Babcock's Grove House

Visited during Lombard Restaurant Week, which was going on whilst I was in town for a separate event. I was in around 14:00. Ordered a classic burger. The first complement that I have is on how well they present their plates (depicted in the photograph). The bun was toasted perfectly - I am not that concerned about the potato buns they state they use in the menu, and I also liked the texture of the patty, which I believe is prepared in-store and smashed. The fries were also good. They are cut fresh in store, which I appreciate. Definitely a worthwhile visit if you are in town.

We brought our dog and they opened up some patio seating for us. We were the first outside sitters of the year and it was a sunny 59° day. Food was amazing and they got it out so quick! Highly recommend the Beer Cheese burger and the Fried Pickles with Garlic Aoli (or Spicy if you don’t mind the heat)

Food was pretty good. The cheese curds were awesome. I’d be curious to test some of the non burger sandwiches

How have I not written a review for this place yet? Maybe I did when they first opened… Everything is ALWAYS good- I am never disappointed and never let down. The food is always consistent, and spot on. I eat gluten free and feel they have amazing bread/buns for their sandwiches. They are always able to accommodate for me. We love their burgers. The really Gouda is our favorite. I also love the schnitzel dinner and sandwhich. The owners put so much love and hard work into this place. It shows! Way to make a Lombard staple!

The food I always get there is so good. Everything's made fresh to order. Service is excellent. Everything comes out in the timely manner it's a small place. That's the only knock so you have to make sure you have time if the tables are fold away.

Nice place, great service. Had the green goddess sandwich and was excited about trying it but it was dry and didn’t feel like a good fresh hearty sandwich as expected. The avocado in the sandwich was very minimal so perhaps that is why it felt dry. It would have been a 5 stars for me but very disappointed in the sandwich. Fries were good.

5 stars is not enough for Babcock's. The young staff is lively and efficient. Our server, Lydia, was on point with her recommendations. I had the chicken schnitzel, which was piping hot and served with mashed potatoes that tasted like homemade and perfectly seasoned mixed vegetables. Oh! Be sure to try the fried pickles appetizer! They're thinly sliced and not overly salty. My husband enjoyed the meatloaf, also served with mashed potatoes and mixed vegeys. Save room for dessert! The banoffee pie was heavenly. I cannot wait for my return visit.

We stopped by here after the local tree lighting in Lilacia Park. It was quite busy and had a wait but luckily we were able to wait inside at their bar, The Lilac League. Any drinks we ordered there we were able to bring to our table inside of the regular restaurant area. Highly recommend The Lilac League’s drink, Peck Homestead. So good! For food at Babcock’s we would also recommend the creamy garlic mushroom soup. We shared one bowl, but if we go again we plan to order one bowl for each of us. It was that good! We also enjoyed Ryan’s Pub Burger with fries and the Really Gouda Burger with a bed of greens. We really enjoyed how intimate it felt, even though we found ourselves sitting quite closely next to others. The building is also quite pretty from the outside too. A decent size parking lot is just a short walk away and street side parking is also available. We can’t wait to visit again!

We celebrated my 49th birthday here last night along with sending two of our four kids back to college. We had been here previously just a few times. We got seated right away (I know it was a Tuesday night....not too busy). The food was absolutely delicious! We got burgers and bowls. The cheese curds were fried to perfection...light and airy. The fries were so good! Our server was patient and so easy to work with. He never made us feel rushed or uncomfortable making requests to alter our meals. As a mom of teenagers, I love that this establishment has no TVs and that the food is made fresh. There needs to be more places like this! We will be eating here again soon.

Honest review from an honest guy. Starting with the area. Super cute little place. Went with my g/f and the place is small so we were kinda cramped in our seats. Service was fast and nice. Food had a home cook meal taste to it, but was more on the mid side. Buffalo cheese curds were pretty fire (8.7/10 modified with ranch and feta tho) Grilled cheese pull pork was very meh like a 6/10 Barley any meat. BBQ sauce was very popularized regular brand taste. Fries were good. Salmond salad girlfriend said was a 7 or 8/10 (women always indecisive)

Came in on a Lombard Cruise Night, which was a fun surprise--they had a special menu for it. I got the prickly pear lemonade with vodka, but I don't think there was any vodka in it. It tasted like a mocktail, though I was charged for the real thing. I had the Green Goddess sandwich--simple but fresh. There was a paste on the toast I wasn't expecting, but the server said it was their in-house dressing, which helped since I have allergies (wish the menu mentioned it). We shared the hummus plate, and it was delicious--especially the feta and olives. Extra bread was no problem. My partner got the Gouda burger and loved it. We also tried the salmon bowl, which was flavorful and fresh. It was a hot day and the doors were open--would've preferred AC, but it was manageable. Overall, a good experience. I'd come back to try more--and hopefully get a proper cocktail next time!

We were in the area for an art walk and stopped in for a mid day meal after reading reviews on Yelp. Located in a historic building, is a cozy, family owned restaurant. We placed our order at the counter and food was served . I had the chicken apple brie sandwich. It was a but underwhelming. The bread was sourdough ,but was thin and lacked flavor. My husband had the chicken shnitznel dinner with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. Overall, the food and service was ok.

Super quaint little restaurant with a charming atmosphere of painted murals and tea lights strung across the ceiling. They have extended seating outside weather permitting as well. The pretzel appetizer comes with 2 big pretzels and 3 sauces. German mustard, beer cheese, and a cheddar and gruyere fondue. All were good especially the fondue but the trio would have been better if the mustard was a thick grainy mustard. The chicken schnitzel was good as it had a good thick crust, I honestly didn't care for the lingonberry sauce that would normally cover it but it had good enough flavor in the crust to stand on its own. The mashed potatoes that accompanied the dish were delicious as well. Shout out to my server Heather who was fantastic.

My fiance and I came here for dinner on a Friday night. This restaurant is housed in a cozy vintage building, but accessibility is a bit difficult because there are large front steps and the railing does not extend all the way down to the sidewalk level. It's a small space inside (unless there's another hidden area I didn't notice!) The host was able to quickly clear a table for us and we were seated toward the nook at the back of the room with a lilac mural (Lombard is the lilac city) and strings of fairy lights overhead (perhaps this area needs a bit more lighting: an older couple at an adjacent table spent a significant amount of time using the flashlights on their phones to read their menus, with the side effect of them flaring into my eyes repeatedly for about 15 minutes). Our waitress was friendly but a little scattered, and it took her quite a while to acknowledge us or even bring water (at some point we were wondering if we were in a zone between servers or what). The manager who was circulating around later was very warm and interested in everyone's experience. Our food was great. I especially loved the creamy mushroom garlic soup: so velvety and flavorful! For entrees my fiance had the bacon beer cheeseburger, which he said was good but the pretzel bun was a little meh, and I had the brie lingonberry grilled cheese on sourdough, which was tasty. They also are "locally famous" for pie according to their website, so we knew we had to get something, and it ended up being Meyer lemon pie for both of us: think key lime but a bit less tart, very smooth with whipped cream on top and a slightly-too-thick but very tasty spiced cookie crust (the thickness made it difficult to hew through with a spoon or even a knife). Overall, the food was good enough that I'm sure we will return.

I just had a wonderful meal. I had the blue cheese sriracha meatloaf with the chive buttermilk mashed potatoes. just a touch of heat on the topping of the meatloaf, i wish i had more mashed. My friend had the Schnitzel BLAT(breaded chicken) which he loved, he really enjoyed the balsamic vinegar dressing that came with the side green salad. Overall a really good meal

First time here. Love the location first off. On the corner in downtown Lombard. The restaurant is a bit small, I went around noon on a Thursday so seating was no issue. You seat yourself and order at the front counter when ready (no traditional waiter/waitress). The girl at the front was very friendly and explained how their service worked. I got the breakfast burger and it was one of the better burgers I've had. All the ingredients were fresh and the burger was hot fresh off the grill. I got the balsamic greens on the side and that was also tasty. Will definitely be back

The fries were cold and the salmon salad is kinda gross. I thought it would be whole piece of salmon but it was shredded, like canned salmon. I should have had a burger, which is usually very good. The mushroom is soup is very good.

Babcock's is truly a gem in a historic building set right on the corner in Lombard. I love that everything is made in house, the service is down to earth, and in the summer the outdoor seating is lovely! I'm also now a huge fan of the speakeasy-style cocktail bar attached to the restaurant! Love this place all around!

Had an early Thursday dinner,Abby are server great, once seated gave us a few minute to look at the drink menu, brought us the wine and beer we ordered right away. Place a corn fritter appetizer, they came in5-7 minutes hot, fresh and were very good. Dinner was the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and seasonal fresh veggies. And the second entree was pulled pork grilled cheese with fries both items come within 15-20 minutes. Mashed potatoes were fresh mashed not something out of a package. Abbey and the rest of the staff were all great fast service, ice and were there when Needed.paid our bill and were able to sit talk and enjoy are drinks. Will be back soon

Very cute inside and outside sections. We did have to order at the counter but then our food was delivered to our table. Very nice staff. The food was very fresh and delicious.

Stopped by for an early dinner....Rosie our server was very nice . I ordered the apple Brie chicken sandwich, worst ever . My friend ordered the turkey burger which was okay. We got the key lime pie for dessert. When I informed Rosie my sandwich was bad she graciously removed it from the bill. They need to improve the sandwich or take it off the menu .

Quick service and a friendly atmosphere! The burgers were absolutely delicious, and the outdoor seating made for a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience. I really appreciated the menu--nicely balanced with plenty of good options without being overwhelming. Definitely a spot I'd recommend for anyone looking for great food in a relaxed setting.

We were looking for decent food before heading to the Enchanted Castle and found this fairly nearby. We're were surprised to find a small, well designed menu of affordable dishes. We started with the corn fritters - light and tasty. My wife had the smoked salmon bowl (a bit too salty for her taste), younger son had the pulled pork pie (basically shepherds pie) which he loved, older son had the Bab's classic burger which was quite a mess to eat but delicious, and I had the veggie chicken shallot bowl that was light and delicious. Including tip, came to just under $100, which is rare these days. Service was prompt and effective. Ambiance gave you the feeling of a neighborhood restaurant with a strong base of regulars. The owner / manager dropped by to welcome us, ask how we were, and even talked a bit about the history of the building.

This place is awesome. The atmosphere, the service and the food were all perfect. So happy we tried it and so excited we found a new place we will want to go to again. Always looking for a new place to go. I had the Sweet Potato burger, which was out of this world. The creamy mushroom soup was delicious, too. And the pie at the end was the perfect way to end an amazing meal.

Kindest owners and servers. Excellent food and lie to die for. The burgers and curds are amazing. Hand crafted sodas too. Come for the food stay for the pie.

I know I'm going to regret this but here goes...this place is awesome. Ellie was our server and she was wonderful. Our food was so tasty and fresh and their prices are reasonable. I will be back. The menu is small but that's OK. they can be great at fewer items versus being good at many items. You get what you pay for here and the atmosphere is quirky but not! The food will bring me back again, and they are not price gauging their customers. I've sworn off many restaurants for that very reason. I will regret posting this review because it will be harder to get ia table after everyone reads the review, but I'm happy to support this local and family owned business. Way to go Babcock's‼‼ truly a great night out!! One thing...please get your air conditioner fixed. It was hot as heck in your establishment. 5 for sure!!

Pretty good for a small buisness! The styles is very cozy and makes me feel nice inside. Unfortunately, when I took my mom with me, she could not get up the stairs and I had to have my son help lift her and her wheelchair up, so being more wheelchair friendly is a definite solution. The food is about average.

Great food! friendly staff, and quick service. also, great prices stopped in with the family. We were all happy with our individual meals.

I haven't been to Babcock's since before the pandemic; Lombard is a 45 minute drive on a perfect traffic day, and this area of town has a parking situation that's not ideal, so I'm so glad that there was parking available when we stopped by on a weekday afternoon! Tables were available outside which is good since the steps would have been an insurmountable challenge for the person I was with. They didn't have root beer (insert crying emoji here) but I did have my favorites smashed potato burger. Service was good. My family is coming to visit in a couple months and I may suggest driving out to Babcock's because I like it that much. I'm so glad they made it through the pandemic.

What an amazing place! I was in the area and just checked Yelp for a lunch spot and landed on this page. I am so glad I did because this was a fantastic experience. We got there a little before noon and sat down to figure out our order, then went to the counter and placed it, getting a number for them to bring it to the table. Literally everything we had was amazing, from the cheese curds that they somehow make taste light (!) to the schnitzel sandwich on perfectly toasted bread to the delightful grape soda and lilac floats. The place is cozy, but there is more space around the back corner because as we sat, tons of people piled in and they never ran out of room. Service is also fantastic with the owner making time to talk to everyone and making people feel very welcome. You need to try this place and then put it on your regular rotation!

