Inspi(Red) bistro and winery heating up Elgin
Wine, great food, warm space, wine, friendly staff, reasonable prices and, oh, did I mention wine? Red Bar Winery & Bistro wraps all this together in a tasty package and ties it with a bow - a red bow, of course.
My trio had one of those experiences where I felt like a neon "restaurant critic" sign was flashing over my head causing the server, manager and owner to be quite attentive.
Sensing our indecision with the menu - a tight selection of salads, cheese plates, paninis and flatbread pizzas, tempting appetizers and mouthwatering entrees - Randy, our waiter, offered to take the decision off our hands. He brought out an array of chef Jorge Cornoa's most popular items. Our own chef's tasting; pretty darn cool.
But before we sampled any food, Randy brought out some wine.
Here's the hook: At Red Bar Winery and Bistro, owners Jim and Doris Canfield don't just sell fine bottles of imported and domestic vintage, they make wine right there at the back of the restaurant. No, they're not stomping grapes. As Jim explains during a tour after our meal (really, there was no flashing neon sign), they start with must (juice) from grapes. Much of the must comes from California, but they do get imported juice as well, Doris says.
The grape juice is blended and fermented in special equipment in a room at the rear of the restaurant and there's a glass-doored cooler for cellaring the wine. Many batches are blended with other fruit juices to create incredibly inventive and delicious blends. Strawberry Riesling, Citrus Ice Sauvignon Blanc and Blueberry Shiraz will eclipse any college memories of guzzling peach Riunite from the bottle.
If you like what you taste you can buy Red Bar Winery wines on site ($12 a bottle) and have custom labels made for your favorite blend. Take wine enjoyment a step further and reserve a time to head in and make your own variety or sign up for a casual class in winemaking basics.
Red Bar stocks and sells domestic and international wines besides its house-made hooch, many available for tasting before you commit to ordering a glass or buying a bottle.
Yes wine takes center stage here, but food is no second fiddle.
The offerings make it easy to share and that's exactly what we did, though I could have happily consumed the crab cakes by myself. I enjoyed the crispy cake while a friend found it on the dry side. We agreed it had a subtle fiery bite and a pleasantly garlicky red pepper sauce. Other starters include chicken quesadillas, spicy shrimp poached in butter and a take on bruschetta that includes olives and mozzarella.
The prosciutto panini was another Red Bar star with apricot preserves and goat cheese balancing the salty pork. The side salad on the plate - a mound of crisp greens tossed with red onions, pecans and dried cranberries with a tangy raspberry dressing - was no afterthought. (It's available as a full-size salad as well.)
We got another hit of pork with the crispy bacon and caramelized onion rustic pizza that nearly had three women in a brawl over the doggy bag.
The entree selection is limited to a customary trio: salmon, beef and chicken. The curry chicken warmed us inside and out, creamy sauce binding the rice and chicken chunks and offering a world of spice in every bite. Banana slices, raisins, green onion, nuts and coconut are available for garnishing the dish and shouldn't be overlooked. The Web site threatens that this dish will be replaced by baked chicken as the winter deepens, so either get in now or call ahead and beg for a special request.
Dessert is not to be overlooked, after all you need something to accompany your dessert wine. Try the tiny biscottis (admittedly better for dunking in coffee than Zinfandel) or a moist chocolate cake.
Red Bar's relaxing atmosphere attracts an eclectic crowd. On a blustery Thursday there were a few ladies sitting at the bar for sampling and appetizers, a large group gathered for a holiday celebration, a handful of other diners and a couple of guys drinking beer by the fireplace and watching football. All appeared comfortably content and attended to so I guess you don't have to be an anonymous restaurant critic to feel special at Red Bar.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Red Bar Winery & Bistro</p> <p class="News">74 S. Grove St., Elgin</p> <p class="News">(847) 695-1659</p> <p class="News"><a href="http://redbarwinery.com" target="new">redbarwinery.com</a></p> <p class="News"><b>Cuisine:</b> European-inspired fare focused on appetizers, pizzas and sandwiches</p> <p class="News"><b>Setting:</b> Renovated brick building with high ceilings, fireplace and clever red accents</p> <p class="News"><b>Entrees:</b> $8 to $19.50</p> <p class="News"><b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday</p>