Western Suburbs Help Needed

I’m trying to put together a casual dinner with a group of friends. We’re all originally from Downers Grove or Woodridge and although we’re scattered now, it seems to make sense to meet up around DG/Lombard/Lisle/Oak Brook, with easy access to 355 or 88 being a consideration.

Aside from that, here’s the Venn diagram I need to meet to make everyone happy:
• Must be on the lower end of the price range – about half the attendees have either recently or will soon be losing their jobs. Need several entrée choices in the <$10 range.
• Must have beer and wine. Full bar not necessary, but beer choices ideally would include some locally produced craft beers, and be reasonably priced (i.e. no more than about $5 for a pint).
• Must be vegetarian-friendly. The aspiring vegan of the group will concede to eat dairy and/or eggs if necessary, but will want sufficient veggie choices. There’s also a very picky eater in the group, but she’d probably be OK with most veggie choice.

If I could make the call alone, I’d probably opt for Chinese, but I know the vegetarian will suspect fish sauce or meat/chicken broth is hiding in the sauces. Indian would be one of my first choices as well, but the picky eater doesn’t like that cuisine.

Thanks - your recommendations will be appreciated!

What is the size of the group?

Hi- How about pizza? You said the vegan would eat diary if she had to. Pizza is good for a crowd when you don't want to spend lots of money, and you can order one pizza with meat, and one without. Most pizza places serve beer too. You might also see if you can get a groupon or other coupon for wherever you decide to go to. Can you spend $10 not including tax and tip?

Are there any vegetarian restaurants out that way too? I am not familiar with the Western suburbs. It is going to be hard to find something that everybody can enjoy and afford. Good luck, Nancy

fropones wrote:What is the size of the group?

Between 4-8 people.

I like the recommendation for pizza - any good thoughts on a place? We grew up on the Connie's locations in Westmont and Lisle, but I don't know if they're even still there, or if they would be good these days.

Here's a few choices that meet your criteria in no particular order.

Hua Ting
http://www.huatingrestaurant.com/Site/Home.html

Phillies
http://philliespizza.com/

Nonnie's Pizza
http://www.nonniespizza.net/

Dolce
http://www.dolcespizzeria.com/

Labriola Cafe
http://www.labriolacafe.com/

Country House (locations in Clarendon Hills or Lisle would both be convenient - not the best vegetarian choice though)
http://www.burgerone.com/

LaBriola would be my suggestion, address noted above. Easy access and a wide variety of choices and prices plus they don't mind you hanging around for a while. We meet friends there often for extended visits.

Another idea is Standard Grill which is inside the Standard Market. My family loves that place and then we get some groceries as well. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you.

Standard Grill
333 East Ogden Ave.
Westmont, IL 60559
http://www.standardmarket.com/grill/

Honey Cafe and Prasino are a little more expensive and further away but are table service. We love the atmosphere at these places.

Honey Cafe
499 Main St.
Glen Ellyn, IL
630-469-0000
www.honeycafe.net

Prasino
93 S. La Grange Rd
La Grange, IL 60525
708-469-7058
www.prasino.com

The standard "meat kababs with rice and veggie side" dishes are a nudge over 10.00, but perhaps the Reza's in Oak Brook might fit if you will be a "share everything on the table" kinda group? Plenty of standard "Persian" vegetarian options (falafel, baba g, hummus - and a heck of a lot more than just those.) If you are a sharing bunch, then a table full of apps and dips as starters will fill you up, and then splitting plates for mains is not an issue. Just a thought.

http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/

Jasubar wrote:I like the recommendation for pizza - any good thoughts on a place? We grew up on the Connie's locations in Westmont and Lisle, but I don't know if they're even still there, or if they would be good these days.

I recommend Flour and Wine if you're willing to go a few miles west of Lombard. They have decent wood oven pizzas with lots of char on the bottom. The rest of the menu should be more or less inoffensive to the picky ones in your group.

