The Port Street Grill is located in The Ameristar Casino at the end of Main St. in downtown St. Charles. The casino complex reminded me of Disneyland’s Main Street USA and the many stores, games arcade, restaurants and attractions, as well as the casino felt more like an amusement park for adults.
Upon entering the restaurant with its oversize leather booths, heavy dark wood tables, high ceiling, large framed art prints and dimmed lighting we felt like we were walking into the study of an English country manor. The impressive wine room in the middle of the restaurant and the open kitchen in the rear reminded us that this was all about food.
Port Street is the place to come for beef and prime rib is one of their specialties. That became apparent as soon as we got a whiff of the mouth-watering aroma of prime rib slowly roasting in the oven. That was all that was needed for three members in our party of four to order it as their meal. Served au jus with baked potato, steamed green beans and creamed horseradish each large, thick cut was prepared exactly to order and was proclaimed melt in the mouth delicious.
I was the lone dissenter in the prime rib love fest but was just as satisfied with my order of chicken marsala. Served with a green salad, roasted potatoes, whole button mushrooms and green beans; it was also an excellent choice. I especially liked the mango vinaigrette salad dressing and would have snapped up a bottle to take home if it had been offered for sale.
My sister always drinks ice tea and was very impressed with the lemon half wrapped in cheesecloth and tied with ribbon to make sure no seeds fell out when she was adding the juice to her tea. Ice cubes made from iced tea ice also ensured that her drink stayed cold without being watered down.
We finished our meal with a huge piece of extremely rich and creamy New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberries. By the end of the meal, we were jokingly vowing never to eat again; however, that pledge lasted only until lunch the next day.
Service was extremely attentive without being obtrusive. As an added bonus we were in time to take advantage of their early bird dining special offered Mondays through Thursdays from 5pm to 6pm. Although entree prices alone are usually in the $20 and up range, we had salad, main course and dessert for the ridiculously low price of $13.99 per meal, beverages extra.
The restaurant is open nightly for dinner and reservations are recommended because this is one place you’d hate to miss.
From journal A Taste of St. Charles