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38 | May 4, 2017 | The Northbrook tower dining out northbrooktower.com HP native living the dream with Marco’s Northside Grill vio Highwood restaurant opened in December Eric DeGrechie Managing Editor Marco Santi is Highland Park and Highwood through and through. The 1984 Highland Park High School graduate loves the community he grew up in. Following a successful career as a soybean trader for the Chicago Board of Trade, he decided to fulfill a lifelong dream to own a restaurant on the North Shore. Marco’s Northside Grill, 329 Waukegan Ave., Highwood, opened its doors this past December. “This has been 30 years in the works and something I’ve always wanted to do,” Santi said. “I was bitten by the restaurant bug very early.” Like many family members and friends, Santi worked at Highwood staple Del Rio Restaurant when he was younger. “One night I walked into the dining room and saw this sea of people eating, drinking, laughing and I was mesmerized by it,” Santi said. “I knew that one day I wanted to do that at my own place.” About five years ago, as the idea to open a restaurant got more serious, Santi connected with Steve Lombardo, owner of Chicago’s famed Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, to get some “world class training.” He spent significant time in the kitchen, waited tables, tended bar, worked with management, Make your Mother's Day! MOTHER'S DAY SPECIALS 11:00 am - 9:00 pm • Rotisserie Roasted Prime Rib • Bacon Wrapped Honey Ginger Scallops • Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail • Rotisserie Roasted Pork In addition to our regular menu EAT-IN • CARRY OUT PRIVATE PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE LIVE MUSIC FRI & SAT NIGHTS from 7:30pm in the Bar 1740 Milwaukee Avenue (at Lake Ave) Glenview 847-699-9999 and did the bookwork and accounting at the restaurant group’s Rosemont location. Feeling confident with the extensive knowledge he acquired during that experience, Santi began looking for a location to open his restaurant and found a spot next door to The Toadstool Pub in Highwood. A group of 22nd Century Media editors recently made a trip to Marco’s Northside Grill to chat with Santi and try some of the restaurant’s food. First up was a bowl of Wisconsin cheese curds ($6.25). The classic upnorth treat that “goes with everything,” as Santi describes them, were a perfect start. The deep-fried balls of deliciousness were served with a side of ranch dressing. The casual atmosphere at Marco’s gives customers a chance to “let their hair down,” according to Santi, and have fun while they’re eating lunch or dinner. “It gets a little loud, but so what. This is a fun and boisterous place when it gets rolling,” Santi said. “I encourage people to come in, get a cocktail, sit down and watch the ballgame.” Next up we tried the jumbo shrimp cocktail ($10). The appetizer features four chunked jumbo gulf shrimp on a bed of iceberg lettuce and is served with Marco’s house cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge. The Texas and Louisiana shrimp are wild-caught and are of the highest quality, according to Santi. Other appetizers available include chicken wings, onion rings and golden tenders. French Marco’s Northside Grill 329 Waukegan Ave., Highwood (847) 748-8557 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday- Saturday Closed Monday onion soup, shrimp bisque and house chili (seasonal) are also popular. The chopped dinner salad ($10), like all the salads at Marco’s, is madeto-order with the freshest ingredients. The salad features a spring romaine mix, shredded cabbage and carrots, cucumber, grape tomatoes and fresh avocado. Santi topped the salad we sampled with shrimp and this was definitely a hit at the table. Among the menu items Santi said the restaurant is already becoming well-known for is the house burger ($11.95). Made with 100 percent Black Angus, mixed with ground beef, brisket and some secret ingredients, the burger comes with potato chips or fresh-cut house fries, a pickle and coleslaw. Diners can substitute the chips or fries with cheese curds, a side salad or onion rings for an extra $3. Cheese (American, cheddar, pepperjack or blue), bacon, grilled mushrooms or avocado can also be added for $1 extra each. Marco’s also offers a fish fry, Black Angus sliders, a black bean vegan burger, a grilled chicken sandwich, a New Orleans chicken sandwich and a reuben, among other items, on an ever-changing menu. Santi has been friends The signature item at Marco’s Northside Grill in Highwood is the house burger ($11.95), paired with potato chips or fries, a pickle and coleslaw. Photos by Alyssa Groh/22nd Century Media The jumbo shrimp ($10) comes with four chunked jumbo golf shrimp on top of a bed of iceberg lettuce, Marco’s house cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge. with Tom Garrity, owner of The Toadstool Pub next door, since they were kids growing up on the North Shore. Garrity approached Santi about not having a kitchen in his tavern. The two decided to form a partnership after receiving permission from the City to work together. Patrons from both establishments can order food from Marco’s. Santi jokes that a “magic door” connects the two establishments, as both are under the same roof with the same landlord. “Tommy and I are working together to provide not only the high standards that I want here in the restaurant and in the dining room, but to provide that same thing in the pub,” Santi said. “People can sit in the pub, watch the ballgame, order food from us and we’ll deliver it to them.” To find out more about Marco’s Northside Grill, visit www.marcosnorthsidegrill.com or give them a call at (847) 748-8557.
northbrooktower.com real estate the northbrook tower | May 4, 2017 | 39 SPONSORED CO<strong>NT</strong>E<strong>NT</strong> The Northbrook Tower’s What: A three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home Where: 2660 Maple Ave., Northbrook Amenities: Almost 5,000-square-foot custom all-brick beauty newly built 1998 in Maple Ridge of District 28 Northbrook. First-floor master suite, vaulted great room, first-floor office. Bright spacious kitchen with eat-in area. Unfinished basement is ready to make into your family recreation space. Interior lot location has paver brick patio, perennials. First floor laundry/ mudroom, two-car attached garage. Very well-cared for home by original of the WEEK owner. Great opportunity! Listing Price: $860,000 Listing Agent: Valerie Kistenbroker & Caroline Gau, (224) 326-0082, Caroline@ CarolineGau.com, Valerie@ ValerieKistenbrokerhomes. com To see your home featured as Home of the Week, email Elizabeth Fritz at e.fritz@22ndcentury media.com or call (847) 272-4565 ext. 19. Brought to you by: April 3 • 757 Prestbury Court, Northbrook, 60062- 8100 - Robert Levy to Roger A. Castino, Christine M. Castino, $565,000 • 3110 Pheasant Creek Drive 202, Northbrook, 60062- 3363 - Coleman Trust to FOR ALL YOUR MORTGAGE NEEDS 664 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, IL 60045 Phone: (847) 234-8484 thefederalsavingsbank.com Tomosz Firlit, $125,500 • 1721 Mission Hills Road 204, Northbrook, 60062-5719 - Brian Lipson to Robin J. Karr, $275,000 • 1404 Sycamore Lane, Northbrook, 60062- 5438 - Jason Anetsberger to Michael J. Anetsberger, Emma A. Anetsberger, $275,000 March 21 • 1217 Carriage Lane, Northbrook, 60062- 1505 - 1217 Carriage Lane Corp to Brian E. Withey, Jaime Baskin, $670,000 The Going Rate is provided by Record Information Services, Inc. For more information, visit www. public-record.com or call (630) 557-1000
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