Tag Archives: Illinois

Foodie Friday: Via Roma in Des Plaines, Illinois

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We have been frequent visitors at a little hideaway in Des Plaines for many years.  It’s a small restaurant with big Italian flavors, and worth the wait on busy weekend nights.

Entrances are on both busy Lee Street (one-way north) and off the municipal parking lot at the rear of the restaurant.

Entrances are on both busy Lee Street (one-way north) and off the municipal parking lot at the rear of the restaurant. Image Credit

Chef Alessandro Forti (formerly of La Strada and La Donna) and his wife Lisa Leslie offer simple, uncomplicated Italian food in this BYOB gem.

Image Credit

Via Roma is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, with its 10:30 opening time perfect for an early lunch after a morning of coffee — to make room for the good food that awaits you. My friend and I arrived at 10:30 and were the first ones there. We benefited from fresh bread, wonderful aromas, and a welcoming staff. Chef Forti was very present — writing the specials on the board and greeting customers. Continue reading →

Travel Diary: Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant

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Where do you go when you have a large group of friends who want to talk to each other and not disturb the other diners? Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant! How about when you want to have a cozy dinner with your special someone or with close friends? The answer is still the same. Cooper’s Hawk.

Cooper’s Hawk is a winery and restaurant chain that has locations in six states, including Illinois, where I live. Every time we go to Cooper’s Hawk, we say to each other, “Why don’t we come here more often?” The atmosphere is lovely, the decor is interesting with the wine barrel theme, and the food is fresh and creative — especially for a chain restaurant. There is a full bar if you are interested in something other than wine, as evidenced by my recent choice of the Dirty Nasty Martini.

GotMyReservations Coopers Hawk Dirty Martini

It’s not all about the wine!

Continue reading →

Travel Diary: Dotombori Sushi Bar

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Nestled on a busy corner in downtown Des Plaines, Illinois, Dotombori Sushi Bar’s meek exterior does not match the very good food being served inside. With an average 4 out of 5 star review and a personal recommendation from my daughter, my friends and I decided to try out lunch at Dotombori.

We chose the lunch special, a good buy at $7.95, and ordered a couple of the rolls as well. The tempura vegetables were crisp and the rolls were well-seasoned and well-made. The only mistake was the deep-fried pork; I didn’t look carefully on the dinner menu to see what the different entrees were before I made my bento box choice. The pork was overdone and I only ate a small portion of it.

GotMyReservations - Dotombori Bento Box Ckicken Teriyaki

Bento Box Lunch Special includes Chicken Teriyaki, vegetable tempura, California roll, shrimp tempura, and fried rice

GotMyReservations - Dotombori Bento Box Pork Tonkatsu

Bento Box Lunch Special includes Pork Tonkatsu, Vegetable Tempura, California Roll, Shrimp Tempura, and steamed rice.

GotMyReservations - Dotombori Shrimp Crunch and California Rolls

Shrimp Crunch and California Rolls

GotMyReservations - Dotombori Spider Roll

Spider Roll — Soft Shell Crab and Avocado

We live in an area with good sushi bars just around lots of corners. Dotombori Sushi was a good choice for lunch, and if we went again, I would choose a different entree. My dining partners were happy with their meals and it was a good experience. I would encourage you to visit Dotombori if you are in Des Plaines. It can also be easily reached from the Des Plaines Metra station.

Got my bags, got my reservations,
Spent each dime I could afford. 
Like a child in wild anticipation, 
I long to hear that, “All aboard!”

Music and lyrics by Bud Green, Les Brown and Ben Homer (1944)

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Diary: Convito Cafe

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Convito Cafe and Market in Wilmette, Illinois

Convito Cafe and Market in Wilmette, Illinois

Convito Cafe and Market in Wilmette’s Plaza del Lago shopping district is a long-time favorite on Chicago’s north shore. Under the direction of Nancy Brussat Barocci since its inception in 1980, the Convito brand has grown and changed with the years under Brussat’s capable leadership. Now  partnered with her daughter, Candace Barocci Warner, the Convito Cafe and Market continues to offer a warm welcome to diners and shoppers looking for regional European specialties with a focus on French and Italian cuisines. In addition to its traditional restaurant, the Wilmette location also offers a market featured prepared foods for take-out and fresh pastas, breads, cheeses, wines, and sauces.

