Went to Docks this past weekend for dinner on Friday evening. As expected the outside deck was crowded and lively. We put our name in for a table and went to the bar for a drink while we waited. My husband and I have been to Docks several times over the past couple of years and have enjoyed the outside bar and ability to view a little water scenery during warm weather. Nothing spectacular, in comparison to growing up on the east coast and dining in the summer months at restaurants on the ocean, but better than nothing and fairly close by. This is not a five star restaurant by any means, in any aspect, but we've always known that and have enjoyed it for what it is. First strike was the gentleman taking names for tables. Very gruff, didn't crack a smile, no pleasantries at all. Like I said, not a five star restaurant but you at least expect a pleasant, "Hello folks". So we order 2 martinis after waiting a good 10-15 minutes. Bartender saw us sit down and passed by several times before taking our order. Again, no smile, and an attitude like we were bothering her. Martinis were good. We were sitting by the juke box which was loud and I missed the call for our table.The gentleman (I use the term loosely,) tapped me on the arm and said in a pissed off tone, "I called you three times for your table and if you don't go right now, I'm giving it away." Nice customer service. I apologized and we sat down at our table. My husband looked at the bar bill and saw that we were charged $17 each for our martinis. We have not been here for two summers, but we never paid $17 for a martini. I suppose technically we should have looked at a bar menu, but we never thought we'd pay that amount of money at this sort of venu. My husband went back to the bartender to make sure it was correct. She looked at the receipt and said, "Oh yeah it's wrong." She came back to our table and in a nasty tone said"We actually undercharged you and it is a dollar more. We use top shelf liquor here." Wow, what great customer service. I then see her talking to the gentleman reserving tables and pointing at us like we are trouble makers. We have our dinner which was served by a very nice waitress, food was good enough, then I assume it was the bar manager that came over and told us that our bar bill was not put through, which did not seem accurate as we had a receipt. At this point we just wanted to wrap up the evening, but I had to put in my two cents. I told her (She was very nice), that I certainly new that it wasn't her fault, but that charging $17 a martini at this basic biker bar, claiming an exclusive water view which is the equivalent to a puddle was ridiculous. I would expect to pay that price on the east coast at a lovely restaurant on the long island sound. I said I understood that covid took a toll on every one financially, I myself lost my teaching job, however I didn't think the customer should pay for heir covid recoup .. especially with nasty attitudes, and guess what, we'll not be returning. Got home and checked our Amex and they charged us twice for the bar bill. Mickey mouse operation here, find somewhere else to dine!!! read more

Nice view, truly a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. I was actually loving the place until I was turned off by the guy server. I asked another server for some creamer for my coffee since My male server was nowhere to be found, she politely said ok but she was taking a while and I spotted our server so I called him and asked for some creamer he just said they have "NONE" and that Covid issues make them out of plenty of things. Then the female server finally came back and gave me the creamer infront of him. He appeared totally ashame for his laziness but didnt apologized. So all in all great place. Staff needs training for honesty. read more

Against my better judgement we went to Docks last night for dinner and to watch the band. I have been there before and was treated rudely so I was apprehensive about going back. However it was a friends birthday and a bunch of us were going. Sure enough as soon as we sat at the bar to order a drink the bartender was rude to my husband who just asked her a question about the addition of the garage door that they installed in the bar area.. Some people who we met there said she is always like that, just rude. They were there in the summer and gave them some attitude. Really???? Get rid of her!!! Now there were a number of people who were trying to get drinks who were standing behind me. Commenting that she always takes forever to get her attention. Another couple said this is ridulious what's taking her so long??? So, I tried to get the bartenders attention so they could get served. She told me not to do that because this is her job and she can handle it!!! She wasn't pleasant about it either! Apparently she wasn't handling it if people were commenting on her skills. She's cute I'll give her that however her people skills SUCK. If that was my restaurant she would be gone a long time ago. Food, not that great. I'd pass. I read the other reveiws and was surprised I wasn't the only one who thinks the service stinks.Yet these people still work there. There a plenty of people who are out of work and would love to have a job and would be pleasant to deal with. read more

