06/19/09

great food, service, atmosphere

by sarjentsoysauce

Imagine a square building with windows all around...ok that's not this place!

We went with our friends tonigiht. the place was great. the food was great (pork tower). My wife had the jumbo shrimp boil, great.. we snacked on some crawfish(great). And did I mention the drinks? Hurricane's that actually were good omg!

I'll be back to this place for real.

• Pros: awesome mudpie
• Cons: need signs on the bathroom doors!

03/07/08

Not only the best cajun food in the Midwest, the best restaurant on the South Side

by neworleansgrl

The Maple Tree Inn is located in a quaint area on the South Side of Chicago in Blue Island in a little nook that overlooks the river - yes, the Metra train goes by occasionally but it is hardly noticeable - fantastic ambiance, especially in the summer out on the veranda; I remember it when it was in Beverly and the quality of the food and service is still outstanding. The original chef, Tom, still prepares all the food and it is top notch. Easily the best restaurant for flavor and ambiance on the South Side. Try the Hickory Buttered BBQ shrimp or scallops - perhaps their best dishes; the seafood is extremely fresh. The baked oysters, crab cakes, crawfish etouffee, blackened scallops and Dixie Doorstop Porkchop are all fantastic, too. Interesting dishes with alligator meat and ox tails, as well. Sometimes on Sundays the owner has a deal with live jazz and and an all-you-can-eat special. Completely worth the trip time and time again. As close as you can get to New Orleans, if not better... no crackers or steak sauce needed...

• Pros: Awesome, flavorful food, relaxed ambiance, and great service

02/25/08

Okay Cajun food, kind of close to authentic...

by misslouisiananative

Overall, I would say that the food was very flavorful. I started out with the country gumbo. It had a decent taste, but I did not like that all of the ingredients such as the sausage, chicken, and seafood was cut up so small to the point where it all kind of blended in and I wasn't sure what I was eating. It was served with rice, but not with crackers, which I did have to ask for. I also ordered crawfish etouffee. The roux was redder than I preferred (I like it a little more orange), but it did have a good taste. I would just recommend that they serve it with rice rather than risotto and make it a little more thinner since it seemed a bit to thick and chunky. It had a boiled whole crawfish on top, which was cute, but when I broke off the tail and tried the tail meat, it was old and bland. I guess it was really just meant as a garnish/decoration and not to eat. the $22 steak was very tender, but was not seasoned and there was no steak sauce. The cornbread dressing was bland and had the taste of something that had been in the refrigerator too long.

The atmosphere/decor was more like a makeshift sideroom that was added on to the original building and had large couch-like side chairs that were a little too low and hard to pull up to the table.The original dining/bar area is nice, however.

Basically, if I had not been from Louisiana and been so used to how food is cooked and prepared down there, I would have been more impressed. Close to the real thing if you haven't had Louisiana food in Louisiana before. The flavors were good, but there were some little things here and there that took away from the cajun experience.

• Pros: Good flavor, good service
• Cons: Sides are not included in the cost of the entree, a little pricey, makeshift added side room.

02/17/08

O.K., ambience, but average, pricey food

by checzwick

Had great expectations after reading other reviews and finding the establishment sits in a charming and historical building at the end of a quaint, old downtown Blue Island street. The entranceway is curtained and makes you feel as if you are walking out onto a stage, but presents you to the front of the beautiful, old bar. The main restaurant area is rather small, but you can be seated in what they call "the veranda", which is basically an added on porch area with plexiglas windows that overlook the river, Metra tracks and arching steel bridge. The room decor was tacky and the room could have used more heat on a cold winter's night. The big stuffed chairs were old, but comfy. I had to ask for another single candle to be lit and put at our table because the lighting in the veranda was awful. The waitress was elsewhere mentally and I got the feeling she could have cared less if we were there. At $22 for a plate of 3 scallops and a handful of too-salty sweet potato fries, I thought the prices were way out of line. Salad was extra and looked like a handful of bagged spring mix topped with a slice of red onion and a few chunks of grueyere cheese and they must have been hoarding the salad dressing in the kitchen because it was barely there. The scallops were not very tasty. My husbands jambalaya at $17 was mediocre. To sum it up, over-priced food in what could be a neat location if they would drop a few of the bucks they made from their profit into sprucing up the place.

• Pros: Nice bar area
• Cons: Average, pricey food

01/23/08

Best Cajun ever

by Gizrrrle

The food had fantastic heat and flavor and the service was impecible. I will definitely go again. Compliments to the chef!

• Pros: ambience
• Cons: price

06/06/06

Not worth it.

by tourmaline2777

I did not enjoy my experience at the maple tree inn. The food was not very good and it was a bit over priced. I will not go back.

10/25/05

User review by hemmybubb

by hemmybubb

I have been a happy patron to the Inn for years, now it is one of my husband's favorite local places. The food and atmosphere are a new orleans-style treat. The bar area can get smoky, but I recommend upstairs dining or on the deck in the summer. Chances are you'll get something good off the menu, but there are some "loser" dishes. Service is run of the mill.

09/25/05

Southern Hospitality

by compacthart

Nothing beats the atmosphere. Its just like being back home in Nawlins. Food is great 2x2x2 a must. After Katrina I just wanted to fell like i was back home Maple Tree's owner gave us some "Southern Comfort" at his friendly resturant. Benefit for N.O. Oct 2, 2005 4pm $25 buffet live N.O. music stop on in at The Maple Tree.

08/23/05

Great place great food!!!

by stayc

I went with 2 friends, one of which had been there before. I didnt know what to expect, but as soon as I walked in the door, I knew I was going to love it! It was like stepping into a cozy restaurant in New Orleans, just charming and welcoming! I got a little worried when I was looking at the menu, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and ordered the jambalaya and it was outstanding! Its and interesting place and will of course be going back!!

08/03/05

overpriced--don't waste your time!

by cyberfox

Food is not very good and overpriced. Overcrowded and smoky. Restaurant was better when it was located in the Beverly area in Chicago.