Lunch near Villa Park?

Hubby and I are lifetime northsiders and know nothing about the southwest burbs. Shameful, I know! But we're trying to rectify that situation through food. We're heading to Villa Park this Sunday and would like to stop somewhere for lunch. Any recommendations for something there or in a surrounding town? We're coming from south Evanston so someplace along the way would be ok too. Where would YOU eat if you were heading that way?

Thanks!

This thread might be useful:

viewtopic.php?p=276264#p276264

I still think Gyros Express and Tae Fu are something special in the one-notch-up from fast food category.

You also might want to check out Desi Grill (no atmosphere, great food, props to seebee) or La France Crepes (engaging owner, really nice handcrafted slow food, props to dicksond) in adjacent Lombard.

Lunar Brewing Company (time to upgrade the myspace, guys) is also open on Sundays and, while a complete dive, has a few remarkable beers.

Like Oak Park, Villa Park is pretty much due west, running from North to Roosevelt, bisected by the Union Pacific West line. Other than admiring its telling palindromic nickname, you are best served toasting it with a cool glass of rich chocolate Ovaltine.

Lunar only cares about the beers, not the internet presence.

nr706 wrote:Lunar only cares about the beers, not the internet presence.

I hadn't seen your LB article on the homeland before; thanks for the link, and glad you enjoyed the Moondance.

I haven't been there in years but the Park Boulevard Tap used to do a pretty good job for lunch.
There's nothing on the menu you haven't seen before (except maybe the Hot Sicilian sandwich - my favorite) but it's usually competently executed for a fair price.
The specials are (were) usually good but often sell out.
Like Lunar though it's a local bar and the crowd ain't exactly pretty.

I don't suppose anyone's been there lately?

jll wrote:Hubby and I are lifetime northsiders and know nothing about the southwest burbs.

That's maybe because you don't know where they are. Villa Park is considered West, not SW.

Tierra Grill I presume is still there and is solid, though I can't say for sure that they are open on Sundays.

villa park is southwest burb's?

Whoops! Missed the Sunday part.
No Lunch at Park Blvd. on Sunday.

Go a little out of your way to the Labriola Bakery Cafe and have the Richie Burger (with bacon).
http://www.labriolacafe.com
3021 Butterfield Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Cogito wrote:

jll wrote:Hubby and I are lifetime northsiders and know nothing about the southwest burbs.

That's maybe because you don't know where they are. Villa Park is considered West, not SW.

Ha, shows how much I know then! Thanks for the correction.

And thanks to everyone else for all the great ideas!

I might try to check out that new Sabri Nehari on North Avenue, but that's just me.
There's also a Fonda Isabel that looks like it's trying to be upscale Mexican out on Roosevelt Road. Might be worth a trial.


Also depends on how you plan on getting there.
If your route will be expressways (90 to 290 or 294, perhaps?) That might open up some choices to places "just off the exit" to play more into your "what's on the way" request.

You'll be very close to Hamburger Heaven.
281 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126

It doesn't have it's own thread but it's all over LTH. But don't get it confused with Kevin's Hamburger Heaven, which I believe is on the south side.

Pie Lady wrote:You'll be very close to Hamburger Heaven.

I was going to suggest that myself. If you get off on North Ave and take that into VP, you will drive right past it. If you stop there, be sure to get a root beer milkshake.

Pie Lady wrote:You'll be very close to Hamburger Heaven.
281 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126

It doesn't have it's own thread but it's all over LTH. But don't get it confused with Kevin's Hamburger Heaven, which I believe is on the south side.

Wait a sec, I think you should at least mention what kind of place Hamburger Heaven is.

Let's just say, it better not be raining outside when you go there.


Personally I wasn't impressed by Hamburger Heaven, but it is nostalgic. They have limited seating outside, so you might have to eat in your car on your trunk.

I worked in Addison next to Villa Park for many years. I can't really think of anything great in Villa Park outside of lunch places like Portillo's or Garibaldi's (I love their NY style pizza), but I usually wouldn't go further than North Ave for food.

Portillo's (original location I believe)
635 1/2 W North Ave
Villa Park, IL 60181-1321
(630) 530-8440

Garibaldi's
300 East North Avenue
Villa Park, IL 60181-1167
(630) 834-0060
http://www.garibaldis.com/

Villa Park is also near Elmhurst, Lombard, Westmont, and Oak Brook (among others). If you search LTH for restaurants in these towns, you'll find tons of recommendations. Also look check out this thread: Suburb restaurant list

A board favorite, Katy's dumplings, is quite close to VP as well

Santander wrote:you are best served toasting it with a cool glass of rich chocolate Ovaltine.

Accompanied by the other two Ovaltine products once made in VP, the suggestively named "Poppy Cock" (they actually used to hold a 'Miss Poppy Cock' pageant) and the oh so psychedelic "Screaming Yellow Zonkers". Ovaltine is owned by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz, the developer and the only legal manufacturer of LSD-25.

Ram4 wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:You'll be very close to Hamburger Heaven.
281 N York St
Elmhurst, IL 60126

It doesn't have it's own thread but it's all over LTH. But don't get it confused with Kevin's Hamburger Heaven, which I believe is on the south side.

Wait a sec, I think you should at least mention what kind of place Hamburger Heaven is.

Let's just say, it better not be raining outside when you go there.

What, there's an overhang!

Ram4 wrote:
Garibaldi's
300 East North Avenue
Villa Park, IL 60181-1167
(630) 834-0060
http://www.garibaldis.com/

Wait a sec, I think we should mention what kind of place the North Park Mall is.

Good call on HH and Garibaldi's. For reference, the latter is in a ghost town of a mall, and features truly bizarre decor that makes you feel like you're eating while stuck inside a Country Time Lemonade canister, but I do know some transplants that like the NYC-style pie. They also like sneaking inside the old K-Mart to play Dungeons and Dragons by candlelight, though.

Santander wrote:

Ram4 wrote:
Garibaldi's
300 East North Avenue
Villa Park, IL 60181-1167
(630) 834-0060
http://www.garibaldis.com/

Wait a sec, I think we should mention what kind of place the North Park Mall is.

Pie Lady wrote:What, there's an overhang!

At least you don't have to worry about banging your head into it, like at Johnnies.

If you get off at North Ave, there is Zenwich on York just north of North Ave. I love their Mu Ping sandwich and ginger salad. Their soups are good, too.

Zenwich
416 North York
Elmhurst
630-359-5234

Sizzling Rice soup at Tae Fu, the consummate taste of 1984. (and '36, '96, '08...)

312 E Saint Charles Rd.