Hi, Few nights ago it was our 5th visit, as before service was good and food was very tasty. You just can not beat the deck bar ( it's huge) and the lake view with great sun sets. Few nights ago it was even better, every Tue Docks offers a theme "Dine with your dog" yes you can bring your dog to dinner with you, is that cool or what. I noticed some had issues with slow service, you guys need to chill and relax. Need fast? try a drive through! After a hectic work day Docks is a place to chill and relax. read more

This place is amazing!!! I have been going for every summer holiday this year!!! The bartenders so friendly and attentive. It's always a great time when you stop in at Docks. The best was July 3rd, every other bar is super crazy on the chain and the service is horrible, but NOT at Docks!!! I was being served by a cutie named Tiffany, and she made sure my glass was always full. I never waited for ANYTHING, and had a blast!!! Even with the crowds of both bars they always seem to give you the best service possible! I will always spend summer holidays at Docks! read more

Great location at Bang's Lake with great views. Our server was friendly but food quality as well as taste was very disappointing. Although there were only 2 tables, our order took over 20 minutes to arrive. The host up front was screaming at someone over the phone that could be heard through the entire dining room. Will not return. read more

Absolutely terrible food The beef on the "mega" nachos tasted rotten Taco Bell has more flavor and is a larger portion And it was 19$ read more

Worst restaurant ever, do not ever go here or bring children here. Food is horrible drinks are horrible. Owner and staff are horrible.

We had a horrible experience at docks in Waccunda Illinois. Half the food was burnt. Customer service stinks! I will not order food at Docks again!! The current manager on Friday night on August 26 does not know how to do his job and has no customer service or social skills what so ever. We will be calling the owner in the morning. Hamburger was burnt hot wings were reheated and dry and they had rotten herbs our drinks read more

Doesn't follow COVID rules even the workers in the kitchen often have they're masks off or put down you can see when they open the door.

Great spot for aquatic side drinks. Patio is huge as well as the interior. Great spot for drinks with friends. Will have to try for dining out. Love this spot for summer in the burbs. read more

I love this place! Love the atmosphere, but on Memorial Day around 3:00 the service was absolutely horrible. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get our food after we ordered and no one seemed to care. I asked three times to speak to a manager and all I got was a sorry followed by a blank stare. This is totally unacceptable. We should have been offered something for our time.......two burgers and a bruschetta appetizer shouldn't take that long no matter what! People next to us were seated after us and they received their food in a timely matter so our order was probably lost. In any event, when a manager never came, I told them I was paying the bill under protest. Again, nobody seemed to care. I'd like my money back......$58.00. read more

Because of COVID-19, we've not been able to be in their restaurant facility - BUT - we have had take out/delivery, and what is impressive is the delivery was ahead of schedule and the food was just like it would be served in their restaurant. They have the best baby back ribs I have ever had...We've ordered them 3 times in the last 6 weeks and they are consistently awesome!!! Everyone has been exceptionally nice and the sevrice matches the food - outstanding! read more

This was easily one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars is because the appetizers were pretty good. First, our main courses took more than 30 minutes and all of them were Luke warm at very best. Kids pasta was cool pasta with reheated sauce. The cheeseburger was clearly sitting for at least 10 minutes before being served. The prime rib "sandwich" came with a hunk of prime rib (not trimmed) on a French roll...hardly appetizing and hardly what most anyone else would consider a sandwich. On top of this, the food did not come out at the same time. For the prices they charge here (equivalent to a higher end chain/scratch restaurant), I'd expect the food to be hot and delivered in a timely manner. Perhaps the most disappointing fact of the whole experience was the pure lack of concern or care shown by management. The manager never showed his face and he sent the waitress (who did her job well) to tell me that "the kitchen didn't make any mistakes so they can't credit me anything on the bill". I've dined here many times in the past but, they will NEVER receive another dime from me after today. Poor food. High prices. Horrible management. read more

