Gators Wing Shack Grill & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Palatine Township

Overall score on everything: meh

There is ample parking, I'll give them that. It had been a while since I had been here (probably over 10 years) and nothing has changed. For what they are, they're pricey. And I have to say, they are the "Spirit Airways" of restaurants. They nickel and dime you on everything. You want a burger with cheese? The Classic comes with American cheese, however if you want something different, that'll be an extra $2. You want bacon, that's an extra $3. How about extra BBQ sauce? That's another $1. It's stupid and insane. I ordered a Diet Coke and the Classic burger. I upgraded my fries to waffle fries ($2 extra, really? C'mon). By the way, they were cold. I paid $2 more for cold fries. I added cheese and bacon to them.

My bill came to $30.99. That included the burger, upgraded fries with cheese and bacon, and a Diet Coke. The 18% gratuity (we were a party of 12 with separate checks). A 3% service charge - I paid with cash. It was on there anyway. And tax. $30.99!!! That is insane!!!

Covid is over. Stop with the service charge!

The burger was incredibly underwhelming. They were able to cook it to the temperature I wanted and it looked juicy but it was quite flavorless, as was the cheese and lettuce. The bun held up nicely, but it was like eating air. There was virtually no flavor. Others in our group got wings, salads, side salads, and other sandwiches...so let's dive in.

Let's start with the wings (which is in their name and is what they're known). If you're thinking flats or drumettes, you're off base. They are the flats with the upper part of the wing attached, so if you're ordering on the bone, thankfully you're ordering either in quantities of 10 or 20, because it would be a major rip-off if it was by weight. Again, anything additional to the wings is an added cost (celery is $1.69, additional garlic, jalapenos, or extra dressing is $1 each and adding parmesan is $1 more per 10 pieces). We learned that if you wanted two sauces (so two flavors of wings) costs more. You can't split the order with half being one sauce and the other half being another sauce, that costs more. The bone in wings are $14 for 10 and $28 for 20. It's a better deal than the boneless as a 1/2 lb. ranges based on flavor profile between $14 and $16 while a pound ranges from $28 - $32 (that is way too much).

Two guys split a side salad for $6 and another split a chopped salad for $16. The better bet is the side salad, but if you want Mozzarella cheese, prepare to add $2 to that side salad or the chopped as it doesn't come with cheese.

Another person ordered a BBQ Chicken sandwich and asked for a side of BBQ sauce. The server managed to forget to bring it after being asked only three times. However, he was charged the extra $1 for it and had to have it removed from his bill.

They do have a bar area with a number of regulars who do come out and have fun. That night was bingo night and clearly everyone in the bar area was having a good time.

Look, the food is mediocre at best in my humble opinion, but plenty of other people like it. I'm not a fan of their wings (at least the very garlicky sauced ones I tasted that others in my party ordered (garlic buffalo and bbq garlic). I like my wings with a rub, so maybe their wings would be better with a rub, I just don't know. The burger was not very good, the waffle fries (remember the upcharge?) were cold and not crisp at all. And the price tag for the burger, fries, and a Diet Coke was ridiculous.

With so many other places to go to watch a game and get good wings and for a less expensive price tag, I'd skip...

Short version: •Pizza: good, but no pizza stand; it takes up most of table, no room for plates. Dumb. •Wings: great flavor; best Buffalo sauce around •Chicken Gumbo: no chicken, no rice. Tortilla chips instead of rice. Huh? Dumb again. And Mrs. got sick. •Buffalo garlic waffle fries: soaked in Buffalo sauce. Ask for drizzle if that's what you're expecting (I didn't know they would soak them) Long version: Ordered wings for myself and Mrs. because that's what we went there for. Original Buffalo and boneless Buffalo, both great on flavor. Ordered large pizza for the kids. We were seated at unusually narrow table. I mentioned pizza and table size because when the pizza came out, the sweaty-faced cook (you know it dripped on the pizza, you just know it) just left it on the table and it covered nearly the entire table, leaving no room for the kids' plates. What kind of pizza joint doesn't have pizza stands? Restaurant basics, people C'mon! Get yourself some pizza stands!!! Or normal width tables! Or both, maybe? The worst part is the chicken gumbo. Wife asked server how it is, and the honest server literally warned against it. But wife loves gumbo so she got it anyway. She was disappointed; there was no chicken and it came with tortilla chips, not rice. But, I guess, expect a pizza joint without pizza stands to also not know that gumbo is served with rice. I said this was the worst part, not because of no rice and no chicken, but because wife got real sick within hours! She said, "but we ate the same thing! How come you're not sick?" I reminded her that when our honest server warned against it, I changed my order to buffalo garlic waffle fries instead of the chickenless, riceless gumbo with tortilla chips. The Buffalo garlic waffle fries were ok, I guess, but they were soaked in Buffalo sauce, I should've asked; I expected a drizzle on top, maybe a heavy drizzle but not 100% coating and soaked in buffalo sauce, imagine vinegar fries with a slight Buffalo kick and enough garlic chunks to prevent the next covid pandemic. Anyway, we're sure we can make just as good if not better wings at home using their gator Buffalo wing sauce. I'll definitely give them that: no contest on the sauce, their sauce is unbeatable. But you can get it at Jewel or online, no need to drive...

I walked in with a friend who I have been inviting for months now, who drove from Crystal Lake, and I from Gurnee to come to this place. I had my service animal 🐕 with me so we were immediately treated with hesitation, the girl at the door said we couldn't come in with a pet, I stated my dog was a service animal, she went to the bar and asked the lady behind the bar and she said yes if it's a service animal she can come in, as we were walking behind the girl to be seated the lady at the bar changed her mind and yelled out, " you know what, ask Dave since he is the expert" the girl immediately walked away from us and just left us standing there in the middle of the restaurant and went to the kitchen. While everyone was already staring at us we stood there waiting to what seemed like for ever and now my anxiety and nerves are starting to flare, my dog immediately senses it and tries to confort me. As the man walks towards us, he stars, no pets allowed! I responded, she isn't a pet, she is a service animal. He said do you have the documents, I said I do have the paperwork but it's in the car and showed him her tag showing she was a service animal. He the proceeded to state the village of Palatine prohibits any animal in any restaurants, I the rebutteled with she is not a pet, she is a service 🐕‍🦺 animal, and it's illegal for you to ask me for proof because that violates my rights through the HIPPA law, at that point the entire restaurant was staring at us, he then noticed and said throwing his hands up in the air, " you know what, I'm not arguing with you, you can go ahead and sit down where ever you want!" I felt so embarrassed and shamed that I responded I no longer feel safe or comfortable here but I will make sure I write a review.... As we walked out while everyone was watching.... I always dine in Palatine, never have I ever been treated in such a inhumane way or shamed about my ESA. I'm truly sad and disappointed I had to endure such a terrible experience...