Map of Gilletts

Willow Springs and surrounding area, locate the restaurant called Courtright's

The beauty of situating a restaurant in Willow Springs is that the forest is waiting as a natural backdrop—such is the case in Courtright's genteel and hospitable dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase a woodsy panorama of the landscaped gardens abutting the Cook County Forest Preserve, echoed by floral carpeting, upholstered booths, and freshly cut flowers throughout the well-kept space. The menu appetizingly marries classic French techniques with farm-fresh produce, though the kitchen's ambition sometimes exceeds its expertise. Simple preparations like an English pea soup with lovage and romaine get a briny kick from black olive tapenade; while generously seasoned and juicy poussin, or pan-roasted duck breast is admirable on its own.