This list summarizes recent restaurant reviews. To recommend a restaurant to be reviewed, email food@ dailyherald.com.

American

Babcock’s Grove House,101 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, (630) 613-8920, babcocks grove.com/. The casual eatery, run by local residents Steve and Dana Moreau, features an upscale salad, burger and sandwich menu packed with tasty, reasonably priced fare. Organic greens, antibiotic-free chicken, sustainably raised pork and more can be found at lunch and dinner. Dishes to try: Bab’s Blue Cheese Burger, trio of pulled pork sliders and accompanying stout-chipotle beer cheddar sauce and hand-cut Belgian fries. Entrees: $7.50 to $12. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 8-12-16) — Thomas Witom

The Burger Local,577 Third St., Suite 102, Geneva, (630) 232-2806, theburgerlocal.com/. Don’t expect to find your father’s burger joint here. This vintage-inspired eatery belongs to this millennium with a hip vibe and a menu arrayed with creative burgers, a surprising starters (deviled eggs topped with lump lobster, bacon and cilantro and the oyster fry with beer-battered onion rings and andouille sausages) and unique cocktails. The short rib burger was full of flavor and dripping with juice. End a meal with the tasty bourbon pecan pie. Entrees: $11.50-$15. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. (Reviewed 4-29-16) — Katherine Rodeghier

Golden Brunch,31 E. Golf Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 758-7400, goldenbrunch.com. The 135-seat breakfast/lunch family-run establishment offers something for everyone, from Oreo pancakes and country-fried steak and eggs to beet-spinach salad and tuna melt. Dishes to try: the smoked Nova Scotia salmon benedict (minus the fiery Sriracha hollandaise sauce), house-made corned beef hash with onions and diced red potatoes and the cappuccino using beans supplied by independent Forest Park-based roaster Philosophy Coffee. Prices: Breakfast: $6.49 to $10.99; lunch: $8.99 to $9.99. Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. (Reviewed 6-3-16) — T.W.

Farmhouse on North,117 North Ave., Barrington, (847) 387-3408, farmhouseonnorth.com/. Though this cheery, eclectic farm-to-table restaurant opened just a few months ago in Barrington, its creative, fresh dishes are already leaving a lasting impression on diners. If the dining room is full, head upstairs to The Hayloft for a drink, or for dinner. Dishes to try: smoked lollipop lamb chop appetizer (a must), roasted beet salad, chicken noodle soup, free-range chicken breast served with champagne pan sauce and the vegetable risotto, with its cheesy, toothy bite and ample chunks of zucchini and patty pan squash. End with the sweet yet satisfying apple cider doughnuts. Entrees: $12-$25. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday; bar open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Reviewed 11-18-16) — Deborah Pankey

Hardware,2000 W. Orchard Road, North Aurora, (630) 299-3977, eathardware.com/. Sustainability is the name of the game at this imaginative North Aurora gastropub that opened recently in a purpose-built structure furnished with repurposed salvage. It grows its own produce in the greenhouse, makes its own sausage, operates a hop farm, brews its own beer and offers an eclectic, imaginative menu. Dishes to try: Spanish sausage salad, shrimp Caesar salad, Korean pork (pan-seared pork belly with charred broccolini and pickled watermelon rind topped with a fried duck egg), tender Wagyu steak with crispy smashed Yukon potatoes and for dessert, the ho ho’s, an adult version of the snack cake filled with Maker’s Mark whiskey cream. And don’t forget the whiskey, with nearly 400 varieties. Entrees: $9-$27, salads and apps $9-$17. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 to midnight Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 11-11-16) — K.R.

Kinfork,5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, (847) 610-3958, kinforkrestaurant.com. If you seek barbecue-leaning American in a comfortable lodge setting without the kitsch, look no further. A mobile smoker outside the restaurant cooks barbecue staples like burnt ends and sausage links. Start with a craft cocktail with a Southern tinge while perusing the menu. Dishes to consider: cheddar and jalapeño hush puppies, the slow-cooked beef brisket sandwich (a reviewer favorite), the signature Kinfork salad, a side of pork and beans and the S’mores skillet for dessert. Entrees: $11-$29. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 7-22-16) — D.P.

Strawberry Field Pancakes & Cafe,410 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire, (847) 383-6328, strawberryfieldcafe.com. The menu has the best of an all-American breakfast

plus a hefty selection of lunch options — salads, sandwiches, wraps, paninis and burgers, all in a bright and sunny upscale diner. Dishes to try: mini waffle flight, a group of four small Belgian waffles each piled with blackberries, blueberries, bananas, strawberries and cinnamon apples; Miami Beach, half a pineapple filled with Greek yogurt, strawberries, pineapple chunks and granola; a custom-built omelet; and corned beef hash. Entrees: $6-$17. Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. (Reviewed 9-9-16) — J.B.

Asian

Choun’s,226 W. Front St., Wheaton, (630) 868-3303, chouns.com/index.html. Seriously fresh yet reasonably priced authentic Thai fare abounds at this nicely refurbished space. Dishes to try: fresh spring rolls; spicy green curry; drunken noodles, flat rice noodles in a savory sauce with beef, sprouts, chilies and fresh basil; and pumpkin custard, served in a tiny, hollowed-out pumpkin. Entrees: $13-$15. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Reviewed 10-28-16) — T.W.

Pho 95,2770 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 945-3870. High quality, reasonable prices, impeccable service. Plus, the Vietnamese restaurant’s sweeping menu offers 25 variations of pho, made-in-house appetizers, steamed rice dishes and filling Vietnamese sandwiches. Dishes to try: Châ Giò: three shareable deep-fried cigar-shaped Vietnamese egg rolls, signature pho, fried rice with pork, Banh Mi Dac Biet and Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuong sandwiches. Pho: $8.50-$9.50; steamed rice/rice noodle soup: $8.50-$13.50. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; closed Tuesday. (Reviewed 11-25-16) — T.W.

Ta Wan Thai,1644 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (224) 241-6010, tawanthaialgonquin. com/31986. The 75 dishes on the traditional Thai menu cover a lot of ground, including popular standards like chicken satay with peanut sauce; papaya salad; spicy tom yum soup; and pad thai. Dishes to try: shrimp and vegetable spring rolls, duck red curry, pad woon sen and sticky black rice cooked with coconut milk and paired with a warm Thai custard. Entrees: Noodle/stir fry: $9.95-$14.95; special entrees: $13.95-$24.95. Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 7-29-16) — T.W.

Italian

Basta Pasta,1919 S. Meyers Road, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 495-0200, bastapastaobt.com. The recent opening of this 250-seat clubby Italian-American restaurant comes as a welcome addition to the West suburban dining scene. Dishes to try: sushi-grade sesame-crusted ahi tuna, fettuccine in an oil-and-garlic sauce with sea scallops, the perfectly cooked halibut fillet and the dense ricotta cheesecake. Entrees: $8-$17. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday; Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. (Reviewed 12-9-16) — T.W.

Tina G’s Cafe,10 Park St., Mundelein, (847) 566-TINA (8462), tinags.com/. Upscale diner serving American food with an Italian flair. Dishes to try: pasta spruzza (smoked salmon sautéed in a goat cheese cream sauce with basil and scallions, served over bow tie pasta) and the chicken and asparagus panini (a standout) and the peanut butter mousse pie. Entrees: $10-$28. Hours: Breakfast: 7 to 11 a.m., lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; Breakfast: 7 to 11 a.m., lunch: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Bar hours: Until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; until midnight Friday and Saturday. (Reviewed 10-21-16) — J.B.

Trezeros Kitchen + Tap,302 W. Northwest Hwy., Mount Prospect, (847) 749-4020, trezeros.com/. A newcomer to Mount Prospect’s downtown dining scene, it fits right in with its stellar service, casual atmosphere and solid Italian-American menu. Dishes to try: Sausage E Pepe pizza; the shrimp scampi and the salted caramel apple crisp. Entrees: $10-$28. Hours:

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 11-4-16) — T.W.

French

Retro Bistro,83 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake (815) 893-4465, retrobistro.com. Features the same classic and contemporary French dishes as its flagship restaurant in Mount Prospect. Dishes to try: the prix fixe three-course dinner, a bargain at $35 a person, chilled gazpacho, potato pancake topped with delicious smoked salmon, salad of duck confit and six skewered shrimp intermingled with zucchini, red onions and mixed greens, rainbow trout with pineapple relish, and for dessert, the warm cherry clafouti with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or the limoncello cake. Entrees: $17.50 to $23.50. Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; dinner: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 9-2-16) — T.W.

Greek

Kouzina,795 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 490-9424, kouzina.org/. Diners will be happy to find a familiar menu of classic Greek and Greek-American dishes in this eatery resembling a village courtyard. Dishes to try: taramosalata, red-sauce braised lamb shank, baked salmon topped with spinach, feta and onion and wrapped in phyllo and finish with galaktoboureko. Entrees: $18.75-$39. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 9-30-16) — T.W.

Mexican

Al Chulo,1400 S. Neltnor Blvd., West Chicago, (630) 520-0615, alchulo.com. Small plates dominate the contemporary Mexican tapas menu. Dishes to try: Al arroz verde, al fundido sauteed garlic shrimp with Chihuahua cheese, and al ranchero sope, a traditional Mexican creation that at first glance brings to mind a thick masa (ground maize) tortilla housing a chipotle black-bean puree, bits of skirt steak, pico de gallo cream cheese and a roasted jalapeño salsa. Tapas: $6-$11. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 5-27-16) — T.W.

Jalisco,4949 Grand Ave., Gurnee, (224) 637-8616, eatjalisco.com/. Walking into this restaurant is like stepping into the Mexican state of the same name — lively music, lots of colors and a distinct western theme. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menu is massive, and drinks are oversized. Dishes to consider: queso fundido with chorizo, the pozole soup (a meal in a bowl), the enchilada dinner with mole sauce, the taco al pastor, the nopales guisados taco (a spicy mixture of smoky cactus, hot peppers, onions and cilantro, and a favorite of our reviewer), and the #12 combination: a taco, an enchilada and a crispy flauta. You can’t go wrong with the flan. Entrees: $7-$29. Hours: 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. (Reviewed 12-2-16) — J.B.

Uncle Julio’s,1831 Abriter Court, Naperville, (331) 444-1300 or unclejulios.com/locations/naperville/. It’s a Mexican fiesta every day at this bustling upscale Tex-Mex eatery in north Naperville. During warmer months, the pleasant outdoor patio with a water view is the place to be. Inside, the convivial atmosphere will lift your spirits. Dishes to try: customizable guacamole made tableside, grilled fish tacos, juicy chicken and steak fajitas (fajitas are a specialty) and the signature chocolate piñata. Entrees: $10.99 to $25.99. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. (Reviewed 6-17-16) — C.L.

Seafood

Crazy Crab,279 N. Barrington Road, Streamwood, (847) 252-9555, crazycrabseafood.com. The independent self-styled Cajun fusion seafood emporium has struck a chord with local diners willing to dig in with both hands to get at their food. Choose from 11 seafood options, pick a sauce and level of spiciness and then your order will be boiled and brought to the table. Entrees: Crawfish to crab legs to whole lobster at market price varying from $8 to $29 a pound. Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Reviewed 6-10-16) — T.W.

Spanish

El Tapeo,2100 Spring Road, Le Meridien Chicago-Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 828-2044, eltapeorestaurant.com. Diners have been heading to the ninth floor of the Le Meridien Hotel in Oak Brook for two years to sample Spanish cuisine and share plates of tapas, but a new spin put on the menu by executive chef Matthew Cappellini makes a reason to return. Dishes to try: datiles (fried dates stuffed with marcona almonds and wrapped in cherry wood bacon), albondigas (lamb and bacon meatballs), calcot (green onion, red and yellow pepper), coles de Bruselas (Brussels sprouts, Iberico bacon and sherry gastrique), pulpo (charred octopus, harissa, fingerling potatoes, tarragon and black pepper sauce), seafood paella and leche frita (fried milk, apple compote and burned caramel ice cream). Entrees: $25-$44, tapas $6-$18. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. (Reviewed 10-14-16) — K.R.

Vegetarian

Cinnamon Bistro,751 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich, (224) 662-4138, cinnamonbistro.com. Tucked into a hidden nook of the Village Square Shopping Center, this cozy spot with its inventive vegetarian cuisine, exquisite presentation and leisurely paced service will make you feel like you’re miles away from home. Dishes to try: the chef’s variety appetizer, the portobello mushroom cap stuffed with ricotta cheese and herbs and paired with two potato cutlets, polenta and mushrooms and mango mousse. Entrees: $18-$19. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday. (Reviewed 6-24-16) — Lisa Miner