Acres Bistro

We visited the town of Rochelle, actually for a tour of the distillery. And before that we were attracted by the smell of food, we looked for the location, we thought it was nice and we decided to enter. The service was excellent from the moment we arrived, we didn't have a reservation but that wasn't a problem, they gave us a table. Firstly we had some banana bread drinks and a Rochelle Jackas, of both I would recommend the Rochelle, with ginger, I loved it. We had A1 burger, it was also very tasty and the potatoes were well cooked. It is an excellent place to eat with the family.

You can tell the chefs truly care about food here. Everything I've ever ordered has been delicious! The decor is also very charming and welcoming. I like to come here with friends or date night 😊

Had dinner here last night. Our server Jess was very nice and attentive. The atmosphere here is cozy. The portions are well inline with the price. The lemon pasta tasted fresh and vibrant, added on the shrimp to the pasta and it was perfect! The soup was a creamy mushroom veg soup which was delicious! The Philly crunch wrap had amazing flavor and a good crunch which was excellent. Overall the dining experience was tremendous. Definitely recommend.

Acres never disappoints!! Every time I order the food and staff are phenomenal!!! Tonight they had been busy and a little bit behind but that did not take away the exceptional service they had provided. It’s worth the wait I promise you. Corey was one of the staff members that had assisted me tonight with my pick up order. He was so sweet and helpful. The cook (I’m sorry I did not catch his name) but he was equally sweet and apologetic for the wait but honestly life happens and no need to apologize. You all worked so very hard and honestly one the best staff in town. Thank you so much for the delicious food and saving this mama from a night of cooking. God Bless each of you.

Was in town for a work trip stopped at this restaurant based off of a google maps search. I think it’s probably the bestdinner spot in Rochelle with a super cool aesthetic. Chef Nathan killed it with his menu, which just changed today. We loved the burrata, salmon, and spring salad but you can’t go wrong with anything.

My wife and I have talked about trying Acres Bistro since it opened several years ago. We finally got around to it for Valentine's Day dinner in 2024. And while I cannot comment on the regular menu items, I can comment that one of the Valentine's menu items was outstanding.
I had the Butter Lover's ribeye, with Cajun cayenne butter (which was also added to the baked potato), cooked perfectly medium rare. This steak makes my top five steaks list for the tenderness and flavor. Aside from the baked potato, it also came with a small arugula salad with pickled onions and a sprinkling of pepper, which was amazing. My wife had the ribeye as well, but with blue cheese butter, and was very pleased with her meal. Since it was Valentine's Day, they had a couple of other specials going on; $5 off a bottle of wine, and four complimentary chocolate covered strawberries which they boxed to go since we were both full.
The staff we interacted with, including the owner, was attentive, courteous, and seemed to work together as a team. The decor is charming, I really liked the farm windmill ceiling fan and the painting next to our table.
In my opinion, the two entree's, a bottle of wine and a craft beer was well worth the bill plus tip, and at some point, I would like to try some of the regular menu items.

Had I more money and time, I'd make this a weekly stop.
The server was friendly and attentive without hovering--very helpful and appreciated. The food is a little pricier than your standard diner fare, but I definitely left feeling like I got what I paid for. The salmon bruschetta, while a smaller dish, was prepared perfectly, and after my first bite I had to tell the chef as much. For less than twenty dollars pre-tip, I got the fanciest and most delicious meal I've had in ages, in a smalltown bistro that has an atmosphere more like a restaurant you'd find closer to Chicago city center.
10/10 would bring out-of-town friends here if I wanted to show off the best of Rochelle. Looking forward to returning with more time, more cash in hand, and a bigger appetite :)

EDIT TO ADD: I've added photos from my second trip a couple days later--yes, twice in one week, it was that pleasant of an experience. Try the flank steak and potato tart, they are both cooked to perfection.

Update 4/2/22

Joined friends for dinner. Tasty dinner! Carbonara, Steak Frite, Walleye, Fried chicken. All excellent.

Update: 3/6/22 excellent Breakfast flat bread and Mushroom omelet.

Update: had the Cubano today and it's phenomenal also. My better half had the Bacon bleu burger and he loved it. Cooked medium to perfection. Thanks Chef!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Excellent, speedy, kind knowledgeable, service from Melissa, McKenna, Chef Mike. Cannot wait to return. An absolute gem for Rochelle!! Charming decor, crisp and clean, restored tin ceiling, old meets new. Breakfast bar and booths, guess they seat about 30? Seriously SO GOOD!! Had the Quiche of the day, excellent flaky crust, fresh spring ingredients. My better half had the Avocado toast, perfectly poached eggs, topped with bleu cheese crumbles and tempura jalapeños, pickled onion. Excellent berry mimosas and a bellini. There's a separate basement bar area also, dart boards, gambling. Highly recommended.

First time being here. Such a neat place. I ate the 16 Oz steak w mashed potatoes and seasonal veggie😋 & BANANA BREAD BEER 😍😍😍 it was a huge steak but I was starving and I savored every bite 🖤 the place is quiet but welcoming, I was walked into the restaurant by the owner (lovely woman) because it's quite the find when you walk in through main street. It's a gift shop (as far as I could tell) then restaurant towards the back. Also has a bar so I'm told downstairs but I didn't check it out on this visit. Each location under the same roof but unquiely it's own separate place. I loved it here. I'll be back!

What a delightful find on our way back to Wisconsin from Florida! We didn’t even want to leave! Absolutely phenomenal Staff and the food was over the top. Delicious! Never mind how wonderful the wine was! The selection was amazing! You can even plan ahead and stay in one of the VRBO‘s upstairs! The exposed brick building, and the lower level had a bar with music last night! You must go, if you haven’t already!

Great food, simple menu so you know every item is quality. Chef Nathan is great, and takes extensive precautions of any food allergies. Knowledgeable staff. The best food in town.

The owner's did a great job refinishing this space! I love the different atmospheres upstairs versus downstairs.
We had burgers in the speakeasy downstairs with a few old fashions.
Great place to hang out! Reasonably priced food.

An amazing dining experience! The Queso Frito as an appetizer was so delicious and unique. The Honey Mustard Fried Chicken was a perfect blend of comfort food meets gourmet kitchen with a tender, juicy, perfectly breaded and seasoned chicken breast topped with delightful pickled mustard seed & ramps and jalapeños served on a fluffy pillow of mashed potatoes. The Steak & Sprouts offered the most tender ribeye you can ever hope to eat, topped with beautifully seasoned Brussels sprouts, roasted crimini mushrooms and bacon, all nestled on a bed of perfectly mashed potatoes. Served alongside creative craft cocktails like the Rochelle Jackass and the Hal, and topped off with a delightfully decadent dessert, a perfect meal! As wonderful as the food is, the people are even more so! Acres Bistro offers a warm and welcoming dining experience you’ll be tempted to save for special occasions, but the flavor combinations and incredible menu prices will draw you back again and again!

Service rocks.
Buy the staff a shot is fun.
The food is something you’d find in an upscale down town Chicago restaurant.

Awesome dinner! Spent a lovely evening with my wife. The salmon and the steak were superb. Service was very good, and even had coffeehouse musicians . It reminds me of 5 star restaurants in Chicago. WOW! It was a bit pricey, but well worth it!

I have the fortune of traveling the country weekly and eating in top rated restaurants. I typically dread eating and drinking locally. I live where I grew up in the cornfields. The land of fried bar food. Then comes this place. Jessica the bartender is lights out. And made from scratch food in a small town, c’mon! Chicken n waffles in rural IL? I’ve had 4 different entrees on their rotating menu, all excellent. Do remember to go downstairs for a desert martini. They make their simple syrup in house, secret ingredient. Enjoy!

We stopped for dinner on a road trip and Acres Bistro was a wonderful surprise for two tired travelers! We sat on the porch for an amazing meal. My pasta was delicious, and my mother said her catfish and cornbread was the best she’d ever had. The wine list was great and we took a couple of unusual bottles to go. If I’m passing through in the future I’ll make a point to stop here again.

It was my first time here. I'm at a friend for lunch. Service was very good and the food was just as good. They had a very good menu with lots to choose from. That misphere is very cute. I would definitely come back again and try something different. I had the Cubano, The only thing I would change with that sandwich is I would not get the mustard on it next time. Other than that it was very good, the fries were great and the dipping sauce was amazing.

This restaurant was recommended by the distillery right down the street. And I am SO glad we listened to their advice. Not a single thing we had wasn't to die for. I was craving to eat there again just a day after we had been there. Ingredients all tasted fresh and the food was perfectly paired, cooked and seasoned!

Had dinner here for the first time on Saturday night. We sat on the patio which was in a nicely landscaped quaint little alley way. Food was delicious and service was top notch. We were very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience and will definitely be back. If you haven't tried this adorable little gem in downtown Rochelle, you absolutely should!