Illinois Eatery Among Best Southern Restaurants In U.S.

BLUE ISLAND, IL — If you're in Chicagoland, you don't have to go too far for real Southern food, according to a new ranking from OpenTable. The online restaurant reservation service named an Illinois eatery among the 50 Best Southern Restaurants in America.

"While Southern states claim the most number of restaurants on the list, with Louisiana in the lead with eight, northern and mid-western states including New York, Philadelphia, and Illinois prove that Southern hospitality can take root anywhere," OpenTable said.

Their Illinois pick? The Maple Tree Inn, a Louisiana Brasserie, in Blue Island. The restaurant has a 4.6-star ranking on OpenTable. (Get Patched In: Subscribe to free daily email, news alerts, Facebook fun and more from Patch)

Some diner reviews from the site:

• "Yes it is expensive but WORTH IT. Service was great, food was OUTSTANDING! The Cajun Bloody Mary was delicious! We love coming here for a romantic dinner."
• "I love, love, love this place! I’ve been coming here for years and they never disappoint. Really great vibe and food is delicious. I put in my head that if I ever get married I would hold my reception on the veranda."
• "Fantastic, delicious, marvelous."
• "Maple Tree never disappoints. It's a south side treasure."

The Maple Tree says it's run by "second-generation restaurateurs born and raised in the business" who are "committed to the art of Cajun/Creole cooking and maintaining our status as the first and longest-running Cajun/Creole restaurant in Chicagoland." The restaurant promises to deliver "All the comforts of New Orleans, just a little closer to home."

The owners say the restaurant is housed in a former Prohibition-era speakeasy dating back to 1890.

The Maple Tree's menu offers fried green tomato Napoleon, alligator cheesecake, jalapeño cornbread muffins, two types of gumbo, oysters, chicken and waffles, crawfish Étouffée, ribs, desserts and even a "dis and dat platter."

To see a map and list of OpenTable's 2018 Best Southern Restaurants, click here.

Photo via Shutterstock