Best Bites runs every Thursday in The Daily Journal. Here’s a copy of today’s column.

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Thanks to a reader named Rose, who sent me this recently via email:

“I have a few places for you if you haven’t mentioned them yet.

Lydia & Groucho’s on Schuyler – excellent soups each day and fresh sandwiches and burgers. Great lunch deals for those downtown or needing quick service. Prices are more than fair for the portions you receive. Eat in, carryout or delivery offered. Its nice to see something thrive in downtown Kankakee besides BBQ!

The Landing (owners, George & Mary) on Schuyler have a fantastic Gyro Platter (among many other items) that could feed about 4 lumberjacks! Its Hot Chips and a platter with fixings for gyros which you can toss into your own salad for $7.95. George makes his own special greek dressing that you can get with any salad. If you love the farmer’s market tzatziki, you will love George’s!

Turtle’s Tap in Dwight – excellent food and great dining room with several wall murals that are quite interesting when it comes to ambiance. One wall has a giant turtle – hence the name; the other is a bar with deceased celebrities painted in a different (or some the same) light than what they were known for – the brat pack, Tin Man, Lion, JFK & Marilyn w/ JFK, Jr., Johnny Cash, Princess Di, Evel Knievel, etc. Tuesday nights are a favorite with our friends not only for the Beer-Battered Fried Chicken – all-you-can-eat for $5.50 (it went up from $4.99!), but they have an amazing dessert that makes no one mind the drive – A Skillet Cookie or a Skillet Brownie – think small cast iron skillet – chocolate chip cookie/brownie topped by a MOUND of ice cream that is covered with hot chocolate fudge and then nuts and chipped cream. It’s a dessert to share. And, the bloody Mary drinks are pretty good. … And for those in west Kankakee/Limestone, it doesn’t take any longer than driving to Ruby Tuesday’s with no traffic to fight.”

The Ray Cafe and Coffee House (150 North Prairieview Dr.) in Manteno now offers their sandwiches on 100% stone ground whole wheat wraps. This week, to introduce the wraps, they have the following specials:

Bourbon Peppercorn Hand-Carved Turkey Breast, $4.95.
Served on a Sundried Tomato Wrap with ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomatos.

Dijon Roasted Garlic Beef, $4.95
Served on a Italian Herb Wrap with our own dijon roasted garlic sauce, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomatos.

The Ray Cafe offers free delivery. To order, call 815-468-0511.

Several readers have contacted me to tell me about Ray’s, and I’ve posted their feedback on the blog. Here are two links if you want to see what they had to say:

• Jackie says, “The kids love it!”
• An anonymous reader from Bradley said, “They have a great Blue Plate Special and the people there are super nice!”

Acorn Design in Kankakee is sampling specialty chocolate creations today through Saturday.

Try a Red Fire Chocolate Rabbit (dark chocolate blended with Mexican ancho & chipotle chili peppers and Ceylon cinnamon) or a Flying Chocolate Pig (filled with applewood smoked bacon, Alderwood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate). The premium Vosges chocolates are made in Chicago and available for purchase.

Acorn’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call them at (815) 939-4308 or visit their Web site.

A reader named Sharon sent me this recommendation via email:

“If you are looking for ideas for your Best Bites article in the Journal, several of my friends think the small cafe at Riverside Health Fitness Center in Bourbonnais is very good for lunch. They have a new chef and he has added some nice things to the menu. Anyone can eat there whether a member of the Fitness Center or not.  If you are in the area, check it out.”

The Cafe, as it’s formally know, IS a great place, and one that few people know about.

My husband and I went there for lunch recently and really enjoyed it. I ordered the vegetable quesadilla and a fruit smoothie, and Brendan got the southwest chicken wrap and cream of spinach soup. I also went back on Friday and had the tuna plate special. You can see from the photos below that the food is beautifully prepared and the portions are generous. Most importantly, it tasted as good as it looked.

The breakfast menu includes eggs and omelets. I’m told that the most popular item is a breakfast scramble made with egg whites and veggies. The lunch menu features sandwiches, wraps, quesadillas, salads and burgers (garden, turkey and sirloin.) Other offerings include coffee, smoothies, snack bars and various to-go items.

I love that there are so many healthy offerings, but if you’re afraid it’s just “rabbit food,” don’t be. Try the steak and cheese quesadilla, or the Philly wrap, or the Turkey Reuben.

As Sharon points out, anyone can eat at the cafe, regardless of whether you’re a member of the fitness center or not. There are several tables for seating, and even a TV if you want to watch while you eat.

The cafe opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. It closes at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 4 p.m. Wednesday, and 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. It’s closed on the weekends.

The new chef that Sharon referred to is Danny Ayers, an alum of Bishop McNamara and the culinary arts program at Joliet Junior College. He started at Riverside last June.

The fitness center, at 100 Fitness Drive in Bourbonnais, is on the east side of Illinois Route 45/52, about 1/8 mile south of St. George Road, a.k.a. 5000 N. Road. Click here for a map.

The Kankakee Elks Country Club (2283 Bittersweet Dr. in St. Anne) will be serving Easter brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $19.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids ages 4 to 11, and free for kids 3 and under. Call (815) 937-1228 for reservations.

The brunch will feature:

Filet Mignon • Baked Ham • Grilled Pork Loin with Apple Chutney • Butternut Squash Ravioli • Double Baked Potato Casserole • Sweet Corn & Green Beans • Omelet Station • Scrambled Eggs • Biscuits & Gravy • Pancakes • Hashed Browns • Bacon Links • Sausage Links • Mixed Green Salad • Caesar Salad • Fruit Salad • Crab Salad • Taffy Apple Salad • Dessert Station • Glass of Champagne • Coffee

Thanks to a reader named Elizabeth, who sent me this recently via email:

Bull’s BBQ “has a new Smoked Chicken Philly that is out of this world. I am sometimes hesitant
to try a Philly sandwich because most places don’t get the true Philly right. Bull’s has done it though. The grilled peppers and onions are perfect and the chicken is tender and melts in your mouth. Plus for the price ($7.99 I think) it is a huge sandwich and comes with two sides.
They also have a beef one but I have not tried it yet, I keep getting the chicken it’s so good.”

April is customer appreciation month at La Villetta Restaurant in Bradley, and they’re showing their appreciation with two great offers.

• Get a free appetizer OR dessert with each dinner entree purchased. Appetizer choices are BBQ meatballs, bruschetta, spinach artichoke dip, tomato bread or BBQ wings. Dessert choices are chocolate layer cake, lemon cake, assorted cheesecakes, German chocolate cake, banana pie, spumoni, vanilla ice cream, fresh fruit, carrot cake and cream cheese brownie.
• Also, all house wines are just $3 a glass.

The offer is good any day of the week after 4 p.m., for dine-in customers only. It isn’t valid with any other offer, coupon or early-bird specials.

La Villetta also has a birthday/anniversary club. You can sign up at the restaurant or on their Web site.

La Villetta Restaurant (801 W. Broadway) in Bradley is offering an Easter brunch buffet. Here are details:

Join us on Easter Sunday for our popular Brunch Buffet featuring Roast Turkey, Roast Pork, Ham, Stuffing, Potatoes and Much More! The buffet will also feature assorted desserts, as well as your choice of a soft drink, Iced Tea or Coffee.

Only $14.99 per person for Adults. Children 10 & Under $7.50.

Reservations are Recommended as seating is limited. Call Today – (815) 939-4960!

Great American Grill, the restaurant inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Kankakee, is serving an Easter brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cost is $22.95 for adults, and $14.95 for kids ages 5 to 12. Kids 4 and under are free.

There’s a special kids buffet, and for the adults, champagne, mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.

Reservations are preferred; call (815) 932-4444.