1776 Earns Wine Spectator Award

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A Crystal Lake restaurant has been ranked among the best in the nation for enjoying a delicious glass of merlot, riesling and cabernet after being recognized as part of the 2023 Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards.

1776 Restaurant, at 397 Virginia Avenue in Crystal Lake, received the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. More than 3,500 restaurants earned restaurant awards from Wine Spectator, representing businesses in all 50 states in the U.S. and 75 countries across the world.

Other suburban restaurants that have received the Best of Award of Excellence include: The Tavern in Libertyville, Cafe Lucci in Glenview, The English Room in Lake Forest and Parker's Restaurant and Bar in Downers Grove.

Several more received Award of Excellence awards, including: Morton's Steakhouse, with locations in Schaumburg, Northbrook and Rosemont; Perry's Steakhouse and Grille, with locations in Schaumburg and Oak Brook; The Capital Grille, with locations in Lombard, Skokie, Rosemont and Schaumburg; Season 52, with locations in Oak Brook and Schaumburg; Eddie Merlot's in Lincolnshire; Fogo de Chao in Rosemont; Truluck's in Rosemont; Suzette's Creperie in Wheaton; and Che Figata in Naperville.

Erik Nordstrom, the wine and spirits director at 1776, told the Daily Herald he was"excited and emotional" about the award.

"As an independent restaurant in the far suburbs, it is hard to compete with the buying power of restaurants in Chicago," he said. "Similar to our menu, we love to work with smaller growers and producers, sharing their story. I feel like that sets us apart and adds diversity to our list that is not often seen elsewhere."

The program’s highest honor is the Grand Award, with 93 restaurants across the world receiving this honor but none in Illinois.