Fox Lake Bistro pours on the martini options
When “R” Corner Bistro opened in June, the spot had a modest martini menu. Since then the list has steadily been growing, currently featuring more than 80 cocktails. Trying all of them would be a monumental task, but sharing a few over dinner at the laid-back spot makes for a delicious night out.
Motif: The space features exposed brick walls with old-fashioned lamps hanging from the ceiling. There's a TV and a showcase of vodkas behind the large curved bar. The walls of the bar area feature pictures of people dressed in '20s-style garb sipping martinis. Historic photos of Fox Lake are displayed near the specials menu, and rotating works from local artists decorate the dining area.
Service: Our waitress came to check on us quickly, but she was under 21 and couldn't explain or recommend anything on the drink menu. The bar is owned by a husband and wife team and both were working behind the bar when we were there. Co-owner Paul Yaney gave us a few drink recommendations, but he was most adamant in his suggestion that we steer clear of a scotch martini that his wife designed and named for him. He likes scotch but insisted it does not belong in a martini.
Crowd: Most people come into “R” Corner Bistro for dinner, though many settle in at the bar for a few drinks before their meal. The spot draws mostly older couples, groups and families. Dress is casual, with customers largely sporting jeans with nicer tops.
Liquid consumption: The martini list is so long that the menu only lists the names, though you can find out what's in many of them by consulting “R” Corner Bistro's website. Frequent patrons can get a card that awards discounts depending on how many martinis you've tried.
We ordered a first round of full-sized cocktails, which are $9 to $9.50 normally or $7.50 on Saturdays, then discovered the $15 sampler, which gives you three half-sized drinks to try. The drinks all had impressive presentation. The white chocolate espresso is covered with a huge dollop of chocolate and the coconut delight is topped with bits of toasted coconut and served with a chocolate swizzle stick. Mixing coconut milk and cream with Malibu gave the coconut delight a much fuller taste than most coconut-flavored cocktails, and the espresso martini tasted like coffee with a kick.
We had no idea what was in the Honeysuckle when we ordered it, but it wound up being our favorite. The novel sipper was a mix of Bacardi rum, honey and sour mix that gave it a sweet and citrusy flavor. The bananas foster martini tasted exactly like a liquid version of the dessert it's named for, mixing vanilla vodka, banana liqueur, Baileys, Godiva liqueur, Buttershots and a dash of Goldschlager.
The only disappointment was the Key Lime Pie. The blend of vanilla vodka, Malibu, lime and cream was fine but just couldn't compete with the other drinks we tried.
Food: “R” Corner Bistro prides itself on offering large portions at reasonable prices. The menu has been in flux since the spot opened, with the owners only recently settling on its current form. All of the seafood and pasta dishes have been hits, with selections including blackened shrimp pasta for $13.25 and hand-battered catfish for $11.95. The $12.95 meatloaf stack is especially popular; a heaping pile of meat, bread and mashed potatoes are topped with vegetables and gravy. Friday is a $10.95 fish fry, and “R” Corner Bistro serves breakfast weekend mornings.
Parking: There are plenty of spots in a free lot across the street.
Overall: The martini list at “R” Corner Bistro offers an absurd number of options, but not at the expense of quality. You'll want to go with a friend or better yet a group to try a good mix of the excellent drinks.
<b>'R' Corner Bistro</b>
1 Nippersink Blvd., Fox Lake, (847) 587-0714, <a href="http://www.thercornerbistro.com" target="_blank">thercornerbistro.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday