Friends Company - Villa Park

I visited the restaurant with my brother, and we were impressed by the incredibly fast service. The salmon salad was absolutely delicious. Emma was fantastic—helpful, kind, and thoughtful. She quickly got the Cubs game on for us, which was much appreciated. She’s definitely my favorite bartender since I started coming here seven years ago.

We went out for dinner on a Saturday night, and the service was disappointing. It took nearly 30 minutes just to place our drink order, and we waited about an hour for our appetizers. The entire dining experience lasted around two hours. I ordered the meatloaf, which was dry and burnt. My wife had the chicken wrap, which was just mediocre. We also tried the barbecue ribs and pulled chicken, but they were both dry and overcooked. I definitely wouldn't recommend this restaurant, nor would I return.

Overall, it’s a good experience. The beer selection is excellent, and the menu offers a variety of typical bar food options. The service can be hit or miss, but it's generally average and sufficient. I've stopped by several times, and it's a solid choice for game nights or late evenings when you’re in a rush and need a quick bite to eat.

The food menu is also quite diverse, catering to various tastes and dietary needs. One impressive aspect is the variety of indulgent and healthy options available, ensuring there’s something delicious for everyone. For a starter, I had the Kung Pao Cauliflower, which was fantastic—juicy, flavorful, and packed with great textures, with just the right amount of spice that complemented the dish without overwhelming it. For my main course, I enjoyed the blackened salmon salad, which included blackened salmon, deviled eggs, mixed greens, capers, red onion, feta, cucumbers, and tomatoes in a citrus vinaigrette. It was a wonderfully filling and delicious salad. The combination of flavors, temperatures, and textures was like a party in my mouth—a truly wonderful lunch experience. To top it off, I tried their peanut butter Snickers pie for dessert, featuring an Oreo cookie crust filled with peanut butter mousse, whipped cream, and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce. It was amazing. If you’re a peanut butter lover, you’ll adore this dessert—creamy, crunchy, and utterly decadent. Plus, the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend The Pour House!

The outdoor patio is a lovely spot for happy hour. The food is quite good as well. The biggest challenge is finding parking, as it tends to get crowded, but there is a parking garage about a five-minute walk from the restaurant.