The Food News Report

Demetri's Restaurant: Chicago's North Shore OUTSTANDING Greek dining destination.

2011-08-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

When you think of unbelievable Greek dining on Chicago's North Shore, Demetri's Restaurant in Deerfield (http://www.demetrisrestaurant.com/) should immediately come to mind. This wonderful Greek destination is a gold standard that offers a wonderful ambience and outstanding food in addition to a catering for many types of events.

Demetri's opened their doors on October 26, 2002 and it has been full speed ahead ever since. Sam Marinakos and his sons Bill and George are the partners in this wonderful venture.

Sam and his sons purchased Demetri's and have done an outstanding job of managing their restaurant and making it grow and flourish. One of many steps in achieving a successful establishment is to provide a more authentic menu and include dishes and twists that come from Sam's upbringing in Kastri, Tripoli Greece. The ingredients and products come from some very reputable distributors. The meat and fish are freshly purchased and cut in house. The calamari and octopus are very fresh. The Sea Bass, Lavaraki, Barbounia (which are types of Greek fish) are all flown in from Greece. They offer other fish from the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean such as Dover Sole, Whole Red Snapper, Halibut and Salmon which are very popular with the customers. The menu is authentically Greek and is also inspired by the market area. They try to please a variety of customers at lunch that includes the corporate community and serves a lot of different people. It also includes a variety of American food.

Demetri's provide large portions and good prices. The food is consistently of great quality. Cleanliness is of top priority and they have staff that are very dedicated to this great task.

George Papadatos, who is the Executive Head Chef is in the process of making his own bread recipe which absolutely top secret and has the customers waiting for its arrival.

Sam is a very astute business man and has adapted his business to the ups and downs of the economy such as providing an early bird special that includes a drink, soup or salad, a full entree, and dessert for $11.95 between 3pm – 5:30pm. His lunch prices range from $7.95 to $14.95 which also helps the customer in a topsy turvy economy. Every entrée includes soup for lunch and offer a variety of soups such as lentil, bean, vegetable, fish, egg lemon or minestrone that are offered at various times during the week.

When there is a private function or party, Sam is so dedicated to his business, employees and customers that he stays until the last employee walks out the door to make sure that everyone is accommated and to make sure that the customer is happily satisfied and content.

They offer a wonderful catering service and can BBQ a lamb or Pig on the patio which also houses a parrot who is the darling among the customers.

There may be another Greek Restaurant somewhere in the future and they are also going to change the menu so it is graced with more authentic Greek food.

All the Greek sweets and yogurt are all made in house and taste like they've been shipped from the mother country. They are fresh and created in an authentic manner.

Their food, the way they treat their customers and employees, the comfortable and hospitable atmosphere and being a family owned establishment sets them apart from their Greek counterparts.

They have two private dining rooms and large patio for private seating with beautiful flowers that give off a beautiful aroma. The restaurant also has a salt water fish tank as you walk in the door. Every table has fresh cut flowers and bottle of olive oil.

They also offer one room that hold 65 people and other room that holds 40 people comfortably for any large event or occasion. The patio can hold up to 100 people.

They have a fully stocked bar and also offer Agioritiko wine is which is from the monastery in Mount Athos, Greece in addition to various wines from California. They are also able to have private cocktail parties by the fire place. They specialize in quality of service which is their main emphasis. They also offer delivery for large parties which can be arranged for parties starting at 50 people.

Demetri’s Greek Restaurant is a family owned establishment that focuses on high quality, a friendly environment, and great service to make you feel at home.

The patio has (a type of flower) that came from Sam's mother's home in Greece and he is able to incorporate a lot of things from his family and his traditions to share with others and takes a lot of pride in his family.

The restaurant and kitchen are immaculate and you can eat off the floors.

There are plans to open a cafe and expand the banquet facilities.

I was able to sample the wonderful Demetri's salad, avgolemeno soup (egg lemon), a spanakopita entree that came with some great lemon and oregano potatoes with mixed vegetables and the combination platter which offers lamb, moussaka, dolmades, potatoes, rice and vegetables. This combo plate did not disappoint. The lamb was moist, flavorful and tender. The Moussaka and dolmades were made with great care and unlike any others on the North Shore. The potatoes rice and veges were also outsanding. For dessert, I was able to try all of the wonderful sweets that they offer. The baklava and walnut cake were very well done and tasted like it came from some yiayia's (grandmother) kitchen. The rice pudding and creme caramale were just unbelievable. They were sweet and cooked to perfection.

I truly recommend this wonderful Greek delight of a restaurant.

Demetri's Restaurant
660 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Tel - (847) 940-0777
Fax - (847) 948.8200
http://www.demetrisrestaurant.com/

Las Palmas: Glenview's Outstanding Mexican Destination

2010-06-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Las Palmas (http://www.laspalmasmexrst.com/) Mexican Restaurant in Glenview offers a top notch quality restaurant that offers some of the finest Mexican cuisine on the North Shore. It started on Howard Street and has flourished and blossomed with more locations. The inspiration for the menu comes from the traditional Mexican kitchen. The clientele is loyal and Las Palmas has a great following.

Some of their more popular dishes inlclude Fajitas, the Las Palmas combo platter, Shrimp La Planxa, Burrito Suiza and of course their quacamole.

I had the pleasure of sampling the combo platter which had a cheese chile relleno, steak burrito and chimichanga which came with rice, beans and guacamole. I also had the cheesecake which was great.

I highly recommend Las Palmas for any occasion!!

Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
1829 Wakegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025
Tel: 847-998-8700
http://www.laspalmasmexrst.com/

Pakwaan: Morton Grove's Indian and Pakistani food destination

2010-06-18T16:17:00.001-05:00

Pakwaan is owned and operated by the Sharif family who work together as a great team. The Mother is the chef (and an unbelievable one at that!!!), the son Razi is the manager and his brothers help in the paperwork, insurance and all of the other responsibilities that come along with running a successful operation. Their ingredients are hand picked from Devon Avenue and are all Zubiha Halal. The food is absolutely outstanding!!! It's so fresh and you can tell that it's absolutely homemade. Their clientele consists of people who come from all different walks of life including the Indian and Pakistani communities. The restaurant also caters and will soon be cooking for a 500 person wedding.

Some of their specialties include biryani which is rice and you can add in lamb, chicken, shrimp, vegetables or order it plain. They also offer Pakora, different types of Daal, Paneer, Samosas, Naan and desserts like Kalandri Kheer, Rabri, Double Ka Meetha, Gajar Halwa, Gulab Jamun and Milk Shakes.

Pakwaan also has an off premise catering insurance policy where they can cater events off site and with any item on the menu. Smartly, they have opened Subhan Zabiha Halal Meat Market right next door so you can shop for all of your Indian and Pakistani grocery items.

During Ramadan, they will offer a free Iftar and will also have items on the menu available for ordering.

Pakwaan will be be on GeoNews which is viewable on a Pakistani News Network.

I had the privlege and pleasure of trying the lamb biryani which is rice mixed with spices and lamb. I also tried the vegetable samosa which has mashed potato inside with spices and peas that is wrapped with a great flaky dough that is fried. Along with the vegetable samosa, I also tried the beef samosa which was flavorful, well cooked and would recommend it for any event. For dessert, I tried the Gulab Jamun which is a fried dough that floats in a syrup which was light and great for after dinner or lunch.

The Sharif's are a wonderful family who have an outstanding operation and food in Pakwaan and with Subhan. This is an oustanding restaurant run by some outstanding people.

Pakwaan Restaurant
7947 Golf Road
Morton Grove, Illinois 60053
Tel: 847-965-2422
Fax: 847-965-1018

Subhan
Zabiha Halal Meat Mart
7955 Golf Road
Morton Grove, Illinois 60053

The Charcoal Oven Restaurant: Golf Road's golden gem!!

