Chefy's Cheese Sticks Live On As The Grill Touts Shrimp

JOLIET, IL —Residents across the Joliet area were surprised to learn that Chefy's Kitchen closed in October. But if you visit Fritz's Pour House this week, there is a sense of optimism inside the same building at 1511 Plainfield Road where Chefy's Kitchen operated.

That's because Mike Villarreal, long-time owner of Jody's Hot Dogs, has taken over the kitchen.

"It's definitely buzzing," Villarreal told Joliet Patch on Thursday. This week, "The Grill got a lot of great attention."

The Grill is the name of Villarreal's new restaurant inside Fritz's Pour House.

Villarreal also retained two valuable long-time employees with Chefy's: head chef/manager Brian Deininger and manager Melissa Strickland.

Around Joliet, Chefy's was famous for its breaded cheese sticks and fried chicken.

This week, The Grill unveiled its new menu, keeping Chefy's cheese sticks and fried chicken.

"The cheese sticks and fried chicken is a staple here," Villarreal said. "It needed to stay alive. (Customers) are excited to see the cheese sticks stay in the new menu.

"We have a thick grilled pork chop, pastas and daily specials," he continued.

Patch asked Villarreal what he wants to see The Grill best known for.

"Our shrimp," he responded. "That will be the next new thing."

The Grill features three different shrimp: Cajun, lemon-pepper and regular.

"I think they're delicious," Villarreal said of his shrimp. "It's been a big hit since we opened. I do all the seasonings. I love cooking all seafood."

Villarreal said he appreciates the fact that so many people around Joliet continue to patronize all of his restaurant endeavors, including his newest one, starting The Grill.

"It seems like they follow me around from location to location, and I'm super thankful for that," Villarreal said.

For 12 years, Villarreal has owned Jody's Hot Dogs at 326 Republic Ave. Jody's has 416 Google Reviews averaging 4.4 stars out of 5 stars.

Villarreal also recently took over the kitchen for the Fireman Ted's Bar and Grill at 2777 Black Road.

Even though Villarreal is involved with three different Joliet restaurant and bars, he's still open to the idea of getting involved in a fourth.

"I would entertain the idea of a pizza place," he remarked Thursday afternoon. "I used to (have one) at the Town & Country Bowling Lanes for six or seven years."

Across Joliet, Villarreal is known for his generosity and giving back to the community.

His Jody's Hot Dogs restaurant became one of the first small businesses featured by Joliet Patch amid the March 2020 coronavirus pandemic, when indoor dining was shut down.

Jody's Hot Dogs launched the First Responder Program that remains in place to this day. All Jody's asks is that customers make a minimum donation of at least $5. That covers the costs for a sandwich, chips and beverage. The Jody's owner told Joliet Patch during an April 2020 interview that he was matching every donation from the community dollar for dollar.

The First Responder Program has donated more than 5,000 meals, Villarreal said Thursday; he said some credit for its success goes to Brian Bessler, who started the Joliet Area Bar And Restaurant Guide on Facebook "in the middle of a crisis."

"We didn't make any money, but we kept the workers working, and I think it gave them a sense of worth and work morale was lifted," Villarreal said of the First Responders Program.

Villarreal said he wants people to know he's still hiring new staff for The Grill. People interested in working here are asked to contact him at Jody's Hot Dogs.

The Grill is now open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It's currently closed Monday. The Grill features dine-in and carryout orders.

For carryout orders, The Grill's phone is 773-225-8608.