For sure this is a must see roadside attraction. If you aren't even a fan of Route 66 stuff, it still is as much of a place to go to for the experience as it is for eating some ice cream and greasy food. Polk-A-Dot is one of the few happening places in Braidwood it seems. A long time favorite of the people who live here. The walls are chock full of memorabilia and miscellaneous stuff that was at one time someone else's junk, and became this place's treasures. As expected, ice cream is the main thing to get. It's unfortunate they're always out of lots of items. There's already not a whole lot of variety. A pretty basic looking menu. There's the hot items including the burgers and hot dogs, along with fries and other sides. Basically we came more for the experience. She got one of the cones, which is about $3 or so. Limited flavors. The last time they only had vanilla. It's about $5 to get the fries and slaw combo. Probably about the only thing that isn't meaty. Basically the memorabilia was more interesting. They appropriately have a Grease poster, along with old timey things like jukeboxes on tables. Outside they have figures you can pose with including James Dean, Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe. This is a cool way to have fun for a few minutes or something. Best thing is the experience to be honest. It's located on Front Street by the tracks. This is one of the few ice cream places that's open even in winter. read more

Polk-A-Dot Drive In - Elvis - Burgers Near Me - Braidwood, Illinois

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Nice drive in where you can eat inside, outside or in your car. Go in to order and wait for them to call your number. Staff was friendly We got a hamburger and fries and a couple Chicago style hot dogs. All were really good and at a reasonable price. read more

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Neat place! Food was good and up quick. Fun for kids to play the old juke box from the table and learned how to use a pay phone lol! Clean. Everyone else was getting their fried chicken and it looked really good so that's my next order. read more

Looking for a blast from the past? A peek into a different time? Then the Polk-A-Dot drive in is for you. My son and I are touring the historic Rt 66 and enjoyed dining at the drive in. Great food and a little nostalgia. read more

Polk-A-Dot Drive In - We're getting our "Kicks on Route 66". Checking out Polka Dot Drive-In, Braidwood Ill. - Burgers Near Me - Braidwood, Illinois

Their burgers taste really good, their fries are really good but greasy, their chocolate milkshakes are really really good.The outside is really nice and especially since they make u wait inside with Air Conditioning when its hot out. Amazing service and good quality. This is amazing definitely coming back here read more

The food was horrible fries couldn't eat soggy with greasy. The cheese burger tasted like dog food didn't eat more then on bite quality Horrible even the dog didn't The fish they make was horrible even Burger King is better what a rat hole They deserve no stars It is a good time Culver's is coming with hero.s and legends to diamond then we will get better and Rat holes like this one can shut down I hope read more

This place is nostalgic! It is a step back in time and a treat to visit. The servers were great and they were working well as a team. The food came out in a timely manner and was well prepared. The sandwiches are simple but they are very good and I'm sure you will enjoy them. If you want to visit a place that feels like it came out of the 50s, this is your spot. I enjoyed it and will visit again. read more

Polk-A-Dot Drive In - Pork tenderloin with everything - Burgers Near Me - Braidwood, Illinois

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I love the Polk-A-Dot! It is a must stop on any Route 66 road trip. Food is yummy and the service is incredible. Such a cool ambiance with lots of cool things to discover and photo opportunities. read more

I had the pleasure of popping into the Polk-A-Dot Drive In a few days ago while enduring a rather frustrating drive from Chicago to Chenoa. Because I had never travelled in the area before, it was important to me to take as much of Old Route 66 as possible; Google Maps didn't want it that way, and chastened me to get back on the interstate at every intersection. On top of that, the person with the flexible schedule with whom I was supposed to meet kept texting every ten minutes for updates on my progress, as though I might have cracked the science of teleportation while behind the wheel (obligatory Depeche Mode/Route 66 reference). Having had nothing to eat in close to 24 hours, I was not in the mood for any of it. Having discovered this spot in advance of travelling, it was one of several places I wanted to visit along the way; my appointment's increasingly urgent tones prevented me from seeing any of them except this, and I am happy to have made the stop. I grabbed two double cheeseburgers, one for then, and the other for the second leg of my trip which would take me all the way to Dublin, Ohio. Were they astounding? No. The patties were thick and there was an abundance of cheese, ketchup, yellow mustard joined by a couple of pickle slices. I imagine that a single would be very much like what the original McDonald's served in the way, way back. It was not messy, and perfect for eating while driving, I went inside to order, not wanting to miss a look at the kitschy retro decor. It was very clean both in and out, contrary to other recent reports, and the service was prompt and friendly. I also relearned something that I had forgotten: foreign tourists are terrible - it's not just Americans who deserve a bad rap. There was a Danish family walking around inside, three adults allowing a nine-year-oldish girl to bounce off the walls, touching everything and yelling in her native language at the top of her lungs. One of them was taking pictures, the other two were following him around chatting loudly, oblivious to everyone else around them. In the ten minutes between their entering and me leaving, they hadn't ordered anything. I don't think they intended to, and I imagine dealing with that kind of nonsense all day long must be very trying. I am impressed that the staff were able to maintain their friendly and helpful attitudes. Long and short, I would have really enjoyed more time to actually eat in the restaurant, enjoy the ambiance, and do a more in-depth sampling of their offerings. If I ever make that trip again, I will do it at my own pace and do exactly that. read more

Thumbs up for tasty food and the novelty of the lifesize figurines of the Blues Brothers, Elvis, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe hanging out around this place. Thumbs down for loooong waits and scatterbrained service. The same people were both taking orders and making food for some reason (hope they were washing hands), and there were serious problems with the plexiglass safety shields + people's masks making for the clerks not being able to hear anything (i heard one girl say to several people, "i can't hear anything you just said." And like, I don't want to be a jerk and yell it, but what else do we do, write it down? Ack.) There is both outdoor seating at picnic tables or to go in the car. This seems to be a very popular place with locals as a big crowd of older folks was hanging out the whole time we were eating. Oh yeah, the food! Hamburger was smallish but tasty enough; onion rings were good. Chocolate shake was thick! My friend's order got messed up bc they didn't hear she wanted the basket, but her daughter had also ordered one and they had plenty of fries for 2 with just that. Overall, a cute stop on Route 66, but they need a better ordering system. read more

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Nice Ambiance. Lots of nice pictures on the walls. My girlfriend, her mother and I went there for lunch. People were nice but the cheeseburgers were Luke warm at best. read more

Have been going to this place for years. Always a quick and easy place to grab a bite. The place is clean and the people are friendly. The chicken snack with the mashed potatoes and gravy is so amazing. read more

Polka dot has gone downhill over the years , price , service, and quality have all gotten way worse. But , in a pinch I will order a hoagie with garlic butter , motz, and grilled onions ! It seems every time we order, something is wrong. It's really not difficult to get an order correct especially after it is read back to you read more

Fun stop with lots of nostalgia along route 66. Lot's of photo ops while you get a classic burger and fries

Food is great, service is super friendly, and the ambiance is as adorable as I remember from when I was a kid! My kid loved his food and toddlers cone! I can't wait to bring him back when he can sit in the kids booth! read more

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Polk-A-Dot is one of my favorite places to eat. It's very nostalgic and brings back memories of the 50s. The food here is also really good; I definitely recommend giving this restaurant a try! read more

Home town business with good food and great service. Everyone has got to try the chili cheese fries!

I have been here multiple times and the food is always kinda bad. The service is nice and the servers are kind and polite. The ambience is pretty nice. read more

This place has great food. I love the photos all around and the statues you can take your picture with.

First off, I can't be sure but I feel like this place changed owners years back. 15 or 20 years ago it used to be a decent fun place to grab a bite once in a while. Now it feels a bit worn down, tired, and blah. They also used to host a pretty good car show every year. No more. Secondly, the management or owners now are absolutely atrocious. A family member got a "job" there and was sent home (without pay...illegal?) after 2.5 hours on the first day because they weren't busy. The second day she was fired immediately because she didn't come to work with menu items memorized....since when is this considered training?? Never heard of such ridiculous practices with new hires.....if your kid is considering applying there, beware. I don't care if this is a small town hamburger joint, these are unethical and shady business practices. Disappointing. read more

If your touring route 66 this is a fun place to stop . I only order one single food item and a drink as there are many small eateries you should stop at along the way . They all have the old time Americana experience . ( See the U.S.A. in a Chevrolet ) . Photo ops galore , I'm sure the local workers seen it all so don't be afraid to ham it up with the figures outside . read more

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Awesome experience and delicious food! Note: they were open till 8 when we were here in June of 2024. Service was fast and friendly, food was hot and fresh, the fries are awesome and the burgers were really good. Definitely worth the stop! read more

Gotta love the nostalgia ! Great fries.great shake. Lovely atmosphere. Just off the highway... continuing on the rt66 byway... Lovin' life. read more

Polk-A-Dot Drive In - Good music, too. Yeah, the jukebox works. - Burgers Near Me - Braidwood, Illinois

Just the best little lunch spot. Great hotdogs, great pizza puffs, great "chicken nuggets" they're really more like boneless wings, they're amazing, great burgers....never disappoints & staff is always super friendly. read more

This is a cute, old-fashioned, former drive-in burger joint. The burgers, hot dogs, shakes and fries are all quite good. The chicken is good, but you have to wait a bit for it. Skip the pork tenderloin sandwich--it takes like it was in the freezer too long, and is dry. The staff are pleasant and efficient and there are great photo ops outside with statues of Superman, Marilyn Monroe, the Blues Brothers and more. Fun. Good food. Good prices. read more

Food is mediocre at best. Don't treat their employees well, unless they are related or a favorite.

I was drawn in by their retro decor and statues. From the Elvis to the Superman Booth. It is a very cool looking place. They definitely cash in on the retro Route 66 vibe. I also only had great experiences with the staff, very helpful and friendly. My only issue with this place, unfortunately is their food. I have gotten their burger, fries, and ice cream. The burger was over cooked and small, and the fries were cold. Their ice cream which is featured prominently on their menu, tastes so bland even with toppings. It was essentially no better than a Dairy Queen, and there are plenty of better options than a Dairy Queen. If you find yourself driving by, it's great for a photo, and pleasant conversation, but I would definitely ask one of the servers what they would recommend, if you are thinking of getting the food. read more

They close SO early and stop serving food even earlier! I understand they're probably short staffed, but it's been like this for years now. Prices are high and the food is average, but the atmosphere is what makes it sort of worth it. read more

3rd review. Last one was a year ago. Well it's gotten worse. Was there last night and it was disgustingly dirty! Garbage everywhere in the outside eating area. Garbages overflowing and tables obviously hadn't been wiped all day. One of the locals said they leave their salt and pepper shakers out over night. Nasty parking lot. Stuff spilled and dried everywhere. I'm going with don't patronize a place that can't care of the outside because it means they are lax on the inside too. Keep driving up Rt 66 and find better. read more

I used to love coming here as a family. Great spot and awesome vibe. The German chocolate shake is so good.

Amazing food and service! Cool Route 66 spot for food and pics! Friendly staff! Great prices!

All American food on a classic route 66 from the outside to the inside it's like taking a step back in time ...having chili cheese fries outstanding and Green River on tap makes it a winner to me read more

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It's a cute little old-timey drive in, but there not much there. The ice cream is only sub-par and doesn't taste that good. Have yet to try the food! read more

I felt the onion rings and burger was cooked to perfection. Nothing fancy but great choice for decent food quick. I'll definitely be back. read more

This is my favorite old fashioned Drive In. They have great food and great portion sizes. The pizza puff, hoagie, and pork tenderloin were amazing. The chicken nuggets (real chicken not fluffy) were great. The Route 66 and 50's theme provides a fun throwback experience. This is a restaurant you have to try. read more

Polk-A-Dot Drive In - Polk-A-Dot Drive In on Route 66. Throwback photo spot. - Burgers Near Me - Braidwood, Illinois

As a native of the area, Polk-A-Dot has received its 15 minutes of fame here and there in books and documentaries, enticing visitors as a place to stop on your journey along Route 66. Why you should stop: -take pictures with the statues along the perimeter of the building -visit a summertime car show that's being held in the parking lot -check out the 1950s memorabilia inside of the drive-in Why you shouldn't stop: -the greasy, run-of-the-mill fried food and drink that tastes like the fryer Unfortunately, you're better off hitting up the McDonald's across the street. Make sure you take a picture with Marilyn Monroe though! read more

Food is average. No free refills on pop. Pretty unheard of for the price of the drink.

Okay, in retrospect of all the joints we ate at on our Chicago-Santa Monica Route 66 journey...through 8 states...this had to be one of the worst excuses for a restaurant we experienced. It has all the earmarks of a lousy eatery....total kitsch...disinterested counter people....and the place filled with tourists. Yeah, sure, there were images of Elvis, Betty Boop and a vintage jukebox but this place invests zero into the quality of its food and subsists on one time sales to people who will never be here again. We had the Tenderloin Sandwich which was nothing more than a frozen patty either microwaved or quick fried and placed on a cold bun. I've never eaten shoe leather before it can't be much worse than this. We each took a bite and tossed it in the trash....not a good way to honor the pig that gave up its life for that sandwich but we were suspicious that it wasn't real pork anyway. To be fair the place was a bit busy with people who looked like they valued quantity over quality but then we weren't surprised at all. We won't be back. read more

This is a pretty authentic, mom and pop drive in (with a drive thru window for the winter months, when it's too cold to do drive ins). The inside is diner chic - the old tables and booths. There is an old style juke box with RECORDS (note to those born after 1990 - these are flat plastic discs that has music pressed into the grooves, that get played through a phonograph needle - if you've never seen one, this is the place). A bunch of the seats have wall boxes, so you can sit down, eat, and play music. It's all stuff from the 50s and 60s for the most part. Enough of that - on to the food. I was in for dinner, and ordered their Whopper sandwich, with everything (why not?) It was a double patty with cheese, and I never ran out of pickles. I think the bottom bun was painted with them - I had one in every bite. I'm not a big fan of fries, but these were fresh. The place has all you could want - a kiddy car for a quarter for those with younger kids, 50's and 60's artwork all over the walls, and kind of a fun, retro-look. The next time you go by, stop in for a bite to eat. They have a wide menu to choose from. It's worth a stop. read more

It's good a little over priced but you pay for the vibe. But it's a cute place to stop by and family friendly. Has outdoor seating available. read more