2010-06-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

The Charcoal Oven Restaurant (http://www.charcoalovenrestaurant.com/) was founded by Phillip Georgouses and is now enjoying an unbelievable resurgence under his daughter Maria and her husband Rich. Phil purchased this wonderful establishment after he returned from WWII and named it "The Charcoal Oven Restaurant (http://www.charcoalovenrestaurant.com/)". The concept is a supper club that has stood the test of time due to the incredible food, service, authenticity and cleanliness. Some of the menu items have changed with the differing and varying food tastes as time has evolved. Their menu consists of steaks, chops, fresh fish that comes every day, chicken, pistachio (a Greek lasagna), ribs and moussaka (a Greek meat and vegetable casserole) fresh salads with homemade dressings that are made by Sonja Carlson (a very long time waitress), fresh bread and their homemade cottage fries. All meals include a starter , salad, green vegetable, the entree and the cottage fries. All of the desserts are homemade and truly fresh.

This wonderful gem also has many different beers and wines which will be featured during various tastings in the near future. The tasting will allow the public to sample different flavors without having to order a full glass of either the different beers or wines.

Their clientele consists of third generation family members, families with kids and members of the Presbyterian Homes. Maria and Rich are very happy to report that their business is up and booming. Their customers have turned into family and friends which also helps to add to the environment and charm.

Maria and Rich want to thank all of their patrons and customers for their continued business and want to remind everyone that they always provide fresh food that is well made, never frozen and made with tender care.

This beautiful dining room can fit seventy people for any type of event but please call ahead so all of your needs are taken care of for a perfect party.

I had the pleasure of sampling the Greek lamb chops, salad with blue cheese which was outstanding, asparagus, warm bread, and cottage fries. All of these great offerings were so well flavored, homemade and cooked to absolute perfection. The portions are very plentiful and are flavorful, tasty and well made.

This is a wonderful destination for a supper club experience, dinner with the family, entertaining a client or for a very special event.

As Phil says: "You won't be disappointed!"

The Charcoal Oven Restaurant
4400 Golf Road
Skokie, IL 60076
T: 847 675-8062
http://www.charcoalovenrestaurant.com/

Top Gun Dogs Glenview: The Glen's answer to great Hot Dogs, Gyros and Hamburgers!!

2010-06-09T12:56:00.002-05:00

Top Gun Dogs (http://www.topgundogstheglen.com) is owned by the Lykouretzos family who have established a gold star Glenview/North Shore destination for Hot Dogs, Gyros, Hamburgers and all other goodies in the fast food world. Their restaurant is very clean and well decorated. They have been in the food business since 1972 and have owned Top Gun Dogs for the last two years. The food is unbelievable. It's tasty, well made, flavorful and there is an abundant variety of items to choose from. The inspiration for their menu comes from the lack of tasty, fresh and well made fast food in "The Glen" which is located in Glenview, Illinois.

Top Gun Dogs has participated in alot of community events and truly understand how important it is to get involved with the people and community surrounding your business.

Their clientele consists of a great cross section of people such as families with kids, senior citizens, business people who want to stop for something quick and yummy and alot of different people from Glenview and the surrounding communities.

Their menu also consists of Philly Chicken, Philly Steak, Italian Beef, Polish Sausage and they offer three different types of salads along with Avgolemeno which is a Greek Egg Lemon Chicken Rice soup. The soup is GREAT!! I've eaten ALOT of avgolemeno and this was really special!!

There are some tentative plans for potential new items on the menu but nothing has been solidified. So keep checking for new additions!!!

Athena, who is the matriarch of the family, wants to give a heartfelt thanks to their loyal and wonderful customers who have continued to patronize their business. The whole family really enjoys each and every single customer and wishes them nothing but the very best for everyone. :)

Their catering menu features very high quality dishes that are made with high quality ingredients and they require 48 hours notice to put an order together for ANY type of occasion.

I had the privilege and pleasure of sampling the Avgolemeno (Greek Egg Lemon Chicken Rice Soup), a Hot Dog, a Gyros with everything, an order of fries and a piece of Baklava. As I mentioned earlier, the Avgolemeno was absolutely divine. It had the right consistency, balance of eggs and lemon, great chicken and the rice was cooked just right. The Hot Dog had the right snap to it and was moist, flavorful and was enclosed in a great bun with ketchup. I've also had ALOT of Gyros but this wonderful sandwich had an unbelievable blend of an abundant amount of Gyro meat, tomatoes that tasted like they had just been picked out of a garden, Tzaziki and onions on a really delicately cooked pita that was accompanied by a wonderful order of fries that were cooked to absolute perfection. And last but definitely not least, the baklava was made with absolute perfection. It tasted like it came straight from Halsted Street. The phyllo was flaky with the right amount of syrup and the nuts were tender and adorned with the right amount of baklava spices.

Top Gun Dogs (http://www.topgundogstheglen.com) is such a treat for anyone or for the whole family!!!

Top Gun Dogs
1845 Tower Drive
Glenview, IL 60026
T: 847-998-0444
F: 847-998-0555
Open 7 Days a Week at 11am
http://www.topgundogstheglen.com

Quizno's Subs in Glenview: DELICIOUS, friendly and clean!!!

2010-06-07T13:52:00.004-05:00

Quizno's in Glenview is a great place to have a sandwich, chips, cookie and drink that will satisfy any hungry person. This location is owned by Anil and Nita Patel who have alot of experience in the food business and previously owned a convenient store. Quizno's offers everything from salads, sandwiches, soups, top line chips, cookies and outstanding soft drinks. This store is in a great location, is very clean and the food is fresh and of top quality. Quiznos will be offering a special of a small sandwich, chips and a drink for $2.99 from June 7th to June 20th. This offer is only good with a coupon that can be printed online at http://www.quiznos.com/. There are also trays of sandwiches that are available but you have to call ahead and arrange any catering orders.

Quizno's is a great option because of the vast offerings they have of all of their products.

I had the pleasure of sampling the Double Cheese Cheese steak, a bag of chips and a double chocolate chunk cookie. All of these selections were so tasty, fresh and hit the spot for a summer afternoon. The bread was very tender and well baked as was the cookie. The beef, cheese, onions and spread that was included were tasty and well seasoned. The sandwich was above great and I highly suggest it to everyone. The chips were from Lay and as usual, were tasty and very well put together.

This location is just a treat and great for grabbing a bite with a friend or bringing the kids after a game!!!

Quizno's Subs
1819 Waukegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025
Office: 847-724-0410
http://www.quiznos.com/

Noburi Sushi: Top of the Line QUALITY Japanese Sushi and Cuisine

2010-06-07T13:25:00.000-05:00

Noburi Sushi is Chicago's North Shore premier and top quality Japanese cuisine and sushi. This wonderful establishment is owned by Noboru Nakamura who originally came to New York from Tokyo and then came to Chicago in 1988. He was previously the President of Akai Hana in Wilmette and left to open Noburi Sushi two years ago.

His very fresh ingredients (I can't stress enough how fresh the food is.) come from wonderful vendors from his previous relationships at Akai Hana. The menu is made of very traditional Japanese dishes and are not Chinese or come from any other Asian culture or cuisine. Freshness and quality are very important to Noboru.

His clients consist of families, business people, High School students who bring their parents, Toddlers, Senior Citizens and friends who get together for lunch. The establishment is immaculate and one can eat off the floors. Noboru waits the tables himself and says that customer service is highly important to him and to the employees.

They were featured in the Pioneer Press on May 6, 2010 in an article that was written by Lee A. Litas which speaks highly about their quality and prestige within the community.

The future may hold another restaurant and possibly some additions or substitutions to their menu.

Noboru is very well versed in the cuisine of his homeland and loves customers who understand that his establishment is strictly of the Japanese cuisine (so there is no fried rice, crab Rangoon or chicken cashew) and those who ask for suggestions.

