Riverside Pizza &amp; Pub

A nice spot to grab a drink on a nice weather day - the outdoor patio is fantastic!…read more The fellas and I grabbed a round of brews here while roaming around downtown Geneva and we had zero complaints. It was really nice out so, naturally, we were at the outdoor bar/patio. What a delightful space: open, airy, ample seating, great staff. The biggest bummer is navigating inside for the bathroom but everything else is top notch. We're fans and will return again!

I'd love to share my full experience at Preservation but alas, there isn't much in the way of food…read moreor drink I can report on. The service however, is a different story. My friend and I arrived around 7:15pm this evening, Tuesday night, a weekday. We were greeted by a hostess in a full winter jacket and completely empty front room. She gave us the option to sit in said empty room or to follow her back to a "cozy heated area." We couldn't decide so we asked her to choose, and she led us down a long, narrow hallway to the back. There were three parties total in the indoor patio--us, another table of 2 and a large party of 8. Their outdoor patio was open, and with a view of it from the cozy room. The outdoor patio was festive with holiday lights, heaters and perhaps 3 people sitting at the bar. Many employees bustled back and forth through the door linking our two spaces. Our waitress brought us two glasses of water and food menus, pointed out the QR code menu on our table and walked away. That was our ONLY interaction with her. We proceeded to then sit for 15 minutes, watching our waitress, along with 3 other employees walk back and forth, attentively serving the large party, cleaning up a recently vacated back booth, chatting with one another and even saw another employee take a moment to vape inside near the POS system. We were ignored. No eye contact, no smile, no acknowledgment. It's as if we were not even there. For a slow Tuesday night, with ample staff, this was unacceptable. It grew so uncomfortable that we gathered our jackets and began to walk out. As we made our way back down the long hallway, the hostess, carrying a tray of waters, thanked us for coming in. Clearly there is a lack of awareness--or attention to detail. In what world would we have been able to order drinks, eat and pay our bill in less than 30 minutes since you seated us? But Finally! Someone noticed us. Too bad it was too little too late. We walked a block down to a different restaurant, and had an amazing time, spending more time & money than originally anticipated at that establishment, as a direct result of the poor hospitality and lack of service received at Preservation. Their loss was the Alchemist's gain.

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Pretty storefront for the "Front Lounge". Rest of place is more open air concept but with class!

The James

3.9(151 reviews)

2.1 mi

Quick take: We stopped into The James for one round at the bar. The placed was pretty full on a…read moreSaturday afternoon but we were able to nestle ourselves at the end of the bar and partake. It's an upscale establishment with absolutely wonderful decor: an old house that harkens back to times of yesteryear. The ambiance is lively but not loud and it seems to host a slightly older (and more sophisticated?) demographic. We just had beers but did peruse the menu for fun and things looked very tempting. Although this visit was quick it left me wanting more on a return visit, of which there will be!

Had a great brunch at The James this weekend! They were able to accommodate a reservation for a…read morelarger group (10+) for Sunday brunch. We got the basement wine cellar to ourselves which was awesome and made for a fun and intimate dining experience. Our server was phenomenal and made navigating a large group of indecisive people look easy. The food and drinks were amazing. The beignets were a great starter! The Focaccia BLT was a big hit in our group. I got the Brie Frittata with a hash brown. The frittata was topped with balsamic cherry tomatoes which was perfection. They ran out of Bloody Mary mix, but the chef made some and let us try it before ordering to make sure we liked it. It was DELICIOUS! I'd highly recommend and would definitely visit again if in the area!

The wine cellar!

Rolls

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Manhattan

Geneva Ale House

3.9(333 reviews)

1.8 mi

Geneva Ale House - Quality Has Really Dropped…read more I've had this burger before and was impressed, but not this time. It said it came with bacon, yet there wasn't a trace of it anywhere. The bun was stale, the whole thing felt thrown together, and after already sending it back once, I wasn't about to wait again. The sweet potato fries were honestly the best part of the meal -- which says a lot. It's disappointing because Geneva Ale House used to be solid, but quality has definitely taken a dive. I'd skip this place and go to Barrel + Rye, Burger and Sushi, or Burger Social instead -- all much better options for a good burger in Geneva.

Wow I can't believe I hadn't been here yet! The staff were absolutely incredible - just genuine and…read morekind. The beer selection is pretty solid with a good variety and an emphasis on local brews. I loved love the food!! The stuffed potato balls were very creative and the quesadilla will hands down bring me back. Can't wait till next time!

Dad and daughter flights

Ribeye Steak Sandwich

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Barrel + Rye

4.2(630 reviews)

Had an amazing date night here. Cocktails were great--loved the old fashioned. The salmon…read morebruschetta and birria egg rolls were out of this world. Crab cake sandwich was second only to one I had when I lived in Maryland. Dessert cocktails were a great night cap! The Tira-Miss-you and s'mores espresso martini were a great end of the night. The server was so kind and willing to give solid recommendations. The food came quickly and was great. 10/10. We can't wait to go back

Loved our recent dining experience here! The restaurant is a little small so make your reservations…read moreif possible. So many cocktail options and seasonal ones as well! We came around the holidays so they had Christmas shots and festive cocktail options on top of their staple ones. We started with the duck poutine which was so good - almost a meal in itself. Highly recommend. We were pretty full after the poutine that we settled for the birra grilled cheese which was so good as well, added truffle fries which were excellent as well. Everything was good - drinks, food, service. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

Barrel + Rye

SALMON BRUSCHETTA

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Outside seating

The Graceful Ordinary

4.3(278 reviews)

0.0 mi

•$$$

Firstly, anyone saying the food doesn't taste good or they leave hungry is smokin crack ..... also,…read moresounds like you probably would of enjoyed a buffet instead. This place is incredible... the food is to die for. It's the first place I've been to and did not feel like bloated or so full to where I was sick because the portions were perfect. Nothing here fell short, in fact it's the first place in the burbs where the food wasn't overly salted or fried in some type of oil. Everything tasted fresh. The flavors were busting up in my mouth every bite I took, even down to snowball fight drink we had. I highly, highly recommend the bread cheese appetizer- this was something super unique to me as I've only had grilled up cheese one other time in Brazil, Queijo Coalho.... There was a beautiful twist on this cheese- crunchy, creamy, sweet, savory and the honey and tabbouleh were such a great finish to this dish. Pair this with the fresh bread and it was chefs kiss! We had the beer braised short rib and seabass- two completely different flavored entres that we absolutely perfect. The short rib you literally can't go wrong with- melted in my mouth with every bite - and hats off the the chef who cooked the onions so perfect to actually be able to taste them instead of just carmelizing or salting them! I would call this your typical Midwest comfort dish. The seabass was much different the salad was tangy with the lentils being rich- add a nice cooked crispy top seabass and you got yourself a unique dish of flavors that will have you thinking what's in it after hours! But the star of the show was dessert of course - OMFG - s'mores ice cream sunday ....... I died and went to heaven literally. I have never tasted ice cream that mimicked everything I've ever wanted my ice cream to taste like. It was the perfect temperature (trust me a lot of restaurants it's either rock hard or melted) this was epic. Creamy, almost pudding like and being able to taste every note was wild to me. The graham cracker - yes the freaking graham cracker was the best one I've ever tasted in my life. Clearly I've never had a graham cracker without preservatives before. The chocolate syrup .... Jeeze let me tell if I could swim in it I would.... The service was friendly, prompt and right on time. The server knew all the cues and timing of all the food to come out. She checked in everytime we got something to make sure everything was just right... you can tell she takes her job seriously but also knows how to interact with people - something a lot of servers lack these days so we really appreciated the service. As for the atmosphere- this place blows a lot of the chi city restaurants out of the water. The organic feel but fancy! Oh, and I can actually talk and hear myself think without blasting music over my head. We will be back ... but honestly please change nothing here- everything you're doing here is fantastic!

Ambiance is incredibly intimate and cozy. Very comfortable…read morewaiting lounge available while your table clears, which will be a while. Food was delicious. Cocktails were delicious. Service is VERY slow. Whether by design or intent, I cannot determine but if you're hungry, don't come here or you will be excruciatingly hangry. Understand that this is not a high table turnover environment. The dinner rush is not exactly witnessed here. Ive never seen a grill line have such a lack of sense of urgency but it quickly made sense as I recognized it had been 35 minutes since an order was put in. Aside from that also understood the food was absolutely amazing, is it worth the wait? Yes if you understand the length of time it may take to get it. Come here not needing to eat immediately and enjoy the ambiance, the drinks, be in the moment, and let the food be an afterthought. I will most certainly be back.

Dining room

Avacado toast

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The Fox River just outside the restaurant

Nobel House

3.8(386 reviews)

1.8 mi

A group dinner at Nobel House left us hungry for more (in a good way!)…read more This is a pretty sizable restaurant with a bar along half of one wall and plenty of tables of varying sizes that can accommodate whatever you throw at them. There is ample lighting and the staff is welcoming and friendly. The food is BBQ and they have a little bit of everything to offer. That is great, but makes it hard to choose what you want! We certainly had that problem but ultimately were very happy with our meals. They pretty much cover all the bases as far as BBQ and the sides. The flavors were very tasty! Having one in Glen Ellyn won't have us running back to this location but that is only on account of circumstance.

First time at Nobel House in a LONG time and after today I'm not too sure why because this place is…read moreawesome (it was awesome before too though). I think the last time I visit was before the renovations. Inside feels much more spacious and the menu feels more well rounded white a few more healthier options to choose from. I opted for the BYOB with grilled salmon. At first, it looked pretty small but the portion size was just perfect where I felt full but not overly stuffed. Service was great - attentive and personable and we never feel rushed. Hope to be back soon!

Smoked Cubano

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The Goat

4.0(94 reviews)

4.4 mi

I've been here twice, once this past fall, and the other just last week - it was great both times!…read more This most recent time I was there with a group of teachers, having pre-comedy show lunch & drinks, and everyone (there were 6) loved their food, and really enjoyed their drink options. Our server was fab, super friendly and quick (shout-out to Brody!), and had great suggestions from his menu faves. The previous time I came was post-comedy show, just for drinks, and the 3 of us all enjoyed our drinks then, as well. I also love the decor vibe, especially as a (elder) millennial, because MJ IS the GOAT. Stop by and try it, definitely worth a shot!

We stopped in on a Friday night and this place was crowded! We were told there would be about a 20…read moreminute wait but we were fortunate to be seated in 5 minutes. We were greeted by Ian our server immediately which was very nice. We noticed they have Happy Hour Tues-Fri from 4-6pm so we took advantage of their half off cocktails and a few food specials. I had the Wisconsin Old Fashion and my wife had the Poli Old Fashion which was tequila based. Both were fantastic! We started with an order of their Street Corn Deviled Eggs which were amazing..super creamy. They do have a GF menu so my wife had a bowl of their homemade chili and I had their Italian Beef Bao trio. Both were delicious and very meaty. They have an extension whiskey/bourbon list plus their burgers looked amazing. We will definitely be back!

Delicious bacon burger with egg

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Poli Old Fashion

Riganato Old World Grille

4.4(430 reviews)

The service and the food was excellent and you get plenty for the price. Located in the perfect spotread more

Seven adults and 3 young kids. The staff was very kind and accommodating to our group. We all…read moreenjoyed a very good meal. The kids thought the giant meatball with spaghetti was cool. We had the Branzino. Deboned in the kitchen. The Mixed grill of Lamb Chops, Pork, and tasty Italian Sausage. The Greek Peas were awesome. No pic but the Pasta with Steak disappeared into my son in law rather quickly. Limoncello Cake and Tiramisu were wonderful. The restaurant is in an old house and has a very nice ambiance. Again, the staff was very kind to us. Give it a try.

Outside

Gingers Wild Salmon

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Lasagna Riganato Pasta

Stockholm's Restaurant & Brewery

3.8(316 reviews)

1.8 mi

Always friendly service and I love their homemade soups. This month they have an asparagus soup,…read moreand I really enjoyed it. I came in for lunch and went with the half sandwich and soup combo. The chicken salad sandwich comes on a croissant and I have always enjoyed their chicken salad and also tuna salad sandwiches here. The meal is perfect for lunch. When in doubt, always get the Stockholm's Small Batch Root Beer- it's great! My lunch came out quickly and they even have outdoor patio seating too.

My friends and I arrived for an early dinner after spending an unseasonably beautiful day in…read moredowntown Geneva. We sat down immediately and were given menus. We asked to have a small sample of two beers to make sure we'd enjoy one or the other. The sample was appreciated and helped us decide on the Kolsch. For food we went with half Turkey sandwich with Chicken Tortilla Soup, half Reuben Sandwich with Chicken tortilla soup, and a Pub Burger. The food was very good. Our friend was still eating when the server took the other plates away and left the check, never asking if we wanted another drink or dessert etc. A few minutes later the server returned and asked if we were ready to pay the bill and again our friend was still eating to which we pointed out and said no. Approximately 10 minutes after that we were ready to finish up. We were there less than an hour. We put our card in the check wallet and each of us proceeded to use the washroom separately as it was only one stall/bathroom. I was the last one to use the washroom and as I came out my friends were standing near the door with my purse and coat as they were told they needed the table. I understand the place is small and people were waiting but to be rushed out is ridiculous. Especially to be rushed while still eating. The food was great but the lack of allowing us to enjoy the experience left us very disappointed.

Dining and Bar Area

Grilled Cheese Brisket and Fries

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The Burger Local

4.2(690 reviews)

Upgrade your side to the Mac n Cheese, you won't regret it!! The chicken avocado burger was great,…read morethe service was quick. Nice spot for lunch!

Just like restaurants in Memphis Tn, the service is awful but the food is great. I started with a…read morebeer that wasn't filled to the top. Super tasty though. For my meal, I ordered the local burger on a pretzel bun with brussel sprouts. The burger was incredible. It burned the top of mouth but it was so worth it. Juicy patty on a tasty pretzel bun. Perfection. I had to ask for silverware because I'm sure my waitress was Gen Z.