By Trent Modglin

Build-your-own burrito at Poke Burrito / Xun Bistro

This new Asian-fusion restaurant is drawing attention in Uptown Park Ridge, and I must say, I may have missed my calling as a Poke Burrito creative consultant with this build-your-own idea. With so many tempting boxes to check, I went with a combination of marinated tuna, shrimp, crab salad, crispy wontons, sweet onion and plenty of veggies — sweet corn is key — all drizzled with a sweet and spicy teriyaki sauce.

And it turned out to be near perfection. Insider’s tip: Take advantage of 20% off dine-in orders (as a thanks to local support throughout the pandemic) through the end of June. 12 S. Northwest Highway in Park Ridge. PokeBurritoChicago.com

 

Indulge in a bowl of plump shrimp that get dusted in a seasoned flour, then lightly fried and tossed in Harp & Fiddle’s secret boom boom sauce for just a little kick.

Rigatoni carbonara at Zaza Cucina

It can be difficult to narrow down a dinner decision from this splendid menu, filled with Italian favorites and family recipes, but the rigatoni carbonara — made with thin-sliced pancetta and chunks of applewood bacon with a rich cream sauce — is continually one of our favorites.

Insider’s tip: Duck out of work early and enjoy their new happy hour, offering 25 percent off anything on the menu from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday in the bar area or lounge. Can’t beat it. 608 W. Touhy in Park Ridge. ZazaCucina.com

Boom boom shrimp at Harp & Fiddle 

We’re not going to lie, this is one of our favorite appetizers in the area. Hands down. Indulge in an entire bowl of plump shrimp that get dusted in a seasoned flour, then lightly fried and tossed in Harp & Fiddle’s secret boom boom sauce to give them just a little kick. Perfect for sharing at a table while you await an entrée.

Insider’s tip: Here’s a little secret shared with us recently. Ask for a plate of tortillas and a side of coleslaw and make boom boom shrimp tacos out of them. Genius, I tell you. Pure genius. 110 Main Street in Park Ridge. TheHarpAndFiddle.com