I had a chance to check out the food at the Silk Asian Tavern about a week ago - it was really good! To be honest, the last time I had dinner there, was back when it was a place called the Wheel Works! (Like 25 years ago). These are new owners - and I can't say enough good things about them!
One of the things I really liked - Silk has a large selection of really well prepared Asian food! (Sushi, Mongolian beef, etc.) If you want something fun, try the appetizer that comes out on a hot stone!
The Fundraiser for the Condell Radiation Oncology unit is this Thursday, November 15th from 3-8pm. It's $20 to get in (with a cash bar).
Here is the full press release for the opening of the Silk Asian Tavern. I'd love to hear your feedback!
VERNON HILLS – Silk Asian Tavern, 4 E. Phillip Rd., Vernon Hills (on Townline Road), a new, unique, hip, urban suburban Global Asian restaurant and sushi bar serving up a contemporary Asian dining experience in an upscale casual setting, is hosting a grand opening celebration November 12-15. Events culminate with a fund raiser on Thursday, November 15 on behalf of Advocate Condell Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Services
From Monday through Wednesday, guests at Silk Asian Tavern www.silkasiantavern.com, located in the building formerly occupied by Silk Mandarin Restaurant, will enjoy free samples of appetizers as well as drink specials. Diners will get a 10 per cent discount on all food items.
On Thursday, November 15, the community is invited from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., to enjoy appetizers, desserts, signature food items and cocktails, and select wines. Lake County radio station WXLC’s (102.3 FM) Haynes Johns broadcasts live from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. $20 per person with a cash bar. A portion of the proceeds goes to Advocate Condell Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Services.
Silk Asian Tavern’s co-executive chefs and owners, Cliff Ostrowski and Bo Wungwattana, honor the traditions of authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese dishes while continuing to serve favorite selections of regular patrons coming to Silk Mandarin the last 25 years.
Silk Asian Tavern, which seats 160 people, features Dim Sum, small bites, and starters; salads and soups; main entrees; noodles and rice; desserts; and chef’s specialties as well as an extensive selection of liquor and wine. It’s sushi bar rivals any found in an urban location. Signature dishes (some one-of-a-kind in the north and northwest suburbs) include:
• Hot stone – A 500-degree stone is used to cook thinly sliced marinated beef
• Chen Du Chicken – Szechuan style preparation of crispy diced chicken, dried red chilis, and Szechuan peppercorn oil
• Honey Peach Shrimp – Crispy fried shrimp tossed in a honey poppy seed like sauce
• Pork Belly Robatayaki – Sweet chili glazed and served with an avocado watermelon salsa
• Soft Shell Crab Roll – Thai basil, avocado, red and black tabiko caviars and a sweet chili sauce
“We have a contemporary menu usually found in a Chicago urban Asian restaurant,” said Ostrowski. “We honor the tradition of foods from a variety of countries, so if you visited China or Japan and enjoyed a specific dish, we can prepare it for you. And we offer many dishes that meet the needs of our health conscious customers.
“We also challenge the pallet enabling our customers to experience new tastes. From our main entrees, diners choose chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, lobster, or tofu, then add their own style, such as Kung Pao, cashew, basil, ginger, and more. If you like Mongolian Beef you might like Mongolian Lobster. Variety is the spice of life,” he said.
Among its unique specialties is Robatayaki – marinated meats and vegetables skewered and cooked over a Japanese grill. The method of cooking is similar to barbecue where the food on skewers are slow-grilled over hot charcoal.
Ostrowski said Silk Asian Tavern enjoys the carry-over loyalty of customers of the previous, highly regarded Silk Mandarin by preparing and serving many of that restaurant’s popular dishes. “We appreciate their support and make sure we provide them what they have come to enjoy for so many years,” he said.
Silk Asian Tavern also features a lunch buffet Monday through Friday. A Sushi happy hour Mondays to Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. begins November 19. Soon to come is Dim Sum football…patrons will enjoy Dim Sum while watching NFL football on four televisions.
Award winning co-executive chef Ostrowski and his brother-in-law, Wungwattana, each of whom brings many years of well known Chicago restaurant and banquet experience to Silk Asian Tavern, have remodeled the restaurant to give it an urban feel in a suburban setting. The new look Sushi bar is complemented by a food and beverage bar overlooking an open kitchen.
Buoyed by 26 years of combined experience and accomplishments – Ostrowski, among other restaurants, was Sous Chef at the upscale bistro-style French/Asian fusion Red Light Restaurant in Chicago and Executive Chef/Food and Beverage Director for the Hard Rock Café and China Grill Chicago; Wungwattana was Executive Chef at Japonais in Chicago.
Including Ostrowski’s wife, Dear, with her exceptional restaurant and banquet facility credentials, the family-owned Silk Asian Tavern is filling a void in Lake County by serving diners Asian fare unique to a suburban setting.
Silk Asian Tavern, open for both lunch and dinner, provides catering services, and hosts private parties and business meetings. Plans call for delivery services.
Silk Asian Tavern, accessible from both Phillip Road and Townline Road, is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m,, and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information call (847) 680-1760, or visit www.silkasiantavern.com.
