Juicy Spots

Decor, drinks and design-your-own burgers make HB Jones ... A true adventure

April 21, 2013, Samantha Nelson

Mascots are usually the domain of sports teams, fast food restaurants and breakfast cereals, but when Salseria owner Anthony Gambino was working on his new spot, he decided he’d have one too. The menu and décor at HB Jones, which opened in December at 551 S. York St. More >

From Blackie’s to Rack House

March 17, 2013, Melissa Silverberg

Arlington Heights officials are hopeful that the opening of Rack House Kitchen & Tavern, a new American-cuisine smokehouse restaurant, will spark a revival in the southern portion of the village. The 10,000-square-foot facility in the former Boston Blackie’s location at 222 E. More >

CiNe taqueria goes beyond typical taco offerings

February 17, 2013, Jennifer Olvera

CiNe is no ordinary taco stop. Set within the iconic Hinsdale Theater, this modern taqueria at 29 E. First St., has two-starred Michelin chef Yanitzin Sanchez (previously of Sabor Saveur) in the kitchen ensuring the menu - on paper at least - is far from boring. More >

From Napoli to Naperville, Wood-fired pizza enters deep-dish territory

January 20, 2013

Chicagoans, and by proxy, suburbanites, sure do love pizza. We love our style of pizza. Whether it is traditional square-cut thin, deep-dish or stuffed, we’re pretty proud of our pizzas and pretty well convinced that no other city has such great pizza. More >

Hop to it Chubby Bullfrog combines sports bar, family-friendly grill

December 16, 2012, Carolyn Walkup

The Chubby Bullfrog Bar & Grill, a new sports bar and cafe set in a corner of a small strip mall a short distance west of Springhill Mall in West Dundee, is developing a neighborhood crowd of sports fans of all ages. More >

Boss’ day Savory pies rule at casual Aurora eatery

November 18, 2012, Marty Cusack

I fell in love with British-style sausage rolls and meat pies on my first trip to London 22 years ago. These simple, fresh, hot and tasty pies provided a cheap, filling meal for a tourist on the go. More >

Doesn’t miss a beat

October 21, 2012, Deborah Pankey

JD’s Q & Brew opened earlier this year with Fremd High School graduate Peter Veremis at the helm and his cousin, Thanos “Tom” Grigoriou, manning the pit. The pit, by the way, is tucked behind a brick partition in the dining room because it is too big to fit in the kitchen. More >

Lizard lounge Adobe Gila’s an island oasis where the party never stops

September 16, 2012, Deborah Pankey

Didn’t make it to Key West this summer? Cancun and Manzanillo still a bit out of reach? No matter, you can catch the feel-good island vibe at Adobe Gila’s, 5455 Park Place #2 in Rosemont. More >

Worth a shot

August 19, 2012, Deborah Pankey

I’ve never considered myself the whiskey type. So what drew me to Lincoln Whiskey Kitchen in Schaumburg? The whiskey.This whiskey in the exquisite mushroom soup. The whiskey stirred into barbecue sauce that smothered the perfectly cooked burger. More >

Zeroing in on Eshticken

June 17, 2012, Jennifer Olvera

I like carbs — enough that living without them sounds dreadful. So, when I heard buzz about fast-casual Eshticken, known for its zero-carb crust, skepticism crept in. But there’s no need to concern yourself about an unfulfilling meal. More >