Hillery's BBQ - Lake Bluff location

So 7 of us LTHers went for lunch yesterday at Hillery's Lake Bluff location.

In good LTH form, it was agreed that order some different items and share. (this is one thing I really enjoy about the social aspect of going out for a meal with LTHers, one gets to try many more items than one could on their own, so that one can form a knowledgeable opinion).

There were a number of issues that made me feel they aren't quite ready for prime time:
We tried to order hot links but they were out.
We tried to order the BBQ shoulder but it wasn't ready yet.
We tried to order wings but were given fried chicken.
They do not have their liquor license yet.
They only have cans of soda w/no ice & no water is served (as they are on well water that apparently isn't good)

So if I recall correctly, our lunch order was comprised of:

rib tips
fried catfish
slab of ribs (spare ribs)
brisket
fried okra

My personal favorites were the rib tips & fried catfish. While there is better to be had in the city (rib tips could use more smoke and catfish could use more corn meal) Hillery's is making the best (that I'm aware of) if this area. I very much enjoyed these two items.

Fried okra was done right, enjoyable.

Chicken was good but I would not make Hillery's a destination for fried chicken.

I thought the ribs were dry and would have enjoyed them more if there weren't.

The brisket is a pure pass in my book, just not good. Small shavings/chunks drenched in sauce with no noticeable smoke, so essentially bits of roast brisket in sauce.

Speaking of sauce, I'd recommend getting sauce on the side (Thanks Cathy for making sure to mention this when the group ordered).


Hillery's BBQ
5 N. Skokie Hwy. - across from Knauz Auto Park
Lake Bluff
(847) 735-8202
http://hillerysbbq.net/ - website is of the Waukegan location.
-

I've long been a fan of the North Chicago location. I believe it was the original location.
When the Waukegan location opened we tried that location and the ribs and tips seemed not to suffer.
Same with the Kenosha location when it opened.
Since the Kenosha location is much closer than North Chicago for us, that's where we go unless coming back from Chicago on Hwy 41 and then it's North Chicago.
Does Lake Bluff have sit down accommodations? I don't believe any of the other locations allow for dine in or have much in the way of beverages.
Hillary's Rib Tips are the best around for me.-Dick

budrichard wrote:Does Lake Bluff have sit down accommodations? I don't believe any of the other locations allow for dine in or have much in the way of beverages.

Yes - Lake Bluff has tables and chairs. There's an adjacent room with a fairly large bar (appears to be under construction) and four high top tables. Canned soda pop and bottled water are your non-alcoholic beverage options.

I attempted to get take out two weeks ago. My buddy wanted a brisket dinner. See a brisket sandwich, but no dinner. "Oh, we have that but it's not on the menu." OK, I'll have that and a full slab. Weird look on the counterman's face. Out of ribs. A Friday evening at 6:45pm. One person sitting at a table and one other waiting for an order to go.

If you are seeking ribs, you may want to have a back up plan.

This location is cursed. I drive by there every week and it's always dead. I have yet to try Hillery's and to be honest I almost don't want to. I feel like it's going to close in 6 months whether I go or not. They need a much bigger sign, you don't even see it driving right next to it coming off of 41. Not a good sign (pun intended).

Ram4 wrote:This location is cursed. I drive by there every week and it's always dead. I have yet to try Hillery's and to be honest I almost don't want to. I feel like it's going to close in 6 months whether I go or not. They need a much bigger sign, you don't even see it driving right next to it coming off of 41. Not a good sign (pun intended).

Hillery's closed this location. There is a sign promising a new BBQ joint at the same location.

The only curse was preventable: Hillery's at this location was poorly managed, they know how to do take-out and handle dine-in poorly. Not my favorite style of BBQ, either: no wood at all, just briquets, so you know it needs the sauce to hide its lack of flavor.

Regards,