Marianne’s Channel Inn

This place was a liquor store at one point. And when I moved to the area, seen it was a restaurant so my boyfriend, son and I stopped in for lunch. First off, the service is horrible. We both asked for waters and she comes back with 1 glass. So we ask for another glass and 10 minutes later still nothing. So had to remind her again. The salad bar wasn’t the freshest. The iceberg lettuce had brown pieces in it. The soup was just okay. The crackers you can add were stale. I had ordered the kids mac n cheese for my son and it was disgusting! It was cold and watery!!! So I asked the waitress for ckn tenders instead and she wasn’t very polite about it. The ckn tenders were a lot better but by that time my son wasn’t hungry since he had shared our meals with us. The burger I had was just okay and they screwed up my order and I didn’t have the toppings I asked for. So asking the waitress for what I asked for took forever. We decided to give it one more shot. So I had ordered the prime rib which was just okay. It was a little overcooked and nothing special at all about it. And my boyfriend had the ribeye and he said it was just okay too. We thought it was a little overpriced for the quality of food you get. My boyfriend really likes the breakfast skillets from here but thats about it! I wouldn’t recommend this place. There’s nothing special about it and the service just sucks. There’s never really anyone in here and now I know why.

Recently reopened. (February) And by all accounts, the best food in Fox Lake. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Good menu. No pizza anymore but recently added flatbreads to the menu. Just an all around great place for lunch or dinner. (check out the secret Mexican menu!)

Time to clean!!!
Seated in a booth next to the window and noticed that the walls are in dire need of paint and there was a thick layer of dust everywhere. I couldn’t help but wonder about how clean the kitchen is.
Salad bar is okay for 1985. Soup and salad were average. The food here is not that good. I’ve had the fish fry and pizza. It’s okay. I wouldn’t eat here if I didnt’ have a buy one get one free.
This place has really let it slide and is stuck in the bye gone area… at least then the food was good.

Come every Wednesday for the tortilla crusted tilapia with sweet potato. Plus the great salad bar, we won’t miss it. Great food. Homey atmosphere Just a warm and cozy place to be with huge portions at reasonable prices. Oh and the pot pie is to die for, just come hungry.

Things started well. Clam chowder and chicken dumpling soup were quite good, as was the fresh baked bread. The salad bar is pretty abysmal in terms of variety, but what little was offered was at least fresh. Unfortunately, the entrees were a complete letdown. We both ordered pan fried walleye, and it frankly was awful. Under the breading on a lot of the fish was a nasty, tough skin. Most of mine was edible, but my wife couldn’t eat more than a few bites. I mentioned the problem to the waitress and she graciously offered to take my wife’s fish off the bill and just charge her for soup and salad. That sounded reasonable enough, but when the bill came the charge for my wife’s meal was $ 7.95, only $ 2 less than the fish cost. $ 7.95 is a JOKE for soup and that lame salad bar! Especially considering she only had a cup of soup and didn’t even have any salad. We left feeling disappointed and ripped off, and probably won’t return. There are just too many other options in the area with vastly superior Friday fish fries.

Marina feel, good dinner specials, Chicago-​style waitstaff, and fabulous skirt steaks. Not hipster, but a quality local experience.

I’m new to Fox Lake, a transplant from Chicago. I’ve been to the Channel Inn 2 times now and have been totally impressed each time. When you walk into the place, it is very small and comfortable, But you will never expect to see so much variety on the menu.
Glad to have found a quality place so close to my new home.
Highly recommended.

Wonderful menu. The Friday special of Tortilla Crusted Tilapia is to die for. It’s making my mouth water just thinking about it.
Portions are huge. If you order pasta, it is usually served in a big pyrex bowl. Enough to have dinner for two the next day. The spaghetti with sausage, spinach and mushrooms with tomato sauce is my favorite pasta.
The chicken pot pie is the size of a real pie and beautiful.
The soups are delicious. The salad bar is small but I’ve never had a problem filling a plate with lots of goodies.
The staff is very nice. Bartenders great. Often the owners are hanging out there as well. It is a small place and I think that is some of their appeal.
I have never tried their breakfasts but I hear raves about it from folks who have.
I can’t wait to go back!!!