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
My guess is that many residents have been to our dining spotlight for this edition, Jimmy’s Charhouse of Elgin. It’s been a fixture on Randall Road for many years, but as we all know, restaurants change managers and chefs over time, sometimes quite often. So, our mission was to see if there’s been any radical changes in the quality of the food and service, new items on the menu, and overall healthiness of this dining establishment.
Ratings Key:
5 stars: Excellent
4 stars: Above Average
3 stars: Average
2 stars: Below Average
1 star: Poor
Food: ★★★★★
Service: ★★★★★
Price/Value: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★★
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Judy and I were joined by our good friends and neighbors Dave and Marlene. We arrived on a Sunday night around 6 p.m. and there was no need for reservations. We were seated immediately, and our server, Lucy, met us quickly to get our drink orders. She soon brought us HOT, crusty bread and butter. All four of us are bread lovers, and the bread served here is tops. While devouring slice after slice of the addictive bread, we admired the way the room is warmly decorated with a background of red brick walls and noticed that the tables are not jammed together. We had no problem hearing each other’s words in our comfortable booth.
The vast menu at Jimmy’s included about 10 specials that evening, which most of us took advantage of when ordering. Marlene picked the London Broil, which at $14.95 included 3 large slices of tender meat in a light mushroom gravy. It came with a choice of potatoes and either soup or salad. She and Judy each opted for the soup du jour, which was cream of chicken and rice with a hint of lemon. It came in a generous-sized cup and both described it as outstanding. Marlene really enjoyed her entrée, which was much more than she could finish that night. This is one of the outstanding aspects of Jimmy’s portions; all of us went home with plenty to enjoy the next day, which brings us to the point of price vs. value. We’ve all eaten at restaurants that charge a pretty hefty tariff for very little on the plate and mostly ala carte. By contrast, our experience at this establishment has always been the opposite, which included excellent quality, reasonable prices, and HUGE portions. As Judy commented, “The only small portion on the plate was the container of apple sauce.”
Judy also ordered one of the specials, the rotisserie roasted pork in a light gravy. She received 5 slices of tender, juicy pork tenderloin along with mashed potatoes and apple sauce. I tried a slice and actually wished I had ordered the same dish, even though I enjoyed my choice. The price of her delicious entrée was only $12.95, one of the best values on the menu considering the quality, portion size, and price.
Dave opted for the half-slab of BBQ ribs and roasted chicken, priced at $15.95. He really got physical with his meal and said it was finger-licking good. He described the BBQ sauce as sweet, just to his liking, and the ribs as tender and meaty. The quarter chicken was nicely seasoned Grecian style, very tender and juicy. His sides were the fresh, green salad with blue cheese dressing, and the vegetables with his entrée consisted of fresh broccoli and carrots cooked to his liking.
I spotted an entrée that intrigued me: the blackened pork cutlets on a bed of spaghetti in seasoned olive oil. My dish included soup or salad and a mixed veggie grill. I enjoyed the salad with the hot bread leading up to the Cajun-spiced entrée that included 2 large pork cutlets and enough spaghetti for everyone at the table. There was no way I could begin to finish this dish in one seating, so I got to enjoy another meal the next day. My dish was a terrific value at $14.95.
The service was very good, as servers and busboys were very attentive, including the removing of finished plates promptly, but never rushing us. We didn’t stay for dessert, as that and coffee were waiting for us at home. Eating at Jimmy’s Charhouse is a slam dunk that remains one of the best fine dining establishments in the area on a consistent basis.
Sammy
