Meet the Owners of Syl's Chophouse

The Heritage Corridor has some of the best places to explore, shop, and of course dine. In Rockdale, IL we have an award-winning restaurant, Syl’s Chophouse, located right off I-80 - and it’s worth every bite!

Syl’s Chophouse is a family restaurant serving up a wide range of hearty dinners, from steaks and porkchops to seafood and chicken. Syl’s Chophouse has been around since 2000, however current owners Don & Maura Williams purchased Syl’s in 2019. Don started in the catering business as a teenager and brings years of experience in the food industry to Syl’s.

The atmosphere at Syl’s is like an old school supper club with American steakhouse cuisine. Frequently voted as the best steak and best in fine dining, Syl’s has all the right components, to create the perfect meal.

Like many other local restaurants, Syl’s has had to adjust to the new normal this past year. “When the going got tough, we worked harder and pivoted to adapt to new moderns means,” said Williams. “Our creativity, resilience, and determination to preserve despite the challenges was founded on triumphing for the sake of our employee’s livelihoods and to conserve Syl’s legacy which has been a part of the surrounding community for 75 years.”

What Don and Maura both love about their job is interacting with their guests and being a part of some of the most important days in their lives. They have hosted numerous weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and more.

Not only do they serve delicious cuisine, they are also very involved in the community and have partnered with several organizations like: donating weekly & holiday meals to Guardian Angel Community Services, collecting toys for the Joliet American Legion and Salvation Army, assisting with meals and essentials for frontline workers & vaccinated providers, and donating gift cards to Lightways (formerly Joliet Area Community Hospice), Joliet Area Hospice, to name just a few.

For the future of Syl’s, the Williamses are planning to renovate parts of the building for a familiar, yet updated, dining experience. For more information, visit www.hcdestinations.com/Dining/Syls-Chophouse