This restaurant has been in our area for about 4 years now and is the only marina/water front restaurant in the area. The food is good with the pizza being a favorite. Â
The biggest disappointment is the staff, in particular the servers in the dining area. We were told a table would be ready within 10 minutes and this was on a slow night. It actually took 40 minutes and this because the hostess forgot about us.  20 minutes after being seated  our waitress was  did not smile and greet us, but asked if we paid for our drinks before sitting down. She was borderline rude, and snotty, as a previous reviewer stated.
30 minutes later, she brought out the main course, before the appetizer. Â When we objected and asked to have the appetizer first, she refused, and said it was not her fault.
It only went downhill from there.. All and all it took us 2 1/2 hours
Unprofessional treatment of customers is a major problem of this establishment and the hiring of more mature experienced servers would make all of the difference.
We've got some plusses and minuses here my friends.
Let's start with the uppers:
+ Nice location. Â In fact, as far as I know, the only restaurant between Highland Park and the border where you can dock your boat for a meal.
+ The food was good... I had the "jumbo" fish sandwich (the only fish sandwich on the menu) and it was in fact JUMBO. Â Huge. Â Cooked perfectly. Â The breading was not too heavy and complimented the fish. Â The tartar sauce tasted like it was probably homemade.
+ The food came out hot and fresh.
+ Casual atmosphere.
And now, the downers, and reason for my 2 star review:
- No A/C on the hottest day of the year. Â Seriously, 105 with a heat index of 110? Â Your craptastic ceiling fans are NOT going to cut it today.
- Unattentive staff. Â Take your order, come back with your drinks, walk past you several times in the 45 minutes it takes your meal to come and not apologize for the wait or let you know the kitchen is working on it.
- See point 2. Â 45 minutes for a burger, 2 salads, a fish sandwich and some chicken fingers? Â When one of our party asked what the delay was, the waitress snottily replied that turkey burgers take longer to cook. Â I don't know about y'all, but they only turkey burgers I've ever made that took that long weren't burgers, they were hockey pucks.
Maybe the kitchen was overwhelmed due to the heat, because it certainly wasn't because the restaurant was busy. Â I can't really sympathize, because they didn't have their A/C on. Â When its 105 out, you turn on your A/C, keep the iced tea refills comin' and keep your customers happy. Â End of story.
The Tropics is an unpretentious and casual (very casual!) destination, even though many of the regulars have a sailboat/yacht parked in the adjacent marina. The decor is definitely "margaritaville" style, with all kinds of tropical or bar related kitch hanging everywhere.
You can't ask for a much better setting. The restaurant itself overlooks the commercial side of Northpoint Marina, right off Lake Michigan. If you haven't been to this marina, it's worth a visit. There are hiking trails, a fishing area, beaches, and a boardwalk that spans the length of the marina. It's a fun place to spend the day, even if you don't own boat.
Most of the food on the menu is just your average pub fare, but the Tropics Burger is what keeps me coming back for more. Yum. It's a 1/2 pounder, so show up hungry or share with a friend. Â I like them with grilled onions and swiss cheese. The kids like them with a side of sweet potato fries. The wait staff is typically friendly, down-to-earth and competent.
There's an outdoor, dog-friendly seating area. Bring the family dog to marina for the day without worrying about what to do once you're hungry. There isn't a whole lot of outdoor seating, so you might end up waiting for a table on a nice summer evening or during peak weekend lunch hours. By the way, there's a dog beach just north of launch ramps. Your dog will indeed be your best friend if you take him to the dog beach and then share a little of your Tropics burger.
It's best to think of The Tropics as a large bar that serves food rather than a restaurant, that way you won't be disappointed. In season and on the weekend, it can be crowded and loud. At night, it can be rowdy. There are frequently large parties or special events that can really pack in the extra people as well. Daytime hours definitely have a family-friendly, restaurant feel, but as the evening progresses, there is no doubt that The Tropics is a bar.
It's not open all year, and they sometimes close early in the evening if bad weather keeps enough customers away. Phone first if in doubt.
This place has a very cute tropical theme and what makes it great is that it's right on the harbor. Â Outdoor seating has a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. I think that's what really tempts me back; I'd come back for the view alone! Â The service is actually very friendly and conversational as well. Â The boats are also amazing to look at. Â Sometimes social boat owners will even give you a tour.
The menu is simple, inexpensive, and has something for everyone. Â It's a great place for kids to come if you are into that sorta thing, they have a game room. Â I almost forgot to mention that they have a pretty impressive beer list for such a small joint.
I also enjoy the ride TO the restaurant. Â There is an off beat road surrounded by wetland swamps with overgrown grass making it peaceful route to drive through.
All in all I can say I enjoy the entire experience this area and restaurant has to offer. Â Oh and yes this place is a bit "townie" but I love local spots like this! Â I crave them.
The Tropics excels as what it is: a tropical-themed restaurant at a marina located in a state other than Florida.  In other words, it does ridiculousness well.  Two examples: the decor and drink menu.  That it is so spacious means that there is even more space to decorate with nautical, tropical, and generally cheeky (though family friendly) items.  And it offers over nine specialty alcoholic frozen drinks.  Unfortunately they were out of ice cream this afternoon (thus docking my review from five to four stars) and thus couldn't make me a Mudslide or a White Russian, but my back up choice of a piña colada nevertheless ($4.50) hit the spot. Â
Their menu is quite extensive: lots of apps, salads, and sandwiches. Â I was torn between the grilled ham and cheese and the chicken salad (both $6.95 with fries, chips, or cole slaw) but ended up just getting the nachos and salsa ($3.95) and my icy alc. Â The boyf got the burger and fries ($7.95) and reported that the burger was fine (and successfully cooked to order, which is always a plus). Â The fries were crinkle cut from a bag: no Comet Cafe fries here. Â
The boyf and I rolled in on our bicycles at noon on a weekday, so we were the first patrons of the day. Â I thus cannot attest to the scene of The Tropics when it's more lively. Â But if we're ever in the mood to drive someplace for some evening amusement, I wouldn't hesitate suggesting that we drive the 12 miles down from Kenosha to patron this place again. Â The marina is a great place to explore and the water is beautiful.
If you ever find yourself lost in Winthrop Harbor, IL (border of IL and WI), it's worth your time to check out the Tropics. Â My family docks a boat up here, so I usually spend my Saturday evenings getting wasted at this bar. Â
Why the 5 star rating:
1. The location - it's right on Lake Michigan! Â
2. The decore - feels like you're wasting away in margaritaville...bumblef*ck illinois style
3. The drinks - they have them, they're strong, and they're waaaaay cheaper than the city
4. The owner - Frank is the quittessential Italian bar owner, story teller, dj, and all around bad ass. Â
5. The crowd - townies, boating regulars, creepy men in hawaiian shirts, etc. Â
6. The music - Frank djs on the weekends. Â You get everything from Sinatra to Shania Twain. Â I like to watch the 40 something single women dance the electric slide in their "seductive" ways
7. The late night menu - the cheesy tater tots have saved my life on several occasions
8. The pool table and darts - in case you're not drunk enough to dance to "Stroke It"
9. The wall of shame - pictures of drunks over the years. Â You can find myself and my family displayed in these photos
10. We're talking Winthrop Harbor, IL ... where the hell else are you going to go???
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