I had the prime rib and the mister had ribs. The ribs were moist and tender. The prime rib was average. The draft beers we had were a little pricey - $5 for 12 oz. I would've expected a pint. Anyhow, the accompaniments were nice. Salads were super crisp and fresh. The blue cheese dressing I had didn't taste very blue though. Service was excellent - very friendly and perfectly timed.
(3)
Alyssa L.
We came here on a whim after hiking starved rock and we have to say we were pleasantly surprised. Our server Eric was very welcoming, and when we were unsure on what to order he recommended the chicken piccata which was fantastic. The chicken was seasoned to perfection. Be sure to request him as your server. Portions were generous, and we would definitely recommend this place to anyone in search of some good eats.
(5)
Rachel J.
My husband and I visited canal port last Sunday night. We like to think we are fried mushroom judges. Their fried mushrooms were the best in LaSalle count no doubt! I serve at a fine dinning restaurant and the breading on these was delish. I do wish they would make one more cut to 1/3 or 1/4. Half of a mushroom is BIG, if love to pop em in my mouth. However they still got a 10 out of 10, from my mate. I had the red pepper orange roughy very good, will order again. He got the ribeye special very good and cooked as we would expect. This is a bar atmosphere, but do not be turned away by that there is a dinning room available too, I believe they only use it during busy times. Many many beers to choose from peroni, Stella, hefewiezen and many others! Service was great too, she knew her stuff and we were not rushed to finish one dish before the next. This is a nice place for a single dinner too! The bar is easy to eat at and the bartender was very prompt. (I watched from my table) We did not have desert, but the server told them what they were and they sounded heavenly!
(5)
Keith C.
Fantastic place to end a fabulous day of Junior Tackle Football!! The food here is fantastic and really great rib-eyes and prime rib and spectacular deep fried mushrooms! If you want GREAT FOOD at a decent price give Canal Port a try.....you won't be sorry!!
(5)
Ashley M.
I had the chicken picatta with mixed green salad. Salad was the perfect size. I hate when a side salad is big enough to fill you up, so that was good... As was the bleu cheese dressing. Chicken Picatta tasted fresh and the chicken was nice and moist. If I'm ever in the area again I'll definitely come back.
(4)
Brittany H.
The bf & I love heading to starved rock for a weekend getaway from the windy city. When looking for dinner in the area, I'd definitely recommend Canal Port. Since there aren't many options for dinner in the area, we decided to try Canal Port. They had the football game on, which we couldn't get at the hotel, so the bf was happy, and I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly service, and good food. We tried the mushrooms because of the reviews, and they did not disappoint. I read that they were the size of your fist, and they might actually have been bigger than mine. We ordered way too much food and left happy and full. I also have to note that I have very high standards for ranch dressing, and this place might've had the best ranch I've ever had, which in my book, definitely gives it 5 stars.
Prompt, awesome service. Our drinks were never empty. Every need met, sometime ahead of time. Our waitress had ninja speed. lol. Food was awesome. I had a ny strip with blue cheese and portobello mushrooms and a loaded mashed potato which was out of this world. Hubby had ribeye with portobello/onions-cooked to perfection! My son had chicken tenders, which were homemade! All in all when we come back into town, we will be back!
(5)
Ron B.
Stopped here by chance on a rainy day and enjoyed the food and service immensely. Very clean bar/restaurant, good beer choices, good prices, amazing shrimp cocktail, delicious fries, we left very full and happy. Make sure to stop by if you're in Utica!
(5)
angela h.
Walked in after visiting Starved Rock with a really big group. They seated us immediately, which already impressed us. The manager(?) owner (?) greeted us on our way to the table. Our waitress got us drinks very quickly, and our food all came out on time, hot, and correct despite our numerous add-ons and exceptions. Even overheard the owner/manager compliment the kitchen staff after he came around to check in with us at the table. They were even able to spilt checks! Food was very tasty, beer was cold, environment and staff were warm. A great spot in North Utica!
(5)
Desiree M.
Just checked this place out for lunch today after a long drive from Chicago. We were starving and it was a 20 minute wait for a table, so we grabbed a seat at the bar. No regrets. The bar is roomy enough to be comfortable to eat at, and the service from both bartenders was great. We had potato skins as an appetizer. Came out crazy hot, cheesy, and delicious. We also had drinks from the bar: a strawberry margarita and a blackberry bourbon lemonade. Both were very good and came with chunks of fresh fruit floating in them. I had the fish and and chips which comes with house chips, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and a really good dipping sauce for the chips. The fish was fresh and the batter was light and crispy. And everything came out piping hot. I really enjoyed it and I believe the price was $9. I was stuffed and went back to the hotel with leftovers. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Can't speak to consistency since I have only been there once. I plan on coming back and will bump to 5 stars if they stay this good. Worth checking out for sure.
(4)
Rebecca D.
Be sure to take your time. There is no rushing here ....after being seated it took 2 hours before our main dish came.... On a Saturday night it was busy... But when you sit down at 8pm and your food arrives at almost 10 pm and now the place is empty it makes for a slow meal. The fried mushrooms were good... Huge portion and huge mushrooms. Homemade salad dressing was tasty... The two mains we had were the salmon which was large and dry. Would have preferred a smaller portion and better taste.... The chicken Parmesan had ground beef in it. (Think the kitchen may have put the wrong sauce on it)... We may have hit an off night??? Because the other reviews are pretty high.... But I won't be driving out of my way to come again.....
(3)
Taffy G.
Great little hole -in - the - wall bar with one of the best filets we've ever had. Loaded baked potato & a hunk of broccoli, & we were good to go.
(5)
Diana A.
From Chicago and stopped in for a beer after hiking!!! Loved EVERYTHING here! Amazing food (ordered the cod sandwich personally), fantastic drinks and an outstanding server, Alex!!! Would highly recommend anyone to pop in and have a drink!!! #chickenwingsonfleek
(5)
C J.
We went to eat here after spending the day on the river. The service was good however the food was ok at best we ordered the fried cauliflower for an app. It was as if they took the head of cauliflower cut in four large pieces dipped into the batter and dropped in the fryer. The cauliflower still had raw batter inside and was no good. The Walleye tasted old neither myself or my fiance finished our meal. There are so many great restaurants in and near utica we will not be visiting any time soon. We recommend changing how you serve appetizers the large veggies with raw batter is distasteful!!
(3)
T M.
Good food, good beer...but the real star of the show here is the service. The folks working here are so genuinely friendly!
(4)
Steve G.
great bar food!!! Everything from the basket of chips and the fired Cauliflower (mushrooms were sold out... DoH!!!!) to the hamburger and crab cake sandwich was very good. This place was clean, waitstaff was friendly and the drinks were good. What more can you ask for. Will definitely go back when I ride through town again.
(4)
Laurie V.
We were up at Starved Rock and just wanted something quick for carryout and Yelp directed us to Canal Port. Now I normally don't go wild for deep fried mushrooms but all the reviews made them sound so delicious we had to try them. Holy Mother of Mushrooms these things were ridiculous. We got them carry out and drove up to the main parking lot of Starved Rock to munch on them so they had been in the container for about 10 or 15 minutes. And they were still so freakin good I can't even imagine how they must have been fresh in the restaurant. Worth the trip alone. We also had the chicken sandwich and fries which were also super good. Great phone service, plenty of sauces and supplies in the bag and quick preparation time. Highly suggest this place and can't wait to go back for Starved Rock and those mushrooms!
(5)
Steve F.
Good food and decent prices. Located on a block with a few shops and little else around it. Got burgers and fried fish. The bar chips were excellent and came with dip. A good place to go if you're in the area.
(4)
Tim L.
Best blue cheese dressing. The ribs were fall off the bone, not smoked, not BBQ traditionally, just an excellent sauce and oh so tender.
(5)
Brandon M.
Good drinks good food, wonderful atmosphere, wide selection of drinks and fair prices.
(5)
michele s.
I received my beer in a ice cream parfait glass and when I asked about it I was told by the server that he could not tell me what my beer would be served in. I was shocked at the "don't care" attitude. I had the special which was Mahi Mahi and it was overcooked. The four dollar asparagus was actually mushy! Go across the street and eat a decent meal.
(1)
Ms G.
Came here after a visit to Matthesen State Park, and was pleasantly surprised. We had been to Skoogs before and tried to go there again, but they weren't serving lunch when we arrived. Unfortunately for them, next time I'm at the state parks I'll be going to Canal Port instead. The food was much better and the atmosphere nicer. I had a turkey burger with Swiss and portobellos, and their bar chips. Get the bar chips! Slices of crispy potatoes with a ranch dip. My dad and sister each had burgers that they enjoyed. Good prices too, eight necks for a burger.
(4)
Nancy W.
I would say more like 2.5 stars. The food is really good. Enjoyed the strawberry blue cheese salad. We were disappointed with the draft beer (size and price). I ordered A Sam Adams. It came in a ice cream sundae glass. By the time the foam dissipated there was probably 10 ounces of beer for the cost of a pint.
(3)
Jennifer G.
We arrived here right before they closed and they were more than happy to make us feel comfortable and not rushed. both of the owners came and talked with us. Nick is a very friendly and welcoming man who engaged in conversation with us the whole ...night. He stayed open later just talking with us. The food was the best meal we've had in a long time. The drinks just as good! I had a fabulous glass of cab reserve and steak and shrimp. we felt like we had known nick forever. Thanks for making our stay in utica so memorable :-)
(5)
Jeanette K.
We stopped into Canal Port for some lunch as a good base for the tasty wine orgy that is August Hill. The restaurant is very attractive, with lots of dark wood, a big bar, and fireplaces. The menu had all the typical bar food and sandwiches. Nothing special here. They had a good beer selection, but we didn't partake due to the wine to come. The food was a solid OK. I ordered the mushroom/portabella turkey burger. It was tasty, but a little small. The coleslaw that came with was unremarkable. The BF ordered a monterey chicken sandwich, which was also a solid OK. The fries were over-battered and just not very good. Service was ok, again nothing noteworthy here. Overall, this might be a good place to grab a beer and some apps, but if I'm in Utica, I'll be getting my wine on!
(3)
Bella D.
Great food after our time nearby Starved Rock, IL.
(4)
Wesley B.
I have NOT had the food. I stopped in Canal Port with a buddy well riding our motorcycles, and I was surprised. The bar has a old classic look and feel. They have a huge selection of Bottled beer and Draft 1919 Root beer. The staff was friendly and the drinks were nice and cold and reasonably priced.
(4)
Kim A.
Awesome place, service was great and home-made salad dressings were the best! Try their loaded baked potato, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Tim O.
What can I say. Rolled in with the spouse and 6 yr. old. Promptly served. Casual and comfortable and if you don't mind sitting in a room where there is a bar, it was just fine for us three. A well rounded and quite deliciously served menu. Thumbs up.
(4)
Patty M.
There isn't too many places to choose from on this town but Canal Port was a great option. The food was delicious and the staff was nice and attentive. The food was delicious, but we needed to wait a lot of time for the fried chicken, although the menu says there will be a wait time to get the chicken we never expected 40 minutes. Anyway when we got the chicken all i can say is that IT WAS WORTH the wait!!! it was simply delicious. The place was clean and nice the decor was like most sports bars in the city. It wasnt kids friendly so my son was not very happy to be here. All and all this place was simply wonderful. We will come back for sure.
