O'Tooles opens third location in Libertyville

Libertyville’s restaurant scene has recently expanded. O’Toole’s of Libertyville, 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., opened June 9.

Sara McKinnon and Humberto Martinez Jr., owners of the award-winning Timothy O’Toole’s Pub in Chicago and Gurnee, have brought a more chef-driven concept than they offer at their two other locations, but with the same commitment to quality and satisfaction they’ve established over the years.

The Chicago location has been open for 23 years and their Gurnee location for six years.

“Libertyville has been a dining destination for my husband and myself,” said McKinnon, who grew up in Libertyville. “… And we just wanted to get into Libertyville.”

Knowing how close their new location is to Gurnee, the couple did not want to open an exact copy of Timothy O’Toole’s Pub. McKinnon said they spent six months working on the menu in Libertyville. The gastropub menu is chef-driven with locally-sourced foods being used as much as possible. Executive Chef Corey Grupe is also from Libertyville.

McKinnon said 90 percent of O’Toole’s menu is made in-house. For example, all of their salad dressing are homemade.

“We consider ourselves a scratch kitchen,” McKinnon said.

The menu at O’Toole’s of Libertyville features some Timothy O’Toole’s classics, like their burgers, but also new dishes like seared sashimi-grade ahi tuna.

“We’re known for our burgers,” McKinnon said. “We’ve got a great burger and we’re known for our wings.”

Also new at O’Toole’s of Libertyville – an American Bento Box for kids, featuring healthier choices.

In addition, the bar at O’Toole’s of Libertyville offers a wide array of beverages, including 48 draft handles, a craft cocktail program and an extensive wine selection.

O’Toole’s of Libertyville is located in the space previously occupied by Mickey Finn’s Brewery.

The gastropub opened at a crazy time with the Blackhawks playing for the Stanley Cup, then Libertyville Days and now just summer fun, so McKinnon said it has been super busy.

“We’re casual enough that people feel comfortable coming in on Tuesday in a pair of shorts, but it’s also their choice on Friday or Saturday night with their friends or on a date,” McKinnon said.

The remodeled 10,400 square-foot restaurant features an outdoor patio that seats 49; a 40-foot cherry hardwood bar that seats 20 people, with total bar seating for 60; the dining room seats 54; and in a spot formerly housing brewing equipment is now the Royal Room, with private dining for 33 guests.

An upstairs lounge, the 412 Room, will host larger private events as well as things like karaoke, piano bar nights and comedy nights. It also has a secondary full liquor bar and offers late night bites when the main kitchen closes.

If you go:

O’Toole’s of Libertyville is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.