I just tried Iron Rail restaurant in Bolingbroke. Here’s what I thought of the GA food and more
A historic train-depot turned cozy southern eatery in Bolingbroke. Iron Rail restaurant opened in April 2025 and I just got around to trying it.
Sure, it’s been almost a year since its opening, but better late than never, right? And trust me, this was worth the wait. So, what did I really think?
Here’s my review:
Atmosphere
As soon as I walked in, I felt southern train depot vibes, but with a twist. Tables adorned with candles and candelabras spread around a large room. On the walls were old newspaper clippings framed on exposed brick and model trains placed up high on wood beams. The entire restaurant felt authentic to the train station it used to be, but it also still felt like a great place to gather together to share a meal. It’s unique, classic and cozy. Overall, I give the atmosphere a 4 out of 5.
Food
The best part of my review: the food.
I was given carrot cake muffins to start at lunchtime, which were warm, soft and scrumptious, overall a nice surprise.
I ordered the Southern Burger, which is a “black angus beef patty, pimento cheese, applewood bacon, fried green tomato and ranch mayo” on a toasted bun. I also had sweet potato fries, which were a special side of the day.
The burger was packed full and at first, I wondered if I would be able to finish it. But in all honesty, it was way too good not to finish. The patty was cooked to perfection, with a fresh, satisfying taste. Mixed with the bacon and pimento cheese, it gave a great crunch and saucy bite. I didn’t taste the fried green tomato at first, but once I got to the middle of the burger and took a big bite, the flavor exploded. It was sweet, salty, fried goodness. The burger was so tasty and I was so enthralled by it that I almost forgot to try out the sweet potato fries.
Turning my attention to the fries, I ate a couple and thought they were freshly made, but could use more salt. They were sweet and somewhat crunchy, but more soft. Overall, I give the food at 5 out of 5. I still dream about that burger.
Service
My server and all other staff were friendly, accommodating and very knowledgeable. As soon as I came through the door, I was greeted with a smile and immediately walked back to a table. My server was especially chatty and we shared some great conversation when she came around to check on me. The wait time for the food was a little longer than I’d hoped, but honestly, it was worth the wait. And my server really made all the difference because she was such a ray of sunshine. So, overall, I give service a 4 out of 5.
Price
The prices at Iron Rail seem extremely fair and honestly, competitive in my opinion. The burger and fries I ordered was $17 and I think that’s a great price. Comparatively, a bacon cheeseburger at Chili’s is about $16 and a bacon cheeseburger at Five Guys is $14.
Other meals are also reasonably priced, for example the Country Chicken Fingers and two sides is $14 and the Monte Cristo sandwich and a side is $15. So, I give the prices a 4 out of 5 at Iron Rail.
Iron Rail is located at 5995 US-41 in Bolingbroke and is open for lunch and dinner.
Have you tried Iron Rail? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
