay DIZZY!

"In a world of 5.00 a gallon gasoline and rising...........Thoughts going through my head as I'm sittin' here prepping m...
05/12/2026

"In a world of 5.00 a gallon gasoline and rising...........

Thoughts going through my head as I'm sittin' here prepping my a*z off to open tomorrow wondering if any of this is actually worth it. Like any of it.

Continual inflation, shrinkflation, gouging, political divide, global wars and yes, even ALIENS now. Told ya' btw. IYKYK. 🤣

And here I sit, starring at an empty bar with cases of ingredients that need to be turned into something, anything.

And for what?

But a small grin, smirk if you will, of gratitude, thankfulness and admiration for you all and the DIZZY COMMUNITY hijacks my facial expression of hopelessness.

Tiny room. Yet so many memories, relationships made and fostered. That was the point from day one. As they say nowadays: "sometimes ya' gotta just get out and touch some grass".

So ya', I guess I answered my own question.

Thanks DIZZIES for continually filling these seats and allowing this small room of purity to still exist. Even in a world of 5.00 gas.

See ya' Wednesday @ 4:00.

"Enjoy the ride." "And thanks for touching the grass with me."

05/05/2026

Update:

Got overly ambitious with this new menu update for this week. Still prepping my a*z off, so won't be open Tuesday. Hopefully the wait will be worth it.

Remember, this was supposed to be a BAR. "Drink heavy with a bit of food." It ultimately became a "restaurant" but unfortunately without the equipment and facility for mass volume. Doing the best with what I got. I could always just start doing frozen mozzy sticks and burger pucks if you want us to open more often.

For some insane reason, I can't bring myself to do that and would rather continue to hand-craft some quality food.

We prepped until 3:30am last night, started again this morning @ 7:00 and it still wasn't enough. Ugh. But I won't open and just toss out whatever just to be open. Sorry, not sorry. Maybe I should see a psychiatrist or somethin'.

Headed back to prep, more pizza dough to make (ya, pizza is back this week by popular request), meat to smoke and veggies to chop.

Thanks for understanding my insanity, it's the necessary tradeoff for the bar I didn't get. 🤣 Everything has a price.

Just leaning into the food now best I can with an oven smaller than the one you have at home. Seriously. It's only large enough for 1/2 pans. 🤣

See ya' tomorrow at 4:00. Back to prepping.

"Secret's in the sauce".................While seemingly everything is bullsh*t, 2026. Ya', we know too. Just embracing...
05/05/2026

"Secret's in the sauce".................

While seemingly everything is bullsh*t, 2026. Ya', we know too. Just embracing the suck as well. And all for what, so you can eat a giant sandwich the size of your head? Ya'. Worth it. But if you're struggling same as us with WHY, do this.

Here's the antidote:

Blast some ol' school 90's playlist sh*t and just work your a*zes off. Forget the rest. Even if only for a moment.

Prep list items checked off, one by one. All you can do.

But listen to some 90's. Trust us. Or don't. 🤣

"Enjoy the ride."

What happens when we're "closed". BTS. In the raw.

See ya' WEDNESDAY @ 4:00.

*free appetizers to anyone figuring out the top 3 songs we love and appreciate from the era. And go. 🤣 good luck.

In case you ever wondered where it came from................Been a long ride. Fo' sho'. IYKY. Sometimes it makes sens...
05/02/2026

In case you ever wondered where it came from................

Been a long ride. Fo' sho'. IYKY. Sometimes it makes sense, mostly doesn't. Who knows? But for what it's worth, just know I'm trackin', all of it. Always have been.

The little moments. The effort. From YOU. From us. "Energy Exchange", right? And this is the DIZZY way. It's exactly why I did this.

Garth might have had friends in low places, but apparently we have DIZZIES in strange places, like even Florida. 🤣

These two stopped by tonight, made a conscious effort in order to do so, haven't seen them in 7 years. Last time was during a flood in downtown D-port, yet they ventured out of the way to perhaps just "exchange some energy". Thank you for that Rod and Heidi! We only got maybe minutes to talk while I was gettin' my a*z kicked per the usual, but they still swung by. Hours out of their way. I'm trackin'.

Those "minutes" will live in my heart forever. Much like our local DIZZIES. It doesn't go unnoticed. Truly. Sorry WE don't get more as well, too busy cookin' sh*t. Ugh.

All this to say, basically, still humbled. Honored and hopeful that in this cynical world, people still make the effort. Perhaps when it's needed most.

They can get some grub by pulling off the interstate at a convenient location, get some rest and get to where they're goin' more efficiently than landing in Milan. But they're here. And that means the world. You have no idea. Makes it make sense.

So as for the "if you ever wondered where this came from", statement, welp, now you know. I can't take credit. This is the cloth I was cut from. And I'll take it. It's the extra effort. On everyone's behalf.

Saw them 7 years ago. They stopped by. Met AVA. During a flood. We hung out. "See ya' in 7 years Aunt Heidi and Uncle Rod." Ya', they're actually family. I was adopted. Rod is my dad's brother. Can you tell? See pics. Doesn't look like me, but sure looks like my dad. RIP. Thanks for lookin' out Uncle Rod, I know why you still do. And my dad thanks you both.

And here we are. Still checkin' in on one another, even if only for a fleeting moment. But ya' know what, it makes ALL of it fuc*in' worth it. Period.

So to all the DIZZIES doing the same, now you know. Truly know. THIS is what we CANNOT allow to quietly fade into the night.

Whether from next door, across the river, or perhaps 1800 miles away, it's about the effort. The sentiment. The history. FAMILY.

And thank you for becoming that. Truly.

Although I don't have local family HERE, please know we've tried to create that. The mission from DAY 1.

Thanks to ALL from making that happen.

And now you know. But I think you already did.

- Chef Toby

"Enjoy the ride."

*p.s. there's two other family members in this photo that have done the same. Thank you for your service, and also, proud of you, miss you and keep on keepin' on.

Happy Birthday to our beloved Dallas!Her only birthday request was to sit on the couch and binge TRUE CRIME all day. No...
04/30/2026

Happy Birthday to our beloved Dallas!

Her only birthday request was to sit on the couch and binge TRUE CRIME all day. No big-to-do party, dinner nor it's all-about-me event. Just junk food and TRUE CRIME. 🤣 *scratches head

So from all of us at the DIZZY, enjoy your day Dallas, you've earned it.

We'll see ya'll tomorrow (Friday) at 4:00.

04/28/2026

This week's hours:

Tuesday: Closed (prepping new items)

Wednesday: 4-9
Thursday: 4-9
Friday: 4-10
Saturday: 4-10

Snagged this shot while doin' a bit of post-shift sidework. Had that feeling like when you can't remember who sang a pa...
04/23/2026

Snagged this shot while doin' a bit of post-shift sidework.

Had that feeling like when you can't remember who sang a particular song but it's on the tip of your tongue kinda thing.

What does this remind me of? And why can't I put my finger on it?

Then it hits you like a ton of bricks.

Bingo!

Ah sh*t, she's gonna bite my head off for posting this one.

"Enjoy the ride."

Address

432 1st Avenue West
Milan, IL
61264

Opening Hours

Tuesday 4pm - 9pm
Wednesday 4pm - 9pm
Thursday 4pm - 9pm
Friday 4pm - 9pm
Saturday 4pm - 9pm

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