Score: Bulldogs – 1, Marzanos – 0

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

Another one bites the dust! Restaurants seem to come and go. We come to a restaurant, review it, and a year or so later, they go. Was it something we said?

That’s what happened to Marzano’s Wood Fired Italian Restaurant in McHenry. “Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who?” Some one did, and that location is now the Bulldog Ale House.

Most people would expect an alehouse to be a cozy neighborhood establishment. Instead, as you drive north on Route 31, you see what looks like a banquet hall complete with a portico that will keep your sweetie out of the elements while you’re dropping her off.

The inside however, does look like an alehouse with brick and wood accents, and a two-sided fireplace. The warm lighting completes the cozy atmosphere.

Since Nancy is still on her diet, and I’m the one losing weight, it was difficult to talk her into getting an appetizer of Fried Pickles ($5.99), but I was persistent. This turned out to be six sandwich sliced breaded deep fried pickles served with chipotle mayo. Be forewarned, you must bite completely through the pickle skin or else you will wind up with a handful of breading and a scalding hot pickle plastered on your chin. Cutting it with a knife and fork also proved futile. We had a battle to the death with a pickle! These were good, but we still prefer pickle chips more.

Jim found something on the menu that piqued his interest, but was hesitant to order. He thought it was too bizarre for even his taste! Throwing caution to the wind, he ordered the Chicken and Waffles ($12.99). This was a lightly breaded chicken breast served over Belgian waffles on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes and served with jalapeno gravy. The sweetness of the Belgian waffles, the hint of jalapeno in the gravy, and the garlic mashed potatoes that were just lumpy enough to seem homemade, somehow worked. He could also have added a soup or salad for a $1.99 up-charge.

Nancy, along with 99% of the other patrons in the restaurant, ordered their Saturday Special, a “Build Your Own Burger” for $6.99. This was a half-pound burger served on a pretzel bun with your choice of five toppings. You start with a naked burger and you get to choose your sauce (like mayo or chipotle mayo), veggies (like lettuce, onion, pickle), cheese (cheddar, pepperjack, American), and even premium toppings (like bacon, avocado, egg, chili). We gave you just a few examples of the toppings; there were a lot more to choose from on the menu. If you want more than five toppings, they are available at an additional cost. This also came, as the menu states, with “FREE” fries. Nancy ordered a cheddar, bacon, green olive burger with lettuce and raw onion. She said it was absolutely delicious, and I have to agree since we took half of it home for my lunch the next day.

Jim had the nerve to order dessert when I’m on a diet. No wonder it’s hard for me to lose weight; he’s my biggest obstacle!!! That moron ordered the Homemade Doughnuts ($6.99) which were three warm cinnamon doughnuts served with caramel, chocolate, and raspberry dipping sauces. I broke down and ate one…I’m only human and they were good, but not worth the guilt. I hate him…

Dining Duo Tip: Go online and join their e-Club to receive a $10 coupon.

They have a few creative items on their menu to make them stand out from your average restaurant. The food was good and we hope they keep their “Saturday Burger Special” on for a long time.

The cost for our Saturday afternoon date was $40.39, not including the $10 off online coupon.

Jim’s take: I’m glad I’m not a fussy food critic like Nancy. I took a chance and I really enjoyed my meal.

Nancy’s take: I really enjoyed the char on my burger. What I didn’t enjoy, was the third degree burn on my chinny-chin-chin from the pickle!

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com.

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