Pack up your family and head out to Crystal Lake`s Great Western Pizza Company for a knee-slapping, foot-stomping good time, and tremendous pizza to boot.
Open since May of 1991, the location was previously home to Coleman`s McHenry County Inn. Brett Coleman, the prior owner, now co-owns this new venture along with Dick Capcik. Each boasts over 20 years experience in the restaurant business. Together, they have created a restaurant to fill a niche they both felt existed in this part of the northwest suburbs.
The exterior of the building has been transformed with an elaborate, rustic and imaginative Old West motif. Said Coleman, ”The carpenter we hired to design and construct the facade also builds sets for the Woodstock Opera House.”
The whimsical, bordering on authentic, work continues inside where there`s a life-size covered wagon, which seats 20-a favorite spot for kids`
birthday parties. Tables are decked out in red checkered cloths. A player piano sends out Gold Rush melodies from a stage that occasionally features a magician or band.
The difference at The Great Western Pizza Company, though, lies not only in the unique decor, but in the food served as well. It`s genuinely down home, with most offerings from Capcik`s expertise and imagination.
Crisp, thin-crust pizza is their forte, with such selections as a pizza with barbecue sauce, ground beef and cheddar cheese or one called a fajita pizza with a salsa base, marinated chicken and cheddar cheese among the variations. The Old Standard pizza is just what you might expect. Also popular is the calabrese, a thin layer of pizza dough folded and stuffed with spinach, mozzarella and provolone cheeses at $5.95 for a 10 inch.
A nice selection of sandwiches averages $3.75, and BBQ Rib Tips, at $5.95 a pound, are also available. Don`t overlook the beer-battered mozzarella sticks ($3.50) while awaiting your meal.
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The Great Western Pizza Company, 7320 S. Rt. 31, just south of Highway 14, Crystal Lake. Open Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. They close about 10:30 p.m. Call 815-455-8333.
