Dinner recs in Geneva or St. Charles for tonight

Looking for dinner rec's for tonight in Geneva or St. Charles for a group of young 50-something high school friends getting together to catch up. Something casual, fun & conversation-friendly.

Thanks in advance!

Nikos Lodge in Wasco is good for a group but you didn't say how many. I have been here for private parties so they do have a separate area but the general restaurant is pretty roomy and has 2 large areas. If it's nice enough they have outdoor seating and I think a fireplace out there. Their feature is items from their wood burning rotisserie but everything else is pretty good too. Definitely a lodge like feel, you are even invited (free) to make so'mores over their fire pit. It's about 10 minutes west of Randall Road.

http://www.nikoslodge.com/index.php

You might try Stockholm's Brewpub. Found it by chance a week ago and the food was good.

We all ordered salads. Wife & old school chum each had the crabcake salad which they loved. Tasty crabcake made using panko crumbs. Generous serving including more crab atop the crabcakes.

I had the grilled Salmon salad. The greens were very fresh with a good vinaigrette dressing. The salmon was OK, though a minute or two less on the grill would have helped.

It was a Sunday afternoon and no one in the group was in the mood for beer. Reports I've seen on the beer were variable, but most people are positive on the food.

Atmosphere was brewpub casual. There was a football game on the TV, but we had no problem with conversation. Prices were reasonable.

If you're a large group space may be an issue. Best to call ahead.

Stockholm's Brewpub
306 W State St
Geneva, IL 60134-2103
(630) 208-7070
http://www.stockholmsbrewpub.com/

I have heard good things about Bien Trucha in Geneva, http://www.bientrucha.com/. I haven't had the chance to go yet. There is a Francesca's in St. Charles.

If you have over 6 people, Stockholm's and Bien Trucha are way too small. Stockholm's has great food but can get noisy, it does have a nice outdoor space but no idea if it would be open now.

Niko's Lodge sounds great... I've read about it, but it's just a little too far. That'll be a weekend outing with my husband:)!

Bien Trucha has been on my restaurant radar for awhile.... there's only 4 of us, so that might work great. For some reason, I thought I recall reading that they don't take reservations, but will check on that!

I've also thought of Stockholm's... have been there many times and have liked it. I also had the salmon salad and thought it was a little overdone, but it was still good.

Thanks everyone!

Smaller group makes a difference! There is also Old Towne Pub which is across the street and down a block from Stockholm's. We go to the Wasco location but the menu is the same and similar to Stockholm's. We also enjoy Tap House Grill which is just west of Randall at Rte. 64 and Peck Road behind the Walgreens. They have really great food and a vast beer assortment (I don't drink beer). I love their Cuban sandwich and they have tater tots!! I don't think Bien Trucha takes reservations, there is usually a line out the door. It is very small and tight inside. I've been, I know the owner, I go elsewhere, it's just not my cup of tea to wait and be squished. El Molcajete at 113 West State ( a few blocks east) is very good and not as intense and usually not wait.

http://www.oldtownepubeatery.com/

http://taphousegrills.com/

A guide to all of Geneva's downtown restaurants.
http://www.genevadowntown.org/?cat=43

Thanks for the list.... our plan is to meet at Bien Trucho & if that doesn't work out, just head somewhere else, so the Plan B of El Molcajete looks great.

Thanks so much!

How did your dinner go?

Well, I got overruled and the others wanted to go to Fat Rosie's in St. Charles. I wasn't too impressed.... the salsa & chips were good and they also brought out refried black beans along with the salsa & chips. Guacamole was very bland... avocados didn't taste ripe enough. Service was very good, but overall it didn't have the authentic Mexican feel that we enjoy. I definitely intend to try El Molcajete and Bien Trucho in the near future though.

Fat Rosie's is partially owned by Scott Harris of the Francesca's chain. A lot of people direct compare it to Bien Trucha food wise. I haven't had a chance to go there yet.

Oh... btw, we did end up at Stockholm's for drinks afterwards!

Too late...but next time:

Salarnos on the Fox

www.salernosonline.com/

320 N 2nd St
Saint Charles, IL 60174-1845
(630) 584-7900

Love Salernos!! I had actually thought of that.... we've been there before, but I was thinking (and should've checked) that they may not have reopened yet after the fire.

LikestoEatout wrote:Fat Rosie's is partially owned by Scott Harris of the Francesca's chain. A lot of people direct compare it to Bien Trucha food wise. I haven't had a chance to go there yet.

I wasn't aware that the chef was Raul Arreola, formerly of Fonda del Mar and Mixteco. That definitely makes me more interested in trying this place out.

http://fatrosies.com/meet-the-chef

By chance we were up in the St. Charles area this past Saturday after a matinee of the Lorax(Really enjoyed it, it was Shays 1st movie in a theatre)

- and our now weekely run to Woodmans(thats right we drive 45 minutes each way for our weekely grocery staples).

Decided to hit Fat Rosies in St. Chuck:

- great pork belly tacos
- really good guac.
- mouth numbing serrano peppers

expensive - (2) Shots of tequila, (1) PBR, (1) order empenadas, (1) order guac., (8) tacos(pork belly, carne asada, shrimp, conchinita pibil), (1) order fire roasted serrano peppers. = $70 before tip.

Pork belly was good enough Id go back for that on Tuesdays where I read 4 tacos are $6.

Well, it looks like the owners bailed out on Fat Rosies... It's a bummer, always was a decent crowd when I went. Not sure if the owners expected constant crowds a la Bien Trucha, but that would have been tough to pull off in their strip mall locale.

http://stcharles-il.patch.com/articles/ ... st-charles

I'll definitely miss the cochinita pibil tacos with habanero salsa. Those things were killer.

Avoid the IHOP