Fairmont Shores — Restaurant in Fox Lake Hills

My husband and I arrived earlier than the rest of our party. We walked up to the host and asked for a table inside or outside for 6 people. The place was busy and it's a Saturday at 630 p.m. No problem. We were prepared to wait for a table. The hostesses grabbed a couple of menus and immediately sat us in the bar for two people and walked away. I flagged her down and asked why we only got a table for two when we asked for a table for 6? Hostesses apologized and sat all of us right away in the back. The place was loud, our table was dirty, and there were no waters offered, no salt and pepper at the table to. Our waitress came and asked us what we would like to drink? We were never offered a drink menu. So we couldn't tell her what we wanted. After about 10 minutes of waiting for a drink menu, we ordered our drinks. Everyone else got their drinks. I believe the waitresses forgot about mine. 20 minutes later after flagging down the waitresses I got my beer. Soon after that our waitresses took our orders. I ordered soup and a prime rib sandwich. A few of us got the fish fry. A hour and half of waiting for our food, flagging down our waitresses for more drinks and we had to ask for our soups and salads. The soup was not hot and it was bland. We had to flag down our waitresses once again to get some salt and pepper. The waitresses asked us if she could get us anything. I asked for some water. I never got my water. We also waited another 30 minutes and had to flag down our waitresses to ask her where is our food? At this point it's two hours. Multiple times of flagging down our waitresses. We let her know that if this food is not out on the table in the next few minutes we are leaving. Waitresses went in back and brought out our cold food. The fish fry was absolutely NASTY. The fish fry is supposed to come with two hush puppies. Our guests got one and others got two. My sandwich was cold and soggy. The fries were cold and overly seasoned. All of this time wasted on gross food and a waitresses that didn't want to deal with us. We let the waitresses know that we will not be paying for food that we refused to eat because it was disgusting. The waitress got the manager. The manager came out to let us know that they were swamped and the kitchen was backed up. Duh! We know that. But, isn't it the waitresses responsibility to check on us and to make sure we got our beverages that we asked for without flagging her down every time? Needless to say, we will not be coming back nor we would recommend this disgusting...

I had the worst experience at this restaurant and will never return. My review today is to inform other people of color that you may be treated differently because you aren’t white. I took my wife to lunch after she got off work for a few drinks. We got to the restaurant and we asked to be seated outside. The hostess sat us and let us know our server would be with us shortly. We were approached by Rhonda and she asked for our drink order, my wife ordered her drink but I needed more time to decide so she left to get her drink. I’d say it took about a good 7-9 minutes for her to bring the drink back. I then gave her my drink order and we asked for nachos as our appetizer, she then walked off without asking us what we’d actually like to order for our lunch or even giving us an opportunity to ask for anything. Rhonda then continued to serve EVERYONE else in the restaurant except us. As a Black/Hispanic man in a predominantly white area, this started to feel like I was purposely being ignored. She finally dropped off our nachos and walked off! Never once asking if we needed anything or trying to actually provide any type of service. We then kept trying to get her attention because clearly she was more interested in serving all of her other patrons. I finally flagged her down to ask for our check and she just walked off and did acknowledge me. We then walked into the bar area and she said without even making eye contact that ” he a (Hispanic male bartender) had our tab and would check us out”. I was extremely irate and said I wanted to be checked out now because clearly I’m being refused service because I’m brown. The Bartender then tried to correct the situation by offering to wave our bill. I asked him to charge my card so we could leave. We then came home and my wife called the restaurant to speak with the manager. She got on the phone with Erin ( the manager) to inquire if this was acceptable behavior and to let her know how her staff’s behavior affects the way we will always remember our experience at this restaurant. Erin then told my wife that Rhonda did not make me feel like she was discriminating against me because I’m not white. Erin, you don’t get to explain how your staff made someone else feel. It was very clear how she wanted her nonverbal communication to come across to us, message received. Erin then offered to buy us some drinks to apologize to us. That’s not what we are looking for. I’m actually not looking for anything from this restaurant! You made me feel uncomfortable...

Fairmont Shores has become a favorite dining spot for my wife and me, thanks to its amazing food and breathtaking view. This was our third visit, and once again, we were blown away by the culinary delights it offered, particularly their famous tater tots.

During our latest visit, I decided to try their patty melt with tater tots, and it was a flavor-packed experience from start to finish. The patty melt was perfection, with a tender and flavorful meat patty cooked to perfection. The seasoning was spot-on, enhancing the overall taste profile. I requested a lightly toasted bun, and it was just the way I like it—perfectly golden and satisfyingly crunchy.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the tater tots. These bite-sized golden wonders were absolutely divine. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, each tot offered an irresistible crunch. They were lightly salted, making them perfectly seasoned on their own. I didn't feel the need to add anything, although I highly recommend trying the Chipotle Mayo on the side for a delightful kick if you enjoy a little extra spice.

What sets Fairmont Shores apart is not just its delectable food, but also its picturesque view. Overlooking Fox Lake, the scenery adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the dining experience. The view is truly captivating, offering a glimpse of one of the most beautiful parts of the Chain. The dock area is always bustling with activity, so it's advisable to arrive early to secure a spot, but it's definitely worth the effort.

In summary, Fairmont Shores is a culinary haven that combines exceptional food with a breathtaking view. From the mouthwatering patty melt to the addictive tater tots, every bite is a burst of flavor. The view overlooking Fox Lake adds a touch of serenity and beauty to the experience. Whether you're a local or a visitor, I highly recommend visiting Fairmont Shores early and often to savor the delightful food, soak in the scenic views, and make...