Emmett's Brewing Company

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | $$

This is the closest Emmett's location to me and is a convenient distance from Bauer's, Dobby's, Nellie's, the Metra station, and even Lamplighters, so that's a plus right there. It's a quality little mini-chain, not totally unlike an upscale version of Ram. The dining room to the left of the front door has always seemed to classy for the low ranks of myself, so I've only been to the bar on the right. It's full of dark wood paneling, a few TVs, and plenty of windows. Their mainstay beers are mostly German-inspired and solid, if not very average. The rotating occasionals, though, have ranged from the iffy to the surprisingly damn good, and run the style gamut from steam beer to dubbel to session and single-hop IPAs. They have yet to do anything all that crazy, opting instead for a more traditional/mainstream approach to things, which seems to have suited them well. The bartenders and waitstaff are always pretty genial, though they are occasionally preoccupied, allowing for some long waits between beers sometimes. Still, they know something about the beers they pour, so I'm usually pretty satisfied. The prices are pretty decent, with most house beers coming in at about $5.50 per pint (and they're true pints). I have yet to try any food, but it looks pretty solid. Overall, a nice place, and a good source of locally-made brews.

05-21-2013 02:28:59 | More by TMoney2591

fwhite02

Florida

2.8/5  rDev -26.5%
vibe: 1 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$$

Came in from out of town and arrived at around 4PM. Only one customer sitting at the end of the bar. That was clue #1. Sat at the bar and the bartender quickly arrived and took my order. She explained that she was going off duty and my server would be Mi???. Had the APA and was enjoying it and thought about ordering some food and getting a second beer, but no one came back by. Finished my beer and sat for a while with an empty glass. No one came by. Walked down to where the two employees were talking and cashed out. $5.75 for a pint that was on special during happy hour. I understand why it was empty. This was number 357 on my visits to brewpubs. And one of my worst.

10-04-2012 01:11:35 | More by fwhite02

taez555

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I stopped by here while visiting my relatives during the holiday break. (Always looking for a new place for some good beer/grub while in town.)

Unlike most brewpubs that have a very industrial feel, Emmett's is sort of the exact opposite. I'm not sure what this place used to be before, but it looks like it might have been an old bank or Hotel from 1930's. Split up in several different rooms, it's very old school comfy with lots of dark woods, fireplaces, white table clothes, brass, etc. It looks like they special rooms for banquet functions. I must say.. the brewing equipment behind the host stand that sunk down a level into the basement was very cool.

Beer selection was mostly you're basic brewpub variety that every brewpub seems to have. Your basic yellow beer or golden ale, another beer a step up from that, a middle of the road pale ale, a stout, etc...then with a few seasonal brews. I tried the sampler as well as all their seasonal offerings. All were solid, but nothing really blew me away. Although I did have a really nice seasonal stout that had a nice smoke backbone to it. I'd love to be able to come back and try some of their more adventurous brews when they're on tap.

Food is a little more upscale type pub grub; burgers, sandwiches, apps, salads. Some bigger fish, chicken, steak entrees. All the food I tried was very good, and you can see they're really trying to be a step above just normal pub grub with things like truffle fries, walleye bites, an artisanal cheese platter and such. Definitely worth checking out again for the food alone.

Overall, my first impression was I really liked Emmett's. I will definitely be back one day.

03-14-2012 19:33:47 | More by taez555

Duff27

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -24.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 2 | $$

It was date night this past Saturday night so the girlfriend and I decided to give Emmet's in Palatine a whirl. I had head good things about Emmett's (albeit the West Dundee location) from a coworker.

We did not have a reservation, I was surprised it was as full as it was, so we were seated in the corner with a small table. It was kind of off-putting but we weren't going to let it ruin our night. Full disclosure: we are the type of couple that would rather make fun of or mock our current situation (to ourselves) than get upset about it. Other than that, it appeared Emmett's has a nice relaxing atmosphere. We didn't make it into the pub area, although I wish we would have.

