Emmett's Brewing Company branches out to Wheaton
Emmett's Brewing Company, which has locations in West Dundee, Palatine and Downers Grove, opened its fourth brewpub in April in Wheaton's historic downtown. Taking over The Bank Restaurant & Bar's former space, the new Emmett's appeals to families as well as beer lovers.
Motif: The dining room features big green booths and wooden tables set with green chairs. Walls are decorated with lamps resembling melting candles and black-and-white photos of guys drinking beer. A chalkboard shows the current draft options. The bar area is equipped with two TVs, and you can also grab a seat on the small patio. The basement, which has its own bar, hosts private parties but is typically used for overflow seating on the weekends.
Food: The large menu is designed with families in mind so you'll find dishes to suit all tastes from burgers to bone-in pork chops. The best deal is the small plates section, which offers reduced portions of various appetizers and entrees for $3 to $6, letting you try lots of different dishes. The mini-Brie burger was loaded with caramelized onions and creamy melted cheese, though the meat was a bit on the charred side. The barbecue pulled pork slider was our favorite; the meat was covered in a delicious sauce made from the brewery's red ale and topped with crispy coleslaw. Both of these come with a small serving of a side — our favorite was the sweet potato fries. Skip the ahi tuna tacos, which were overwhelmed by slaw that wasn't nearly as good as the stuff topping the slider.
Liquid consumption: Emmett's has 10 to 12 of its own beers on tap at any given time, with their five most popular beers offered year round and the rest of the list changing seasonally so you'll find malty bocks in the spring and light wheat ales in the summer. If you want to taste a beer before committing to a pint, the bartender will offer you a sample. You can try the five standards on a tasting paddle presented with a card describing each one. Our favorites were the crisp Munich light German lager and caramel-like red ale, though we enjoyed the entire line.
Emmett's also does brewery tours and tastings for groups by request and offers quarterly brewmaster dinners, four-course meals with beer pairings hosted by chefs and brewers. The next round will be in July. You can also buy a growler or six pack of Emmett's beer to go.
Crowd: Raucous fans gather in the bar area during big sports games, while the dining room draws mostly families and groups of locals.
Service: Our server couldn't make recommendations, saying he hadn't tried most of the entrees because they are “too fancy.” He was unhelpful when he came back to our table to inform us that the ordering system indicated we couldn't have Thai lettuce wraps, only telling us when we pressed for more information that it meant the restaurant was out of the dish.
Parking: A nearby free municipal lot offers plenty of spots.
Overall: Emmett's Brewing Company's excellent beers offer a great opportunity to try a variety of styles and find a new favorite.
Emmett's Brewing Company
121 W. Front St, Wheaton, (630) 480-7181, <a href="http://emmettsbrewingco.com">emmettsbrewingco.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday