For New Island Fin Poke Owners, Downers Grove Means 'Family'

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — When diners walk into the new Island Fin Poke Company in Downers Grove, they're greeted by a sign that reads, "Ohana," the Hawaiian word for family, along with the phrase, "No friends, just family." For franchise owner Tom Browning, who moved to Dowers Grove in 2001 with his wife, Jill, to raise their triplets, "Downers Grove means family." The Brownings plan to bring that sense of family to Island Fin Poke Company, which opened at 76 Ogden Ave. Tuesday.

"This is where we raised our kids. Our kids were literally one when we moved here," Browning told Patch. Now that their children are 21, Tom, who has 30 years of experience in advertising, and Jill, who works as the communications director for District 99, are eager to join forces on a new endeavor with Island Fin Poke Company.

“Now we get to do something together," Browning said.

Even the inspiration for opening an Island Fin Poke in Downers Grove —the first in the midwest— is rooted in family for Browning. He told Patch he and Jill took the triplets to Hawaii after the teens graduated from high school. It was there that they "fell in love with Maui [and] the whole Hawaiian culture.”

The atmosphere in the Downers Grove Island Fin Poke restaurant transports guests to Hawaii with picnic table seating and walls emblazoned with colorful murals painted by local artist Vicki McGrath. Browning said the original murals, which depict beaches, surfboards and tiki bars set the scene perfectly.

“We think it really kind of makes it," Browning said, "We love it. It’s very exciting.”

Diners can dive further into Hawaiian culture when they indulge in sushi bowls and other items from the Island Fin Poke menu. The eatery lets customers build their own bowls, starting off with their choice of protein, from ahi tuna, octopus and chicken to tofu...and even Spam.

From there, diners can add on fresh ingredients like edamame and sweet onions before topping it all off with proprietary house-made sauces and other goodies that include pineapples, pickled ginger, wasabi peas and dried seaweed.

For dessert, customers can dig into a towering serving of creamy, frozen dole whip.

“The cuisine is on trend with culture. It’s healthy, it’s fresh, it’s good for you," Browning told Patch.

In warmer weather diners can eat al fresco beneath brightly colored umbrellas.

“We think our community supports good food and good restaurants, and we’re excited to bring a new concept to it," Browning said.

He added,“This community is everything to me as our family. “We hope our guests feel like family when they come here.”

Island Fin Poke Company is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m