- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Adelle's Fine American Fare
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
535 W. Liberty DriveWheaton, IL 60187
(630) 784-8015
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Fri 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Sun 4 pm - 8 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
45 reviews for Adelle's Fine American Fare
Review Highlights
-
"This time, I ordered the Pan Seared Chicken Breast." In 3 reviews -
"I split a blueberry bread pudding with caramel and creme..." In 3 reviews -
"Portobello Fries - These are deep fried mushroom "fingers." In 3 reviews
Loading...
45 reviews in English
-
Review from Mary J.
5/20/2012
Wonderful! We dined here last night and sat outside on the patio. It is NEVER to hot for me to eat outside! Their patio is a nice size and they have a gate with little white lights. You can hear the train, so it can get noisy, but oh well.
I had wanted to visit here for quite some time, but the prices kept me away. Then the Groupon gods smiled on me and offered one that I could use! This groupon had some limitations (couldn't use on certain dates, had to tell them when I placed my reservation and I had to do a phone reservation, not one online). When we were seated we told them about the Groupon and there were no problems. At the end of the meal we got our check without our discount. I thanked our server for giving it to us, so we could see how much to tip and reminded her that she needed to apply it. That was our only serving snafu the whole night!
The food was so yummy! Hubby had calamari and some risotto with shrimp and I had a field greens salad and some fish. We had a brownie for dessert and that could have been bigger, but there is never a dessert big enough for me!
The quality of the food here is great and the service is attentive without being annoying. Finding this kind of place in the suburbs is kind of hit or miss and I'm glad this place was a hit! -
Review from Tim K.
Naperville, IL
Updated - 12/17/2011
We returned with friends for dinner. Huge disappointment. It's always an embarrassment when you bring other people to a place you thought was good and it turns out otherwise. On this trip we decided to skip appetizers so we would have room for dessert. At our table of four, no one was happy with their entree. We had:
Wiener Schnitzel ($23) - This consisted of two smallish pieces of meat. The meat was tough and the breading was greasy.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast ($21) - The chicken itself and the mashed potatoes were OK. The onion rings were greasy and VERY SALTY. The menu said "grainy Dijon mustard cream sauce". We could find none of this on the plate.
Fennel Crusted Pork Tenderloin ($23) - There was a strong horseradish taste to the dish. The menu did not say anything about horseradish in the dish.
Osso bucco ($26) - This was the smallest portion of osso bucco I have ever seen. The meat was dry and tough. There was a layer of tough fat around the outside. After trimming this off, there wasn't much actual meat left. This came with a small apple bratwurst and risotto. Why would you put bratwurst on an osso bucco dish?
Oh, well. We were looking forward to our desserts to save the meal. For dessert we had:
Key lime pie ($6) - This was good and the best of what we had.
Warm fruit crisp ($8) - It wasn't warm. The person that had this commented that the fruit crisp at Cracker Barrel was better.
Warm bread pudding ($8) - This was warm and was OK.
Turtle brownie sundae ($8) - The brownie was more of a piece of very hard fudge. It was so hard it was almost inedible. I left 80% of it on the plate. After finishing I noticed a HAIR on the side of the bowl! Yuck.
Adelle's was a huge disappointment for all at our table of four. It was a combination of poor food, food that did not match the menu description, confused dishes (osso bucco and bratwurst on the same plate. Risotto with pineapple. Cinnamon with scallops.) Adelle's also feels like it is overpriced for what you get. $32 for flat iron steak! I don't think so.
Our server was good as was the food runner. The busser was OK but water glasses were not refilled.
Bottom line: We probably won't be back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/13/2011
We came across Adelle's while looking at another restaurant in the area on Yelp. We're glad we gave… Read more »
-
-
Review from Dale H.
Wheaton, IL
5/18/2012
Nice place. Good food. Good service. They think a little too highly of themselves but that is ok.
-
Review from Philly C.
Chicago, IL
5/8/2012
Consistent! Was there on again this past Saturday night....even though they took my Parmesan Crusted Chicken off the menu, I still like you Adelle's. The Charcuterie app was as good as always. The filet I had was delicious...smaller than I would have like it for $34.00 but still delicious. Dessert....pineapple upside down cake was a bit of a let-down after the great meal.Enjoyed a bottle of Lyeth Meritage which was a good value for $36.00.
-
Review from Mike P.
Glen Ellyn, IL
4/17/2012 3 Check-ins Here
The food is very good unfortunately on this our third visit the service is just not up to fine dining standards. It's clear from the wide variance in reviews our experience is not uncommon.
-
Review from Jesse K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/10/2011
I was expecting more for the price point.
The ambiance sent mixed signals. Quite clearly, the intention of the dining room was high-style. However, the music, the service, and the menu left much to be desired. We began with two martinis under the blaring speaker which developed sounds from Big Band music to baby cries and crowds cheering.The service was lacklustre. The specials were pre-printed but the server mumbled through them anyway.
I chose the lamb shank. Honestly, lamb is one of the hardest meats to ruin, but you can over-cook and then microwave it. Congratulations Adelle's, you screwed it up. The lamb was moist but stringy. ($25) Although plated well, the sides were uninspired with plain mash potates, oyster mushrooms, and steamed brussel sprouts. The greatest advantage was the sprig of fresh rosemary, which had the only pleasant aroma on the plate. (No rosemary was detectable in the lamb.)
My dining partner had the Adelle's trio of mini-burgers appetizer for his entree. ($14!) They came with fries, which were horribly over-salty, chewy, and soggy. Clearly, they had not been fried at the right temperature since they were incredibly oily. The mini-burgers were fine, but I've had better in a pub.(at $7) They were topped with noxious mini-gherkins (weird flavor). They came in three varieties. In deference to the high class decor and pricing, they were served with piquant and inventive dipping sauce. Wait, no they weren't. They were served with ketchup. Just ketchup. From a bottle.
In short, the menu of Adelle's is totally uninspiring, poorly executed, and not worth the price. The martinis were good. ($10.50/ea) -
Review from Dean H.
Glen Ellyn, IL
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outstanding meal with a decent wine list. Started with the portabella "fries", bacon wrapped scallops and duck confeit Risotto. All three were fantastic with the duck Risotto and the portabella "fries" the best of the three.
Entree of two pork chops were very well done and the substituted dirty rice was also very good. Not a big fan of brussel sprouts so I am not if they were good or not. My buddy's blue cheese crusted steak was very good as was his wife's filet. My wife's crusted catfish looked good but she said it just "OK".
Wine for the night was Old Ghost, Old Vine Zinfandel and it was excellent. Only drawback was that they only had 1 bottle left and we would have liked to double up on this excellent wine.
Had some chocolate brownie, ice cream, berry thing for dessert but all agreed there was just too much going on.
All in all, an enjoyable experience and definitely worthy of a return visit. -
Review from Stephanie R.
Wheaton, IL
3/4/2012
We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday, and we enjoyed a delicious meal. The decor and ambiance was very nice, and I was happy to see that the tables weren't placed too close together. We were seated near the fireplace, which was a nice touch. The wines by the glass were pretty good; we each had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. For entrees, my husband had the flat iron steak. The meat was flavorful and quite tender. However, it was hard to even see the steak underneath all of the pomme frites they had piled on top. The frites were underwhelming, as was the sweet potato mash my husband subbed as a side dish. I ordered the chicken pot pie; it was decadent and filling. Service at the restaurant was friendly, but slow. It was good that we weren't in a hurry. Overall, food was delicious but a little pricey
-
Review from Sue T.
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not flawless, but very, very good. I would go back for the portabello fries. Dipped in light crunchy breading and not greasy but moist on the inside, they reminded me of the old days when we used to pick and pan-fry fresh morels. So good. The garlic-mayo dipping sauce though was too thick and garlicky for me. I'd have preferred something lighter, maybe a marinara, something with a bit of acid.
My green salad was very good, especially with the optional chevre cheese added. My salmon entree was good too, but the fish was nearly raw in the middle. I don't like fish overcooked, but wasn't prepared for sushi either, so I saved it and microwaved it for lunch the next day. That turned out just fine.
Although it was too hot to sit outside on this visit, we have enjoyed the patio other times. I'm always ready to return to Adelle's and I love that it has a solid menu that pleases a variety of people. I heard that the restaurant is relocating in the fall and I've got my fingers crossed that they can maintain the welcoming, small-place feel of the current location. -
Review from Gemma K.
Lombard, IL
6/7/2011 ROTD 6/17/2011
Well, well, well; what have we here? A little bistro with elegant food, wine, and desserts so decadent that you feel like a Buddha when you leave.
If you're on a date, come here.
If you're making up after a fight, come here.
If you're trying to impress a client, come here.
If you just want a quiet and interesting meal where you and your significant other can simply reconnect, come here.
That's what we did tonight and we weren't sorry. This is not a particularly fancy place. But I think it's the entire package that gives it panache. On Tuesday, you bring your own bottle.
As to the food, please remove your calorie counters from your computer area, close your eyes, and get into this food! We each had an opener: a mushroom risotto with cilantro, scallops and a warm lime butter (drool); the other was spring rolls with a super sweet lobster. Both were great.
We nixed the salad and evilly plotted a shared dessert. There are nightly specials here, but they have a pretty nice standard offering too. I loved the 'am I seeing red hot' seared scallops that came with a sweet corn and yam hash and grilled fennel. My guy had pork that glazed with Bourbon and with a melted cheese pot and swiss chard.
Okay, right about then, we were groaning inaudibly. It's not that we downed both dinners, but the food was great enough to savor it nice and slow. Thank God, the coffee came-eth.
We nibbled on dessert: blueberry bread pudding; with whipped creme, a little bit of fresh coconut, and pineapple.
I'm surprised the suspension in the car didn't give way when we got in. But we have a super care package for tomorrow. This was out first time here; it was lovely and mellow. Our waiter was most excellent.
Isn't it also lovely that there are Tread-climbers for nights such as this!Listed in: Gemma's Gems
-
Review from Laura L.
Elmhurst, IL
12/31/2011
If we've learned one thing from this recession it's that BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER! Adelle's has moved to their new location, a larger building that gives the impression of a former pancake house or pizza joint. Although the owners have tried to replicate the interior with the same light fixtures & a fireplace, the vaulted ceiling and the metal double doors leading to the large dining room stand in sharp contrast to the cozy atmosphere of the former location.
Although the Christmas decorations created a welcoming impression, that's about the only warm welcome we received at Adelle's. There wasn't a smile from any employee: not the owner, the hostess, the busser, the cocktail waitress nor our waiter.
Our disappointment continued with the meal, which began with 2 cold rolls. We continued with 2 appetizers:
asparagus soup - bland; not sure where the promised scallop was?
lobster rolls - pricey & spiceless
Entrees:
Pork Tenderloin w/ cabbage salad - the pork was tough and dry, drowning in the cabbage salad
Grouper w/ rice and hollandaise sauce - the grouper & rice were overcooked and the hollandaise looked congealed, like a big jar of Cheez Whiz melted on the fish
We've had many meals at the former Adelle's as well as our son's rehearsal dinner. We have always been pleased with our experience, but this visit was so disappointing we won't be back. -
Review from Dana d.
Lombard, IL
1/27/2012
I dont know where to begin. This place is outstanding in every way. The decor is tasteful and charming. The outside dining area is extremely nice and romantic.
Wait staff was great with suggestions and specials which change daily. They were attentive but not intrusive.
The food was above par. Everything was so tasty and well done. We had the watermelon salad which was amazing. Bluegil was perfect. My steak was tender and flavorful. The desserts were so tempting we each had one. I had a root beer float which sounds ordinary but was the best I have ever tasted. We will be back often -
Review from Tina E.
North Aurora, IL
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needed one more Adelle's fix before their big move. Always, always the portabello fries. The risotto of the week was a BLT version w/ chopped bacon in a light tomato sauce & a single seared scallop. The entree chosen this visit was a pan seared chicken breast in a lemon caper sauce w/ sauteed spinach & mushrooms. This is my go-to best meal, want it all the time, wish they were closer place. Service is impeccable! Cannot wait for the new location to open.
-
Review from Theresa C.
Wheaton, IL
9/26/2011
The food here was very good, the ambiance (at their old location) was wonderful (we sat outside), and the service was attentive though not friendly. I'm giving it 3 stars though b/c for the price, I think that the food should have been more outstanding.
The portobello fries were very good but I can see how not everyone would love them. They are unique and I enjoyed them, but they're not something that I would crave for.
We also tried the BLT risotto - the best we've had. Very good.
Our waiter recommended the andouille scallops - these were a bit of a letdown. They were fine, but we were just a little underwhelmed.
I also had the berry salad, which was also recommended. It was interesting but the berries were sour and the fried shallots were overpowering - I definitely would not get that again.
It's a charming little place, and I would still recommend it to anyone. -
Review from Dave N.
Wheaton, IL
1/30/2012
A fairly large, brand new space. Nice bar when you walk in. Large dining space segmented into three rooms. Lots of parking, good location.
Menu is traditional upscale American. Wine list is good, lots of good beer on tap. Crowd is clearly affluent and skews a bit older.
My experience:
Pros:
- Pretty good food. I had a cassoulet, wife had scallops. Both were tasty and well prepared if not exactly daring. This is a good place for a "nice dinner".
- Excellent service. From the bartender to the waiter to the busboys, service was top-notch throughout. Really can't say enough here, they did an excellent job.
- Attractive, quiet (but not too quiet) dining room. Everything is brand new. Tables are well spaced. This is a great space for a "date night".
Cons:
- Extremely pricey for the suburbs. $30 entrees. $15 apps. $10 salads (not included with entrees), $15 desserts. Hefty markups on drinks. It's easy to get close to $100/person if you get everything. This is premium pricing and one of the highest I've seen around Wheaton. For what you're getting here, I'd say the pricing is too high, YMMV
- Fairly run-of-the-mill food. No sushi. Lots of fried apps. Lots of steak/chicken/pork. You get the idea. I think the target market of this restaurant is affluent 55-60 year olds and it shows in the menu. Nothing wrong with it at all, I'm just hoping to eat something I've never had before at these prices.
- Desserts were weak. I don't think they have a pastry chef. Pistacchio gelato was just a giant bowl of ice cream with some weak chocolate sauce. Cheesecake looked store bought. This is typical at lots of restaurants in the 'burbs. People aren't willing to pay a premium for a truly nice dessert so you get your basic pre-bought chocolate cake / ice cream stuff. It's always a bit disappointing.
It's a fine restaurant and a very pleasant evening, but I dont think we'll go back soon. The main issue is that we can't really afford these prices, especially as I don't think it's that special a place. Lots of restaurants around here offer comparable (or better) food at lower prices. Adelle's was wall-to-wall packed when we were there so it's obviously working for them and I'm probably in the minority in this view. -
Review from Andrew T.
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm really impressed with Adelles. Kind of a random selection on a Sunday afternoon, based on one diner's previous visit, I am looking forward to a return trip for more of the same.
We started with a couple appetizers - portobello french fries and a cinnamon scallop dish. I requested the fries...like a fool, I read "french fries" and assumed it would be just that, but with a little mushroom. As if portobellos are shavable like truffles. Instead it was delicious "sticks" of mushroom fried in almost a tempura batter, and served with a heavily garlic aioli. The aioli wasn't needed, but the mushrooms were very good. The scallops were...fine, but honestly, the cinnamon thing wasn't quite needed. I don't know if I'd do this again, but they were fine.
We each had salads - I had an arugula salad with shaved fennel, pine nuts, radish slivers, and some baked feta. Really nice and refreshing, with a light vinaigrette and some mandarin orange garnish. The feta especially was interesting, a little browned and shrunken down by the baking, first time I've had it that way.
After agonizing over entrees (I was in the mood for beef, having been unable to get a reservation recently at Gene and Georgetti's), I was swayed to the risotto of the day by the waitress, and I was really happy about it. Perfect risotto, topped with a mountain of crab and lobster, garnished with two nicely cooked, non-gritty scallops, and drizzled with lemon dill sauce. Only two, minor complaints - one, more lemon dill sauce. It was awesome. And two, the dish included just a couple sun dried tomatoes, which I didn't think really fit. I ended up picking the out pretty easily. I didn't try them, but others enjoyed a pecan crusted salmon, which was reportedly good, but a undercooked in the middle (nothing the microwave couldn't fix for lunch the next day, apparently), and a steak, which was also reportedly good (and the pooch appreciated the small leftover portion). But man, the risotto...I made the right choice.
Desserts were also good. I split a blueberry bread pudding with caramel and creme anglaise. The bread pudding was solid, not runny and the caramel was really thick and "caramelly tasting" (which, not all is, unfortunately). Just tasty all around, and a generous helping.
My entree was available in both entree and appetizer portions - I had the entree portion, but I would return for an appetizer serving of the day's special and those mushrooms and be pretty happy about it. -
Review from Alexandra M.
Glen Ellyn, IL
11/3/2011
Although my family lives in Glen Ellyn and G.E.'s downtown offers a nice selection of restaurants, this place has consistently been our favorite place to dine for several years. I have yet to visit their new location because I have been studying out of the country since August. I hope they improve the indoor seating at the new place, but the outdoor at their old location was great.
No matter what you pick off of the menu it's bound to be great, and the specials are usually even better. The menu isn't too expansive but even as a pescatarian I find I usually have plenty of options. Their salads are always good, this past summer they had a watermelon salad with black sea salt that was delicious. We also made sure to always order a risotto, as they changed it daily. The dessert menu also has many daily specials, we've enjoyed their bread puddings and fruit crumbles. The service is good, you can bring your own wine if you're fine with a corkage fee, and the noise level is always low enough for conversation. As far as a nice restaurant in the neighborhood, it gets top ratings from me. -
Review from Barbara Y.
North Aurora, IL
2/7/2010
Bruce got tickets to see a play at Wheaton Drama, so we decided it was finally time to try Adelle's, which had been on my restaurant list since it appeared on Check Please. In order to have enough time to enjoy our meal, I made reservations for 5:45 pm.
When we arrived, only two tables were occupied in the main room. It looks warm and inviting, with a fire in the fireplace. Through some magical formula, however (maybe it was our age), we were seated in the side dining room, a very dark space, at the only table not under a light fixture. This seating turned out to be a Good Thing, because as the evening progressed and the main room filled up, we could hear it become noisier and noisier out there, while we were isolated in a spot of calm. (Note to other patrons: Do not bring a crying baby to a restaurant where diners regularly drop $100 per couple.)
We were promptly brought water and a basket of bread, thin rounds of sourdough that was neither baked on the premises, nor within the last 24 hours. We shared an appetizer of the Portobello Fries (strips of meaty portobello mushroom fried in a crisp batter and served with black truffle aoli) which was excellent and for me turned out to be the high point of the meal. Bruce ordered the cassoulet, which the waiter described as more of an osso buco, a lamb shank served with sausage and chicken bits on a bed of savory beans. It was excellent and would give this review an extra half-star if there was a way to do that.
I ordered the Adelle's Meat Loaf, which the waiter noted was a house specialty. I got two slabs of thick, bland meat loaf with a few mushroom bits and a watery sauce beneath. I tried a little of the chipotle catsup and instantly figured out why it was on the plate; while not subtle, it was the only thing that gave the meatloaf any real flavor. What were supposed to be roasted garlic mashed potatoes were thin and bland with no hint of garlic, suspiciously like something my mother used to make with a box of potato flakes. The best thing on the plate was a large serving of roasted green beans, which were crisp-tender and very tasty.
The service was so quick (maybe a bit too quick; our entrees came out suspicously fast) that we had time for dessert before the theater. We shared the Blueberry Bread Pudding: very tasty and marred only by a grainy caramel sauce.
By the time we left at 7:30 pm the place was packed and the main room was very noisy when we passed through. For romance (and if you don't want to actually see your food), ask for the side room if you try Adelle's.
Call this review 2.5 stars, because my husband really enjoyed his cassoulet, the service was excellent, and Adelle's is on Open Table. -
Review from Jeanette S.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2011
I have mixed reviews for Adelles. The first time I ever dined at this location, it was an outstanding experience. The food and service were spot on, the outdoor seating area was well groomed and kept clean, and it was a lovely time. The second time we went, the service was slow in a near-empty restaurant, two different items we tried to order from the menu were sold out (again, early, on a near-empty night), and there was a problem with our check when it arrived. Disappointed since the first time left such a positive memory. Maybe the new location will fix the old problems.
-
Review from Steve G.
10/5/2008 3 Check-ins Here
What a consistently great restaurant!
This is probably the restaurant we visit more often than any other... Honestly, everything about this place suits us. The room has a warm ambiance, the waitstaff is consistently above-average and often outstanding. Their knowledge of the dishes and the wine list is something you won't often find in a restaurant these days. It says something for the low turnover here.
The food is also great. I tend to stick with the seafood entrees, but the risotto is about the best I've ever had. It varies by season, so sometimes I get it as an appetizer, and sometimes as a meal. Salads are also great, get adventurous when you select and try something new -- ask for a recommendation.
Add to that a very involved management staff. They take Open Table reservations and pay attention to the notes you put there. Also, don't be afraid to tell them when you are celebrating something special. And do sign up for their email list. They have lots of wine dinners (and even beer dinners) and feature live jazz most weeks.
I'll honestly tell you that the only bad meal I've had there was the hanger steak, which I ordered medium rare and came out chewy and about inedible. So they're not perfect.
The wine list is pretty good and they do make some great recommendations.
We were worried when they were featured on Check, Please! and got a great review, but it doesn't seem to have overloaded the place. It's right next to the College Station Metra station, so if you're coming from the city, it's easy to walk to and from.
You can also park in the Metra lot after 6pm, so there are always plenty of spots... -
Review from Alex G.
Updated - 5/10/2010
Our latest visit was on Mother's Day. Reservation for 6:30 (Sunday). Our table was waiting for us when we arrived. Restaurant was full (as usual). The wait staff doesn't seem to change very often which, in my opinion, is a good sign for this neighborhood gem. Other than the daily specials, I no longer need to look at the menu as I know what I'm getting as soon as the reservation is made. The previous nit about the french maple dressing has been corrected (the maple flavor has been toned down). Much better. The meatloaf is still enough for two meals (although I always find a way to make it one) although I forgot to ask for extra chipotle ketchup. Mom finished her salmon which is always a good sign especially given the generous portion. We finished two servings of sourdough bread and probably could have made a dent in a third. It's that good.
At one point my Mom noticed her bracelet was missing. My gf walked over to the coat check to see if the bracelet might have been in the pocket. Not only did the manager (owner?) inquire if he could help but stopped by the table to check where we parked so that he could see if the bracelet had dropped by the cars. You often wonder where customer service exists these days and it certainly is in abundance at Adelle's! This place gets it. Everything about this place shows their attention to detail. Still in our top 10 list.Listed in: Top Ten Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/28/2009
Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, Adelle's has become our Christmas eve tradition. Although… Read more »
-
-
Review from Manfred K.
Stickney, IL
11/12/2007
This is a pretty good place. Great dining atmosphere, very attentive service (although we got a kind of flustered server), and solid food. We had the whitefish special, served with a cocunt curry sauce, and semi spicy dry rub, and the bone in ribeye with a mashed sweet potato. Both entrees were pretty good, but nothing spectacular.
Overall, I would definitely recommend it, but, you won't walk away amazed at the experience. -
Review from Chris K.
Lombard, IL
11/16/2008
We went to Adelle's Saturday night, 11/15/08. I have wanted to go since I saw the restaurant reviewed on Check Please! Initially, upon entering, the place looks lovely and romantic. We sat by the fireplace which would have been nice if it had a blazing fire on this very cold night.
WOW! Was I disappointed. My husband's short ribs were blah. My Weiner Schnitzel was awful - almost inedible - the coating was thick and greasy like a lousy carnival corn dog. (Berghoff's Express in downtown Chicago has awesome Weiner Schnitzel.) My Adelle's sweet potato puree had no flavor, and there were salty nasturium seeds (forgot their culinary name - CRS) all over my plate. We did like the collard greens and the baby beet salad. Our appetizer, fried calamari, were very tender, but the coating was not browned enough and they were greasy. I don't think their grease was hot enough. Our shared dessert, sour cherry "Crisp" was anything but crisp. My husband said it tasted like mush.
When our bill came and I saw that it was over $100, I commented to my husband, "This was so not worth it." I kept thinking of all the groceries this money could have bought and all the good food I could have cooked.
So, needless to say I will not ever want to go here again.
Save your money - don't eat at Adelle's.
I am continually disappointed by the food in the western suburbs where we live. We used to live in Chicago and nothing compares with the restaurants there. -
Review from Amy M.
Wheaton, IL
11/21/2011
My husband and I had dinner here on Friday night. We were both disappointed in the food for the amount we spent. We shared the appetizer of scallops wrapped in bacon and then I had the salmon and my husband had a filet. There was nothing outstanding about our meals and it seemed very average. We spent, with tip, over $100 and didn't even have dessert. Also, I had only one glass of wine and my husband had a soda. For this price, I would expect a lot more from the quality of food. We don't mind spending money on a great meal but I don't like to spend this much on an average meal. I don't think we'll be back and couldn't recommend it when there are better, less expensive options in the Western Suburbs. I will say that the best part of my dining experience was sitting by the fireplace. That was a very cozy element and nice surprise to the evening.
-
Review from Carolyn O.
Downers Grove, IL
4/7/2011
This place is a total gem! As a 30-something, it's not where you'll find many like-aged people, but it's a place I love to take my mom for a special night out, or a really damn good dessert. The food is really worth it. I mean really. The coconut rice pudding dessert is seriously one of the best little after dinner treats I've had anywhere. And the place is nice -cozy, funky vibe for Wheaton - two fireplaces for the never ending cold nights we seem to have - and a patio for whenever the sun does come back out.
So check it out - if you're a foodie, and seriously well prepared dishes are what you're really after - don't miss Adelle's. -
Review from Jeni F.
Wheaton, IL
2/22/2010
I didn't realize Adelles was on Check Please! until after we went there but now I can see why. My husband took me there on my birthday (and our first date without the baby). Honestly, we chose this restaurant because it is no more than 5 minutes away from our home and I am still in the baby-might-die-without-me mode.
I was pleasantly surprised! I thought the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. There is a patio that I am anxious to try once the weather is nicer.
For my cocktail, I ordered a Grey Goose dirty martini (is there any other drink?) and was less than pleased with it. The olive brine tasted a little metallic. Once we were able to get our waiter's attention, he replaced it with a glass of Zinfandel that was excellent and both drinks were on the house.
For the appetizer, we ordered the tuna tartar, which was wonderful - simply done with good, fresh ingredients. I ordered a phenomenal sea bass special that had a tangy brown butter sauce with it. My husband got the cassoulet, which he thought was heavy on the beans (which is the main ingredient of cassoulet, so no stars deducted for that). For dessert, we had a buttermilk pie which was a little too sugary sweet.
When our server brought us the bill, he told us that we got our dessert for free because we didn't get a good seat even though we had reservations. I didn't really think there was anything wrong with the location of our table, so thanks Adelles! -
Review from Pieter W.
DeKalb, IL
11/15/2008
Tonight was my second visit to Adelle's and I must say I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. So far I have not had a single "bad" or even "mediocre" entrée or appetizer or desert from this fine establishment, everything is remarkable if not downright stellar!
I'm a little tired this evening and shall retire to bedsoon, but I will most certainly be back to update this review. I just had to post my rating ASAP as it is simply a crime that this place is only receiving 3 1/2 stars on yelp!!! -
Review from zsiberian n.
Chicago, IL
10/7/2009 5 photos
DISCLAIMER: I never give an establishment 5 star rating
I must begin by saying that this society is plagued by overrated thumbs up! 5 stars! impulsive ratings that make it hard for us truth-seekers to make informed decisions.
Adelle's is an extremely safe choice in most areas - charming atmosphere, service and management. Food is a bit overrated but I honestly have to gather from the reviews here that it depends on the night. For example this time around the duck was too rare, stake was OK, but appetizers were excellent.
Servers are very attentive considering a fairly demanding crowd and tight space when this place gets full.
We're going to absolutely return there, though not our first choice, we'll always know in the back of our mind - there is no way you can get a meal like that under $50/person in the vicinity.
So overall, good and safe choice, but unless all you eat is a TV dinner, chances are you've experienced better -
Review from Michael L.
Wheaton, IL
11/28/2011
Always a safe bet. They do comfort food and they do it well; steaks, chops, meatloaf, etc are always perfectly done and complimented with appropriate side dishes. Wine list is fantastic. I Highly recommend for anyone looking for a quiet night out.
-
Review from Alice B.
Lansing, IL
4/5/2010
Had a delicious meal here with my husband.
Lovely atmosphere, helpful staff & knowledgeable. I had the salmon and he had this lamb stew thing (can't remember what they called it). Both great. Nice place in the west burbs. -
Review from Damian D.
Wheaton, IL
4/8/2010
Adelle's is great. In my oppinion, it's probably the best restaurant in Wheaton. The food is excellent and the staff really has it's act together. If I was going to list one negative it would probably be the location. It's not the most convenient to get to and parking is a little limited but it's worth the slight inconvenience.
If you want to take someone out for a nice dinner in Wheaton, Adelle's should be one of the top restaurants on your list. -
Review from Ginny E.
Geneva, IL
Updated - 7/1/2009
I have been back three times since my original review and have been converted! The food and service have been OUTSTANDING in my recent visits. I love Adelle's for a comforting, yet sophisticated dining expeirence.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/12/2007
I have NO idea what the fuss is about. We experienced poor service and my dish was the salmon… Read more »
-
-
Review from Blair S.
Wheaton, IL
7/7/2011
Adelle's has fast become my favorite local restaurant. We have started making this our go to place, simply because the food is phenomenal. Atmosphere is very relaxed, food is always excellent. The risotto is far and away my favorite food item of all time, it is reason enough to eat here. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is it's not inexpensive and I recently took a party of seven, (not an inexpensive evening) and the wait staff is a bit challenged. Billing errors, irritated when someone asked for something slightly altered, just not what I'd expect from a five star place. Food however is Top Notch!
-
Review from Marcy M.
Glendale Heights, IL
9/21/2010
Lots of good ratings and the place was very busy, but really I think it's very overrated. It seems like a good place to get some drinks after work or with a few friends, but it's really small and noisy.
I had fish tacos as my appetizer- YUM. I loved them. My bf got scallops wrapped in bacon.. which was an odd combo and not yummy. All you could taste was cinnamon and the scallops were bland.
Steak and lamb were the entrees.. lamb was fatty, and was not young. Filet was average but not worth $40 IMO. Asaparagus on the side was not edible. Food came out WAY too fast, literraly seconds after the appetizer. The original bread on the table wasn't fresh, noticed because of the second batch we got that was nice and soft and warm. Service was good but overall very disappointing.
However, we didn't risk dessert! The Baskin Robbins on the way home was fab! ;) -
Review from Elisabeth G.
Sycamore, IL
3/25/2011
(NOTE: ADELLE'S IS MOVING SPRING 2011. Adelle's is moving from its current location near the College Ave. train station to about a mile east near Wheaton Towers.)
Surprised we've waited so long to try Adelle's! I just found out that it was featured on Check, Please! and am not surprised.
The dining room was fairly plain, but semi-cozy with a fireplace and white linens. Out waiter was not the nicest, he was a little cold in fact, but was professional and efficient.
Since we went with a group of 4 I had the opportunity to sample a lot of the dishes.
* Portobello Fries - These are deep fried mushroom "fingers". Had a garlic taste to them and were tasty without the dipping sauce. I thought these were okay. They had an off smell to me that was not particularly appealing, but everyone else loved them.
* Lobster Spring Rolls - One large spring roll cut in half. Very heavy/generous with the lobster filling. It came with a peanut chili sauce to dip. This is a cold appetizer, like a traditional spring roll with the translucent wrapper but minus all the veggies. I liked the flavor, but found it a little dry.
* Calamari - Fabulous! Mostly rings, with a few tentacles. The batter was excellent, calamari was tender not chewy. Nicely salted. I really loved this appetizer.
* Braised Beef Short Ribs - This was my entree. I LOVED the brussel sprouts that came with it. Generous portion tossed with perfectly cooked bacon. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Creamy & dreamy. Beef was generous and tender. Nice amount of juices on the plate to sop everything up with.
* Orange-Chocolate-Chipotle Brioche Bread Pudding - Great! The chipotle is definitely not hidden, it has a creeping kick! I do wish it was served with vanilla gelato to help "cool" down the heat. That would have been ideal.
Someone in our party had the meatloaf and deemed it excellent.
The complimentary breadsticks at the start of the meal were good... reminded me of pizza dough sticks.
When asked about the "homemade" apple pie, the server told us that they do not make the pie there but buy it "somewhere". I understand not every place has a pasty chef and the pie was good, but it would have been nice to know where it came from (i.e. a bakery in town?). I tasted a bite and it was good apple pie.
This is American comfort food with a slight (but not too crazy) twist. Prices are a little high ($20-$30 for an entree) but is worth it for a special dinner once in awhile.
Adelle's seemed to attract an older crowd on the night we were there. Definitely not a place to bring young children. Dress code is nice-to really nice. You can get away with jeans and a nice top, but business to date night dress is better. Thursdays is jazz night and the music was lovely.
I'd definitely go back to Adelle's for a special dinner sometime. -
Review from Suz C.
Lombard, IL
3/24/2009
I was a little surprised when I saw that this place got only 3 stars. Then again, I came in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I am not one of the folks who came to Adelle's after seeing WTTW's "Check, Please." I learned about that episode after dining at Adelle's. To me, Adelle's seems like a special occasion dining restaurant - birthdays, anniversaries, etc. not an every-weekend place (although if you can swing it and you're thin, you're lucky).
Interior: Modern, cozy, trendy with a cute outdoor patio area (there appeared to be 5-6 four-person tables outside). I am sure it is lovely to eat there in the summer. There is a small bar area up front. I think there was some exposed brick and nice wood finishes, so it reminded me of restaurants you'd see in Bucktown in Chicago. I could not see what the secondary seating area looked like, as mentioned by Ron Z, but he's right that the main dining room (where we sat) was very cozy.
Service: Everyone was very friendly. Our server was extremely attentive, responsive, and very nice. When my husband alerted him to my birthday, he was very sweet and comped me a Bailey's and coffee (mmmmm). He also gave us good recommendations.
Food: I really enjoyed my seafood penne pasta. It was divine. It is not a very healthy dish, but if you enjoy a hearty, garlicky, buttery pasta dish with seafood cooked to perfection (the scallops were so tender and perfect), this is the dish for you. I believe it is a white (wine?) cream sauce, but it is quite buttery. I also enjoyed the Frisee salad (although I hate frisee, so I asked them to replace with mixed greens) - it was probably one of the best salads I have ever eaten -- walnuts, cherries, little garbanzo beans, with a tasty vinaigrette dressing. My husband had the bleu-cheese encrusted beef filet, and I thought he was going to die of happiness. It was cooked to perfect -- medium rare -- tender with the proper color of red and juicyness...and simmered in a port wine reduction, I believe. It was coupled with mashed potatoes and asparagus. He also gulped down the Southwest Tortilla Soup and pronounced it the best he ever had. The wine list is kind of sparse, but the pinot grigio my husband had and the Riesling I had were very good. The only disappointment was my husband's dessert - he ordered the cheesecake and he thought it was just run-of-the-mill and dry. Our bill was about $125 (not including tip).
I am a relatively recent transplant to the suburbs, and I've been having problems finding really good restaurants. However, I thought Adelle's was a lovely place, and I would definitely return with friends (though probably on a special occasion). Although it didn't earn my five-star ranking, I can see why someone recommended the place for "Check, Please." One final thing -- on the phone, the hostess will you that attire is "business casual" but I saw plenty of people wearing jeans, sweatshirts, and I even saw one guy come in wearing an outfit that reminded me of Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands. Seemed a little inconsistent with the decor and the neighborhood, but I thought it was cool that the patrons were diverse rather than cookie cutter. -
Review from Nick S.
11/2/2007
Well done all the way around.
-
Review from Aesha W.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2009
I've been to Adelle's twice, and they were really different experiences. I've wanted to go since I saw them on Check, Please, and when we closed on a new house we decided we should go to a nice restaurant to celebrate.
That first visit was superb. We were served by Sergio, who was attentive and knowledgeable. I had the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast, which was very good; I've had almost the same dish before when I visited the Improv, so I knew I'd like it. My partner had the Fennel Crusted Pork Tenderloin, which blew him away. It wasn't as expensive as we were anticipating, and had we simply had entrees (instead of wine, soup and dessert) it would have been under $50. That, too, was a pleasant surprise.
Fast forward to last night... We made reservations last month to visit Adelle's for my birthday. I was really excited, as I've never - and I mean it when I say NEVER - spent my birthday at a fancy restaurant. We drove out to Wheaton from our home in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square, and were seated pretty promptly upon our arrival. There was a 35th anniversary/60th birthday party happening in the main dining room; I couldn't help but think "Are you serious?" until they took us to the smaller dining room. Ah, peace and quiet in which to enjoy our meal.
The food was pretty good. This time, I ordered the Pan Seared Chicken Breast. It was good, but I was appalled when it came to the table. I now understand the difference between the idea of a sauce and gravy (thank you, Flavour!), and how it ideally should look upon being served... imagine my shock when the lemon & caper "sauce" was drowning the entire entree. The amount of sauce that was on the plate almost reached the top rim of the plate (you know how some plates have a bit of a dip in the middle and then the wide flat edge), and that was covering the entire bottom of the plate, as well as poured over the chicken. The presentation was off... white chicken, white sauce, white roasted garlic mashed potatoes.. the only color on the plate was a sprig of rosemary added for decoration with the capers mixed in. Perhaps some colorful veggies with a small bit of sauce would have made it look more appetizing. My boyfriend ordered the tilapia, which I believe was one of the specials, and he was really happy with it. It looked better on the plate, too. Our waiter this time - I don't recall his name, but it wasn't Sergio - wasn't quite as attentive. OK, maybe he was helping work with the big party.
Oops! I spoke too soon about the peace and quiet. It was shattered by an obnoxiously loud group of women sitting a couple of tables over. Apparently someone there was having a birthday as well, and they thought everyone else should join in their festivities? I don't know. What I do know is that it was hard for us to carry on a conversation at our own table, where we were sitting next to one another, because of the volume they were at. The table next to these women were also celebrating a birthday (albeit quietly), because when the loud table found out, they cheered again. I'd say about half our meal was spent being unable to enjoy it because of the loudness of these patrons, and I know we weren't the only ones who were bothered by it; I saw the woman in another party across the room, kept looking over at them, and when caught I caught her eye she just shook her head. The loud table also appeared to be rewarded for their behavior, as someone brought out a dessert and they were all surprised and delighted (complete with much shrieking); I guess it was a birthday freebie on behalf of the restaurant.
On our way out, the maitre d' asked how our evening was, and my partner said the food was good, but it was really quite loud which impeded our ability to have a good time. He mentioned that it would have been nice (actually, that one of the staff should have) if someone had spoken to that particular table of women and asked them to bring the volume down a bit. The maitre d' said that they've found that only makes people angry, and left it at that. I can't help but be puzzled by this reasoning - either you make a table of rude people, who are bothering numerous other patrons, angry by asking them to desist with the rude behavior, or you upset the other patrons who are simply trying to enjoy their dinner. Personally, I would have no problem asking the rude bunch to quiet down a bit; all Adelle's succeeded in doing last night by putting that table's rudeness and enjoyment above ours was to make me question whether I want to bother with the 1 hour + drive out to the suburbs to visit them again.
All in all, it was a really disappointing birthday dinner. I guess I've learned I don't need a "fancy" place to celebrate at. I've left them with 3 stars for the service the first time and the food is pretty tasty, but I think their attitude regarding the comfort and enjoyment of their patrons (as expressed by the maitre d') has cooled my affection for them. -
Review from Ron T.
Woodridge, IL
3/30/2010
The first time I heard of Adelle's was while I was watching Check Please! The reviews that the guests were giving sparked my interest and being a huge "foodie" I just had to go and try it. My wife and I decided to make that our Valentine's Day spot and am I glad we did! It's located in a residential area but right by one of the Metra stops.
Let me start by saying, I have not one bad thing to say about Adelle's! The service was outstanding, never overbearing or constantly in your face......our server always seemed to show up at the right moment throughout our meal. My wife loves risotto, so we started with that as our appetizer......outstanding! There were so many things that were making my mouth water on the menu that it was hard to choose but I picked a fish special for the evening and I've never had fish flake the way theirs did.....cooked to perfection. My wife went with their chicken dish on the menu because it was creamy and had capers, she loves them, and I have to say, something as simple as chicken.....they made it taste like nothing I've ever had. We ended our night with the pistachio gelato......to die for and I'm not a dessert person. I only drank wine, my wife was unable to drink, pregnant, but it was a very nice wine selection along with the option of bringing in you own bottle and just paying a corkage fee.
All in all....we love it! We can't wait to go back and they have an outdoor area that we are looking forward too. -
Review from Kathy O.
Chicago, IL
10/26/2008
This place is tucked away in a tiny corner of Wheaton, but worth the drive out there. I discovered it resides behind the College Ave. station of the Metro West Line, so there is that option to entice one out for a fine meal. Saturday night and the place is full. Appetizers for our table of four: Perfectly fried calamari with spicy mayonnaise dipping sauce (like the kind you get with sushi); and a bruschetta consisting of what seemed like moscarpone, figs and pine nuts. Tasty. My nut-encrusted salmon was good, and my husband enjoyed the meatloaf, though the serving (3 large hunks) was way too much. Good wine list, well-priced; and desserts were imaginative. I had Texas sheet cake (like a moist gingerbread) with vanilla ice cream. Just o.k. All in all a fine meal.
