In the heart of downtown DeKalb, Illinois, a local family owned restaurant sits on the side of a small hill. The aptly named Hillside Restaurant is the epitome of what it means to be a resident raised in the DeKalb tradition.
Now in its fifty-third year of business, The Hillside Restaurant has kept true to its small hometown roots. The Restaurant purchases all of its produce locally and has always done their best to help out the local farmers. Hillsides sole hostess Daniell claims" …Our restaurant is supported by the people of this town, so we feel it's only fair to give back what they have given us over the years." Hillside has stayed true to that claim by keeping their portions large, and menus price friendly with entrees ranging from $6 to $17.
The atmosphere of the restaurant hit me instantly when I walked in the door. The restaurant resembles a one level ranch whose brick walls are slowly being covered completely vine and vegetation. Protruding bay windows run along the front allowing high amounts of natural light giving the inside an easy and relaxing day time feel. Rich with stained wood that run across the ceiling, deep brown wooden floors, naked wood chairs, and mahogany walls the restaurant resembled some ones den. A shelf is decorated with fake flowers in a vase, small grandfather clocks, and mason jar, while others hung prints and paintings. Sounds of jazz, Sinatra, and solo piano compositions hummed at a low volume from the speakers will put anyone at ease.
I visited the restaurant on a Wednesday around 4:30. I was the only person in the entire restaurant for about an hour before a few senior couples showed up for dinner. Hillside has over 50 drinks to choose from ranging from $4-$45 dollars a glass. I started with one of their specialty drinks, the cranberry kiss. The drink is $5.50 and was simply cheap champagne mixed with cranberry cocktail. The drink taste like a wine cooler and is a total waste of money.
The appetizer I ordered showed no relation to its predecessor. For $8.50 the herb pita chip and crab dip a try is served on a rectangular plate with the light pink crab dip accumulated in the center. The pita chips are cut a triangular tortilla chip style sticking out of the dip. The pita chips took on a texture and taste similar to a funnel cake, while the dip has a sweet but still seafood taste too it. Although I am not impressed with the quality of the beef noodle soup, it is still satisfying. With soggy vegetables and very little beef, this soup is served with pre-packaged crackers.
For $12.95 the description reads turkey pot pie with homemade biscuit and cranberries. Uniquely served on a circular dish that contains a warm, soft butter-milk biscuit in the middle surrounded by the homemade fillings of what would be in the pot pie. A useless side of cranberry sauce is served on the side. The biscuit is nothing shy of delicious and soaked the vibrant and lively flavors from its surroundings. The dish included vegetables that crunched as you chewed them, and were all chopped finely and evenly distributed in the dish. The dish has an abundance of white turkey meat that is juicy and full with flavor. The consistency of the sauce that all of these ingredients float in is thick, and warm. By no means did the preparer of this dish take any shortcuts. Sensations of sweet, buttery, savory, and salty all dance perfectly on your tongue.
The Hillside is a restaurant that decides to spend their money on the dishes they feel people will come and spend money on. Some dishes are completely unoriginal and tacky, while others are brilliant with flavor and texture.
Rating: 4 Stars-Very Good
The Hillside Restaurant
121 North Second Street
DeKalb, IL
815-756-4749
Open: Breakfast-dinner every day excluding Mon., Breakfast-lunch on Mon.
Entrees:$5.75-$19.99
Credit Cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended after shows end at Egyptian Theatre
Noise: Conversation- Friendly
Other: Restaurant located on one-way street with one way parking
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