In downtown Elmhurst, a restaurant sits attached to something you would not expect: a full live entertainment venue called Stage 119. 🎭
Modern Plate is not just another neighborhood spot serving comfort food; it is a genuine dining-meets-entertainment destination that quietly built a devoted following without ever needing to shout about it.
Continue reading to discover how this hidden gem became one of DuPage County’s most surprising restaurant finds.
How Modern Plate won Elmhurst’s hearts
Modern Plate bills itself as Elmhurst’s destination for fresh flavors, modern American comfort, and warm Midwestern hospitality, serving guests from chef-driven breakfast and brunch all the way through crave-worthy dinners and elevated cocktails.
The restaurant runs from morning until late night, seven days a week, a rare commitment for an independent spot in a town this size.
What sets Modern Plate apart is its connection to Stage 119, the attached live entertainment venue that regularly hosts musical and comedy acts, turning an ordinary dinner into a full night out. 🎶
Guests can order appetizers like roasted cauliflower or shrimp scampi at half price during happy hour, then settle in for a show without ever leaving the building.
That willingness to blend genuinely creative comfort food with entertainment is exactly why locals treat Modern Plate as a hidden gem rather than a typical dinner spot.
The kitchen leans into hearty, approachable dishes, from a full slab of baby back ribs to unexpected handheld options featuring bison, elk, and wild boar burgers.
Add a weekend brunch menu stacked with dishes like lobster Benedict and Athenian lamb chops and eggs, and it becomes clear this restaurant refuses to stick to just one lane.
It became the kind of place where regulars come for the food and stay for whatever is happening on stage next door. 🍸
Food Highlights
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Short Rib Grilled Cheese: Shredded short rib and Havarti cheese piled with caramelized onions and a balsamic glaze on grilled sourdough.
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Short Rib Risotto: Braised short rib served over a creamy mushroom risotto and finished with shaved parmesan cheese.
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Tomahawk Pork Chop: A parmesan-crusted pork chop served with roasted potatoes and roasted seasonal vegetables.
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Chicken Milanese: Breaded chicken paired with potatoes au gratin, roasted seasonal vegetables, arugula, shaved parmesan cheese, and a lemon herb vinaigrette.
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Steak Frites: Beef tenderloin served with crispy potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables, and a bright chimichurri sauce.
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Angry Bird Mac & Cheese: A choice of crispy or grilled Cajun chicken over mac and cheese, topped with sliced serranos, pepper jack cheese, and an avocado crema drizzle.
- Penne a la Vodka: Penne pasta in a vodka cream sauce with red peppers, shaved parmesan cheese, and basil, served with a choice of chicken or sliced sausage.
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Garlic Shrimp Pasta: Fettuccine tossed with garlic butter sautéed shrimp in a white wine sauce, finished with capers.
Atmosphere
Modern Plate strikes a balance between a polished restaurant and a lively bar scene, especially once the attached Stage 119 venue kicks off live entertainment. 🎤
The main dining room offers a comfortable, modern setting suited for dinner with friends or a weekend brunch.
The noise level tends to run moderate to lively, especially in the front bar area, giving the space real energy without feeling chaotic.
It works equally well for a quiet lunch or a full night that stretches into live music.
Bottom Line
Visit for a genuinely diverse menu spanning comfort classics, wild game burgers, and weekend brunch standouts like lobster Benedict.
Add an attached live entertainment venue, warm Midwestern hospitality, and hours that stretch from morning brunch to late-night shows, and Modern Plate earns its reputation as Elmhurst’s hidden gem. 🍽️✨
Address:
119 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
📞 (630) 361-6304
🕔 Open Mon-Wed 11:30 AM–9 PM, Thu 11:30 AM–10 PM, Fri 11:30 AM–12 AM, Sat 9 AM–12 AM, Sun 9 AM–9 PM