Diabetics need to be a bit cautious while dining at Whataburger. Almost every burger is rich in sodium content and it is highly recommended to keep your burger cravings in control while dining at Whataburger. However, you can always satisfy your cravings for a burger by choosing Whataburger Jr. or other non-burger items from the menu.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for Diabetics:
A diabetic should resist from ordering any extra meat-based burger such as Double Meat Whataburger or Triple Meat Whataburger to limit the sodium intake and calories. Most burgers except the Whataburger Jr. are high in sodium and hence should be avoided.
If you are a diabetic, you should also avoid Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich and Whataburger Patty Melt at Whataburger. Chicken Fajita Taco is also off-limits for diabetics. You must also avoid Breakfast Platter and Pancake Platter from the menu. Pancakes and Cinnamon Roll from the breakfast menu are also off-limits for diabetics.
High sodium intake can be lethal for people suffering from high blood pressure. If you're someone with high blood pressure and dining at Whataburger, then you got to be careful. Most burgers and sandwiches at Whataburger contain high sodium which can spike your blood pressure levels.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for High Blood Pressure
Skip the Double Meat Whataburger and Triple Meat Whataburger at the restaurant if you don't intend to shoot your blood pressure levels. Avoid all types of Bacon and Cheeseburgers at Whataburger as these items are high in sodium. You must avoid Chicken Fajita Taco at Whataburger as it is too high in sodium as well. Skip the Pancakes Platter and Pancakes from the breakfast menu to control your sodium intake. Cinnamon Roll and Grilled Cheese are also the best to avoid at Whataburger for its high sodium content.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Whataburger
Calorie intake is the main concern for people with high cholesterol while dining at a fast-food restaurant like Whataburger. Well, you can always try the Lighter & Smaller options from the menu to cut down your fat intake. Opting for grilled sandwich or burgers are preferred compared to double meat or triple meat cheesy burgers which contain high cholesterol.
Foods to Avoid at Whataburger for High Cholesterol
Cut down on your meat intake to control your high cholesterol. You must skip Double Meat Whataburger and Triple Meat Whataburger at all costs. You should also avoid Avocado Bacon Burger and Monterey Melt as both these burgers contain a high amount of fat. Sweat & Spicy Bacon Burger will add extra 1080 calories in your diet so skip that as well. Whatacatch Dinner may sound tempting but the famous fish sandwich is also full of calories and unhealthy fat. Lastly, avoid French Fries and Onion Rings at Whataburger if you are already ordering a burger or any other heavy meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Whataburger
Classic dive of a place with a decent menu and burgers to choose from. Horrible disgusting bathrooms.
(4)
Meredith B.
I mean....it's a great place to sit and stare at the river, and we had a bunch of silly ducks wandering up to the tables to beg for fries, but besides being a place to sit outside on a warm day, there's really nothing good about it. Service was lazy - my Styrofoam drink cup (who cares about the environment!) had a hole in it, burgers only come well-done (probably a good thing), and all the various fried sides weren't hot enough. The burger was forgettable. It's a shame, because it would be such a fun place to sit outside in summer, but everything else about the experience is really disappointing. It's cheap though, so I guess there's that.
(2)
Michael R.
Good place to grab a burger and beer when at or near the casino for out of towners and an every day spot for locals. Lots of choices for your burger, bar appetizer and snack cravings. Sorry, no truffle oil, vegan varieties or foie gras here...straight up beef burgers with basic yet fresh condiments and fried sides. I had the Ship, Captain & Crew Burger, which is in the style of the famous Primanti Bros. from Pittsburgh-a sandwich (in this case a good cheese burger) with fries and slaw between the buns. $2.50 Red Stripe special on Saturday is a good deal and went well with my burger. Very laid back and casual and just far enough off of the main road to feel like an escape.
(3)
Aaron W.
Great for afternoon and evening drinks by the river. Crazy sandwich combinations and great staff. Definitely worth the stop.
(5)
Angela R.
Ate here again after a long round of golf. We sat outside overlooking the river. Food was fresh. Service was great! There was a mess up with my husbands burger and it was handled really well. His burger had jalapenos on it and he asked the waitress if that was right because he wasn't sure if he had missed it on the menu or not. She said no it shouldn't have had those on there and that the cook was knew and must have gotten them mixed up (they have some crazy burgers). My husband wasn't upset and just took them off and was okay but she took it off our bill anyways with no hesitation. We didn't even know she was going to do that until we got the check. They definitely want their customers happy and coming back!
(5)
Ed C.
OMFG. I conquered the Kraken. Each bite was more delicious than the last. I could eat one a week for the rest of my life.
(4)
Melissa C.
Try the Tender Juicy. It's the best of an Illinois Classic, a pork tenderloin and the Burger Barge classic The Lucy. You can't go wrong
(4)
Ashlynn A.
So I've been here a few times. The last time took over an hour to get our food. So we leave before getting our food. 2 waiters/waitresses literally CHASE us out the door thinking we didn't pay for our meal. They were looking for another couple. But one waiter literally harassed us down the road while hopping in his pick up truck saying we didn't pay. But we never got our food. It sounds like a made up story but I promise you this happened! Never again! Worst place worst food and the worst service I have ever seen.
(1)
Jose V.
Burgers are very well constructed. I ordered the captains burger which comes with pastrami and dock sauce. my only gripe was that you can't order burgers medium. so they come well done, but luckily not burnt. the bread is buttered and most likely grilled. the place had a room for kids and a bar on the other side. a few tv's as well playing sports. you can get alcohol even if you sit on the kids side. pretty nice place to go to. I would go back.
(4)
Jessica D.
Not good anymore. Used to love this place and would come back every time I was in town. Today, my boyfriend and I ate here and the food was horrible, we tell our waitress that it wasn't good and she said she would talk to her manager. The manager didn't even come apologize for the bad experience...that's not how you run a business in my opinion. Happy customers are the best customers.
(2)
Teddi B.
Burgers, fries and an ice cold beer on the Riverfront - sounds like the making of a Jimmy Buffet song. Bring your appetite, burgers are a 1/2 lb and then have plenty of toppings. An order of fries is plenty to share. Beer specials are great - $2.50 for Corona/Corona Light bottles on a Friday Night.
(4)
Angie K.
It tastes good and is a typical dive restaurant. The view is awesome though. But man did my friends and I get sick after eating there. They have a bad history with the health department too. They have a newer location that you may fare better at. Eat at your own risk!
(2)
Jaimie L.
The burgers were fantastic. Lots of different choices. The alcoholic beverages were unique and tasty.
(5)
Nancy R.
The ambience was fun and having a duck join us for lunch was different. The burgers were nothing to write home about but they were ok. The staff was friendly & efficient. My low rating was because of the absurd amount of filth.. gobs of dust hanging from the ceilings was like something you would expect in a 3rd world country. The garbage can in the area we were eating was covered in dripping condiments and dirt that appeared to not have been washed in years. Drinks were served in styrofoam cups and plastic forks of the cheapest variety was used. I will take an extra dose of vitamins to counter whatever special germs I may have picked up. Not putting this on places I want to eat in again
(2)
Kathy A.
This is crap! I just got charged extra for getting water and not a soda with my lunch. COMPLETE CRAP! Lunch special is sandwich, side and a drink. I ordered water so I was changed for the individual sandwich and a side which came to a dollar more than the special. JUST CRAP!!! I asked the waiter about it and he said that is their policy. Very poor policy.
(1)
Terry K.
Visiting the area and this place was recommended so i headed down on a Tuesday night.... got the Philly burger and onion rings. The burger was chewy, like an old soggy mushroom, and I never found any onion in the onion rings. Suffice to say I never finished my meal. The decor is what I would imagine a 20 year old Jimmy Buffet restaurant would look like if it were never painted, cleaned or updated. Unique, just not my cup of tea. Others there seemed to enjoy their meal. Burger onion rings, some breaded mushrooms and a soda were $20..wouldn't mind the price if the quality was better.
(1)
AJ R.
We were in town for a wedding and looking for a local spot to grab lunch. The outside could definitely use some updating and clean up, but they easily made up for this with their service and food. The staff was very friendly, and the service was fast for 8 of us. It was a Saturday so the place was pretty busy, but there are several areas to grab a table and they sat us right away. Most if us had burgers, and every single one of us said it was one of the best we'd ever had. Perfectly cooked, seasoned, and they have dozens of options for toppings. The drinks were ok, and they didn't have many options for tap beer.
(4)
Theresa T.
This place has great bergers and sandwitches. I havent had anything I didnt like yet. The Lucy or Philli bergers are my favorites and dont forget the dock sauce! This place might not be easy on your waist line, but its good all around. Service, athmosphere, food and drinks. Lunch time it get pretty busy, so get there early.
(5)
Dawn L.
Great, fun atmosphere. Andre is one of the best bartenders ever. What a friendly guy. Love this place
(5)
JP P.
The Burger Barge is not for the squeamish! This is a hardcore down and dirty burger eating emporium. No real decor to speak of...the place is crowded and loud as hell! It's dark inside. The tables and chairs are mere outlines that shadow the patrons that inhabit them. We were fortunate enough to get a seat at the bar with a clear vision of the small but complex grill area. The cooks work their ass off. A "clear vision" of the grill area is a "loose' term. You can feel the HEAT of the grill and the vaporized grease created is like a London Fog! Thus, part of the shadow experience. The menu is way too complex. Repeat customers come back for a "Burger Grease Fix". New customers want to experience the reputation. This is a "Dive Restaurant" that just so happens to serve booze. Your not supposed to be comfortable here! However, this is some tasty meat...I reviewed it so you won't have too!
(4)
Joe B.
The last time I was at the burger barge, they ran out of patties. Shouldn't be something that hard to keep track of. Instead,my burger was cobbled together out of sliders. When served, I noticed that the mashed together sliders may have been undercooked to some degree but I continued eating anyway. Poor choice. I ended up getting sick during the night from the food, and haven't returned mostly out of sanitary concerns.
(2)
Ash A.
If I came here at a busier hour, I may have given this place 4 stars for atmosphere but we came here at a lunch hour on a Monday, thus I am giving this 3 stars. I went to the Burger Barge to meet for lunch with my aunt while my boyfriend interviewed near by. The building is very cool, almost felt like an awesome dive bar in Florida. They have picnic tables on the sand, outdoor and indoor seating, and a great tropical selection of drinks! Granted the building and seating were very neat, the place was pretty dead. We were 1 of 3 tables seated at the lunch hour. However, this place had some pretty great special. $1 domestics on one day, $1 drafts any size another day. Great place to meet up with friends. I ordered a shrimp poboy, it was mediocre. Basically just fried shrimp on Texas toast, almost a make shift poboy. The fries, chips, and onion rings on the side were good, definitely order the house dipping sauces (deck sauces), they were delicious! My aunt ordered a cheese burger and said it was very good. To take from this review, this place had some great specials with a mini Florida atmosphere on the Illinois river! A fun place to meet up with friends!
(3)
Mark C.
My burger was very fatty, and something added to it was way too salty. I guess I'm spoiled on quality of meat. I ordered a large size draft of Rolling Rock draft, only to find that though it is on the menu, they do not have that on draft at the riverside location. The two drafts they had were both light beers, and their selection of domestic was pedestrian at best. I got a bottle of Heineken which was not as cold as it should be, and had less beer than if I had had a large draft as I wanted. I ordered "frings" but got french fries only. They compensated by bringing a half order of onion rings. I noticed that I was charged for the fries, not the frings, which was nice. The fries were good, but the rings were only fair. Most likely both are purchased frozen. Prices are fairly good, and it is conveniently close to Hampton Inn (where I was staying), but I will look for a better burger elsewhere. I can imagine this place being a lot more fun in the summertime, especially for groups.
(2)
Sherri B.
Food is just OK. Atmosphere is fun. Onion rungs are just OK. Definitely not best ever. Burgers are cheap meat. No streak flavor.
(3)
Matt B.
I love the Burger Barge. The burgers are better than anything you can find around. The environment is low key, relaxed and its a bit of a dive. The outdoor seating area overlooks the Illinois river. Try it, you wont be sorry.
(4)
Dianne S.
"Best burgers on this side of paradise"...Par-a-Dice casino that is. I had my doubts. It is Peoria. It is across the street from a sleezy casino. But what the heck, there's a Burger King down the street that can be plan B. Divey no nonsense burger joint with a thatch roofed bar complete with Landshark and Bud Light with Lime ornamental lighting. Service here is not lacking. Friendly. Helpful. Attentive. $2 Bloody Mary bar on Sundays. Generous vodka pour. Enough said. I loaded mine with pickles, olives, celery, and multiple bloody Mary mixes. Man, I make one mean bloody Mary! Onto the food. Walking in you can smell the deliciously well seasoned meat patties grilling away in the kitchen. Their menu is ginormous! It was hard to decide but I went for my two favorite toppings, bacon and mushrooms, Illinois Burger ($6.79)! Sides here are all a la carte and the onion rings are NOT to be missed!
(5)
Erin D.
Seemingly had the potential for great food...however the wait time was so horrible that we simply could not wait longer than 45 for our small order. This is not the place anyone should stop if you are hoping to get in and out within an hour.
(2)
Todd S.
I love the nautical atmosphere and being around other local boaters. Their chili cheese burger is outstanding. Now, with the addition of the patio lounge and the band area in the back, they can satisfy all types of customers.
(4)
Tonya T.
Great burgers cooked how you want with a variety of toppings. Can get fried egg on top, Mexican...huge number of choices. You need to try the 'dock' sauce. Good for fries of on burgers. This is a very casual place. The restaurant moved a couple years ago. The place doesn't quite have the beach bum bar feel like the old place...but it has a bigger and better kitchen so you don't have to wait forever. If you want an excellent burger and aren't counting calories...yum.
(4)
Mike N.
If you don't like hole in the wall dives, don't bother coming here. However, if you want a great burger, strong drinks, and don't mind sticky floors and generally unclean facility stop on in. I come here at least once a year and have yet to be disappointed. However, I stick to ordering burgers, hence the name. They have very unique burgers. Two of my favorites are the Tavern Burger (Burger, Ham, Bacon, Fried Egg, Grilled Onions, and Cheese) or the Captains Burger (Burger, Pastrami, Dock Sauce, etc.). The Rum Runners are outstanding and the Gigi Tea is too strong, hence the 2 drink limit ;-). Have people in my party had a bad meal here, sure but they ordered seafood dishes. Not to say the meal was bad, it's just fried (i.e. previously frozen) entrees. The burgers however are very fresh and mine have always been hot and very tasty beef. It's a dive bar with great burgers. If you want something more upscale, cross the river.
(4)
R. E.
This place has been local staple for years. This review is not on the original Burger Barge - which it should be noted it was recently shut down for 10 days by the city health department - but instead for it's new location. The new location is meant to bring families in. There is ample seating, huge play area, and then there's a more quiet place to eat called the bar. It's huge and it happened to have a table of 14 people sitting. There were three of us and another couple that came in at about the same time. Our server was prompt in getting our drinks and taking our order but that's where it ends. The table of 14 was our demise. 40 minutes later, our food came as well as the other couple's. The table of 14's order wasn't right and their food kept trickling out and there must have been one cook because it was like everything came to a complete stop because of the large table. I get it. Big tables are a pain. But seriously? There was no one else and if all it takes is a large table to get things backed up, I am highly concerned how long it would take to get your food when the place is busy. And it's not like we're ordering fancy fish, lobster, etc. It's burgers and fries!! By the time our food came out, the burgers were cold and the sides were lukewarm. I should also mention that I ordered off the lite menu and the portions were the same size but half the price. I ordered what should have been two pieces of fish but instead got three fish sticks. Definitely disappointing and will likely not go back to the new location.
(2)
Sarah B.
Amazing! We eat here weekly. Bacon burger or clam strips with chips then funnel fries for dessert.
(5)
Tricia W.
Great location on the water - reminded me of a "dive" in Florida. Sat at the bar to eat got great service and was able to watch the cooks do their thing. Must have been their during shift change because there were tons of servers on the floor BSing with each other and a lady at the bar who was drinking counting money and reading schedules...manager? Really like the casual atmosphere and food with a little more professionalism by the staff this place would be excellent
(4)
Cloey S.
A place to go if you're craving a greasy burger. They always seem to be packed. I always wonder what everyone else gets that keeps them coming back for more because I always leave disappointed. The place is pretty dirty and the tables are washed down with a dirty old rag. The staff is very friendly and welcoming though.
(2)
B C.
Great burgers. A must stop when we are in Peoria. It has the feel of a dive bar right on the river. Once you get the food you forget about any negative feelings you may have had about the bar.
(4)
Krut H.
Don't be fooled by the exterior, this place really does have some of the best burgers around. The atmosphere is very laid back and family friendly. A great place to hang with friends too!! Great food and great service! Highly recommend this place.
(5)
James G.
The service was horrible. The tables were grimy and sticky. Food was okay but the burger fell apart and didn't even stay together it was more like hamburger salad. Fried green beans were delicious though. Atmosphere was ok but we had folks next to us cussing up a storm that made many others uncomfortable and it took an hour before they finally told them to stop.
(2)
Tony T.
Came in during lunch time to try their burgers. I wasn't expecting the best burger I've ever had, but I also wasn't expecting what I got...a burger that came out not more than 2 minutes after I ordered it, which tasted like it had been sitting on the grill keeping warm for an hour or two. I'm sure that violates something in the health code. Tasted like warm, old, smoky grease. The fries were pretty decent. I left full, but fully regretting what I had eaten. Newer chains like 5 Guys, Smashburger, Meatheads are less hole the wall-y and the food is much more tasty.
(2)
David L.
Great hole-in-the-wall burger joint. Rather busy and can be slight crowded and noisy, but that is more part of the atmosphere than an problem. Burgers and service are awesome.
(4)
Jeff L.
The barge on main st (riverside) cooks better than the barge on meadow (new location). At meadow, the burger meat tasted ok but they forgot to ask how we like it so was cooked longer than we prefer. Neither the cheddar now swiss cheeses on our burgers had much flavor. Fries and onion rings were luke warm. Fries were soft, not crispy. Wow! The bill was $27 w/ tip for 2 cheese burgers, 1 side of fries, 1 side of onion rings and 1 beer. Service wasn't bad, but the food was just ok (at best). The parking lot was full when we left, so apparently they have fans. For 1/2 the price, next time it'll be Culvers, Hardee's or 5 guys for us though. Better yet, grill it yourself the way you like it. We won't be going back to the new location. Too bad, because I like the ol' barge location - at least on a weekday for lunch.
(2)
Rish A.
The Burger Barge sacrifices taste and flavor for clogged arteries and obesity. It has quite an atmosphere, but I don't think its one that I enjoy. The view is ok if you like the look of crappy and depressing. I ordered the Andre Burger, which came topped with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, nacho cheese, jalapenos and "dock sauce." Not sure what the dock sauce was, but the menu warned that this burger is "giant in flavor." To paraphrase Clueless: searching for flavor in an Andre burger was as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie. The only thing I tasted was a bunch of meat and cholesterol, without much zing or nuance in flavor. I barely ate half the burger. We ordered the Luciano cheese blobs, and those were okay. Once they got cold, they were un-eatable. My partner in crime ordered the Bluebeard's Burger and didn't have anything good to say about that either. I much prefer a burger from Ulrich's Rebellion Room. Even Burger King would be a better option.
(1)
Brian f.
My co-worker and I stopped here during a visit to the area for work. I had seen this place listed on Thillens best 10 burgers in Illinois. The place certainly has character and most likely is a blast in the warmer months with there outdoor patio over looking the water. The inside is what others here have described as old key west type shack. Not the cleanest place around but I guess that adds to the whole Beach feel. We were looking forward to the Burgers. We both ordered burgers and some appetizers. The food was out super fast, almost too fast. The appetizers were ok at best. Typical greasy deep fried stuff. The fries were good, definitely fresh cut. The burgers were nothing better then a cafeteria burger. The burger patty itself is almost strange in the fact that it is perfectly colored meat from top to bottom left to right, inside and out. The shape was perfect! The taste was not! My first thought is that the burgers are precooked, then placed in holding pan with beef broth. When a burger is ordered, it's simply taken out of the liquid placed on the griddle for a second if at all and placed on the bun. That's the reason for the perfect color burger. It's called a "speeder" in the restaurant industry to speed along times during busy hours. I would not eat at this place again for free.
(1)
Katelyn W.
Food is good but come with expectations of it being a kind islandy feel run down place. Not what we were expecting.
(3)
Jesse P.
bomb ass burgers bitch.... been there a bunch of times yo! they be stacking fat benjis cuz they busy as hell!!
