Apple Villa Pancake House
I discovered that two things were missing from my website: a recent review from a Batavia restaurant and a review of a breakfast place. I realize that I have been absent a lot from the Fox Valley area, unable to do reviews of local restaurants, but I was a bit amazed at how dated some […]
Flagstone Pub and Grill
For many years I have been a big fan of the Little Owl… No, not the bird, the restaurant and bar. Well, Flagstone Pub & Grill is right next door… Anyway, many years ago — when draught beers were still less than a dollar — I would visit often and order the Italian Beef and […]
Gordon Biersch Brewery
Good fortune seems to have smiled upon me once again… recently I received an invitation to the opening of a new restaurant — well, actually a new building but not really a new restaurant. You see, Gordon Biersch had its start back in my old stomping grounds: the very first one is in Palo Alto, […]
100 South Chop House & Grill
A very long time ago, I had the pleasure of dining at what I considered to be one of the most impressive and exclusive feeling restaurants to which I had been. I have not had the pleasure of coming even remotely close to it ever since… It was the Twin Door Supper Club in Geneva, […]
Dimitri’s Mediterranean Grill
Except for the fact that I have been extremely busy, I have no excuse for not having visited more of the local venues in the past several months. But last night, the ever-intensifying case of cabin fever – brought on by the incessant and obnoxious cold weather – was more than I could stand, and […]
Birch River Grill
What’s in a name? What comes to mind when you hear the words “Birch River Grill – An American Kitchen”? Well, what should come to mind is a cozy restaurant with perhaps the relaxing and comfortable feel of a Northwoods lodge. A Long List of Interesting and Impressive Credits This particular lodge would also be […]
Venus Greek-Cypriot
The other night at dinner, I amazed even myself when I had to admit that the closest I had come to eating Greek food was the Feta cheese that I put on my salads. Boy, was I in for a surprise… and a real treat. (This page may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure about […]
Dine
Last December, I had an opportunity to visit the opening of a very slick venue in downtown Chicago – a place called Dine Restaurant. I was quite impressed by the entire evening. At the opening, there were the endless miniature hors d’oeuvres and individual desserts, the crowds of people, special martinis and even some not-bad […]
The RendezVu
Lauren and I had seen the new sign posted on the roof area where another had previously hung – RendezVu (in Batavia) now occupies the space where Italian Disaster had struck several years ago when Lauren and I made the mistake of having dinner at Fantastico’s. We decided to give RendezVu a try and hoped […]
Al Capone’s Hideaway
The bend in the river gave no indication whatsoever of there being anyone around. I could easily imagine the prohibition era when this little spot on the river north of St. Charles was occasionally home to some of the nation’s most wanted… After my last dinner at Al Capone’s Hideaway, I remember lamenting about not […]