I have now had the pleasure of dining at The Maple Tree Inn three times. And all I can say is wow. The service is always impeccable and the food outstanding. Our first visit we had my three year old daughter with us. We walked into this sort of dark long room that at first looks like just a tavern. So, my husband and I turn to each other like, "Is this OK for her?" Reaching the end of the 26 tap bar, the bartender assures us someone will be right with us. The server says hello and asks if we would like to sit outside. As we follow her to the back we now see that outside is inside with a ton of windows opened with screens. It is like the best of both worlds. That is when we noticed we were in a New Orleans style restaurant. The Mardi Gras colors, and feather masks are displayed through out the restaurant.
I immediately get excited, my family is from New Orleans, and I am ready to eat. They have a wonderful Prix Fixe menu that really lets you taste quite a few of their signature dishes. My husband had the seafood gumbo, shrimp creole and sweet potato cheesecake. I had the N'awlins Bouillabaisse, and we split the 2x2x2 oysters. The baby ate off our plates. Everything was fantastic. The baby was asking for more. Authentic spices, the gumbo had great roux, great stock and lots of seafood. Now, if you are in the know, I make one of the best tasting sweet potato cheesecakes in Chicago, so imagine my face when my fork went into a lusciously light, not very cream cheesy plate of goodness. I mean this cake was like velvet in my mouth.
For my drink, I had a flight of 5 beers, that changes weekly, and was able to sample 3 others. My server was super knowledgeable about all the beers on tap, and helped me find a new flavor, Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale.
A young woman stops by our table and asks us how everything is. I politely ask her if she is the owner, she said yes, I got up from my seat and gave her a hug. Fantastic all the way around. She, Katie Orr, gives me a little history about the restaurant that was once ran by her father and became the first New Orleans concept in Chicago, 5 years after opening in 1975. I told her that night, that some way, some how I will be seeing her again.
When Thinking of a restaurant to celebrate our 1 year anniversary, we both immediately thought of The Maple Tree Inn. We then decided to make it our first restaurant of this year's Dinner Club Series. Due to many circumstances, none of our friends were able to join us, and so we went crazy for dinner! We had 4 of these lovely spicy oyster shooters, topped with house spiced Cajun vodka. We had juicy, succulent, spicy gator bites served with a thick creamy remoulade sauce. He again had the seafood gumbo and I had the rich, decant blue crab bisque. Brian had the seared BBQ beef brisket cake, with mounds of tender brisket, red beans and rice, and my favorite smothered okra. I had their signature hickory butter BBQ shrimp served over spicy al dente fettuccine. That week was the Abbey Road flight, which we both had. Too full to eat dessert, we took home the sweet potato cheesecake and the mud cake with mud mousse. Again, the service was like we were good friends. Really it's looking like this is the way they always are.
And so last night, we left our house late, and most restaurants around us were closed. My husbands says, why not go back. I am game. As we walk to the door, Katie smiles and says hi and she sees us coming in. My husband had been back earlier in the week with some friends for a drink, so the bar tender recognizes him immediately upon entering. Although it is late, we are greeted like it is the first seating. Gator bits are on my mind, we split a sourdough garlic bread "boat" filled with deep fried oysters, which tasted like hot melted creamy cheese, and a side dish of fried okra. We split this week flight of beer as well.
After three times, four for my husband, The Maple Tree Inn has proved that they get 'it". The "it' that encompasses food, atmosphere, service, quality, selection. My hat goes off to Katie Orr and her staff. Great job at being authentic and setting the standard high. I look forward to spending many years with y'all.
Maple Tree Inn
13301 S. Olde Western Ave • Blue Island, IL. • 60406 • 708-388-3461
www.gotwalrus.com
