Need food between Vernon Hills and downtown

I'll be driving from the Hancock Tower to Vernon Hills on Sunday and need to choose a place for a solo dinner. When I have a car to get outside my usual CTA routes, I've always wanted to try Fabulous Noodles, but I see Lisle is way out of the way--is it worth the detour or are there other terrific options on the I 94 route? (I don't need any downtown ideas for this trip.)

I'm game for any cuisine but am vegetarian--thanks for any suggestions!

You might want to try Peacock India in Vernon Hills. It's located in the huge strip mall at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and 60. I can't provide a personal rec; never been. Also, it's not clear how good the vegetarian options are based on what I could find online. One of the Metromix reviewers comments that his "carnivore friends" like the meat dishes there, and because the reviewer was offering a personal recommendation, that would seem to imply the author was a vegetarian, that the reviewer also ate there and was able to eat vegetarian dishes -- all this on the assumption that it would be rather odd, although not logically impossible, for a non-vegetarian to refer to his/her (other, and likewise) meat-eating friends as "carnivores." This reviewer also calls it a "great place for vegetarians" - which also probably means they serve great vegetarian food. So, in short, I assume the author of the review is a vegetarian and likes the vegetarian food available at Peacock Inda. But I could be wrong, so you might want to give them a call first.

I've been a parton of the Best Hunan in Vernon Hills since the day the Woo's opened their doors. My kids grew up eating sesame shrimp/chicken and orange beef. IMO, they serve the finest Chinese food in Lake County. I've had the opportunity of eating just about everything on their menu, with the General Tso's Chicken being my favorite. They also serve B & J's ice cream since Mr. Woo owns the B & J store in the mall across the street. Excellent food, large portions, and reasonable prices. The staff will happily adjust the ingredients of a particular dish for a vegetarian.
http://english.c-r-n.com/content.asp?category_id=37212

Best Hunan
700 N. Milwaukee
Vernon Hills, IL
847-680-8855

CSD

If you want Chinese, Silk Mandarin would be another great choice in Vernon Hills, and one for which I can personally vouch. However, I'm not sure what vegetarian items they have. I think of them as more of a seafood spot than anything else.

I would second the Silk Mandarin. I went last weekend for the first time in a few months. They have an updated "secret menu" of more traditional Chinese items. Many look very interesting. My daughter is a vegetarian and has always been able to find something she likes.

Peacock India is a good choice, they have a pretty good lunch buffet on weekdays. not sure if it's on weekdays too.

since you're vegetarian, be sure to avoid the famous daves located next to the silk mandarin.

I tried Best Hunan in Vernon Hills for lunch on Monday. I thought the food was very good. But I was disappointed in the portion, it was one of the smallest entrée portions I’ve ever had in a Chinese restaurant. Also, I thought the price was a little high.

The luncheon special includes soup or egg roll. Other Chinese restaurants I have been to include soup and egg roll for their lunch special. Also, I was very surprised hot tea was an extra cost.

I figured this was almost double what a comparable meal would have cost at my usual places. Maybe that is the difference between very good food and only good. I did like the Chinese version of ‘chips & salsa’ that were on the table when we sat down. The service was friendly and very efficient.


Best Hunan
700 N. Milwaukee
Vernon Hills, IL
847-680-8855

I third the suggestion for Silk Mandarin -- I used to live up that way in my misspent youth and I remember lovely trips to the Mall in Vernon Hills with my mom and they always included a stop at the Silk Mandarin. As I recall...it's pretty as well as tasty!

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I've been to Peacock India in Vernon Hills many times, and it appears to be very authentic & perfect for vegetarians, altho the tandoori chicken that is served sizzling at the table is quite tempting.

But...that is the only meat dish we order, and one can do very well without it. A gratis 'relish tray' includes wafer-thin rolled cracker bread (forget the name) and a trio of chutneys--onion/tomato, cilantro green, and a fiery red--all of which MUST be washed down with multiple bottles of Kingfisher beer. The naprathan curry is similar to ratatouille, but with cauliflower, served over aromatic basmati rice. The naan bread, specifically the cauliflower, is wonderful when sopping up the curry juice with a side of cooling yogurt/cucumber sauce (AGAIN forget the name!) which is vaguely similar to Greek tzatziki sauce.

All in all, Peacock India awakens tastebuds not known before entering their restaurant.