Crystal Lake Rib House

Burgers are the best! Make sure to get some of the roasted potatoes with butter! Honey butter is great!!!! I have been to a few of the pig roasts that the restaurant does, A good time for all!!! Except for The pig that is...Recommended highly the baked bean sandwiches!!!! Fun fact I am from crystal lake and I believe it was possible that my mother was born in the old rib house building way back in the day. Still trying to do research on that!!! Kinda hard to confirm since the property is now a gas station. Staff has been very nice to me!!! Good food give them a try... I am troubled by some of the negative comments I see . It doesn't seem like these folks have been to the same restaurant as me. I assume that all these naysayers own their own restaurant and have room to comment on someone that is actually running one. Let me know I would like to visit their businesses and see how they stack up. Thanks for your time D mill out... PS ask for the cinnamon carrots a special order!!!!
8 years ago (06-04-2018)

This is the best barbecue you can get anywhere within 20 miles minimum. Their ribs are to die for as is everything else. I've traveled the entire midwest from Wisconsin to South Texas and everywhere in between and in my opinion this is the second best BBQ I have ever had out of hundreds of restaurants. They also have a great bar and friendly staff. Love this place.
8 years ago (28-03-2018)

I love all the food, the atmosphere, and the staff is so nice. But I have one complaint.... the water. Fix the water! It tastes bad, makes the ice taste bad, and all fountain drinks. Very easy to spend a few bucks a month from culligan or something and get a whole restaurant filtration system. Also, you need to make real iced tea... the powdered stuff tastes terrible. You have this great food and staff, and this is a real turnoff. I hope the owners are reading this, fix and you’ll get my 5 stars and more visits from us!!
8 years ago (03-02-2018)

I have to agree with many of the other reviews. When they were smaller and located across the street their food was better. They have quite a few kids working there that don't seem to really care, and Dave (the owner) seems to have given up on making the product better. The ribs are average and most of the other food is below average for the price. Even their bread is bad...and it used to be great with their honey butter. They used to sell bottled beverages (soft drinks) at the old location which was a great idea. They have seem to gone with only fountain drinks. They should know the Crystal Lake water is horrible, so not only is the water disgusting, even their pop is gross because it's the same unfiltered water. I hate to say it, but I don't think we will be going back...and we use to be regular customers.
9 years ago (30-12-2017)

Food is always great. The Mega Mary was a spectacle that needs to be witnessed. Had 5 adults and 1 child that were fed off this. We only ordered additional drinks, and still had 3 to go boxes. Well worth the price and experience!
8 years ago (04-03-2018)