JC’s Pub and Ristorante

My husband and father love the pizza. Order it light on the sauce. You’ve been warned. It’s pretty decent pizza. I got the ravioli last time I was there and it was pretty good. I liked the pizza better, I’ll probably skip the ravioli next time and join in on pizza with my dad and husband. The owner (I am guessing) is always at the front when we are here, and always says hello and goodbye to everyone. I think that’s awesome. It’s nice inside, I love the bar area, though I haven’t eaten at that area in years now. The service this past time we went was very good, and the food was good as well. We’ll be back when we’re in the area.

Enjoyed it. Had something different — sausage parmesan! It was pretty good. Their meat sauce was very very good. .yummm.
Lots of regulars, you can tell by the conversations they’re all used to running into each other there. Very nice atmosphere. .had a martini. .mmm again very good. Service was excellent without being intrusive.

Love this place. Mature crowd. Very low noise level. Many drink option at the full bar. They have a great menu and the best authentic fried chicken around. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about all the menu items. Joe the owner always greats everyone with a smile. Everyone should pay this place a visit.

I ordered pizza from JC’s for pick up. The man who took my order was very nice. They said it would be 20 mins so my husband went and picked the pizza up. The pizza was hot and delicious. The crust was crunchy but not too thin. The only thing I didnt like was the cheese was a little light and undercooked. There was a generous amount of sausage and peperoni which I like. I have been to JC’s before on a Friday night for the karaōke. It was an older crowd of people singing the songs from the 70’s and 80’s. Not my cup of tea but it was a mellow good time. It seems like everyone who got up to sing had a nice voice. I liked the pizza from JC’s and I will be placing more orders for pick up.

Had to wait forever to receive the order. Had Italian
Beef and it was dry and tasteless. The curly fries
were burnt and awful tasting. No match for Portillos,
and over priced, considering the quality of the food.
The atmosphere inside was nice. Would never go
back.

This is a great neighborhood place. It doesn’t look like much from the outside since it’s in an industrial park area. However, the food is very good and inexpensive. I was just there several weeks ago. We had a table full of 14 adults and 2 young children. We were served in a timely manner and everyone was happy with their meals and drinks. I had the veal marsala and it was very good. The «vesuvio» potatoes were great. The staff is very friendly and attentive. I hightly recommend JC’s for an informal and reasonably priced night out !

Wow! Cioppino served! I once promised I’d walk on hot coals for a local Cioppino that challenges the west coast variety! Well, I had better get my feet ready. Sadly, they serve it only as a special when they have sufficient seafood available to do this wonderful dish justice and today was such a day! Also, once my guests saw what I ordering they also succumbed. This is essentially a seafood stew with clams, mussels, shrimp (prawns on the coast), scallops and white fish. It is served in a red sauce created with plenty of heat. Today it was Zowee! This Italian restaurant is straight out of the 1960’s but exceptionally well maintained. As I looked around there was a guy who looked like Don Corleone while a middle aged couple sitting closely together in a darkened corner. Two guys with no necks were at The bar: eating. I loved the place.
This not your yippee fern bar place. We were purposely place close to the kitchen. Most were big meals: Steaks or ample orders of spaghetti with re sauces and meat balls. Next time it will one of those guys!

We’ve been to this place a few times in the past for family parties and have always had the pizza, appetizers, and salads as well as drinks at the bar on Friday nights when they have Karaōke. In the past, I would have given the place between 3 and 4 stars because their pizza and appetizers were always good. I’ve never had bad pizza from this place and their drinks from the bar are good as well. That being said, my family and I went here last night for dinner. We figured we’d try something other than the pizza and that turned out to be a huge mistake.
Apparently this place must do all of it’s business on the weekend because when we walked in at 6:30pm on a Monday night, the place was eerily empty except for some bar patrons and a couple of diners in the main bar area. When we got seated, we were the only people in the entire dining room. The place is carpeted which I always hate in a restaurant because after years of traffic and spills, carpets always smell foul and musty in a restaurant and that familiar smell of carpeting in a restaurant hit me as soon as I walked into the dining room. It was raining hard out and they had a bucket collecting water dripping from the ceiling. All these signs were telling me to get the hell out of here but the kids were tired and hungry so I toughed it out.
The server was friendly and did a decent job overall but without decent food, it doesn’t really matter. So, 3 three of us ordered the breaded steak sandwiches with cheese and sweet peppers and my son ordered a meatball sandwich with cheese. These had to be the worst sandwiches I’ve ever tasted. My breaded steak was a couple of paltry burnt strips of steak that looked like chicken tenders on an over sized french roll with a mozzarella cheese slice that wasn’t fully melted and barely a splatter of marinara sauce on it. I really should have taken a picture because I’ve never seen and tasted a breaded steak sandwich so bad. At that moment, I was wishing I had gone to Ricobene’s down in Bridgeport. My son’s meatball sandwich wasn’t any better and he later described the meatballs as looking like mushed cat food and tasting about the same if one was to eat mushed cat food. Everyone’s fries were soggy and the coleslaw had a bad flavor. These sandwiches were around $ 13 a piece by the way. I felt completely robbed. I don’t know how places can serve this stuff and think it’s good enough to charge anywhere near those kind of prices. Oh, and before I forget, we also ordered the Calamari for an appetizer. While it was good, it definitely wasn’t $ 14.95 good. It was a typical basket of fried Calamari that you would get anywhere else for $ 8.95. The best part of our meal was our drinks. I had a beer and my wife had a dirty martini. I guess we know what’s keeping this place in business… the bar and the pizza but good pizza alone does not make a restaurant. I can get good pizza all over the city of Chicago and if you’re going to run a tavern, don’t masquerade as a restaurant. My advice to them would be to tear out the musty carpet, fix their leaks, and remodel the entire place. Then dump the menu and stick to serving pizza and alcohol.
Needless to say, nobody finished their food and nobody wanted to take anything home. The server asked if everything was alright but none of us had the heart to tell her how terrible everything was because it wasn’t her fault. You could tell by her voice and demeanor though that she knew we didn’t find the food good since we had plates full of it and nobody wanted to take any of it to go. I paid my $ 84.00 bill which just made me feel like I was mugged in an alley, we left, and it’s a safe bet that I’ll never return.

