Restaurants & Bars
Joliet Coronavirus: Several Restaurants Stay Closed
Some long-time Joliet restaurants tried their luck at takeout and curbside pickup, but chose to abandon it.
JOLIET, IL —A number of big-name Joliet sit-down restaurants are choosing to keep their kitchens closed down and their doors locked rather than focus on takeout and delivery orders during the coronavirus outbreak across Illinois.
Some of these are well-established restaurants such as Al's Steakhouse on West Jefferson Street. Al's initially tried to reinvent its restaurant in mid-March as carryout-only. However, Al's has since decided to scrap that initiative and is choosing to stay closed for the foreseeable future.
Directly across the street from Al's Steakhouse, Golden Corral has also closed its doors for the time being. Like Al's, Golden Corral tried to stay open as a carryout-only restaurant, only to change its mind in recent days.
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That means two of West Jefferson Street's busiest sit-down restaurants have been reduced to empty parking lots.
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And they are not the only long-standing restaurants on Jefferson Street closed indefinitely.
On many nights during a given week and especially on weekends, La Mex Fine Mexican Cuisine in the Twin Plaza shopping center is packed.
The operators of La Mex, however, chose to close their sit-down restaurant for the time being once Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that the state's restaurants and bars needed to restrict their buildings to only handling carryout or delivery orders; no dine-in guests.
Super China Buffet is another long-time West Jefferson Street restaurant that didn't try to stay open for carryout orders or for deliveries during the coronavirus outbreak.
Super China Buffet is right next to RAX, near the Marycrest Shopping Center.
On Wednesday afternoon, when Joliet Patch's editor drove across the city to determine what restaurants were open and which temporarily closed, the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fast-food joint on West Jefferson Street was one of the busiest spots on the strip.
There looked to be at least seven or eight cars in the drive-thru line just waiting to order.
Mr. Submarine, also on West Jefferson Street, remains another busy fast-food restaurant.
Several motorists were waiting their turn to order at Mr. Sub's as well on Wednesday afternoon.
Near West Jefferson Street, Big Apple Pancake House Restaurant on Larkin Avenue, remains in shutdown mode. Years ago, before it was Big Apple, it was The Family Table, and that one of Joliet's busiest sit-down restaurants.
Joliet Patch previously reported that CUT 158 Chophouse, near the shuttered Rialto Square Theater, is temporarily shut down. One of downtown's other popular fine-dining establishments, Juliet's, is also closed indefinitely.
Juliet's is at the corner of Cass and Chicago Streets across from The Forge. Juliet's is known for serving up Italian cuisine and operating a sports bar.
Many of Joliet's lawyers, judges and politicians hold parties and social gatherings at Juliet's since it's within a couple blocks of the Will County Courthouse.
On a positive note, some popular sit-down Joliet restaurants have either reopened this week or are in the process of reopening shortly, focused on takeout.
Barolo's Restaurant, located on Black Road, announced back on March 16 in a Facebook post that "Barolo's will close tonight at 9 p.m. due to the Governor's mandate."
On March 31, Barolo's posted on its Facebook page: "Barolo's Takeout and Delivery coming soon! Are you hungry yet ... ready for a real chef? I know I am!"
Another Joliet restaurant that closed for a couple weeks reopened this week: The Dock at Inwood.
It's owned by retired Joliet Police Chief Mike Trafton and retired Joliet Police officer Rick Trafton. After closing for a couple weeks following the Joliet Park District's lead, The Dock is handling carryout orders starting this week.
On Wednesday, The Dock posted on its social media page that 25 Dock pizzas were delivered to St. Joe's Hospital courtesy of Joliet City Councilman Don "Duck" Dickinson.
Dock's curbside delivery is now 4 to 8 p.m., the Trafton brothers posted on Facebook.
Last summer, Joliet Patch reviewed The Dock's lunch specials and gave the place a strong endorsement.
Related:
Nearly 50 Coronavirus Cases Now In City Of Joliet
Joliet Businesses Open Or Closed? Let Your Customers Know
1st Joliet Police Department Coronavirus Case Hits Detective Unit
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