The atmosphere was really nice for a bar by the river, not many know how to make a great Irish mule…read moreBUT this lass(didn't get her name but she is beautiful) did! Will def go back if we are in town.

I am happy we did not get dissuaded by our first impression and stayed. We were standing around for…read morea bit while servers were buzzing around (it was a Saturday afternoon) but were not greeted for some time. When we were it seemed as though the servers were not thrilled to have us there. Again, it was a busier afternoon. We sat ourselves on the outside patio that was popping off with lots of friendly banter across tables, good looking plates, and loved that it was a dog friendly patio!! Huge win for the area! We ordered a couple beers (Stella and the local Crystal Lake Beach Blonde Ale) as well as the October wing special- Blackberry bacon glazed wings. Wow! The charbroil on the wings gave an insane depth of Smokey flavor that was perfectly matched by the thick, sweet and salty syrup that coated each crispy wing. Killer! They did not skimp on the sauce was much appreciated! We loved the ranch too. If it's not homemade, they did a fantastic job selecting that type because I would have drank it if I could! Prices were more than fair and the service was quick once seated. A really cool spot for a quick afternoon bites and brew with friends! It was nice to see big parties there that were clearly regulars because it really set the townie feel. Would love to come back for St Patrick's Day! And luckily they have more bathrooms in the basement so even in a bustling day it is accommodating to us ladies!

Woodfire: Where Simplicity, Good Food, and Good People Still Mean Something…read more There's something beautiful about a restaurant that doesn't feel the need to reinvent the wheel. No unnecessary theatrics. No pretentious bullshit. Just honest food, made by people who clearly give a damn about what they're putting on your plate. Another lunch at Woodfire. Another reminder of why we keep coming back. We started with the Tuscan Fries. Potatoes cooked in beef tallow, finished with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan, with a side of garlic aioli. Crispy, rich, unapologetically garlicky. The kind of thing you tell yourself you'll only have a few of before realizing you've damn near polished off the entire plate. I love them. My wife, however, tends to lean in the opposite direction whenever I attempt to kiss her afterward. A small price to pay for greatness. Next came the Rosemary Sausage Pizza. No sauce? No problem. Dough. Mozzarella. Rosemary. Sausage. That's it. Four ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Nothing hiding behind a gallon of tomato sauce or an avalanche of unnecessary toppings. Just a beautiful marriage of flavors, each one knowing its place. Sometimes the most impressive thing a kitchen can do is know when to leave something the hell alone. This remains one of my favorites here. Then came something I wasn't quite prepared for. The Chef's Special: "Ronald Mac Donald." A name that sounds suspiciously like someone forgot to replace the placeholder text before sending the menu to the printer. But don't let the name fool you. This was, without exaggeration, arguably one of the finest chili macs I've had the pleasure of shoveling into my face. Let's start with the pasta. Made fresh, in-house. And the cook on these noodles? Jesus Christ. Absolutely beautiful. That perfect al dente bite. Firm enough to remind you that you're eating real pasta, tender enough to make you immediately reach for another forkful. Whoever was responsible for cooking those noodles deserves a handshake and a cold beer. And the beef chili? Rich, hearty, deeply satisfying. The kind of flavor that doesn't happen by accident. You can taste the time, the patience, the care that went into its preparation. This wasn't some half-assed pot of ground beef and canned tomatoes thrown together to fill a menu slot. This was comfort food with a soul. Now, what good is a meal like this without a beer? Fortunately, Woodfire has that covered, too. As if making their own pizza dough, fresh pasta, and damn near everything else in-house wasn't enough, they've gone a step further with their own beer, produced through Carlyle Brewing in Rockford, Illinois. I went with the Honey Jar. Light. Refreshing. A subtle touch of sweetness. Nothing overpowering, nothing complicated. Just a damn good beer that knows exactly what it is. Sitting there on an unusually warm fall afternoon, enjoying good food and even better company, it was exactly what the occasion called for. And finally, there's Kevin, the bartender. Food might get people through the door, but people like Kevin are what bring them back. There's a difference between someone who simply serves you and someone who genuinely makes you feel welcome. Kevin understands that difference. His attention to detail, his hospitality, and his seemingly endless positivity are something you don't encounter nearly enough in this industry. The man remembers you like you've been neighbors for fifty years. Not because he's working an angle or fishing for a bigger tip, but because he seems to genuinely enjoy the people sitting across from him. And in a world where hospitality is increasingly treated like a transaction, that's worth a hell of a lot. Woodfire isn't trying to be something it isn't. It doesn't need to. Good ingredients. Honest cooking. Cold beer. Genuine hospitality. Sometimes that's all you need. And sometimes, when it's done this well, it's everything.

Woodfire fits naturally into the heart of Dundee -- relaxed, welcoming, and easy to enjoy. The…read morepizza is the highlight, bringing a fun, flavorful approach that works well for both casual nights out and group dinners. The pasta and appetizers are solid across the board, and the drinks round out the experience nicely. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that may not try to overreach, but consistently delivers a good time and a satisfying meal.

This was not our first visit and it definitely will not be our last! The industrial look is…read morecharming for the American food fare theme and sets the tone for a fun hang with friends. In the past we have tried burgers and the crab cake sliders which are favorites, but today we took it easy with a couple of cocktails and some candied bacon. He ordered the Stag Sour which is similar to a blackberry sour but with fresh blackberry puree which elevates the drink and mellows the whisky taste. I ordered the Bloody Mary with the RST skewer- amazing! Pro tip: you can order the skewer for $1.50 which would be a nice addition to any beer too! The candied bacon is peppery thick cut bacon slices with a sticky sweet glaze that is a perfect snack. And you can't beat the price at $7 for four of these big slices! Service was quick, the atmosphere seems busy but is quite chill, and we loved that they had sport on the tv to go with our drinks. This place is reliably great and so conveniently located so you are still in the Dundee atmosphere without feeling like you are in the middle of the "party zone". They have daily specials and we are looking forward to coming in on Wednesday for a $5 wine bottle with two entree purchase soon!

During our trip to Illinois, we drove out to East Dundee and had dinner at the River Street Tavern…read more Tv screens everywhere and a huge tv in the main dining room. We were seated right away and given great recommendations and time to talk and figure out the menu. We had a good dinner, birthday dessert and over all very enjoyable time.

Dine last Saturday. The food was very good…read moreI had the steak tacos Other dinners in my party had the queen's cut prime rib and ribs. We all enjoyed our dinners. The atmosphere of the place is nice, clean and quaint. I sadly often forget about this place but very happy it is a dinning option in my area. This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion.

Stopped in during the week for a quick lunch. Service was quick and friendly. We love the nostalgic…read morefeels of the Irish Style Pub/Brewery. They have a large selection of craft beers and many hand crafted cocktails to choose from. What we ordered: *Tenderloin Sliders- they were full of flavor and tender. * Chicken with pasta and a creamy mushroom sauce. It was very flavorful and definitely something I would order again. It came with a different pasta than what was listed in the menu.

Friday night for cocktails and a light bite to eat. We love…read morethe old wood feels and intimate feels here. We sat at the bar, and received excellent service from our Bartender, Kevin. We ordered an old fashioned and the Chianti as drinks and the charcuterie meat and cheese board. We loved the charcuterie board. Fresh fruit, flavorful cheeses and meats with nuts. I would definitely order this again.

I'm shocked I have never heard of this place! Absolutely INCREDIBLE meal. Farm to table? Supporting…read morelocal? On the river? YES! YES! YES! The charcuterie board was to die for, maple bourbon goat cheese, was delicious with the salty meats. My filet was cooked to perfection and the garlicky seasonal veggies were out of this world. The Mac and cheese was slightly under seasoned, nothing a little salt n pepper can't fix. Was lovely chatting with the owner. Will absolutely be back!

Great place for casual dining or to take a date, just don't tell my wife! It's a 2 level bar/dining…read moreroom that not only acts as a lounge and restaurant but they also hold events such as wine and beer tasting and live music. The bar has a large beer and drinks menu with some great variety as well as its own in-house creations. My favorite part was the chicken breast sandwich. It was the BEST chicken sandwich I have ever had. No kidding. They sliced the breast up instead of just throwing a whole breast on some bread and the aioli mayonnaise is a great touch. Enjoy!

Perfect little stop in when you're wandering around the downtown Elgin area for things like the…read morefarmer's market. Decent selection of booze and mixed drinks, really good prices, and carry-out cups for wandering. What more can you ask for?

