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Jake123 Nov 16, 2011 11:51 AM

Evanston Restaurants

HELP! We recently moved to Evanston from Wrigelyville and are having a difficult time finding good restaurants. We're not food snobs, but like good authentic and somewhat aspirational dishes. We've been to some of the usual's that are fine, but not great - Bluestone, Prairie Moon, Dave's Italian. We did like Convito's in Wilmette and Union Pizza in Evanston. Any suggestions for in and around Evanston??? Thanks in advance!

  1. nsxtasy Mar 18, 2013 07:24 AM

    Found is the new small-plates-oriented restaurant in the former Gio location in downtown Evanston. It's from Amy Morton of the famous Morton family of restauranteurs, with Nicole Pederson, formerly of C-House, helming the kitchen.

    Last month we went there on Valentine's Day. They were thankfully serving from their normal menu, no "special" jacked-up prices for the holiday (like some places we've encountered). We arrived early, no waits, but waits started forming around 5:15; the hostess said that the waits were comparable to a normal Friday or Saturday there.

    We thought the food was consistently excellent; we liked all the dishes! Our favorite dish was their whole roasted fish, which that night was trout. The service was very friendly and helpful, without seeming in any way forced or artificial. The entire experience was welcoming and enjoyable. Found is a welcome addition to the vibrant, diverse dining scene in Evanston, and we look forward to returning often in the future.

    One other thing worth mentioning. Above the bar is a dropped ceiling with quotes painted on the underside. One is from the owner's late father, Arnie Morton: "If you can afford to eat here, you can afford to wear whatever you want!"

    Found
    1631 Chicago Avenue
    Evanston, Illinois 60201
    (847) 868-8945
    www.foundkitchen.com
    Dinner only, closed Mondays

    1. j
      Jake123 Nov 17, 2011 10:22 AM

      I'd like to thank all of you for your time and thoughts. It is truly appreciated!!

      1 Reply
      1. re: Jake123
        l
        lizwings Oct 19, 2012 02:04 PM

        You're missing out on some great places!

        Bistro Bordeaux for great French, Al's Deli for lunch, Pensiero has an amazing truffle pasta dish (Tagliatelle al Tartufo), Quince for fine dining, Zoba Noodle for great Thai (some of the best Pad See Ew I've had outside of Thailand), Addis Abeba for fun Ethiopian, Celtic Knot, Siam Pasta for a cute outdoor balcony, and Sashimi Sashimi for cheap reliable sushi. I'm looking forward to Found Kitchen opening up, too- that looks very promising. Oh, and whatever else is said about Davis St. Fish Mkt, I would heartily recommend their Firecracker Shrimp appetizer.

        Agree with some other reviewers: The Cellar is good, Walker Brothers Original Pancake House, Cross-Rhodes, Stained Glass, Kuni's... but both Lulu's and Pete Millers are hit or miss, and never been impressed with Dave's Italian. Very Meh.

        And... though you said you liked them, I had one of the worst meals ever at Kitsch'n, so I would never recommend them to anyone! But there are some great breakfast/brunch places nearby in Andersonville.

        Bistro Bordeaux
        618 Church St.

        Addis Abeba
        1322 Chicago Ave.

        Zoba Noodle
        1565 Sherman

        Celtic Knot
        626 Church St.

        Pensiero
        1566 Oak (in the Margarita Inn)

      2. c
        CathleenH Nov 17, 2011 08:18 AM

        I agree with you. I think Evanston dining is extremely mediocre. It's sad, given the number of restaurants. There are only three I really like: Union Pizzeria, Campagnola and The Cellar, which is the casual sister to The Stained Glass.

        Fraiche on Noyes is nice for lunch, but gets really crowded. My husband likes Al's. Kuni's is o.k.

        Other non-Evanston suggestions I'll second: Pita Inn, Taboun Grill, Kaufman's Deli (takeout), and Walker Brothers. Yolo and Libertad look promising, but I haven't tried them yet. I do like Wholly Frijoles in Lincolnwood.

        I haven't been to some of the high end restaurants in ages - Stained Glass, Chef's Station, Pete Miller's. I had a really nice meal at Oceanique a few years back that ended with the most bizzarely pathetic dessert tray I have ever seen in a fine dining establishment. Unless they have a new pastry chef, plan on not getting dessert.

        Restaurants I consider desperately mediocre: That Little Mexican Cafe, Joy Yee's, Dixie Kitchen, Blind Faith, Davis Street Fishmarket (way downhill in the last couple of years), Lulu's, Lucky Platter (o.k. for breakfast), Pine Yard, Dengeo's... Lupita's is dreadful.

        On the bright side, with Whole Foods and the great markets of Skokie, especially the wonderful Marketplace on Oakton, we are well set up for grocery shopping. Cook more.

        -----
        Lucky Platter
        514 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

        Wholly Frijoles
        3908 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

        Blind Faith Cafe
        525 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

        Taboun Grill
        8808 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60077

        Oceanique
        505 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

        Campagnola
        815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

        The Stained Glass
        1735 Benson Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

        Dengeos Restaurant
        3301 Main St, Skokie, IL 60076

        Pine Yard Restaurant
        1033 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

        Chef's Station
        915 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

        That Little Mexican Cafe
        1010 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

        Pita Inn
        3910 Dempster St, Skokie, IL 60076

        Union Pizzeria
        1245 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

        Joy Yee
        1221 W 33rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60608

        Davis Street Fishmarket
        501 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

        Libertad
        7931 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL 60077

        22 Replies
        1. re: CathleenH
          nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 08:27 AM

          I disagree with many of the comments in the above post.

          For example, the desserts at Oceanique are thoroughly outstanding, from their signature "day and night (chocolate mousse) cake", to their fruit tarts (made with real pate sucre), to their mille fueilles (real creme patissiere). If you enjoy great French-style desserts, you should really try them and see for yourself. Oceanique also has terrific savory food - not just the seafood in which they specialize, but also their soups, sauces, etc. Just a great all-around restaurant.

          Lupita's is decent - not at all "dreadful" - but it's worth noting that their best dishes are the weekly specials, much more so than the conventional dishes on their everyday menu.

          Regarding Libertad, I ate there last week, and it's a terrific new addition to Skokie. They're sort of Latin fusion with an emphasis on provincial Mexican. Their spicy crab cakes are excellent. Yolo is excellent too, and BYOB; it's tiny, so I recommend calling ahead for a reservation, even during the week. I forgot to mention Kabul House, which has excellent Afghan food in downtown Skokie.

          I've been to the Stained Glass twice in the past year, and it's been excellent both times. Try it - but don't go on a Saturday night without a reservation, as they get very busy.

          I've been to Davis Street Fishmarket a couple times a year for many years; for a while it wasn't so good but the last couple of years it's been as good as ever.

          One place I really don't like is Union; I think their pizza is dreadful. I don't know how the owners of such a great place as Campagnola can turn out such awful food. However, you should know that Space is right behind Union, and has a full concert program including some top acts ( www.evanstonspace.com ). They let you bring in pizza from Union, but even if you have seating at a table, the tables are tiny and you're probably going to be eating the pizza out of your lap.

          There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Evanston as well as nearby, as you can see from the other posts above. They include everything from top-notch fine dining (Oceanique, Chef's Station, I've heard Quince is much better lately too), to terrific neighborhood bistros (Campagnola, Stained Glass), to great ethnic restaurants (Thai Sookdee - best tom kha gai in Chicagoland), to inexpensive treasures like Edzo's and Al's Deli. You need to try them with an open mind and decide for yourself.

          Oh, and as for cooking at home, there are some great specialty shops around, too - especially the Spice House on Central Street, and Zier's in Wilmette for prime meats. Sam's Club has some great prices on meat for everyday cooking.

          -----
          Zier's Prime Meats & Poultry
          813 Ridge Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

          Union Pizzeria
          1245 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

          Kabul House
          4949 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077

          Spice House
          1941 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201

          1. re: nsxtasy
            c
            CathleenH Nov 17, 2011 09:26 AM

            Maybe the French pastry chef was on vacation last time I dined at Oceanique! It was several years ago, so I'll trust you that my experience was not the norm.

            nsxtasy, we've been at odds over Lupita's for a long time. Did I say it was "dreadful"? Make that "beyond dreadful". Maybe Jake123 will be brave enough to try it and post back. Jake, I will vouch that nsxtasy has provided me with much valuable information, but on a few points, we have to agree to disagree. (Union's pizza dreadful!?)

