“We’ve got something special going on here,” said Mary Ann Ullrich, owner with her husband, Chip, of the Village Tavern in Long Grove, the oldest tavern/restaurant in Illinois in continuous operation.
Established in 1847, it combines the atmosphere of the quintessential rustic roadhouse — it’s mostly barn board wood and brick interior illuminated by Tiffany-style chandeliers — with the friendly service and hearty comfort foods that recall a visit to grandma’s. Several staff members measure their service in decades.
“It’s like family,” Ullrich said. “(Our customers) are comfortable saying, “We’re hungry for meat loaf; do you think you can make one for next week?”
The Village Tavern balances consistency with the flexibility to bring in new menu or drink items, such as the recent addition of more craft beers and spirits in the Tavern’s bar, whose showpiece is a 35-foot mahogany bar that survived the 1967 McCormick Place fire.
“We’re not generic,” Ullrich said. “We prepare foods that are fresh and homemade or, as much as possible, local. We cut many of our own steaks. We make our own soups and chicken and tuna salads. A local butcher grinds our meat to our specifications. The breading for the fish is from a family recipe of the previous owners. It’s the integrity of the product. We wouldn’t have been here as long as we have if we didn’t try really hard to get it right.”
Pricing: The signature half-pound hamburger costs $8.45. Entrees range from the Famous Tavern Fish ($12.95) to a steak and shrimp combo ($21.95). Entree salads begin at $10.95 and are served with a loaf of bread. Appetizers include chips & salsa ($4.95) and Special Potato Skins ($9.95).
Weekly specials include the Monday and Wednesday all-you-can-eat broasted chicken ($11.95) and the Friday night fish fry ($10.95). There is live music on Saturday nights.
Hours: Closed Tuesday; Open 11:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, Sunday; 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Address: 135 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
Contact: 847-634-3117 or visit www.villagetavernoflonggrove.com
Donald Liebenson is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.