Da Luciano's Restaurant is an Italian delight in
River Grove.

FlatTop Grill, located at 726 Lake Street,
Oak Park, IL.
708.358.8200 phone
708.358.8208 Fax

“An American create-your-own stir-fry adventure”  This new
restaurant to Oak Park has only been doing business here for
a little over three weeks now. The company has several other
restaurants of the same name located throughout the Chicago
area.

We had dinner with some friends the other night (a Saturday)
and the place was packed.  We had to wait for  half an hour and
as many people came in and left as were eating there.  If sounds
like they are doing well, they are.
The design only lacks seating for another hundred people or
so and everything would be perfect.  Having the grill up in the
front window is very smart and entertaining to view from outside.
The colors are warm and happy and the staff is wonderful.
We interacted with several persons there and each made
us feel at home and saw to our needs with genuine concern.
The basic plan here is to walk up to a large counter stocked
with tons of food, vegetables, sauces, meats, and fish and shrimp.
You choose a large bowl for your vegetables and another smaller
bowl for your meats.  You have a wooden flag that tells both your
table number and seat location.  You put the flag in your
bowl and then return to your seat.  The food is then cooked  and
brought to your table.  A lot of fun and a lot of food.  Vegetarians
can have their food cooked on a separate grill.  Highly recommended
for food and entertainment.

Mancini's Pizza Pasta Cafe =

 Mancini's Pizza Pasta Cafe, 1038 Lake Street,
Oak Park, Illinois  708-445-9700
Mancini's Pizza Pasta Cafe is a family owned and operated business.
 Their food is excellent, not just good or okay like many small
restaurants.  Even ordering a dish like an Italian combo sandwich
you'll feel like royality.  The food is brought to your table with a
smile and if you order fries be prepared to either bring some home
or loosen your pants.  The decor is fun and tasteful.  The Pepper and
Egg sandwich has even stopped people from talking who talk all the time.
I have eaten for years from their location in Berkeley and their
pizzas are wonderful too.  Since presentation is part of any dining
experience, the mother and daughters are so attractive I would
recommend eating here even if they burned the food....

review by Ed Vincent (married but still a man)

Marion Street Grille =

Marion Street Grille, An American Bistro, located at  189 North Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois  Phone 708.383.1551

 Marion Street Grille is a pleasure to behold.  I had a dinner with two friends the other night and thought I was in Paris.  The décor is exquisite and charming.  We began our meal sharing a small Mozzarella Caprese.  The mozzarella cheese is placed upon sliced tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  There is fresh basil and red onion added for a sweet enhancement to the appetizer.  Writing this portion of the review I feel myself having a taste for another Mozzarella Caprese, or at least a taste.

   We each had a different dish, so I chose the 9 oz  Filet Mignon served with delicious portabello mushrooms in a delightful Bordelaise sauce.  There were garlic mashed potatoes that had a fragrance that beckoned the taste.  The food was cooked as ordered and prepared by a kitchen staff that does art with spices and seasonings.  The Pasta Voila was tender and mouthwatering. The Farfalle with grilled chicken, asparagus, and artichoke hearts in a light lemon Alfredo sauce were a dream to the pallet.  The portion was large and suitable for a good appetite.  The third meal presented was Breast of Chicken Chasseur.  The Chicken Chasseur was herb crusted and seared with button mushrooms and fresh tomato in port wine sauce.  The entrée is also served with garlic mashed potato and broccoli florets.  There will no longer be a need for a trip to Chez Paul.  The entire staff makes you feel at home and the owner, Mr. Terry Thulis is friendly without compromise.  The two chefs that evening, Jennifer Paulk and Rasul Laurino must have been blessed with the talent to cook and worked hard to perfect their  techniques.  The true blessed event will be on your visit, as you sit and savor this wonderful pleasure of taste.  During the day, the room is available for private functions.  Catering services are available.  Please call ahead for reservations 708.383.1551
 

A wonderful little Restaurant containing foods and tastes that range from Morocco to Jordan.
We had lunch here during the week and found the service and atmosphere to be happy and polite. I am sorry I have not eaten here before.  They have been in business now three years and they were packed, every table filled.  They do carry out and many people come in to pick up their orders. This is a reasonably priced restaurant and tuxedos are not required.  My mouth is watering even as I type this review.  I had the Combination Plate, which included Shish Kabob, Kefta Kabob, Chicken Kabob, served over rice. (you also get a soup or a salad..get the salad). Very tasty, very good...

