Margaritaville Review (2026): This Place is Just Terrible, Again

Chicago's Navy Pier is one of the city's premier tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year. With that kind of location comes an expectation that restaurants will deliver memorable experiences worthy of the prices they charge. Unfortunately, our visit to Margaritaville at Navy Pier fell well short of that standard.

This wasn't our first experience with the brand, either. A few years ago, we visited a Margaritaville location in San Antonio and left disappointed by the quality of the food. We hoped our Chicago visit would be different. Instead, it reinforced many of the same concerns. It was a hot day in Chicago, and after filming around Navy Pier we decided to stop in for lunch. The restaurant didn't appear particularly busy, making it seem like a perfect opportunity to cool off and relax. Instead, the experience got off to a disappointing start. We were escorted through the bar area to our table, but the inside of the bar was extremely hot. On a day when customers are looking to escape the summer heat, the last thing they should encounter is an indoor dining area that feels nearly as warm as the outdoors. Then came the menu frustrations.

Several of the items we were interested in simply weren't available. We couldn't order the chicken quesadilla or the tacos because the restaurant was out of chicken. We then considered the jambalaya, only to be told they were missing ingredients for that as well. Running out of one menu item can happen. Running out of multiple popular entrees during normal business hours is another matter entirely. Customers shouldn't have to play a guessing game to figure out what the kitchen can actually prepare. The pricing only made the experience more difficult to justify. The Cheddar BBQ Burger was priced around $21.99, while chicken strips cost even more. We understand that restaurants located in major tourist destinations have higher operating costs, but there is still a limit to what customers should reasonably be expected to pay. What arrived certainly didn't justify the premium. The burger looked like something that could have come from a standard food-service supplier (we like to call it Sysco food) rather than a restaurant charging upscale tourist prices. There was nothing distinctive, creative, or memorable about the way it tasted. If you're asking customers to spend more than twenty dollars for a burger, the quality needs to stand out. This one simply didn't. Unfortunately, cleanliness also raised concerns. The floors throughout the indoor dining area were noticeably sticky, something we noticed immediately. A restaurant's atmosphere is just as important as its food, and sticky floors leave the impression that cleanliness isn't receiving the attention it deserves. Service wasn't poor, but it also wasn't memorable. The staff handled the basics, but there was nothing that elevated the experience or made us feel like valued guests. When restaurants charge premium prices, customers naturally expect premium hospitality to accompany the meal. After now visiting two different Margaritaville locations in two different cities, we are left with the same conclusion: the brand appears to rely more on its name and location than on delivering a quality dining experience. Two visits years apart have produced similar disappointments, particularly when it comes to food quality and overall value. I simply do not see this chain lasting into future decades. They really need to look into how they operate.

In the end, our visit felt like paying luxury prices for an ordinary restaurant experience. Margaritaville benefits from one of Chicago's best waterfront locations, but location alone shouldn't be the selling point. Guests should leave talking about outstanding food, excellent service, and an enjoyable atmosphere — not unavailable menu items, sticky floors, and a burger that failed to justify its price tag. For what we paid, this visit was simply unacceptable. Restaurants in high-profile destinations can absolutely charge more, but they also have a responsibility to deliver an experience that matches those prices.