For those who follow the local restaurant scene, take a peek inside the former La Pinta, 25 Calendar, for new things to come. We interviewed co-owner Trini Soto as he monitored kitchen upgrades this week inside downtown La Grange's latest epicurean delight: the newly renovated upscale Mambo Room Bar & Grill, scheduled to open at 4 p.m. Monday, June 8.
The Latin-inspired tapas restaurant, owned by Trini, Rafael, Tony and Thipi Soto, has changed its interior design and colors to red and grey and the entire bar area dining room where the live bands used to play.
Though the former name will soon be replaced on the outdoor sign, the wooden overhang above the sidewalk patio will remain. But passersby can now see in the new main glass doors, which replaced heavy wooden doors that adorned the last place.
"We're bringing back all the tapas," said Trini, a response to the queries of so many customers who so often asked what happened to the signature appetizers menu they first introduced to La Grange about five years ago. "It's Latin-American, but still our own way: a 'fusion' of flavors."
He admits local foodies did not really "get" the concept -- popularized over the years by Emilio's in Hillside and Meson Sabika in Naperville -- when it first came on the scene, which is part of the reason why La Pinta later changed to a full menu before it closed its doors May 4.
But, he said, the owners believe La Grange is now ready to please its collective palate with such tapas as guacamole, scalloped-wrapped bacon, stuffed red pepper and boneless duck dishes -- and the idea of ordering several items and sharing it with a large group of people.
In addition to the 33 tapas dishes, what's also new on the expansive menu is some salads and sandwiches -- including our favorites: Tango Salad comprised of grilled steak, roasted red onion, tomatoes and a Dijon-Aioli sauce and a tilapia sandwich with tartar. Entrees include a baby lamp chop served with tequila mango salsa, in addition to steak, shrimp, chicken and tilapia specialties.
Mambo Room, owned by the same family as the popular Thipi Thai around the corner on La Grange Road in La Grange and in far west suburban Glen Ellyn, will be open 7 days a week, at 4 p.m. each day, and its bar will stay open later. Bands will still perform monthly for starters, but in the great room amongst four-top tables and chairs with a perfect view of the open kitchen.
The dining room will be until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday.
As Trini looked out at his future "new" neighbors, one particular entity caught his eye, making him wince at the thought of the temptation it, too, will be to him. The banner inside the window at 26 West, where zoe's resale shop once was, screams out in big red script "Bakery Coming Soon."
Besides Knead, the former Great Harvest and Corner Bakery, La Grange hasn't had a traditional bakery in nearly a decade. .
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT UPDATE: CAFE 36, LA PINTA OUT; MAMBO ROOM IN
Looking into the dining room at Cafe 36, 22 Calendar Ave., in downtown La Grange did not provide very good views in recent months, as the economy turned on its ear and owner Terry Gilmer struggled to keep the American bistro afloat following its apparently ill-fated appearance on "Kitchen Nightmares" -- internationally known chef Gordon Ramsay's cable television program targeting restaurants in need of drastic change.
Although the production kept a handful of regulars streaming through the doors from time to time, most typically busy nights saw more traffic across the street at Aurelio's, a tasty pizza restaurant and bar that has generated more business of late than, say, Blueberry Hill pancake house on weekend mornings.
It seems Cafe 36 -- which closed its doors after its licenses were suspiciously not renewed at Village Hall a few weeks ago -- never regained the reputation it held from upscale foodies once attracted to former owner Reinhard Barthel's more gamey and exotic cuisine.
But nearby La Pinta (25 Calendar) is also closed and under reconstruction, in a move to change its colors again -- to the Mambo Room Bar & Grill and NOT the popular River North eatery Mambo Grill & Lounge as has been rumored.
Not that would be delectable, to say the least, but with its world renowned selection of rums and tequilas and festive Latino-flavored fare -- and the fact it's been Zagat-rated (just as Cafe 36 once was on a routine basis) from years 2002 through 2006.
But nothing could be further from the truth and, it seems, the rumor mill is just that -- and that comes right from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
In a May 20 interview, Chicago's Mambo owner Susan Frasca said it's not her restaurant that's coming to La Grange.
Frasca, who has owned Mambo Grill for the past 11 years and is in the process of relocating it from 412 N. Clark St., where the lease ran out after it outgrew its digs, to 410 N. Wells, called it
"very complimentary," however, that people might think it's her place.
Rather, the Mambo ROOM is opening in place of La Pinta -- as soon as the end of May -- and will be offering some of the same fare as the original tapas restaurant that opened there a couple years ago -- once dubbed "a fusion of continents and colors," a blend of Spanish and Latin American cuisine traced to a region of the world that once existed on a diet of corn, tropical fruit and seafood.
We can't wait to see how things have changed.
No word specifically why Cafe 36 closed, but finding a replacement may be difficult as the space is owned and not rented by its owners. Attempts to reach the place fell on deaf ears; the contact number was disconnected.
