“Devon-Oakbrook Style”

[rating=5] Recently. we visited the Devon Seafood Grill on Chicago Avenue, near Michigan in Chicago. I mentioned in my review that they had another location in the Chicagoland area, Devon Seafood and Steak, in Oakbrook Terrace, just west of the famed shopping center, and tonight, along with our friends Vickie and Alan, we made the trip to the Western suburbs. While the trip, during rush hour is a little longer than one might hope for, this dining experience is well worth the drive. In an area that is filled with steak houses (Ditka’s is just three blocks East of this restaurant), one needs to know that what you will find at Devon is a great steak, if not the widest of selections. In fact, the menu appears to be more seafood than steak, leading me to think, that in a matter of time, the name will become as the Chicago Avenue location, but the do have steaks (which I will tell you about) and they are “superb”!

The restaurant is in one of the strip malls on Cermak, roughly three blocks west of Route 83 and the Oakbrook Shopping Center. The actual address is 17w400 22nd Street ( this is the crazy way they number the streets in the burbs), directly across the street of the Oakbrook Costco. They have complimentary valet parking, which is always nice. There is a small outdoor seating area, which is nice, but to be honest needs some landscaping to hide the fact that one is overlooking a parking lot. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a bar area complete with TV screens for sports, and a huge dining room where a booth or table can be comfortable for your meal.

We were greeted by our hostess and brought to our table, where our server, Haani, a knowledgable bubbly personality , promptly suggested some beverages. They have a massive wine menu and of course a complete bar where I enjoyed a perfect martini (shaken, not stirred by Haani). We looked at the regular menu as well as the prix-fixe offers. These by the way, are superb meals that include a first course (salad or bisque and a choice of  seven main courses) these are priced from $33-$43 and include items such as 1/2 pound Lobster Tail, 6 oz center cut filet, and even jumbo lump crab cakes.

We opted to order several items, on the regular menu including the lobster bisque (one of the best bisques I have ever tasted) and a wedge salad with lobster. for our “starters”, the shrimp ceviche (black beans, sweet potatoes, corn and cilantro), and the smoked salmon flatbread ( an absolute delight to eat- sort of like a “lox pizza, without the cream cheese), and the “shared sampler”, a combination platter of jumbo crab cakes (as I said at Devon Seafood, the best crab cakes, ever!), with a calamari mi, shrimp scampi with a trio of sauces that are tangy and tasty. The portions are perfect for sharing.

We also enjoyed and I mean ENJOYED the chilled seafood platter (available in two sizes); shrimp cocktail (truly jumbo), fresh shucked oysters, lobster claw and crab legs- a delight that all enjoyed greatly. Our main courses were the filet  (8 oz) the 18 oz prime bone-in-ribeye (dynamite) and we added sides of crab hush puppies and their famed lobster mac n” cheese- one of my favorite dishes. By the way, when we were first seated and enjoying our drinks, we were served Devon’s “Signature” cheddar peppercorn biscuits, served with whipped butter, drizzled with maple syrup and Maldon sea salt. To die for! These just melt in your mouth!

For desert, we only enjoyed the carrot cake (one never saw a carrot cake like this before)-pecan praline filling, sweet cream cheese, toasted coconut, crème anglaise. WOW!  The apple croustade with cinnamon ice cream and bourbon maple syrup was divine and the vanilla bean creme’ brulee, superb. They have more, but we could no longer take on any more calories, so we took the box of cookies assortment for the ride home. We have many reasons to return as there are many menu items that I know we want to try. Managing partner, Catherine Jackson, came by to say hello and make sure that we were happy. We certainly were and appreciated the friendly staff from hostess, to server, to bus staff, all caring about the happiness of the patron and the dining experience as a whole.

Devon Seafood and Steak is open seven days a week-

Monday-Friday  11 a.m.- 10 p.m.  (with a special lunch menu)

Saturday  4 p.m.- 10 p.m.

Sunday  4 p.m.- 9 p.m.

They can do parties and of course accept reservations- call 630-516-0180 or

visithttp://www,devonseafood.com