Visited today! Great atmosphere! Drinks were delicious as were the small plates- our table had the charcuterie as well as crab stuffed shrimp, cheese bread as well as several other plates! Stuffed crab was a bit off but otherwise everything was really good. Drinks were creative l, unique and garnished well. Restaurant was clean and decorated well. I will go back for sure! read more

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We've been to Jude's for both dinner and breakfast, and each visit has been excellent. The portions were generous, and the food was delicious. For dinner, the tapas selection was the perfect mix of flavors and variety. Our breakfast was smaller but just as enjoyable. Overall, a wonderful experience every time! read more

Jude’s - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Incredible, cozy, delicious! First off if you have the chance to sit at the bar and have bubbles wait on you well then you are one very lucky person! She's so friendly and is a true mixologist! Her drinks are so delicious I didn't want to leave! The menu is incredible with food from around the world! We didn't get to eat much because we just dropped in for a quick drink but next time we plan to eat more! Look at these beautiful drinks! Cheers - thank you bubbles read more

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Stopped by for a $9 martini. Tito's and a couple Bleu cheese olives. Amy our bartender was terrific. NOTE TO OWNER: give her a raise. A wonderful customer facing employee. We'll be back! read more

Well service was fine. I came in after the lunch rush so it should have been, and was attentive. Had a glass of wine after a busy day of running here and there doing this and that, around 3ish. Thought I would have a little food to go with it, so I ordered the pirogies. I was very disappointed. I expected something like comfort food but got pirogies that tasted like frozen Mrs T's I think they are, and worse, they were soaked in oil. Mushy through and through, and the onions and bacon in enough oil to swim the backstroke. I have to say I had to decline after one bite and after briefly thinking I could put them on top the bits of shredded lettuce and carrot to sorta drain the oil and soak it up. But no. I'm pretty sure the lettuce was meant to accompany it as food to be eaten, not as a paper towel. Anyway, when I got home I tried to look at the menu again and check the price on the wine, since it was a large pour but like $15, which I guess is kinda the price now days, but almost $15 for wine and almost $20 with tip is just kinda silly imo. I also noticed that the website said "now hiring". Since the servers were there and taking care of people, and the food was not so great I'm guessing they need a chef. read more

Jude’s - Pierogis. Doing backstroke swim in oil. This visit not a win. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

Wow! People have raved about Jude's and for good reason! Great menu with unique items! Fabulous cocktail menu. I had the Singapore sling which was fabulous Great service with helpful and fun servers! Molly was terrific. Parking can be a challenge but definitely worth a short walk. Definitely a must see! Great for a first date or date night! read more

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So disappointed. There were 12+ of us celebrating a friend's birthday on 12/31 at 12 noon. We've been coming there for the last 5 years on the day as it's a tradition. We were brushed off and told they would only seat us in the back. We wanted to sit in the front bar area (there were only 3 other people in the front). Or they could have offered us one of the Igloos! She told us we would be "better off" at The Cottage. Bartender tried to get us to stay by offering free drinks but the older lady "hostess" was extremely dismissive. Very disappointing. So off we went to the Cottage. Forget Jude's!! Why would they turn down business?? We will now be going to The Cottage! Great service and so welcoming at The Cottage! read more

This is an awesome little hidden gem in downtown Crystal Lake. The ambience was very nice including the patio area I was seated at. The restaurant has a cool vibe to it. The waitress was very sweet, accommodating and attentive. There are ample cocktails to choose from. The watermelon cocktail was very good and a larger pour. The honey lemon cocktail was interesting. The regular old-fashioned was delicious. The menu is very eclectic from around the world, but really cool. The chicken with prosciutto, red peppers and cheese was very good. Also the Indian chicken tiki dish had the right amount of spice to it and very flavorful. The poutine fries from the Canadian area were ok. Cary Ale House makes a better one. Overall, this is a fantastic place and I highly recommend it! I will definitely be back! Jude's definitely earned their five stars! read more

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Beautiful sunny day to be at Jude's. Started with a strawberry mojito which was decent. The spicy ramen appetizer not so much. It wasn't noodles in a spicy broth, rather noddles in a spicy general tso sauce. Not great. Service was stellar. read more

