Martinis on Main: User Reviews

The new owners have done a terrific job with the new menu, focus on service and ambience. For those of us that have been here in the past under the old owners and been disappointed, the new Martinis on Main is a must go to restaurant! After my husband and I dined here, we both stated it would become one of our favorites. The service is unbelievable, food exceptional and the value is evident. The owners are dilligent in making everyone feel welcome and invited into their home! One of the best in the NW suburbs.

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Well, you always here this about buying a home, but this can definitely be applied to an establishment opening under NEW management in Algonquin, Illinois. Keeping the same name, Martini's on Main is located at the intersection of Main and Algonquin Road. If you've ever been there before, the place brings the popular California-style Martini Bar to the Midwest. I was lucky enough to catch this restaurant at a "soft opening" before officially opening to the public. The grand opening is scheduled for mid to late June 2009. While you may not find parking off the main road, there is ample parking behind the building. I don't remember if there was a sign, but the driveway was to the side of the building. There is also a second exit point so it's pretty convenient. I'm always leary about parking right on the side of the road with cars passing, so this was a plus for me. As I got to the entrance, it seemed like a small celebration going on, so I figured it was only for friends and family, but the sign was on, and the doors were open. I was greeted and taken to a table. There were several other customers there enjoying themselves, so it was cool to get in and be a part of it. I counted about 50 available seats in the place, so if you can, call for a reservation ahead of time to guarantee a spot. This place seems like it will be packed once they get their groove going. Now let's get to the dining experience... The drink menu itself boasts 27 martinis, champagne, and about a dozen white and red wines. I being a fan of the Captain, tried the Rum Puncher Martini. Very delicious. After my meal, I digested and relaxed with a Banana Coffee. Don't ask, just try it, I dare you. I always like to try any menu item named after the place as this usually is a Signature dish. I was not disappointed. Heck, I even got to catch the Penguins hockey game. As I awaited my appetizer, seeing other dishes going to there respective tables, and smelling the wonderful scents, my mouth was watering. Everything had a nice presentation. Here is the meal I have chosen:
Artichoke and Cheese Fondue with crispy crostini
Martini’s Filet Mignon crusted with garlic and parmesan
Baked potato, loaded
Seasonal vegetables—steamed
Cheese Cake
The filet was absolutely the best flavor I have had in quite a while. While it was not on the menu, I was offered a Chocolate or Strawberry topping for my cheesecake. I opted for the Chocolate. I hope these are standard offerings. I spoke with the owner and learned that the menu will most likely expand their fish. The place was also re-opened in about 2 months. While I expected some mistakes, you know, maybe with a new staff, cooks, etc.. but everything appeared to run smooth. Everyone was very pleasant. I will definitely be coming back. What a great little place. This place will only remain a secret until it is advertised more widely or reviews are written. Oops !! I guess I blew that. Oh well, let's meet at Martini's.

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Having been a resident of Algonquin for several years now, I have passed by this establishment perhaps hundreds of times, wanting to stop in and judge for myself whether this was a good place. This past weekend I took the opportunity to finally pay them a visit, and I was rather dismayed at my experience. What Martinis on Main has in terms of good ambience, they lose on small details that most attentive diners would not find appealing.

First, it's not good practice for wait staff and the bartender to chit chat at length in front of patrons at elevated volume. It distracts the diner from a good experience.

Second, taking a little more time to clean table-top items would be a dramatice impovement. Our olive oil bottle was coated in a sticky film that I found rather unappealing. Additionally, the pages in our menus seemed to be stuck together. A few minutes spent wiping these items can make a big difference for diners.

Lastly, the food left me less than enthused. My wife's chicken parmesan was overcooked. My pasta primavera had too much sauce and not enough vegetables. For $15 per entree, they need to focus a little more on improving the quality of their food. Anyone can incorrectly prepare basic pasta dishes, which is why diners visit places such as this to experience what it should be like.

It's very disappointing that eating establishments in the suburbs cannot figure out how to run a quality restaurant. It is imperative to have strengths in BOTH culinary & hospitality aspects. Failing to focus on both is what drives discriminating diners into the city and away from what could be good locally owned & operated restaurants.

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Save your money - they totally don't have their act together.

It's a steakhouse of sorts... at 7 pm on saturday they had run out of most steaks! As they have a very limited menu, this was especially unpleasant.

The service was abysmal - couldn't get a glass of water, they were always backed up at the bar making martinis - in total, it took over 2 1/2 hours to get appetizers and dinner.

And then the food... also fairly abysmal. They serve the pastas in a soup bowl sort of thing - good idea, since the sauces run like water soup. We were joking my friend needed a submarine to dive in and find her pasta. They did the same thing with the scallops and rice - a bunch of soggy rice swimming in tasteless sauce.

Dessert? Well they were out of most of those too. Without us ordering, they just appeared with some sort of fried banana thing - bananas encased in tough as leather fried something - absolutely inedible.

Oh yes - and did I mention we paid LOTS for this experience?

McDonalds has better service and better food.

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My wife and I went to Martini's on Main last Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. First, we enjoyed the fact we were only being charged $5.00 for our martinis. Second, my New York Strip was awesome and my wife loved the Chicken Vesuvio.

Our server was very nice; upon finishing our meal, we went to the bar for a nightcap martini where the young women who was bartending was a joy to be around. All in all, we had a great time and I would highly recommend Martini's on Main to all my friends.

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My husband and I were there on a Thursday night. While there was maybe two other tables of diners, it took us over an hour to get our meal. The waitress was very nice and apologetic, saying the cook was "swamped." I have no idea how that was even possible. Food was marginal, and completey overpriced for the neighborhood. I am not sure when they opened, but I am shocked they haven't gone out of business yet.

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This was a bad expereince. My table had to ask for bread and water. After asking for water, and still not recieving it, one person had to get up get the pitcher and fill each of our glasses. It is called Martinis on Main, we had to ask for the Martini menu. Server came by to take order and that was all. Half of our party's food came out, by the time we were done eating the other half came out. All 3 steaks were ordered MR and came out WD,what a waste. The Garlic mashed potatoes were did not have any hint of Garlic. The owner appologized,blamed the kitchen and said it was not the servers fault, obviously not in tune with how a good restaurant is ran. The Atmosphere was nice and the live guitar was pleasent, although could have been a little quieter. I do not recomend going here to eat. Sit at the bar have a Martini and listen to the music that is it.

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The food was very good - no denying that. The atmosphere was also pretty nice - cozy, dim lighting (but not too dim), live guitarist. However, the service could use improvement. First, they overbooked the place so even though we had a reservation we still had to wait 20 minutes for a table. Luckily, there were a couple seats open at the bar, but if there hadn't been we would've been stuck standing in the cramped, drafty entryway. When we did get seated, we were at a table right next to a drafty window - made things a little chilly. And our waitress forgot our appetizer. So as I said, the food was good, but for the service it wasn't worth the high price (most dinner entrees $20 and up).

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