The menu includes vegetable appetizers such as goma, edamame, vegetable croquette and vegetable tempura. The meat appetizers range from goyza, yakitori to Kara Age and a Beef Teriyaki Appetizer. They offer great teriyaki offerings such as chicken, chicken and vegetable to Chilean Sea Bass Teriyaki. There are also different entrees such as chicken cutlets, Vegetable Tempura Oyster Soup and Sukiyaki. They have noodle dishes, various salads and of course countless sushi offerings.

For dessert, they have ice cream, Mochi Ice Cream, Mochi Daifuku and Cheesecake.

This author had the pleasure and privilege of trying the goyza, Chicken and Vegetable Teriyaki, the white rice (which was GREAT!!)the salad with carrot and ginger dressing and an unbelievable piece of cheesecake.

Noboru Sushi is just an absolute wonderful treat and great staycation to Japan. I highly recommend a trip with your family or friends.

Nobori Sushi
Japanese Restaurant
1821 Waukegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025
http://www.noborisushi.com

Spiro's Deli: Glenview's destination for "The Bomber" and UNBELIEVABLE fries!!

2010-06-04T18:22:00.000-05:00

Spiro's Delis is the creation of the Nestos family that arrived from Greece and achieved the American dream by opening this great destination in 1966. Peter, who is one of the sons, is the owner and has a wonderful staff to help him. This wonderful spot is the home to "The Bomber", which was named after a squadron and some unbelievable fries that are home made and will leave you dreaming about them for centuries. "The Bomber" consists of their own Italian Beef, a mayo spread, onions, pickles and an unbelievable bread that is just delectable. There is a doctor who orders "The Bomber" from Spiro's and is a "deal closer" for any business deal that might arise and needs to be closed. The Poor Boy, which is also popular, was started by Peter's grandmother with very simple cheeses and meat and has remained as a consistent item on their menu.

This wonderful place was started as a full service deli with meat, cheeses, lots of Greek sweets and other delicious items and is now a great fast food destination. The quality of their ingredients is #1 and is their top priority. They purchase their products from Cisco and United Food Service. The newest addition is their chicken pitas which are healthy and tasty. The menu includes unbelievable fries, gyros, burgers, hot dogs, Italian Sausage and a catering menu that is just out of this world. If you need to put in a catering order, they need twenty four hours notice to put he order together.

There are several defining factors that set Spiro's apart and those being the quality of their food and their customer service. They deliver their great food to various business in the loop and also have a wonderful catering service with a huge menu to pick from. Peter wants to thank the customers for 44 years of patronizing their wonderful business. They have the most hardworking and loyal clientele on the North Shore of Chicago.

Spiro's Deli is a must go to destination in Glenview and the North Shore. Peter and his staff are very hospitable, the food is unbelievable and you can eat off the floors. Enjoy!!!

Spiro's Deli
1210 Waukegan Road
Glenview, Illinois 60025
T: 847-729-6650
F: 847-729-6657
http://www.spirosdeli.com/
M-F: 9:30am - 7pm
Sat: 9:30am - 6pm
Sunday: 11am - 4 pm

IL Forno in Deerfield: an absolute Italian treat!!!

2010-05-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

Il-Forno Pizzeria is a landmark in Deerfield and is known for their thin crust pizza and AMAZING pasta sauce (which I sampled) that could make any nonna lose her breathing capability. This wonderful establishment is owned by Debbie Scherer who has a wonderful Assistant Manager Tristan. Debbie' daughter Karlie is also a very important component to the functioning of the operation. Debbie worked for another gentleman who originally owned Il Forno and he sold different stores and she ended up buying the store in Deerfield. Her clientele consists of mainly families, kids and employees from some of the surrounding businesses. They offer all types of wonderful combinations of pizza, pasta, chicken, salads and dessert.

IL Forno also offers catering for all types of occasions including schools, private parties, family events and different business or office parties. They also have canollis, cookies and cheesecake that are delightful. Sweet tables and mini desserts are a possibility for the future.

The sauce is just heavenly and they also sell both a marinara and meat sauce in pints and quarts to take home. In addition to their great sauces, they also sell their homemade Italian salad dressing in pints and quarts as well.

I was able to sample the combo sandwich of Italian Beef and Sausage with peppers and provoloe and it was just moist, tasty, flavorful and simply delicious. I also sampled the Italian Lasagna which was DIVINE. They were not kidding, the sauce is just unbelievable. The sauce deserves to be in an Italian Sace Hall of Fame. It was DYNAMIC.

Il Forno (http://www.ilforno.com/) is just a dynamic spot if your stopping in for a quick bite or you have to feed a group of people. They service is unbelievable and this is a wonderful family run operation. An absolute delight for Deerfield.

Il-Forno Pizzeria
750 Osterman Ave Ste A
Deerfield, IL
Phone: (847) 940-8611
http://www.ilforno.com/

Jimmy John's in Glenview: A great sandwich and catering stop

2010-05-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

Jimmy John's in Glenview is a royal sandwich treat. This is a franchise store that is owned by Faisal Ghani and is managed by the wonderful Neal who makes this operation move and hum. The Jimmy Johns idea came from a college kid named Jimmy John who graduated from Eastern Illinois University and opened a sandwich shop. All of the recipes belong to Jimmy Johns and have been implemented in all of their stores.

This wonderful destination has some great employees with great energy that can make a sandwich in 30 seconds and keep the shop in immaculate condition. They have a ten page list of items that need to be cleaned daily and there is someone from the corporate office who comes and inspects them on a consistent basis. They also offer catering in an hour but they prefer to have at least twenty four hours notice.

They are always searching for different way to improve the concept and operation and have opened their 1000th location. Faisal also owns Olive Mediterranean Grill in the Loop which offers pan Middle Eastern cuisine and is flavorful and tasty.

I had the pleasure of sampling the "Vito" sandwich which were supreme cut Italian meats, cheeses, oregano, Italian dressing on their famous eight inch bread which also came with chips, a whole pickle (which was a treat) and a great chocolate chip cookie.

Jimmy Johns in Glenview is a great destination and a treat to stop for which you're craving a great sandwich, chips, a cookies and soda. It's clean and very well managed by Neal and Faisal.

Jimmy Johns
1746 Glenview Rd
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 657-7055
http://www.jimmyjohns.com/

Senoya Restaurant in Niles, IL: Asian fusion with a Korean Influence

2010-05-13T13:42:00.004-05:00

BK and Sunni Jeon have owned Senoya in Niles, IL for twelve years and previously owned a great Asian buffet dining destination in Missouri. They met in Seoul, Korea where Sunni was a nurse before getting into the food business. Asian buffets are wonderful because the customer has the opportunity to sample different items and have an opportunity to learn what they like best.

Senoya offers a great buffet with a salad bar, sushi, appetizers and Asian entrees like chop chae, Korean short beef ribs, sweet and sour pork and three different rice offerings such as sticky white rice, red beans and rice and stir fried rice. They also offer Korean chicken and pork which were just out of this world.

All of the products and ingredients are seasonal and fresh. None of the dishes that are served come from the can and the produce is very fresh that is provided by some of Chicago's top notch suppliers.

One of Senoya's great attributes is that they offer catering and parties. They are able to accommodate parties of up to 150 people or more (with no room charge) and if you're in a party of 6 or more, they highly suggest that you have a reservation on the weekends. Senoya is much more upscale because they have great servers who help to take care of the customers and offer American and Korean beers and wines. For catering orders, they need two days to put the order together for their clientele.
The clientele is mainly Korean but they also have alot of different people who come in and dine with them.

Their son Peter and daughter Irene are working on a Korean Taco take out concept that will be launched in the near future.

There are no present plans to franchise or expand, BK and Sunni are going to help their kids with the new Korean Taco venture which sounds very exciting and will add a different flavor and concept to Chicago's dining scene.

Word of mouth is the marketing method that they utilize and is working very well for them. They're really busy and have many return customers. They also offer American and Korean beers and wines.

Some of their specialties are their steamed dumplings and the Korean BBQ. The crab rangoon and egg rolls are delicately well done. Alot of their customers are able to try the Korean delicacies when they partake of the Chinese and Japanese offerings.

The items on the buffet are rotated for seasonal freshness and the items change all of the time

The price range is as follows for Monday through Friday: Weekday lunch is $8.95, an early bird special of $11.50 from 3:30pm - 5pm and weekday dinner for $12.50.

For Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, they offer a great price of $12.50 that also includes a drink.

Senoya is wonderful stop because it offers a great pan Asian buffet with a great Korean influence for all to try and savor in a very clean and immaculate environment.

Senoya Restaurant
8750 W Golf Rd
Niles, IL 60714
(847) 299-7717

P.J. Moon Doggies: Glenview's Great Fast Food Stop

2010-05-07T11:15:00.002-05:00

Maria and Harry Papagianis have been in the food business for 48 years and PJ MoonDoggies is their seventh restaurant. Their customer base consists of a great mix of all different types of people from business people to families with children.

They offer great fast food and a menu that includes everything from hot dogs and gyros to an unbelievable skirt steak sandwich, ribs, chicken, great salads and sides like fries, onion rings, zucchini and mozzarella sticks. They also offer catering for the business setting, private parties, and other occasions. Some of their more popular dishes are their burgers like the Moondoggies half pounder on garlic bread and the skirt steak sandwich which are out of this world.

I had the great opportunity to sample the gyros with tzatziki sauce and the skirt steak sandwich which were tender, moist, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The tzatziki sauce is homemade with a special Greek yogurt and all of the traditional flavors.
The restaurant is immaculate and one could eat off the floors.

The future may possibly hold franchising this great destination. The quality of their food is top notch and they serve it up with a smile and great service to their customers. They've been in the neighborhood for twenty six years and have been consistent in everything that they do. The customers are like family and know Harry and Maria's kids and grand kids. These customers, who used to come in as little kids are now bringing in their little ones who also love to play the old tunes on the wurlitzer jukebox.

I highly recommend PJ MoonDoggies because it is a great family destination that is immaculate with tasty and delicious food served up with outstanding customer service.

P.J. MoonDoggies
Howard Plaza
1702 Milwaukee Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Tel: 847-699-8330-31
Fax: 847-699-8383

Francesco's Hole in the Wall: A true Italian Trattoria on the North Shore

2010-05-05T18:41:00.000-05:00

Frank Gallo got his start in the food business when he was working with his parents Dominick and Lucy Gallo in their Italian pastry shop on Taylor and Halsted street in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood. Dominick and Lucy hail from Mallian, Naples in Italy.

His journey through the restaurant world made stops at Milano’s which was run by his parents on State and Division Street in the gold coast of Chicago, IL when he was thirteen years old. His grandfather was the original Papa Milano and was famous in Chicago for years. Some of the duties that he carried out were that of a bus boy and he also washed dishes and he really learned the business from the bottom up. The next restaurant that he worked in was Papa Milano's in Rogers Park that was owned by his parents which was followed by another restaurant in Lincolnwood called Gallo's and then he owned Francesco's Hole in the Wall (http://www.francescosholeinthewall.com/) which is also managed by his daughter Lucy Gallo.

Francesco's Hole in the Wall is a trattoria that is rooted in Neapolitan cooking with a slight Northern Italian influence. His inspiration for his restaurant is from his own family. Frank has also started a pasta sauce business that's in twenty eight states in upscale markets.

All of their ingredients are fresh and some are imported. Frank gets some of his desserts and pastas from Italy and all the other ingredients are local. Some of their most popular dishes are osso bucco, chicken Vesuvio, rigatoni with sausage and arugula, veal ala marsala, chicken ala siciliana and Chilean Sea Bass. The restaurant offers beer, wine and spirits but they do not have a fully stocked beer. The wine selection is elegant and truly upscale.
Their best method of marketing is word of mouth and they also have a wonderful website.

This destination is set apart from the other Italian destinations in Chicago and the North Shore because they serve specialty dishes such as stuffed peppers with veal over pasta. This is a dish that other Italian eateries don't serve a specialty such as stuffed peppers. They also have fish and fish salads that are very delicately made and put together with such care and very meticulous approach. Their cooking is home style and when you walk through the doors and through the kitchen, you feel like you are in someone's home. When sitting down with Frank he said "I cook from the heart." He tells other people "The aroma is great. You have to try this!!".

The restaurant is very clean and so is the kitchen. Their ingredients are very very fresh and everything is made to order. They offer specialty dishes that no one else does.

I was able to sample rigatoni in a tomato sauce with a meatball that was covered with melted cheese which was just divine. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the tomato sauce and cheese were so authentic and the meatball was very very tasty. I highly recommend it for anyone who would like to venture in to partake of this great dish.

Francesco's Hole in the wall is a very very special place and is a wonderful place to take your family or business party.

Their hours are as follows:

Lunch
Mon, Wed-Thu 11:30am-2:00pm
Fri 11:30am-2:15pm

Dinner
Mon, Wed-Thu 5:00pm-9:15pm
Fri, Sat 5:00pm-10:15pm
Sun 4:00pm-8:45pm

They are closed on Tuesday's.

Francesco’s Hole in the Wall
245 Skokie Boulevard
Northbrook , Illinois 60062
Telephone: 847-272-0155
http://www.francescosholeinthewall.com/

Valley Lodge of Glenview: The Northshore's best Burger and Ribs

2010-05-05T11:49:00.001-05:00

The Valley Lodge is Glenview's great destination for wonderful ribs, a great burger, a solid carrot cake and some wonderful other delights that are offered such as salads, pasta and outstanding steaks.

Bill Stavrou, who presently is the owner for the last five years, has a wonderful neighborhood following and offers an American Grill cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. They have solid comfort food such as steaks, chops, burgers, salads, pasta, sandwiches and a wonderful carrot cake that is dynamic.

Their products are sourced from vendors that they've utilized for the last 41 years. The products and ingredients are incredibly fresh and high quality is very important to them.

Their business is very established, are involved with alot of community events and are members of the Glenview Chamber of Commerce. They are very active in the community whether it's an event or different group that's having a function.

They also offer some catering, carry out and have some large corporate accounts.

Their more popular dishes include the ribs and the burgers. The seafood selection is superb and flown in from both the East and West coasts. They also serve some of the lake fishes which are fresh and well prepared.
They also offer catering have some corporate accounts that they have serviced. They also offer a kids menu for their younger guests.

This is a casual neighborhood place with exceptional food that's fresh and served by a friendly staff which and these are the keys to their success. In addition, their price point is mid range and remains pretty constant. A good price and wonderful value are also part of their formula.

I had the opportunity to sample the ribs and carrot cake which were both exceptional. The ribs were moist and the sauce was very well seasoned and had a good consistency. The carrot cake was very moist topped with a cream cheese frosting and the cake was covered in walnuts that were fresh. This delight did not disappoint and I highly recommend after you finish your meal.

Valley Lodge is a great stop for lunch and dinner and offer fresh products and ingredients at a good price served by a friendly wait staff.

Valley Lodge
2132 Waukegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025-1718
(847) 724-7440

Roasti's in Glenview: One of the North Shore's best pizza, pasta and sandwiches (and cannoli too!!!)

2010-05-01T17:12:00.010-05:00

When you think of pizza and pasta take out or catering, most people have visions of puddles and puddles of grease but Rosati's (http://www.myrosatis.com/) of Glenview (at Lake and Milwaukee) is the complete opposite. Rosati's is serving the freshest and most tasty delights including cannoli's.

Jesus, who is the general manager, has been at this location for about ten years and has a great way with the customers no matter if you're calling at the last minute or you've put your order in a week ahead of time. He's very accommodating and very patient.

