Chime and Stave boasts creative menu, inviting patio

The motto at Chime and Stave is simple but effective: good food, good service.

“We’ve been told our community needs this,” says co-owner Christine Jurczyk, who opened the restaurant with her husband, Richard, last fall in Campton Hills.

The restaurant uses the freshest possible ingredients, including local options when available. Executive Chef Enzo Cullotta has coined it a “scratch-made kitchen.”

Cullotta says he was “born into the business” of cooking. His family owned a restaurant for 48 years; and for 25 years, Cullotta ran a banquet hall that seated 1,200. His passion, he says, is in creating new dishes. “We’re always brainstorming,” he says.

The section of the menu called “Enzo’s Specials” changes weekly, with the understanding that wildly popular dishes might make it to the permanent roster. Both Jurczyk and Cullotta agree: Everyone comes back for the specials.

Other favorites are steaks, which change based on best quality available; the fish and chips, which are battered and fried per order; and the cheese curds, which are beer-battered Wisconsin cheddar. The menu changes per season to be a little lighter in the summer and heartier in the winter, Jurczyk says.

An alluring aspect of the spacious restaurant is the backyard patio, which has two built-in fireplaces, jumbo games including Yahtzee and Connect Four, and plenty of seating.

In addition to the outdoor patio, Chime and Stave also boasts a private room, which seats 50 and is available to be rented out for anything from business meetings to graduation parties. Those who rent the private room also get the chance to sit down with Cullotta and develop their own menu.

In keeping with its name (chimes and staves are parts of barrels), Chime and Stave brought in a mixologist to develop signature whiskey-based cocktails for its bar. Cullotta makes the simple syrup for the artisan drinks.

The community stood by the team when they were only offering to-go orders this spring, Jurczyk says. During that time, the restaurant also regularly served families in need. They have offered specials on certain days such as kids eat free with the purchase of an entree, and wine bottles at half off.

It’s the kind of restaurant where you might want to eat a birthday dinner or celebrate after your team wins the baseball game.

“We want to be that neighborhood restaurant you want to come to,” Jurczyk says.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Chime and Stave

WHERE: 40W188 Campton Crossings Drive, Campton Hills

PHONE: 630-549-6537

INFO: www.chimeandstave.com