By: Jennifer McGuffin

     Branmor’s American Grill is better than hot… it is a truly warm place to visit and eat, offering first-class menu in a relaxed and stylish way, with a staff that beautifully blends being both attentive and mellow. 

The Feel
     The dining room reflects Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style of design in tones of brown and beige. The roaring fireplace is a welcoming touch. The seats are comfortable and the atmosphere is calm. It is a great place to sit back and exhale.

      The restaurant also features a separate, comfortable bar area with an award-winning wine list and extensive offerings of single malt scotches, premium bourbons, ports and sherries. While television screens offer a chance to keep an eye on your favorite program or team, this is not a sports bar by any stretch.

 The Food
     The menu created by Chef Walter Dobrovolny emphasizes steaks, seafood, chops & ribs… along with a variety of foods to compliment them.

     We started our meal with a delicious sampling of salads. The Caprese salad cleverly combined spring greens, Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and French fried onions ($4.95). We also tried the Roasted Apple and Spinach salad, which also included Roma tomatoes, candied walnuts and gorgonzola cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette ($4.95). It was very light and fresh.

      If you prefer hot appetizers, the menu offers everything from Black & Bleu (cheese) Beef Tips ($11.95), to Calamari Fritters ($8.25) or Crab and Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms ($7.95). Also available: the classic Shrimp Cocktail ($12.95) and a Peppercorn Ahi Tuna ($11.95).

      For dinner we truly enjoyed the Atlantic Salmon Fillet on garlic mashed potatoes with a steamed vegetable blend and a chardonnay vinaigrette ($19.95). The fish was tender and lightly seasoned. And let me tell you, those mashed potatoes are worth the trip all by themselves. Perfect!

     We also tried one of the house specialties, Chicken Saltimbocca. This generous, semi-boneless chicken breast was filled with provolone cheese and prosciutto ham and seasoned with sage. We chose the seasoned rice, which was a nice compliment to the meal ($19.95). 

     But we couldn’t leave the restaurant without trying one of the other chef’s specialties, Walt’s Barbecued Ribs. The meaty hand rubbed ribs were coated in a custom BBQ sauce (Half Slab $13.95). The slow-cooked were juicy and a meat lover’s joy. 

     Branmor’s also boasts a creative collection of pastas, for the carb-lover in you. The Lobster Pasta pairs slipper lobster, Roma tomatoes, broccoli and linguine with parmesan cheese ($21.95). The Garlic Beef Tips in a roasted garlic cream sauce blended with penne pasta ($17.95) and the Ultimate Mac and Cheese blends cavatappi pasta with the chef’s secret cheese sauce, bacon, Roma tomatoes and fresh chives ($13.95). It’s comfort food for grownups!

 Finishing Touches
     The mark of every good restaurant is how it delivers its chocolate… and our mission was to put Branmor’s to the test! Needless to say, like everything else at Branmor’s, the insanely chocolatey French Silk Tart ($7) met the challenge. This sweet and creamy treat far surpassed the bake shop / coffee house version, and there was plenty to share.

     We also immensely enjoyed the Apple Upside Down Pie, which had a crunchy topping of caramel and walnuts, and was topped with cinnamon ice cream and whipped cream ($6). It’s a great blend of textures, temperatures and tastes. 

     Branmor’s American Grill is located near the intersection of Weber and Boughton Roads in Bolingbrook, and is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations are accepted. Branmor’s also offers a lunch menu featuring express lunch selections and luncheon salads. There’s also a private dining room – all ways for Branmor’s to extend its creative, comforting cuisine to those who visit.