Old Plank Trail Tavern

Bar was clean, friendly atmosphere and friendly bartender as well. They hosted a beard competition in the back room that I attended and participated in and I did not here one bad thing about the location or service! Hometown feel and beautiful holiday lighting around the area. I would return again and would recommend this location to a friend for sure.

Very friendly bar where servers are quick to help you. This old fashion bar gives you a great old school feeling. Definitely a do not miss while in downtown Frankfort. Grab a beer and a delicious ½lb burger and take in the lively environment.

Fun little dive bar in downtown Frankfort. Very much a charming «grandma & grandpa’s living room» feel. We stopped in after dinner on Friday. No problem finding seating or getting drinks. They have TVs and a pool table. Cash only.
I would stop by again if I’m in the area.

This bar gets a five star review from me in the category of «Dive Bar». It is located in scenic downtown Frankfort and was named «Gracies» for many, many years. It is a little difficult to portray in words how Divey this dive bar is. I can tell you that it is extremely dark and very old looking in the inside. The front of the bar is what it is… what is truly spectacular is the back of the bar. When walking through the bar you will pass the bathrooms and go through a door into a back area that could easily be your great grandmother’s living room. No shit. There are antique couches/​chairs, old light fixtures and little porcelain trinkets that only a 100 year old would keep!
It even smells like a really old person… You cant fake this kind of ambiance, it has to be as old as it looks/​smells! Also, check out the taxidermy on the walls, the fish above the door are spectacularly old and creepy!!!
Other than its age and divey status, the beer garden is really, really pleasant. Great spot for an afternoon beer in a great setting.
Give this place a try, if you aren’t a giant snob you’ll love it!

I’ve probably been here about 10 times over the last 10 years. I notice the bad reviews. My only guess as to why I have enjoyed myself here is I always seem to come on a date that’s been going well.
The beer selection sucks big time! Total bummer. I don’t see that ever changing. The bartenders have always been friendly to me. I love that it’s usually an older crowd too.
I wouldn’t make it a point to come in here but it’s not the worst option for a night cap or two if you are already in Frankfort.
Cash only!

Went to Old Trail Plank Trail Tavern tonight for a burger based on comments made on
. It is absolutely a dive bar, but it’s interesting, full of locals, and we were greeted by several people us as we walked in. The menu consists of hamburger, cheeseburger, pizza. Did not know what to expect, but the burger was delicious. We were pleasantly surprised. The bartender is also the cook and the Burger came with just cheese, raw onion and pickle. It was a homemade burger on a grilled bun. This is a dive bar full of history, antiques, and just a cool place to hang out. We will definitely go back for a cheeseburger or just to hang out during a Bear game!

We hit the jackpot with this place! My wife and I had been to the Frankfort Festival before and wanted to come back without the crowds to enjoy this quaint and beautiful town. From now on the Old Plank Tavern will be a regular jaunt from our home in Plainfield. We will make a habit of making this a must-​do stop.
The nostalgic atmosphere of this old bar is just phenomenal. Some of the other reviews here cover that very well. But no one commented on the food here which is truly a hidden gem in this place. We were drawn into the place to try the burger and beer special that was on a billboard sign outside the bar next to the seats on the covered porch.
I consider myself an unofficial burger expert. After one bite of my juicy, flavor-​packed burger, I knew this was a phenomenal meal. I have had many burgers over the years from dives to high-​end restaurants. My wife is rarely impressed by food and much to my chagrin she ate the whole thing (half pounder) without sharing. I saw a sign for pizza; but I’m not sure if there is anything else on the menu. The burger takes top billing here in my mind. With that quality and flavor done right, I’m not sure I would ever want anything else.
Having read some of the other reviews, I also feel compelled to correct some of the misconceptions. We were obviously not from the area and the bartender and locals struck up some friendly conversation with us to inquire about how we liked their town. Frankly, what we saw were good people who wanted to share the pride in their town.
A special thanks goes to the bartender-​cook all in one. She is diligent in her care, with prompt and courteous service and a class act cook with arguably one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. This bar keep is a a friendly lady that even shared some information about weekly town events and tips about the 20 mile bike trail. We will bring our bikes next time and be back here for more.

Ok so the only reason why this place is undeserving of a ⁵⁄₅ star rating is due to it’s lack of customer service! I went up to the bar the bartender was out having a smoke, no one filled in for him in the meantime I just sat there and waited. When he returns he proceeds to help 4 different parties, one I’m 100% sure I arrived before, so after 2 songs I finally got tended to. The place, aura is totally radical. It’s got an old timey western vintage feel to it, which anybody can appreciate. A lot of nifty ness and cool nick nacks throughout the entire place.

