Happy summertime!
How happy is he who can satisfy his hunger with any food, quench his thirst with any drink, please his ear with any music, delight his eye with any painting, any sculpture, any architecture, and divert his mind with any book or any company!
---Ben Franklin
This week!
Think dinner & the show!
The PN News Blog is a showcase of activities that can go with dinner this week...
Or you can visit North Central College's fine and performing arts calendar for theater productions this weekend...
“Spontaneous” is a new art exhibit, free and open to the public from now through Aug. 22 in Schoenherr Art Gallery at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. www.northcentralcollege.edu/show
SugarToad Thursday Harvest Dinner Harvest Dinners begin at 5:30PM every Thursday evening through the harvest season. A 3-course dinner is $45 plus tax & gratuity. A selection of wine is offered for 1/2-price off per bottle.
RSVP: (630) 778-8623
Also...Did you know? SugarToad's all-American wine selection received an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator the week of July 19!
See Dine Around Naperville profiles of Meson Sabika, Cafe Buonaro's, SugarToad. Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House & Sullivan's Steakhouse...
Now there are five in a series of informational videos for
Here's Operations Manager/ videographer/ Carl Schultz from NCTV17 taking a shot of sugar toads at SugarToad for Dine Around Naperville Number 3!
Watch for more Dine Around Naperville coming soon!
Gift Certificates are a terrific way to remember dads, moms, graduates, teachers, coaches, tutors, brithdays, anniversaries, etc. Give one or several to create a tasteful Naperville experience for any special occasion.
Enjoy dinner & the show!
Visit PN's monthly calendar and/or Naperville News Blog on this Web site for the many live entertainment offerings in the developing Theater District at North Central College.
Whether culinary, performing or visual, thanks for supporting the arts!
Hey, hey, hey!
It's patio season. Weather permitting, many of our local eateries host outdoor dining on their patios.
To list a few...Meson Sabika, Quigley's Irish Pub, Tangerine Cafe, Jimmy's Grill, Front Street Cantina, Catch 35, Hugo's Frog Bar, Features and SugarToad open their patios when the skies are clear.
Restaurants in Freedoms Commons near the Holiday Inn Select also feature patio dining.
Dogs! Quigley's Irish Pub and Meson Sabika welcome dogs to patio space, too.
Hot dogs and more! Casey's Foods has picnic tables near its covered entrance for patio dining off the grill from 11AM-2PM on Saturdays & Sundays.
Think restaurant reservations!
In the spirit of good gracious hospitality, please cancel your reservations if you can't keep them!
Going forward with benefits for local causes
& winemaker dinners...
We thank all restaurants for their generosity and participation in local fundraising. We also appreciate that the Naperville community and beyond supports our local restaurants.
West Suburban Irish Quiz Night at Quigley's Irish Pub / 7PM, First Tuesday of the Month / If you know Chuck Corrigan, Mike Reilly and John Corrigan, you know every day is a time to proclaim Irish heritage. And on the first Tuesday of every month these members of the West Suburban Irish celebrate a true test of blarney and facts by organizing the WSI Pub Quiz at Quigley's Irish Pub. WSI fundraising efforts benefit St. Baldrick's Foundation and more. The public is welcome. Quiz play is free. Next Pub Quiz is Aug. 3.
Note: No Pub Quiz in Sept., then runs from October to June 1011.
Catch 35 hosts Bail Out for Folks Captured! It's a benefit to Muscular Dystrophy from Noon to 1PM, Wed., Aug. 11. Drop by to bail out folks in jail with a donation of any size. Help city and park district officials and other notables get out of jail for a cause. www.mda.org.
Catch 35 is located at 35 Van Buren Place at Washington.
Meson Sabika brings back monthly 'Charity of Choice' Patio Parties
Monthly patio parties will be announced.
Under the oaks on Mesón Sabika's Patio at 1025 Aurora Ave • Naperville
Reservations: (630) 983-3000, ext. 2 or www.mesonsabika.com
$20 per person
Tapas & Sangria Tasting
5:30-7:30PM, Thursday, August 12
To benefit Loaves & Fishes
Watch for news of SugarToad at Hotel Arista 2nd Annual 'Roast-N-Toast,' in May to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Hotel Arista is located at CityGate Centre, Rt. 59 & Diehl Rd. Update: The SugarToad staff organized an event that raised $3,000 for NIFB. Thanks!
(FYI: The service staff and cooking staff at SugarToad have been volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank since last fall.)
INFO: www.sugartoad.com
The Rotary Club of Naperville will host 2010 Soups On! at Tellabs on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 17.
The third annual event featuring many local restaurants will benefit Loaves & Fishes Communty Pantry and other organizations that provide shelter for the homeless.
INFO: www.napervillerotary.com
8th Annual Cuisine for a Cause, featuring 25 local restaurants, is at 7PM, Sat., April 30, 2011, in Tellabs Atrium. All proceeds benefit Naperville CARES. Ticket INFO: (630) 369-0200.
or www.NapervilleCARES.org
Winemaker Dinners & Tastings Coming Soon
SugarToad Winemaker Dinner
6:30PM, Wed., Aug. 25 / $85 each
5-course Dinner plus tax & gratuity / 5 Wines / Presenting a selection of wines from Foxen Winery in Santa Barbara County. (Note: Foxen Winery was featured in the 2004 movie "Sideways" about California wine country.
(On July 14, SugarToad was host to Barboursville Vineyards of Virginia, vineyards historically designed by Thomas Jefferson. What a delightful way to be educated and entertained.)
RSVP: (630) 778-8623
SugarToad hosts monthly lunchtime cooking classes
In February 2010, SugarToad began a series of cooking classes, "What's Cooking at SugarToad: A Culinary Tour."
Chef Geoff Rhyne conducts the two-hour demonstrative classes, focusing on a particular theme or seasonal subject. Sommelier Timothy Penick follows along, providing information on the wines paired with the dishes, from background on the varietals to the process of selecting bottles for multiple dishes.
Each Saturday class, which includes a written menu and a multi-course lunch with wine, is $40 per person, plus tax & gratuity. Space is limited to 16.
Want an idea for special party? Host a private luncheon cooking class paired with wine. Call SugarToad at
(630) 778-TOAD.
Thanks for visiting the
for more restaurant news among plenty of food for thought about things happening in our community.
Hey, Napervillians!
Too busy to cook?
Naperville has more than 260 eating establishments from casual to fine dining. See the list at left! They're organized here with zip codes to help you determine where you'll find them within our borders.
And most restaurants offer take-out, catering and more! Just ask!
Dine Out / Take Out Suggestion:
Surprise your sweetheart! Make a reservation at your favorite restaurant and dine out on a weekday. Then invite over friends and order take-out on the weekend. Even the best restaurants in town offer take-out.
And remember...
some of the most
relaxing and best dining experiences can happen on weekdays...
Unique dining experiences in Naperville are not just for Saturday night any more!
Make a reservation today.
PN's Most Frequented Eateries
(In order of experience since 1993)
Sunday Brunch
Lou Malnati's
Breakfast on Weekends
Quincy's
The Lantern
Egg Harbor
Raffi's on Fifth
Key Wester
Sullivan's Steakhouse
Breakfast / Brunch on Weekends
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
Breakfast / Brunch on Weekends
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
Sunday Steak & Seafood Nights
Monthly SugarToad Cooking
Classes 11:30AM / Certain Sat.
INFO: (630) 778-TOAD
New to the restaurant scene...
CityGate Grille
Live Music Fridays & Saturdays
Meeting Spaces Available
Thanks for patronizing Naperville's Restaurant Community & more
Much to our disappointment, many of our favorite independently-owned restaurants have closed.
Remember Sweet Basil or Peck's Smokehouse or Washington Square or The Landmark or Jefferson Hill Tea Room or Rascals?
Most recently, Zaidi's closed. PN was there at the site during the ground-breaking. It's always tough when locally-owned independent businesses close their doors.
Zaidi's owner, Zaidi Syed, sent the following message on May 11, 2010 to clear up several misunderstandings on the Internet. Here are Zaidi's words:
Dear Friends of Zaidi's Restaurant
It is with very heavy & sad heart that we announced that Zaidi's restaurant closed its doors due to the economics conditions.
I'd like to thank some very special people who made this (restaurant) happen for me: Tom Falcone, Rod Bushnull, Raymond Mines, Dan Casey, Ray Kinney, First National Bank of Naperville, Naperville Development Partnership, and the City of Naperville.
The team holds immense gratitude for its patrons, vendors & entire Naperville community for welcoming the restaurant into the community and providing such a loyal support.
We are especially grateful for the wonderful relationships and fond memories we have made and shared with all of you.
God Bless You All
Zaidi's Restaurant Team
Also, on May 28, Creme de la Crumb closed its doors. The popular coffee shop provided meeting rooms for local groups. It's hospitality will be missed.
Please note:
If you want your favorite places to remain open, tell your friends about them! Patronize them at their locations, and get a flavor of what they do more than during their generous fundraising events. Otherwise, if you keep them a secret or only go there when they're giving a portion of the profits to a charity, they may go out of business.
Thanks for dining, shopping, banking, entertaining and supporting the arts right here in Naperville.
