Wheaton's Ivy Restaurant offers array of options

Ivy Restaurant has thrived in the eight years since it opened in Wheaton by being flexible and listening to its customers.

"We cater to everything from the softball teams to full on wedding ceremonies and receptions," said general manager Jason Sandquist. "We can cater to almost any event."

The restaurant has multiple spaces that can be rented out for gatherings including the 90-seat patio, dubbed the garden because it's surrounded by ivy and flowers. There are rooms that can accommodate between 25 and 50 people with AV capabilities that are regularly rented for dinner gatherings of doctors or pharmacy reps. The French doors can provide complete privacy, but spaces can also be left somewhat open. Rooms are decorated for the season, but party hosts are welcome to add their own touches.

"We give them a little bit of carte blanche in the imagination department," Sandquist said.

The entire space can also be rented out for parties of up to 120 people and the restaurant can create custom menus to meet any dietary restriction and also coordinate activities like bringing in a balloon artist to entertain children.

"When we book a party it isn't like a 20-minute quick call," Sandquist said. "We invite them in, we sit down with them, we have a glass of wine and we talk about what we can do to make your event a perfect one."

Ivy takes the same approach to its regular diners. The restaurant takes customer input into account when it comes to designing the wine list, which features about 75 to 80 bottles from Chile, Argentina, France, Italy and across the U.S.

"We like to follow some trends but also make sure that we keep up with the wine connoisseurs that come into the restaurant," Sandquist said. "We like to play with the wine list a lot. We like to indulge our wine purveyors and wine drinkers. We gather a lot of information from our guests."

Wine lovers might mention a bottle they tried when traveling and Ivy will try to add it to the list. About half their bottles are available by the glass and all of them are half price on Tuesdays. That deal even applies to the restaurant's reserve list, a selection of about 10 higher end wines that can't be found at any other area restaurant.

"Maybe 20 people a month will order off that list, but they'll come in specifically for that list or they'll call and ask what's on the list," Sandquist said.

The restaurant uses social media to promote new wines and spirits they offer. For the later, Ivy has built relationships with local distillers including Fox River Distilling Company in Geneva, Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in Dekalb and Koval Distillery in Chicago. The restaurant likes welcoming the owners of the small businesses for educational events like a bourbon tasting it will be running on the patio on July 1. Ivy also regularly hosts wine dinners and tastings.

"It's a fabulous way to get the community involved," Sandquist said.

Some dishes like Black Pepper Shrimp, an appetizer featuring blackened shrimp in a black pepper cream sauce served with ciabatta toast points and crispy risotto cake, have been on the menu for 8 years, but Ivy likes to change its offerings up four times a year to highlight seasonal flavors.

Chef Joe Pascolla, who's been at Ivy for five years, also offers a different featured dish each night, often coming up with a wine pairing and showing it off on social media and visiting tables to get feedback from guests.

If your favorite item isn't on the menu at the moment, don't be afraid to ask for it.

"We have guests who come in and say 'you used to have this risotto' and he'll make it like they remember it from two years ago," Sandquist said.

The restaurant focuses on American comfort food, with steaks, chops and seafood as the staples. But it caters to everyone from people looking for a burger and beer to couples celebrating their anniversary with a four-course meal and a bottle of wine.

"You can have either small plates before a show or come in and have a giant 32-ounce porterhouse," Sandquist said.

During the summer patrons can also enjoy live music on the patio Wednesday and Friday. Ivy brings in wide range of performers including acoustic solo acts, jazz pianists, folk and pop groups.

"We try to cover all the bases," Sandquist said.