May 16, 2024
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Outdoor dining to return in downtown Algonquin

Four restaurants along Main Street aim to have outdoor eating and entertainment this summer

By Michelle Meyer

Diners eat on an outdoor patio at The Tracks Bar & Grill in Cary. (Sarah Nader)

Downtown Algonquin restaurants aim to return their outdoor dining and live entertainment for the summer season.

Restaurants Cucina Bella, Cattleman’s Burger & Brew, Whiskey and Wine and Bold American Fare, all located along Main Street, are requesting village approval to have outdoor dining at the upcoming board meeting on Tuesday.

Live outdoor entertainment could also be at Whiskey and Wine and Bold American Fare, which are both owned by Greg Geigel. The village agreement states live music could only be performed between noon and 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Cattleman’s is looking to have a temporary patio on the north side of the property in the alley between two buildings. Cucina Bella would have their outdoor dining on the sidewalk along Washington Street and parts of the Creek Walk Patio would be reserved for Whiskey and Wine seating. Bold already has permanent outdoor dining, but plans to use the neighboring public plaza for music performances.

“The opportunities we get to enhance the plaza even more, we take full advantage of,” Village President Debby Sosine said.

Cattlemans is requesting to have outdoor seating for just this year while Cucina Bella, Whiskey and Wine and Bold American Fare could have agreements to have seasonal outdoor dining until 2027. Fencing will surround each of the patios to comply with outdoor alcohol regulations.

Outdoor dining is allowed from the Village of Algonquin from April 15 through Nov. 1, according to village documents. The village will vote on final approval for these requests on Tuesday.

There are plenty of other places to eat outside in Algonquin including Scorched Earth and restaurants along Randall Road, Sosine said.

These outdoor dining requests have been approved by the village ever since the COVID pandemic forced restaurants into outdoor dining only in order to stay open.

“Honest to goodness it has really enhanced the ability for our restaurants to be able to make it through some of the difficult times we had in the past few years,” Sosine said.