I stopped by Balkan Bakery on a whim and as soon as I opened the door, the smell hit me, warm,…read moresweet, buttery. Immediate win. It's not just a bakery either. They've got groceries, meats, even liquor. All in one spot. Super convenient, honestly. I ordered a hot chocolate and a pastry. No name on the pastry, which somehow made it more tempting. It didn't look like anything i had before, so I went for it. Sat outside on their little patio and enjoyed the weather. The hot chocolate was creamy, sweet, with just a slight bitterness at the end and top of that some marshmallows, Really good. The pastry was flaky, light, and dipping it into the hot chocolate made it even better. Staff was friendly and helpful while I stood there deciding. Felt easy, not rushed. I'll be back for sure. Probably to try another unnamed pastry. Or two.

Having a Balkan Bakery is so unique. It's also a grocery store, so super cool to have unique…read moreproducts to choose from. You can eat outside as they have tables and a tiny garden (even though it's located in a strip mall). Thr menu is vast! Lots of great things to choose from. I tasted the Nutella croissant , hot dog croissant, and the raisin crossaint. I've also tried the beef pie (this was not my fav as the beef tasted low quality, and was exceedingly greasy). However, I loved the rest. I can't wait to of back to try more things!!!

I love going here because it's easy to shop and everyone is all we at so helpful and friendly…read more I get my liquid multi vitamin from here because it's easy to take. I also pick up additional supplements and snacks too. The variety of options that they have is great but not overbearing. The amount of knowledge that the staff have on the products in addition to suggestions that they make is very helpful. Convenient hours and plenty of parking.

Good to see a robust stock of homeopathic remedies. Staff very friendly. Will plan on frequent…read morevisits.

Their pasta sauces, salsas, olives and giardinara are absolutely delicious. I use their products,…read moregift their products and recruit many people into using their items. You've gotta love a multi generational, family business that strives to produce a great quality, home made tasting and fresh product. You can taste the love that goes into their recipes. Time tested and true. Give them a try. I guarantee you'll become a regular customer.

Their giardiniera is awesome!! I love it on pizza! Highly recommend Formella and Sons.read more

Love my little old man Saturday morning routine. Kirschbaum's and straight over to Casey's…read more What's more suburban and American than that? Casey's meat counter and deli are excellent. You can grab eggs and milk as well. Happy Saturday!

I ordered a T-Bone center cut steak from Caseys to make Steak Florentine. Our dinner tonight was…read moreAmazing. Thank you Casey's in Western Springs. The best cut.

Literally if I looked at my paycheck to figure out where my money was going it would be the fruit…read morestore. I love their fruit and they are so knowledgeable and helpful!!! They have the best fruit salads ever. They have the best dried apricots ever. They have the best nestle caramel apples. I literally bounce between hinsdale and Western Springs Fruit Store - both are incredible! Western springs is open Sundays but if I'm hopping around after work I try to come in on my way home. I love getting and giving fruit baskets for special occasions. And on Valentine's Day they will have chocolate covered strawberries The employees are the nicest I love going in there!

Nothing like fruit salad from The Fruit Store of Western Springs, IL-bought it Friday afternoon and…read moreit taste awesome, how come my fruit salad doesn't taste like this? My only complaints are cash only (who carries cash?), prices are high but so is service and quality.

ALES IN COMPARISON…read more The bar formerly known as Brixie's is still a solid place to enjoy a beer. I can't recall exactly how many times I'd given the previous tenant my business over the years, though it has to have been in the dozens. I loved their vibe which could be described as relaxed at best (and dingy at worst), and though the kitchen was no great shakes I appreciated specials on their burgers and pints. Fast forward to 2022, and this place is now exclusively a brewery under the name Imperial Oak. They've also got a location on Archer Ave that I've been to several times. Funny enough, both have 2+ pinball tables and tiny parking lots, however this location on Ogden Ave is much more accessible than the Imperial Oak in Willow Springs. Speaking of pins, their two machines (Simpsons Pinball Party & a retooled Medieval Madness) are $1/game and play beautifully. They've got shuffleboard and some events throughout the month like weekly bingo & trivia. They don't have a kitchen, but sometimes a foodtruck comes in and you can always B.Y.O.F. Bartenders are easygoing; if you aren't feeling an IPA or barrel stout they also have hard seltzers as well as a full bar. The crowd is predominantly locals and after-work peeps. If you can't find a space in their lot, try the angled spots at the Sherwin-Williams next door (just be discreet). * TL;DR * A couple brews, a couple score-based replays on pinball, life is A-OK. Back when this place was Brixie's, it was much quieter and business seemed slow, but I liked it. These days, it's usually bustling with activity whenever I stop by, and that's great news for Imperial Oak. Beer is reasonably priced (Buzz Lite is a delightful honeyweiss for $6/pint) and the taps are varied. I'm switching jobs in the next few weeks, so the odds of me coming through here again are slim but I'll always keep them in mind should I find myself in the Brookfield area. I'd recommend Imperial Oak, for sure.

I stopped in due to Cousin's Lobster food truck. Which was amazing. The venue is a nice size,…read morepatio, and roll-up window availability. The service was good, fast, and the bartenders were friendly and personable. You can see regulars come in whom they knew personally. A family friendly birthday party was being held that day because I was shocked to see kids. Lol. Lots of beer options. I would return. I hope the music is nice in this place as then it would be my new local spot.

I checked out Milk Money Brewing in La Grange during the summer and walked away with a pretty clear…read moretakeaway: come here thirsty. The beer selection is excellent. Definitely the star of the show! Service was also a highlight. Very friendly staff, attentive, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and easy even with a toddler. The food didn't quite stand out as much for me, but it wasn't a dealbreaker, especially with everything else going for it. Honestly, this feels like the kind of place you go to hang out and enjoy a few great beers especially on a summer day after chasing around a toddler around the La Grange water fountain and neighborhood. Overall, a solid spot with a great vibe. I'd happily come back, especially to explore more of the beer menu.

Subpar experience tonight at Milk Money. Came here after a movie across the street and had been on…read moremy list to try. Disappointed. We sat outside and the menu looks like it has a lot of options. We ordered a couple drinks - a beer that wasn't anything special and a martini that had shimmer in it. I took a sip and instantly regretted it - tasted like a mixed drink I made at a highschool basement party. The alcohol burned my throat and it was like the cocktail components didn't make sense. I took one sip and never sipped it again. We ordered cheese curds and a burger which came out in 5 minutes after we ordered which was odd. Felt more like a fast food joint. The cheese curds were heavy and greasy and the burger was pretty good. 1 appetizer, a burger, 2 drinks cost us $67, kind of wild in my opinion. Our server seemed like she wanted us gone too as it was the end of the night. Disappointing experience, don't plan on returning.

Food is fantastic! Warm, family atmosphere. We don't always have time to dine in the restaurant,…read moreso their take out is a great option.

Been ordering sausage pizza since I moved to La Grange, about 6 years ago. Ordered one a few days…read moreago and they've dramatically cut back on the amount of sausage on the pie. Raise the price a couple of dollars if you have too, don't degrade the quality of the food. I'm happy to pay a few dollars more for what I want. Looks like I have to search for another pizza restaurant.

We went to Wooden Paddle for the first time with a group (including a toddler), and it ended up…read morebeing the perfect setting. It's a shareable, tapas-style dining experience, which makes it ideal for groups. We ordered the Fried Mozz Brick, which was good but didn't quite wow our group. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the Caesar salad, always a go-to for me and this one met my expectations. For pizzas, we tried the Pepper Only, the Sausage Fest, and The Original Mr. Beef, and that one ended up being my favorite. Definitely the star of the night. The drink menu is also great. Lots of options depending on what you're in the mood for. And as a mom, I have to mention the bathroom situation. Although it's downstairs, it's clean, spacious and private, and they have a changing table, which honestly makes such a difference. Believe it or not, not every place thinks about that, and it's always appreciated. Overall, a great spot for groups with good food, good drinks, and an aesthetic interior that left me wanting to go back for more.

Great food, amazing service, and a family friendly dining room! The menu is full of amazing Italian…read moredishes - you truly cannot go wrong! I've eaten here with both large parties, and with just one other person at the bar, and all experiences have been great! The "fried mozz brick" and "really good bread & butter" are my favorite apps. The "buzzkill" pizza and the "basil pesto pappardelle" are my favorite dishes. I highly recommend sharing a bunch of different plates!