suggestions needed near the Paramount in Aurora

I have been searching high and low for some dining ideas near the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. I reviewed Laz's list of places in the western suburbs, I've read about LaQuebrada, but I can't find anything recent (other than the recent Taco Time posts). It's my husband's birthday. The place doesn't have to be elegant, but I don't want a taco place for his birthday.

Paramount's site lists its "Dining Partners" which include Chef Amaury 33 West; Two Brothers Brewing, Restaurant Tecalitan and La Quinta De Los Reyes among others. Because their list also includes Jimmy Johns, I wanted your ideas.

My husband is leaning toward 33 West, but we are open to suggestions. Of course, we could eat in another city and then drive to play, but it would be nice to eat nearby so we aren't worried as much about time.
Thank you for any ideas.

I've heard Chef Amaury is terrific, I haven't been. I've been to several shows at the Paramount in the last 2 years, but only eaten near there twice. Once at Two Brothers Roundhouse and once at Ballydoyle. Ballydoyle is walking distance to the theater. If you go there before the show, you may even be able to find street parking near the theater. I enjoyed both meals. Nothing outstanding, but definitely serviceable for preshow dinner.

How about the Turf Room in North Aurora on Randall Road? They have a very interesting menu, great wine list, great atmosphere. Their grown-up mac and cheese is quite wonderful.

Two Brothers has a nice menu, too; the mussels are delicious and I've liked a couple of their tasting plates, including a risotto and the current pork tenderloin medallions with polenta cakes. I've also heard good things about the pot roast.

Both Restaurant Tecalitan and La Quinta De Los Reyes are good for Mexican -- more than tacos, too!

Enjoy the Paramount!

Thank you for your suggestions tcdup and knitgirl. We ended up at La Quinta De Los Reyes. Favorite part of meal was the guacamole, made table-side. A woman goes from table to table with a cart making this and the salsa. I think she told us she's been making these 2 items here for 14 years. The little dish of salsa was nowhere near enough for us, but we didn't want to ask her back with the big cart just for more salsa. She makes these items for each table in the entire restaurant. We contributed to the tip jar on her cart, but I didn't want to continue to tip for each bowl of salsa we would have normally consumed while waiting for our meal. Later, when I asked our waitress for additional salsa it was more like Salsa Valentina, which I like, but I would have preferred more homemade salsa.

Also, one of my restaurant pet peeves is when I can smell the bathroom cleaning products in the restaurant, which I could. Unlike my husband, my nose works overtime. The other complaint is that the mariachi singers wore microphones. The singers were a nice addition to the restaurant, but it made conversation a challenge.

I would eat here again, if going to the Paramount. I would order the "choose your own tequila margarita" with cointreau (on the rocks) and I would get several orders of guacamole. I wouldn't return just to eat here, but if you're seeing a play and looking for a casual bite, it works.

This really is a perennial question. Chef Amaury is closed, and has been replaced by Gillerson's Grubbery. It has a farm-to-table casual vibe. They opened in mid-October, have a limited menu of sandwiches, burgers and salads. They have a long list of craft beers, and a short wine list of about 3 red and 3 white.

I had the porky pig sandwich -- pork belly with ham and house-made pickles. The pork belly was luscious. Good sandwich, good fries. Dining companion had the basic burger, and they said it was very good.

They are in the process of tweaking the menu -- I was disappointed to see that "Reams Buffalo Dogs" were no longer offered because of sourcing issues. The menu does not indicate where their "locally sourced" beef and pork come from. Wish it did.

This is a good option for pre- or post-theater casual dining. Hope Aurora embraces the restaurant, but I have my doubts that it will....

hi forumites! any updated wisdom on this question? with the twist that we're headed to a 1pm show so need a place open for weekend lunch / brunch?

Lots of good information here - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=41746