midas wrote:

jimswside wrote:Ill keep plugging along in the area - I bring my lunch most days now -saving my duckets for Denver, but Ill get out and about. Ive seen some interesting places further west in Yorkville, Plano, Hinkley etc. on the commute.

Sorry I missed this earlier. When you're out in Hinkley South Moon BBQ is pretty good. I think it was better before they moved to a much larger space. But it's truly an oasis for that area. But be aware, they are only open Wednesday through Saturday.

http://www.southmoonbbq.com
100 East Lincoln Ave
Hinckley, IL 60520
815 286 9227

The Mrs. and I hit this place last night after calling Al's in Warrenville and was told the wait was 60 minutes for a table.

While it was a nice 30 minutes drive out there, unfortunately they really missed the mark on the pulled pork sandwich, I mean big time. Not only was it not pulled per se, (we had literally large pieces we had to cut up with a knife and fork) but it came out cold. Meaning one bite and I was done cold. The Mrs, the same. While her fries were hot and tasty and my slaw good, I just couldn't get over the fact cold food was sent out.

One thing I did notice was the amount of high school kids working as food runners and cashier when placing the order. I couldn't tell who was working the back but someone dropped the ball.

As far as service recovery goes, I asked for the manager who gladly took it away and returned about 2 minutes later but it makes me wonder in the difference between hot and cold with the sandwiches in such a short amount of time.

I'm willing to give them another shot, but the mrs. made it clear she won't be coming back.

Well I have to admit, I've always gotten my food to go and drove the 30 minutes home. Since I would never expect it to still be warm after that long a drive I just heat it back up. Sorry you had a bad experience.

Another good report from Masala in Warrenville. On our recent visit, everything came in at about B level, if not slightly better.



Dosas are not a typical order for me, though they seem incredibly popular at this spot (there's an entire menu section dedicated to them entitled "Dosa Hut"). This Mysore Masala Dosa was quite enjoyable and maybe my favorite bite of the night. Super crisp around the edges and crisp outside/ chewy interior throughout, stuffed with mustard seed- studded curried potatoes. The three sauces were good, but I kept reaching for the thin, presumably lentil- based one on the right, which was fiery and aromatic of curry leaves.

Since this is pan-Desi Masala, better believe we'd pair Southern veg Indian with Pakistani BBQ. This was the first time I can recall seeing reshmi kebab on a menu in Chitown and we'd totally fallen in love with them on our last trip to Toronto (er, Mississauga).



While this didn't have the live charcoal char of my favorite kebab ever, it still popped with intense bursts of garlic, ginger, and whole seed coriander. Also, the kebab at Bar B Q Tonite had an unbelievably light, almost emulsified texture, which I think Masala's menu nodded toward in describing it as "silky". This rendition was more dense and bouncy, not in a bad way, certainly on par with most seekh or kofta kebabs I've had at restaurants. Ultimately, I'd say had I not tried that exemplary version in Ontario, this would be a top tier kebab in my books.



I know I should quit it with the comparisons, but that was the point of ordering a homely dish like palak paneer, since I'd recently fallen back in love with the dish at Pub Royale. PR's is in a different class, house made paneer and all, which this rendition may or may not have had, though was certainly much denser. Spice- wise, though, Masala's stood up with a pronounced bouquet of garam masala.

Destination-worthy, I'll make that call after a few more visits. As solid as almost any restaurant I've found in the outer fringes of DuPage county, you bet.

Have you tried the Masala Dosa at Chutney's?

Chutneys
Brookdale Square
1904 Brookdale Rd # 128
Naperville, IL 60563

It's a grocery store that has a small food counter but seems to be well known for their inexpensive dosa. I haven't been in a few weeks but it is a great, cheap lunch. Next time I go, I'll take pictures.

