Joliet Lands Fisherman's Island, 'Food Is Delicious,' Manager Says

JOLIET, IL — In about two weeks, Joliet's West Jefferson Street will gain another restaurant as Fisherman's Island Seafood Market opens next to the McDonald's.

"The food is delicious," proclaimed Ahmed Gahrib, who will manage Joliet's latest restaurant.

The property was vacant the past five years after being an Illinois Title & Loan, closing in 2017. Many Joliet residents remember when the building was a Checkers fast-food restaurant.

Fisherman's Island will be a takeout restaurant only. There will be no drive-thru, Gahrib told Patch during Wednesday's interview inside his new restaurant.

There are other Fisherman's Islands in Chicago as well as Oak Forest, Lansing and Olympia Fields. In Indiana, there are restaurants in Merrillville and Hammond, he said.

Gahrib told Joliet Patch that Fisherman's Island has already gone through its city of Joliet and county health department inspections.

On Wednesday, he was still finalizing details for Joliet's grand opening date, which looks to be in November.

"Two weeks tops," he predicted.

The Joliet area's first and only Fisherman's Island will open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

"People can order food ahead of time over the phone," Gahrib said.

Fisherman's Island has two phone numbers: 815-582-4876 and 815-582-4873.

The lobby area will have shelves stocked with limited seasonings, sauces and fresh ingredients for customers to purchase.

Gahrib wants Fisherman's Island to be known around Joliet as "a friendly establishment."

He does not consider Fisherman's Island a fast-food restaurant.

"It takes 15 minutes minimum," he said of preparing the meal.

He described the menu as "fresh seafood, raw, with kind of a healthy kick to it. It's like a variety of things, oysters to mussels to clams, snow crab, lobster tails, our large shrimp and salmon."

As far as vegetables, Fisherman's Island serves steamed corn, broccoli and potatoes.

There is a menu board inside Fisherman's Island, and everything currently says "market price."

However, when Fisherman's Island opens in November, the plan is to have set prices for everything on the menu, its manager said.

To check out the food selections at one of the Fisherman Islands in Chicago, visit its website.