Chef James' Place - Geneva, Illinois

I decided to check out Chef James' Place in Geneva, Illinois after my favorite sommelier, Jody Richardson of hotspot Niche, recommended their Cheesesteak Hogie. After growing up 90 minutes from Philadelphia and countless trips to the city of "UN"brotherly love I'm a sucker for a great cheesesteak. The problem is I can never find one. Living on the west coast was downright miserable for seeking out the shredded rib eye and melted cheese delight. And now that I live here in Chicago one is hard pressed to find an authentic cheesesteak among the clutter of Italian Beef and Redhots.

BUT...to my surprise and down right disbelief...Chef James has come pretty damn close. I picked up my 6 inches of cholesterol joy last week for lunch with low expectations. I opted for the hogie which basically means it comes topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, oregano, salt/pepper, and oil/vinegar. You can scrap all the fix'ins and go with just cheese and steak if you desire. I thought the oil and vinegar was a bit odd but it actually was very good.

In this picture you see a lot of the hogie topping and not as much of the thinly sliced sirloin and melted american cheese. But trust me...it's in there!

What makes this cheesesteak darn near authentic has a lot to do with the perfect combination of cheese to sirloin ratio and how they prepare the steak. It's shredded not sliced. I get downright pissed when I order a cheesesteak and the steak is sliced. The sirloin is also seasoned well and like the cheesesteak hogies I get back east the toppings are a perfect compliment. And last but not least...the bread. Ask anyone back in Philly what makes an authentic Philly style steak and they'll say the bread. It can't be too hard and it can't be too soft that it soaks up grease and falls apart. The hogie rolls used by Chef James are very good. I applaud him for that. Nothing ruins a perfectly good cheesesteak than crappy bread.

Along with the cheesesteak, Chef James's Place in Geneva, Illinois offers several other sandwich options. If you're interested check out their Menu

Next time I'll selflessly try something new for the sake of the blog...even though the cheesesteak hogie is what I really want!

Chef James' Place
513 S. 3rd Street
Geneva, Illinois 60134
630-262-0023

Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Company - West Dundee, Illinois

Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Company in West Dundee, Illinois is an all time favorite of mine. It's the original of three locations throughout Chicagoland. As you can tell by the name it's a micro brewpub that specializes in small batch brewing so they can rotate styles often. After living in the Pacific Northwest (Bend, OR to be precise) I know good micro brew. I've had the opportunity to enjoy some of the best micro brewed beer in the world as the Northwest and West Coast breweries continue to put out some of the most amazing beer you'll ever have. But don't take my word for it...check out BrewerMan.com for some great insight into how the U.S. micro brew market is exploding and setting the bar around the world!

When I first moved to the Fox Valley and heard about Emmett's I'll admit I was skeptical. Probably a little snobbish on my part. But when I first put my nose to a pint (20oz pint too) of their Victory Pale Ale I knew instantly that this place was the real deal.

The brewmaster, Ryan Clooney, knows how to brew real beer. I was in heaven knowing I can simply drive a short distance to West Dundee and enjoy some great micro brews again. Along with their Victory Pale Ale, Emmett's brews a wide varietal of award winning seasonals and offers a Cask Conditioned option when available. For those who haven't tried a cask conditioned beer you need to. Not many places offer this option as a pouring style since it requires some high maintenance up keep. But enjoying a good ale from a cask is phenomenal and I highly recommend it.

In addition to fantastic beer, Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Company offers a great menu. They use high quality ingredients and really avoid the greasy "pub food" stereotype. There are several options including pasta, fresh fish, steaks, and of course burgers. I actually had a pasta dish believe it or not. I chose the Rigatoni Mozzarella with sausage. You knew I couldn't go without some type of meat! It was fresh and seasoned just like I expected. Simple but delicious. Whether it paired well with my beer was irrelevant. Check it out:

For families with small children, Emmett's offers their version of a "Happy Meal". What a brilliant idea given the popularity of McDonald's version. Trust me...even a small touch like this helps keep the toddlers at bay long enough for me to order that third pint. You know...the one you probably shouldn't order but you feel completely compelled by the beer gods. Sometimes the beer gods are angry and they make you order a fourth pint...but we won't go there today.

On a last note I like to comment on a restaurant's atmosphere. Emmett's does a good job using dark woods and brass to give you that warm pub feeling. They showcase their copper kettles when you first walk in announcing to everyone that we take our beer seriously.

And they back it up with a high quality product that goes down effortlessly.

I recommend Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Company to anyone who appreciates high quality micro brews and wants to actually enjoy what they eat. Emmett's provides both and is kid friendly to boot. It's one of my favorites and I'll be going back again and again.

Cheers!

Emmett's Tavern and Brewing Company
128 West Main Street
West Dundee, Illinois 60118
(847) 428-4500

The Turf Room Restaurant - North Aurora, Illinois

The Turf Room is located just off Randall Road in North Aurora. You can't miss the place...it's the building with an exterior made out of 100% reclaimed barn wood planks. It's actually pretty cool looking. It was my second visit to The Turf Room. Each time with a group of friends for dinner. The Turf Room is more than just a restaurant. It actually has a full service Off-Track Betting facility attached to the main restuarant. In fact the restaurant's theme is based on horse racing complete with individual "horse stalls" as bathrooms. No joke! But the off-track betting is a pretty cool touch if you're in to horse racing, gambling, and cocktails.

The atmosphere is contempary. Concrete floors, wood burning stone fire pit surrounded by plush sofas, and some secluded table options for larger groups. Overall it's a nice looking place to take a date, or when you're in the mood for some ambient dining in the burbs!

The Turf Room comes complete with three different bars and the specialty drink menu is fairly extensive. The beer and wine selection is decent. There's an extensive beer list by the bottle but it's filled with mostly common brews. The wine list is ok but nothing to write home about. But it works unless you're a self proclaimed wine snob. It's a good list for the value.

My latest visit to The Turf Room was Saturday night with the Misses and our friends from Chicago. We arrived early to take advantage of the fire pit with drinks in hand but unfortunately there was no fire. Not sure why but maybe we were too early for a fire. We got there at 6. Regardless we enjoyed our cocktails sans fire and then decided to take our seats.

Shortly after we ordered our appetizers our server brought us a "Chef's Selection" appetizer on the house. Nice touch and it was good. A fried tomato three ways which included a really nice dipping sauce. It wasn't out of this world but it was good and an unexpected surprise. I like surprises.

Appetizer time...Fried Brie Curds and Carpacio. If you're not from Wisconsin or live within a 100 mile radius of Wisconsin you may be wondering what the heck is a cheese curd? Well...they aren't sexy and I'm not going to pretend they are but damn are they tasty. Did I mentioned they were fried?? Take a look...

The Carpacio was just ok. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to Carpacio. At the Turf Room they roll the thinly sliced beef and fill it with the condiments you traditionally get served on the side. Personally I think this reduces the portion size significantly (only four to a serving).

If you're a Carpacio afficiando then you'll be dissapointed.

Main Course - My first visit to the Turf Room I devoured the Filet Mignot. It was dry aged for 45 days and I have to admit it was pretty good. A little on the small side for $34.00 but overall it was a quality piece of beef. This time I opted for the Braised Short Rib with mashed sweet potatoes. My friend (a self proclaimed red meat junkie) ordered the T-Bone. So here's where things get a little interesting. My Beef Short Rib was tender, fall off the bone, and sizeable. But when you think about it it's hard to screw up a Braised Short Rib. You really can't over cook it so all you need to do is make sure it's tender and you pair it with a comparable sauce. The Turf Room proved they can do this. Although the mashed sweet potatoes were not 100% sweet potatoes. You could tell they blended regular potatoes into the receipe as filler I suppose. Nice try but you can't fool me. I mean how much more does it cost to use 100% sweet potatoes? There must be another reason for this tom foolery that I'm overlooking. Anyway check it out below...

BUT (there's always a BUT) my friend's T-Bone was a dissapointment. It was entirely too thin coming in at maybe an inch on a good day. And the overall flavor was a bit on the bland side. It was their special of the night too and for $36.00 it should have represented.

This leads me to the following conclusion. I think the Turf Room is a great place for a unique dining experience in a western suburb like Aurora, IL. It's an interesting spin on the Off Track Betting experience and the atmosphere is unique. I found the place to be a bit more cozy my first visit thanks to the huge fire pit in the center of the room. This time around it was still daylight outside, the fire wasn't happening, and I was hoping for that cozy vibe. But overall the consistency of the place held true. And I should note the service (so far) has been very good. So if you're in the mood for some pretty good food, good service, and a little horse betting on the side then I think it's worth the trip. If you're in the mood for some red meat then stick with the Filet. But don't associate their namesake (The Turf Room) as an indication you'll be settling in for date with a side of beef...more like a $2.00 Perfecta Box on 4,5, and 6. Good luck!

The Turf Room

650 Randall Crossings Ln

North Aurora, IL 60542

(630)906-9300

The Filling Station - St. Charles, IL

You may be asking why write a review on The Filling Station? I mean doesn't everyone who claims to live in the Fox Valley (and may or may not have a motorcycle) know about The Filling Station? Well...perhaps but it still warrants a mention don't you think?

The Filling Station is one of those establishments that needs no flattery to "pump" up their rep. They've got some pretty good street cred to say the least. Just stop by on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon and you'll see why. Their outdoor patio is loaded and you'll certainly have to wait to get a table. But I have to admit the patio is pretty nice. It's shaded with some trees with a wall to help keep the street noise down and give a cozy feeling. Not that it matters since you've got Harley's coming and going every 5 minutes. But don't get me wrong...the atmosphere is good. It's what you'd expect for a place where you buy Rolling Rock by the bucket and the waitstaff is made up of all girls somewhere between the ages of 18 and 25. No joke.

So what did I do!? I took the family there to grab a quick bite for dinner. Of course there was a 20 minute wait for the patio and when you have a busy 3 year old tagging along there's no room for idle time. So we decided to eat inside. The Filling Station as you can guess works the old time gas station theme. So inside you'll find all sorts of relics from the days when a visit to a gas station was more like hanging out with Goober Pyle and a dollar filled your tank. But hey all the stuff kept the little guy occupied at least!

As for the food...well it's what you'd expect from a local hangout known for meeting up with your buddies or hooking up with the opposite sex. Hey...we need these places trust me so I'm not complaining! I got a chili dog. It was pretty good. The chili was served on the side which is nice because I can control how messy I want my dog. But overall it wasn't the best chili dog I've ever had but I'm not complaining because it wasn't the worst either. The misses picked up a veggie burger. Now this was probably not a great choice for a place that caters to 275 pound biker dudes AND sometimes equally heavy biker chicks! It wasn't all that spectacular and in fact I'm 99.9% sure it was a frozen patty that you can pick up at the 7-11 down the street. But to be fair I'm not going to criticize too much over a veggie burger. My little garbage disposal, better known as my 3 year old wunderkind, ordered TWO corn dogs. I know...we're horrible parents. Feeding our growing bundle of joy fried hot dogs on a stick. Well...get over it. It happens. What can you say about a corn dog. It was fried...on a stick...and tasty.

Overall I'll admit this wasn't the best representation of all the Filling Station has to offer. I'll go back for sure...preferably on a summer weekend evening. I'll probably order a burger. Maybe some wings. And most certainly a beer or two.

The Filling Station Pub and Grill
300 West Main Street
St. Charles, IL
630-584-4414
http://www.filling-station.com/

Niche Restaurant - Geneva, Illinois

Niche in Geneva, Illinois is one of those restaurants you think is going to be super trendy just by the name. "Niche" - It's one of those words I always feel self conscience saying. Is it a soft "ch" or a hard "ch"? I think it depends on what level of education you received. I've got a B.S. degree and if you continue to follow my restaurant review blog you'll quickly know that stands for bull sh#t.

The point is...who cares how you say it...just get there fast! We arrived around 6:30 on a Friday night. We were a little early (on purpose) so we could enjoy a beverage at the bar. The misses ordered a rum and coke (gasp!!) and I decided on a Hendrick's martini. The bartender, Vinny, was very cool. I found out he's a beer guy like myself so we ended up discussing the nuances of midwest beer drinkers and their disdain for big hop beers (so sad). At least Vinny's my kind of beer drinker so I know I've got a hop-head nearby who just happens to be a bartender.

After our drinks and chat with Vinny, we migrated to our table escorted by Jody Richardson. Jody is Niche's sommelier and she later paired us with a fantastic '04 Mourvedre by Tablas Creek. Oh that reminds me...Niche has this cool premise where they source their wine and beer from US based establishments only. I thought that was pretty cool especially since their wine list is not only comprehensive but loaded with amazing vino.

Shortly after we were seated, Vinny (remember him...the bartender), brought us a bottle of beer from Wisconsin's own Capital Brewery. It was their Bavarian Lager. Demonstrating that not all midwest breweries shy away from bold beers. I have to admit that was above and beyond the call of duty. Nice work Vinny!

After enjoying the Lager, we started reviewing the menu. It was loaded with amazing creations from the kitchen. I'm a huge fan of duck so naturally when I saw they had Duck Nachos as an appetizer it was a no brainer. "Ma'am one order of Duck Nachos please!" Take a look at the presentation:

The plantains were crisp and to be used as the chips but I have to tell you the duck was so tender and flavorful that I found myself eating it sans chips. It was pulled from the bone so it resembled a common pulled pork presentation. If you're a fan of duck and you enjoy a tangy style BBQ flavor then you must try this!

The misses and I decided on our main courses and we shared a salad. It was a seared yellow fin tuna salad. A pretty common dish these days thanks to the amazing flavor of seared yellow fin. This particular version was served with watercress and a light balsamic reduction. What I really liked about this dish was the drops of hot pepper oil drizzled on the plate. Again...I'm a freak when it comes to the heat so this was a welcome addition. It was subtle as was the balsamic reduction so you could really taste the seared tuna's fresh flavor. AND...the best part...Jody (our wonderful sommelier) recognized that our bottle of Mourvedre wasn't exactly the kind of vino that pairs well with seared tuna. So she brought us a chilled glass of Muscat. Well done Jody. That kind of service produces repeat customers!

So far Niche is becoming a much cooler word to say and as I begin to sip on my '04 Mourvedre I start thinking about my main course which is a mere minutes away. Choosing my main course wasn't easy. And to be honest I like to rate a menu by how difficult it is to choose a plate. If I have several options that make my mouth water then I'm digging the place. The menu at Niche was one of those types of menus. I finally narrowed it down to two: The Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chop or The Applewood Bacon Wrapped Venison Loin. You see...I'm a meat and game guy. I know...how TYPICAL. But you know what? I don't care...call it what you will 99% of the time I'm going with meat over anything else. And when I see bacon+venison+loin in one sentence...well let's just say "game" over...no pun intended (ok that was cheesy). So..."Ma'am, I'll have the deer wrapped in pig please!" I didn't really say that but that's how my brain interprets it. "Sir the chef likes to prepare this medium rare...is this ok?" Um...yeah. Check it out for yourself: Was it as good as it looks? You betcha and then some. The venison was unbelievable. No...it wasn't gamey...it wasn't tough (that's for all you game haters that that think eating Bambi is a crime punishable by death). It was a buttery, velvet, succulent piece of loin that literally melted in your mouth like the finest Filet Mignon you've ever had. Here's the official description if mine seems a bit contrived: Applewood bacon wrapped Venison loin, goat cheese topped Yukon gold potato pave, crisp beet frittes, quick braised baby beet greens, rich veal glace laced "steak sauce"

I've eaten venison for a long time. In fact I still remember to this day the most incredible venison chops to ever grace my tastbuds while sitting in a restaurant in Munich, Germany. That was 15 years ago and 3,000 miles away and ladies and gentlemen the venison at Niche takes the cake.

The misses opted for the Pork Tenderloin - a surprise selection since she's usually not a pork eater but I'm glad she did because I got to try it. It was spiced with Schichimi Togarashi so it had an Asian flair. Cooked to perfection as well. Juicy and slightly pink in the middle the way pork should be prepared.

Niche certainly impressed us with their amazing service, impressive wine list, and phenomenal menu. It's not the least expensive fine dining option in the Fox Valley but when you leave you don't seem to mind dropping that kind of cash. The staff at Niche make you feel welcome and attend to your needs without being too aggressive. The chefs (the unsung heroes to any fine restaurant) prepare amazing plates using creativity but most of all freshly sourced ingredients that produce well balanced flavors. Niche is the kind of place you should go to when you want to celebrate a special occasion, impress, or just treat yourself to an amazing culinary experience. All without the stuffy atmosphere that comes with most fine dining establishments. I know I'll be going back. I have a date with a New Zealand Lamb Chop...shhhh...just don't tell the misses!

Niche Restaurant
14 South 3rd Street
Geneva, IL 60134
(630) 262-1000
http://www.nichegeneva.com/

Bien Trucha Restaurant - Geneva, Illinois

It couldn't be more fitting that my first entry is for a Mexican restaurant. I freaking love spicy food and Mexican cuisine is an all time favorite of mine. So when the missus and I met up with some good friends for dinner they recommended Bien Trucha.

Bien Trucha is a small restaurant on Geneva's State Street. And when I say small...I mean small as in the you literally have to walk through the kitchen (which is the size of my wife's walk in closet) to use the restroom. The place is TINY. Seriously the place has about 6 tables and you better be willing to wait because on any given Friday or Saturday night the wait can be up to two hours (they don't take reservations).

Bien Trucha is basically a taqueria but unlike your average taqueria, Bien Trucha takes an interesting spin with an upscale vibe complete with ambient music, well dressed servers, hip decor and of course the hum of fellow diners taking in the amazing food and unique margaritas. The atmosphere is fantastic.

But what about the food? The first thing I really found interesting...they serve their food Tapas style. Great for sharing and trying several things on their menu. First up was some Guacamole del Dia. Cool factor note: Their guac of the day contains fresh fruit! What an amazing touch to the standard guac you can find at most Mexican restaurants. Today they were serving it with freshly diced mango (note my Cucumber Margarita).

Next we ordered the Rajas con Crema which if you're like me you failed Spanish in 7th grade and have to refer to the description: roasted poblano strips, onions, crema fresca, over a bed of melted chihuahua cheese. Yes ladies and gentlemen...start your engines...

The roasted poblano pepper melted in your mouth and the melted chihuahua cheese and crema blend was mild but so tasty.

Now...let's step it up for some spice. You basically have two choices to choose from once you get to the main courses. Tacos or Tortas. The tortas are kind of like mini paninis but they use telera bread. Telera is similar to a flat bread with a little more substance. It's good stuff...trust me. The tacos come in an order of 4 which is perfect for two but a little light for the four of us. Then again I'm a pig so I'd prefer 4 tacos to myself. I asked our server what's the spiciest item on the menu. He immediately replied, "Camaron, Amigo." Or translated into: Tacos with sauteed shrimp, lime, chipotle-mojo de ajo, avocado slice. Seriously...my mouth is watering again just thinking about this dish. They weren't as spicy as I had hoped but they had PLENTY of flavor and the chipotle-mojo sauce made up for the lack of heat.

Several tacos and margaritas later we hit the freaking mother load of tacos. Their namesake, The Bien Trucha, is by far the best taco I've ever had. I'm not kidding. It all starts with a finely chopped grilled skirt steak, add some homemade chorizo (that's sausage men...yes more freaking meat!!), manchego cheese, and topped with a roasted tomatillo-serrano sauce. The picture doesn't do it justice but for your viewing pleasure:
I know what you may be saying...Mexican food is Mexican food. I mean next to Chicago's famous Frontera Grill how could you get any better. Well folks I'm here to tell you that you don't have to drive 40 miles to Chicago for some amazing Mexican cuisine. Despite the possible hour+ wait and the enjoyable stroll through the kitchen to take a potty break, Bien Trucha dishes up some of the most creative and flavor intense food this side of the Chicago River.

Oh and did I mention they offer over 40 types of tequila? Um yeah...you heard me.

Bien Trucha Restaurant
410 W. State Street
Geneva, IL
(630)232-2665

Welcome to Restaurants On The Fox!

Welcome to my blog. I'm an average guy with a wife, a kid, and the quintessential Golden Retriever. I live in Batavia, IL one of the three towns that make up the Fox Valley. Geneva, IL and St. Charles, IL complete the trifecta.

This is a blog about food (and drink). It's an upfront and honest review of the various restaurants in and around The Fox Valley area. I got the idea from a friend of mine who lives in a town called Bend, Oregon. I used to live there before moving here to the Fox Valley. His blog is called Bend Oregon Restaurants and if you have some time check it out because this guy (known as BOR) writes some ingenious content and his reviews are always entertaining and usually spot on!

So what about my site? Well...let's get this out in the open right now...this is my blog and therefore the reviews you read on this site are my opinion only. I'm not endorsing any particular restaurant and I don't get paid for this content.

What you will get from this site is a real perspective on food, drink, service, atmosphere, and anything else that I may feel compelled to mention. I'll be brutally honest when needed and I may offend some that choose to read my reviews. But in the end if my comments help you decide where to go (or not to go) to eat tonight then touché!

I hope you enjoy this blog and more importantly I hope you choose to contribute. Please feel free to call me out if you think you need to...I'm sure you will. Just remember...this is my blog so if you don't agree with everything I have to say that's totally fine. Just don't expect whiny posts that don't contribute to the overall review to get any "airtime".

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!
-ROTF