Located on Lake Sara, Pinky’s is the premier spot for one-of-a-kind vibes.
We are thrilled to not only be open in the Summer months of May-September, but to also be open for weekends only in April now!
And, let’s not forget about our Fall & Winter season with The Domes from October - February!
Now open! our spring/summer season started on April 5th!
We will extend our hours in the beginning of May to include weeknights, and then again towards the middle of May to include weekdays.
Get ready for an unforgettable SUMMER at Pinky’s on Lake Sara!
~ THE SCHULTZ FAMILY ~
The Schultz family opened Pinky’s in May 2018, at Lake Sara in Effingham, IL. Kevin and Carrie’s mission is to provide a destination hot spot that leaves their guests feeling like they’re in the Key West of the Mid-West! Pinky’s isn’t just a restaurant…it’s an intentional experience that leaves you coming back for more!
KID AND DOG FRIENDLY
Pinky’s is a family friendly restaurant that provides ample opportunity for kids to play outside, while also allowing parents to kick back and relax with a cold beer or a signature cocktail! You’ll find table games, giant Connect Four, hulu-hoops, and a large sandbox with plenty of sand toys! On days where the wind is calm, you might also find our giant checkers games, bags, jumbo jenga, and more!
We welcome dogs of all sizes as long as they are on a leash at all times. We even provide water bowls for your thirsty pets!
Phone
(217) 868-2628
Location
8726 E Marine Rd
Effingham, Illinois. 62401
Spring/summer 2024 season Begins April 5th!
April 2024
Fridays & Saturdays
11am - 9pm
Sundays
11am - 8pm
*Hours subject to change based on staff availability and weather. Please check our facebook page for any changes to our hours.
Pinky’s has great views of the Lake Sara fireworks every July 3rd!
Main Menu
2024 Spring/Summer menu
Live Music
LIVE Music will resume in May 2024. Stay tuned for monthly line-ups in the Spring! Thanks to all of our AMAZING sponsors for bringing LIVE Music to Pinky’s ALL.SUMMER.LONG!
2024 Summer Music Series Sponsors
Click on any of the sponsors to learn more about them!
Our Location
8726 E Marine Rd
Effingham, Illinois, 62401
The Dome FAQ’s
WHAT ARE THE DOMES?
The Domes are heated igloos that customers can comfortably dine in even when the temperatures and forcast are not favorable.
WHEN ARE THE DOMES OPEN?
The Domes are open when our regular summer season ends….Wednesdays - Saturdays from October through February.
HOW DO I MAKE A DOME RESERVATION?
Please call Pinky’s at 217-868-2628 to make a Dome reservation with our reservation specialist. Although we do not charge a rental fee at this time, we do have a cancelation policy, so a credit card is required at the time of booking. We do not process the card unless you violate the cancelation policy. (keep reading through the FAQs to read about our cancelation policy). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a detailed message including your name, date and time of your desired reservation, and the number of people in your party. Someone will call you back to confirm. Leaving a voicemail does not guarantee or confirm your reservation. Reservations are not made by messaging us through Facebook messenger.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I INCLUDE IN MY DOME PARTY?
The number of people would depend on the other reservations we have at the time. We have twelve domes total and they can seat up to 4, 5, 8, 10, or 12 people comfortably (and you could squeeze in one or two more if you didn’t mind being all cozy with your friends and family, although we don’t recomment it).
WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE TIMES FOR THE DOMES?
Reservations are limited as we only have twelve Domes. They can be made every fifteen minutes starting at the times below. Please note, we can only take up to three reservations per time slot depending on the other reservation times. Your best bet is to call early enough to guarantee you get a reservation. We typically book up quickly and early! Our team apologizes if your preferred time is not available when making your reservation.
Wednesdays
4:30-8:00pm
*The 7:45pm and 8:00pm time slots will not have the full 80 minute time frame as we close promptly at 9pm on Wednesdays.
Thursdays
4:30-8:00pm
*The 7:45pm and 8:00pm time slots will not have the full 80 minute time frame as we close promptly at 9pm on Thursdays.
Fridays
4:30-9:00pm
*The 8:45pm and 9:00pm time slots will not have the full 80 minute time frame as we close promptly at 10pm on Fridays.
Saturdays
11:00am-9:00pm
*The 8:45pm and 9:00pm time slots will not have the full 80 minute time frame as we close promptly at 10pm on Saturdays.
***These hours are subject to change based on staff availability and weather. Please check our facebook page for updates to these hours.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES MY PARTY GET TO SPEND IN THE DOME?
Domes are reserved for 80 minutes. We recommend arriving a few minutes early to check in with our hostess and using the restrooms before going into your Dome to maximize your time. Late arrivals for reservations will not extend the time of the original reservation. Our reservations are built around a ten minute cleaning and sanitization period between all parties.
WHAT IF MY PARTY WANTS TO STAY LONGER THAN THE 80 MINUTE RESERVATION TIME SLOT?
If you wish to reserve two consecutive reservations to extend your time from 80 minutes to 170 minutes, you will be charged $100 per dome. If you are enjoying your time in The Dome but you only made your reservation for 80 minutes, you can ask your server if it’s an option to stay a little longer. If The Dome is not reserved for another party after yours, we welcome you to stay and have another drink with us. There will not be a per person fee in this instance.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION?