            Ahhh, Kabul House. How I loved the old Dempster Street location. I at there at least twice a month. It was my favorite place for honest, home-cooked comfort food. I've only been to the new downtown location once, and was so disappointed I haven't been able to bring myself to return. The food just did not show anything like the same finesse and love that I remember. Did I catch it at an off time, or is it really not what it used to be?

            -----
            Oceanique
            505 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

            Kabul House
            4949 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077

            1. re: CathleenH
              nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 10:58 AM

              I still disagree, but of course you're welcome to your opinion. And yes, I thought the pizza at Union was indeed dreadful. (Fortunately, Lou Malnati's and Giordano's both offer great pizza as alternatives.) As for Lupita's, as I mentioned, the weekly specials have been better than the rest of the menu; I've particularly enjoyed whatever fresh fish they have for the specials, everything from filet-type flat fish to octopus. I haven't been recently, though - mostly because I've been trying other Mexican places, with relatively nearby ones including not only Yolo and Libertad in the city, but also Mixteco Grill and Dorado.

              I had never been to Kabul House at the old location on Dempster, so I have no past basis for comparison. I've been to the new location on Oakton twice this year, once for lunch and once for dinner, and I really liked it both times. I don't know about finesse or love, but I thought everything was delicious, as well as unusual and different from other cuisines.

              In Evanston itself, my most recent experiences (within the past year or so) of truly outstanding meals have been at Oceanique, Stained Glass, Chef's Station, Campagnola, Pete Miller's, and in the category of "cheap eats", Edzo's. I haven't been to Quince in several years but I'm hearing very good things from others.

              1. re: nsxtasy
                nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 07:58 PM

                Since you mentioned the Cellar, I went there for dinner tonight. This was my first time there, although I have eaten at the Stained Glass numerous times. (They are not only owned by the same folks, but they actually share a single kitchen, and there are dishes that appear on both menus.)

                All in all, I thought it was okay, with one big hit but more misses. I had the steamed mussels, which were okay, not as hot as they should be, and the broth was really watery (a good mussels dish should have a broth that's tasty enough to eat on its own and/or dip toast into, which this wasn't). I had the baked scallops, which didn't have much scallop flavor; there were three slices of scallop that may have only totalled about one scallop. (Compare this to the sea scallops at Chef's Station, which are full of scallop flavor, just a great dish over there.) I also had the bleu cheese beignets, which were tasty but had zero bleu cheese flavor. So none of the three savory dishes were really impressive. The menu did not have my favorite savory dishes at the Stained Glass, like their wonderful "Foie Gras B.L.T."

                Fortunately, things improved with dessert. I ordered the "chocolate cubed" (chocolate3), which had three different items: a mini chocolate dome in a tuile cookie, chocolate-graham cracker tart with burnt marshmallow, and chocolate milkshake. All three were excellent.

                Next time, I'd do what I've done in the past when I wanted "small plates" - go to the Stained Glass (or, better yet, Chef's Station) and order a bunch of appetizers. Both places are much better than the Cellar, IMHO.

                -----
                The Stained Glass
                1735 Benson Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

                Chef's Station
                915 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

                The Cellar
                820 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60201

                1. re: nsxtasy
                  l
                  lbs Nov 17, 2011 08:28 PM

                  The Chef's Station was my first "fine dining" experience. It was 5 years ago but I do remember the meal fondly. I can't totally recommend it because it was so long ago but I do want to go back. The only reason i haven't- besides the crazy amount of new restaurants to try - is driving logistics. We don't own cars and where we live now makes it a hassle to get to Evanston. But I'm dying to drive Edzo's and Campagnola. And will get there by public transporation soon. Honestly, I think Evanston has as much if not more than Wrigleyville. You pretty much of have to get out of Wrigleyville to get a good meal and Evanson is the same (not that you have to get out because it is bad but the best meals in Wrigleyville are outside of W'ville and the best meals in Evanston while some are inside others are outside the 'downtown' area if that makes sense)

                  -----
                  Campagnola
                  815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

                  Chef's Station
                  915 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

                  Edzo's
                  1571 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

                  1. re: lbs
                    nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 08:59 PM

                    In Lakeview/Wrigleyville, if you're anywhere near the CTA (Red Line), the places in Evanston are very convenient to public transportation. Even more so in weekday afternoons/evenings, when the Purple Line runs express from Belmont (last northbound train leaves Belmont at 7:41 pm); at other hours you'll need to change trains from the Red Line to the Purple Line at Howard. Chef's Station is right next to the Davis CTA station, and Edzo's is a block and a half from there. Campagnola is a block south of the Main station. If you're near the Ravenswood stop on Metra, the Metra trains stop at the same Metra stops in Evanston, where the Metra station of the same name is right next to the CTA station.

                    1. re: lbs
                      j
                      Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 07:24 PM

                      I agree with Wrigleyville itself. To clarify, I was speaking of the restaurants within the area. Similar to driving Evanston. We mostly ate outside of Wrigleyville. My point was that we are having a difficult time finding really good middle restaurants (not high end, but more any night of the week places). I feel I got a good handful from all of the posts, so we're excited to try them. Do you have any reco's for Glenview, or Wilmette? Thanks!

                      1. re: Jake123
                        c
                        CathleenH Nov 19, 2011 06:52 AM

                        Wilmette? No. Except Walker Brothers, of course. And Homer's Ice Cream is a much-loved institution.

                        Glenview? No. Except there is a branch of Pita Inn that is much less cramped and chaotic than the Skokie location. If you're in the area at lunchtime, there's a bakery/cafe on Waukegan called Sweet Dreams. It's organic and owned by a central European woman who pulls her own strudel. She also makes a lot of vegan baked goods and some not so great American cakes. Because I so want to love this place, I've taken the time to sample pretty widely to figure out what's actually good. And the answer is spinach ricotta strudel, which is worth stopping for. You can get a tiny piece of it with a bowl of soup for a light and expensive lunch. Because of the organics, the place is really pricey. Some of the European tortes have been good though some are heavy with a lot of dense buttercream. There is usually a sponge cake with whipped cream and fresh berries which is nice.

                        Such as it is, Evanston is really the dining Mecca of the North Shore, unless you venture as far north as Highwood.

                        -----
                        Homer's Ice Cream
                        1237 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

                        Pita Inn
                        3910 Dempster St, Skokie, IL 60076

                        Sweet Dreams
                        343 E 47th St, Chicago, IL 60653

                        1. re: CathleenH
                          j
                          Jake123 Nov 19, 2011 10:10 AM

                          Much appreciate!!!

                    2. re: nsxtasy
                      c
                      CathleenH Nov 17, 2011 08:32 PM

                      I wonder if the mussels were bland because they were steamed in ale, or if it's a problem with the mussels themselves. I just bought some from Whole Foods about a week ago. They were from Canada. I steamed them with white wine and they were bland - both the mussels and the liquor. Small mussels, too.

                      Bummer about the scallops. My Cellar favorites are the bleu cheese beignets, shrimp & grits and lobster curry.

                    3. re: nsxtasy
                      chicgail Nov 18, 2011 06:19 AM

                      I had been to Chef's Station years ago and thought it was ok, but not great, but decided to try it because of posts here. Maybe they hit their stride. Maybe they had a new chef or management I invited friends to join us and told them what I had read.

                      Our experience was that the place was nearly empty, one fish dish was undercooked one other dish was under-seasoned and everything else was under-welming. And we paid as much as we would have paid for a really good meal. I wound up apologizing for the choice of restaurant that night.

                      These recommendations notwithstanding I can't in good faith recommend this place. There are much better options.

                      1. re: chicgail
                        nsxtasy Nov 18, 2011 06:27 AM

                        The management (Peter Mills, the owner, is usually on site) and chef (Jose Romero) of Chef's Station have not changed in recent years.

                        Your experience is the exact opposite of mine, other than that the place is indeed often empty during the week, busier on weekends. I have only had excellent food there (on numerous occasions, not just one), and have never had any problems such as you describe. I don't know if yours was "a bad night" or just a matter of different tastes, but opinions differ, no big deal. < shrug >

                        Now, you can have the last word, because I know how much that means to you...

                        -----
                        Chef's Station
                        915 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

                        1. re: nsxtasy
                          chicgail Nov 18, 2011 07:43 AM

                          I was there on a Saturday night. The management was very nice to us. We just didn't think the food was any good. Bad night? Maybe. But it supported my previous unremarkable experiences there. I won't be going back.

                          Nsxtasy, you and I know that there are places you rave about that I can't see at all and vice versa. We have different palates, expectations and preferences. Some people like what you like; others prefer what I like. I guess people will have to find out for themselves.

                    4. re: CathleenH
                      j
                      Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 07:19 PM

                      I'm glad you're both open and honest! It's like watching a tennis match! I'll try Lupita's at some point. If my views on Union's is any indication, I'm going to be falling Cathleen's way as we really enjoyed the food, beer selection and atmosphere. But we won't know until we hit up Lupita's! Thanks to you both!

                    5. re: nsxtasy
                      j
                      Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 07:15 PM

                      Thanks for your thoughts. I'm really excited to try Libertad and Yolo and I'll look up Kabul House. We haven't tried Stained Glass, but I'm hear a lot of good things, so we'll set up some reservations. We have bought meats from Ziers and spices from theSpice house. Two great treats in the city!

                      -----
                      The Stained Glass
                      1735 Benson Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

                      Kabul House
                      4949 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077

                      Libertad
                      7931 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL 60077

                    6. re: CathleenH
                      chicgail Nov 17, 2011 09:42 AM

                      I agree with much of what you said, Cathleen, but not all of it.

                      I think two of the most over-rated restaurants in Evanston are Stained Glass and Chef's Station. Davis St. Fishmarket used to be excellent, but not in years. Pine Yard and Lupitas are, indeed, dreadful. I have also heard disparaging things about Merle's recently, but there is still - and always - Hecky's ("it's the sauce") for barbeque carry out.

                      I still enjoy That LIttle Mexican Cafe, Dixie Kitchen, Blind Faith and Lulus, mostly for brunch or lunch, however.

                      Kaufman's has the best deli in the area, but was recently damaged by a fire and may not be open.

                      1. re: chicgail
                        nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 11:15 AM

                        I consider Pine Yard adequate - not great, not dreadful, and for those who live in Evanston, it beats traveling all the way to Chinatown. Same thing for China Chef in Morton Grove, which has its fans. I have yet to find a really great Chinese restaurant in Chicagoland outside Chinatown, other than the super-expensive Shanghai Terrace in the Pen. But I'm open to suggestions, if anyone has any.

                        This past weekend I ate at 527 Cafe in downtown Evanston, which offers Taiwanese cuisine. It didn't blow me away, but I thought it was interesting, because it was different from the more common Cantonese, Szechuan, and Hunan cuisines.

                        I think the barbecue at both Merle's and Hecky's is just not very good at all.

                        According to their website at www.kaufmansdeli.com Kaufman's will remain closed for at least the rest of this month. I assume that's the best place to get updates on their status. In the meantime, Steve's Deli in River North remains excellent, and is convenient to public transportation (Merchandise Mart el stop) and offers free validated parking in the Petco/Ace lot behind the deli.

                        -----
                        Hecky's BBQ
                        1902 Green Bay Rd, Evanston, IL 60201

                        China Chef
                        5920 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053

                        Merle's Barbecue
                        1727 Benson Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                        1. re: nsxtasy
                          nsxtasy Nov 17, 2011 01:17 PM

                          Adding the link for 527 Cafe...

                          -----
                          527 Cafe
                          527 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          1. re: nsxtasy
                            d
                            debbypo Dec 1, 2011 10:34 PM

                            I think the best Chinese north of Chinatown is Sun Wah on Broadway just north of Argyle. I particularly like their hot and sour soup and the ginger and scallion fish fillets. Also good are the shrimp dumpling soup and the beef with bitter melon. Those who like duck praise theirs.

                            -----
                            Sun Wah
                            5039 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640

                        2. re: CathleenH
                          j
                          Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 07:06 PM

                          I'm in your camp on a lot of what you said. Coming from the city where there's so much to choose from to an area where people you'd expect desire good fare, we're surprised there isn't much catering to them/us. We love Union and Campagnola, but haven't tried The Cellar. Wholly Frijoles is very good and someone mentioned Yolo's in Skokie, which looks very promising.Completely agree on Little Mexican, Joy and Davis Fish. I'd also add Dave's Italian and Gio...not good at all. I thought Lulu's was good, but probably would only go back if I had a reason. I haven't tried Lucky Platter. I was hoping I found a good breakfast place. I'll still try it. We go to Ridgeview which is fine, but can't find anything else like Orange or Kitch'n in the city. Again, thanks for your time and effort!

                          -----
                          Lucky Platter
                          514 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Wholly Frijoles
                          3908 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

                          Campagnola
                          815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Ridgeview Restaurant
                          827 Ridge Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

                          Little Mexican Cafe
                          1055 W Bryn Mawr Ave Ste C, Chicago, IL 60660

                          1. re: Jake123
                            nsxtasy Oct 19, 2012 02:33 PM

                            >> I was hoping I found a good breakfast place. I'll still try it. We go to Ridgeview which is fine, but can't find anything else like Orange or Kitch'n in the city.

                            The best breakfast place around Evanston is Walker Brothers. Heck, it's one of the very best in the entire Chicago area, with terrific sweet dishes like their huge, puffy apple pancake and German pancake, and savory dishes like the excellent omelets. Granted, it's technically not in Evanston; it's just over the border in Wilmette. And, like all great breakfast places, it gets very busy on weekend mornings.

                            Evanston itself has Le Peep, which is not particularly good IMHO.

                            >> there are some great breakfast/brunch places nearby in Andersonville.

                            M. Henry is at the north end of Andersonville, and its sister restaurant M. Henrietta is a bit further north and east in Edgewater, next to the Granville el stop.

                            In my experience (numerous visits to all of these except M. Henrietta), Orange and Kitsch'n are pretty good, but Walker Brothers and M. Henry are far, far better.

                            1. re: nsxtasy
                              weinstein5 Oct 20, 2012 09:58 AM

                              I would add for breakfast places - Dixie Kitchen - there eggs sardou is on of my favorites and Blind Faith where my go to breakfast i sthe Aztec Hash 0

                        3. nsxtasy Nov 16, 2011 01:25 PM

                          A difficult time finding good restaurants? In Evanston??? You're just not looking very hard! Gee whiz, last night I had an absolutely fantastic meal, at Campagnola. The short rib I had was great, and the vanilla bean bread pudding may have been the best bread pudding I've ever had anywhere! Think of Campagnola as a neighborhood restaurant, and one that bridges Italian with contemporary American. Don't waste your time with Dave's Italian Kitchen, or Gio next door, both of which are just awful.

                          As for other places, most of the recommendations that others have already posted are excellent ones. My particular favorites:

                          Campagnola - Italian and contemporary American
                          Oceanique - fine seafood
                          Chef's Station - casual contemporary American
                          Edzo's - burgers and the best shakes ever (closes 4 pm)
                          Thai Sookdee - Thai
                          Pete Miller's - steaks
                          Davis Street Fishmarket - casual seafood
                          Stained Glass - wine bar / contemporary American small plates
                          Walker Brothers (Wilmette) - breakfast/brunch
                          Al's Deli - sandwiches (lunch only) and homemade cookies
                          Lupita's - Mexican (although Yolo in Skokie is as good if not better so...)
                          Yolo (Skokie) - Mexican
                          Libertad (Skokie) - Latin Fusion
                          Lou Malnati's - deep-dish pizza
                          Giordano's - stuffed pizza
                          Pine Yard - Chinese
                          Mount Everest - Indian (esp. lunch buffet)
                          Lucky Platter - eclectic American
                          Lulu's - pan-Asian (esp. "munch a bunch", all you can eat Saturday-Sunday lunches, Monday-Tuesday dinners)
                          Panino's - carry-out Italian
                          Cross-Rhodes - carry-out Greek
                          Dengeo's (Skokie) - carry-out Greek

                          -----
                          Lucky Platter
                          514 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Davis Street Fishmarket
                          501 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Walker Bros Original Pancake House
                          153 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

