Neat Kitchen And Bar Celebrates 1 Year In Oswego: ‘It’s Been Great’

OSWEGO, IL — It's been a year since Neat Kitchen and Bar opened off Orchard Road in Oswego, and "it's been great so far," Manager Anthony Bonamo said.

Since first welcoming hungry diners on Oct. 7, 2024, the restaurant specializing in "chef-driven American fare" has become a go-to for delectable burgers, a crisp old-fashioned and exceptional service.

The Oswego restaurant, 1031 Station Drive, marks Neat's second. The first opened in July 2013 in Westmont, where Bonamo worked before helping open, then managing the outpost in Kendall County. So far, the community has been welcoming, and feedback has been positive, Bonamo told Patch.

"It's been great so far," he said. "This was our first summer ... so we had a good turnout for our patio. In the winter season, a lot of people come out to dine and drink, especially because in the Midwest, there's not much else you can do."

One of the restaurant's bestsellers is the "Neat Burger," topped with cheddar, crispy shallots, fried duck egg and house mayo. Other fan-favorites include mussels as an appetizer and the house old-fashioned cocktail, Bonamo said.

Looking into the future, the restaurant's menu will expand the menu with more entrees, add brunch hours on Saturdays and Sundays, and host live music nights. Bonamo said brunch "is in the works" and will likely be unveiled "in the next couple months."

"The biggest thing for us is listening to the guests and what they want," he said. "We feel that's what's important. The guests are the ones coming in and dining and having a good time."

As Oswego's restaurant scene continues to expand — a Mexican cantina called Taco Dale opened in August and a new cocktail lounge, Bay 54, is in the works — Neat Kitchen hopes to stand out with its "top-notch service."

"We take pride in what we do," Bonamo said. "We're always going above and beyond for our guests and truly giving them true hospitality."