Amazing fish fry at Resort of Fairmont Shores
BY TINA JOHANSSON Special to the News-Sun July 13, 2011 3:56PM
Alaskan pollock is served at the Friday fish fry at Resort of Fairmont Shores in Lake Villa.
Resort of Fairmont Shores
Fish Fry: $11.95 for all-you-can-eat Alaskan pollock, with cole slaw, hush puppies and choice of potato, beans and rice or French fries.
37641 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Villa
847-497-4500
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Updated: October 13, 2011 12:30AM
LAKE VILLA — “I feel right at home here,” Jim Rogers said of his new venture, Resort of Fairmont Shores, a restaurant he actually owned years ago.
When the place was for sale recently, Rogers said he jumped at the chance to buy it back. Rogers owns Resort of Fairmont Shores, which re-opened just before the Fourth of July, with his wife Nancy and business partner Heidi Hager-Siudak.
In his past 35 years in the restaurant business, Rogers has owned five different places —among them, Fairmont Shores in Ingleside and most recently, the R Corner Bistro in Fox Lake.
And with each local place he ran, customers Kay and Ron Starostovic were sure to follow — especially on Friday nights. “The fish fry is wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone,” said Kay Starostovic, Grant Township Supervisor.
“They are very conscientious of the customer needs. The hospitality is amazing and the food is very good,” she added. The homemade meatloaf is among her favorite comfort foods. “This place will be a real asset to the community,” Starostovic predicted.
Rogers said his longtime clientele and the loyal help are sure to help him succeed. There are 28 full- and part-time employees. “A lot of them I had when I had Fairmont Shores (in Ingleside). There is one woman working for me who started when she was 18. Now she’s 40,” said Rogers.
Longtime employee Dori Rand works as a server and bartender, and was employed by Rogers when he had his place in Fox Lake.
“It gets very busy here on Friday nights. The fish fry brings them in,” she said. Among the full bar items that are popular with diners are the selection of domestic and imported beers, the wine and variety of martinis.
“Even on my days off I sometimes come here with my two small kids. It’s perfect for them because we can sit out on the deck and watch the boats go by,” said Rand.
There are several piers on the lake with plenty of room to park boats. Inside there is seating for up to 300.
“We’ve got a lot of the same customers that I had when I was here 11 or 12 years ago,” said Rogers. “The outpouring has been overwhelming. It was like everyone was just waiting for us to re-open.”
Popular menu items include ribs, Cajun pork chops, specialty salads and sandwiches and wraps. Meats are fresh, never frozen, including the chicken. “But the Friday night fish fry is probably the most popular,” said Rogers. “I’ve been doing the same fish fry for the past 25 years and everyone likes it, so I must be doing something right.”
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