Been here a few times with no issues until this past weekend. Went for a friends' birthday on Friday. Some of the bartenders there think that because they are attractive, they have the right to give customers bad service and be rude. If you don't have your exact order ready to give the bartender when she nods her head at you, she will bark "figure it out or I'm walking away." Then walk away to chat with the other bartender.
The place was not busy either, and if you don't give at least a $2 tip on a drink then forget about service the rest of the night. The other bartenders seemed to care less about my friends birthday and asking for a birthday shot is equivalent to asking for a kidney transplant. Drinks are priced a little high for McHenry County and not too strong.
Great atmosphere and location. But....
The bartenders on the upper level do not seem to work for their customers as well as the ones on the main level do. One of the beers that I ordered was poured terribly, most of it was foam. And when I went to order a mixed drink (it was Absolut specials), I asked the female bartender what flavors were available. She listed a bunch, and I knew that I wanted the cherry flavor, but didn't know what I wanted it mixed with. So, I pondered for maybe 30 seconds - TOPS! I will never forget the reaction that I got, which was an eyeroll. I'm sorry that it took me longer than the average customer to decide what I wanted to drink, but I think everyone should get respect, especially because I had ordered twice already and tipped well before.
There's potential in this bar, but I am hesitant to go back due to the service.
Time from sitting to having a waitress come to our table: 13 minutes.
Not very "McCool" if you ask me.
Also not sure why they went with "McCool" in the first place. Why don't we just take it a step further and call it "Finn McLovin'" if we are doing ridiculous names.
Beer on tap was not anything special. Bummer. They need to get some more craft beers and support local brewers.
Drinks were overpriced, but I guess they are so McCool that people still go there anyway. I was just visiting the area, but if I lived near I doubt I would be back.
Enter Finn's with caution. Â I've been there 3-4 times since moving to the area about a year ago. Â Each visit has been a 1 star experience.
The bartenders have always been rude and acted as if I was in the wrong for attempting to place an order w/them. Â The food is average at best, the drinks are overpriced, the bouncers want to fight everyone.
It is possible to have a good time here...but take caution with any bar owned by ala carte... they own: finns, all of the morettis, famous freddys, Â drink nightclub... etc.. Â Every single one of these bars have a BAD problem with girls getting drugged!! Be careful with your drink when you are at any of these bars! Oh, and dont bother asking for something to cover the top of your glass so that sleezy men cant slip something in your drink... its "against their policy" to offer a lid of any kind to worried customers!!
Review Source:I've bartended in clubs  and bars.. For the location and neighborhood this is a highly over priced bar for MCHENRY COUNTY!! And I've worked downtown. There are a few good staff members but if you're like me.. You get the one that thinks they are smarter than most and charge you $8.25 for an 8 oz glass with less than an oz of liquor and not even real red bull!!  I'm not drunk or tipsy. Never short pour the first!
I was livid but I did not confront the bartender. I hardly drink but I can definitely taste an oz of liquor (which is a standard 12 ozdrink). So Finns. Â Lower your prices. $8.25 seriously??? If you're going to charge that much.. Use real red bull!! I could taste the Lion.. For $8.25 I better get my full shot and not short poured!! It was effen black cherry. Not hard to miss if poured accurately. Either that or your bartenders need pour tests weekly!! The worst rep for any establishment is cheating your customers! Teach your bartenders correctly. I will never be returning. I can pay those prices downtown. Hell. The mikes hard lemonade that I opted for after my non existent effen black cherry/ lion not red bull.. Had more liquor total. If you drink here. Â Stick to beers (although still over priced) Â I currently bartend in cook county and this place is higher priced still??? Don't know why people are willing to over pay these prices for a crystal lake bar?? Better off heading to more posh places or paying a cover at an actual club.
Or stick to a more "local/dive" bar and pay less for more... I felt like I was in the old alumni club but with no dance floor
The menu was standard bar fair. I was actually kind of surprised at how small the menu was. Â We got the cheese curds (meh) and I got a burger. Â It was good but nothing to write home about. Â It was the vibe of the place that kind of killed it for me. Â It was very loud (way more bar feel then restaurant feel). Â There was a girl celebrating her 21st and was doing a blow job shot to a guy sitting on the bar. Â Really? Â If I wanted that I would go to a college town. Â I wanted local but I will keep looking for a better pub grub/I just want a good drink on a Friday night place.
Review Source:I normally wouldn't review a sports bar because I'm a fan of bar food and I don't like to judge it for being what it is. The food here probably isn't so bad and I might've had the chance to know that if the staff had gotten any of my order correct. The waitress was nice but either she couldn't get an order right or the cook just hated her that much. 2 out of 5 of our orders came correct and my "medium rare" burger came well done - admitted by the waitress herself! If you're looking for bar food and atmosphere in the neighborhood I suggest trying to find it elsewhere.
