Best Bites column (June 17, 2010)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal.
Gold Bowl Buffet opened last month in Meadowview Shopping Center in Kankakee. Formerly known as Best Buffet, Gold Bowl (1248 N. Kennedy Drive) offers all the same dishes but has added Japanese cuisine, including sushi and hibachi.
On my first visit, I headed straight to the Japanese station in the back corner. I enjoyed the sushi, especially the eel that they were kind enough to prepare for me when I asked. But the hibachi was my favorite. To start, pile your own mix of raw meats, vegetables and noodles on a plate. Then give it to the waiting hibachi chef, who adds some seasonings while it cooks in front of you on the griddle. My dish of lightly sauced noodles with a little chicken and lots of mushrooms and broccoli was excellent.
Gold Bowl bills itself as Kankakee County’s largest buffet, with 150 items to choose from. In addition to the numerous Chinese options, there’s also fresh seafood, including shrimp, oysters and crab. One buffet station is filled with fresh fruit and one is filled with desserts. There are also salads and American favorites, including French fries. So, even if you’re not a fan of Chinese or Japanese cuisine, there’s still a good chance you’ll find something that does suit your taste buds.
Best Buffet was owned by two partners, one of whom now owns Gold Bowl. Other changes include updated decor, which is why the restaurant was closed briefly during the transition. A banquet room is available for private functions.
Gold Bowl Buffet opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The lunch buffet is offered from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and costs $6.78. The dinner buffet is offered from 4-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and costs $9.19. Sunday, it’s an all-day buffet from 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. for $9.19. Carryout buffet is available. They also have a regular menu for dine-in or takeout, which is available at www.i57life.com/letseatout. Call (815) 939-2811 to place an order.
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America’s Bistro (110 Meadowview Center) in Kankakee is offering prime rib and steak dinner specials every Saturday from 4 p.m. to close. Diners can order two prime rib dinners for $30 or two sirloin steak dinners for $25. Both dinners include a choice of soup or salad, homemade bread, baked potato and vegetable.
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River Bend Bar & Grill (6070 E. Illinois Route 17 in Kankakee) now offers Wi-fi access in the dining room.
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Best wishes to the owners of The Riviera Restaurant in Gardner. It was destroyed by a fire June 8.
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Here are two events for your calendar:
* The 35th annual Bourbonnais Friendship Festival begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday, June 27. In addition to the traditional food vendors, there are a few food-related special events planned. Friday, June 25, the annual firefighters’ fish fry will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the festival pavilion. Fish sandwiches, fish dinners, corn dogs, French fries and drinks will be available. Saturday, June 26, Buffalo Wild Wings will be holding two wing-eating contests, both from 8 to 8:30 p.m. One will be timed, with the winner being the contestant who eats the most wings in the allotted time. The other will be a “blazin’ hot wings” speed-eating contest. There is a $5 entry fee and the winner of each contest receives $25. Also Saturday, the firefighters will be grilling and serving shish kebab. The time is yet to be determined, so please go to www.bourbonnaisfriendshipfestival.com for the latest details.
* The Local Foods Breakfast Buffet will be Saturday, June 26, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Kankakee Farmers Market. The event is held “to showcase and celebrate Kankakee County’s agricultural abundance.” Tickets are $10 and are available at the Farmers Market information booth on Saturdays or at the University of Illinois Extension office in Bourbonnais during the week. Call the Extension office at (815) 933-8337 for more information.
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I would like to welcome Johnny Angel’s (119 W. Washington in Momence) to Let’s Eat Out, our online menu guide. Go to www.i57life.com/letseatout for downloadable menus, coupons, hours and more.
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I’ll be on vacation for a few days and won’t have a column next week. Best Bites will return July 1.
Denise Renckens is general manager of online operations for The Daily Journal. She can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.
