Where to Eat in McHenry County, Illinois: 12 Restaurants, Breweries & Distilleries We Loved

Even when Eliese and I aren't actively working on a formal Wandermore project, we still make it a point to seek out local restaurants whenever we travel. Sure, I'd do just about anything for a Box Combo from Raising Cane's, and I regularly dream about Nebraska's famous Runzas (they're not bierocks nor krautburgers—looking at you, Kansans and Coloradans!), but nothing beats pulling into a town hundreds of miles from home and seeing a menu for the very first time.

Earlier this month, we attended our first-ever Midwest Travel Network conference in McHenry County, Illinois, located about 90 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago and just south of Wisconsin's famous Lake Geneva region. It was an eye-opening experience that introduced us to new communities, new friends, and plenty of new flavors.

McHenry County covers more than 600 square miles, much of it rural, yet its dining scene is remarkably diverse. From classic diners and authentic international cuisine to craft breweries and small-batch spirits, we sampled a little bit of everything during our stay. Here are some of our favorite culinary discoveries from around #NaturallyMcHenryCounty.

The Freeze | Crystal Lake, IL

Every good meal starts with a little bit of ice cream… or perhaps a lot of it! We were driving home from our visit to Harvard when the glow of the neon sign at this 1948 landmark caught our eye. The high schoolers were out in full force on summer break, and a pair of them served up their classic layered sundaes: the Calico Kat, with Kit-Kats, peanut butter, and hot fudge, and the Raspberry Truffle, with truffle pieces, raspberry sauce, and hot fudge. "World-famous" cheese fries and coney dogs are synonymous with a place that clearly holds a lot of nostalgia for Crystal Lake residents!

Green Peapod Thai Restaurant & Bar | McHenry, IL

Amongst some of McHenry Co.'s best thai food are the offerings at the Green Peapod Thai Restaurant & Bar's, which include pot stickers and their ultra-famous "drunken spaghetti." While we were nowhere near drunk, we, of course, had to try stir-fried spaghetti noodles with tomato, bell pepper, hot pepper, and basil leaves in a spicy Thai sauce. It's easy to see how this little institution won "Best Thai in McHenry County" for its flavorful food and its options for vegetarians and vegans. Tom Yum Soup and curries are other popular choices.

A sample of Green Peapod's famous drunken spaghetti, a spicy Thai noodle dish that has helped earn the restaurant a reputation as one of McHenry County's best.

Uncle Jerry's Pizza Company | Cary, IL

Eliese and I like to consider ourselves pizza connoisseurs, and deep-dish Chicago-style pizza is no exception. Back home in Nebraska, we can say we've tried dozens of grocery-specific brands and pizza combinations. Out in Illinois specifically, we always make the extra effort to find a region favorite Chicago-style pizzeria. At the conference, several pizza pies came to us when Uncle Jerry's Pizza Company catered an opening party at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn. Jerry Czerwinski founded the pizzeria after experiencing several authentic Chicago pizzerias for himself and trying his hand at the craft. The crust is buttery, the sauce is rich, and the toppings are generous–Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy even once featured it! We recommend Uncle Jerry's Sweet Sting, known for its homemade habanero-infused hot honey. It's a sweet sting for those who like just a little bit of spice on their pizza.

May all your deep-dish dreams come true with Uncle Jerry's Pizza Company! Served up several Chicago-style pies loaded with rich sauce, buttery crust, and generous toppings.

Cesaroni’s Cafe & Deli | Woodstock, IL

Our eats from Cesaroni's were pretty casual, as we were served one of their mini breakfast sandwiches while visiting the historic Woodstock Opera House. The Saturday market was in full force outside, while inside, we were gearing up for the end of our busy weekend. Cesaroni's is just off Woodstock's historic square and is known for its artisan subs, paninis, breakfast sandwiches, and Cesaroni Blend Coffee. It's been one of the city's favorite local sandwich shops since it opened in February 2019.

A light breakfast featuring Cesaroni's Cafe & Deli helped fuel a busy morning exploring Woodstock's historic downtown square and Saturday farmer’s market.

El Vado Mexican Restaurant | McHenry, IL

Veracruz, Mexico, meets McHenry, Illinois, at El Vado Mexican Restaurant, one of several eateries we sampled while visiting The Vixen, a state-of-the-art live music venue. This second-generation restaurant won the "Best of the Fox [River]" award in 2023, largely thanks to its delicious Veracruz-style tacos, fajitas, quesabirria, and other dishes. We had a sampling of the chicken fajita with guac and chips, which was a delicious treat and a nice touch of variety.

Fresh guacamole, chips, rice, and chicken fajitas gave us a delicious introduction to McHenry's award-winning El Vado Mexican Restaurant.

Cary Ale House & Brewing Company | Cary, IL

When Cary Cruise Night was canceled due to severe storms in the area, attendees went straight to the Cary Ale House to enjoy a few snacks and ales. We missed out on snagging a drink, but we did try a couple of their famous appetizers–squeaky cheese curds and "The Devil's Egg," a halved hard-boiled egg with a creamy yolk mixture topped with sriracha, candied bacon, and green onion. They handed out samples to about 40 attendees, and we found ourselves wanting more! We might find ourselves back in the historic building someday, which once housed Cary's first licensed saloon, the Wascher Tavern. The Ale House (also known for its burgers and flatbreads) opened in 2015 and began brewing its own beer in 2018.

A small crowd gathers at Cary Ale House & Brewing to share good brews, tasty appetizers, and friendly conversation at the front of the taproom.

Andy's Restaurant | Crystal Lake, IL

Another staple of Crystal Lake lies only blocks away at Andy's Restaurant, a family-owned diner that first opened in 1981. We chatted with the owner, the daughter of the founder, Andy Piculas, who came over from Greece to pursue his dream of running his own restaurant. On the menu you'll find skillets, sandwiches, and all kinds of American fare, but you'll also find a touch of the family's Greek roots here and there. Eliese made a point of trying a Greek omelet, which had a generous amount of sliced gyro meat, feta cheese, fresh veggies, and even a touch of tzatziki sauce. Nóstimo (yummy!)! There aren't many places nowadays that can say they've been around for 45 years, but Andy's is celebrating the milestone this year!

SUMMER MOON COFFEE | Crystal Lake, IL

There was a lot of "go, go, go!" at the conference, so we didn't have much time for caffeine. But in recent years, we've made an effort to stop by a locally owned coffee shop each morning as often as we can to find the best brews. Summer Moon Coffee is a bit of an exception to that rule as it's a Texas-based coffee chain that's only recently expanded to the Midwest, but we had yet to try it! The shop was adorable and had tons of room for both comfortable indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a drive-thru. Eliese tried one of their signature specials of the month, a Strawberry Crumble Moon Latte with Moon Milk (their specialty sweet cream concoction), whereas I ordered a custom-made iced matcha with blueberry syrup. Both were great pick-me-ups to start our day! What sets Summer Moon apart from other coffee shops is its oak-roasted wood-fired coffee, known for its slightly smoky flavor.

Starting the morning off right with a blueberry matcha and a Strawberry Crumble Moon Latte at Summer Moon Coffee in Crystal Lake.

PUB EIGHTY ATE | Crystal Lake, IL

Can you tell that we spent a lot of time in Crystal Lake? We had to try all kinds of local options–and that included something a little upscale! Pub Eighty Ate has been around for less than two months, but its expert chef/owner has curated an amazing menu sure to delight. Eliese and I LOVED our visit here. Inspiration for the menu was drawn from gastropubs in the heart of Chicago, but with modern twists. Some people would probably opt for the Pub 88 Burger, whereas others would go all out for the Seafood Diablo crab, lobster tail, and gulf shrimp feast, but Eliese and I chose some dishes in the middle: the Southwest Steak Risotto and the Wagyu Beef Skirt Steak Tacos. We've been on a bit of a Hell's Kitchen kick recently, so we channeled our inner Gordon Ramsey and came up with the simple conclusion: this place is legit. Hands down, it was our favorite meal of the trip! The meats are succulent, and the veggies are fresh. Couple good food with friendly staff and a neat atmosphere, and you've got yourself the perfect date night in a little city located only steps away from the Chicago Metra commuter rail network. Visit the historic downtown district and grab a meal at Pub Eighty Ate for a real taste of the Chicago area's finest eats!

Here in the Midwest, we're allowed to rope in beer and whiskey joints with food reviews. It's a unique and all-its-own category. We visited with reps from a few of these local places!

CRYSTAL LAKE BREWING | Crystal Lake, IL

The MTN conference kicked off here with a welcome party. We arrived in the middle of Trivia Tuesday, and despite not being able to share our insightful answers with the locals, we did get to try two of their brews. The Golden Peach is a fruited helles lager that puts a twist on the brewery's classic Beach Blonde drink. They add a touch of peach to the honey-like drink, making it perfect for summertime. Despite not being much of a beer drinker myself, I still opted for the Spring Fever, a raspberry hibiscus ale. I've never once tried anything with hibiscus, but this was one of the very few drinks I've ever thoroughly enjoyed! Malt, hops, raspberries, and hibiscus flowers unite to create a fruity beer that goes down easy. John O'Fallon and Chuck Ross have created an awesome atmosphere with beers and food trucks that any visitor would surely enjoy.

SCORCHED EARTH BREWING COMPANY | ALGONQUIN, IL

We briefly met with a rep at Harvard's Starline Factory wedding venue to talk about scorched earth–not literal scorched earth, but the brewery down the road in Algonquin! Started in 2013-14, they offer live music, trivia, and food trucks, much like the brewery that precedes it in this article (Crystal Lake Brewing). They're known for having 20 house-made beers on tap and for having a wide variety that covers all the fixins' for IPA, lager, stout, sour, and barrel-aged lovers alike. We sampled only one beer, which we were told was designed to resemble a mojito: Fruit-Ternity House. It's brewed with lime juice, mint, and Mexican sea salt to nearly perfectly recreate a mojito flavor profile as a beer. Who knew McHenry County had a little bit of Cuban influence?!

A colorful lineup of brews from Scorched Earth Brewing Company, including the mojito-inspired Fruit-Ternity House that quickly became a conference favorite.

RUSH CREEK DISTILLING | HARVARD, IL

Last but not least, we have to give a shoutout to Harvard's own Rush Creek Distilling, where they mill, mash, distill, and bottle all of their spirits on-site. While we didn't get to visit the distillery itself on the outskirts of town–known for its huge tasting room and its live music and events–we did get to sample a couple of their whiskeys and vodkas. The jalapeño-flavored variation has quite the kick and would make a great addition to lemonade or pineapple-cranberry juice. For all you caffeine lovers we were talking about earlier, the coffee-flavored vodka would blend well with things like cola, chocolate milk (trust us, it'd be good), or, of course, a little cold brew coffee! Straight Bourbon Whiskey is their flagship product, with hints of sweeter corn and charred American oak. Next time we're in the area, we've got it on our bucket list to swing by the distillery. We accidentally ended up at The Freeze for ice cream instead on the night we could've gone! ;)

From coffee vodka to jalapeño vodka and straight bourbon whiskey, Rush Creek Distilling produces all of its spirits in Harvard, Illinois—not to be confused with the home of the Ivy League school in Massachusetts. :)

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McHenry County may be famous for it, but it certainly doesn't feel like Groundhog Day when it comes to dining out in #NaturallyMcHenryCounty! (Hi-5 80s/90s kids, this Gen-Zer knows his way around your movies 😎). There are SO many amazing options to choose from. With a population of over 300,000 residents spread across charminf downtowns, lakeside communities, and rural countryside, the county’s restaurant scene properly reflects the people and cultures that call it home. No two meals feel the same!

Whether you're craving deep-dish pizza, Thai specialties, craft beer, locally distilled whiskey, or simply an old-fashioned ice cream sundae, you'll find plenty of reasons to pull off the highway and stay awhile.

These photos were taken during our visit to McHenry County in June 2026. Communities are constantly changing, and some features may look different today. Be sure to double-check that a restaruant is still open via Google Maps or their Facebook page (or call to confirm hours) before you visit!

Looking for even more places to eat? Be sure to explore the McHenry County dining guide here: Naturally McHenry County Dining Guide