Naperville's BlackFinn showcases new drinks, menu
Located in the heart of downtown Naperville, BlackFinn American Saloon has been bringing in a wide variety of locals since opening in 2009. One of eight locations nationwide, the bar offers a comfortable atmosphere for watching sports or enjoying a quiet meal.
Motif: The large space has dining rooms on three levels. The ground floor features the most casual experience, with two bars and plenty of flat-screens TVs tuned to sports, plus booths equipped with their own sets. The upstairs dining area has another bar and can be portioned off for private events. Vintage posters and sports photos line the walls, along with logos for the Bears, Sox and Cubs. Dangling lights hang from the rafters. When the weather is warm, you can take advantage of a patio equipped with umbrella-topped tables.
Crowd: BlackFinn brings in families for early dinners, especially on Mondays when kids eat free. The spot is also popular with local business people and sports fans, meaning that customers wearing suits fit in just as well as those wearing jeans and T-shirts.
Service: Everyone working at the bar was polite, friendly and attentive. The bartender serving us was especially good, happy to make recommendations and seeming genuinely enthusiastic about his work and interested if we liked his creations.
Food: BlackFinn launched a new menu in September, moving beyond bar bites to offer a wide variety of American fare as well as some more globally inspired dishes.
The ying-yang shrimp are an excellent starter. The seafood is lightly fried to make it just a little crisp, and served with a flavorful sweet and spicy sauce. The shrimp and pesto flatbread also was quite good, with the crispy crust covered with large pieces of shrimp.
The Hong Kong-style Chilean sea bass was more disappointing. The fish was a bit mushy and bland. The best part of the dish was actually the coconut curry rice cake served on the side.
The desserts are well worth saving room for. The key lime pie is a perfect version of the dish, served with homemade whipped cream and raspberry sauce.
The BlackFinn hot chocolate is a particularly decadent treat, a fallen chocolate and peanut butter soufflé that melts the vanilla ice cream scooped on top of it.
The restaurant also offers daily $8 lunch specials including baby back ribs, chicken tacos and crabcake sliders. If you're looking for late night eats, a reduced menu is available from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Liquid consumption: The bar also overhauled its drink offerings, adding a great menu of specialty cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices.
The Caribbean mojito adds a bit of coconut rum, giving some extra sweetness to the classic refreshing drink. The basil berry cooler is both tasty and garish enough you might have to explain what you're drinking to other customers.
The drink features strawberry vodka, raspberry schnapps and soda mixed with fresh strawberries and basil, though the taste of the fruit largely overpowers the herb's flavor.
Parking: There's only street parking, but it's not hard to find if you don't mind walking a few blocks.
Overall: The addition of new food and drink menus makes BlackFinn an even better option, whether you're looking for a place to watch sports or just have a good meal with your family.
BlackFinn American Saloon
16 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, (630) 717-0400, <a href="http://www.blackfinnchicago.com" target="_blank">blackfinnchicago.com</a>
<b>Hours: </b>11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday