Halfway between Rogers Park and Lindenhurst?

We are meeting a friend for dinner next week. He will be in Lindenhurst; we are in Rogers Park. Are there any fun places for us to meet about halfway that won't break the bank? Easy access to expressways is important. I suggested Prairie Grass Cafe, but Mr. X wants to go somewhere we haven't been (and might have a lower price point.) The Prime Minister was one place I found on searching this board. Beyond that, I'm still trying to figure out where Lindenhurst is...

Thanks for any input you have!

-Mary

Halfway between Rogers Park & Lindenhurst would be in the Northbrook-Deerfield area, where unimaginative & high-priced restaurants go to die.
So...I'm going to recommend a couple a little off the beaten path:

Bacchus Nibbles in Kildeer. This former tapas cafe/bistro sports a killer wine list, many by the glass, and full meals, most in the $15-$20 range. Haven't been there in a while, but their rack of venison or rack of lamb have been near perfect in past visits. Nice meat, fish & fowl selections. They don't mind you lingering, either.

Ristorante Bottaio in Libertyville. An attractive two-story building houses this bustling venue on the north end of Libertyville's downtown area. They serve solid homemade pastas & sauces that rival many Italian restaurants in the city, with reasonable prices to match in the $10-$20 range.

Neither of these restaurants are 'to die for', but both are much better than they have to be for their location & price, and they would be heartily enjoyed.

Bacchus Nibbles
20817 N. Quentin Road
Kildeer, IL 60047
(847) 438-3212

Ristorante Bottaio
946 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Libertyville, IL 60048-1934
(847) 573-1800

Francesco's Hole in the Wall

They only take cash. It's not super expensive, I think my favorite dish (whitefish) is around $15, though it has been awhile.

Francesco's Hole in the Wall
(847) 272-0155
254 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062

There is a sports bar kind of restaurant called Norton's in Highland Park that is pretty decent and would be cheaper.

Norton's Restaurant and Bar
1905 Sheridan Rd.
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-432-3287

Banana Moon in Deerfield is very nice. Contemporary American fare amid Chihuly-like art glass. The chef was at Spruce and Carlos. I've only been there once for a special event, but I enjoyed the food. It's not inexpensive, though; on average, higher than Prairie Grass.

However, it's definitely more fun than the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister opened in 1975 and I doubt much about it has changed since, including the menu and the clientele.

If something like a deli will do, you can get pretty good sandwiches and Jewish home-style fare at Max and Benny's in Northbrook or at Max's a little farther north in Highland Park.

Banana Moon
847/948-1100
www.bananamoonrestaurant.com
Deerfield Commons
730 Waukegan Road, Deerfield

Prairie Grass Cafe
847/205-4433
www.prairiegrasscafe.com
601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook

Prime Minister Restaurant & Banquets
847/296-4423
www.primeministerrestaurant.com
3355 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook

Max and Benny's Restaurant, Deli & Bakery
847/272-9490
http://maxandbennys.com
Brookside Plaza
461 Waukegan Road, Northbrook

Max's Delicatessen & Restaurant
847/831-0600
Crossroads Shopping Center
191 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park

jnm123 wrote:Bacchus Nibbles in Kildeer. This former tapas cafe/bistro sports a killer wine list, many by the glass, and full meals, most in the $15-$20 range. Haven't been there in a while, but their rack of venison or rack of lamb have been near perfect in past visits. Nice meat, fish & fowl selections. They don't mind you lingering, either.

To bump this thread - tried this place Friday night; for the 'burbs, it's a pretty nice cross between a wine bar, sports bar and family restaurant.

And I was impressed that, as I was perusing the by-the-glass wine list, the bartender recommended I try the Brown Bros. (Australian) Cabernet. Beautiful nose, nice fruit-forward berry flavors and almost as much body as my friend's Amarone. But most surprisingly, the glass the bartender recommended was the cheapest one on the list, at $6/glass. (Amarone was at the top end, at $13.)

Appetizers were good – we had a tuna tartare, served with crostini, and an order of ratatouille. Entrees didn’t fare quite as well - the salmon was a serviceable preparation, but my “Crispy Duck Tenderloin” was a major disappointment. Why anyone would want to take something as interesting as a duck tenderloin and turn it into a cheap imitation of Chicken McNuggets is beyond me.

Still, for a wine-focused place in the NW ‘burbs, it’s not bad (not that it has a ton of competition). Prices are reasonable, ambiance is okay, and service (even beyond the friendly bartender) was exemplary.

Bacchus Nibbles
20817 N. Quentin Road
Kildeer, IL 60047
(847) 438-3212

Banana Moon is closed. There is a "contemporary sushi" place going in at that spot, but I dont think it is open yet. There are a bunch of places in wheeling on Milwaukee ave. that have been discussed elsewhere that might fit the bill.

-Will

You should try out Park Street Restaurant in Mundelein ...

http://www.parkstreetdining.com

... very good American bistro food.

GP ... I actually live in Lindenhurst ... LOL ... if you want to venture into Wisconsin, there is Soon's Sushi Cafe in Kenosha ... http://www.soonssushicafe.com ... they have the best sushi around!


... what do you guys like?

Sailordragonball-

My need for a restaurant has expired. I believe we ended up at Bob Chinn's in Wheeling. It was a mutually acceptable destination for our travelers.

Thanks!

-The GP