Jimmy's Place, Italian Home Cooking =

Jimm'ys Place is located at 7411 West Madison Street in Forest Park. They do Italian home cooking, pizza, pasta, steaks, and sandwiches, plus catering.  Their phone number is 708-771-7476, their fax is 708-771-7493.  They have been in business since December of 1998 and doing very well.  The service was very good and the cooking was right on time.  We had some mozzarella sticks as an appetizer, a house salad (with romaine lettuce), fresh baked bread and butter, and then the entrees.  I had the Chicken Parmigiana, and I think they must have used two chickens.  I could not finish my portion and brought the rest home.  My associate had the Pork Chop Vesuvio, and to hear him talk about it I think he is planning on selling his house in Geneva and moving closer to the restaurant.  He stated quite clearly that he has never had better pork chops anywhere.  That is why there is a small additional chewy
head to increase the rating.  The Pork Chop Vesuvio takes about 25 minutes to prepare so order early....     Good Luck Jimmy and keep cooking....
 
 

NEW POT Rice & Noodles =

New Pot is located at 727 Lake Street in Oak Park.  Their phone
number is 708-383-1625 and their Fax is 708-383-1682.  they
are open Mon thru Thursdays 11:30am - 9:30pm.  Friday and
Saturday 11:30am - 10:00pm and Sunday 4pm - 9pm.
(Break time each day from 3pm-5pm)  They also have pick up
for eating at home.  We did our review at lunch time.  We had
the egg rolls to begin with and their taste and preparation were
wonderful.  I had crispy chow fun with beef.  The noodles were
termed "wide" and wide they were, over an inch.  The meal was
very tasty and pleasurable.  This is a family owned and operated
business with a pleasant decor.
This will now prevent me from driving into the city to go to
Penny's Noodle Place on the north side of the city.  This is a
welcome touch to Oak Park's ever increasing restaurants.

PAPASPIROS, Greek Taverna =

PAPASPIROS is located at 733 Lake Street in Oak Park.
It is just East of Oak Park Avenue on the South side of the Street.
Their phone number is 708-358-1700.  They are now open for lunch.
 The hours are 11:00am - 11:00pm Mon-Thursday,
11:00am - 12:00am Friday - Sat.11:00am - 10:00pm on Sundays.
The decor of the Taverna is wonderful, like a seaside village in Greece.
There is delightful music quietly played in the background and the
staff have smiles to greet you.  Our review is of a lunch visit.
Our waiter was a gentleman named Peter, he brought our food,
assisted in translations, and did not set my beard on fire when
the "saganaki" was brought to the table. The "avgolemono "
( a traditional egg-lemon-rice soup) was wonderful and tasty.
The house wine was flavored and full bodied.  The gyros was
prepared, presented, and tasteful.  When I left the restaurant
I was satisfied for hours and hours.  The wonderful sensations
of the meal made my choice for dinner at home almost impossible.
The prices are in the market arena and the experience was a
delight.  We highly recommend the trip to Papaspiros.
Old Country Buffet =

The Old Country Buffet is located at 7600 West Roosevelt Road in
Forest Park. (in the mall) Their phone number is 708-366-3886.
They have excellent prices and a wonderful atmosphere.  The atmosphere
is enhanced by the Manager of this Restaurant, a Mr. Ron Lamb.
The employees are thoughtful and helpful.  The entire operation
that we observed was fast, clean, and tasty.  Normally a buffet,
or fast food establishment would not get so high a rating....
this is the exception!!  With Oak Park liking to use the term
"Diversity" in every other phrase about our Village.  Forest Park
has had for many years a better down to earth mixing of peoples.
This restaurant, with its clientele has achieved diversity of colors,
religions, race, better than the United Nations.
The food is home cooking at its best.
 FUJI Grill =

 The Fuji Grill, featuring Japanese cuisine, is located at
315A South Harlem Ave. in Forest Park.
Their phone number is 708-366-3773.  They have dine-in,
take outs and they do catering as well.  We went there for
lunch and had sushi and a Beef Teriyaki Combo featuring
beef, shrimp, vegetables, and California Maki (crab sushi).
The presentation is fantastic, the food appears to be a
painting of culinary delights, and the taste matches..
The Fuji Grill is located in the small Mall on Harlem,
just north of Parky's Hotdogs.  Fine service and wonderful food.
A true pleasure for our region.

