Topaz Cafe in Burr Ridge: Worth the Effort to Find (Chicago Area Restaurant Review No. 67)

Chicago Magazine recently listed Topaz Cafe as a hot new restaurant, so despite the fact that we sometimes strongly disagree with Chicago Magazine's assessments, we decided to give Topaz a try. If you are going to this restaurant, be prepared for a difficult time finding it. While it is convenient to the Stevenson expressway (I-55 for those not as enamored of the roads as Steve), the address does not even come up on the mapping sites and the restaurant is at the very end of a well-hidden strip mall (although the strip mall is actually quite nice).

We loved the decor, which was geometric, with an open feel and light hardwood floors. We started with a bottle of Hundred Year Old Vines Shiraz. For a reserve wine, we were expecting a bit more flavor than what we got, although the wine did grow on us as it breathed more. For an appetizer, we ordered the smoked sable. It tasted a lot like smoked salmon, but juicier and a little saltier. We also liked the accompaniments, which included creme fraiche (which we love). Steve's wedge salad was extremely good, with tasty bleu cheese crumbles and excellent cherry tomatoes. Lisa's field greens salad was little busy (lots of things), but she liked the greens and the tomatoes a lot.

We both had the bone-in filet, which was on special that night. We thought this was the weakest part of the meal. Both were cooked medium rare, as we like it, but the meat wasn't very flavorful except right at the bone. Steve loved his strawberry rhubarb crisp with vanilla ice cream dessert. The strawberries were sweet, as he likes them. Lisa tried the Crazy Crepes. These were crepes filled with chocolate pudding and accompanied by almond ice cream and chocolate sauce. Though the pudding was not dark chocolate, she really loved this dessert. It was fun, and the flavors combined well.

The bathrooms were very nice, both were quite clean and well kept. The only problem was the ugly tile, which made the floor look dirty though it was quite clean. The restaurant also has a very nice outside deck which the waiter showed us although it was not quite ready for use. It looks like a very nice area in which to eat outside or have a party, and we may come back and brave the insect world to try it.

Dinner for two with a bottle of (expensive) wine was $275 and would have been about $160 with wine by the glass. We thought this was well worth the price and the drive. We agree with Chicago Magazine that this is definitely an excellent new addition to the Chicago dining scene.

Our ratings for Topaz Cafe, 780 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, Illinois:

7.5 of 10 Steak Knives; 2.5 of 3 Bathroom Brushes