As far as dive bars go, this one ranks high on the unique and curious list. Walking in, I did not know what to expect, but planned for a mixed crowd of locals given that it was a late Tuesday night in a small town.
CASH ONLY!
Here are my thoughts on the bar:
Atmosphere:
As expected, there was a small bar, pool table, and random locals in everything from full camo to business casual. When I walked past the bar, bathrooms, and into the back room I was blown away. In the back of this bar past the old western style swinging doors you will find «grandma’s living room». This area was complete with old wood tables, curio cabinets, white china on shelves and in cabinets, and random trinkets you would find in any grandma’s home. It was a very odd few rooms to have in a dive bar, but extremely welcoming and fun to have drinks in an environment that transports you out of a bar and into a living room not updated since the 1960s. This area made my night!
Drinks:
I had beer only. I cannot comment on the cocktails. There were only about 8 beers on tap with most being domestics and nothing very unique. They do have a bottle selection, but this is not the bar to seek out if you are a beer snop or cant sacrifice beer for the dive bar atmosphere.
Food:
IDK. I did not eat here or even look to see if they had food. They do have a free popcorn machine.
Various:
I have been told the outside sitting area is a great place to grab a drink when the weather cooperates, but I did not have a chance to check it out.

There’s something poetic about it.
Gracie’s is one of those rare soft places seemingly forever frozen in time. As austere as it continues to be authentic, the inestimable souls that have passed through, imbibing their sincere shares of laughter, conversation, and drink, over the past 30 years have made this tavern an epicenter of quintessential Olde Towne Frankfort culture. Born rebels, alluring wenches, steel horse cowboys, and pool table aficionados at heart will find safe haven here, provided they bring cash, as the family who currently owns it has assured its loyal clientele they intend to uphold the bar’s more timeless qualities.

I like having places to walk to in town. The beer garden is nice in the summer and the prices are reasonable. It is just a local bar that looks like it was set up in your Grandma’s house. Nothing special but it is nice to have options.
It is cash only and gets very crowded during Fall Fest.

This place is a dump. I love it. Great jukebox. Super cold bottled beer. A classic. Warstiner on tap. Yes!!!

Frankfort Fest is coming up so I am going to warn you, this bar only likes its regular customers. If you’re not one then check out the bars at Jenny’s or Francesca’s. Yeah, they’re more expensive but you won’t be treated like dirt and those bars are clean.
Even for a dive, this bar is dirty, dark and gross. Enjoy it, you regulars, the rest of you keep walking. If you do come here, bring cash and hand sanitizer.

Disappointing, loud, dank, gross, and depressing. Ugh. I hate this bar.
Okay, so I admit, I’ve only been there once. It was a couple weekends ago when the bluegrass festival was going on. They had one employee, and she was clearly only interested in giving good service to the regulars. And yes, I get that. I do. Gotta take care of the regulars so they continue to take care of you.
HAVING SAID THAT, if you are a bar that is literally spitting distance from an outdoor music festival (with 100 degree heat index predicted for the whole weekend) and alcohol is not allowed at the park where the music festival is held, does it not make sense to have more than one person on duty?
And if you’re going to have only four beers on tap, the least you can do is not serve someone a beer that’s ¹⁄₃ head, even if you’ve never seen her before and will probably never see her again.
Normally, I do enjoy an establishment that feels like it’s from another time. But when you can still smell the cigarette smoke (from either before they banned smoking in IL or from before they opened that morning, or both, as is my guess) and see layers of dust that make you wonder if the Will County Health Department has EVER been inside to check it out, well, that goes beyond kitsch.
And did I mention they only accept cash?

Not a bad little bar with plenty of different drink specials. They have a nice pool table and juke box. The bartenders are cool and despite just about every patron being drunk, they’re still laid back. Bring cash cuz they don’t take plastic

Really don’t see what the attraction is here.
I guess the prices are ok. for lukewarm beverages.

My tastes have refined, my mind is sharpened, my prose, well, commas.
Old Plank, or Gracie’s (as most call it, even bartenders) call the establishment as the oldest watering hole in Frankfort. This is beyond the fact that Frankfort has seen more tumbleweed dealers than a Kansas dust-​bowl. Lets face it, Gracie’s (Old Plank Trail) is an ‘old world bar’ (not my adage) with new world prices (mine). Nothing but domestic taps cost under three dollars, and shots start out at least five dollars, rivaling Chicago prices.
Expect large groups any day of the week, including fake-​plastic blondes of husbands whom can some how afford them, or farmers, or the majority: dregs of society. It seems like if they aren’t tweaking, they’re looking for a fix. It’s a painful majority, but the regulars are extremely crude, will talk of the «old town» and how every blunder is somebody else’s problem. The service is slow and extremely crude (which does not rival Chicago) and spotty at best. Also, prepared to wait behind locals.
…Three dollars for a PBR? Even Jesus has sympathy. The dogs aren’t a draw. I’m talking about the animal.
Bonus points for poor pool sharks to score points.

The old ass pool table is the main draw for me — $ 1 to play for as long as I want — awesome. Surrounded by antiques there is nothing funnier than rocking out I Kissed a Girl or comparable song. I got really drunk here one night and left my jacket. About a month later I came back and asked if they had a lost and found — the bartender said yes and pointed to a coat tree heavy with jackets that the drunken had left behind, and guess what — mine was there — woo hoo! Also a great place for a sexy interlude after properly lubed in the back poker rooms.