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 during the Fall and Winter months!
Now open for The dome season - late fall/winter
Our late Fall and Winter Dome Season began Wednesday, November 6th! We will be open on Wednesday - Sunday evenings! Reservations can be made by clicking on the reservation button on the homescreen of our website or by calling our reservation hotline at 217.536.2027. Reservations are not required, as we do accept walk-ins when available. We cannot guarantee we will have availability for walk-ins so we highly encourage you to make a reservation if you don’t want to miss out!
~ THE SCHULTZ FAMILY ~
The Schultz family opened Pinky’s in May 2018, at Lake Sara in Effingham, IL, as a seasonal, summer restaurant. 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!
Speaking of more… Pinky’s has added a new season in the late Fall and Winter months (November -March) and provides outdoor dining even in the coldest months of the year! Guests can dine in cozy, HEATED DOMES, surrounded by an abundance of Christmas trees, lights, and decor! Reservations only during the Dome Season.
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! In the summer months 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!
In the Summer months, 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! We kindly ask you to leave your furry friends at home during the winter Dome season as the domes are nice and cozy and not suitable for pets.
Phone
(217) 868-2628
Location
8726 E Marine Rd
Effingham, Illinois. 62401
October 2024 hours:
Mondays & Tuesdays
CLOSED
Wednesdays & Thursdays
4:30pm-8:00pm
Fridays
4:30pm - 9:00pm
Saturdays
3:00pm-9:00pm
Sundays
3:00pm-8:00pm
*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
We offer a new menu in our Winter season and only a few of our Summer menu items are carried over to this season.
Items listed in PINK font are NEW items we’ve never offered before! YUM!!
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 - Sundays (evenings only) from November through March.
HOW DO I MAKE A DOME RESERVATION?
NEW this Dome season…..Reservations are made online through TBDine with the provided link on our website and our facebook page. We will post this link when we open up reservations for November 2024, so please keep checking back for updates! In the unlikely event you are not able to make an online reservation, for whatever reason, please call Pinky’s at 217-536-2027 to make a Dome reservation with our reservation specialist. If you call, you will more than likely have to leave us a voicemail and we will call you back asap to get you booked. 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, regardless if you book online or by calling us direct. 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, phone number, date and time of your desired reservation, and the number of people in your party. Our reservation specialist 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?
We have twelve domes total and they can seat up to 3, 6, 10, or 12 people comfortably. For parties more than 12 people, please call us direct at 217-536-2027 and we will do our best to accommodate your party size.
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 only take up to three reservations per time slot. Your best bet is to book 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
3:00pm-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.
Sundays
3:00pm-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 Sundays.
***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 one hour and twenty minutes (80 minutes). In order to maximize your time, we recommend arriving five to ten minutes early to check in with our hostess and to use the restrooms before going into your Dome. 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, and due to this, we adhear to our 80 minute time frame.
The last two reservation time slots of every evening are not allotted the full 80 minutes due to our closing times. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, this would be the 7:45 and 8:00pm reservations and Fridays and Saturdays, this would be the 8:45 and 9:00pm reservations. The 7:45 and 8:45 reservations will be for 75 minutes and the 8:00 and 9:00 reservations will be for 60 minutes.
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 for the second reservation.
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 fee in this instance.
ARE THERE ANY DOMES WHERE MY PARTY CAN HANGOUT AND HAVE A DRINK EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER OUR RESERVATION?
We hope to have a few domes set up on the end of the deck where parties can hangout and have a drink or two either before or after their reservation. These would be subject to availability and would not have service in them. Customers would be required to get their own drinks at the bar. Food would not be allowed in these domes.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE A RESERVATION?
Reservations are highly recommended. You can try your luck by just showing up, but we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate walk-ins. Our indoor bar and lobby area will be open and available for walk-ins, but we have very limited seating inside.
HOW MUCH DOES A DOME RESERVATION COST?
Currently, there is no reservation/rental fee for The Domes. However, this policy is subject to change for future reservations.
WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR MY RESERVATION?
Please arrive five to 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. Upon arrival, we recommend using the restroom before going into your Dome.
WHERE DO YOU CHECK-IN AT FOR THE DOMES?
Please check-in for your reservation in The Pink Boutique Gift Shop located in the little building right next to our famous pink chair near the main entrancve and parking lot. Our host/hostess will check you in and direct you were to wait if your party has a few minutes before your table is ready.
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. Your 80 minutes starts from the reservation booking time. If by chance our staff doesn’t seat you promptly at your reservation time, we will do our best to still allow your party the full 80 minutes, but we cannot guarantee it.
IS THERE A CANCELLATION POLICY?
You can cancel your reservation by clicking on the link provided in the email you received when the reservation was booked. Cancelations can occur up to 24 hours prior to your reservation time without being charged a cancellation fee. Should you cancel less than 24 hours before (or not show up for your reservation), your credit card on file will be charged a $50 cancelation fee + a 3.5% credit card fee. No exceptions. You may also call us at 217-536-2027 to cacncel your reservation, as long as you are still above the 24 hour cancelation window.
WHAT IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE OR CHANGE MY RESERVATION TIME?
You may reschedule or modify your reservation time as long as it is 24 hours before your reservation and we have additional booking slots open. To do so, refer to the original email you received when booking and click on the link to cancel or modify your existing reservation. You may also call us at 217-536-2027 to reschedule or modify your reservation.
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 and we may also have some Chalkboard Specials available that are not listed on our menus. Ask your server! We apologize now if your favorite menu item is not on our Fall/Winter 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.
We will still be offereing our Margarita Flights, Hot Chocolate Flights, Coffee Flights, and Mimosa Towers!
ARE THERE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MINIMUMS?
Currently, 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 end early.
DO I NEED TO TIP MY SERVER OR IS THE TIP AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO MY BILL?
Due to The Domes being outside and our staff constantly being exposed to the cold temps and inclement winter weather, 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). Most of our customers actually remove their coats and jackets once inside The Domes.
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 217-536-2027 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 send you a text message or email to notify you of the cancelation. 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.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
Check out some pictures of our domes in our gallery!
Please send us a private Facebook message or call us at 217-536-2027.
Donations
Looking for a donation for your fundraiser, school event, or benefit? Email us at schultzpinkys@gmail.com. Please note, you must attach the flyer associated with your event to be considered for a donation. Also include your full name, name of your organization, your phone number, what kind of donation you are requesting, the date of your event, and the date you need the donation by. If your organization is chosen to receive a donation, you will be contaced by email or phone in a timely manner. Please understand that due to the nature and popularity of our business, we receive multiple requests for donations on a daily basis and simply cannot donate to every organization that reaches out. We thank you for your support!