Restaurant Recommendations
Here is a list of several restaurants in the Chicagoland area where I've ventured to on more than one occasion. You should definitely check these places out, as I picked them because their food is terrific, their service is great, and it is (generally speaking) relatively cheap to eat there. Enjoy!
TL's Four Seasons in Bartlett
Location: 110 W. Bartlett Ave, Bartlett, IL 60103
Fare: Chinese and Japanese Cuisine (including sushi).
Fare ($$): Lunch prices are much cheaper than dinner.
Website: TL's Four Seasons
What I Like (Willy): I love the simple design of the place. It's not a large restaurant, which I like, and the sushi is always fresh. Their wait staff knows me and my friend, and they remember us when we come in. I also love the artwork on the walls.
What I Don't Like (Nilly): I wish their sushi bar was lower so I could see them preparing rolls and nigiri. I'm a bit short, so I can't see over the top of the sushi fridge. Me no likey.
Joy Yee Noodles
Location: 1163 East Ogden Avenue, Naperville, IL 60563 and in Chicago - 1135 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607 (in Chinatown)
Fare: Pan Asian Cuisine (Chicago location serves sushi at their sister restaurant: Joy Yee Noodles Plus which is right next door.)
Fare ($$): Lunch prices are much cheaper than dinner.
Website: Joy Yee
Willy: We usually come here for lunch, and the portion sizes are the same as what you would get for dinner: enormous. I'm not kidding. It's best to order something you and someone else like and share it. Or, if you're like me, you can order it for yourself and have enough leftovers to last several days. Because the prices during lunch are so much cheaper than dinner, you can get two dishes that you love and have them for almost the entire week. A definite must. And its absolutely yummy to the max.
Nilly: I'm not a fan of their bubble teas. A friend of mine calls the tapioca pearls inside the drinks "goo balls," and I tend to agree. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try them. Two of my friends always order one to have with lunch every time we go there, so for some people they are definitely worth it.
Kona Grill
Location: 3051 Butterfield Road Oakbrook, IL 60523
Fare: American flavors with Asian flair (also serving sushi)
Fare ($$): Happy Hour. See below.
Website: Kona Grill
What I Like (Willy): Happy Hour is probably the coolest thing since sliced bread. Every Monday through Thursday from 3pm-7pm, Kona Grill offers a discounted price on a lot of their items if you sit outside or in the bar. This includes some sushi rolls! A lot of them come with 8 pieces at $3 per roll. So you could get 24 pieces (that's 8 pieces times 3 rolls) for $9!!! It's outrageous! Also included are some delicious avocado spring rolls and margherita pizza. It's a very urban atmosphere in a partially non-urban location (we're not talking the city here). It's amazing. Its definitely a good place to drop by with your friends after work, especially since the price of dinner is ridonkulous.
What I Don't Like (Nilly): It's been hot this summer, so it kinda stinks sitting in the bar area and outside. They leave the doors of the bar area open so there's sort of a cross breeze...sorta, kinda...maybe? But on a hot day, its really quite warm.
More To Come...
TL's Four Seasons in Bartlett
Location: 110 W. Bartlett Ave, Bartlett, IL 60103
Fare: Chinese and Japanese Cuisine (including sushi).
Fare ($$): Lunch prices are much cheaper than dinner.
Website: TL's Four Seasons
What I Like (Willy): I love the simple design of the place. It's not a large restaurant, which I like, and the sushi is always fresh. Their wait staff knows me and my friend, and they remember us when we come in. I also love the artwork on the walls.
What I Don't Like (Nilly): I wish their sushi bar was lower so I could see them preparing rolls and nigiri. I'm a bit short, so I can't see over the top of the sushi fridge. Me no likey.
Joy Yee Noodles
Location: 1163 East Ogden Avenue, Naperville, IL 60563 and in Chicago - 1135 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607 (in Chinatown)
Fare: Pan Asian Cuisine (Chicago location serves sushi at their sister restaurant: Joy Yee Noodles Plus which is right next door.)
Fare ($$): Lunch prices are much cheaper than dinner.
Website: Joy Yee
Willy: We usually come here for lunch, and the portion sizes are the same as what you would get for dinner: enormous. I'm not kidding. It's best to order something you and someone else like and share it. Or, if you're like me, you can order it for yourself and have enough leftovers to last several days. Because the prices during lunch are so much cheaper than dinner, you can get two dishes that you love and have them for almost the entire week. A definite must. And its absolutely yummy to the max.
Nilly: I'm not a fan of their bubble teas. A friend of mine calls the tapioca pearls inside the drinks "goo balls," and I tend to agree. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try them. Two of my friends always order one to have with lunch every time we go there, so for some people they are definitely worth it.
Kona Grill
Location: 3051 Butterfield Road Oakbrook, IL 60523
Fare: American flavors with Asian flair (also serving sushi)
Fare ($$): Happy Hour. See below.
Website: Kona Grill
What I Like (Willy): Happy Hour is probably the coolest thing since sliced bread. Every Monday through Thursday from 3pm-7pm, Kona Grill offers a discounted price on a lot of their items if you sit outside or in the bar. This includes some sushi rolls! A lot of them come with 8 pieces at $3 per roll. So you could get 24 pieces (that's 8 pieces times 3 rolls) for $9!!! It's outrageous! Also included are some delicious avocado spring rolls and margherita pizza. It's a very urban atmosphere in a partially non-urban location (we're not talking the city here). It's amazing. Its definitely a good place to drop by with your friends after work, especially since the price of dinner is ridonkulous.
What I Don't Like (Nilly): It's been hot this summer, so it kinda stinks sitting in the bar area and outside. They leave the doors of the bar area open so there's sort of a cross breeze...sorta, kinda...maybe? But on a hot day, its really quite warm.
More To Come...
