OT: Attention Chicagoans! I need SUBURBAN restaurant recommendations!

[DisneyCrafter]

Chef Paul's Bavarian Lodge in Lisle.

AWESOME German food, pastries, and beer!

Hmm...I've never eaten at a German Restaurant-sounds interesting!

My FAVORITE restaurant of all time is Geja's Cafe in Arlington Heights. It is a fondue place and the food is to DIE FOR! They have been around for 40+ years and the atmosphere in there is wonderful. My mouth is watering just thinking of it!

http://www.gejascafe.com/

Funny you should mention that. We recently ate at the Geja's Cafe in Lincoln Park. I had NO idea there was another location! We absolutely LOVED every bite of that meal!

Clara's on Rt 53 in the Lisle/Woodridge area is great for Italian.
http://claraspasta.com/

Since this is a budget board they often have coupons for B1G1 free meals.

I've heard that Basil's at Fox Valley mall is really good for Greek food but I haven't eaten there myself.

http://www.basilsgreekdining.com/

Omega on Ogden in Downers Grove is a good Greek Family style restaurant. Their cream of chicken soup is WONDERFUL. All of the baked good and made right there and they are to die for.


Branmor's in Bolingbrook is pretty good. They also have some coupons.

http://www.branmors.com/default.htm

Edited to add... A good way to try out some of the local restaurants at a lower cost is to buy certificates from one of the radio shopping shows. I've gotten quite a few from WBIG out of Aurora but I know that there's one up in the Schaumburg area as well.

Baby Back Blues in Plainfield has great BBQ. It's pretty much a hole in the wall but the food is very good. I first heard about them on WBIG and decided buy a certificate. It's a great marketing tool and we've been back there since paying full price.

We like to play miniature golf at Lost Mountain in Woodridge so we'll definitely look into Claras.

Thanks for the tips about the coupons!

We are really getting to love greek/med. food, too!

I've heard about Omega, we have some family in the area.

Wildfire in Schaumburg (also has a location downtown). Or any Lettuce Entertain You restaurant really, they're ALL good. But Wildfire is my favorite restaurant. It can be a bit pricey but the food is SO good that it's worth the price. If you want to dine there but are on a budget, just order their burgers...they're fantastic!

If you want good fast food, then go to Portillo's. There are dozens of locations throughout the 'burbs.

Yu's Mandarin in Schaumburg. Best. Chinese. Food. Ever!

I've eaten at Wildfire before and I wasn't a fan. Lettuce Entertain You restaurants are national chains and I'm really trying to stay away from those to keep it interesting. Thanks, though!

I love portillo's italian beef sandwiches. Yum!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

This is a great place! They just opened one in Deer Park too!

Another great Italian place is Mario's Trattoria in Downtown Arlington Heights. It's a BYOB. The Rigatoni Vodka is AMAZING!

That Rigatoni Vodka has my name written ALL over it. I love creamy tomato based sauces!

I second the vote for Yu's. I've noticed that every time we go there for dinner, a great many of the customers in the restaurant are Asian. That tells you how good and authentic the food is.

Mmm...Chinese Food!

I recommend Uncle Bub's BBQ in Westmont.

I'll have to look it up! Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[MissSixty]

Chinn's 34th Street Fishery in Lisle

 

[adventure_woman]

Funny you should mention that. We recently ate at the Geja's Cafe in Lincoln Park. I had NO idea there was another location! We absolutely LOVED every bite of that meal!

Oops - maybe it was Lincoln Park. Why did I say Arlington Heights? Glad you enjoyed it! I wish we ate there more...it is so expensive but oh so very very good!

 

[Chelley00]

Venuti's in Addison. It's beautiful and the food is so good (Chicken Marasala to die for)

http://www.venutisbanquets.com/ristoranteMenu.php

 

[LoveKermit]

I feel like I should reply out of principle. You've gotten such a wide variety....

On the Jimmy's note--Jameson's in Crystal Lake or Bloomgingdale and Arl Hts?

Don't go to Omega--it's a Greek family restaurant--unless you've had a long day and just need to eat, nothing special.

Wok n Fire is also in Addison near Home Run Inn pizza.

And of course, the pizza route--Lou Malnati's in Elk Grove Village (original) or Schaumburg or Buffalo Grove.

