ATMOSPHERE
The Millrose is set in a giant barn. Yes, I said it is set in a giant barn. The building is a humongous barn that was found by the founder of the restaurant in some field somewhere. There are amusing newspaper clippings on the wall when you first walk in that tells the tale of how the entire barn was placed on a truck and shipped across the country to its current location in South Barrington.
Once inside, you really don’t notice you are in a barn. It’s not like they have sheep and pigs walking around inside. The ceilings are high and there are exposed beams everywhere. The place is nicely lit during the day and has just the right amount of light at night to give it a romantic feel. During prom season this becomes prom-central out in the suburbs. The tables are elegant and the place really looks like a fine dining restaurant.
The bar is huge and also made from wood. There is a small store just inside the entrance as well, but it isn’t tacky and loaded with kitsch like a Cracker Barrel.
CROWD
During the day and early evening hours the crowds here are families. You will find that during the afternoon on weekends. During the evening hours you find a lot of couples here for a romantic dinner. You also are likely to find the mom and dad out to see a movie at the Barrington AMC theaters across the street and stopping by the Milllrose for a bite to eat. Leave the kids at the sitters
SPIRITS
The Millrose has a great selection of wines and spirits. I have been here many times with many crowds and have never had a problem with anyone not being able to find a drink. My dad likes his Brandy Manhattan on the rocks and always managed to get that here. I have had an excellent selection of both red and white wines. It is also a microbrewery so you have a unique selection of beers to choose from. You can try the Country Inn Ale, Dark Star Lager, Prairie Pilsner, and the Panther Ale and it is all made right on the premises. They call this “hand-crafted” I just figure it’s a nice change of pace from the standard pre-packaged American beers.
GRUB
The Milllrose, for my money, has one of the best filet mignons in the area. This includes places like Magnum’s and Gibson’s. The food at the Millrose is wonderfully varied so that everyone in your party will be able to find something unique and satisfying to eat. I also love their pork chops which are served with an Apple Brandy glaze and toped with bleu cheese and toasted pecans. You can top off that dish with your choice of vegetable and mashed potatoes. They also will make substitutions and alterations for folks with dietary needs.
The specialty of the house is the barbecued spare ribs. The ribs are glazed in a special, exclusive, Millrose BBQ sauce and served with fries and corn on the cob. It’s a little like being at a cookout but you get to do it in a nice setting and without the need for paper plates.
The Millrose has an excellent selection for your red meat and beef lovers. There are lamb and beef dishes including prime rib, filets and London broils. There is a delicious Dijon-crusted rack of lamb available too.
Just to round things out the Millrose has just about every kind of fish you could want in a fine dining experience. Salmon, Tilapia, King Crab and two shrimp dinners are available to choose from. So as not to be left out there are excellent chicken dishes available for your poultry lovers as well.
The Millrose offers combinations dinners for those of you in a surf and turf mood and they have menus for those watching the calories as well.
PRICES
The prices are not going to break the bank but, despite being in a barn, these are not fast-food prices. The baby back ribs will run you $21.95 and my favorite, the pork chops, will run $20.95. So, this is not the kind of pricing that makes eating here impossible but it does mean you probably can’t eat here for dinner every night of the week. As such, I would but this in the mid-range as far as the prices go. A couple can spend well over $50 without much fuss but the atmosphere and the quality of the food means it’s worth it.
WHY IT'S UNIQUE
The entire place is a lot of fun. The Millrose has an interesting history and you can watch beer being made right there on the premises. The atmosphere is great at this place and even though I have gone here with entire family’s for get-togethers we have never been made to feel rushed. I am a big fan of the exposed-woodwork feel so just the look of this place works for me. It is great food, reasonably priced considering the quality and you don’t have to worry about finding a place to park downtown to eat here.
Photos courtesy of Millrose Restaurant and Brewing Co.
Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
