Delicious fare anchors Libertyville's new pseudo-speakeasy Main Street Social
Walking into Main Street Social in Libertyville is like walking into an old Chicago speak-easy - the decor is a mix of dark gray, silver and brick, with chandeliers, exposed bulbs and a sheet metal bar. Craft cocktails hearken back to that era as well, all named after iconic Chicago streets like Michigan Avenue and Lower Wacker Drive.
Executive chef Joshua Ramirez has a sparkling resume for those familiar with the Chicago food scene: He was executive sous chef at Quartino and then executive sous at Bar Siena before bringing his talent north to Main Street Social. And talent it definitely is. Everything we had from the Italian-focused menu (with the exception of one appetizer) was completely delicious.
To start, my family shared the Spanish octopus, mussels, shaved cucumber salad, Berkshire meatball, oysters and crispy duck wings. The Spanish octopus was a total standout. Don't go in expecting any rubbery deep-fried calamari rings. Here, you get a substantial, meaty piece with avocado pesto, potatoes and half a cara cara orange. It was similar to chicken in texture and seasoned perfectly - definitely my favorite of all the apps.
The mussels and the oysters shared a pleasant universal creaminess. For the oysters, we had three from the east coast and three from the west coast, both good sizes, cleaned well and tasty. The mussels came in a tangy saffron cream sauce with charred tomatoes that lent a surprising smokiness to the meat itself.
The crispy duck wings were as photogenic as they were flavorful - a little sweet but not overpowering with the perfect crisp to match the tender meat. Equally as pretty was the shaved cucumber salad, a circle of sliced cucumbers and radishes with whipped ricotta, sliced tomatoes, pickled red onions, bread crumbs and a honey-yogurt drizzle. It was sweet, tangy and very refreshing with a slight heaviness from the ricotta that made it feel more substantial. We loved it.
The only thing we didn't really care for was the meatball. It's 12 ounces and comes in a little skillet with roasted tomato sauce, ricotta and toasted ciabatta. Sadly, the meatball itself - though cooked well - was bland.
Our main courses were the ravioli, gnocchi carbonara, brick-roasted chicken and skirt steak. The ravioli, stuffed with a wild mushroom filling and in a brown butter sauce with crispy fried sage leaves, had a mellow earthiness to it that was impeccably matched with the strong butter sauce. My only critique is it could have been a bit warmer. The gnocchi could have been a hint hotter as well, but the quality of the flavor definitely softened the blow. It comes with pancetta, Parmesan and an egg yolk on top to mix in for the sauce, making it rich and creamy. Everyone at the table agreed it tasted like a flavorful serving of bacon and eggs; it was a table favorite. Both the brick-roasted chicken and the skirt steak (with a side of strong truffle polenta) were cooked well, though the chicken was slightly oversalted.
For desserts, we had the cheesecake meatball, the build-a-sundae and the zeppoli. Starting with the zeppoli, the Italian-style doughnuts were perfectly fried, tender on the outside and deliciously sugared. If you want a semi-light dessert (with nutella and salted caramel dipping sauce), get this. But for those with a real sweet tooth, the build-a-sundae is for you. It's a big waffle bowl with a solid chocolate bottom, filled with two scoops of your choice of gelato, covered in sprinkles and caramel, surrounded by a cotton candy wreath, and accompanied by eight ramekins of toppings - everything from Sour Patch Kids to Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It was basically a carnival on a plate and definitely meant to be shared.
The other standout dessert, the cheesecake meatball, mocked the meatball appetizer. It's a big ball of cheesecake covered in a chocolate shell and strawberry sauce (representing the meat and marinara), served in the same skillet with three graham cookie “bread slices.” It looks just like the meatball but tastes decidedly sweeter, though the strawberry sauce has the deep, almost bitter flavor that comes with homemade jams.
We were impressed by the service throughout our meal. The manager came by several times to check on us. The waitstaff accidentally brought our salads with our meals and were incredibly apologetic for the timing. And the manager made extra sure we were happy. Our waiter was just as good, full of suggestions and a cheerful attitude.
Several online reviews made note of how noisy it is inside the restaurant, to the point of not being able to hear the person yelling at you from across the table. We didn't have that problem, but it's likely because we were next to the open garage window. Based on the crowd and the high ceilings, though, I can see it being an issue. But in no way should that stop you from going to Main Street Social. The food was phenomenal and the service just as good. I will be back many times; in fact, I'm going in a few days to try the brunch.
<i>Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.</i>
Main Street Social
608 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, (847) 549-3490,
Cuisine: Italian
Setting: Upscale casual
Entrees: $16-$36
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday