Warm up with the seafood Soondubu Jjigae at So Gong Dong Dubu Tofu & BBQ in Schaumburg. (Steve Lundy/slundy@ dailyherald.com)

PREVIOUS IMAGE

Image

NEXT IMAGE

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

American

Café 31 North,217 Front St., Suite A., McHenry, (815) 679-6630, cafe31north.com/. Amazing homemade buttermilk biscuits. Delicious skillets and international dishes. Friendly service. It all adds up to a winning combo at this comfortable banquet hall that recently opened a breakfast and lunch cafe. Entrees: $6-$12. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. (Reviewed 1-27-17) — Jennifer Billock

The Craftsman by Two Brothers,16 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, (630) 615-7100, twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants/thecraftsman/. The second-floor farm-to-table Modern Tavern is drawing the attention of serious diners. Dishes to try: the sweet/savory kale and beet salad, the meat and cheese board, the al dente beer-braised oxtail ravioli, the dry-aged rib-eye, the bolognese, and the cinnamon-heavy apple fig tart. Entrees: $17-$43. Hours: Second-floor Modern Tavern: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 12-23-16) — Katherine Rodeghier

Farmhouse on North,117 North Ave., Barrington, (847) 387-3408, farmhouseonnorth.com/. This cheery, eclectic farm-to-table restaurant is already leaving a lasting impression on diners. 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. 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

Gail’s Carriage Way,340 W. Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove, (847) 383-5334, restaurantsby gail.com/gails-carriage-way/. The brunch menu at Gail’s is big — almost too big — but it showcases something they do best: taking a standard dish and coming up with multiple riffs on it. There are seven types of oatmeal, 16 crepes, an entire page dedicated to pancakes, 14 waffles, plus eggs Benedict, skillets and frittatas. Not to mention the various sandwiches, wraps, pitas and burgers. A must-try: the Original Spud Omelet — an omelet filled with bacon, onions and Colby Jack cheese, then wrapped in hash browns and grilled. Entrees: $7-$17. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. (Reviewed 2-17-17) — J.B.

Asian

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, signature pho, fried rice with pork, Banh Mi Dac Biet and Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuong sandwiches. Entrees: $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) — Thomas Witom

So Gong Dong Dubu Tofu & BBQ,687 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 278-1789, sgddubu.com/. The menu at this modern Korean restaurant offers plenty of ingredient choices plus the option to select the level of heat in your dish. Dishes to try: the lightly fried dumplings stuffed; the crisp, flour-based

Korean-style seafood pancake stuffed with scallions, shrimp and octopus; the pork bulgogi bento; and the soft Korean tofu Soondubu Jjigae. Entrees: Lunch: $10 to $13; dinner: $14 to $19. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; lunch specials available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also: Reservations accepted; free Wi-Fi. (Reviewed 1-6-17) — T.W.

French

Restaurant Juliette,524 W. State St., Geneva, (630) 402-0288. Ambitious chefs David and Juliette Reyes recently debuted Restaurant Juliette, a contemporary bistro in downtown Geneva serving small and large plates, salads and sandwiches. Dishes to try: the Moroccan falafel appetizer, the duck confit with grilled frisée and lentils, the salmon rotie plated with roasted wild mushrooms, potato puree and a subtle citrus butter, and the chocolate cake with a warm, gooey chocolate fondant center. Entrees: Small plates: $8-$22; large plates: $18-$32. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Also: Reservations, especially on weekends; street parking. (Reviewed 3-10-17) — T.W.

Italian

Via Arenella,1609 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 873-0049, viaarenella.com/. A second generation of Arlington Heights restaurant royalty has set up shop in an aging strip mall and is serving well-crafted, familiar Italian fare in a family-friendly atmosphere. This modern ristorante with generous bar seating serves specialties like chicken Marsala, linguine gamberi, eggplant crostini, pasta carbonara, the signature veal dish served in a buttery white wine sauce and topped with Fontina cheese and the tortellini and prosciutto with mushrooms and peas, to name a few. Pizzas with hand-tossed crusts also impressed. Finish with the chocolaty cake and vanilla bean gelato. Entrees: $12-$29. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday. (Reviewed 3-3-17) — D.P.

Indian

Siri Indian,401 E. Dundee Road, Wheeling, (847) 808-7474, siriindianrestaurant.com. The menu at this upscale Indian restaurant is full of traditional Indian food and has a small section for south Indian specialties, but there’s also a decidedly Chinese flair to the food with Szechwan and stir-fried noodles. Make sure to check out the extensive bread list with different types of naan, kulcha, roti, paratha and more. Dishes to try: vegetarian spring rolls, the lamb keema samosa, the Siri special bread basket with butter naan, garlic naan and kulcha, chicken makhani (also known as butter chicken) and the spicy chicken biryani. Entrees: $10-$22. Hours: Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday; dinner: 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (Reviewed 1-20-17) — J.B.

Italian

129 Center Cut,129 Center St., Grayslake, (847) 986-6872, facebook.com/129CenterCut/. With its open-concept modern farmhouse-inspired menu, this new Italian steakhouse is poised to become a dining institution in Grayslake. Dishes to try: yellowfin tuna tartare, oysters on the half shell, warmed goat cheese, rack of lamb, pork chop, chicken piccata and the standout penne arrabiata with bacon and pancetta. And don’t forget the thick and perfectly caramelized creme brulee. Entrees: $13-$59. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; closed Monday. (Reviewed 12-16-16) — J.B.

Neoteca Pizza and Wine Bar,130 S. Hough St., Barrington, (847) 382-1330, neotecainc.com/. This modern pizza and wine bar offers a selection of pizzas (with red sauce or with olive oil sauce), three types of pasta, appetizers, salads and two other types of bar: bruschetta and salumi. A full bar, although with a wine focus, augments the food. Dishes to try: the salumi bar, the fennel sausage pizza (sausage, caramelized onions and smoked provolone on an olive oil and Parmesan base sauce) with a crispy crust, the filling spaghetti and meatballs and finish with the delicious deconstructed cannoli. Entrees: $11-$17. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed 9-23-16) — J.B.

Osteria Trulli,1050 E. Hintz Road, Arlington Heights, (224) 347-1010, osteriatrulli.com. With this new convivial trattoria, chef/owner Giovanni DeNigris has brought a taste of seafood-rich Pugliese cuisine from Italy to a suburban audience. The burrata app — mozzarella-like cheese, toasted bread and baby greens in a balsamic vinaigrette — was delightful. Orecchiette con Ossa e Bracciole (beef sirloin roulades) and risotto with chopped octopus and shellfish both impressed. Don’t leave without trying the mini cannoli, which paired well with vanilla gelato. Entrees: $16 to $34. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. (Reviewed 4-15-16) — D.P.

Tina G’s Cafe,10 Park St., Mundelein, (847) 566-TINA (8462), tinags.com/. Anybody visiting downtown Mundelein should consider a stop at Tina G’s Cafe, an upscale diner serving up American food with an Italian flair. Plus, our waiter was friendly and encouraged us to stay as long as we wanted. 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 yet comfortable atmosphere and solid Italian-American menu, one that’s larded with homemade pastas, artisan pizzas, steaks and seafood. Dishes to try: Sausage E Pepe, a thin-crust Neopolitan-style pizza topped with mozzarella, Italian sausage, onion and bell pepper; the shrimp scampi and the salted caramel apple crisp topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 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.

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.

En Fuego Mexican Grille,17W648 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 613-8899 or enfuegomexgrill.com. Warm. Inviting. Personable. Diners will find fresh upscale, handmade Mexican specialties in the tastefully decorated hacienda-like dining room. Dishes to try: the cheesy steak quesadillas, sizzling chicken fajitas and the pastor tacos. Don’t pass up the delicate, warm cinnamon sugar churros. After dinner (or before), visit Los Caballos Cantina, the separate bar offering live music on Friday nights and the owner’s own brand of tequila, El Nacimiento. Entrees: $10-$21. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Also: Catering and delivery. (Reviewed 2-24-17) — C.L.

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.

Salsa Street Mexican Restaurant & Cantina,1025 W. Main St., Sleepy Hollow, (847) 551-5489, salsastreetsleepyhollow.com/. A conga line of Mexican food fans have found their little slice of Veracruz by way of Sleepy Hollow. This modern eatery’s menu leans more toward the Rick Bayless school of South-of-the-border flavor. Dishes to try: the tasty queso fundido chili dip starter and delicious street tacos like the crispy fried fish (with lime cabbage, cilantro slaw and pineapple pico de gallo), chicken tinga cooked in onions, tomato and Chipotle sauce, and the steak version. Plus, consider ordering the chile relleno, the recently added sizzling pork chops and the fabulous homemade churros filled with caramel and drizzled with chocolate. Entrees: $8.99-$14.99; tacos: $3-$4 each or a two-taco platter with rice and beans is $7.99, a three-taco platter is $9.99. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. (Reviewed 2-10-17) — Jacky Runice

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