(4)
Kerry B.
After a morning of hiking at Starved Rock we yelped for a place to eat lunch. yelp directed us towards The Canal Port. We walked in around noon and a VERY unhappy/unfriendly hostess grunts out that there will be a 20 minute wait. Enough with that noise, we promptly turned around and walked out. First impressions are everything. Maybe if she were polite we would have waited the 20 minutes, but nope, she scared us away.
(1)
Grace N.
When I visit small midwestern towns, I think three words: gimme. prime. rib. They have weekend prime rib specials and ours came bathing/basting/basking in a plate of au jus....really good and flavorful. Order a side of their loaded baked potato, a cold beer, and finish it off with their strawberry short cake dessert....and hike the Matthieson State Park Dells the next day to burn off some of your giant dinner. Great ambiance, fast and friendly servers, and the White Sox game on in the background...."stick a fork in me Jerry, 'cause I'm done!"
(4)
Princess B.
We went here for a late lunch after hiking around Matthiessen State Park all morning so we were HUNGRY. It was around 1:30-2pm on a Saturday. There were a few people at the bar and maybe 3 or 4 groups at the tables. There were 8 or 10 beers on tap and I have never heard of most of them. I got an Austrian weiss and my date got a coffee stout. Both were very delicious. They had a small menu and everything on it looked like a simple and hearty dish. We shared a side salad to start and the ranch dressing was out of this world. I'm assuming it was homemade... so creamy and buttermilky. I've never had ranch that tasted that good. We both got bbq pulled chicken sammiches as they were a special that day. The fries were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The coleslaw was crunchy and creamy. A really enjoyable meal. Our server was nice, attentive. I've been to Skoogs twice and was not at all impressed. I'll definitely be going to Canal Port when I visit Utica in the future.
(4)
Julia S.
Great selection of beers! Grieskirchner weisse = creamy goodness! Mushrooms as big as your fist. Batter is awesome on the mushrooms but they are almost to big where the mushroom does get all the way cooked. Homemade creamy garlic and thousand island was awesome. Cream of asparagus soup was flavorful and could of easily had 2nds but my surf and turf was calling my name! Snow crab and filet was great. Dessert was ok, didn't taste like it was made in house. After dinner drinks were tasty coffee and Baileys. Then we bellyd up to the bar and drank ourselves silly full of white Russians! Clean place and awesome service!
We were in Starved Rock again this past weekend, and decided to stop in to Canal Port for lunch on Sunday. After nearly ten minutes of being ignored, despite seeing the waitress and bartender look our way several times, we left. There were only 2 other tables in the restaurant, so no excuses.
(1)
Reuben H.
A lot has changed within the relative area of Utica since I was a boy living in the LaSalle/Peru area way back when. Change is of course inevitable, and I think in the case of Utica, a town which only fairly recently recovered from a devastating tornado back in 2004, the change has brought about a somewhat newer identity. With the masses of people heading off to the close-by Starved Rock from all over the place, Utica seemed to have rebuilt to cater to many of the tourists heading out to the State Park for the day. Yet, with Canal Port, I could see that they were trying to build a destination bar/tavern that was not only for the out-of-towners passing by, but for anyone that was looking for a local daily watering hole, spot for lunch or dinner, or a friendly place you could rely on to meet up with friends. Nothing all-that-memorable in regards to how the place is set up (other than their fine taste in liking a certain south side pro baseball team), but clean nice and friendly. The fireplace area was well built and the over all impression I got was that it would be a place that I would be happy to return to. And that was before I bit into my pork tenderloin sandwich- a LaSalle County favorite- that was perfectly breaded and cooked, juicy and plentiful. I was happy to see that they offered up a good amount of pickles to give that briny touch needed to complete the experience. I'm typing this now wishing that I could get another one right away. Another thing of note- they actually offer up some decent options on tap. It's always great to see more on offer than Bud Light and MGD.
(4)
Catherine H.
Had an excellent dinner at the bar. The place was packed on a Saturday night, as was expected. The bartender was wonderful - fast, courteous, and knowledgeable about beer, wine & the dinner menu. Great wine selection! Food was good, too, and reasonably priced. Salads were fresh, and NOT iceberg lettuce. Prime rib was less fatty than I've had most other places. We'll be back!
(4)
v i.
This place is awesome from the welcoming at the front door by someone to the food that hits the top of quality. They don't skimp on the expensive ingredients that many places do. Nicks a great bartender and filled all requests for substitutions with ingredients to drinks. Definitely Recommend if anywhere near starved rock :)
(5)
Kelly F.
This place in only OK. Although there are limited options in Utica, I felt this place leaves much to be desired. This place as your standard bar food and a decent beer selection. The service is sub-par from my experience. They didn't seem to be very well versed in the menu and beer selections and frankly their recommendations suck. For people who are used to standard frozen food cooked to you liking this is your place. I think I'll try other options in Utica before returning to this place. If you are part of the Applebee's crowd, you'll be fine with this place. But if you looking for a unique dining experience I would try some other locale.
(3)
Robert M.
Great food and service in a handsome wood paneled room with lots of large flat screen tvs. Separate bar and dining room.
(5)
Aaron L.
The only reason why this place was a hit to me was the fact that they had the BLOOMIN' ONION. If you do not know what that is then this is just another bar with good appies/appys. The owner/bartender is knowledgeable and a great/genuine dude. There is one waitress/manager there who is a total shrew (that is putting it nicely). The Bloomin Onion has been banned from many casual dining houses (you know the type they have old kitsch and junk on the walls) due to the fact that it has nearly THREE THOUSAND calories (thats not hyperbole). These things are the king of all appies, but their banishment to the corners of the universe is indicative of all that is wrong with foodservice today (Insert your favorite rant here by a guy named dennis (Leary or Miller)). Seriously though, go there if in Utica or you just have a hankering for the good ol' days when men were men and clogged arteries were the roads that news choppers reported the speeds of from 6-11 and 3-7 on the 'eights'. Overall 60/100 Barley passing grade Bloomin' Onion = 1,000,000 points
(3)
Corey R.
The place is nice, appears clean. I've been there twice. Once two years ago and once last week. The food is ok. Nothing bad, but nothing spectacular. Next time I head to Utica, I'm going to try another place to eat. There was nothing that would make me a loyal patron.
(3)
Jodi C.
Visit Canal Port atleast once a month. Always consistent food that tastes great in a very casual yet fun setting. Would highly recommend the deep fried cauliflower as an appetizer! Excellent!
(4)
Susan T.
Out if 9 diners we all had outstanding, yummy dinners and Patrick our server, provided attentive service....we will be back!
(5)
M M.
I have been here 3 times with work associates. Thought it would be a decent place to go and since our offices are fairly close a good place to bring clients. This past time our food took over and hour. We ordered standard lunch stuff nothing special. They were out of iced tea and the waitress was no where to be found for refills on our flat coke. We classified her as an avoider type. Food was not good when it came out. Just a bad expirience and I will never return. I will also not be recomending this to anyone at my company and or anyone visiting starved rock. Also, not a good place for business people to go as they do not take American Express, which is what a majority of corporate cards are.
(1)
Sandy A.
I love this place. The portions are great and the atmosphere is wonderful. The meals have never disappointed me. We've come here in the past 2 years during the Vintage Wine Festival at Starved Rock and its a nice place to get a meal that won't kill your wine budget.
(4)
Meredith H.
i've only been here for drinks after dinner at skoogs and my 4 star review is solely based on the selection of beers on tap - nice! i tried a "never summer" - a beer i'd never heard of before. apparently it's brewed in colorado. 2 import beers for $8 isn't a bad deal either. i bet canal port is a fun place to watch a game, enjoy a quick meal, hang out, etc. the bartenders were friendly and quick to serve us as well.
(4)
Tony G.
No visit to Starved Rock State Park is complete without hitting the pubs on. Main Street. It's probably not called Main Street, but I don't know the real name - it's the only freakin' street that runs through town - you can't miss it. First, the bars in Utica are all smoking venues - know this going in. With a population of less than 1000, I'd bet many of the patrons are tourists. That said, I think Canal Port, and other bars, are very receptive to 'out-of-towners' invading their space on weekends . And if they don't like us, they hide it well. Canal Port has a decent beer selection, which I was happy to see. I'm not sure of the exact price of beers, but each round of two was $5 plus $1 tip. The juke box is interesting here - not many 'standard' CDs are available, but there is plenty to choose from if you've got $5 to burn.
(4)
Ronessa J.
Not your average bar food. Went here with my boyfriend for lunch before our trip to starved rock. He ordered the crab cake sandwich with Cole slaw and I had the garden burger on rye with clam chowder. Everything tasted very fresh, great flavors! Service was slow because the place was packed, but both guys working were working as hard as they could to meet all their guests needs. Brock, I think was our servers name, was informative and pleasant. Were definitely going to go back!
(5)
Francesca B.
Been here several times over the last 2 years with 3 young kids. Consistent attentive service, decent variety on menu, good quality in food. They can pull off grilled salmon, well cooked steak, crisp salads and kids' cheeseburgers with everyone eating a satisfying meal.
(4)
Vincent M.
I wanted to take my girlfriend to a place she has never been to before. So I thought this would be a good place to take her. And boy was it the right place to get some good dinner. We started off by just picking a appetizer to get us started. We chose the deep fried cauliflower. Yummy. I coulda just ate that for my dinner. I'm sure it was a whole head of cauliflower. It was so delish. There is some cheese in the batter or something. With every bite was a nice taste of tender cauliflower along with a cheesy batter. I had to back off the appetizer to make room for my main meal. I chose the chicken Oscar with wild rice and my gf chose a ribeye with salad and baked potato. I ate mine up like it was my last meal. The rice was cooked to my liking and the chicken was tender and juicy along with the crab that was on top of my chicken. My gf said her steak was cooked to her liking and the baked potato was done just right. We will definitely be back. I took the rest of the cauliflower home to finish off the next day. Needless to say they didn't make it that far. Too good to pass.
(5)
Stephanie H.
It's been awhile since I've been to Canal Port, but I remember the food being good. We loved the pub chips and the menu satiated the appetite and palet of my very hungry vegetarian boyfriend. The service was excellent. This is without a doubt the best place to get a nice meal in the city of Utica.
(4)
Emily S.
If you go here I highly suggest getting the coleslaw as your side because it's so flavorful! I ordered the crab cake sandwich and the crab was so fresh and flaky. My boyfriend ordered the chicken Oscar, it's wild rice with asparagus and chicken with a cheese sauce, and that is a pretty big portion all which was very tasty and moist! It's a little pricey but it's by all means worth it. Im definitely coming back soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kelly S.
I had the prime rib and the mister had ribs. The ribs were moist and tender. The prime rib was average. The draft beers we had were a little pricey - $5 for 12 oz. I would've expected a pint. Anyhow, the accompaniments were nice. Salads were super crisp and fresh. The blue cheese dressing I had didn't taste very blue though. Service was excellent - very friendly and perfectly timed.
(3)Alyssa L.
We came here on a whim after hiking starved rock and we have to say we were pleasantly surprised. Our server Eric was very welcoming, and when we were unsure on what to order he recommended the chicken piccata which was fantastic. The chicken was seasoned to perfection. Be sure to request him as your server. Portions were generous, and we would definitely recommend this place to anyone in search of some good eats.
(5)Rachel J.
My husband and I visited canal port last Sunday night. We like to think we are fried mushroom judges. Their fried mushrooms were the best in LaSalle count no doubt! I serve at a fine dinning restaurant and the breading on these was delish. I do wish they would make one more cut to 1/3 or 1/4. Half of a mushroom is BIG, if love to pop em in my mouth. However they still got a 10 out of 10, from my mate. I had the red pepper orange roughy very good, will order again. He got the ribeye special very good and cooked as we would expect. This is a bar atmosphere, but do not be turned away by that there is a dinning room available too, I believe they only use it during busy times. Many many beers to choose from peroni, Stella, hefewiezen and many others! Service was great too, she knew her stuff and we were not rushed to finish one dish before the next. This is a nice place for a single dinner too! The bar is easy to eat at and the bartender was very prompt. (I watched from my table) We did not have desert, but the server told them what they were and they sounded heavenly!
(5)Keith C.
Fantastic place to end a fabulous day of Junior Tackle Football!! The food here is fantastic and really great rib-eyes and prime rib and spectacular deep fried mushrooms! If you want GREAT FOOD at a decent price give Canal Port a try.....you won't be sorry!!
(5)Ashley M.
I had the chicken picatta with mixed green salad. Salad was the perfect size. I hate when a side salad is big enough to fill you up, so that was good... As was the bleu cheese dressing. Chicken Picatta tasted fresh and the chicken was nice and moist. If I'm ever in the area again I'll definitely come back.
(4)Brittany H.
The bf & I love heading to starved rock for a weekend getaway from the windy city. When looking for dinner in the area, I'd definitely recommend Canal Port. Since there aren't many options for dinner in the area, we decided to try Canal Port. They had the football game on, which we couldn't get at the hotel, so the bf was happy, and I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly service, and good food. We tried the mushrooms because of the reviews, and they did not disappoint. I read that they were the size of your fist, and they might actually have been bigger than mine. We ordered way too much food and left happy and full. I also have to note that I have very high standards for ranch dressing, and this place might've had the best ranch I've ever had, which in my book, definitely gives it 5 stars.
(5)G C.
We came to check out Canal Port on the recommendation of our Campground Host and all the Yelp reviews. The fried mushrooms were fantastic and for our entrées we chose the Thursday night special of 12 ounce ribeye, potato & salad for $15.00. The steak was cooked exactly the way we ordered. We would definitely come back here in the future. Great prices, great value and great people.
(5)Steff J.
Prompt, awesome service. Our drinks were never empty. Every need met, sometime ahead of time. Our waitress had ninja speed. lol. Food was awesome. I had a ny strip with blue cheese and portobello mushrooms and a loaded mashed potato which was out of this world. Hubby had ribeye with portobello/onions-cooked to perfection! My son had chicken tenders, which were homemade! All in all when we come back into town, we will be back!
(5)Ron B.
Stopped here by chance on a rainy day and enjoyed the food and service immensely. Very clean bar/restaurant, good beer choices, good prices, amazing shrimp cocktail, delicious fries, we left very full and happy. Make sure to stop by if you're in Utica!
(5)angela h.
Walked in after visiting Starved Rock with a really big group. They seated us immediately, which already impressed us. The manager(?) owner (?) greeted us on our way to the table. Our waitress got us drinks very quickly, and our food all came out on time, hot, and correct despite our numerous add-ons and exceptions. Even overheard the owner/manager compliment the kitchen staff after he came around to check in with us at the table. They were even able to spilt checks! Food was very tasty, beer was cold, environment and staff were warm. A great spot in North Utica!
(5)Desiree M.
Just checked this place out for lunch today after a long drive from Chicago. We were starving and it was a 20 minute wait for a table, so we grabbed a seat at the bar. No regrets. The bar is roomy enough to be comfortable to eat at, and the service from both bartenders was great. We had potato skins as an appetizer. Came out crazy hot, cheesy, and delicious. We also had drinks from the bar: a strawberry margarita and a blackberry bourbon lemonade. Both were very good and came with chunks of fresh fruit floating in them. I had the fish and and chips which comes with house chips, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and a really good dipping sauce for the chips. The fish was fresh and the batter was light and crispy. And everything came out piping hot. I really enjoyed it and I believe the price was $9. I was stuffed and went back to the hotel with leftovers. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Can't speak to consistency since I have only been there once. I plan on coming back and will bump to 5 stars if they stay this good. Worth checking out for sure.
(4)Rebecca D.
Be sure to take your time. There is no rushing here ....after being seated it took 2 hours before our main dish came.... On a Saturday night it was busy... But when you sit down at 8pm and your food arrives at almost 10 pm and now the place is empty it makes for a slow meal. The fried mushrooms were good... Huge portion and huge mushrooms. Homemade salad dressing was tasty... The two mains we had were the salmon which was large and dry. Would have preferred a smaller portion and better taste.... The chicken Parmesan had ground beef in it. (Think the kitchen may have put the wrong sauce on it)... We may have hit an off night??? Because the other reviews are pretty high.... But I won't be driving out of my way to come again.....
(3)Taffy G.
Great little hole -in - the - wall bar with one of the best filets we've ever had. Loaded baked potato & a hunk of broccoli, & we were good to go.
(5)Diana A.
From Chicago and stopped in for a beer after hiking!!! Loved EVERYTHING here! Amazing food (ordered the cod sandwich personally), fantastic drinks and an outstanding server, Alex!!! Would highly recommend anyone to pop in and have a drink!!! #chickenwingsonfleek
(5)C J.
We went to eat here after spending the day on the river. The service was good however the food was ok at best we ordered the fried cauliflower for an app. It was as if they took the head of cauliflower cut in four large pieces dipped into the batter and dropped in the fryer. The cauliflower still had raw batter inside and was no good. The Walleye tasted old neither myself or my fiance finished our meal. There are so many great restaurants in and near utica we will not be visiting any time soon. We recommend changing how you serve appetizers the large veggies with raw batter is distasteful!!
(3)T M.
Good food, good beer...but the real star of the show here is the service. The folks working here are so genuinely friendly!
(4)Steve G.
great bar food!!! Everything from the basket of chips and the fired Cauliflower (mushrooms were sold out... DoH!!!!) to the hamburger and crab cake sandwich was very good. This place was clean, waitstaff was friendly and the drinks were good. What more can you ask for. Will definitely go back when I ride through town again.
(4)Laurie V.
We were up at Starved Rock and just wanted something quick for carryout and Yelp directed us to Canal Port. Now I normally don't go wild for deep fried mushrooms but all the reviews made them sound so delicious we had to try them. Holy Mother of Mushrooms these things were ridiculous. We got them carry out and drove up to the main parking lot of Starved Rock to munch on them so they had been in the container for about 10 or 15 minutes. And they were still so freakin good I can't even imagine how they must have been fresh in the restaurant. Worth the trip alone. We also had the chicken sandwich and fries which were also super good. Great phone service, plenty of sauces and supplies in the bag and quick preparation time. Highly suggest this place and can't wait to go back for Starved Rock and those mushrooms!
(5)Steve F.
Good food and decent prices. Located on a block with a few shops and little else around it. Got burgers and fried fish. The bar chips were excellent and came with dip. A good place to go if you're in the area.
(4)Tim L.
Best blue cheese dressing. The ribs were fall off the bone, not smoked, not BBQ traditionally, just an excellent sauce and oh so tender.
(5)Brandon M.
Good drinks good food, wonderful atmosphere, wide selection of drinks and fair prices.
(5)michele s.
I received my beer in a ice cream parfait glass and when I asked about it I was told by the server that he could not tell me what my beer would be served in. I was shocked at the "don't care" attitude. I had the special which was Mahi Mahi and it was overcooked. The four dollar asparagus was actually mushy! Go across the street and eat a decent meal.
(1)Ms G.
Came here after a visit to Matthesen State Park, and was pleasantly surprised. We had been to Skoogs before and tried to go there again, but they weren't serving lunch when we arrived. Unfortunately for them, next time I'm at the state parks I'll be going to Canal Port instead. The food was much better and the atmosphere nicer. I had a turkey burger with Swiss and portobellos, and their bar chips. Get the bar chips! Slices of crispy potatoes with a ranch dip. My dad and sister each had burgers that they enjoyed. Good prices too, eight necks for a burger.
(4)Nancy W.
I would say more like 2.5 stars. The food is really good. Enjoyed the strawberry blue cheese salad. We were disappointed with the draft beer (size and price). I ordered A Sam Adams. It came in a ice cream sundae glass. By the time the foam dissipated there was probably 10 ounces of beer for the cost of a pint.
(3)Jennifer G.
We arrived here right before they closed and they were more than happy to make us feel comfortable and not rushed. both of the owners came and talked with us. Nick is a very friendly and welcoming man who engaged in conversation with us the whole ...night. He stayed open later just talking with us. The food was the best meal we've had in a long time. The drinks just as good! I had a fabulous glass of cab reserve and steak and shrimp. we felt like we had known nick forever. Thanks for making our stay in utica so memorable :-)
(5)Jeanette K.
We stopped into Canal Port for some lunch as a good base for the tasty wine orgy that is August Hill. The restaurant is very attractive, with lots of dark wood, a big bar, and fireplaces. The menu had all the typical bar food and sandwiches. Nothing special here. They had a good beer selection, but we didn't partake due to the wine to come. The food was a solid OK. I ordered the mushroom/portabella turkey burger. It was tasty, but a little small. The coleslaw that came with was unremarkable. The BF ordered a monterey chicken sandwich, which was also a solid OK. The fries were over-battered and just not very good. Service was ok, again nothing noteworthy here. Overall, this might be a good place to grab a beer and some apps, but if I'm in Utica, I'll be getting my wine on!
(3)Bella D.
Great food after our time nearby Starved Rock, IL.
(4)Wesley B.
I have NOT had the food. I stopped in Canal Port with a buddy well riding our motorcycles, and I was surprised. The bar has a old classic look and feel. They have a huge selection of Bottled beer and Draft 1919 Root beer. The staff was friendly and the drinks were nice and cold and reasonably priced.
(4)Kim A.
Awesome place, service was great and home-made salad dressings were the best! Try their loaded baked potato, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Tim O.
What can I say. Rolled in with the spouse and 6 yr. old. Promptly served. Casual and comfortable and if you don't mind sitting in a room where there is a bar, it was just fine for us three. A well rounded and quite deliciously served menu. Thumbs up.
(4)Patty M.
There isn't too many places to choose from on this town but Canal Port was a great option. The food was delicious and the staff was nice and attentive. The food was delicious, but we needed to wait a lot of time for the fried chicken, although the menu says there will be a wait time to get the chicken we never expected 40 minutes. Anyway when we got the chicken all i can say is that IT WAS WORTH the wait!!! it was simply delicious. The place was clean and nice the decor was like most sports bars in the city. It wasnt kids friendly so my son was not very happy to be here. All and all this place was simply wonderful. We will come back for sure.
(4)Kerry B.
After a morning of hiking at Starved Rock we yelped for a place to eat lunch. yelp directed us towards The Canal Port. We walked in around noon and a VERY unhappy/unfriendly hostess grunts out that there will be a 20 minute wait. Enough with that noise, we promptly turned around and walked out. First impressions are everything. Maybe if she were polite we would have waited the 20 minutes, but nope, she scared us away.
(1)Grace N.
When I visit small midwestern towns, I think three words: gimme. prime. rib. They have weekend prime rib specials and ours came bathing/basting/basking in a plate of au jus....really good and flavorful. Order a side of their loaded baked potato, a cold beer, and finish it off with their strawberry short cake dessert....and hike the Matthieson State Park Dells the next day to burn off some of your giant dinner. Great ambiance, fast and friendly servers, and the White Sox game on in the background...."stick a fork in me Jerry, 'cause I'm done!"
(4)Princess B.
We went here for a late lunch after hiking around Matthiessen State Park all morning so we were HUNGRY. It was around 1:30-2pm on a Saturday. There were a few people at the bar and maybe 3 or 4 groups at the tables. There were 8 or 10 beers on tap and I have never heard of most of them. I got an Austrian weiss and my date got a coffee stout. Both were very delicious. They had a small menu and everything on it looked like a simple and hearty dish. We shared a side salad to start and the ranch dressing was out of this world. I'm assuming it was homemade... so creamy and buttermilky. I've never had ranch that tasted that good. We both got bbq pulled chicken sammiches as they were a special that day. The fries were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The coleslaw was crunchy and creamy. A really enjoyable meal. Our server was nice, attentive. I've been to Skoogs twice and was not at all impressed. I'll definitely be going to Canal Port when I visit Utica in the future.
(4)Julia S.
Great selection of beers! Grieskirchner weisse = creamy goodness! Mushrooms as big as your fist. Batter is awesome on the mushrooms but they are almost to big where the mushroom does get all the way cooked. Homemade creamy garlic and thousand island was awesome. Cream of asparagus soup was flavorful and could of easily had 2nds but my surf and turf was calling my name! Snow crab and filet was great. Dessert was ok, didn't taste like it was made in house. After dinner drinks were tasty coffee and Baileys. Then we bellyd up to the bar and drank ourselves silly full of white Russians! Clean place and awesome service!
(4)Susan B.
This place had the biggest fried mushrooms that I've ever seen...they were as big as your fist! Even though they were delicious, I made a huge mistake ordering them because I was so stuffed by the time my main entrée came out. The rest of the food was good from the few bites that I took. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich w/ fries and my bf got the chicken parm (fried) that was served ontop of spaghetti (his also came with a side salad). The place was also pretty crowded, around 7 or 8 on a Friday and this is probably because it is the only place open in the area!
(4)Elisabeth C.
We were in Starved Rock again this past weekend, and decided to stop in to Canal Port for lunch on Sunday. After nearly ten minutes of being ignored, despite seeing the waitress and bartender look our way several times, we left. There were only 2 other tables in the restaurant, so no excuses.
(1)Reuben H.
A lot has changed within the relative area of Utica since I was a boy living in the LaSalle/Peru area way back when. Change is of course inevitable, and I think in the case of Utica, a town which only fairly recently recovered from a devastating tornado back in 2004, the change has brought about a somewhat newer identity. With the masses of people heading off to the close-by Starved Rock from all over the place, Utica seemed to have rebuilt to cater to many of the tourists heading out to the State Park for the day. Yet, with Canal Port, I could see that they were trying to build a destination bar/tavern that was not only for the out-of-towners passing by, but for anyone that was looking for a local daily watering hole, spot for lunch or dinner, or a friendly place you could rely on to meet up with friends. Nothing all-that-memorable in regards to how the place is set up (other than their fine taste in liking a certain south side pro baseball team), but clean nice and friendly. The fireplace area was well built and the over all impression I got was that it would be a place that I would be happy to return to. And that was before I bit into my pork tenderloin sandwich- a LaSalle County favorite- that was perfectly breaded and cooked, juicy and plentiful. I was happy to see that they offered up a good amount of pickles to give that briny touch needed to complete the experience. I'm typing this now wishing that I could get another one right away. Another thing of note- they actually offer up some decent options on tap. It's always great to see more on offer than Bud Light and MGD.
(4)Catherine H.
Had an excellent dinner at the bar. The place was packed on a Saturday night, as was expected. The bartender was wonderful - fast, courteous, and knowledgeable about beer, wine & the dinner menu. Great wine selection! Food was good, too, and reasonably priced. Salads were fresh, and NOT iceberg lettuce. Prime rib was less fatty than I've had most other places. We'll be back!
(4)v i.
This place is awesome from the welcoming at the front door by someone to the food that hits the top of quality. They don't skimp on the expensive ingredients that many places do. Nicks a great bartender and filled all requests for substitutions with ingredients to drinks. Definitely Recommend if anywhere near starved rock :)
(5)Kelly F.
This place in only OK. Although there are limited options in Utica, I felt this place leaves much to be desired. This place as your standard bar food and a decent beer selection. The service is sub-par from my experience. They didn't seem to be very well versed in the menu and beer selections and frankly their recommendations suck. For people who are used to standard frozen food cooked to you liking this is your place. I think I'll try other options in Utica before returning to this place. If you are part of the Applebee's crowd, you'll be fine with this place. But if you looking for a unique dining experience I would try some other locale.
(3)Robert M.
Great food and service in a handsome wood paneled room with lots of large flat screen tvs. Separate bar and dining room.
