Taste of Himalayas
110 North 3rd Street, St. Charles, IL
Cuisine Type: Indian/Nepali
Price: $$
I was spinning a globe at work the other day (every employee gets one) and decided that wherever my finger landed, Theresa & I would try to find a restaurant with that cuisine. The first 65 times I landed in Antarctica (ok so they’re poorly made globes), the 66th time I was out in space somewhere (I landed on my tape dispenser) but the 67th time I landed in the Himalayas. Normally when I think of the Himalayas, I think of three things: mountains, mountain ranges and Mount Everest, so I can only assume the area’s diet consists of rock and glacial ice. Luckily Theresa reminded me that you can’t cook rocks and we remembered a place called Taste of Himalayas in St Charles that specializes in Himalayan cuisine, so off we went.
ATMOSPHERE: Located right off the main drag of downtown St Charles just behind the Filling Station, Taste of Himalayas is in a wide-facing building with a large patio out front. The inside is well-laid out and comfortable, has a fully stocked bar and few Nepali items for flair (look for the dagger on the wall), and felt equally accommodating to both casual and formal dress. The secondary dining area towards the back holds a lunch buffet and more seating.
DRINKS: There’s a full list of 22oz and 12oz Indian beers to try here. Theresa chose the Haywards 5000, a pretty straightforward and flavorful lager, and I chose the Flying Horse, a lager so light and sweet it was almost juicelike; it felt like the ultimate beer-to-cool-down-with-on-a-hot-day, I’ll have to look for it at Binnie’s this summer.
FOOD: The menu is primarily Indian cuisine with Nepali-style dishes and has a ton of vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings like tandoori specialties, poultry, fish, lamb, veggies, breads and more. We ordered the kashi ko Bhutuwa appetizer, boneless goat meat stir fried with Nepalese spices and cilantro, a little lettuce & cucumber on the side: oh good god, delicious. Every time I’ve had goat it makes me wonder why more places don’t serve it, the meat has a natural sweet gamey/spice to it that was only enhanced with the crisped edges from the stir fry. We had to stop ourselves to leave room for the entrees on the way.
Our entrees arrived a few minutes later, accompanied by basmati rice and excellent tandoori bread. Theresa ordered the chicken tikka masala, marinated boneless chicken roasted in a spicy tomato sauce garnished with ginger & cilantro. The dish was everything she expected it to be plus more. The spiced & creamy tomato sauce complimented the tender tandoori cooked chicken and was quickly a favorite of Theresa's. I ordered the lamb palak, boneless lamb pieces cooked with fresh spinach and Indian sauce, garnished with ginger. Impossible to say anything bad about it, it was fantastic: the lamb pieces were big and tender, the sauce was thick, spicy and rich with a little heat to it, and it all mixed deliciously with the rice and bread. This dish can trick you into thinking you’re not eating as much as you actually are, because it won’t fill you up until 15 minutes after you stop, so I suggest taking it slow!
SERVICE: Friendly, quick and helpful service; our table was waited on by two different guys, each of whom couldn’t have been better if they tried, stopping over frequently to top off our beer glasses and ask if we needed anything else. The owner even stopped by to check on us, and I hope he understood (despite a full mouth) how enthusiastic we were about everything.
OVERALL: A great experience all around, we were thrilled to have tried it. It has different beers, amazing food, great service and is a short walking distance from plenty of St Charles bars. Prices can lean a bit upwards for some drinks & dishes, but everything else easily makes up for it. We were all praise, no complaints. Very highly recommended!
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Anytime, no globe needed!
- Review by Jon
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Spy who fed me.
Safe House
779 N. Front Street, Milwaukee, WI
Cuisine Type: American/Bar & Grill
Price: $$
Safe House was one of the most unique and coolest dining experience I think we've come across so far in our travels.
ATMOSPHERE: Safe House is a Spy themed restaurant in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Not only is it "themed" after spies... it takes the definition of the word theme to a whole new level. Upon entering the establishment, which is located in a secret entrance in an alley, you are led to a room where you have to disclose to the woman a secret password to enter. (You'll have to figure the password out for yourself, it's more fun that way!) If you know the password you will be let in without a problem... however, if you don't, they will require you to do something to humilate yourself... such as hula hooping or doing a robot dance. Once you've done this, the secret door will open and you will enter the establishment... only to find that your humiliating experience was just viewed on multiple televisions throughout the restaurant. It's fantastic! Besides carrying on the whole James Bond and miscellanous spy movie theme, the whole restaurant filled with a slew of surprises. Secret doors, windows, mirrors, moving walls... etc. I won't spoil all of the suprises as you'd be best off witnessing them yourself. Make sure you walk around and explore every nook and cranny, there's so much hiding right in front of your face that you just might miss if you're not looking. All I can say is that it was one of the coolest, most interactive dining experiences ever.
DRINKS: They had a huge variety of alcoholic drinks. We opted to go for their custom Microbrew called "Code Beer" that was served in a souvenier mason jar glass. After you buy the glass (with beer inside) for $5.00, refills after that are only $2.50! That's a great deal! They also have a great selection of other various microbrews on tap as well. As far as signature cocktails, they have a wide range of those as well with their own signature souvenier glasses. There is also a $25 enormous martini that you can buy and keep the glass as well! As far as non-alcoholic drinks go, you'll find your standard sodas and such.
FOOD: The food here is your typical American Bar & Grill fare. We started with the spinach dip and pita triangles for an appetizer and it was delicious and addicting!! I opted for the Spy Burger with american cheese and Jon got the burger as well with a little mexican international flare(salsa & pepperjack cheese). The burgers were delicious and extremely filling and I was happy to see that they had crinkle cut fries to go along with it. Another person at our table ordered the Foccacia club sandwich and it was HUGE! Definately worth the money. The other entrees amongst our table included the Vegetable Lasagna with a cup of Tortilla soup and the Country Fried Steak. I didn't get a chance to taste those, but they seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. All in all, the food was pretty basic and decent for the most part, but you can tell the whole incentive to visit this establishment is for the atmosphere.
SERVICE: On a kind of negative note, I can't say that the service here was that great. Sure, it was Saturday night and extremely busy... and our waitress let us know that she had about 9 other tables to take care of... but, I would think that since this place seems pretty busy on a regular basis, that the owners should try and have more waiters on staff on the busy nights. It took a long time for her to visit the table initially... probably about 5-10 minutes and after we ordered each drink, it took about 10 minutes for her to bring it out to us despite the fact that the bar was right behind us. I was going to request some mayo with my burger, but didn't want to risk the 5-10 minutes it may have taken her to bring it out to me, so I just ate what I had in front of me. Maybe on another night of the week besides Saturday the service here is better, but again, I think the main focus here is on the atmosphere, not the service.
OVERALL: I'd say this is a great place to visit if you're in downtown Milwaukee. It's fun, unusual and unlike any restaurant you'll ever visit. The food is decent and the service is on the slow side, but it's great if you're not in a hurry, looking for some cool drinks out on the town and are looking for an interactive dining experience.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Definately! It would most likely be for the ambiance, but the food isn't bad either!
- Review by Theresa
779 N. Front Street, Milwaukee, WI
Cuisine Type: American/Bar & Grill
Price: $$
Safe House was one of the most unique and coolest dining experience I think we've come across so far in our travels.
ATMOSPHERE: Safe House is a Spy themed restaurant in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Not only is it "themed" after spies... it takes the definition of the word theme to a whole new level. Upon entering the establishment, which is located in a secret entrance in an alley, you are led to a room where you have to disclose to the woman a secret password to enter. (You'll have to figure the password out for yourself, it's more fun that way!) If you know the password you will be let in without a problem... however, if you don't, they will require you to do something to humilate yourself... such as hula hooping or doing a robot dance. Once you've done this, the secret door will open and you will enter the establishment... only to find that your humiliating experience was just viewed on multiple televisions throughout the restaurant. It's fantastic! Besides carrying on the whole James Bond and miscellanous spy movie theme, the whole restaurant filled with a slew of surprises. Secret doors, windows, mirrors, moving walls... etc. I won't spoil all of the suprises as you'd be best off witnessing them yourself. Make sure you walk around and explore every nook and cranny, there's so much hiding right in front of your face that you just might miss if you're not looking. All I can say is that it was one of the coolest, most interactive dining experiences ever.
DRINKS: They had a huge variety of alcoholic drinks. We opted to go for their custom Microbrew called "Code Beer" that was served in a souvenier mason jar glass. After you buy the glass (with beer inside) for $5.00, refills after that are only $2.50! That's a great deal! They also have a great selection of other various microbrews on tap as well. As far as signature cocktails, they have a wide range of those as well with their own signature souvenier glasses. There is also a $25 enormous martini that you can buy and keep the glass as well! As far as non-alcoholic drinks go, you'll find your standard sodas and such.
FOOD: The food here is your typical American Bar & Grill fare. We started with the spinach dip and pita triangles for an appetizer and it was delicious and addicting!! I opted for the Spy Burger with american cheese and Jon got the burger as well with a little mexican international flare(salsa & pepperjack cheese). The burgers were delicious and extremely filling and I was happy to see that they had crinkle cut fries to go along with it. Another person at our table ordered the Foccacia club sandwich and it was HUGE! Definately worth the money. The other entrees amongst our table included the Vegetable Lasagna with a cup of Tortilla soup and the Country Fried Steak. I didn't get a chance to taste those, but they seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. All in all, the food was pretty basic and decent for the most part, but you can tell the whole incentive to visit this establishment is for the atmosphere.
SERVICE: On a kind of negative note, I can't say that the service here was that great. Sure, it was Saturday night and extremely busy... and our waitress let us know that she had about 9 other tables to take care of... but, I would think that since this place seems pretty busy on a regular basis, that the owners should try and have more waiters on staff on the busy nights. It took a long time for her to visit the table initially... probably about 5-10 minutes and after we ordered each drink, it took about 10 minutes for her to bring it out to us despite the fact that the bar was right behind us. I was going to request some mayo with my burger, but didn't want to risk the 5-10 minutes it may have taken her to bring it out to me, so I just ate what I had in front of me. Maybe on another night of the week besides Saturday the service here is better, but again, I think the main focus here is on the atmosphere, not the service.
OVERALL: I'd say this is a great place to visit if you're in downtown Milwaukee. It's fun, unusual and unlike any restaurant you'll ever visit. The food is decent and the service is on the slow side, but it's great if you're not in a hurry, looking for some cool drinks out on the town and are looking for an interactive dining experience.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Definately! It would most likely be for the ambiance, but the food isn't bad either!
- Review by Theresa
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
A touch of Japan in the heart of Orland Park
Fuji Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
15132 South LaGrange Road, Orland Park, Illinois
Cuisine: Japanese Hibachi/Sushi
Price: $$-$$$
Although it was a longer drive to get out here from our neck of the woods, I was really happy with the overall experience and food that Fuji provided to us.
ATMOSPHERE: Even though Fuji is tucked away in a mini-mall, don't let that scare you, it is definately worth checking out. Upon entering, we noticed right away that this place was packed! However, we had a reservation, so we got our table right away. There was a small amount of japanese decor around, but my eye was drawn to the several hibachi grills looming before us. I will say that compared to other hibachi style restaurants we've been to, the seating and spacing between tables was a little tight. However, I know that they only had so much space to work with, so they utilized it very appropriately.
DRINKS: We didn't delve too deeply into the drinks because we were on the spot to order quickly, so, we opted for the traditional japanese beers, I got a Sapporo and Jon got the Asahi. I did notice that they had a variety of Saki, Wine and a full bar available as well.
FOOD: I decided to go with the Hibachi Chicken and Garlic Shrimp combo, while Jon opted for the Scallops and Calamari hibachi style. To start with, they bring out a cup of onion soup in a light broth along with a Fuji Salad with Ginger dressing. Several people at our table ordered Sushi for an appetizer and I will say that the one spicy tuna roll I tried definately was in the top five of sushi restaurants in the area; it was delicious! After our soup and Salad, our Hibachi chef showed up and started grilling up the fried rice. The giant fireball he created from the oil on the gril was definately a spectacle! He did some very entertaining egg tricks in which he flipped them up in the air with his spatula and then cracked them open and fried them to go along with the rice. After that, he cooked up the vegetables in which he did the traditional onion volcano trick and then moved onto the meats.
The Garlic Shrimp was AMAZING! Even though everyone at the table made some cracks at how my breath was going to smell afterwards, it wasn't overpowering. The shrimp had a great flavor and perfect tenderness. In between cooking the chicken, he served Jon his scallops and calamari. Jon's dish made me wish that I ordered his. The scallops were succulent and not chewy or dried out. The Calamari was suprisingly tender and flavorful as well! It was nice to try calamari for once unfried. After the seafood, our chef cooked up the chicken. The chicken was definately good, but it was a tad on the dry side after having tried the scallops and calamari. It was still good however, and is a great standby for those who are afraid of seafood.
After everything was cooked, he even went on to cook mushrooms and sprouts. At this point, I felt like after eating for 30 minutes, that my plate just kept filling itself up again!! We had SO much food! I threw in the towel shortly after and asked for a box to take my goodies home in.
After all of the main course eating was over... I got news that we got ice cream too! Oi! Jon and I opted to get the Green Tea ice cream since I had never tried that before and it was wonderful! (The other two choices were vanilla and sherbert). On top of ice cream, we were also given sliced oranges.
SERVICE: The service was right on target, the waitresses were fast and attentive, never letting anything go empty or letting empty plates sit around for too long.
Overall, I would say that this is a fantastic hibachi grill to visit. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious and the atmopshere was definately fun and entertaining. Sure, the prices may be a bit high, but you definately get what you pay for in food (including soup, salad, rice, meat, veggies, ice cream & fruit). Definately check it out if you're in the area, you won't be sorry!
WOULD WE GO BACK? In a heartbeat! This place is worth every penny!
- Review by Theresa
15132 South LaGrange Road, Orland Park, Illinois
Cuisine: Japanese Hibachi/Sushi
Price: $$-$$$
Although it was a longer drive to get out here from our neck of the woods, I was really happy with the overall experience and food that Fuji provided to us.
ATMOSPHERE: Even though Fuji is tucked away in a mini-mall, don't let that scare you, it is definately worth checking out. Upon entering, we noticed right away that this place was packed! However, we had a reservation, so we got our table right away. There was a small amount of japanese decor around, but my eye was drawn to the several hibachi grills looming before us. I will say that compared to other hibachi style restaurants we've been to, the seating and spacing between tables was a little tight. However, I know that they only had so much space to work with, so they utilized it very appropriately.
DRINKS: We didn't delve too deeply into the drinks because we were on the spot to order quickly, so, we opted for the traditional japanese beers, I got a Sapporo and Jon got the Asahi. I did notice that they had a variety of Saki, Wine and a full bar available as well.
FOOD: I decided to go with the Hibachi Chicken and Garlic Shrimp combo, while Jon opted for the Scallops and Calamari hibachi style. To start with, they bring out a cup of onion soup in a light broth along with a Fuji Salad with Ginger dressing. Several people at our table ordered Sushi for an appetizer and I will say that the one spicy tuna roll I tried definately was in the top five of sushi restaurants in the area; it was delicious! After our soup and Salad, our Hibachi chef showed up and started grilling up the fried rice. The giant fireball he created from the oil on the gril was definately a spectacle! He did some very entertaining egg tricks in which he flipped them up in the air with his spatula and then cracked them open and fried them to go along with the rice. After that, he cooked up the vegetables in which he did the traditional onion volcano trick and then moved onto the meats.
The Garlic Shrimp was AMAZING! Even though everyone at the table made some cracks at how my breath was going to smell afterwards, it wasn't overpowering. The shrimp had a great flavor and perfect tenderness. In between cooking the chicken, he served Jon his scallops and calamari. Jon's dish made me wish that I ordered his. The scallops were succulent and not chewy or dried out. The Calamari was suprisingly tender and flavorful as well! It was nice to try calamari for once unfried. After the seafood, our chef cooked up the chicken. The chicken was definately good, but it was a tad on the dry side after having tried the scallops and calamari. It was still good however, and is a great standby for those who are afraid of seafood.
After everything was cooked, he even went on to cook mushrooms and sprouts. At this point, I felt like after eating for 30 minutes, that my plate just kept filling itself up again!! We had SO much food! I threw in the towel shortly after and asked for a box to take my goodies home in.
After all of the main course eating was over... I got news that we got ice cream too! Oi! Jon and I opted to get the Green Tea ice cream since I had never tried that before and it was wonderful! (The other two choices were vanilla and sherbert). On top of ice cream, we were also given sliced oranges.
SERVICE: The service was right on target, the waitresses were fast and attentive, never letting anything go empty or letting empty plates sit around for too long.
Overall, I would say that this is a fantastic hibachi grill to visit. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious and the atmopshere was definately fun and entertaining. Sure, the prices may be a bit high, but you definately get what you pay for in food (including soup, salad, rice, meat, veggies, ice cream & fruit). Definately check it out if you're in the area, you won't be sorry!
WOULD WE GO BACK? In a heartbeat! This place is worth every penny!
- Review by Theresa
Tequila!
Tequila's Mexican Restaurant & Nightclub
1101 N. LaFox Street (route 31), South Elgin, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Price: $-$$
After collectively realizing we were slipping in our recommended daily salsa intake, Theresa and I headed over to Tequila’s Mexican restaurant in South Elgin for dinner. Located in a small strip mall off Rt 31, Tequilas is a short drive down Rt 20 from Pingree – GPS users take note that your destination may be a block or two off, but the sign is easy enough to spot from the street.
ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is much bigger inside than it looks from the street (it doubles as a nightclub after dinner hours), and holds a casual authenticity not found in other Mexican restaurants thanks to the latino pop soundtrack and lack of “Zorro’s aged Spanish villa” decorations. The entrance is plastered with flyers for upcoming DJs & live acts, tequila bottles adorn the walls, and a large wooden dance floor is located right next to the bar. While on our way out, I noticed there was another whole bar/club in the back of the restaurant already jumping with a live band, and the lit area around our table was already dimming in preparation for the Friday night crowd. It’s obvious the place parties after the kitchen closes, but it makes the restaurant no less comfortable to eat in – no effort was made to rush us out, but the “eating time is over, now we dance” vibe was undeniable. We got a laugh out of it.
DRINKS: Since we were with friends and already started catching up when our drink order was taken, we didn’t spend too much time browsing the selection. Needless to say they had a good selection of margaritas, Mexican beers and tequila (I’m guessing) to choose from. Theresa went with a Dos Equis and I ordered a Modelo served in a chilled salt-rimmed mug, mmm.
FOOD: To start, they gave us a sampling of various salsas and chips; They had your traditional spicy salsa, a black bean salsa, pico de gallo salsa (amazing), and another green chili/sour cream conncoction that they wouldn't give us the secret to. The actual menu can intimidate you, there are lots of appetizers, entrees and specials that all sound great. I eventually chose the ground beef flautas – three small flour tortillas filled with ground beef and fried, served with rice, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, refried beans and guacamole on the side for piling on top. Normally I’m not a fan of fried dishes, but these were fried lightly enough to give the tortillas some crispness without drenching them in oil, and the beef inside was lightly spiced. What surprised me was the lightness of the dish throughout, nothing felt heavy or greasy, and the right amount of sides were given with the dish so you can enjoy the entire thing without having to be rolled out of the place on a wheelbarrow. Theresa ordered the pork tamales with red sauce covered in cheese. She said that it held an amazing flavor and wasn't too heavy on the sauces or cheese. It also came accompanied by enough rice and beans to feed a mariachi band.
SERVICE: Our waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable about the cuisine and was a good sport about us being silly at the table, especially when Steve’s enormous bubbling steamy witch cauldron dish (I believe it was the Parrillada, a huge meat filled dish meant for two) arrived.
OVERALL: Tequila’s is a great place to grab a casual lunch or dinner – the food is delicious and affordable, the atmosphere is friendly, and the witch cauldron dishes guarantee a laugh. Just be out after dinner hours or you’ll be trampled on the dance floor ;)
WOULD WE GO BACK? For sure! It's a great tasting authentic meal for a great price, you can't beat that!
- Review by Jon
1101 N. LaFox Street (route 31), South Elgin, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Price: $-$$
After collectively realizing we were slipping in our recommended daily salsa intake, Theresa and I headed over to Tequila’s Mexican restaurant in South Elgin for dinner. Located in a small strip mall off Rt 31, Tequilas is a short drive down Rt 20 from Pingree – GPS users take note that your destination may be a block or two off, but the sign is easy enough to spot from the street.
ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is much bigger inside than it looks from the street (it doubles as a nightclub after dinner hours), and holds a casual authenticity not found in other Mexican restaurants thanks to the latino pop soundtrack and lack of “Zorro’s aged Spanish villa” decorations. The entrance is plastered with flyers for upcoming DJs & live acts, tequila bottles adorn the walls, and a large wooden dance floor is located right next to the bar. While on our way out, I noticed there was another whole bar/club in the back of the restaurant already jumping with a live band, and the lit area around our table was already dimming in preparation for the Friday night crowd. It’s obvious the place parties after the kitchen closes, but it makes the restaurant no less comfortable to eat in – no effort was made to rush us out, but the “eating time is over, now we dance” vibe was undeniable. We got a laugh out of it.
DRINKS: Since we were with friends and already started catching up when our drink order was taken, we didn’t spend too much time browsing the selection. Needless to say they had a good selection of margaritas, Mexican beers and tequila (I’m guessing) to choose from. Theresa went with a Dos Equis and I ordered a Modelo served in a chilled salt-rimmed mug, mmm.
FOOD: To start, they gave us a sampling of various salsas and chips; They had your traditional spicy salsa, a black bean salsa, pico de gallo salsa (amazing), and another green chili/sour cream conncoction that they wouldn't give us the secret to. The actual menu can intimidate you, there are lots of appetizers, entrees and specials that all sound great. I eventually chose the ground beef flautas – three small flour tortillas filled with ground beef and fried, served with rice, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, refried beans and guacamole on the side for piling on top. Normally I’m not a fan of fried dishes, but these were fried lightly enough to give the tortillas some crispness without drenching them in oil, and the beef inside was lightly spiced. What surprised me was the lightness of the dish throughout, nothing felt heavy or greasy, and the right amount of sides were given with the dish so you can enjoy the entire thing without having to be rolled out of the place on a wheelbarrow. Theresa ordered the pork tamales with red sauce covered in cheese. She said that it held an amazing flavor and wasn't too heavy on the sauces or cheese. It also came accompanied by enough rice and beans to feed a mariachi band.
SERVICE: Our waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable about the cuisine and was a good sport about us being silly at the table, especially when Steve’s enormous bubbling steamy witch cauldron dish (I believe it was the Parrillada, a huge meat filled dish meant for two) arrived.
OVERALL: Tequila’s is a great place to grab a casual lunch or dinner – the food is delicious and affordable, the atmosphere is friendly, and the witch cauldron dishes guarantee a laugh. Just be out after dinner hours or you’ll be trampled on the dance floor ;)
WOULD WE GO BACK? For sure! It's a great tasting authentic meal for a great price, you can't beat that!
- Review by Jon
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Regional Cuisine with a Gourmet Twist
Harvest Restaurant
Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main St., St. Charles, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Regional/American/French
Price: $$-$$$
ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is part of the main building, and a small walkway linking different resort areas leads directly into Harvest; $6 valet parking is available. Plenty of people going here & there inside. You first walk into the lounge/bar (which was already busy), and the hostess' counter is at the back. I was a little underwhelmed by the atmosphere for two reasons: first, the look of the restaurant as some of the walls were elementary school-style glazed brick and the booths an old, dark wood that made the place seem a little outdated. Second, it was louder than I expected a nice restaurant to be, like everyone had made this their second stop for the night. Not major enough issues to be disappointed though, because we were having a later dinner than usual and the restaurant location may have been used as another resort business in the past.
OVERALL: Absolutely recommended for the food and wine, slightly less so for the atmosphere. Try to sidestep the valet if you can, as it's not worth $6 for the attendant to pull your car up when it's only parked 2 feet away.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Jon - Probably not, Theresa - Maybe if it was less like a Frat house crowd in a shopping mall and more like an elegant restaurant like it's supposed to be
- Review by Jon
Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main St., St. Charles, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Regional/American/French
Price: $$-$$$
For our VDay dinner, I decided on Harvest at St Charles' Pheasant Run Resort. Specializing in local American cuisine, it was a nice way to end the day and check out a bit of what Pheasant Run had to offer. I used to work a horrible job a short distance from the resort, so I was eager to dispel my smolderingly volcanic dislike for the area with something more enjoyable.
ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is part of the main building, and a small walkway linking different resort areas leads directly into Harvest; $6 valet parking is available. Plenty of people going here & there inside. You first walk into the lounge/bar (which was already busy), and the hostess' counter is at the back. I was a little underwhelmed by the atmosphere for two reasons: first, the look of the restaurant as some of the walls were elementary school-style glazed brick and the booths an old, dark wood that made the place seem a little outdated. Second, it was louder than I expected a nice restaurant to be, like everyone had made this their second stop for the night. Not major enough issues to be disappointed though, because we were having a later dinner than usual and the restaurant location may have been used as another resort business in the past.
DRINKS: Having met our beer quota earlier in the day at Barley House we were only interested in the wine list, which contained plenty of choices both affordable (our pick was Stone Cellar Merlot, $26) and refined (Snooty Top Hat & Monocle Guy Vineyards, $94). Ok I made that last one up but there's a lot to pick from, served in large wine glasses that help to open up the flavor - the Stone Cellar was very good, warm and slightly fruity without being too sweet or dry.
FOOD: All the food easily made up for the lesser atmosphere. Theresa chose the leading entree of the chef's seasonal selection, the pan seared veal medallions, and I chose the house specialty of pan-roasted pheasant w/ juniper berry sauce, caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, green beans and fingerling potatoes. Both were outstanding; the pheasant (a bigger one than I expected) was roasted perfectly and paired very well with the mushrooms and sauce, and the small cornbread dumpling was a great addition to the flavors. It was also a nice surprise to see a full plate of food for each dish - I have no problem with restaurants that serve minimal food for the sake of presentation or flavor, but these had the best of both worlds - excellent flavors, presentation, plating, and plenty left to take home. Also, kudos for having delicious herbal wheat bread and spiced butter before the meal. Nothing here was short of delicious.
Pan roasted Pheasant w/juniper Berry Sauce
Pan-seared veal medallions w/garlic mashed poatoes
Pan roasted Pheasant w/juniper Berry Sauce
Pan-seared veal medallions w/garlic mashed poatoesSERVICE: Friendly and confident, the waitress raved about the chef's talent in the kitchen, stating "If he goes, I go." Apparently I reminded her of someone who had been there before, so at least I know my evil twin is getting out to eat well, too. Minor mix-up as we left when Theresa's leftovers she wanted boxed were thrown out, but replaced with a fresh dish.
OVERALL: Absolutely recommended for the food and wine, slightly less so for the atmosphere. Try to sidestep the valet if you can, as it's not worth $6 for the attendant to pull your car up when it's only parked 2 feet away.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Jon - Probably not, Theresa - Maybe if it was less like a Frat house crowd in a shopping mall and more like an elegant restaurant like it's supposed to be
- Review by Jon
220 Microbrews... and Irish food to boot!
Barley House Restaurant
1520 Randall Road, Algonquin, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Irish/American
Price: $$
After attending a great Valentine's Day wine tasting & massive chocolate fountain spread at Village Vintner in Carpentersville, the new Barley House just down the street sounded like a good idea for lunch. We had tried once before to stop there for a drink on a Friday night just after it opened, but the long wait (27 hours for a bar seat) and heavy crowds drove us away; this time we were seated immediately after walking in, no waiting.
ATMOSPHERE: Built from the stony leprechaun carcass of The Claddagh (another Irish-themed restaurant) after it closed, Barley House has an upscale Irish pub look & feel inside: Celtic knots, thick wood furniture, exposed stone, black/green/brown colors, back lit stained glass windows set into the walls and plenty of Guinness paraphernalia (but points off for misspelling GUINNESS on the menu!) The dining area and bar were open enough when we arrived around 3:45, but when we left at 5 the place was filling up quicker than a line of emerald isle tourists to kiss the blarney stone.
DRINKS: The beer selection is itself a good reason to visit as they feature an extensive list of stouts, lagers, ales, IPAs and more. Unless you're going to a clandestine beer fanatic bar, it'll be hard to find a better selection than this. I ordered a Dark Horse Crooked Tree, a rich and flavorful IPA that doesn't punch you too hard in the face with hops, and Theresa ordered the Great Lakes Eliot Ness, a spicy amber/red ale that comfortably warms on a cold day.
FOOD: We ordered the frog legs appetizer, 6 lightly breaded & fried legs - if you've never had frog legs before, they taste like 90% chicken and 10% fish, a very light & tender meat. This is a good place to try them out. Theresa ordered the corned beef & cabbage plate and I went for the shepherd's pie, which was served "open" instead of in pie form - two cuts of roasted lamb with pastry dough biscuits, mashed potatoes, vegetables and stout beer gravy. Uniquely prepared and delicious, I highly recommend it, although it's a dish two people can easily split. Theresa's dish contained about the same amount of food as well, so keep in mind that the higher prices for entrees means that roughly half the dish can be taken home or shared. That said, the food itself was fantastic.
Shepherd's Pie
Corned Beef & Cabbage
SERVICE: Table service was quick & friendly, no complaints. Our table did feel a little sequestered since it was located behind a row of booths, but us being seated there may have had something to do with me wearing my inflatable purple pimp suit.
OVERALL: Definitely recommended, one of several nicer-than-a-typical-chain-restaurants in the area (Biaggi's next door is in the same vein) - just make sure to get there before the happy hour crowd overwhelms the place.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Probably for a casual lunch or dinner on an off night, wouldn't want to wait in the hour long line for dinner on a weekend night though.
- Review by Jon
1520 Randall Road, Algonquin, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Irish/American
Price: $$
After attending a great Valentine's Day wine tasting & massive chocolate fountain spread at Village Vintner in Carpentersville, the new Barley House just down the street sounded like a good idea for lunch. We had tried once before to stop there for a drink on a Friday night just after it opened, but the long wait (27 hours for a bar seat) and heavy crowds drove us away; this time we were seated immediately after walking in, no waiting.
ATMOSPHERE: Built from the stony leprechaun carcass of The Claddagh (another Irish-themed restaurant) after it closed, Barley House has an upscale Irish pub look & feel inside: Celtic knots, thick wood furniture, exposed stone, black/green/brown colors, back lit stained glass windows set into the walls and plenty of Guinness paraphernalia (but points off for misspelling GUINNESS on the menu!) The dining area and bar were open enough when we arrived around 3:45, but when we left at 5 the place was filling up quicker than a line of emerald isle tourists to kiss the blarney stone.
DRINKS: The beer selection is itself a good reason to visit as they feature an extensive list of stouts, lagers, ales, IPAs and more. Unless you're going to a clandestine beer fanatic bar, it'll be hard to find a better selection than this. I ordered a Dark Horse Crooked Tree, a rich and flavorful IPA that doesn't punch you too hard in the face with hops, and Theresa ordered the Great Lakes Eliot Ness, a spicy amber/red ale that comfortably warms on a cold day.
FOOD: We ordered the frog legs appetizer, 6 lightly breaded & fried legs - if you've never had frog legs before, they taste like 90% chicken and 10% fish, a very light & tender meat. This is a good place to try them out. Theresa ordered the corned beef & cabbage plate and I went for the shepherd's pie, which was served "open" instead of in pie form - two cuts of roasted lamb with pastry dough biscuits, mashed potatoes, vegetables and stout beer gravy. Uniquely prepared and delicious, I highly recommend it, although it's a dish two people can easily split. Theresa's dish contained about the same amount of food as well, so keep in mind that the higher prices for entrees means that roughly half the dish can be taken home or shared. That said, the food itself was fantastic.
Shepherd's Pie
Corned Beef & CabbageOVERALL: Definitely recommended, one of several nicer-than-a-typical-chain-restaurants in the area (Biaggi's next door is in the same vein) - just make sure to get there before the happy hour crowd overwhelms the place.
WOULD WE GO BACK? Probably for a casual lunch or dinner on an off night, wouldn't want to wait in the hour long line for dinner on a weekend night though.
- Review by Jon
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
An American Revolution in Dining
1776 Restaurant
397 Virginia Street, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Cuisine Type: American
Price: $$$
1776 was a restaurant that appealed to me because of their claim to have "different" kinds of food. Specifically, different Daily Specials of wild game and their wild game chili and Indian wild game sticks.
Upon arriving, the outward appearance was a bit daunting. It looked like a "family restaurant" that served greasy spoon dishes and attracted the older crowd. Apprehensively, we started towards the door, trying to peek in to see what the overall crowd looked like. It seemed to be a mixed crowd, from the mid 20's to the 60's. On the inside, the restaurant was decorated with all kinds of United States patriotic paraphernalia. They had pictures of Lincoln, the American Flag, a large painted wall with the route of the pony express and some other random nick-knacks. The inside decor matched the outside, which seemed to scream "family restaurant" or a former Denny's with a resemblance to a patriotic version of T.G.I. Fridays.
We were seated rather quickly for a Friday evening, although most seats seemed to be filled. We were pleasantly suprised to see they had quite a nice wine list. Because I was indecisive, I ordered a glass of their house Chardonnay, and it was amazing! It was chilled to the right temperature and had a nice, smooth finish. Jon ordered a beer, and we were quite impressed that they had several microbrews available such as Bell's, Sierra Nevada and more! It was a great start to the meal.
The waiter was a tad slow at getting back to us after we requested only a minute to decide our final choices, but he was also waiting on all of the other tables in the restaurant as well. The prices on the menu seemed fairly high for the entrees and didn't seem to match the environment we were eating in. However, the descriptions of each entree suggested that the chef knew what he/she was doing and was worth the price. Since I was eating with healthy choices in mind, I started with a bowl of Vegetable beef soup. The sourdough bread rolls were also very fresh and warm.
I am an avid soup lover and I will say that this soup was incredible! For such a simple soup, it had an array of flavors in addition to the most tender beef i've ever tasted in a beef soup. I ate every last drop. The entree came with a dinner salad, so I opted for the oil & red wine vinegar dressing, since they did not have any other low fat choices. The salad consisted of romaine lettuce, julienned carrots, freshly cracked pepper and oil and vinegar. Again, for the simplicity of the salad, the flavor was simply amazing! For my entree, I ordered the Vegetarian Feast to stick with my healthy eating choices, which consisted of grilled seasonal vegetables and warm quinoa. The vegetables (squash, peppers,mushrooms,onions,carrots) were extremely packed with flavor, almost tasting as if they had been boiled, roasted and charbroiled. My only complaint about the dish was that the veggies came in a broth/water which was about 1/4" high which left the little bit of quinoa swimming so that I couldn't get a fork full. Aside from that, it was very pleasantly flavored and filling. I don't definately don't think that the price of $16 was reasonable. For just having grilled veggies on a plate, I would expect to pay no more than $8-10 for the entree, so that was a tad high for what it was.
Jon went for the Daily special which was a Wild Game platter with samplings of Ostrich steak, Elk Steak and Wild Boar. To go with, they served it with a potato/goat cheese dumpling and some seasonal veggies. I will just say off the bat that this dish was AMAZING! Each one of the cuts of meat was lightly drizzled with a dark sauce that seemed to be a mix between au jus and gravy. The Ostrich was a darker meat that had a steak texture and helped to dismiss any preconceived notions we had about Ostrich; it was fantastic! The Elk was also extremely tender and didn't have any gamey flavor or aftertaste. The best by far was the wild boar. Probably one of the best cuts of meat i've ever had the pleasure of trying. Paired with a bit of the goat cheese/potato mixture together, It had the power to make you close your eyes and let out a huge "mmmmm". It was a winning combination. At the price of $39 for the entree, you're paying for the rare cuts of meat and a succulent tasting of wild game meats. If you've never tried any of these meats, I would be sure to definately splurge on this dish.
Overall, I would say that the food was amazing and well worth checking out. Even though the visual appeal of this restaurant screamed "family restaurant", the food definately was remniscint of a French Fine dining establishment. It was quite a strange combination of aesthetics and cuisine, but the food definately made up for what the decor was lacking.
Overall Rating:
Food - A
Atmosphere - C
Service - B
- Review by Theresa
397 Virginia Street, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Cuisine Type: American
Price: $$$
1776 was a restaurant that appealed to me because of their claim to have "different" kinds of food. Specifically, different Daily Specials of wild game and their wild game chili and Indian wild game sticks.
Upon arriving, the outward appearance was a bit daunting. It looked like a "family restaurant" that served greasy spoon dishes and attracted the older crowd. Apprehensively, we started towards the door, trying to peek in to see what the overall crowd looked like. It seemed to be a mixed crowd, from the mid 20's to the 60's. On the inside, the restaurant was decorated with all kinds of United States patriotic paraphernalia. They had pictures of Lincoln, the American Flag, a large painted wall with the route of the pony express and some other random nick-knacks. The inside decor matched the outside, which seemed to scream "family restaurant" or a former Denny's with a resemblance to a patriotic version of T.G.I. Fridays.
We were seated rather quickly for a Friday evening, although most seats seemed to be filled. We were pleasantly suprised to see they had quite a nice wine list. Because I was indecisive, I ordered a glass of their house Chardonnay, and it was amazing! It was chilled to the right temperature and had a nice, smooth finish. Jon ordered a beer, and we were quite impressed that they had several microbrews available such as Bell's, Sierra Nevada and more! It was a great start to the meal.
The waiter was a tad slow at getting back to us after we requested only a minute to decide our final choices, but he was also waiting on all of the other tables in the restaurant as well. The prices on the menu seemed fairly high for the entrees and didn't seem to match the environment we were eating in. However, the descriptions of each entree suggested that the chef knew what he/she was doing and was worth the price. Since I was eating with healthy choices in mind, I started with a bowl of Vegetable beef soup. The sourdough bread rolls were also very fresh and warm.
I am an avid soup lover and I will say that this soup was incredible! For such a simple soup, it had an array of flavors in addition to the most tender beef i've ever tasted in a beef soup. I ate every last drop. The entree came with a dinner salad, so I opted for the oil & red wine vinegar dressing, since they did not have any other low fat choices. The salad consisted of romaine lettuce, julienned carrots, freshly cracked pepper and oil and vinegar. Again, for the simplicity of the salad, the flavor was simply amazing! For my entree, I ordered the Vegetarian Feast to stick with my healthy eating choices, which consisted of grilled seasonal vegetables and warm quinoa. The vegetables (squash, peppers,mushrooms,onions,carrots) were extremely packed with flavor, almost tasting as if they had been boiled, roasted and charbroiled. My only complaint about the dish was that the veggies came in a broth/water which was about 1/4" high which left the little bit of quinoa swimming so that I couldn't get a fork full. Aside from that, it was very pleasantly flavored and filling. I don't definately don't think that the price of $16 was reasonable. For just having grilled veggies on a plate, I would expect to pay no more than $8-10 for the entree, so that was a tad high for what it was.
Jon went for the Daily special which was a Wild Game platter with samplings of Ostrich steak, Elk Steak and Wild Boar. To go with, they served it with a potato/goat cheese dumpling and some seasonal veggies. I will just say off the bat that this dish was AMAZING! Each one of the cuts of meat was lightly drizzled with a dark sauce that seemed to be a mix between au jus and gravy. The Ostrich was a darker meat that had a steak texture and helped to dismiss any preconceived notions we had about Ostrich; it was fantastic! The Elk was also extremely tender and didn't have any gamey flavor or aftertaste. The best by far was the wild boar. Probably one of the best cuts of meat i've ever had the pleasure of trying. Paired with a bit of the goat cheese/potato mixture together, It had the power to make you close your eyes and let out a huge "mmmmm". It was a winning combination. At the price of $39 for the entree, you're paying for the rare cuts of meat and a succulent tasting of wild game meats. If you've never tried any of these meats, I would be sure to definately splurge on this dish.
Overall, I would say that the food was amazing and well worth checking out. Even though the visual appeal of this restaurant screamed "family restaurant", the food definately was remniscint of a French Fine dining establishment. It was quite a strange combination of aesthetics and cuisine, but the food definately made up for what the decor was lacking.
Overall Rating:
Food - A
Atmosphere - C
Service - B
- Review by Theresa
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
For your local Tapas Fix
Aroma Tapas Restaurant
3907 W Algonquin Rd - Algonquin, IL 60102
Cuisine Type: Spanish/Tapas
Price: $-$$
We decided to meet up with friends on a Saturday night to try a new restaurant, so we were excited to see that there was a Tapas place nearby. When we got there, we were apprehensive to go in since there wasn't anyone else dining there. The cook was sitting in front of the bar getting comfortable on one of the leather chairs and they looked longingly to the street in front of them for customers.
When we walked in, I was kind of suprised that the smell in the air smelled of pizza. It struck me as odd that the open kitchen would be giving off this kind of smell, but who knows, maybe they just cooked something with a tomato sauce before we got there.
Visually, the restaurant was on the smaller side. An open kitchen looked out over the 15-20 table restaurant and the bar was stocked commonly known hard liquor.
Since we were the only ones there at first, the waitress immediately brought us menus and took our drink orders. We were disappointed to hear that every beer we asked the waitress to bring was no longer in stock. This happened for about 3-4 of the types of beer they said they served on the menu. In addition to this, they also had only house wine; House Red and House White. This is the only spanish tapas restaurant i've seen that didn't have an extensive wine list. But... then again, it was only a small, local tapas place.
After our drink orders were in, each one of us at the table ordered 2 dishes a piece. The first dish that came out were the Albondigas Al Vino Tinto - Meatballs served in a Red Wine sauce. These were delicious. They reminded me of a smaller version of swedish meatballs that my mother used to make. Next out was one of the specials; a chicken roll with chicken mousse on the inside. Despite the waitresses recommendation for this dish, I thought it was pretty average. I think I was expecting it to be hot, but when it was brought out cold, my taste buds were a little confused. Third was the Casa al Habra de Horno - The Baked Goat Cheese in tomato sauce. This was my absolute favorite. They served it piping hot with hardened toast crisps. I couldn't get enough of this one and neither could everyone else. Fourth out was the Gabas con Fideos - Garlic shrimp with angel hair pasta. This one was another great dish. The sauce was especially flavorful and went very quickly amongst us all at the table.
The next set started with the Plato de Embutidos - Spanish serrano ham and chorizo. This was a great selection of cold meats and proscuitto. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Up next was the Mejillones en Salsa Verde - Sautéed mussels with garlic, shallots, parsley, white wine and cream sauce. I thought these were also done very well. The sauce was very creamy and brought a great flavor to the mussels that worked to enhance the natural flavors. Getting near the end, our next plate of Champinones al Ajillo - Sautéed mushrooms with garlic, cayenne and white wine arrived. While these were very good, I will warn those who are interested in the extreme saltiness of this dish. I'm not sure if it was the cayenne pepper that added to the overly-salted taste or if it was the half to full chunks of sauteed garlic that were tossed in with the mushrooms. Either way, they were very good, but pretty heavy on the salty/garlicy side. Definately get yourself a breath mint afterwards!
We waited quite a long time before our last dish came out. We were beginning to wonder if they forgot about it. But, we noticed that the only waitress was busy waiting on the other 3 tables that had recently arrived and we were put on the back burner for awhile. Regardless, our last dish finally came out after around 15 minutes from the last dish and it was Higos con Tocino - Figs Sautéed with shallots and bacon, served with a Brandy cream sauce. Wow, were these great! I had never had a fig before and this combination, especially with the crisp bacon, had a wonderful sweet/salty combination that was a sure fire winner.
After finishing our dinner and drinks, we waited again for quite awhile before the waitress came back to ask us if we needed anything else. After politely declining dessert, about 5 minutes later, she came back with a tray of desserts. We again, declined dessert and didn't see her for another 10 minutes in which we had to ask her for our check.
The price was pretty reasonable for 4 people and 2 rounds of drinks, so that was definately a plus.
Overall, I would say that this would be a great restaurant to check out if you're looking for a local Tapas restaurant that was affordable without the frills. If you are looking for an extensive wine/beer list, this is not the place. The food, however, was very delicious and definately left us feeling happy and full. Aside from the food being very good, the service was not the best for a Saturday night with only 4 full tables in the restaurant.
Overall Rating:
Food - B
Atmosphere - C
Service - D
- Review by Theresa
3907 W Algonquin Rd - Algonquin, IL 60102
Cuisine Type: Spanish/Tapas
Price: $-$$
We decided to meet up with friends on a Saturday night to try a new restaurant, so we were excited to see that there was a Tapas place nearby. When we got there, we were apprehensive to go in since there wasn't anyone else dining there. The cook was sitting in front of the bar getting comfortable on one of the leather chairs and they looked longingly to the street in front of them for customers.
When we walked in, I was kind of suprised that the smell in the air smelled of pizza. It struck me as odd that the open kitchen would be giving off this kind of smell, but who knows, maybe they just cooked something with a tomato sauce before we got there.
Visually, the restaurant was on the smaller side. An open kitchen looked out over the 15-20 table restaurant and the bar was stocked commonly known hard liquor.
Since we were the only ones there at first, the waitress immediately brought us menus and took our drink orders. We were disappointed to hear that every beer we asked the waitress to bring was no longer in stock. This happened for about 3-4 of the types of beer they said they served on the menu. In addition to this, they also had only house wine; House Red and House White. This is the only spanish tapas restaurant i've seen that didn't have an extensive wine list. But... then again, it was only a small, local tapas place.
After our drink orders were in, each one of us at the table ordered 2 dishes a piece. The first dish that came out were the Albondigas Al Vino Tinto - Meatballs served in a Red Wine sauce. These were delicious. They reminded me of a smaller version of swedish meatballs that my mother used to make. Next out was one of the specials; a chicken roll with chicken mousse on the inside. Despite the waitresses recommendation for this dish, I thought it was pretty average. I think I was expecting it to be hot, but when it was brought out cold, my taste buds were a little confused. Third was the Casa al Habra de Horno - The Baked Goat Cheese in tomato sauce. This was my absolute favorite. They served it piping hot with hardened toast crisps. I couldn't get enough of this one and neither could everyone else. Fourth out was the Gabas con Fideos - Garlic shrimp with angel hair pasta. This one was another great dish. The sauce was especially flavorful and went very quickly amongst us all at the table.
The next set started with the Plato de Embutidos - Spanish serrano ham and chorizo. This was a great selection of cold meats and proscuitto. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Up next was the Mejillones en Salsa Verde - Sautéed mussels with garlic, shallots, parsley, white wine and cream sauce. I thought these were also done very well. The sauce was very creamy and brought a great flavor to the mussels that worked to enhance the natural flavors. Getting near the end, our next plate of Champinones al Ajillo - Sautéed mushrooms with garlic, cayenne and white wine arrived. While these were very good, I will warn those who are interested in the extreme saltiness of this dish. I'm not sure if it was the cayenne pepper that added to the overly-salted taste or if it was the half to full chunks of sauteed garlic that were tossed in with the mushrooms. Either way, they were very good, but pretty heavy on the salty/garlicy side. Definately get yourself a breath mint afterwards!
We waited quite a long time before our last dish came out. We were beginning to wonder if they forgot about it. But, we noticed that the only waitress was busy waiting on the other 3 tables that had recently arrived and we were put on the back burner for awhile. Regardless, our last dish finally came out after around 15 minutes from the last dish and it was Higos con Tocino - Figs Sautéed with shallots and bacon, served with a Brandy cream sauce. Wow, were these great! I had never had a fig before and this combination, especially with the crisp bacon, had a wonderful sweet/salty combination that was a sure fire winner.
After finishing our dinner and drinks, we waited again for quite awhile before the waitress came back to ask us if we needed anything else. After politely declining dessert, about 5 minutes later, she came back with a tray of desserts. We again, declined dessert and didn't see her for another 10 minutes in which we had to ask her for our check.
The price was pretty reasonable for 4 people and 2 rounds of drinks, so that was definately a plus.
Overall, I would say that this would be a great restaurant to check out if you're looking for a local Tapas restaurant that was affordable without the frills. If you are looking for an extensive wine/beer list, this is not the place. The food, however, was very delicious and definately left us feeling happy and full. Aside from the food being very good, the service was not the best for a Saturday night with only 4 full tables in the restaurant.
Overall Rating:
Food - B
Atmosphere - C
Service - D
- Review by Theresa
Canon in D - in a Thai Restaurant?
Bangkok Thai & Sushi Restaurant
4077 W. Algonquin Rd. - Algonquin, IL
Cuisine Type: Thai & Sushi
Price: $$
Upon looking for a local Thai restaurant in our Northwestern Suburban neck of the woods was unusually difficult. Alas, with the help of our friend, Google, we found one not too far away.