On a recent visit to the Convito Cafe, my friend and I ordered four items from the appetizer menu for our lunch.

GotMyReservations - Convito Cafe Calamari

Fried calamari – crispy, tender squid with zesty cocktail sauce

GotMyReservations - Convito Cafe Bruschetta

Bruschetta – mozzarella fresca, fresh tomatoes & basil warmly sautéed in extra virgin olive oil

GotMyReservations - Convito Cafe French Onion Soup

Onion soup gratin française – rich broth baked in a crock with gruyere & parmigiano reggiano topped with crispy onions

GotMyReservations - Convito Cafe Crabcake

Summer crab cake with a corn-radish-lime relish & roasted red pepper coulis

We accompanied our meal with a nice rose and a light white; the wine list was appropriate for the summer season and individual glasses of wine were priced reasonably. All of our meal items were perfectly prepared and served with lovely garnishes and presentation. Convito Cafe and Market offers a refreshing and satisfying visit to the countryside cuisines of Italy and France and is highly recommended.

Got my bags, got my reservations,
Spent each dime I could afford. 
Like a child in wild anticipation, 
I long to hear that, “All aboard!”

Music and lyrics by Bud Green, Les Brown and Ben Homer (1944)

 

 

 

Retro Bistro — French Food in a Strip Mall

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I know you’re asking — why would you go to a French restaurant in a strip mall?

The answer is that Retro Bistro is one of the best French restaurants in our area, and its unfortunate location in Mount Prospect probably keeps it from being too busy and too pricey for our budget. I can live with the strip mall location.

Retro Bistro’s ambiance is warm, friendly and relaxed. You can take your well-behaved children and you don’t need to dress up. It’s not a fussy place. The bar is fully stocked and the wine cellar is extensive. I have never been disappointed in either the food or the service at Retro Bistro.

We popped in on for Sunday dinner after a concert at our church which is just down Golf Road. The restaurant is open for brunch from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm on Sundays (call to check first – I’ve seen them closed on Sunday mornings), dinner on Sundays from 4:30 to 8:30,  lunch 11:30 to 2:30 and dinner 5:30 to 10:00 Tuesdays through Saturdays. They are closed on Mondays.

Today we chose the prix fixe (fixed price) menu for $33.00 per person. We had wine, an extra appetizer, coffee and three courses and the bill before the tip was just over $100.00 — Retro Bistro provides excellent value for the price.

Of course I can’t go to a restaurant without taking pictures of the food, so enjoy our meal vicariously.

Blah

I was not compensated for this review and I didn’t tell them that I was a blogger. I just wanted to share that I have no reservations about recommending Retro Bistro.

Retro Bistro / 1746 W Golf Rd / Mount Prospect 60056-4071  / 847-439-2424

Where Were You When the Earthquake Hit?

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Illinois. Is. The. Answer.

I didn’t actually feel this one.

I can just hear my West Coast relatives and friends screaming, “REALLY??? You think you had an earthquake? What was it, a measly 3.8?”

The answer is, “Yes, and it woke me up!”

Even my husband questions my claims that I have felt earthquakes here in our snug little suburban split level in northwest Chicagoland.

I must be like the Princess and the Pea when it comes to earthquakes, because I’m able to sleep through just about anything else — thunderstorms, sirens, barking dogs, no problem.

We have had two significant quakes in northern Illinois in the seven years that we have lived in this house. For the five seconds that the quake is recognizable, I am awakened from sleep not because the bed is shaking, but because my house is screaming. Literally — the torsion caused by the earthquake twists the structural innards of my house and it screams in pain. It’s kind of an indescribable sound, like a moan crossed with a whistle. And my husband sleeps right through it.

The good news (if you can call it good) is that there is proof of my Princessian sensitivity — and yes, I made up that word. My house has two major cracks in the drywall that appeared after these quakes. Some of my students also feel the quakes — is that proof of their sensitivity as well? I’m vindicated because CNN and the Illinois State Geological Survey support my claims.

Whew. I’m not crazy. Just sensitive. I feel a lot better now that I’ve gotten this off my chest, or at least I’m calm until the next time the earth moves under my feet.

This post is linked up Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop. Check out her site to see the work many creative writers, including my niece Jessie at Vanderbilt Wife, .

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