Five hour stay in Bolingbrook

We have to kill 5 hours or so in Bolingbrook. Any good butchers, places to eat or shops that should not be missed? I did some research and came upon Bucho's-a Mexican restaurant. We are willing to drive around to surrounding towns if there is a destination place. Any input is most appreciated. Thank you.

Elfin wrote:We are willing to drive around to surrounding towns if there is a destination place.

It's not all that far from Downers Grove to the north (Parker's for excellent seafood and Neopolitan pizza, Zest Bistro in the Lemon Tree Grocery for excellent bistro fare) or Lockport to the south (Tallgrass for fine dining, Public Landing for American food).

Four words...Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket. viewtopic.php?t=14026

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
645 Joliet Rd
Willowbrook IL
630-325-0780
http://chickenbasket.com/

Papa's Pizza Place
8258 Janes Ave, Woodridge, IL 60517
(83rd St and Janes Ave)

There's another location in Bolingbrook proper but I am most familiar with this location (having grown up on their delicious pizza). Basically on the northern border of Bolingbrook and Woodridge.
Fantastic tavern style thin crust pies. They also offer a double decker pizza which is two thin crust pizzas rolled into each other. It can be a bit of a gut bomb, but so delicious!

There has been good chatter about Standard Market and it's accompanying restaurant. Here's the thread. That's where my mind went when I saw this topic pop up. Wandering through an interesting grocery store preceded or followed by a meal is a great way to kill time for me.

333 E Ogden Ave Westmont, IL
(630) 366-7030
Open 9 - 9 every day
http://www.standardmarket.com/

lodasi wrote:Papa's Pizza Place
...
There's another location in Bolingbrook proper but I am most familiar with this location (having grown up on their delicious pizza). Basically on the northern border of Bolingbrook and Woodridge.
Fantastic tavern style thin crust pies.

I love Papa's dearly--it was my childhood pie, as well! I've been meaning to post about it for fans of Vito & Nick's or Barnaby's of Northbrook-style tavern pizza. Having tried those venerable joints (thanks, LTH), I still find Papa's to be my favorite example of the style. Why? Well, the intel around here if your eating at, say, Maria's seems to be: "great tavern pie, but ask for it well done."

I can't speak for your experience, lodasi, but that perfect amount of char one wishes for when making that request seems to be the norm at Papa's.

Not only that, but I find the disparity between the bright, utilitarian takeout area which one enters into and the wonderfully faux-exotic, darkened dining space with it's truly inexplicable decor (they have a blunderbuss on the wall, good people...) to be the perfect sort of straight faced, tongue in cheek setup most recently manifested by the also excellent Thank You/Lost Lake.

Seriously, though: you know how you all have your favorite old haunt from childhood--the special place which, even as your tastes evolve and your expectations change, still holds all its magic for you?
Well, Papa's is mine.

-Andy

edholiday wrote:

lodasi wrote:Papa's Pizza Place
...
There's another location in Bolingbrook proper but I am most familiar with this location (having grown up on their delicious pizza). Basically on the northern border of Bolingbrook and Woodridge.
Fantastic tavern style thin crust pies.

I love Papa's dearly--it was my childhood pie, as well! I've been meaning to post about it for fans of Vito & Nick's or Barnaby's of Northbrook-style tavern pizza. Having tried those venerable joints (thanks, LTH), I still find Papa's to be my favorite example of the style. Why? Well, the intel around here if your eating at, say, Maria's seems to be: "great tavern pie, but ask for it well done."

I can't speak for your experience, lodasi, but that perfect amount of char one wishes for when making that request seems to be the norm at Papa's.

Not only that, but I find the disparity between the bright, utilitarian takeout area which one enters into and the wonderfully faux-exotic, darkened dining space with it's truly inexplicable decor (they have a blunderbuss on the wall, good people...) to be the perfect sort of straight faced, tongue in cheek setup most recently manifested by the also excellent Thank You/Lost Lake.

Seriously, though: you know how you all have your favorite old haunt from childhood--the special place which, even as your tastes evolve and your expectations change, still holds all its magic for you?
Well, Papa's is mine.

-Andy

This x 1,000,000. I love Pat's Pizza on Lincoln and order "well done" every time, but it never is as satisfying as a Papa's Pizza order without any special cooking requests.

Thank you so much. Great suggestions. Now I hope I have enough time...

If you are looking for some decent mexican food, we have had good luck at Mago Grill at the Bollingbrook Promenade (outdoor mall). They usually have 1 or 2 special Mole sauces that you can get with your dishes. The last Mole sauce I got there was very good.

Not sure if its too late, but you mentioned shops as well and we love going to Jofen Oriental to pick up Filipino grocery items as well as some of their prepared foods.

Their lumpia shanghai are pretty good but we never leave without some lechon kawali.

Order ahead if your getting a lot!

Jofen Oriental
457 N Bolingbrook Dr.
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
(630) 759-5004

Its about a mile west of The Promenade outside shopping mall off Boughton and 355 (Bolingbrook Drive is really Rt 53 and Jofen is more Boughton and 53ish)