Decidedly underwhelmed at HOS Naperville (small rant)

Went with a friend to the HOS in Naperville for brunch on Saturday morning. It was disappointing, to say the least. Let me say that I am usually a big fan of HOS - I love the dinners and Jimmy's gumbo. We walked in not too long after opening, there were few tables taken and it was COLD in there. The waitress came by after what seemed like a wait, took our order and departed. Several minutes later, we received the coffee, which was very welcome since it was really uncomfortably cold (we did mention it to no avail) and then our order came. My friend had the bananas foster pecan french toast (she loved it) and I ordered the "creole eggs benedict" which was poached eggs on a biscuit with creole hollandaise (not much different from any other hollandaise I've tried) and andouille sausage slices scattered around them. I would have put much more hollandaise on it or served extra on the side, as the biscuit was good but got a little dry (once the eggs and sauce are gone, then what? No butter served although I could have asked for it, I know). The sausage was obviously microwaved to heat it after it was ordered and it was dry, dry, dry. We also got a side of potatoes which were also microwaved and rather cold when served. The coffee was good though. I was very disappointed because really, how long does it take to actually grill some potatoes to reheat them? C'mon. One thing the restaurant does that I detest is to scatter seasoning/sugar/whatever on the rim of the plates. I HATE this. Overall, the entire staff seemed to be nearly sleepwalking and not too interested in the clientele. For some reason, the Wabash location (the only other one I've tried) seems much more on their toes...and the food is better.

About a month (or so) ago, I ate at the Mag Mile HOS. While my experience was not like yours specifically, it surely was the same in spirit. In other words, it was pretty awful that day.

I agree that also that the Wabash location seems way ahead, probably the result of the personal influence of Chef Bannos.

In my experience the service always has been very inconsistent at the Naperville location (ever since it first opened). Some servers are quite good -- others seem to be in a daze. No one associated with the place ever seems particularly friendly.

However, IMO, the food, including the weekend brunch, usually is pretty good. I usually order the poached eggs with grits and andouille, which always has been pretty solid. The dinner items (including gumbo) and the entrees on the "specials" menu also usually are pretty good.

The service is defintely hit or miss (and the atmosphere can be downright annoying). I believe that the Wrigleyville/Clark Street HOS location has closed. In my one experience there, I found it eerily similar to the Naperville HOS in terms of service and "attitude." I'd imagine that the Naperville location will continue to thrive for a while, simply due to its location.

I agree about the Wabash location, I have usually been there right before closing or on Saturday early, and the staff is always on the ball. Maybe not your best friend, but they have hustle and your food comes quickly and hot. I always see either Jimmy's son Billy or his brother George there, however, maybe that's one of the differences. I guess that the room is small too but still, I would not call Naperville large by any means. And that's why I am disappointed - I like the dinner specials as well, especially the tilapia (served with rice and crab cakes, yummy) and love the gumbo. When I went to culinary school on Wabash, the gumbo saved me on many nights...

For some reason, the dinner service seems better than the early service in Naperville. I think that you are right, it's in a good location and it's a novelty in the area as well. I can't think of anything else close by even similar to the food/style.

For the uneducated amongst us, what is HOS?

DMChicago wrote:For the uneducated amongst us, what is HOS?

Yeah, it took me a second to figure that one out. "HOS" is "Heaven on Seven."

Me too. In the interest of furthering the LTHForum "best practice" of publishing Name/Location:

Heaven On Seven
Mutiple Locations
http://www.heavenonseven.com/
The OP is referring to:

224 S Main St
Naperville
(630) 717-0777

Best,
Michael

"Yeah, it took me a second to figure that one out. "HOS" is "Heaven on Seven."

Whew...what a relief...I thought it was some alliteration of House of...

Sorry, couldn't fit all in the subject line. Guess you would think House of .....something. I'll do better next time

As a native Louisianan, I would say I don't think much of Heaven on Seven's version of Cajun/creole cuisine -- while many of the preparations are in the neighborhood of authentic (I'm certainly not going to make an argument for false advertising the way some feel towards the Olive Garden as it relates to "homestyle Italian cooking" -- (but my cousin Sal just loves it!):wink:), I just don't think they're particularly good. Maybe it's the ingredients or just my bias to have things prepared the way mom does or restaurants in Louisiana do, but Heaven on Seven just doesn't really get it done for me. The few more recent times I've gone I've actually stuck to ordering things that are not traditional Cajun/creole dishes, because I don't want to eat something that comes up short when compared to other versions I have enjoyed. That said, I think that the original Wabash location has better food than the River North/Mag Mile version.

Matt, I think that your comments are right on the money. While I like their gumbo, I usually go for Heaven on Seven's non-traditional dishes, which they handle pretty well.

I'm curious, have you found anywhere in the Chicago area that does prepare cajun/creole traditional fare that is up to snuff? In my experience, the Chicago area seems to be underserved in this regard, with mainly low-end establishments (Cajun/Creole places that are to the real thing what the Olive Garden is to authentic Italian restaurants, if that analogy makes sense).

Ron A. wrote:I'm curious, have you found anywhere in the Chicago area that does prepare cajun/creole traditional fare that is up to snuff? In my experience, the Chicago area seems to be underserved in this regard, with mainly low-end establishments (Cajun/Creole places that are to the real thing what the Olive Garden is to authentic Italian restaurants, if that analogy makes sense).

Ron -- I have not really found a Cajun/creole restaurant that I really like here in Chicago, but I have not tried a whole lot either. Having had enough mediocre (and some Olive Garden level) Cajun/creole meals in all parts of the country, my general approach is to just make my favorites myself and hold off on getting food like that out until I visit Louisiana. I have been disappointed enough at this point that I won't try a Cajun/creole restaurant outside of Louisiana or certain parts of Texas unless it comes recommended to me by someone who knows the cuisine. A boatload of cayenne pepper or blackening seasonings does not a Cajun meal make.

but Shaw's Blue Crab Lounge has some excellent gumbo, IMHO. Use it to wash down some oysters and crabcakes, mmm. The Maple Tree Inn was the scene of a few too many Mardi Gras festivities for us in days gone by, good food and good times.

I've found the service a tad hostile at the Mag Mile location. Except when we eat at the bar...the bartender goes about his business, but is attentive and welcoming. Growing up in Houston and tutored by my grandfather in all things Cajun and Creole I, too, find HO7 a bit wanting...but there are a few must-haves: the andouilles, sweet potato polenta, brown mustard app/the orzo-fe'/and the softshell crab po-boy always work for me...so much so that I can get over the weirdly snooty service. The Wabash location is the best in terms of atmosphere, but I rarely have the patience for eating in such a packed place.

From the day they opened HOS N'ville has been like this, at least as reported on LTHForum - inconsistent on service and food prep. http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=10090#10090

They may in fact do a wonderful brunch, but it is highly unlikely I will go there for that, since I generally avoid brunches if at all possible - crowded expensive and generally a meal I can prepare just as well, and enjoy more, at home. But if I want gumbo or a Fried Oyster Po Boy, I will go. Not that it is as good as I could get in Nawlins, just that it is decent and nearby.

If there is better, let me know. Anyone been to Savannah's lately?

Sadly, the only REALLY good cajun/creole place that I know of within 100 miles is Ron's Cajun Connection in Utica, IL.

897 East U.S. Highway 6
(1 mile East of the old location)
Utica, IL 61373

How's that? Anyway, he is from Louisiana and the restaurant has been discussed extensively on the Beyond Chicagoland threads. I guess that if I need a closer fix, I'll have to train out to Wabash on a Saturday morning and get a po' boy with a cup of gumbo. I think that I'll send a note to HO7 and see if they care...

I believe that the Wrigleyville/Clark Street HOS location has closed.

Since I hadn't seen a clarification yet: The Clark Street Heaven on Seven has indeed closed, and has been replaced by Uberstein.

No idea how the food is, but having walked past a couple times and seeing massive liter-steins of beer, I look forward to downing one or two before I move out of the neighborhood.

Uberstein
3478 N. Clark St.
773-883-0300

whiskeybent wrote:No idea how the food is, but having walked past a couple times and seeing massive liter-steins of beer, I look forward to downing one or two before I move out of the neighborhood.

Sounds like you have quite an exit planned. If you are planning more than drinking a few on your way out, please post it on the event board so we can all share .

Attended a holiday function at a nearby business with my daughter (a fairly adventurous diner) and as she claimed nearly fainting from hunger, we headed for Heaven on Seven. I do not understand what is wrong with this outpost. The gumbo was good (it always is). I ordered the tillapia served on crabcakes. The fish was warm at best and the crabcakes were dry. It was hidden under large chunks of tomato and green onion. That was the better of the two entrees. Daughter ordered the Louisiana Soul platter. This is a sampler platter of sorts with jambalaya, red beans and rice, hoppin john, greens and andouille sausage. I tasted the greens and wished that I hadn't. The sausage looked like it had been warmed three times over. I believe that everthing must be microwaved before it's brought out as it seems to be heated unevenly or way overheated (every piece of sausage I've ever had there). Sadly, as much as I love the Wabash location, I think that I will file Naperville away for good as not worth the price of admission.

Except for the original location, which is alluring for it's atmosphere more than anything,HOS has been getting away with murder for years. The Clark St. location was particularly putrid.

Haven't been there in a while, but I always found the service at the Naperville Heaven on Seven (HOS) to be much worse than the food. In my experience, some of the items on the specials menu, including the tilapia, usually are pretty good. It's not as good as the Wabash location, but really is your only option in Naperville for that type of cuisine (as far as I know).

However, I will say that I once also made the mistake of ordering the Louisiana soul platter (thinking that it sounded interesting at the time, I guess). I found everything on it to be pretty mediocre and disappointing.

I'm on the HOS mailing list. I just got a reminder that their next Hot as a Mutha dinner is next Monday, January 19th 7 pm. I went to one of these last spring, and it was incredible, and absolutely the hottest food I've ever been served in any restaurant anywhere. Call (630)717-0777, reservations are required.

Ive eaten at the old Clark Street location..the one on Rush and the one on Wabash..they were all consistently good..
Ive been meaning to try the one in Naperville for awhile but have never been ambitious enough to deal with downtown Naperville itself..
i will admitt though that the last two times I ate at Wabash was for one of Jimmys cooking demos

I'll contribute to this old thread now that it has been dug up.

Ive eaten at the Naperville, and Chicago locations a few times, and never came away very impressed. Their gumbo just was not that good(watery, bland, & not as dark as I like), and that is what I judge all cajun food by. The red beans and rice with sausage, a simple dish has been a disappointment as well, the sausage was overcooked, and dried out that I really couldnt taste any flavor. The rice and beans tasted like they had been sitting on a steamtable for hours languishing. The crab cakes, too much filler, and again dried out. Makes me question how freshly prepared the items are, or how long ahead of time they are preparing them, and holding them in hopes someone orders the item.

Naperville was far worse, food(cold, bland), and service wise(slow) than the Chicago locations but none really blew me away.

I have given up on HOS, and Maple Tree Inn mentioned upthread, and I stick to going to Ron's, or cook it myself.

I guess I've been to HOS in Naperville 3 times now. The first time I was going to an authors book signing at Andersons, and after parking near the bookstore wandered around looking for a place for dinner, and found them by accident. I'd heard of the place, so I thought I'd give it a try. They were crowded, but were able to seat me immediately at one of the smaller tables near the bar. I had a great crawfish etouffee for dinner.

The second time my family was meeting an old friend and his wife for dinner. He was in town as a guest scientist / author at a Science Fiction convention at the Naperville Holiday Inn. I suggested HOS, and everyone including my finicky daughter ended up very happy with the choice.

The last time was the Hot as a Mutha dinner in April 2008, which still rates as one of the most amazing meals I've ever had, and certainly the hottest I've ever had in any restaurant. It was a 7 course presentation that included:

1) Black pepper and chile piquin strawberry salad with pecans

2) Chocolate habanero soup garnished with chocolate shavings that someone else at the table described as a "slow painful death"

3) Spicy goat taco with salsa and red savina habanero

4) Ghost pepper curried shrimp

5) Beef tenderloin with cracked pepper, potatoes, shiitake mushroom and serrano chile

6) Pork tenderloin & glazed apples with ghost pepper. If the soup was a slow painful death, the person described this one as a quick death. This was the hottest of the items. It took me a while to finish it, not because of the heat, but because I was so full after eating everything else we'd been served.

7) a chocolate chip, jalapeno, habanero & ghost pepper cannoli. After the pork I really couldn't tell that there was any pepper in this at all. I think the cheese took away some of the burn from all the earlier hot food.

The dinner included one drink, and with tax & tip came to about $45.

j r wrote:I guess I've been to HOS in Naperville 3 times now. The first time I was going to an authors book signing at Andersons, and after parking near the bookstore wandered around looking for a place for dinner, and found them by accident. I'd heard of the place, so I thought I'd give it a try. They were crowded, but were able to seat me immediately at one of the smaller tables near the bar. I had a great crawfish etouffee for dinner.

The second time my family was meeting an old friend and his wife for dinner. He was in town as a guest scientist / author at a Science Fiction convention at the Naperville Holiday Inn. I suggested HOS, and everyone including my finicky daughter ended up very happy with the choice.

The last time was the Hot as a Mutha dinner in April 2008, which still rates as one of the most amazing meals I've ever had, and certainly the hottest I've ever had in any restaurant. It was a 7 course presentation that included:

1) Black pepper and chile piquin strawberry salad with pecans

2) Chocolate habanero soup garnished with chocolate shavings that someone else at the table described as a "slow painful death"

3) Spicy goat taco with salsa and red savina habanero

4) Ghost pepper curried shrimp

5) Beef tenderloin with cracked pepper, potatoes, shiitake mushroom and serrano chile

6) Pork tenderloin & glazed apples with ghost pepper. If the soup was a slow painful death, the person described this one as a quick death. This was the hottest of the items. It took me a while to finish it, not because of the heat, but because I was so full after eating everything else we'd been served.

7) a chocolate chip, jalapeno, habanero & ghost pepper cannoli. After the pork I really couldn't tell that there was any pepper in this at all. I think the cheese took away some of the burn from all the earlier hot food.

The dinner included one drink, and with tax & tip came to about $45.

It sounds as if you enjoy hot for the heat not the flavor. I have been very fortunate in that I have been able to visit Louisiana several times. Based solely on my experiences there is not one thing on the menu you enjoyed that resembles anything you will find in Louisiana.

Marshall K wrote:It sounds as if you enjoy hot for the heat not the flavor. I have been very fortunate in that I have been able to visit Louisiana several times. Based solely on my experiences there is not one thing on the menu you enjoyed that resembles anything you will find in Louisiana.

That was the amazing thing about the meal. Everything was hot, but everything still had amazing flavor. The heat seemed to be matched to bring out the flavor. of course, for some diners, the heat was too much

I unfortunately went to HO7 in Naperville today. i have been here before and the Chicago location, and think the food at any location isnt really good. However it was one of the few places open in Naperville @ 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

In order to be served alcohol, we each had to order some food. Ok figured the gumbo would be safe. wrong...... A very below average version of gumbo. No flavor from the roux, etc, actually nice consistancy, but someone needs to teach these folks how to put some flavor in the roux and this dish, (really one note, no love, or flavor).

I had vowed i would never go to HO7 again after previous visits, and renew this vow today. Ill stick with Cajun Connection for cajun and gumbo(the difference isnt even close folks), and Toons for their nice gumbo..

i think the Olive Garden of cajun food label for HO7 is appropriate.

jimswside wrote: Ok figured the gumbo would be safe. wrong...... A very below average version of gumbo. No flavor from the roux, etc, actually nice consistancy, but someone needs to teach these folks how to put some flavor in the roux and this dish, (really one note, no love, or flavor).

I had vowed i would never go to HO7 again after previous visits, and renew this vow today. Ill stick with Cajun Connection for cajun and gumbo(the difference isnt even close folks), and Toons for their nice gumbo..

i think the Olive Garden of cajun food label for HO7 is appropriate.

I have to agree, I have never been able to understand why people in Chicago like this alleged version of cajun/creole food. I have been several times to the Wabash location and the late unlamented Clark street site. Mediocre at best. The gumbo at Pappadeaux's is better, fer cryin' out loud. Cajun Connection rules. And I've had a decent oyster po'boy at Toons.