AmishHitman wrote:I checked out barley-house the other day. Food was good, Beer selection is plentifull. Atmosphere is so Boring! That is whats going to put this place under. The old Irish place started off strong then went right in the crapper. Way to boring up there. Zzzzzzzzzz

Thanks for posting and Welcome to LTH!

What did you try? I love a good Shepherds Pie.

[quote="AmishHitman"]I checked out barley-house the other day. Food was good, Beer selection is plentifull. Atmosphere is so Boring! That is whats going to put this place under. The old Irish place started off strong then went right in the crapper. Way to boring up there. Zzzzzzzzzz[/quote

Just curious what makes a place exciting

AmishHitman wrote:
I checked out barley-house the other day. Food was good, Beer selection is plentifull. Atmosphere is so Boring! That is whats going to put this place under. The old Irish place started off strong then went right in the crapper. Way to boring up there. Zzzzzzzzzz

Thanks for posting and Welcome to LTH!

What did you try? I love a good Shepherds Pie.

_________________
"Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch." Orson Welles

Since it had just opened and i was really hungry i just wanted to stay with something safe. I had the Traditional Reuben. It was very good. A friend of mine had the Nacho Appetizer but its nothing like Nachos. Its served in a bowl over a base of Sweet Potato chips with, shredded chicken, cheddar and jack cheese, fajita peppers, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and guacamole. Sounds different, which it was but they were also really good.

bisque wrote:

AmishHitman wrote:I checked out barley-house the other day. Food was good, Beer selection is plentifull. Atmosphere is so Boring! That is whats going to put this place under. The old Irish place started off strong then went right in the crapper. Way to boring up there. Zzzzzzzzzz[/quote

Just curious what makes a place exciting

Its not so much as being exciting. Its the atmosphere. Its very stale and boring. Very enclosed and segregated. Its difficult to watch a game at the bar or do any people watching. Atmosphere is hard to discribe. Its more of a feeling i guess. I went to a place like this in Rochester, MN. Whistle Binkies. Same type of deal. Hundreds of beers, great food, but the atmosphere there was great. And i even said to my wife. If they had a place like this back home i would be there whenever i went out. I was just hoping for more i guess from Barley House becasue i was really looking forward to it being like Binkies. Everything in there is the exact same as it was at Cladah. They just changed the name and opened the doors.

I know this is a little dated, but thanks for the Krystal Thai recommendations. I know it is in Crystal Lake, so it's not really part of this thread, but the Thai choices in Algonquin are so limited, you have to branch out. I have been to Krystal Thai twice for lunch and the quality of food and value is very good. The lunch specials are typically around $6.95 (some go a dollar or so more) which is much less than @Bangkok, and include appetizer, soup, entree and a little dessert (typically fruit). I like that, it fits with my traditional experience with Thai restaurants for lunch, and it gives you a great feel for the range of food they can provide.

The only thing I noticed is either the chef studied at the Green Giant Academy of Vegetable Dicing or they are using prepared vegetables. In their curry (the sauce is wicked good, so I did not care) the carrots and some of the other vegetables had that perfect square dice that made me think of frozen bagged vegetables. But... the taste was very good. I tend to judge Thai places on three main dishes - the curries and what they might call Drunken Noodles or Spicy Noodles and typically Pad Woonsen. So far, Krystal Thai has done very well on both the green and red curry. I cannot recall if they have the other dishes for lunch, but I plan to work through the menu as they have passed the main test. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for good Asian and are willing to venture a little beyond Algonquin.

This may already be posted, but....

Krystal Thai
230 West Virginia Road
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
(815) 444-0004
Right next to TJ Maxx

As a side thought, if you want to venture beyond Algonquin but stay in the NW suburbs, the absolute best Thai in a 15 mile radius, in my opinion, is Taste of Thai in Hoffman Estates. Again, well outside of Algonquin, but for me, this is the gold standard in Thai for the suburbs if you are willing to exclude Alt Thai in Arlington Heights. If I am going to get takeout Thai, I will burn the hydrocarbons for a taste of their perfectly executed dishes. Even a day or two old and warmed in the microwave, they win me over every time.

j r wrote:Tea Gschwendner: Great teas and just as great foods. We've had lunch there a handful of times.

