The Menu Items At This Illinois Restaurant Are Named After Pop Culture References, And The Food Is Epic
By Linze Rice|Published May 05, 2023
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Linze Rice
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Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Have you ever wondered what type of sub sandwich your favorite character from television would eat if they were real? What kind of panini would Det. Jake Peralta of “Brooklyn 99” order during an overnight shift, or how would She-Hulk customize a quesadilla? Well, wonder no more — this pop culture restaurant in McHenry, Illinois has got you covered with incredible, themed dishes.
Epic Deli, located at 2616 Schaid Court, is a unique restaurant that offers sandwiches, wraps, burgers, ramen, and creative dessert cocktails — many of which are named as a nod to characters from TV shows and movies.
There are both staple menu items and rotating specials each month, typically with multiple options for vegan, vegetarian, and meat-based items. The Lisa Simpson, for example, serves up grilled eggplant on a grilled parmesan-crusted panini with fresh provolone and mozzarella cheeses, roasted red pepper aioli, arugula, roasted red peppers, and a balsamic reduction drizzled on top. A likely Lisa-approved sandwich, since she is a vegetarian, after all.
Swinging in the opposite direction is the Ron Swanson. If you want all the bacon and eggs the diner has, chow down on this: a burger sporting a 1/2 pound of Certified Angus Beef between two patties, topped with bacon, American cheese, bacon-infused mayo, grilled pork belly, and an over-easy egg on a toasted brioche bun.
The Fox Mulder quesadilla is out of this world with Italian beef, mozzarella sticks, hot sauce aioli, more mozzarella and provolone, and wrapped in giardiniera. Pro tip: Dip this bad boy in a side of au jus to soak up as much flavor as you can handle.
Non-meat-eaters are also in for a treat at this epic restaurant, especially with whoppers like The Weird Al — an Impossible burger made elote-style. The vegan patty is grilled to perfection and topped with Teese mozzarella cheese, chipotle vegan mayo, red onion, chopped green onions, pickled jalapeños, and plenty of elotes (aka grilled street corn mixed with cubanelle peppers, chipotle vegan mayo, and a vegan parmesan-style cheese). Of course something this delicious and fun comes on a pretzel bun.
"Eastbound and Down" fans will love The Kenny Powers Crunch-Wrap — packed with pulled pork, root beer barbecue sauce, cheddar, bacon, ghost pepper slaw, and spicy-sour peppers.
The Tobias Funke will make you want to grab your finest pair of cut-off jean shorts and a pirate blouse for this delectable dinner. The wrap combines two 1/4-lb. Certified Angus Beef smash burgers, cheddar, red onion, aioli, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. And what is the wrap made of? Purely mozzarella.
Save room for one of Epic's locally-famous boozy dessert ice cream concoctions, like the Twinkie Espresso Martini. This mouth-watering treat is made with espresso martini liqueur (aka vodka and coffee), Twinkie Iced Latte, whipped cream, and espresso-infused white chocolate.
