Lake Station, IN Food & Drink and More

Black McDonald’s Operators Bring Thanksgiving Relief to 3,000 Chicago-Area Families

As families across Chicago prepare for Thanksgiving amid rising household expenses, the Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is continuing its longstanding tradition of giving back to communities in need. Through its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit initiative, the organization plans to...

gotodestinations.com

How This Brothers-Owned Breakfast Gem Won Hearts in Merrillville, IN

Open Tue-Sun, 8 AM-3 PM (closed Mon) Picture a morning in Merrillville, Indiana, where the coffee is Lavazza, the eggs are cage-free, and breakfast is taken seriously. 🍳. Cafe Stelios is a hidden gem breakfast spot run by two brothers who grew up in the family business. They skipped the...

Merrillville, IN · 14h

wheninyourstate.com

Restaurant closures hit popular Chicago hot dog chain known for its longtime local following

Chicago favorite Portillo’s plans to close several underperforming restaurants outside the Chicagoland area as it changes its approach to national expansion. The company announced the decision on November 5, 2026, following a review of its restaurant performance. Portillo’s expects to close approximately 5 to 9 locations, with most shutdowns...

Chicago, IL · 5d

familydestinationsguide.com

Experience The Italian Restaurant In Illinois That Has Kept Loyal Fans Coming Back For Years

If a restaurant can keep people coming back for years without changing what makes it great, that restaurant has figured out something most places never do. Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap in Chicago’s University Village neighborhood has figured it out, and the loyal fans who fill its tables are the living proof.

Chicago, IL · 5d

takemetotn.com

This Humble South Side Chicago Shrimp Spot Serves Up Fried Seafood Worth The Trip

One little counter in Illinois has built its whole name on bags of fried Gulf shrimp. The breading stays light, and the seasoning leans proudly toward Louisiana. Order a shrimp dinner, and coleslaw comes along with your choice of fries or spaghetti. Yes, spaghetti, sitting right next to fried seafood, and it’s one of the most talked-about things on the menu.

gotodestinations.com

Why Locals ADORE This Hot Dog Drive-In That’s Older Than McDonald’s in Chicago, Illinois

Open Sun–Thu, 11 AM–1 AM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–2 AM. In May 1948, two newlyweds opened a summer hot dog drive-in in Chicago to help pay for college. 🌭. At Superdawg Drive-In, Chicago diners still pull into a carport, order through a speaker box and wait for a carhop’s tray on the car window.

Chicago, IL · 4d

everafterinthewoods.com

We Ranked The 10 Best Breakfast Restaurants In The Chicago Area And Here Is Who Made The Cut

Free donut holes. Tiny boxes of Milk Duds. One Chicago diner has handed both to breakfast guests since 1958, and I honestly can’t decide which part delights me more. That sweet little tradition sent me hunting for more great Illinois breakfast spots. One suburban kitchen serves its waffles as a flight, like a sampler at a fancy tasting.

publisher · 601.3K followers

People

From Live Roaches to ‘Mold-Like’ Substance, the 10 Worst Restaurant Health Code Violations of the Week

Restaurants across the country have failed health inspections conducted by state or local departments over the past week

everafterinthewoods.com

Paczki And Rye Bread Have Kept Lines Out The Door At Chicago’s Oldest Polish Bakery

Paczki in July? At one tiny Illinois bakery, that is not a typo. The owners make the famous Polish doughnuts all year, not just on Fat Tuesday. That alone got my attention. Then I learned the same small counter sells flaky croissants, seeded sourdough, and frozen pierogi to take home.

allamericanatlas.com

publisher · 7.1K followers

5 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois that Will Make You Feel Like You’re in Rome

Chicago is a city that sings in many tongues—where the L rumbles above streets lined with brick and glass, where the lake wind tangles with the scent of roasted garlic and sweet basil, and where every neighborhood is a patchwork of stories. Here, the skyline rises bold and blue, but it’s the warmth of the people—Polish, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and every dreamer in between—that gives the city its pulse. This is a place where food is memory, migration, and celebration, and where the table is always set for one more.

Chicago, IL · 4d

Secret Chicago

Bears star D’Andre Swift names his 3 favorite Chicago restaurants—and launches a limited-time Philly-meets-Chicago menu

Caleb Williams has already made it known that his favorite restaurant is Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, calling his love for it “ the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. “ Now, fellow Bears star D’Andre Swift is sharing his own go-to Chicago restaurants —and his list offers plenty of inspiration for your next dinner out. D’Andre Swift shares his favorite Chicago restaurants While Williams’ pick might settle your next pizza order, Swift’s shortlist gives you a few more options for a night out: West Loop steakhouse Adalina Prime, Lincoln Park steakhouse & cocktail lounge The Bull Moose , and Asian bistro & nightclub TAO . For something a little more game-day-ready, though, you can try a menu the running back helped create himself. What’s on D’Andre Swift’s menu at Jake Melnick’s? Swift has teamed up with Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap on “Da Swift Picks,” a limited-time lineup that mixes Philadelphia-inspired flavors with Chicago favorites. Here’s what’s on the menu: High Step Hoagie Dip ($12.95): Salami, prosciutto, hot peppers, provolone, and cream cheese, served with fresh Sidewinder Fries. Swift City Wings ($19.95): Long hot pepper-garlic butter, giardiniera rub, parmesan, and a Cooper’s Wiz sidecar. Hometown Fries ($9.95): House-cut fries,

Chicago, IL · 2d

everafterinthewoods.com

publisher · 127.4K followers

Old Italian Grocers Still Slice Mortadella At These 6 Illinois Markets

A single log of mortadella can weigh more than a toddler, and somebody still slices it by hand. That old ritual lives on behind a handful of no-frills Illinois deli counters that still do things the slow way. I find that oddly thrilling, like discovering your favorite song still plays...

Illinois · 3d

NBC Chicago

Highly-acclaimed Chicago restaurant opens in Highwood on North Shore

One of Chicago's most beloved Mediterranean restaurants is now open on the North Shore. Avec, from the award-winning One Off Hospitality group, opened its doors at 250 Waukegan Avenue in Highwood Nov. 6. The restaurant, inside a former boxing gym, was transformed by Present Future Architects and Chas Bender Co. over the past 1.5 years into a 95-seat, bleached-oak dining room with exposed beams, a U-shaped bar and an exhibition kitchen customers can see from the street.

Highwood, IL · 1d

blockclubchicago.org

Trader Joe’s Uptown Store Opens Monday

UPTOWN — A Trader Joe’s is opening on the Far North Side sooner than expected. The popular grocery store chain is opening 9 a.m. Monday at 804 W. Montrose Ave. in Uptown, a company spokesperson said. Last month, the company said the store wouldn’t open until next year.

Chicago, IL · 21h

everafterinthewoods.com

publisher · 6.0K followers

Inside A Retro Illinois Pie Shop, Cream Pies And Savory Slices Never Went Out Of Style

A pie called the Fat Elvis sits on the menu at a cheerful little shop in Illinois. Right next to it, you might spot a lamb and apricot hand pie. That combo alone tells you this place plays by its own rules. The chocolate cream pie is considered a house...

Chicago, IL · 2d

WBEZ

How a retired Chicago Army veteran found peace and purpose through baking

At 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, with most of Chicago still asleep, Quinton McNair already was in the kitchen. By 9 a.m., the 49-year-old had baked enough cookies, muffins and other treats to fill the display cases at his Hyde Park bakery. And McNair still had the rest of another long day ahead of him.

oakpark.com

publisher · 6.0K followers

The heart of Hemmingway will take its final beats this month

After 25 years, Hemmingway’s Bistro is saying its final “Au Revoir” to Oak Park. The French restaurant at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., is owned and operated by Chef Christopher Ala and his wife Lucia Ala. For over two decades it has been a testament to resilience...

Oak Park, IL · 20h

WBEZ

From Irish pub to Chicago blues hub: What happened to Biddy Mulligan’s?

In Rogers Park, a block from the lake, weeds are growing in front of a shuttered Irish pub. A sign above the door reads Mulligan’s Cafe, but a marquee above that identifies this closed business by another name: Biddy Mulligan’s. This unassuming storefront was once a hot spot for blues fans on Chicago’s North Side in the 1970s and 1980s.

nrn.com

Trending this week: Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago

This week on Nation's Restaurant News, the top story was “Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago.” Portillo’s plans to close a "mid- to high-single digit" number of underperforming restaurants outside Chicago, mostly in the fourth quarter, as part of a turnaround plan. The company did not say which restaurants are scheduled to close or where specifically.