Vernon Hills wine and grill nearly Nirvana
Since Nirvana Wine & Grillerie's name refers to the philosophical concept of enlightenment, this strip mall spot has tall shoes to fill.
One of its missions is to create an environs where people can kick back and relax. Check.
Next, it's to serve food that's healthy, familiar and affordable. Check.
As for the deliciousness factor, read on.
The space is a nice one - all gleaming red floors, brick-red, art-topped walls and upbeat pop music on the sound system. To the right, groupings of living room-style furniture provide prime perches for those looking to nibble and swirl. For hardcore diners, wood tables and chairs run along the perimeter. Outside (while weather permits), there's inviting sidewalk seating, sectioned off from the parking lot with overflowing flowerboxes.
The menu is a blend of owner Alaine Lubin's favorite things, from recipes wrestled from friends to those she honed over the years. The running theme throughout is that nothing is fried.
We started with the mozzarella flatbread, a pretty typical preparation topped with oregano-flecked mozzarella and black olives. A brightly flavored, fresh bowl of marinara sauce came with for dipping the wedges. It was good, but not earth-shattering.
Ditto the likable - though hardly innovative - black bean, cilantro and jack quesadillas with fresh pico de gallo.
There's a hummus platter with mild and chipotle varieties, a small cheese and fruit platter, a Marsala-marinated portobello topped with blue cheese, and spinach and jack quesadillas, as well.
Soups are of note, with the potato-corn chowder and minestrone with orzo and spinach arriving in mugs. There are a handful of salads like the "Meditation Grilled Harvest," with greens, diced grilled red pepper, grilled zucchini, sweet potato, feta, red onions and couscous. Among the dressings is an interesting-sounding Balsamic Moroccan dill and honey poppyseed.
Paninis are certainly better-than-average affairs. The ham piled high with Provolone, caramelized apples and onions, 'shrooms and basil pesto combined many of our favorite things with pleasing results. Other choices range from grilled double cheese and tomato sandwich to griddled dill and celery-studded albacore tuna salad with Swiss cheese on marbled rye. Sandwiches can be ordered in half-portions with a side of soup, which is nice.
There are a few pasta dishes as well. We tried the just-wilted spinach and cherry tomato penne in Gorgonzola cream sauce. It was good but needed a bit of a flavor boost. On the bright side, though, it couldn't have been fresher. We found ourselves wondering how the curried penne with eggplant and sweet potato would have fared.
For dessert, it's hard to go wrong with a brownie sundae. Here, it's topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry. There's also a tasty apple cheesecake torte, an oatmeal snack bar and "grownup" Jameson and mint or Irish cream milkshakes. Coffee is fair trade and organic, a definite plus for conscious-types.
Wines are a draw, in part because the selection is so darn affordable. Nothing is over $45 by the bottle and you'll find tons of options (many for an unheard of $5) available by the glass. Another perk: unfinished bottles can be sealed and brought home. The restaurant also has a retail license to sell liquor.
Service couldn't have been more pleasant or sincere when we dined. This is a nice place to have in the neighborhood, for sure. We just wouldn't call it foodie destination.
• Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. Our aim is to describe the overall dining experience while guiding the reader toward the menu's strengths. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Nirvana Wine & Grillerie
Facts: 701 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills; (847) 918-7828; findmynirvana.com
Cuisine: Paninis and pasta
Setting: Colorful and living-room-like
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Price range: Appetizers $4.45 to $7.45; soups and salads $3.95 to $8.45; paninis $5.45 to $8.45; entrees $8.95 to $10.45; desserts $1.95 to $4.95
Accepts: Major credit cards