American-Caribbean restaurant opening Saturday in Round Lake
Round Lake officials are expressing excitement over a new restaurant opening in a strip mall on Route 120.
Mayor Daniel MacGillis, village board trustees and others will be among those on the guest list for the grand opening of Aiden's Place, a family restaurant that'll specialize in American and Caribbean cuisine. Aiden's Place will kick of the festivities at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the mall on the southeast corner of Curran Road and Route 120, just west of Hainesville Road.
Round Lake Deputy Clerk Martha Koechig has been spreading the word about Aiden's Place on behalf of the village.
"We are trying to focus more on our businesses, and that is why we want the grand openings known," she said.
Jody-Ann and Marcus Taylor of Round Lake are Aiden Place's owners. Jody-Ann Taylor said her family has been in the restaurant business for about 20 years in the South suburbs.
Aiden's Place will be open with winter hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Omelettes, other egg dishes, French toast, Belgian waffles and corned beef hash will be among the breakfast items. Aiden's Place will have a focused lunch menu with choices such as chicken wings and sandwiches.
At dinner, Aiden's Place will show off much of its Caribbean side. Jerk, curry and smothered chicken are joined on the menu by seafood and beef entrees and side dishes including mixed greens, candied sweet potatoes and Jamaican rice and peas.
Jody-Ann Taylor said family recipes are used for the jerk marinade and the curry. She said she hopes to provide an authentic Caribbean food experience that's not widespread in Lake County.
"I thought it was something the area could benefit from," she said Friday.
Aiden's Place, which had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago, is in the 16,470-square-foot Curran Commons. Other mall tenants include a cleaners, convenience store, fitness center and martial arts studio.
MacGillis said he hopes Aiden's Place benefits from the heavy traffic near Route 120 and Hainesville Road is busy. Illinois Department of Transportation traffic counts show about 17,500 daily vehicle trips on Route 120 slightly west of Hainesville Road and 19,900 to the east.