Mystery Diner: Geneva Ale House hits the spot

Geneva Ale House is nestled under the prominent marquee that once graced a movie theater, and the restaurant and bar have plenty to crow about.

We planned our first visit for carryout and were glad we had time at home to peruse the eclectic menu. The sandwich section, for example, is all over a global culinary map. The eatery offers its take on a Vietnamese classic, Bánh mi, featuring grilled pork belly, cucumbers, pickled jalapeño, peppers, onion, cilantro and sriracha aioli on a ciabatta roll. You can substitute marinated portabella to make it vegetarian friendly.

From there it was on to an artichoke chicken panini with provolone and pesto to a shrimp po’ boy and the Cubano, combining slow-roasted pork shoulder, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, crunchy pickles, red onions, whole grain mustard and garlic aioli.

Entrees range from steak to seafood offerings and Mexican favorites.

The menu notes everything is cooked in house, with fresh, never frozen ingredients.

A cold night had my dining companion thinking of a little edible heat, and he gravitated right to the New Orleans-style etouffee with shrimp, chicken and spicy andouille sausage over rice. It’s reminiscent of a decadent, creamy Italian risotto but with some Cajun firepower that creeps up on the taste buds. It was a generous, delicious dish, with lots of nice shrimp.

Ready to serve as an antidote to the spiciness is an extensive array of rotating craft beers showcased at Geneva Ale House on tap or in cans and bottles. Growlers are offered for the draft selections.

In fact, it’s fun to check out the website, which offers not only interesting beer options, but glassware and items the eatery dubs groceries, everything from eggs and cheese to deli meats by the pound and other essentials.

I considered ordering one of the many interesting salads, like one with shrimp and braised fennel, but then read the description on the Kentucky burger and was sold on it: a half-pound Angus beef patty topped with apple wood-smoked bacon, white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms, with house-made, sweet whiskey sauce, served on a brioche bun.

It’s a knockout right down to the bread, with all the ingredients beautifully balanced to share the spotlight. A nice touch are the bite-size pieces of perfectly prepared bacon taking their place among the melt-in-your-mouth flavors. For my side dish, I chose the Caesar salad, which was crisp and refreshing with an excellent dressing and croutons.

We split a slice of the New York cheesecake, which turned out to be the style we prefer, delicate in texture and not overly sweet.

Carryout at Geneva Ale House can be ordered online or by phone, which was a smooth process for us. We’re looking forward to exploring more of the menu, and highly recommend the food.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff when ordering or picking up the food. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Geneva Ale House

WHERE: 319 W. State St., Geneva

PHONE: 630-262-3877

INFORMATION: genevaalehouse.com