The Shanty in Lake County receives a Delicious Destination award
Editor's Note: Story has been corrected to reflect The Shanty was purchased by the Kallianis family in 2006.
A Lake County restaurant that once received raves from Guy Fieri on his Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” now also has an honor from the state's tourism office.
Dimitri Kallianis accepted the Enjoy Illinois: Delicious Destination award Monday at The Shanty restaurant on Route 41 in Wadsworth that his family purchased in 2006. Before accepting the award in a dining room with local and state officials, he offered samples of his latest menu that included braised apple-brandy pork shank, whiskey shrimp and lump crabcake drizzled with chipotle cream over purple cauliflower purée.
Kallianis said the award from the Illinois Office of Tourism — placing his eatery on a short list that includes the renowned Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket on the original Route 66 in Willowbrook — is meaningful in how it calls attention to Wadsworth. Visit Lake County President Maureen Riedy presented Kallianis with a plaque and window sticker noting how The Shanty is a top place to eat in Illinois.
“The restaurant represents my family,” Kallianis said. “The family represents Wadsworth. And now Wadsworth is kind of representing the state, in a way, with this award. I think that's a really cool thing, especially where our location is between Chicago and Milwaukee. So it means a lot to me.”
Illinois' Delicious Destination award started in September and was designed to highlight eateries that are unique to the state and beloved by visitors and locals.
Fieri provided national attention and a significant boost to the restaurant's fortunes soon after the building was expanded 2009.
“The timing couldn't have been any better,” Kallianis said, “because we would have never been able to handle the business that he would have brought to us in our old building. It would be absolutely impossible.”
Fieri raved about Kallianis' signature whiskey shrimp. He praised the dish's texture, the quality shrimp and the sauce that has garlic, butter, tarragon and some whiskey.
“I'll tell you, the shrimp is dynamite shrimp,” Fieri told his viewers.
Wadsworth Mayor Glenn Ryback expressed his appreciation to Fieri for shining the spotlight on The Shanty.
“I guess we knew nice things were going to happen the first time when Guy Fieri drove up in front,” Ryback said. “And whenever I see him on TV, to this day, I think of the day he was here.”
Wadsworth Trustee Geralyn Hansen said she regarded The Shanty as a great eatery when she started visiting there in the 1980s under different ownership. However, she said, Kallianis has taken the restaurant to a higher level.
“The staff, the waiters, the bartenders, everybody is always welcoming,” Hansen said. “They're very fast, they're courteous. I don't know what goes on in the kitchen, but I'm sure it's just as (good) in there. Dimitri's always got a smile on his face. It doesn't matter if you have a two-hour wait or a 15-minute wait, he's always there, he's always greeting you.”