If you want something more unusual, they used to have a "Chef's Special" but I don't think it's in the menu any more. I would ask. They had a dish of seared scallops with blueberries and zucchini (this was around summertime) and I would gladly order it again.

If there's a wait when you get there, check out Tap House Grill a few doors down for beers, although Flour and Wine has a good enough selection as well.

Flour and Wine
433 N Main St
Glen Ellyn, IL

Tap House Grill
411 N Main St
Glen Ellyn, IL

For good solid Italian American food, Gatto's in Downers Grove will fit the bill. Reasonably priced, full bar and multiple vegitarian pastas. Frank's special zuchini is wonderfully light and tasty. Outstanding lemony lake perch over angel hair will make any perch lover happy. Second choice would be the aformentioned Labriola, although I enjoy the full service dining style better.


Gatto's
5123 Main Street
Downers Grove, IL
630 515 6400


Babaluch

kanin wrote:

Jasubar wrote:I like the recommendation for pizza - any good thoughts on a place? We grew up on the Connie's locations in Westmont and Lisle, but I don't know if they're even still there, or if they would be good these days.

If there's a wait when you get there, check out Tap House Grill a few doors down for beers, although Flour and Wine has a good enough selection as well.

Tap House Grill
411 N Main St
Glen Ellyn, IL

The OP mentioned vegetarian. I have been to the Tap House Grill location in St Charles and they have many vegetarian options. I am sure all locations are the same. Again, a good variety and they have awesome tater tots!

Map

Anyone familiar with Roberto's in Elmhurst for pizza? It was suggested by a friend of one of the group.

Also, there's a chance the vegetarian may not be able to make it, and if that's the case, I would really like to go to Katy's Dumpling House in Westmont. I'm pretty sure they don't serve beer, but can you BYOB?

You can bring beer to Naperville, and I suspect to Westmont, but why would you pick Westmont over Naperville when the Naperville location is so much more comfortable and the menu so much broader? We go to Westmont more often than Naperville, because it's closer, but were in Naperville tonight and delighted to be able to order the string beans with garlic and griddled pork, both of which are amazing and neither of which is available in Westmont.

How about Katy's Dumpling House in Westmont or Naperville?

665 N. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: 630-323-9393

790 Royal St George Dr #115 Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 416-1188

http://www.katysdumpling.com/

Definitely a favorite of this forum. Westmont is the original and probably has the better food...Naperville has better seating/atmosphere for a group dinner.

ChicagoTRS wrote:How about Katy's Dumpling House in Westmont or Naperville?

Perhaps you did not read the two posts immediately above yours, which discuss that suggestion?

nsxtasy wrote:

ChicagoTRS wrote:How about Katy's Dumpling House in Westmont or Naperville?

Perhaps you did not read the two posts immediately above yours, which discuss that suggestion?

And actually, I discussed Chinese in general in my opening post and Katy's specifically in a follow-up post a few days later.

As it turns out, we're going for pizza at Roberto's in Elmhurst. I couldn't find much about the place in a search here; hopefully it will work out well.

seebee wrote:The standard "meat kababs with rice and veggie side" dishes are a nudge over 10.00, but perhaps the Reza's in Oak Brook might fit if you will be a "share everything on the table" kinda group? Plenty of standard "Persian" vegetarian options (falafel, baba g, hummus - and a heck of a lot more than just those.) If you are a sharing bunch, then a table full of apps and dips as starters will fill you up, and then splitting plates for mains is not an issue. Just a thought.

http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/

While I like Reza's a lot, it is not cheap! My partner is vegetarian so it suits well but we went with a friend a few years ago and after just getting a few mix and match food things and no alcohol, the bill was $70 for 3! My rec is still La Briola or if beer is a focus, Tap House Grill has a great selection!

Phillies at 63rd and rte 83 has excellent thin crust Chicago tavern style pizza. It's also very reasonable, and easily can accommodate larger groups. They also have an extensive menu of sandwiches, chicken, pasta and salads.

The pizza style is similar to Vito and Nicks IMHO.