Stopped by today, and we were disappointed that they no longer serve lunch

They have a monthly High Tea, by reservation only, on one Sunday afternoon. But other than that they now just serve tea and snacks.

imvclear wrote:As a side thought, if you want to venture beyond Algonquin but stay in the NW suburbs, the absolute best Thai in a 15 mile radius, in my opinion, is Taste of Thai in Hoffman Estates. Again, well outside of Algonquin, but for me, this is the gold standard in Thai for the suburbs if you are willing to exclude Alt Thai in Arlington Heights. If I am going to get takeout Thai, I will burn the hydrocarbons for a taste of their perfectly executed dishes. Even a day or two old and warmed in the microwave, they win me over every time.

The other two Thai restaurants in Arlington Heights also do pretty well - Gumrai Thai and the Bangkok Cafe.

j r wrote:
Just a bit down 31 (I second the traffic comments on 31 in Algonquin - just awful) is the Algonquin Sub Shop. The owner used to work for Banchet at Le Francis before he decided to go out on his own and open this place. Imagine Le Francis meets Subway and you have the Sub Shop. Gourmet ingredients make great sandwiches. Homemade soups are also great.

I happened to be out in Algonquin today, and then the lunch craving hit me. Not wanting to patronize any of the chain joints on Randall Road, this thread popped into my head and then I found the Algonquin Sub Shop.

I ordered the "Al Capone"--Their version of a typical Italian sub. Not ever having to do so before at a sub shop, it never occurred to me to say "Hold the mayo, and the mustard" -- my fault, I guess.

What arrived was a gloppy mess of a sandwich, approximately 6-7 inches long on a "mooshy" par-baked griddle crisped roll. The only thing that this sandwich tasted like was mayo, mustard and unremarkable pepperoni.

Mediocre, expensive food ( 12 bucks for a sandwich, small fry and a large Pepsi ) coupled with the feeling that neither one of the staff members wanted to be there is enough for me to conclude that they don't want / need my future business.

I apologize in advance if my answers are further up this thread but I am at work and I cannot spend the time navigating through on my blackberry.

I have to save my co-worker from chain food. He is going out for his 15th anniversary on Friday and was thinking about taking his lovely wife to Outback! I have asked him and she really likes Italian. They are not adventurous eaters and are certainly not fancy people. I was hoping the board could help me steer them in the right direction. They live in Crystal Lake and they have 6 kids so they want to stay in that general area so they don't have to spend a lot for a babysitter.

Recap: good food, preferably Italian, inexpensive, and casual.

Also good dessert is a plus, it is an anniversary after all, and they don't drink so a good wine list is not needed.

Thanks in advance!

there's an Italian place near 62&25 that is at least better than what you can find on Randall Road.

http://www.mandilesrestaurant.com/

gtomaras wrote:I have to save my co-worker from chain food. He is going out for his 15th anniversary on Friday and was thinking about taking his lovely wife to Outback! I have asked him and she really likes Italian. They are not adventurous eaters and are certainly not fancy people. I was hoping the board could help me steer them in the right direction. They live in Crystal Lake and they have 6 kids so they want to stay in that general area so they don't have to spend a lot for a babysitter.

If the kids are staying home with the sitter, I'd splurge and visit 1776. Not Italian, not inexpensive, but not too pricey, but probably the best place for a romantic dinner in Crystal Lake.

http://www.1776restaurant.com/

There is also the recently reopened Porter's and John Evan's. And there is always the Creperie that is adjacent to Taco Bell. (Sorry but that is the only way that you will EVER find the place.)

I know this post has been idle for a while, but was hoping someone from the area could give me some info. Aroma Tapas (on Algonquin Road, west of Randall) has been shut down for at least 6 months. We were told the last time we ate there that they were moving to Dundee. Alas, that never happened (a sports bar moved into the really cool building we surmise they had their eye on--the old Abanazz building...).

Anyhow, we were told that within the last couple of weeks, a giant "Aroma Tapas -- Grand Reopening" sign has gone up on the Algonquin Road location. Has anyone been there? I'm just curious if it's the same owners (if so, it's very odd; the whole reason for their move to Dundee was to have more foot traffic)? And how is the quality of food? To be honest, our last time in there, there was a noticeable decline in freshness (they had also let their liquor license expire, so it was completely dead -- wonder if they renewed that -- if not, they are doomed from the start).

(As a side note, the same thing recently happened with Nozumi in South Barrington -- shut down for a few months, website states that they are permanently closed, yet I read today in the Daily Herald that they have reopened in the same spot... weird).

I have to be in Crystal Lake Thursday around lunchtime, MAY have my hubby with me, seems we'll go right through Algonquin (thank you mapquest) but am looking for any recs LTHers might have, updates on stuff listed here, whatever. Thanks.