We're relatively local but have never tried Gopher's Grill until now. Why not? I have no idea; and trust me, I'm kicking myself. Husband and I got drinks, shared a full order of steak nachos, had turtle cheesecake for dessert and took home the pulled pork street fries for my daughter (which I sampled, of course). $45 !!! Blew me away! And EVERY. Single. Bite. Was. Delicious!! The drink menu was extensive. He had the Mango Cart and I LOVED the lemon drop martini! The dessert choices made it difficult to choose - a great mix: lava cake, apple tarts, various cheese cakes, ice creams (will be back to try the others for sure). Our waitress was nice and very attentive. Place was clean, contemporary, and I noticed that kids were having a blast upstairs in the game room. Highly recommend !! read more

We had lunch here on the way to Indianapolis. It was fantastic! It was in a cool brick building downtown. The food was really good and the restaurant was clean. Will go back the next time through. read more

This has become one of my go to's in Effingham! I have also gotten one of my friend's completely hooked on this place. I have been here probably a dozen times this year and have never had a bad experience. Some nights this place will be completely empty and other nights completely packed. They have golf leagues (on the simulators) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. The food is great, especially their sandwiches. I love the Chicken Caprese and Nashville Hot. Beer prices are really reasonable and cocktails are decently priced. They also like to fill your shot glass to the rim if that is your thing. The staff is usually good, but they can be unattentive at times. I wholeheartedly recommend this place! read more

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Very welcoming atmosphere, an enjoyable lively place From golf games to the many Televisions mounted around the inside. The food is total comfort , taste and affordable. A must try. read more

Excellent customer service, very sweet wait staff were very helpful. Great beer selection and tasty food - highly recommend the mozza balls! read more

Gopher's Grill - Mozza balls - Bars Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Stopped by late on Sunday night on a roadtrip home to Memphis from Wisconsin. Effingham is a midway point for us, and we were making good enough time to find a sitdown restaurant. After this visit, we will schedule a stop into our travel plans. This location has a lot to offer with games, huge screens with live sports, and plenty of space to stretch your legs. The appetizer selection is very good. My wife loves fried mushrooms, and described these ones as exceptional. The Bavarian pretzel was much better than similar options at bar/grill chains. The dinner options were also broad from sandwiches, seafood, pastas, steaks. Everything was very good, minor note, but we were not the biggest fans of the fries. Stop in for pleasant service and excellent food! read more

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This place was awesome. We didn't play and games or anything like that because we just wanted to get some dinner before we settled in to our motel for the night. I seen good reviews and I decided to give them a try. I'm really glad I did. The food was crazy good!! We will likely go there every time we pass through Effingham. read more

Had a great experience and great meal had the Salmon BLT sandwich very good. Sweet Tea was good not sour or to sweet. Tea isn't always good at restaurants but it was good here. Well done server was friendly and quick. The sandwich is $12.00 with one side I had coleslaw. read more

Nice casual restaurant in Effingham. Lots of room, large areas for groups, Games for kids and adults. Ping-pong, pool table, darts, ect. Variety of foods and beverages. I would definitely recommend! read more

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This my first time visiting but I love that they have a little of everything to do after dinner. From simulators to ping pong to skee ball and pool tables. Food and drinks and priced well so as a bonus read more

Had the blackened fish sandwich and couldn't believe the flavor. Expertly blackened fish and great potato salad. Fast friendly service and nice place to relax read more

Great place to eat and have fun. Definitely will return whenever I am in town. Recommended

Love the atmosphere they have going. Upper floor has games to play and they also sport three golf simulators. Food is priced at about what you would expect for a "pub" ($10 for a sandwich and fries). Of course they nail you for the fountain drinks, but they are free refills. The food is presented nicely, with an upscale look and feel. The taste didn't disappoint. Both the appetizer and main dish were prepared well and had great flavor. If you're in the area, it's worth a try. read more

Great place for dinner and drinks for large groups or game day! Love all the appetizers and sandwiches. High recommend!

