| Please Note:
Since my review was written and posted, management at Mill Creek has for
some reason decided to discontinue/suspend their Friday night fish fry until
October. Please check my Blog,
as I will post details on Creekside Tavern (and other venues) as they become
available.
Creekside Tavern
Restaurant Review
In a rare second visit to a restaurant
prior to reviewing it -- just to make certain that our first visit was not a
fluke -- I came to the conclusion that Mill Creek may have just earned the
title of "Best-Kept Secret on the Golf Course."
After experiencing failed attempts at
places like The
Grill Room
at Prairie Landing,
Tap
House Grill and several other disappointments, I was
convinced that no one south of the Wisconsin state line knew anything
about frying fish. On a whim and still looking for a decent venue, we
decided to once again take a chance on a fish fry at a golf course. Of
course it didn't hurt that we were able to secure a
Restaurant.com gift
certificate, ensuring that the cost of the dinner would be palatable, even
if the dinner itself was not.
The surprise was a pleasant one!
The meal was simple and consisted of a huge portion of "Fried Fresh Breaded
Cod" that was served with French fries or homemade chips and cole slaw. The
all-you-can-eat dinner is served from 5-9 p.m. and costs $9.95 person.
The fish has a crisp, light breading (a real plus), is well seasoned and not
at all greasy. The home made chips are crispy and excellent; the slaw
is the vinegar-and-oil variety and it, too, was fresh and very good.
Add to that a decently-priced glass of house wine and a pint of beer and you
have a pretty darn good Friday night fish fry.
Table tops were "no-frills" (no table
cloths or placemats; no candles, etc.) and napkin-wrapped silver, along with
condiments, were in a bucket at the center of the table. There are
just a few things that I would like to see improved upon, things that would,
in all likelihood, rocket Mill Creek Grill to an easy Four-Zin rating:
The tables and chairs could all use a regular wipe-down after use, as there
were some sticky spots that distracted a bit from the experience.
Also, on both occasions, the bartender doubled as the server. This was
not a really big deal though (and likely to change when the place gets
busier, as I know it will), as both bartenders were extremely pleasant and
personable and provided great service.
There's not much else to describe;
Creekside Tavern offered well-prepared and tasty food at a very reasonable price
with fine service and few distractions. Conclusion? Lauren and I
actually believe that we have finally located what may possibly be... the
best fish fry in Illinois so far. What's truly amazing to me is that
the grill is not even mentioned on Mill Creek's website... which explains at
least in part why the place has been so empty on both of our visits.
Once the word spreads, I expect that will change and I realize that my "Best
Kept Secret" will not be secret much longer.
I give Creekside Tavern Three-and-a-half Zins and highly recommend you give it a try next Friday night!
Your Table is Waiting...

Ralph Pancetta
reviews@ralphpancetta.com
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