Fitzgerald Octogen House

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Oct 16, 2009 by Jen from Frankfort
Overall Rating: 10
Food:[10] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Best fish boil around anywhere.
• Cannot find anything nearby, as good near my home.

“Growing up across the street from the original Fitzgerald's' Pub/resort, in twin lakes, I would say this is an awesome thing they did. I am so glad Fitz's is still around for the fish boil! If the food made you sick, you probably had too much butter! This restaurant is family owned and ran. The lady who is at the register is actually the original owner. It is a great place to relax and be yourself! There is also, outdoor seating, near where the fish is being cooked/boiled. I have introduced 5 of my friends to Fitzgerald's and got 10 thumbs up so far! Definitely a low key, dress in comfy, room clothes, and enjoy!”

Jun 26, 2009 by Marlene from Woodstock
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[8] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[6]

• Very reasonable and friendly staff.
• To far out.

“I find the fish, potatoes, coleslaw, and apple slice to be fantastic. Chicken and ribs are just okay.”

Nov 10, 2008 by DD from Fox Lake, IL
Overall Rating: 1
Food:[1] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[2]

• Nothing at all.
• The staff and food make you sick.

“I honestly cannot believe there are people who actually like this place! The service (if that is what it called) is terrible. The staff seemed irritated when they new we were new comers. If I could have given a '0' for service I would have. We served ourselves water, waited at the small bar for drinks but were never served, so we just kept getting up to fill our water glasses. The prices are not so great and the food is disappointing. Later that evening, I was sick to my stomach and I am the only one who had fish. I feel sorry for the poor souls who visit this place. Save your money and your stomach.”

0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

May 31, 2008 by Halvy from Johnsburg, IL
Overall Rating: 7

• All you can eat great fish boil, chicken, and ribs; good prices.
• People with outrageous expectations.

“My family and I have been going here for over 10 years. If you want a simple and great Door County style fish boil on the IL/WI border, then this is your place. Don't expect a restaurant style experience. They cook the fish when needed, so sometimes you might have to wait 10 minutes for a fresh batch. It is buffet with a very basic selection of good food. The chicken and ribs are good, but the fish is the big hit. Go outside and watch the cooks preparing the meal. Read about the history of the house and the fish boil experience. It is a family run business that provides very good food at an affordable price. Bring your friends and family; eat as much as you want and enjoy yourself.”

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Feb 17, 2008 by Dorothy from Spring Grove IL
Overall Rating: 7
Food:[8] • Service:[5] • Atmosphere:[5]

• The fish boil is the best I have ever had!
• Bring a cushion because the seats are uncomfortable.

“I love the fish boil at Fitzgerald (and I rarely eat fish) and so has every person we have brought to this place. The building is interesting, as is the back yard cooking area. My husband doesn't like fish or chicken, so he always eats the ribs. This is a buffet "fish boil" place, so don't expect an extensive menu or lots of service! Be sure to read the pamphlets regarding the history of the place.”

Sep 8, 2007 by Joy from St. Charles
Overall Rating: 3
Food:[3] • Service:[3] • Atmosphere:[4]

• Good fish for little money.
• Atmosphere was not very clean.

“After reading the reviews, we were disappointed. It's confusing to get there and not know what your seating options are. We ended up on picnic chairs on the back porch. Flies were all over the buffet table. The waitress rolled her eyes when we asked for decaf and never brought cream back (when asked) or offered refills. It was as if they were saying, Look at all these customers! We don't need to worry about service.”

Aug 17, 2007 by John from Chicago
Overall Rating: 1
Food:[1] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[1]

• None
• Food - below average, ambience - none, think again

“Very limited menu - cod, cod and chicken, cod and chicken and ribs - with escalating prices. "Buffet table" consisted of one table and a very long line. No instructions as to what the buffet routine was. The dirty dish station was right before the buffet table and next to the dessert station (apple strudel - one piece only per patron). The strudel was a favorite fly landing place - very disgusting. The crowd was more than the serving staff could handle. Serving staff was cold, without personality, and rushed. Coffee and tea were included in the meal, soft drinks and iced tea was an extra cost. Want butter on your boiled potato - the buffet server poured a ladle of warm, melted butter on the potato and into the other dish sections. I will never go back and will tell everyone thinking about going to make another choice.”

