My husband and I recently visited fire+wine with our friends, and I had been looking forward to this night for a long time. I had always wanted to try the Glen Ellyn location, but never made it there, so once the Park Ridge location opened, it immediately went on my list. It absolutely lived up to the hype.
We made a reservation ahead of time, which was a great decision because the restaurant was packed when we arrived, even on a weeknight. The dining room is dimly lit, stylish, and warm, creating a calming and relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile.
Our waiter was fantastic. Since none of us had been there before, he walked us through the menu with helpful and enthusiastic recommendations. He was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better.
As a group of four, we ordered two appetizers and truly indulged. The arancini ($12) came as mini crispy bites that were perfectly golden and satisfying. We also ordered the black pepper shrimp ($16) and for my husband and I, it definitely stole the show. They were covered in a spicy creole sauce that was unbelievably flavorful. I could have easily eaten several plates of them. I highly recommend ordering this dish.
For my entree, I chose the vodka pasta for ($21). It had a perfect texture and balanced flavor. It also came with two pieces of garlic bread, which were a great bonus. My friend ordered the same pasta but added blackened chicken and loved it as well. We happened to visit on half-price pasta night, so we only paid about ten dollars each for our dishes, which made it even more of a win.
Both men ordered the blackened pork chop ($29). It is a large 12-ounce chop normally served with fingerling potatoes, broccolini, and herb butter, but my husband ordered it with a side of spinach instead of the potatoes. He was in heaven and said he would have gladly eaten a second plate, not because he was still hungry, but because it was that good. He only complained jokingly that our friend's pork chop was bigger than his.
For dessert, my husband and I ordered the triple-layer chocolate cake ($11). It was HUGE and very rich, so I couldn't eat a lot of it, so my friend's husband ate most of it with my husband. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious and chocolately, but for me personally, it was too much. My friend and her husband shared the butterscotch budino ($11), which I did not try, but they loved.
We left full and happy. Fire+wine is definitely a new favorite, and we cannot wait to return. My friend even returned with other friends a few days later because she enjoyed it so much! read more