Love the coziness and casual atmosphere. Great service. Great food. Unique food options, good drinks & beer. Wish you could make reservations ‍

What a gem! Fantastic little spot in downtown Lombard. One of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Service was amazing. Ambience cozy. Will return.

love this place - this is a hidden gem in Lombard - good food, nice outdoor seating. attentive staff - Go, you'll like it !

Our server Heather C. was friendly, quick and efficient. The food was really good. It was our first time here. We had the mushroom Swiss burger and the bacon and beer cheese burger both were delicious. We will definitely be back. Thanks!

Went to Babcock's for the first time last week. It is smaller inside than it looks. This probably would be a best during warm weather where you can sit outside. The menu is not bad and the drinks are very good. The drinks are a bit pricey. I do recommend going next door for drinks while you wait for your table. Note the drink menu is not the same in babcocks versus the speakeasy next door so you may have to get up and order your drink next door and bring it with you. I will be back

The pulled pork casserole was excellent! The carrot soup was also very good. My friend said her burger was above average. My only complaint was that when we sat down we asked about the pies- we were very interested. And by the time we were finished, the pie we wanted was gone. I wish our server had given us a heads up and had us order it when we ordered our dinner!

We went here to get dinner midweek and what a pleasant surprise. The service was excellent- felt like you were warmly welcomed to someone's home. Our server, Shannon was knowledgeable about the menu and had a beautiful personality. We got appetizer, entree and thankful to have ordered their homemade key lime pie for dessert. Everything was just on point, freshly made and delicious. We had such a great time- will definitely return

Got takeout, beer burger and well-done fries. The flavors were great and I really enjoyed the pretzel bun. Will be going back to try the pie I've heard so much about.

Cozy American fare at a good price. Good beer selection, good burger with a pile of fries. Not sure how they got the fried pickles so dilly, but glad they did.

I've been meaning to try Babcocks for a long time and we found ourselves in Lombard again so we put our name on a waitlist on a Saturday night. We were told 30 minutes and sat down in 20. Super friendly staff and really welcoming and cozy atmosphere made the wait seem like 2 minutes. Menu is excellent and is good for omnivorous and vegetarians alike. Great beer and wine selection with a laid back small bar area. We enjoyed a Noon Whistle local brew ale and a Une Femme sparkling rose. Our food was in front of us 11 minutes after we ordered. Chicken BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado and tomato) served with delicious house made fries and a Mediterranean salad for me. Chicken BLAT was on tender and delicious. The chicken is pounded thin with a light breading on brioche bread YUM. Fresh cut French fries perfectly seasoned. My salad was fresh and tasty to the last bite. Definitely would order both items again. For desert we had a pear pie WOW didn't know pears could be this good! Solid 5 stars on everything!

Came here on a Friday night. Brought my husband and 12 year old son here. Parking wasn't bad. I parked behind the Metra station. It was busy, but we were promptly seated. Had a very sweet server. Our son ordered a Coke float, which he loved since he had never had one before. Really cute atmosphere, and I loved the history of Lombard. I ordered the Schnitzel BLAT (chicken Schnitzel with bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) Very fresh and tasty. My husband got a cheese burger and side salad with a balsamic, which he loved. Our son had their adult size, breaded chicken sandwich, which he LOVED. He even said, "This place deserves a Michelin star!" He told our server this too. Had some fries with our meals, which were hot and tasty. Prices are reasonable and we will definitely be back.

Had a great time. Loved the fried pickles, our server raved about them. The blue cheese sriracha meatloaf with mashed and roasted veggies hit the spot. Sister enjoyed her vegan sweet potato bean burger. We splurged and took home some of their amazing pies, which change often, so check out their Facebook page for the pies of the day. Looking forward to exploring more of their menu.

This was a great place for a casual house made eat! My friends and I really enjoyed the ambiance as well as the food. The ingredients were all really fresh and delicious.

