Lunch spots in Northbrook/Deerfield/Wheeling/Buffalo Grove?

Just moved the office to Northbrook this summer. So far, I haven't found too many stellar places for a good, reasonable lunch. I'm looking for ANYTHING.
My favs thus far are:
Benihana (CHEEP AT LUNCH!!!)
Chicago Bagel & Bialy sammiches
Potbelly on Waukegan / Deerfield
Tong's Hunan

I'ma city boy, so I've just been absolutely amazed at the prices up here. $5 for a hot dog and fries?? Also, the state of Taquerias up here is horrendous!
Anybody got anything I should check out?

Charlie Beinlich's

I used to work in this area for 3 years. The places I miss the most are Francesco's Hole in the Wall, Next Door Bistro, and Pita Inn. I also like the Magic Pan Creperie at Northbrook Court and Go Roma at Dundee & Landwehr. Lou Malnati's has a good lunch special of a personal pizza and salad. Check out this thread for more ideas.

There's a really good Taqueria in Prospect Plaza on Milwaukee just south of Palatine Road, Monicas Restaurant. I had lunch there on Friday and their burritos are the best. The veggies are all top notch and the meat is tender.

There is also a pretty good short order place in the same mall, on the far southwest corner called the dog walk. They have some really valued specials. Hot dog fries and soda for $3 or Cheeseburger fries soda for $4. The food is average for a short order place, and the line can be long right at noon, but the couple that run it are very efficient. I do like the flavor of their burger.

In the same mall as Tong's, Marisa's pizza has some decent lunchtime specials, but I've been turned off by their counter staff.

There are a ton of pita inn threads on the site, and you can't go wrong with their belly busting business lunch special. (Rte 83 and Dundee in Wheeling)

There is also Bo-Bo's gyros on Milwaukee in Deerfield. When they were the riverwalk cafe, they had the best fries in the area, but I haven't been back since the management change.

I worked off of Lake Cook Road back in 2001. The only places I can recall eating lunch at were:

Fujiyama
Sushi/Japanese
3057 Dundee Road

Zippy's
Cheesy Beefs/Hamburgers/Etc.
663 Lake Cook Road

Spazio di Lucca
Italian
483 Lake Cook Road

I know EXACTLY what you mean by the counterhelp at Marissa's LOL!
Thanks for the spots.

FYI, there is no longer a Zippys on Lake Cook

lk wrote:FYI, there is no longer a Zippys on Lake Cook

I think they reopened it. Drove by there about 2 months ago, noticed balloons and streamers and a 99 cent hot dog special banner.

lk wrote:FYI, there is no longer a Zippys on Lake Cook

Yeah, it's back open, has been for about 4-5 months


The dogs aren't bad, but the salads aren't as good as they used to be.

here is an old post. hope it helps.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... northbrook

on a side note i am going to try this italian place that opened up around here. it is called osteria di tramonto. it is opened up by the people that own tru. so, i am hoping the quality is about the same. their lunch menu doesn't seem too bad...sandwiches, pizza, and burgers around $10. they have pasta dishes from $7-$10 for half portions, and entrees from $12-$25.

Osteria Di Tramonto
601 N Milwaukee Ave
Wheeling, IL 60090

http://www.cenitare.com/restaurants/osteria.html

it is in the Westing Hotel. They also have a coffee bar and sandwich shop too. I will report my findings tomorrow after lunch.

seebee wrote:I know EXACTLY what you mean by the counterhelp at Marissa's LOL!
Thanks for the spots.

The occasionally surly guy behind the counter was the former owner. My understanding is that Marissa's changed hands a few months ago and that he is out. I haven't been there since the guard changed.

=R=

My 'turn off' to the counter help at Marissa's pizza has been the teenyboppers that have no idea what you ordered after you tell them a third time, and they haven't been helping anyone else to get them confused. Sometimes it's total chaos in there just to get a slice.

I went to the Pita Inn in Wheeling today. DEFINITELY going back. I had a bad experience at the one on Milwaukee ave - meats were just unchewable. Chalked it up to a bad cow. Today's experience was MUCH better - even though their rice is just horribly bland. For the same price and effort, it could be SOO much better. I'll be trying Monica's Mexican tomorrow, and hopefully the newly posted italian joint this week too. Thanks for the posts. Keep them coming if possible.

seebee wrote:I went to the Pita Inn in Wheeling today. DEFINITELY going back. I had a bad experience at the one on Milwaukee ave - meats were just unchewable. Chalked it up to a bad cow. Today's experience was MUCH better - even though their rice is just horribly bland.

I liked to mix a bite of protein and hot sauce w/my rice.

The bagels and deli at Upper Crust in Deerfield (835 Waukegan Rd
847-405-0805) are awesome. Chewy bagels, fresh meats. They make a grilled salami sammy on a Black Russian bagel that is spectacular.

Also, it's been talked about here a lot, but Barnaby's on Skokie Blvd. in Northbrook serves up a great and unique thin-crust pizza.

Woodfire on Lake Cook Road just west of Waukegan Rd has really good chicken, either sandwiches or meals for reasonable prices (I think a ½ chicken dinner is about $7). You can see the chicken being cooked over wood at the back of the place. Hot dogs are poor. Stick to the chicken.

Cooker's, in a mall a block west on Lake Cook is our favorite for hot dogs in the area. Not cheap, but they do a good job. I agree that hot dog prices in the area are much higher than in the city. If you're going to spend the money, you may as well go to a decent place.

Went to Monica's yesterday. Not disappointed at all. Things are starting to look MUCH better for lunch options up here. Thanx!!

George R wrote:Woodfire on Lake Cook Road just west of Waukegan Rd has really good chicken, either sandwiches or meals for reasonable prices (I think a ½ chicken dinner is about $7). You can see the chicken being cooked over wood at the back of the place. Hot dogs are poor. Stick to the chicken.

Cooker's, in a mall a block west on Lake Cook is our favorite for hot dogs in the area. Not cheap, but they do a good job. I agree that hot dog prices in the area are much higher than in the city. If you're going to spend the money, you may as well go to a decent place.

cookers prices include the fries, so its an ok deal... 3 bucks for a hot dog/fries, though.

LOL!! Marissa'a PIZZA -

So I was at lunch today, and while I was gone, a few office buddies went to Marissa's Pizza. I had warned them about the Chicken Parm sammich, but they forgot.

Two soggy chicken tenders on a decent turano sub roll with plain tomato sauce from a can, and cheap runny cheese. One other mention: The "italian sub" special that is advertised on signs at Marissa's was absolutely vile. Cheap, fake, jello like ham, and some other garbage meat
with god awful foodservice italian salad dressing. Once you pick the ALL of the meat off, and scrape the thick gloppy dressing off, it's a decent cold provolone sammich since I'm pretty sure the bread is a turano roll. Nice and chewy. When Marissa's gives me lemons, I can still make lemonade, I guess. whoever may be reading this looking for lunch spots, stick with the Monday Pizza special at Marissa's. You've been warned...

So, on my way back from Pita Inn today, I had to take a detour to lake cook rd. Dundee is closed. Spotted the India House on Lake Cook and McHenry. Looked them up on Metromix, found they had a lunch buffet and two stellar reviews. Anyone have anything to add? I'll be going this week or next.

seebee wrote:So, on my way back from Pita Inn today, I had to take a detour to lake cook rd. Dundee is closed. Spotted the India House on Lake Cook and McHenry. Looked them up on Metromix, found they had a lunch buffet and two stellar reviews. Anyone have anything to add? I'll be going this week or next.

Very enjoyable spot. Much better, IMO, than Curry Hut in Highwood and approaches Devon Avenue quality levels on certain items. I've been 3x and each time the selection was fairly different. But, it's a big spread with many items to try and is also very good value. Service was also friendly and helpful, even though it is basically buffet at lunch.

=R=

seebee wrote:So, on my way back from Pita Inn today, I had to take a detour to lake cook rd. Dundee is closed. Spotted the India House on Lake Cook and McHenry. Looked them up on Metromix, found they had a lunch buffet and two stellar reviews. Anyone have anything to add? I'll be going this week or next.

I love it. It has the most extensive buffet I've seen outside of India, and they have specialties from several regions, including southern India. Also, while they have all the necessary standards (tandoori chicken, palak paneer), they change much of the buffet on a daily basis, so there is always something new to try.

If you don't see tandoori chicken on the buffet, that means it's a slow day, and they'll make it fresh for you and bring it to your table, rather than letting it sit out under the heat lamps.

I've never been disappointed by India House. Only "complaint" is that, if you're not there for the buffet, the 200-item menu can be overwhelming.

seebee wrote:So, on my way back from Pita Inn today, I had to take a detour to lake cook rd. Dundee is closed. Spotted the India House on Lake Cook and McHenry. Looked them up on Metromix, found they had a lunch buffet and two stellar reviews. Anyone have anything to add? I'll be going this week or next.

I agree. My only "complaint" would be the slowness of the service... Sometimes it takes forever to get naan, drinks, or the check. The food is fantastic though, and outside of the devon ave corridor, I think it (the india house chain) is the best place around for Indian food.

Hit the Elegance in Meats joint today. Damn good! Once again, the LTHers
totally came through. This place was well worth the $. Not that it's expensive by any stretch. Lunch was 6.00 and change, but it was actually a bargain. I could see getting that same big hunk of veal parm at a sit down joint for 15.00. It wasn't the best ever, but I've had far worse for far more $ Decent looking salad bar too. This place is definitely in my rotation now.
Thanks again!

I just stopped at Le Titi de Paris for lunch, and found it as delightful as always. I think people forget that Le Titi is open for lunch Wed-Fri (and for the holidays, Sat., too), and that even though you can order a la carte, their $16 express lunch is at the same level of quality as their other great food, but both designed and priced for someone on a one-hour lunch break. The lunch includes soup, salad (which, to save time, is on the plate with the main course), and main. For $3 more, you can add dessert.

I enjoyed a splendid velouté of wild mushroom & thyme, a lovely
composed salad of mixed greens with aged balasamic vinaigrette and garnished with palm hearts, maitaki mushrooms, strawberries, and candied pecans, and a main course of seared balsamic vinaigrette beef tenderloin, which was served on a bed of braised vegetables, potatoes, and mushrooms. On the side, there were warm, crusty rolls with unsalted butter. And the service was lovely.

Granted $20 (once tip and tax are added) is not the price of an everyday cheap meal, but if you're having a rough day, or if you have something to celebrate, or if you just long for something elegant and satisfying, then I think this is a great lunch option.

Of course, Le Titi is also a splendid dinner option, and a darn good cooking class option, as well. This place is among the Distinguished Restaurants of North America, and you can drop a bundle if you're into foie gras and turffles but the owners are all about making great food accessible, from the $16 express lunches to their fabulous wine dinners (6 courses and 6 wines, $78 ).

I love this place, and it's my "go to" spot for celebrations, but I think I'm going to start planning lunch there now and again, to hold me over until the next big thing requires a party. And when the GNR nominations start again, this is the place I'm going to nominate. It's fun, it's friendly, and it's one of the Midwest's top French restaurants. Not a bad combination.

Oh yeah -- the vital information:

Le Titi de Paris
1015 W Dundee Rd (just east of Route 53)
Arlington Hts, IL 60004

Tel: (847) 506-0222

www.letitideparis.com

My dad still works in the area and tells me that Wonton Gourmet of Mt. Prospect (closely related to Seven Treasures in Chinatown) has opened up Wonton Express on Milwaukee. IMHO, their shrimp wonton is much better than Sun Wah's.

Wonton Express
2055 Milwaukee
Riverwoods, IL 60015
847-215-8850

HI,

This is not very far from me. Maybe I can have soup noodles without a hike into Chicago? Can't wait to give it a whirl!

Regards,

Pucca wrote:My dad still works in the area and tells me that Wonton Gourmet of Mt. Prospect (closely related to Seven Treasures in Chinatown) has opened up Wonton Express on Milwaukee. IMHO, their shrimp wonton is much better than Sun Wah's.

Wonton Express
2055 Milwaukee
Riverwoods, IL 60015
847-215-8850

been here, if i had a huge soup noodle craving they would fit the bill nicely. however i find their business model quite strange, everything is plastic and disposable, and they seem to really push the online ordering.

(also the place still looks like the baja fresh that used to be there)

dudefella wrote: however i find their business model quite strange, everything is plastic and disposable, and they seem to really push the online ordering.(also the place still looks like the baja fresh that used to be there)

I haven't been yet, but based on the "Express" part of the name and given that it is in the former Baja Fresh space, I'm guessing that they are aiming to be a fast food model such as Panda Express, Corner Bakery, Panera, etc.