This place has some of the best hamburgers in McHenry County! I've never been disappointed with…read moreeither the food or the service. I had the Kaboom Burger with cheddar cheese and crispy onion straws, seasoned with a great spicy kick--absolutely delicious. They also have a great drink selection whether you're in the mood for craft beer, cocktails, or soda. The seating is comfortable, and the outdoor patio is a great touch with plenty of extra space.

Summary first: pretty darn good burgers, but kinda flat, not too cold beer. Burger 17.00 with…read morefries coleslaw and pickle. 1.50 more than a review pic from the menu last year. Everything seems to be up at least 10% all over, so I can't fault them for it. I just wish income had gone up that much in a year. Again not their control. But I just can't go eating at restaurants as much. The price of 6.75 for a dog fish beer was imo kinda high and it was rather flat. The coleslaw was honestly so bad and bitter rancid tasting I had to spit it out. Honestly, not a fan of Cole slaw but this is the first I've had to 100% reject eating. The pickle I got that someone raved about, didn't look great when I turned it over The fries honestly could have been cooked a little more but were pretty good. The best part of the meal was the burger though so that sorta saved the whole experience. I sat on the patio and got good service. I appreciated that the to-go wasn't styrofoam. I had to take 1/2 the burger home. There is a 3% surcharge for using credit cards, so I was glad I brought cash, as I'm tired of getting charged for charging. Ha. Overall not bad, but could use some attention to detail.

Emmett's Brewing Company offers a classic brewpub experience with a warm, lively atmosphere that…read moremakes it an easy place to gather. Once a standout brewery deeply rooted in the Dundee community, it built its reputation on distinctive, house-crafted beers that gave it a strong local identity. In recent years, however, the beer program has shifted toward a more basic, broadly approachable lineup. While still solid and easy to enjoy, it no longer carries the same uniqueness that once set it apart. Paired with a menu of familiar comfort fare, it remains a dependable spot; more about the atmosphere and company than culinary or brewing ambition.

Stopped in during the week for a quick lunch. Service was quick and friendly. We love the nostalgic…read morefeels of the Irish Style Pub/Brewery. They have a large selection of craft beers and many hand crafted cocktails to choose from. What we ordered: *Tenderloin Sliders- they were full of flavor and tender. * Chicken with pasta and a creamy mushroom sauce. It was very flavorful and definitely something I would order again. It came with a different pasta than what was listed in the menu.

Ate with coworkers on a business trip - I always try to hit an Irish pub if one is near because…read moreGuinness Then Guinness was perfectly poured and the cheese curds changed one of my coworkers life The fish and chips were decent and the Irish curry amazing. I was confused though when my coworker ordered colcannon - what they serve looked great. But it's not colcannon. I would recommend for Irish adjacent food - but not authentic

I've been coming here now for six years and wanted to add an updated review. This place continues…read moreto be super consistent with its amazing fish and chips. As well as the amazing beers on tap. No matter what time I come here while it is usually during off hours, they are so friendly and hospitable and very quick on the service so absolutely no complaints This is truly a great neighborhood jam, and very lucky that it is in the downtown area as well. There is parking that is free. Just be sure to be on the lookout. I wish I was never so full from the entrées and appetizers that I could actually get to Dear one of these days so maybe that will be a future review.

My wife and I were on our anniversary trip to Chicago and decided to enjoy the cocktail bar The…read moreAviary before our dinner at their sister concept - Next. I'll start out by saying that the time in the Aviary was the best cocktail experience we have ever had. Not saying the best cocktails (even though they were very good), but the best experience as far as interesting presentations and overall service combined with good cocktails that when you were drinking them did not feel gimmicky at all, but that everything had a purpose. My wife did the 3 drink progression and ordered The Partridge, The 3 Martini Lunch, and the non-alcoholic version of the Kyoto Plum. I got three cocktails, but because I opted for one on their barrel aged part of the menu, my progression was basically a la carte, not the 3 drink $75 price. We also opted for one small bite of food - The Truffle explosion. My drinks were the Cereal Killer, the In The Rocks, and the Blood and Sand. As far as favorites went Joy's Partridge was basically a Mint Julep with some warming spices, but the presentation was great. Almost every table got that drink so it must be well received. My favorite was the Blood and Sand that was just a really well balanced cocktail. I think that part of the menu does not get the elaborate presentations. We both also enjoyed sharing the 3 martini lunch which was a small version of a Vesper, a Gibson, and a dirty Martini. Two things about this drink, we like our martinis with gin rather than vodka (obviously a Vesper has both), but their rules are that there are no changes to their menus, so both the gibson and the dirty martini were vodka based. The Gibson and the Vesper were our favorites of the three as the dirty martini was too dirty. There was even more olive brine if we wanted it dirtier. Bottom line, top notch experience, great friendly service, and the atmosphere was awesome watching the room being served some of the drinks we had, and ones that we did not order. The Truffle Explosion was also a very good bite, basically a truffle/parmesan infused soup dumpling that exploded in your mouth and helped out with a little food in our belly while having all that alcohol at the same time. The only disappointing cocktail was the Kyoto Plum mocktail, interesting presentation, but tasted just like grape juice - no real character. A hostess from Next came and got us and took us to our table in Next for the 1987 Manhattan meal. Thanks for a great experience Aviary!!

What an entertaining experience. The Aviary is like fine dining except almost entirely focused on…read morecocktails. We made a reservation for their three course cocktail experience for four of us which required a deposit of $75 per person. Only one of us ended up doing the experience (the rest of us were too full and already tipsy from dinner) but it was nonetheless, a very cool experience. Service was top notch. My partner has admired this place for a long time, as a bartender himself, and he has even learned a thing or two from their Bible-like cookbooks. So when the maitre d offered to allow him to step into the kitchen and help finish one of their cocktails, he was absolutely giddy. This was such a memorable and special touch for us during our visit to Chicago. I loved seeing how the kitchen worked together in a traditional kitchen line but only focusing on cocktails. It was an impressive thing to see. Many of the cocktails are presented in an incredibly theatrical way featuring interesting glassware, dry ice, and even a plastic bag filled with flavored air. I actually wasn't a big fan of the cocktail I ordered (it leaned too heavy into the BBQ flavor for my taste) but I enjoyed trying everyone else's cocktails at the table. I would definitely recommend checking out The Aviary if you are a cocktail enthusiast hoping to try something you can't get anywhere else. It truly is a fine dining experience with mixology at the forefront.

Come for Thursday night jazz! We arrived early for a solo guitarist who took requests and played…read morethem on the spot--it was incredibly impressive. We stayed through the final act, a full band that had the place packed, with everyone dancing and enjoying the lively atmosphere. We also loved that servers came around to take drink orders, so you didn't have to keep getting up to go to the bar. I'd definitely recommend coming early to grab a seat and staying for the whole night. But get food before, they do not sell food. We had an early dinner out before coming. Regardless, we've never experienced a place quite like this and had such a fabulous evening!

How anyone could rank this amazing preserved piece of Chicago history below 4 or 5 stars is beyond…read moreme. Seriously ... this was the best thing I did while visiting Chicago. It took 20 minutes and $25 each way to Uber there from my hotel in downtown Chicago, as it is 6 miles away. However, totally worth it. Yes ... it's cash only. That's a bit of a bummer. I'd rather pay a surcharge than trust the sketchy little ATM in the bar. Yes ... It's 'lived in'. I wouldn't call it dirty as much as it is worn. To me, this was part of the charm. It's been around since the 1920's and probably looks very similar to how it did in the 1940's. Dark, dingy and fun. Most of the mafia in Chicago didn't hang out downtown. This area is where their HQ was and where most of them congregated in the same way NY's mafia hung out in Bensonhurst instead of Manhattan. The area has a lot of vintage architecture and history, despite being a little more run down and 'authentic' than the more touristy downtown. I went on a Friday around 3:30 p.m. Already, the back seating area was full of people, however there were a few bar seats left in the front. An hour later, it was packed. They start charging a $20 (cash only) cover at 7 p.m. for the live band. Before that was a jazz organist, who was pretty good and a master at working the crowd. They have draft beer ($6 - $10) ... bottled beer ... and booze. My Old Fashioned was made with muddled orange and cherries and only cost $12. A gin and tonic was $9. It can be tough to get a drink because the one bartender works the entire bar. Nice guy though. Don't come here expecting anything other than a dive bar ... there is nothing modern about this place. However, it has one of the best vintage vibes I've honestly ever encountered in a jazz bar. Don't miss out on seeing this bar and hearing some music, even if it means having to Uber or drive. It will be worth the trip. There aren't many places around like this anymore.

This is a new favorite spot and I can't wait to go back. Food was so fresh tasting. Place is…read morecolorful and hopping. I ordered chicken sausage with my egg platter. They were out, so i had the smoked chicken instead (sounded weird to me for breakfast), but WOW! it was fantastic! Next time I'm trying the chilaquiles.

A friend suggested we check out this place in Lake Geneva. They serve locally sourced food and…read morehave a very unique menu. They serve many gluten free/vegan and vegetarian items.. My friend had the roasted turkey and Brussel sprout hash which she loved and I had the simple pancakes. We were both very pleased with our meals. Server was lovely and the dining room was clean and very vibrant. Parking is available but is metered and in my opinion expensive. Not the restaurants fault at all as it is a city ordinance. $4.00 for parking and please pay it as the city patrols often and you will get a ticket.

Delicious breakfast, great service and a hometown feel! We enjoyed our time there and the…read moreattentiveness of the staff.

Oh my goodness, what a cute diner. Simple breakfast. Hog skillet, diced ham, mushrooms, onions hold…read morethe cheese. Biscuits & gravy. Gravy like Big Ma used to make! Great service! Glad we went out of our way!

Strictly average and the food was cold. I've been there twice and both times I had the same…read moreexperience.

Stopped in for breakfast on our way back to Chicago. Got the French toast, breakfast quesadilla,…read moreand breakfast burrito. Everything was delicious, and the service was top notch. Ivan and Maria make you feel welcome and take pride in providing a wonderful experience. Will definitely come back.

5 stars! Coffee 5/5…read moreBagel 5/5 The space indoor and outdoor 5/5 Customer service 5/5 Everything was great! I got the blueberry latte (whatever the seasonal was) my friend got the PB Miel latte and my husband got a flat white and a bagel which was perfectly fluffy. Everything. Was amazing. Definitely my new go to in Lake Geneva

A place that knows what they're doing. Have something to go or have it to stay your service will be…read morequick and efficient. If you're looking for a quick breakfast or light bite this is a great option! The space itself is really clean and I love that there are indoor and outdoor options!

First impression you get when you walk into this place is that it's a local bar. However, it's more…read moreof a restaurant or café inside. You can actually see the chef cooking if you're near the bar or the entrance. The place appeared to be very clean. It's kind of an older bar however it was clean and appeared to be freshly painted in the new section next-door, which is now part of this restaurant. Our waitress was a gal that I've seen before that's from my town and she is very friendly and very good at her job. Her appearance was meet clean and she is a good waitress. She explained the menu a little bit and we ordered a bagel sandwich which came with hashbrowns and the corned beef bay breakfast. The corned beef breakfast was literally two biscuits with poached eggs, corn, beef, cheese, and sour cream. It also was topped with hollandaise sauce Actually look pretty good. The taste was totally unexpected and amazing. Their hashbrowns appear to be freshly made from the kitchen and not frozen. They were lightly salted and very good. The bagel was huge and had plenty of Canadian bacon, egg, and cheese. Once again, the sandwich was amazing! Not only did the food present itself beautifully for my pictures, it also tasted great. As for the price, slightly higher than many places, we have eaten breakfast at in recent weeks, however not much higher. Maybe average a buck or two higher than the competition. Well worth it though! The coffee also was really good at this location.

Ordered Carne Asada (skirt steak inedible) that was absolutely inedible...could not cut it with a…read moreknife! Service was terrible as waiter had bar and table duties at the same time. My brother said ask for your money back, but I left food there and left a nice tip after I paid... Never to return!