1413 Peterson Rd
Libertyville, IL 60048
(847) 549-9900

Jimmy’s Charhouse is primarily a chophouse well known for their excellent steaks and greek chicken. This restaurant is a carnivore’s dream with great atmosphere (dark but sociable), amazing staff and a welcoming environment for all sorts of gatherings — family, friends, girls’ night out or a business dinner.

You’ll catch me at Jimmy’s Charhouse in Libertyville, Illinois at least twice a week. The staff is quick and attentive, and the management makes every customer feel like a VIP, even on your first visit. Their management to staff ratio is high, which shows that they’re willing to pay extra to make sure everyone is watched (customers and staff). I’ve never had a bad experience with a server.

The restaurant is smoke-free, but smokers are welcome to puff up at the bar which is cut off very nicely from the restaurant. I’ve never heard anyone complaining about a smokey atmosphere. Cigars are welcome and encouraged at the bar, and they have a full menu and tables available.

Their menu prices are amazing, but their wine list is a bit short. Ask a manager if they have any off-menu items in the collection; I’ve had some decent (and cheap) greek wines that aren’t always available. One of my favorite items is the greek skirt steak — usually a terrible cut if you cook it yourself. Jimmy’s marinated this tough steak overnight with all sorts of oils and spices, and when they present it it is tender and popping with flavor. It is also cheap, and includes a huge soup or salad and a gigantic serving of steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Try the garlic mashed to complete any entree.

For the vegetarians, Jimmy’s offers huge fresh salads and a number of reasonable veggie entrees. Their daily specials are great, the fish is always fresh, and the steaks can be ordered rare (as I like it) without fear of getting a low quality cut. Jimmy’s consistently gives me 5-star service with a low price and many reasons to come back again and again.

3747 Route 132
Gurnee, IL 60031
(847) 249-9999

Bombay City Restaurant is located closer to Waukegan than Gurnee Mills. It is located just east of Highway 41 on the South side of the street (directly across the Onan Giant Statue). They are Gurnee’s second Indian restaurant, and one I was looking forward to for months before it opened.

Bombay City is owned and managed by Iqbal Malik, former General Manager of the famous Gaylord’s Indian Restaurant in Schaumburg, Illinois. Iqbal learned many secrets on bringing the Indian flavor to the masses at Gaylord’s, but he unfortunately has not learned customer service. I have been to hundreds of Indian restaurants in my life (it is one of my favorite foods), and this restaurant had the worst service from the management staff I have ever experienced.

It hurts me to leave a negative review as the chef staff and the server staff are amazingly talented and personable. I would give the servers and the chefs 5-Stars without thinking twice, especially considering that they have to work under the torment of the owners of this restaurant.

Bombay City is a nice little restaurant with a very basic layout. It is a little cramped during the buffet as the line backs itself up and blocks off people returning to their tables. The food selection is decent (nowhere near as full as you’d find on Chicago’s famous Devon Avenue Indian strip) with a wide selection of meats and vegetables. Their desert table is standard fare, usually kulfi ice cream and some fresh fruit.

Flavor-wise the food is decent, but they run through the more popular meats (chicken and goat) very quickly, requiring a 10 minute wait on each lunch buffet I’ve visited. Their weekends tend to pack up so get there early or late if you want a table. Prices are a little higher than Devon Avenue, but they have very few competitors and likely a high rent to pay. The dinner menu is too expensive for my taste considering the atrocious management service. I have had repeated take-out orders done wrong, and have had to return to have my food fixed only to have it made wrong again. Never had the owners offered to compensate me for the repeated travels or the money I spent. One take-out order I made (my absolutely last take-out from this restaurant) cost me over $40 for 2 people and was missing more than half the food the menu said came with the “deal.”

I hate to give this restaurant 0-Stars, but I have no choice. The wait staff is excellent and hard working (overworked) and the chefs know what they’re doing. I just can not imagine another afternoon of looking at the dark faces and mean responses from the owners who think they’re doing me a favor just by being open. This is the anti-thesis of luxury, and the end-all best example of how to not run a restaurant. If Bombay City is open in a year I would be very surprised, but I hope that someone else takes over control of managing the fine staff and layout so that I can take my friends and family back.

Until then, I would not only avoid Bombay City Restaurant in Gurnee, Illinois, I wouldn’t even drive past it. If things change, I will be happy to re-review it, but I have the expectation that they won’t, until the doors are closed.