Aug 17, 2007 by Bruno Janowski from Parma, Ohio
Overall Rating: 2
Food:[3] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[1]

• Quick seating outside
• Everything else.

“Flies all over the strudel. Trash by the buffet table. Drinks waitress arrived when our meal was half over. Dirty looks from her when we asked for decaf and the requested cream never arrived. Can't imagine where repeat customers are coming from.”

Jun 20, 2007 by P Lair from Arlington, TX
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[9] • Service:[9] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Price was reasonable for the delicious food.
• Restaurant 2nd floor was warm.

“Very good food. Fish was excellent; ribs and chicken were very good. Waitress was very nice but we arrived at the rush so service was little slow. Second story was little warm. Yes, I'll go back if I'm ever in the area.”

May 6, 2007 by Wendy from New Lenox, IL
Overall Rating: 8
Food:[9] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[7]

• Food is absolutely delicious!
• Uncomfortable chairs.

“We drive 2 hours just to have dinner here! My whole family loves it! The fish is out of this world! Every time we visit lake Geneva, we have dinner here.”

Mar 27, 2007 by Becki from Hastings MN
Overall Rating: 9
Food:[10] • Service:[8] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Absolutely the food.
• No information on fish boil history, recipe. Might want to make a place-mat/flyer with information/history on it for each customer.

“Went on Saturday 3/24/07 and I had the chicken and husband the fish. The hostess said I should try the fish from hubby (even though they do not want you sharing). I tried the fish and it was absolutely wonderful. Tasted better than lobster (not quite at sweet). Next time I would definitely get the fish/chicken combo or just the fish. We even got my sister-in-law who never eats fish (other than lobster and shrimp) to take a bite and she liked it. That was no small feat). It was a great suggestion by our nephew. It was a very quaint older home with historic value. Our nephew knew it was a fish boil and very good, but no history on why, when or where recipe came from. Small articles framed were hard to read, but all in all a Plus for people, food and atmosphere. I would only suggest to Fitzgerald's that they would embellish to the clientèle how the fish is made - boiled out back over open fire, etc. I saw the flames and was intrigued, but there was not a pamphlet or employee to fill us in. Might want to make a place-mat/flyer with the information/history on it for each customer.”

2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Mar 7, 2007 by Barbara from Loves Park
Overall Rating: 9
Food:[10] • Service:[9] • Atmosphere:[8]

• Excellent food and a great value. The picnic tables outside are great.
• Needs better chairs inside.

“This restaurant is by far the best fish boil in Wisconsin. Staff friendly and very welcoming. The fish is always fresh, delicious and plentiful. The accompany bread, boiled onion and potatoes are an extra added touch. Of course the apple slice is the best.”

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mar 5, 2007 by Randy from Harvard, IL
Overall Rating: 5
Food:[7] • Service:[5] • Atmosphere:[5]

• Historic location, good food.
• Limited menu, confusing setup, no credit cards.

“Interesting location and setup. Food was good, not spectacular. Menu was very limited; various combos of all you can eat fish, chicken, or ribs. Upon entering you are handed the menu, make your selection, and pay the cashier. You are then given a small ticket that determines the food you are eligible to receive. This is all well and good, but to new customers, it was frankly a bit confusing, as there were no signs or other info explaining the procedure. All information was provided verbally by a very friendly, but extremely soft spoken hostess, so that our party was left looking at each other trying to figure out what was expected of us. I have no problems with this approach as a business model, but would suggest providing the customer with more information as soon as they walk in. It was also distressing to find one of the only dinner restaurants in wisconsin that does not accept credit cards, resulting in having to poo