Restaurants in Crystal Lake

“1776 was a true delight! We spent the 4th of July here 🇺🇸. The food was truly an inspiration. Our waiter Josh was an absolute gem and sweeter than sorghum. We will return and request him as our waiter every time. Love this place.”

“This place is one of our favorite places in the area. Everyone who works there is amazing, knowledgeable, friendly, fun, they clearly love the work they do. The beer is awesome, I have my seasonal favorites but always find something good. Love the food trucks, special events, mug club, the vibes, the customers, the family friendly environment and my dog loves it there too!”

“The best! Everything is fresh and amazing. Staff and owner treat u like family. AMAZING!!!”

“We’ve been a lot of places for boba- we LOVE coco rolls!! Great flavors, helpful staff, yummy rolled iced cream!”

“This is a unique and amazing coffee shop, not just because it's a sober bar, because it has expert baristas, fun events, and meeting space for art, meetings and community gatherings. The staff is downright amazing! So is the coffee ☕”

“Delicious unique fare and cocktails. City vibe in the suburbs. Recommend the Vine margarita, braised short rib panini, and holy grail grilled cheese. We’ll be back to support this local restaurant especially because the staff is so friendly.”

“Cozy little sushi joint with fresh and delicious food. All you can eat sushi options that include appetizers and salads. Prices are fair. Would definitely eat here again. Friendly staff.”

“My husband and I love everything about florios!! It is our go to date night spot and we love to bring friends/family whenever we can. This place is delightful and the ambiance is beautiful! The food is AMAZING! It is delicious, authentic, and keeps us coming back for more. We have gone for anniversary, birthdays, and family gatherings. It is our new favorite spot!”

“Jude’s offers small plates perfect for sharing with friends. The food choices are plentiful and reflect different culinary choices so they offer things you can’t get elsewhere in CL. The environment is warm and welcoming. Staff provide service that makes sure the experience is a good one.”

“Excellent service with delicious food. The four of us shared several entrees with lamb, lentils, and chick peas. We’ll be going back again soon.”

“The food is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is wonderful and our waiter was fantastic. I will definitely be back.”

“First time here , and won't be the last, everything we had was delicious. Michele N. was a great server !”

“We come here all the time. Always great service and the food is always awesome.”

“Great atmosphere and servers.”

“Always fresh and creative food at Duke’s, love their focus on local products and community!! Highly recommend!!”

“We came here on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025, for the first time in several years. It was a great experience! I was skeptical at first but I cannot recommend the show at the hibachi grills and the atmosphere enough. Although expensive, the filet mignon was so good! I really enjoyed my time at Kyoto and hope to be back at some point again in the future! Only small note is that it’s pretty busy even on Wednesday nights so it was a long dinner. (Written 10-3-25)”

“great service and delicious food !”

“This is our go-to place for gluten-free pizza. As opposed to another popular nearby pizza place, the crust is actually fully baked. The GF crust is decent. Not as good as real crust, but better than others in the area. As with any GF pizza, I’d recommend eating it all the first night, as it’s never as good reheated.”

“The Breakers was my mother's favorite place to go out to eat. I took her to The Breakers many times. We always enjoyed any of the many menu items that were available. Elizabeth Landers was her name, and I am sure you are familiar with her son Edward. The service was always top notch.She liked a Brandy Ice for desert!”

“Was my first time eating sushi and was delicious, I am sure I will go there again, The service was excellent,”

“A fun little new place in Lake In The Hills! 🎉”

“I am always very impressed with how clean, organized and maintained this location is!!! Thank you for giving us a very nice place to allow our children to have fun and be safe! Management should definitely applaud their employees for keeping this place top notch!”

“Ordered for delivery, it was our first time so we weren’t sure what to expect (delivery can always be hit or miss, even from the best restaurants)…WOW! Is all I can say. It was extremely cost effective, the sauces were delicious, the wings were perfectly cooked and the free fries and ranch were amazing! Will definitely be ordering again”

“During my visit on 9/24/25, I ordered 3 mini cookies for me and my 2 young daughters. My kiddo dropped the box and ruined one of the cookies. Without hesitation, an associate offered to replace the cookie and packaged it so very nicely. Customer service at its finest and rare nowadays. Well done!”

