Bites Nearby: Mécénat Delivers Bistro Favorites, Friendly Service

Voila! If you haven't heard, there’s a new restaurant in town:  at 821 W. Burlington, Western Springs. Though the name and owners have changed (from the former Taste of Vino), Chef Mark Downing is no stranger to this location. He has created a fresh and new seasonal menu. Every dish is made to order and made from scratch, so sit back and enjoy your wine.

The food is good without being complicated.  The menu is one page with four categories:  To Start, Soups and Salads, Entrees and Sides.  It’s straightforward and simply made food. 

Start with their Fire Roasted Mussels or the always tasty Beef Tenderloin Sliders. A great dish to share with a friend is the Grilled Brie with arugula pesto and orange honey.

Meat lovers will fall in love with the Grilled Skirt Steak with the chimichurri sauce.  It’s perfectly cooked, juicy and paired with the house-made fries. Potato Gnocchi, Lake Superior Whitefish and the Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop are some of the other highlights on the menu. 

Even if you don’t want to eat an entire meal, Mécénat is a cozy place to kick back and order a couple of appetizers and share a bottle of wine.  Did I mention the great wine deal?  They encourage you to ask about their $20 bottle of wines. Take the deal, it’s worth it!

Dessert selection is small, but whatever you select, you won’t be disappointed. From the first snap into the torched caramelized topping, the crème brûlée is close to perfect. If you’re a fan of chocolate mousse, you’ll know from the first bite that this is no ordinary mousse. The texture is outstanding and the raspberry sauce that accompanies it is beyond fresh. 

The service was impeccable and well executed. Portion sizes are satisfying and your water glasses will be filled at all times, which is a plus in my book. The prices match the food quality and quantity. Overall, a nice addition to the neighborhood.