I'm gonna keep it short, food was great, service was great, nothing super exceptional but still…read moreabove average. Ambiance is pretty and cozy. I would've gave it 5 stars if it didn't take about an hour for the food to get here (this wasn't our first time and this was the only time this happened). The server was super nice and even told the manager who then offered desert on the house. Excellent customer service. If there was an option I'd give the place 4.5 stars.

Quick take: We stopped into The James for one round at the bar. The placed was pretty full on a…read moreSaturday afternoon but we were able to nestle ourselves at the end of the bar and partake. It's an upscale establishment with absolutely wonderful decor: an old house that harkens back to times of yesteryear. The ambiance is lively but not loud and it seems to host a slightly older (and more sophisticated?) demographic. We just had beers but did peruse the menu for fun and things looked very tempting. Although this visit was quick it left me wanting more on a return visit, of which there will be!

My son took me here for my birthday this past April and what a dining experience it was!…read moreFirst off, the ambience was extremely elegant and upscale. The preparation of our entrees was beautiful and the service was excellent. I highly recommend, especially for a special occasion.

Firstly, anyone saying the food doesn't taste good or they leave hungry is smokin crack ..... also,…read moresounds like you probably would of enjoyed a buffet instead. This place is incredible... the food is to die for. It's the first place I've been to and did not feel like bloated or so full to where I was sick because the portions were perfect. Nothing here fell short, in fact it's the first place in the burbs where the food wasn't overly salted or fried in some type of oil. Everything tasted fresh. The flavors were busting up in my mouth every bite I took, even down to snowball fight drink we had. I highly, highly recommend the bread cheese appetizer- this was something super unique to me as I've only had grilled up cheese one other time in Brazil, Queijo Coalho.... There was a beautiful twist on this cheese- crunchy, creamy, sweet, savory and the honey and tabbouleh were such a great finish to this dish. Pair this with the fresh bread and it was chefs kiss! We had the beer braised short rib and seabass- two completely different flavored entres that we absolutely perfect. The short rib you literally can't go wrong with- melted in my mouth with every bite - and hats off the the chef who cooked the onions so perfect to actually be able to taste them instead of just carmelizing or salting them! I would call this your typical Midwest comfort dish. The seabass was much different the salad was tangy with the lentils being rich- add a nice cooked crispy top seabass and you got yourself a unique dish of flavors that will have you thinking what's in it after hours! But the star of the show was dessert of course - OMFG - s'mores ice cream sunday ....... I died and went to heaven literally. I have never tasted ice cream that mimicked everything I've ever wanted my ice cream to taste like. It was the perfect temperature (trust me a lot of restaurants it's either rock hard or melted) this was epic. Creamy, almost pudding like and being able to taste every note was wild to me. The graham cracker - yes the freaking graham cracker was the best one I've ever tasted in my life. Clearly I've never had a graham cracker without preservatives before. The chocolate syrup .... Jeeze let me tell if I could swim in it I would.... The service was friendly, prompt and right on time. The server knew all the cues and timing of all the food to come out. She checked in everytime we got something to make sure everything was just right... you can tell she takes her job seriously but also knows how to interact with people - something a lot of servers lack these days so we really appreciated the service. As for the atmosphere- this place blows a lot of the chi city restaurants out of the water. The organic feel but fancy! Oh, and I can actually talk and hear myself think without blasting music over my head. We will be back ... but honestly please change nothing here- everything you're doing here is fantastic!

All around had an amazing time! Visiting in town for work…read moreand wondered along this place that was delightful and charming. Henry was our server/bartender and gave us excellent service. He was naturally humorous and humble. The best part was my Tuna Tartare. I order it everywhere I go & I must say - it was the best I've had this year! Thank you Barrel + Rye!

Had an amazing date night here. Cocktails were great--loved the old fashioned. The salmon…read morebruschetta and birria egg rolls were out of this world. Crab cake sandwich was second only to one I had when I lived in Maryland. Dessert cocktails were a great night cap! The Tira-Miss-you and s'mores espresso martini were a great end of the night. The server was so kind and willing to give solid recommendations. The food came quickly and was great. 10/10. We can't wait to go back

We went to dinner at Atwater's, one of my favorite quiet and elegant restaurants in Geneva. My…read morehusband and I brought our friends for their first time dining here. Our server was Val who was so delightful and engaging. We started with a delightful walleye ceviche on a blue corn chip for the amuse bouche. Perfect bite. The four of us shared the steamed Prince Edward Island mussels and the artisan charcuterie board as starters. The muscles were a generous portion and the broth was so flavorful. I always love Atwater's charcuterie board. It's has a generous portion of Humboldt Fog cheese, which is one of my favorite cheeses. For dinner, I opted for the roasted butternut bisque and caramelized apple & kale salad. The bisque was smooth and silky and the salad bright, crisp and fresh. Hubby had the blackened swordfish and loved it. My friends had the pork and lamb chop entrées. They really enjoyed their food. I've had the lamb chops before and they're excellent. The food at Atwater's is full of flavor, beautifully presented and delicious. Our server Val surprised us with a little taste of olive oil ice cream for a sweet treat to end the meal. I was so happy that my friends loved this restaurant as much as we do. If you haven't dined at Atwater's, you're missing out on a tasty hidden gem. You'll find the restaurant overlooking the Fox River in The Herrington Hotel.

We came to celebrate my grandma's birthday and it was the perfect spot. It's very small and…read moreintimate which was perfect for my grandparents since big crowds and loud venues can be overwhelming. The wait staff was also very patient and helpful. The food was delicious! Our meal started with complementary dinner rolls with butter and a selection of jams. We also ordered the charcuterie plate to share. For my meal I had the salmon which was absolutely delicious! Everyone's dish looked delicious too!

A nice spot to grab a drink on a nice weather day - the outdoor patio is fantastic!…read more The fellas and I grabbed a round of brews here while roaming around downtown Geneva and we had zero complaints. It was really nice out so, naturally, we were at the outdoor bar/patio. What a delightful space: open, airy, ample seating, great staff. The biggest bummer is navigating inside for the bathroom but everything else is top notch. We're fans and will return again!

I'd love to share my full experience at Preservation but alas, there isn't much in the way of food…read moreor drink I can report on. The service however, is a different story. My friend and I arrived around 7:15pm this evening, Tuesday night, a weekday. We were greeted by a hostess in a full winter jacket and completely empty front room. She gave us the option to sit in said empty room or to follow her back to a "cozy heated area." We couldn't decide so we asked her to choose, and she led us down a long, narrow hallway to the back. There were three parties total in the indoor patio--us, another table of 2 and a large party of 8. Their outdoor patio was open, and with a view of it from the cozy room. The outdoor patio was festive with holiday lights, heaters and perhaps 3 people sitting at the bar. Many employees bustled back and forth through the door linking our two spaces. Our waitress brought us two glasses of water and food menus, pointed out the QR code menu on our table and walked away. That was our ONLY interaction with her. We proceeded to then sit for 15 minutes, watching our waitress, along with 3 other employees walk back and forth, attentively serving the large party, cleaning up a recently vacated back booth, chatting with one another and even saw another employee take a moment to vape inside near the POS system. We were ignored. No eye contact, no smile, no acknowledgment. It's as if we were not even there. For a slow Tuesday night, with ample staff, this was unacceptable. It grew so uncomfortable that we gathered our jackets and began to walk out. As we made our way back down the long hallway, the hostess, carrying a tray of waters, thanked us for coming in. Clearly there is a lack of awareness--or attention to detail. In what world would we have been able to order drinks, eat and pay our bill in less than 30 minutes since you seated us? But Finally! Someone noticed us. Too bad it was too little too late. We walked a block down to a different restaurant, and had an amazing time, spending more time & money than originally anticipated at that establishment, as a direct result of the poor hospitality and lack of service received at Preservation. Their loss was the Alchemist's gain.

We had a wonderful dining experience. The ambiance is warm and friendly. The service was…read moreexemplary with a knowledgeable, personable and conscientious server who was attentive but not invasive. We found him charming. The food was exceptional. We started with the Baby Gem salad and the Artisan Cheese Plate, both excellently prepared and delicious. My husband had the 14 oz. Prime Ribeye with Cafe De Paris butter, horseradish jus, herb garlic fritesthat was perfectly prepared and came with wonderful, flavorful sauces. I enjoyed the Grilled Petite Tender, emphasis on tender! It was lovely. For dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean Canelé, which was unique and sweet and made a delightful ending to an excellent meal. We will be back!