"Found" a Chinese carryout spot that works for me in the Warrenville area. so well there are weeks I eat there 3 out of 5 lunches - basic Ameri-Chinese stuff, - eggrolls, fried rice, Generals Chix, etc. - China House - Warrenville


My typical order - which i think is the best lunch around @ $5.23 with tax is Lunch # 1 - a heaping portion of pork fried rice(not the mass produced "fried rice" that comes in some spots lunch special), but made to order - green onions, sprouts, egg, and good pork. - Eggroll is a good one as well - pork and shrimp - good stuff - Generals is good, as is the other items ive tried


edit - rolled in today for lunch -


China House
2 S 676 Route 59
Warrenville, IL.

http://www.chinahouse88.com/

Another spot we hit on occasion during the summer has been Hawthornes Back Yard - mostly on Thurdays- not as packed and they do a chicken tenders special - sorry I like chicken fingers and Honey Mustard -

Big outdoor area with volleyball nets and whiffle ball field - fun place - kind of bro-centric spot for those easily offended(sensitive).

Hawthornes Back Yard
1200 W. Hawthorne Lane
West Chicago, IL.

http://www.hawthornesbackyard.com/

jimswside wrote:My typical order - which i think is the best lunch around @ $5.23 with tax is Lunch # 1 - a heaping portion of pork fried rice(not the mass produced "fried rice" that comes in some spots lunch special, but made to order - green onions, sprouts, egg, and good pork. - Eggroll is a good one as well - pork and shrimp - good stuff - Generals is good, as is the other items ive tried


edit - rolled in today for lunch -

Ha! I almost went up there today. A lot of stuff on the menu is good and they will customize just about anything for you. If you ask for "Beef tomato tofu" you will get an excellent dish containing those ingredients. I also like what we took to calling the "Naked General" which is the same as the typical but with unbreaded chicken (for the illusion of a healthy choice!).

But, for me, their egg rolls are the best that I can find near my typical haunts.

bobbywal wrote:
Ha! I almost went up there today. A lot of stuff on the menu is good and they will customize just about anything for you. If you ask for "Beef tomato tofu" you will get an excellent dish containing those ingredients. I also like what we took to calling the "Naked General" which is the same as the typical but with unbreaded chicken (for the illusion of a healthy choice!).

But, for me, their egg rolls are the best that I can find near my typical haunts.

I almost went back in today as well - probably going to be a 1 visit week as it is a short one for me.

Thanks for the heads up on those dishes, might give em a whirl. Sure is a friendly, family owned spot, always the same folks working.

I agree on the eggrolls - up there with Yen Ching, and Gen Hoe as the good ones in this western quadrant that ive come across so far -.

Finally talked my buddy into rolling the 30 or so minutes west of the Warrenville area for some Friday night fun in Hinkley, IL. Popped into a couple watering holes on the main drag before South Moon BBQ for supper -

1) J & K's - laid back small town bar - cheap shots and drafts. Also had to stop into the2) Welcome Matt once before dinner and once after - they were doing Blue Gill this Friday, I did not indulge. Another small town joint to bend an elbow. 3) Brown Pub, on the edge of town - pretty busy roadhouse place - all good.

Ive had my eye on South Moon as mentioned in a post upthread - mostly interested in their South Moon BBQ Red Neck Reuben - corned beef, slaw, swiss, some sauce on rye.



pretty fricking good - i see getting one of these again asap.



also grabbed up a bag of fresh pork rinds - vangie and one of the cats dig these crunchy treats:


Buddys brisket sandwich didnt work out as well for him - flavor and meat was well smoked - just suffered from temp issues - The redneck reuben took a few more minutes to prepare so mine came out piping hot and fantastic - Ill roll back to Hinkley any time.

Id pop into any of these bars for a drink and maybe a snack:

J & K's Half Moon Tavern
120 W. Lincoln Ave
Hinckley, IL.


Welcome Matt
149 W. Lincoln
Hinckley, IL.

Brown Pub
200 Somonauk Rd.
Hinckley, IL.

that reuben looks on point

Jefe wrote:Really surprising was a plate of garlic bok choy, perfectly cooked to a crunchy emerald green, just like the best in China town. On that tip, the menu offers some favorites from China town Cantonese spots like crispy skin chicken and clams in black beans and based on the more Americanized dishes we ate, I think this kitchen probably has the chops to serve up the more authentic stuff.

