Who why didn't we know about Bluegrass before this? The truth is we probably wouldn't have known about it now if not for some friends who tipped us off. "We didn't think you'd want to drive all the way from downtown Chicago to Highland Park for a meal," they told us. But what a meal. Located at 1636 Old Deerfield Road on Highland Park's west side, Bluegrass is a warm, friendly neighborhood hangout with a full bar and a contemporary American cuisine with a Southern flair. It isn't Cajun but there are several Louisiana favorites on the menu, including escargot and jambalaya and seared tuna and chicken and sausage gumbo and slow-smoked pulled pork and pit-smoked barbecue ribs. And how about pecan-crusted tilapia, flash-fried and topped with wild mushroom sassafras sauce and grilled shrimp, served with white rice and green beans? Is this Highland Park or New Orleans? We loved the menu. We started with chicken and sausage gumbo and Key West seafood salad, fresh lump crabmeat and shrimp, scallions, tomatoes, crisp greens and avocado tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. For entrees, we chose wild salmon fillet and Black Angus filet, the most tender of all steaks with a blue cheese crust wrapped in smoked bacon and served with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. For dessert, we couldn't resist sharing one of our favorite dishes that you rarely see on menus, Bananas Foster, sauteed bananas draped over rich vanilla bean ice cream, a classic sauce of Grand Marnier and banana liqueur. What a classy way to end a memorable evening. It was well worth the long drive.