This week we hit up Aria (new) in Burr Ridge. You may recall that each week, the person picking the restaurant brings a conversation-starter question. Our topic this week was what are you looking forward to over fall & winter months? One thing high on all our lists is watching this place take off. Based on our experience, we know that it will.

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QUICK STATS

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Price Range: $$$

Best For: folks after a big, imaginative menu with something for everyone (sweet and savory)

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BEHIND OUR RATINGS

Food Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

The (extensive) menu is incredible. Selecting was genuinely hard: whatever you order means there’s something else you aren’t ordering.

Friends, history has been made here at SSBC. You will recall we promised ourselves when we started that we wouldn’t repeat the same place twice within the year. Aria forced us to break our own rule: I simply can’t sleep at night knowing there’s a pineapple-upside-down waffle out there that I haven’t tried.  

When the food arrived, we found Aria is as much cattle as hat (that means they delivered on the quality promised).

The regular coffee (Lavazza) was excellent, a solid breakfast cup, maybe a touch on the fierce side. Go get em, tigers.

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Our server, Amore, was simply delightful. Sweet, attentive, insightful about the menu. At first I received the wrong espresso drink but she fixed it right away.

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

Influencers are going to mob this place when they get a hold of it (they’ll trot over post-Kohler). The flower walls, sidewalk café, and artful food and drink presentations are all easy on the eyes.

You guys know we love big roomy booths and this place did not disappoint. Word to the wise: there's a step-down along the booths next to the window, so be careful.

Noise Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

The black velvet booths serve as sound-absorption which will help with a place this big and open. They had good music (Tame Impala) going at the right level, and we could hear each other just fine.

Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

It's not a budget place, but the quality is exceptional and well worth the trip.

Wait Time: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [4/5]

We walked right in, though we had a reservation. I can’t stress this enough: we love it when places take revs.

Kid-Friendly: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

There's a kids menu, and Sunny was well taken care of.

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WHAT WE ORDERED

Court had the apple maple ham French toast, which is essentially a croque madame crossed with sweet apple maple French toast. The potatoes were perfectly crispy, buttery, and light. The whole plate was outstanding.

Kay ordered the crab cakes benedict. They were very good, with a hollandaise she found to be tangy and just right. The potatoes were outstanding. In addition to the coffee, she tried (and loved) the lavender honey latte.

Sunny went with his usual, chicken tenders and fries with ketchup. He gave the whole thing a big thumbs up and told us his food was really, really good.

As for me (Bridget), as soon as I ordered the veggie skillet, Amore shared that it’s one of her favorites. I can see why. First, it’s as much a bowl as it is a skillet. I was surprised that I wasn’t asked how I wanted the eggs prepared. They arrived scrambled and I was glad I didn’t get a chance to futz with them because it was perfect. The potatoes had a fantastic flavor, nice and crisp and salty, the asparagus was delicious, and the balsamic pulled it all together beautifully.

As we were finishing our meals, the owner brought us a plate of stuffed French toast to try. We demolished it. The cream cheese frosting was out of this world. When we return, this is a must-have.

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THE BOTTOM LINE

Our Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [5/5]

What Made Us Smile:

The owner (Ryan) introduced himself and shared experiences from his other successful restaurants in Chicago and Vegas. We’re so lucky to have his newest addition out here in our backyard. His warm hospitality was the capstone on a wonderful experience.

What Could Be Better:

We’d love an option to enjoy something when you first sit down, whether that’s a pastry or a fruit tray, while perusing the menu.

Will the SSBC Be Back?

We’re so keen to return that we’re breaking our own rule to do so. Pineapple upside down waffle, I’m coming for you.