Review Source:Not a very good place. The food is mediocre at best and the beer selection is lame and overpriced at that. The bar staff also leaves something to be desired. It was a big spot to get together with folks when it first opened but has gone WAY down hill. I hope they revamp the place soon or they will have trouble staying open.
Review Source:Came here for a party w/ a drink and food wristband deal. The food was great-standard bar fare, but done well. Servers kept refilling and were incredibly attentive to our party. The music was great as was the atmosphere of the bar as a whole.
The only thing I really had a problem with was our bartender. I kept ordering rum and diet cokes and she kept giving me regular soda. I would ask her and she wouldn't admit it. My boyfriend went and asked her also and she just said "its a secret". Like, really? I don't want a sugary drink and I am not paying you to not fill my order correctly. Get over yourself, bartender and do your job correctly.
Yah, I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon and say the service @ this place sucks. Â If you happen to get a squished up spot up at the bar- you MAY get your drinks quick enough (though not with a smile, I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed). Â If you happen to snag a table, GOOD LUCK getting a waitress to get you your drinks within the first half hour of being seated. The layout of the tables is too mixed with standing room- and they usually have like two girls working the floor. Â We got a table topper after about 20 minutes and decided after another half hour of no waitress that we were out of there. (This was after one of the guys at our table was going up to the bar to get our drinks- we should have tipped HIM). Â So yah, I could see on a weeknight this place being somewhat pleasant for some food and drinks, but on the weekend, it's full of obnoxious grease head bachelors and obnoxious and rude wait staff. Â I mean the guy at the door is friendlier, come on!
Review Source:This is a real good place. it has upper levels and resembles a huge place you would normally find in the city. There are TVs all over the place and several bars located in its huge surroundings. I would definately tell people to go to this place for those wanting to watch live sports on Tv with lots of people. There is plenty of seating that you will be able to find a place to sit even when it is crowded. not too many places you can sday that about.
Review Source:The food here is good, and the specials can save you a buck, but WHAT is up with the attitude of the waitresses?
I don't expect them to kiss my foot, but Jesus Tapdancing Christ- it would go a long way toward my enjoyment if servers at Finn McCool's would be a bit less snarky toward customers.
Hello? We're in a recession- people spending their entertainment dollars have choices and if servers whine and complain about having to "serve" people, they will go elsewhere.
I wouldn't be surprised if the hostess starts asking patrons if they want their waitress "rude" or "extra rude" before they are seated!
Otherwise it's pretty much another sports bar trying to be family with pre-schoolers in tow friendly before 9PM and frat boy beer pong friendly after 9PM.
Yes, street parking in downtown Crystal Lake is a pain, But parking is free in the nearby Metra lot after 5PM and it's less than a block walk.
Ahhhh... Down Town Crystal Lake... hmmm... i am a rare visitor now to the Crystal Lake area... Â but i used to work this way so i know the area well... Seems like Finn's is the replacement to the Old Duke Obriens...
LOL hmmm... no expense was spared on the interior decor, plenty of TV's for the sports fans.
HOWEVER......
hmmm ok where to start...
well  parking in DT Crystal Sucks. Period the end. A group of us were meeting people... and we passed right by the place, cuz the signage, well to put bluntly sucks. Â
After we made it in... the sports games were on which was cool, it was clean, huge bar, nice decor..... bla bla bla
But OMFG, there were a couple girls (us) meeting up with some guy friends, who were in a big group... ok well the waitress completely ignored us... seriously!!!!
It took like 15-20 min to get a drink (and we were seated at a table - the place was FAR from crowded, it was a thursday nite- Â we had to go the bar to ourselves to get our drinks)... we are cute girls, we were getting ignored WHY???
Proceeded to get progressively worse.... bringing us (guys included) the wrong drinks, forgetting drinks, knocking our purse on the floor every time she walked past.... it was seriously ridiculous...
THEN ok we are all in our 20's - 30's not old crowd.... and the sports games were over.......
AND then the music videos start, I am not talking average music videos, granted some of them wear... but most of them were  borderline porn videos ( I AM NOT EXAGGERATING)...
I AM NOT A PRUDE BY ANY MEANS...
we were all like WTF is on the TV??????? Â
They are not a club so they don't have go go dancers... but lets put soft porn on the TV???? I am slightly confused... it was sooo Bizaare?
I don't even have words for it...and we were all Laughing our A**'s off... cuz all of a sudden it went from ESPN to playboy channel... ????
Anyways... hmmm thought the drinks were definitely overpriced for what you get... there are plenty of other places to go there, but really if we are paying premium prices for alcohol, i expect premium service....
Would I go back, THUMBS DOWN, NOOOOO......
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