Louie Gatziolis, owner of Stonewood Ale House in Schaumburg, grew up in the restaurant business at his father’s casual pub in Elmhurst, which served up burgers and featured a large bar area.
He wanted to bring back that concept when he owned the old Voodoo Night Club in Schaumburg. “It ran its course, so I wanted to make it into a restaurant.” He opened Stonewood Ale House in 2005 and its bar is the first thing you see when you walk in. “We’re not afraid, we don’t hide the bar.”
Stonewood Ale House specializes in “great burgers, barbecued ribs and comfort foods like pot roast and meatloaf.” While a lot of different brands of beers from across the country are offered, Gatziolis said he didn’t want the place to be a brewery. “We started in the beginning of the craft beer phase and so we kept adding more and more, but we don’t specialize in them.”
With 16 varieties, the half-pound burgers are the big sellers, Gatziolis said. “We have a special blend the butcher cut for us with chuck, short rib and beef brisket.”
The wood-fired grill sets Stonewood Ale House burgers apart from the competition, Gatziolis said. “I know it sounds corny, but I eat a hamburger probably every day.”
On the menu: Ale House favorites range from Jambalaya to fish and chips to Beer Can Chicken and Meatloaf. Wood-dishes are offered from barbecue ribs to rib eye steak to pork chops to New York strip steak.
Philosophy: “We just try to give the best quality we can possibly give at a reasonable price,” Gatziolis said.
Decor: “We have a lot of stone and wood decor so we put that into our name,” Gatziolis said. “The warm, casual atmosphere of our dining rooms feature wood walls, cultured stone fireplaces and plenty of comfortable booth seating,” according to the website.
Price range: Wings for $10.99. Starters from $8.29 to $12.29. Soup and chili from $3.99 to $6.99. Salad from $4.99 to $15.99. Sandwiches from $11.29 to $16.59. Wood grilled burgers from $11.49 to $13.79. Wood fired dishes from $19.99 to $29.99. Seafood and pasta from $16.99 to $21.99.
Logistics: Stonewood Ale House is at 601 Mall Drive, Schaumburg. Hours are 11-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11-3 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Contact 847-805-0202 or go to www.stonewoodalehouse.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.