My hunch proved to be correct about the Crispy Skin Chicken at Gen Hoe



Crispier and more succulent than recent experiences at my other two favorite purveyors, Go 4 Food an LTH. I would have preferred a lemon wedge to all those distracting shrimp crackers though. Eggrolls were some of the best I've had– lightly peanut buttered, served piping hot, stuffed with fresh, sizable hunks of BBQ pork. Bok choy with garlic was also on point again. And we impressed our server with our ordering– you must eat in Chinatown. Prices are a buck or two higher than the low end of Chinatown, but from our crib, at least we're saving the gas money.

Gen Hoe
537 E State St
Geneva, IL
(630) 232-8350

Jefe wrote:My hunch proved to be correct about the Crispy Skin Chicken at Gen Hoe

Looks terrific, and the proper pattern plastic platter too boot!

Is Bartlett in the Western Burbs? It's West so yes to this city boy. Interesting little fusion spot right in the middle of town. D'Licious Crepes & Roti. This place is pushing French and Indian eats and isn't a Panera so I thought it was worth checking out.


Bartlett, IL

I got the feeling that this was going to be enjoyed upon entering the restaurant, it was packed, not to say that matters but it looked good. The locals really seemed to have opened up to this place which is great as we all know some Suburban people can be pretty picky when it comes to where they eat out at. Though the crepes with powered sugar and fruit on top and a spiffy clean spot inside are right up their alley. I decided to try a "burrito" which is fresh puffed roti stuffed with Indian Flavors.


Chicken Tikka Burrito

The best part of it was the skin itself, it was soft yet still able to hold the well marinated chicken tikka mixed with roasted cumin basamati rice, punjabi chole, onion, sweet tamarind, and spicy cilantro mint chutney with a side of raita which is a yogurt sauce made with cucumber. I tried the version at Pub Royale not too long after and I think I might've liked this one better. I enjoy rice in my burritos. Always nice finding a somewhat unique spot like this.


The Insides

D'Licious Crepes & Roti
225 S Main St
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 855-5373

We've certainly seen Korean-Mexican fusion everywhere, so why not . . . seems to work . . . crepe, roti, burrito, whatever - they're all similarly constructed. Interestingly, Serious Eats just posted a recipe for a chicken vindaloo burrito . . . I'd be just fine with this new trend so long as I can get nice, assertive flavors. Don't know if or when I'll find myself in Bartlett, but I agree with you that it makes for a far more interesting stop than Panera . . . thanks for another informative post.

I was in Mill Valley, CA for an extended stretch at the beginning of the summer and there is a place there that might've been one of the first at this particular fusion.

Avatar's Punjabi Burritos. Reviews and local lore suggest that people travel far and wide to hit this place nestled amongst the Redwoods.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/avatars-punjabi-burritos-larkspur

I wish I could say that it was worth it. While the ingredients, and preparation were fresh. My burrito didn't really hold together well and was a complete mess as I tried to eat it in the very nice small public park near Avatar's. That said, I'm willing to give the concept another try and am glad I don't have to travel 2,000 miles to do so even if Bartlett might not be a "western suburb"

might be my favorite sandwich around right now(and some of my favorite corned beef) - South Moon BBQ - Hinckley

redneck reuben - had one for 3 fridays straight now -

best one yet:



pretty sure next visit Im just gonna toss all the corned beef on 1/2 of the sandwich and go from there.

looks like these folks have another location at the Edgebrook GC in Sandwich, IL. I also sw they are opening another in Montgomery, IL. at the Old Grays Mill - supposed to open in Oct. - been watching them build the smoker for that local on their FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/southmoonbbq

That's a fine lookin' corned beef. I was just in Max and Benny's in Northbrook last weekend, and the woman ahead of me was ordering the extra lean -- I said, "That's a mistake -- the fat is where the flavor is." and gained a convert.

jimswside wrote: I also sw they are opening another in Montgomery, IL. at the Old Grays Mill - supposed to open in Oct. - been watching them build the smoker for that local on their FB page.

Uh Oh, I could be in trouble. That's only about 5 minutes from my house. 6 minutes during rush hour

Hit a couple spots in Aurora on Friday night - still getting used to the new area - still prefer Joliet .

1st stop - a new place Gillerson Grubbery right on the casino main drag. Craft cocktails, microbrews, etc. Menu looks interesting, specially the 12 hour sous vide chuck roast sandwich - looks to be kind of a mix between an IB and a Debris.. Not cheap, but a spot Ill head back to for some food and drinks.


Gillersons Grubbery
33 W. New York Street
Aurora

http://www.gillersons.com/


After a stop at a dive bar Miss Lee's,

Cemitas Poblanas was on the list - been 3 years since I rolled in.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=35471

breaded chicken Cemita worked as always.



easily in range for lunch from my office - gonna be back soon for that or dinner again soon.

Cemita's Poblanas
715 High Street
Aurora, IL.

Checking back in, unfortunately with nothing too stellar to report, but for the sake of keeping the data rolling...

I've been trying to swing south of 88 into Naperville more often. I've mostly found good grocery options down there, which perhaps I'll save for another thread, but briefly, Mayneland Farms has been an awesome resource this growing season. Its a bit high priced, but for the convenience of grown-on-site produce (except tree fruit and their exceptional sweet corn) available 7 days a week, its worth it.

I frequent H-Mart for fresh cut meat and Asian produce and groceries. I gotta say though, they've got a pretty depressing food court, particularly the quality of the food. I wasn't thrilled with niu rou mian at Jia Jia's, though the Korean offerings I've sampled have been straight up bad. Cold, rubbery, cooked-to-death fried egg in the bibimbap, yuck!

I've cruised by both MaPo and Yu's Bistro and with cooler days ahead, I'm likely to get back on the beef noodle soup hunt. Looks like some respectable Sichuan options to be had as well.

Surfing the Yelps, I found high regards for a new Peruvian sandwich concept, SanguCHE. Thought I'd swing by.



They offer seven sandwiches or so, familiar Peruvian menu staples like Lomo saltado and Aji de gallina in sandwich form. The space is cute though it seems like they may have just started decorating. The kitchen and counter were manned by the chef/ owner and an older woman, presumably his mother. There was a lot to like about the whole operation.



I asked about popular items and was not surprised (by what I read on Yelp) that he suggested the Lomo Saltado. I'm a succa for yucca so I had to tack that onto the order, which came with a side of huacaina sauce. Real quick– huacaina is sometimes described as a cheese sauce. Its the creamier, yellow-hued, and less spicy one they offer at D'Candela, I believe? And ají is the hotter green one, yes?



Lomo saltado is not something I've eaten very much of, but I was a little concerned as I watched him pull the meat from a hot holding unit. Its a stir fry type dish, correct? As you can see, those uniform discs of beef did not have a lot of character. Not chewy, but just sort of lifeless in terms of their texture and finish. There was a decent marinade going on, heavy on soy, but that's all I can say for the meat. I know fries are a part of this dish and they were good, though almost overshadowed the beef, I had to pull some off the sandwich. And my ordering strategy may have been somewhat redundant (and piggy) with the fries + pile of perfectly fried yucca batons on the side. There was a nominal amount of sauteed peppers and onions on the sandwich and a generous amount of a piquant mayo. The roll didn't look like much but was fresh and crisped up just a bit. The whole thing came together reasonably, though did not transcend what I have to call its suburban-ness. Yucca and dipping sauce were great though. I liked the vibe and am willing to chalk up to the fact that it may have been a slow day and/or I ordered wrong. All of their sandwiches combinations sound intriguing, so I'll be back.

Speaking of underwhelming beef sandwiches...

Jefe from a post on Happy Dog upthread wrote:And if the beef is any good, the deal will be sealed.

Rubbery and seemingly prefabbed, pass.

But I have a new lead, just up the road from Happy Dog. Scooby's is an area-favorite on North in West Chicago. A kitschy, 50's diner themed stand, it's actually pretty trippy with a mirrored ceiling and crammed with campy memorabilia. They also make excellent hand cut, twice fried fries and the through-the-garden dog I had was managed quite proficiently. BUT, $2.99 for a dog without fries?! They advertise their beef as made in house, but the $6.99 price tag rivals Al's on Taylor and those are some big shoes to fill. The dudes manning this place were a hoot though and we all walked out of there with high quality, bright red Scooby's hoodies, so maybe the swag makes up for the price tag. Stay tuned...

