Al’s Cafe brings a worldly spin to the old malt shop style

Our good friends, Rich and Sharon, joined us for dinner last Saturday at an old standby in Elgin, Al’s Café and Creamery, at 42 Du Page Court. Fortunately, we arrived before the rush, as we had no reservations. We climbed the long staircase that took us to the second floor. We entered a large, grand, old fashioned dining room complete with wooden tables and chairs – some set for four and some set for 10. We chose a window table and watched the day transform into night.

There is a huge variety of wines on the drink menu. They also have good draft beers, and you can even order a real milkshake as a starter.

We skipped the tempting hors d’oeuvres because we knew the dinner plates would be loaded with good food. After our drinks were served, we gave our order to our waitress. By this time, the dining room was filled with hungry guests and it took quite a while to get our salads, soup, and bread basket. We didn’t mind, nor did any of the other diners, as the tables were filled with friendly chatter. The room was a capsule of the past, with old paintings on the walls and various bric-a-brac on the decorative china cabinets and buffets. Even the chandeliers were preserved, and there was a lit candle on our table.

Al’s has a monthly themed menu that they will email to you, and you can always get their regular items for dinner. This month was a tribute to the Academy Awards. Chef Tony created six completely different dishes all with famous movie names. There was “Forrest Gump” shrimp, “A Fish Called Wanda” salmon, “The Godfather” steak, “Sound of Music” pork schnitzel, “The Deer Hunter” beef stew, and “On the Waterfront” pork chop.

These dinners come with either a beautiful salad with homemade dressings or a homemade soup. The plates arrive with various sides including mashed or roasted potatoes, fettuccini, spatzle, grilled vegetables, and broiled tomatoes. My “Forest Gump” came with fettuccini and 10 grilled tiger shrimp.

Roland’s “The Godfather” was tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Sharon had “A Fish Called Wanda,” which arrived with the tastiest roasted vegetables she enjoys so much. And Rich had “The Sound of Music.” His pork schnitzel was almost bigger than the plate. He wished he could have had more spatzle, but I don’t know where there would have been room to put more. And he devoured the whole thing! He commented on how tender it was because it was not overcooked.

There is a separate dessert menu that ranges from the usual apple pie to cheesecake. But the real treats are the ice cream creations. Six scoops of Burns’ Ice Cream fills the malt or shake that you order. There are various sizes and flavors of sundaes, and you can even get an old fashioned phosphate (chocolate is my favorite flavor).

Lunch is served Tuesday through Saturday and the menu changes weekly. There are two different homemade soups daily and sandwiches that come with chips and fresh fruit for $6.99. They also serve the regular lunch menu, which has 10 different salads (all with homemade dressings), grilled burgers and chicken, as well as warm house specialties and cold deli sandwiches. And of course, all those ice cream treats are also offered too.

There is a small outdoor terrace with tables and chairs when weather permits. It is a lively place to enjoy the extensive list of unique white and red wine. But not to be missed is Al’s Sangria, which is made from a “secret recipe.”

Give them a try for lunch or dinner. Don’t forget to check out the ice cream parlor on the first floor. You won’t be disappointed – unless you go on Mondays when they are closed!

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