Weber Grill Restaurants: A Tradition Fueled by Connection

For more than 75 years, the Weber name has been synonymous with outdoor cooking, great food and bringing people together. Today, Weber Grill Restaurants, operated by Weber Grill Restaurants LLC, carries on that tradition through its restaurants and cooking schools, creating spaces where guests can gather, connect and share memorable experiences.

With locations in Chicago, Indianapolis, Schaumburg, Lombard and Orland Park, the restaurant group employs approximately 250 people and serves communities across the Midwest. Since opening its first restaurant in Wheeling, Illinois, in 1989, Weber Grill Restaurants has remained committed to exceptional hospitality and live-fire cooking.

"Our cooking classes really allow us to share some of the wealth of knowledge that we have," said Jon Crost, chief operating officer of Weber Grill Restaurants. "Restaurants are still places for people to gather. They're social environments for people to step away from their tablets and their handheld devices and be with one another around a great meal."

Founded on the legacy of George Stephen's iconic Weber grill, the restaurants combine legendary charcoal grilling with professional kitchen operations powered by natural gas. Beyond serving guests in their dining rooms, Weber Grill Restaurants also operates cooking schools where community members can learn grilling techniques and gain hands-on experience from culinary professionals.

To deliver a consistent dining experience, Weber Grill Restaurants relies on natural gas to power much of its commercial kitchen equipment, including fryers, ovens, ranges and griddles. According to Crost, natural gas helps provide the reliability and consistency needed in a busy restaurant environment.

"We choose natural gas for a lot of our cooking equipment because it's safe, reliable and consistent," Crost said. "In a commercial kitchen, you have equipment that has multiple pilot lights that are on at all times and equipment that needs to be safe for employees and guests."

Nicor Gas currently serves Weber Grill Restaurant locations in Schaumburg, Lombard and Orland Park. Reliability, responsiveness and efficiency are especially important as restaurants continue to navigate challenges such as inflation and rising operating costs. Weber Grill Restaurants focuses on finding ways to operate efficiently without compromising the quality guests expect, and natural gas helps support that goal.

The company's commitment extends beyond its restaurants. Each location supports charitable organizations and community initiatives, while also creating career opportunities for people at every stage of their professional journey. Many members of the leadership team started in front-line restaurant roles and advanced through the organization.

"Hospitality, to us, is a career," Crost said. "It's a choice. It's a craft."

Whether guests are celebrating a milestone, sharing a family meal, learning a new skill or simply enjoying time with friends, Weber Grill Restaurants continues to fulfill its mission of bringing people together. By pairing the timeless tradition of charcoal grilling with the efficiency and reliability of natural gas, the company is helping create places where conversation, community and connection can thrive.