We visited JC's Pub yesterday, and it had been quite a while since our last visit. After this experience, we regretted waiting so long to return. The restaurant has a classic old-school Italian supper club vibe. The staff is very friendly, and the owner, Joe, is almost always there greeting guests with a warm smile and a handshake, which adds a nice personal touch. We sat at the bar and were immediately acknowledged by Gia, who has served us before and always provides great service. She took our drink order and returned shortly afterward to take our food order. My wife ordered a 9" thin crust pizza topped with cheese, sausage, tomatoes, green peppers, and mushrooms. She said it was one of the best pizzas she has ever had. The crust was thin and crispy without being overcooked, and all of the toppings were fresh and flavorful. I started with the fried smelt appetizer. The lightly battered smelts were cooked to a perfect golden brown. The light breading allowed the flavor of the fish to really come through, and the house tartar sauce complemented them nicely. For my entrée, I ordered the corned beef and cabbage dinner special, which is available throughout the month of March. The dinner includes Parker House rolls (which could be a meal in themselves) and a choice of soup or salad. I chose the tomato bisque. The soup was creamy with a rich tomato flavor and small pieces of tomato throughout. It was easily the best tomato bisque I have ever had. The corned beef arrived nicely trimmed and had a great, hearty beef flavor without being dry. It was served with a cabbage wedge and sliced carrots. I appreciated that the vegetables remained slightly firm while still absorbing the flavor from the corned beef. I also requested a side of creamy horseradish sauce, which paired perfectly with the dish. Overall, we had a truly great experience and are already looking forward to our next visit. read more

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A great throwback Italian bar and restaurant on Route 66 in McCook. JC's has a great rectangular bar, good music and an old school Italian vibe that you can't fake in a mall in DuPage County. Across from the truck depot, it would make a great hangout for DeNiro and Pesci if they ever made a Chicago based mob movie. For those complaining that it feels like 1978 inside, what's wrong with that? The martinis are bone dry and ice cold, as they should be. The fried smelts are just like Nonna made and the menu is good and affordable. Is it the best veal parm you'll ever have? No, probably not, but it's authentic Chicago. read more

JC’s Ristorante - Dry Martini - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

Always a wonderful time. Food is amazing and have extra for next day! Maribeth is a joy and always smiling. Great conversation with her every time! Quite romantic setting. read more

Went here for corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's Day. Haven't been here in years! The person who greeted us looked like she wanted to kill someone! Not pleasant at all. She said wait a minute and we saw her go into the kitchen talking with some of the staff. Someone else came out 5 minutes later and took us to a table. The waitress was excellent but our soup was cold .. the waitress said she keeps telling the manager that people are complaining that the soup is cold and the burners aren't working.. she said they keep on telling her no they are working! The corned beef was mediocre at best .. carrots and potatoes were delicious but my cabbage was cold in the center! Not much ambiance ..the old school vibe just isn't there anymore! And the person who greeted us was standing at the podium as we left with a miserable look on her face! Oh well! read more

Enjoyed a great cheese & sausage pizza today. Crust was perfection. Nice and thin and cooked perfectly with just the perfect snap. Not soggy or greasy at all. Cheese was tasty and provided the perfect strings when pieces were pulled apart. Sausage was delicious. As you can see from the picture, we couldn't wait to dig in when it was brought out so the pic is minus a few pieces **LOL** Overall, sauce, cheese, crust, sausage were all WINNERS!! read more

Sat at the bar. Service by Tina was superb. Friendly staff! (Minus the host I will say, she was unfriendly and frozen- speechless it seemed). Large on the inside which is great! Bread is homemade and delish. Side veggies were yum! cannot wait to go back and try all other menu items read more

JC’s Ristorante - Meatloaf special - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

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This place looks older and not super nice on the outside, but when you go inside, it is a large space with multiple bars and rooms. It definitely has a more traditional style. Service was great here last time I came here even though we had a big group! We were well taken care of and all of our orders were correct. We all got different things and they all looked delicious. I had the chicken genovese and it was great. My boyfriend got the sausage parmesan which he also enjoyed. Their portions are huge here so be prepared to be stuffed and have leftovers!! Their complimentary bread, especially the garlicky bread, is so good. Be careful not too eat too much! This is a great place for groups, large and small. read more

Delicious food, good portions, fast service, fair prices, and friendly staff and owner!

This is a nice restaurant with huge plates of food. It was my first time here, but the people I came with have eaten at this location as well as the previous location in Crestwood for a few decades. They all love the food here and have their own favorites. My rating is 3.5/5. This is mostly based on the food. I ordered: French onion soup ($7) 4+/5 This was good. It's one of the better ones I've had and it came with a ton of cheese melted on top. That was the best part. The broth was flavorful as well. A lot of French onion soup can turn out too salty, and this was not that. This had a good balance of salt and sweet and savory. I will definitely order this again. Be warned: It is very filling because of all the cheese. pasta & asparagus ($14) 3/5 I love veggies with pasta. My favorite has asparagus, tomatoes, onions with penne in a white wine, garlic, lemon sauce topped with parm. I tried to make that happen, by adding sun dried tomatoes to this dish. I usually love agliolio (garlic olive oil sauce, sometimes with red peppers), but this sauce tasted more like oil and black pepper. I was not expecting the black pepper. Red pepper is common, but I've only had black pepper in Cacio e Pepe. In any case, I took some extra Alfredo cream from my boyfriends dish and started dunking my linguini in it, and that was tasty. I probably won't order this again. Of the other dishes I tasted: The Alfredo was the best. $13. 5/5. It's my boyfriends favorite Alfredo of any restaurant. His mom also ordered it, but added chicken. Both are huge dishes and well worth the price. Regarding the wait staff: The lady who greeted and seated us was nice. Our waitress was also nice. The restaurant got slammed and you could see her running all over the place. I hope she was tipped well by other tables, because waitressing is a lot of work. It was nice to see the owner, Joe, walking around and greeting tables. I love when people take pride in their work/the restaurants they own. This place has two bars with seating areas and then large spaces filled with tables. Of note, the restrooms do not have a changing table, just in case you have little ones. Will I be back? Yes. Will I get the same pasta, no. I want to try their tiramisu, get my own dish with Alfredo, and that French onion soup. read more

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What an awesome old school Italian restaurant! We sat at the bar and the server was friendly. Had to get the baked clams which were delicious. We also got a pizza which was good. I also want to mention the delicious Bloody Mary. read more

JC’s Ristorante - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

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The food is always delicious. The service? Garbage. Went for dinner last night. Server was Laura. She was not attentive in the least. Took forever to take our order, was non existent during the meal. We finally had to hunt her down at the end of the bar hanging f out with the other wait staff for our bill. I'm sure she realized she was bad because her tip reflected that. Not the first time the service was awful. I think I will avoid for a while. read more

I love the old school vibe! It's like walking into the late 1970s-- in a great way. Really like their pizza (best is they put it on a little stand/rack so it doesn't get soggy. And they have really awesome creamy garlic salad dressing. Huge bar. Not a huge selection, but all the staples you would expect. Bartenders are always friendly and helpful. I think it's also super affordable-- especially because you are bound to be taking home leftovers. The pizza is very good on its second day when reheated in the toaster oven :). read more

Had dinner here following a charity golf outing. Solid selection at the bar. A few in season drafts. Some good whiskeys too and solid prices. They had Redbreast 15 at $14. Service was quick and friendly. Our group had a private room at the back. I had eggplant parmigiana with salad, potatoes, and broccoli. Simple and tasty home style food. read more

Really wanted to like this place. I like old classic vibe over modern. You walk in and you're back in the 70's. Was really pleased with ambiance but unfortunately the food was terrible. Might have been good at one time. We got frozen veal cutlet probably from costco over over cooked stringy pasta. Eggplant parm not much better. Server was very nice and efficient. Bar looked nice, maybe good place for pizza or barfood at the bar. read more

We had a graduation party today. The table & room were set up beautifully. The salad, pasta, & chicken strips with curly fries were very tasty. The best thing we had were the pizza! Our waitress & busboy took great care of us which helped to make the party truly memorable! I look forward to going back! read more

My family has been visiting this wonderful Italian Ristorante for over 30 years. You come in as a guest and you leave as Famiglia! It starts from the moment you walk in the door. The hostess greets you with a smile (Maribeth on Thursdays and Fridays) and the handsome gentleman at the bar is the proud owner, Joe Cistori. Once you're nestled into a comfy booth or table, your server will take your order .....libations from its well stocked bar, and of course, a tasty appetizer. The Oysters Rockefeller are some of the biggest and best I've had. And when they say "Like Nana's in the kitchen".....they're not exaggerating. The Italian gravy/sauce (I won't argue with you) is absolutely delicious.....so order any pasta and it will be delicious! Meatballs, sausage, braciole...enjoy them all! Did someone say PIZZA? JCs pizza is among the best in Chicagoland......I know....I'm Italian. Maybe you're a steak or chop lover....indulge, you won't regret it. Only time for a lunch? Any sandwich, burger or salad will fill the bill!! If you haven't tried JCs in the many years it's been here, do it now!! Tell'em COOKIE SENT YA!! read more

Hostess I'd like she didn't wanna be there burger is not cook med Rare I will not be returning read more

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A true classic!! They don't have these places anymore affordable and treat you like family...just like the old one on 127th and Cicero.... still affordable to read more

Wonderful family owned and operated restaurant. The food is Italian and very good. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Get there while you can. I hear they may be retiring in a year or so. read more

A friend of mine has been telling me to try this place for years! The pizza did not disappoint, just delicious. We also tried the lasagna, mostacholi and the chicken vesuvio. The only one we were disappointed in was the chicken. Just not a real great flavor and chicken was dry. We sat and the bar to order out take out and the bar tender was so sweet and kind. The hostess that day was a bit of a crab. read more

Great neighborhood place. Pizza a must here. Service at the bar is always great.. great dinner or just for drinks spot!

Old school Italian. Large portions, very reasonable prices. We loved it, and will be coming back for another visit.

Joe is the best and the food is that old school stick to your ribs comfort food!!! They have a world class pizza and a nice bar to enjoy it at while watching the games!!! read more

Ok, we stopped by again tonight for dinner. The pizza is still as amazing as ever, but let me tell you what brought my review up to five stars... ANITA!!! The most fabulous waitress I have encountered in a long time! When you go out to eat, you want to be treated well. Anita did this and more. Friendly, professional, quick on her feet, and a sense of humor to boot! Give that lady a raise! AND tip her well! Long live J C's Pub. read more

Excellent food. Everything there is very good including and the homemade roles are to die for I have never had anything bad there also the pizza is very good read more

Kuddos to a Vintage Italian Joint that's apparently comfortable conducting business in a unique neighborhood. The restaurant location is absolutely bizarre. JC's Ristorante sits camouflaged along Old Rt. 66 with prominent neighbors like the scenic Des Plaines River and a Stone Quarry with rampant truck drivers that have no problem with 'takin' you out'! And that's exactly why you'll drive past this place a million times and never see it. You're busy looking out for yourself! It seems appropriate that JC's is located exactly where it should be! This is an Ol' School Joint that's more than happy to offer service with a smile and a dependably good pizza. You stomach gets full just looking at the classic menu. It's a long read with all the usual Italian Specialties...and then some. But the fun begins when you realize you overlooked JC's rules & regulations. #1. You get dinged 2 bucks for sharing a plate of anything with anybody. Don't even think about ordering an entrée of Meatballs to share with the table. #2. God Forbid, don't get caught bringing in your own dessert into the Ristorante. You'll anti-up a dollar per person for that act of indiscretion. How fun would that be to cater-in a couple sheets of sliced Cheese Cake just to see what happens! The best seats in the house are in all three bar areas. Order up some serious cocktails to set the tone, but never with your back to the door. read more

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Fun place, good old-fashioned neighborhood Italian restaurant down the old way and the right way. Been to fancy places, if you're looking for something old-school and relaxing this is the place. read more

Although the baked clams were good, it was hard to come to a decision as the menu was a bit all over. Definitely need to try the pizza. Looked yummy. The atmosphere was lively and fun. We were there on a busy Saturday- service was good, but could have used a bit more attention. read more

Such a disappointing experience!! We went to celebrate my niece's graduation and it was one of the worst dining experiences we've had. It was a Sunday, late afternoon and the restaurant was not crowded. We waited 10 minutes for someone to take our drink order. 30 minutes for our appetizer. Nearly two hours in we finally got our toddler's meal which we were told they "rushed". Several tables arrived after us, ate and left before we even had a drink refill. We asked the server countless times if our food was on the way. When we said we were leaving, the manager was incredibly rude. They charged us $80 for the appetizer, salads and drinks (six sodas and one beer). We'd heard good things about this place but we won't be going back. read more

Lovey evening out with friends. Food and service was great. Had an excellent brandy Manhattan too! Sad that the patio was not open as we reserved a table for the patio in advance. read more

JC’s Ristorante - Brandy Manhattan - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

Stopped after picking up GF from airport. I have usually only had lunch's there. Everything was great, had oysters for an app, and she had a filet, and meatloaf for me. All were Top Notch! A bonus was the wine list with actual affordable prices. Server was nice, attentive, and helpful with a wine pick. The owner Joe even stopped to check in. Couldn't have been more pleased read more

I've been coming to this place for a while now. They have great service, great food, but after what I've seen today it was very unpleasant. We seen a dead mouse right out in the walk way where we were eating. I suggest they clean up the place. Won't be going in to JC's anytime soon if they don't do anything about this. read more

JC’s Ristorante - Dead mouse - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

I've been here a couple of times now and have failed to do a review. Sorry. This is a pretty "old school" place. Very unassuming from the outside but very warm and inviting inside. The front bar is very big. There is lots to look at on the walls...decor...very friendly people. The decor in the restaurant is nothing special but that's ok. I didn't expect glitz and glamour. You can find friends, families with kids, old people, etc. eating. It's a nice place. The food is all over the place. They have everything and so far it's all really good. Last night my wife had beef barley soup that was good. She also had pan fried perch that was just ok. The breading wasn't real crunchy and she found a few bones. I gave the chopino (a fish stew kind of dish in tomato broth) a try. Now that was really good. Lots of seafood and just slightly spicy. We were too full for dessert but they make their own tiramisu so.... I also hear the Greek dishes are top notch. J C Pub is a good place for good food. Check em out. read more

JC’s Ristorante - Chopino - Italian Near Me - McCook, Illinois

This was one of those food finds that pleasantly surprises you every time. Why? Because the outside is very unassuming and this Pub is in an industrial area. You can easily drive right by it and not give it a second thought. As soon as you walk inside you are greeted by a very nice lady who then takes you to your table. The first thing I noticed is how large this Ristorante is on the inside. I don't know how many people can be seated at the same time, but it is a lot. There were four of us, and we had never been here before, and we were greeted with smiling faces. Our waiter was great and had personality which is a refreshing find anymore. The food was fantastic! I had a steak and baked potato, and it was all cooked perfectly, and the taste was out of this world. The bread that was delivered to our table was fresh and tasty. The staff was what made us feel comfortable. Usually places like this are geared toward being friendly to locals, and indifferent to strangers. This place made us feel right at home. On the way out, a gentleman shook our hands and bid us good night. I assume that was the owner. That is old school classic customer service! We loved everything about this place and we will be back for sure. If you are a business owner and you find your staff is struggling to give good customer service, then go eat here so you can take some notes on what's missing! Keep up the great work JCs, and no doubt you will be around 50 years from now. Oh, and PS...what would it take to reserve your Limo service? True style in your parking lot! read more

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Food was pretty good. Service was great as well. Should definitely be returning here again

WOW!, people, what a terrific piece of fiction poor disgrunted Adam wrote about this place. Actually, myself & the wife happened to be sitting at the bar, behind whom I believe was your "significant', (didn't catch her name) who was playing the machines, as we had finished eating & were waiting for one to open up. One did & the wife took it, sitting next to her. They were chit-chatting as women do, then the wife asked me to get her another wine, & she asked the woman if she'd like a refill also. She declined, saying she's been there over 3 hrs already, & had 2, along with the pizza that filled her up. They went back to playing, then she eventually got up, took her leftovers in the box, & left, saying goodbye to us & thanking the lady tending bar. Me, then heading to the washroom 10-15 steps behind her, would say she didn't appear to have any impairment as Adam (not being there, folks) implied, she saying goodbye to a few others along the way out. Now we've been patronizing JC's for decades, day/night, weekdays/weekends & have seen a few thru the years be cut off by various bartenders there before they got to that point of intoxication, but have never seen anyone have to be dealt with & the lady behind the bar this day has been a bartender there for probably 20 yrs, so she's no rookie. A couple interesting things to me however, & I'm sure to anyone else who has read his rant, is that he knows she's impaired (but he's not there..ESP ?) & actually seems to carry a grudge for some reason toward this well run & well-known establishment, seeing that he is in essence sharing his knowledge of what criteria is supposedly required by restaurant staff/management (Basset-certified?..bassets are dogs, yo-yo) & but ALSO what I detect is that he seems ready to drop a dime to whatever agency that would be overseers to restaurants. He sounds like a quality guy. Footnote...if you do happen to be in the McCook area, make a point to stop by for dinner or a pizza...both of which can't be beat. JC's has been in business here for I believe about 40 yrs now...he must be doing SOMETHING right. read more

If you are looking for what's been known for decades as an old-school Supper club, JC's is the place & it keeps getting better. All 7 days a week, their menu with daily specials as well as the pizzas (definitely the Garden pizza, crisp the crust) are delicious. Friday, Saturday AND Sunday, the Prime Rib is a meal & a 1/2. The servers, Katie, Danielle, Trish, Johnna & Nicky are very knowledgeable & personable. As well as the bar staff, Tonya, Gia & Christina, able to create any beverage you may desire. Joe greets you with a "welcome" when you come in & a "Thank you" when you leave. As "old school" as it gets, but the reason why this place is as popular as it is,with clientle like myself dining here for decades. And they have a small & large room for parties, funeral brunches, etc. On Friday & Saturday nights, Karaokee is here also. read more

I went here Saturday with my son and dil and had a great time. The baked clams were delicious and the pizza was outstanding!! The waitress we had was excellent and we got our food quickly even though they were packed! read more

I'm done with this place. They have good food and the people are pleasant enough. The problem is that no one seems to know when the kitchen closes. Sometimes it's 9pm, sometimes 9:30 pm. Some times it's 10:30. Some times it's 11. No one seems to know exactly. I don't like crowds and I'm not a drinker or gambler. I've now driven 40 minutes round trip 5 or 6 times to come after the rush but before it get's too late. Weekends or weekdays, call ahead or not, it really doesn't seem to matter. The kitchen has always just closed. Tonight the kitchen just closed but they are bringing out pizza for the bar shortly. ...so we're making food right now but the kitchen is closed ? And I can't order a meatball sandwich ? I get the message. We don't want your business. Fine, Villa Nova in Stickney has the best pizza in the suburbs and serves food until midnight. read more

This place should be shut down for over serving customers. The wait staff and manager are criminals for letting my significant other walk into their establishment intoxicated and then proceeded to serve a knowingly intoxicated person drinks without concern for their wellbeing. Clearly nobody at this establishment is Basset certified. I hope they lose their liquor license and gaming license because the manager and waitress encouraged an impaired person to gamble at their establishment as well. Both myself and my significant others child called them to inform them of my significant others impaired state and asked to stop serving. The manager and server lied about my significant other being there, and then allowed my significant other to drive home. If you live in McCook IL or are visiting, do not patronize this establishment which is a danger to the community. read more