Surrounded by the aura of old-fashioned brick roads and buildings that typify downtown DeKalb is a restaurant that prides itself with a similar atmosphere.

The Hillside Restaurant, located on 121 N. Second St., is owned jointly by Gavin and Mary Wilson and has been a staple restaurant for DeKalb residents since 1955, serving a large customer base that primarily has consisted of locals.

“We mostly have an adult crowd,” said Krissy Saldi, hostess and senior political science major. “Though not a lot of NIU students come here and we don’t know why.”

Mary agreed that it is somewhat inexplicable why NIU students don’t frequently come to the restaurant. She also said some of the restaurant’s features are beneficial to students.

“This is a cool place to come to with our seasonally changing menus and atmosphere,” Mary said. “We typically see NIU students come in with their parents during Homecoming and parent weekends. But also this place is ideal to bring a date. We’ve even had several engagement proposals take place in this restaurant.”

With a wide variety of foods that correlate to each season, such as German dishes and the Bohemian duck for the upcoming fall menu, the Hillside Restaurant’s diverse menu shouldn’t scare off anyone.

“More than anything, students trust the chain restaurants, ordering their quesadillas and chicken fingers,” Gavin said. “But we transcend that chain. We have a great sit-down service that serves anything a customer could possibly want as well as quicker services with lunch-time sandwiches and catering options.”

Mary highlighted a few of the items, including their award-winning chocolate cake at the Sandwich Fair.

“On top of our menu, we offer various beers and fine wines as well as great appetizers and homemade cakes and soups,” Mary said. “Being on our own, we can offer such a unique variety.”

Steve Marck, cook and senior marketing major, described the atmosphere within the restaurant as being reminiscent to home.

“The atmosphere is intimate, the service is upscale, the food is as diverse as any, and the catering offers anything from old and current menus,” Marck said. “The interior is so much like being at one’s own home with its decorations geared toward the seasons and the smells that radiate from the kitchen.”

Karen Rood, frequent customer and NIU alumna, said, [for many years] the restaurant has, provided her with the same accommodating feel.

“It’s so warm and cozy, ” Rood said. “The meals are home-cooked, the people around here are extremely friendly by making you feel at home; and honestly, it’s one of the few real restaurants that, overall, is good.”