Playing favorites: From the Mully’s Grill burger to Patina Wine Bar’s filet and Café Touché’s ravioli to Jeong’s eight-course tasting menu, we asked our readers for the best meal they’ve had recently. And now we’re hungry
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The new Mully’s Grill in town on Main Street makes a great burger. I thought it was fantastic. The bartender was nice and they checked on us a lot. Very attentive for having just opened. Can’t wait to go back and try something else, but the burger will be a go-to.
— Holly Santelli
Don Juan’s Cantina’s margaritas hit the mark every time, especially the frozen raspberry. I love the sandwich de Milanese, which is a breaded chicken breast served on a brioche bun with bacon, avocado and chipotle mayo, and it comes with hand-cut fries that are tossed in chili tajin. It’s so good.
— Dania Garcia
I love the sandwich de Milanese at Don Juan’s, which is a breaded chicken breast served on a brioche bun with bacon, avocado and chipotle mayo.
I recently went to Café Touché in Edison Park and had the ravioli au champignon, which is a truffle-mushroom ravioli doused in a creamy parmesan sauce, and when I tell you I have been thinking about it every day since, I am not joking. It was soooo good.
— Claudia Pazik
Tapas Del Lago in downtown Highwood is a fantastic Spanish spot. Small, noisy, lively, dim and cozy — it’s the very definition of a tapas night out. It’s an approachable spot with a very chill yet attentive staff. Such authentic dishes too. I had a pan-seared cod with some super thin, crisp sautéed veggies and the most perfectly baked goat cheese. And their almond cake is absolutely amazing! I cannot get enough. Chef Ben also does private-chef catering services, so “personal” is what he does really well.
— Emilie Schimmel
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Patina Wine Bar
The best meal I had recently was the filet mignon entree at Patina Wine Bar in Park Ridge. Chef and co-owner, Jose Luis Cisneros, recently won The Best of the Best Daily Herald award for Best Chef. The prime filet mignon is tender and melts in your mouth. The garlic mashed potatoes are smooth and buttery, the sautéed spinach is tender and slightly earthy, and the porcini butter is rich and brings the whole dish together. It’s incredible!
— Judy Lewicki
I recently went to Café Touché in Edison Park and had the ravioli au champignon, which is a truffle-mushroom ravioli doused in a creamy parmesan sauce. And I have been thinking about it every day since.
I was at WineStyles in Norwood Park on a Thursday night for their weekly wine tasting and their food, and my friend and I had one of every appetizer on the menu. I recommend the baked brie, charcuterie and any of the flatbreads or pizzas. I have never had a miss when going there. Some people do a rail of beer, but I prefer a nice glass of wine with a rail of small bites.
— Meghan O’Neill
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Pennyville Station
I recently tried the new buffalo shrimp wrap from Pennyville Station but subbed the shrimp for chicken. I’ve been dying for Park Ridge to have a buffalo wrap on their menu. It was absolutely amazing, and I will try the shrimp next. Thank you, Tony Antonacci, for adding one of my all time favorite meals!
— Brittany Simonelli
My employer catered from Mully’s Grill in Park Ridge last week. There was a full spread of gyros, pork and chicken souvlaki kabobs, Greek potatoes and rice, hummus, spicy feta dip, and fresh pita bread. I’m still thinking about the spicy feta dip; it’s that good. The whole lunch was delicious. We never received so many compliments from the staff. It was a delightful departure from the traditional pizza staff lunch.
— Margaret Holler
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Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
I recently visited Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille in Schaumburg to celebrate my birthday with my family. Our server, Michael, brought incredible energy and service throughout our fine-dining experience. The Perry’s pork chop is carved tableside on a hot cast-iron plate and melts in your mouth. The leftovers were incredible for lunch the next day! The sweet sriracha Brussels sprouts and au gratin potatoes were the best I’ve had anywhere. We wrapped up our meal with the bananas foster and rocky road bread pudding, two unique desserts that did not disappoint. I wholeheartedly recommend Perry’s.
— Anne Marie Brown
Foxtail on the Lake has become a new favorite for us, especially sitting on the patio overlooking the lake. We enjoyed ordering several shareables recently with friends while trying a fun new cocktail (or two) from their extensive drink menu. All were amazing.
— Matt Hachigian
I went to The Prospect for the first time recently to meet friends. I walked in and was immediately impressed by the decor. It had the coolest vibe with a restaurant and bar on the main level and some more seating and a bar, more lounge-like, on the upper level. The upper level also included an outdoor area. The food and drinks were delicious. The Holiday Collins was the perfect cocktail (pre-wine, of course) to start. It paired well with the most delicious octopus and Brussels sprouts as starters. Next was the perfectly seasoned filet followed by the dark chocolate mousse cake. I look forward to returning for just drinks and some apps in their lounge area.
— Kelly Stebner
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Nonna Silvia’s
The sacchettini porcini from Nonna Silvia’s is amazing. It’s a rich dish that’s full of flavor and perfect for the season. Another favorite is the crispy rice spicy tuna from Bluefish. My son and I usually order it once a week.
— Joe Breisch
The new Neta Sushi is cozy and cute inside. The fish is fresh, the rolls are beautiful and the portions are generous.
A little bit of a drive but worth it: Moe Joe’s in Plainfield. The only place you can get a real alligator burger that’s grilled (not fried) and fantastic! The restaurant is New Orleans themed, and their food is out of this world with everything from frog legs and turtle soup to gumbo, muffaletta, and so many more options. My husband and I drive out there for our fix at least once every other month.
— Veronica Garcea
Had the best meal recently at Neta Sushi. The restaurant is cozy and cute inside. The fish is fresh, the rolls are beautiful and the portions are generous. The plum wine was also great. We already can’t wait to go back!
— Kaitlin Bautz
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New Star
We recently had reservations at New Star, a Chinese restaurant in Elmwood Park, and we left so satisfied with the whole experience. From the delightful service, soothing oolong tea and the flavorful and filling food, everything is always spot on. My favorite to start with is definitely the crab rangoon; it is the perfect portion of crispy with a smooth, creamy filling. Then you can’t go wrong with some of the best chicken fried rice I’ve had, topped off with sharing chunks of General Tso’s chicken with some slight spice. We had additional menu items that are just as good, which makes for plenty of food for everyone to share and still have leftovers to enjoy later. It’s a little drive from Park Ridge, but definitely worth the trip.
— Ali Beseda
We recently went over to the new restaurant in Niles called Crosby’s Kitchen. They have a chicken French dip sandwich that is tasty and a grilled mahi mahi sandwich that is perfectly seasoned. I highly recommend sitting out on the outdoor patio once it’s nice out again. It is like an oasis away from the chaos of Caldwell (and it’s dog friendly).
— Erica Juris
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Jeong
For my birthday, my husband and I went to Jeong, an indulgent Korean tasting restaurant that just celebrated its fifth anniversary in Chicago. It’s a perfect choice for a night you want to savor. We loved the intimate evening together, with eight courses of vibrant, perfectly composed, largely seafood-focused plates, and a fantastic wine pairing to go with it. The restaurant only seats 40 guests each night, which creates an intimate, warm ambiance with thoughtful, attentive service. We highly recommend it!
— Jenny Soukup
I was at WineStyles in Norwood Park on a Thursday night for their weekly wine tasting, and my friend and I had one of every appetizer on the menu. I have never had a miss when going there.
The best meal I’ve had recently is at Community Tavern in the Old Irving/Portage Park area on Chicago’s NW side. Many of their dishes have a bit of an Asian flair, even their double cheeseburger, which I think is the best in the city. Their cocktail menu is super interesting, And if you don’t try a plate of their dumplings as an appetizer, you are missing out.
— Chrissy Bergeron-Lyons
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Community Tavern