Vinny and his team having been putting out great product with a passion for service and a perfect…read moreambiance for years. One of our top spots for a date night or special occasion. The burger in the bar is one of my favorites and the whiskey / tequila selections are the best in the Fox valley.

We came here for a final breakfast before leaving town. It was a Monday morning, so we were one of…read morethe only three tables occupied in the entire place, which suited us fine. Our waitress greeted us warmly and quickly brought out water and coffee. She did a great job of keeping both glasses and mugs full throughout the meal. We did not wait long for our food after we ordered it. I got their brunch burrito with a side of fruit. The burrito was a good size, not too small but not so big that I could not finish it. I got it with bacon as my meat and dipped it in the chipotle vinaigrette on the side as I ate it. It was awesome! I really loved that instead of black beans, there were refried beans in it, as they added a great creaminess to the meal. The fruit bowl was also impressive to me, as it was full of diverse fresh fruit. It was better than the normal assorted melons I am used to at restaurants. I got an iced salted caramel latte to go before leaving since we had a long car ride ahead of us. It was on the sweet side, with little espresso flavor coming through, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I would love to come back on a busier weekend when the place is more lively and try their huge lunch menu!

A true neighbor gem, the quality of the food is matched by the friendliness of the staff.read more

It's a nice scene. It is upscale without being pretentious. The food is great and they have…read moreawesome drinks.

I came here for a business dinner on a Monday night. Great food, the server and host were very…read morehelpful and friendly, and the ambiance was awesome. The fire pit in the middle of the restaurant and the fireplace in the porch-like portion are a vibe. I had the hummus trio, which had some really innovative and delicious flavors (a black bean option, a chipotle option, and some sort of balsamic thing I can't remember the name of but was my favorite). The pita bread they served it with was tasty. Everything else in our group looked delicious, too. They had been here several time and they love it. I'm not out this way very often (or ever), but if I were I would definitely come back.

Absolutely wonderful! First time at Buttermilk and I'd make it a staple visit if I lived closer to…read moreGeneva. Our hostess for breakfast was wonderful - kind, attentive, friendly and made me feel like I knew her for years (thanks Melissa!) So many breakfast options available, something for everyone to eat, and gluten free options! I settled for the mountain house skillet which was so good, probably the best skillet I've had in a long time. My husband had the classic eggs Benedict. Their homemade jam was excellent (comes free at the table) and lots of coffee and drink options. Their pancakes looked so good - definitely saving for next time. Highly recommend!

Had terrible service here…read more Came in and our server corrected me and my friend multiple times on our orders. Couldn't take a simple order down: eggs over easy and hash browns. Had food delivered to us twice that wasn't ours. A sever spilled syrup on my fiends shirt. My fiends pancakes, the top of the pancake slid off the pancake- never seen that before. Too much water used? I almost had OJ spilled on me. My food was hard. We talked to management, all management did was get us a different sever. No discount. Never in my life have I seen such bad service. Everytime somone came to our table something went wrong. Never coming back.

A group dinner at Nobel House left us hungry for more (in a good way!)…read more This is a pretty sizable restaurant with a bar along half of one wall and plenty of tables of varying sizes that can accommodate whatever you throw at them. There is ample lighting and the staff is welcoming and friendly. The food is BBQ and they have a little bit of everything to offer. That is great, but makes it hard to choose what you want! We certainly had that problem but ultimately were very happy with our meals. They pretty much cover all the bases as far as BBQ and the sides. The flavors were very tasty! Having one in Glen Ellyn won't have us running back to this location but that is only on account of circumstance.

Thought we give Noble another shot, post visi from anniversary where we ordered drinks to start and…read moredidnt know if we were dining or not, was asked a few times in the case of dine or leave attitude. Today, 5/30, we had a large part celebrating a birthday. Resturant half empty. Kelli our waitress, not the most pleasant. A toddler spilled water and ice, the eye rolling and the other waitress gossip while looking at our table. Not appreciative. To flag Kelli down, was a full time job. I understand serving others, but if we have to get up to chase you down, it becomes a problem. Food overall was fine, prices seemed increased, burgers use to be larger, lastly the drink department. Yeungling flight, $8 draft for 12oz, yikes. End all, wont be back. We are from St Charles, plenty of options that have better service and great food for a night out. Sorry Noble, but step up.