Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
How time flies when you’re old and having fun! Another year and another 23 restaurant reviews bite the dust. Time once again for the Dining Duo’s āTop Tenā list of this year’s restaurants. Because we lost our short term memory years ago, we had to dig up our articles and have a heated āHe Said/She Saidā discussion about which restaurants to include in this hallowed list. So, pour yourself some Brandy-laden eggnog, sit down, put your feet up, and take a trip down memory lane with us. Here is our āTop Tenā restaurant picks for 2016.
#10. GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY (Schaumburg)
We enjoyed their Maple Pepper Bacon and Tomato Flatbread Pizza ($11.95). The bacon was sweet, spicy, and salty all at the same time. Not to be overlooked is their Cheddar and Ale Soup $5.95 for a bowl. The crowning touch is the Pumpernickel croutons.
#9. PUBLIC HOUSE OF WOODSTOCK
Try the Papas Italiano appetizer ($10). These are potato chips slathered with a garlic cream sauce. Nancy was in heaven. The best deal of the year was the Seafood Diablo $20). It was chock full of shrimp, crab, and even a lobster tail.
#8. THE BREAKERS RESTAURANT (Crystal Lake)
Their entrees are delicious, their appetizers not so much. As far as ambiance, you’ll either love it, hate it, or be confused.
#7. RICHARD WALKERS PANCAKE HOUSE (Crystal Lake)
For an unusual, tasty breakfast, try their specialty pancakes. They take some time to prepare, but are well worth the wait. Don’t pass up their bacon; it’s to die for.
#6. MAGO GRILL & CANTINA (South Barrington)
Their complimentary chips and three different salsas are awesome. Have a taste for something different? Try the Arroz con Pollo ($17), which is basically a Mexican chicken pot pie.
#5. NAT’S ON MAPLE (Sycamore)
In our opinion, they offer the best London Broil we’ve ever had ($22.95). We aren’t the only people who think this; we received a lot of letters agreeing with us.
#4. SERGIO’S CANTINA (Geneva)
This is a hidden little gem of a Mexican restaurant. You haven’t lived until you’ve savored their decadent Dessert Nacho’s ($5.99). This cantina has great food and it’s reasonably priced.
#3. WOOW SUSHI (Algonquin)
Their lunch specials are a steal, and their Crab Rangoon ($4.95) was the best Nancy ever tasted. The dƩcor will knock your kimono off!!!
#2. TRACKS BAR & GRILL (Cary)
One of WGN’s āChicago’s Bestā and we agree. The burgers are the biggest and juiciest with 25 combinations to choose from. Forget the fries. The chips are amazing.
And now, the Number 1 pick for 2016 isā¦Drum roll, please…
#1. HERITAGE HOUSE RESTAURANT (Harvard)
They offer an old world style of cooking in an old school restaurant, complete with a complimentary relish tray, cheese and crackers, and two salads. Everything we ate was authentic and perfectly prepared, and the wait staff can’t do enough for you.
For more details on any of these restaurants, just rummage through the Dining Duo archives.
Watch for our reviews next year, but until thenā¦From our table to yours, we wish you happy holidays with good times, good friends and good food.
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com.
