Greener grass: Addison’s Steakhouse in McHenry is moving to McHenry Country Club

Nearly eight years after opening Addison’s Steakhouse in McHenry, Jon Descher is ready to move on.

That move is to a new location with a long history. On March 1, the steakhouse will relocate to the restaurant space at the McHenry Country Club.

“It is time to expand, and it is a great opportunity,” Descher said.

He is working with General Manager Andrea Diaz, who will be in charge of catering and special events at the new, expanded location.

The change wasn’t necessarily something Descher was looking for. Management from the country club reached out to him, asking if he’d be interested in the move.

“There is lot of stuff we can do here,” he said, “and a more steakhouse atmosphere” than in the current location, which is in a strip mall at 355 Front St.-Route 31.

“It is a big opportunity for us.”

—  Jon Descher, Addison's Steakhouse owner

Many private country clubs are leasing out their restaurant spaces rather than run restaurants on their own, said John Romano. He is the secretary of the McHenry club’s board.

“With Addison’s, they have a great product and a good name within the community ... and a smaller footprint” in their current location, Romano said. “This gives them a larger venue and they can add banquets and things like that. They will certainly bring clientele in.”

Although it is a private golf club, the restaurant is open to the public and has been for several years. The docks along the Fox River were added when the restaurant opened to the public, allowing those boating to stop and dine there, Romano said.

The steakhouse – both in food and atmosphere – is the right feel for club members too.

“Our membership is looking for that kind of food and beverage venue. It is a win-win for both parties,” Romano said.

Moving locations will up their seating from 85 now in the main dining area to 200, not counting banquet service. With banquets, including weddings, the location can seat up to 400 indoors.

There are expansive views of the river from the restaurant, too, and outdoor seating on the river side.

“This is a great, great outdoor seating area, with fire pits out there, a nice gazebo and spots for the boats to come off the water,” Descher said. “It is a big opportunity for us. We can be busier there in the summer and still will have a winter steakhouse business.”

Business at the Front Street location would slow down in the summertime, Descher said, mainly because many McHenry residents wanted to be on the water.

What won’t change substantially with the new location is the food. There will be tweaks to the menu, including an expansion of lunch offerings, but the larger kitchen will allow Addison’s to do more with its surf-and-turf offerings.

“We specialize in steaks and seafood. We do everything from scratch – nothing out of cans. Every single meal is cooked to order when it comes into that kitchen,” Descher said.

The restaurant that had operated at the country club until recently, The Metalwood Grille, has closed, but operators said on Facebook they plan to open a new establishment in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, called The Twisted Hook. No opening date has been announced.

As for the McHenry Country Club space, some remodeling – paint, flooring and a few other updates – is now underway at for the big move. The plan is to be closed for only five to seven days while the switchover is made.

As the front end manager, Diaz is also doing social media for the enterprise. They will need their loyal patrons – and Facebook followers – to come with them.

“We have a lot of support from customers here who are regulars,” she said. “There are a lot of loyal customers who will follow us wherever we go.”