The Mystery Diner is bewildered. Happy and delirious,but bewildered. It may provide the best fine dining experience in northern LakeCounty, yet the Ad-Lib Geo Café in Lindenhurst doesn't even have its name on its door, hidden in a small strip mall southeast of Sand Lake Road and Highway 45. Yet,the location has somehow been found out, and rightfully so. Look for "475" on the door.
The diner and companion were lucky enough to get the last available Friday night table. Within 15 minutes there was a potential half hour wait. Based on our fare, I understand.
The Ad-Lib's menu changes daily in an attempt to offer locally based foods offered at their seasonal prime. I suspect if Chef Rick Starr found stellar heirloom tomatoes from a nearby farm or even in his garden, they'd appear on that day's menu still tasting of that day's sunshine. Indeed, this was some of what we had.
Of the six offered starters, my partner chose the marinated eggplant, with heirloom tomato, sweetcorn and lobster. As she shared, I could not see any sweet corn, but my guess is that it was incorporated into the light yellow sauce and dressing lightly draped on pink and white lobster, the eggplant and tomatoes. Light and spritely, it was a crisp palate refresher.
I chose the lobster broth. It was not light and spritely. It was rich as caramel, savory and sweet, and was so flavorful it darn near brought me to my knees. When I go back to Ad-Lib, no matter what else I order, I'm getting three of these. And I'll want more.
My partner's Alaskan salmon was perfect, poached so lightly in olive oil only the salmon's taste remained. It rested on a thin bed of pureed sweet potato, a sweet complement to the fish. The seasonal sides were crisp tender sautéed, zucchini, onion and more heirloom tomatoes.
I don't often order pork chops while dining out, but I suppose if I were in the habit, it wouldn't hurt to get the best one I could possibly have. Or possibly have ever had. Externally the thick chop was fully browned and crisped, not charred. Internally, each bite from side to bone was succulent and moist. It didn't need the homemade applesauce garnish or tangy Kaiser's cabbage, but I didn't complain.
Among that night's desserts, we chose the bittersweet chocolate mousse, and a local micro-bakery's Apple Tart. The shortbread crust of the tart was crisp and light, while the mousse held all the deep richness chocolate should have.
The Ad-Lib offers a $10r corking fee for bringing your own wine, but we went with a complementary French white wine after tasting a few offered selections. An assortment of craft beer selections was also available.
I suppose there's really no reason for bewilderment. If you offer the best of fresh,exceptionally well prepared local food, the crowd will find you. You want to find Ad-Lib Geo Café. Say hello to the Mystery Diner when you do. I"ll be the one with three bowls of lobster broth on the table.
Ad-Lib Geocafe
475 South Route 45
Lindenhurst, IL 60046
(847) 245-7328
[ http://www.adlibgeocafe.com/ ]http://www.adlibgeocafe.com
Open Wed – Sun, 5p.m. to close
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/AI6DSU4VWSWHT5GVOBRXXE7ENQ.jpg)