Editor’s Note: Our columnist is not a trained or paid professional, nor does he get complimentary meals from the restaurants visited. He and his party arrive unannounced and do not reveal that they will be doing a review. Comments or questions may be sent to Sam Geati, greengeezer9@comcast.net
This week, we took a drive to try out the Chinese cuisine at the Gourmet House in Algonquin. We were joined by our friends and block neighbors, Doug and Dorothy. The restaurant is open, well lit, lightly decorated with modern touches, and the tables set and covered with white paper to maintain easy clean up. They have a small bar and do serve alcoholic beverages. Most tables are arranged for 2, 4, or 6 patrons but can be easily moved to set up for larger groups. The staff, all Asian, is very friendly and greeted us warmly as we entered. The menu for dinner has quite a few selections, is well arranged, and we found it to be reasonably priced, especially for the quantity of food we were served.
Ratings (5 symbols being the highest):
Quality of food, service, ambiance: ****
Price range: $$
Gourmet House is located at 1740 E. Algonquin Rd. in Algonquin, between Rts. 31 and 25, about 30 minutes from Sun City. Reservations aren’t required. Carryout and delivery service are available. 847-458-7883.
We ordered egg rolls and crab Rangoon as appetizers. The egg rolls were large, light, and warm, and they came with two sauces: Chinese mustard and sweet & sour (this special sauce is homemade with a predominance of pineapple, apricot, apple, and vinegar, along with other ingredients).
Dorothy and I ordered the Walnut Shrimp for an entrée, as she had been here before and recommended it. My wife, Judy, ordered Portabella mushrooms with sautéed spinach while Doug chose mu shu pork, a traditional Mandarin dish, for his entrée. The walnut shrimp was plentiful, excellently prepared with a light, sweet glaze. The walnuts added a unique taste to the dish and were surprisingly flavorful. Judy felt that the mushrooms were delicious but was not impressed with the spinach. Doug’s mu shu pork was served with thin rice pancakes lightly spread with a plum sauce, which the pork is then rolled into by the server. There were 4 large stuffed pancakes when the server was finished. The flavor was excellent, with a slightly salty teriyaki seasoning.
General Comments: White, sticky rice was served with the meal for the table. We ordered and shared a large serving of pork fried rice, which everyone agreed was very good and plentiful. Everyone asked for containers to take food home. One thing that we found unusual was that complimentary hot tea was not put on the table as it is in many other Asian restaurants. We were given a lunch menu to take home and liked the good assortment of dishes that are offered at $6.50 or less, including an egg roll, fried rice, and a soft drink. Other than driving distance, this place is well worth your time and money to eat out.
