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Reporter | Progress • mysuburbanlife.com • Wednesday, August 7, 2013 • WSD
| PlanIt Life |
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MYSTERY DINER
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Restaurant reviews
Charm and character highlight Public Landing Public Landing is a restaurant rich in character. Its charming setting and classic upscale fare surely are enough to attract those with an appetite, but the history ingrained in the Lockport eatery’s limestone walls truly sets it apart. It inhabits the first level of the historic Gaylord Building, a limestone warehouse constructed in 1838, that played a vital role in one of the great enterprises of the 19th century: the digging of the 96-mile-long Illinois & Michigan Canal. Nestled between the canal, a railway and a park, the building provides a local history lesson to Public Landing diners. Murals on the walls of the building’s entrance explain its significance to mid-1800s trade, while engraved stones just outside the restaurant’s patio offer a glimpse into how the waterway was born. President Abraham Lincoln played a big role. My companion and I spent a recent summer night at Public Landing. Dinner came first, followed by a relaxing walk through Lincoln Landing Park, a terrace along the canal just south of the Gaylord Building. Inside, diners are treated to a lovely window view of the restaurant patio, park and terrace overlooking the canal. Of course, you get the sense you’re dining in history: Wooden beams line the restaurant ceiling, and the limestone bricks show through to the interior. After we were seated, a veteran server greeted us kindly before bringing out warm pretzel bread with our appetizer, the House Made Chips. The app, tossed with Romano cheese and sea salt and flanked by a ranch dipping sauce, was both tasty and a bargain. For our entrees, I went with the Char Broiled Pork Tenderloin, while my companion opted for the Blackened Mahi Mahi, served over a roasted red pepper coulis and complemented with zucchini and yellow squash. The pork tenderloin was
Patrons are treated to complimentary pretzel bread to get things started.
Public Landing
Suburban Life Media photos
Public Landing is nestled inside Lockport’s historic Gaylord Building, a limestone warehouse built in 1838.
Where: 200 W. Eighth St., Lockport Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday Dress code: Casual Info: publiclandingrestaurant. com or 815-838-6500 for reservations
On the web To see photos from Public Landing, find this story online at PlanitLife.com/mysterydiner
The Blackened Mahi Mahi is complemented by a roasted red pepper coulis and zucchini with yellow squash. perfectly prepared – and surprisingly juicy. Three generous strips proved to be plenty of meat for the dish, accompanied by mashed potatoes and tasty sugar snap peas. It can be found under the house specialties portion of Public Landing’s menu, and definitely is recommended. As for the mahi mahi, my partner was pleased with the seafood choice, noting that the
able for guests who want to dine with their dogs in the outdoor patio. Options include the aptly named “Quarter Hounder” burger and the “Hot Diggity Dog.” Diners are asked to make The Char Broiled Pork Tenderloin is a house specialty at Public Landing, reservations in advance at and includes a generous side of mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. Public Landing, where banred pepper coulis added good Aged steaks and fresh quet space also is available for flavor. homemade pasta recipes private parties. Other house specialties round out the menu, as do The Mystery Diner is a include the Roasted Pennsyl- tempting desserts and an arnewsroom employee at Subvania Turkey Breast and the ray of wine and craft beer. Vegan Stir Fry, with options Perhaps most unique to the urban Life Media. The diner’s to add chicken, calamari or menu, though, are the “Yappe- identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or shrimp. Over on the seafood tizers.” portion of the menu are a sauAdding to the character of during the meal. Only positive teed tilapia, grilled salmon, Public Landing is a series of dining experiences will result and lobster tail. plates for your pooch, avail- in published reviews.