Mystery Diner in Batavia: Tribella Grill still makes meals memorable

The attractive interior of Tribella Grill in Batavia, normally a convivial space to gather with family and friends, is closed to indoor dining, but the kitchen is still hopping with carryouts, and patrons were happily ensconced in the heated, screened-in patio over the weekend.

Describing itself as a “citified Italian-American bistro,” Tribella Grill long has been a favorite. It sits on Mill Street, about a block east of Randall Road. Making carryouts easy, it takes orders by phone or online at www.toasttab.com/tribella-bar-grill.

With the holidays almost here, we were in the mood for something special. We opted to call in the order and were told our dinner would be ready in 25 minutes. Pickup and payment are done at the bar just to the left when you enter the restaurant. My dining companion said the staff was friendly and efficient. At home, the still hot meals looked enticing even in carryout containers.

We brought out the festive plates, lit a couple candles and began a delicious meal.

My companion picked the tortellini con pana, which featured chicken-filled pasta tossed in a basil cream sauce with prosciutto, wild mushrooms, peas and crushed tomatoes, then topped with pine nuts and aged Parmesan.

It was a visually beautiful dish with red bursts of tomato and pale gold pasta, and my fellow diner enjoyed the mild cream sauce and the melding of ingredient flavors, set off by the crunch of pine nuts. He changed up the recipe by requesting sausage, and loved the addition of the fennel-accented, sweet Italian sausage.

I chose chicken gamberi, which topped the large chicken breast with tiger shrimp, asparagus, Roma tomatoes and mushrooms in a lemon garlic butter sauce. It was accompanied by roasted potatoes perfect for dipping.

The chicken melted in the mouth, and the shrimp were flavorful and well prepared. It’s a treat to order an entree combining so many of my favorite ingredients.

The online menu is neatly divided among categories, and ranges from filet mignon to 9-inch, individual, thin-crust pizzas.

We were pleased to see that Tribella Grill offers a side salad – mixed greens or Caesar salad – for $2.75 with any entree. We picked one of each, and both were excellent: fresh and crunchy with tasty dressings. Crusty Italian bread also came with the meal.

Next time, we’ll order dessert. We just spotted the restaurant’s take on a classic, Tiramisu a la Tribella. The homemade treat features ladyfingers soaked in Espresso Liqueur with mascarpone chocolate mousse and Chantilly cream dusted with powdered cocoa.

Check Facebook for featured holiday menus and hours, as well as daily specials. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal from Tribella Grill.

• 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: Tribella Grill

WHERE: 1900 Mill St., Batavia

WHEN: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; plus special holiday hours

INFO: 630-406-9696, tribellagrill.com