Crystal Lake, Illinois

Traveling to Crystal Lake soon after Thanksgiving to open a new The Fresh Market, did a search(in LTH and through LTH thru Google), but encountered difficulties. Any rec's? I will have limited transportation. Money is not necessarily an object; good cuisine whether trad. or inventive is of paramount importance. Thank you, LTH. I don't write as I often as I used to.

Clear Lake as in the one that is part of Springfield?

Christopher Gordon wrote:Traveling to Crystal Lake soon after Thanksgiving to open a new The Fresh Market, did a search(in LTH and through LTH thru Google), but encountered difficulties. Any rec's? I will have limited transportation. Money is not necessarily an object; good cuisine whether trad. or inventive is of paramount importance. Thank you, LTH. I don't write as I often as I used to.

With limited transportation, you are going to have problems as there is not many good sidewalks in the area and crossing US14 is an adventure.

If money is no object, 1776 is a pretty good restaurant and they offer a tapas menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Krystal Thai is pretty good and is located next to the TJ Maxx on US 14.

Round the Clock is no better than acceptable anymore. The pies are definitely the high point. The other two family restaurants - Crystal Palace and Andy's - are completely forgettable.

Village Squire is pretty good and has some Greek specialties. I would eat there more but the "live entertainment" is so loud and so bad.

If you can get downtown, Benedict's Trattoria has good breakfasts and lunches. Georgio's Pizzeria across from the station is pretty good.
Also, there is a tacqueria around the corner that can do a great torta.

Kyoto Steakhouse has some pretty good bento box lunches.

There is a new upscale place in Crystal Lake called London's - it is the 3rd restaurant in that location in the past year.

Restaurants and retailers associate Crystal Lake and Woodstock as affluent areas because the demographics are much wealthier than the national average. However, if the places don't deliver a good value, they don't last very long.

We have enjoyed several nice lunches at 1776 when we happen to be in the area. They have an interesting and varied menu that has wild game and some good vegetarian dishes. Be warned however, if you Google them, the map is wrong and places them in Burton's Bridge which is a small town on the Fox River. They are on US Route 14 ( Virginia Street). Crystal Lake is a tough town to get around without a car. Where is your new store going to be located?

Georgio's Pizza (deep dish discussed in this LTH thread) is another downtown Crystal Lake option.

One more thing.

Are you planning to use METRA? If so, it is a about a mile walk from the PINGREE station to the Fresh Market store.

Are you planning to stay in Crystal Lake while you are out here? If so, I know of a couple of options and I have a corporate rate at a good property. PM me for more details.

Jlawrence01: I PM'd you.

To those who responded, thank you. I typically don't have much(or any) free time to explore on a store opening, but the rare times I do, I try to make the most of it. Like when I was in Peoria and I had the opportunity to dine at June, twice. That was a wonderful trip. Who'dathunk, Peoria?

Of, course, given my drothers I'd crater Chicago like a homesick moon; eat up my favorite al pastors, my crusts of Wicker Parks re-imagined, my concatenations of Laos, Szechuan/Chinatown being best, and
maybe the chiles at Mercat, and Purple Pigs, Goats, Girls. I'd embrace everything I've missed and all that's blossomed since, since I drank Indianapolis and fell face forward into moribund food trucks, chipped teeth on wishful thinking. Can you do that?

but what about this Wild Orchid Thai Bistro, I'm mapping; muy authentico, ja?

Christopher Gordon wrote:but what about this Wild Orchid Thai Bistro, I'm mapping; muy authentico, ja?

Last time I was there, I loved the Wild Orchid.

I, for one, am so thrilled about the new fresh market opening, i can hardly stand it!! no more trips to geneva YAY!

Likestoeatout, it's going to be in the old borders on 14, just east of main/pyott.

the mexican place with the good tortas is taqueria las cumbres, 93 Grant Street, Crystal Lake,
one of my favorite mexican places!

good call, jlawrence, on the metra. lots of restaurants in palatine and arlington. and a great vietnamese restaurant in des plaines - dung gia right across from the metra station.

Christopher Gordon wrote:but what about this Wild Orchid Thai Bistro, I'm mapping; muy authentico, ja?

Personally, I would pass. The food is just average and very pricey.

Personally, my staff always heads down the street about a half mile to Krystal Thai which is adjacent to TJ Maxx. They have some great specials at lunch for $6.99.

By the way, they are framing the building this week after they hung the steel the last couple of weeks. How large will the store be? It look like it is the size of a 7-11 store.

We have been heading over to Wings, etc. (across the street from the store). They have some good lunch specials and some really good and large wings.

jlawrence01 wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:but what about this Wild Orchid Thai Bistro, I'm mapping; muy authentico, ja?

Personally, I would pass. The food is just average and very pricey.

Personally, my staff always heads down the street about a half mile to Krystal Thai which is adjacent to TJ Maxx.

I didn't remember the food being pricey, but Krystal Thai is indeed quite good. I believe I had snails last time I was there, and they were fantastic.

Thanks guys for the the tips. Krystal Thai and tortas are definitely on the agenda now. I'll take the Metra tips under advisement(I mean, really, I'd like to get into Chicago to visit friends and much-missed restaurants...but, my schedule typically doesn't allow much wiggle room). It's like when I opened the Lake Forest store...so close, yet so far. Thanks again.


1776 looks interesting in an anthropological way.

and TA-DA Fresh Market has opened!!!!!

Yes, The Fresh Market, Crystal Lake opened Wed. Nov.30, 2011. Huzzah.

Yesterday at noon, I handed my team over to the new set of trainers and wished them well.

While in Crystal Lake I only got to El Burrito(the carne asada torta is indeed worth a visit...not the ne plus ultra, or, even Chicago-worthy, but certainly better than anything I've found in Indianapolis). The al pastor taco I ordered also hit the spot. When the waiter read off a laundry list of possible toppings I said, no, thank you, cilantro, onion, and salsa verde only please.

Went to Portillo's as well. Realized I'd actually dined at that location once before years ago on one of my extremely rare trips to the northern suburbs.

I couldn't find Krystal Thai...tho' I didn't look all that hard...wandered around the Marshall's parking lot one evening, but didn't see it.

Company dinner was held at Jameison's Charhouse; I had a steak, I mean, at a "charhouse" what else would one order? It came perfectly medium rare and hit the spot. Again, nothing terribly noteworthy, but satisfying all the same.

thank you LTH

I had dinner at 1776 in Crystal Lake last week. Room, service, wine list (especially the many by-the-glass options): great. Food was throwbacky supper club rather poorly executed and artlessly plated. Prices were downright ridiculous - $50 dover sole, $50 mixed game grill. With gas .70 cheaper out there, I guess I'd expect something better scaled than Rush Street prices without the quality product pipeline. NY strip was gristly and flavorless, and smothered in gravy, served on a chipped platter. Spicy peanut salad dressing (on a chilled glass plate) was a saving grace. Really nice people, interesting decor, good atmosphere, don't think I'll ever be back.

Have been to 1776 a number of times, tho its been awhile. Sounds like they've really jacked up the prices and quality has gone down hill. Too bad, used to be a nice, pleasant room with good game dishes and some house specials you could count on. For about $25 less a plate.