DINING CRITIQUESwhitewhit> Back To Stories
NIGHT CLUB
Jilly's
103 S. Main Street
Naperville
(630) 355-1001
Hip, chic, and one of the most popular "in" places in downtown Naperville, Jilly's is a throwback to the age of night clubs. Jilly's boasts a full bar menu as well as dinner entrees.
The expanded menu attracts some of the earlier diners; and the bar menu affords the later night revelers lots of choices. While some, like me, are dining on shrimp risotto or char grilled lamb chops or any number of Italian influenced entrees, others can partake of pizza, sandwiches, minis, or appetizer portions of wings, shrimp or bruschetta.
The drink menu excels in offering over a dozen specialty martinis and a formidable wine and champagne list, some offered only by the bottle, but many available by the glass or flute.
What sets Jilly's apart is that it is truly a club, seeming almost private, although it is quite open to the public. Live music is featured Tuesday through Saturday and the $5.00 specials are phenomenal. Try the half pound burgers on Saturday afternoons, select martinis and wines on Wednesday or happy hour appetizers on Fridays.
Jilly's rocks until late at night, but even our "over the hill gang" had a great time there. –Cathy Cotter, Dining Critic
SEAFOOD
Chinn's 34th Street Fishery
3011 W. Ogden Avenue
Lisle – (630) 637-1777
Even if your plans for August don't include a trip to the New England shore, you can still get a tasty seafood fix at Chinn's, a casual spot known for really fresh, flown in daily, fish.
Very buttery, very garlicky dinner rolls were served soon after we each ordered one of Chinn's famous mai tais. I began with a rich and creamy lobster bisque while my companion chose New England chowder. It was Monday night, so we took advantage of the king crab leg special, a full pound of succulence for $19.95.
Other diners opted for fewer legs paired with strip steak. There are landlubber's entrees, but fish is really what Chinn's is all about. The daily specials, especially halibut, are usually excellent. On Tuesdays, for $17.95, Chinn's features all you can eat shrimp prepared scampi style, cold, steamed, fried, garlic, or hot and spicy.
Even though we had dined sufficiently, we had to have a slice of cheesecake and key lime pie to share, both good with enough leftover to take home. Congenial service, laid back atmosphere, and good seafood at reasonable prices make Chinn's a popular, family friendly destination.
–Cathy Cotter, Dining Critic