Best Bites column (July 22, 2010)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal.
The Daily Journal recently published a local restaurant directory that featured ads for nearly two dozen area eateries, including Fran’s on 17. On Friday, I received this note via e-mail: “We took Fran’s on 17 at their word in their ad, which says “best ribs in Illinois” … and went there for ribs for lunch yesterday. They were delicious! If you like tender, fall-off-the-bone, don’t have to pick them up and chew them, you will like these ribs. It was our first time there and we definitely will go back.”
I also recommend the garlic beef wrap at Fran’s. They pile super-tender, thin-sliced beef on a tortilla, add a special garlic-mayonnaise sauce and some mozzarella cheese, then wrap it and grill it. The result is a warm, delicious sandwich that’s juicy and a little gooey on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside.
Fran’s is at 7096 W. state Route 17 in Kankakee. The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and the bar is open until 2 a.m. There are daily lunch specials and every Thursday is Mexican food day. For more information, call (815) 932-6986.
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A reader named Frank e-mailed me to recommend Rondinella’s Italian Imports & Deli (189 N. Kinzie Ave.) in Bradley. “Hope you get a chance to try one of (their) sandwiches,” he wrote. “They are awesome!”
What makes them so good is that they’re made with specialty meats and cheeses and served on fresh bread or rolls. The menu features both cold and hot sandwiches, including paninis and Italian beef. In addition to deli meats, cheeses and bread, Rondinella’s also sells specialty salads, olives, lasagna, tiramisu and pizza kits, plus imported pasta, sauces, cookies and other pantry items. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Call (815) 933-0080 for more information.
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Tucci’s (1560 N. state Route 50) in Bourbonnais has a new summer menu. The seasonal offerings include a fruit plate and chicken or salmon salad over flatbread. They’ve also added grilled paninis to their regular menu and are now offering express lunches. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, a slice of pepperoni, sausage or cheese pizza is $3.99, and endless soup, salad and breadsticks is $5.99. Go to www.i57life.com/letseatout for the full menu.
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One Sixty Four North (164 N. Schuyler Ave.) in Kankakee also has a new menu. Lunches now start at $6.95 and dinners start at $15.95. Go to www.i57life.com/letseatout for the full menu.
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Mark your calendar for the Taste of Kankakee County on Friday, Sept. 3. It will be part of the festivities surrounding the Power Boat Nationals that will once again be held Labor Day weekend on the Kankakee River. I’ll share more details closer to the event.
Denise Renckens Olszewski is general manager of online operations for The Daily Journal. She can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:45 am
I tried the new Catilina in Dilligraf’s bar. I had a patty melt and fries. It was very good and people are nice. However I recommend calling in any orders. I had to wait at least 20 min for my order. I just got a drink from bar and brought a book. But still for a to go order it was a longer wait. However since i live right around there I am glad their is a place to eat.