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Jude's is an interesting spot located in Downtown Crystal Lake serving cocktails and small plates in a cozy, upscale setting. We were starving after a hike and the menu sounded appealing, so we thought, why not! The atmosphere is definitely the selling point here-- charming and fancy but not overly snooty. The service was subpar-- our server was friendly but we didn't see much of her. The place was nearly empty so I'm not too sure why she was so inconsistent. The food was a mixed bag. We split 4 plates, and some were good and some were not. The first plate was Papadums-- a crispy Indian flatbread with various dipping sauces. This dish was complementary, and we thought it was pretty good. We also ordered Falafel, which we thought was decent, but pretty dry. We also got Thai Peanut Chicken Kabobs, which was our favorite-- very tasty and the noodles had a good kick. Finally, the fourth dish ordered was the Alligator Bites-- which were dry and barely had any meat in them. I'm not sure if we would come back-- it seems like one of those places that looks good online but is rather underwhelming in person. read more

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Service was great, food was good, pricing was okay, decor and overall atmosphere was great

So much to love! Small plates with BIG flavor! Love the atmosphere here, too! Perfect for our pescatarian diet!

The food is fantastic! I don't think I tried something that wasn't good. The cocktails are wonderful. My favorite is the strawberry basil martini! It is wonderful! The service is always friendly and quick. The ambiance is modern and fun. read more

While Jude's boasts an excellent tapas menu and a fleshed out cocktail bar, there is one glaring hamartia to the dining experience here-- the water. It is clearly straight from the tap, however if you told me it came from a hose out back I'd believe you. The unfiltered, disgusting flavor made it nearly impossible to enjoy the excellent food in front of us. My partner and I were fighting down gulps just to make sure we stayed hydrated. The facade of Jude's being an upscale dining restaurant crumbles the second you taste it. Brita Filters are cheap you guys! read more

Would a wonderful find in crystal lake. Now crystal lake have many places to eat. We are going to check out many in the next few months. This is the first. And so kind we did. Hubby and myself really enjoyed this quant Cosy restaurant. We booked over the phone. But it was quite noisy and the host wrote down the wrong name. But she remembered the call. Its not a large place so I would recommend you book a table. There was definitely more noisy in the bar area. We were seated in the back room. Table and chairs are close to each other, which we don't mind. Its a good way to meet people. Our server was very nice. And all stuff were friendly. We were told the owner is from England. Which explains the international menu. Everyone gets a basket of Popadums. Then from there it's small plates to share. If you like Gin, this is a place for you. But cocktails. Beer, wine are also available. The food is excellent. Only one small thing. I think my Shepherds pie is better. I'm British and have made many a Shepherd pie. But it's personnel taste. We both enjoyed this place and will be going back. It's in my top 5 places. . Give it a try. Local independent restaurant give thier all. read more

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This is a really cute bar / restaurant serving international cuisine - tapas style. Their plating is very nice. The bar is fully stocked with good liquor. The seating is nice with high back chairs and tables in the bar, and tables in the back restaurant. Kitchen is semi open. There is a side patio opened in nice weather and a garage style door that opens in front with seating pouring out to the side walk - love this! A nice place for a date or special evening out. Note that they require a reservation. The medallions were delicious, pirogies were good. Lamb skewers were ok, but tasted like ground lamb. Duck frites were good if you like smothered fries. To be completely honest, I reserved comfortable seating for 2 (1 of us using a cane) to celebrate an event. They shoved us in the furthest, smallest table in the back of the restaurant next to the dirty dish trays and waitress station which was very uncomfortable. I asked for a different table including a high back as they had several available. The hostess debated why she could not seat us in a different location. So disappointing. We decided to leave, meanwhile the hostess kept up her whining about where we could sit and how she really tried to find us the best table. (What?). Perhaps she needs to understand hospitality and providing positive experiences. We decided to sit ourselves at the bar and have a drink and something to eat. Here we were treated with kindness by the bartender. I enjoyed talking with him and watching him make spectacular cocktails. The experience with him made our evening much better, however it lacked the intimacy of good conversation with my friend. The bartender who took the food order ended up bringing us 2 dishes we did not order and didn't place a dessert. When we stated we didn't order the items, there was no response. It's difficult to spend over $100 and have these experiences. I'd like to try to go back for a new experience, not have to deal with the hostess and to sit at a table.. read more