 Szechwan Beijing Restaurant (lunch buffet)=

Szechwan Beijing Restaurant = (dinner)

Szechwan Beijing Restaurant is located

at 1107 South Boulevard (Marion & South Blvd.) in Oak Park.
Their phone number is 708-386-8889.  There are two reviews
here, one is for a lunch and the other is for dinner.  The food
preparation was excellent for dinner and the service was fine
also.  The lunch buffet is an entirely different story.  The buffet
had chicken and more chicken to choose from.  The food was
not filled up promptly, meaning that you had to wait a
considerable amount of time before more food was brought
out (not a good idea during lunch).  There were four of us at
lunch and as soon as we finished our first trip to the buffet
someone came by and took our plates and silverware.  No new
silverware was brought to the table and we had to take it from
another empty table.  A check was brought too soon and this
was not a busy day.  The terrible service did have something
to do with this review, but even if the service was wonderful-the
selection was not.  For less money there is the China Buffet in
North Riverside.  The China Buffet is right next to The Dominicks
off of Harlem in the mini Plaza across from Best Buy.  Here they
have 10 times the selection in food for a buffet, no bums rush
treatment, and its cheaper too.
 Geppetto's Pasta & Pizza =

Geppetto's Pasta & Pizza is located at 113 North Oak Park Avenue
in Oak Park.  There phone number is 708-386-9200.  This
restaurant has been around for sometime now.  Their salad
bar is a meal in itself.  It is bigger and better than anything
in town we have seen.  The food is prepared well, the service
was good, the portions large.  You will probably be bringing
food home with you, if you eat from the salad bar.  Two people
can easily eat for around $30.00 for dinner, and this is good
cooking-not fancy.

 The Golden Steer =

The Golden Steer Restaurant is located at 7635 West Roosevelt Road
in Forest Park.  Their phone number is 771-7798.  This fine establishment
has been around as long as the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.
Their reputation has always proceeded them.  If you want the finest
steaks in the world, this is the place.  They have wonderful fish as well.
Their French Onion Soup is one of the finest in the world.  This is a
truly unique experience, it is not a fancy restaurant in appearance.
You do not need to wear your tuxedo here, but the food is truly fit
for a king.  As I write this review I can hear my stomach calling me
to return to Forest Park.  I was fortunate enough to have dinner
with Mr. Jerry Gleason, on my review of this fine establishment,
so I was treated to perhaps a little more service than normal.
The meal was wonderful, Mr. Gleason was a wonderful dinner
guest, and would even suggest buying a car from his store when
your done with the meal-make a night of it.

 Erik's =

Erik's Restaurant is located at 107 North Oak Park Avenue
in Oak Park.  Their phone number is 848-8805.  Erik's Restaurant
was in vogue when many others had no idea how to put a fun
place together and meet with your friends.  They have been doing
a wonderful business now for years and have a wonderful menu to
choose from.  On our last visit we had a grilled sandwich with
three different cheeses on it. 

 café  Winberie =

café Winberie is located at 151 North Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park
(the South-West corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue).  The
phone number is 708.386.2600  (This number is also used for call
ahead seating).  We used to frequent here in the old days with
upper and lower deck seating.  The new floor plan appears to lend
itself better to handling more people and has an open communal feeling
to it.  I had the Chicken Marsala with Mushrooms for lunch.  I used to
have the same dish in the past and now even the presentation has
improved over the old style.  The new version has the dish sprinkled
with vegetable garnishing, something like an impressionistic canvas
of taste.  The Café  Salad with the house dressing was scrumptious
and unique (romaine, spinach, bok choy, Napa cabbage, bean
sprouts and crisp wontons).  The cappuccino was a great dessert,
and the young waitress was pleasant and attentive.

La Bella Pasteria =

La Bella Pasteria is located at 109 South Marion in Oak Park.
The phone number is 708.524.0044.
This place has been spoken about for sometime now and it
was time for a review.  A Superb culinary delight, polite, very
clean, wonderful waiters and waitresses, and a tasteful decor.
 We had the house Italian dressing on a pleasant salad, very
nice.  Our "fettuccine carbonara" was made by the gods.
The pasta was covered in an egg and cream sauce, with
minced prosciutto.  The lunch price for this divine meal
was only $8.95.  Fresh bread was brought to the table,
and the entire experience was a feast of delight
 

 Tutto Tapas   =

Tutto Tapas is located at 7407 West Madison Street in Forest Park.
 Phone number is 708.771.3063.
We had lunch here on a sunny wonderful day, when the outdoor
portion of the restaurant was open.  Tutto Tapas is wonderfully
designed in a newly renovated location.  It has a wonderful menu
and it compares very well with some of the Tapas locations in the
city (Chicago).  The parking is much better and the wait is not an
hour or two like in the city.  The prices are also very reasonable
and the staff was well mannered.  The many foods we tried were
all exquisitely prepared and served on time.
Come here for that Tapas experience.

Boston Market (Home Style Meals)=

Boston Market (Home Style Meals) is located in River Forest,
near the corner of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue.  It used to
be Boston Chicken, but now they have an expanded menu.
The local take out and sit down too is doing well.  The food is
as good as your mothers and maybe even better.  The creamed
spinach is almost worth killing for.  It is a wonderful alternative
to the typical fast food and makes a great treat for unexpected
company.  The local managers are blessed with skilled,  and polite
help, along with a good sense of humor.  We wish them well.  They
also have catering available, just call the manager.  708-771-0455   (OPJ 8-12-98 dinner)

Tasty Dog =

Now with a Drive Up Window !!!  Jan 2000

Tasty Dog is located at the corners of Euclid and Lake Street in
Oak Park.  It has been in town for sometime now and is doing well.
It has a fun design and you get to see your food prepared right in
front of you.  The cheeseburgers and hamburgers are worth the
trip alone.  You get a whole weeks worth of salad in each sandwich.
This is probably the worlds best prepared hamburger for the masses.
 Their prices are good and the burgers are out of this world.
Look for coupons too....(OPJ 8--98 dinner)
 

Cucina Paradiso  =

Cucina Paradiso Italian Restaurant  is  conveniently located at
814 North Boulevard in Oak Park, half a block west of Oak Park
Avenue and one block south of Lake Street.  Plenty of meter
parking across the street.  Call (708) 848-3434 for carry outs.
The paradise kitchen rates well on all counts.  The food was
delicious and plentiful.  The service was warm without
overpowering.  The ambiance was upbeat and interesting
without distracting from the meal.
     The Ravioli del Giorno consisted of fresh ravioli filled
with Portobello mushrooms and tossed with fresh tomatoes
and spinach.  It was a nice light summery dish.  The pizzas
are in the Italian tradition of individual portions of grilled
dough generously topped with vegetables, cheeses or
sausage.
     Appetizers and salads in the $4 to $6 range, pasta and
entrees in the $6 to $9 range.  Extensive wine list.
(CCV 8-5-98 lunch)

Freddy's Pizzeria =
+

T.G.I.F. Friday's =

Our first review is of T.G.I.F. Friday's, at 401 North Harlem
Avenue in Oak Park.  Phone # 708.445-8249.  Steven P. English
is the General Manager.  We stopped in on a busy Friday night,
quite appropriate and all.  Our host was a Mr. Brian Albazzaz,
a student in business at Triton Junior College.  There is seating
for 297 people and nearly 700 persons applied to work at Friday's.
Those hired endured a two week training period and then were
released on the public.  All this for $3.09 an hour, must be fun work...
The tips are good though.  The decor is fun and atmosphere is
fitting a good time for all.  The food selection is varied and tasty.
The general attitude of the employees is happy and enthused.
The soft drinks are refillable and service and food are
undeniably good. 
                       ( OPJ 6-98)

The food is okay but the service has fallen through the floor on our last
couple visits.  Summer 2006

Lou's Peking House

    Lou's Peking House Chinese Restaurant, at 113 North
Marion in Oak Park has a wonderful cook.  The wait staff
is polite and considerate.  The food is excellent and a great
take home deal.
They have been in business several years now.  The only
negative and it is a large one, is that the Hostess of the
establishment has a very abrasive demeanor.  While you
are eating and having a conversation with your party you
will hear her speaking loudly to her employees and associates.
I would suggest taking the food home with you.  The hot
and sour soup is a real treat, as is most of the menu.
Their phone is 708.386.3055  ( OPJ 7-96-7-98)

The reviews have improved and the food is still top notched.  Summer 2006
 
 
 

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