Stone City Saloon, Romeoville, IL

Image From the Romeoville Patch

This isn't the typical workout post, as you can probably tell from the title.  :P

I wanted to take a minute and give this place the props it deserves.

Stone City Saloon in Romeoville, IL is amazing.  Their tag line is "Come For The Food...Stay For The Party" and it couldn't be more true.  The atmosphere is great, the servers are quick, fun, and knowledgeable, and the food is to die for.  They also have one of the largest (20) "on tap" beer selections in the area.  We had my dad's surprise 50th birthday party here, and Randy & Chris (the managers) were just awesome.  They worked with us for months to make sure that my dad had the best we could give him.  Our server Eric busted his butt the entire time we were there, and we couldn't have asked for better.

A little on the history of Stone City Saloon, quoted from the Romeoville Patch:

Owned by brothers Nick and Milton Karounos, Stone City Saloon opened in March 2011. Along with an extensive selection of more than 20 specialty beers, the restaurant offers everything from burgers to chicken sandwiches, salads, wraps and a range of entrees including salmon, pastas and pork chops. Located in a completely renovated Romeoville restaurant, Stone City's name is a nod to the village's history as a hub for limestone quarries. Stone City is open until 2 a.m. Monday through Sunday, and the kitchen is open late. Come in to enjoy dinner, drinks or a game of pool while catching the game on Stone City's big-screen TVs. Check the restaurant's website or Facebook page for upcoming events and specials.

I'm going to touch on a few things that are important to me when I go to a bar: drink selection, service, atmosphere, cost and of course the food.  Also, I've included a picture of their daily specials which include $2.50 premium you call it, $1 mini burgers & sliders, $3 Captain & Cokes, and more!

Copyright Stone City Saloon, Romeoville, IL

Food first, because I'm a little hungry.  :)  This isn't your typical bar food.  They have mini burgers that are EXCELLENT.  They have your normal beef one, but there's nothing standard about it.  It is fresh meat, not frozen, with caramelized onions, American cheese and a pickle, all on a toasted, soft bun.  They also have a habanera pulled pork slider that is perfectly spiced.  It's got heat, tender juicy meat, and the same toasted soft bun.  On Wednesdays, the mini burgers and pork sliders are $1 each.

When we had the party, one of the dishes I wanted was salad, but what they gave us wasn't your ordinary, run of the mill salad.  It was a spring mix - yes a spring mix - with arugula, spinach, romaine, and a host of others leaves with fresh tomatoes & cucumbers.  It wasn't your tired iceberg lettuce and crappy tomatoes.  It was excellent and unexpected.

Everything we ordered for the party and on previous visits to Stone City Saloon has been cooked to perfection.  Their mostachiolli was ... words escape me.  It was homemade sauce, and the noodles were perfect - not overdone, not underdone.  Perfect.  TH & I love to try new foods and consider ourselves pretty decent judges of the quality of food.  We couldn't find a single thing wrong with anything we've gotten at Stone City.  Here's a link to their Food Menu.  I should probably mention that the kitchen is open until 1 a.m. as well.  That's a huge bonus for a lot of customers who work late or, if having been there for a while, get hungry again.

Copyright Stone City Saloon, Romeoville, IL

Moving on to the Beer Selection.  HOLY CRAP!  It's extensive and well varied!  I'm gong to link their Beer Menu, because it's just way to many to go through.  However, they do change their lineup with the seasons, and you'll always find something new to try.  Along with food, TH & I like to try new beers, and we found quite a few that we've never heard of before at Stone City Saloon.  I can personally recommend the Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout, and Founder's Double Trouble.  

Most importantly, they have a special (also on Wednesdays) where you can try a pint of these specialty beers for $3.  The normal price ranges from $5 to $9 I believe.  But $3 bucks?  To try a pint of beer that usually is $6+ higher for a bottle?  Sign me up!!!  And they have recently added Beer Flights.  This means you can try 4 different beers in 4 ounce increments to see which one you like better, or if you are like TH & I and have a hard time deciding which one to try without drinking too much.  :)  They've also introduced unique Stone City Growlers in which you can take home half a gallon of your favorite brew.  :)

Copyright Stone City Saloon, Romeoville, IL

Now, on to Price.  You're probably thinking with all these good things I'm saying that it's expensive and you can't afford it.  Wrong!!!  For the quality of food you get, the perfect way it's prepared, the service, the whole package - Stone City Saloon is priced exactly where is should be.  That would be not cheap, not expensive, but right in the middle where you can get an excellent dinner, a fantastic beer, and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're at home.  If I had to classify it, I'd say it's "upscale food with down home pricing".

They must put their staff through excellent training.  Everyone is always friendly and personable, always has a smile, a laugh, a joke.  They are on top of when you need a refill, they know their menu and can speak about it with knowledge of how it tastes or what it similar to it (if speaking of the Beer Menu) so they can make recommendations with confidence.  You never have to hunt them down, or wait endlessly.  Great staff overall.

Now let's talk about location.  Stone City Saloon is located at 721 Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL 60446.  For us locals, that would be on the corner of Normantown & 53 next to Speedway where Half Times used to be.  The inside is large, comfortable, tastefully decorated, and they have plenty of room for parties large and small.  They have ample parking, a very large outside seating area,  and your server will be more than happy to deliver your drinks or food to the patio area.  They have bag games/tournaments outside, and the music from inside is piped outside so it seems more like a backyard party than just a "bar patio".  The outside furniture is cared for and comfortable.

I just can't say enough good things about Stone City Saloon.  It has become one of our favorite spots to go for a night out for dinner or if we just want to hang out and have a cold one, especially since we're on a budget.  We just love it here and they are family friendly too.

You can follow Stone City Saloon on Facebook, where they post information on current specials for various sports games, new items and specials.  You can also visit their website here.

 ***Disclaimer: Prices & specials subject change and I will not be held responsible if they do.  The images used in this blog post are copyright their owners and I claim no ownership of them.***