Dukes: New Lithuanian restaurant in Summit

Dukes (aka Kunigaiksciu uzeiga) opened in late January. It differs from the unassuming Lithuanian hole-in-the-wall restaurants that have recently opened in that considerable care and expense has been taken to create a medieval hunting lodge atmosphere. The furniture, artwork and even dishes were made in Lithuania. This is the only Lithuanian restaurant that I know of in Chicago where you can settle in to spend the evening in front of a roaring fireplace. There's also a small deli for takeout treats.

The owner is a young Lithuanian who also owns a little Lithuanian gift shop nearby on Harlem. His entry into the restaurant world was delivering pizzas for Lou Malnati's in Highland Park!

Now for the food. The menu is extensive, including all of the old Lithuanian favorites as well as more unusual Lithuanian fare. We sampled borscht, cepelinai (grated potato balls stuffed with meat), kugelis (potato pudding), Lithuanian sausage and sauerkraut and potato pancakes. All were well prepared.

If you're in the neighborhood stop by. You'll be surprised behind the ordinary exterior is a most interesting interior and a very satisfying Lithuanian restaurant.

Dukes
6312 South Harlem
Summit, IL 60565
708-594-5622

I drove by when they wer doing construction on the building and wondered what they were putting in there. I thought maybe it was another bar. I'll have to go over there and check it out soon as you said I don't recall another Lithuanian resturant in the area.

On our way home from the Orange Line last night we had planned to stop into this place and check it out. Unfortunately I had assumed it was closed. They had a smallish white sign with 'Duke's Now Open' on it. However the front of the resturant has a deck/porch with no lighting on it. It was sort of rainy and yucky out and we passed by and didn't stop in thinking that it was closed for the evening. After we had driven past we noticed that they did have a lighted parking lot on the other side of the building. It's located in a sort of bad intersection as there's not a really good turn around point there. I plan on trying to get over there on the weekend and thought I'd post in case anyone else was scoping out the place and they can avoid the mistake I made.

I saw this today, toodling around, and not remembering this thread did a Google search for it. Here's a report which sounds pretty promising:

http://www.lithchat.com//content/view/28/2/lang,/