We checked out The Dead End on a recommendation for their pizza, and it absolutely lived up to the hype--the pizza was incredible! The place has that pure small-town bar/tavern feel, which makes it really stand out. Everyone was super friendly, and it just had a welcoming, laid-back vibe from the moment we walked in. Seating is a bit limited, but they do their best to get you a spot as quickly as possible. While you're waiting, the drinks are solid and the beer is ice cold--so it's an easy place to hang out. And don't skip dessert--they make a homemade cheesecake that is amazing. We tried the key lime pie version, and it was the perfect flavor to end the night. If you're looking for great pizza and a true local tavern experience, this place is definitely worth checking out read more

So this bar is great. Good food... especially pizza! The service is excellent. Lana the bartender is great! It's a small local bar. Cool vibe. Lots of boaters in the summer. Give it a try. It won't suck. read more

Dead End Bar & Grill - Sausage and pepperoni pizza. - Bars Near Me - Fox River Grove, Illinois

Great food, awesome service. Perfect spot to watch water activity. The water offers live drinking experiences. read more

Dead End Bar & Grill - Dock at the bar - Bars Near Me - Fox River Grove, Illinois

love this place pizza is amazing as well as the garden salads and the ranch dressing is on point. I have yet to try other stuff. Will be back again soon! read more

See all

Delivered wrong food and when got the correct order - it was cold and tasteless Restaurant is not clean and food is mediocre - service not there at the bar Tried twice because I live close by - 2 bad experiences read more

We have driven by this place for 30 years and finally decided to stop in for a beer and pizza. The place is at the "dead end" on the Fox River. The place is a bar so dress code is casual. Kim the bartender was just awesome. Nice, friendly & took care of everything. We ordered a couple draft Blue Moons that came in the 20th anniversary glasses. (2015!) The pizza was fabulous. Two of us split a 12" with cheese, pepperoni, black olives, & mushrooms. Fair warning the pizza is hot! (Temperature wise!) but so very good. Almost gave me a Charlotte's vibe from the 1980's in Barrington off of NW Hwy. check this place out. You won't be disappointed & you might even run into me cause I will be back! read more

Dead End Bar & Grill - 20th anniversary blue moon glass! - Bars Near Me - Fox River Grove, Illinois

Just had the best pizza ever. All 5 of us at work agreed. Everything about it was perfect read more

Festive neighborhood bar in Fox River Grove that's not really on a dead end. It's actually next to the bridge and marina. Dead End looks like it's seen many years of drunken fun. Has lots of cheap beers on tap and tons of liquor bottles all over the place. The food is better than typical bar stuff. Cool thing about it is it's next to the water, so you can pull ashore and tie up a boat. It also seems to be popular with bikers, because there's always a few motorcycles in the parking lot. The drinks are the main thing, but the food is better than expected for a place looking like this. It's about $6 for a basic cocktail. Whiskey and whatever. As for the food, the best appetizers are the chips and fries. It's about $8 for a good portion. There's also pizzas that are homemade not frozen and then they'll bake these. Good stuff for an unassuming bar. It sure doesn't look like much from the outside, and inside isn't anything fancy to be sure. They also have a few cheesecakes that are made local and these make a good treat for then or whenever. read more

Dead End Bar & Grill - Whiskey And The Tater Tots - Bars Near Me - Fox River Grove, Illinois

I came for the cheesecake. It's a small right local bar. Just a couple tables. Great for a group of no more than 4 for a quick drop in bite and beer. read more

Ordered pickup and Pizza is superb! Will definitely order again and probably for a family get-together !

This is a cool little shack not far from my friend's place. I figured it would be a pretty typical mom and pop dive with basic bar food and Budweiser, which I'm fine with, but they turn out to be a pretty cool place with really good food and service. My buddy and I both had the same thing, a large 1/2 lb burger that's a special for them. My burger was cooked perfectly to request and I liked it. Another friendly patron told us their pizza is what they're known for and I can believe that after seeing all the people coming in to pick up pizzas. I'll give that a try next time. They had a decent selection of beers for a small place, all I wanted was an Old Style and that's what I got. Our bartender was a sweet and happy Eastern European woman who was attentive to our beer refills and friendly with us. She seemed to know many of the other patrons by name, so it's that kind of place. However, although we'd never been there before nobody made us feel unwelcome. I for sure want to go back. read more

This place is awesome! Most recent order to go: Large pepperoni, sausage, garlic with 1/2 pickled jalapeños - great choice! Service is always top notch! read more

There was only one bartender working the entire bar. It was impressive from a drinks perspective the amount of people she had to help. We came here because we heard the pizza was great. Unfortunately we did not get the chance to eat it because it took over an hour and we finished 3 drinks and our pizza was still not ready. Other people were coming in and getting their food after we ordered so we decided to cancel our order and go elsewhere. We were very disappointed and I would not recommend going there unless you're a local. I assume they got preferential treatment because it shouldn't take over an hour for a pizza to be made. And when you see multiple people coming and getting pizza after you ordered, it became pretty clear how this place is. read more

Great pizza and the wings are excellent. The kitchen is consistent as well, we order here a couple times a year and it's always great.

This bar has THE BEST chilli! We love this place and Lana is our favorite bar tender! Kathy and Mike Mazur. read more

I have to say Im like most everone else I have driven past this place twice every day for 30 years and I never thought about ordering a pizza from here. So just the other day I had the taste for a thin crust. I ordered two pizzas a veggie which my wife had and a plain old sausage for me. the crust was very good , thin and crispy and the ingredients were properly and proportionally placed on the pizza , and it had the perfect amount of sauce , The sauce was great by the way. The atmosphere inside the place isnt my cup of tea , I wanted to get there a few minutes before the pizzas were ready to check the place out. It looked like most people there were regulars that talked so loud it was very uncomfortible to sit there. So that being said I will not be eating there as there are only a couple tables anyway. But i will be back for take out. Oh and the Bartender was very nice . read more

If you are going to a restaurant with "Dead End" in the name, you know what you're getting into; this is neither a posh nor polished establishment, but it's exactly what it needs to be. I can count on one hand the number of places you can dock up along the Lower Fox River, and while some have struggled over the years, it doesn't appear that's been the case with Dead End. Again, they know what they are, they live within their means. The menu may as well be carved in stone, because there is no need for it to change; burgers and sammies are what you want when you walk up from the pier, and that's exactly what you'll get. Don't pass up the chicken salad when it's on special. It is excellent. And the staff, they know what type of place this is, too, so you can expect to be treated like a regular right from the start. read more

Nice home town bar with good food and good people. My go to is the BBQ beef sandwich and the awesome home made chips.

Dead End is SO good! The food is outstanding, the beers are ice cold and the service is great. This little bar has a decent amount of seating and a large bar area. We've never had an issue finding a spot for sit to enjoy our food. On our last visit, we had the Italian beef with chips and the two hot dog meal with fries. Both meals were outstanding. Don't forget to also try their macaroni salad, it's delicious. read more

Dead End Bar & Grill - Ice cold beer - Bars Near Me - Fox River Grove, Illinois

See all

We've passed the Dead End by boat on the lower Fox River literally hundreds of times, kept our boat at the marina next door in fact and NEVER dropped in. I read a commentary a pal posted on FB-that FB didn't restrict or block, LOL- and we dropped in our first time and I can't even count the times we've been back! They had my favorite Leinie's original on draft-no longer available but frosty icy mugs at great prices! The bar has a legacy of Prohibition wonders and is tied to a network of underground tunnels! Sherry and Wilbur, the second generation proprietors are so friendly you'd think they were family! They use Sherry's folk's legacy recipes for the most amazing FROM SCRATCH chili to die for, the best pizza this side of heaven and amazing food selections and specials posted on the chaulkboard daily. Outside dining at the boat docks should you take a cruise in by water and just an outstanding ambiance that should have Guy Fieri stopping by! Guy, don't even try to get Sherry's Dad's chili recipe! read more

The pizza is good. We bought carry out, and it was prepared on time and hot when we picked it up. Lots of cheese and great sauce. I would definitely recommend for carry out. It comes square cut by default. (I've lived in the Chicago area for 35 years and still dont understand this custom.) so if you want slices you have to ask when ordering. read more

The chicken noodle soup is the we also had the cheeseburger... cooked perfectly. Service was great

Great pizza! The folks at Dead End always get our pizza order correct. Great down home atmosphere with a crowd of regulars. Can't wait to try some of their sandwiches and burgers! read more

I'll be trying this bar again. It seems like a nice local bar with with friendly staff and a crowd of regulars. I'd rate it 4 stars but the pizza that I carried out was made incorrectly (wrong veggies on it). Despite making the pizza incorrectly I will try it again. Good crust, sauce, and cheese. read more

Best thin crust pizza I've had in a really long time! A diamond in the rough! I've driven past the place for more than 20 years. Kicking myself that I didn't try their pizza sooner. Awesome every time! read more

I called for a take our and the time quoted didn't happen and I want to apologize to the lady that waited in me for getting a bit snippy.. After all was said and done, the pizza was 5 stars all the way, garlic chips, fantastic!! DEFINITELY WILL BE BACK!!!! read more

This place is a hidden gem! Yes, it is a bar ... and suprisingly it serves food. We'll actually it serves great food for a bar and their Pizza Rocks! Much better than any of the major chains. ... yeah the only down side is that it doesn't accept credit/debit. Don't be fooled by the bate machine outside ... it's got a nice river view and deck to boot. read more

Take out your boat! Bar on the Fox River! Typical bar food. Hole in the wall atmosphere, dive bar. Great bartenders

Don't miss the pizza! Great friendly hole in the wall! By boat or car! But wait, remember the old Charlotte's Pizza off Ela and Route 14? Yep, they had Leinenkeugels REGULAR on draught, well, you can find that icy potion here and it's on draught served in totally frozen beer mugs like your great grandpa loved! Pizza is super with awesome think crust and the pies are totally the Dead End's custom recipe from sauce to sausage. Go for it, the wife and I wish we didn't keep thinking it was more "dive" than Jive! read more

I've stopped here several times while out on bike rides. It's the perfect place to get a High Life before continuing on your way out of the city. It's pretty much at the line between boring suburban traffic and the awesome roads of Lake County. The outdoor benched tables were a great way to enjoy the mild March weather. Food for vegans is very limited. My "meals" typically consist of spicy curly fries. I've tried the side salad as well; it's a relatively generous portion and actually has black olives and mushrooms in addition to the usual iceberg lettuce and whatnot. Your fellow bar-goers can vary. There have been plenty of chill moments with the regulars. I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing a troupe of "bros" and their lady friends descend upon the bar last time. We could not get out of there fast enough - and one of them followed us out! Between drunken ramblings about how he missed his motorcycle, touching ours and trying to light the wrong end of his cigarette, he managed to make it a less pleasant afternoon. Hopefully it isn't like this all summer. read more

The best pizza! Cooked perfectly, great flavor! Will definitely be return. Sat at the bar while we waited for the pizza and the environment was very fun and welcoming. Slot machines are available and there was definitely a mix of ages to make everyone feel welcome. read more

Finally tried the pizza here and wish I had a long time ago! Thin crust had the right amount of crunch with a really good sauce and generous toppings. Had a sausage, onion and green pepper. It was so good we ordered the same a couple of weeks later. We will be a regular customer moving forward. read more

This place is a small cruddy bar with really bad cooks and food offered. it is small and smelly right by the river. Few beer is on tap and the Tv is like a mile back and from the seventies. There is one pool table but the bar is so small that the table takes up the whole space. A strong chance of hitting a patron at bar with cue stick. A real dump and dive. read more

I have been here a few times and I like the food, burgers and pizza, its dive bar food and its hot and good. I usually get take out pizza, in the summer we go by boat using the docks to pick them up. (watch out, the place is right by the bridge, upstream traveling knuckleheads may not see you when you pull out) The bar itself sits 20 or so, and one table inside that sits 4, so if you want to eat inside with some under 21 folks you need to hope the table is open. Typical dive bar, little dark inside, nice old bar and video poker, that I am not a fan of. If you order pizza, don't order extra cheese they put way too much on it, (I know, how is that possible?). Burgers are big and juicy, they have a half pound one if you are starved. read more

Better look quickly because this place is right by an overpass. Blink and you'll drive right by it. We got there at 11 for an early lunch and beer... best we got was a locked door and views from the window. Looks like a cool little bar when it's open. Great outside seating section right on the water across the parking lot. Will try again when the warm weather hits. read more

I'm reviewing the pizza only! It's alright. Saucy. Kinda reminds me of Rosati's but way more expensive. So I would go with Rosati's Pizza and get it delivered for cheaper. They do have this cool thing that slips between the pizza and the box so that the crust doesn't stick to the cardboard. read more

This is a hidden FRG gem. The food is solid, the drinks are cheap, and the atmosphere is always great. They have plenty of games to occupy your time while your there as well. They even have a few slot machines if your feeling lucky. read more

Best pizza on the river a hidden gem for food been here on boat and snowmobile and it's very welcoming

It is a dive bar but a darn good one. The atmosphere is great. The bar is old, the chairs are cheap, there are games all around. But it feels like home and newbies are welcomed as much as the regulars. This has the feel of a neighborhood place. Beer selection from the taps is a little limited but there are plenty of bottle choices. The great part about this bar is the food. Fresh made and good. The burgers and pizzas are great, the fish fry is also good. There are fresh made potato chips too!!! This is a great stop and it is right on the Fox River so one could even boat here! read more

After getting to know some of the staff there, we decided to try the food at the dead end one day for lunch...we were not disappointed and love the daily specials they offer. the burger's are always great and the soups and chili also rock. they also have free wifi to entice the sunday fantasy football crowd. remember bring cash or use the atm near the door because they don't do plastic!! read more