A taste of TLC: St. Charles' Rx Cafe soothes what ails you

The initiation of Rx Cafe - a seasonal, BYO American tapas place also featuring sweets and cakes - in the St. Charles dining scene comes right in the midst of what appears to be a genuine culinary evolution in the town, a fact that's been making things decidedly more interesting over the last year and a half.

This little gem of a cafe was still hitting its stride on the night we visited, but we were overwhelmed by the earnestness with which everything was handled. The atmosphere of genuine effort and care was contagious.

Facing Main Street (North Ave) from the front, and a "coming soon"-clad cluster of store fronts in the courtyard from the back, the long and narrow café, dressed in pumpkin-orange walls that feature hand-made photograph collages and about 30 dark mahogany tables, has a vibe that's hip, tasty and affordable to boot, as evidenced by the nice surprise of four for $20 on the tapas side of things.

A large blackboard boasts the specials of the day from soups, sandwiches, salads and quiches, to various tapas - demonstrating what the detailed menu confirms: Influences here reach far, from Spanish and French, to Asian, Indian and South American.

A family-friendly vibe is exuded not only by the children's corner attired in miniature furniture, but by a special "children's tapas" section of the menu featuring favorites like a turkey hotdog, pizza and chicken tenders.

On the adult side, a quiche of the day was a cheddar and broccoli individual mini pie that had eggs so fresh, it felt like we were eating it at the crack of dawn, as opposed to long after sunset. A thick, potent French onion soup was actually brought out in a coffee cup, with plenty of hot, blistering cheese on top.

Creamy cold liver pate was charmingly served in a small cup for soft boiled eggs, alongside a spreadable triangle of cheese and a pair of green figs, and had but one fault - the accompanying bread was not toasted.

The Asian salmon parcels - presented still wrapped in parchment paper for a full wave of flavor once opened at the table - had a sweet sesame sauce on the side and sticky Jasmine rice. The fish itself was a tad too mild, despite the presence of shallots and ginger.

On the other hand, a perfectly cylindrical tower of fresh crab, chunks of avocado and whole edamame sat atop a tangy sauce and was served with toasted points. It was a thing of beauty. Likewise, tender, cider-braised pork in its own rich juices, served in a deep stew bowl with soft polenta, was a marvel.

Desserts come courtesy of Rx Cafe's sister business, the St. Charles-based Ednerik Bakery. You'll find lots of tempting options on this side of the menu, like the dense, pound cake-inspired flourless orange bundt cake, the warm double chocolate devil's cake brownie and the towering, triple layered coconut key lime pie.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Rx Cafe</p>

<p class="News">113 West Main St., St. Charles, (630) 549-0491, <a href="http://rxcafe.net" target="new">rxcafe.net</a></p>

<p class="News"><b>Cuisine:</b> American tapas</p>

<p class="News"><b>Setting: </b>Long, sunny cafe clad in browns and oranges</p>

<p class="News"><b>Hours:</b> 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday</p>

<p class="News"><b>Price range:</b> $6-$12</p>