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Giant City Lodge & Restaurant
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Hotels, Restaurants [Edit]
460 Giant City Lodge RdMakanda, IL 62958
(618) 457-4921
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Giant City Lodge & Restaurant
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Rick K.
Phoenix, AZ
9/8/2011
Best place for fried chicken in the So. Ill. Giant City is a great state park as well. This place is a little off the beaten path, but well work the visit.
-
Review from ALFREDO M.
Prospect Heights, IL
6/8/2011
I can't believe YOU haven't spent more time in our state parks. I was just recently blown away by Giant City... I wish I could've spent a week exploring the park but the few days we spent at the lodge and cabins just really left us feeling... just wow!
I don't really know a lot about the campsites because we didn't go camping - in my younger years when I didn't mind getting all grungy, that would've been a good option. Now that I'm an air conditioned gypsy, I needs to get my AC on. The cabins @ Giant City could just suck - you just expect that a state-run facility is going to blow, don't you? Well, they're not sucky at all. These are cozy little cabins with two beds, a bathroom, a TV with just basic local channels and... AIR CONDITIONING!! It was 100°C last weekend so you know the sweat factor could've been unbearable. We spent some time in the sun - we spent a little time fishing @ Little Grassy, we spent a little time @ Kincaid lake, we went swimming @ the Giant City pool, we saw the sights in and around the state park... and if the heat got a little unbearable, we retreated into the comfort of the AC. (*sigh*)... did I mention the AC?
I also need to mention the famous chicken dinner... you hear everyone talk about the chicken dinner and the build up is so intense that you kind-of almost feel like you won't be disappointed if the chicken dinner is mediocre. In fact, the chicken itself is fine - it won't beat Pollo Campero, the standard by which all fried chicken should be measured, but it is really good. Like 8 on a scale of 10. The sides are all really good too. The service is really good. The whole experience was... that's right, it was good. So why the major fuss? I know what it is... it's because this is all happening in an Illinois state park administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources! It almost seems like in these times, we've come to expect that our public servants are actually out to get us but the fine folks at Giant City are bucking the trend. -
Review from Eric T.
Rogers Park, Chicago, IL
9/30/2010
All you can eat southern fried chicken dinner in the heart of the southern illinois wine trail for under $10... absolutely fantastic. My party of 4 finished 3 extra servings and enjoyed it immensely. Includes mashed potatoes, gravy, dumplings, corn, biscuits w/apple butter, green beans, and good crispy salty southern fried chicken!
The lodge is huge and it gets busy, but it's worth the wait. Our party of 4 were seated right away on a Saturday evening around 7pm but larger parties may have to wait a little.
There's a water tower with a beautiful scenic view at the edge of the parking lot - worth the trip up to the top. -
Review from Kathy S.
Cook, IL
10/28/2009
I camped, then drove in circles around the park (actually I ran over a squirrel, I'm sorry nature) in my quest for the legendary fried chicken place Ed K told me about. After parking on the precarious slope, I FINALLY went in, intimidated by the prices of their non-special, then left abruptly with menus still on the table.
I came back in a much better state for their special (was it a lunch special or a weekday special? I forget.) I sat in a hot, sunlit corner of the restaurant underneath a painting of a waterfall and ordered the all-you-can eat homestyle chicken and sides for 6 bucks. mmm. That was great. The plate I was served had so much food on it that I didn't even bother getting seconds. This is the restaurant that caused my formerly-vegetarian friend to start liking chicken again. -
Review from Booda B.
Lombard, IL
6/20/2008
Definitely check out the lodge for its gorgeous Depression-era architecture. The stone fireplaces native timber beams are amazing and very old-timey.
I was less than impressed with the restaurant, though. I was expecting a gem of a restaurant in a beautiful setting, but what I got was mediocre, overpriced food reminiscent of a typical National Park concession. The scenery was, sadly, not enough to overcome my resulting heartburn. Next time I'll head out of the park to eat in Carbondale. -
Review from antoine f.
Carbondale, IL
4/12/2009
We stayed in a Bluff Cabin.
The pros: beautiful wooded setting.
The cons: High priced for what you get. $145 for rather rustic accommodations. The regular rates are based on 2 people. We were charged an extra $10 per night for having our two young children with us, even though cabin was designed for 4.
The cabin was in need of repair and updating. One of the doors to the balcony didn't work. The floor wasn't level, so the bedroom door had to be held open by a rock. The cabin originally had a working fireplace, but it had been replaced with a fake electric flame. (too bad, as this would have been a nice amenity in cool weather).
Water leaked under the doors to the balcony when it rained. Wall paper was bubbling in one corner (another sign of water problems?)
Worst of all, the cabin was over run with cockroaches. I didn't see any in the restaurant, but can't help but wonder if they are in there too. -
Review from Brett J.
Johnston City, IL
4/21/2010
I'll get a lot of crap from the locals for saying this, but this restaurant is horrible, it takes forever to get seated or to get your food. The food is so bland, and they give you these tiny glasses for your drinks, and you constantly need a refill of a the few drink choices they have. The only idiots who go here are fools that grew up on this food and their relatives that are forced to go there.
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Review from Ian H.
Carbondale, IL
7/1/2008
The lodge is tucked away in the Giant City Park and isn't exactly the easiest thing to find if you are unfamiliar with the park. The lodge it self is really cool and rustic and the surrounding forest is beautiful. The food as the lodge is what i think of as southern home style, its tasty and the portions are large. the time i went the only offered their signature family style fried chicken dinner. (which was awesome!)