Tried this place based upon the great reviews and was not disappointed! Great burgers, sandwiches, fries...all top notch and gourmet. They have a great menu, so can't wait to go back and try more. Go now!

Have you been to Babcock's?? YOU NEED TO GO is my common opener to my friends and folks in the local area. This was my 2nd time going back and I enjoyed it so much I brought my friends here. Simply put, good food, great service, awesome place. I came here when they first opened and was impressed with their farm to table approach and coming back years later, I'm impressed that they were able to continue the quality of food and service since day 1. It's Oktoberfest so they had a special menu of drinks and food. I ordered the brats and smash - brats are homemade and a must try. My friend ordered the brunch burger which she described as "the best burger she's had." We ended with their flourless chocolate cake but was a hard choice to pick as all their homemade deserts and pies sounded delicious. You can't miss this restaurant staple in downtown Lombard located on Main Street. You won't miss it by the friendly staff and exquisite dining experience. It's like you get the dining experience of a fine restaurant in the city, but with a homey feel with folks who make you feel you're eating at their home.

I had been wanting to try Babcock's for a while because I live in Lombard and have heard such good things, and I'm so glad I did!! I LOVED everything - the food was delicious, amazing service, and such a cute location! We sat inside but the outdoor patio was open and there was a lot of seating for a small place! Plus, the food came out super fast I couldn't believe it. You could tell everyone was working very hard there, and the owner was very attentive to all the customers. I love supporting local family owned businesses, especially when they are this good and affordable. I couldn't believe how affordable it was for the quality, all our food in the pics was only $36 after tax (before tip)! I can't wait to come here again - the burger was amazing.

I don't think it's that great. I think it's nicely priced one of their famous dishes. I think it's horrible. The chicken is so thin it taste like just skin and chicken like a little strip of chicken and white meat. I need like a chicken breast anyways I'm sorry that's what I think

The burgers here are simply unparalleled, it cannot be overstated how good all of the burgers are. The atmosphere inside is also very warm and inviting

Took the picture too late lol food was really good and fresh . The handcutt fries were hot and salted to perfection . The buffalo cheese curds, I was nervous to try but just the right amount of blue cheese and spice . The Turkey burger was fresh as well . Would recommend

Babcock is definitely a place.you wanna try if you wanna get away from the mainstream. Their choices are unique and made with exceptional touch. The warmth of the staff is inviting. Place is small but the more the merrier. Let's start with the mushroom soup. It was awesome! Definitely not Campbells! :) the meatloaf was great with a kick with mash and veggies. Finally my gurl had a burger that was great reminding us of other more expensive burgers in the city. Overall, great spot...

Popular joint. Historical building. Good not bad. Not cheap but average pub food. I had the burger which was tasty.

I was really excited to try this place after all the recommendations I've seen for it. I met a friend here for lunch on a Tuesday. It was surprisingly busy! We were able to snag a small table. While they have a wait staff, they only bring out the food. Getting menus, silverware and ordering is all on you. I don't know if that's due to staffing issues or what? I ordered their beer cheese bacon burger and fries. I didn't love it to be honest. The burger wAs smashed thin and had broken a part, making it hard to pick up and eat. The bacon wasn't super crispy. The beer cheese just wasn't my thing. I had to eat it with a fork and knife since it was kind of a sloppy mess. The fries though were salty, crispy and plentiful! My friend had a chicken apple sandwich and soup and loved hers! I would be willing to come back and try something else, and definitely want to try the pie!

Delicious menu selection, I had the beet salad with added avocado and bacon but forgot to take a picture. I also had the Lilac Princess Float, a delightful grape soda and ice cream concoction!

An eclectic restaurant providing great food and pleasant service. Highly recommend for a change from the Elmhurst/ Oak Brook restaurant scene.

I had the beer cheese burger with a side salad. It was delicious! Nice cozy environment, friendly staff. A lot of great menu options!

Well worth waiting for a table here! Loved everything about Babcock's. What a wonderful, reasonably priced menu. Wished I lived closer, so I could try more dishes. My farro bowl with smoked salmon. Felt healthy eating this bright dish! Sister had the tuna cakes. She enjoyed, but commented that they are strongly tuna. She was pleasantly surprised with her side of scrumptious veggies that balanced the plate well.

Great food, great service, love the owners! The dining area is really cool too! Turkey Burger is amazing