Deep in the heart of Algonquin,
Illinois is a tavern called the Riverview. It includes a dining room, bar, deck, and
pizza take-out and
delivery area. The menu is
diverse, including many
sandwiches,
foldovers,
wraps,
pasta,
chicken,
ribs,
seafood, and, of course,
pizza. The patrons are mostly
working-class people who enjoy good
food and
strong drink. Every table is served up a hearty basket of
beer nuggets upon arrival.
Complimentary.
The name refers to the
Fox River an important body of
water for the northwestern
suburbs of
Chicago. Although you can't see the
river at all from Riverview's current location, it once rested almost on the bank right in
downtown Algonquin. Unfortunately, the area is
rapidly growing and
traffic problems compelled
the government to make the restaurant (which had been there since 1913, when the Riverview first opened as an inn). into a
right-turn lane. Originally, the owner refused the
paltry amount of money offered for the property, but, after a lengthy set of
legal battles with IDOT, (
Illinois dept. of
Transportation) he was forced to sell and build on a new location, just outside
downtown, on
main street.
It (was) also
Lunarloki's
place of employment.