Best Bites print column (Feb. 25, 2010)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal.
Blarney’s Irish Pub is open at 200 W. Walnut St. in Watseka. The menu has an Irish theme, with offerings such as Irish nachos, Guinness beef stew and a Leprechaun’s Lunch special of three mini burgers for $5.50. They have several kinds of specialty burgers, plus traditional pub fare, such as sandwiches and wings. Blarney’s is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (815) 432-0292.
***
A reader named Len, of Bonfield, called recently to tell me about a restaurant that he and his wife, Ruby, found in Tinley Park. Isabella Cafe is in a former home at 17211 S. Oak Park Ave. It’s a small, but elegant restaurant, with granite tabletops and waitstaff dressed in white tuxedo shirts and bow ties.
The menu is classic Italian. There are numerous pasta dishes, of course, plus grilled meats and fish, and a small, but varied entree selection featuring chicken, veal, duck and lamb dishes. I tried a polenta torte with spinach and red peppers, and a chopped salad of corn, red onion, and green and red peppers in a thyme vinaigrette with dollops of goat cheese on top.
For dessert, you’ll have to choose one from the 13 options, all of which are homemade. Len raved about the Italian strawberry shortcake. I was torn between the chocolate coconut torte and poached pear cheesecake, but in the end went with the daily special, which was strawberries and sweetened Mascarpone cheese drizzled with a chocolate-balsamic sauce. (It was heavenly, as you probably guessed.)
Isabella Cafe opens daily at 11 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information, call (708) 444-8555, or go to www.isabellacafe.com to see their menu and read about their lunch and weekday specials.
***
In a sure sign that spring must be near, Jaenicke’s Root Beer Stand (390 E. River St.) in Kankakee opens Monday at 10 a.m.
***
Firehouse Twenty-Eight Cafe (28 N. Dixie Highway) in Momence is open for dinner Fridays during Lent. They’re offering their regular menu, plus a fish fry-dinner for $7.50. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m., and carry-out is available. The Friday night dinner service is new for the cafe. Breakfast service has also changed. It is now only available Friday, Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7 a.m. Lunch begins at 10:30 a.m. daily. Anything that’s offered at the cafe, including the fish, is also available in the adjoining bar, Border Town Pub, until at least 8 p.m., even when the restaurant is closed. Firehouse Twenty-Eight Cafe participates in our Let’s Eat Out program. Go to letseatout.i57life.com for a downloadable menu, map, coupons and more.
***
I’ve talked to a few other restaurants about their Lenten specials. Here are two:
* Savannah’s Southern Bistro (2005 W. Court St.) in Kankakee has a broasted walleye or cod dinner for $6.99.
* River Bend Bar & Grill (6070 E. State Route 17) in Kankakee has an all-you-can-eat fried white fish dinner for $6.95.
***
Starting Monday, anyone 21 or older can vote for their favorite area bars in Pub Madness, an online contest brought to you by The Daily Journal and i57Life.com. More than 36 area bars are competing for the title of best local pub. Round 1 of the bracket-style tournament will last for a week, at which time the winners of each random pairing will advance to the next round and everyone can vote again. To participate, go to i57life.com/win starting Monday.
***
Best Bites appears every Thursday in The Daily Journal. Denise can be reached at the phone number above, at drenckens@daily-journal.com, or on Facebook.