(4)
Veronica H.
Dive. Should be on an episode with Guy for Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Also known as a greasy spoon. Food is delicious ; wild variety of burgers with tasty toppings. Atmosphere is comfortable, but the interior decorating is a sight in itself. Personalize ur napkin, and they will put it on display. Price is reasonable too.
(4)
Craig Q.
This place is fabulous. Great, creative burgers in a wonderful atmosphere. My kids loved it too.
(5)
Don F.
A great place by the river. We loved the two burgers we tried. The Hawaiian and the Philly both were great. I think the Hawaiian was a bit better than the Philadelphia. The bottle beers were not too badly priced. For the basic beers they do a good job.
(4)
Fonz D.
Stopped by last weekend and had high hopes for their burgers. They were ok - but nothing worth going out of your way for. The funnel cake fries were great and the decor was cheesy/dirty but in all honesty I liked it. They had a special on Red Stripe beer on Saturday too which was nice considering the look they were going for and the fact I hadn't had one since I went to Jamaica.
(3)
Ron R.
This is one of the few restaurants in the Peoria are that is accessible by boat- By far, in my opinion this is the BEST. They used to sell their burgers off of a pontoon boat in the river, but the health department started giving them problems, so they moved to their current location. Recently they opened the "Tiki Barge" which has a more open feel. They also had live music when we were there, on a Sunday! Last time I heard, the meat was from a local provider, you know the one on War Memorial- with the big black fiberglass cow? Yeah, that one- Now, here are my food suggestions- hidden near the back of the menu is something called the 'mini moo'. It's a burger that is half the size of the huge assed heart attack they normally sell. It's available in the same way as any of their other burgers, my favorite is the chilli cheese burger with a bit of mustard. Also, you can get a mixture of chips and onion rings, they call them "chings".
(5)
Jose M.
Great dive place. Don't fear the look of the place from the parking lot. Yes it looks like a hobo shack but once you go inside you will not be disappointed. They have a wide variety of burgers. I tried the Adams with the jalapeños and nacho cheese. Burger was perfectly cooked juicy but not soggy . Burgers and fries come in a cafeteria style tray . You get a good size burger for 6 bucks. All the burgers are around 6-7 dollar range . The place reminds me of bars I have visited in key west with a Midwest attitude. Great service and cold beer what else can you ask for .
(4)
Cynthia K.
Food was awesome for fried food! We had appetizers and then just had fun beverages!!! Waitress was very much a cutie pie!!
(4)
Tom B.
I am a fan of this beach shack burger joint in the heartland. There is two bars and a patio. They have great burgers and they were fast. I got my burger from the kitchen faster than McDonalds. They have a burger that uses two grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches as the buns. The servers were helpful quick and friendly.
(4)
Keith B.
Keep going back. Love this place. Best Burger in the area. Definitely a local treasure. Great staff. Only complaint would be its a little tough to find if you have not been there before, and parking is a bit rough and limited. But the food makes up for it. Tons of unique burgers to choose. From a taco Burger to a Burger with Ham and a fried egg. Never leave hungry or disappointed
(5)
Kristin H.
While visiting my girlfriends in Peoria they suggested we go to Burger Barge for a late lunch - they are both big fans. I love the atmosphere of this place, i love my dives. Kitschy decor and guest decorated napkins line the walls. They ordered cheese blobs for us as an appetizer and I got the Bacon Lucy Burger. I enjoyed the blobs, basically just deep fried cheese served with ranch, but I love my cheese. Wasn't as impressed with the burger. It was topped with loose meat, bacon and liquid cheese. Good, just not great. Service was adequate, she wasn't overly friendly. Overall I would definitely be willing to give it another try.
(3)
Julia S.
This is a hole in the wall type place that gets great reviews. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a greasy burger and fries/onion rings. Or maybe it was because there was ants crawling all over our table. I know warm weather is finally here but better spray.
(3)
Mike G.
My daughter and I were driving through Peoria for a tournament and while on the interstate we searched our handy YELP app on the smart phone to find a local burger joint. Something unique and not a national chain (nothing against those because my family loves eating there too). We found the Burger Barge! If you were to look up "local burger dive" in Wikipedia, the Burger Barge would be at the top of the list. Getting there is a bit tricky but if your turn off right onto Black Jack drive at the casino and hang a right, you'll find the Burger Barge at the end of the frontage road. We didn't mess around, we both ordered the Captain's Burger which is a loaded cheese burger with Pastrami and a large order of rings. Excellent food, we sat in the Tiki Bar area because there was some live entertainment that Friday night and the server was friendly and nice. Like my other review of Emo's Dairy, I'm sure the Peoria locals know this place well, but if you're traveling through this nice Illinois river city and it's lunch or dinner time, make the trip and enjoy the burger . . . especially if you like to try local spots.
(5)
Mike L.
I love this place. Burgers, beers, beach atmosphere, and friendly wait staff! The place seems somewhat divey, but I think that adds to the ambiance. The menu is very extensive and sometimes hard to choose from. Overall, great place.
(4)
Michael S.
Fried Food. They have a fried food appetizer tray that consists of fries, chips, fried shrimp, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers. All the grease ones heart could desire. The burgers were pretty good too. I opted to get the regular burger so that I could compare it to other burger establishments. Rating: average. I recommend getting one of the fancy burgers, because the regular burger is nothing special. Sit on the back deck, the view of the river is cool. We were there during a thunderstorm. Great setting for drinking beers and watching the storm roll in.
(4)
Kelly K.
"I normally love this place but this last time I went there the food and waitress was so disappointing that I will not be going back for a very long time. It was like they had one burner going and this waitress was never around. It was for my husbands birthday so I..."
(2)
Roland T.
Great place with outdoor seating next to the river. Burgers are really yummy although I regret that they have gone overboard with a way too complex and long list of items to choose from. It was was easier and somehow better tasting before when their menu was simple and no frill, as now the burger preparation and cooking is quite uneven from one time to the next. Keep it simple and s.. Will still go back but might stop elsewhere on my way to their place.
(4)
Alaina L.
Oh my goodness, how I craaave Burger Barge. Went to college at Bradley and after moving back to the Burb's, Burger Barge is one of the main things I miss about school, besides the binge drinking, of course. There are a huge variety of burger's to pick from, many with delicious fried foods topping them. The appetizers are also delicious, try the frips. The decorations are so fun, it's like an episode of Sponge Bob inside. I'm drooling thinking about it.. seriously, go!
(5)
Jonathan C.
Are you hungover? Did you just wake up early to go to the casino and now need some food? Well whatever your reason for being out here at lunch time, you have no choice but to go here? Why, because its damn good. Not sure what you want? Get the "Buy the farm". Its a porkchop, a 9 oz burger, and a chicken breast all piled onto one bun. If you think that sounds too healthy because of that lean chicken, the "Red white and Moo" has two burger patties and a porkchop on one bun. Only in America!!!!!
(4)
Bitsy B.
Amazing Americana. Heart-attack burgers and tiki drinks. Classic.
(3)
Meredith E.
I have no idea where to even begin this review. This place defines dive. The outside would scare you away with the deflated shark, condemned house with a restaurant sign and randomly scattered Christmas lights, if you didnt know the food was amazing. Strange and interesting drink and food menu. Odd variety of tropical cocktails and margaritas. Beers including Keystone Light and Stag. PBR is top shelf here. The burgers had a strange mix of toppings as well. I got a Shroom Burger. A burger with deep fried portobello mushrooms and barge spicy mayo. It was FABULOUS. However, the first burger put in front of me was the BBQ pork plus burger with coleslaw and a side of onion rings. I took the burger apart to double check that it wasnt mine and had a few onion rings. When the waiter returned I informed him of the wrong burger and he picked it up and gave it to a gentleman at a different table. YES HE DID THAT. I also heard a waitress tell the cook to f off. A beer and burger was $10. Not bad for an entertaining evening.
(4)
Jay M.
Awesome atmosphere, great food! A rare find in central Illinois! Keep it up burger barge!!! Unfortunately our area is lacking in the creativity dept. this is one of very few non chain restaurants. (I dislike chain restaurants)
(5)
Jason T.
Went to the new location for lunch and was very disappointing. Ordered a burger and fries with fried pickles for an appetizer. No brainer right. It's what they do. The burger was obviously pre cooked then warmed up on the cook top. Fries were decent. The pickles average. They were spears which was kinda weird. Edible but nothing special.
(2)
J.D. D.
Fantastic place for a burger and beer. I halfway expect Jimmy Buffet on repeat.
(4)
Anne H.
We came to Peoria from Chicago for the day and wanted dinner before heading back north. My husband wanted a burger and I wanted outside dining, preferably on the river so Burger Barge sounded perfect, particularly after scanning through some of the reviews. Wow were we disappointed! On the bright side, the service was friendly and prompt but that's about it on the positives. I chose the Texas Chicken Barge in a half assed attempt to be healthier. I literally ate one bite. The chicken was hard and tough yet appeared undercooked with an almost gray color to it. It was slathered with jarred Pace picante sauce, guac and 2 slices of jack cheese they just placed on top with no effort at meltage...not cool! My husband was sweet enough to share his Andre Burger but that was mediocre at best (ballpark cheese sauce and Cisco jalapeños are NEVER delicious!) and the meat on it also tasted old for lack of a better word. Oh and if you're looking for an even halfway decent Bloody Mary, keep right on truckin' cuz you won't get it here! Bottom line....I feel a little sorry for the scores of people who are standing out front waiting for a piece of this place. But perhaps they are blissfully ignorant of what good food is out there to be had!
(1)
Tom C.
Yes it's a hole in the wall dive bar but it has an extensive selection of great burgers and good onion rings with an alright family atmosphere (at least in the dining room, don't know about the bar areas or what appears to be a beer garden). I can't speak for the other menu items or the drinks 'cause I haven't tried anything else here and probably won't. After all, I figure it's called the Burger Barge for a reason. Have I had better burgers elsewhere? Yeah, but they did cost a lot more too. For the money, the burgers here are awesome.
(4)
Jessi J.
Well, to be honest, If your looking for a burger in Peoria, this is the place to go. It was cooked good, just the right amount of greasy, and cooked right around medium. The reason Im giving it 4 stars is because I ordered the Anchor, where it was a burger on top of the fries coated in chili and cheese. I didn't know I would be receiving a heart attack on a plate. lol Again it was good, but there was just WAY too much cheese on there. They put shredded cheddar on the fries at the bottom, which was good, then a layer of chili, good, then the patty, ok, then more chili, wow, and then a VERY thick layer of liquid cheese, and this was where it was a little too much. If you love your cheese, dive in. But for me, even with my artery clogging meals of the past, this was too too hefty. But let me rehash. The taste was there, and its about as divey as can be, even to the point of the bartenders drinking with you. Its a good experience, and definitely a decent burger, but Go normal, don't drop anchor, or youll be dropping anchors for the next day or two. lol
(4)
David B.
A very very strange place. Are there building codes or architects in Peoria? The food is good, a strange collection of burger choices and fried foods. It is on the water, or at least as close to on the water as you get in Peoria. Skip McDs( and the other 50 burger chains in Peoria) and try Burger Barge.
(4)
Zach H.
Venture to this place at least once a summer, probably more than that. Good food, but greasy, some very novel food combinations on their menu. Sea Shanty style decor, decent music, Big portions, slightly eccentric and eclectic style. Very fun place late at night and in the summer.
(4)
Tony H.
Every Peorian's guilty pleasure when it comes to great burgers and other wacky shit. Looks like a sea shanty on the outside, and not much better on the inside, but the food & atmosphere are great. Photographs, hand-drawn pictures and writing all over the walls & ceiling by friends and local pro athletes add even more. Offers a wide selection of starters, specialty burgers & build-your-own and other creations. My favorite burger is the Blue Beard's Burger (bleu cheese, onion and bleu cheese dressing. I substitute bacon for onion.) Burger is big enough, but if you want to pony up an extra $1.50, enjoy some great fries, their homemade hand-cut chips, or a combo of the two- "frips." My only complaint is that they don't toast, grill or do anything with the buns; they just leave it as is and it always tastes cold compared to the rest of the sandwich. Their Spud-Toons are good two...basically two huge baked potatoes mashed together end to end, and served with your choice of up to four toppings. One day, I will try the "Buy the Farm," which is a sandwich with your choice of cheese, and a burger, pork chop and chicken breast all one on bun. One of these days....*drool* Great service, everyone wears orange. There's outdoor seating on a makeshift beach, and a dock off the Illinois river, so you can pull up if you're out on the weekend. Best "sea shanty" food in the area!
(4)
Greg S.
Fantastic!! I have never had a burger this good before. Their Lucy meat is an incredible invention! Great food for a good price, I can't wait to go again!
(5)
L C.
We had visited Burger Barge several times, until our last visit. The dining area was full, but not crowded. We waited a few minutes before the server seated us. She wasnt polite or friendly, but brought our soft drinks quickly. After that, she never returned to our table. We waited approximately 10 minutes before I tried to get staffs attention at the counter. The staff walked around me, and avoided me completely. I left $3.00 on the table for our soft drinks, left and have never returned.
(1)
Sandra L.
We love this place and have gone often since moving to the Peoria are. It's really a funky, fun and most the time crowded place. the burgers are huge, and just as they should be for this type of food. Not for the faint of heart! Be prepared to eat much, laugh a lot and have a great time where The locals go!
(3)
Kim A.
It is 2:30PM. Chicago is under a foot of snow, and I'm staring at my half finished bowl of Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable Soup (that's right, the ones with the ABC's). Most people would be dreaming about sunning themselves on St. Lucia, or mai tais in Fiji... Me? I'm dreaming of frips and blobs. In school, Burger Barge was that thing we used to treat ourselves: "Sweet! Finals are over... the barge?"... yes! Or "Matt/Mike/Kevin/Joe Schmoe... what a dick! You need THE BARGE!" And so we'd go. We'd eat our little hearts out, take half it home, hit the bars, and reheat the rest a approximately 4:20AM (gotta love 4AM last call...). They serve meat and fried food, and they do it really well. Now living in a world of burgers from Kuma's, Hot Chocolate, and The Gage, with fancy ingredients and wacky bread... I miss the simplicity of Burger Barge. So... if you ever find yourself in Peoria, IL, and are craving a bit o' grease and meat, do yourself a favor and make it to this shifty little shanty.
(4)
Mike E.
I've driven past this place for years. Always thinking I would try it some time, but not adventures enough to take a chance, given the run down appearance and the surrounding stagnant water pools. After reading the reviews here, I decided to give it a shot. The staff was attentive, very friendly, even a bit flirtatious. I had the small burger and onion rings while sitting at the bar. A nice break from the usual chain drive throughs, and enough funk to remind me downtown Memphis. The food was okay and came in a reasonable time. The walls are covered with paper napkins that have hand written messages scribbled on them. I wasn't up to reading any of the messages on this visit - seemed to much like staring into a trash can. Maybe next time.
(3)
Chris Z.
Burger Barge keeps it simple, and I'll do the same in this review. Wherever you live, you need to know a humble place that will serve you a delicious burger without pretension. This isn't the place where you go for a $15 Kobe beef burger. This is the place where you go for a greasy, dripping, artery-clogging masterpiece. Burger Barge is that place in the Peoria community. It's a shack near the river, which adequately sums up its decor. It's a burger dive. It's always satisfying. You know what you're going to get. And you can sit outside in the sand. (Don't get your hopes up--it's a patio, not a beach.) It's one of the few places in Peoria I miss now that I've moved away.
(4)
Dave W.
Hands down, best burgers in town!
(5)
Dan G.
Great, unique burgers. They are not afraid to throw a ton of toppings on your burger. This is the definition of local fare. I recommend.
(4)
Jan c.
i went with some co workers when i was in town and it was quaint. The food is ok and service is fair. I probably wouldnt go back unless the fellows insist. lol
(3)
Greg S.
A great little dive! Fantastic food, to many burgers to choose from, a must for any burger lover A+
(5)
Jen B.
Thanks to a fellow reviewer here on Yelp (Thanks Ron!!) I was armed and ready to order my mini moo when I met up with a group of friends here over the weekend. The weather was awesome and the place was packed! We waited over an hour for food but with 12 of us there and plenty of drinks coming our way, we hardly noticed. My Illinois style mini moo was perfect and had a nice mix of frips and fries accompanying it. I was too chicken to try their specialty drink that has a "limit 2" but will put that on my bucket list ;) Very nice addition along with the outdoor tiki bar/smoking area-would come on back here for some of those limited cocktails and a band some night!
(3)
Marcas B.
Used to eat here often. Service diminished, portions varied. They left their cole-slaw sitting out. Mayonnaise + un-refrigerated = make customers sick. Entire family got food poisoning.
(1)
Stacey L.
This place has gained a good reputation in the area for burgers. Anyone wanting to dine in elegance needs to look elsewhere. This place is a dive. Which, in itself, lends some charm. Not so charming, though, when we went last weekend on a 95 degree day to find they have no A/C. That alone will keep me away during hot weather from now on. A lot of people tout this as the best burger around. I don't believe that, but it's alright. The food selection is pretty great, and my husband enjoyed his tenderloin, which was quite large.
(3)
E T.
Scott the bartender behind the "Tiki Hut" bar is AWESOME! He was very friendly and so attentive. He suggested I have the Long Island, which by the way is 1 of 2 drinks they limit their patrons to 2 only, and it tasted like liquid candy. This time I ordered a corn dog and onion rings. I love corn dogs and you rarely find them on menus so when I do you better believe I have to get them! It was perfect, sweet corn batter and salty hot dog. Mmmm!
(4)
Lawrence T.
As long as the furniture doesn't break and you love meat than this is the place for you. With a wide assortment of burgers their giant baked spuds there is always something new to try. Don't judge the place by it's outside appearance as the Burger Barge isn't a meal it is an experience. So grab a seat on the outdoor deck and be sure to order the fried clams
(4)
Joanne W.
The Barge is the perfect place to get a delicious, cheap specialty burger (think Fuddrucker's, but half the price). The menu is extensive, and it will take you a few minutes to decide what you are going to clog your arteries with. But damn, I can't get enough of this cheesy decor and the Cheese Blobs.
(4)
Joe H.
I went for their all-you-can-eat lunch and was not impressed. The burgers were submerged in greasy water, every prepared salad was mainly mayonaise, and bread/buns were ok, but nothing special. The taco fillnig was OK, but I wasn't expecting much since it's not a Mexican restaurant. They have a good bar which was well stocked. Not terrible, just nothing I'd go out of my way for.
(2)
Mike T.
Never had a better burger than from Burger Barge. I tried the red white and moo and I thought I was going to explode... I can't believe I even finished it. Otherwise, the Illini Burger or the mushroom/swiss are good burgers. You can't beat a burger with bacon, shaved ham, and a fried egg. Burger Barge definitely beats Red Robin.
(5)
Heather Y.
Awesome burgers. They are always cooked great and there are a ton of great burger creations on their menu and you can create your own. Their homemade chips are also awesome.
(4)
Dally W.
Have been there twice. The burgers were very good. The fries are nothing special. It is a nice outdoor space to eat a cheap burger on a nice day.
(4)
Ethan H.
Great environment (fun, lively!)! Great burgers! Daily and weekly specials on food and drinks! Definitely going back. So many good looking things on the menu, it was really hard to decide!
(5)
Rachel E.
i do love the burger barge. i love the beach boy burger (fried cheese balls on your burger? say what? i said fried cheese balls on your burger!). i love the fried clams. and i love sitting on the river looking at crappy peoria. i'm sorry peoria, i love you. but you are quite crappy.
(3)
George S.
My friends have told me they get good burgers here. My wife and I have been there three times. Twice the burgers were so burnt they crunched when you bit into them. Both times, they took them back and gave us replacements. The other time it was OK, but nothing to rave about. Apparently people think it's good, because there always seems to be a crowd there. For me, I'll go somewhere that's more consistent.
(2)
Jesse S.
Had the beach boy burger it was huge and delicious the service was good too, the building is kind of a hole in the wall but don't let that scare you away
(5)
Josh E.
Everyone seems to love this place, but I don't get it. The burgers are fine, but it tastes like they cook them ahead of time. I've gone a number of times, and consistently the buns are cold and stale. The cold bun really hinders any melting of cheese and the taste of the burger. They should really consider toasting the buns. The service is repeatedly poor and the dining area is cramped.
(2)
K S.
dirty greasy gross, mold on menu, everything at table greasy, food bland bland bland...the whole place was filthy,,i have ate here a number of times, and the food always sucks,,,i dont know how anyone can rate this place good.. the food is overcooked, and just cheap.