Our server was very nice though he seemed rushed, perhaps another waiter/waitress or two to serve would ease this. It seemed we waited longer than average to be waited on but it's hard for me to blame the understaffed workers for this.

I ordered the Dunkel Weizen and the girlfriend the Rye IPA. Since they are not listed on BA (yet) I'd give the Dunkel Weizen a B- and the Rye IPA an A-/B+ as beers. The beers were probably the highlight of our experience.

I had ordered the Pub Trio which when brought out to me looked like three average size hamburgers. At this I was excited until I took a bite that consisted of all bread. Each one of the "burgers" contained about a half-dollar in diameter of meat. My sweet potato fries could have been "fresher" as well, as they were luke-warm at best. Her reuben sandwich tasted alright to me but it sounded as if she wasn't impressed with it...hey, she's the reuben expert here.

Overall, it was a disappointing maiden voyage for Emmett's. I was really hoping we'd like the place since is only a 5-10 minute drive from her place. As it stands, we probably won't return anytime soon.

11-21-2011 23:00:20 | More by Duff27

Redrover

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$$

I was finally able to stop by the Palatine outpost. I enjoy the Emmett’s in Downers Grove so I was anxious to compare and contrast. It is located in a nice downtown area and is convenient to the Metra station.

Lots of parking in front and as you approach you see a very nice terrace. There is a wrought iron fence that surrounds the patio and a large outdoor fireplace, propane heaters and some cool lighting. It looks like this would be a great place to spend some time when the weather cooperates.

As you enter, the barroom is on your right and the large multi-room dining area is on your right. There is also some meeting rooms downstairs near the brewing tanks. The decor is nice. Tall ceilings, wood and lots of black trim make the place look very nice. The sound volume is fairly high due to 1) the large crowds & 2) all the hard surfaces.

The hostess and waitresses are professional and were proficient. While the service was a bit slow, the place was crowded, so I’m going to give them a pass. They had some good fundamental beer knowledge so that is appreciated.

Beer are all served in 20 oz. imperial style glasses & contain 16+ oz. of beer. Nice to see they leave some room for the head of the beer. They had three seasonal offerings and 6 or so regulars. I had a good, Rye IPA, a very decent 1 a.m. ale and a passable dry Irish stout. They also have a pretty solid wine list and offer specialty cocktails. Pet-peeve, no prices on the “specials”.

The food is good and aims to be high end. While not as well executed as places like the Publican, I think you will like the soups (Beer cheese is a must), burgers, steaks, pork offerings, etc. Most dinners are in the $16 to $28 range.

This is worth a stop if you are in the area!

11-21-2011 18:03:44 | More by Redrover

latackbeer

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +15%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Every town needs a brewery and I think we got one of the best!! Just stopped by here Sat and was very happy to see the Oktoberfest on tap!! Two glasses later my thirst was quenched! Their Saison on tap was pretty good to.

The service is awesome, never had any problems. I mostly go here for the beer but every so often I will get an app. The Sweet potato Fries are great.

Recently they have opened their tap handles to guests. Had pumking on tap and Sierra Nevada Pale. It was pretty cool cuz they won't just put any beer on tap they have respect for the beer they put on.

Great Beer + Great Atmosphere = A Great Night!!

09-27-2011 02:11:31 | More by latackbeer

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

Went to Emmetts Ale House for the first time on May 2nd 2010.

The atmosphere of this place is kind of jumbled, tries to simultaneously be a brewpub, family restaurant, and local watering spot. We sat in the bar area which has a great view of the brewing equipment and has a bunch of flat screen TV's around the bar area. Nice looking wooden bar that is very long and inviting. Not the most impressive atmosphere, but works great for a family dinner with local beer options.

The quality of the beers was pretty good. Some of the lighter offerings were relatively weak (the pre-prohibition lager and Munich light), and I was not a fan of their Irish Red's they had on tap (two different ones, is there really a need for two similar Irish Red's when you only have 8 beers on tap?). However, the hoppy stuff they were putting out was great, I really enjoyed the American IPA and the Victory Pale Ale. The Pale Ale is well deserving of the many awards it has won.

The service when we went was outstanding. Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly and always around when we needed her. She also hooked our group up with samples of all the beers that were not included in their sampler paddle. Really no complaints about service at all. They were also very friendly when we called to put in reservations, and did not mind when we decided to sit in the bar area (that did not require a reservation).

The selection was relatively limited, but had more than enough of their house beers to keep things interesting. They had 8 house beers on tap when we went (the 5 core beers as well as the pre-prohibition lager, American IPA, Rafferty's Irish Red) as well as 4 guest taps. I was going here to drink their house beers so the selection worked for me, but I am not sure if it was wide enough to merit buying the mug club membership.

The food was pretty impressive. Really enjoyed the white cheddar chili as well as the bourbon glazed beef brisket that I had for an entree. It was not the best brew pub food (3Floyds still holds that title in my opinion), but was certainly worth getting again.

Overall a pretty nice place, a little disjointed in the atmosphere , but pretty good beers in a local setting. I will certainly be heading back here when I am in the area. However, I think that Bavarian Lodge will still be my go to in this area.

05-04-2010 01:21:42 | More by Gonzoillini

claytri

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

A wonderful look, as you step into the old stone building and are greeted by the brewery pieces behind a glass. Outside you have a nice patio complete with fire pit. A bit dead inside with a small bar. The beer and food were of decent quality, the food didn't quite live up to the price. Service was slow, but the one bartender was pretty busy. They had 10 beers on tap, so I consider that good selection for a brew pub. The food was pretty good. I had the burger trio, all three sliders were well made with distinct toppings, but the fries were just basic thick cut. Looking at the menu I felt each dish were a dollar or two more than I thought reasonable. Getting an English Mild made up for some of the shortcomings. Basically a decent brew pub worth the side trip, but not outstanding.

04-16-2010 03:47:31 | More by claytri

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Emmett's is a few miles off I-90 on N Brockway in downtown Palatine. There is parking on the street next to the building as well as a lot in front.

The interior boasts brewing equipment right as you walk in, and is segmented into a couple different rooms with the bar area on the right and table seating on the left. There is a lot of wood and a cream/dark brown color scheme. The bar has several TVs and a fireplace. Some outdoor seating is available as well.

The beer selection veers toward German/Bavarian styles (as it appears the food does) such as a Dortmunder, Zwickel, and Oktoberfest. The beers are all a but above average, and a sampler is available.

Service was pretty good on an early weekday afternoon. I was super late getting back to Midway so I was not able to spend a lot of time asking questions.

I did not try any food on this visit.

Overall this is a pretty nice brewpub that is worth checking out again when I have more time.

10-15-2009 21:41:10 | More by Dogbrick

Florida9

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -10%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5 | $$

Located in downtown Palatine, not too far off the train tracks, Emmett resembles a high end chain restaurant more than a brewpub. The outside is all brick, while the inside is modern, with square lines and dark booths and tables. There is a bar on one side and the dining area on the other. The brewery is sort of showcase in the middle of the two. Its definitely a nice looking place.

The beer is another story. There are five regular taps and a seasonal, with all of the beers being decent, but aiming for mass appeal. Simply put, they're just slightly North of boring. There are a few guest taps and bottles as well.

The food is the better option. Emmett's serves higher end American food along with standard restaurant fare. Burgers, pizzas, dinner salads, plus steaks, seafood, and pasta. For the most part, the food served here is better than average, but it's also quite unexciting.

The prices are quite reasonable. Really, you get what you pay for here, nothing more and nothing less.

In short, if you're in the area and are looking for a place with good food and some fresh beer, Emmett's is the place. However, Emmett's is not a destination restaurant and the focus tends to be on the food, not the beer.

10-13-2009 00:41:12 | More by Florida9