The Beacon burger at The Beacon Tap 1374 Lee Street in Des Plaines 847-715-2772 TheBeaconTap.com This fun sports bar in nearby Des Plaines has some of the best daily specials you’ll find anywhere around. Thursdays happen to be $8 burger night, but the Beacon burger should be on your radar no matter what day you ...

By Trent Modglin 608 W. Touhy in Uptown Park Ridge 224-585-6155 ZazaCucina.com It’s a family business: Danielle Sisto’s first memory of life in the restaurant business dates back to when she was 12 years old, working in whatever capacity she was needed at her dad and uncle’s restaurant. Over the years, she’s worked every type ...

By Trent Modglin Sweet and Tart Shoppe 112 S. Prospect Ave. in Park Ridge 847-518-5555 SweetAndTartShoppe.com When you get Meghan O’Neill and Jamie Kendall together, it doesn’t take long to realize the owners of Sweet and Tart share 26 years of friendship. There’s lots of laughs, lots of honesty and lots of finishing each other’s ...

Shepherd’s pie at Harp & Fiddle Harp & Fiddle Ownership likes to say they have themselves a “modern pub with an Irish flair,” and that’s a pretty accurate assessment. It’s a relaxed, family friendly restaurant that plays host to a wide range of clientele and boasts a spacious, heated tent in their beer garden. Shepherd’s ...

We asked active locals to share some of their favorite things in the area Une Année/Hubbard’s Cave brewery Une Année, home to two breweries, is in an interesting, easy-to-miss location in Niles. It has urban, industrial architecture and a spacious, covered beer garden that’s perfect for these socially-distanced times. Une Année — owned by brothers ...

Zia’s Trattoria 6699 N. Northwest Highway in Edison Park 773-775-0808 ZiasChicago.com The scene: This classic Italian restaurant has been a staple of the Edison Park dining scene for more than two decades. Exposed brick walls, rustic wood floors and accents, low lighting and an open kitchen in back all add to the undeniable charm and ...

Cream of the Crêpe 8 S. Northwest Highway in Park Ridge 847-720-4246 CreamoftheCrepe.com Cream of the Crêpe, in the heart of Uptown, will whisk you away to the streets of Paris with their creative crepe, panini, pastry, coffee and smoothie selections, all made to order in minutes using fresh ingredients. Raspberry cheese crepe You can ...

The Beacon Tap’s smoked Beacon Reuben From the “two-handed sandwiches” menu at the popular Beacon Tap in nearby Des Plaines comes the smoked Beacon Reuben, a hearty concoction of house-smoked corned beef, homemade southwest dressing, braised cabbage and Swiss cheese on marble rye. The beef, raised locally, is slow-smoked for 12 hours, and the southwest ...