(1)
Juls M.
What a delightful little dump. When I lived in P-town I couldn't get enough of this place. The best time to go is when it is warm enough to sit out back. Go ahead and bask in the glow of the cheap tiki torches and look out at the serenity of the murky Illinois while eating cheap pub food off of a tray. Yep, no plates here, but you can get pretty much any topping you can think of on your burger, plus you can get CHINGS! Chings = chips (homemade) + onion rings.
(4)
Q & A on
Which states have a Whataburger?
There are more than 800 Whataburger restaurants across the USA which are open 24 * 7 serving the tastiest meal. If you want to know the nearest Whataburger, then search the restaurant in our Restaurant Listings Directory.
Is Whataburger closed on Easter and Christmas?
Though Whataburger remains open 24 hours and seven days a week, most of the branches are closed during Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
What are Whataburger opening and closing time?
This is the only restaurant which proudly serves the customer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone can enjoy good food in the early morning or a late-night meal at Whataburger restaurant branch.
Does Whataburger have a vegan burger?
Yes, Whataburger have Vegan as well as Vegetarian burger option. Whataburger veggie burger and Whataburger sandwiches are popular among vegan crowds.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Whataburger
Whataburger, as the name suggests, is an American fast-food restaurant specializing in hamburgers. Unlike other famous US restaurants chains, Whataburger is a regional fast-food chain serving customers at 824 locations in the country. Most of these locations are based in Texas while a few others are spread across Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona, Alabama, New Mexico, Louisiana, etc.
Whataburger was founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Barton in 1950. The basic idea was to offer a better burger that tastes so good that every bite makes you say, “What A Burger!” In the same year, the Whataburger trademark was granted to Harmon Dobson, one of the co-founders. The restaurant specializes in different varieties and sizes of burgers including fish sandwich.
Healthy Food Options at Whataburger
Being a fast-food restaurant, you won't find many healthy food options at Whataburger. However, citing to the fitness trends and health preferences across the United States, Whataburger has revised its menu and introduced a selection of 550 calories or less menu in 2012. You can also try other items on the menu besides the burger to grab healthy food choices at Whataburger.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
J K.
Classic dive of a place with a decent menu and burgers to choose from. Horrible disgusting bathrooms.
(4)Meredith B.
I mean....it's a great place to sit and stare at the river, and we had a bunch of silly ducks wandering up to the tables to beg for fries, but besides being a place to sit outside on a warm day, there's really nothing good about it. Service was lazy - my Styrofoam drink cup (who cares about the environment!) had a hole in it, burgers only come well-done (probably a good thing), and all the various fried sides weren't hot enough. The burger was forgettable. It's a shame, because it would be such a fun place to sit outside in summer, but everything else about the experience is really disappointing. It's cheap though, so I guess there's that.
(2)Michael R.
Good place to grab a burger and beer when at or near the casino for out of towners and an every day spot for locals. Lots of choices for your burger, bar appetizer and snack cravings. Sorry, no truffle oil, vegan varieties or foie gras here...straight up beef burgers with basic yet fresh condiments and fried sides. I had the Ship, Captain & Crew Burger, which is in the style of the famous Primanti Bros. from Pittsburgh-a sandwich (in this case a good cheese burger) with fries and slaw between the buns. $2.50 Red Stripe special on Saturday is a good deal and went well with my burger. Very laid back and casual and just far enough off of the main road to feel like an escape.
(3)Aaron W.
Great for afternoon and evening drinks by the river. Crazy sandwich combinations and great staff. Definitely worth the stop.
(5)Angela R.
Ate here again after a long round of golf. We sat outside overlooking the river. Food was fresh. Service was great! There was a mess up with my husbands burger and it was handled really well. His burger had jalapenos on it and he asked the waitress if that was right because he wasn't sure if he had missed it on the menu or not. She said no it shouldn't have had those on there and that the cook was knew and must have gotten them mixed up (they have some crazy burgers). My husband wasn't upset and just took them off and was okay but she took it off our bill anyways with no hesitation. We didn't even know she was going to do that until we got the check. They definitely want their customers happy and coming back!
(5)Ed C.
OMFG. I conquered the Kraken. Each bite was more delicious than the last. I could eat one a week for the rest of my life.
(4)Melissa C.
Try the Tender Juicy. It's the best of an Illinois Classic, a pork tenderloin and the Burger Barge classic The Lucy. You can't go wrong
(4)Ashlynn A.
So I've been here a few times. The last time took over an hour to get our food. So we leave before getting our food. 2 waiters/waitresses literally CHASE us out the door thinking we didn't pay for our meal. They were looking for another couple. But one waiter literally harassed us down the road while hopping in his pick up truck saying we didn't pay. But we never got our food. It sounds like a made up story but I promise you this happened! Never again! Worst place worst food and the worst service I have ever seen.
(1)Jose V.
Burgers are very well constructed. I ordered the captains burger which comes with pastrami and dock sauce. my only gripe was that you can't order burgers medium. so they come well done, but luckily not burnt. the bread is buttered and most likely grilled. the place had a room for kids and a bar on the other side. a few tv's as well playing sports. you can get alcohol even if you sit on the kids side. pretty nice place to go to. I would go back.
(4)Jessica D.
Not good anymore. Used to love this place and would come back every time I was in town. Today, my boyfriend and I ate here and the food was horrible, we tell our waitress that it wasn't good and she said she would talk to her manager. The manager didn't even come apologize for the bad experience...that's not how you run a business in my opinion. Happy customers are the best customers.
(2)Teddi B.
Burgers, fries and an ice cold beer on the Riverfront - sounds like the making of a Jimmy Buffet song. Bring your appetite, burgers are a 1/2 lb and then have plenty of toppings. An order of fries is plenty to share. Beer specials are great - $2.50 for Corona/Corona Light bottles on a Friday Night.
(4)Angie K.
It tastes good and is a typical dive restaurant. The view is awesome though. But man did my friends and I get sick after eating there. They have a bad history with the health department too. They have a newer location that you may fare better at. Eat at your own risk!
(2)Jaimie L.
The burgers were fantastic. Lots of different choices. The alcoholic beverages were unique and tasty.
(5)Nancy R.
The ambience was fun and having a duck join us for lunch was different. The burgers were nothing to write home about but they were ok. The staff was friendly & efficient. My low rating was because of the absurd amount of filth.. gobs of dust hanging from the ceilings was like something you would expect in a 3rd world country. The garbage can in the area we were eating was covered in dripping condiments and dirt that appeared to not have been washed in years. Drinks were served in styrofoam cups and plastic forks of the cheapest variety was used. I will take an extra dose of vitamins to counter whatever special germs I may have picked up. Not putting this on places I want to eat in again
(2)Kathy A.
This is crap! I just got charged extra for getting water and not a soda with my lunch. COMPLETE CRAP! Lunch special is sandwich, side and a drink. I ordered water so I was changed for the individual sandwich and a side which came to a dollar more than the special. JUST CRAP!!! I asked the waiter about it and he said that is their policy. Very poor policy.
(1)Terry K.
Visiting the area and this place was recommended so i headed down on a Tuesday night.... got the Philly burger and onion rings. The burger was chewy, like an old soggy mushroom, and I never found any onion in the onion rings. Suffice to say I never finished my meal. The decor is what I would imagine a 20 year old Jimmy Buffet restaurant would look like if it were never painted, cleaned or updated. Unique, just not my cup of tea. Others there seemed to enjoy their meal. Burger onion rings, some breaded mushrooms and a soda were $20..wouldn't mind the price if the quality was better.
(1)AJ R.
We were in town for a wedding and looking for a local spot to grab lunch. The outside could definitely use some updating and clean up, but they easily made up for this with their service and food. The staff was very friendly, and the service was fast for 8 of us. It was a Saturday so the place was pretty busy, but there are several areas to grab a table and they sat us right away. Most if us had burgers, and every single one of us said it was one of the best we'd ever had. Perfectly cooked, seasoned, and they have dozens of options for toppings. The drinks were ok, and they didn't have many options for tap beer.
(4)Theresa T.
This place has great bergers and sandwitches. I havent had anything I didnt like yet. The Lucy or Philli bergers are my favorites and dont forget the dock sauce! This place might not be easy on your waist line, but its good all around. Service, athmosphere, food and drinks. Lunch time it get pretty busy, so get there early.
(5)Dawn L.
Great, fun atmosphere. Andre is one of the best bartenders ever. What a friendly guy. Love this place
(5)JP P.
The Burger Barge is not for the squeamish! This is a hardcore down and dirty burger eating emporium. No real decor to speak of...the place is crowded and loud as hell! It's dark inside. The tables and chairs are mere outlines that shadow the patrons that inhabit them. We were fortunate enough to get a seat at the bar with a clear vision of the small but complex grill area. The cooks work their ass off. A "clear vision" of the grill area is a "loose' term. You can feel the HEAT of the grill and the vaporized grease created is like a London Fog! Thus, part of the shadow experience. The menu is way too complex. Repeat customers come back for a "Burger Grease Fix". New customers want to experience the reputation. This is a "Dive Restaurant" that just so happens to serve booze. Your not supposed to be comfortable here! However, this is some tasty meat...I reviewed it so you won't have too!
(4)Joe B.
The last time I was at the burger barge, they ran out of patties. Shouldn't be something that hard to keep track of. Instead,my burger was cobbled together out of sliders. When served, I noticed that the mashed together sliders may have been undercooked to some degree but I continued eating anyway. Poor choice. I ended up getting sick during the night from the food, and haven't returned mostly out of sanitary concerns.
(2)Ash A.
If I came here at a busier hour, I may have given this place 4 stars for atmosphere but we came here at a lunch hour on a Monday, thus I am giving this 3 stars. I went to the Burger Barge to meet for lunch with my aunt while my boyfriend interviewed near by. The building is very cool, almost felt like an awesome dive bar in Florida. They have picnic tables on the sand, outdoor and indoor seating, and a great tropical selection of drinks! Granted the building and seating were very neat, the place was pretty dead. We were 1 of 3 tables seated at the lunch hour. However, this place had some pretty great special. $1 domestics on one day, $1 drafts any size another day. Great place to meet up with friends. I ordered a shrimp poboy, it was mediocre. Basically just fried shrimp on Texas toast, almost a make shift poboy. The fries, chips, and onion rings on the side were good, definitely order the house dipping sauces (deck sauces), they were delicious! My aunt ordered a cheese burger and said it was very good. To take from this review, this place had some great specials with a mini Florida atmosphere on the Illinois river! A fun place to meet up with friends!
