For those of us who turn up our noses to Aurora, please take another look. Several new places are open next to the casino. The stunning blonde and I were at the Art Walk today. Would not have been there without the 16 year old playing bass at one of the restaurants. Ballydoyle, 33 West Trattoria, Comfort Zone BBQ. A new jazz and blues club to open next to Comfort Zone. Nice changes.

Oakbrook? Yes, Oakbrook!

I wish I could share your enthusiasm about the wonders of Aurora, IL. I will say that in my youth I was always thrilled to drive around Aurora looking at the architecture and wondering why the town couldn't make something of itself. Some goes for Elgin. As an adult who works in the big city, I am hard pressed to be lured by yet another trattoria of any quality or renown, not to mention the requisite fake Irish pub (which can also be enjoyed in Downers Grove or . . . *gulp* . . . Stratford Square Mall). There are trattorias galore in this area. None of them of particular culinary interest, but all serve food. I can only imaging 33 W. Trat is such a place. And fake Irish pubs? Take your pick. You want one in GE? Check. Elmhurst? Check. Wheaton? Check. St. Charles? Check. Maybe the BBQ place would be an attraction, but that is backyard food and I am guessing we have something comparable nearby.

While crime is admittedly down in Aurora, there would have to be more of a draw to going there than that creepy casino and the remora-like establishments that feed off of it. As much as I love you like an estranged brother, this is the very reason that we never hang out together!

This is one of the problems - although from a customer perspective, it's a nice one to have - of the Chicago suburbs. There is simply a plethora of choices to be had, no matter where you live, in dining. Which is why, I think, it's difficult for Glen Ellyn to stand out from the crowd and draw people from other 'burbs - and it's probably difficult for all the other 'burbs around here, too, with a couple of exceptions. Mostly, as Clam said, you can find the exact same kinds of fare in every town. Which is why I don't generally drive to Elmhurst to dine - but then, Elmhurst residents probably don't drive here.

So I would think that the CBD needs to better concentrate on serving the Glen Ellyn population, rather than trying to draw people from miles around. That seems to be lacking, IMHO. (Hours, parking complaints, etc.)

(This is another reason why I hate that we have no less than 4 "Italian" restaurants, and not a single steak, seafood or some other type of cuisine. Why does one small village need that many so-so Italian restaurants?)

Roundhouse has been the only reason I've ever had to visit Aurora

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There is simply a plethora of choices to be had, no matter where you live, in dining

Unfortunately, most of those choices stink. It's very difficult to find inspired choices -- interesting chefs cooking interesting food. They're in the city -- but there are few out here in the burbs.

The requisite phony "Irish" pub mentioned above is one of them. You see them everywhere. And they all suck. Everyone of them. They suck.

Enough with the thin, fluffy Guinness. Does anyone really like Guinness? It's a gateway beer for some people, maybe -- but when you've had microbrewed stouts and porters (and the yummy newer Black IPAs) -- do you really want a thin, nitrogen pour of Guinness?

What's needed in this insipid "culinary genre" is a brewpub that can make a real dry Irish stout, a good robust porter, a nut brown, and then have cahones enough to forego the "Irish" thing for the American spin on Irish beer. Take the traditional low-alcohol stout and hop it up with citrus-y American hops and really make it unique. And maybe throw in a summer wheat beer, too -- but make it a bit dark. Like a dunkelweizen, but hopped way up. And that's just for starters.

Next, I'd do locally-sourced American versions of the insipid "bangers and mash" menus. Find a chef that knows (and is inspired) by "Irish" -- and then twist it to match the beer but make sure it's (mostly) from local farms -- produce, veggies, you name it.

I'd ditch the phony "Irish" font. Have a big bar with the rotating brews on tap with a bunch of local stuff: Two Brothers, Goose Island. Have a good selection of whiskey. Beer flights and whiskey flights. Essentially pubgrub/comfort food inspired by the Irish but with a distinctly (and unabashedly heavy-handed) American/Midwestern twist. And for even more cognitive dissonance -- buy a gas-powered Dietrich coffee roaster and roast fresh coffee on Saturdays. Big, bold, dark roasts. Pour a shot of whiskey in 3-day-old fresh roasted coffee and your mind will be blown -- in several different, unique, and hopefully permanent ways.