“Great little Cafe! Defenitaly recommend!”

“I highly recommend this place. Today was the first time in the shop for my wife and I, the staff was super friendly and kind. Thomas helped us decided on what delicious drinks to try. They were both great, then we went back inside and got a couple coffees to go. Nessa helped us with our to-go order. Thank you to the staff for their kindness. The coffee is amazing.”

“I just tried a piece of chocolate cake that was brought home. I usually have stomach aches after eating cake. This was amazing. To not feel sick after a dessert and for it to taste AMAZING! We will definitely be coming in.”

“Tried it for the first time today, I was greeted so kindly and she recommended me some yummy pastries. So delicious, and a great place to visit!”

“We stopped here while we were in the area for a family wedding. Angie the owner is such an amazing person. She stopped by our table to chat and her warmth and sweet personality was such a welcome change. The service was fast and The food was fresh and so delicious!! I highly recommend this great establishment! Make sure you say hi to Angie! ❤️”

“This place makes me happy. Great staff, great food, adorable place!”

“The Subway at the Walmart in Crystal Lake is the best Subway in all Mchenry County. The employees who work there have a great sense of humor and are always telling jokes super friendly people and fantastic customer service.”

“Great dairy free options!”

“great specialty coffee and a lovely setting. You won't be disappointed!”

“My husband and I have been coming here for dates since we were 17. 20 years later, it’s still our go-to spot and now our kids beg for us to bring them. Great atmosphere, great food, and friendly staff - we love it here!”

“Wasn’t sure what to expect for a place just off the side of the road- but I was pleasantly surprised. This place has the largest variety of whiskey in the area. Highly recommend it for a night cap or just a drink with your SO. The staff is very friendly, as are the patrons. They also have a wall for gaming- if you enjoy gaming- and plenty of televisions.”

“Great place! Our party of 5 bellied up to the bar and had a great time. Jim our server and Scott the bartender made some great recommendations on drinks and apps. Watermelon margarita was the best one in the flight we had. The Tequilla Old Fashion was fantastic! Definitely made new friends and will be back often”

“on our first visit 4/16/24- tried chicken fajitas and chicken taco meal. Both were delicious and huge portions. Waitress was attentive and friendly. We'll be back!👍”

“Great pizza, quick friendly service in a nice Chicago themed restaurant.

We hadn't been to Georgio's in a while and decided to head there for pizza. The only reason we hadn't been here is that we have other options that are closer to home. Everything was so good that we will be making this trip more often.”

“I was there for a fundraiser last night. The food was really good, especially your salsa! Our server was attentive and kept track of our large group really well. We hadn't been there for a long time but will definitely be back again! Thank you so much.”

“EVERYTHING ☆☆☆☆☆+ and more!”

“We found you guys years ago: your our favorite spot: Just tried your cauliflower pizza Omg it was fantastic!!!!!”

“Su comida es muy rica y ek lugar es muy limpio y muy atentos con sus clientes!!”

“Estuvimos en chicago Chrystal lake Illinois y pasamos a Anas cakes and bakery probamos los mejores volobanes de pollo y jamón con queso! También la quesadilla llevamos para mandar a nuestras familias en otros estados , Probamos el mejor pastel de tres leches y como es famosa por sus deliciosos pasteles encargamos nuestro pastel de bodas y fue espectacular lo más elegante y hermoso y delicioso !!!! Recomendado al cien! Si andan en Chicago deben ir a probar Anas cakes and bakery ❤️”

“The sweet owner walked across the tracks this morning to give my daughter an avocado egg sandwich before taking the train to Chicago. He heard my daughter wanted one and he was so kind to Bring her one. Btw my daughter enjoyed it on the train! Thank you again for your hospitality!”

“The gentlemen at the counter were courteous, enthusiastic about their products, and very entertaining. I could have stayed all day! They had a sample platter with turkey and ham salad, bread slices, and pimento cheese spread. It was delectable. I can't wait to go back with my girlfriends and enjoy a quaint lunch in their café.”

“The inside was very clean, tables were kept well and there were plenty of places to sit. Coffee and tea were amazing, we got a green tea and nitro cold brew and they exceeded expectations. We got a ham and cheese sandwich and a spicy avocado bacon sandwich and those also exceeded expectations. Everything was served in a timely manner and the baristas were friendly and welcoming. Will return even though we don't live close, and would recommend. 10/10”

“The Brisket Tacos and the Fries.”

“I stopped in to lulu’s tonight for dinner and let me tell you the food is so good! I got an Italian beef which was very filling and delicious! The wife got the Italian on focaccia and this thing was great! Kenzie was very friendly and very helpful ordering. Overall this place is truly a hidden gem! If you haven’t stopped in I highly recommend you take a trip. You won’t be disappointed!”

“Great lunch menu, delicious. Great service.”

“I visited the Crystal Lake Culver’s on Saturday, May 24th, 2025. I am an avid fan of Culver’s and I have visited 35 locations in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Kentucky. As a resident of Crystal Lake I visit this Culver’s very regularly. The food was excellent and the service was quick. I definitely recommend the ice cream and the chicken. 5/5 I will definitely be back very soon. (Written 6-3-25)”

“We were in the area after visiting the Trading Post, we noticed the sign for fish fry on Fridays, stopped in around 1pm and was warmly greeted by the bartender, a lot of regulars were inside but she did not ignore us and took our drink and then our fish order. Food came quickly and was delicious! I had the fish tacos. We really felt welcomed and we were satisfied with the whole experience.”

“Great food and drinks always a fun place”

“The chicken here is controversial, this place will either be a miss or your go to for the best chicken you've ever had. I am the latter. Food seems to appear about 6 seconds after you order it and all the staff are happy and energetic.”

“The cupcakes are creative and delicious! I like the carrot cake one with bunny ears, and the one with pink buttercream and the Cheshire cat grin.”

“Love the food here! But, not great customer Service. The service was pretty fast… But they did not have any cheeseburgers as it said on their menu for the kids meal. I also did not have any chicken nuggets from the kids meal, They also had no Lengua tacos and only enough steak to make three tacos. And I would also recommend updating your website to include that you no longer serve alcohol”

“I had a Birthday party for my husband here. There were at the least 20 people. I can't tell you how wonderful Bryce our waiter/bartender was awesome! To be slammed with orders, all at once.....he was outstanding!”

“my local jersey mikes is trash. this one in crystal lake is awesome. very friendly staff. last time my card wasn't working and the girl hooked me up. I like her the most at that store”

“love this place. great service and drinks. the food is well priced and delicious”

“Stopped here for my first time ever by using the Too Good To Go app and was surprised to see all of delicious options they have. I will definitely be going back to try out their salads. I got the Waldorf chicken salad wrap and it was delicious.”

“This is a wonderful neighborhood bar. Like the old south side.”

“It was my first time ordering. I ordered when I walked in. It took about 15 minutes to cook. The pizza was made fresh. It was also cool to watch the owner making not only my pie but to others.
While the pizzas were in the oven, Cindy and I had an enjoyable conversation about food at other restaurants, which included chocolate cake and real strawberry milk shakes.
When I arrived home to enjoy my pie, I must say that it was one of the best that I have had in a while. It was worth the 30 minute drive.
Thank you Cindy! 😆 I will be back. 😀”

“Owner is super nice, came by and offered me a free taco from his food truck. Went ahead and gave it a try. Show some love if you ever see him around!”

“Pretty good food. But greasy. You don't come here for atmosphere or service. You come for the food. It's worth coming and ordering. Just know they don't wait on you.”

“Great place! No food but great for karaoke on Saturday night. Megan is a talented bartender and very attentive. Even when it's super busy you don't typically wait too long. Fun atmosphere, plenty of seating and room to dance.”

