Tallgrass Restaurant
1006 S State St, Lockport, IL, 60441
Tallgrass Restaurant Menu
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Vegetarian
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Meat
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Seafood
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Tallgrass Restaurant
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Vegetarian
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Meat
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Seafood
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Lockport for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lockport for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1006 S State St
Lockport, IL, 60441 - Phone (815) 838-5566
- Website https://tallgrassrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Steve G.
This place is truly a gem. I recommend everyone go at lease once. If nothing else then the dessert and being treated like a dignitary. From the moment my wife and I walked in they called us by Mr and Mrs, (last name) the whole time. It was the little touches that make this already amazing place over the top. I liked the fact that they have a dress code for Men. This is a rarity in today's world and I am all for going for a nice evening with jeans and a polo but sometimes on special occasion I like to dress in a jacket and it takes away from the evening when the rest of the people are in causal attire. Even our bill, at the end of the meal, came beautifully handwriting in almost a calligraphy format. The food was amazing, my wife and end went with the 5 courses a piece and it was a little too much, but it was our first time. Would do 4-courses on the next trip.
(5)Theresa H.
Tallgrass is an excellent restaurant. The service is incredible and very friendly. I have never been disappointed by anything I have ordered at Tallgrass. The food is seasoned perfectly and the presentation is beautifully done. We eat here frequently and Tallgrass will always be a go-to restaurant for us. Not sure what the issue is with having to walk downstairs to enter. If you failed to notice, the dinning room is right off the street. If during the winter months you enter from street level the whole dinning room would be flooded with cold air and you would be complaining about that. Just take in the charm of the whole experience and enjoy!
(5)Kelly H.
While there is a small menu, each item can be chosen as either an app or entree. All the food was delicious but it is a bit pricey. You are able to choose 3, 4 or 5 course dinner. They also offer an 8 course for the table. This restaurant reminds me of a restaurant that would have been around in the 1920's...in a good way. The decor is dark wood with mirrors and chandeliers. There aren't many tables and the service was fantastic. Now the food was delicious. There is an option for every type of diner. The chocolate assortment dessert was too die for. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Shannon M.
For my mother's 60th birthday my parents and I went to Tallgrass (special restaurant for a special occasion!) It's a sort of conspicuous gem on the slightly scrubby old main street of downtown Lockport, a place that seems like it could really make something more of itself if it tried a bit harder. Anyway, Tallgrass seems to want to make you aware of its specialness by putting you through an obstacle course just to get inside. You enter below street level, which lends a kind of speakeasy vibe, but then promptly hike up a steep set of stairs again. The dining room is a very cool space, with molded ceilings, chandeliers, and tiled floors (the multi-mirrored bathroom could plunge one into a paranoiac panic). We opted for the three courses (which was plenty, and they had no problem with us sneaking bites off one another). The first course consisted of appetizer or salad choices. My dad got the bruscetta salad, and I the wedge of romaine (proscuitto being a more delicate version to the stodgier bacon crumbles that one generally sees). But my mother made the best choice with an appetizer combo consisting of a literally melt-in-your-mouth lobster ravioli, a deviled egg (its filling the consistency of whipped cream), a crab beignet (think of Cafe du Monde making the perfect crab Rangoon), and a smoked salmon gnocci. For the second course, my father had the steak with lobster bernaise sause and king crab lettuce roll with a potato terrine. He enjoyed the entree but thought the terrine (think potato lasagna) was awkward. I enjoyed my entree overall: tender diver scallops with bacon (the proscuitto again would have been better) in a voluptuous vanilla sauce, garnished with tiny balls of honeydew and cantaloupe (rather hard to nab with a fork) and some stringy, tough leeks. It was a tasty disk, though a slightly weird execution. My mom chose halibut with lemon butter and mango sauce with proscuitto, which complemented one another nicely. The dessert course offered a wide variety to choose from, especially with several options for "tasting" menus. My mother did this and received a combo of an apple crisp, blueberry crumble, chocolate souffle, orange creamsicle pot de creme, and creme brulee served in an eggshell. I got the chocolate version, which was interesting but really too heavy: chocolate mousse, a mini souffle, a "tower" wrapped around a filling of whipped cream and raspberry, an insanely rich truffle, and a tiny crepe with banana-chocolate filling. Of all I preferred the mousse: like a smooth, luscious chocolate pudding. Service was very attentive, the only bobble being when the server brought the wrong Chateau Neuf du Pape (red rather than white); since reds can be much more $$, this was a booboo. They offered to change it, but we tried it and were okay with it, and the price disparity wasn't insane in this case. Overall, it was a good choice for a special occasion meal in the sw suburbs. Tallgrass can stand tall as one of the highlights of fine dining if you are looking in the region of Joliet.
(4)Jim P.
We've been going there since it has been open. The absolute best restaurant in southwest suburbs and worth a visit. Chef amazing, great food and affordable wine list. A treat every time we dine there.
(5)Chad G.
Being from Joliet, we are all very lucky to have a restaurant like this so close to home. This restaurant is food forward. I didn't feel that it was overly expensive. I felt like I was at a supper club. It was a small romantic little restaurant with great food and ingredients and main courses not seen often. I will be back again
(4)Laura G.
AMAZING! Tallgrass Restaurant is hands down the best restaurant I've been to in my life. I wish I could give this a ten star review. Two years ago my now husband proposed during a hike at Starved Rock state park and then surprised me with a celebratory engagement dinner at Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport. One year ago we were married. This weekend we celebrate our first wedding anniversary and decided to return to Starved Rock and then Tallgrass. We were wowed with the service and menu selection. Our servers, Colleen and Justin, were knowledgeable and professional, yet friendly and approachable. Colleen even remembered us from two years ago and provided us a glass of celebratory champagne. What a nice and unexpected touch! The service at Tallgrass is second to none. The servers really make the dining experience memorable. The menu is filled with interesting and delicious meals with complimenting flavors and unique ingredients. We each chose the four course meal. I can honestly say each course was the best dish I ever tried, until the next course. I HIGHLY recommend Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport, IL.
(5)Lin C.
The staff was incredibly friendly. Food, eh. 3 Course meal. Scallops as my starter - Amazing Seafood Platter- An extra $5... it was OKAY. Lobster lasanga was over cooked and flavorless. The deviled egg was definitely bitter. Shrimp on a cracker was nothing special. Salmon perogi was too salty and had a strong fishy smell. Crab puff was delicious. Duck confit as the main course- nothing to write home about. The sauteed Japanese was too salty and had a strong mushroom smell. The duck breast was cooked to my preference, however it was drenched in the gravy of the mushrooms. The confit was in a crepe, was not as flavorful as I had anticipated. Overall experience, decent however not a place I would revisit.
(3)Pierre V.
What a spectacular experience! My wife and I are both foodies, and are fortunate enough to be well-traveled and have dined in restaurants in many cities here and abroad, so we know a good restaurant when we dine in one. I was in Joliet on business by myself and drove to Lockport, as this was the only restaurant within miles that was characterized as fine dining by Yelp and Zagat's. The room, the food, and the service were all excellent, and I commented to the owners in a separate e-mail that this is the best dining experience I have had in a small town anywhere in America (well, maybe the Inn at Little Washington would be a real contender for this title). This is major, top-notch dining found only in America's five or six top restaurant cities in the US (New York, San Fransisco, Miami, LA, and maybe a tie between Chicago and Seattle). My three-course dinner was fabulous, the cocktails we large and generous, and the wine was superb. There were no criticisms or shortcomings, and I can't wait to go back. Don't miss it... if you live in the Chicago exurbs, it is worth the trip for sure.
(4)Cowa C.
Tallgrass is All Good - the cream of the crop in Lockport. You can't beat the food - it is as beautiful as it is tasty. Decor, ambiance, cleanliness and service are exceptional. Extremely romantic, yet perhaps a tad bit too stuffy for frequent visits. Pricey but worth it for special occasions - either for couples or groups. Everyone I've recommended there has loved it and returned, as will I ~!
(4)R T.
Our recent dinner was disappointing. Since moving to the Chicago suburbs several years ago, Tallgrass was a delightful discovery. We have been back several times, usually for our anniversary. On our recent dinner, the service was uneven, not nearly to the level of the past. The food was ok, but nothing special. We both had the bruschetta salad and the Trio of Morels. The salad was basically cut up avocados and cherry tomatoes. The trio of morels was a small piece of roasted chicken with a morel sauce. But the sauce was so heavily favored, it overwhelmed the morels. The deserts were equally disappointing. It looks like we have lost our special dining place.
(2)Karen M.
This place is a hidden gem, located in a renovated century-old Victorian building in the historic river town of Lockport. For a long time (up until the last ten years), it was the only really fine dining opportunity in the southwest suburbs. We haven't been here in a while because we've been busy trying out the other nice dining establishments that have recently opened in the area, but I think it's time for a re-visit. You enter by first descending a flight of stairs and ringing the doorbell, then are welcomed in a basement vestibule and taken up a flight of stairs to the dining room. It's very intimate, with only about 12 tables, and very elegant, with original gas chandeliers, dark wood wainscoting, a beautiful silver and china collection, and high windows. You create your own menu by choosing three, four or five-course meals from more than 30 different meat, seafood, or vegetarian items. Most of the items are rich, so you may want to confine yourself to the three-course menu. Their trio of soups is a specialty, with three double-flavored soups all served in one bowl. The desserts are also spectacular - I remember seeing another customer being served with what looked like a tower made of chocolate. I was usually too full to ever order that particular one; I usually opted for the chocolate soufflé instead. The wine list is extensive, with over 200 vintages by the bottle and 12 by the glass, but reasonably priced. Service has always been impeccable whenever we've been there. Since the restaurant is so small, reservations in advance are required. It's also pricey, so save it for special occasions. But definitely try it at least once.
(4)Terry S.
My husband and I went here for his b'day. Very quaint place but staff a little stoic? I'm vegan so choices were limited. Miscommunicated on a dish and I told them I didn't want it and didn't care for it. I was expecting them to offer me a replacement or a no charge for the dish (spinach ravioli). However they brought me the leftovers and I again mentioned I didn't care for it. The look I got was "well, too bad you ordered it.". Not what I was expecting since I was paying a hefty price for food. Deserts were very weak as well. It was a bit odd for a really nice dining experience and my husband who is a certified culinarian didn't care too much for it either. $200+ is a bit overpriced for this quality of food and atmosphere.
(2)Rich R.
Always a treat! It seemed as if, during the pit of the recession, the menu had been "popularized." Now, it's back to its old form. The menu is always imaginative and delicious. A true dining adventure. The service is understated and efficient. The ambience is subdued. I think this is a great very-fine-dining choice, a distinct rarity on the otherwise banal south side of Chicago. Courtright's is the other notable exception. As good as it gets.
(5)Benjamin R.
Tallgrass is the crown jewel of the fairly limited Lockport restaurant selection. It really is surprisingly high end for the setting. It's worth noting, you need to make reservations well in advance. The dining room is quite small, and they only do two seatings per day (5pm and 8pm I believe). The ambiance is old and refined, without the polished glitz of a newer city restaurant. The food was all very well prepared and ranged from good to outstanding. We were a party of 4 and each got a the 4 course option, so we got to try a lot of the menu. It was my first time trying foie gras which I thought was delicious. Ravioli was particularly good too. The 3rd course entrees were a bit of a mixed bag, some a fair bit better than others, but all well done. The desserts too, were all finely made, but a few were a shy of delicious. That said, it's a top class restaurant, and worth the price if you're in the area and looking for something upscale.
(4)Doe L.
*I came here a while ago but Yelp kept bugging me to finish my review* I was a little skeptic by the "Ring the door downstairs to be let in" sign since I've never had to be "let in" into a restaurant before. It seemed really shady because I wasn't even sure I was in the right place and there was no indicator that the doorbell was ringing... I guess it could feel like some secret club though. Some guy let us in and it was pitch black. In the distance, it looked like a dark empty room. I really thought he was going to slaughter us at this point. Then he led us upstairs and it was dazzling. Really bright lights inside a small, cozy room. There were only a few tables in here and they were all packed. My bf and I were greedy so we got the biggest course dinner you could. I loved that you could choose your dishes unlike most other tasting menus. The best part was that most of these dishes were organic and low-carb. We were ridiculously stuffed by the end and didn't even enjoy our desserts because we were so full. My bf enjoyed it though and I took him there for his birthday so we were happy.
(5)Musseta G.
Love this restaurant !!! My husband and i found this place around 4 years ago... We came back many times including one of my birthdays... it's our secret spot away from the city scene... Lamb chop and Foie gras are must to order...
(5)Diane T.
I had high expectations, but dinner was a letdown. But it mostly was for things outside of the food itself. Try it if you are meeting people who live near Lockport. Otherwise, it isn't really worth the trip. We met some friends here last night for dinner. Our party was supposed to have had six people, but two people dropped out at the last minute (literally). That ended up working in our favor. We arrived at at the time of our reservation, told the waiter that our party was smaller than expected, and he said he'd check to see if our table was ready, which it was. When he took us upstairs, we saw that only a four-top was available. So who knows how long we would have waited for a table. We were the last people to be seated that evening, and a six-top didn't open up until at least 45 minutes after the time of our reservation. If you choose the three-, four- or five-course meals, you select your own dishes from the menu. A few of the dishes have a surcharge of a few dollars, but there is enough of a selection that you aren't forced to choose them. We went with the seven-course tasting menu. The food was okay. The scallop with the chorizo pilaf was good. We also all liked ravioli with the crispy prosciutto. The rest of the dishes became less and less impressive as the meal continued. Not that they were bad. They were just so-so. But dessert -- a collection of four little desserts -- ended the meal on a high note. The service is mostly good. It was little strange that instead of just bringing the wine list and menus, they asked us if we wanted a wine list. Then we had to wait for the menus. I didn't like that they cleared plates before everyone was done with the course. But the servers were very good about explaining what each dish was. They also were attentive when it came to refilling our water and wine glasses. Unfortunately, this is what I'll remember most about the restaurant: The seven-course dinner is advertised on the menu as $88. When the bill came, we saw that our dinners were $88 plus two surcharges. Really? The tasting menu is chef's choice. We had no say in what dishes were selected for our meal. We were happy with our meals, but why not just be honest and print the true cost?
(2)Laura K.
Wow. What a delight! Who would have thought you could have a downtown dining experience in the suburbs, Lockport to be even more specific. With 6:00 reservations, my husband and I rang the doorbell to be let in (yes, you read that correctly). The atmosphere is wonderful. The entire wait staff was wonderful. Best. Meal. Ever. I truly mean that. Here's our food night went. You decide if you want a 3, 4, or 5-course meal. You pick from categories like, Vegetable, Seafood, Meat and Dessert. You can have any one in any order...if you want dessert first, so be it! Even before our meal started, they gave us a small spring roll that I know had spicy mustard and not sure what else, but was it delicious!! 1st Course: Husband: Spinach salad with Brie; Me: Asian Pear Salad...Both amazing, but I'd say the spinach and brie won my vote. 2nd Course: Husband: Two cheese perogi ; Me: Potato Gnocchi. The cheese pirogi was on a bed of what I think was a meat pate. Potato Gnocchi was heavenly, as it had fresh corn, green beans and leeks in a cream sauce...divine! 3rd Course/Entree: Husband: Tempura Soft Shell crab over a bed of rice. Me: Beef Trio (Short-rib over salmon patty, Fillet over cheesy polenta, Strip steak over thinly sliced potatoes. If you like beef, YOU MUST GET THIS!!! Best fillet I've ever had and the short ribs were out of this world. 4th Course/Dessert: Husband: Chocolate Quintet (Chocolate tower, chocolate souffle, chocolate pudding, banana crepe with chocolate filling, and some kind of chocolate cake. Me: The Assortment (Chocolate souffle, white chocolate crepe, raspberry creme broiler, berry crisp and apple tart). WOW. Why get only one thing for dessert?! Get the assortment (chocolate or regular). The chocolate souffle was like the richest hot chocolate, but in cake form. Everything is absolutely fresh. The breads are homemade. You can really see and taste that they value good ingredients and good food. This can definitely be any suburban (or city) dwelling's 5 star restaurant. Our bill was a little over $200 with tip, but well worth the price. Unless you have that kind of money to spend all the time, definitely get at least the 4 course meal to try the wonderful creations at Tallgrass.
(5)Sandi P.
2 1/2 stars actually, considering the cost. We ate here for valentines Day and it was nowhere near as good as our experience last valentines. For the price ($75 each for 5 courses) the food and service were a bit disappointing. Firstly, we had at eat a 15 minute wait with nothing but water before our wine order was taken (and the restaurant wasnt even full). Then the waitress brought pouilly fume instead of pouilly Fuisse. We had to wait another 5 minutes before we were offered bread! First course soup (the trio) was about as appetizing as lukewarm baby food. 2nd course scallops were tasty if sparse (2). 3rd course was pretty tasty - I has a frisée salad (not sure why it had green beans, peanuts and raisins tho.)and hubby had veal cannoli. For Mains, I had the single rack of lamb while hubby had NY strip and short rib, great flavor in the meat dishes but light on the sides (2 tiny onions and a few mushrooms) and portion sizes. Desserts were quite good, a choice of 5 desserts - all chocolate or an assortment. Chocolate souffle was definitely the best of both dishes. The ambiance was quite odd, too brightly lit and tables with plastic mats and very chilly. Pretty cheesy for a $250 meal. Next time, I'll go into the city for a splurge.
(3)Bre S.
My husband took me here for my birthday and all I can say is WOW! Very attentive staff and the food was delicious! My only complaint is that we couldn't try everything on the menu due to the both of us approaching a food coma-like state :). Tasting portions are very generous and enough for you to share with someone else. I would highly recommend this place to anyone if they are looking for a special occasion restaurant.
(5)jack b.
It has been many years since we last visited Tallgrass and I have to say if anything it has gotten better. You really don't know what to expect as you descend to the basement door and ring the doorbell. You are then led up the stairs to the small but elegant Victorian decorated dining room. The the fun begins. The wait staff is outstanding. We knocked one of our forks off the table and it was picked up and replaced almost before it hit the floor. The bread basket consisted of a number of offerings, all fresh baked and delicious! After selecting our courses, we chose a Cotes' Du Rhone wine that was outstanding (it's one of my favorites) as usual. My wife had the goat cheese and asian pear salad and loved it. I had the crispy brie and spinach salad and it was to die for. The second course (we decided on only three courses to keep the calories down) for me was the Beef trio which consisted of about (a guess here) 2oz each of new york strip, fillet mignon, and short ribs each served over a different kind of potato (cheesy polenta, whipped, and sweet. It was fabulous. The steaks were perfectly done. My wife had the rack of lamb and had nothing but good to say about it. It came with polenta and vegetables puree. For the desert course we both picked the raspberry trio off the special menu for the day and what a treat that was. A Raspberry creme brulee (served in an egg shell), crisp and crepe. All in all it was a fabulous experience and we won't wait as long to return.
(5)Mike R.
We celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary here and it is truly a dining experience. The ambiance was romantic and cozy, the food exquisite and the wait staff superb. We were most definitely treated like royalty. A definite downtown Chicago fine dining establishment in the southwest suburbs. Hard to find but well worth any special occasion!
(4)Liz W.
I will probably come off as a total snob which is fine, because I am when it comes to paying $100+ per person. My friends and I have a club where we go to all of the restaurants in the Chicago-area rated higher than 26 in Zagats. Don't get me started on how I think Zagats has lost it's mind but Tallgrass' food is rated a 29 which is the same rating that Alinea has. That's some pretty esteemed company so we made a reservation about a month ago. Place is way the hell out there but that's fine, we knew it when we made the reservation but good to know if you're planning on having a few and then driving into the city. The space is okay - we were in the basement which was pretty dark and claustrophobic, I much preferred upstairs. Food was delicious but it isn't in the same league as Alinea. Or Trotters, Schwa, Blackbird, Avec, Hot Doug's etc. The service was o-kay and the wine pairing was seriously lacking. A Hess pinot noir? How creative. Overall, we enjoyed it but were expecting somethign amazing based on the Zagat rating. I recommend it if you live out there and want something special but we didn't think it was worth the drive from the city.
(4)kevin o.
Being a Chicago guy who has eaten all over the world I have to put Tallgrass in the top category of restaurants. The attention to detail, execution, creativity and service are world class. I especially appreciate it having lived in Texas for the past few years where the restaurant standards are quite different. Went there on a recent return to Chicago and a local friend who is on top of the restaurant scene took me as a special treat. It was a wonderful and memorable evening.
(5)Thomas A.
Yeah, this is a good special event place. First it's a long way to go for us, so it takes a good reason to get us to drive to Lockport. More importantly they do fine dining very well and it's all at a great price. The place is tiny, at least from what we could see, with only seating for about 30. The food was excellent, and I got off to a great start with a small taste 5-appetizer plate. It gave me a good sense of the chef's range. One of the standouts was the lobster lasagna - light, strongly flavorful, and a bit sweet. In fact, the entire meal had a pervasive sweetness. My pork tenderloin with prosciutto had plenty of flavor, but it was also sweet with a reduction sauce on the plate. After four courses I barely had room left for the amazing chocolate tower which was amazing. Lockport itself is a cute little river town, and I expect that we'll return in the daylight to check it out.
(5)Carrie H.
Tallgrass, named after the Illinois prairie grass in Lockport, IL, is a refreshing, almost rebelliously good, four star restaurant. No snobbery served here. It's all about local fresh food served gourmet and fine art to complement the dining experience. When seated, I immediately noticed a note on the table that explained the connection we have to our food and that they serve food consciously. That is, food that has been raised organically, ethically, and locally. Chef Bob even suggested a fantastic book on this subject, "The Omnivore's Dilemma." This awareness was reflected in the friendly and health conscious servers. The matre d' was a nutritionist and (much to my pleasure) gave my Dad a playful lecture about dumping saccharine in his espresso. Our waiter competed annually in the Iron Man competitions. They certainly practice what they preach. The place was tastefully decorated preserving the 1895 Victorian charm of the building. The china and vases are proudly collected and created by Chef Bob Burcenski. The sparkling crystal and pretty china actually make the food and drink taste better. Chef Bob has a BFA in printmaking and a MFA in painting and is the 25 year head organist at Presbyterian Joliet church- who is this guy, God? The co-owner of the restaurant is Tom Alves, the wine expert, more specifically, an oeneologist. He ensures a perfect selection of wine from small west coast wineries, Italy, and France. Here is a testament to his honed palate: I usually hate chardonnay and the chardonnay my Mom drank was irreproachable- something I never thought I would say about a chardonnay. I'm more of a pinot noir, pinot grigio, or dry Riesling drinker. Tom has a BFA in English and Music and advanced studies in music education. In his free time he manages chamber music concerts, naturally. These men, the A-team of the culinary world, make other restaurant owners tremble in their slip-resistant safety clogs. The Food. When selecting food, here are some general tips. Choose local foods when possible. Local foods taste fresher, support your local economy, and reduce our dependency on gasoline. What would taste fresher: fish shipped 180 miles from Wisconsin or fish shipped 2,800 miles from Alaska? Choose the less processed option. Fresh fruits and vegetables burst with flavor and give you energy. The sugar, salt and fat in processed stuff kills taste buds and our bodies. Lastly, put some green on that plate. Greens and pepper help you metabolize the food better bringing balance to the meal. What is good for the palate is good for our health. For a first course, I chose a trio of soups: pumpkin orange, white bean asparagus, and lemon cauliflower. Very creative combination of flavors and simple enough that it was not overwhelming. The painterly presentation reflected Chef Bob's artistic background. Second course: Steamed asparagus on semolina gnocchi topped with arugula, sprinkled with pine nuts, and lightly drizzled with a scallion vinaigrette. This was my favorite dish; a perfect balance of green goodness, protein, healthy fat, and complex carbohydrates. Bravo. My Dad ordered a beet salad: thinly sliced beets topped with feta and walnuts- wow! Simple is best. Main course: Wisconsin trout served on a multigrain concoction in butter sauce. They lost me on this dish. The fish was high quality, but the Chef was overly generous with the butter giving it a heaviness that nearly drowned the fresh quality of the fish. The multigrain pilaf was forgettable. This plate needed green on it to lighten the heaviness and balance the flavors. Dessert- flourless Belgian chocolate torte, vanilla mousse, raspberries, dark chocolate walls, and raspberry sauce on the side. What makes chocolate better? RASPBERRIES! I could lose the vanilla mousse. Anytime raspberries get near chocolate, my stomach starts to throw a welcome party. There was too much happening on the plate, so it is definitely a dessert to share. Beverages: A note on Lockport water- it has a high mineral content that leaves a bitter aftertaste. This was the case with the water and hot tea. I recommend having something from the bar- the iced tea was perfect- freshly brewed and served in a cut lead crystal glass reminiscent of the Victorian era that the restaurant proudly preserves. I was thoroughly impressed with Tallgrass. It is pricey- $48 for a three course meal, $58 for four courses, $68 for five courses.
(5)Rosemary G.
The food at Tallgrass is amazing! But I couldn't give more stars for the review because the service was truly horrible. This is a special occasion restaurant. It used to be my favorite when I lived in the Chicago area. So when my husband + I were visiting from the SF Bay area, I had to take him there for a belated birthday dinner. We were ignored by all the wait staff after they seated us. Another couple came in after us, an engagement celebration, and were immediately served champagne and got menus. Finally, I had to ASK for a menu. Other waiters were busy setting up new tables, instead of welcoming us, etc. For a restaurant of this caliber to treat customers in this way is unacceptable. But I have to mention that the food was really good. The braised Kobe beef ribs could be separated with a fork - so tender! And the horseradish mousse was light and heavenly. I always liked their trio of soups and that night's was fun and good as well. The seared foie gras was perfectly done and included a perfect compliment of sweet+sour apple/pickled vingar onion/balsamic reduction. I order foie gras whenever I find it on a menu, but I think Tallgrass does it best. And the desserts are always memorable. I hope they fix the service problem, because the kitchen is just too good to skip.
(3)Local D.
This was our 4th visit to Tallgrass over the past few years and very likely our last. This is a special occasion restaurant and they clearly have lost sight of taking care of customers. Given their very limited wine list (about a half page of red wines), I brought two bottles of very special wine for our party of 4 fully having to pay a corkage fee which i have done at this restaurant in the past as well. Upon being seated, we were told there was a 1 bottle limit per table (no mention of size which suggests we may have been better off having each couple sit separately). I politely asked if they could open the second one and was promptly told it was against the restaurant's policy even though I was more than happy to pay the $20 corkage fee. In fact, the manager/owner "Tom" who was referenced by the staff did not extend the courtesy of coming out to speak to us. The food, while still good has also dropped in quality ranging from a dry lemon cake to several items which now carry a surcharge on top of the prix fixe tariff. I suggest thinking twice before visiting.
(1)Gregor B.
just brilliant... we were a party of three, two of us ordered the five course dinner and the other ordered the four course, which were reasonably priced. The food was just heaven,...innovative, fresh, exciting, and masterfully choreographed. Tallgrass, Courtright's and Vie are my favorite restaurants...the veritable holy trinity of cuisine in the western suburbs. - Nevada Dan
(5)a w.
If you're looking for the perfect romantic restraunt for that special event or day, this is the perfect place! This resraunt has beautiful Victorian decor and wonderful service. You'll feel special just sitting at the table. The food, made up of a five course meal, is superb, each course gets better and better. And the chocolate souffle is definitely the finishing touch to an enjoyable and very romantic dinner.
(5)Jon P.
Some friends and I celebrated my birthday at Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport. We had heard many things about Tallgrass (small, stuffy, overpriced, phenomenal, five-star, etc..), so needless to say we were eager to find out for ourselves what all the commotion was about. At first the host on the phone told us we could only bring one bottle of wine between the six of us. I was able to convince him that each couple should be able to bring a bottle... so that was awesome. Good thing too, our bottles of wine we brought killed everything on their wine menu (not knocking their wine menu at all... they had great wine we just brought some killer wines!). The service was immaculate. The servers explained the nuances of the menu and the meal as it was not like any other meal you will have. You could choose how many courses you wanted. 3 - 7 courses. The first courses were more appetizer portions and one of the courses would be your main meal. i did 6 courses and was extremely happy with each and every one of them!!! It would be a waste to try to explain the decadence of the food they serve. It cannot be accurately or effectively explained in such a limited form of expression as typed word. I will only say that if you live anywhere in the northern half of the state of Illinois or if you are traveling in the area, and you really want to experience 5 stars and be absolutely pampered you must try Tallgrass. Your wallet will ache for a few days, but the experience is worth every cent. I urge you to go with people that like to indulge and are open to new tastes and experiences. If you go to Tallgrass with anyone not open to the experience it could add a sour note to an otherwise surreal dining experience. Thank you Tallgrass staff/chef for a fantastic birthday meal! I will be back soon!
(5)Edward E.
I have been here 9 times. I have taken my Mom, 3 of my sisters, my wife several times, and even come here with friends. Amazing artistry of gastic goodness. Gourmet, delicious homemade breads, and amazing service, perfected culinary art. Great for special occasions, can't speak more highly, All Time Favs! Chocolate Tower Trio of soups whipped Egg the bread!! Foie Gras!
(5)April P.
Tallgrass! I wish it was closer to home, but well worth the trip. We have had the pleasure of eating there throughout the years. We have even had 13 family members there for Christmas Eve dinner that was to die for. The chef will treat you with little bits of wonderfulness before your actual meal begins. Having some in our family that are vegan/vegetarians, does not deter from them having a truly wonderful foodie experience. What a hidden treasure!
(5)JJ C.
I took my wife to Tall Grass for her birthday. We are very disappointed for the experience. I must say the service was outstanding. But our food was terrible. I ordered scallop dish, I took a bite and spited it out, the scallop smelled bad. The waitress took the dish back and replaced it with a fresh one. She commented "the smell of the scallop is a little off". The replacement was fine. Unfortunately, my wife ordered an exotic basket with mini lobster and scallops, sure enough, the scallops were bad again. They are probably in the same batch. After the dinner, we both felt uncomfortable in the stomach. As Japanese chef, I would like advise the tall grass chef, if any fish smells bad, please threw them in garbage, please do not serve to your customer.
(1)Jim M.
Flat out fabulous. My wife and I have come here sporadically for many years and always have had had great food. It's location has precluded more frequent visits but we came to celebrate a birhtday and the food was amazing, the service outstanding, the wine list not large but nicely priced and very good. The quality of the food was simply outstanding. My wife had the pork tenderloin and I had the rack of lamb. We could not decide who had the better main course. Bruschetta salad, asparagus, seafood combination courses were out of this world. Desserts included an interesting take on strawberry creme brulee and a sampler of multiple items-excellent. This has always been a really good fine dining restaurant but they seem to have stepped up to another level. Simply outstanding food complimented by an unusually flexible menu and fine service. Go there!
(5)Steve M.
It's been several years since my last dinner at Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport. I was wondering if it could still be as terrific as I remembered. I am profoundly delighted to say that I enjoyed yet again a most amazing meal. The menu choices are extensive, the service is so correct and friendly, and the presentation is gorgeous. Bravo, Tallgrass, and thank you again for a wonderful evening. We will not wait so long between visits.
(5)Maria W.
Really delicious...we had dinner here last night to celebrate my Brother in Law's birthday and it is one of his favorite's. Some of the stand outs included the seafood appetizer plate which included a delicious crab beignet, perfectly seared tuna with wasabi peas, and a subtle - almost mille feuille-like lobster lasagna. The "crab"onara was creamy and rich without being over the top and the short ribs had a wonderful texture with just a touch of acidity. The service was really excellent all around and we really enjoyed this gastronomic evening!
(5)X Z.
Sorry - I really wanted to like this place after all the rave reviews but to be honest, not sure how Tallgrass scored so high on Zagats. It's not often we get to do the reverse commute on the weekends and drive out to the burbs for a night out - city slickers don't like to be designated drivers :-) Having heard about Tallgrass for years now and finally getting the chance to try it, I was super excited. The menu looked awesome and I liked the idea of essentially creating your own multi-course menu (up to 7!) Unfortunately, by the end of the night, my dinner companions and I agree that Tallgrass was overall quite overrated and very disappointing. Also, not to sound snobby, but not sure how a white zin ended up on the menu of such a "fine dining" establishment... As for the food, the general consensus was-- nothing stood out, and everything was very heavy. For such a rich menu, it would be nice to have one-bite palate cleansers between courses like a sorbet or something. Also, another complaint I have is they really need to work on their portion sizes. They are way too big for the tasting menu format. For example, I started with the trio of soup, which I thought would be served in little shot glasses or something else appropriately sized.. instead I got a bowl-sized portion of soup (all three in one bowl) that gets me half way to full. The chef has some good ideas b/c everything sounded awesome on paper.. but unfortunately most of them got lost in the execution. If Gordon Ramsey took over the restaurant for a day, he would tell the chef to narrow his focus and cut down his menu by half. For me, at the end of the night, the only thing that lingered from our dinner was a monster case of indigestion caused by the meal :(
(2)Kristen J.
We just went there for our 2nd anniversary and loved it. Its like a fabulous city restaurant out here in the burbs. You MUST make reservations...but its totally worth it. Its quaint, intimate and the food is top notch. We loved everything we ate and they definitely push your food boundaries (but in a good way!) We certainly plan to go back but its a bit pricey, so only for special occasions! Highly recommend!
(5)