Food Suggestions for this weekend, HELP!

[shuynh]

Hello Chicago Chowhouds,

I will be visiting the Chicago (specifically Arlington Heights) area and need food suggestions for Saturday.

I'm not sure where Arlington Heights is to Chicago downtown, but I'll have a car, so I'm willing to drive.

I will be flying in on Friday and eating at Avec for dinner- Unless someone suggests not to...

However, I need a breakfast and lunch spot for Saturday. Breakfast can be anything and anywhere. If there is a fantastic brunch spot I'm open to that as well.

As for lunch- if there was ONE place to eat at which spot is it? My preferences are non asian (I live in the Bay Area), approx $30 a person is fine a little bit more is ok too and I'm leaning towards french/American Cuisine.

Lastly, I'm in town for a conference and we're being provided dinner at the Science Museum, but if I should eat lightly there and go somewhere else to eat, any suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

[nsxtasy]

Hi - (and thanks jbontario)...

There are some excellent places to eat in the Arlington Heights area. You really don't need to go downtown, unless you want to, of course.

There's a spectacular Mexican restaurant in Mount Prospect, the town next to Arlington Heights, and it's the very best Mexican restaurant in the entire Chicago area, IMHO:

Flamingo's Seafood
1590 S. Busse Road
Mt. Prospect IL
847-364-9988
www.flamingosseafood.com

They specialize in Mexican seafood dishes, and always have a large number of daily specials in addition to their extensive regular menu. Last time I was there I had a grilled Chilean sea bass with guava habanero sauce and crushed pumpkin seeds that was to die for. (Unlike the appetizers and mains, which are fantastic, their desserts are okay but not great.) Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Located at Busse Road and Dempster, just north of Algonquin Road.

For French/American, there's an excellent restaurant in Arlington Heights called Le Titi de Paris. They're open for lunch as well as dinner. www.letitideparis.com

There is a FANTASTIC place in the area for breakfast and brunch. It is called Walker Brothers and they have a location in Arlington Heights. It is a pancake house but it is unlike any pancake house you're familiar with. They have top-notch quality in everything they do, from the omelets to the coffee to... well, everything. They have a spectacular dish called an apple pancake which is huge, puffed up, and full of cinnamon. You can see a photo of it on their website at www.walkerbrosoph.com

Please don't poo-poo our Asian food, as it's very good (and better than the Asian food I've had in San Francisco). There are several Thai restaurants in Arlington Heights, and the best is altThai, in downtown Arlington Heights. www.altthai.com

You didn't mention our delicious deep-dish pizza, but you can get it nearby. For single-crust "pan" pizza, Lou Malnati's has locations in Mount Prospect, Buffalo Grove, and Palatine, which are all right next to Arlington Heights. www.loumalnatis.com

I don't recommend Avec for dinner on a Friday night, unless you really enjoy waiting 90-120 minutes to be seated. Plus the time driving downtown and back.

If you go to downtown Chicago, especially if you'll be traveling during prime commuting hours, you may want to consider taking the Metra commuter train, rather than driving. There's a station in downtown Arlington Heights, and other stations nearby (including one at the Arlington Park racetrack, where there's plenty of parking). More info at www.metrarail.com

[redy2die4food]

I'll let others answer for downtown suggestions (there are tons of great restaurants downtown), but I live in downtown Arlington Heights and can make some local suggestions. There are some great restaurants right in the area. Recommendations:

1. Fuegos. Really good mexican restaurant with an emphasis on regional mexican food. The chef always have has several mole options, including a mole of the week. Great margaritas with a huge selection of tequilas. They just had a very positive review in the Chicago Tribune.

2. Francesca's. Very good italian restaurant. They have a downtown location also, but the AH location is consistently great.

3. Egg Harbor Cafe. If you need a breakfast spot, this is a very popular local place. If you can't get there early, be prepared for a bit of a wait.

4. Walker Bros. Original Pancake House. Another great breakfast option. There are lots of Original Pancake House franchises, but this is one of the best ones I've ever been to.

5. Le Titi De Paris. Very good French restaurant. I recommend you get reservations.

[kikielmo]

There is my favorite restaurants that are not far from Arlingotn Heights.They are located at The Westin North Shore in Wheeling. Osterio D'Tramonto and Tramonto Steak and Seafood are located there.Both are excellent. They also house a sushi restaurant all owned and run by Rick Tramonto, who also is an owner of TRU, an award winning place in rhe city. Arlington Heights is huge, so you could be anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes from this restaurant, but you can't go wrong.

[jbontario]

search the board for postings by nxstasy, he (I think) has a bunch of great very detailed postings that outline what you're looking for.

Lunch at Frontera Grill may be one of the unique things you can't really get in the bay area. Gourmnet casual mexican.

Arlington Heights is at least a 35 minute drive to city on a weekend--likely more since there are a couple major construction projects.