Preservation, 513 S 3rd St, Geneva, IL (630.208.1588). Entrees $8-$39; desserts $10-$10.50; drinks are boozy or customers can enjoy soda, and initial glasses of water.
The Alchemist. The James. Barrel & Rye. Livia. Gia Mia. Craft Urban. Niche. All of these restaurants fall onto 3rd Street in downtown Geneva, but nothing can beat Preservation Bread and Wine.
By way of some background information, Preservation started in 2005 by Lawrence Colburn as a meat and cheese board place(charcuterie), with a wide wine collection. During the pandemic, the restaurant expanded its outdoor seating area, adding a large bar and an area in which musicians could play live music. In the winter time, the bar area was known as their “Social Bar,” where people can mingle and enjoy a drink under the fairy lights. Like the outdoor tables, the bar area is completely heated, so the outdoor space can be used year-round.
At around 5 p.m. on a Thursday evening in early November, Preservation is the place to be. The restaurant gave off a dim ambiance while walking in. Despite the dark vibe, it was very welcoming and friendly. It was still quite early in the evening, so the restaurant was not very busy, and the atmosphere was quiet.
Reservations and customers are initially greeted by their host(s), who are all high school students. She lead with politeness to the table, and while walking the smell of delicious food being made gave off a smoky sweet scent.
Despite the cold weather, customers who choose to sit outside forget the temperature, because Preservation has heaters above tables to keep customers warm, even as the temperatures drop.
Timeliness was apparent: it only took the waitress one minute to come to our table and ask if any drinks were needed to start off. The very fancy bar was an eye-opener while sitting down, people were drinking and having fun with friends.
The service received was amazing: everyone was very kind. The host was a young girl and was very polite when taking us to our table. Waiters and bartenders are very respectful and patient with customers struggling to pick a dish. Starting with some struggle to pick from all the options they had. There were dishes that we have never heard of, among classic dishes like mac ‘n cheese.
The staff was kind enough to recommend some meals: the Mac N Cheese($12.50) and the Korean Pork Belly Tacos ($15). She often checked in, and refilled our water. It only took 15 minutes for food to be served.
Meanwhile, the environment was very cheerful and friendly: the workers were joking around and having fun with other customers and other waiters.
The Korean Pork Belly Tacos were fantastic. The shell was soft yet still crunchy. There were carrots on top, leading to being a little skeptical that it would taste odd, but was proven wrong within the first bite. The carrot added this needed crunch to the taco, as well as adding a more delicious flavor. The meat was extremely juicy, with hints of spice that weren’t overbearing. It did actually take away from the meat, but the heat was still there after a few bites.
The Mac N Cheese was also amazing: very thick and creamy, and topped with crunchy croutons that gave the perfect texture. These two small plates were an ideal amount of food, too: left Preservation feeling very full and content after washing it all down with cool water.
This restaurant was amazing. Preservation is a nice and cheap place to have a good dinner and chat with friends, and highly recommended.