I had never eaten at this restaurant but decided to try it today for lunch. I sat at the bar and the bartender was amazing. I started looking at types of hot sauce and didn't know which one I wanted, so she went to the back and brought me out chips with three different types of hot sauces to try. I ended up ordering a grilled chicken sandwich which was pretty good with fries and a cup of soup. Their soup was a roasted garlic potato soup and it was amazing!! The staff was very friendly which is appreciated now more than ever. The only thing I didn't like about this place was their fries. They're not your traditional fries. They are very thin, almost like potato chips, but I thought everything else was great. I would definitely eat here again if I was in town. read more

Nice atmosphere staff is friendly and the prices are good. This was our first time. Will go back again things to do for the kids. Only negative is it's a little loud. read more

This was the 1st time we walked in & did not stay.& eat. Usually very good atmosphere with lots of sports TV Food is-always good as is service But Sunday the 30th of Jan. 2 PM the music was so loud you could not talk to each other without talking loud I could expect that maybe in the evening but not early on Sunday read more

We stopped through on our road trip- great stop! Games upstairs for the kids, great food with lots of options, and easy environment! read more

Gopher's Grill - Outside - Bars Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

First time and never again. the waitress was great but the food was horrible. I ordered chicken piccata with pancetta, artichokes and capers. not only was the pasta over cooked but there were big chunks stuck together. the 5 small pieces of chicken would not have made a chicken tender. the cook must have dumpe an entire bottle of capers on the dish and used marinated artichokes. the pancetta was bacon bits sprinkled on top that could break a tooth. this is also the first time I have posted a negative review. read more

Skip this place. The game rooms don't work properly and the server didn't fix it. The game room was also missing sports equipment for games they had. The food is not good. We ordered wings (overcooked), the big pretzel (I think they microwaved it, plus it was overcooked), and nachos (they were okay). The arcade room has several games that don't work. Overall, this place could be much better. The concept is fun, but it is underwhelming. read more

Stopped here on a road trip. Attentive staff. Clean restaurant. Really good food! Big portions so you can come with an appetite.

Quick service, good beer selection, and decent food. Lots of activities available. Can get loud when busy, but that's a bar for ya.

We visited about one month ago with a group of friends and really enjoyed our dinner. The atmosphere is neat. We did not play games but would have it if wasn't so busy. I ordered a chicken wrap, and it was marginal. I would probably order something different next time if we returned. read more

My husband and I are spending the weekend in Effingham and wanted to try something different. The service was great, the food and drinks were amazing, and the atmosphere was wonderful! We will definitely be back again! read more

I went online and made a reservation for my family for Sunday night. We drove 45 minutes in 2 cars from Louisville and it was CLOSED. With the price of gas right now, it's absurd that they would allow reservations to be made, if they aren't going to be open. A complete waste of a night. read more

We took a ride to Effingham on a Saturday afternoon. I was really hungry after riding around. We had no idea what might be a good restaurant to choose. Thankfully, Gopher's Grill seemed to be pushing hamburger smells out of their HVAC system, because it smelled heavenly across the street! We were seated immediately. It's huge inside. It was nice and cool. Pretty crowded at lunchtime but there was plenty of wait staff. Our server was very friendly and stopped by to check on us a couple of times. I ordered a burger and fries. My husband had a blackened chicken sandwich with fries. Both sandwiches were great, and we gobbled them down. French fries were kind of weird - long and thin-sliced, but still good. We will definitely stop there again. The chicken bacon wrap was ordered by a diner at the table across from us, and it looked delicious! read more

Great bar and restaurant. I really like the high ceilings and openness inside... And for us golf addicts, they have simulators which are especially awesome during these cold months. read more

I got the SW chicken salad - it was really good except the avocados were not so good. My dad got a burger and the waitress did not ask how he would like it cooked, it was served pretty much burnt. Also, as we were leaving the restaurant the chef was out back smoking a cigarette with his friend. I hope he washed his hands before cooking my food! I would recommend this place overall but they definitely need to work on some things. read more

Decent burger, interesting fries, but floor needed swept and bathrooms were in need of a cleaning. I don't think I'd go here again...

Great place, great ownership. One of my favorites in Effingham.

The piece of fish was longer than the hoagie bun! Delicious! And the fries! These are my all time favorite french fries! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. They're wide and very thin. Love them. Service was great too. Next time we're in Effingham, we will eat there again! and service read more

Gopher's Grill - White fish sandwich with fries. - Bars Near Me - Effingham, Illinois

Gophers Grill is the place to be! It's an awesome spot to grab a couple drinks, dinner, and play some games! We did the golf simulators and had dinner and had a blast! The atmosphere is great and the drinks are strong and affordable. Whether you come with a large group or just a couple the service is spectacular and get the Bavarian pretzel! read more

We enjoy bringing the kids to Gophers Grill. The menu is great for everyone. The bar atmosphere is inviting , along with a fun game room for the kids! read more

Awesome food and incredible staff. A must visit! Go Gophers! Sarah S and Krista K did a wonderful job of waiting our table.

I have been here twice now. Both with great experiences. This is a great new place that is always packed. Salads, nachos, salmon, steaks were all very good. Friendly staff. read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about this place so where do I even begin? Let's start with first impressions of the building. As it is located downtown, some people might be thrown off with the parking. In front of the building, there is limited street parking and as someone who is terrified to parallel park, I usually bypass that altogether. Behind the building you will find ample parking in a couple different lots. There is also an entrance conveniently located in the back so you don't have to walk all the way around the front. Once you walk in, you will notice how huge the place is! They did a fantastic job converting the building into a restaurant. There is a tv any direction you look, making this place the perfect spot for catching a game with friends. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a rowdy sports bar, but it does get a little loud considering how much fun everyone is having. If you are looking for a quiet meal, I recommend coming in on a weeknight or during the afternoon. Now let's get to the good part: the food and drinks! I have never had a bad meal here! Whether you are looking for just a couple appetizers (spinach dip is a must!), a light salad, or a full out meal, Gopher's has what you need! Honestly, my go to meal is their classic cheeseburger. It's simple but oh so delicious and keeps me coming back time after time. In the mood for drinks? They have multiple draft lines, including a nitro line, plus a large selection of craft bottles/cans. If you are in the mood for a cocktail they can do that too AND at a very reasonable price. I'm not a wine drinker, but I know they have a great selection on hand to choose from. The environment is something unexpected for the small town of Effingham. Their simulators are fun for the whole family. Whether you are playing or just spectating, it's a guaranteed good time. If the simulators are full (as sometimes they are especially on weekends for obvious reasons) just head upstairs to the gaming area. Trust me, it's not just for kids! They have classic arcade games (skeeball, pinball, air hockey, basketball) as well as a ping pong table and even a bags set. Something for everyone to enjoy! The staff is the best part of this place. Nick, the manager, is always visible ensuring everything is going smoothly. He isn't an "annoying in your face manager" interrupting your meal to ask how your food is, but he is there if you would need him. The bartenders are very experienced and always friendly no matter how busy it gets. Special shoutout to Victoria and Krista for always making us feel like family when we walk in and never judging us for how often we are there! Whether you are in town for one night or a local looking for a night out, this is the place for you! Great for a date night, lunch with coworkers, family gathering, and more! Gopher's Grill is the place to be! read more

Passing through town. Googled some places to try. Like Gabby Goat. Decided to try Gopher's Grill. Love the atmosphere and layout. Server was nice. The appetizer mushrooms were greasy.. tasted like old grease. We were starving so we ate them. We had the flank steak sandwich. The gorgonzola was the worst tasting cheese ever ( ruined the whole sandwich), but the meat was good. The fries were more like chips and were cold when delivered. We were in a bit of a hurry so didnt want to wait for redos. The pibb extra was flat. May try again not sure. read more

Came in with the family and I must say, it was nice to have a good selection of food for the adults and kids. I was impressed to see Urban Chestnut on tap, as well. To top off, the hubby and I got to enjoy our delicious beer while the kiddos played some games. read more

I really liked this place. We had bbq pork nachos and sat at the bar. We were just killing time so didn't order much. The food was great. Pork was tender and great flavor. Guacamole was fresh. Nice thin chips and good cheese. They have a nice selection of beers on tap and craft beers by the bottle. Was happy to have the Snicklefritz on tap. Would be a great place to go on a casual date or even to bring your kids to eat. Saw there were a lot of games inside and some sort of a golf deal. would recommend read more

Late afternoon lunch. Very nice server. The place was full of tv's and games. Would be great for groups or just 2. Everything we had was great. Park in back and use the back door! read more