Valet parking at a restaurant in Bolingbrook! Believe it.

Bolingbrook's first upscale sit down restaurant, Branmor's American Grill. located at Lily

Cache Lane and Naperville Road, opened its doors and turned on its ovens May 7.

"I'm very excited," said co-owner Chris Birck, who owns the restaurant along with her husband, Christopher, and friends Walt and Haydee Dobrovolny.

Asked if she is nervous about owning a restaurant that is the first of its kind in Bolingbrook, Chris said: "The nervousness part comes and goes, I guess."

Everything about Branmor's is upscale from the huge brass handles on the front door, wrap around porch, wooden, cushioned high back chairs in the lobby, and the prairie style building, which resembles something Frank Lloyd Wright might have designed.

By the looks outside and inside, you might think the Brick's and Dobrovolny's have owned restaurants before, but they haven't.

"It's quite a first restaurant," Birck said.

Birck's husband and Walt Dobrovolny, who is the head chef, have known each for quite a while, attending Hinsdale Central High School together. The Dobrovolny's operated a banquet & catering service.

"We've just been talking about opening a restaurant for years," Birck said.

And Bolingbrook seemed like a logical place, she said.

"The growing area (Bolingbrook's population is nearing 50.000) and industry and the new homes in the area. between the two,

we felt a nice upscale (town like Bolingbrook) worked well" for Branmor's.

Branmor's offers plenty of seating, with 240. The mid-section has mixed booths and tables, with one end of the restaurant offering a more private seating area. and the other end. more booths and a horseshoe-shaped bar that offers micro-brewed beers on tap.

"We are upscale, but upscale compared to what? We're an American dining facility that offers great food and great portions,'' said Birck.

One item On the menu with great portions is the 22-ounce porterhouse steak. Other favorite items are the pork chops and lamb shanks, and for dessert, a flourless chocolate waffle with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel or strawberry sauces.

"We've had people come back just for the desserts," she said.

One feature that was specially put in is the open kitchen with windows so customers can watch the chefs prepare meals.

"It gives the customer and ourselves confidence in what we're presenting," Birck said.

"We believe in what we're doing in that line. It's a fun attraction."

Even the name Branmor's sounds up scale. Birck said it's a combination of Brandon, the Dobrovolny's' son, and Morgan. the Birck's' daughter.

Branmor's is open Sunday thru Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.