Grill 89 — Restaurant in Westmont

Recently had dinner here (we previously had breakfast but with 'Grill' in the name you know that lunch or dinner is what you want to go here for.) The latest Ditka's delivers successfully. From a location with plenty of parking that is easy to turn into (which also hosts one of our favorite breakfast and Sushi spots in the area) to a friendly host things started off strong.

We opted to sit outdoors as the sun was going down and it was cooling off from the hot summer days that we've had and the seating was comfortable. The waiter took our orders and was quick to get our drinks out. The one small snafu is that my plate came out well before my wife's and the manager came out to personally apologize and make it up to us. They had a new ticketing system and while he insisted it was no excuse they more than did right by us. The level of appeasement was well above what has become normal as of late and we were quite happy with it.

I had the Rum and Honey cocktail (might have the name off there) and she had a bottle of wine which we split. Both were great!

The food itself? I had a burger and she had the prime rib on special. Both of these were absolutely delicious though in retrospect I do believe she had the better meal (of course, it was prime rib.. so that's not too surprising.) We shared a couple of deserts and left more than full with leftovers for the next day's lunch.

A great experience, good food, and a waitstaff that preempted the only potential problem made the entire experience quite enjoyable. We'll...

My wife and I have been loyal patrons of Grill 89 for the past several years, and it has long been our favorite local spot. However, the recent changes to the summer menu have been deeply disappointing. It’s clear that cost-cutting measures have replaced the quality and care that once made this place special.

Most noticeably, the french fries—once fresh and delicious—have been downgraded to frozen crinkle-cut fries. Similarly, the brunch menu no longer features fresh-cut breakfast potatoes, opting instead for generic frozen hashbrowns that you’d expect at a roadside diner. The most heartbreaking change, though, is the replacement of their beloved Belgian Liege waffles with a basic, mass-produced American-style waffle akin to something from IHOP. These were once a standout item that kept us coming back.

We truly love the staff—especially the bartenders, Michael and Robert who have always made us feel welcome. But the decline in food quality is impossible to ignore, and we’re clearly not the only ones who feel this way. The dining room, once bustling even during peak hours, now feels emptier with each visit.

We sincerely hope management reconsiders these changes. This restaurant was once a Westmont/Oak Brook gem, and it’s disheartening to see it lose what made it so special. Until then, we’ll be visiting elsewhere which pains us to say after so many great years of eating at our once favorite...

A Sad Decline in Quality

It genuinely pains me to write this review, as this was my absolute go-to spot for years. I've been a loyal customer, visiting 3-4 times a month, and have always recommended it to friends. However, there was a change about two months ago. The menu was overhauled, and it's become clear that this was not just a change in selection, but a drastic reduction in ingredient quality. They are unmistakably using cheaper, subpar ingredients. The homemade taste and quality that I loved are gone, replaced by processed food service delivery ingredients, oily, processed taste that you'd expect from a fast-food chain, not an established local restaurant. The quality has gone so far downhill it's almost unrecognizable. Even my local friends have mentioned it recently.

I suspect there must be new management, as I could have never imagined the previous owners resorting to such cost-cutting measures at the expense of their loyal customers and the restaurant's reputation.

The one positive is that the wait staff service remains good and attentive, but unfortunately, great service can't make up for disappointing food.

Until the quality returns to its former standard, I cannot justify spending my money here anymore. I truly hope this feedback is heard, as it's coming from a...