Montarra Grill - Worth the Drive (Chicago Area Restaurant Review No. 78),

We had heard good things about Montarra Grill, so we decided to try it. It was quite the adventure to find it, but we are glad we did. First of all, this place is about as far out in the burbs (Algonquin) as you can get. Even Steve, who really knows the area, has never been in this part of town. Also, even once you get there, the restaurant has a tiny, unlit sign, and is in an unassuming strip mall, so it's easy to miss. However, once the directional issues are taken care of, the result is quite pleasant.

The room itself is very modern, with 2 dining rooms and a bar. The bar had a wall with flowing water and the dining room we were in was minimalist, but sleek.

We started with a glass of Four Vines Zinfandel for Lisa and a glass of Murphy Cabernet for Steve, who wanted something warming. Lisa really liked the Zinfandel. Steve was less thrilled with the Cab (but he's not really a Cabernet person anyway). For appetizers we had the Montarra chips, which were chips with Brie, which we loved. We also had the ahi tuna, which was a little bland, but better with the sauce. Steve had the romaine wedge salad, which he was surprised to find he really liked, since he is not necessarily a romaine fan. Lisa's simple salad was, befitting of its name, quite boring. Nothing was at all memorable in the ingredients, even though the dish could have been interesting given all the ingredients it actually had, such as olives, plum tomatoes and basil.

We really liked our entrees. Montarra is one of the relatively few places to serve prime filet mignon, and we could really tell the difference. The meat was so tender it almost broke up before being touched by the knife. The filets were also cooked a perfect medium rare. Lisa liked the flavor but Steve could have used a bit more charcoal. For dessert, Lisa had the chocolate fondue, which sounded great, but which was disappointing. Steve's sorbets were a give up dessert since he found nothing he really liked on the dessert menu. They were not bad, though.

For a restaurant hidden as well as this one is, it was really quite good. And the decor, coupled with the nicely spaced tables and friendly service added to the experience. We really do think Montarra is worth the drive, but bring your GPS and a phone.

The bathrooms were nice, but not fancy enough to earn a perfect score (and required touching a handle to get out).

The total bill, with wine by the glass, was $185, which is high for the burbs, but less than one would pay in the city for food of this quality.

Our ratings for Montarra Grill, 1491 S. Randall Road, Algonquin

7.5 of 10 Steak Knives; 2.5 of 3 Bathroom Brushes