Schaumburg Live Work & Play - January/February 2009 - (Page 29) A play arrive early in the evening, you may witness a daily pre-shift meeting, when wine pairings as well as specials and soups are explained to wait staff so diners can be told exactly what’s in every dish and whether it can be tweaked for taste and allergies. “Our service is outstanding and sells us the best,” said Entourage General Manager Viena LeJeune, “Because we’re not part of a restaurant chain, we have the opportunity to try different things and be a different kind of night out for our guests.” The space, from top to bottom, was humming with excitement on an otherwise staid Wednesday night. Various private rooms on the second floor were filled with cocktail and appetizer affairs. The bar is always bubbling with gusto, whether it’s a Thursday or live Saturday night entertainment, or patrons enjoying one of many spirits promotions offering complimentary light appetizers and drink samples. (Note: Fuel up with bar appetizers going for $2 and $4 all week from 4 p.m. until the kitchen closes). Consider at least one of the specialty drinks, such as the Bella Rose which blends Skyy Passion Fruit, rose nectar and sour, or opt for a luxury cocktail that may include 150-year-old spirits and a gold-dusted glass. The popular Schaumburg spot is one of the few eateries that boast cobra taps. These taps pour Pearl, Level and Prada vodkas, kept chilled at 10 degrees so mixologists need not dilute a drink with ice, resulting in one exceptional cocktail. If top shelf liquor isn’t your thing, wine dabblers should find the wine program extraordinary. “The wine list is a work in progress, with one or two varieties added weekly, especially when new specials go on the menu,” said Wine and Beverage Director Tom Henaghan. The global list is especially strong in Mediterranean options, like Tuscan and Spanish varietals, but also boasts some unusual bottles. mid the retail landscape and restaurant chains in Schaumburg lies Entourage. You can’t help but notice the dramatic, modern building design, marked by a grand two-story entranceway. After sliding into a dark leather booth, you quickly notice its Zen-like ambiance as your eye is directed to soft fireside light flickering on the restaurant’s flagstone walls. The wait staff, clad in their crisp black and whites, is as friendly as family, only these relatives triple majored in culinary arts, mixology and wines. All these paradoxes add up to the impossibly rewarding dining experience that is Entourage. Celebrating its third birthday in February, Entourage’s name has nothing to do with the HBO series of the same name, but rather it emanated from the group of original owners and backers who traveled the country gathering fresh ideas for a fantastic new restaurant. Today, it still stands apart on many levels, not the least of which is the handsome building that alone may increase diners’ serotonin levels even on the gloomiest of winter days. Diners win with a sophisticated yet casual dining encounter, a Contemporary American menu that’s simultaneously refined. If you
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