HONING A CRAFT New to Geneva’s downtown area is stylish Craft Urban, serving creative American food and craft cocktails in a colorful and spunky environment. With a dynamic menu by Executive Chef Andrew Sikkelerus, the fabulous American fare is aimed to please. When we asked Chef Sikkelerus what his secret was, he simply said, “We find good product, cook it and don’t mess it up!” From the locally sourced ingredients, perfectly placed, to prepared dishes, late night ramen and accommodating staff–this is sure to be a favorite.
Refreshingly, the ingredients for the dishes are not the only things locally sourced. There’s a variety of locally brewed beers and distilled spirts. After sampling a few of their mouthwatering cocktails and even a mock tail that was just as good as the real thing, we started with a few of the bar snacks. Who doesn’t love cheese curds? Well, they are even better when the batter is light, the cheese is just right and they are accompanied with house-made pickles. As lovers of all things cheese, the fondue was also a favorite. Our waitress, Carla Hastert, was attentive and accommodating. Having an extra little person with us, we found that Craft Urban is not only Paleo friendly, but also welcomes families with children.
The breads and spreads are a popular choice on the menu. We savored the ricotta schmear with prosciutto, grapes and walnuts. Both the Anjou pear salad and the walnut and apple salad were delectable. The burger was topped with a tomato jam and 2 year aged cheddar that added an extra depth of flavor. From the largish plates we enjoyed the short ribs with creamed corn and a plump pork chop with mashed sweet potato.
What a sweet ending we had with each bite of Bernie’s Mother in Law’s pound cake with berries and sweet yogurt. Also making an appearance on the dessert menu, as a classic taste of fall, the chocolate mousse S’mores dessert made such an impression that replacing it wasn’t an option– and we whole heartedly agree.
After 10pm Friday and Saturday, stop in for their soon to be famous Ramen. Each week features a different combination that is kept a secret until Friday night’s unveil. This definitely isn’t your college ramen!
Craft Urban 211 James Street, Geneva (331) 248-8161 • www.crafturban.com Partners: Bernard Laskowski & Francisco Chavez
ABOUT THE CRITICS Stephanie (right) & Tiffany (left) Schmoker are west suburban sisters who have always shared a love for dining out and they also enjoy cooking together. They came from a family of 7 and grew up on farm with fresh fruits, veggies and more. Watch for their review of a different west suburban restaurant in each issue of Glancer Magazine. Invite them to your eatery at editorial@glancermagazine.com.
