Help me [Al Capone's Hideaway in St. Charles]

Hi I am going to St. Charles IL for a wedding this weekend. My daughter in law saw a restaurant named Al Capone's. Here is the link http://www.al-capone.com/steakhouse/history.html
Is this place worth the time and money or is there something better to be had in that area.

Thank you.

A comprehensive lists of recommended restaurants by area:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20346&p=207800&hilit=st.+charles#p207800

Al Capone's Hideaway gets mentioned briefly here and here and here.

Don't Bother

I have eaten @ Al Capones a half dozen times at least, and the food, and drinks have always been pretty decent. The prices are pretty high for the suburbs, but if you are interested in former mafia watering holes and historic stuff like that it is a pretty neat place. Al Capones was actually on my short list for where to go for my b-day dinner last night, and I could have eaten pretty much anywhere in the city or suburbs. But I am facinated by Al Capone, the mob, Chicago history, etc, I have even visited Al's grave which is close to my work.

We used to go to the Hideaway quite a bit and always thought it pretty decent too. I like the old northwoods Wisconsin super club feel to the place and it's setting down on the shore of the Fox River. I agree with jimswside that the prices are a little steep and that's the main reason we haven't gone in a few years.

So after reading to sum up The place is overpriced but the atmosphere makes up for the prices. Would that be a correct opinion?

Mr. Paul wrote:So after reading to sum up The place is overpriced but the atmosphere makes up for the prices. Would that be a correct opinion?

No, notice I said we haven't gone in years because of the price. Current ownership has decided to play up the Al Capone theme, raised prices and kitched the place up. It used to be a nice, quiet supper club with cozy feel to it. For many years it was just known as The Hideaway and was so remote that it was difficult to find, just a local place. Now there are signs pointing the way and Al Capone is the main event.

ok it no longer has the "supper club" look and has high prices. Thank you for the info.
Paul

Mr. Paul wrote:ok it no longer has the "supper club" look and has high prices. Thank you for the info.
Paul

high prices for the suburbs, not when compared to downtown Chicago steakhouses. , check out the menu and decide for yourself.

www.al-capone.com/steakhouse/menu.html

OMG. If I did not have my GPS I would have never found this place. 4 people ate for $97.00 plus tip. We went of Friday and since it is lent is was meatless. We had an appetizer of fried Calamari it was tender and not "fishy". It was some of the better Calamari I have had. My wife had the shrimp tempura and it was more tempura than shrimp. I had the Shrimp Dejonge and it was more Dejonge than shrimp. My daughter in law had a battered shrimp and it looked like hush puppies. My son had a combo of Dejonge and catfish. Only one person had any booze and that was just a glass of wine. There is an saying about don't go to a steak house for fish and it proved to be true again. I would go back again but not on a Friday in lent. I blame myself for the outcome. The wait staff was good and super friendly. We were seated when we arrived. No complaints there.

Atmosphere was as stated before in other threads it was very supper club with a bunch of gangster pictures. I want to thank everyone who helped me with this post. I really appreciate the opinions.
Paul

Mr. Paul wrote:My wife had the shrimp tempura and it was more tempura than shrimp.

That must have been doubly insulting for your wife, considering that breaded seafood is her livelihood.

Mr. Paul wrote:OMG. If I did not have my GPS I would have never found this place.

thats part of the allure of this place for me, down a twisty series of roads, and right by the river.

It was much more exciting before they finally put up directional signs and before the days of GPS! Even though I knew the way, I still made a wrong turn now and then! That's why it made a good Hideaway!

We went there for our anniversary once. Finding the place was fun, and the Wisconsin supper club atmosphere was fun too. I don't remember much about the food, but it was ribeye, so it couldn't have been all that bad. If we were somewhere nearby again, we'd probably stop by again. But if it involves an hour-long drive to hunt it out, probably not.

"I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."

If I'm not mistaken, you are quoting J. Wellington Wimpy

Mike

Straight from Wimpy's mouth via youtube.

Yes, it's Wimpy's tagline, but it's also what my sister and I use to bum money off each other.

And, as I recall now, it was the nickname of a high school (circa 1940s) buddy of my dad's. When we kids learned that, 50 years later, we only thought in terms of the modern meaning of "wimpy," but he was really nicknamed for the famous Wimpy character.

No one in my dad's crowd growing up went by his real name. My dad's real name was Dean, but his friends called him Dangerous.

The number of Capone hideouts extant is now reduced by one... to 13,283, by my count:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/06/ ... 276084515/

We used to go to the Riviera once is a while when I was a kid. It was well-known for being one of Al Capone's hangouts. It's been for sale for years, maybe 20 or more? But it's been closed for a long time, too. It's too bad it burned down, but I don't think it's been taken care of for a long time, and was probably quite gross.

Mike G wrote:The number of Capone hideouts extant is now reduced by one... to 13,283, by my count:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/06/ ... 276084515/

It seems that whoever torched the Riviera did an excellent job. It doesn't look like this place is coming back.





The Riviera was located in Gardner, on the old Route 66 (near I-55) about 70 miles southwest of Chicago.

Riviera Roadhouse (closed)
5650 S Illinois Highway 53 (Route 66)
Gardner IL

Just found out Capone's Hideaway out in St. Charles closed back in February. I always enjoyed drinks at the bar and dinner here.

Hoping it gets turned into another restaurant.

I agree Jim, we liked it too! I loved the palate cleansing of a sherbert and the nice fireside dining. It was a gem.

LikestoEatout wrote: the palate cleansing of a sherbert and the nice fireside dining. It was a gem.

first place I ever had something like that. thought I was livin' large.