The Village Squire North

I grew up going to this place and met up with family there this evening, including my 2.5 year old. Let me start by saying that you get a better kids meal at Panera. She was served REHEATED (not even fresh) Kraft Mac and Cheese, you know the blue box kind, which I confirmed with the manager. You know what that stuff looks like reheated — it looks like it came from my own fridge, give me a break. My mom got a taco salad that came with a half empty shell, it only had field greens with tomato in it, missing the beef — as well as the olives, cheese, you know anything else that makes it taco. My sister was happy with her fajitas. I got the caprese salad with grilled chicken, that I had expected to be warm chicken. It was cold pieces laid on top, another way to cut corners and make it simple in the kitchen. We won’t be going back. To their credit they did comp the kids meal and taco salad.

Some other reviewers have complained about the menu being unhealthy. Maybe they just did not read the menu properly. I have been there each week for the last month and I am slowly working through their salad menu. They have a great Cobb salad, the Mediterranean salad is really tasty and wholesome, while my favorite so far has been their BBQ chicken salad. The avocados in that are such a nice touch and they are so good for you. We have had good service and the waiting staff have been sweet and attentive. I plan on continuing to visit every week.

We have a Village Squire in McHenry as well, but not sure they have this same seating practice I have witnessed recently. I came with a party of 5, 4 of us were in the restaurant and the 5^th was parking the car. They refused to seat us until the 5^th person was in the restaurant. Another time, I was meeting just one other person. She also was not seated until I got there.
Is this a normal practice? It’s quite annoying and not a big draw. Both times we had the buzzer things and they had gone off. Maybe it’s normal? Anyway, I have never had a bad meal here. Prime rib is awesome, as are the burgers and other menu items. The saganaki is a must have! Waitress was great! Checked in just enough and made sure our drinks never an out. Will always be one of my favorite chains in this area.

Just gave a glowing review and now it’s all come tumbling down. Was having the schnitzel again for dinner and then low and behold I BITE INTO A CHUNK OF GLASS. The waitress comes over and matter of factly says «that’s unusual because water glasses go tbe bar». Really ?? She said it like it’s a normal event to have cracked glass in the food. In the meantime the blood is draining out of my wife’s face and she walks out. The manager walks over after a longer than expected time and apologizes. She makes no attempt to investigate what’s taking place in the kitchen. She offers no explanation how it could have happened. We ended up having the dinner comped but not the two drinks. We took a new schnitzel dinner home and threw it out. I didn’t give any of it to our two dogs. Will I return to the Village Squire? Nooo. What a shame.

Great food and daily specials. Better than four stars, stopped in and the special was half priced burgers, we each had a burger and a beer, it was really good, done to perfection. very nice atmosphere, beautiful fireplace, friendly servers, and best yet was our check, 23.00, for two burgers and drinks… we will be back to try the other daily specials

Had such a great experience last night at dinner I just had to share! My husband and I got to the Squire around 7:30 which is prime dinner time on a Saturday night. The wait was only 20 minutes and within that time the manager was bringing all of us that were waiting bowls of popcorn. I thought that was extremely sweet of her. Once we were seated our waitress was very nice and super attentive to us. Our meals were awesome, my husband got the prime rib special and I got a cup of french onion soup with the berry nut salad. Everything was perfect. I felt like the staff went above and beyond to meet the needs of all the costumers and were working really hard! We will definitely be back soon!

Been here a few times and it’s always really good. Fish tacos are fantastic. Will be back. Atmosphere is cozy. Love the fireplace!

I’m at Village Squire in Crystal Lake for a Christmas party. The hostess called ahead to make sure that the handful of individuals with allergies and food intolerances could order from the regular menu rather than off the limited party menu. When we arrived, the server was incredibly rude and told us that we could not order anything that wasn’t on this limited menu, even though everyone is paying separately and this was not a contracted party– just a large group with reservations. After some sass from the server, I talked to the manager and he told me, «enjoy your meal at some other establishment.» What an ass! (Sorry about my language, but he was). Once I finish my wine, I am out of here. Spread the word that Village Squire of Crystal Lake does not care about its patrons and is not willing to serve customers with dietary restrictions in large groups because it is too difficult for the server.

Had the gyros appetizer, seriously one of the best gyros I’ve had in a while, I would order the entire sandwich if I could. The clam chouder soup, pretty good also. Had the prime rib with the mushrooms on top, huge portion and definitely worth the money, will definitely be back again

Love this place. What place can you go to and get free popcorn! Just like the movies, but free. I have not had a bad meal, or an unhappy server each time we have gone. I have had the Filet and shrimp, which is always cooked perfect. I had the bbq pulled pork yesterday and it was good, not spicy at all. I just love this place and would highly recommend it!!!

Never had a bad meal from this place. They have tasty burgers, salads, and the Mai Tai drinks are delicious. They have a great atmosphere and live music at night, but during lunch time they do play awkwardly newer music that doesn’t really fit with the atmosphere.

Experience tonight was very disappointing. My husband ordered a Hickory Chicken sandwich without onions. It came with onions. The server’s response was «do you want me to get you a plate to take the onions off» instead of replacing the sandwich. We ordered the prime rib med rare, it came out medium well. The manager did not come over once throughout the meal, it wasn’t until the server was bringing the check out that the manager came over. She was rude and said «why didn’t we tell them sooner about the overcooked prime rib, they would have given us a new piece.» We did tell the server but nothing was done. Potatoes were burnt and not good. Everytime we have gone to a Squire the food was not great but we thought we would try the Crystal Lake location, but were nothing but disappointed. The only good items there are the Mai Tais.

We’ve been going to The Village Squire for 20 years. When my kids where little they loved the castle atmosphere. Today we celebrated our youngest going to college and our middle staring his 3^rd year in college. There is always good music! Banana daiquiri And saganaki… always saganaki!!! Opa!!!

I have to say that a lot of the food here is not very good, but the saganaki is so amazing that I come back here all the time and love it. I like the gyros too. And the free popcorn on the table. It’s great to come here for some drinks, popcorn, and saganaki. I love the kitschy décor as well.

The food here needs some help. Been here a couple of times I’m the last month and ordered a burger. To be honest I could get a juicier burger at Five Guys. Really disappointed with service there too.

We have eaten at the squire many times in the past but I have to say it’s been slipping.
On this last visit our waitress seemed quite distracted and we had to ask for everything.
Bread but no butter, soup but no spoon, etc.
There were 4 of us and the bill was over a hundred dollars with drinks.
We really expected better.

We stopped here for dinner as were passing through the area and my boyfriend had fond memories of taking his kids to the «castle» for dinner when they were little.
It’s kitschy with its castley exterior and old English rustic cabin insides. Clean and inviting. Despite its cavernous dining room, nooks are carved out all over for a more intimate dining feel. The fireplaces roared for a warm, cozy atmosphere and families celebrating birthdays were getting serenaded by staff birthday tunes. I had hopes of being waited on by staff in period-​type costumes, but settled for boring black t-​shirts, bedazzled with the restaurant’s name.
The place was busy as it was a Saturday night but we were whisked away to a booth immediately. Hooray! They serve up baskets of free bar popcorn while you wait. The menu has plenty of standard American pub fare. I settled for a prime rib sandwich and steak fries since prime rib appeared to be their specialty and the beau had a bacon bleu cheese burger.
Our server was fast, friendly and efficient albeit quite pushy with the up sells. Doing his job though, but it was a bit much.
The food came out quickly and was fine. Nothing to rave about, but decent bar food nevertheless. Good family restaurant.

Just terrible. I’ve been a Village Squire patron since the mid ‘80s when my business was in East Dundee near their restaurant there. My father actually hosted our wedding rehearsal dinner there in ’83 …I know what they’re capable of. Well, Monday my wife and I planned a lunch there for their formerly awesome Monday burger special. Bad move. The waitress who’s served us many times in the past but seemed to not realize it, was almost invisible. We ordered the burgers, wife’s medium and mine medium rare on the rare side. Finally received them only to see a scant 15 chips of fries (billed as steak fries… more like edges of McDonald’s fries), a burger patty more akin to a well cooked non seasoned mrleatloaf. I took two bites if the dry monstrosity and located the waitress to point out the dried beef version of a burger I was served. She politely took it away for a replacement.
All the while my wife forced down her even more abused by the flame meat remnant called a burger. She actually nearly ate her burger when my replacement beef hockey puck on a bub arrived. The waitress was absent so long after dropping the plate replete with another «generous» pile of 15 or so fry shavings that I was left with no alternative but to wash the dried beef patty on a bun down with my beverage so I could try to get out of there to blget back to work. I did finally see her and hail her to show her the torched well done mess and she quipped «wow, they can’t get it right can they»?. She departed and brought us our bill.
My wife, a former waitress who I always have figure our generous tips because we are sensitive (her especially as she worked her way through college waiting tables) to the need to tip well, left her a usually large tip anyway.
My wife noticed a father and son over my shoulder dining on the same burger special and saw the perfect medium rare burger «dad» was enjoying. I politely inquired as to his order and assumed he ordered rare however his order was merely medium rare… perfectly prepared. His son’s, ordered medium, was more done than it was ordered but «cooked by 2 different cooks» they joked. He told me he’s had trouble there in the past and once had the cook challenge he him on a sent back burger that was over done as well.
I’m afraid, after the lack of interest on the part of the waitress to take any action, I’m going to have to avoid all of the Village Squire eateries I’ve patronized for over 30 years. Nice going bozos. The Tracks in Cary could teach you a thing or 12 about customer service and preparing real meals… especially burgers! Avoid Village Squire!

My husband and I went there on a whim as we were coming home from Crystal Lake to go back to our home after our bout at the Raue house, something that we wanted to get for a Sunday afternoon brunch. Lo and behold we found this wonderful gem of a place of course we were attracted to it by its really interesting décor on the outside which continued to be very interesting once you went inside with all the different kinds of items that they had all over. It really kept the place interesting as we thought that we were walking back in time about the 1600’s what with the thrones and iron gates all over the place, but yet it had a warming fireplace as you walked in which was very welcoming and charming.
I have known nothing of this place but yet once I opened up the menu I was very pleasantly surprised at the options available. Our server Andrew was very accommodating as I am a very demanding customer and he was very patient with me and made sure to look into all of the details in regards to ingreidients for the menu choices that I was picking I’XScalem a vegetarian still eating fish but I do not like products that contain pork or chicken so he’s thoughourly investigated every option that I had chosen off of the menu to ensure that none of the ingredients that my diet restricts were utilized.
He has suggested the roasted garlic entrée as an appetizer as I was torn between ordering that or the saganaki and I’m so glad that he did because it was absolutely divine! The toast was perfect with the balsamic was a wonderful, ition in the roasted feta with the garlic was amazing!
For our main entrée, I had the veggie burger on special which was also kindly recommended to me by our server and it was amazing! the mayo was delish, and the steak fries were perfect cooked!
My husband had the prime rib sandwich and after one bite, he was in love with that sandwich.
A very positive experience, great service and great menu!

We came here for my friend’s wedding rehearsal dinner and had a decent time.
Décor: It has a full tavern feel to it, which is kind of cool. It’s all wood but is nicely taken care of and put together. You almost feel like you’re in an old ale house. It’s rustic-​ish, but clean and friendly.
Bathroom: Same style as the rest of the restaurant; clean, inviting.
Staff: Our waitress was friendly and quick with our drinks and food, especially impressive given the large size of our group. She was a bit slow refilling water glasses but it wasn’t a big deal (again, b/​c of group size).
Food/​Drinks: There aren’t too many things that are «healthy» on the menu… not that one would expect that but I swear 75 — 85% of the menu is fried food. I ended up with the chicken fingers which, besides being deep fried, were delicious! I also loved the fact that they had baskets of popcorn on the table — awesome. One final note: they have Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy on draft. YES!
Value: The prices are reasonable and the portions are large. In fact, my chicken fingers platter was HUGE. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I eat A LOT but I still could not finish it.
This is a decent place where you will have a solid meal for your money. I won’t be rushing back but I also wouldn’t avoid it in the future.

Was so excited for some Saganaki and a decent filet sandwich. The filet was minuscule and charred. The Saganaki must have gone thru a downsizing. It came out paper thin and tasteless! I have a picture of how thin and burnt the filet was.
If you’re starving, go to Round the Clock. The food quality is equivalent and you will save a bunch!
This is the last time I come here!