They're serving everything from fried chicken, pasta, ribs, great sandwiches and wonderful salads. They buy their products and ingredients from Battaglia and Greco who are great food suppliers. Both of these suppliers have sent them some great products and supplies.

Their customers and clientele base consists of alot of families and kids which is wonderful for the business, community and neighborhood.

They offer carryout and delivery services but presently do not have sit down seating.

They offer mailers and menus that are accompanied by coupons.

Just like alot of other businesses, they have been affected by the economy but things are starting to pick up.

They're customer base keep coming back because the food is great and the employees are just wonderful.

The menu has alot of different items and has alot of options especially if you're going to be throwing a party or event.

I had the pleasure of being able to try the baked mostaccioli with tomato sauce and great mozzarella on top that was accompanied by a meatball and Italian sausage. I thought I was going to pass out when I ate the Italian sausage. This was a definite winner. I also tried the Chicken Parmesan sandwich which was just out of this world and I ended the day with a canolli which was good. All of these dishes were very tasty and delicately made.

This was such a treat and the food is just excellent along with the customer service. Place your take out, catering or delivery order with Rosati's in Glenview: 847-296-0260.

Rosati's
1708 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Telephone: 847-296-0260

Hours: Mon - Thurs: 9am - 11pm
Fri - Sat: 9 am - Midnight
Sunday: 10am - 11pm

Corner Bakery: Sandwiches, Salads, Sweets, Catering and a great love for community

2010-04-29T13:48:00.001-05:00

Corner Bakery Cafe (http://www.cornerbakery.com/), which is part of Il Fornaio Restaurant Corp (spun off from Brinker in 2006), is a fast casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Jackson, Miss., Los Angeles/Orange County, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and Washington D.C. and offers Free Wifi which brings a great warmth to their environment. Joe Digangi is one of the manager's for the organization and has been in the food business since 1991 when he got his start at Fuddrucker's and worked as a line cook, butcher, cashier and baker. His journey took him to other restaurants and then he finally got his degree in economics and finance and has landed as a very high level manager.

All of the products and ingredients are sourced from the main office in Dallas. They also do offer local produce and have done promotions where they offer a sandwich like a Bacon Bacon Local Tomatoes and source the tomatoes from local growers and farmers.

They are in complete growth mode and have been affected by the economy, however, the company is in functioning in a positive sales mode and growing every day.

They have great employees and are always searching for people who are very hard working and can connect with suburban guests. They look at people with all different types of experiences.

For six months every year, they have a window where they change up their menu items and offer alot of different variety.

Their approach to their catering is much more professional than their competitors. Their employees are in a uniform and they travel in a refrigerated truck when the platters of food are delivered to the clients. They offer great value for their portions. They also offer ALOT of different options that are very healthy and calorie conscious.

The company is very involved in community events and it's a wonderful way for them to market their products and goods. They have donated bottled water and food to various events such as a walk or run for charity. It's a win win opportunity where they help other community organizations but also market their brand in order to build their own business. They also have had sweet baskets delivered for teachers and offer opportunities to treat the teachers and their friends. They have also delivered their bottled water to local health clubs and wellness facilities. They really do give back to the community around them and have become apart of their community.

I had the pleasure of sampling the chopped salad which was so fresh and came in a very plentiful size. The cheese, bacon, chicken and vegetables were really crisp. I also sampled the Chicken Pesto Sandwich which had chicken right off the bird and tomatoes that came right out of the garden. To make it complete, I also had a cheesecake brownie which not as dense as you would think. It was really moist and the cheesecake portion on top was put together in a very delicate manner. The chocolate was of a really high quality.

I really recommend Corner Bakery for your next salad, sandwich, sweet or catering stop!!!!!

To Locate a Corner Bakery near you
http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/Locations.aspx

Corner Bakery: Main Home Page
http://www.cornerbakery.com/

Jolane's Cafe

2010-04-28T12:55:00.001-05:00

Jolane's Cafe, located in Glenview, IL offers wonderful soups, salads, sandwiches and Julius Meinl pastries. It's very quaint with a varied customer base that adds to its charm.

Jolane's Cafe

1100 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Glenview, IL

Telephone: 847.375.6986
http://www.jolanescafe.com/

Zingarella: Glenview's Gourmet, Friendly and Very Tasty Cafe

2010-04-28T12:33:00.002-05:00

Bonnie Brock got her start in the food world by being exposed to both of her grandmothers' cooking and learned the best way any kid can, in your grandma's kitchen. She was very lucky to have had one grandmother who is Polish and one who is Italian. She had gone to Europe to sing opera for a while and when she returned she decided to open a great cafe and restaurant and that's how Zingarella was born. In addition to being a wonderful opera singer, entrepreneur, and chef, she is also a dietician which adds an informative component to the food preperation and planning of the meals and services that are offered to her clientele.

Zingarella (http://www.zingarella.com) has been open for three years and the inspiration for the restaurant was bringing back the foods from Europe. The geographic area of Glenview and its diversity of people is a great inspiration for the restaurant and its menu. Each week they honor a different country and cuisine. One week could be German, one week could be Italian and the next week could be Austrian.

Bonnie purchases her produce, when in season during the summer, at the Wagner and Northbrook Farmer's Market and during the winter purchases from some of the top notch vendors in the business. She's also a vendor in both markets and buys produce from other vendors, bakes pies and then returns to sell them in the markets. She's also very attuned and informed about sustainable seafood and only utilizes the fish that is wild and healthy. She uses free range chicken and grass fed beef. She's very conscientious about what type of products she's using in her cooking and how her customers are being fed.

Zingarella has been especially kind and thoughtful to the educators in the community. 1500 coupons have been printed for the teachers at Glenbrook South when the arrive at school for their first of school. They also have done alot of parties and office gatherings for the surrounding businesses and doctors offices in the area.

Some of the future plans for Zingarella's include doing some remodeling which includes expanding the bar and bakery area and build a little cooking school. The Cooking school would feature Bonnie and ten other students that would cook together and learn from one another. There is also a book club that has approximately 60 people that meets once a month. They read the assigned chapters and then have meal based on the theme of the book whether it's the American South, France, Ireland, or other themes. Bonnie enjoys a small environment with just a few people so everyone can get together and learn from one another.

Their most popular dish is carrot cake and was just featured in the North Shore Magazine. The recipe for the cake came from Tulane University where Bonnie spent some time while doing some of her education. She enjoys scouring markets and cookbooks for new recipes and ideas.

The customer base consists of women for lunch and dinner consists of alot of couples that are both older and younger. The customers are a great mix of the neighborhood community. The customer base consists of a broad spectrum. They have take out service daily and every night they have complete meals from bread, salad entree, vegetable and dessert that are available for families that range from two people and up. A mom can come in and pick up an order and be out in ten minutes.

They offer a wonderful kids menu and also have a gingerbread decorating club in addition to a cupcake decorating class. Each child has their own station and can do their decorating. A story that was relayed was that one young gentleman was having so much fun with his frosting that he started squirting it towards the ceiling.

Zingarella is capable of providing alot of different services for parties and functions that also include a great sweet table of treats. They also do appetizers for different functions and parties. They enjoy putting together events for many various and different groups.

Bonnie appreciates and offers a non-corporate environment. They give personal attention and the feeling of being part of a community in addition to the owner knowing your likes, dislikes, allergies and other preferences.
There are also separate items for diabetic and gluten free guests. Bonnie is in the store all the time and mentioned "It's been a very enjoyable experience being in Glenview".

I had the pleasure and privilege of sampling the vegetable quiche, pasta salad with tomatoes and feta cheese, a chicken salad sandwich with chips, a wonderful couscous, a sampling of cookies and a very delicate pear cake with mousse. All of these items were so very carefully prepared and were cooked with perfection. None missed the mark in terms of perfection and preparation. The flavors and textures were perfectly selected. The Pear Mousse Cake was just absolutely out of this world. This was well done because the pears were very delicate and sweet and the cake and frosting were very delicate.

