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EATS B2 November 1, 2023

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The joys of dining

ike every meal well served in a local restaurant, our annual EATS special section is a collaboration of creative people, fully focused on a great outcome. Gathering so many local restaurants into one section reflects the spectacular diversity of cuisines and attitudes that we all enjoy in the eight communities represented in this year’s EATS section. Oak Park, Forest Park, Elmwood Park, Austin, Berwyn, River Forest, Brookfield and Riverside have, each in their way, become dining hubs drawing not only locals and but also curious diners from across the area. So many people are living out their dreams of creating a restaurant, building it up, opening it to change and welcoming their customers to enjoy that hospitality. We have thanks to offer, too. This year, our lead sponsor for EATS is Takeout 25. This nonprofit sprang into ac-

tion during the pandemic with a goal of sustaining our local restaurants during a spectacularly hard time. They created motivation and an infrastructure for generous and hungry people to still enjoy a great meal even during COVID. Now, Takeout25 is perpetually innovating to support restaurants and doing it across a wider range of nearby neighborhoods. Ours is a natural partnership in promoting the joy of good and curious eating. A final thanks to Risé Sanders-Weir, who has stepped up as our lead freelance writer for this section. When she told us she was a devoted local diner, she was speaking the truth. Hope you enjoy this year’s EATS. And happy dining.

Adorn your table... deliciously. Broken Tart cakes, pies, and cookies are getting all dressed up for Thanksgiving. Stop into our shop or visit brokentart.com to place your holiday order today!

BROKEN TART Cakes. Bakes. Coffee. 1108 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park www.brokentart.com

Dan Haley Publisher

Contributing Reporter and Photographer Risé Sanders-Weir Digital Manager Stacey Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Pak, IL 60302 Phone 708-524-8300 www.oakpark.com

Editor Erika Hobbs Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

B4 November 1, 2023

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Longtime friends now partners at Victory Italian

Pair grew up in Melrose Park so Oak Park felt like home

ictory Italian is the collaboration of Chef Joe Farina and restaurant and real estate developer Tony Gambino. Joe and Tony grew up in Melrose Park together and would meet occasionally over the years to discuss doing a project together. Farina was the culinary director of Rosebud restaurants for years and Gambino was in the Mexican restaurant business with Taco Fresco and Fuego Loco. Finally in 2016 they were able to do a joint restaurant in South Loop called Victory Tap. Growing up in Melrose Park, a location in the Oak Park, River Forest area was familiar and something both were enthusiastic about. When the pair

found the location at South Blvd. and Marion Street, they both loved it and could see that the overall space would work well for a Victory Italian restaurant. The entrepreneurs enlarged the bar and changed the floor plan of the former wine and cheese market into a traditional looking Italian restaurant. The look is not trendy, instead they chose an old school approach to the room with darker wood, copper and white marble to give the room an upscale but warm and comfortable feel. The food too is traditional Italian. They like to say it is Chicago Style Italian food. Homemade pastas, Chicken Parmesan, Brick Chicken and Farina’s

famous meatballs are featured on the menu. Victory also always has a few strong steak, chop and seafood entrees on the menu as well. Those include the popular Chilean Seabass, Lamb Chops Oreganata and the New York Strip Steak Gambino style. Gambino, formerly a resident of Oak Park who lived on South Blvd.,

only blocks away from the restaurant, loves the area and the town. Victory is now in its third year and its owners believe they have brought something to Oak Park that will become part of the neighborhood and the community. Victory is open daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is open for lunch on Friday and Saturday. Victory also has a great catering menu with family meals and for the holiday’s items like seafood salad, baked or raw clams, calamari. ... to help anyone attempting the seven fishes.

Victory Italian victoryitalian.com

100 South Marion, Oak Park

Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday - Saturday: 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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A year in the life of Broken Tart Sisters connecting bakery with the villages

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

roken Tart did it. Surviving the first year is a milestone for small businesses. What was once a coinlaundry at 1108 Chicago Ave. has established itself as a beloved bakery. The owners, sisters Krissy and Katie Mack, are humbled and overjoyed that their sweet dream was embraced by the community. Katie Mack remembers the opening. “When we were trying to plan for this, we just didn’t know. How many scones are we going to sell in a day -- like 12, like 24?” She got her answer, “The demand has been crazy. Thank you to the community for such amazing support since day one.” Customers have quickly picked favorites. Some have called the kale scone “life changing.” Others are devotees of the overnight oats, ginger crème cookies, sweet or savory biscuits, or the citrus-glazed olive oil cake. Chef Krissy Mack is attracted to ingredients that are both intriguing and, of course, delicious. She says she doesn’t follow trends, but she does enjoy introducing flavors. “I like buckwheat flour. Not everywhere, but it has the most amazing texture.”

Broken Tart brokentart.com

1108 Chicago Ave, Oak Park Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Katie Mack who came to the endeavor with marketing skills adds, “Being in the culinary scene you want to try something that’s interesting. But I think we have something for everybody.” For lunch, there is a daily focaccia and at the end of the week, “Sandwich Friday.” Cakes continue to be an important part of the business too. To satisfy demand they usually require a seven-day advance order. Not to be forgotten, the sisters are also proud of their beverage program, which includes coffee from Big Shoulders and Ruby Coffee Roasters. Supporting other local businesses is something Krissy and Katie are excited to have the opportunity to do. One example is on select Saturdays this year they have partnered with Mood, just across the

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Broken Tart pastries street, to host Le Marche, a Parisian-style street market with a curated selection of food, fashion, antiques, and art vendors. The sidewalk patio in front of Broken Tart has also become a draw. “We like to be a community spot,” said Katie Mack. To keep that going as the weather turns

crisp, the two are already imagining how they can extend the patio season, especially when Christmas trees arrive in the lot across the street. Both sisters agree. “We want people to bring their kids and get a hot chocolate. It’s very Hallmark. We want to continue to deliver delicious products and experiences.”

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

B6 November 1, 2023

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More seating, a bigger kitchen and growing menu at Poke Burrito

P PHOTOS COURTESY OF POKE BURRITO

Lake Street spot expanding into space next door

oke Burrito has announced its expansion into the retail space just next door to its longtime current location at 1025 Lake St., Oak Park. The new space will expand both the dining space and the kitchen and allow for several new items to be added to the menu. “It took us over a year to finish up our new dining space with additional kitchen

space,” said Jimmy Chen, the enthusiastic owner of the restaurant. “Now you are able to dine in a bigger and newly renovated pleasant environment with many of our new specialty food menu items,” he said. According to the very limited space in our current store, we couldn’t serve many customers at once, which we are very unhappy about.”

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Poke Burrito

pokeburritochicago.com 1025 Lake St., Oak Park Hours:

Monday/Thursday: 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Chen said adding more space for dine-in customers while expanding the kitchen space for his crew has “always been the first thing on my mind.” Chen announced the Oak Park store will be launching new menu items including Korean Corn Dogs, Japanese Ramen, Mochi Donut, Hong Kong Bubble Waffle, Waffle Ice Cream, Funnel Cake, and additional Japanese appetizers. Korean corn dogs are an upgraded version of regular hot dogs. It has a corn-like shape, wrapped in amazing batter, filled inside with hot dogs, mozzarella cheese, rice cakes, or fish cakes fried in a batter on a stick. You can also dress with sugar, ketchup, mustard, and/or mayo to make it into your favorite style. They are a sweet and savory treat that can be made in a variety of different ways. Pulling cheesy strings out of corn dogs is an additional fun fact.

Mochi donuts, also known as Poi Mochi, are a fusion pastry crossing traditional American doughnuts and Japanese mochi. The mochi donuts are Poke Burrito’s own special mixture of “hybrid batter” made out of glutinous rice flour and tapioca flour which makes a doughnut more fluffy, and moist, and will give you the most satisfying chew. Mochi donuts are uniquely shaped into eight mochi balls connected into a circular flower shape that is easy to pull apart and designed to share with your loved ones. The “new” bubble waffle has a different unique shape which is rolled up into a cone and stuffed with deliciously flavorful ice cream and eye-catching colorful toppings. When you take your first bite, says Chen, you will instantly feel cheated. It’s like a soft pancake disguised as a bubbleshaped waffle. Since winter is coming, Chen said it’s the perfect time to bring back their Japanese Ramen. “We’ve got a newly developed kitchen to create the most delicious and savory bowl of ramen to warm up your day.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF POKE BURRITO

B8 November 1, 2023

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Inari welcomes beginners and connoisseurs

A kaleidoscope of fresh tastes at Inari

I FILE

Real flames are on the menu when customers order the flaming dragon specialty roll at Inari Sushi in Elmwood Park.

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

nari Sushi wants to introduce diners to both the elegant and fun sides of sushi, sashimi, maki, poke. Many of us love the taste of sushi but are a bit intimidated when faced with the terminology that comes with it. At Inari Sushi on restaurant row in Elmwood Park, you can sit back with a glass of sake (Japanese rice wine), hot tea, or a cocktail and know you are in good hands. Alcoholic drinks are 50% off during

their happy hour each day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Other drink specials extend into the full day: Monday is half priced wine and sake; Tuesdays bring $6 martinis and $3 inari sushi (fried tofu pockets stuffed with rice) which makes a great sweet/sour appetizer. The restaurant features the freshest ingredients possible in both their traditional and innovative menu. Here’s a primer: sashimi is simply thin slices of raw fish and other seafoods meant to be eaten after a quick dip in soy sauce. Sushi are the same slices, but now served over vinegarseasoned rice balls. Vegetables and eggs join items on the sushi menu. Maki is where Inari gets seriously creative. Their rolls come filled with a

! P O O C

S n a c u o y s New

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RibFest Every Day! Mickey’s is the place! Mickey’s Rib Special 1/2 Slab Dinner B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

$22.99

includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and garlic bread

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 11am - 9pm Daily Italian Beef

Inari Sushi inarisushi.com

7428 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park Hours:

3 Vienna

Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Hot Dogs w/ Fries

10.99

Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. kaleidoscope of tasty combinations. Summer rolls feature vegetables and sashimi without rice. Samurai, Hamachi-Kama, and White Tuna Crunch rolls are on the specials list as well. All are under $17. One stand-out is their Flaming Dragon Roll. Filled with tempura shrimp, scallions, and sweet and spicy mayo inside, the roll is topped with salmon, super white tuna, black tobiko and sesame seeds. But wait, there’s more. When the dish arrives at the table, it’s set on fire. Inari also offers the increasingly popular poke bowls (pronounced po-KAY). This Hawaiian dish respects the island’s deep ties to Japanese culture. Think of the bowls as deconstructed Maki. Cubes of fish are served over rice, accompanied by a variety of vegetables and toppings. Lunch specials are a great way to explore

$15.49

Full Slab Dinner

Sandwich w/ Fries .99 $

Wednesday

Gyros Plate Dinner 1 lb meat, 2 pita breads, fries & 3 cups sauce $14.99

Every day Special!

Gyros with fries $9.99

PHOTOS COURTESY OF INARI SUSHI

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

Big Mickey! $ .99

SAWA’SOld OLD Warsaw WARSAW Sawa’s Authentic Polish-American Smorgasbord

and find out what you like. A sushi sashimi combo goes for under $20. There is even a vegan lunch combo! A recent diner commented that Inari helped his son get into the spirit. Their server gave him connected chopstick trainers to help eat the authentic way. Inari is on a mission to help everyone enjoy sushi.

Restaurant • Lounge • Banquets • The Jazz Room Authentic Smorgasbord DinePolish-American In • Carry Out • Catering • Delivery

www.SawasOldWarsaw.com Restaurant • Lounge • Banquets • Dine In • Carry Out • Catering & Delivery

www.SawasOldWarsaw.com

THANKSGIVING JOINFEA US FOR ST OUR

THANKSGIVING FEAST

Sliced Turkey Carved Round of Beef Carved Ham off the Bone Pierogies Sliced Turkey Broasted Chicken Mashed Potatoes with Brown Gravy Fresh Smoke Polish Sausage Carved Round& of Beef Sauerkraut Best Salad Bar in Town Carved Ham off the Bone Holiday Sweet Potatoes Mushroom & ChickenHours Noodle Soup Broasted Chicken Stuffing Eve - Closed Apple Christmas Crepes + Soft Serve Ice Cream Fresh & Smoke Polish Sausage Christmas Day - Closed Potato Pumpkin PieYears + Dessert Table Shrimp CocktailPancakes New Eve Closed Pierogies New Years Day - Closed Kolaczki + Assorted Cakes Stuffing/Sauerkraut Mushroom Soup Sweet Potatoes Mashed Potatoes with Brown Gravy Veteran’s Day Special Potato Pancakes Full Salad Bar Saturday, November 11 Stuffed Cabbage Dessert Table 50% off all day for all veterans Pumpkin Pie (Must show proof) Kolaczki

$23 Adults

Reservations Required

$32 Adults•$13 Children $10 Children

11am to 8pm Seating reservations every 2 hours Seating reservations every 1/2 hour Cermak ~ Broadview, ILRoad ~ 708.343.9040 Sawa’s9200 Old W. Warsaw ~Rd 9200 W. Cermak ~ Broadview, IL ~ 708.343.9040 Ample Parking Available ~ Large Families Welcome ~ Video Poker Ample Parking Available ~ Large Families Welcome ~ Video Poker Sign-up for the Polonia Gazeta (Email Newsletter) for upcoming events

B10 November 1, 2023

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Culture, taste blend at Anfora Wine Merchants

nfora Wine Merchants, 128 S. Marion St., is a combination retail shop enoteca (wine library), named after a two handled terracotta vessel used in Ancient Rome to store or transport wine. Since opening three years ago, the Pleasant District storefront has become a regional wine destination and captured national attention because of press received from the James Beard award winning drinks publication, Punch. “Our approach to wine at Anfora is not how a standard sommelier would approach it,” said Adrian Weisell, co-owner of Anfora Wine Merchants “Wine is about more than taste to us. We look at wine drinking through a cultural and historical lens.” The Marion Street shop honors and celebrates, particularly, but not exclusively, Italian wines; a country with more indigenous grape varieties spanning well beyond the more well-known international varietals.

So many ways to engage with wine at Anfora

ANFORA WINE MERCHANTS

A welcoming retail space engages customers upon entry, floral murals cover walls and terracotta pendant fixtures hang from the ceiling.

Wooden shelves house bottles of wine and a set of double doors give way to a cozy room with a counter suitable for hosting small classes and enjoying a glass with friends. Anfora’s knowledgeable staff strive to make the shop a festive gathering space where people come to select a bottle to open at home or enjoy a bottle of wine onsite with friends. Anfora has a dynamic wine by the glass list, but Weisell is quick to point out the entire shop is available to be enjoyed for a modest corkage fee. The shelves are a retail wine list filled with unique offerings, where you’ll find bottles for the everyday, celebration, or collection. Anfora is building a deeper sense of community through its wine club, annual store membership, and Sunday tastings. Between their monthly wine club, and the annual store membership, the shop welcomes hundreds of local wine-lovers each

month to pick up their curated collections, or to an exclusive monthly wine tasting for annual store members. Approximately twice a month Anfora hosts $5 Sunday afternoon casual tastings, which are open to the public to taste through five wines the proprietors love right now. The best way to learn about Anfora’s events is to sign up for its email list (anforawinemerchants.com), or to stop into the shop and check out the monthly calendar. Anfora Wine Merchants is a social destination where people embrace the thoughtful approach the entire staff takes to curate a wine tasting experience no matter if it is a private event or casual outing with friends.

Anfora Wine Merchants Anforawinemerchants.com 128 S. Marion St., Oak Park 708-613-5388

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Wise Cup a mix of coffee and artisan specials

Don’t miss monthly Indian food pop-ups

month. Customers can pre-order off a menu of Indian street food dishes for carryout as well as limited dine-in tables. The menu changes from month-to-month, rotating among different regional Indian cuisines. Past menus have included: Pav bhaji, a popular vegan stew of assorted vegetables and Indian spices from Mumbai; Summer specials like samosa chaat with stewed chickpeas topped with a golden samosa, chutney, yogurt, onions and tomatoes; Creative lentil flights with garlic naan satisfy curious diners; and Wise Cup’s roti tacos, which bring a taste of Calcutta to Lake Street.

ise Cup is independently owned and operated by Shivangi and Naveen Khetarpal, Oak Park locals who opened the coffee shop six years ago in Downtown Oak Park. It is located at 1018 Lake St. Wise Cup offers an array of traditional as well as innovative coffee drinks, baked goods and special Indian treats including samosas. Every fresh item at this hip spot in Downtown Oak Park is thoughtfully created by local artisans including the locally roasted coffee, sweet and savory treats, and unique hand thrown mugs. Newly added to the menu are Seasonal Chutney Jars -- a very flavorful dipping sauce for everyday use. It’s an authentic family recipe! In 2020, Wise Cup also began hosting pop-up meals featuring regional Indian fare. The pop-ups were a hit and the Khetarpals have since continued the program on the first Saturday of every

Shivangi Khetarpal says, “We want to sprinkle the taste of India in this community and want people to know what Indian moms love to make.”

Wise Cup owner Naveen Khetarpa

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Whether you’re looking for a place to meet friends, get some work done with a wonderful cup of coffee or tea, grab something quick before a movie at the

Lake Theater, or try some of their unique offerings, you really can’t beat this very special and vibrant spot in the heart of Downtown Oak Park.

Wise Cup

wise-cup.business.site 1018 Lake St., Oak Park 708-628-3707

B12 November 1, 2023

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A local culinary legend prepares for her final bow

rom her humble start as a personal chef serving four clients, Angie Montroy has seen her business, Angie’s Pantry, grow into a successful weekly meal service offering healthy, homemade fare with a client list of over 1,700 families.

After 25 years in the business, Angie has announced plans to retire in early 2024. She is seeking to sell her business which has deep roots in these villages. Angie got her start in the mid-90s when she offered her personal chef services to four clients and grew to include small catered events. Eventually, she started a food blog at AngiesPantryBlog.com, sharing recipes, food stories, cooking and budgeting tips. Her success paved the way for multiple appearances on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight in 2010, and her meal service business kept growing. Angie initially worked out of the kitchen in her home in River Forest, then moved on to renting space at the 19th Century Club until 2018 when she opened

and trans fats. There are about her doors to the storefront two dozen recipes she offers kitchen of Angie’s Pantry at that she says are client “faves,” 809 South Blvd. in Oak Park. including one she crafted for the “The storefront combined Beyond Hunger “Healthy Chef with the ability for people to Challenge.” She was crowned order online really helped me the winning professional chef expand,” she said. “I hired a both years she entered the really incredible staff to assist competition -- 2018 and 2021 with certain areas, but I am -- beating out renowned chefs at still the chef in the kitchen Angie Montroy local restaurants. every week. It’s physically demanding work, but we all put a lot of But Angie is more than just a chef. love into it.” She has a passion for giving back to the The Angie’s Pantry staff includes Nancy Walker, Julie Scheuring, Maureen Pond, Jonathan Reedy, David Snyder and Barbora Zamboni. Angie credits her success to the team effort of her staff. “They are the most amazing people to work with. I couldn’t do anything without them!” she said. Working together, they currently create up to 300 individual meals every week, full of healthy ingredients and thoughtfully curated gluten- free and vegetarian options, and free of preservatives, artificial ingredients

community. “I believe in helping however I can, and I know a lot of my clients feel the same way,” she said. “So I gave them an option to make it easy to make a difference.” On her weekly order form, a line item was added offering patrons the opportunity to make a donation. Through the years, Angie and her loyal patrons have collectively donated over $28,000 to charities close to her heart, including Beyond Hunger, Housing

Forward and UNICEF/Help Ukraine. As Angie steps into the next chapter of her life, she looks forward to a slower pace, cherishing moments with her family. With her youngest off to college and her eldest son recently married, she playfully hints at the prospect of future grandkids. “I do have some other things in the works, like an Angie’s Pantry cookbook,” she said. “I also have a special place in my heart for the homeless community, and I am hoping to direct some energy toward a project to benefit them.” In February 2024, Angie will present her final menu, marking the end of a remarkable 25-year journey. She’s in talks with potential buyers for her business, hoping to pass on her legacy to someone who shares her unwavering love for it.

Angie’s Pantry angiespantry.com

809 South Blvd., Oak Park

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November 1, 2023 B13

Scan the QR code for our full Catering Menu or visit jimandpetes.com

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, December 9, 2020

B14 November 1, 2023

Taste is the identity of Harvest 365

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Self-serve buffet serves good food and God

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ated as one of the best self-serve family-style restaurants in Illinois by Yelp, Harvest 365 is dedicated to fresh, bountiful, and affordable food. From their beautifully renovated location at 7610 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park, their kitchen prepares foods from around the world with Asian, Mexican, and Italian options. But a special focus is put on Southern and Soul dishes. Fried chicken and fish, collard greens, cornbread, peach cobbler and other homestyle favorites anchor the hot portion of the food bar. A cold bar serves salad fixings, fruits, and desserts. Special grilled entrees can be had for an additional charge. Recent offerings include Atlantic salmon, smoked brisket, ribeye steak, jumbo shrimp and lamb chops. “Our lamb chops are known to be the best in the on this side of town! We are all about fresh. You won’t find canned and frozen foods here,” says Sister Mary Lyons, director of Planning and Operations for both the restaurant and the Living Word Christian Center. The restaurant is literally and figuratively backed by Bill Winston Ministries, led by Sister Mary’s brother Bill Watson. His stated vision is to build strong community relationships and to serve the community with integrity, excellence, and value.

PROVIDED

Fried fish

PROVIDED

Lamb chops

Harvest 365 harvest365grill.com

7610 W. Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park Hours:

Tuesday through Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Monday Sister Mary elaborates on the reason for a church to run a restaurant, “Our goal is to serve the community. And to provide a place where families can come, have a nice place to dine, and maybe host a party. God replenishes us for serving. We sew seed because it will return in a harvest.” The price for dine-in is $16.99 for adults and $10.99 for children. There is a take-out option as well, where you fill containers and pay $9.99 per pound. Catering is also a vibrant part of the business. Trays can be ordered and picked up when a crowd needs to feast. There is a focus on healthier eating, but it’s more about

providing options according to Sister Mary. Strengthening community from the inside and out is what this organization is all about. But it does come down to good food. Taste is Our Identity is the motto emblazoned over the grill.

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November 1, 2023 B15

#fantasticfungi • caffedeluca.com

#mealservice • angiespantry.com

Celebrate fall flavors at Caffé De Lucca with a hearty wild mushroom risotto. Shaved Parmesan takes this rich dish to the next level.

Try our home meal service! No menu planning, prep or contracts - just fresh, healthy and delicious meals you can warm and serve.

Caffé DeLuca

Angie’s Pantry

7427 Madison St, Forest Park

809 South Boulevard, Oak Park

anforawinemerchants.com Aperitivo has never been more fun. The perfect mix of nibbles and the very best bottles. Cin Cin!

Brokentart.com

Anfora Wine Merchants

Cakes. Bakes. Coffee. Made fresh daily in our tiny bakery. Come for the baked goods, stay for the good vibes.

128 S Marion St, Oak Park

Broken Tart 1108 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park

Cafecubanochicago.com Join Cafe Cubano for an authentic Cuban lunch or dinner. Have your pick of hand crafted tropical drinks. Fall featured drink is our homemade Sangria.

Café Cubano 7426 W North Ave, Elmwood Park

B16 November 1, 2023

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November 1, 2023 B17

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta mixes classics and a fresh vibe

Pizza and, increasingly, much more

t Betty’s Pizza & Pasta, 1003 South Blvd., Oak Park, now in its second year of operation, the familiar scent of melting cheese and baking dough greets customers upon arrival. What once was a cozy, vintage style interior, however, has undergone a significant transformation. New lighting, a new ceiling, and more appealing colors all encompass the warm and inviting interior. The walls, once adorned with simple framed pictures, are now decked with an array of vibrant and striking artwork, all created by the talented staff itself. Customers remain engaged in the ageold debate of whether to fold their extralarge New York style slices or savor them flat. Some still adhere to the tradition of folding to prevent the infamous “flop,”

while others, determined to keep their hands clean, indulge in a no fold policy, embracing the challenge of finishing their slices in multiple bites. Betty’s Pizza & Pasta has become a staple in the Pleasant District showcasing the creative talents of its own team alongside its scrumptious menu. While retaining its fun and unpretentious vibe, the restaurant now exudes a contemporary charm, balancing the nostalgia of the past with the energy of the present. The homage to Oak Park’s founding figure, Betty Kettlestrings, remains intact in the restaurant’s name, but the South Boulevard establishment has fully embraced its own unique culinary identity. Betty’s has perfected its pizza recipe and expanded its menu to offer an even wider array of tantalizing options.

The signature 18-inch pizzas, still cut into eight generous slices, maintain their unique texture, boasting a crispy bottom and a fluffy, soft top. Alongside the classic pies featuring whole milk mozzarella and flavorful toppings, the menu now includes a variety of specialty pizzas, including the Mikey’s Hot Honey Pie and the famed Garlic and Zucchini Pie. In addition, Betty’s Pizza & Pasta now offers a “slice happy hour” offering slices for purchase every day from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Also, check out Betty’s Family Dinner Special. Beyond the ‘za, Betty’s has expanded its offerings to include an array of delectable appetizers such as eggplant parmesan, garlic parmesan chicken wings and retains the famous meatballs and the irresistible garlic knots. Additionally, the menu features an enticing selection of pasta dishes. The salads, available in small and large sizes, have also garnered attention, with the arugula and quinoa salad, featuring apples, blue cheese and

crispy bacon, emerging as a particular favorite among patrons. Kettlestrings Restaurant Group is thrilled to invite everyone to experience the revamped Betty’s Pizza and Pasta. With its updated interior and the added charm of the staff’s own artwork, the restaurant continues to be the go-to destination for a slice of both New York and the creative spirit of its own team.

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta bettyspizzapasta.com

1003 South Blvd., Oak Park 708-434-5526 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 4pm - 10pm Sunday 4pm - 9pm

B18 November 1, 2023

N Rebozo continues tradition with a twist

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Happily relocated from Oak Park to Forest Park

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

here is nothing quite like Chef Paco’s enthusiasm for his food and his customers at N Rebozo. Nowadays he exclaims, “Oh my God,” from a location at 7403 Madison St. in Forest Park. During the fall and winter months his Chile Nogada is the seasonal star of the menu. The dish is a Poblano pepper filled with a sweet and savory mix of beef, nuts, dried fruit, blanketed with a creamy walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds. This mixture of flavors goes beyond the kitchen for Paco, “When you taste sweet, sour, spicy, this is the same for the life. Sometimes the life is sweet; sometimes the life is spicy. When you get the balance, that’s my philosophy for the restaurant and for everything. This balance.” Fiesta Mole is the dish that made Chef Paco a fixture in the local restaurant scene. The platter features six enchi-

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Chef Paco ladas with a choice of cheese, chicken, chorizo, guacamole, hibiscus, or grilled steak inside. Each one finished with a different mole. Those six are chosen each week from a total of 40 mole recipes, two of which are the chef ’s original creations: Poblano and Pipian. The mescal margaritas are a blissful match with either

N Rebozo

newrebozos.com

7403 Madison St., Forest Park Hours:

Tuesday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

PROVIDED

Chili Nogada

Fiesta Mole platters

of these two featured entrees. The extensive drink menu focuses on fresh and authentic takes on traditional recipes. An Agave Old Fashioned recalls cocktail culture of the past the with a modern Mexican twist. And Micheladas bridge the beer and cocktail divide. And when you are done with the main course, don’t sleep on dessert. Paco encourages you to try the flan, “People say they don’t like flan. Don’t worry. … I make authentic Mexican flan, creamy. If you try my flan, you’ll love it.” The elegant space where N Rebozo has landed on Madison Street previously was Heritage restaurant. Chef Paco believes it is the perfect environment for his unique take on Mexican food. The open dining room also allows him to be more present with his customers, whom he loves dearly. “You love what you eat … everybody happy. Paco happy. This is gives me mas energy.” Expect nothing less from Chef Paco.

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victoryitalian.com

This is a Cucina classic. Chicken Pistachio is pan-fried with pistachio breadcrumb crust, red pepper cream balsamic sauce, creamy polenta, grilled asparagus.

Don’t just carve pumpkins, carve out some time for family this fall with Victory’s family meals! We’ll bring all the cozy fall favorites to you! More cheese, please! Get all the warm and cozy fall flavors from our orecchiette rapini & sausage.

Cucina Paradiso

Victory Italian

#mycucina | cucinaoakpark.com

100 S Marion St, Oak Park

814 North Blvd, Oak Park

#morethanpizza | bettyspizzapasta.com Did you know that Betty’s serves up more than NY Style pies and delicious pastas. Stop in soon to try our garlic parmesan wings and other new menu delights.

Betty’s Pizza & Pasta 1103 South Blvd, Oak Park #harvest365grill | harvest365grill.com A trio of fresh lamb chops are grilled to order when you add a premium entrée to your allyou-care-to-eat food bar meal.

Harvest 365 Restaurant and Fresh Grill 7610 W Roosevelt Road Suite 120, Forest Park

#encorebylittlegem | encorelittlegem.com Our eggplant rollatini. Dining and live music Tuesday through Saturday.

Encore! by Little Gem 187 N Marion St, Oak Park

B22 November 1, 2023

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Cucina Paradiso satisfies local Italian lovers Menu is built to thrill and satisfy

C RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Sweet spicy pepperoni pizza

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ucina Paradiso has thrived at 814 North Blvd. for 28 years. The secret, according to owner Anthony Gambino, is attention to detail. Every delicious detail. The menu is a balance between an homage to cozy red-sauce Italian cooking and a forward view of flavors diners are hungry for now. “We have some main staples that we started with. I could never substitute them with anything because our customers would be upset with us. Then obviously we create those dishes with our unique touches and quality ingredients,” said Gambino. One dish that’s always on the menu is Rigatoni Bolognese with homemade meat sauce, tomatoes, cream, onions, fresh mozzarella. One of the most popular is a fresh egg noodle pappardelle with tricolor peppers, a light cream sauce and blackened shrimp. Another fresh pasta offering is a giant rigatoni egg noodle with a brandy

Cucina Paradiso www.cucinaoakpark.com 814 North Blvd. Oak Park

Hours: Everyday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. cream sauce and shiitake, button and cremini mushrooms, spiced with fresh thyme and garlic. The four seasons drive most changes to the menu. Gambino is proud that they print their menu every day, responding to what is at the height of flavor. Three to four dishes rotate on and off every few weeks. The bounty of summer zucchini is the taste inside cheesy Cucina puffs. A similar approach is taken at the bar. Gambino credits mixologist Karina Nunez with revising old favorites with fresh ingredients. Try for example their Blackberry Old Fashioned with fresh, muddled blackberries and house-made sage syrup. Gambino gives credit to his staff, “They

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814 North Blvd., Oak Park

ph: 708.848.3434

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Fresh rigatoni with mushroom are Cucina.” It’s worth noting that key personnel have been at the restaurant for more than a decade. This includes managers Jeremy Troyer and Kim Rozhik who hold down the fort since the restaurant is open every day of the week. Chef Mike Bouse executes the tightrope walk between tradition and trends. The pepperoni pizza is an example of how to invent. The current iteration is both spicy and sweet. Gambino describes the pie, “We’re using top ingredients and then drizzling it with a Calabrian chili honey. So that’s where we bring a twist and up the game.” Gambino says when he started out, he was, “…young, eager, and either extremely determined or very foolish.” The gamble has paid off, with many wins for locals who love to eat.

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Cucina puffs

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B24 November 1, 2023

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Est. 1955

Specialy Subs & Italian Delacacies Elmwood Park has a long standing reputation for being home to outstanding As a reputation Village we are Elmwood Park has restaurants. a long standing forproud being to share this reputation and work hard to promote home to outstanding restaurants. As a Village we areit.proud

to share this reputation and work hard to promote it. RESTAURANTS

AlpineAlpine

RESTAURANTS Dunkin Donuts Eggsperience

Old World Panera

Armand’s Pizzeria Armand's 7538Pizzeria W North Ave

Eggsperience Great American Bagel 7201 W. Grand Ave

Panera Russell's 7230 W Barbecue North Ave

7538 W North Ave 7538 W North Ave Alpine 7650 W North Ave 7650 W North Ave Armand’s Pizzeria

Ashleys Café & Tap 7650 W Ave Ashleys Café & Tap Ave 7500 W North Grand

7500 W Grand AveJuice Ashleys Café & Tap Bon Vivant & 7500 W Grand Burger King Smoothie Bar Ave

7201 W. Grand Ave 16 Conti Pkwy Dunkin Donuts 16 Conti Pkwy 7230 W North Ave Eggsperience

Great American Bagel 16 Conti PkwyAve Gringo & 7230 WBlondie North

7308 W North Ave

7400 North Ave 1621 Thatcher Ave Panera

Russell’s Barbecue 7400 North Ave Spizzico & Senor 1621 Thatcher Ave Jefe

7514 W North Ave Bagel Spizzico& 7446 W North Ave Great American Russell’s Barbecue Gringo & Blondie Senor Jefe 7230Wok WNorth NorthAve Ave 1621 7514 W 7446 WThatcher North Happy Sports NookAveAve

7334Vivant W. Diversey Ave 1742 Bon Juice & Gringo & Blondie 1750 Harlem Ave N Harlem Ave Happy Wok 7514 W North Ave 1742 N Harlem Ave Smoothie Bar Burger King Burger Moovementt Inari Sushi 1750 W. Harlem Ave Ave Inari 7334 Diversey Happy Wok 7512 W North Ave 7428 W North Ave 7428 Ave 1742W NNorth Harlem Ave Burger King Moovement Burger Café Cubano Jim & Pete's 7512 W North Ave 1750 Harlem Ave Jim & Pete’s Inari 7426 W North Ave 7806 W North Ave 7806 Café Cubano 7428W WNorth NorthAve Ave Burger Moovement Caputo's Jimmy John's 7426 W W North North Ave Jimmy John’s 7512 Ave Jim & Pete’s Fresh Markets 1702 N Harlem AveAve 1702 Caputo’s 7806NWHarlem North Ave Café Cubano 2400 N Harlem Ave Johnnie's FreshW Markets Johnnie’s 7426 North Ave Jimmy John’s Circle2400 Tavern N Harlem Ave 7500 7500 North WW North AveAve 1702 N Harlem Ave Caputo’s 18 Conti Pkwy Circle Tavern Massa Café Massa Café Fresh Markets Johnnie’s 18 Conti Pkwy 7434 North Culvers WW North AveAve 2400 N Harlem Ave 7434 7500 W North Ave 7542 W Grand Ave Culvers McDonalds McDonalds Circle Tavern Massa Café 7542 7217 W Grand Ave Donny G's W Grand Ave 18 Conti Pkwy 7217 W Grand Ave Ave 7434 W North Donny 7308 W NorthG’s Ave New Star Restaurant Culvers New Star Restaurant McDonalds 7308 W North Ave 7444 W North Ave Dunkin Donuts 7542 W Grand Ave 7444 7217 W Grand W North Ave Ave 7201 W Grand Ave

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7230 W North Ave 7400 North Ave Old World

OldNew World Pizza Star Restaurant BARS 7230 W North Ave Ave 7444 W North

Celtic Corner Circle Tavern Dugout CELTIC CORNER Celtic Corner George’s CIRCLE TAVERN Circle Tavern

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Spizzico& Senor Jefe 7841 Grand Ave Subway 7446 W North Ave 2836 N. Harlem Ave Subway 7230 W. North Ave Subway 2836 N Harlem Ave Tacos 2 N. Go 2836 Harlem 230 W North Ave Ave 7530 W.W. Grand Ave 7230 North Ave

Tacos 2 Go The Barre Studio Tacos Go Ave 7530 W2Grand & 7530 Café W. Grand Ave The 12 W. Barre Conti Studio Parkway The Barre Studio & Café Tony D’s & Café 12 W Conti Parkway 7725 W Belmont Ave

12 W. Conti Parkway

Tony D'sPeppino’s Trattoria

TonyWD’s 7725 Belmont Ave

7440 W North Ave

7725 W Belmont Ave

Trattoria Union Tap Peppino's

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7707 #1A 7440Westwood W North Ave

7440 W North Ave

Wing Stop Union Tap

Union Tap Ave 7707 #1A 1740 NWestwood Harlem

Owned and operated by The Bonaccorsi Family

7538 West North Avenue • Elmwood Park, Illinois (708) 453 - 3505

Golden Wok Restaurant 1122 N. Maple - 17th Ave. LaGrange Park • 708-354-3930 www.wok138.com

WeConnect Finest Cantonese and Mandarin Food at reasonable prices. TUES - SUNDAY: NOON - 8PM • CLOSED MONDAYS

Dining Room Is Currently Closed WE ARE OPEN FOR CARRY-OUT & DELIVERY

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7707 Westwood #1A

Wing Stop

1740 N Harlem Ave 1740 N Harlem Ave

Tiny Tap Union Tap TINY TAP Tiny Tap UNION Union Tap TAP

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"The Best French Food Outside of France" "First-rate dining destination" Pat Bruno, Chicago Sun-Times

Hemmingway’s Bistro Serving Lunch and Dinner daily, 11am - 9pm • Champagne Sunday Brunch with Live Jazz, 11am - 3pm • Live jazz and discounted martinis every Wednesday • $2 Oyster Happy Hour, daily 2:30 - 5:30pm

• Full service bar and wine list • Reservations recommended

• 1.5lb Maine Lobster every Monday & Tuesday - $39.95

211 N. OAK PARK AVE., OAK PARK, IL (Steps away from Hemingway’s Birthplace and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio)

708.524.0806 • WWW.HEMMINGWAYSBISTRO.COM

happy hour HALF OFF

pickanna margaritas, sangria & mexican beers wed - fri until 5:30pm sat + sun from 3:00-4:30pm

144 s oak park ave mayadelsol.com

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7407 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130 708.771.3063 | www.fiorebakes.com

Monday - Thursday 11:30AM – 9PM

Friday 11:30AM – 10PM

Saturday Brunch | 10AM - 2PM Dinner | 2PM - 10PM

Sunday Brunch | 10AM - 2PM Dinner | 2PM - 8PM

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner! Don’t miss the meatballs! 7841 Grand Ave, Elmwood Park

Sun - Fri: 9 am - 2 am, Sat: 9 am - 3 am

(224) 833 - 1800 • sportznook.com

GAMING MACHINES!

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Sportz Nook is a restaurant but looks like a bar

A growing menu of delicious fare

ave Carlson is putting his own culinary spin on the Sportz Nook menu while keeping alive the memory of its former owner with a weekly meatloaf special. With more than 35 televisions tuned into sporting events across the globe, The Sportz Nook, 7841 W. Grand Ave., invites hungry locals to “come in a stranger and leave a friend.” Carlson, the general manager, has 12 beers on tap and put considerable attention to detail in the menu that keeps customers coming back for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Our customers like to say we are a restaurant disguised as a bar,” said Carlson with a smile. “You can come in at 9 a.m. for a Denver omelet, play some games in the afternoon, or have a dinner that will really surprise you.” The diminutive bar opened in May 2022 and Carlson took over the role of general manager just two months after the opening. His love for food service blossomed at age 13 when he took his first job as a busboy and dishwasher at a banquet hall. Over the years he worked in restaurants across the city and developed his own arsenal of recipes. And now he is bringing his own culinary

Sportz Nook sportznook.com

7841 Grand Ave., Elmwood Park 224-833-1800 touch to the Elmwood Park bar menu. “I’ve been cooking for 45 years and I have a palette,” said Carlson. “I started working on my meatball recipe when I was 15 years old and I’ve perfected it over the years.” Today, Carlson serves up his “dense yet tender” bocce meatballs at Sportz Nook. They start with a combination of beef, pork and veal, Pecorino-Romano brings flavor and Carlson swears by the addition of Liborio breadcrumbs. He is singularly devoted to the bakery located just around the corner from the bar. The meatballs are baked and then simmered in a scratch made red sauce. The menu is being expanded to include grilled whiskey BBQ shrimp and a hummus plate to please vegetarians. Carlson is also proud to serve white wine steamed mussels at the restaurant that masquerades as a bar. “We are getting the reputation for hav-

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Hummus plate

FILE

The “bocce” meatballs are a menu specialty at Sportz Nook in Elmwood Park. They are slow simmered in house-made red sauce and full of flavor. ing really good food and that matters to me,” said Carlson who credits his longtime friend Terry Harb for bringing him to The Sportz Nook. Harb, who owned several restaurants and bars, was “always begging” Carlson to come to work for him. Carlson refused until Harb pitched him the management position at The Sportz Nook. “I’d known him for 16 years and I always said no until he mentioned Elmwood Park,” said Carlson. “I grew up here; this is my home — I just can’t say no to Elmwood Park.” Harb loved Carlson’s homestyle dishes and had insisted that he put his famous meatloaf on the menu when the weather turned cold.

Sadly, Harb died before winter, but Carlson honors his friend’s memory by offering the meatloaf entrée every Friday evening. “The meatloaf is made with love, and I know how much he loved it,” said Carlson who credits the dish for keeping Harb’s memory alive. The Sportz Nook brings a surprisingly robust menu to a traditional bar. Carlson credits his friendly staff and growing customer base for their gaining popularity. The bar offers patio seating in the summer, occasional live music on the weekend and filling menu options every day of the week. Come in for a limoncello martini and stay for the meatballs.

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White wine steamed mussels

FILE

Rocky’s Cheese Steak

B28 November 1, 2023

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Always changing, La Lupita stays true to its roots New bar, new kitchen and, coming soon, an upstairs lounge

T Quesabirrias

LA LUPITA

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

here’s lots to love on the revised menu at La Lupita. Quesabirras is a flavor sensation. The dish is made of marinated goat meat, cooked in a rich broth. The tender meat is then folded into a tortilla nestled with cheese. The reserved broth is served as a side for dipping. The owner Sal Figueroa says, “When we added the quesabirras, there was a video that went viral on TikTok and Instagram. We have been bombarded with people who want to try it.” Back when Covid shut down the dining room, Figueroa opened an al fresco patio on the sidewalk out front and made good use of the downtime to renovate inside. A new kitchen was built in the back, allowing the dining room to expand, and that made room for a full bar.

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La Lupita

lalupitaberwyn.com

6539 Cermak Rd., Berwyn Hours:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Two hits have emerged from the expanded drink offerings. One is the margarita flights. Pick from a selection of guava, mango, lime, tamarind, d, cucumber, and strawberry. Another nother is mescal-based options. tions. The liquor’s smokey profile adds a depth and nd complexity to classicc drinks, but it also opens up new options like the popular hijass por dios: a combination ion of berries and a house-made e-made mezcal and organic agave syrup. And just added – a variety of mojitos.

But that is not all that’s new. Brunch, Mexican style. French toast leads the menu filled with favorites like chilaquiles and huevos divorciados. A mimosa flight m makes it a celebration. c Elsewhere on the Elsewh menu are vegetarian and even vegan options ve waiting to be w tried: Bistek tr de Soya a la Mexicana, NoMexi palitos Azteca, Chilies Az Rellenos de Queso, and many more. “We are, the only are I believe, belie

LA LUPITA

Mexican restaurant in the area with vegan options,” he says. Each weekday La Lupita features a different happy hour drink special from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And one more new feature in the works is a lounge on the second

floor, which is slated to open at the end of the year. Change is fun, but don’t worry. Lupita, Figueroa’s mom whom the restaurant is named for, is still there, handmaking her signature blue and yellow tortillas.

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Kinslahger Taproom encourages a return to pub life Bring friends or make friends at Kinslahger

Y WWW.ALEXANDERMOROZOV.COM

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ou can sip Kinslahger brews all over town. Ordering them in restaurants or picking up a pack to enjoy at home is great, but the Kinslahger Taproom is an experience all its own. The cozy storefront space at 6806 Roosevelt Rd. fronts the brewery. Its early 1900s vibe harkens back to a time when local bars were neighborhood gathering places. Owner Keith Huizinga wants to encourage that kind of interaction again, “It’s intimate. There’s no TVs. I want people to come down here, have a conversation with a friend or spouse or whoever, and enjoy the space.” An ideal night at the taproom for him is one table with a group playing cards, another full of friends reconnecting, but the best is when new connections are made. “It’s been so much fun since we’ve been open and I’m behind the bar

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Special Advertising Section to see people develop friendships.” Kinslahger offers a variety of beverages beyond beer: craft wines, a rotating selection of unique cocktails, regionally made sodas, and even non-alcoholic brews. The menu celebrates small and often local businesses. Pretzels are served up from the Daly Bagel with house-made mustard. Other snacks are similarly curated: Japanese almonds, peanuts and a meat and cheese board. Customers are also welcome to order in or bring food from home. Kinslahger’s reputation has soared over its almost 8 years in operation. Oak Park’s original brewery is focused on lager-style fermentation where the ingredients are the star of the show – rather than the brewing process itself, which is more common with ales. The bar’s draft line-up is a trip around the beer world: German dunkel, Baltic porter, New World lager. One of their most popular offerings is the Chicago Common, an ode to the bricks of the same name. The deep, earthly red is full-bodied with piney hops and rye spiciness. Onsite Huizinga offers more limited-run options, “We do different flavors that we call the Weekly Kinsman, just something that’s always rotating through as a small batch. It’s fun for us to be creative.” A favorite is a pilsner infused with a hint of jalapeno peppers and a Berlin

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Kinslahger Kinslahger.com

6806 Roosevelt Rd., Oak Park Hours:

Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Available for private events Credit card only

weiss augmented with a dash of raspberry syrup. These are only poured in the taproom. Luring us in and providing a place to reconnect with community, make new friends, and enjoy conversation, just like our great-grandparents did before TV. … and we did a bit more before the pandemic.

WWW.ALEXANDERMOROZOV.COM

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Sushi & Sashimi Lunch Special

Dine -in / Carry Out Delivery Catering/Bar / Banquet

Chinese • Thai • Japanese Cuisine • Hibachi Steak House

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

• FREE PARKING • ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

708-453-8242

Hours:

Mon.–Thurs. 11:30am–9:30pm, Fri. & Sat. 11:30am–10:30pm Sunday 12:30pm - 9:30pm

7444 North Avenue • Elmwood Park FAX 708-453-3044 • NewStarRestaurant.com

Fresh flavors are the star at New Star

Small touches, fresh ingredients make New Star shine By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Contributing Reporter

reshness is the most important element in New Star’s success, according to owner Jinny Zhao. That is the way to ensure the best quality and consistent flavors. When she bought the restaurant almost a decade ago, Zhao transformed the kitchen to follow that rule. And it guided her as she turned an underused banquet room into a hibachi steak house. Tucked in the back of New Star are eight teppan grills, where chefs cook in front of diners. It’s dinner and a show. More than one group of diners sit together around each grill, so it’s best to make reservations if a larger group wants to be seated together. Japanese steak houses are famous for flaming onion volcanos, acrobatic feats

with eggs and even whole bowls of fried rice. While New Star doesn’t disappoint on the stage show, the real draw is the quality. “Japanese style cooking uses fresh meat, fresh everything and just cooking for you. People love it,” says Zhao. To keep improving the dining experience, New Star doubles down on freshness by making its own hibachi sauce. Better known as Yum-Yum sauce, the ingredients include fresh apple, fresh peach and tomatoes. “Even myself, I put some on a bowl of rice, my Yum-Yum sauce, and just eat it. It tastes so good,” says Zhao. That joy comes through in everything Jinny Zhao does. As she updated the restaurant space and menu, she wanted to attract a new generation of customers looking for even more options. “I was thinking that the young people, they do love sushi,” says Zhao. So, she added a sushi bar and an

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Special Advertising Section extensive Thai menu. Both of those benefit from the freshest vegetables. None come from a can at New Star. Generous portions are standard too. There is a full bar which features tropical drinks. This expansive take on Asian foodways means that diners at one table can sample many different styles at one meal. The smallest detail does not go unnoticed by Zhao. She designed the colorful bags covered in sunflowers that await take-out customers in the warmer months. When the weather takes a turn for the chilly, the restaurant switches to a zipped, insulated bag. The investment in high quality take-out bags is worth it to Zhao. “Chinese foods need to keep warm. If you order in cold weather like Chicago, when you get home, I don’t want it to get cold,” she says. For dine-in customers there are special touches too. Coloring pages, crayons, and even small toys to keep children occupied while they wait for their adults to be done talking. But it’s the rack of umbrellas that really sets New Star apart when it comes to customer service. Years ago, when Zhao was on vacation in Taiwan with her children, she was caught in the rain and needed to make a run for it to get to the airport on time. A kindly store owner told her to take an umbrella. She insisted that she couldn’t because she would be unable to return it. Zhao took the umbrella and returned with a lesson in customer service.

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“I came back to the United States, thinking, wow, I should do something like that. When older people or people with kids come in, when it’s raining, we say take one and bring it back next time when you visit.” The location on Elmwood Park’s North Avenue restaurant row creates an atmosphere and advantage for customers that Zhao loves. “The people you can walk up and down here and say, ‘Hey, I want to eat this. I want to eat that.’ Also, we’ve got a parking lot on the corner.” The parking lot actually belongs to Zhao. It came with the restaurant when she purchased it, but she shares it with all the restaurants on the row. What is good for the customer is good for New Star, says Zhao. Zhao, who had previously owned another restaurant, came out of retirement to undertake the challenge of New Star. She is proud of what she has accomplished, “I am enjoying doing this.”

New Star

newstarrestaurant.com

7444 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park Hours:

Monday: Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday: Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday: noon to 9:30 p.m.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Teppanyaki chef at work

BURGERS, BEERS, & CHEERS Mon-Thursday 7am to 1:30am, Fri-Sat 7am - 2:30am, Sun 11am to 1:30am.

B36 November 1, 2023

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#thelittlegem | thelittlegemcafe.com

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#holidayfestivities | kettlestringsgrove.com

Our seared tuna with sesame. Delicious regional and season menu. Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner.

The Holidays are fast approaching. Reach out now to schedule your holiday gathering at Kettlestrings Grove. From date night to office gatherings, we’ve got you covered

The Little Gem Cafe

Kettlestrings Grove Cocktail Bar

189 N Marion St, Oak Park

105 S Marion St, Oak Park

Th EA ank TS s t sp o o on ur so r!

wise-cup.business.site Newly added to the menu: Seasonal Chutney Jars-a very flavorful dipping sauce for everyday use. It’s an authentic family recipe.

Wise Cup 1018 Lake St, Oak Park

#sustainability #smallbizsupport #takeout2 takeout25.org Ask for Takeout 25 boxed water at your local grocery stores, gyms and restaurants. Replace plastic water. Scan the QR code on the box using your phone camera to access local dining specials. Promote your favorite restaurants.

Takeout 25

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November 1, 2023 B37

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mmm...

Eats Exceptional Edibles Ciro

1048 Pleasant St, Oak Park “This is his delicious signature dish Ziti Rigati alla Nanella!” - Andrea Spinasanto

Fiore

7407 Madison St, Forest Park “Ricotta Melezana Pizza... I’m from Jersey & I know pizza! “ - Lauren Marie

Taco Mucho

220 Harrison St, Oak Park “Their steak tacos, nachos and margaritas are all marvelous!” - JN Rowan

Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits

6727 W Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn “The Mezze platter- as a Turkish American growing up with all these flavors, not only is this dish tasty with a great cocktail, but it makes me feel like I’m home, eating with family.” - Zerrin Bulut

B38 November 1, 2023

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Try a new restaurant this week! What is a Green Dining Hub? A GROUP OF RESTAURANTS THAT:

d ea u r TS! yo EA m he m in ll t te the d t an ou ab

REDUCE

FIND COLLECTIVE

OFFER LOCAL THEIR OWN WAYS TAKE TAKEOUT 25 IS TOILLINOIS’ FIRST GREEN DINING IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCES OUR CLIMATE ACTION GREEN DINING HUB

Takeout 25 Green Dining Hub

TAKEOUT 25 IS ILLINOIS’ Sustainability ChampionsFIRST GREEN DINING HUB

Addis Café Fritzi’s Delicatessen Anfora Wine Merchants Happy Apple Pie Shop Takeout 25 Green Dining Hub Autre Sustainability Monde Café Kettlestrings ChampionsGrove Betty’s Pizza Kettlestrings Tavern Addis Café Khyber Fritzi’s Delicatessen Big Shrimpin’ Pass Anfora Wine Merchants Happy Apple Pie Shop Blackout Baking Kribi Coffee Autre Monde Café Kettlestrings Grove Brewpoint Coffee Media Noche Café Betty’s Pizza Kettlestrings Tavern Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor Mora Big Shrimpin’ KhyberAsian Pass Kitchen BuzzBaking Café One Lake Brewing Blackout Kribi Coffee Brewpoint Coffee Poke MediaBurrito Noche Café Candycopia Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor Mora Asian Kitchen Carnivore Starship Buzz Café One Lake Brewing Chicago Waffles Sugar Beet Food Co-op Candycopia Poke Burrito Chubby’s Hot Chicken Mucho Carnivore Taco Starship The Daly Bagel Cup Food Co-op Chicago Waffles Wise Sugar Beet Chubby’s Hot Chicken

Taco Mucho

Bagel journey Wise Cup Each participant The is onDaly a unique to be more sustainable. Your support helps them go further. Each participant is on a unique journey to be more sustainable. Your support helps them go further.

A COLLA BORAT ION BE TWE E N A COL L ABORATION BET WE E N

Support Your Support Your Favorite Green Favorite Green Restaurants! Restaurants!

smartenergy.illinois.edu smartenergy.illinois.edu

takeout25.org takeout25.org 090923

090923

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November 1, 2023 B39

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A food delivery service started by a restaurateur Delivery First a problem solver for restaurants and customers

elivery First, a food delivery start-up founded by Chicagoland restaurateurs, is disrupting the intersection of restaurants and last mile logistics. Delivery First is a food delivery service that was created by restaurant people for restaurant people with the central idea being to save restaurants money on delivery. While deliveries took off during the pandemic, Delivery First grew rapidly. When founder Anthony Gambino realized how order generation and catering platforms charged high percentage fees that hurt restaurant profitability he decided to take charge of his company’s deliveries. Delivery First aims to forge meaningful local partnerships, backed by a team of 200-plus and growing “on demand” drivers.

Unlike larger order generation companies, Delivery First concentrates on three distinct differences. Their drivers are all employees, not gig workers, Delivery First employs and insures its drivers, providing drivers with hourly wages, tips, 401(k) options, and workman’s comp. Delivery First charges a flat fee, sparing restaurants from raising prices to cover delivery costs and enabling more predictability than the 20 to 30% fees charged by the larger order generation platforms. Delivery First also allows a restaurant to set its own delivery fee, meaning the restaurant can cover as much of the delivery fee as they care to. Delivery First will deliver any order the restaurant receives whether by phone, via the

restaurant’s own online platform, or even a third party generated order. Delivery First does not need to generate the order to take the delivery. Delivery First serves most of suburban Chicago and the city, and has a team experienced in navigating restaurant tech and enabling the digital transformation and integrations with multiple POS systems. Contact us at 312-900-9868 and the ad below.

Delivery First deliveryﬁrst.com

132 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 312-900-9868

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Committed to Oak Park and River Forest. Left to right: Denise Warren, Oak Park Branch Manager; Susie Goldschmidt, Oak Park River Forest Market President; Michael Starrick, River Forest Branch Manager

Whether you’re seeing a movie at the Lake Theatre or heading for a hike in the G.A.R. Woods, we think you should be able to get all of your banking done in your neighborhood… with people who love the area as much as you do. Byline is privileged to be a part of the Oak Park and River Forest community, and we are proud to partner with local nonprofits like Beyond Hunger and sponsor local events like Thursday Night Out in downtown Oak Park.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf