D'Andrea Banquets: A Crystal Lake Landmark

Chicago’s northwest suburbs experienced huge population growth in the decade of the 90’s. In particular, the town of Crystal Lake in McHenry County saw its population increase by 50% from 24,000 people in 1990 to over 38,000 by the year 2000.

Home sales were soaring as Crystal Lake became a desirable community for families and businesses alike. Grocery stores, retail shops, gas stations and restaurants were all meeting the increasing
demands of the growing village that local officials would declare “a good place to live.” But despite the robust expansion and growth, banquet halls were few and far between.

In the 1980’s, the Hob Nob in Crystal Lake was a top rated restaurant and bar that served lunch and dinner seven days a week. Their lounge area hosted dancing and other fun activities weekly while the Champagne Brunch was a popular feature every Sunday. The Hob Nob could also accommodate private parties for up to 150 people. Eventually, as Crystal Lake would come of age in the 90’s, the opportunity presented itself for Hob Nob to expand its banquet reach.

The restaurant would be completely renovated in the summer of 2002 becoming D’Andrea Banquets and Conference Center. The updated facility was actually the product of a vision birthed many years earlier in the minds of Hob Nob’s owners. Manager Peter Spentzos says, I’ve been a resident of Crystal Lake since the 70’s and have witnessed firsthand the growth of this wonderful town. I’ve had the privilege of serving so many guests over the years whose kids are now grown and celebrating momentous events of their own. The idea of devoting all of our focus on banquets was only natural.”

Now celebrating 16 years, D’Andrea has hosted countless special events including grand weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, christenings and a wide array of corporate functions. The friendly and experienced staff, which has been with D’Andrea since 2002, continue to provide personalized service to every customer no matter the event.

The years have brought many familiar faces to D’Andrea including Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz who attended a friend’s wedding in 2010. Other prominent guests include area politicians, clergy and various government officials. D’Andrea is also pleased to host Pioneer Center’s Annual Book Review Show which has become one of McHenry County’s favorite events during the holidays. It is also D’Andrea’s most attended event of the year.

And when it comes to weddings, D’Andrea truly shines with exceptional amenities designed to please the heart of every bride. With a variety of menu options, romantic ceremony rooms and a spacious ballroom accommodating up to 600 people, D’Andrea is the perfect venue for beautifully memorable wedding receptions.

One of the more interesting receptions was a Disney theme wedding party complete with fun and glitzy Disney-style accessories. Other weddings over the years have featured a myriad of unique and interesting concepts designed for creative minded newlyweds.

Over the years, guests have especially come to appreciate the affordability of wedding packages that feature D’Andrea’s award winning cuisine. D’Andrea’s chefs have over 25 years of culinary experience and have been recognized numerous times by The Northwest Herald, Chicago Bride Magazine and Food Industry News.

Today, D’Andrea continues to provide the same first-rate banquet experience the community has learned to expect since 2002. And the town of Crystal Lake endures as a much sought after village in which to raise a family. The website WalletHub has even ranked Crystal Lake in the top 10 of best small cities in America to live and ranked it very high for quality of schools, access to health care, economic strength and recreational options.

D’Andrea also hosts their annual Bridal Show every January offering prospective brides invaluable information as they plan their special day. The show features bridal vendors offering samples of hors d’oeuvres, wedding cakes, pastries and confections. Participants of the bridal show also learn about area photographers, DJ’s, florists, bridal gown sources, limo companies and luxurious honeymoon ideas provided by travel agents.