The owner and his wife are very friendly and knowledgeable about what they sell. The craft beer…read moreselection has probably quadrupled over the last year. Lots of three Floyds bombers, and a generally well thought out variety from pale ales to stouts. That doesn't even include the awesome wine selection. Not too expansive, but well chosen. Keep it up guys.

Such a cute place! I am so impressed with the new expansion and how it has elevated the space with…read morethe wrap-around bar top seating. We chose to sit outside since it was a beautiful afternoon and the decorations gave the place a fall fest at an upscale barn vibe- loved it! We order a couple mimosas, deviled eggs with smoked trout roe, and whitefish pate. We were surprised that the food came out before the mimosas, but the drinks were great once we got them. Who can resist a mimosa on a sunny afternoon! The deviled eggs were a perfect balance of creamy and salty. I would have never thought roe on eggs would be so good, but now I don't think I want them any other way! My partner is on the hunt for the best whitefish pate and was very impressed. The cucumber dill salad was a wonderful compliment to the delicate pate that had good chunks of whitefish in it for texture. We would absolutely order it again! The pizzas were not available today, but we cannot wait to come back later this winter on a chilly night and try it inside for a date night. So happy to have given Mockingbird a try!

Let me start by writing that this place deserves five stars and should be five stars, and I wanted…read moreso badly to give it five stars. But sadly there was a private event that spread the kitchen very thin and it took away from the overall experience. Food: 5.0/5.0 - Everything we ate was awesome. We did the Wood-Fired Artichoke, the Two Pigs in a Basket Crostata, the Steak Hash, and the Arugula Salad. Everything was cooked and flavored nicely but I wish the steak hash had more steak. (See my photos) Service: 4.5/5.0 - The server was kind and Joe was walking around checking in regularly, making sure we were protected from the rain. I dinged half a point because the server didn't have the best explanations for why everything was out. More on that later. Ambiance: 4.0/5.0 - I think on a normal evening on a date, this place would be 5.0/5.0. The decor is rustic/modern and it felt like a vacation spot that you'd visit on the Florida coast. Loved the brassware and the attention to detail in the presentation of food. It was a Sunday afternoon when we were there, so the band across the street was disruptive to the feel outside the restaurant in the garden and patio. By 3:00pm the flies and gnats were becoming annoying. So good scores in general and worthy of 5 stars, but alas, the kitchen was not prepared for the afternoon private party along with the crowd from the night before... apparently. They were "unable to make" or were out of several dishes. From what I can recall, there were no: pizza pies, whitefish, and chimichurri. They also ran out of all soda except a few bottles of Coca Cola. And there was no beer on tap because the keg was broken, so they only had Guinness and Stella bottles. Because of this, it stung to pay the prices we did for our items. I'd say a fair price point with all said and done is probably $3-$4 less on any item here. Crostatas were great, but maybe for $13. I'd pay $16 for the steak hash. I'm sure if we came back on a weeknight, this place would be amazing. Great people, great food, and everything in stock. If we came back, I'd love to upgrade this review to 5 stars. The problem is, the price may keep us from giving this place a second try.

The owners are really really nice here. You can tell they take pride in their store. Before covid…read morevisited and they display their craft beers in a pretty awesome way. Also large selection of craft beers and alcohol. During Covid, he got more careful and only allows one per customer inside to browse but he grabs whatever you need for you. They sanitize your card before and after your purchase too. I liked that a lot. Anyways good spot. Don't let the area scare you away from stopping in here.

Bought a 4 pack of Hop Butcher beer from the cooler on Saturday night 04.19.2025. Got home and it…read moretasted awful. I turned the can over and the canned date was August 2022. 3 year old beer sitting in the cooler at full price. I will never go back. I miss Geno and his family.

We stopped in for a couple of beers because we love the atmosphere -- and it's within walking…read moredistance of our home! The bartender was very friendly and welcoming. We tried the slider special: 8 cheeseburger sliders served on a bed of French fries. Wow! They were delicious and an incredible value. Definitely a place we'll keep coming back to every time we are in Algonquin

Came in on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Were waited on immediately. Got our drinks squared away…read moreand took our food order. Our food was delivered hot. Cool little bar and restaurant. Excellent burger. Will come back.