Best Casual Restaurants in Crystal Lake

This was a birthday celebration with my daughters. We started our evening with a cocktaill. I had the Old Fashion and one daughter had the Moscow Mule. The other daughter ordered the house Malbec. The drinks were expertly crafted. We continued by ordering two appetizers. We were a little disappointed that the saganaki was not flamed at the table. The bruschetta was served on a very tasty crostini. We then ordered our entrees. We each had the filet. The steaks were cooked to perfection and were so tender and moist. We shared a bottle of the Italian Cabarnet to accompany of meal. The chef treated us to the spinach filled phyllo. This was another perfectly prepared dish. For the birthday celebration one daughter had a piece of strawberry cheesecake and the other had the baklava cheesecake. Both were fantastic. The restaurant was busy but our service was good. The noise level from the bar area did increase noticeably as the evening progressed.

We had a great waitress. She went overboard to make sure our experience was good. She kept coming back to the table to be sure.

Every aspect of our dining experience at Crystal Lake Junction was wonderful! From the hostess, who greeted us with a smile, to the gal who took our drink order, to our awesome waiter (who doubled as the bartender!) the service was outstanding and our food was delicious. We will definitely return the next time we find ourselves in Crystal Lake!

Always a great experience and one of our favorite local restaurants. Reminded of downtown when you visit with evolving seasonal drink menu and quaint vibe. My only critique is to change up the menu once in a while.

Jason gave us excellent service. Prices are reasonable, and food choices were great for an Italian restaurant. Food was brought hot and promptly. We had the spinach artichoke dip, which was delicious, and both of us had a Lasagna, and it was yummy.