Rich B.
Yelp
I grew up in Anna-Jonesboro, but have lived elsewhere for 45 years, including New York City, Chicago, Denver, and Sacramento. That's not to brag, but to indicate my tastes have been modified since leaving my roots. So I was very pleased to find on a recent visit that my hometown has a restaurant that can compare to the best urban centers of America.
My initial impression was lukewarm, as the decor is a little spartan and the large rooms lack intimacy and make for a slightly noisy atmosphere. But the service and the menu soon warmed my heart. The dinner salad with pine nuts and feta was delightful. My entree was the salmon with a dill sauce served on a bed of risotto. (It was supposed to have included asparagus, but in late October that may be hard to come by.) The salmon juicy and perfectly prepared, as was the dill sauce. The risotto looked a little dryed out, but he taste was excellent.
Having lived in California I'm a bit of a wine snob. I asked for a merlot. The server said that if I liked dry reds, she recommended a local wine, Chambourcin, from Owl Creek Vineyard, in Cobden. Not expecting much , I agreed. (After all, Illinois does lack the dry Mediterranean climate that is conducive to making great wines.) But I was pleasantly surprised. The wine was sweeter than I prefer, but it did have complex fruity favors that complemented the meal.
I'm looking forward to my next visit.