Reader recommendation: Isabella Cafe in Tinley Park
A reader named Len called recently to tell me about a wonderful restaurant that he and his wife, Ruby, had found in Tinley Park.
Isabella Cafe (17211 S. Oak Park Ave.) is in a former home that has been remodeled as a restaurant. Len said the the food and service was “outstanding,” and he convinced me to take a trip up there for lunch last week. I usually don’t head out of our area to eat, since there are plenty of great local restaurants to choose from, but since a local reader made the suggestion, I decided I should check it out.
The restaurant is relatively small, with about 20 4-person tables between the main dining room and enclosed porch, but it feels intimate, not cramped. Several windows let in lots of light during the daytime, and white lace curtains and white Christmas lights add to the brightness. Granite tabletops create an elegant atmosphere. (”I’m too old for ambiance,” Len told me, but I enjoyed it.) The wait staff were sharply dressed in white tuxedo shirts and bow ties, which impressed Len.
The menu is classic Italian. I had a polenta torte with spinach and red peppers, and a chopped salad of corn, green and red peppers, and red onion in a thyme vinaigrette, with dollops of goat cheese on top.
There are numerous pasta dishes on the menu, of course, and a small but varied entree menu that features chicken, veal, duck and lamb dishes. They recently added a “From the Grill” section to the menu, which includes steaks (including a stuffed beef tenderloin), lamb chops, salmon and pork tenderloin.
For dessert, you’ll have to choose one from the 13 options, all of which are homemade. Len raved about the Italian Strawberry Shortcake. I was torn between the chocolate coconut torte and poached pear cheesecake, but in the end went with the daily special, which was strawberries and sweetened Mascarpone cheese drizzled with a chocolate-balsamic sauce. (It was heavenly, as you probably guessed.)
Isabella Cafe opens daily at 11 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Daily lunch specials for $10.95 include soup or salad, a choice of more than a dozen entrees or 5 Paninos (sandwiches), and a beverage.
They offer several weekday dinner specials:
- Mondays 3-5 p.m.: Half-priced appetizers and half-priced wine.
- Tuesdays 3-5 p.m.: Any pasta and a glass of wine for $15 (not including tax and tip).
- Wednesdays 3-10 p.m.: Complimentary Champagne with any dessert order.
- Thursdays 3-10 p.m.: Bring your own bottle (no corkage fee).
The restaurant is about 40 minutes from Bourbonnais. There’s ample parking in a lot behind the restaurant.
