2023 B.E.L.C.H.

How time flies when you’re having fun!!! After 12 years, 249 restaurants, and 4,380 cholesterol pills, we’re still alive and passionate about what we do. It’s not easy to constantly stuff fatty foods in our faces and live to tell about it. The truly amazing thing is our pictures are in the paper that is circulated around Huntley, and no one has suspected a thing. When we go to review a restaurant, we write notes in a small spiral pad, or take pictures of the menu, and no one has suspected a thing.

In keeping with our time-honored tradition, we are again handing out the coveted B.E.L.C.H. Awards for 2023 (Best Eating Locations Close to Huntley). Grab your antacids, hide your scales, and buckle up, because here are our Top Ten Picks.

#10 JIANG’S MONGOLIAN GRILL(Algonquin)

You can’t complain about your food since you are the one who picks all the ingredients for your stir fry. If your construction techniques are good, you can fill your bowl with twice the amount of food that it was designed for. Choose your favorite sauces for a mouth-watering treat.

#9 STONE EAGLE TAVERN (Rockford)

This restaurant has a very interesting décor and food to match. One example is the Devil’s on Horseback which is bacon wrapped shrimp broiled in a smoky bourbon glaze. Don’t pass up the beignets for dessert.

#8 TASTY BISCUIT PANCAKE HOUSE (St. Charles)

This is our new favorite breakfast place. Nancy chose a healthy item, namely, the Chocolate Banana Bread French Toast with tiny chocolate chips and salted homemade caramel sauce. Jim’s Shrimp and Grits topped with eggs was awesome.

#7 GALATTI’S HIDEAWAY (Cary)

It’s hard to find an actual chopped salad with antipasto ingredients. This was delicious and Jim’s Stuffed Peppers (Italian style) were uniquely different. Don’t leave without trying their Arancini for an appetizer, they were fantastic.

#6 TEXAS de BRAZIL CHURRASCARIA (Schaumburg)

This restaurant has the largest salad bar we have ever seen and they bring mouth-watering flavor packed meats to your table. There Brazilian cheese rolls are positively addicting. DINING DUO TIP: Go there for lunch, it’s a much better deal.

#5 WEBER GRILL RESTAURANT (Schaumburg)

There is nothing like food cooked over charcoal briquettes. Their ribs are to die for, but don’t pass up their “seasonal” desserts, we think they have the best pastry chef in the area.

#4 MONTERRA GRILL (Algonquin)

They are known for their ingenious Baked French Onion Soup served in an actual onion. Steaks are cooked to perfection and their Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert is phenomenal.

#3 JMK NIPPON (Rockford)

The beauty of this restaurants décor both inside and out will take your breath away. The Hibachi table show is entertaining. Surprisingly they offer senior dinners and dinner for two “specials”. A beautiful restaurant for an affordable delicious meal.

#2 EL MOLINO MEXICAN RESTAURANT (Carpentersville)

Take a trip to a Mexican hacienda that has the best Mexican food around. A must have appetizer is the Jalapeno El Molino. Nancy could make a meal out of them. Large delicious entrée portions, but watch out for the red salsa, it packs a punch. On Jim’s sweat head meter scale from 1 to 10, it registered a 42!!!

Have we made your stomach’ growl? Ours are!!! Here is the winner of the Dining Duo’s B.E.L.C.H. Award for 2023.

#1 ST. CHARLES PLACE STEAKHOUSE (St. Charles)

This restaurant is old school class all the way. Shrimp DeJonghe and Escargot appetizers, followed by Steak Diane and Steak Au Poivre for dinner, plus Beignets for dessert. This whole meal was out of this world. Want to impress your sweetie? Take him/her there for an evening you’ll never forget.

We hope all of our loyal readers have a happy and healthy New Year, and stay tuned for further dining adventures.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at: thediningduo@gmail.com

---