The restaurant sits in a newly built mini mall and has decent curb appeal. When you walk in, you immediately see some swanky leather booths with glass topped tables. It struck me as elegant. The only thing that we found odd was the music choice. Not only were they playing Canon in D and other random Classical selections, but they were playing it at a volume that was a bit invasive. It wasn't Background music, it was pretty much right in your face music. We exchanged awkward glances with the friends we had brought accross the table as if to say, "What is up with this music?" For a Thai place, it definately had an odd atmosphere.
The waitress was friendly and prompt with bringing us our beers. I was pleasantly suprised to see that they had a great selection of Sushi as well as Thai food. So, while everyone else ordered Thai, I went for the Sushi. I got the California roll and the Philadelphia roll. It tasted really fresh and delicious and the Sushi chef even came over to ask if I had enjoyed it. That was a nice touch indeed. Amongst the table, there were orders of Shrimp Pad Thai and Sweet and Sour Chicken. The overall response was that it was great. The prices were moderately high and the food was decent.
Overall, I'd say this would be a good restaurant to visit if you're looking for a nice suburban restaurant with an ethnic flare.
Overall Rating:
Food - B+
Atmosphere - B
Service - B+
- Review by Theresa
4077 W. Algonquin Rd. - Algonquin, IL
Cuisine Type: Thai & Sushi
Price: $$
Upon looking for a local Thai restaurant in our Northwestern Suburban neck of the woods was unusually difficult. Alas, with the help of our friend, Google, we found one not too far away.
The restaurant sits in a newly built mini mall and has decent curb appeal. When you walk in, you immediately see some swanky leather booths with glass topped tables. It struck me as elegant. The only thing that we found odd was the music choice. Not only were they playing Canon in D and other random Classical selections, but they were playing it at a volume that was a bit invasive. It wasn't Background music, it was pretty much right in your face music. We exchanged awkward glances with the friends we had brought accross the table as if to say, "What is up with this music?" For a Thai place, it definately had an odd atmosphere.
The waitress was friendly and prompt with bringing us our beers. I was pleasantly suprised to see that they had a great selection of Sushi as well as Thai food. So, while everyone else ordered Thai, I went for the Sushi. I got the California roll and the Philadelphia roll. It tasted really fresh and delicious and the Sushi chef even came over to ask if I had enjoyed it. That was a nice touch indeed. Amongst the table, there were orders of Shrimp Pad Thai and Sweet and Sour Chicken. The overall response was that it was great. The prices were moderately high and the food was decent.
Overall, I'd say this would be a good restaurant to visit if you're looking for a nice suburban restaurant with an ethnic flare.
Overall Rating:
Food - B+
Atmosphere - B
Service - B+
- Review by Theresa
Sticky Rice - Get your Fried Worms here!!!
Sticky Rice
4018 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Thai
Price: $
We watch Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre foods quite frequently. So, when Jon expressed interest to try a cuisine that included insects, I naturally began the search in the Chicago area. Suprisingly, (or maybe not too suprisingly), I came up short in my search. I did, however, manage to find one restaurant wedged deep in the city that served something very special; Fried Bamboo Caterpillars.
With Jon's birthday being in December, I took him to this restaurant explaining why I had chosen it for him. He seemed pumped to try this bizarre concoction.
From the street, the restaurant is small in an old brick chicago storefront with a bright yellow awning. On the front glass, they had a menu posted with a sign that said "Fried Worms served here". We knew were were in the right place.
Inside it was very colorful. Definately a small, local place... nothing too fancy, but definately eye catching. This place was BYOB, but we didn't have anything with us, so we opted for a water. We looked over the menu and made note of all of the odd things served. Some bizarre things they had were of course the Fried Bamboo caterpillars along with an omlet with Ant Eggs, Pork & Intestine Stir Fry and Pork & cubed pork blood with curry.
Now, if you aren't into the "bizzare" cuisine, have no worries! They serve all of the normal dishes that any Thai restaurant would have. They have plenty of rice, noodle, vegetarian and chicken and beef dishes.
When we went to order, there was definately a language barrier. Our waitress looked at us like we had 3 heads every time we said something. So, we started pointing at things on the menu. We got the Thai Sausage first, which was wonderfully spiced with curry and spicy herbs. Then, the Fried Bamboo caterpillars came out. It was definately disturbing to see all of the little fried caterpillars on the plate, but we were here to try something new, so we did it. I tried 3 little worms and they were suprisingly not too bad. They reminded me of little crispy french fries.
Jon ate the entire rest of the plate and I opted to get the Thai Noodle soup with Beef which was delicous!!! Jon also got the Mango Chicken because the bugs weren't very filling and that was phenominal. So juicy and tender and full of flavor, almost like a sweet and sour chicken.
The prices were extremely reasonable for a small city restaurant. I believe the bill only set us back $30 dollars.
So, if you love Thai Food or are looking to do a little adventurous eating, definately check this place out!
Overall Rating:
Food - A
Atmosphere - B
Service - B
- Review by Theresa
4018 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Cuisine Type: Thai
Price: $
We watch Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre foods quite frequently. So, when Jon expressed interest to try a cuisine that included insects, I naturally began the search in the Chicago area. Suprisingly, (or maybe not too suprisingly), I came up short in my search. I did, however, manage to find one restaurant wedged deep in the city that served something very special; Fried Bamboo Caterpillars.
With Jon's birthday being in December, I took him to this restaurant explaining why I had chosen it for him. He seemed pumped to try this bizarre concoction.
From the street, the restaurant is small in an old brick chicago storefront with a bright yellow awning. On the front glass, they had a menu posted with a sign that said "Fried Worms served here". We knew were were in the right place.
Inside it was very colorful. Definately a small, local place... nothing too fancy, but definately eye catching. This place was BYOB, but we didn't have anything with us, so we opted for a water. We looked over the menu and made note of all of the odd things served. Some bizarre things they had were of course the Fried Bamboo caterpillars along with an omlet with Ant Eggs, Pork & Intestine Stir Fry and Pork & cubed pork blood with curry.
Now, if you aren't into the "bizzare" cuisine, have no worries! They serve all of the normal dishes that any Thai restaurant would have. They have plenty of rice, noodle, vegetarian and chicken and beef dishes.
When we went to order, there was definately a language barrier. Our waitress looked at us like we had 3 heads every time we said something. So, we started pointing at things on the menu. We got the Thai Sausage first, which was wonderfully spiced with curry and spicy herbs. Then, the Fried Bamboo caterpillars came out. It was definately disturbing to see all of the little fried caterpillars on the plate, but we were here to try something new, so we did it. I tried 3 little worms and they were suprisingly not too bad. They reminded me of little crispy french fries.
Jon ate the entire rest of the plate and I opted to get the Thai Noodle soup with Beef which was delicous!!! Jon also got the Mango Chicken because the bugs weren't very filling and that was phenominal. So juicy and tender and full of flavor, almost like a sweet and sour chicken.
The prices were extremely reasonable for a small city restaurant. I believe the bill only set us back $30 dollars.
So, if you love Thai Food or are looking to do a little adventurous eating, definately check this place out!
Overall Rating:
Food - A
Atmosphere - B
Service - B
- Review by Theresa
New Restaurant Blog!
I'm creating this blog because my boyfriend and I love to try out new restauraunts. Especially new ethnic, eclectic and bizarre cuisines and I'd love to share thoughts with everyone out there!
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