Good, straightforward steaks, but overpriced.
My husband and I live 10 minutes from EJ's--we've lived in the area for 20 years, yet had never tried it. (Our ususal local favorites are "mk north", Tuscany, Ruth's Chris Steak House, O'Neill's, Campagnola and several other casual restaurants in Evanston....we eat out a lot!)Decided we didn't want to go far on a rainy night, and ventured in! We both had the filet mignon ($35) which is "14-16 oz" according to the waiter. Filets were beautifully trimmed, well-prepared and served absolutely plain--I don't believe they even season with salt and pepper. If you like your steak with any seasoning or sauce (e.g. bernaise, peppercorn, blue cheese, butter etc.) you will be disappointed. We enjoyed the straightforward presentation as the quality of the meat was truly apparent. The filets were accompanied by a house salad and a potato. I had blue cheese dressing; my husband had blue cheese crumbles (which cost an addtional $1.50, but they give you about a cup of blue cheese crumbles-enough to share.) The salad was a disappointment. Way too much iceberg lettuce..greens were tasteless. I had the garlic mashed potatoes which were terrible...pasty and lumpy and tasteless. My husband had the cottage fries which are made out of the huge Idaho potatoes so each fry is about 6" long and 3" wide. The order was huge and they looked beautiful (for fries!); however, they were just OK--again sort of tasteless. The atmosphere is rustic and lighting too garish/sterile. White tableclothes and napkins were pristine; waiters look professional in classic white waitjackets. Service was very good; drinks were generous. Customers all appear to be in their 40s to 70s in age. Restaurant was full on a Saturday evening and had a pleasant noise level (conversation, dishes...no music that I noticed); one can easily have a conversation, but not be overheard or hear other tables conversations. Overall, this was a good restaurant, but I think overpriced for the quality of the food. Steak was great, but that's all we really ended up eating. "Sides" are a waste as they aren't very good. If the sides were up to snuff and/or one could have a vegetable instead of the potatoes, I believe their meals would be worth the price. (If you want a vegetable, you can order separately at $5-6).
Recommended: Filet/steaks
Food: 6
Service: 8
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 6
- Winnetka

I visit everytime I'm in the area
I often come out to the Chicago area for business and was fortunate enough to be taken there a few years ago. Now everytime I'm in town I go there. I've introduced other happy collegues to EJ's as well. The potatoes are the best! I love the salad with blue cheese. I've bben told the steak and the fish are excellent, but this vegetarian always gets an excellent pasta dish as well!
Food: 10
Service: 10
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

Stop looking for a better steakhouse
Everything on the menu is well worth what you pay....without a doubt the best grilled calamari in the city (burbs).
Recommended: calamari, steak...seafood
Food: 10
Service: 10
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 10
- Stop looking for a better steakhouse

We had linguine with white clam sauce that was just Ok, linguine with seafood that was mediocre at best, and pork chops that were adequate. Salad was mainly iceberg lettuce. Service was very good, but overall we found the place very disappointing and the prices far too high for the quality of food.
Food: 4
Service: 8
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 2