Backyard Grill — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

Editing this review after a catering experience.

We eat here a lot. The food is always delicious so we decided to cater for a big party that we had for 60 guests. I’m writing this review so others don’t experience the same we did.

We ordered 6 pounds of beef and received 20 rolls. That’s fine.

We ordered 2 full trays of Italian sausage and meatballs for 40 people each (as described in menu). We expected 40 pieces in each tray since their menu suggests that a full tray is for 40. Don’t be fooled. It’s only for 20 people.

We only received 20 half cut Italian sausages with 20 rolls and 20 meatballs with 20 rolls. Meaning each tray fed 20 people, not 40.

Meatballs weren’t large enough to cut in half and broke apart when I tried. We didn’t have enough food so we had to go back and pay for a tray of chicken just to make sure this party we had was entirely fed.

Although I hate to write this review, I wouldn’t want another party to be shorted. The employee called them appetizers saying not everyone will eat “one of each” Odd because the menu does not suggest they are appetizer portions and who is he to determine what other food we had at our party and what people will eat.

Also if I order food for 40 people, I expect food for 40 people. It doesn’t matter what people will or will not eat.

Stressful, expensive experience but lesson learned. I won’t cater from here anymore. I don’t like to be misled.

Picture of menu, prices and what we saw is attached...

For circa 30 years, I have frequented CBYG and the family owned predecessors Nick’s #1 and then Nick’s #2 at Harlem and Touhy. I have had about 75% of what is on the menu; my favorites are the wonderful soups, fresh salmon, ribs, gyros, kabobs, skirt steak, and BBQ chicken. I have never been disappointed and love being treated like a friend, family, etc. I never leave hungry! Always a place to park. The ownership/management makes a concerted effort to get to know people by name, their dining preferences, and more importantly, as friends! I have taken very fussy, so called vegetarian friends there, and they have enjoyed there meals and the fact no one is ever rushed. It is a friendly atmosphere; thus, I know some of the regulars. There are a few grazers who can literally seem to be there for hours. For that matter, I am not a grazer and since I retired, I can be there as long as I need or want. I know of no other restaurant who would allow that..well unless it is very high priced and/or serves alcohol. Much like the old fashioned neighborhood restaurant; yet, the best in the area for the passerby. You see multi-generation families, retirees, business people, young couples, police and fire fighters and they know where to get good food at a good value! I look forward to the completion of the remodeling and updating; as well as, the long rumored BREAKFAST menu. A not so hidden GEM on the border of Chicago and...

This place gets an award for being in the top 10 meh-est restaurants in Chicagoland. I ordered a chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, and chicken noodle soup (now writing this, I realize I should expand my palette). After about maybe 10 minutes, I get my grub, and I was smelling a nice aroma. I had a spoonful of soup, and it was not salted enough. Although, the chicken and vegetables pieces were sizable. Next, I took and demolished a chicken tender with eagerness. It was the highlight of the BYG experience. It was breaded fantastically, but I got a tender that was 95 percent breading, 4 percent chicken, and 1 percent spice. As you may be able to infer, that was not an ideal batter:chicken:spice ratio. Then, my piping hot chicken sandwich lost 2 square inches of sandwichage (?), victim of my molars. It was great, but was too similar to other places I had been. This was basically the chicken sandwich from Annie's in "Downtown" Skokie. That's the main problem with this place, and a lot of northern Chicagoland eateries; the majority of the restaurants are the same thing, but with a new coat of paint. However, this fine establishment stands out because of its hideous green sign, and because...