Halfway to Rockford

Any suggestions for a good meal somewhere along I-90, about halfway to Rockford? Say, Carpentersville/Huntley area? A friend of mine is working in Rockford this week, and we want to meet halfway for dinner Tuesday night. Doesn't have to be high-end or white tablecloth, but a nice glass of wine is a necessity. Thx in advance for any and all suggestions.

Carol

Good luck with that. I usually eat at Culver's when I'm out that way...

Several ideas:

1) At IL-31 in Carpenterville, J Alexanders is pretty consistent but nothing real spectacular.

2) On Randall Rd. is Jimmy's Charhouse which is fairly decent but nothing really spectacular. Anything within a couple miles of 90 and Huntley Rd are all chains.

3) There are three good options in Huntley.

Niko's Grill & Pub
11900 Freeman Rd , Huntley, IL
Phone - (847) 669-6644
http://www.nikosgrillandpub.com/

My wife takes business clients to Niko's. The food is well done and well presented. The entrees are between $15-25.

Del Toros Mexican Grill
10400 N Route 47 , Huntley, IL
Phone - (847) 659-1795
http://www.deltorostexmex.com/

It is Tex-Mex and probably not in the Top 10 Mexican restaurants in Chicagoland. However, the food is very good, the service is friendly and the atmosphere is pleasant. Avoid teh place around Cinco de Mayo as they do it up.

Walleye Grill
12860 Del Webb Blvd
Huntley, IL 60142-7601
(847) 515-7675

The Sunday Brunch here is pretty good. I have not been there at other times.

Hope that gives you some help.

One thing about the tollroad, at Huntley you can only exit westbound and get back on going east, it is not a full intersection so your friend coming from Rockford would have to get off at Marengo or Elgin. Marengo has truck stop dining at that exit. Alexander's is at Rte. 31 and I-90 but it's pretty much a typical Greek family owned place that is open breakfast through dinner, not fancy but basic decent food. There are more non-chain dining options if you continue just a few miles north on Rte. 31 into Dundee. If you exit at Rte. 25 on the east side of the Fox River, The Milk Pail is about a half mile north on Rte. 25 however I just noticed that they only open on the weekend.

http://www.alexanderselgin.com/menu.html

http://www.themilkpail.com/

It's a bit north of I-90, but Port Edwardis located at Rt-31 and Algonquin Road and is a great place for a lobster diner. They've also got a full bar.

Port Edward is one of my favorite places but then, I grew up in Algonquin and have eaten there many times over the years. For some reason I was brain dead when I posted earlier and completely forgot that I-90 has an exit at Randall Road which opens up more options. Jimmy's CharHouse is right at that intersection but if you go a few miles north on Randall, there are many non-chain options in Algonquin-Lake In the Hills including Montarra which has been reviewed here before. I grew up in that area but have lived away for 30 years, only go back once a year or so for brunch at Port Edwards.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... =algonquin

Thx, everybody. I'll propose a couple of these to her and see what she's in the mood for.

We settled on Montarra (County Line Rd. at Randall Rd. in Algonquin) and had an excellent meal: Everything was well prepared and very fresh. Asparagus Salad with tomatoes, caramelized red onions and gorgonzola in a balsamic dressing; a lovely filet mignon in a gorgonzola-cognac butter sauce, with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. Dessert was a sorbet trio -- raspberry, mango and a grapefruit-tangerine (?) combo, all dressed with lots of lovely blueberries and raspberries.

My friend had a green salad that I am embarrassed to say I didn't pay a lot of attention to, but her phyllo-encrusted tilapia stuffed with crab demanded lots of attention: just delicious. Dessert was creme brulee. Good, but standard issue creme brulee.

Wine was a 2004 Twenty Bench Cabernet that still tasted young and bright but had a little heat at the end.

Service was pretty good, but it took an eternity to get dessert, and then another eternity to get the check, so they comped our desserts. The place was jumpin', for a Wed night -- live music in the bar, the wine cellar room (or whatever they call it) was full, and the dining room was two-thirds full. My biggest complaint was the noise level. But, all in all, we both really liked the food and had a great time, so thank you all for helping us out. She's here til Fri., so we can try another one tomorrow night.

Thanks for reporting back. I have been wanting to try Montarra but just haven't gotten up that way. I understand that they have a connection to 1776 in Crystal Lake which I have enjoyed and I haven seen advertised that Montarra has several wine tasting nights.

LikestoEatout wrote:Alexander's is at Rte. 31 and I-90 but it's pretty much a typical Greek family owned place that is open breakfast through dinner, not fancy but basic decent food.

http://www.alexanderselgin.com/menu.html

Alexanders is owned by the same family as the Village Squire, and offers much of the same stuff, including Saganaki.