Shemroon Kabab House in Park Ridge

What you do for a living: We own a company called Midwest Crushing and Screening, which is a heavy equipment dealership that specializes in renting and selling recycling equipment.

How long you’ve lived here: We bought our first house in Park Ridge in 2003, and moved a few times within town until we found our forever home on Hastings Street in 2020. It has been our happiest location.

What you like best about Park Ridge: The community, proximity to the city and the connections we have made through our parish, St. Paul of the Cross.

Best meal you’ve had recently: We recently had a great dinner at Nonna Silvia’s and shared the layered eggplant dish and chicken parmesan with vodka sauce. The food never disappoints, and the service is always top notch. Carol even treated us to an after-dinner drink — an orangecello, which was delicious, and also a coffeecello that tasted like an espresso martini.

Nonna Silvia’s baked eggplant

Favorite restaurant in the area: Blufish Sushi Bistro has been our go-to for the last couple years. Where do we even start with Blufish? The house salad, veggie gyoza, fried rice and edamame are some of our favorite dishes. The crispy rice spicy tuna is a family fave.

At Shemroon Kabab House, the chicken noodle soup is a must try, as well as the hummus and the chicken kababs. … The service is great, and everyone is always kind and welcoming.

Favorite “hidden gem” restaurant: We both agree it is definitely Shemroon Kabab House here in town. Their chicken noodle soup is a must try, as well as the hummus and the chicken kababs. The beef kababs are a close second. The service is great, and everyone is always kind and welcoming. We are always recommending it to our friends to try out, and our family is constantly requesting it for dinner.

Best bar to grab a drink or catch the game: The best bar has to be Harp & Fiddle, hands down. They do an excellent job with their Irish menu, and there is always a friendly face to see behind the bar. The atmosphere, company, and environment is top notch.

A great night out with friends usually includes… sharing good wine and conversation with our favorite people. We love going out to eat with family and friends, and we’re constantly searching for new places to try out.

Park Ridge Farmers’ Market

The best way to spend a Saturday in the summer: Heading to the Park Ridge Farmers’ Market with the family or friends, shopping at boutiques around town, going on walks with our dog, Guinness, sitting out on the back porch with s’mores and some music playing, and overall just spending some quality time together.

What’s something you look forward to every summer?
Summer is our favorite season in Illinois because there is so much to do. We look forward to the farmers’ market, visits to Rita’s Italian Ice and Dairy Queen, concerts in the park, the Taste of Park Ridge, hitting Gilson Beach, catching a Cubs game at Wrigley Field and grabbing a drink in Wrigleyville afterwards, sitting outside at Holt’s and Harp & Fiddle, and sampling cocktails from Pines Room. It’s impossible to get bored here.

2 Sisters A&L Boutique in Park Ridge

Favorite local store or best shopping area: 2 Sisters A&L Boutique. The whole family loves going there and buying cute jewelry, blouses, bags and golf shirts and tees too. It’s the perfect spot to grab a last-minute gift or even for browsing for yourself.

For a massage or facial service, Renata’s Organic Skincare does a fantastic job each time without fail, and we’ve never left feeling anything but our very best.

Secret spot: Hometown Coffee & Juice. They have locations in Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe and Lake Forest. We recommend the giant pretzel (to share), the tuna sandwich, the Green Thumb cold-pressed juice, and you can’t go wrong with any of their assortments of treats.

Underrated activity in the area: Getting a massage or facial service at Renata’s Organic Skincare on Devon Avenue. They do a fantastic job each time without fail, and we’ve never left the place feeling anything but our very best.

Mars Resort and restaurant in Lake Geneva

Favorite weekend getaway spot: We love hanging out in the Lake Geneva area. There are so many spots to stop and enjoy the beautiful scenery and overall vibe of the lake. You can shop in the boutiques downtown, jump on a boat and get a tour of the amazing mansions on the lake, and grab a great meal at a number of local restaurants. Mars Resort is the best for ribs.

What have you heard great things about but have yet to try?
Mari Pari, the new restaurant that just opened up where Cream of the Crepe used to be in Uptown. We’ve heard nothing but amazing things about their kababs, fries and homemade pastries. We’ve been dying to try it out.

Mari Pari in Uptown Park Ridge