Thu 17 Jan 2013
Brick House Bar and Grill – Charleston, IL
Posted by markj under Family , Four-and-a-Half Spoons1 Comment
We’re back. After a two-and-a-half year hiatus due to boredom with the restaurant choices in central IL, we finally have something new to write about.
The Brick House Bar and Grill opened this week in the space formerly occupied by Two Flowers at the refurbished Unique Suites Hotel on Rt. 16 in Charleston. The new restaurant and hotel are owned by the same folks who own Dirty’s Bar and Grill further east on Rt. 16. Hopefully this bodes well for the longevity of the restaurant, because this one’s a keeper. We stopped in tonight to give it a try and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food.
The menu is typical American with steaks, chicken, pasta, and seafood. The dishes are taken beyond the routine by different spices and sauces. Tonight Sarah had the Chicken Parmesan and I had a dish called Chateau Bistro, which was a center cut sirloin sliced and served with a bourbon creme sauce. Sarah’s dish came with ziti and fire roasted corn. Mine came with mashed red potatoes. We both started with a Caesar salad. The salads were ok, although the lettuce seemed a bit wilted from washing. The entrees, however, were simply outstanding. Sarah’s Chicken Parmesan was a huge piece of perfectly cooked breaded chicken over ziti with a vodka-based tomato sauce. The chicken was covered in melted cheese. My steak was also cooked to perfection and the bourbon creme sauce was an excellent addition that nicely complement the steak without overpowering it. Both side dishes were very tasty. Our bill, which included two glasses of wine, came to $50 with the tip. Not bad for an excellent meal for two. I look forward to our next visit there. There are lots of interesting things on the menu I wish to try.
Note to the chef: My compliments, sir. Well done.
Note to the owner: Kudos on opening what is sure to become the best restaurant in Coles County. I wish you success. You’ll see me often.
February 9th, 2013 at 9:27 am
We called ahead and were seated upon arrival at the Brick House. Hostesses were professional in both dress and service; the lighting and atmosphere were welcoming and pleasant. We were promptly greeted at our table by the wait staff. Our waitress couldn’t have been more accommodating and our food came in perfect timing and was well presented. The three of us each had a different entree and we were impressed by each one. Our salads were colorful, crisp and served on cold plates. The crab cake appetizer was seasoned and cooked exactly as we like. For the quality of food and service, the prices were reasonable. We will definitely be back and we are excited to have this restaurant available in Charleston, IL. Note: We are local residents and did not stay in the hotel.