Home Sweet Homewood

Yes, you are going to get your usual fare of Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Chicken Wings and Cheese Bread as your appetizers. Skip all those; because once you see the words "11 ounces of black angus beef" of their hand-packed burgers, you will barely have room for anything else.

Open Mic Night is the best time to go out and try this bar. Go ahead and release your inner rock god, or make a fool of yourself with your band that misses the words to an Aerosmith song. The crowd will still love you. Maybe.

Giordano's was once my top pizza in Chicago. This place blows it to pieces with its thick crust pizzas. And their Hawaiian Pizza--made the right way, with barbecue sauce, ham and pineapple spilling out from under the cheese--satisfies my Friday night cravings.

This is what I call a down-home feeling. The owners greet customers at the door, the staff is friendly and patient, and they have fresh fruit served with every breakfast item. Can they just move into my house?

Yes, it is named after the famed actor. Beyond the movie stills throughout the place, the aroma of meat is so tempting and the portions so massive, a vegetarian could be dared to have a small taste.

You don't have to worry about having any high-calorie food items. Everything--the sweet biscuits, moo goo gai pan and the veggie lover's Buddhist Delight--are cooked using 100 percent vegetable oil.

There aren't many Japanese restaurants past the Chicago border. But this place--with its spicy roll combo and date-enticing Sushi for Two entrees--gives Suburbanites their fix.

There is something about homemade desserts that make me reminiscent of the lazy days of summer. While my summers are no longer lazy, this tiny family-owned shop still makes their items by hand.

This is a combo of Asian flavors all rolled into one place. Not to mention a spin on other food such as their Crispy Chile Calamari, Asian Nachos (with wonton strips, black beans, cheese and peanut sauce) and crab cakes with a mesclun salad topped with pomegranate vinaigrette.