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McHENRY – When it came time for Victoria and Mike Livorsi to look for a new business venture, it didn't take long to find something they liked.
Mike Livorsi had owned a bar in Chicago years ago, and his wife was interested in giving restaurant ownership a try. So this spring, the couple bought the former Mulligan's Saloon site at 2616 Schaid Court in McHenry and have turned it into the Twisted Moose SportsGrill.
"We updated the menu and made it more family-friendly, more accessible for women," said Victoria Livorsi, who runs the day-to-day operations at the restaurant. "We have all ages anytime. You come in here and you'll see people in their 70s to young kids with their families, and 22-year-olds."
The Fox Lake residents said they liked the growing site just off Route 31.
"It's an up-and-coming area that seems to be growing, and it's got a lot of local and friendly businesses," Victoria Livorsi said. "We liked the location. It was close to all the main stores, and with Wal-Mart moving, it's more in the middle."
Victoria Livorsi said she remembered a time not long ago when the corridor would not have been her first choice to open a restaurant.
"I used to live in Spring Grove, so I'm familiar with the area, and it has grown so much," she said. "This started out being kinda far out of town."
The 4,000-square-foot restaurant has 20 to 25 employees, and changed its name in June. Livorsi said she kept the restaurant in a soft opening mode as changes were being made through the summer and fall.
Among the recent additions is an animated moose.
"We have him singing the Bears touchdown song for games, and birthdays too," Livorsi said. "We also have the moose here that originally was the mascot. The new moose is just environmentally friendly," she added with a laugh.
The pretzel buns that hold the restaurant's burgers often are a hit, she said, as well as the fish fries on Fridays.
"They can feel comfortable here, enjoy their dinner, and not be rushed to leave," she said.
The interior has been lightened, and a wide selection of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, beers, and mixed drinks are available. Live music is on tap Fridays and Saturdays.
"We've made this a genuinely fun place for folks to come eat and relax," Mike Livorsi said. "We offer families and friends a great lineup."
Twisted Moose SportsGrill
Where: 2616 Schaid Court, McHenry
Phone: 815-385-1488
Web: www.twistedmoose.net
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday