Diners can soak up the view at Snug Harbor
Any business owner knows that location is key, and Snug Harbor has a great one.
Just blocks from downtown McHenry, Snug Harbor sits along the scenic Fox River. And with a 10,000-square-foot multilevel riverside patio and deck, the restaurant seems made for summer - offering a place to relax, watch the boats and enjoy a beer and a burger.
The restaurant opened in mid-July and we put a few questions to management to get a feel for the place.
Q. Can you tell us a bit about the chef and owners?
A. Fred and his son Mark Hoffmann have been operating restaurants and bars in the Chicagoland area for almost 40 years, starting with the Snuggery Pubs and currently serving communities with locations like Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzerias and Finn McCool's Irish Sports Pubs.
Q. What is the average tab for lunch and dinner?
A. $20 will easily buy two a sandwich, salad or burger lunch. $50 to $75 can host dinner for two, including a few drinks or a half-priced bottle of selected Napa Valley wines on Saturdays.
Q. What do you consider your signature items?
A. Jamaican jerk chicken, BBQ baby back ribs, half-pound juicy Angus burgers and Paula Deen's BBQ meatloaf sandwich.
Q. Can you describe the setting?
A. Just a few blocks from downtown McHenry, guests can drink in panoramic views of the Fox River from inside the restaurant or outside on 10,000 square feet of multilevel riverside patio and deck areas, along 200 feet of scenic river frontage.
Snug Harbor will fire up for lunch at 11 a.m. and keep buzzing after work, for dinner and "life after dinner" with entertainment until 2 a.m. nightly, including Live Acoustic Bands Thursday and Saturday starting at 10 p.m. On weekends, guests can kick back at the water's edge with a sizzling burger from the deck barbecue crew and request a favorite summer classic from the wireless DJ roaming through the deck and patio areas.
Q. What sets your restaurant apart?
A. The look, the feel, the flavors ... good food with great friends at a great comfortable setting. This nostalgic location was called Snug Harbor since the '50s. Now with its new and improved atmosphere, Snug Harbor will be a destination for many of all ages, for both dining and entertainment. Our mantra is "Party with Friends."
Q. What type of crowd do you hope to bring in?
A. Snug Harbor is bringing in families, business associates, birthday parties, after-work gatherings, grandparents, softball teams, couples and friends looking to meet friends. Guests from surrounding communities, as well as McHenry, are becoming regulars.
Q. What kind of special events do you offer?
A. Over 25 plasma TVs are available for sports viewing, music videos, even nostalgic video clips of the Chain O' Lakes, surrounding communities and Snug Harbor guests. Bags games, basketball free-throws, darts & Golden Tee help to entertain, as well. Tuesdays, we host Tappers & Trivia - discounted table tappers and live pub quiz trivia. Grab a friend, or a bunch of them, and compete against others at the Harbor answering rounds of trivia questions.
Kim's Karaoke starts at 9:30 every Wednesday with $3 Long Islands and $5 signature martinis. Snug Unplugged happens every Thursday night with Live Acoustic Bands starting at 9:30 p.m., along with $3.50 Captain Morgan Drinks, $3.50 top shelf margaritas, $3 Sam Adams and a $12.99 ribs and chicken dinner. Fridays you can enjoy $3.50 Skyy Vodka drinks, fresh fish of the day and an all-request DJ after dinner.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, you can hear your favorite songs from our wireless DJ roaming the garden and decks. More acoustic acts can be heard Saturday nights at 10 p.m.
Q. How do you make use of your location on the Fox River?
A. Aside from obvious relaxing views, dining and the entertaining boat passers-by, Snug Harbor has two 50-foot Lake Cruisers available to host private events and cruises on the Fox River and Chain O' Lakes, starting at $10 per person. Some free 30-minute cruises are offered to Harbor customers on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well.
Benefiting from the natural breezes off the river, Snug Harbor generates up to 20 percent of its electrical power with a wind-powered turbine generator, helping to keep the Fox River Valley "green."
Snug Harbor
801 N. River Road, McHenry, (815) 578-9600, snugharbormchenry.com
Cuisine: American
Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Accepts: Reservations and all major credit cards
Parking: Across the street