3 /5 Cary Miller: The Blue Heron is basically a bar which serves a limited variety of fast food items such as burgers and nachos. The establishment is very difficult to notice from the roadway since its located in the Tall Timbers Marina on the Illinois River but its easy to spot from the river itself as the place is primarily for boaters. The tables and bench seating is worn and weathered but that blends in with the riverboating motif. The burgers are frozen and heated in a microwave but they tell you this up front so if your expecting a fresh grilled burger this is not your place. The food was surprisingly good for frozen to microwave and they have some craft beers on tap including Torpedo IPA and Anti-hero IPA. I saw an order of nachos being prepared and the serving size was huge. There is outdoor seating including screened-in seating to keep the bugs away during the evening hours. The cook/waitress on duty was prompt and friendly.
