Daily Herald critics pick year's best restaurants

The suburbs sometimes get a bad rap for being the land of homogenized chain restaurants. But as our restaurant critics can tell you, that image couldn't be farther from the truth.

Throughout 2009 we visited restaurants in Gurnee, Naperville, Des Plaines, Geneva and all points in between and found quaint diners, ethnic gems and elegant eateries that are far from cookie-cutter.

Our present to you today is our top picks for the year. Give yourself a gift and visit one, or two, or all.

545 North Bar and Grill

Location: 545 N. Milwaukee Road, Libertyville

Info: (847) 247-8700, 545North.com

This three-year-old eatery in Libertyville's reinvigorated downtown fires on all cylinders. The place has the look, feel and food of a Lincoln Park hot-spot without the Lincoln Park prices.

Chef Patrick Joyce and his crew come busting out of the gate with trendy appetizers like tuna tartare, hearty soups (the creamy mushroom is mmm, mmm good) and kicked-up comfort food like braised short ribs.

Weekend diners are treated to live music; eat early or deal with the crowds. On warm summer nights there's plenty of room under the twinkling patio lights to sip quenching cocktails.

Deborah Pankey

Eggstasy

Location: 17 W. 512 22nd. St., Oak Brook Terrace

Info: (630) 758-3441, daliscafe.com

Fans of silly puns and accessible gourmet (and who can resist that combination?) love this self-proclaimed breakfast boutique. An orange lounge opens up to hanging translucent buckets filled with eggs, exposed ducts, 3-D paintings of plump roosters and Seussical lamps, while gigantic orders of top-notch breakfast classics are created with made-from-scratch batters, soups, sauces and compotes. Even the French toast bread is baked on location.

Here Spanish eggs Benedict come decadently loaded with a loose, spicy chorizo, which stands up boldly to two flawlessly poached eggs and a smooth hollandaise. Savory crepes wrapped around melted Brie, slices of sweet apple and crunchy pecan are topped with a fine dusting of powdered sugar, incarnating the legendary (and near foolproof) combination of cheese, apple and nuts into a kicking crepe dish. The omelet becomes an art form in the contour of a prosciutto, red pepper, onion, cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella combination, an array of textures that's incredibly good.

Izidora Angel

The Grand Station

Location: 101 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights

Info: (847) 255-5050, grandstationdining.com

If you've got plans to attend performances at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, or if you're just looking for a one-size-fits-all dining experience, The Grand Station is for you.

The large space in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights boasts a menu bulging with offerings and three distinct rooms in which to make your party comfortable.

Speaking of comfort, the build-your-own macaroni and cheese is comfort to the nth degree. More cutting-edge dishes include shrimp in a brandied Alexander sauce and chicken and pasta infused with mojito and lime flavors.

The cocktail and wine list is almost as impressive as the food menu and includes a selection of virgin quaffs if you're into that sort of thing.

Deborah Pankey

Il Sogno di Barrella

Location: 100 N. Hale St., Wheaton

Info: (630) 682-5900, barrellaristorante.com

This new location for the Longobardi family is probably Wheaton's most authentic Italian restaurant: a lively, roomy and elegant second-floor venue that offers a Naples-centric cuisine and a real Italian chef in the kitchen. Potent cocktails and an expanded wine menu get you in the mood for good conversation, while appetizers such as the meaty, smoky grilled octopus, soft calamari and juicy shrimp tossed in an olive oil and lemon garlic marinade offer a glimpse into a culinary repertoire that is as fresh as it is classic.

Entree standouts include the Veal alla Barrella, a prosciutto-topped trio of thin, tender veal medallions under melted, smoked mozzarella in a white wine sauce. Another treat is the Pollo alla Francese, a fragrant lemon-butter sauce poured over three very succulent egg-washed chicken breasts. Seafood specials such as tilapia and red snapper, filleted tableside, are also worth noting. Don't leave without trying the profiterole a chocolatto, a handful of bite-sized cream puffs topped with a cold chocolate mousse or the excellent Lavazza cappuccinos.

Izidora Angel

L'Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie

Location: 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington

Info: (847) 428-4783, leiffelbistrot.com

Terrific French food and a handsome setting make L'Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie worth the ride to Arboretum of South Barrington, a newer outdoor mall at Route 59 and Higgins Road.

It's terrific for a nicer post-shopping lunch, business entertaining, romantic dates and celebrations or just a lovely evening out that doesn't max your credit card.

Authentic bistro fare includes the signature crepes - I love the beef bourguignon version - plus classics like duck a l'orange, an expertly crafted dish with crisp skin over moist meat on a pool of well-balanced sauce.

Try a "French kiss" for dessert, it's a trio of warm bananas, dark chocolate sauce and caramel sauce embraced by a delicate crepe. Sigh.

Laura Bianchi

Mehanata

Location: 1141 Lee St., Des Plaines

Info: (847) 824-0100

Exotic comfort food may seem a contradiction in terms, but that's what you get at Mehanata. The Bulgarian cuisine mixes elements of Turkish, Greek and Italian food styles with touches of Eastern European, Slavic and even Asian influences. It's a deliciously riotous jumble of flavors and textures, but it all comes together in delectable, hearty dishes that are easy to like, even if you've never heard of them before.

For example, there's the delightful stuffed pepper burek, a large, sweet red pepper, stuffed with tangy soft cheese, battered and crisply deep-fried, and chicken country style, a plate piled high with savory, sauteed boneless dark meat, mixed with mushrooms, peppers, bits of bacon and piquant pickle slices, with french fries mixed in for good measure. Add in immense portions, low prices and friendly (if sometimes English challenged) service and you can have both adventure and contentment.

Leah Zeldes

Nozumi Japanese Cuisine

Location: 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington

Info: (847) 783-5995, nozumirestaurant.com

These days, sushi bars are a dime a dozen, but Nozumi Japanese Cuisine stands out for its swank setting - think modern pendant lighting, illuminated partitions, industrial-chic touches - and stylish, upscale approach. And while the menu consists of a series of hard-bound books, you shouldn't write this off as a mere shtick. Eating here is intended to be a leisurely culinary journey.

Start with sake cocktails before moving on to seared scallops atop saffron-infused couscous pearls with tomato confit or the soy paper-wrapped Black Widow, maki built from soft shell crab tempura, spicy crab salad, avocado, pickled red onions and mascarpone infused with lime, cilantro and seven-spice seasoning. Indulgent larger plates like Kobe beef with foie gras-truffle demi glacé are rewarding, too. Desserts, such as the Skokora Dream with airy layers of bittersweet chocolate mousse and brandy-infused prune jam, shouldn't be overlooked.

Jennifer Olvera