One good thing is that the authentic Thai cuisine restaurant Thipi Thai remains strong and is not leaving -- and we like that. (Thipi Thai is owned by the same family as the Mambo Room)
Meanwhile, business appears to be booming at Francesca's, which just opened in the former Via Bella space next to the La Grange Pointe senior living development -- which, by the way, has still yet to attract any shops to its long-vacant new retail space.
Marconi's Ristorante on Calendar also is finding popularity with its price fixe menu: offering patrons any appetizer, entree and dessert of their choice for just 25 bucks apiece.
However, people also seem to be enjoying the new Applewood Smokehouse on Burlington as well, as well as one of our favorites (the longest existing Italian restaurant near downtown), Antonino's on West Hillgrove Avenue near the Stone Avenue station.
For those unfamiliar with the terrain in La Grange, here's a quick primer: for Italian, there's also Lucca on Burlington; for Mexican, there's Santiago's on La Grange; for British, there's Chequers on Burlington and for Asian, there's Sushi House on Calendar.
Coffee? We recommend Caribou, but there's also Starbucks and Seattle's Best (inside Borders) on La Grange, as well as a cheaper cup at Cafe Calbay on Burlington. Although Kilwin's has left the scene, there's still Cold Stone next to the revamped La Grange Theatre and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (between Thipi Thai and another outdoor summer favorite, Palmer Place Restaurant & Bier Garten) also on La Grange.
Stay tuned for more.
Although the production kept a handful of regulars streaming through the doors from time to time, most typically busy nights saw more traffic across the street at Aurelio's, a tasty pizza restaurant and bar that has generated more business of late than, say, Blueberry Hill pancake house on weekend mornings.
It seems Cafe 36 -- which closed its doors after its licenses were suspiciously not renewed at Village Hall a few weeks ago -- never regained the reputation it held from upscale foodies once attracted to former owner Reinhard Barthel's more gamey and exotic cuisine.
But nearby La Pinta (25 Calendar) is also closed and under reconstruction, in a move to change its colors again -- to the Mambo Room Bar & Grill and NOT the popular River North eatery Mambo Grill & Lounge as has been rumored.
Not that would be delectable, to say the least, but with its world renowned selection of rums and tequilas and festive Latino-flavored fare -- and the fact it's been Zagat-rated (just as Cafe 36 once was on a routine basis) from years 2002 through 2006.
But nothing could be further from the truth and, it seems, the rumor mill is just that -- and that comes right from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
In a May 20 interview, Chicago's Mambo owner Susan Frasca said it's not her restaurant that's coming to La Grange.
Frasca, who has owned Mambo Grill for the past 11 years and is in the process of relocating it from 412 N. Clark St., where the lease ran out after it outgrew its digs, to 410 N. Wells, called it
"very complimentary," however, that people might think it's her place.
Rather, the Mambo ROOM is opening in place of La Pinta -- as soon as the end of May -- and will be offering some of the same fare as the original tapas restaurant that opened there a couple years ago -- once dubbed "a fusion of continents and colors," a blend of Spanish and Latin American cuisine traced to a region of the world that once existed on a diet of corn, tropical fruit and seafood.
We can't wait to see how things have changed.
No word specifically why Cafe 36 closed, but finding a replacement may be difficult as the space is owned and not rented by its owners. Attempts to reach the place fell on deaf ears; the contact number was disconnected.
One good thing is that the authentic Thai cuisine restaurant Thipi Thai remains strong and is not leaving -- and we like that. (Thipi Thai is owned by the same family as the Mambo Room)
Meanwhile, business appears to be booming at Francesca's, which just opened in the former Via Bella space next to the La Grange Pointe senior living development -- which, by the way, has still yet to attract any shops to its long-vacant new retail space.
Marconi's Ristorante on Calendar also is finding popularity with its price fixe menu: offering patrons any appetizer, entree and dessert of their choice for just 25 bucks apiece.
However, people also seem to be enjoying the new Applewood Smokehouse on Burlington as well, as well as one of our favorites (the longest existing Italian restaurant near downtown), Antonino's on West Hillgrove Avenue near the Stone Avenue station.
For those unfamiliar with the terrain in La Grange, here's a quick primer: for Italian, there's also Lucca on Burlington; for Mexican, there's Santiago's on La Grange; for British, there's Chequers on Burlington and for Asian, there's Sushi House on Calendar.
Coffee? We recommend Caribou, but there's also Starbucks and Seattle's Best (inside Borders) on La Grange, as well as a cheaper cup at Cafe Calbay on Burlington. Although Kilwin's has left the scene, there's still Cold Stone next to the revamped La Grange Theatre and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (between Thipi Thai and another outdoor summer favorite, Palmer Place Restaurant & Bier Garten) also on La Grange.
Stay tuned for more.
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