Breakfast is served in downtown Naperville every weekend!
Check out the menus at Hugo's Frog Bar, Heaven on Seven, Sullivan's Steak House, Flat Top Grill, Jimmy's Grill, Egg Harbor, and Tangerine Café! Stroll the Riverwalk, come for breakfast, and stay for some great shopping – a great way to spend the day with the family and friends! For more information visit www.downtownnaperville.com.
A Few Tips on Tipping
Today, it's customary for most Americans to tip between 15 percent and 20 percent.
According to recent online surveys, only one person in twenty tips 25 percent or more, and about one in eight people tip 10 percent or less.
One easy way to calculate a 20 percent tip is to simply look at the total for your drinks and food and add $2 for every ten dollars of the total of our bill. For instance, if your bill is $35, leave a tip of $7.00; if it's $80, leave $16.
Naperville Note #1. If you have a $100 gift Certificate or voucher to a Naperville restaurant, please remember to take $20 cash for the tip. The gift certificate is not redeemable for cash (in other words, you will not receive change if you do not use the entire amount of the gift certificate) and does not include tax and gratuity.
Naperville Note #2. If you have a $50 gift certificate or voucher to a Naperville restaurant, please remember to take $10 cash for the tip. The gift certificate is not redeemable for cash and does not include tax and
gratuity.
Naperville Note #3. It's appropriate to tip 15-20 percent of the total tab before taxes (sales tax and food & beverage taxes are added); however, many patrons are aware that servers rely on tips and that they also "tip out" or share the after tax amount with the bartender, bus boy and food runner.
Since the tip is shared with everyone who provides a service during your dining experience, many patrons tip after taxes and servers appreciate it very much.
Source: Tipping Etiquette All Around Meat Heads
The art of making reservations...
With many fine restaurants trying to plan ahead for your dining pleasure, it's always a good idea to make a reservation in advance. Most restaurants will e-mail or call you back to confirm.
Also, many restaurants only hold a reservation for 15 minutes before they turn the table over to someone waiting. Be on time.
Common courtesy...
If you find you're running behind or have changed your mind about where to dine, call the restaurant as soon as possible (cell phones make this easier in today's world) and update your status.
Also, if you've made three or four reservations at different restaurants to try to accommodate the pleasures of your party to choose, it's always appreciated if you call to cancel the unwanted choices.
In fact, always cancel unwanted reservations whether for a party of two or a large group so walk-ins or patrons on the wait list can be notified. Your cooperation and a little common courtesy will be greatly appreciated by everyone in the hospitality and restaurant industry.
Variety is the spice of Rice
From family favorites to steak and seafood houses to sushi bars to upscale farm-focused menus paired with fine wines, Naperville's array of dining pleasures is sure to whet every appetite.
Need a restaurant recommendation? Be sure to follow PN's columnists, Laurie Rice and Mark Rice as they make the rounds, focused on good food and service every month.
Since they began writing "Your Table Is Ready," the married couple has featured their pleasures and experiences at SugarToad at the Hotel Arista, Quigley's Irish Pub, Meson Sabika, Catch 35, Tangerine Cafe, Tasso's Greek, Hugo's Frog Bar, Rotary/Sunrise's NaperPalooza, Rosebud's, Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House and Potter's Place.
It's our policy not to bad mouth a restaurant, so if we have an unfavorable opinion of a restaurant, we simply will not talk or write about it. We also respect that everybody's taste is different.
Many Cheers for Irish Coffee!
In early March 2010, Heaven on Seven, Catch 35, LaSorella, Potter's, Lou Malnati's, SugarToad and Jimmy's Grill participated in the annual Irish Coffee Contest hosted by non-participating Quigley's Irish Pub. ... Though Jimmy's Grill was the judges' choice for 2010, Common Grounds coffee served with Quigley's Irish Coffee is the winner 365 days a year!
"On the high day of Patrick, every fold will have a cow-calf, and every pool a salmon."
---Gaelic Saying
Again! Thanks for visiting the
for more restaurant news among plenty of food for thought about things happening in the Naperville community.
Bon appetit!
More food for thought...
And here's the...
We are disappointed to report that Zaidi's closed its doors on May 5, 2010.
Creme de la Crumb, located at 2035 S Washingon St. closed its doors on May 28, 2010.
Reminder: When you enjoy an experience at a local restaurant or the services you find at a small, locally-owned-and-operated business, tell your family, friends & neighbors. Or tell us and we'll tell Laurie and Mark Rice so they can pay a visit.
Thank you.
Small businesses are the nation's job creators. Illinois especially cannot afford to lose more jobs.
Again...thanks for reading. It's a pleasure to serve this community.