The Sandbar Grill

The stars are not for the food which is just ok… its for the cold drinks and the patio area which on a summer day overlooks the lake and is like being on vacation and at a beach shack in Mexico or the Caribbean… it was quiet and peaceful, you could hear the boats, the water, and people laughing and enjoying their day. The service was great and just perfect.

Excellent Bluegill fish basket. The surfer drink special was really good as well. The lake views from the patio are awesome. This is turning into our favorite spot on the lake.

Had breakfast with my wife and another couple. Food came out at different times and was cold. So bland you beg for salt to give it something of flavor. Service, none!!!

This place rocks love to sit outside by the lake good sandwiches very nice atmosphere take your time enjoy yourself have a cold one they serve breakfast all day which is a plus they got really good fish I had to walleye couple times as good as any good anywhere stay away from it when its super busy you will have to wait for a good seat and your service try to hit it during the week

We dined at Sandbar on a Friday night. It wasn’t very busy when we arrived but got busier as time went on. We didn’t have to wait long for our food. The perch and walleye were delicious! The portions were very large! We will be back!

Wish there was a 2.5 stars. This is not a whole 3 stars. Main reason we eat here is that there is nothing else.
Wish they could keep staff as they have a regular turnover.
Food is good but not great.

This place is great! Food always good and service is consistently prompt and friendly. Beach out back is pretty cool too for dinner, drinks, & live music. Kind of feels like a mini vacation spot. Nice work Sandbar, nice work

Ate here on a Sunday afternoon following a day on the lake with three others. The couple we visited were just as disappointed with this experience as us, but I think they were a bit more disheartened as they mentioned it had been fairly good the two times before this visit.
***AMBIANCE & ENVIRONMENT***: As I mentioned, we (my wife and I, along with another couple) came on a summer afternoon. Doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the inside is small and pretty dodgy at best. The tables have vinyl that sort of stuck to your skin, the menu, and anything else it came in contact with. Bathroom was mostly clean. Only real redeeming feature was the outside sitting area – located on the beach (though not in the surf per se). It was beautiful however seeing the sun start to set off of Cedar Lake – 3 of 5 stars.
***FOOD/​BEER*** We ordered the sampler basket (fried pickles, bacon [yes, bacon!], mozzarella sticks, and onion rings), cheeseburger, cesar chicken wrap, the turkey bacon club, and a round of waters (we were pretty dehydrated from the sun!) Sampler platter was what you might expect – fried bar food – nothing exceptional, nor terrible. Dipping the bacon in the syrup proved to be surprisingly good. The burger and club sandwich were similar, not noteworthy in either goodness nor the opposite. The fries, we all agreed, were the best part of our «main» meals/​entrees. The cesar chicken wrap was disgusting – we agreed it smelled like «morning breath»…that’s right. Pretty sure the water was well-​water – had a gross salinated aftertaste that made anyone not use to drinking well water (myself included) have a difficult choice of drinking it or staying thirsty. 2 of 5 stars.
***SERVICE***: Two words: HORRIBLE SERVICE. We arrived at approximately 4pm and the place was pretty quiet. We were one of three table inside and there were three table occupied outside. Our waitress, who I wish I recalled her name. She was tall (5’10″ or so), older (early 50s – though she looked prematurely aged) with graying-​blondish hair semi-​curly hair, with medium build. Wow – she is handily, one of the worst servers I’ve EVER experienced. When walking, one of our group’s members first overheard this waitress complaining to her co-​worker about a patron – it was loud enough for me to hear (I have a hearing deficit, coupled with water in my ear from the lake and the DJ playing – you know she was talking too loud). It took her 15 minutes to even come to the table to bring the menus or introduce herself – mind you, we noticed she was only covering two other tables of adults (one table with two adults, two kids and another table with three adults). When we asked for waters, she rolled her eyes and didn’t respond, but came back 10 minutes later and asked curtly «do you all want something yet?” – we ordered the appetizers only – she came back to deliver the sampler plate after nearly 20 more minutes had passed. We asked for more water and she said «I’ll just bring you all a pitcher so I don’t have to keep refilling you». She came back after another 20 minutes had passed – why we decided to remain there and order food, will forever remain a mystery. We ordered our main entrees and we did not see her until the food was delivered. We asked for ketchup and extra napkins and were greeted once more with eye rolling and an audible sigh of contempt from her. We did not see her for nearly 45 MINUTES. We had planned on trying some of their desserts (namely the deep-​fried oreo), but we had had enough. When she came back, we asked her to split the bill between the TWO debit cards. Again, she sighed louder and took the bill. She came back 15 minutes later and asked us annoyingly «How do y’all want this split up?». When we told her, in half, she said «Oh good, that makes this soooo much easier for ME». We tipped her appropriately for the services she rendered. Running time altogether was over 2.5 hours at a place we had only intended on being for about an hour or so. Interestingly, the family of four that was next to us were chatting with us about how bad of a server she was to them as well. They left her with no tip and had no qualms about vocalizing how dissatisfied they were with this place – this individual unfortunately soured our experience here and poorly reflects this establishment. –10 of 5 stars.
In summary, if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat – I’d stay away from this place and save your money for an establishment that offers less sass and better manners from staff. The service was the downfall of this place. Honestly, the other areas could have been easily overlooked had the service not been so TERRIBLE. I’m forced to give this place 1 of 5 stars because of this. We will never be back and will look forward to sharing my experience with others.

Ate outside on the beach seating, great fun for a central IL couple where eating outside means swating mosquitoes and not being able to see over the corn.
Breakfast looked great & wish I had tried it, my corned beef on rhye was a 2. Wife had a bacon chicken wrap that was a 5. 5 on the onion rings as well.
Don’t follow Unilocal /​Google if the take you to the west side of the lake, WRONG.

Had biscuits and gravy. Blah. Not seasoned very well. Just blah. Also a huevos Mexicana which the refried beans were so salty I couldn’t eat them and the eggs which have tomatoes, onion and jalapeño tasted had no seasoning whatsoever not even salt. I would give one star for the huevos Mexicana and 3 stars for the biscuits and gravy which I averaged together for two stars.
FYI the country fried steak is a frozen patty.

Just moved to cedar lake a few months ago and have fallen in love with this place. Good beer selection and great food with the option to eat outside overlooking the lake. So far every time I go I have gotten something different and have not been disappointed. Best part is they have my favorite fish (blue gill) there at a reasonable price. Definitely would recommend to anybody who is in the area.

Well, where do I start.
I walk in on a Sunday morning, at approximately 10am. Not only do I have to wait 30 minutes to be seated, but I am waiting in an area where I must move because the waitresses and busboys keep having to go by. Worst layout ever for a restaurant. I notice that one of the busboys who is making the coffee, is preparing the filter wrong. the paper filter was sticking out. (Will get to the results of this later.). He was also biting his nails and touching his face without washing his hands. DISGUSTING.
I am finally seated and asked for what to drink. I choose my regular, coffee. I get the coffee, take one sip and immediately wish I would have thrown myself into a black abyss instead of coming here. It tasted of motor oil and lies
Food is ordered, I choose the Mexican Skillet with avocado (a whopping 1.5 dollar up charge for a mere half of an avocado). And. another 20 minutes goes by. The food finally comes and … no utensils. It takes several minutes to get the attention of what I assume is the owner (as he paced back and forth with an aggravated face, upsetting not only me but the waitresses who were doing their best to seat people), he gets me utensils and I start eating.
The food was on the absolute threshold of ‘horrible’ and ‘edible’, although it left me feeling sick for over a half hour after consuming. The best thing about it was the overpriced avocado, but it was all so, so very greasy.
I would rather throw myself into a black abyss than return to this establishment. If you want breakfast food in Cedar Lake, go to the Cedar Lake Kitchen only 5 minutes away.
I have never in my life never felt this ill after eating breakfast. Seriously, horrible.

Food and service are 5 stars.
Owner makes rounds to tables to assure your satisfaction. Mexican skillet was chock full of chorizo and cheese.

Small, casual out of the way place that wasn’t too crowded on a Sunday morning.
Food was tasty, good portions at a very reasonable price.
Great spring morning view of Cedar Lake was a bonus!

I’ve only been to breakfast a few times but every time has been great! The wait staff is wonderful and unique atmosphere is awesome! Recommended to all!

Food was good this past summer and the service was good even when they got packed. Manager didn’t appreciate my opinion on kids running around throwing sand and proceeded to insult me. One bad apple shouldn’t ruin a place but that did it for us.

This is a very unique and awesome place to go. You can sit outside at a table in the sand and listen to live music which is cool. The food is good, not always consistent though. I’ve had the sandbar burger with fries and I love the pretzel bun the burger comes on. Friendly staff, fun atmosphere.

This place is definitely my favorite restaurant close to home. Staff, manager, owner, all so attentive and friendly. They have tasty deep fried foods! Great price for the huge portions. The Onion rings with the special sauce, you must try… delicious!

So pleasant sitting at the patio table looking out on Cedar Lake. Families are eating lunch outside our window at red wooden picnic tables in the sand. There us a breeze blowing through the screens. Our waitress is sweet and gave interesting advice on surrounding activities.

This place is a gem! Service was great food really great. Pleasant
Surprise ! Onion rings delicious, salad plentiful and skillet
Yummy. I would recommend.