Uptown Grill — Restaurant in LaSalle

I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to write a review of this place, but after my last visit I now need to. To say that Uptown Grill is an amazing restaurant would be an understatement. This fine establishment is more than just a place to eat- it’s a whole experience. From the moment you walk in, you get the feeling that this isn’t just your typical restaurant. You’re promptly greeted by friendly staff while you take in the eye catching decor. From the floors to the light fixtures, you can tell everything was carefully chosen to provide a dining experience with flair. I love how the lighting is a bit on the dimmer side- it just lends to setting an intimate mood, even if there are a lot of patrons.

I have been here on very busy and not so busy days, and you just feel like you’re almost alone, if that makes sense. The servers are always so prompt, knowledgeable and attentive without being too overbearing. This latest time, we went the day before Valentines Day to avoid a big crowd. Our server, Ashley, was outstanding. She checked on us just enough and was very pleasant. She took my and my husband’s drink orders right away and soon after we were enjoying a Kentucky Mule for me and he had a very dirty martini, which were both perfect. After we ordered the appetizers, which were escargot stuffed mushrooms and shrimp rumaki, Ashley brought out our basket of various breads and crackers. A perfect start while we waited for the appetizers. Once the appetizers arrived, I was so excited to try escargot for my first time. Holy cow!! It was so delicious! Perfectly cooked, not chewy snails snuggled in a delicious button mushroom and let me tell you, I could eat it every day. Every meal. The shrimp rumaki was also outstanding- they even got the bacon wrapped around it crispy which seems to not always be the case with bacon wrapped things. Ok so amazing appetizers-check! Added to the list of the other great starters we’ve had there.

So now onto the main course, which we ordered after the appetizers, all while enjoying our drinks, listening to the great music and just enjoying an intimate time together. We both opted for the Valentines special of bison filet and lobster tail, with a side of orange balsamic glazed shaved Brussels sprouts. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? A MILLION times yes! If you’ve never had bison, please do yourself a favor and try this. Melts in your mouth, tender and full of flavor. The herb butter on top was a simple perfect complement to the meat. The lobster tail was incredible too! Again perfectly cooked. Don’t get me started on the Brussels sprouts… they should sell that by the tub. So tasty!! Overall, the best and most luxurious surf and turf we’ve had ever!

So this was just one dining experience and we have never had a bad one at Uptown. Every appetizer, every drink and every main dish has been out of this world. We’ve always had great service, and you know when you go there that you’re going to feel special and all your senses will know it. Uptown Grill is worth every penny and I can’t wait to go again! Hopefully soon,...

While the atmosphere lovely the food was lacking. The place has nice soft lighting and fresh roses hanging on the lights and fresh tossed at each table. It was lovely. So we sat and began with an appetizer. We had the shrooms. We were wowed at how good these were. They were like a crab Rangoon that was stuff in a button mushroom. Then I ask Ed if they had a signature drink, they don’t, so he tried the blackberry/Thyme drink. This would have been good but it was heavy in club soda and they crushed a blackberry at the bottom and all I got was seeds. The thyme was dried not fresh and left no flavor in the drink. We then had the buffolo chicken soup and bread. This too was good but nothing to write about. When the salad came out it was to have dressing on the side, this was their house dressing a honey vinaigrette, but it was more oil than dressing and I sent it back as I don’t like my salad drowned in oil or dressing. Our main dish came out which was the salemville blue cheese topped beef tenderloins and faroe island salmon with basil cream. The beef was asked to be medium they came out RARE and almost raw. They weren’t cooked well and the sauce tasted lie can and only had 2 mushrooms in it. It was sent back to be remade and the second one came out cooked but the meat was these thin pieces of garage. Then the salmon came out. The sauce was good but the salmon was still frozen inside!!! Frozen. Sent back and not wanting anything else. Time for dessert. It closing time we got there at 7:30 And it is now 9:30, so we took it to go. Well again a huge disappointment. The very berry moscato tiramisu that is genoise soaked in Italian moscato wine, layered with raspberries, blueberries, and mascarpone mousse. served with chambord raspberry sauce and chantilly cream had no cream or whipped cream. Nothing like its picture. The other dessert was the bruleed new york style cheesecake with fresh strawberries which wasn’t even brûlées!!! This was again a waste of money and time. I am only giving it one star because the waitress was kind. I will be calling to complain about how this place is a major...

Review from 3/2105 "iPads and Butter Pads, A Tale of Two Restaurants"

I don't know what to say about this place. Uptown's menu has something for everyone, sandwiches, salads, seafood, steaks, tex mex and even raw oysters. Uptown has something for the adventurous foodie and something for Uncle Ron who only eats meat and potatoes.

When seated, I was surprised to see a tablet instead of a menu. Sure, this stands out to some. It's unique for the area, but is it necessary? Chicago Cut is an expensive steakhouse that has iPad's for menu's. The French Laundry has iPads for their wine list, because it's gigantic.

I brought in a bottle of wine to be uncorked. It was an older bottle and the cork was dry, and the cork split in half. Not at all our servers fault at all. The wine list at Uptown has some interesting selections. Biale is a favorite winery. The Black Chicken Zin and Royal Punishers Petit Sirah are solid and very hard to find. The wine list was able to be sorted on the tablet, but as a whole it was jumbled and disorganized. Several of the white wines on the list are extremely old. Things like Torrontes and Sauvignon Blanc should be drunk a year or two old, not eight.

My family started with oysters from the Pacific Northwest. They were extremely fresh and tasty. However, they were not shucked properly. There were bits of shell not cleaned from the oyster and the oyster was not separated from the shell. I've eaten a lot of oysters and never had them served like that. Super fresh, though.

The Rumaki were great, perfectly cooked and the sauces were very tasty. The focaccia bread was good, but it was served with rock solid, foil wrapped butter pads. Super fresh oysters and iPads to butter pads. Is this knit picking?

For the main course, I ordered a New York Strip. It was cooked perfectly, not enough seasoning, though. The swiss chard and broccoli rabe had a spicy zing, simple and good.

Uptown is impressive, but under whelming. It's pretentious and unpretentious. I liked it, but...