Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal:

Here are a few reader tips and questions I’ve received lately:

***

A reader named Kim let me know that Maria’s Kitchen has reopened at 200 N. Locust (aka Illinois Route 50) in Manteno. The restaurant was closed for the winter. The menu includes hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, Mexican items and fries, which I’m told are especially good. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays. Local delivery is available for $2 with a $10 minimum order. Call (815) 468-3208 or (815) 468-9784.

***

A reader named Valerie left me a voicemail message regarding Vito’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen: “We went in there Sunday night for dinner. Amazing! … They said their steak pizza is to die for. The pizza we had was very, very good. If you haven’t been, you should go.” Vito’s (1887 Armour Road, Bourbonnais) opens at 11 a.m. daily. The phone number is (815) 932-3511. To see their menu and print coupons, go to www.i57life.com/letseatout.

***

I got a chuckle out of this voicemail message: “We’re looking for the best place in all of Kankakee County for frog legs. Can you print something in the paper? … I need my frog legs. Big fat ones.” I don’t have an answer for this reader. Do you?

***

Express Fish & Chicken is now open at 925 E. Court St. in Kankakee. Open 24 hours, the phone is (815) 614-3789.

***

Area Subway restaurants are now open for breakfast. Hours vary by store, but I know the Bradley and Bourbonnais locations open at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 7 a.m. on Sunday. The Manteno Subway opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, at 7 a.m. on Saturday and at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The Ashkum location has been opening at 6 a.m. for breakfast since they opened three years ago.

***

Sgt. Pepper’s Bar & Grill in Kempton has apparently closed. I don’t know any details, except that I heard the rumor two weeks ago and the phone number has been disconnected.

***

I’m planning to publish a list of restaurants offering brunch on Mother’s Day. If you know of any, please contact me.

***

I’m also working on a list of restaurants with outdoor seating. So far I have Eddie’s Bar & Grill, Bull’s on Broadway, BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery, Tucci’s, River Bend Bar & Grill, La Siesta, The Peotone Bierstube and Buffalo Wild Wings on the list. If you know of any others, please let me know.

***

French Toast will be opening soon at 161 E. Bethel Dr. in Bourbonnais. If you would like me to e-mail you when I know the exact date, contact me at drenckens@daily-journal.com and ask to be added to the Best Bites e-mail list.

Best Bites appears every Thursday in The Daily Journal, and is online at blogs.i57life.com/dining. Denise can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or drenckens@daily-journal.com.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 15th, 2010 at 11:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.