“The food was great! It was served quickly and was hot. The proportions were the right size.
Our server was very polite, friendly, and was very attentive to all her tables. She really made us feel welcome. She even offered coffees to go. She alone made a big positive difference in our visit.
The atmosphere was pleasant as well. The acoustics and lightning were perfect.
We will visit again. 😀”

“Taco Tuesday has been the best!! $1.00 and they are so amazing. Will definitely be going to them as my main for Mexican food around McHenry county!! Check them out!”

“The best customer service ever!”

“All our food was great. We had the shrimp chowder which I thought was outstanding! I had the crab roll and my hubby had the filet sandwich. Both were exceptional. Service was speedy, friendly, and engaging. The menu was large enough it was hard to decide, but definitely something for everyone.”

“Super cute "authentic" vibes 🇲🇽 DELICIOUS food!!!”

“Celebrated my birthday there the chocolate bomb was Awesome!!!”

“Pete the bartender is very quick, attentive and professional.”

“Chilis is a favorite spot for my kids when we go out with Grandma and Grandpa! My youngest has some severe allergies and he is now old enough that he wants to be ordering his own kids meal when we eat out. The manager and staff were so kind and accommodating on our last visit and let us know the items that were safe for him. We are happy to have another place where we know we can safely order food together as a family. My little guy was so proud to be able to order his own kids meal. My kids also LOVE their chips and salsa.”

“Our server was fantastic. She was so kind, attentive and at the same time kept interactions brief. The Mediterranean omelette was delicious. The coffee was smooth (not too acidic), and our server actually offered to-go cups so that we could drink our coffee in the car after leaving.”

“My wife and I have been coming here for years. I would say we have been here perhaps 50 times, if not more. We've gone as a couple, or with groups and nothing we've ever had was less than 5 stars.”

“Cozy place to bring your family or have casual business meetings. Love their drinks !! So much better than Starbucks . All the gals are super friendly too! ✨”

“Benjamin Parada and I ate dinner at Wings Etc. tonight! We pulled up to the building and called the number listed clearly on the signs, with an employee's assistance our "take out" order was placed! Ben and I talked in the car just as we would have when we were inside the restaurant. However, sitting in the car and wearing a mask felt so much safer than being in the restaurant! Our food was out to our car very quickly. Wonderful delicious and amazing are words to describe the good wings! Date nights look so different with Covid but this was a super safe and fun date night!”

“Guys pls don’t make fun of my Google account I made this account when I went through a weird phase. Anyways, Like and Colleen were amazing. My dumbass friend tried to exxagerate the story she was telling and ended up talking with her friends which led to her spilling her drink. However, luke and Colleen re made her a drink, and an extra cup of cold foam bc that’s why she spilled bc the lid was open due to licking the cold foam. Then Colleen came to action with a mop and cleaned it up. We are all happy and they are our best friends now because they helped out.”

“The Inside Scoop has the best Hot Fudge Sundaes in Crystal Lake! Although they have a variety of ice cream selections, I love the vanilla ice cream, it tastes homemade. The staff are always friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend stopping in!”

“Always great service and excellent food! The pizza is the best!”

“Always a great experience at the Crystal Lake CFA! Recently placed a catering order - everything was delicious, hot, ready on time and, as always, the staff were wonderful!”

“I asked them to leave a note for my for my girlfriend and they went above and beyond! Added photos and even lamented the note! Best place ever! Really cares for their customers.”

“Great gyro platter, enough for me and my HUNGRY boyfriend to share! Very friendly and courteous staff, highly recommend.”

“I have been ordering from here for dinner where I work. We all aty work enjoy the pizza & appetizer. I ordered a Chicken Ceasar salad, a small BLT pizza & an Italian Beef with giardiniera with a side of adjustable. Well my coworker told me she only received 1 small Ceasar dressing for the salad (2 or 3 for the salad would have it nicely covered), Italian Beef was a fully disappointment. I would NEVER recommend that at all. The menu for the Italian Beef is NOT true at all. The menu says "NOW WITH MORE MEAT", well I received more giardiniera then meat. When I called she told me that it was 6ozs. of meat that all beefs get. I can tell you as a former line cook that packaged Italian Beef that what I received was NOT 6ozs since I packaged 7ozs of Italian Beef. I DO NOT recommend the Italian Beef at all. I was excited to get the be since all I heard was good things but when I received it and looked at the sandwich it was giardiniera with very little Italian Beef and I received 2 large containers of auju. I was really DISAPPOINTED on the sandwich and the answer that they gave me. If your menu says "NOW WITH MORE MEAT" 6ozs is not enough. It was a GIARDINIERA sandwich with Italian beef... Other pizza I will not order anything else. VERY DISAPPOINTED.... Pictures will be posted...”

