Bon Rico — Restaurant in Evanston

In a town that is not generally known for stand-out dining, Bon Rico Steakhouse is one of the exceptions to the rule, and a delicious one at that! They strongly encourage reservations, which, at first I did not get, but their owner once explained that since their staff and dining area are small, they need to know exactly how many people they'll be serving to guarantee a pleasant experience for everyone. As other posters have alluded to, their prices are higher than what you'd find at Sizzler, but IMO, for the food and service you get, they are well worth it.

When you sit down at your table, your drink order is taken. They have beer, wine, and a good selection of harder liquors. Soon after, your server brings out a cold veggie tray. Your meal is then served in courses, starting with whatever appetizers you order, then a small bowl of French onion soup, a dinner salad (of spring greens, not iceberg lettuce, and the piece of buffalo mozzarella is a nice touch), then your main course. All the above, except for specific appetizers, is included in the price of your meal. And oh, my Lord, you'd better be hungry by the time that's served! I ordered a "petit" filet mignon, and as you can see, the thing had to be 2+ inches thick. It was prepared just the way I like it, and was perfectly seasoned and juicy. Our friends had the steak and crab legs and as you can see from the photo, the portion of the latter was huge. At the end of the meal, we all had to-go boxes. After the main course, you get a small dessert of a sugar and cinnamon mini-croissant.

Service is attentive but not intrusive. Last time I was there was ~5 years ago, and I observed that the majority of the same people are working there. As has been said here before, the decor could use some work. For example, they have extra chairs stacked in the front foyer, but they're housed in one of Evanston's many turn-of-the-century era buildings, so space is limited to begin with. The bathrooms? Nothing to write home about; they'd be right at home in a gas station and could stand some TLC. Overall, though, I've always enjoyed dining at Bon Rico's and will happily patronize them again... in a few months, when I've had time to digest all...

Bon Rico may be best described as cowboy dining. So bring your best hat and boots, and be ready to eat, drink, and relax as the wait staff brings each course to your table.

The unusual hours appear to create a production process for the kitchen. So, it may serve you well to order a few drinks and an appetizer to pass the time. That being said, you're here for the steak, seared to perfection and served thick. You'll find it was worth the wait. You may also want to consider adding fish, shrimp, crab, or lobster to the side for variety.

For drinks, I personally would recommend a Coors or Blue Moon as either would go with every part of the meal. However, Bon Rico has a very respectable wine list that I can help you with.

If you order the steak, you will want a full-bodied red wine with a strong flavor and ability to complement the rich experience of red meat. My personal preference is for a nice Argentinian Malbec, but in order of acceptable alternatives, a nice Chianti, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Shiraz will also offer hearty notes that can stand up to a charred steak.

If you order seafood, white wines are favored for their light, crisp characteristics that enhance the delicate flavors of fish and shellfish. Try a Sauvignon Blanc for its acidity and citrus notes; it pairs nicely with white fish and shrimp. A Pinot Grigio would be a lighter option that is excellent with larger shellfish.

When ordering both steak and seafood, you might consider a versatile option like a Rosé. This can be a great middle-ground wine, as some rosés have enough body to stand up to steak while still being light enough...

After hearing and reading the rave reviews of Bon Rico’s I was excited to make a reservation there to celebrate mine and my husbands 17th anniversary. However the whole experience left me wholly underwhelmed. For starters a restraunt that requires reservations and charges anywhere from $18-$60 a plate should certainly be able to do something about their huge lack of ambiance. The place looks like poorly decorated dance hall than it does a fancy high priced restaurant. Let’s not forget the poor patch jobs on the ceiling and the awful bathrooms! As well as the noise, once they get full, the noise is deafening and not suitable for a romantic date. Second for the prices they charge, I would in no way expect to be fed obviously canned food with my meal, which I was. Upon speaking with the manager, he explained that no one wanted to pay the price of portobello mushrooms, so instead he charges $3 extra to add nasty canned mushrooms on top of a steak. $3! For $3 he could drive down to the local grocery store and buy fresh button mushrooms and have enough to cover at least 3 steaks. So I’m sorry sir, I do not buy that excuse. It sounds to me like you are cheap and lazy. Add to that the poor excuse of a garnish on my plate of once again canned pineapple and an obviously underripe strawberry. Let’s not forget the soup, “French onion”, more like Lipton’s beef and mushroom soup mix with a few onions added in. Again cheap, and not worthy of the price!

If you are reading this, do yourself a favor, save your money and visit other establishments well worthy of far better praise, such as The Tumbleweed on...