Let’s play word association: Grill.
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Most likely, your first thoughts are visions of fresh burgers, steaks and barbecued ribs. Fair enough; you’ll find these on the menu at Backyard Grill (or BYG) in Highland Park.
But the “G” stands for much more on the wide-ranging menu, notes owner Nick Drivas. It stands for garden in regard to the entree salads. It also stands for Greek and the dishes representing Drivas’ family heritage, including homemade gyros ($7.50) and the Grecian Chicken ($11 for a half chicken, $14.50 for a whole), which is Backyard Grill’s most popular item, according to Drivas.
Backyard Grill has been in its Highland Park location for a little over a year. It is in the space formerly occupied by Stash’s and retains the spacious layout that includes a main and side dining areas.
Drivas has been in the restaurant business his entire life. His parents started their first restaurant in 1975, Nick’s Gyros, which grew to five locations. In 2004, the family opened Backyard Grill in Chicago at Devon Avenue and Pulaski Road. “The original concept was going to be fresh-grilled meats,” Drivas says, “but a lot of people confused it with strictly barbecue” and so the family expanded its vision of a fast-casual restaurant where everything is made-to-order and not pre-cooked. “Fresh food and nothing frozen,” Drivas said.
The beef and lamb gyros, he said, are made from scratch, all natural with spices, with no phosphates or fillers.
“They are gluten-free, which is very hard to find anywhere,” Drivas states. The BBQ pulled pork ($7.50) is slow-roasted for 10 hours. The Baby Back Ribs ($13 for a half slab, $20.5 for a whole) are “very tender, and more fall-off-the-bone,” Drivas observes. The BBQ sauce is homemade.
Hamburgers range from a Melt ($6) to the Southwest Burger ($9). Other sandwiches include Italian Beef ($7.50), Skirt Steak Sandwich ($12) and the Tilapia Sandwich ($7)
Backyard Grill’s most popular salads are the Greek Salad ($8) and the Black Quinoa Salad ($9).
Backyard Grill caters lunch and dinner. Beginning in mid-March, the restaurant will be available to host birthday, corporate and anniversary, bar and bat mitzvahs, charity functions and other events.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Address: 1825 2nd St., Highland Park. Contact 847-681-8400 or www.eatbyg.com.
Donald Liebenson is a freelance writer.