Live, from East Peoria, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger with this week’s host, The Burger Barge and featuring the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now, please welcome from acrros the river in East Peoria, this week’s host, The Burger Barge!
Okay, so last week I got lost trying to find the Burger Barge by using my GPS. I found out later that if you just drive to the Par•A•Dice Gambling thingy and take a sharp right, you'll end up there. I know how to do that, so it's off we go. I really hate driving over this bridge though. Yikes!
I successfully made it over the bridge, took that sharp right at the Par•A•Dice and here we are. The place looks exactly the same as it did three years ago. I think that's a good thing.
As you can see, they have a nautical/pirate theme going on here. Arr!
We'll go down the stairs...
And through the door to see what awaits us inside the Burger Barge.
Wow, the main dining area is packed...
But I'd rather sit at the tiki bar in here anyway and there's plenty of seats to be had there, so let's go snag one.
Friendly bartender Andre serves up a beer with a smile.
And there's a familiar face behind the bar, local comedian and writer, Rodney Hood. Rodney just started bartending here and is working on opening up a local comedy club in September, stay tuned for more information on that.
The view from my seat at the bar.
A shark hangs over the lit up bottles behind the bar. Candygram.
And there's a tub of beer cans floating below in a pool of ice colored in a green hue from the lights at the bar.
Waitress Genna takes a second from serving tables to strike a pose for the MBIP roving camera.
The dining room is still crowded! As I took this photo I heard someone say my name...
It turned out to be the Baker party seated at this table. They told me they enjoyed the MBIP blog and read it every day. Well that sure made my night, thank you Baker party!
He follows his nose, wherever he goes!
So this is where Burl Ives spends his summers, good to know!
Booths line the front wall of the main dining room.
Patrons are encouraged to draw on the napkins in here and then hang them on the wall above the booths.
As you can see, some of them are a little fishy. Oof!
There's another room back behind this door, let's go check it out.
Big wooden booths line the walls back here and it overlooks the Illinois River. I tried to get a photo of the river but it was too dark and they didn't turn out. You'll have to use your imagination.
There's another tiki bar back here, this wasn't here the last time I visited.
And there's more tables off to the side of the bar, you never have to wait for a table in here!
Meanwhile, back at the front tiki bar, my seat and beer still remain. Let's go revisit both of them.
The condiment bucket has been plopped in front of me. That can only mean one thing...
It's cheeseburger time!
I got the Illinois Burger which is topped with bacon, grilled onions, mozarella cheese, mushrooms and their house made Dock Sauce. I also got the Luciano Cheese blobs for a side dish.
It was a very tasty burger, although the mushrooms bugged me a little bit, you can read about that in the review below.
After a beer for dessert, I needed to use the bathroom. As you can see, graffiti is not discouraged in here.
And the graffiti in here runs the gamut from this somewhat philosophical piece...
To this more succinct, somewhat in your face suggestion.
And of course all of this just has to lead to an obligatory bathroom mirror shot. See you all tomorrow.
My Cheeseburger
The Burger Barge has 18 different styles of burgers. I almost got the Tavern Burger, which is a burger topped with bacon, ham, grilled onions, American cheese and a fried egg. At the last minute I ordered the Illinois Burger which comes with bacon, grilled onions, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and the house made dock sauce. It was really good, but the mushrooms came from a can and that kind of bugged me. I should’ve gotten the fucking Tavern Burger.
In addtion to the plethora of burgers, there’s a shitload of food to order in here and I’m running late. Here’s the menu, you look at it. I gotta go.
Cheeseburger Rating
Two and a half Wimpy’s, it was good, but next time I’m trying the Tavern Burger. Okay, seriously, I gotta get going, I’ve got a lot of shit to do today!
The Burger Barge
1401 N. Main Street
East Peoria
309-694-9191
Further reading: Greasy Joints, PBR and PJ Star.
