Plenty to love at The Lucky Monk

SOUTH BARRINGTON – Edging Hoffman Estates, The Lucky Monk brewery and eatery is hidden from plain sight. The nearly five-year-old restaurant is just far enough from the hustle and bustle of the Arboretum shopping center, but don't let it fool you. This joint draws a crowd of its own.

My date and I made the right choice in reserving a Friday evening table days in advance. Our arrival was seamless – able to find parking without using free valet and being seated immediately. Plenty of visitors were able to enjoy a craft brew at the bar while they awaited a table.

Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable about both the beer and the food. He recommended just about everything on the menu and we soon found out why. I've grown to rank my Mystery Diner experiences and The Lucky Monk's food is in my top three – amazing.

After taking a peek into the on-site, 10-barrel brew house, we asked to start with an order of 'Crisp Calamari' and 'Tomato Goat Cheese Fondue.' Other starter items on the menu included hummus, warm pretzels, buffalo wings, cheese curds, empanadas and fried pickles.

I have no words for the fondue. It was above and beyond what I would have ever expected. Goat cheese can have a strong flavor and this dish accommodated for that by pairing it with fresh tomato sauce and herbs. We each had our own small loaf of garlic oil crostini bread to dip at our leisure. I really enjoyed the dish because fondue can be too filling when it's solely cheese and the tomato sauce definitely lightened it up.

The calamari was a surprise as well. It didn't include any fried squid tentacles – phew. "Point Judith" calamari came breaded in rings and mixed with giardiniera – a fun spin on the common appetizer for us hot pepper lovers. A small cup of Parmesan and tomato fondue was served on the side for dipping. Let's just say we couldn't get enough fondue. It was refreshing to have something fresh to dip with, rather than a pre-made cocktail sauce.

Where we ready to place our dinner order? Why not.

Burgers? Pizza? Salad? Fish? Tacos? The choice was hard. My date went with the 'N'awlins Chicken' sandwich. I selected the barbecue salmon.

As you can imagine, we were well on our way towards full; however, a good dent was made in these meals. My date exclaimed that his sandwich – cajun chicken breast, pepperjack cheese, crispy onion strings, chili-garlic mayo, lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun– was one of the best chicken sandwiches he's had in his life. I could say the same for my salmon.

The fish came roasted on a ceda -plank, but tasted completely different than I had imagined – in a good way. It didn't taste smokey at all. The BBQ sauce really sweetened up the dish and if I hadn't used a fork, it would have been finger lickin' fabulous. Plus, the fillet was still tender and perfectly done. Mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables were menu sides. I chose all vegetables and finished them entirely – very seasonal.

A round of applause goes to anyone who can move onto The Lucky Monk's 'House-Made Sticky Donuts' or 'Turtle Cookie Dough Brownie' after a meal of that size. We enjoyed just sitting back and looking at walls full of empty bourbon barrels. The restaurant was comfy – somewhere you could stay awhile after your meal. It appeared as though a live band was getting ready to set up.

The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at Suburban Life Media. The diner's identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. Only positive dining experiences will result in published reviews.

If you go:

The Lucky Monk

When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: 105 Hollywood Blvd., South Barrington

Info: Visit www.theluckymonk.com or call 847-898-0500 for information.