Owners make a name for themselves: Molly's

The term power couple often gets thrown around when referring to celebrities, but it seems Mount Carroll residents Molly McDonough and Ben Johnson fit the mold perfectly.

McDonough, 30, and Johnson, 32, have owned Molly’s Kitchen and Bar since 2014. Johnson, a Mount Carroll native, said he and Molly were ready for a change of pace after living in Los Angeles and decided to spend a winter in Mount Carroll while recording an album together.

Both agreed that music and food are an essential part of their lives, and after completing their album, “Submarines in Space,” they decided to stay in Mount Carroll and open a restaurant.

“We’re a really good team. So when we set out to do this, we decided we were going to make this work. ... We said if we’re going to make this investment in our time and financially, then it is going to work,” McDonough said. “We just had that determined attitude about it.”

McDonough had an abundance of experience as a chef before opening the restaurant. She was a pastry sous chef at Mozza Osteria and Pizzeria before leaving Los Angeles.

According to the couple, what really sets their establishment apart form others is everything on the menu being made completely from scratch with local produce – even the drinks.

“We make all of our drinks with fresh fruit juices that we squeeze regularly,” Johnson said. “All our produce right now is coming from just outside of town.”

The couple alter the menu every so often and try to keep it small so they can perfect all of their meals.

“Before we opened in 2014, we spent a lot of time on the menu, making sure we were happy with all the recipes and the preparations and stuff, but Molly does change the menu every month,” Johnson said. “She switches up about 60 percent of it based on what kind of produce is fresh and based on seasonal things like what you want to eat at that specific time of the year.”

McDonough likes to keep things fresh so the regulars have something new to try.

“We have people in town that come in once or twice a week, and we didn’t want them to come in and be like, ‘Oh God, this is just the same thing,’” McDonough said.

The couple agreed that they want people to feel comfortable coming into their restaurant no matter what they’re wearing. They strive a casual atmosphere.

“A lot of people describe it as urban, that it feels like a restaurant that would be in the city or something,” Johnson said. “At the same time, we get a lot of farmers that come in here to eat in their work clothes and we love that.”

In addition to the restaurant, a small inn is located directly above it, which Johnson’s parents own.

“My family purchased the building last year and completely restored it – they’re like suites really,” Johnson said.

Despite the inn being above the restaurant, the two don’t currently correlate much other than being in the same building.

“We aren’t doing any package deals or anything right now but we’ve been surprised too, because there’s just a demand for an inn in town,” Johnson said.

McDonough said she loves the small-town life and is glad her and Johnson decided to start up a business in Mount Carroll.

“There’s no mold here. ... There’s no young culture you have to follow. You can really just be your own person and it allows you that time to figure out exactly what you want to do,” McDonough said. “Whether or not we’re here in 10 years, everything we’ve done in the last 2 and a half years to open the business has been an awesome experience.”

Johnson said this never would have been possible for them to do in a big city, but it still consumes a majority of the married couple’s time.

The couple doesn’t mind.

After being married for 4 years and together for 8 years prior to that, they’re committed – to each other and to the restaurant.

“Surrender the rest of your life,” Johnson said with a laugh. “We’re totally committed to it. ... We have an excellent staff. It’s small but they’re all really hard-working and really dedicated. We love doing it. We love making food, we love making drinks and we love serving people.”

MOLLY'S KITCHEN AND BAR

Address: 110 W Market St., Mount Carroll

Phone: 815-906-0052

Website: mollysmountcarroll.com and on Facebook

Hours: 4:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Reservations: Taken daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Special reservations required for parties of eight or more.