Lauren and I have been doing a lot of traveling lately. An opportunity arose that landed us back in the Fox Valley of northern Illinois for a few days, we jumped on it. While there, we stopped for dinner at a restaurant called St. Charles Place.
Nostalgia and a Return to St. Charles
A close friend from many years ago at The Abbey in Marina Del Rey, California recommended I stop by if we were ever in the St. Charles area (he worked there when the place had a different name). At the time, it was called Lord Chumley’s Pub, and my friend Richard was working at the bar and shucking oysters as fast as was humanly possible. Even back on the west coast, I don’t believe I ever saw anyone shuck that many oysters that fast! Chumley’s was never anything other than very busy… That part apparently had not changed – it was very busy at the bar. The oyster bar was gone but the welcome feeling was still there and oysters were still on the menu!
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Richard and I kept in touch with one another, but communication has been less frequent than it used to be. I miss those days and Richard, too. But sitting in the bar area of the former Chumley’s – later renamed The Galleon and now St. Charles Place – brought back fond memories of the “good old days”. The boat that used to hang from the huge tree in the bar was no longer there, but the tiny lights still in that tree added to the atmosphere and ambiance of the room. Glad to see they were still sparkling bright.
Cocktails and Ambiance: Setting the Scene
Even though it was a Wednesday evening, the place was hoppin’. The hostess seated Lauren and I were at a four-top near the entrance to the bar. A server appeared and asked if we cared for a cocktail – we did. It had been a long day of driving from the serenity of the Northwoods back down to the busy roads of Illinois.
We started the evening with a pair of Grey Goose martinis: up for Lauren and on the rocks for me. The bonus? St. Charles still offered bleu cheese stuffed olives. They were as marvelously tasty as they were on our last visit!
Although the menu was chock-full of various and sundry items, St. Charles Place was now primarily a steakhouse. Ordering a steak was tempting. I did that back in August of 2003 – the last time Lauren and I had visited (more on that visit later in this review). However, a bit too exhausted for a full dinner, we decided to satiate ourselves with a couple of cocktails and a couple appetizers. That turned out to be an excellent decision. Also, just like 2003, our server brought out warm, crusty rolls and soft butter. A super accompaniment to the martinis.
Satisfying Selections: Appetizers that Hit the Spot
We then selected the Steak Bruschetta appetizer ($16.99): Sliced Filet Mignon, French Boursin cheese, plum tomato concase, fresh basil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (Also spelled “concasse,” this is “a French cooking term for something that has been roughly chopped after being peeled and seeded, and most commonly refers to tomatoes”). Perfectly cooked, very tender and oh, so flavorful – the Bruschetta was incredibly good!
As a second choice we ordered Classic Shrimp Cocktail ($16.25 for 3 or $26.95 for 5): Wonderfully large with cocktail sauce. We chose to order just three shrimp. They, too, were cooked to perfection and were succulent, tender and very tasty (and they were also quite large). We asked for two glasses of Hess Select, Monterey, California Chardonnay – it was a perfect pairing for the shrimps. I only wish we were hungrier. The menu boasted lots more appetizers and dinner selections that were all very tempting. True to its past reputation, St. Charles Place was fine dining at its best!
Looking Back: Prices Then and Now
Unfortunately, it was time to head for our hotel accommodations for the night. A last look around almost brought a tear to my eyes. Such fond memories… It is important to reconnect with my West Coast Abbey restaurant friend and tell him of our visit to St. Charles Place.
In one of the above paragraphs I also mentioned the temptation to order a steak that night. After much searching, I located and reread my review of St. Charles Place from 2003. In brief, on that occasion, a Half-Dozen Oysters were priced at $8.00, and Lauren’s Crab Cake with Lobster Sauce appetizer also cost $8.00. Lauren’s dinner selection (6 giant Diver Sea Scallops) was $24 and my New York Strip Steak (estimated to be 12-14 oz.) was $25. Back then, I thought those items were a bit steep…
Yes, it has been 22 years since then and yes, things have changed – a LOT! Compare those prices with today’s selections of the same menu items and you will find prices have at least doubled. We all probably wish that things would return to those happier and less expenses times… Don’t hold your breath.
A “Four-plus Zin” Experience Endures
The good news? As far as I’m concerned, you can still find that same “quality of yesteryear” at St. Charles Place in St. Charles, Illinois – and it is still a Four-and-a-half Zin experience!! We are looking forward to dinner there sometime soon! Bon Appetit!
Your table is waiting,
Ralph Pancetta
Location
St Charles Place is located at 2550 E. Main St in St Charles, Illinois 60174.