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This is a great restaurant/bar in Crystal Lake! We came here to try their tapas style/small plate dishes, and had crispy Peking duck (so good that we got 2), lollipop chicken bbq, orange chicken, Thai peanut chicken kabobs, pinchos ribs, and duck confit poutine. My husband enjoyed the spiciness and flavor to the Thai peanut chicken kabobs and the orange chicken. My personal favorite was the crispy Peking duck. For two hungry adults, 6-7 plates was plenty of food for us. The service was excellent, with the dishes coming out within 5-10 minutes of us ordering. They recommended ordering 2-3 at a time, which provided a good flow to the meal. We didn't try any drinks this time, but now knowing their food is great, we will be back! read more

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This place is amazing. I was here a year or two ago while traveling for work. I remembered the place and came back on this trip (says something, right?!). Even better this time. I had the filet medallions and the coconut shrimp. Fabulous food. Fabulous service. Lovely new patio on a quaint street. Reasonable prices. Clean. Well cared Love the traditional Indian crackers and dip they provide when you are settled in at your table. Seriously wish I could franchise this place or that they could move into Southern IL. read more

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Plates and servings are small and usual pairings but it is also near to try new foods. Location is tiny but the cocktails are great

Ambience was good. Food portions for the small plate are smaller than almost very kid meal elsewhere. Had the special, Korean pork. Was excepting it to be tender, it definitely wasn't. Staff was good until we got the bill. My husband gave them his card without looking at the bill. After a while, they said they rang up the wrong check & they apologized over & over. I looked at the bills = there were 2. They rang us up for drinks and food that we didn't have on one bill and that's the one they charged his card. Then they came back & said they didn't make a mistake!! Oh yes they did. They (meaning the manager was involved) were going to charge us an extra $23 and had NO problem with us pay for someone else's food. read more

Came here for lunch one day while I was in the area, and I was thoroughly impressed. I tried the ahi tuna tacos, crawfish etouffee, and Moroccan beef skewers. Each plate was delicious, and I didn't have to wait long for them. I'll definitely be back to try other plates, as all the options sound great. I also recommend the smoke on the water (old fashioned). Highly recommended! read more

Jude’s - Crawfish Etouffee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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My wife and I went here before a show across the street I made reservations a couple days ago beforehand. When we got there we asked if we could be seated outside and that wasn't a problem. Never being here before I was pleasantly surprised on the variety of menu items. We had some Asian soup, a Caesar salad, chicken pops, the filet medallions, the sea bass and one other thing I can't remember. I have to say. Everything was amazing. The food was prepared and paired perfectly with the sauces, verges and rices . I will be going back soon And our server was very pleasant and helpful read more

There is NOTHING in Crystal Lake like this! We started with a few cocktails: a Manhattan and a Cosmo and then ordered some small plates. They start you with this Indian Flatbread and sauces (think chips and salsa but BIGGER); I LOVED the yogurt based dip. We ordered Gator Bites, Ahi Tacos, the Black Angus sliders, and the Chicken Tiki Masalaa. Of these meals, the Ahi Tacos were the most amazing; I could eat plates of these. The Black Angus sliders were very filling and delicious and the Chicken Tiki Masalaa was fantastic. The Gator Bites offered a fried food and a lot of it. We each got a second drink: a Paloma (think Margarita with grapefruit) and a Gin & Tonic (Jude's Gin and Tonic). The place has a great vibe: we really loved the feel, the food and the drinks. We will be back. The only think we might change is one less plate for two. read more

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We stopped in for a few drinks and appetizers on a Friday night and were seated immediately. They have a variety of small plates to choose from, as well as many drink options. read more

Jude’s - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

There's a new tapas bar in Crystal Lake and they serve small plates from around the world! Lots of choices and all delicious. They start off with a complimentary Indian starter (like chips and salsa) that comes with mango chutney, and two other dips. The second dip is like salsa but made with Indian flavors. The third dip is yogurt based. Hubby loves this one. Delicious crispy bread and three dips. What's not to love? Ahi Tuna Tacos (2): "loaded with cabbage, cilantro, radishes and topped with a spicy sriracha mayo." My favorite! Black Angus Burger Slider (2): "burger sliders cooked to medium rare. Topped with blu cheese crumble and served with lettuce, onion, pickle, and tomato." Chicken Tikka Masala: "chicken tandoori with herbs and tomato sauce with exotic spices and rice. Served with homemade naan." Hubby's favorite. Louisiana Alligator Bites: "hand breaded tender alligator seasoned with Cajun spice. Served with Cajun ranch dipper." These are large bites of juicy, super tender meat with a crunchy fried outer part. Really good but very filling. This place has been here for four months (formerly a tiny French Pasteur shoppe across from The Rau) and was very busy for a Thursday night. The concept here is small plates (tapas) but made with flavors from around the world: Hawaii, India, Spain, Poland, Vietnam, UK, and the Middle East. They also source their own gin from Chicagoland for making cocktails. read more

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We've eaten in the restaurant once and delivered to the house twice. Great small bites in wide variety of cuisines. Last night we had filet sliders, chicken drumsticks, tikka masala and falafel. The restaurant itself is a hip little spot in downtown Crystal Lake. Service was fast, attentive and friendly. The food's a bit on the pricier side but I don't mind paying for quality and service. Mixed cocktails are delish and there is a good wine selection for winos such as myself. read more

We've been dining at Jude's 2-3 times per year since they opened. Never a bad experience, never a bad meal. The menu is eclectic and the small plates make for a fun variety. Their weekend brunch is also outstanding. The staff is always really friendly and fun, matching the cool vibe, with a good knowledge of the menu. Food and beverage. We weren't Gin people before our first visit a couple of years ago. We're definitely converts now. If they have the Abbey Road on the menu, treat yourself. Great cocktail and it looks like a Beatles Record in a glass. Do yourself a favor and give Jude's a try. read more

Excellent place with both indoor and outdoor seating! Small plates and all we had were delicious. Great specialty drinks as well . Excellent place for a date night or ladies night ! read more

Jude’s - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

We came in for lunch with a group as our first choice restaurant didn't open til 5pm. I had never been here and was open to try a new place. Amy was a great waitress - explained everything and was very attentive. One of my friends forwarded me that the salads were very small so I switched and ordered the Mediterranean Flat Bread. Glad I didn't get the salad as it was very small. The Flatbread was DELICIOUS! I surprised myself and ate the whole thing. You can also do a build your own flatbread which my husband devoured and loved. I don't recall what others ordered as Amy was nice enough to split our bill for us. Many of us order Diet Coke and she brought a pitcher for us to share. Amy was awesome! The only reason for a 4 rating is because of the size of the salads that cost between $9 & $10. I know this is a tapas place but that is too much money for the little salad. Other that that I would return! read more

Delicious and creative global selections at extremely reasonable prices. Awesome desserts and eclectic cocktail menu also with many drink choices made from their own Gin. My friend had the Orange Chicken and I had the Chilean Sea Bass YUM!!!!. We had the Irish Creme Moose Trio - super! The flat chips and sauces trio that's put on the table when you're seated is delicious. Outdoor seating is in shade or full sun, indoor seating is behind a large front window and if that's open it's like sitting outside, but without the traffic noise and sun. This is now my go-to lunch with the girls! read more

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Love this place! Service is always good, unique drinks. I wouldn't rave about the food, but they do have interesting choices, I'll stick with the charcuterie board read more

I would rate it 3.5 but that's not an option so I'll round up. Their small plates for dinner are enjoyable and their drinks are good. Kinda feels like they are doing too much with dishes for all over internationally rather than focusing on what they could be great at. The interior decor is nice too. The breakfast is a no for me. After we ordered the avocado toasts and received our two tiny items on the plastic plates, we learned that tapas also extends to breakfast. They do have a good Bloody Mary but I will avoid breakfast / brunch moving forward. We ended up getting smoothies next door at the Benedict's shop after bc we were still hungry but felt silly ordering more. I will keep returning (for dinner) because it's a good location and easy to meet up here but it won't be my first choice read more

Nice place in the heart of Crystal Lake. Good cocktails. Food was really delicious. Excellent place for a date night. Thanks for great night. read more

I came to Jude's because I thought maybe I'd be killing my improv troupe. Sort of a Last Brunch, if you will. In more ways than one, I left a little unsatisfied. We sat outside, just across the street from the theatre we so often performed in. I ordered shareables - beignets, bacon wrapped avocado bites, and the gator & waffles trio. One of my cohorts produced a paper towel-wrapped muffin from a pocket, dining on that instead. Another giggled about the donkey balls. These are the artists I've spent so much time with. Obviously, my experience was colored by my expectations for the discourse as much as the main course, but as I said, both were a touch lacking. The bacon wrapped avocado needed salt to bring it to life. The jammy syrup for the beignets was too artificially sweet, not the fresh flavor I once had when this was Le Petit Marche. And the gator and waffles, they were fine; good waffles, okay gator. Perhaps a return visit would help me change my tune. The remodeling inside is fantastic, so full points for that. But I left the table sighing, wondering what could have been. read more

Food was absolutely delicious! Our favorite was the filet mignon sliders. So tender. The charcuterie board with pretzel was a close second. Also, impeccable service. John, our server, was helpful, super nice, and funny. Would highly recommend. read more

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Super cool place. Staff is friendly and fast. Martinis DELICIOUS!!! I have lived in the area long time and took me awhile to try it but definitely worth it. read more

We had a great experience here celebrating my friends birthday. We had a table of nine, so we understood the service wouldn't be stellar, but the server was still very kind. Since this is basically a Tapas restaurant we all were able to try a bunch of plates. Our favorites were: Three medallions & the shrimp and crab! I'd definitely come back especially since thr location is right down town. Also the drinks were fantastic!! They sell and use their own gin, which was very good. read more

Jude’s - Three medallions, Ravioli, & Shrimp with crab filling on top - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Crystal Lake, Illinois

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Nice place in the heart of Crystal Lake. Make reservations before you go. It's busy. They have vast variety of dishes from over the globe. The portion sizes are small so order more when in group. Service is fast and it's nice place to chill with friends . read more

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We stopped in for a drink before a show at the Raue this weekend. Drinks were fine, maybe too sweet. We won't be back. The only happy employee was a bartender. And not ours. The two people at the host stand, our bartender, and I assume a manager walking around were just grumpy and giving off negative vibes. I certainly don't expect everyone to be happy or smiling all the time lol. But a "hello" or "welcome " would have been nice. How about just an acknowledgment? We walked in and asked to sit at the bar and we're just told "sure". We had a drink and left. The bartender asked a question to one of the people at the host stand, a question that needed a prompt response and was totally ignored. I like going to places where people are happy and having a good time, even if they are faking it. This is not the place. Which is unfortunate because it's a great location and could be so nice. read more

What a disappointing experience! The atmosphere had a super chill vibe when you walk in. We had a reservation for 7pm, and when we walked in we're surprised at how slow it was. We requested a seat at a high top in the bar. At first, the bartender was our server and he was great and very attentive, until they got busy. Then he seemed overwhelmed and took a while before coming back to see if we needed anything. The drinks were pretty good. I tried a couple different of the gin drinks, and my husband had the classic old fashioned. The only criticism is that was brought to the table in this capped bottle which he then poured out himself. It would change up the whole feel if they poured it table-side. The food - let's just say this place is trying really hard to come up with some very unique plates but it seems like a fail to me. It Started out with some cracker like thing brought to the table with 3 dipping sauces, not sure what each of them were. We told the bartender we had never been there before so it would've been great if he shared what they were. Then we had the charcuterie board that comes with a pretzel, meats and cheese. The meats were literally a few slices of pepperoni and salami that seemed like they came from the grocery store, nothing special at all. The cheeses were ok... then we had the ahi tuna tacos, which were completely smothered in the sauce so you could not taste the ahi at all. Followed by the Moroccan beef skewers which I'm pretty sure was just ground beef, made into what seemed like a meatball then flatted up and around the skewer with some weird seasoning, with dried out awful tasting rice - the rice tasted burnt or as if it had been sitting in the pan all day! Then we got a dessert, the deep fried bananas fosters cheesecake in a puff pastry with a rum caramel sauce and vanilla gelato. We thought this was going to be the best part of our meal. Unfortunately it was not! First off, the server brought it to the table and when she placed it down spilt half of the sauce out onto the table - but somehow didnt notice she did that and just walked away. The ice cream (gelato?) was completely melted into the sauce, the "puff pastry" was more like a sad egg roll wrapper, and the cheesecake filling was still cold inside. (Flavor was pretty good - does that count?) After this experience, the only reason we might return is to sit outside in the summer to enjoy a drink, otherwise overall, not impressed which is too bad - I feel like there could be a lot of potential here!!! read more