“Burger and fries were both great”

“First time trying a McAllisters. Loved it. Friendly staff. Soup, sandwiches great! Omg. Loved their sweet tea!!”

“Friendly staff and some of the yummiest food I’ve had! Come try it and I promise, you’ll want to keep coming back.”

“When I arrived I had encountered quite the environment, firstly I really needed to piss so I entered the bathroom only to see a severed head in one of the urinals. Honestly I wasn't too focused on it as I REALLY needed to pee. I was seated near a cracked window but frankly, it just added to the atmosphere you know? My waitress Amanda was really sweet to me, nice woman... until I saw her go off on an family that was eating there... had a weird grudge against the grandma. I got my jamón al vapor quite quickly and the taste is even better. Now I am not one to nitpick, but when I requested I get one of those tiny umbrellas for my water what I got in return was a tiny skateboard instead, not ideal but I made it work. Overall would recommend, just stay out of the 2nd stall in the male restroom... that's my stall.”

“Dillon, Emily, Riley, Samantha, Ben, Hailey & Tamra, and others are out of this world. They greet me all the time and other customers. They should be moninated for the best Starbucks ????????”

“Tried it for the first time on a busy Sunday and everything was delicious. There is a huge variety of dishes and food was replenished promptly. Tried a little bit of everything and it was all very good. Will definitely be going again.”

“Detox smoothie and Bacon Ranch Flatbread, yum. Clean restaurant with two outdoor tables and a bench. So good.”

“Called for pick-up, and it was ready quickly. Great wings that aren't breaded! Many options for sauces and rubs and the ones we tried were flavorful! Going to dine in next time. Looks very inviting!”

“reasonable for the pasta!”

“Thank you Crystal Lake Noodles and Company for great service!”

“The same people are here every time I come (maybe I come to much lol) but absolutely an amazing environment and I’ve brought family/friend visitors here as well and they’ve loved it . Tommy’s everyday special is my go to ! Their polish sausages are also good .”

“great food, good service, can't wait to go back. 👍👍”

“Great pizza! Great service!”

“The best pizza I have ever had for years! 5 out of 5 stars recommendation!!! Yummy and I cannot stop eating.❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👏👏👏🥰🥰🥰”

“We had a delicious lunch today at GYG. The taco salads are so good and the service was so friendly. The restaurant looks really nice too! Definitely a step above in fast food.”

“Absolutely love the soup and sandwiches! Head and shoulders above both Subway and Panera. And a shout out to the young man who made our sandwiches today. He dropped the mustard bottle on the floor while making the sandwich. What really impressed me was he picked it up and placed it in the sink, and grabbed a fresh one. It didn't matter that there was no way any dirt got in the bottle, he did the right thing.”

“we've been going to Chen's for over 30 years at least once a month. people are awesome, the food is outstanding and the prices are exceptionally reasonable. disregard negative reviews. anyone that goes there on a regular basis would highly recommend. a nice family restaurant not a chain.”

“Ordered through Door Dash and the food was fantastic! Portions were generous & the food was seasoned well. We will definitely order again.”

“Best steak tacos I’ve ever had! The steak is so flavorful and tender. This is my go to place when I’m in the area. Staff is very nice. So happy they now have a bar.”

“Hi. I would like to say thank you to Jacki at the Crystal lake location. She was so kind and showed empathy when I was there on Thursday 8/1/2024. It’s been a difficult week and my mom had passed away that morning. That was my first meal in about a week. She was so kind to pay for our meals. Thank you so much. I would like for that owner to know this and we will be returning back soon! 10/23/2024- we had Maya as our server today. She is also another wonderful asset to your team! Thank you for the Bingo night!”