finally got around to visiting alice & friends! it was always so far out of my way, but i was in…read morethe area and had dinner here with a friend. right away, the restaurant was very warm and homey. we were quickly sat and got to ordering. our waiter was very helpful when it came to different menu options and recommendations, so we were able to order pretty quickly! for an appetizer, we got the steamed dumplings, and for entrees, we got the chow mein and spammi sandwich. the portions were great, and the food was all delicious! i really liked the slaw that came with the spammi sandwich. overall a great experience! i would definitely recommend this restaurant.

I have a confession - I may have developed an addiction to their Kung Pao! I have not stopped…read morethinking of it for a whole entire week and it was one of those meals that left such good memories that I can still "taste" it - y'know? I hadn't been since their renovation and made it there last Thursday. It was really cute ambiance - I loved the interior designer's work. The place has options of seating - inside and outside, ranging from metal chairs to comfortable upholstered benches. We got the tom kha to begin with, which my husband, who's not vegetarian, devoured. It was truly delicious! We then got the Kung Pao with mushrooms and it was incredible - the flavors, the choice of vegetables, the sauce - all of it! We also got a chow mein but with rice noodles - this was the one dish that could take some improvement. Granted, the original recipe calls for wheat noodles, and that might be really good, though our rice noodles version of it was came out soggy. Our server had clearly had a long day - she was tired and forgetful (didn't bring us rice and we had a hard time flagging her down to request it). She also just brought us the check after dinner, without asking if we wanted any dessert. All in all, highly recommend this place for delicious plant-based food.

Everything was excellent the lamb chops were great Multiple…read morevery good appetizers I can't wait to go back

The food was amazing! The tender pieces of beef cheek literally melts in your mouth. The pork…read moreskewers were our favorite! Grilled to perfection, crisp and flavorful. The salad was a nice pickled-type slaw and paired well with the meat. The long grained seasoned rice was fluffy but dense. We ordered three different types of the dumplings. The meat ones tasted the same but the mushroom had a nice unique flavor-- definitely savory! We ordered the fruit tea. I realized too late I should've waited for a bit and allowed it to seep longer because the first cup tasted very diluted. The second cup was much better, more flavorful, in addition, I also added a packet of sugar. The traditional bread was also a favorite. It was fried but soft, airy in the center. Dipping in the cheese/butter like dip was fantastic. So addicting! The restaurant is very narrow. Not a lot of space and seating. Staff was very accommodating to make space for our table of 5. They even went as far as rearranging tables. The dim lighting and simple decor made it feel cozy and warm. We enjoyed the Georgian food experience!

So thankful for Purple Sprout preparing these nutritious meals for carryout service during the…read morecorona virus. Just healing with positive intentions. #THANKYOUTHURSDAY

I've been a vegetarian for 10 years, and am working towards being vegan, so I am always looking for…read morenew places in the city and the burbs, and had been eyeing Purple Sprout for months. I'm so glad I finally made it in!! The food was refreshing, and a much needed change from the typical "vegan junk food" restaurants you would find in the city (not hating on those places, but sometimes I prefer to walk out of a restaurant without a food baby). I loved that they even purify their water with different elements, such as crystals, to detoxify, and boost positivity. Seriously some awesome vibes in this place! They even have a grab and go section along with an entire wall filled with homemade soaps, knickknacks and what not. Service was phenomenal and anyone who complains about the portion sizes in their review should probably rethink how much they are consuming in one meal. I was plenty full after my meal, and it was the first time I had eaten all day. Pricing is on point for the food, especially since its fresh and organic ($48 for two meals and two drinks - no different than if you were to go to a regular restaurant to stuff your face with processed food and a glass of wine). I had the braised seitan that comes with the house mash and a salad, and I also ordered their Fountain of Youth juice (kale, apple, parsley, celery, ginger and lemon). My friend(non-veg) had the same meal, and a smoothie, and he loved his as well. Highly recommend even if you're not a veg! I will be back :)

Social Inn has been on my to-try list for some time.  My husband and I finally had a chance to…read morecheck it out on a Monday evening recently.  I made a reservation via Tock that I already had an account for years, so that was simple. On a weekday evening, as expected, the restaurant was not busy.  We were promptly seated at a 4-top table (2 × 2-top) against the right wall, with some other 2-tops on both sides.  Like many reviewers had mentioned, the venue was beautiful, modern and chic. There were 7 tables occupied, including us.  The music that they had was not too loud, just that customers' conversations were amplified by the box shape open dining area.  If we focused enough, we could hear every conversation if we wanted to.  This was obvious when a table of about 6 women got seated at a table near the front door, some of them laughed and talked very loudly.  My husband and I just found it funny and didn't let that bother us.  However, when the restaurant is filled on busier days, it might be a different story. Our server, Patrick, was very nice and attentive.  Since they did not list drinks on their menu except those with alcohol, I asked him about non-alcoholic drinks.  After a brief "discussion", he asked me to leave it to him to make me a drink with mango.  He came up with a beautiful drink that was good and refreshing, with some mango flavor.  It was Virgin Paloma on our receipt for $8, which was reasonable.  He was very polite and checked in on us several times at appropriate times during our dinner.  The pace of the dinner was good, we spent a total of an hour and 15 minutes in the restaurant. Patrick might be the only waiter serving all the tables that evening, though. I also ordered Grilled Octopus ($22) which was very good, tender and flavorful, but was a little too salty to my taste.  The small pita bread wedges were warm and fluffy with some crispy edges, the beet hummus was creamy, and everything was delicious and tasted fresh.  I generously shared 2 little bites of octopus with my husband and I finished the entire plate, it was so good!  My husband really liked his Spiked White Fish ($29) and I shared a bite of that too.  He also had a House Salad for $6, that was a very good value.  He enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc Crossing ($12) too.  We also shared an order of Crème Brulee ($8), that was creamy and cooked perfectly.  We ordered a takeout order of Rigatoni with Sausage ($23), that was a good portion, and was still delicious and al dente the next day after being microwaved. I am so happy that we found Social Inn - a hidden gem in Plaza del Prado, it's not far from home, with comfortable and beautiful ambiance, excellent service (from Patrick), an attractive menu with enticing food (fresh ingredients and appealing plating), and reasonable prices, we will definitely be back!

It's been a while since I went to Social Inn. They used to be open for lunch as well as dinner, and…read morethat was easier for me to get to. We were in the area late in the day and remembered Social Inn was open, so we went. We ordered a variety of items. I had the Social Burger (at least 1/2 pound), we also ordered their chicken dinner salad and the beet hummus. Everything was delicious. I did order my burger medium and it was delivered well done, but it was still good. They also have one of the best gluten-free buns I've ever had. I do wish they were open at lunch time still, but I understand they need to be open for their busiest hours. Social Inn is a great option when you are in the Glenview area.

Soooooo good I can cry I had moved from downtown to Des Plaines and I count find any good Thai…read morerestaurants until I stumbled upon this one. I had the basil fried rice with shrimp and they made it spicy. I also had the drunken noodles with shrimp, omg it was so perfect and a perfect amount of spicy heat. I was being greedy that day, so I grabbed crab rangoons and veggie eggrolls, both delightful. The was very nice, a young man took my order over the phone, and greeted me with a beautiful smile upon entering the establishment. I'll be back for sure!

Thai basil rice . Was to sweet. Thai coffee was to sweet…read more Service wasn't very sweet. Lacking customer service

Not sure how I feel about Chicago Ramen in Wheeling after my most recent experience…read more.. Since my kids had a lot of afternoon activities again and I didn't feel like cooking I decided to get carry out from Chicago Ramen. I placed an order for two Chicken Ramen with an egg. I showed up about 10 minutes later and they were already packing my order. I've always been impressed with how quickly they get the orders ready, but I guess everything is already premade which makes it easier. I ended up adding a wonton soap for one of my daughters since she just burnt her fish sticks at home and needed a back up. As I was waiting for my food I glanced at the chef and noticed that while he was packing our ramen he was NOT wearing any gloves and added the eggs with his bare hands!! I found it shocking and disturbing... Everything was packed well, and as I got home and got our ramen and wonton soup ready for dinner, I realized that instead of the wonton soup, they ended up giving me shrimp broth without any dumplings. I gave them a call and they apologized and offered a refund. I guess it wasn't meant for my daughter to have dinner that night... My husband and I did enjoy our chicken ramen...but I skipped my egg. We both woke up this morning super swollen and realized there was a ton of salt in the food. I'm not sure I will be back and might need to explore some other ramen places in the area. * Easy street parking right out front. * 2 Chicken ramen with an egg $37

This Chicago Ramen is a small restaurant, so far, we have not dined in, we would rather eat in the…read morecomfort of our own home. However, it has been our go-to place for ramen takeout for some time now, this review is focused on their takeout ramen. After about two years' time, we have narrowed our preferences to the Red Miso Ramen with Egg and the White Miso Ramen with Egg. Both ramen comes with a big piece of Cha-Shu (pork), bamboo shoot, and green onion. The Cha-Shu is very tender and flavorful, and the egg cooked just right. The ramen noodles are bouncy with the right texture. When it comes to broth, the White Miso Ramen is definitely a winner over the Red Miso. I found the broth of the Red Miso a little too thick and there is a taste that makes it less pleasant than the other. There is ground pork in the broth of the White Miso, which adds flavor and complexity to the texture. Portions used to be very big, and I used to have leftovers. However, recently portions have shrunk and I could finish the entire bowl of White Miso Ramen with Egg in one meal with no problems. It would not be enough to feed someone with a bigger appetite than me. They had made a couple of mistakes in our takeout orders a year ago. Since then, they have been accurate with the orders and timing has also improved. I am pleased to have Chicago Ramen in our neighbor town, and a bowl of tasty ramen is so close by. I just saw that they have added Shrimp Wonton Ramen (and two other items) to their menu recently. Next time I might give that a try.

I recently had gone to a get-together where the hosts had gotten catering from Pita Inn, thus, this…read morereview is strictly for their catering service and - of course - the food! Starting with the sides: hummus, baba ghanouj, sliced pita bread, and fattoush salad. All were equally delicious, with the stars being the baba ghanouj and the fattoush salad. There was also a great selection of proteins and main stars of the meal: falafel, beef shish kabobs, chicken tender, and kefta kabos. I tried a bit of everything and it was all SO GOOD! The meats were seasoned beautifully and were tender, the falafel wer crisp and flavorful, and all the sides were refreshing and delightful. I was definitely surprised at how good the meal experience was, as I tend to be quite picky when it comes to West Asian/Mid-Eastern food. Overall, Pita Inn was an EXCELLENT spot to cater from! There was a great variety of food and everything was DELICIOUS!

I was craving a sandwich but not an ordinary sandwich. I decided to go to Pita Inn and get a…read moreFalafel Sandwich! If you want a really good falafel sandwich, the best place to go to is Pita Inn. The staff is always friendly! And no matter how busy it gets, they have a good attitude and get the order correct b I ordered the sandwich, french fries and a small container of their garlic sauce. I took it to go. The sandwich comes with 3 falafels, lettuce and I top it off with their red spicy sauce and garlic. Every bite had a nice kick of spice and the garlic is creamy and has a not too overwhelming. The pita is good but just warmed, I'd love it if it was grilled or slightly fried over a flat top. The Falafel had a slight crispy and tenderness to it. Overall, I really love this place. And next time, I'll try the Impossible Kefta.

We saw the Scratchboard Kitchen on tiktok and wanted to see what all the hype was about. How did it…read moreturn out, let's find out: Ambiance The Sratchboard kitchen has a bright and welcoming decor. The lighten in the place was warm. And the music seemed similar to a club beat but not obnoxiously loud. Service The service was great. Our server gave us some recommendations and the staff seemed pretty nice. The food itself did not take too long to come out. Also, when there was a mistake with one of the orders, it was taken care of without any issues. Food Fried potatoes This was a recommended side. The potatoes themselves were crispy with a fluffy middle. It came with a spicy mayo type of dipping sauce which tasted good other than the fact that dipping the potatoes in it did not really get that much sauce on them. I would recommend this side dish. French onion grilled cheese The French onion grilled cheese is a very tasty dish. It has the sweetness of the caramelized onion and nice cheese pull. It is a rich dish so eating cause food fatigue. We got it with bacon. It was good but not really necessary. Crispy chicken sandwich This is the chicken sandwich seen on tiktok. The cutlet is thick and it was fried with a light coating. The chicken sandwich was juicy. I think mine might have needed a little more seasoning (my own preference). Overall The scratchboard kitchen is a nice place to go and have a bite to eat. It has a nice array of food and drink options. I would recommend at least trying the food and enjoying the ambiance and service.

In again for happy hour. Lisa is a great waitress and hottest. Burger is excellent, and chopped…read moresalad is very fresh and healthy. recent updates have been noticed. Very nice and modern!

two friends and i tried eataco for lunch this week. we were seated quickly, given menus and water…read more we started with chips and salsa for the table and it was good! we all ordered tacos: mushroom and avocado crispy cauliflower and chicken lamb and barbacoa. two salsas were brought to the table--green and red. they were both delicious! water was refilled and the restaurant itself is bright, clean and has great wall murals. bathrooms are clean. our server was knowledgeable and funny! i'll def go back and try other menu options.

Against my better judgement went again with a friend who hasn't been in the area in over 10 years…read more They wanted to go and I should've just recommended another spot. Crazy how expensive these tacos are and how little they actually give you. It's not even good. lol. Everything is super bland with no real flavor. I only got two tacos and a drink and it basically came out to 20 dollars. Last time I'm making this mistake.

Had a very nice lunch at Kimbop. I tried the beef bulgogi bento box and my wife had a couple of…read moresushi rolls. We thought the sushi was pretty, and had good textures, but wasn't very flavorful. The bulgogi was less pretty, but tasty, with rice and glass noodles and a standard salad. The miso soup was good. The place is small, but there are a half dozen tables, and everything is decorated and there is music playing. It seemed cozy and cheerful. The server was very helpful and quick to respond to questions or requests. We will have to come back to try the fried chicken and the ramen and see what we like best.

I've ordered takeout from Kimbop in the past, but this was my first time dining in. The place is a…read morelittle bigger than I expected! We started with crab Rangoon, which we both enjoyed. For our entrees, we both ordered sushi. I wish I could remember the name of the roll I ordered, but it disappeared from my mind the moment my friend's food came. I ordered one sushi roll, which arrived in 10 pieces on a regular plate. Whatever it was, it was fine. Meanwhile, my friend ordered 2 crunch rolls, which arrived on a massive wooden platter. Twenty pieces in all, but substantially more food than you'd expect from two rolls. And, it was really, really good! We ended up sharing both of our entrees, and had an entire crunch roll leftover to bring home. A few weeks later, I'm still thinking about that spicy crunch. I'll definitely order one for myself the next time I'm there.