Went in Friday for dinner, we got seated right away even though the place was pretty full. The server was very attentive and took our order quickly. I ordered the chicken parm it was delicious, and I had the chicken tortellini soup I liked it a lot. I will be coming back. The prices are very reasonable also.

Throwback to another time and era. Good service, decent food, good bar, and a pizza that is out outage word. The owner is there every and all day. This says a lot.

Went here this past Saturday for lunch.
I started with an appetizer of calamari, and a bloody Mary.
The calamari was half fried, half baked, and almost all tentacles. I can just picture it, another table before me, someone saying: «can you not give any tentacles.» And thus, there were too many tentacles in the kitchen, so they dumped them all on us. I don’t mind tentacles, but I strongly prefer the tube thingies. Also, the fried calamari is just SO much better than the baked! I should have ordered all fried, but I chose half and half to switch things up. The bloody Mary was great — highly recommend.
Now, for the main course I ordered the spinach ravioli which came with a side of soup. The soup was strictly okay. But the ravioli was downright underwhelming. It was a plate of red sauce with some ravioli buried in there somewhere. It just wasn’t that good.
I’ve come here before, and the food has never been all that great. I ordered the fried vegetables once, and those are amazing! I’m just never impressed with the main course.
The service is usually great. Although, once (I think it was Memorial Day) my waitress was so busy she left before I finished my order! No lie! I was going to order a side. But as soon as I said the main course, she cut off my sentence «great, bye!» And darted away. I go here with my parents all the time when I go visit them in the suburbs. For some reason this restaurant has a strong following, and I don’t get why. I mean, it’s alright and all, but it’s got problems.
Drinks — 5 stars
Food — 2 stars
Service — 4 stars (I’m being generous here since there was that time when the girl literally left the table halfway through my sentence, but she looked busy. Every other time the service has been great!)

Went here in with a few buddies for dinner and then hung around for karaōke until late. Haven’t had this much fun in a long time. Came all the way from Naperville. People here are friendy. Great service.
Had prime rib, excellent. Came with all the fixings and great pizza. Sauce was sweet and flavorful. Homemade bread was warm and plentiful.
Unassuming, unpretentious exterior. Warm inviting, friendly service on the inside. Will be back. Karaōke guy was hilarious.

I really like this place, retro vibe but an updated granite front bar makes a really inviting space. Bartenders are always friendly and attentive. They usually have complimentary pizza in the front bar!
We like the pizza a lot, good crispy thin crust and a good price. The wait staff is experienced and takes good care of you.
We’ve come for dinner or just drinks and enjoyed both. Great place!

A must try the pasta Portofino absolutely the best. And the garbage salad the best i had in a long time

Went for dinner with my boyfriend. I ordered the cioppino,(seafood stew).it was a big bowl of thick red sauce, with the smallest mussels, and clams I ever saw, the menu said it had crab there was none in there, maybe two shrimp and one scallop, I had to look through a sea of sauce to even find any
boyfriend had bricole, not great by was low end of ok. The service was super slow, as if we were an after thought. The server did send the manager over when I told her I was disappointed in my dish. He was very nice and asked if I would like something else. When I said no thank you he did take my dish off the check. I don’t know if I would go back, but if I did I would probably get a sandwich or pizza. Being Italian I expect alot more from Italian food.

Where could you have a lively discussion of the Bleeding Stopsign AND a killer «mob martini» with a stuffed olive?
THIS PLACE!
Let’s get the most important part out of the way– the PIZZA IS GREAT!
Crunchy crust, yummy cheese and a great sweet sauce. It’s one of the most tasty I have had in years in Chicago.
The décor and outside of the restaurant is totally retro old school and places lke this NEED to be patronized so they don’t disappear.
When you go, be sure to mention how cool the bar and décor is. Forgot going to a chain for dinner, hit a local place — this place, or Mccook Family Restaurant on the next block, the Polish places down the road on Harlem or one of the Serbian places on Ogden, just pick a local and keep the money in your hood!
I sampled the rest of my family’s food at the table. The french fries were really really good– greasy retro hot dog stand with a bit of curl. The grilled cheese was definitely something I would order next time. The lasagna was «good» but not great. Tipsters Pub ‘s is better. The articoke appetizer was good also. The menu s very extensive and has something for everyone.
We went on a saturday at 2 pm and the bar area was hopping with diners, locals hanging out. It looked fun. My mom says the deck in the summer is very pleasant and my mom knows everything.
Go check it out. NOW.

This place is in the middle of McCook. I know, you’re already intrigued and searching for your car keys. Paris, Rome, McCook… Ok, I shouldn’t tease McCook. It’s a heavy industry suburb which likely provides a lot of products necessary (but unacknowledged and unappreciated) in our lives. Vulcan Materials is here, for instance, and where would Michelangelo have been without his quarries? (Hey, it’s a stretch, but I’m just sayin’.)
Anyway, we’ve had takeout pizza from here (the old school sign and odd location drove us to the website) and it was awesome. So we decided to dine in.
We were greeted by the owner, and then by the hostess. My suggestion: If she leads you to the back dining area (which has that functional, funeral luncheon look and lighting) ask to sit in the bar area. It’s convivial and softly lit.
The menu is quite large, as is typical of a restaurant like this (everything sounds good) and they have daily specials. The sea bass special caught my eye, but I was suspicious. It’s saltwater fish. In the middle of Illinois. Unless it came from the Shedd… I kid. Anyway, I asked our smart, funny waitress if the fish was fresh…(I know this is a tricky question but should it have come out smelling like Nine Lives, I was ready to give her the ‘ever so disappointed in you’ face…) She noted that she saw the specials arrive that day and always ordered the seafood herself. So I gave it a try. I was not disappointed. Wonderfully fresh and expertly cooked. I could easily have polished off another filet.
The only issue for me were the accompanying frozen vegetables: cauliflower, carrots, broccoli. Carrots in particular suffer in the freezing, and really, there’s no need. 4 pounds of carrots for a dollar, as I noticed today at Berwyn Market. Either that, or a few fresh green beans or asparagus spears… this would make all the difference in flavor and would likely be comparable in price. Other than that, no complaints. Meanwhile, husband’s pizza was, as he noted, delicious as usual. We’ll be back. And judging by the crowded parking lot, we’re not the only ones.

Tucked out of the way in a kinda industrial area is an old school Italian place that I have managed to drive past for years without stopping. All that has changed.
Wow. This place is a total time-​warp. A definate «Good Fellows» vibe. And I love it!
You really do feel as if you are back in the 70’s from both the décor and the appearance of some of the staff/​patrons. And there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
Lots of interesting hair colors and styles going on with the older staffers.
But I digress. Let’s talk about the Pizza. THE PIZZA!
Thin crust and delicious, it melts in your mouth. A very good cheese/​sauce ratio, and fresh tasting above all. Really one of the best pizzas in the area. And reasonable prices, to boot.
Our waiter provided excellent service and our order appeared quite fast, even on a busy Friday night.
I only wish we could have sat in a booth in the bar area, as I feel that would have provided a more «mobster» vibe. But we were told those booths were «reserved», and I didn’t want to push my luck, if you know what I mean.
As we left with happy stomachs, I kept looking around the parking lot to see if somebody might be loading a lumpy rolled rug into the back of a Cadillac.
But much to my chagrin, I saw nothing of the sort.
I’ll still be back.

I really really do like this place. Especially the soup!
but last time I ordered baked clams… and i ate clam poop um. green stuff came out of the damn clams!!! and it was crunchy cause there was still sand in it… =(haven’t gone back since. They did comp. my bill and I left early I was so disgusted I threw up. I can’t get myself to go back cause I keep thinking of the clam poo!!! =(((((((((((((((!!! ugh… why. why the clam poo. Marone mia!

Won a gift certificate to this place well over a year ago — was in the area and decided to give it a shot, finally!
Kind of an interesting place, sort of a neighborhood spot (though not many neighborhoods to be found in this industrial area near the quarry!), a little like an old school restaurant and a bit like an older semi-​fancy steak and seafood place.
Opted for the lasagna with meatballs on the side. When it came out it was tall, but not very wide — but it proved to be quite a large portion. Cooked perfectly — too many places send their lasagna out and it’s barely cooked in the middle. Meatballs were excellent as well. I sat at the bar and around 4PM, they put pizza out for the bar guests — I really wanted to try a piece, but I was way too full. Looked outstanding though.
Glad that I finally went to this place — it’s got great food and service and prices are pretty fair. While it’s quite a distance to get to for me, I’ll have to make an effort to check it out more often.