But it'd take a good chef and a good brewmaster and a good coffee roaster to pull this off. *This* place would be my inspired choice.

it seems simple to me. Obviously, it's not.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: farber55,

Of course Ballydoyle is a faux Irish pub. Does that diminish the fact that they invested money in this downtown area, rehabbing an old building? And if you know the demographics of the surrounding area, you know the market for Ballydoyle doesn't live in that area. If anyone has actually been to downtown Aurora, you know that it has been a long time since anything new has opened.

It has also been a long time since anyone has walked around this area. I just find it interesting that old buildings can be transformed to something useful that attracts people. Sort of like when we do the Jazz Fest in Glen Ellyn.

Jean True of True Cuisine used to have a nice restaurant in Aurora when the casino opened. Business dried up shortly afterward. The success of the casino was not a boon to the surrounding businesses, and until now, restaurants haven't returned.

But that is lost on you Clam. Why don't you go to Lombard, you big meanie.

I hate you, RMK. Can't wait to see you soon when you dine locally so you can make it up to me in some way . . . like buying drinks. I think Yoss owes me, too. As well as Ted.

So the Irish pubs are bad because they're fake but the Mexican Restaurants are bad because they are to authentic.

Been to Downtown Aurora since its a nice little ride on the path. And there are some nice little Mexican restaurants there. The decor will not meet Clams high standards but the food is good.

So wrong. Typically the more run down the Mexican restaurant, the better it is. If you've never been to the store front taquerias in West Chicago . . . you're missing out.

But you are right. I am all about missing out on corporate owned P.J. Mc Funster eateries. Call me a snob if you must, just don't call me to dine with you at one of them.

Snobby becomes you, Clam.

Do you ever eat at THG? Or do you just spill drinks there? This suburban pub model is no different than any other incarnation.

Tilted Kilt is Hooters.

Fridays is Houlihans - they have both remodeled to lose fern bar status.

Ballydoyle and every other "Irish" place wishes they could be Butch McGuire's (from 30 years ago). Just think "Chi-rish", a grueling ad campaign if there was one.

Now, Otto's.....wait, that's in Lombard.

All kidding aside. Try Comfort Zone. Put that place in Glen Ellyn, and you would have diversity. When they add the jazz/blues club next door, it will be Smoke Daddy.

I drink at THG. I do not eat there. Haven't been in a Hooters since I live in Atlanta 20 years ago. Nor a Tilted Kilt. Have gone to Houlihan's with the kids for a burger. Not in some time, though. The Irish, other than my wife, can kiss my ***. I'd kill for a sit down BBQ place with a bar . . . like Merle's in Evanston. Not a huge fan of ribs, but theirs were very good.

I agree (and disagree) with RMK... downtown Aurora to this day has tons of potential. It could rival downtown Naperville (and probably beat it out).

Development money has always been an issue in kick-starting anything meaningful in downtown Aurora. It's really too bad, because it is quite unique.

I do think it's cool that Ballydoyle opened a location there though. Maybe I'd go if I wasn't afraid of getting shot on the way into the downtown area...

Dave
DuPage Blog

Those pubs are available everywhere. Truth be told, I'd be more ascared to go the the Balldoyle in Stratford Square than the one in Aurora. That mall is scary, yo.

Who am I kidding. I will never step foot in Ballydoyle. Ever.

FWIW, Aurora seems to have cooled down as of late. Crime numbers are down.

fyi, Houlihans has really tried to change their look. Insanely great fish tacos (seriously, awesome good and healthy), they serve local beer pub brews now (Goose Island Matilda in the 750ml bottle, yum), their music playlist is cutting edge and totally obscure catering to only true music fans, and the rest of their menu is changed with a focus on healthier and hipper foods. It is still Houlihans but it has changed drastically. Fish Tacos.

What is Houlihans? Is that a chain place (like Cheddar's?)

Is there a Houlihan's by Whole Foods in Wheaton -- sort of across the parking lot?

Yes

When I heard that I thought to myself, "Whenever I went in there, it was filled with families taking their 83 y/o grandmothers out for dinner. The grandmothers aren't going top like that new soundtrack."

Bry . . . what are they listening to? And don't think that we won't understand or know who they are. We most likely will. But . . . please . . . fill us in, son.

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Originally posted by GE Fan:


I'll bet Lombard could make it work though.

Not if they close the bridge they won't. Who does Lombard think would be the exclusive clientele for their Houlihan's?

That's right.