Restaurants/Lunch

Artopolis Bakery & Cafe

306 S Halsted St Chicago, IL 60661 312-559-9000

Description: GREEKTOWN. Artopolis prides itself on producing fresh-baked goods in its own kitchen. The place's name comes from a combination of the words "artos" and "polis" (bread and town, respectively), and the menu features a variety of breads, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and classic Greek dishes. The dessert menu includes specialty coffees and organic teas. A selection of Greek beers and wines is also available.

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Bandera

535 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 312-644-3524

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Expect a crowd at this lunch hotspot. Bandera serves superb American fare, and the selection of entrees ranges from roast prime rib to jambalaya. Ask a local, and they'll likely tell you that neglecting Bandera's famous cornbread is an unforgivable mistake. The Western-style interior offers a cozy respite, especially on "brisk" winter afternoons. The authentic wood-burning stove is a nice touch.

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Charlie Beinlich's Food and Tap

290 Skokie Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 847-714-9375

Description: NORTHBROOK. Nothing too fancy or pretentious about Charlie's. It's got a limited menu that's been working for years. In fact, it's got only 12 items, and all 12 are top-notch! The menu includes roast beef, grilled cheese, tuna salad, burgers, chili, and bbq. Add a drink from the bar, and you'll be good to go. The policies are pretty basic: no menu prices, no reservations, and no credit cards. The basic interior of wood paneling mirrors the no frills attitude here.

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Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop

5225 S Harper Ave Chicago, IL 60615 773-363-4943

Description: HYDE PARK. This restaurant offers casual-style Deep South fare in an authentic, down-home setting that includes old license plates, rusty aluminum signs, and even an old timey gas pump. The Southern menu includes such comfort food as fried green tomatoes, johnny cakes with honey butter, blackened catfish fillet, jambalaya, and, of course, well-stocked Louisana gumbo. Full bar.

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Ed Debevic's

640 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610 312-664-1707

Description: RIVER NORTH. A must for Chicago first-timers, Ed's is a true Windy City treasure. Reminiscent of a '50s-style roadside diner, the restaurant's retro decor and fun music are always a big hit with guests. After all, this is the place that once sold "Ed's Burp" tee-shirts! While the menu includes homestyle favorites like Ed's Mom's Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and chicken-fried steak, regulars know that burgers are king here. Go for the always-reliable Ed's Blue Moon Burger or the Route 66, either of which tastes better with a bottle of Ed's Beer. And don't worry: As always, the flurry of insults is free!

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Fox & Obel Food Market Cafe

401 E Illinois St Chicago, IL 60611 312-379-0112

Description: STREETERVILLE. A casual American cafe, Fox & Obel includes a full espresso bar, international beers, wines by the glass, an in-house bakery, and a menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches. The dining room provides eat-in or take-out options, including a Mayberry chicken salad sandwich and a sandwich fashioned from turkey, cranberry, and brie.

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Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse

33 W Kinzie St Chicago, IL 60610 312-828-0966

Description: RIVER NORTH. Warm up your vocal cords patrons regularly burst into renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in honor of their favorite sportscaster at his namesake restaurant. Plus, tourists often pay homage to the baseball legend by indulging in tasty food that fits the fun atmosphere. Set in a Dutch Renaissance building, Harry Caray's features baseball memorabilia, exposed brick, and cheerful red-checked tablecloths. Classics fill the menu, including pasta marinara, chicken Vesuvio, seafood, and veal. Add in huge, delicious desserts and great service, and you have a lunchtime home run. EL: Brown Line to Merchandise Mart or Red Line to Grand/State

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Noyes Street Café

828 Noyes St Evanston, IL 60201 847-475-8683

Description: EVANSTON. The menu here features the perfect marriage of Italian and Greek cuisines. It includes a mix of salads, sandwiches, seafood, pasta, and meat dishes that are sure to please. Try the vegetable pizza or the vermicelli with tomato sauce. Large portions and reasonable rates will quickly make you a fan. The interior has a warm, friendly ambiance with fresh flowers set in blue-glass bottles on tables and the work of local artists decorating the walls.

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The Grill on the Alley

909 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 312-255-9009

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Designed in the style of the famous Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills, this restaurant is a favorite with the Michigan Avenue crowd, who stop in for quick bites during shopping excursions. The Grill offers a diverse menu that features Cobb salads and other light fare, as well as Chicago-style steaks and delicious specials. After hours, well-heeled patrons flock to the bar to nip on martinis, single malt scotches, and fine wines.

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1776

397 Virginia St Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-356-1776

Description: CRYSTAL LAKE. Creative New American cuisine is the fine art of choice at this Crystal Lake favorite that crafts its cuisine out of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Wild game such as ostrich, buffalo, and elk are presented as well as more traditional offerings such as rack of lamb and seafood. Try the vegetarian pasta, the grilled Indiana chicken, or the veal and mushroom meatloaf. An exemplary tapas dinner is available the first and last Thursday of every month. The bar serves wine, microbrewed beer, single malt scotch, and port.

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