I highly recommend Zingarella and all of their wonderful food delights and outstanding services.

Zingarella
2300 Lehigh Ave
Glenview, IL 60026 US
(847) 657-0707
http://www.zingarella.com/

Depot Nuevo and The Noodle Cafe: Two great eating destinations

2010-04-25T17:33:00.003-05:00

Rob Garrison comes from a small business family and was presented with the opportunity to buy a restaurant from a friend who was in the process of selling and that's how the Noodle Cafe got it's start. The Noodle Cafe resembled a restaurant that he and his wife Ann had dined at in Evanston, IL. Depot Nuevo was another idea that had come along from a Graduate School project when he was attending Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Evanston, IL.

Their inspiration for their menu comes form the winding down of the Glenview, IL location of The Noodle Cafe when they featured a latin inspired menu for the last three months. Their products and ingredients are sourced from some of the most elite suppliers in the state and country especially for their clientele.

The marketing campaign consists of word of mouth (which is a great way to market) and web pages for both The Noodle Cafe (http://www.thenoodlecafe.com/) and for Depot Nuevo (http://www.depotnuevo.com/) that are both very informative and also offer opt in email. They have a facebook page and also have a Twitter Account. They also do special events that are included in their Facebook and Twitter communications. They are also involved with print advertising and screen ads in the movie theaters. In the past, they have also offered half price specials.

A great fundraiser and business development idea that's been implemented is a "Celebrity Bar Tender" Evening where a celebrity comes and bar tends for the evening and half of the money that is made on drinks only is given to the charity of the evening.
The future of Depot Nuevo and The Noodle Cafe consists of quality establishments running at top and maximum functioning.

Rob and the chef are trying to do a mix of traditional Mexican menu mixed with new dishes. Their moto is “ Let’s make things more modern and not get stuck with something old”. The food evolves over time and they are trying to have comfortable food. Their goal is to be modern and not get stuck in the past.

They’re able to pull people from the surrounding suburbs and the surrounding area that adds to their clientele list.

New concepts that MIGHT be on the horizon are foods and flavors form Louisiana or possibly South Korea.

The freshness and quality of their food is very high and goes beyond expectation. All of their cooking is from scratch and freshly made. They concentrate on taste, friendly service and friendliness. The goal is to serve great food by great people in an immaculate environment.

This writer sampled very tasty chips, a red salsa, a green salsa, duck enchiladas and Mexican steak that was accompanied by mashed potatoes and great green beans that were cooked to perfection.

Depot Nuevo
1139 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
Tel: 847-251-3111
http://www.depotnuevo.com/

The Noodle Cafe
708 Twelfth Street
Wilmette, IL 60091
ph. 847-251-2228
fax. 847-251-2299
http://www.thenoodlecafe.com/

fRedhots in Glenview: Chicago's answer to a great dog (in many forms)

2010-04-25T16:23:00.000-05:00

fRedhots in Glenview got it's start after Fred Markoff had worked for others in the food business for more than twenty years. He had always dreamed of having his own business and that's how fRedhots got its wonderful start. This establishment is a great edition to Glenview's culinary dining options.

The inspiration for their menu was a hot dog style restaurant that’s above the rest and that's exactly what fRedhots is all about. Hot Doug’s has been an inspiration for Fred and Sharon who is his wife. When he was doing his market research, the evidence indicated that everyone wanted something that is above all the other hot dog joints in the area. So armed with that knowledge, hey taste tested all of the products and picked the very best with the highest quality meats.

fRedhots offers Reindeer from Alaska, Alligator from Louisiana and other gourmet products from Chicago. Chicago has almost everything on a regular basis and they also go into other markets to purchase products that are more exotic.

Their customer base consists of a strong local community base. They have alot of  business people and families that frequent their establishment for lunch. There are alot of kids and a great "kid friendly" menu. There are also alot of "foodies" (people who really appreciate good food). People who like quality and unique food come from far and wide to eat these wonderful hot dog creations. They have alot of regular customers and alot of people who come from the surrounding suburbs. fRedhots is listed on Yelp and Chowhound and Sharon always responds to others who post on yelp. They do a great job of making the customer happy and any issues that arise are always addressed as quickly as possible.

Fred and Sharon are always trying new ideas, concepts and make changes to the menu to keep their offering fresh and different. The Supplier brings new things and if Fred thinks that the item will sell he's more than happy to add it to the menu. They have sucessfully  managed to weather the downturn of the economy but still continue to grow. They brought down their prices of hot dogs and fries which is a great help to the customer. They are plans to expand the restaurant's physical space and and then they will be able to expand their menu. They do offer chicken sandwiches from time to time and have done so in a varity of different styles. Have a seasonal specials like a vege special for summer and reindeer for Christmas. They also offer fun items like Corned Beef dog and Reuben sausage as a change up. They also run an October feast menu from Mid September through October. They diligently update their website and the fan page on Facebook is always up to date. Their fans get their postings right away.

Pat Bruno of the Sun Times said that "fRed Hots and Fries is not only good food or clean as a pin." Fred and Sharon spend the extra time that it takes to make their food taste of the highest quality and create and maintain and environment that is absolutely immaculate. The fryers are scrubbed every single day and use Canola blend oil with cotton seed. They use the highest quality oil for cooking and frying.

They also cater to vegetarians and offer five or six items. Fred cooks a healthy moist patty with chunks of veges with bread crumbs. There are several different salads and also service Bison and Buffalo. All of the customers are served by name when the order is taken at the register. This is a truly a very friendly business and a great destination.

They also do charity events where twenty percent of the proceeds are donated to the charity of the day. So for expample, if your charity would like to do an event, the event is advertised and publicized and anyone who comes in and says that there from the charity that is raising money, twenty percent of all the sales from all the various people who come to support the event goes back to the organiztaion. The kids love this type of event.

For the future, they're searching for investment so they can open other locations in other states.

The menu offerings are wide and varied such as Chipotle Turkey club sandwich on toasted French roll, a  finished bbq beef and frites and spicy thai aioli sauce that comes with the fries/frites.

There are alot of different types of chicken sausage that are offered and an Italian Debris Meat sandwich which is all of th debris that's left over form the Italian Beef that is boiled down (including the seasonsings) and put into sandwich form that is accompanied by french fries on top with BBQ sauce and Merks Cheddar Cheese. Truly a treat for any day.
The fries are a signature item and this is what makes fRedhots stand apart from their competition. The potatoes are cooked using a Belgium method which means that they are heavly washed, twice cooked once at a lower temp when their 2/3 done and fried again right before they are served. The dipping sauce include: Garlic Aioli, Wasabi Aioli, Chipotle Aioli, Spicy Thai Aioli, Artichoke Aioli, Basil Pesto Aioli, Sweet Chipotle (No Mayo), Tomato Curry Sauce (No Mayo) Sweet Red Pepper Garlic Aioli, Spicy Mustard Dill Aioli, and Green Onion Sage Aioli. They also offer Merkts Soft Cheddar Fries, Chili or Nacho Cheese to put over the Fries. They also have Garlic Fries which are fries that are tosed in garlic butter. The fries are just an absolutely treat.

