New in Batavia - Geneva - St. Charles

In the past year a number of new restaurants have opened in the Tri Cities area. Some I have tried, some I haven't and some just don't interest me but I thought I would provide the information for anyone out this way. All the phone numbers are in area code 630.

Batavia

Only one new one and I haven't been to and probably won't go, it's a Portillo's Restaurant and just standard food and only open for breakfast and lunch.

Honey Jam Cafe
521 North Randall Road
406-0100

Geneva

Enye
330 West State

This is the old Isabella's space that had a short run as Citizern Kane. It's featured as Latin American cuisine. Finally went yesterday and found the menu to be unimaginative and not very South American. My friend had 2 skimpy shrimp tacos and a ice cream sized scoop of beans and rice for $10. I had a Cuban sandwich, very substandard with a off setting taste, not in a good way, for $11. It was served with a salad of iceburg lettuce. The menu stated that all entrees come with purple Peruvian potato salad but they were out of that. We were the first and only diners there at 12:15.

Big Fish Grille
1602 Commons Drive
232-2239

Replace Red Star in the Mall. A 2 store chain. Disappointing. One wrong entree and a crab cake of mostly filler.

Fresh D'Lite Fast and Healthy Grill
1402 Commons
208-0104

Fiora's
317 South Third Street
262-1317

Haven't been. Menu looks like it is seasonal, nice setting.

St. Charles

Il Giardino Del Dulce
131 South 1st Street
443-2497

Full service Italian bakery that serves a light lunch. Haven't tried the pizza but it's forcaccia style and heated in a microwave, Sandwiches are very skimpy for the price but they have good gelato.

Rx Cafe
113 West Main
549-0491

Nice, open and a little noisy. Basic comfort food but they serve tapas portions as well as some full sized entrees. They serve a standard continental breakfast every day of pastries from their own off site bakery. Many items are gluten free.

Taste of the Himalayas
110 North 3rd Street
444-1575

I have only had their lunch buffet. Food is from Northern India and Nepal and I have liked everything I have tried. Very friendly, very helpful service.

Gabby's Kitchen
1650 West Main
549-0656
General American family

Isacco's Kitchen
210 Cedar Street
444-0202
Chef owned Italian

Prasino
51 South 1st Street
Healthy foods and juices

Wok n' Fire
181 South 1st Street
443-3580
Pan Asian

Brix Wine and Cheese
21 South 1st Street
549-0999

McNally's Irish Pub
109 West Main
513-9330

Not new but moved across the River to take advantage of the South 1st restaurant row of which Wok N'Fire, Brix, Rx Cafe, Prasino and Il Gardino are all port of.

Helpful websites that more information as well as menus of many of the places I listed:

St. Charles dining:

http://www.visitstcharles.com/visitors-dining.cfm

Geneva dining:

http://genevailchamber.chambermaster.co ... sp?qlid=22

Honey Jam Cafe:

http://www.portillos.com/honeyjamcafe/

I ate at Isacco's Kitchen Chef owned Italian during Scarecrow Festival. It was great.

I had the appetizer cheese & meat platter for $15. That's a little high for an appetizer, but the portion was huge, with 3 or 4 different kinds of cheese, and 4 or 5 different kinds of meat. And there was quite a bit of each kind of cheese and meat. It was served with some nice mustard and jam. I ended up having 3 different meals from it.

My friend had the crabmeat stuffed ravioli. It had a ton of clams, mussels, shrimp in a nice broth, along with the crabmeat stuffed ravioli. She said it was very good.

Bread service included warm bread and homemade breadsticks served in a little brown paper bag. Cute.

There is a patio for outdoor dining. Good wine list.

I commend your courage to go during Scarecrow Days! That's the heart of the crazy madness! Taste of the Himalaya's is right next door to the west. Your cheese plate sounds wonderful and reminded me that I forgot one new place in Geneva!

Preservation Wine and Bread
513 South Third Street
208-1588

I have been wanting to try this since it opened during Swedish Days, I'll get there yet! It took me 3 tries to get to Enye before yesterday, I was so looking forward to it but it was such a disappointment.

Not new, but fantastic - El Sazon in downtown Batavia - turned onto this place by Chicago Taco Tour and its exhaustive list of Chicagoland tacos - especially the fried varieties

http://chicagotacotour.blogspot.com/201 ... sazon.html

I always go with the shredded beef tacos Dorados - I think they run $2.85/ea. The beef filling is fantastic, juicy, fatty, yet Im not left with a plate swimming in liquid - the meat holds it.

Took shay here on Saturday for an early lunch on the way east . She proclaimed the Tacos Dorados here the best ever. She hasnt been to Loncars or El Molcajete "yet" but she knows whats up.

Tacos Dorados(beef):



steak tacos were pretty good as well - loaded down.



El Sazon - on the three to four times a month rotation.

El Sazon
33 N. Island Ave
Batavia, IL.

I would have posted in my favorite thread these days, but the Dupage/Kane County line feels like the threshold of what constitutes the burbs.

And this place was a total surprise to me, since I am not typically a fan of brunch (the wait, the prices, the leaving the house on a weekend morning). Small town brunch is a different affair though, typically easier on the feet and the wallet, though usually, especially when gussied up, failing to deliver in the quality department.

Not the case at Abby's Breakfast and Lunch in St. Charles. Great, surprisingly creative food at affordable prices.



It sure plays the part of small town brunch boutique– a pink color scheme, local art adorning the walls, strip mall drop ceiling, tons of kids. A cooler full of house bloody mary mix next to the entryway cued me on to an adult edge to the otherwise cutesy vibe.

Never one to pass on the red drink, I partook.



Good stuff. Loved all the pickles (many asparagus spears hiding below the surface). Smoky summer sausage a nice amuse bouche. The house recommended Effen cucumber vodka gave it a refreshing finish and the house mix was definitely scratch made with a savory roundness from perhaps a splash of beef stock. It could have been a notch spicier, but very enjoyable.



The BLT- Abby's Way was landing on many tables and we both considered ordering it. I knew my wife wouldn't be able to finish this substantial sandwich, so I slyly let her order it knowing I would get to have a round with it myself. Excellent sandwich, double decker with all the BLT trimmings including a generous count of smoky, thick cut bacon. Their touch adds herbed cream cheese and a fried egg (which, though not pictured, had a nice runny yolk).



They're keen on Reuben-izing breakfast format dishes and though it seemed potentially dubious, I am really glad I went with the Reuben Skillet. Underneath all of that 1000 island (no complaints there) are fat, succulent chunks or corned beef and perfectly griddled, obviously fresh grated hash browns. With dark rye on the side, this deconstructed version of one of my favorite sandwiches was only rendered all the more decadent by perfectly poached eggs.

This spot seems like a gem. I can't remember the last time I got so jazzed on brunch.

Abby's Breakfast & Lunch
11 N 3rd St, St. Charles, IL 60174
(630) 377-0797