Eating Out

Should opportunities arise for eating out, we've compiled this list of recommended local restaurants with a heavy slant towards "American" flavors:

• Kennedy's: Upscale dining at an off-beat location (expensive)
• Milos: Unique and creative food in a comfortable atmosphere (reasonable)
• Beef House (Covington IN): Has the reputation as the best steak house in the area
• Jackson's Ribs N Tips: Authentic southern cooking in a no-frills atmosphere
• Apple Dumpling: A down-home country joint with good "comfort" food
• Seaboat: Everything is fried, but it's still quite tasty
• First Fruits (Mahomet IL): A small lunch place focusing on fresh, locally grown food

Although we'd much rather frequent locally owned businesses, the American experience would be incomplete without a visit to:
• TGI Friday's: Really well done bar food, professionally packaged
• Famous Dave's: Decent re-creation of the Southern experience
• Hometown Buffet: A "family" restaurant where overindulgence is encouraged

When American food gets boring, we recommend these international flavors:
• Radio Maria: Inventive cuisine and daring combinations
• Lai Lai Wok: Arguably the best Chinese restaurant in town
• El Charro: The only place for authentic Mexican food
• Sambar: Great homemade South India cuisine (only on Tuesday nights 6:30-8:30pm)
• B-Won: Excellent authentic Korean cuisine
• Ko-Fusion: A trendy Asian bistro

And few Chicago restaurants we like:
• Frontera Grill: Celebrity chef Rick Bayless re-invents Mexican cuisine
• Penny's Noodle Shop: The best of Asian noodle cuisine in a clean environment
• Phoenix: Good dim sum is only available in larger cities and this is one of Chicago's best
• Ed Debevic's: A diner theme park for the tourists (but loads of fun)
• Maxwell Street Market: The closest we'll get to a Latin American open air market, great place for really authentic Mexican street food (Sundays 7am-3pm)
• Soul Queen: An authentic south side experience