(3)Mark C.
My burger was very fatty, and something added to it was way too salty. I guess I'm spoiled on quality of meat. I ordered a large size draft of Rolling Rock draft, only to find that though it is on the menu, they do not have that on draft at the riverside location. The two drafts they had were both light beers, and their selection of domestic was pedestrian at best. I got a bottle of Heineken which was not as cold as it should be, and had less beer than if I had had a large draft as I wanted. I ordered "frings" but got french fries only. They compensated by bringing a half order of onion rings. I noticed that I was charged for the fries, not the frings, which was nice. The fries were good, but the rings were only fair. Most likely both are purchased frozen. Prices are fairly good, and it is conveniently close to Hampton Inn (where I was staying), but I will look for a better burger elsewhere. I can imagine this place being a lot more fun in the summertime, especially for groups.
(2)Sherri B.
Food is just OK. Atmosphere is fun. Onion rungs are just OK. Definitely not best ever. Burgers are cheap meat. No streak flavor.
(3)Matt B.
I love the Burger Barge. The burgers are better than anything you can find around. The environment is low key, relaxed and its a bit of a dive. The outdoor seating area overlooks the Illinois river. Try it, you wont be sorry.
(4)Dianne S.
"Best burgers on this side of paradise"...Par-a-Dice casino that is. I had my doubts. It is Peoria. It is across the street from a sleezy casino. But what the heck, there's a Burger King down the street that can be plan B. Divey no nonsense burger joint with a thatch roofed bar complete with Landshark and Bud Light with Lime ornamental lighting. Service here is not lacking. Friendly. Helpful. Attentive. $2 Bloody Mary bar on Sundays. Generous vodka pour. Enough said. I loaded mine with pickles, olives, celery, and multiple bloody Mary mixes. Man, I make one mean bloody Mary! Onto the food. Walking in you can smell the deliciously well seasoned meat patties grilling away in the kitchen. Their menu is ginormous! It was hard to decide but I went for my two favorite toppings, bacon and mushrooms, Illinois Burger ($6.79)! Sides here are all a la carte and the onion rings are NOT to be missed!
(5)Erin D.
Seemingly had the potential for great food...however the wait time was so horrible that we simply could not wait longer than 45 for our small order. This is not the place anyone should stop if you are hoping to get in and out within an hour.
(2)Todd S.
I love the nautical atmosphere and being around other local boaters. Their chili cheese burger is outstanding. Now, with the addition of the patio lounge and the band area in the back, they can satisfy all types of customers.
(4)Tonya T.
Great burgers cooked how you want with a variety of toppings. Can get fried egg on top, Mexican...huge number of choices. You need to try the 'dock' sauce. Good for fries of on burgers. This is a very casual place. The restaurant moved a couple years ago. The place doesn't quite have the beach bum bar feel like the old place...but it has a bigger and better kitchen so you don't have to wait forever. If you want an excellent burger and aren't counting calories...yum.
(4)Mike N.
If you don't like hole in the wall dives, don't bother coming here. However, if you want a great burger, strong drinks, and don't mind sticky floors and generally unclean facility stop on in. I come here at least once a year and have yet to be disappointed. However, I stick to ordering burgers, hence the name. They have very unique burgers. Two of my favorites are the Tavern Burger (Burger, Ham, Bacon, Fried Egg, Grilled Onions, and Cheese) or the Captains Burger (Burger, Pastrami, Dock Sauce, etc.). The Rum Runners are outstanding and the Gigi Tea is too strong, hence the 2 drink limit ;-). Have people in my party had a bad meal here, sure but they ordered seafood dishes. Not to say the meal was bad, it's just fried (i.e. previously frozen) entrees. The burgers however are very fresh and mine have always been hot and very tasty beef. It's a dive bar with great burgers. If you want something more upscale, cross the river.
(4)R. E.
This place has been local staple for years. This review is not on the original Burger Barge - which it should be noted it was recently shut down for 10 days by the city health department - but instead for it's new location. The new location is meant to bring families in. There is ample seating, huge play area, and then there's a more quiet place to eat called the bar. It's huge and it happened to have a table of 14 people sitting. There were three of us and another couple that came in at about the same time. Our server was prompt in getting our drinks and taking our order but that's where it ends. The table of 14 was our demise. 40 minutes later, our food came as well as the other couple's. The table of 14's order wasn't right and their food kept trickling out and there must have been one cook because it was like everything came to a complete stop because of the large table. I get it. Big tables are a pain. But seriously? There was no one else and if all it takes is a large table to get things backed up, I am highly concerned how long it would take to get your food when the place is busy. And it's not like we're ordering fancy fish, lobster, etc. It's burgers and fries!! By the time our food came out, the burgers were cold and the sides were lukewarm. I should also mention that I ordered off the lite menu and the portions were the same size but half the price. I ordered what should have been two pieces of fish but instead got three fish sticks. Definitely disappointing and will likely not go back to the new location.
(2)Sarah B.
Amazing! We eat here weekly. Bacon burger or clam strips with chips then funnel fries for dessert.
(5)Tricia W.
Great location on the water - reminded me of a "dive" in Florida. Sat at the bar to eat got great service and was able to watch the cooks do their thing. Must have been their during shift change because there were tons of servers on the floor BSing with each other and a lady at the bar who was drinking counting money and reading schedules...manager? Really like the casual atmosphere and food with a little more professionalism by the staff this place would be excellent
(4)Cloey S.
A place to go if you're craving a greasy burger. They always seem to be packed. I always wonder what everyone else gets that keeps them coming back for more because I always leave disappointed. The place is pretty dirty and the tables are washed down with a dirty old rag. The staff is very friendly and welcoming though.
(2)B C.
Great burgers. A must stop when we are in Peoria. It has the feel of a dive bar right on the river. Once you get the food you forget about any negative feelings you may have had about the bar.
(4)Krut H.
Don't be fooled by the exterior, this place really does have some of the best burgers around. The atmosphere is very laid back and family friendly. A great place to hang with friends too!! Great food and great service! Highly recommend this place.
(5)James G.
The service was horrible. The tables were grimy and sticky. Food was okay but the burger fell apart and didn't even stay together it was more like hamburger salad. Fried green beans were delicious though. Atmosphere was ok but we had folks next to us cussing up a storm that made many others uncomfortable and it took an hour before they finally told them to stop.
(2)Tony T.
Came in during lunch time to try their burgers. I wasn't expecting the best burger I've ever had, but I also wasn't expecting what I got...a burger that came out not more than 2 minutes after I ordered it, which tasted like it had been sitting on the grill keeping warm for an hour or two. I'm sure that violates something in the health code. Tasted like warm, old, smoky grease. The fries were pretty decent. I left full, but fully regretting what I had eaten. Newer chains like 5 Guys, Smashburger, Meatheads are less hole the wall-y and the food is much more tasty.
(2)David L.
Great hole-in-the-wall burger joint. Rather busy and can be slight crowded and noisy, but that is more part of the atmosphere than an problem. Burgers and service are awesome.
(4)Jeff L.
The barge on main st (riverside) cooks better than the barge on meadow (new location). At meadow, the burger meat tasted ok but they forgot to ask how we like it so was cooked longer than we prefer. Neither the cheddar now swiss cheeses on our burgers had much flavor. Fries and onion rings were luke warm. Fries were soft, not crispy. Wow! The bill was $27 w/ tip for 2 cheese burgers, 1 side of fries, 1 side of onion rings and 1 beer. Service wasn't bad, but the food was just ok (at best). The parking lot was full when we left, so apparently they have fans. For 1/2 the price, next time it'll be Culvers, Hardee's or 5 guys for us though. Better yet, grill it yourself the way you like it. We won't be going back to the new location. Too bad, because I like the ol' barge location - at least on a weekday for lunch.
(2)Rish A.
The Burger Barge sacrifices taste and flavor for clogged arteries and obesity. It has quite an atmosphere, but I don't think its one that I enjoy. The view is ok if you like the look of crappy and depressing. I ordered the Andre Burger, which came topped with pepper jack cheese, onion rings, nacho cheese, jalapenos and "dock sauce." Not sure what the dock sauce was, but the menu warned that this burger is "giant in flavor." To paraphrase Clueless: searching for flavor in an Andre burger was as useless as searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie. The only thing I tasted was a bunch of meat and cholesterol, without much zing or nuance in flavor. I barely ate half the burger. We ordered the Luciano cheese blobs, and those were okay. Once they got cold, they were un-eatable. My partner in crime ordered the Bluebeard's Burger and didn't have anything good to say about that either. I much prefer a burger from Ulrich's Rebellion Room. Even Burger King would be a better option.
(1)Brian f.
My co-worker and I stopped here during a visit to the area for work. I had seen this place listed on Thillens best 10 burgers in Illinois. The place certainly has character and most likely is a blast in the warmer months with there outdoor patio over looking the water. The inside is what others here have described as old key west type shack. Not the cleanest place around but I guess that adds to the whole Beach feel. We were looking forward to the Burgers. We both ordered burgers and some appetizers. The food was out super fast, almost too fast. The appetizers were ok at best. Typical greasy deep fried stuff. The fries were good, definitely fresh cut. The burgers were nothing better then a cafeteria burger. The burger patty itself is almost strange in the fact that it is perfectly colored meat from top to bottom left to right, inside and out. The shape was perfect! The taste was not! My first thought is that the burgers are precooked, then placed in holding pan with beef broth. When a burger is ordered, it's simply taken out of the liquid placed on the griddle for a second if at all and placed on the bun. That's the reason for the perfect color burger. It's called a "speeder" in the restaurant industry to speed along times during busy hours. I would not eat at this place again for free.
(1)Katelyn W.
Food is good but come with expectations of it being a kind islandy feel run down place. Not what we were expecting.
(3)Jesse P.
bomb ass burgers bitch.... been there a bunch of times yo! they be stacking fat benjis cuz they busy as hell!!
(4)Veronica H.
Dive. Should be on an episode with Guy for Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Also known as a greasy spoon. Food is delicious ; wild variety of burgers with tasty toppings. Atmosphere is comfortable, but the interior decorating is a sight in itself. Personalize ur napkin, and they will put it on display. Price is reasonable too.
(4)Craig Q.
