The word “rosebud” is the mystery of the classic film “Citizen Kane.” After a fire struck the restaurant Rosebud in downtown Naperville, it was also a mystery as to whether Rosebud’s new location would be able to live up to its old reputation. But after I sampled Rosebud’s various delights, the mystery disappeared.

I walked into Rosebud, now located at 22 E. Chicago Ave. in downtown Naperville for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon with my mother. We were seated immediately, and the wait staff was very polite. It was about 1:30 p.m., so the restaurant was neither crowded nor loud. However, since most of the tables are in the main room, I imagine it could become louder during peak hours.

When our appetizer arrived (and it did take a while), I was amazed by its quality – it was some of the most exquisite bruschetta I had ever eaten. The tomatoes were perfectly seasoned and the bread delightfully oily. Covering each piece of bread was a mound of what looked like whipped cream, but what was fluffy mozzarella cheese. I had to stop myself from eating too much for fear that I would fill up before the main meal arrived.

One cautionary note: the bruschetta was covered in black pepper, though this is not indicated on the menu. If you do not like black pepper, make sure to tell your waiter.

The remainder of the food was equally exemplary. I ordered fried fish under a bed of greens, and my mother ordered the chicken marsala. It was well worth the wait. I received two large, well-cooked pieces of fish beneath a heap of olive-oil-dressed lettuce. The combination of fish and leafy vegetable made each bite enjoyable. The chicken marsala was delicious as well – comparable to if not better than Maggiano’s – and almost made me regret ordering the fish.

Importantly, the portions were manageable. Even after an appetizer and main dish, we were ready for dessert. Admittedly, we only ate half of the tiramisu (it would have been criminal to not take some home for my brother and dad), but it was about six inches square. I’m beginning to regret not eating more!

We walked out of Rosebud satisfied, if only a little over-full, and looked forward to returning. The menu was varied and inexpensive enough that I had identified multiple items of interest, and I looked forward to trying them when I visit next. A typical lunch entree is priced between $10 and $15, and our meal fell just under $50, including the appetizer, entrees, and dessert.

The quality of Rosebud is certain. The only mystery is what delicious special they will be serving next time.