Good eats in Palatine

Visiting some friends in Palantine for NYE. I plan on trying Ramen Shinchan, and getting wings at Gator's. I have a reservation at Artistic Taste on the 31st, but if better suggestions are available, I'm all ears. I'll be here four days, so any other places I should try ?

It's Palatine, not Palantine.

The only place in Palatine itself that I've been is Agio Bistro, a decent Italian place. But Palatine is right between Arlington Heights and Barrington, and both those towns have interesting restaurants. In Arlington Heights, Salsa 17 has terrific contemporary Mexican cuisine, AltThai has good Thai, and there's Walker Brothers for breakfast/brunch (don't miss the apple pancake). In Barrington, you have Epicure Bistro for pan-European food, Shakou for pan-Asian, Mago Grill for contemporary Mexican, Near for Italian, and Ambrosia, a cafe with excellent pastry. Both Arlington Heights and Barrington have locations of Cooper's Hawk, a wine-based restaurant with creative American fare.

For our delicious local specialty of Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Palatine has a location of Lou Malnati's but it's carry-out and delivery only. The nearest Malnati's location where you can dine in is in Buffalo Grove.

Where is Artistic Taste? I've never heard of it.

That's what I get for typing from memory.
Artistic Cuisine
16 S. Bothwell St.
Palatine

I'm in or around Chicago 3-4 times a year, so I can pass on doing Lou's on this trip. How is Tore and Luke's for beefs, though ?

Not in Palatine, but about 10 minutes away is TTOWA. Great Korean. Closed Sundays.

moose734 wrote:I'm in or around Chicago 3-4 times a year, so I can pass on doing Lou's on this trip. How is Tore and Luke's for beefs, though ?

If you're going to be that close, you'll be happier at Johnnie's in Arlington Heights.

Buddy

Johnnie's Beef
1935 S. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847) 357-8100

I am partial to Tore and Luke's. Had a great beef there about 3 weeks ago. Been going there for 37 years and always on for me. Great fries too, not sure what they do, but they are good.

If one of your meals is going to be "Chicago-type sandwich and fries", I would heartily recommend a newer place in Arlington Heights called Big Ange's, which has become a recent addiction.

They do the Chicago hot dog, Italian beef, Italian sausage really well, but they also have some unique items that are stellar, like a porchetta sandwich and a smoked tri-tip sandwich. Their "Signature" cheeseburger is a thin-pattied double with Dijon/mayo, pickles, and red onion on a potato bun. Every time I go here I end up getting 2 sandwiches because everything is so satisfying and well-made. The owners are also fun to talk to and enthusiastic about their products.

They are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Big Ange's Eatery
640 W.Northwest Highway
Arlington Heights, Il. 60004
224-248-8644

This might sound lukewarm, but I wouldn't hesitate to hit this joint up for Middle Eastern:

http://www.eatpitapita.com/default/

I've been twice, and was impressed both times. Not fancy or anything, but solid food.

Actually one of my friends, who lives there, has sung their praises before. Middle Eastern is never usually on my radar, when out of town. Joys of living pretty close to Dearborn here.

Taqueria Maya is another newer restaurant in Palatine. Both dishes I've had (chile rellenos and pork in red chile sauce) were really impressive. One of the owners talked briefly to me today, and emphasized that they're committed to using better ingredients and making food "like home". He hopes for homemade tortillas as soon as they figure out how to make it feasible from a business sense.

Taqueria Maya
1516 W Algonquin Rd
Palatine

Had lunch today at Artistic Cuisine. I live in Palatine and it's close -- and it's Argentinian. So sounded like a reasonable place to go. Interestingly, the interior is different from all the photos I'm now seeing online -- interior repainted white. But same tables and chairs.

I would like to go back with someone other than my mom, and try more items (especially the parrillada de carnes -- feast of meat). But the items on the lunch menu were very tasty -- and the people sitting near us when we first arrived were from Argentina. Our two Argentinian gentlemen, in addition to making recommendations, also told us it was good we were there at 11:30, a it fills up after noon. (Which it did, and by about12:30, had filled with local and definitely not Argentinian clientele.) They also mentioned being long-time regulars.

I had the lunch special, as it is what the two men we had talked with had recommended. This gets you a bowl of soup (butternut squash today), half a sandwich on homemade bread (I choose vacio -- steak with chimichuri and avocado), and a side salad. All very tasty. Because the menu said their empanadas are their signature dish, I figured I ought to have one, so got cheese and chives and split it with mom. Really liked this. (I won't comment on what mom had. She's 92 and is increasingly hard to please. But the piece of her steak that I tasted was quite flavorful.)

This is not a destination place, but if you live in the area, it definitely gives you an interesting option, especially if you like meat or seafood.

Friendly, hard-working staff.

Only thing that struck me as being odd was a collection of Buddha heads behind the front desk. Didn't exactly scream "Argentina." But a nice place if you're in the area.

https://artisticcuisine1.com/

New Chinese place in Palatine - same plaza as Pita Pita and Sushi Para. Large space/not that busy for a Sunday lunch. Per our server, some former Yu's Mandarin cooks banded together to start this restaurant... not sure what era of Yu's that was.

Some hits (sour pickle fish soup, lamb dumplings, dan dan noodles, eggplant, pong pong chicken, walnut shrimp) and mehs (pork dumplings) in the menu, and generally prices seemed expensive for serving size. But maybe you're paying for the ambiance.

Service was nice, but front of house seemed kinda weird... they were really insistent about no outside drinks (of any sort, not just booze), which is their right, but still.

An interesting option for family style Chinese in an area that didn't have it. I suspect the more non-Americanized Chinese you go, the better here. The name is translated from some Chinese tale and is not a mattress store.

The Dream Place
1280 E Dundee Rd
Palatine, IL 60074
(847) 359-9999

I’ll add my recommendation for Big Ange’s and Johnnie’s, both very good.

I also recommend Mother Cluckers. I’ve been there twice. Had the 1/2 chicken, greens, hush puppies, and brosted potatoes. Also I had the Jalapeno cheddar muffin, couldn’t resist. Took home a lot of leftovers.

Second time I went for the catfish, baked beans, and french fries. I’m a southern boy and both meals were absolutely terrific. The greens and the baked beans stood out.

220 N Northwest Hwy
Palatine

D.