Reservations are highly encouraged and recommended. You can try your luck by just showing up, but we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate walk-ins. The best time for walk-ins is Saturdays between 11am-4pm. Our indoor bar and lobby area will be open and available for walk-ins and we have limited seating inside.
HOW MUCH DOES A DOME RESERVATION COST?
During this introductory period of The Domes, there is not a rental fee. However, this policy is subject to change for future reservations.
WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR MY RESERVATION?
Please arrive ten minutes early to check-in prior to your 80-minute reservation time. If your party shows up late for your reservation, we unfortunately cannot extend the length of your reserved time slot. We recommend using the restroom before going into your Dome.
DO I NEED TO ARRIVE WITH MY WHOLE GROUP TOGETHER?
Please arrive with your whole group so we can seat the group together to keep The Domes warmer and maximize your experience. We recommend using the restroom before going into your Dome.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I ARRIVE LATE TO MY RESERVATION?
Late arrivals for reservations will not extend the time of the original reservation. Our staff utilizes the time between reservations to clean and sanitize The Domes.
IS THERE A CANCELLATION POLICY?
You can cancel your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your reservation time without being charged a cancellation fee. Should you cancel less than 48 hours before (or not show up for your reservation), your credit card on file will be charged a $50 cancelation fee. No exceptions.
WHAT IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE OR CHANGE MY RESERVATION TIME?
You may reschedule your reservation time as long as it is before 48 hours of your reservation and we have additional booking slots open. You may modify your reservation by calling Pinky’s at 217-868-2628.
WHAT FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE DOMES? Our menu will feature a few of the same menu items we offer during our regular season, but we will be offering many new menu items. Some items may only be available on certain days of the week. Look for the menu to change slightly each week and we may also have some Chalkboard Specials available. We apologize now if your favorite menu item is not on our Fall menu when you arrive. If you don’t see it listed, we will not be able to make it so please don’t be upset with your server.
Our beverage menu will feature seasonal cocktails, spiked hot chocolate and coffee. Of course, if you prefer one of our regular signature cocktails, just ask! We will not be offering any frozen cocktails at this time.
ARE THERE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MINIMUMS?
During this introductory period of The Domes, there is not a minimum spend amount. However, this policy is subject to change for future reservations.
CAN WE BRING IN OUTSIDE FOOD AND DRINKS?
No outside food or beverage is permitted in The Domes. The only exception to this rule, with advance notification to us, is birthday and anniversary cakes, in which case you must provide your own cake plates. We will provide a knife for you to cut the cake. If you bring in a cake, it is expected that you clean up the cake mess before you leave. If caught sneaking food and beverages in, your reservation time is subject to an early end.
DO I NEED TO TIP MY SERVER OR IS THE TIP AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO MY BILL?
An automatic 20% tip will be added to all bills, regardless of your party size. If you wish to tip more than this, please let your server know BEFORE he/she presents the bill.
HOW DO YOU HEAT THE DOMES AND WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE?
The Domes have heaters, but this is Illinois and The Domes are outside. Please dress warmly! Heavy coats, hats, gloves, should not be needed inside the domes, but you are welcome to bring them just in case. Heck, feel free to B.Y.O.B. (bring your own blanket). If you’d like to readjust the heat in your dome, please ask your server for assistance…do NOT move the heater yourself or adjust the temperature yourself. You may be liable for damage to the dome if heaters are rearranged in a manner causing damage. There are also small windows in the domes for ventilation if it gets too warm.
*The temperature within The Domes will fluctuate based on outside temperatures and may be warmer on warm/sunny days or cooler on cold/cloudy days.
ARE THE DOMES HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE?
Handicap accessibility may be possible, but is very limited due to the manufacturers design of the domes. Please call us at 217-868-2628 for more information.
WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS SEVERE?
In the case of extreme cold, blizzards, or dangerous icy conditions, we may need to cancel reservations to ensure safety and your comfort level. In these cases, we will call you with an option to reschedule your reservation. We will make every attempt to make the cancellations well in advance of your reserved time, but reserve the right to make these cancellations in the case of emergent weather conditions at any time. Any reservation canceled by the restaurant will not be charged any cancellation fees.
CAN WE MOVE THE TABLES/FURNITURE AROUND INSIDE THE DOMES?
Unfortunately, tables and furniture cannot be moved around due to the heaters and seasonal decorations that are in place. Please do not try to be sneaky and move the furniture or our team will have to ask your party to leave.
ARE THE DOMES PET FRIENDLY?
Unfortunately, pets are not permitted in The Domes.
CAN WE PLAY/BRING OUR OWN MUSIC INSIDE THE DOMES?
We will be playing some of your favorite tunes and holiday music through our main speakers on the deck just like we do during our regular season. Our TouchTunes will also still be available in our bar area. Individual speakers in The Domes will not be allowed.
ARE THERE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOMES?
Guests of all ages can dine in The Domes. It is a state law that only guests of or over the age of 21 are able to consume alcoholic beverages.
IS SMOKING OR VAPING ALLOWED IN THE DOMES?
Smoking, in any form, including vaping and e-cigarettes, is not permitted inside The Domes.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DAMAGE THE DOMES?
Our team inspects and cleans The Domes after every party, and may charge up to $200 if we find any damages after your visit. This includes damage to the interior, exterior, or decor. They are made of lightweight materials that can be damaged, punctured, and melted. We ask you to be careful moving in and out of The Domes and while you are in The Domes.