Isabel's Restaurant

It being a nice sunny day for a walk yesterday, we visited Isabel's Restaurant (the place that replaced the not-altogether-different-in-terms-of-cuisine Grove on Diversey at Pine Grove) for the first time, for lunch.

Right away we liked it better because we were greeted warmly and enthusiastically, and a waitress came over to the table almost instantly to see if we needed coffee. Service remained attentive throughout the meal. All this was in sharp contrast to The Grove, where, once seated, you could feel like you'd fallen into a black hole--a black hole of inattention having nothing to do with how busy (or not) the place was.

Based on the food, I'd give Isabel's a B+ for the kind of all-purpose (breakfast/lunch/dinner) place it is.

My chicken noodle soup tasted homemade, which was good, but it could have done with significantly less salt. I say this as someone who is not salt-phobic. I often add salt to whatever is on my plate. But I'm glad I didn't this time, because the soup went beyond even my salt preferences. Not enough to be inedible, but they need to dial that back some.

However, I quite enjoyed my grilled cheddar and gruyere, tomato and bacon on sourdough bread. The accompanying fries came pre-seasoned, which some may not prefer, but I thought the seasoning was pretty good. My wife enjoyed her egg-white omelet with swiss cheese, and, based on some bites she shared, I liked it too, along with the hash browns that came with.

So, overall, an experience that will have us returning. I wish them success.

Isabel's Restaurant
501 W. Diversey
773 281 8950