York Tavern, Oak Brook

I live in the city now but when I lived in the burbs I would stop by the York Tavern on (appropriately) York Road in Oak Brook (it was by Graue Mill). They had an okay burger but it was a nice little log cabin-y place for lunch on a weekend. It is also the place where my old caddymaster used to get smashed at lunch everyday.

So a few weeks back I drove past the little house was gone! It seemed like they were rebuilding but does anyone know the scoop?

3702 S York Rd.
Oakbrook, IL 60523
(630) 323-5090
http://www.yorktavernoakbrook.com/

How I miss the York Tavern! The scoop is that someone purchased it, demolished the cute log cabin, and is now rebuilding it...I'm sure it will be rebuilt to look like every other what's-old-is-new-again place around. Hopefully it's something just as cozy...we shall see. Not sure when they're supposed to finish with it.

AngrySarah wrote:So a few weeks back I drove past the little house was gone! It seemed like they were rebuilding but does anyone know the scoop?

Wow, I am sorry to hear it is gone. I had not been there in many years, but it was always a great little low-key rustic place to hoist a few when I was visiting my parents (who lived on York road). It was the kind of "time-warp" place that had probably not changed much since it first opened many decades ago. Now I am upset that I didn't stop there more often when I was out that way. I am sure the real estate it was built on must be worth a fortune.

I grew up near there, too, sorry to hear it's gone. It can be a tough area to find a non-pretentious spot for a burger and a beer. Alot like Meier's (ph) tavern in Glenview, which I'm sure is mentioned elsewhere.

It's not gone. It's being rebuilt. It is now owned by the same people that own Roberto's restaurant in Elmhurst.

Supposedly, the burger recipe is changing a bit. I don't understand why you would take a successful, cozy joint like that and mess with it.

saps wrote:It's not gone. It's being rebuilt. It is now owned by the same people that own Roberto's restaurant in Elmhurst.

That is just marketing semantics. If you tear something down, then build something new in its place, it is no longer there, even if what you built has the same name. They just don't want to lose the customers who have been going there all of their lives. Besides, the charm of the place was in the building itself. But who knows? Maybe they will pull it off. At least they aren't building condos there.

Is Roberto's owned by the same family that owned it when it was just a little carry-out joint? I used to like their pizza a lot.

A guy named Vito bought it (Roberto's) around 10 years ago. It is now a full service Italian restaurant, and they still make pizza. It's pretty good pizza, but I don't really have a reference point for the taste from back when Roberto owned it.

I was under the impression that the original York Tavern was in violation of more than one code and in order for it to continue, these violations needed addressing. Not that I think tearing down and completely rebuilding are the "proper" solution.

Diannie wrote:I was under the impression that the original York Tavern was in violation of more than one code and in order for it to continue, these violations needed addressing. Not that I think tearing down and completely rebuilding are the "proper" solution.

That makes sense. The village of Oakbrook was not incorporated until 1958. I think York Tavern probably preceeded that (the building definitely did). It was always an anachronism within Paul Butler's planned upscale community. That was why it was so appealing. I'll bet the place lost its grandfathered status when it was sold. Well, if the new owners had no choice, then I forgive them.

AngrySarah wrote:I live in the city now but when I lived in the burbs I would stop by the York Tavern on (appropriately) York Road in Oak Brook (it was by Graue Mill). They had an okay burger but it was a nice little log cabin-y place for lunch on a weekend. It is also the place where my old caddymaster used to get smashed at lunch everyday.

You didn't, by any chance, caddy at Butterfield Country Club, did you?

I used to enjoy this funky old joint, too.

Hammond

David, I'm a member there. You may have caddied for my grandfather or my dad there. I'm playing on Sunday with an ex-caddy who is now a member.

saps wrote:David, I'm a member there. You may have caddied for my grandfather or my dad there. I'm playing on Sunday with an ex-caddy who is now a member.

I caddied at Butterfield a long time ago...like, maybe, in 1966 or so. It was a wild experience, and enjoyable in some ways -- I learned a lot of good swears. Elsewhere, there's a discussion of sense memories about food, and I remember enjoying the "Caddy Special," a hot dog and root beer, as I recall, around the ninth, purchased for caddies by the golfers. I think, too, that this was the summer I discovered red licorice.

Hammond

David Hammond wrote:

saps wrote:David, I'm a member there. You may have caddied for my grandfather or my dad there. I'm playing on Sunday with an ex-caddy who is now a member.

I caddied at Butterfield a long time ago...like, maybe, in 1966 or so. It was a wild experience, and enjoyable in some ways -- I learned a lot of good swears. Elsewhere, there's a discussion of sense memories about food, and I remember enjoying the "Caddy Special," a hot dog and root beer, as I recall, around the ninth, purchased for caddies by the golfers. I think, too, that this was the summer I discovered red licorice.

Hammond

I used to loop at Butler, not Butterfield. I didn't know Sonny was a lush.

York Tavern is back in business. The burger recipe has changed, but I understand that it is better than before. In fact, everyone I've talked to is raving about it, so I need to get there soon.

saps wrote:York Tavern is back in business. The burger recipe has changed, but I understand that it is better than before. In fact, everyone I've talked to is raving about it, so I need to get there soon.

The Wife and I drove by there a few weeks ago...wow, has that place changed. Very fancypants, but the only bar (apparently) for some distance.

David Hammond wrote: The Wife and I drove by there a few weeks ago...wow, has that place changed. Very fancypants, but the only bar (apparently) for some distance.

Other than Hinsdale dive Belluomini's Spirits and Grill.

Does Belluomini's have food? Is it any good?

I grew up not too far from the York.

I remember pulling into the gravel parking lot just south of the restaurant and getting out of the car to talk to someone I saw driving the opposite direction on York Rd. This was about 10 years ago.

She pulled in and we were talking.

Some guy came out on the roof of the York (seriously, one of the weirder things I've seen to this day) and flashed a gun. He asked me what the hell I thought I was doing or something along those lines. I was a little surprised to have this experience in the bosom of Hinsdale; an interesting memory.

FWIW, I miss the old York, but I had not been there in at least ten years. No longer live in the area.

saps wrote:Does Belluomini's have food? Is it any good?

They do serve food (basic bar food -- burgers, etc.), but, from what I've heard, it's not very good.

were forced to bring the restaurant up to code by DuPage County. This was due to the change in ownership.

The restaurant was added to Roberto's approximately 10 years ago.

"The York Tavern structure has existed since 1843 at its present location and"

I got this from the minutes of Oak Brook Board approving the reconstruction. The needed improvements for Health Code and ADA compliance. They are doubling the size of the structure.

I stopped in to the York Tavern today for a cheeseburger and I have to say it exceeded my expectations.

Really good beefy flavor from the burger and a nice bun. Fries are food service but at least they're done properly, nice and crunchy exterior with a soft middle.
Washed down with a pint of Labatt's Blue the tab was just over $10 and frankly I like it better than M Burger but not quite as much as the char burger at U. B. Dogs. A solid lunch option for the area.

I will have to try it. I must admit I had been meaning to go but then never did. The other funky place for a burger in Dupage is Country House. One in Lisle and one in Clarendon HIlls. Supposedly the one in CH is haunted so maybe go there on Halloween. The one in Lisle is pretty hard to find tucked away behind a bike shop in a strip mall. Kind of place you throw peanut shells on the floor of the bar. As I recall the burgers are good and they serve duck tenders.

zoid wrote:I stopped in to the York Tavern today for a cheeseburger and I have to say it exceeded my expectations.

Really good beefy flavor from the burger and a nice bun. Fries are food service but at least they're done properly, nice and crunchy exterior with a soft middle.
Washed down with a pint of Labatt's Blue the tab was just over $10 and frankly I like it better than M Burger but not quite as much as the char burger at U. B. Dogs. A solid lunch option for the area.

Exceeded expectations was just right for us this weekend - cheap prices belie some good plain tavern cooking, from the oily saltine-cracker-crust pizza to the fish sandwiches, breaded shrimp, grill-charred burgers and even a nice basic Bloody Mary. I was particularly thinking that it's everything the Avenue Alehouse in Oak Park (and so many other sports bars) tries to emulate and royally screws with industrial food service sourcing and indifferent kitchen prep. A touch of God's Country in the 'Brook, no doubt.

I had the Prime Rib sandwich over the weekend and it was really good.
Why it's called a prime rib I can't really explain; I was expecting a nice slab of PR but what I got was shaved beef not unlike a French dip. The good news is that it's just under $10 and it's a pretty generous amount of food, plus it's really tasty. I'd go back for it.

York Tavern will remain in my rotation when I'm I the area, which is very often.

"Prime" Rib refers to cut of meat with prime having become generic regardless of Grade.
It can be served several ways. Lawry's offers a few different variations including an English Cut while not shaved it is indeed thin slices.