Woodstock -Carryout Recs Needed

I'm in need of some recommendations for the Woodstock area. But there are some specifics.

My father was just moved to a nursing home in Woodstock. I normally go to visit him on Sunday. I always bring him lunch. So what I'm looking for are places with carryout that are open on Sunday and hopefully open before noon.

Now, my father has some dietary restrictions. He can't eat anything overly spicy. And he can't have anything with tomatoes. And while it's not good for me, salt is actually OK for him since he's been fighting low blood pressure.

The things he specifically likes are pretty large. He likes Chinese food, but of course, not really authentic Chinese. He likes Mexican food. He likes Italian beef and a good burger. And he likes typical (Greek) diner food like a good turkey club. And he really likes places like Pita Inn. Oh, almost forgot, BBQ.

So, hopefully some of you folks have some decent places to recommend. I know nothing at all about the area. All I know is that this place is on McHenry Rd.

I am drawing a complete blank - and I live in Woodstock.

Most of the places that do provide carryout are pizza restaurants and that is ruled out as it includes tomatoes.

The only places that I would recommend are diners. Three Brothers (attached to the Days Inn) offers a pretty standard Greek diner fare. As does Isabel's. Both would be open and probably do carryout. Avoid Angelo's on the square which was recently featured on Restaurant Impossible as the food has traditionally been pretty bad.

Panda Garden does OK Chinese carryout.

Isabel's Family Restaurant
1110 N Seminary Ave
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 337-8230

Three Brothers Family Restaurant
1220 S Eastwood Dr
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 338-5606

Panda Garden
98 N Eastwood Dr
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 337-2008

jlawrence01 wrote:I am drawing a complete blank - and I live in Woodstock.

That's pretty scary

But I do appreciate the recommendation you've made. If it helps any, we'll be coming off I90 on Rte. 47 according to the directions I've seen. Anything along that route is also good.

Midas--

Hickory Pit BBQ is in McHenry, but not far from Woodstock. Open on Sundays at 11:00AM. It's just east of the Fox River on 120. Here's my post from last month. Definitely recommendable:

Although I am not being a BBQ aficionado like some others on this forum, I would definitely recommend, for those way out northwest, Hickory Pit BBQ in McHenry. From reviewers on other sites, it looks like they've been open around nine months.

Having dined twice recently in this nondescript stand-alone building that resembles a former JoJo's, I can say that the dry-rubbed chicken, with lemon-pepper seasonings, is top notch, especially when paired with their sweet/spicy KC sauce. Other sauces are Vinegar (a work in progress IMO), Alabama White (similar to horseradish cream), and Chipotle Maple (really good but not that much different from the KC).

Also tried the baby backs, which were very solid with a nice pull from the bone (unlike the gedempte ribs common in this neck o' the woods), tender brisket, and noteworthy sides of sweet potato fries, cornbread and Smoque-like baked beans, a real hit. Wish they had greens, okra & sweet tea, but oh well...

Smoke ring? Think so--again, not an expert. To my way of thinking, just the right amount of smoke taste built in.

For me, it's definitely a step up from Real Urban, and is now my go-to BBQ in this vicinity.

Hickory Pit BBQ
3102 W. IL-120
McHenry, IL
(815) 344-1444

http://www.hickorypitq.com

Almost any full-service restaurant will do carry-out for you, problem is there is not much in Woodstock to begin with. I would not recommend heading all the way to McHenry for BBQ. Although close to Woodstock, it is the opposite direction the OP is coming from. Three places I can think of:

Rosati's Pizza on 47. One of the better Rosati's in the chain. They make their beef from scratch, decent fall off the bone ribs and I know they make their soups from scratch. Full disclosure the owners are good friends.

El Niagra in downtown Woodstock. Better then average Mexican food. It's no Frontera but it's some real good standard Mexican food.

BBQ King Smokehouse in downtown Woodstock. Never been but it gets some good reviews. Per the www they open at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

There are also some newer places on the square but I"m not sure what. Although I grew up there I only make it back about once a year.

Rosati's also offers pretty good fried chicken if is an option. Of course, ditto for Jewel or Wisted's for that matter.

I have been to BBQ King a couple of times. I think that you would be hard pressed to do better BBQ in the county.

As for El Niagara, the food has always been decent but the dining room has been so dirty that I refuse to eat there.

If it is open, Mixteca has some pretty good Mexican food.


Mixteca Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar
1390 S Eastwood Dr.
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 334-8460



I don't mean to be a downer on Woodstock food but I have had far MORE disappointments than successes. There seems to be two types of restaurants in town. Those who aspire to very little, and tend to achieve it. And the restaurants that are opened to appeal to the "fine dining" crowd ... which is a lot smaller market in this area than most think.

There is a new tacqueria in the Woodstock Square that looks promising. It is located near the cinema.

There are two McHenry Counties, in effect- the southeast corner, which clearly is within the orbit of the Chicago metro area. And has better dining (and drinking) options. And then there's the rest of the county- which is largely rural, poorer, and contains a less sophisticated dining demographic.

The real estate bubble burst in 2008 or so, and it's doubtful that the suburban spread will ever extend all the way to places like Woodstock, along with all that goes with that. So unfortunately it's not likely to improve much. BTW, Woodstock is the only county seat of the six in the metro area (as defined by most), that has only two lane highways reaching it.

If worse comes to Worse, there is a Panera's down the street.

jlawrence01 wrote:If worse comes to Worse, there is a Panera's down the street.

Well worse came to worse, though not Panera worse

We ended up stopping at a Popeye's out there. I did see a hot dog place, I think the name was Tommy's along the way. And there's a Culvers, but that's all the way back at I90. Other than that, McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell seem to be about it.

midas wrote:

jlawrence01 wrote:If worse comes to Worse, there is a Panera's down the street.

Well worse came to worse, though not Panera worse

We ended up stopping at a Popeye's out there. I did see a hot dog place, I think the name was Tommy's along the way. And there's a Culvers, but that's all the way back at I90. Other than that, McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell seem to be about it.

Actually, there is a Culver's on US14 in Woodstock.

Culver's
1620 N Lake Shore Dr,
oodstock, IL 60098
Cross Streets: Near the intersection of N Lake Shore Dr and US-14/Lake Shore Dr

Green Garden on Rt 47 is certainly salty enough, and isn't too bad. I'm actually quite fond of their vegetarian moo shu and Szechuan green beans. I suspect there is plenty on the menu that fits the "not spicy" criteria. For some reason, my parent's prefer GG to Chop Suey Hut off the square, but it may be a proximity thing. I haven't had food from the Hut in years.

Tommy's (the Crystal Lake location) was a Saturday ritual for my dad and I when I was growing up out in Huntley, and I think my dad still frequents that Woodstock location. (I'm more of a veggie dog person these days.)

Angelo's on the square is undergoing some sort of "Restaurant Impossible" transformation...not sure what that will mean, but it might be worth checking on.

The area was and in some ways, still is pretty rural. If you have to drive 20 minutes to and from a restaurant to pick up take out, you often don't bother. I remember growing up thinking pizza delivery must be an amazing, special thing for fancy city people--no one would deliver to us out in the sticks (plus, my mom made pretty good pizza). I've lived in the city for years now and I still get a little anxious when I order delivery from some place--it feels a bit extravagant and wrong.


Green Garden
1678 S Eastwood Dr Woodstock, IL 60098

Chop Suey Hut
218 N. Throop Street in Woodstock, IL.


Angelo's
117 E Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098

For what it's worth, my parents and all of their friends like takeout from The Breakers, on Rt. 176 toward Crystal Lake. I believe it's been there since the '60s. Non-traditional Chinese. Haven't had anything from there since I was a child, so cannot personally vouch for this recommendation.

They also like the crepe place in the square, although I'm not sure they do takeout and/or are open before noon, but could be worth checking.