Just an hour northwest of Chicago, Crystal Lake wows with its natural wonders, including the Three Oaks Recreation Area and the Crystal Lake Park District’s 238-acre Crystal Lake, its two beaches, parks, and more. If you’re out in Crystal Lake enjoying the outdoors or live theater and musical entertainment, you might work up an appetite. To help, we’ve listed out ten top-rated restaurants in Crystal Lake, IL for dinner. Let us know how you like them!
Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen
110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
For an upscale-casual vibe, hit up Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, a gastropub focused on comfort foods and a wide selection of libations. Ingredients are sourced from local farmers and producers for the freshest quality and sustainability peace of mind.
Try the Beet Salad with apples, Wisconsin bleu cheese, house-cured bacon, endive, candied pecans, and a bacon vinaigrette. The bar is stocked with over 150 different craft brews and Belgian ales by tap, bottle, and can.
The Village Squire
4818 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
The Village Squire is a local Fox Valley chain that has locations in Crystal Lake, Dundee, McHenry, and South Elgin. The family-owned English pub-style restaurant has been serving hearty grub since 1974, like their fall-off-the-bone BBQ Back Ribs. If you are looking for places to get food in Crystal Lake, IL, the menu features items such as salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and more. Don’t forget to try some of the famous House Drinks, like the Mai Tais or Rum Barrels.
Nick’s Pizza & Pub
856 Pyott Rd, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Sit down and grab a slice of pie at Nick’s Pizza & Pub, a casual restaurant in Crystal Lake, IL with award-winning thin crust. Established in 1995, the restaurant serves Italian-American cuisine in a casual, lodge-like atmosphere.
The pizza dough and sauce come from a 50-year-old family recipe that’s made from scratch daily. Try the signature pizza Nick’s Special, which includes a secret-blend sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and 100% mozzarella cheese.
Jameson’s Charhouse
5016 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Jameson’s Charhouse is a long-standing American steakhouse with an upscale-casual vibe. Since it opened its first location in Mount Prospect in 1990, the restaurant has served a menu as big as your appetite, with items like a juicy Jameson’s Burger, a Greek Style Halibut, and a Black Angus New York Strip Steak. The restaurant chain has several locations throughout Illinois.
Around the Clock Restaurant
5011 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
There’s something nostalgic about hitting up a diner for dinner. This retro-style diner has served classic American grub for over 35 years, like sandwiches, burgers, and steaks. Like any classic diner, there’s also fresh homemade baked goodies, like pie, cakes, pastries, and other temptations.
Ice cream lovers, don’t miss out on the sundaes and shakes here. Try the Tin Roof if you love peanuts—you get two scoops of vanilla ice cream covered with hot fudge, peanuts, and whipped cream.
Kyoto Japanese Restaurant
5690 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
We can all appreciate a good show and you can get that plus delicious food and drinks at Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar. If you’re searching for excellent restaurants in Crystal Lake, IL, we recommend traveling to this destination to enjoy a hibachi meal. Playing with your food is encouraged—for the chefs anyway! You can also sit at the sushi bar where you can observe the sushi chefs in action.
Only the freshest ingredients are used in Kyoto, whether you’re enjoying a lobster dish, hibachi steak, or a sushi platter. A modern and club-like atmosphere complete with light effects add to the overall cool vibes.
Georgio’s Chicago Pizzeria & Pub
75 E Woodstock St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Georgio’s is an award-winning pizzeria and pub serving casual Italian cuisine, like pizza, pasta, and sandwiches. Enjoy the Chicago deep dish or thin crust pizza while you root on the Bulls at the well-stocked bar. If Trulys, High Noons, or White Claws are your thing, Georgio’s has them for $6 each on Thursdays.
Cafe Olympic
90 N Williams St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Breakfast for dinner? Why, of course! Cafe Olympic is full of history. It’s located in one of Historic Downtown Crystal Lake’s oldest buildings built in 1892. Once a soda fountain and candy shop, it grew into a full-service restaurant in 1975.
Cafe Olympic serves all-day breakfast and American staples in a classic diner setting—counter seating included! Take home some of the diner’s homemade baked goods like banana nut bread and cinnamon rolls.
Krystal Thai
230 W Virginia St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Enjoy classic Thai cuisine, including curries, noodles, rice dishes, and more, at Krystal Thai. Outfitted with traditional Thai decor and a casual setting, the restaurant offers both take-out and dine-in.
Try the spring rolls to start and if you’re looking for a not-your-typical fried rice, order the Volcano Fried Rice, which has shrimp with spicy chili soybean, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, onion, and egg. As with most Thai cuisine, be mindful of your spicy level choice!
Taqueria Las Cumbres
93 Grant St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Taqueria Las Cumbres serves authentic Mexican food in a casual setting, including your classic burritos, tacos, gorditas, quesadillas, tortas, and more. The restaurant uses ingredients purchased directly from Mexico for authentic flavors. Taqueria Las Cumbres is named after the town of Las Cumbres in Maltrata, Veracruz, where the chef was raised. Most of the menu has flavors and recipes originating from Puebla and Veracruz.
Featured Image Credit: The Village Squire