NEW ""SOUTHERN STAR""\r
(the old harbour club)\r
Location is still : 25276 W Grass Lake Rd\r
Antioch, IL 60002 \r
Called to make a reservation based on locale and the strength of previous reviews...only to learn about the name change. Looked at menu on-line at the site they gave over the phone. No major search engine had found it under the new name except tangentally - they should fix that. \r
I noticed that several things on the menu were missing from previous reviewers but could still make out a few and was assured there had been no change in kitchen staff so went there on the strength of the possible continuity on previous good food reviews.\r
In fairness I went on a Sunday mid afternoon (Father's day) to eat and they run some kind of buffet in the morning so the kitchen was probably recovering from that event...but still...\r
Pros - AMBIANCE: Restarant overlooks lakes and multiple piers...If you enjoy views of water loaded with stinkpots and wet motorcyles while you eat you will like it. They have outdoor seating too by the ""tiki"" bar. Inside ambiance other than the view out the window is suburban neutral colors and some oak and the place is nestled essentially in a trailer park which they clearly cannot control. FOOD: The Sweet Potato Fries were excellent - not overloaded with Salt like most and cooked to crispy. Two of the party had Alfredo based Pasta dishes. We are big alfredo fans and can tell a bad one easily...so believe us when we say the sauce (which is everything in pasta) is in the upper 20% we've had. Twice baked potato was pretty good. SERVICE - The waitress tried hard, a pity she had to say ""I'm sorry"" so often. \r
Cons - I hate to do this, but virtually everything else. \r
We were asked for our drink orders and they did not know how to make a my first two...""chocolate martini"" and ""cosmopolitan"" Ouch. Their wine selection was limited and kind of odd. (Few whites and those rather drab varietals - not a pinot in the bunch) One of the items that was listed as an Appetizer had survived from the previous reviews and they had spoken glowingly of it. We therefore ordered Calamari and were told it was not ready yet. Ouch. How about Clams then? Out. Ouch. We finally ended up ordering a side as a starter which turned out OK but essentially they might just as well have not promised starters. Then they were out of a couple of first choices on the Entre menu too and when the meat came it was nothing special. The twice baked potato was actually the high point.\r
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SUMMARY - Essentially a minor dining experience. those things that the place cannot control they cannot be blaimed for, but those things they can - they must own. I am not tempted to be a repeat cutomer unless I develop a sudden taste for beer and line dancing which are its advertised new specialities. \r
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Pros: Very good Sweet potato fries and Solid Alfredo Sauce
Cons: Almost everything else
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