(5)Aaron L.
The only reason why this place was a hit to me was the fact that they had the BLOOMIN' ONION. If you do not know what that is then this is just another bar with good appies/appys. The owner/bartender is knowledgeable and a great/genuine dude. There is one waitress/manager there who is a total shrew (that is putting it nicely). The Bloomin Onion has been banned from many casual dining houses (you know the type they have old kitsch and junk on the walls) due to the fact that it has nearly THREE THOUSAND calories (thats not hyperbole). These things are the king of all appies, but their banishment to the corners of the universe is indicative of all that is wrong with foodservice today (Insert your favorite rant here by a guy named dennis (Leary or Miller)). Seriously though, go there if in Utica or you just have a hankering for the good ol' days when men were men and clogged arteries were the roads that news choppers reported the speeds of from 6-11 and 3-7 on the 'eights'. Overall 60/100 Barley passing grade Bloomin' Onion = 1,000,000 points
(3)Corey R.
The place is nice, appears clean. I've been there twice. Once two years ago and once last week. The food is ok. Nothing bad, but nothing spectacular. Next time I head to Utica, I'm going to try another place to eat. There was nothing that would make me a loyal patron.
(3)Jodi C.
Visit Canal Port atleast once a month. Always consistent food that tastes great in a very casual yet fun setting. Would highly recommend the deep fried cauliflower as an appetizer! Excellent!
(4)Susan T.
Out if 9 diners we all had outstanding, yummy dinners and Patrick our server, provided attentive service....we will be back!
(5)M M.
I have been here 3 times with work associates. Thought it would be a decent place to go and since our offices are fairly close a good place to bring clients. This past time our food took over and hour. We ordered standard lunch stuff nothing special. They were out of iced tea and the waitress was no where to be found for refills on our flat coke. We classified her as an avoider type. Food was not good when it came out. Just a bad expirience and I will never return. I will also not be recomending this to anyone at my company and or anyone visiting starved rock. Also, not a good place for business people to go as they do not take American Express, which is what a majority of corporate cards are.
(1)Sandy A.
I love this place. The portions are great and the atmosphere is wonderful. The meals have never disappointed me. We've come here in the past 2 years during the Vintage Wine Festival at Starved Rock and its a nice place to get a meal that won't kill your wine budget.
(4)Meredith H.
i've only been here for drinks after dinner at skoogs and my 4 star review is solely based on the selection of beers on tap - nice! i tried a "never summer" - a beer i'd never heard of before. apparently it's brewed in colorado. 2 import beers for $8 isn't a bad deal either. i bet canal port is a fun place to watch a game, enjoy a quick meal, hang out, etc. the bartenders were friendly and quick to serve us as well.
(4)Tony G.
No visit to Starved Rock State Park is complete without hitting the pubs on. Main Street. It's probably not called Main Street, but I don't know the real name - it's the only freakin' street that runs through town - you can't miss it. First, the bars in Utica are all smoking venues - know this going in. With a population of less than 1000, I'd bet many of the patrons are tourists. That said, I think Canal Port, and other bars, are very receptive to 'out-of-towners' invading their space on weekends . And if they don't like us, they hide it well. Canal Port has a decent beer selection, which I was happy to see. I'm not sure of the exact price of beers, but each round of two was $5 plus $1 tip. The juke box is interesting here - not many 'standard' CDs are available, but there is plenty to choose from if you've got $5 to burn.
(4)Ronessa J.
Not your average bar food. Went here with my boyfriend for lunch before our trip to starved rock. He ordered the crab cake sandwich with Cole slaw and I had the garden burger on rye with clam chowder. Everything tasted very fresh, great flavors! Service was slow because the place was packed, but both guys working were working as hard as they could to meet all their guests needs. Brock, I think was our servers name, was informative and pleasant. Were definitely going to go back!
(5)Francesca B.
Been here several times over the last 2 years with 3 young kids. Consistent attentive service, decent variety on menu, good quality in food. They can pull off grilled salmon, well cooked steak, crisp salads and kids' cheeseburgers with everyone eating a satisfying meal.
(4)Vincent M.
I wanted to take my girlfriend to a place she has never been to before. So I thought this would be a good place to take her. And boy was it the right place to get some good dinner. We started off by just picking a appetizer to get us started. We chose the deep fried cauliflower. Yummy. I coulda just ate that for my dinner. I'm sure it was a whole head of cauliflower. It was so delish. There is some cheese in the batter or something. With every bite was a nice taste of tender cauliflower along with a cheesy batter. I had to back off the appetizer to make room for my main meal. I chose the chicken Oscar with wild rice and my gf chose a ribeye with salad and baked potato. I ate mine up like it was my last meal. The rice was cooked to my liking and the chicken was tender and juicy along with the crab that was on top of my chicken. My gf said her steak was cooked to her liking and the baked potato was done just right. We will definitely be back. I took the rest of the cauliflower home to finish off the next day. Needless to say they didn't make it that far. Too good to pass.
(5)Stephanie H.
It's been awhile since I've been to Canal Port, but I remember the food being good. We loved the pub chips and the menu satiated the appetite and palet of my very hungry vegetarian boyfriend. The service was excellent. This is without a doubt the best place to get a nice meal in the city of Utica.
(4)Emily S.
If you go here I highly suggest getting the coleslaw as your side because it's so flavorful! I ordered the crab cake sandwich and the crab was so fresh and flaky. My boyfriend ordered the chicken Oscar, it's wild rice with asparagus and chicken with a cheese sauce, and that is a pretty big portion all which was very tasty and moist! It's a little pricey but it's by all means worth it. Im definitely coming back soon!
(5)