SanguCHE
535 Fairway Dr #115, Naperville, IL 60653
(331) 701-7175
http://peruviansanguche.com/

Scooby's
1020 E North Ave, West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 231-4848
http://www.myscoobyshotdogs.com/

I've cruised by both MaPo and Yu's Bistro and with cooler days ahead, I'm likely to get back on the beef noodle soup hunt. Looks like some respectable Sichuan options to be had as well.

Check out Liu Brother in St. Charles for a respectable beef noodle soup. They also make a nice salt and pepper fish.

Liu Brothers Asian Bistro
Address: 1554 E Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone:(630) 797-5155

Had a slam dunk regional Mexican lunch at a new-to-me spot in West Chicago that I've driven by a million times.

La Cocina De Maria has very little action on the Yelps and just a little bit more on Facebook (that focuses largely on their catering business). Perhaps they are relatively new (like me) to the area. I haven't yet gotten their whole story. They're in downtown West Chicago on Washington just around the corner from the "action" on Main St. I drive by there all the time and its cute-as-a-button storefront earned them a spot on my to-try list, though a recent facelift with signs advertising regional dishes like cochinita pibil and pambazos added some urgency to my patronage.

Its just as cute inside, a tiny HitW but cheerfully decorated. There were maybe five tables max and there was a steady stream of to-go business including large trays, I assume, reflecting their catering business, which seems a large part of their business model.

And damn, this stuff was real good!



Fresh fried chips with a trio of salsas reminded me a bit of Bien Trucha (more on that in a sec). Left to right: salsa cacahuete, roasty peanut creaminess, a backdrop for arból heat; a fairly simple verde that had a depth from roasted ingredients; and a super smoky chipotle. Excellent.

Cochinita pibil tacos



Perhaps too saucy/soupy for my liking, which is not uncommon with this dish. It did, however, have complex, developed flavors with tart citrus and discernible achiote. I might have preferred this as a plato with tortillas for sopping. The whole thing was too wet as a taco format. Dog's nose salsa was red onion heavy and light on the habanero heat. The presence of this dish led me to mistake the background of the owners as Yucatecan. I asked the waitress and she said they hailed from the DF (which the following offerings reflect) though they are hoping to offer a range of regional Mexican dishes.

Huarache de birria



Would you believe this cost $5.49?! Easily a gut buster lunch for one, my buddy and I knew that we were in over our heads when this monster landed at the table. The birria here is beef, which is unique to me. It was great though, tender, but caramelized in spots, full on beefy. The huarache itself, somewhat suffered underneath the thick layers of salsas applied "divorciada" style, green on one half, red on the other. Maybe that's a flaw with this place, over-saucing.

Pambazo



Equally jaw dropping was this plate sized sandwich (for $5.99!!!). This was the star of the show. The bread, deeply saturated in a smoky salsa had been given a go on the griddle, resulting in an ethereal texture interplay of crisp and moist. The filling of chorizo and potato was just soul satisfying. I finished my half, I could not help myself. One of my favorite bites of the year.

We saw a dessert served to another table that was quite chef-ly composed. You might notice that there is an extra flair to the presentation of these dishes. Whoever is back in this kitchen has some chops not only in terms of plating, but also building deep flavors that to me, were entirely traditional. This food was complex, thoughtful, and on par with some of the best street food I've eaten in the DF. There's a bunch of other stuff in the menu that I'm excited to get my hands on from things I've never heard of like picaditas (described like small sopes), to benchmarks like quesadillas a mano, alambres, and weeekend pozole.

Because of the high bar of what we ate here, my dining companion and I pondered the Bien Trucha factor that seems to abound in this area. Its like Bayless West, former employees of the BT empire branch out and open their own spots applying traditional flavors to a more polished dining experience, which at certain spots can seem overwrought and fussy. I have no idea what the background of the chef here is, but we agreed that perhaps this place is something else entirely. The prices, the clientele, the location, and the diminutive size of this restaurant certainly point to a for-the-locals model.

One lunch in, but I am stoked!

La Cocina de Maria
142 W Washington St, West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 520-2699

Lately I've been frequenting Sharko's BBQ in Naperville. It's an interesting place with an interesting concept. Besides the normal sandwiches, all their meat can be purchased by the ounce, though for some reason when I tried to order burnt ends the told me it was 8oz. minimum. Still and interesting idea.

Some of the stuff is very good, particularly the sliced brisket and the ribs. Pulled pork, not so good, a little on the mushy side the one time I tried it. The burnt ends are strange. Instead of the normal cubes, they served it sliced like it was brisket. Maybe it was an oddity, but I found it too weird to ever order again. Rib tips, not good at all.

But I do really like the brisket. It's been perfectly cooked almost every time I've ordered it. Only once was it a little tough. Only had the ribs once but they were very meaty and moist without being fatty.

Hardly a destination place. But if you're in the area I highly recommend it.

Sharko's BBQ
www.sharkosbbq.com
4931 S. RT 59, Unit 127
Naperville, IL 60564 (Corner RT 59 and 111th)
(630) 717-7227

midas wrote:Lately I've been frequenting Sharko's BBQ in Naperville. It's an interesting place with an interesting concept. Besides the normal sandwiches, all their meat can be purchased by the ounce, though for some reason when I tried to order burnt ends the told me it was 8oz. minimum. Still and interesting idea.

Some of the stuff is very good, particularly the sliced brisket and the ribs. Pulled pork, not so good, a little on the mushy side the one time I tried it. The burnt ends are strange. Instead of the normal cubes, they served it sliced like it was brisket. Maybe it was an oddity, but I found it too weird to ever order again. Rib tips, not good at all.

But I do really like the brisket. It's been perfectly cooked almost every time I've ordered it. Only once was it a little tough. Only had the ribs once but they were very meaty and moist without being fatty.

Hardly a destination place. But if you're in the area I highly recommend it.

Sharko's BBQ
http://www.sharkosbbq.com
4931 S. RT 59, Unit 127
Naperville, IL 60564 (Corner RT 59 and 111th)
(630) 717-7227

My handyman recommended Gemato's Wood Pit BBQ. Ever been?

Jefe wrote:My handyman recommended Gemato's Wood Pit BBQ. Ever been?

I've only been there once and I didn't order BBQ. I was a little put off that there was only 1 table occupied on a Sunday during lunch time.

midas wrote:Lately I've been frequenting Sharko's BBQ in Naperville. It's an interesting place with an interesting concept. Besides the normal sandwiches, all their meat can be purchased by the ounce, though for some reason when I tried to order burnt ends the told me it was 8oz. minimum. Still and interesting idea.

Some of the stuff is very good, particularly the sliced brisket and the ribs. Pulled pork, not so good, a little on the mushy side the one time I tried it. The burnt ends are strange. Instead of the normal cubes, they served it sliced like it was brisket. Maybe it was an oddity, but I found it too weird to ever order again. Rib tips, not good at all.

But I do really like the brisket. It's been perfectly cooked almost every time I've ordered it. Only once was it a little tough. Only had the ribs once but they were very meaty and moist without being fatty.

Hardly a destination place. But if you're in the area I highly recommend it.

Sharko's BBQ
http://www.sharkosbbq.com
4931 S. RT 59, Unit 127
Naperville, IL 60564 (Corner RT 59 and 111th)
(630) 717-7227

Wow. I've been following Jerry Sharko & crew gradually (very gradually) westward for about 30 years. Some misfortunes have followed them but also enough business and crowd loyalty at each place to let them restart. They certainly know banqueting / catering, and have been kind to various family members that have been staff or banquet clients going back to Chicago (and through Villa Park, Lombard, and Lisle). I had not heard about the 'cue manifestation (even though that location as a catering hub has been mentioned on the board a few times) and will have to give it a shot, if at least for the brisket.

Jefe wrote:
My handyman recommended Gemato's Wood Pit BBQ. Ever been?

Ive been on recently for Gyros - BBQ wasnt my crave and what I saw really didnt pass the eye test on my visits - appeared to be bake-b-q(I could be wrong)

old thread with some mentions -

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2069&p=21618&hilit=gemato%27s#p21618

jimswside wrote:

Jefe wrote:
My handyman recommended Gemato's Wood Pit BBQ. Ever been?

Ive been on recently for Gyros - BBQ wasnt my crave and what I saw really didnt pass the eye test on my visits - appeared to be bake-b-q(I could be wrong)

old thread with some mentions -

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2069&p=21618&hilit=gemato%27s#p21618

Yeah, I guess what does my handyman know. He did say his wife liked the gyros there though!

Jefe wrote:

midas wrote:Lately I've been frequenting Sharko's BBQ in Naperville. It's an interesting place with an interesting concept. Besides the normal sandwiches, all their meat can be purchased by the ounce, though for some reason when I tried to order burnt ends the told me it was 8oz. minimum. Still and interesting idea.

Some of the stuff is very good, particularly the sliced brisket and the ribs. Pulled pork, not so good, a little on the mushy side the one time I tried it. The burnt ends are strange. Instead of the normal cubes, they served it sliced like it was brisket. Maybe it was an oddity, but I found it too weird to ever order again. Rib tips, not good at all.

But I do really like the brisket. It's been perfectly cooked almost every time I've ordered it. Only once was it a little tough. Only had the ribs once but they were very meaty and moist without being fatty.

Hardly a destination place. But if you're in the area I highly recommend it.

Sharko's BBQ
http://www.sharkosbbq.com
4931 S. RT 59, Unit 127
Naperville, IL 60564 (Corner RT 59 and 111th)
(630) 717-7227

My handyman recommended Gemato's Wood Pit BBQ. Ever been?

Gemato's is lousy. Shame since it's the most convenient bbq place for us, but I don't know if anything there ever has real smoke even wafted over it.

We've had Sharko's once very recently and enjoyed it. Not at the level of a place like Smoque or any of the south side greats, but the most enjoyable suburban bbq joint I've tried so far. Seems like a good spot to bring kids to as well - an unusually large selection of sides for a little variety, instead of normal stools at their counters by the window they have seats with saddles on them, and they have a self-serve vanilla soft serve machine with a tray of very small cones to help yourself.

ucjames wrote:
Gemato's is lousy. Shame since it's the most convenient bbq place for us, but I don't know if anything there ever has real smoke even wafted over it.

We've had Sharko's once very recently and enjoyed it. Not at the level of a place like Smoque or any of the south side greats, but the most enjoyable suburban bbq joint I've tried so far. Seems like a good spot to bring kids to as well - an unusually large selection of sides for a little variety, instead of normal stools at their counters by the window they have seats with saddles on them, and they have a self-serve vanilla soft serve machine with a tray of very small cones to help yourself.

Yes, I forgot to mention the free ice cream. The size of those cones is amazing. I never knew they made them so small.

Thanks for posting the information about La Cocina de Maria!

I've always thought West Chicago should have great Mexican food but that has never been my experience. The picture of that Pambazo drove me to visit this tiny storefront (I think this used to be Byby's, back in the day).

I got my food to go so I have no beautiful snapshots, but will post images of the menu later for others to drool over. My wife insisted we take the food to go, which saddened me because I wanted to try the trio of salsas. Much to my delight, one of the owner's daughters brought out chips, the trio of salsas and a sample of atole for us. The chips were crisp and warm and the salsa was above average, if a little on the watery side (from sitting in the refrigerator, is my guess). While I don't like to mix sweet and savory too much, the atole was a nice version and was warming on a cool evening.

The star of the meal may have been the steak quesadilla! We got it DF-style - with corn tortilla. It was a massive quesadilla with thick, homemade corn tortilla enveloping a mountain of cheese and very tasty and tender steak. No fatty and grisly pieces, as is so often the sin of lesser taquerias.

Very nice family running this place - what appears to be 3 daughters help serve food and scurry around the kitchen.