The PERFECT place to come on a nice day! A great view of the Mississippi and plenty of outdoor seating. I've never eaten here, but their beer prices can be relatively reasonable (we were all ordering PBR and Stag). Our server had her hands full during this visit. It was around 70 degrees and not an empty table to be found! I wasn't too concerned with getting anywhere fast, so I didn't pay too much attention to how many times she came to check up on us. There were several, but we were not a needy group. This is the type of place I would come to JUST for the view. It's absolutely beautiful and makes me jealous I don't own a boat.
Review Source:If only this place was closer I would go here everyday. The view of the river is gorgeous...the food is really good (the salads come with the best muffin ever) and the atmosphere is serene. I have only been here during the day, but I am sure the night has alot to offer.
If in the area i would for sure check it out!
First visit was today. Very nice view of the river but disappointed in the food. I had the cheeseburger/fries. Cheeseburger tasted o.k. but small in size and the bun was dried out. French fries were the WORST I have ever had. They served them cold. (Asked for fresh fries when I ordered them.) Told the waitress and she was very nice about it and brought out a serving of freshly made, hot fries. My husband had chicken strips that were pretty good but no fries came with them. I will never go back Prices seemed high for what you get and the atmosphere isn't that nice. Only liked the view and being by the river but even that would have no affect on me returning.
Review Source:We just discovered this place yesterday. Â We kayaked in the AM and were driving around looking for a place for lunch. Â It is right on the river across from an island with boats docked. Â So much fun, the place looks like it rocks in the eve with partying types. Â But this day it was getting filled with families and small groups. Â Very good pub grub, sandwiches and salads, fries...
Very nice servers. Â Very clean rest rooms. Â Reasonable prices. Â Limited wine selection, 1 white, a "Barefoot" oaked, Chardonay and a White Zin in tiny, single serving bottles. Â Limited beer on tap, lots of bottles to select from.
What a very nice, fun time watching the river roll away. Beautiful environment. Â
We "Yelped" the area and found only the paid advertisings  from the casino food places.  FYI. Â
Enjoy, peace.
This is just about my favorite place to go. My family has a tradition where we go here every mothers day and pretty much all birthdays during the summer. I feel like I'm on vacation with only an hour drive from home. I love the salsa and the people watching and drinking a corona by the water. The did alot of remodeling this past winter and its even nicer than it was before.
Review Source:I am sad this place is so far away from me because it was great!
The Loading Dock is quite a drive if you are coming from St. Louis, but it is worth it at least to go a couple times. Â I went here a couple days ago after a long bike ride around Alton. Â This place is absolutely perfect for summer, you cannot find much better of a place. Â It has a huge patio I mean HUGE so you can come with as many people as you want. Â It also has music and games such as bags and others going on if you are planning on staying a while. Â It is a really fun and social atmosphere that is outside to feel the great summer day.
In addition to the atmosphere the food is great and not to badly priced. Â Also they have plenty of beer and drink selections, none of which exceed what you think. Â It averages around two or three bucks a beer. Â I had a great time looking at the cave paintings on my bike ride and cooling off with lunch and a couple drinks here. Next time I come out that way I will be coming back!
Why was I so far away from the comforts of home? Â I went to a rugby game out in Illinois and after the game we headed to The Loading Dock. This place is huge and has an awesome patio that overlooks the river and is pretty scenic, especially when a storm is rolling in. Â
Another awesome thing about this bar is that I was able to pay $6 for a bacardi and coke that was in a 32oz cup. Â Any place that serves mixed drinks that size for that price will definitely see my repeat business. Â
The food is awesome and definitely hits the spot after drinking most of the day and is pretty reasonably priced. Â If you've been to Jack Patrick's in Downtown St. Louis, the system is pretty much the same. Â You pay at the counter and you get a number and the servers come find you and they did a pretty good job. Â
I can only imagine this place when it is warmer than when I came. Â The doors were open but the rain kept everyone mostly indoors but I can definitely see the whole place being overrun when the weather is nicer. Â Maybe I'll have to make a special trip back.
Im biased as I got married here, but this place is pretty awesome...HUGE patio were you can sit on the edge of the river and enjoy some cocktails and some bar food. Â Everyone is friendly, and its a place where you just dont want or need to be in a hurry...look around at where you are, and enjoy, the food is simple and good, the drinks are stiff, and you can get out of their on the cheap...Its a must do if you are in the river bend area...dont be a knob, and go here...you will not regret it
Review Source:I think everyone is confusing "dive bar" an bar "where you have to do everything yourself".
This place is nothing special. On top of that, it's the worst service ever. Expect to wait an hour for a BBQ sandwhich on a Sunday. Drink servers take forever, so after waiting in line to order food you'll have to fight at the bar to get a drink. I watched servers bring one plate at a time to a large group, who were being polite to one another and waiting to eat when everyone had food. That was a 10 minute wait for them! What a poor use of manpower. Not once was my drink order taken. I had to go to the bar each time. Oh, and there are no soda refills. While you wait you'll be drinking and spending and just waiting.
If it didn't have a river running by it or wasn't one of 3 restaurants in a 100 mile radius, I don't think anyone would rate it close to what it is now. Too bad. It is a great location.
Wow. Just wow.
A true hidden gem! Â Â Well, I guess not a hidden gem if you live in Grafton, IL and this place is the main attraction within a 20 mile radius. Â But if you're from St. Louis and are starting to forget what trees and water look like, you're just a scenic drive from a little slice of Heaven.
If a Harley Davidson biker bar in Orange County hooked up with a little tavern on the beach in Mexico, it would produce offspring very closely resembling The Loading Dock. Part biker bar/part tropical escape, it's impossible NOT to leave your worries behind.
The ambiance was exceptionally executed. Everything was very subtle. Clearly this business was inspired with an eye for detail. Classy touches everywhere, and I only heard one Jimmy Buffet song in the few hours I was here.
Aside from the gentle music playing (a live band was also setting up), the rush of the mighty river, the sunlight on my face, and the cool breeze in my hair, the food was delicious.
I'm pretty confident in saying the following things:
1. This is my favorite restaurant/bar that I've ever been to in my entire life. It truly mentally transported me to another place.
2. If I ever want to get a guy to put a ring on it, I'm going to throw out my copy of "The Rules" and take him here to work my magic.
3. I will be coming back here as often as is humanly possible. The drive from St. Louis was WORTH IT.
4. Once I do woo a guy into marrying me with the romantic vibe in this charming bar, I will marry him AT THIS BAR. Â Destination wedding in Grafton, Illinois!! Who knew?!?!!
Maybe I'm being naive in calling this place a hidden gem in St. Louis but I'm going to go ahead and do it... I had never heard of the Loading Dock before I went on a 'field trip' with coworkers and now it is one of my favorite places!
I just went last weekend on an Alton/Grafton trip (read my Fast Eddie's and Rotten Apple reviews too!) and Loading Dock was stop #2. We were lucky it was such a pretty day because there is nothing better than sitting out on that deck, looking out at the river. You'd swear you were at Tablerock Lake or something! I've never sat inside (is there even an inside seating area?), but why would I? The deck is perfect on a nice day.
Of course, the drinks were great. I've had their dock lemonade before (alcoholic) and was pleased. This time, I opted for Landshark- on draft! They alsp have Michelob Golden Light on tap too, and that is really hard to find around St. Louis.
Oh, and funny story..... our relaxing drinky time was interrupted by a pirate ship. No lie, a PIRATE SHIP. Some boat totally refurbished to look like a pirate ship came by and started shooting these little back canons to the kids  the deck. Weird.... but entertaining.
PS, I ONLY gave it four stars because of distance. It is about an hour from downtown. Don't let that deter you though! The atmosphere is great and the drive is along the Great River Road (aka gorgeous!).
A pleasant surprise!
The GF and I stopped by here on a crisp fall afternoon. It is a bit off the main drag, so it is not easy to find. We had our dog in tow, so this was a no-brainer since there is plenty of outdoor seating on the river bank.
The bar is enclosed with large glass doors that open on good days. There is a large deck and an even larger outdoor area with patio tables. The day we were there they had a large fire going outside.
You order food at one window on the deck and then order drinks separately from the bar. It is one of the only drawbacks. They do bring your food to you.
The view is very nice, the atmosphere is fun. I didn't have high hopes for the food (bar basics), but we had a quesadilla that was pretty darn good and great onion rings. The salad was even better than average.
Stopped here on our way out of Grafton; we were in town from Los Angeles for a wedding. The space and ambience are fun and being on the Mississippi was an amazing experience. Decent selection of beer, and catfish was decent. The big antique/flea market attached to the restaurant was a big plus. Had a great time!
Review Source:Its a dive, you serve yourself, its full of bikers, but somehow this is exactly what you want after spending a day cruising down the Great River Road.
The restaurant - well, its the loading dock! Â Right behind the large warehouse. Â Tee restaurant features a giant patio...to be more precise the restaurant is nothing but a patio, or rather multiple outdoor seating areas.
Pretty much anywhere you get a view of the Mississippi, and all the local boaters going up and down the river. Â Actually - if you are really brave you can fight the current and dock your boat for a meal here.
When I went, it was early dinner time and the crown was just starting to arrive. Â A band was starting out their set as well. Â Perfect atmosphere.
The food? Â Well - you came here for the view of the river, the patio, the bar. Â Food is pretty standard American fare, and is generally tasty and well done, but not spectacular. Â They do have a unique salsa to try though. (Try it... you want to)
All in all a perfect place on this side of the river to relax outdoors with some food and drinks.