This place is fabulous. Great, creative burgers in a wonderful atmosphere. My kids loved it too.
(5)Don F.
A great place by the river. We loved the two burgers we tried. The Hawaiian and the Philly both were great. I think the Hawaiian was a bit better than the Philadelphia. The bottle beers were not too badly priced. For the basic beers they do a good job.
(4)Fonz D.
Stopped by last weekend and had high hopes for their burgers. They were ok - but nothing worth going out of your way for. The funnel cake fries were great and the decor was cheesy/dirty but in all honesty I liked it. They had a special on Red Stripe beer on Saturday too which was nice considering the look they were going for and the fact I hadn't had one since I went to Jamaica.
(3)Ron R.
This is one of the few restaurants in the Peoria are that is accessible by boat- By far, in my opinion this is the BEST. They used to sell their burgers off of a pontoon boat in the river, but the health department started giving them problems, so they moved to their current location. Recently they opened the "Tiki Barge" which has a more open feel. They also had live music when we were there, on a Sunday! Last time I heard, the meat was from a local provider, you know the one on War Memorial- with the big black fiberglass cow? Yeah, that one- Now, here are my food suggestions- hidden near the back of the menu is something called the 'mini moo'. It's a burger that is half the size of the huge assed heart attack they normally sell. It's available in the same way as any of their other burgers, my favorite is the chilli cheese burger with a bit of mustard. Also, you can get a mixture of chips and onion rings, they call them "chings".
(5)Jose M.
Great dive place. Don't fear the look of the place from the parking lot. Yes it looks like a hobo shack but once you go inside you will not be disappointed. They have a wide variety of burgers. I tried the Adams with the jalapeños and nacho cheese. Burger was perfectly cooked juicy but not soggy . Burgers and fries come in a cafeteria style tray . You get a good size burger for 6 bucks. All the burgers are around 6-7 dollar range . The place reminds me of bars I have visited in key west with a Midwest attitude. Great service and cold beer what else can you ask for .
(4)Cynthia K.
Food was awesome for fried food! We had appetizers and then just had fun beverages!!! Waitress was very much a cutie pie!!
(4)Tom B.
I am a fan of this beach shack burger joint in the heartland. There is two bars and a patio. They have great burgers and they were fast. I got my burger from the kitchen faster than McDonalds. They have a burger that uses two grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches as the buns. The servers were helpful quick and friendly.
(4)Keith B.
Keep going back. Love this place. Best Burger in the area. Definitely a local treasure. Great staff. Only complaint would be its a little tough to find if you have not been there before, and parking is a bit rough and limited. But the food makes up for it. Tons of unique burgers to choose. From a taco Burger to a Burger with Ham and a fried egg. Never leave hungry or disappointed
(5)Kristin H.
While visiting my girlfriends in Peoria they suggested we go to Burger Barge for a late lunch - they are both big fans. I love the atmosphere of this place, i love my dives. Kitschy decor and guest decorated napkins line the walls. They ordered cheese blobs for us as an appetizer and I got the Bacon Lucy Burger. I enjoyed the blobs, basically just deep fried cheese served with ranch, but I love my cheese. Wasn't as impressed with the burger. It was topped with loose meat, bacon and liquid cheese. Good, just not great. Service was adequate, she wasn't overly friendly. Overall I would definitely be willing to give it another try.
(3)Julia S.
This is a hole in the wall type place that gets great reviews. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a greasy burger and fries/onion rings. Or maybe it was because there was ants crawling all over our table. I know warm weather is finally here but better spray.
(3)Mike G.
My daughter and I were driving through Peoria for a tournament and while on the interstate we searched our handy YELP app on the smart phone to find a local burger joint. Something unique and not a national chain (nothing against those because my family loves eating there too). We found the Burger Barge! If you were to look up "local burger dive" in Wikipedia, the Burger Barge would be at the top of the list. Getting there is a bit tricky but if your turn off right onto Black Jack drive at the casino and hang a right, you'll find the Burger Barge at the end of the frontage road. We didn't mess around, we both ordered the Captain's Burger which is a loaded cheese burger with Pastrami and a large order of rings. Excellent food, we sat in the Tiki Bar area because there was some live entertainment that Friday night and the server was friendly and nice. Like my other review of Emo's Dairy, I'm sure the Peoria locals know this place well, but if you're traveling through this nice Illinois river city and it's lunch or dinner time, make the trip and enjoy the burger . . . especially if you like to try local spots.
(5)Mike L.
I love this place. Burgers, beers, beach atmosphere, and friendly wait staff! The place seems somewhat divey, but I think that adds to the ambiance. The menu is very extensive and sometimes hard to choose from. Overall, great place.
(4)Michael S.
Fried Food. They have a fried food appetizer tray that consists of fries, chips, fried shrimp, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers. All the grease ones heart could desire. The burgers were pretty good too. I opted to get the regular burger so that I could compare it to other burger establishments. Rating: average. I recommend getting one of the fancy burgers, because the regular burger is nothing special. Sit on the back deck, the view of the river is cool. We were there during a thunderstorm. Great setting for drinking beers and watching the storm roll in.
(4)Kelly K.
"I normally love this place but this last time I went there the food and waitress was so disappointing that I will not be going back for a very long time. It was like they had one burner going and this waitress was never around. It was for my husbands birthday so I..."
(2)Roland T.
Great place with outdoor seating next to the river. Burgers are really yummy although I regret that they have gone overboard with a way too complex and long list of items to choose from. It was was easier and somehow better tasting before when their menu was simple and no frill, as now the burger preparation and cooking is quite uneven from one time to the next. Keep it simple and s.. Will still go back but might stop elsewhere on my way to their place.
(4)Alaina L.
Oh my goodness, how I craaave Burger Barge. Went to college at Bradley and after moving back to the Burb's, Burger Barge is one of the main things I miss about school, besides the binge drinking, of course. There are a huge variety of burger's to pick from, many with delicious fried foods topping them. The appetizers are also delicious, try the frips. The decorations are so fun, it's like an episode of Sponge Bob inside. I'm drooling thinking about it.. seriously, go!
(5)Jonathan C.
Are you hungover? Did you just wake up early to go to the casino and now need some food? Well whatever your reason for being out here at lunch time, you have no choice but to go here? Why, because its damn good. Not sure what you want? Get the "Buy the farm". Its a porkchop, a 9 oz burger, and a chicken breast all piled onto one bun. If you think that sounds too healthy because of that lean chicken, the "Red white and Moo" has two burger patties and a porkchop on one bun. Only in America!!!!!
(4)Bitsy B.
Amazing Americana. Heart-attack burgers and tiki drinks. Classic.
(3)Meredith E.
I have no idea where to even begin this review. This place defines dive. The outside would scare you away with the deflated shark, condemned house with a restaurant sign and randomly scattered Christmas lights, if you didnt know the food was amazing. Strange and interesting drink and food menu. Odd variety of tropical cocktails and margaritas. Beers including Keystone Light and Stag. PBR is top shelf here. The burgers had a strange mix of toppings as well. I got a Shroom Burger. A burger with deep fried portobello mushrooms and barge spicy mayo. It was FABULOUS. However, the first burger put in front of me was the BBQ pork plus burger with coleslaw and a side of onion rings. I took the burger apart to double check that it wasnt mine and had a few onion rings. When the waiter returned I informed him of the wrong burger and he picked it up and gave it to a gentleman at a different table. YES HE DID THAT. I also heard a waitress tell the cook to f off. A beer and burger was $10. Not bad for an entertaining evening.
(4)Jay M.
Awesome atmosphere, great food! A rare find in central Illinois! Keep it up burger barge!!! Unfortunately our area is lacking in the creativity dept. this is one of very few non chain restaurants. (I dislike chain restaurants)
(5)Jason T.
Went to the new location for lunch and was very disappointing. Ordered a burger and fries with fried pickles for an appetizer. No brainer right. It's what they do. The burger was obviously pre cooked then warmed up on the cook top. Fries were decent. The pickles average. They were spears which was kinda weird. Edible but nothing special.
(2)J.D. D.
Fantastic place for a burger and beer. I halfway expect Jimmy Buffet on repeat.
(4)Anne H.
We came to Peoria from Chicago for the day and wanted dinner before heading back north. My husband wanted a burger and I wanted outside dining, preferably on the river so Burger Barge sounded perfect, particularly after scanning through some of the reviews. Wow were we disappointed! On the bright side, the service was friendly and prompt but that's about it on the positives. I chose the Texas Chicken Barge in a half assed attempt to be healthier. I literally ate one bite. The chicken was hard and tough yet appeared undercooked with an almost gray color to it. It was slathered with jarred Pace picante sauce, guac and 2 slices of jack cheese they just placed on top with no effort at meltage...not cool! My husband was sweet enough to share his Andre Burger but that was mediocre at best (ballpark cheese sauce and Cisco jalapeños are NEVER delicious!) and the meat on it also tasted old for lack of a better word. Oh and if you're looking for an even halfway decent Bloody Mary, keep right on truckin' cuz you won't get it here! Bottom line....I feel a little sorry for the scores of people who are standing out front waiting for a piece of this place. But perhaps they are blissfully ignorant of what good food is out there to be had!
(1)Tom C.
Yes it's a hole in the wall dive bar but it has an extensive selection of great burgers and good onion rings with an alright family atmosphere (at least in the dining room, don't know about the bar areas or what appears to be a beer garden). I can't speak for the other menu items or the drinks 'cause I haven't tried anything else here and probably won't. After all, I figure it's called the Burger Barge for a reason. Have I had better burgers elsewhere? Yeah, but they did cost a lot more too. For the money, the burgers here are awesome.
(4)Jessi J.
Well, to be honest, If your looking for a burger in Peoria, this is the place to go. It was cooked good, just the right amount of greasy, and cooked right around medium. The reason Im giving it 4 stars is because I ordered the Anchor, where it was a burger on top of the fries coated in chili and cheese. I didn't know I would be receiving a heart attack on a plate. lol Again it was good, but there was just WAY too much cheese on there. They put shredded cheddar on the fries at the bottom, which was good, then a layer of chili, good, then the patty, ok, then more chili, wow, and then a VERY thick layer of liquid cheese, and this was where it was a little too much. If you love your cheese, dive in. But for me, even with my artery clogging meals of the past, this was too too hefty. But let me rehash. The taste was there, and its about as divey as can be, even to the point of the bartenders drinking with you. Its a good experience, and definitely a decent burger, but Go normal, don't drop anchor, or youll be dropping anchors for the next day or two. lol
(4)David B.
