Turtle’s Tap

Get takeout if you can, it’s noisy, even in the dining room that is separate from the bar. Steaks are decent, best in town. The salad is very good, I recommend the house dressing. Pig wings are great If you like ribs. Pizza is pretty good, as well. Wait staff is pleasant but very rushed. Mixed drink selection is lacking, Turtles in Morris has a better selection. Can’t decide which potato with the meal? Pick the double baked, it’s fluffy and tasty. The Chicken Italiano salad with house dressing is exceptional, but order it at night, the lunch version is lacking.
Update: now closed, boo!

We tried it twice, never, ever again!
We gave it a second shot last night (I’ll talk about the first visit later), and the service was so horrible that we literally just got up and walked out. We were meeting family in the area and decided to stop there for dinner. When we showed up we let the hostess know that we’d have 7 for dinner, but that the rest of the group wouldn’t be there for half an hour or more. She said that was fine, the wait was 20 – 30 minutes anyway. So we sat in the bar area and waited. It was a warm day outside, and it had to be at least 80* in the restaurant. That had a small window air unit going over the door and a bunch of fans all over the room, but neither was keeping up, or even close. The hostess comes over about 7 – 10 minutes later and says our table was ready early and we could be seated. I reminded her that the rest of the group was still some time from getting there, but she said that was not a problem.
So we get seated (it’s cafeteria-​like seating, plain tables, metal chairs with vinyl seats) and are given menus. And nothing happens. No waitress, no water, no one stops by at all. I watch other people get seated, get drinks, order, get salads, all in the time we were just sitting there waiting with nothing. Over 15 minutes go by (We had sent a text to the rest of our group as to how to find the table, so we knew pretty much to the minute when we’d been seated) and we have nothing. I finally stop one of the waitresses who had walked by our table several times and I said «Excuse me, do you know who our waitress is.» She acted disgusted that I’d bother her and said «I am, but obviously you are still waiting on more people!» I told her that we were, but that we’d like to order some drinks. She says «fine, just a minute» and comes back with waters, and again says «just a minute» and walks off. We wanted to order real drinks, and a couple of appetizers so there would be food there when the rest of our party arrived, but she had no time for us. I have never in my life felt like I was such an imposition to a server. It was like I was an unwanted and unexpected guest showing up at her house or something, it was incredible how blatantly snotty she was.
She never came near our table for another 12 – 15 minutes, though I saw her walk by from a distance. Our waters were empty (remember, it was like 80* in there and we drained them within 2 – 3 minutes of getting them), but no attempt was made to refill them or take orders for appetizers. Finally, after being there for right at 30 minutes (right around the time I originally predicted to the hostess) I saw the rest of our party walk by the front window towards the door. Just as I saw that the waitress walks by, puts her hand on my shoulder (please don’t touch me, especially when you are being rude!) and says «I see we are still waiting!» then storms off. I tried to call after her that I’d been waiting on HER to let me order some appetizers, or a refill, or anything but water, but she was off in a huff.
I should’ve got up then and went to the hostess, or the manager. I wish I knew our server’s name, as I might go to the effort of a phone call even after the fact. She was probably late 40’s, dark hair, and looked like she was just unhappy to be there, and it showed in her treatment of customers. But honestly, considering the fact we weren’t impressed the first time we visited here, my patience was gone. I said to my wife «I’m not going to eat here and deal with this, let’s go» and I got up and walked out. I explained to those meeting us what had happened and we all agreed to go a few blocks away to Route 66 (a restaurant on the edge of Dwight, near Rt 17 and I-​55. Our server there was extremely cheerful, the food was decent, and the service was great. I tipped her 30% and felt like going back to Turtle’s and telling our other server that she missed out on what would’ve probably been a $ 60 tip for our party by being rude and condescending.
As for our first trip to Turtle’s, I probably would’ve given it 2 or 3 stars based on that visit. The service was just ok (but WAY better than the second time), and the food was ok. The steak (supposedly what they are known for) was mediocre. You could get the same from a middle of the road chain place at the same price with much better service. The menu is decent, but I think it seems expensive for the quality you get. I have no problem paying for a good meal and good service, but Turtle’s doesn’t qualify. The horrible rudeness of this last visit has ruined any chance of me being back.

It’s more of a bar than a restaurant, but they have a pretty decent menu. Mostly bar food, and the fried chicken is really good. Prices are OK, but not cheap. Or, not as cheap as you’d expect 100 miles south of Chicago, at least.
I recommend against the skillet cookie.
I liked the Pig Wings. It’s basically individual pork ribs with all the meat pushed to one end. Very good, and the sauce is very good, too. I don’t remember if they offer this as a meal or appetizer, but they’re worth a try. I seem to remember a sign saying there’s a special on them one night of the week.
Not much of a beer selection unless you’re into the domestic macro brews.
Service was average or below, but not annoyingly so.
I’d go back for the chicken, and ‘pig wings’, but skip everything else.