People like Bonefish. Haven't been in years. Ate at Pilot Pete's two weekends ago. If you have kids, they like the planes and trains.

There's also great Mexican. A hole in the wall in Elgin is good (La Puesta del Sol) or Lalos or any of the LaMagdelena's/Hacienda's (South Elgin, Addison, Hoffman Estates).

I've even been to the BBQ place in Plainfield and Uncle Bub's in Westmont. We have BBQ lovers in my family. My dad LOVES Famous Dave's, but thinks the place in Plainfield is better (we should call Guy Fieri). He tries BBQ anytime he goes south and still prefers all of these.

Never been to Venuti's or the Lodge in Lisle. They are on our "list." Now I'm really hungry.....

 

[fairyprincess1]

Seasons 52 in Schaumburg - they use local ingredients when possible & the menu is seasonal & changes weekly... Plus all the entrees are 450 calories...

abashiri in bloomingdale - a small Japanese restaurant in a strip mall in Beale- they have an all you an eat sushi roll special everyday but fri.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Wow, a lot of DISers near me! I am in Plainfield, but I don't mind a drive to get good food!!

My faves - BBQ - Baby Back Blues in Plainfield

Pizza - Lou Malnati's (also LOVE the Malnati Salad)

Chinese - Chi Tung in Evergreen Park

Mexican - Lalos, or Cozymel's (which is a chain, though)

 

[LoveKermit]

abashiri in bloomingdale - a small Japanese restaurant in a strip mall in Beale- they have an all you an eat sushi roll special everyday but fri.

Is this by the Rosati's?

 

[sunshine1178]

You're going to Give us the blog address so we can "try" all of these places with you, right?

Does anyone have any south suburb suggestions? I can't afford a tank of gas AND dinner!

 

[Sarah&Ryan]

I love Firkin in Liberyville...such great food with a fantastic atmosphere! Opa! a greek restaurant in Vernon Hills is excellent!

 

[living la vida mickey]

Basil's Greek Dining in Fox Valley is wonderful. I'm Greek and I totally recommend it.

 

[smiller]

My suburban favorites:

La Campana in Bloomingdale

Schnitzel Platz in Glendale Heights

Barone's in Glen Ellyn

Mario's in Carol Stream

Red Apple in Carol Stream

Front Street Cocina in Wheaton

Millrose in South Barrington

White Fence Farm in Lemont

 

[sbsteel]

White Fence Farm - how could I have forgotten that?! Good call, smiller!

I would pay an obscene amount of money for a sitdown meal there right now, lol

 

[Singledad]

depending on how far you willing to go for a 'suburb' of chicagoland, my dad's favorate place of all is capt. porky's. http://www.captainporky.com/

I'm not a seafood eater, yet the place always smelled wonderful, and i've even gotten to try some Alligator... which on a side note: allowing a kid to eat the animal that is scaring them in dreams, sure gives them the sense of power over them. and the alligator was GOOD.

They used to be located in Zion/beach park, but have since moved to a larger location in Wadsworth.

If you want to check out a 'greek family' resterant, maybe check out Avalon in Gurnee... (847) 244-0777 · 4821 Grand Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031 I have had many people say they love the place, and I never had bad food here.. I just never had anything that made my taste buds go either. still if you are in the area, doesn't hurt to see how it fares to someone else's taste buds.


I'm trying to think of some other smaller 'hole in the wall' but great eats in the area.... but my dad wasn't big on going out to eat, and when we did we often went to Avalon or a chain near the mall.

please link us the blog, so I can get an idea of some other places to try out there?!

ohhh, i just remembered a place that had some really awesome food! How could have Rhapsody cafe slip my mind!?! Four words for you: Banana Bread French Toast. this is also located in Gurnee. http://rhapsodycafe.com/

Now, I totally want to go visit my dads... so I can visit rhapsody...

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

My FAVORITE restaurant of all time is Geja's Cafe in Arlington Heights. It is a fondue place and the food is to DIE FOR! They have been around for 40+ years and the atmosphere in there is wonderful. My mouth is watering just thinking of it!

http://www.gejascafe.com/

I got excited because I thought maybe Geja's had opened a location in Arlington Heights...but went to the website and no, it's still just the one on Armitage in Chicago. But YES it is a great place!!! Sadly, it's not in the suburbs.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

You're going to Give us the blog address so we can "try" all of these places with you, right?

Does anyone have any south suburb suggestions? I can't afford a tank of gas AND dinner!

Of course I will share the blog address. I plan on "officially" starting this Saturday!

We live in the south suburbs as well. We've only been here 2 years but I recommend Enrico's for home style italian, Parmesan's for wood fired pizza, and La Dolce Vita for great italian. These are all in Frankfort.

I love Firkin in Liberyville...such great food with a fantastic atmosphere! Opa! a greek restaurant in Vernon Hills is excellent!

Firkin? What an interesting name, I'll definitely have to check it out!

I'd love to find a great greek restaurant! Thanks for the suggestion!

Basil's Greek Dining in Fox Valley is wonderful. I'm Greek and I totally recommend it.

Oh, that's 2 votes for Basils! Awesome!

My suburban favorites:

La Campana in Bloomingdale

Schnitzel Platz in Glendale Heights

Barone's in Glen Ellyn

Mario's in Carol Stream

Red Apple in Carol Stream

Front Street Cocina in Wheaton

Millrose in South Barrington

White Fence Farm in Lemont

Wow! Lots of suggestions! Thanks a bunch!

White Fence Farm - how could I have forgotten that?! Good call, smiller!

I would pay an obscene amount of money for a sitdown meal there right now, lol

Love that!

depending on how far you willing to go for a 'suburb' of chicagoland, my dad's favorate place of all is capt. porky's. http://www.captainporky.com/

I'm not a seafood eater, yet the place always smelled wonderful, and i've even gotten to try some Alligator... which on a side note: allowing a kid to eat the animal that is scaring them in dreams, sure gives them the sense of power over them. and the alligator was GOOD.

They used to be located in Zion/beach park, but have since moved to a larger location in Wadsworth.

If you want to check out a 'greek family' resterant, maybe check out Avalon in Gurnee... (847) 244-0777 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************(847) 244-0777******end_of_the_skype_highlighting · 4821 Grand Ave, Gurnee, IL 60031 I have had many people say they love the place, and I never had bad food here.. I just never had anything that made my taste buds go either. still if you are in the area, doesn't hurt to see how it fares to someone else's taste buds.

I'm trying to think of some other smaller 'hole in the wall' but great eats in the area.... but my dad wasn't big on going out to eat, and when we did we often went to Avalon or a chain near the mall.

please link us the blog, so I can get an idea of some other places to try out there?!

ohhh, i just remembered a place that had some really awesome food! How could have Rhapsody cafe slip my mind!?! Four words for you: Banana Bread French Toast. this is also located in Gurnee. http://rhapsodycafe.com/

Now, I totally want to go visit my dads... so I can visit rhapsody...

I can't wait to share the link!

Banana Bread French Toast?! YUM!!!!

I got excited because I thought maybe Geja's had opened a location in Arlington Heights...but went to the website and no, it's still just the one on Armitage in Chicago. But YES it is a great place!!! Sadly, it's not in the suburbs.

Mmm...my mouth is watering just thinking about it right now!

 

[jgazda]

Honey Jam Cafe for breakfast. Yum!! They have a location in Lombard and Batavia.

Village Tavern has the best chicken fingers around. They are in Schaumburg and I think Wheeling.

Zio Giovanni in Schaumburg has the best gnocchi in vodka sauce I've ever had.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Bob Chinn's Crabhouse in Wheeling was my all time favorite place!! I LOVED the stuffed Shrimp.

Wapaghettis Pizza in Glenview. I ate a slice almost everyday for lunch!

Hecky's BBQ in Evanston, last visit, I brought rib tips home on the plane so Dh could try them!!

I guess it's time for a visit!

 

[PolyGuy]

ohhh, i just remembered a place that had some really awesome food! How could have Rhapsody cafe slip my mind!?! Four words for you: Banana Bread French Toast. this is also located in Gurnee. http://rhapsodycafe.com/

Now, I totally want to go visit my dads... so I can visit rhapsody...

A little late on the Rhapsody Cafe....it closed in December. Sorry, no Banana Bread French Toast, at least in Gurnee. There is another one in Deerfield.