A very very strange place. Are there building codes or architects in Peoria? The food is good, a strange collection of burger choices and fried foods. It is on the water, or at least as close to on the water as you get in Peoria. Skip McDs( and the other 50 burger chains in Peoria) and try Burger Barge.
(4)Zach H.
Venture to this place at least once a summer, probably more than that. Good food, but greasy, some very novel food combinations on their menu. Sea Shanty style decor, decent music, Big portions, slightly eccentric and eclectic style. Very fun place late at night and in the summer.
(4)Tony H.
Every Peorian's guilty pleasure when it comes to great burgers and other wacky shit. Looks like a sea shanty on the outside, and not much better on the inside, but the food & atmosphere are great. Photographs, hand-drawn pictures and writing all over the walls & ceiling by friends and local pro athletes add even more. Offers a wide selection of starters, specialty burgers & build-your-own and other creations. My favorite burger is the Blue Beard's Burger (bleu cheese, onion and bleu cheese dressing. I substitute bacon for onion.) Burger is big enough, but if you want to pony up an extra $1.50, enjoy some great fries, their homemade hand-cut chips, or a combo of the two- "frips." My only complaint is that they don't toast, grill or do anything with the buns; they just leave it as is and it always tastes cold compared to the rest of the sandwich. Their Spud-Toons are good two...basically two huge baked potatoes mashed together end to end, and served with your choice of up to four toppings. One day, I will try the "Buy the Farm," which is a sandwich with your choice of cheese, and a burger, pork chop and chicken breast all one on bun. One of these days....*drool* Great service, everyone wears orange. There's outdoor seating on a makeshift beach, and a dock off the Illinois river, so you can pull up if you're out on the weekend. Best "sea shanty" food in the area!
(4)Greg S.
Fantastic!! I have never had a burger this good before. Their Lucy meat is an incredible invention! Great food for a good price, I can't wait to go again!
(5)L C.
We had visited Burger Barge several times, until our last visit. The dining area was full, but not crowded. We waited a few minutes before the server seated us. She wasnt polite or friendly, but brought our soft drinks quickly. After that, she never returned to our table. We waited approximately 10 minutes before I tried to get staffs attention at the counter. The staff walked around me, and avoided me completely. I left $3.00 on the table for our soft drinks, left and have never returned.
(1)Sandra L.
We love this place and have gone often since moving to the Peoria are. It's really a funky, fun and most the time crowded place. the burgers are huge, and just as they should be for this type of food. Not for the faint of heart! Be prepared to eat much, laugh a lot and have a great time where The locals go!
(3)Kim A.
It is 2:30PM. Chicago is under a foot of snow, and I'm staring at my half finished bowl of Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable Soup (that's right, the ones with the ABC's). Most people would be dreaming about sunning themselves on St. Lucia, or mai tais in Fiji... Me? I'm dreaming of frips and blobs. In school, Burger Barge was that thing we used to treat ourselves: "Sweet! Finals are over... the barge?"... yes! Or "Matt/Mike/Kevin/Joe Schmoe... what a dick! You need THE BARGE!" And so we'd go. We'd eat our little hearts out, take half it home, hit the bars, and reheat the rest a approximately 4:20AM (gotta love 4AM last call...). They serve meat and fried food, and they do it really well. Now living in a world of burgers from Kuma's, Hot Chocolate, and The Gage, with fancy ingredients and wacky bread... I miss the simplicity of Burger Barge. So... if you ever find yourself in Peoria, IL, and are craving a bit o' grease and meat, do yourself a favor and make it to this shifty little shanty.
(4)Mike E.
I've driven past this place for years. Always thinking I would try it some time, but not adventures enough to take a chance, given the run down appearance and the surrounding stagnant water pools. After reading the reviews here, I decided to give it a shot. The staff was attentive, very friendly, even a bit flirtatious. I had the small burger and onion rings while sitting at the bar. A nice break from the usual chain drive throughs, and enough funk to remind me downtown Memphis. The food was okay and came in a reasonable time. The walls are covered with paper napkins that have hand written messages scribbled on them. I wasn't up to reading any of the messages on this visit - seemed to much like staring into a trash can. Maybe next time.
(3)Chris Z.
Burger Barge keeps it simple, and I'll do the same in this review. Wherever you live, you need to know a humble place that will serve you a delicious burger without pretension. This isn't the place where you go for a $15 Kobe beef burger. This is the place where you go for a greasy, dripping, artery-clogging masterpiece. Burger Barge is that place in the Peoria community. It's a shack near the river, which adequately sums up its decor. It's a burger dive. It's always satisfying. You know what you're going to get. And you can sit outside in the sand. (Don't get your hopes up--it's a patio, not a beach.) It's one of the few places in Peoria I miss now that I've moved away.
(4)Dave W.
Hands down, best burgers in town!
(5)Dan G.
Great, unique burgers. They are not afraid to throw a ton of toppings on your burger. This is the definition of local fare. I recommend.
(4)Jan c.
i went with some co workers when i was in town and it was quaint. The food is ok and service is fair. I probably wouldnt go back unless the fellows insist. lol
(3)Greg S.
A great little dive! Fantastic food, to many burgers to choose from, a must for any burger lover A+
(5)Jen B.
Thanks to a fellow reviewer here on Yelp (Thanks Ron!!) I was armed and ready to order my mini moo when I met up with a group of friends here over the weekend. The weather was awesome and the place was packed! We waited over an hour for food but with 12 of us there and plenty of drinks coming our way, we hardly noticed. My Illinois style mini moo was perfect and had a nice mix of frips and fries accompanying it. I was too chicken to try their specialty drink that has a "limit 2" but will put that on my bucket list ;) Very nice addition along with the outdoor tiki bar/smoking area-would come on back here for some of those limited cocktails and a band some night!
(3)Marcas B.
Used to eat here often. Service diminished, portions varied. They left their cole-slaw sitting out. Mayonnaise + un-refrigerated = make customers sick. Entire family got food poisoning.
(1)Stacey L.
This place has gained a good reputation in the area for burgers. Anyone wanting to dine in elegance needs to look elsewhere. This place is a dive. Which, in itself, lends some charm. Not so charming, though, when we went last weekend on a 95 degree day to find they have no A/C. That alone will keep me away during hot weather from now on. A lot of people tout this as the best burger around. I don't believe that, but it's alright. The food selection is pretty great, and my husband enjoyed his tenderloin, which was quite large.
(3)E T.
Scott the bartender behind the "Tiki Hut" bar is AWESOME! He was very friendly and so attentive. He suggested I have the Long Island, which by the way is 1 of 2 drinks they limit their patrons to 2 only, and it tasted like liquid candy. This time I ordered a corn dog and onion rings. I love corn dogs and you rarely find them on menus so when I do you better believe I have to get them! It was perfect, sweet corn batter and salty hot dog. Mmmm!
(4)Lawrence T.
As long as the furniture doesn't break and you love meat than this is the place for you. With a wide assortment of burgers their giant baked spuds there is always something new to try. Don't judge the place by it's outside appearance as the Burger Barge isn't a meal it is an experience. So grab a seat on the outdoor deck and be sure to order the fried clams
(4)Joanne W.
The Barge is the perfect place to get a delicious, cheap specialty burger (think Fuddrucker's, but half the price). The menu is extensive, and it will take you a few minutes to decide what you are going to clog your arteries with. But damn, I can't get enough of this cheesy decor and the Cheese Blobs.
(4)Joe H.
I went for their all-you-can-eat lunch and was not impressed. The burgers were submerged in greasy water, every prepared salad was mainly mayonaise, and bread/buns were ok, but nothing special. The taco fillnig was OK, but I wasn't expecting much since it's not a Mexican restaurant. They have a good bar which was well stocked. Not terrible, just nothing I'd go out of my way for.
(2)Mike T.
Never had a better burger than from Burger Barge. I tried the red white and moo and I thought I was going to explode... I can't believe I even finished it. Otherwise, the Illini Burger or the mushroom/swiss are good burgers. You can't beat a burger with bacon, shaved ham, and a fried egg. Burger Barge definitely beats Red Robin.
(5)Heather Y.
Awesome burgers. They are always cooked great and there are a ton of great burger creations on their menu and you can create your own. Their homemade chips are also awesome.
(4)Dally W.
Have been there twice. The burgers were very good. The fries are nothing special. It is a nice outdoor space to eat a cheap burger on a nice day.
(4)Ethan H.
Great environment (fun, lively!)! Great burgers! Daily and weekly specials on food and drinks! Definitely going back. So many good looking things on the menu, it was really hard to decide!
(5)Rachel E.
i do love the burger barge. i love the beach boy burger (fried cheese balls on your burger? say what? i said fried cheese balls on your burger!). i love the fried clams. and i love sitting on the river looking at crappy peoria. i'm sorry peoria, i love you. but you are quite crappy.
(3)George S.
My friends have told me they get good burgers here. My wife and I have been there three times. Twice the burgers were so burnt they crunched when you bit into them. Both times, they took them back and gave us replacements. The other time it was OK, but nothing to rave about. Apparently people think it's good, because there always seems to be a crowd there. For me, I'll go somewhere that's more consistent.
(2)Jesse S.
Had the beach boy burger it was huge and delicious the service was good too, the building is kind of a hole in the wall but don't let that scare you away
(5)Josh E.
Everyone seems to love this place, but I don't get it. The burgers are fine, but it tastes like they cook them ahead of time. I've gone a number of times, and consistently the buns are cold and stale. The cold bun really hinders any melting of cheese and the taste of the burger. They should really consider toasting the buns. The service is repeatedly poor and the dining area is cramped.
(2)K S.
dirty greasy gross, mold on menu, everything at table greasy, food bland bland bland...the whole place was filthy,,i have ate here a number of times, and the food always sucks,,,i dont know how anyone can rate this place good.. the food is overcooked, and just cheap.
(1)Juls M.
What a delightful little dump. When I lived in P-town I couldn't get enough of this place. The best time to go is when it is warm enough to sit out back. Go ahead and bask in the glow of the cheap tiki torches and look out at the serenity of the murky Illinois while eating cheap pub food off of a tray. Yep, no plates here, but you can get pretty much any topping you can think of on your burger, plus you can get CHINGS! Chings = chips (homemade) + onion rings.
(4)