I have been a Docks customer for a couple years. The over all impression is very favorable. They have a nice variety on the menu, from sandwiches, salads and soups to steaks and sea food. I have had their burgers (amazing!), their prime rib (wow!) and their filet mignon (hard to find better without going into Chicago loop). The chef prepares the meal to order and knows what it means to cook a steak medium rare. They will also cut your filet to what ever size you want! Oh, and life is not complete without trying the baked French onion soup. The view of the lake is spectacular from the deck, banquet room, or main restaurant room. The place is clean, well maintained, and the owner is very hands on and accommodating. Live music in the bar Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays make this a complete evening destination. The only areas that could use a bit of polish are the staff and the pricing. Depending on what you order, the pricing can be a bit.....bruising. $14.95 for nachos (I don't care if the order is large, it's chips, cheese, jalapenos, and beef)? The staff is hit or miss. I have had a few servers that were amazing, very professional, knew their menu and were the epitome of efficiency. I have had a few servers that seemed less than pleased to have to wait on yet another customer. The one time I did get the wrong food, I spoke with Jeff, the owner and he resolved the issue quickly and apologetically. He seems like a genuinely nice guy with an eye for the well being of his customers. All in all, I'd bring family and friends alike to Docks and know a good time and a great meal will be had by all. read more

This place should be called the dump!! Horrible customer service, tell your bartender to get off her phone when taking orders, very unprofessional. Also teach her hands once in a while especially after blowing her nose, to be honest she might have been drunk. Food isn't any better. The only thing that tastes good here is their ranch dressing and French fries. I'm shocked that they didn't mess that up too. Don't get the prime rib sandwich! How can you serve dried up not just over cooked prime rib. Literally a hunk of rubber. Their ribs were old and smelly, that's disgusting. Im suprised the health department hasn't shut you guys down. Not just my food concern but your staff is not practicing proper food handling measures within the scope of the Illinois health department guidelines. You guys are overpriced in general and you have outrageous add on charges from mixers in drinks to splitting a dish charge. Shame on management because this is where the problem is rooted. The place has an amazing location, and that is what is keeping you afloat. You need to hire and train your staff and rethink/restructure your menu and kitchen. read more

ok so we went to Docks on 3/16/18 for green beer and corned beef and cabbage. First they had no green beer and I ordered a corned beef sandwich and it was cold not a hot corned beef I didn't specify because in my opinion it should be served hot did not realize it would be cold (and very cold I might add). My husband ordered the dinner and it was ok except we had to ask for horseradish . They gave us some kind of homemade mix that barely tasted like horseradish. The reason for the 3 stars is unlike most reviews about Docks our service was great and the bartender was very accommodating to my overall disappointment. Just a very disappointing decision to go to Docks when we had so many other options in Wauconda. and for the record I took a poll on Facebook about hot or cold corned beef sandwiches and majority said hot just to make sure it wasn't just me. read more

Bartenders have an attitude, owner is friendly but overall I wouldn't bother. Nice summer set up with the outdoor bar but you can go over to Lindsey's for something a little nicer. read more

Don't get food here. Our guest had wings and there was a big feather in it. Because he didn't run into it until later in the meal they would not compensate in any way. Disgusting and I hate that because we always support local but not now. Just charge him and give him something else to eat or more appropriately don't charge for disgusting food. I'm done. read more

Once again and another season. We were there Sunday afternoon and couldn't get a drink at the bar. After 20 mins we got another waitress to serve us. Then 2 hours later couldn't pay for our drink. Left fine cash and walked away. Should have just walked away. read more

Used to love this place. Food is still good, but customer service is now subpar. On slow days, it takes forever even to be acknowledged. It takes another half of your life to place an order and receive food/drinks. Seems like management is letting incompetent staff run things. Please bring back the old Dock's. read more

Oh my. There's some good, some bad and some downright ugly. Dock's is located right on the lake in downtown Wauconda, so the views from the dining area of the restaurant are lovely, especially when the sun is setting. The architect did Dock's right by making sure to include HUGE picture windows overlooking the water. Gorgeous. The interior designer, however, should be shot. The place reeks of 80's décor from the overload of bachelor pad-esque black leather booths, cheesy mirrors on the walls and weird light fixtures. I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could find some black lacquered furniture somewhere. The food was good for the most part, but lacked a bit in some areas, mainly appetizers. We ordered the Docks Own Spinach & Artichoke Dip which is a blend of spinach, artichokes, mozzarella and parmesan cheese baked, then topped with diced roma tomatoes and scallions with tortilla chips. Err.. make that STALE tortilla chips. Yick. Also on deck were the Bada Bang Fries consisting of waffle fries topped with bacon, scallions and melted cheddar jack cheese, piled high and centered with jalapeno bottle caps. Served with a side of ranch dressing, not only is this dish a heart attack on a plate, but it just LOOKS kinda gross. Everything was kind of underdone and mushy. Trust me, it wasn't hard to say 'no' to diving into this mess. Luckily the entrées fared much better. My Bangs Chicken was probably the healthiest thing on the menu. Its boneless chicken breast grilled with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted shallots, artichoke heats and green beans. You get a side of garlic mashed potatoes along with it. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the veggies were seasoned well. I'm a huge fan of artichokes so I was pleased to see them live in harmony on my plate with the sun-dried tomatoes and green beans. The portion was huge, so I had plenty to take home for leftovers. The ugly part of Dock's is the service. Our waitress was inattentive, dismissive, flaky and took FOREVER to do anything. And the restaurant was NOT busy. We were dining with my two-year-old nephew. Any server worth their salt knows that tables with kids, like it or not, sometimes require some extra attention. The kiddies need their food right away, so take that order pronto! And if the kid is getting antsy at the end of the meal and we're all putting on our coats, chances are slim to none that we want dessert or coffee, so hand over the check please. My water glass was never filled, we weren't offered drink refreshers (and we all had wine, beer or champagne) and our gal was really absent the entire meal. Just not what I anticipated. Not a BAD meal, but certainly not awesome. read more

Went there 2-1-20 to see a local band. Service was awful and the owner was rude after spending over $60. Stayed as long as we could to watch the band. They were great read more

Seriously. Finally, a great day and they have 1 bartender handling all of the people at the bar and all of the drinks for the wait staff. Really, management couldn't check a weather report that it was going to be one of the nicer days of the year. It took forever to just get a beer and people that wanted to get food from the bar was impossible. I couldn't get the bartender to give me my bill so I left $20 for 2 beers. What a joke. Valet parked for a car that was 10 feet from me when I left. Done with this place. The manager that was changing tv channels is a joke. He should have helped the bartender. read more

Went to Memorial Day parade to honor nation's heros including family. Came back to parking lot (behind bulldogs) and 2 vehicles towed. Long story short, Docks rents/owns this space and had us towed for 290$ each. Not a single car in the lot. After a a few calls to police and towing companies, Punk kid (valet mngr) drives over in his mercedes and screams at us despite a 3 and 6 yr old and senior citizens now stranded in the heat. This is the owner of Docks son. No mercy, no patriotism, and horrible signage at the lot. 2 dozen other paradegoers parked there, only we got towed. Neighbor came over to confirm the no parking sign (in marker) was not in place and that valets always drive dangerously and park wherever they want. She volunteered to speak to police on our behalf. We will NEVER step foot in Docks again and suggest you do the same. read more

Good food with a pretty view of Banks lake. Use to be the old Mers Prime rib special was juicy and nice sized. Crazy busy on the outside deck but it was really warm and we got a nice view from inside read more

Unfortunate imitation of Florida's dockside bars. It's oversized and overpriced. If I am going to pay around $13 for a burger I would like my beer or wine in an actual glass, not a plastic cup. read more

Horrible service. Waited forever to take order and wouldn't split bill. Blue cheese dressing was watery and worst ever. Seafood pasta is dreadful and should be removed from the menu. Tastes like someone dumped hot sauce into tomato soup and threw in some frozen shrimp etc... Could barely gag it down. Nice view but need to fire, chef, management and waitstaff. Not recommended. read more

Our first time there and we will definitely go back. Great atmosphere, sat outside with a beautiful view of Bangs Lake. We had the ribs and burgers and they were both great. read more

I had to update my review because the quality has gone down the last 9 months and I don't think its worth the money lately. The Burgers and bloody mary's remain very good but some of the other menu items have not been up to par. read more

Good location overlooking a lake with access to boat docks and plenty of parking for cars and dedicated motorcycle spots. There is not much more good about the place. Service is below average, food orderwas burned/dry and drinks at the bar were horrible! All of above came with hefty $$$ bill. Comparing to similar establishments in the area, Docks is falling behind in the quality and service areas, I will not return to this bar/restaurant and do not recommend it to others. read more

Order here for delivery great that they deliver to volo most places don't which is dumb. They have great burgers when they cook them tight and decent apps. Wayyyyy to expensive for what you get but not bad if you just don't want to cook. They definitely need to lower prices not worth ordering alot for the quality of food you get read more

I never went to Dock's when it was Mer's, but I did go to it when it was Biloxi. OMG. That place was great. Upscale southern food.The plantation chicken was to die for. Now Docks....Dock's is really good at some things, not so good at others. Their service leaves a lot to be desired. Me and my husband went there on April 30, my birthday. We went through the front of the restaurant, were acknowledged by the hostess, and seated on the deck. That's the last we saw of anyone for 30 minutes, until I went back to the front desk and reminded the hostess that we were out there. The food is great, but very pricey. They really need to get that under control. There are no vegetarian options on their menu. They need to address that. And if they're going to charge premium prices for entrees, then I need to see premium quality and imagination in those entrees. In short, this is a restaurant that can't make up it's mind as to what it's going to be. A burger joint? Or a fine dining place? read more

Over-hyped, crowded and overpriced. Food showed up ice cold INCLUDING the soup!! Turns into a meat market in the evening. Not really kid friendly. Parking lot is HORRIFIC! The only thing that is ok about that is there is valet, but I'm not a fan of valet driving my car. Went once never again. read more

Met some friends here for dinner on Saturday, Dec. 14th before heading out to the Rau Center in Crystal Lake. Needless to say we were disappointed at some of the entrees including a very salty chicken pot pie with the top crust also raw and soggy. The customer asked to have regular mayonnaise used on his BLT sandwich rather than the spicey mayo and of course, it came with the spicey sauce. The bacon was also undercooked on this sandwich. This is not what I consider a quality dinner venue and we will avoid it in the future. We should have made reservations for one of the nice restaurants in Crystal Lake. read more

My 1st time at docks. Loved the Tiki bar , the place is quiet clean with great views of the lake. Food was below average. Cocktails were over priced and filled with ice. The waiter was quiet rude. The live band was pathetic. Maybe they should just make it Karaoke and skip the band. I will not go back again. read more

Went here on a Sunday for lunch/dinner and sat on the patio. It took about 15 minutes for our waiter to greet and take our drink order then another 10 minutes to receive the drinks. I had ordered the maitai which tasted good but little to no alcohol in it. Considering a maitai and the amount of liquor in it, I didn't feel anything at all after finishing the drink. My boyfriend ordered the nachos which were 18.95 just to have it with beef. They were an average size, tasted great but highly over priced. I ordered the buffalo chicken wrap with grilled chicken verse breaded and there was barely any flavor in it and all the onions were on one side; taking a bite of onion isn't the greatest taste. Our waitress was friendly but over friendly. The view was great and that's the only reason I'd return. read more

Eh.. over priced and underwhelming. What "bar and grill" charges $14.00 for a cosmo?! That's crazy. I could see if it were in Chicago at a chic eatery,but here...really?! Crazy!! Food was nothing much..mediocre at best. Would go back for the great lake view and ambiance. Our waitress Nicolas was awesome tho! read more

Do not waste your money here. I came here with a party of 8 and despite us being the only people in that dining room, the service was still awful. The food took over a half hour to be brought out and when they did, they brought out two meals at a time several minutes apart. Two out of eight meals were incorrect and got sent back, and several of the meals were either over or undercooked. Last time I checked, medium rare doesn't mean char broiled or well done. The buffalo chicken wrap was about 90% lettuce with a few TINY pieces of chicken. Left unsatisfied by the dinner, we ordered dessert hoping it would make up for it. The slices of cake were dry and the cookie skillet was severely undercooked and was basically soup. I do not recommend coming here, save your money. read more

Good for outside patio drinks and the view of Bangs Lake. The food is poor quality, overpriced and consistently cold and bland. I feel sorry for the managers and servers that have to constantly apologize on behalf of the kitchen staff. Plenty of other great restaurants in town that still care about making and serving good food. read more