History influences menu, design at Leland Legends in Aurora
If it's a place Al Capone used to hang out, people will want to go there. That's part of the appeal of Leland Legends Pub & Grill in Aurora, a new along-the-river bar that's walking distance to the Paramount Theatre, RiverEdge Park and Hollywood Casino.
It's on the street level of the 22-story Leland Tower, a historic building which housed the swanky Leland Hotel in the early 20th century. Famous guests included Al Capone, John Dillinger, Philip K. Wrigley, Charles Comiskey II, Gene Autry and Sally Rand.
Aside from its “Capone was here” history, Leland Legends offers better reasons to visit: great service, satisfying food and a something-for-everyone drink menu.
Motif: The decor nods to 1920s and 1930s history, mostly mobsters and blues music. Place mats show a front page of a mock Capone-era newspaper, and the menu is filled with historical tidbits about Aurora. Blues music plays in the background, with live music on occasion. Otherwise, it's a fairly standard restaurant/bar. Located on the still-developing Stolp Island, the U-shaped space is lined with windows, framed posters and TVs silently tuned to sports channels.
Crowd: While our visit was early, before a Saturday night show at RiverEdge Park, we saw a mix of people: couples, families, a group of 20-somethings cooling down with drinks after a bike ride and a middle-aged man sitting alone at the bar with a beer, scrolling through his phone.
Food: The food is very good, though the prices are a tad high, partly because of $1-$3 add-ons. The Legendary Nachos, for example, were $10, but $3 more to add ground beef. The chips were deliciously light and crunchy, but the cheese and meat were just OK. We really liked the Quesadilla with a Kick appetizer, an innovative twist on a Chicago classic. The quesadilla was filled with flavorful Italian beef and giardiniera, which adds a nice spice. Salsa and sour cream were on the side. Surprisingly, the quesadilla held up despite the wet food inside.
Most of the menu consists of sandwiches, salads, tacos and burgers, but with creative twists that elevate the picks beyond bar food. The Maple Apple Burger, for instance, is topped with diced apples that have been marinated in maple and brown sugar, plus melted mozzarella. For a more traditional burger, try the Stolp Island Burger ($12.72 — the price Joseph Stolp paid in 1848 for the island where the restaurant situated). The perfectly cooked Angus patty was thick and juicy, topped with onions, bacon, pickle and a fried egg, served on a pretzel roll. Onion rings on the side are $2 extra.
The menu has some healthy and vegetarian options, too, like a strawberry and spinach salad or a veggie sandwich on focaccia bread.
Liquid consumption: The four-page drink menu has a nice selection, from signature cocktails to craft brews. Keeping with Leland's history theme, the bar offers several nostalgic cocktails, like old fashioneds, high balls and the drink believed to be Capone's favorite — a gin mojito called South Side Fizz. It's made with lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda, mint and Tanqueray gin.
Martinis are popular, especially the Aurora Borealis, a bright white sipper with a sky-blue topping. It's made with just the right mix of two kinds of rum, Blue Curaçao, pineapple juice and cream of coconut. There's a good beer selection as well, and any of the three seasonal, on-tap beers will pair nicely with burgers.
Service: Everyone on the staff was smiling and personable. Our server knew the menu well and gave strong recommendations, based on what we liked. Best of all, she had a great sense of humor and was very attentive without being annoying.
Overall: Leland is a perfect, pre- or post-show place for drinks or dinner.
Leland Legends Pub & Grill
1 S. Stolp Ave., Aurora, (630) 264-5000, <a href="http://www.lelandlegends.com/">lelandlegends.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday