Short Stacks

So I've been here before and it was amazing. I rated it my #1 burger. Since then I've tried many…read moremore smash burgers so I wanted to come here to see if it still held up. 5 stars! Amazingly delicious. Nice crunch on the edges of the patties but still somehow so juicy. Bunch of large tv's. Bears game was on when we went. Service was top notch made she we were taken care of. Ambiance? Did you look at the black light wall mural? Sooo cool.

Went here to kill time between hockey games based on the positive reviews and we were so…read moredisappointed!!! Sat down almost immediately, and waited an HOUR AND A HALF for our food. We had to speak up and ask where our food was and magically it came out less than 10 minutes later--Claimed it was bc they were busy but nearly everyone in the restaurant had their food already and not every table was even occupied. Apparently we ordered the SMASH burger, hold the Smash. They were super thick, definitely NOT a smash burger. I didn't tell them well done because, well, a smash burger is always well done because it is THIN. It was so undercooked I couldn't even eat it. My son's was worse than mine but he ate it anyway since he had a game to get to. Server didn't bother to offer any compensation for any of it. So I waited an hour and a half for food that was inedible.

Friday Fish N' Chips

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Chicken Caesar Wrap

Cattleman's Burger and Brew

3.9(266 reviews)

0.0 mi

We stopped in for a couple of beers because we love the atmosphere -- and it's within walking…read moredistance of our home! The bartender was very friendly and welcoming. We tried the slider special: 8 cheeseburger sliders served on a bed of French fries. Wow! They were delicious and an incredible value. Definitely a place we'll keep coming back to every time we are in Algonquin

Cattleman's is the kind of place that proudly leans into its dive-bar charm. The atmosphere is…read morecasual, a little rough around the edges, and exactly what you want when you're in the mood for a laid-back meal and a cold drink. The food is good, hearty, and satisfying -- the kind of straightforward comfort fare that fits the setting perfectly. It may not be polished, but that's part of the appeal. A fun, no-frills spot that delivers a good time along with the meal

Inside view

No prisoners? Only one.

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Cute little area

Smash’D

4.2(15 reviews)

5.1 mi

Owner Kevin and his crew make some of the best smash burgers around! Crispy edges, perfectly cooked…read moretoppings & very generous portions! Their signature Bacon Jam Smash'd along with onion rings has been a guilty pleasure of mine, but regularly they will have specialty items that are out of this world! 10/10 Food & Service - Would highly recommend for any and all private or public events!

Good burgers, but WAY OVER PRICED. We've been to several…read morefood trucks with much better flavors in their burgers that were much cheaper.

Kevin on the grill

Tater Bombs... you get six, but I ate one...

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Bacon Jam Smash'D

Tracks

4.3(691 reviews)

4.0 mi

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.

Inside

Bucket of Sliders and Fries

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Burgers N Bites

4.2(5 reviews)

3.7 mi

So confused. Walked in here expecting to find a restaurant was in the mood for a good burger and a…read morekabob. NO such luck. Its a nice little market featuring imported foods from the subslcontinent but no restaurant to be found. Inquiries didn't really provide any answers. Perhaps the solution will be found some other day behind door #3?

Food is really tasty, and fresh! The folks are super friendly and helpful. Only issue is it takes…read morea little long to get the food. Take out only as the kitchen is in a convenience store.

Burgers N Bites is committed to providing 100% Zabiha Halal meals.

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D M Prime Burgers

3.9(65 reviews)

5.2 mi

•$

Took my kids here for the first time last week and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The service was…read morequick and friendly, my cheesesteak was the best I've had outside of Pennsylvania, and my son's burger was juicy and delicious. Highly recommend!

Wanting to support small business, my family gave DM Prime Burger another try after a bad…read moreexperience in their first year. I ordered takeout at 5:00 on a Friday, and they had two tickets. 22 minutes later we got our food. A 1/2 mile ride home and the potato's were on the cold side. Tots were cooked but freezer burnt enough to have a taste. The burgers are not seasoned and had little taste. Once salted they are ok, but the cook was good. Prices are reasonable for fresh cooked burgers. The slots room was packed. The long wait, the food being greasy and not hot and little urgency are all reasons I likely would not return.

Cajun burger

Veggie Burger

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Inside of the restaurant's east wall.

The Donkey Inn Bar and Grill

3.6(101 reviews)

0.4 mi

The fish tacos are still good, but I sure miss the beans and rice. Fry's just don't make it.read more

Visited for drinks and apps! Lovely place and fun atmosphere! Had onion rings which were fab -…read moresauce that came with it was a bit too much for my taste. Server was attentive. Good crowd!

Nice clean place!

Tuna Melt and tater tots

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Mimosa

River Street Tavern

4.4(301 reviews)

4.7 mi

I stopped in for a quick bite to eat. I opted for the burger bowl and it was DELICIOUS!! Our server…read morewas super quick and friendly. One of my continued favorite spots. I will be ordering the burger bowl again.

River Street Tavern is the kind of local spot every town hopes to have -- relaxed, lively, and…read moreconsistently good. The menu is well-rounded, the drinks are solid, and there's an easy confidence to the whole place. Nothing here is chasing trends or trying to reinvent anything, and that's part of the appeal. They know what they do, they do it well, and sometimes that kind of restraint is its own virtue.

Corned Beef & Swiss

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Southwest salad

Scorched Earth Brewing Company

4.3(118 reviews)

0.6 mi

Got some greats beers from this brewery in Algonquin. It probably is the best thing about this…read moretown, or, it's what people know most about it. Scorched Earth is one of the main hangouts on weekends. A good amount of beers to choose from. There's a pretty big variety on tap. Coming here early in the afternoon, and it was already busy. It's a brewery that's also family friendly. That means it's okay to bring kids, which is getting increasingly common for breweries it seems. A lot of interesting sounding ones on the list. It's about $7 a pint. Pretty okay for locally owned and produced. Best of the ones we had was the Wunderpilz, a German style pilsner that was light. It's got no food in here except $5 tubs of Von Hanson's Pretzels. Has more when food trucks are here. There's usually one on site. Has a pretty hidden location off Algonquin Road on Berg. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays. There's food trucks on weekends.

Huge brewery with lots of space to dine in and a large party area. Lots of good beer to choose…read morefrom. Live music, music was good when I was there. Lots of cool decor to see. Good beer! Super friendly staff. Another recommendation if you are hitting up breweries in the area.

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Events!

Tap House Grill Algonquin

3.0(58 reviews)

2.5 mi

Service was amazing, very nice looking place. Love the seating…read more We ended up here after trying to dine into Twin Peaks. Never heard of this place. So why not try it? The bloody mary had zero flavor but I did enjoy the pepperoni & cheese it came with. The other drinks were tasty. My BLT, no tomato claimed it was supposed to be 1lb of bacon. Barely any bacon BUT the bacon was delicious. No mayo or anything on the sandwich, it was ok. Tots were yummy. The kobe steak bowl had over cooked rice. Not much flavor. LOVED the cheese curds though. Overall. I don't think I would come back.

I reviewed Tap House Grill last year but I felt the need to update my review after a fantastic…read morelunch here earlier this month. Met my friend here for her birthday lunch (same friend from my last review!). It was a beautiful day so we sat outside on the patio. It was soooo nice. I ordered a flat bread pizza thingy (Chicago Prime)... it was delicious! My friend ordered a salad; she raved about it. The reason for this review isn't the great table or the delicious food... it's the service. Josh waited on us and he was AMAZING. I think he was working the bar, the patio and the entire restaurant. He checked on us throughout our meal, kept our drinks filled and was an all around wonderful person to talk to. One hundred stars for Josh! Thanks for making our afternoon!

Cheese Curds

Garlic Prime Rib Dip. So good!

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Shrimp Tacos

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19 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Xing L.

12 years ago

What happened to this place???? It used to be my favorite breakfast place until the owner's daughter decided to get a 'corporate' job & leave the restaurant business. I believe that's when it went downhill. From rude waiters & waitresses who could care less if they open the doors on time to sloppy managers who could care less if the tables & chairs are cleaned when you walk in, this place has really gone downhill. I walked in one day to find EVERY TABLE filled with dirty dishes & napkins all over. The guy working there behind the counter stated to his co-worker 'I don't have time to clean all of this up.' I'm sorry, isn't that your JOB?? I recommend that the owners visit their establishment from time to time & check in on their employees before your employees put you out of business. read more

Judith Z.

4 years ago

Still the place to go in Algonquin for breakfast. Always a great special and plenty of food on your plate. Service has always been good. Only issue is parking since the restaurant is in middle of block. Come early and have plans to hang out for awhile and talk. read more

Steph S.

6 years ago

This place is my jam! No pun intended. Seriously, the best denver omelet. It's classic, cheesy and just hits the spot. Everything I've tried has always been excellent including the coffee! It's cozy, cute and local. Do yourself a favor and try Bella's. read more

Colleen S.

12 years ago

Great place for breakfast! Can get packed quite quickly on Sundays and waiting area is quite small. Other than that, food is served quickly, portions are a great size and service is great! read more

Kirsten J.

4 years ago

We absolutely LOVE Bella's! We are here at least twice a month, and they don't ever disappoint! We are so so excited to be able to have such a great place so close to home! read more

Amber S.

12 years ago

That was a great place for breakfast I go ther a lot and I think I tryd everything on the menu and everything was pretty good I like this place a lot it's very family stile read more

Rose M.

4 years ago

Great food. Great service. Cannot say about food things about this place. The only problem is it's small so sometimes there's a wait to get in. read more

Christian R.

9 years ago

Great service. Excellent food. Would definitively go back. They just do breakfast and lunch; close at 2 but definitely worth the trip !

Ryan O.

10 years ago

We've dined in a few times now, and every time it has been great customer service, a short wait time, and really good food! Keep it up!

Renee S.

6 years ago

I love the food here. They are one of the few restaurants still open for indoor dining. My daughters love the stuffed French toast.

Kevin G.

15 years ago

This is an easy one, it's a cute place with great food and great service; if I could give it six stars I would!

Millie Roo S.

109

8 years ago

Everything about this place is awesome. Great service. Great food. Excellent prices. A new family favorite!

Katie L.

4 years ago

Affordable and tasty! It's a small space so it can get cramped on the weekends. Their bacon is amazing

Nikki N.

10 years ago

LOVE the servers and the food is pretty good too. They will make anything off their menu to order.

Steven H.

14 years ago

It's okay- I prefer the restaurant across the street though.

Rich M.

15 years ago

Great breakfast! What else is there to say.

S T.

13 years ago

Wonderful service and great breakfasts!

Donnie B.

5 years ago

Good food good people,quaint location.

Susan R.

5 years ago

I love the food and atmosphere here.

Short Stacks - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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