545 North Bar & Grill: "What a Terrific Addition to Libertyville" Libertyville Restaurant Tip by deecat

Allan and I had dinner on July 20, 2007 to celebrate my birthday. I had Beef Tenderloin; Allan ordered Rack of Lamb but ended up receiving roast pork! The waiter gave us a free dessert for my birthday.

My friend Mickey Scales had just retired from teaching English, and we decided to have a "girl's day out" to celebrate. We decided to spend the day in downtown historic Libertyville. It had been at least a year since I had taken the time to peruse the town. Much to my surprise, there was a new restaurant called 545 North bar& grill. We looked at the posted lunch menu and decided to give it a try.

What a grand idea that turned out to be! It's a long, narrow building, and the decor is quite "slick" and "hip". I would almost think that I were entering a restaurant in Lincoln Park in Chicago!
We chose to eat outside because it was a picture-perfect afternoon. That, too, was a good choice.

Our waitress was quite accommodating...efficient, friendly, and ever so helpful.

The Lunch Menu includes Small Plates (about $8-9); Huge Salads ($7-13); Sandwiches and Lunch Entrees such as Strip Steak, Barbecue Pork Loin, Hamburgers, Grilled chicken Breast, Homemade Corned Beef, Gyros Plate (to name a few).

The Dinner Menu prices are more expensive and have such Main Courses as:
Grilled Filet of Beef, 16 oz Ribeye, Roasted Rack of Lamb, Rosemary Pork Tenderloin Medallions, Pan Seared Halibut, Pancetta Wrapped Shrimp, Vegetable Linguine

The website says that "Chef Patrick Joyce's dishes are infused with international flavors to create distinctive tastes." From our joint experience, we agree!


Favorite Dish: Mickey and I decided to share our lunch. We chose from the Small Plates. We had Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla that was served with pico de gallo, guacamole & sour cream [$8.00] and a Caesar Salad made with fresh romaine, parmesan & garlic croutons [$7.00].

Mickey was concerned that it would not be enough; however, we could not even finish the salad!

The Chipotle Chicken was seasoned to perfection with "a little kick" but not overpowering.
Mickey and I agreed that it was quite delicious. The Caesar Salad was just excellent....so crisp and with delicious crunchy croutons. The dressing was mild and added to rather than overpowering the salad.

With my good friend, the perfect weather conditions, the beautiful new restaurant, the delicious food choices, and the delightful waitress, we agreed that it was a perfect luncheon for our celebration of her retirement.

Address: 545 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, Illinois
Comparison: about average
Phone: 847-247-8700
Price: US$11-20
Rating: 5
Theme: Eclectic/International
Website: http://www.545north.com