'Check, Please!' comes to Palatine

The cult following loyal to WTTW's "Check, Please!" restaurant review show will get a dose of Southern comfort this fall when Palatine's Mint Julep Bistro is featured.

TV crews recently stopped by to film -- and subsequently eat -- about 15 signature dishes including shrimp and grits, pecan-crusted tilapia and fried green tomatoes. They spent four hours interviewing chefs and shooting the restaurant's intimate dining rooms. They also showed a train pulling into the nearby Metra station to show Mint Julep's access to the city.

Each week, host and master sommelier Alpana Singh leads three guests in a round-table discussion about three restaurants. Mint Julep opened up less than a year ago to strong reviews.

Co-executive chef Dee Davenport isn't nervous to see the show, which is scheduled to air in mid-October.

"I'm just flattered enough people appreciate our cuisine that the show would even think about us," Davenport said.

While Mint Julep is the first Palatine establishment to appear on the show, "Check, Please!" is no stranger to the Northwest suburbs. Five Arlington Heights eateries have been reviewed, as well as restaurants in Barrington, Mount Prospect, Schaumburg, Wheeling and Lake Zurich.

Mint Julep Bistro is located at 53 W. Slade St. (847) 934-3000.