A location with 2 previous restaurant failures seems to take a new turn as the previously named Hennessey’s and Giorgio’s Grill is bought by Mike Hussey to open Hussey’s Restaurant in Zion.

Hussey’s is open as of June 19th or so, just in time for Zion’s famous Nostalgia Days weekend. To fix what Hennessey’s and Giorgio’s had wrong with it, Hussey’s now has a nice outdoor patio, much more open space inside, and a menu to fit the economic climate.

Hussey’s is bringing back the famous Rook’s broasted chicken, a long time favorite of Zion residents. Also returning is Green River soda and strawberry rhubarb pie. Hussey’s will be serving lunch and dinner, and will have senior specials to cater to the growing senior-retiree crowd in Zion and the area.

My Review
I went to Hussey’s in Zion around July 6th. It wasn’t too hot outside, but the patio was empty. The “dinner tables” inside were packed with a variety of people: some retirees, a few families with young kids, and a few empty nesters. It was a nice mix, and about half the tables were occupied. I sat at the bar.

The bar was a wonderful biker crowd, some who were driving in from Wisconsin, others more local. They all either knew each other, or acted like it. Hussey’s felt a little like Chicago’s Exit Bar in its better days. Hussey’s has motorcycle parking spots lined up perfectly to handle many bikers, so it will be quite a draw.

The bar selection is very limited, with a decent run of draft beers and mostly well liquors. The food menu is hilarious, with nearly everything misspelled. It’s the classic bar/diner food: chicken fingers, burgers, deep fried foods, etc. The prices are a bit high, but they have to be considered the cost of food in general. The wait staff was all female, and they were very nice and kind and fast to serve.

I had a fantastic steak sandwich: this was a 1″ piece of steak about 9″ long (photos to come shortly). For $9, it was the steal of the menu. Their sweet potato fries were fabulous, and cooked to perfection, as was the steak.

Overall, I give Hussey’s a product rating 4 stars instead of 5, only because I prefer a neater and higher end environment. For the price it’s perfect, a great place to hang out with families, bikers and the locals. I saw Mike Hussey himself towards the end, and he was jovial and happy as an owner should be. The service was 5-star definitely, but more in terms of friendly atmosphere than actual perfect service. It’s a fun restaurant and bar, not a upper-tier foodie joint, and I have no problem with that. They cater to what the people want.

I’ll be back again in the very near future.