The Bridge Restaurant & Lounge

Address:	31 Locust St, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
Phone:	+1 563-557-7280
Site:	bridgerest.com
Rating:	3.8
Working:	Closed Closed 4–8PM 4–8PM 4–9PM 4–9PM 8AM–1PM

Location

Photos 25

Reviews 20

Big Food Jerk

The Bridge Restaurant & Lounge 31 Locust St Dubuque IA 52001 After living most of my life in Chicago and deciding that I wanted a change I up and left and moved near Galena IL and I got a job in Galena bartending at a place called Benjamins. As fate would have it my now wife who is from the Chicago suburbs went on a weekend getaway to Galena with a girlfriend and we have been together ever since. However, when she came back to the area to go on our first date I took her out to dinner to the Bridge. So this joint has sentimental value to me…memories. You can’t miss the place when crossing over the Mississippi from Illinois it’s right there across “the bridge”. It’s been open since 1961 and is definitely an old school restaurant. The interior is appropriately dated and hasn’t been updated since probably 1961. It shouldn’t be either its part of the charm. As charming and nostalgic as it all is I am going to throw the KO punch now….the food sucks! I started with a Long Island Iced Tea, which is my go to dinner drink and I couldn’t have had enough to make the food good. I ordered the Steak and Shrimp. An odd looking cut of sirloin and it was charred silly on the outside and bloody in the center. Flavorless and sad the cut of meat it was. I never add salt to anything but I had to salt up that hunk of bovine cadaver. The shrimp were cooked to death, where the entity had the look of shrimp but once I bit into it I believe the actual shrimp melted away into the oil. It was a sad display for a place that has sure seen better days. On the bright side I like the buns in the plastic container and the mashed potatoes were decent. The salad bar is weak and the service was adequate. According To The Big Food Jerk. I’m actually sad to have to say good bye to The Bridge. But the food was so lack luster I cannot in good conscience recommend them to anyone.

Dean Charles

Great seafood, nice place! I had the Tilapia with the fruit glaze and it was yummy! It came with garlic potatoes that were, well; garlic potatoes! Nice salad bar, not too big, but everything seemed nice and fresh. They have a very nice variety of shrimp on the menu for my next trip! (Yup, Ill be going here again!) Prices may seem a bit high with most things on the menu being about fifteen dollars or more; but its all very nice quality; but, they do have nightly specials for about twelve dollars and their Sunday brunch is under seven dollars. Only one downside: youll need a GPS to find the place! The sign is visible from the main drag (Dubuque Street/20 if youre going west), but theres only one street to get to it and thats off of Bluff Street. However, there is plenty of parking once you get there! Found the inside to be quite nice; tidy and in top notch shape. The outside does look a bit dated, but thats one of oldest parts of town. Just down the street the houses have stone walls. The area is rather interesting historically though as are many parts of that area of Dubuque. Check the menu out on line and see what you think. Enjoy!

A Private User

Went for anniversary, thinking that ribs would be good. Plate arrived luke warm. Plate size was good for a high priced ribs, but food was NOT high priced quality. Salad bar was also low quality, something you would expect from a dirty diner. There are better restaurants that will have good ribs if you are looking for it.

A Private User

I really like the Bridge. They have good food, but I think the best part about the place is their friendly staff. They are always talking with my family and me when we go in there. It seems like a lot of their customers get along with them very well. Its the kind of place you always feel welcome at.

A Private User

First off, chain restaurants have no idea what an Old Fashioned is and most other places make them with sugar packets, cherry juice, or wrong proportions. If youre craving a good Old Fashioned like I was, do yourself a favor and have one at the Bridge. You wont be disappointed!

Eric Gantz

Best ribs anywhere. Very tender and fall off the bone with no chewy fat. You can eat them all with a fork and its a generous portion. Also love the lemon pepper cod and the garlic mashed potatoes. Good beer selection with some new options every time I go.

A Private User

We went on a Lenten Friday evening for a fish fry. It was a really busy night with lots of families and older folks. I loved the 70s lounge feel and the mixed drinks. The prices were great.

Sindi Fergi

Shrimp Scampi was tough on top of rice couldnt taste garlic at all. Butter better than rice in my opinion. Great baked potato Hubby steak tough too over cooked Probably not return again

bob barista

A small local restaurant hanging on, their design and style hasnt changed since the 1970s . No one is in any hurry and the food is just average. The salad bar is pretty good though.

Tyler Perna

Came from Chicago for a wrestling tourney. Good old fashion feeling to the place. No meal under $14 and food was maybe okay at best. Would NOT recommend this place

A Private User

The food was very good. My parents love it at the Bridge. Ive tried the Ribeye and loved it. Ive tried the Grilled Chicken Breast and loved that also.

Linda Hurm

Food was yummy- boasted chicken and sirloin steak! Service quite slow but very pleasant people!

Robert Scott

Really great place with somewhat high price but worth it

Ryan Shapiro

Had wonderful smoked chops with mashed potatoes

Thomas Domek

Stuck in the 70s but good value and variety.

jeremiah johnson

Very cool place. Great food, great drinks.

Grumpy OleMann

Great menu, and the occasional Buffett