We stopped by here for some dinner after spending an exhaustive three hours at the Raging Rivers waterpark just down the road. This water facing restaurant/bar is huge! There was a variety of seating arrangements under blue umbrellas, colorful wooden lawn chairs, outdoor sofas, high tables and benches. The open bar area is breezy, well-shaded, and has a tall ceiling (thanks to it originally being a dock). I never thought I would call any view next to the Mississippi river (which is mostly muddy and brown near downtown St. Louis) beautiful but oh it certain was, with a slow setting sun bouncing off the blue waters and the gleaming white bodies of the yachts and boats that sail by.
Compared to the view and the atmosphere, I have less to say about the food, which was slightly on the expensive side. Two BBQ sandwiches, fries, and a side of chips and salsa was $22. However, everything was cooked well. The star of the meal was the house salsa, which had quite a few ingredients and a refreshing flavor. My frozen strawberry margarita was also delicious! (My bartender let me start a tab)
By the time we were about to leave, a band had started to play. The place was quickly filling up. When a breeze comes by, I felt like I was no longer in Graffton, IL but somewhere more tropical, like Florida or Hawaii. Very few local restaurants take me back to past vacations, and for that alone the Loading Dock was well worth a visit!
The Loading Dock RULES!!
One of my favorite summertime bars, and I wish it was closer to where I live! Located right next to the Mississippi River in Grafton, IL, you get a nice breeze and a beautiful view! Besides the smaller area with the actual bar and restrooms, this bar is entirely outdoors and it is HUGE! Since they are only open on the weekends in the fall and winter, they have the capability to make a portion of it completely indoors. They have an outdoor stage for live bands, which are usually there on the weekends.
It is right along the Katy Trail for all you bikers out there. They also have docks if the river is not flooded, so you can come pay a visit via boat!
The food is actually very good as well! Typical bar food with a few specialties, but all that I have tried has been tasty! You do have to order and pay for your food yourself at a little hut outside the restaurant, but they bring everything to you. All the service is pay as you go, which stinks b/c you can't start a tab, but everything else makes up for it! It has a full bar with great beer selection.
What a great little weekend getaway spot to enjoy the weather, music, good company, and a brew! In the words of Toby Keith, "I LOVE THIS BAR!"
As far as small town bars go, this is the cream of the crop. Â Huge outdoor wide open spaces. Â Counter ordered/table served food, with a full bar and live music constantly. Â A great place to go after a day on the river for a pint and bite. Â Wait staff was friendly, but they don't let you run a tab, it's all pay as you go.
Review Source:The Loading Dock is one of my favorite bars to hit in IL. I have came here a few times by jet ski and a few by car. (and bike)
(Note to bikers: Make sure all of your bike is legal and you have a license if driving on the Great River Road. IL highway patrol are such jerks through here and not only will you probably go through a check point between here and Alton but if you are not legal they load your bike up in a trailer. Fun huh?) Also make sure you have a DD cause the cops are thick through here on car or bike.
Great outdoor bar. I like their daiquiris and margaritas. They have outdoor seating and usually bands on the weekends. Â It is nice to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
It is only open Spring-Fall. I can't wait til it opens this year!
Great views, fun atmosphere, fun mix of people, great prices for what you get, live music, ...
Went here for the first time today. Had our two young boys with us and it was great fun with them and would be equally fun (or moreso) with just an adult group.
Food: My whitefish sandwich and the slaw that came with it were both excellent. The other food we had (hamburger, fries, catfish bites) was all good but fairly typical of what you'd get most places.
Drinks: Our strawberry daiquiri was perfect. Just the right amount of rum and lime. Good size. Good price. They only offer bottled water (which would generally put me off) but it was only a buck and our waitress brought us out three big cups of ice for our one bottle.
The Great River Road between Grafton and Alton IL is a St. Louis regional treasure.  It's scenic  confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers will give you the feeling that you are on vacation.  You can sit by the water and watch the boat traffic on the river while enjoying stunning views of the palisades.
The Loading Dock has one of the best views in town! Â The deck is practically on the water and they have huge picture windows behind the deck. Â The atmosphere at The Loading Dock is great with a mix of cyclists, motorcycle groups, locals, tourists, etc. Â Everyone is there to have fun. Â It is open, clean and bright. Â
The Loading Dock is only open Spring-Fall and entertainment is provided most weekends days from the band shell on the deck. Â They have sandwiches, burgers and standard bar appetizers, but most people hold out to have their food at Fast Eddies in Alton, which is usually the next stop. Â
I always have fun at the Loading Dock. Â It's the drive home that's not so fun! Â This is one of those road trips that will require a DD.
Boaters are welcome to use the docks provided.
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