                          Thai Sookdee Restaurant
                          1016 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
                          1850 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Oceanique
                          505 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Campagnola
                          815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Pete Miller's Seafood and Prime Steak - Evanston
                          1557 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                          The Stained Glass
                          1735 Benson Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Dengeos Restaurant
                          3301 Main St, Skokie, IL 60076

                          Pine Yard Restaurant
                          1033 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Cross-Rhodes Restaurant
                          913 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Al's Deli
                          914 Noyes St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Chef's Station
                          915 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Panino's
                          1968 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Dave's Italian Kitchen
                          1635 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Mount Everest
                          630 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Lupita's
                          700 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

                          Lulu's
                          804 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Edzo's
                          1571 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

                          Yolo Mexican Eatery
                          5111 Brown St, Skokie, IL 60077

                          Libertad
                          7931 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL 60077

                          1 Reply
                          1. re: nsxtasy
                            j
                            Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 07:01 PM

                            Thank you very much, especially for Yolo and Libertad. They look great! Agree on Dave's and Gio's, blah. We have been to Campagnola (outstanding) and Convito in Wilmette (very good). Again, thank you for your time and effort!

                            -----
                            Campagnola
                            815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

                            Libertad
                            7931 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL 60077

                          2. weinstein5 Nov 16, 2011 01:07 PM

                            Here are some of my favorites -

                            Thai Sookdee
                            Siam Splendour
                            Dixie Kitchen
                            Lou Maknati's
                            Blind Faith
                            Sea Ranch - for all you can eat sushi
                            Lucky Platter
                            Lulu's

                            Other Restaurants to try in nearby areas

                            Taboun Grill
                            New York Bagel and Bialy or Bagel Country
                            Kaufmans Deli (they was a fire but they are reopning)

                            -----
                            Lucky Platter
                            514 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

                            Kaufman's Bagel & Delicatessen
                            4905 Dempster St, Skokie, IL 60077

                            Bagel Country
                            9306 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077

                            Sea Ranch
                            518 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60202

                            Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
                            825 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            Siam Splendour
                            1125 Emerson St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            Thai Sookdee Restaurant
                            1016 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            Blind Faith Cafe
                            525 Dempster, Evanston, IL 60201

                            New York Bagel & Bialy Corporation
                            3556 1 2 Dempster St, Skokie, IL

                            Taboun Grill
                            8808 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60077

                            Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
                            1850 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                            Sea Ranch
                            3217 Lake Ave Ste 8C, Wilmette, IL 60091

                            Lulu's
                            804 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            Siam Splendour
                            1125 Emerson St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            1 Reply
                            1. re: weinstein5
                              j
                              Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 06:44 PM

                              Very much appreciated! It would have taken a long while before I would have found the Sea Ranch, Kaufman's and Siam Splendour!

                              -----
                              Sea Ranch
                              3217 Lake Ave Ste 8C, Wilmette, IL 60091

                              Siam Splendour
                              1125 Emerson St, Evanston, IL 60201

                            2. chicgail Nov 16, 2011 12:55 PM

                              Welcome to Evanston. Here a few great places to try in a lot of price ranges:
                              Campanola for Italian
                              Dixie Kitchen for southern/n'awleans food
                              LePeep for breakfast
                              Blind Faith for vegetarian
                              Mt. Everest for Nepalese
                              Oceanique for fine seafood
                              Pete Miller for steaks
                              Kuni and Koi for sushi
                              Edzos for burgers
                              Lulus for dim sum and Pan-Asian
                              That LIttle Mexican Cafe for Mexican
                              Cross-Rhodes for Greek

                              And that's just for starters.

                              1. f
                                ferret Nov 16, 2011 12:40 PM

                                That Little Mexican Cafe
                                Tapas Barcelona
                                Pete Miller's
                                Joy Yee's

                                If you're willing to venture into Skokie:

                                Yolo
                                Libertad
                                Pita Inn
                                EJ's

                                -----
                                That Little Mexican Cafe
                                1010 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201

                                Tapas Barcelona
                                1615 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

                                Joy Yee
                                1221 W 33rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60608

                                1 Reply
                                1. re: ferret
                                  j
                                  Jake123 Nov 18, 2011 06:13 PM

                                  Thanks for your help! We'll try.

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