I had the pleasure of sampling the smoked salmon fRedhot with Fries/Frites and I chose the artichoke aioli and pesto aioli which were both just suburb. This Greek girl also sampled the Gyros Hot Dog which is made up of lamb and beef seasoned with all the traditional gyros seasoning and fRedhots just hit it out of the park. I felt like I was over at "The Works" on Golf Road eating a Gyros.

fRedhots has been featured in Chicago Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Hungry Hound Channel 7 ABC, North Shore Magazine, Glenview Announcements, Daily Herald, Zagat Rated, Yelp.com and LTHForum.com GNR (Great Neighborhood Restaurant).

fRedhots is a very special place with great offerings, great sauces, wonderful fries and the cleanest restaurant on the North Shore that would make any housekeeper jealous. This is a GREAT place for kids and families.

fRedhots
http://www.fredhots.com/
1707 Chestnut Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Phone: 847-657-9200
fredhots_fries@sbcglobal.com

Einstein Brothers Bagels

2010-04-15T20:24:00.000-05:00

Einstein Brothers is Corporate America's shining gem of a wonderful bagel, lunch, coffee and catering destination. They are not only producing wonderful products but they serve it with gracious, swift and friendly service and treat their employees like family.

Below is the history that we pulled from their website to share with you. After the history is the contined glowing review that we gathered for Einstein Brothers Bagels.

***************************************************************************************************************
History
Rising to the Challenge

In our early years, we operated and franchised specialty coffee cafés in the northeastern United States under the brand names of New World Coffee (New World) and Willoughby's Coffee and Tea (Willoughby's). In addition to coffee, we also served fresh, high quality gourmet foods and pastries. Our business strategy in those years was to be a franchisor and grow through acquisitions. With the acquisition of Manhattan Bagel Company, Inc. (Manhattan) in 1998 and Chesapeake Bagel Bakery (Chesapeake) in 1999, we became a significant franchisor of bagel restaurants and, to a lesser extent, of coffee cafés. In 2001, our strategy evolved to include company-operated restaurants as well as franchised and licensed locations as we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets (the Einstein Acquisition) of Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. (ENBC) and its majority-owned subsidiary, Einstein/Noah Bagel Partners, L.P., which operated 2 brands: Einstein Bros. Bagels (Einstein Bros.) and Noah's New York Bagels (Noah's).
The Einstein Acquisition in 2001 was accomplished by issuing a substantial amount of short-term debt and mandatorily redeemable preferred equity, which have since been refinanced and restructured.

Office Talk
Our principal office is located in Golden, Colorado.

*************************************************************************************************************

We were able to chat with Ryan who is the Manager of the Glenview, Il location and is very experienced in the food business. Ryan came from the Rock Bottom Restaurant Group and was interested in this position because the hours fit his schedule with a new baby at home and Einstein Brothers is very accomodating of their employees and the life that they have outside of work.

Their products and ingredients that are used are freshly sourced and hand picked for their customers. They are able to stay ahead of their competition because they are innovative with their menu, offer lunch and also have catering services that are available.

The food is kept fresh and clean with good refrigerators and a truck that comes three times a week with great new product.

The future of Einstein Brothers is to grow the business and become the largest fast casual restaurant empire in the country and world.

I was able to sample a wonderful Spinach Bagel with a melted cheese and garlic cream cheese, a apple pecan coffee cake, a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese and a dutch apple bagel with plain cream cheese which was just delightful. All of these delights were very moist, the bagels were well put together, tender and the cream cheeses were very authentic.

Einstein Brothers is one of Corporate America's shining examples of what it is to be good to the customer and the employees with the ability to still make money!!! Every corporation should replicate this model of capitalism.

Taco Burrito King: Chicago's Premier Fast Casual Mexican Food

2010-04-15T14:16:00.002-05:00

Taco Burrito King (http://www.tacoburritoking.com/) got its start when Carolos Lamas decided to open a burrito shop on Harlem and Belmont and was joined by his brother Uriel Lamas who then went and blossomed the business that resulted in the growth of more stores. Taco Burrito King is completely family owned.

The inspiration for their menu is authentic Mexican food and all the recipes are from the Lamas family. Their Touhy location is opened seven days a week, twenty four hours a day and the drive thru is open from 6am to 4am.

They have a wonderful website which is available for ordering and browsing.

Taco Burrito King does do catering such as weddings and baptisms and are available to do any occasions. They also cater office parties.

The quality and taste of their products is very important and the food is made fresh daily. They manufacture their own chorizo which has a lot of different spices.

Taco Burrito King offers good food and fast service and is kept in wonderful condition. The tables, floors and kitchen were very very clean.

I had the pleasure of sampling the quacamole which was chunky and refreshing. The avocados, tomatoes, cilantro and chips were very fresh and authentic.

The combination plate included one taco and I choose the pork taco, a tamale and a quesadilla which were all very authentic well cooked, tender, well seasoned and a delight with the tomato, lettuce and sour cream that accompanied it in addition to rice and beans.

The Flauta plate included three chicken flautas and included, rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.

The Rice and beans are not your typical Mexican Rice and beans. The Lamas have really put alot of work into fixing two very delicate and well done traditional Mexican side dishes. The prices are very reasonable and it's a wdonerful visit.

Taco Burrito King
http://www.tacoburritoking.com/
Harlem & Belmont

3216 N Harlem
Chicago, IL 60634
T: (773) 637-3200
Sunday - Thursday: 8am - 4am
Friday & Saturday: 8am - 6am

Harlem & Montrose
4427 N Harlem
Norridge, IL 60706
T: (708) 457-0457
Daily: 9am - Midnight

Harlem & Higgins
5509 N Harlem
Chicago, IL 60656
T: (773) 467-0692
Daily: Open 24 hours

Belmont & Long
5413 W Belmont
Chicago, IL 60641
T: (773) 777-6200
Sunday - Thursday: 8am - 4am
Friday & Saturday: 8am - 6am

North & Natchez
6518 W North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60707
T: (773) 637-2111
Sunday - Thursday: 10am - 2am
Friday & Saturday: 10am - 5am

Greek Town
811 W Jackson
Chicago, IL 60607
T: (312) 831-0633
Daily: Open 24 hours

Alsip
12201 S Pulaski
Alsip, IL 60803
T: (708) 388-3400
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5am
Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Channahon
23836 W Eames
Channahon, IL 60410
T: (815) 467-4300
Monday - Thursday: 6am - 11pm
Friday & Saturday: 6am - Midnight
Sunday: 9am - 11pm
Niles
6701 W Touhy
Niles, IL 60714
T: (847) 600-0404
Daily: Open 24 hours

The HIP
Harlem Irving Plaza Food Court
4148 N Harlem
Norridge IL. 60706
T: (708) 452-3200

http://www.tacoburritoking.com/

Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery: A healthy eating opportunity for everyone.

2010-04-08T16:24:00.000-05:00

Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery provides a wonderful opportunity to eat healthy food that is chemical free and available for everyone.

Martha Sutton, who is the Executive Pastry Chef, is one of the most kind and outgoing Executives on the North Shore of Chicago.
Not only is she the Executive Pastry chef, she's also heads up the catering and the Public Relations division. She's an absolute delight and is an invaluable asset to the organization.

Martha got her start cooking because her Dad was a chef and started cooking when she was really young. She entered the corporate world and walked away and decided that she wanted to enter into the food world. She has worked for other restaurants and bakeries on the North Shore of Chicago and that's how she gained her experience. Her Mother and Aunt are also excellent bakers and really gave her alot of her knowledge.

Sweet Dreams is having a Meet and Greet for 20 Vegetarians the weekend of April 10th - 11th.
Martha started in June of 2006 at Sweet Dreams and the organization will turn 5 in September of 2010 (this year). Pastry is a tough industry because your standing on your feet and you’re also the last one to leave at night. She was doing wedding cakes for other people and utilizing facilities owned by others and she missed working with an organization. She came into Sweet Dreams for lunch and was stunned as to what wonderful products that were being produced by organic scratch baking.

Sweet Dreams has been recognized in the media by North Shore Magazine, The Pioneer Press and several other organizations. They support local organization and charities as much as possible. Despite the downturn in the economy, they are financially prosperous and functioning above the curve.

Sweet Dreams is 100% organic from the food to the curtains hanging in front of the windows to the paint on the walls. They are truly a green operation.

Organic eating utilizes products that are chemical free and come from sustainable farming. Martha only uses Organic Valley products. Their cream is the best that she has worked with and this is the best baking she’s ever done.

Sweet Dreams strengths are scratch baking and cooking that ranges from soups, breads, sweets and this method of cooking and baking which seperates them from other restaurants. Sweet Dreams produces beautiful sweets and Croatian cookies. They also create chocolate cheesecake, have a café and can prepare lunches. You feel good after you’ve eaten their products and creations.
Organic eating is wonderful because it prevents cancer and helps prevent any chemicals, pesticides or hormones from entering the human body.

Sweet Dreams is expanding to next door that will assist in expanding their seating capacity. They need to accommodate their lunch crowd and have added breakfast to their menu that includes French Toast, Frittata and Scrambled Eggs.

Sweet Dreams will also start offering cooking classes that will include different kinds of cakes and cookies. There is also a big market for kids baking and cooking.

Their catering services will includes kids cupcake and cake decorating. They also offer Storybook Yoga for Kids includes engaging in yoga while being read to and tea parties for little girls.

The store front is plain and simple but please stop by and try their food. Organic eating is not out of anyone’s bounds.

I had the pleasure of sampling the following items which were freshly baked: a lemon bar, spinach ricotta strudel, Pear strudel, Éclair and a Cappuccino brownie. All of the items were delicately made and baked to perfection. This could be a wonderful dessert platter for your next party or event.

I also had the pleasure of having a house salad which was whole, fresh and well dressed. The dressing was not overwhelimg and there was a hint of balsamic vinegar. The crepe was nice and light and not to sweet. The filling included fresh chicken, vegetables and the sauce was not to heavy or overseasoned. I would definitely recommend the chicken crepe and salad for another lunch visit.

Please stop by and try their wonderful creations and products. They are offering so much more than just sweets and cakes.

Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery
1107 Waukegan Rd.
Glenview, Illinois.
Ph: (847) 657-1092
Fax: (847) 657-0369
http://www.sweetdreamsorganicbakery.com/

Hours of operation:
Mon-Sat: 9 AM - 7 PM
Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM

The Pita Inn: Chicago's wonderful answer for Middle Eastern Food

2010-04-06T12:50:00.000-05:00

The Pita Inn is Chicago's premier destination for Middle Eastern Cuisine. This gold gem serves premier Middle Eastern cuisine that is fresh and healthy.

Falah Tabahi, who is the owner, came to this country from Palestine in 1972 and has been in the food business every since he came to this country. He came from Palestine and was studying in this country and ended up in the food business. He worked in the Skokie location, which was another Mediterranean and that’s how he fell into the Pita Inn business. He worked as a waiter and bus boy and learned the business from the bottom up. His son, Hazem, is top Manager for the business and watches over his father's creation and empire.
Falah worked in restaurant business and makes customer service top priority and provides people good food that is fresh and of top notch quality. Falah trained all of the cooks and the Manager in Wheeling was the very first employee and is now the main chef. Mohammed, who is another employee, has been in Pita inn for 20 years. There are alot of of long time employees and the organization doesn't see alot of turn over. Their Uncle Adel, who works in Glenview has been with them for 28 yrs.

The inspiration for the menu is to keep it simple for quick service and more consistent you can be. Flavors are in the middle so appeals to everyone. Menu is simple and severl more items have been added. Have organic chicken from amish farm. Is delivered fresh every day so it’s marinated.

There are no special products that are going to be manufactured. They are in the process of opening up a new location in the near future and their grocery store in Skokie is just unbelievable.

Their business is consistent and their prices are affordable. They have the same employees, the same food and the prices have only been raised twice. They still have 3.95 specials. This is the best deal. They have alot of customers and can compete with a lot of volume so they can keep their prices low.

They offer buffet style abnd can deliver all the food for an event. Have catering packages from 6.95 - 9.95 a person and includes all the different meats, salad, rice, chiken, falafel, and appetizers. They make their own bakalava and kinafa (ashredded wheat and cheese custard dessert).

There are other locations coming in the future and they won't be going into the dessert business. They make their own pita because it’s more authentic, however, it’s more expensive but the product is of higher quality. The future of Pita Inn is to have corporate growth and open in other cities.

Their best advertising is word of mouth and they also contribute to the local synogogues and churches. Their customers are loyal to the restaurant and come back morning noon and night. Some of the customers are eating their two times a day.

They have received alot of media attention including being on Check Please on channell 11 WTTW Chicago and was also featured on Steve Dolinsky's program "The Hungry Hound" on Channel 7 ABC.

I was able to sample the following items which were just flavorful, tasty, moist and of very high quality: Tabouleh, Jerusalem Salad, Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Chicken Shwarma, the lunch special which included several different red meats prepared in the Middle Eastern Style, Rice, Salad with Tahini and of course their wonderful and fluffy Pita. I also got to sample the Kinafa which is a dessert with shredded wheat on top of a cheesecake custard and Baklava. The food was absolutely outstanding and I am definitely going back for lunch.

Our Locations
http://www.pita-inn.com/
Glenview
9854 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Glenview, IL 60016
847-759-9990

Wheeling
122 South Elmhurst Road
Wheeling, IL 60090
847.808.7733
Hours
Sunday-Thursday 11am - 10pm
Friday-Saturday 11am- 11pm

Skokie
3910 Dempster Street
Skokie, IL 60076
847.677.0211
Hours
Sunday-Thursday 11am - 11pm
Friday-Saturday 11am- 12am

Greek Feast: Chicago's OUTSTANDING Greek Street Food

2010-04-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

Greek Feast is an unbelievable addition to Northbrook's dining scene. It is a gold gem of a destination that is owned by George Vlahakis and his family who have been in business for more than 35 years. George also owns Georgie V's in Northbrook and Mrs. V's in Des Plaines on the corner of River Road and Oakton. Their sons Peter, who is a chef and Ted whose specialty is the front of the house (the technology) are very very involved with operating and managing the Vlahakis empire. Mrs. Vlahakis running Georgie V's. George Vlahakis hails from Sparta, Greece and the V on the sign outside of his restaurant symbolizes the Spartan V warrior symbol. There are also olive and lemon trees inside of the dining establishment.

Their inspiration for Greek Feast was traditional greek street in a fast casual atmosphere. The menu delivers on this concept and then some. George and his sons have been thinking about this venture for years. They found a location and opened up a restarant that is all Greek food and wine and just Greek food and wine. This is fast casusal for Greek food done with a 100 Gold star rating. You order your food, sit down and someone will bring your order to you. Their creations are top secret family recipes and are outsourced to a special kitchen that does all of the cooking for them.

Their ingredients are unbelievably fresh and 100% hand picked from their vendors. Grecian Delight (which is in Elk Grove Village, IL and is owned by Mr. Peter Parthenis) is supplying them with their Gyros and Chicken Gyros. All of their recipes are researched. The spice mix for their different dishes is a secret. The Greek Sausage is also top secret and was mouth watering.

George, Peter and Ted will start the catering portion of the business very son and will also offer curbside service. They will also offer family packs and that will be especially helpful on the North Shore because of the number of families and children that reside in the area. There will be outdoor seating in the near future.

Northbrook has been very good to them and the clients at Georgie V's and Greek Feast are just unbelievable.

I sampled Gyros, Chicken Gyros (which was very very lean), Rice, Pita Bread, Avgolemono Soup (Egg Lemon Soup) Skordalia (Potato Garlic Spread) Tzaziki (Garlic Cucumber spread) and a spicy feta spread. I also sampled the Greek Sausage which was absolutely mouth watering and last the baklava which is Mrs. Vlahakis recipe.

Greek Feast is the best addition to Northbrook, IL and to Chicago's North Shore.

Greek Feast

2784 West Dundee Rd.
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847-559-1901
Fax: 847-559-1903
Hours: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM