Packed with can’t-miss family destinations like the Brookfield Zoo and DuPage Children’s Museum, great shopping at Oakbrook Center and downtown Hinsdale’s excellent boutiques, and top-notch doctors and healthcare facilities, you’re bound to find yourself in Chicago’s western suburbs in need of a great meal. Here are our top restaurant picks in Hinsdale, Western Springs, Oak Brook, Berwyn and Naperville — so good they’re even worth the trip on their own.
Autre Monde
You could drive past this modest restaurant a hundred times without taking a second glance, but you’d be remiss not to stop for a bite. Service is friendly, with an acute awareness of the menu, food sourcing and wine list. The bold, smoky house-made harissa accompanying lamb Pintxos should be bottled and sold at Mariano’s and the Housemade Duck Sausage Flatbread is an exercise in restraint, balancing mild meatballs with smoked tomato, basil and Manchego. Whole-roasted branzino sprinkled liberally with capers and dressed with chimichurri is as succulent as any you’ll find in the city. The food is without a doubt excellent, but it’s the effortless delivery that keeps regulars coming back for more. 6727 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, 708-775-8122
Vie
Begin an evening here with one of Bill Anderson’s drinks. The beverage director has been with Vie since 2010 and has an uncanny knack for reading customers and prescribing the perfect drink for any personality or mood, happy to improvise upon request and wheel over a cocktail cart for tableside mixing. The cocktails pair very well with Chef Paul Virant’s creative dishes — most of which contain a sharp dose of acidity in the form of pickles, which he’s become famous for since writing “The Preservation Kitchen.” Share the roasted rutabaga ravioli with sweet and sour turnips, smoked pear butter, candied chestnuts and crème fraiche as a mid-course before diving into hearty entrees like the smoked pork leg and roasted belly duo, served with braised lentils, guanciale, slow-cooked greens, cranberry mostarda and pork jus. Virant’s newest, more casual restaurant in Hinsdale, Vistro, is also a great neighborhood bistro option for families on the go. 4471 Lawn Ave., Western Springs, 708-246-2082
Solstice
Chef Matt Bumba cooked at The Aviary in Chicago and Vie in Western Springs before opening a casual breakfast and lunch restaurant with his brother Lucas last year. Everything, even the ketchup, is house-made and this attention to detail along with close partnerships with local farmers elevate traditional breakfast foods like waffles and omelets from forgettable to crave-able. The buttermilk biscuits are out-of-this-world good, and while the menu is small, it’s always changing as new ingredients come into season. Currently, Solstice is only open for weekday breakfast and lunch (but closed on Tuesdays) and weekend brunch, though there are plans to begin dinner service Fridays and Saturdays this summer. 800 Hillgrove Ave. #104, Western Springs, 708-505-4684
Labriola Café
The burgers here are all served on Labriola’s signature pretzel bun and the Neapolitan pizzas have textbook charred, bubbly crusts. The carb-conscious will be tempted into submission by the variety of breads and pastries available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at this casual, great-for-families café. Try the new 8 oz. Prime Rib-Eye sandwich topped with oven-roasted tomatoes, Parmesan and baby arugula with garlic butter. If Neapolitan isn’t your preferred style of pizza, head next door to PizzaBarra, Rich Labriola’s more upscale venture opened in September, for ciabatta-crust, pan and thin-crust pies. 3021 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, 630-574-2008
Lucille
This new restaurant, opened in November, at the Drury Lane Theatre & Convention Center is more than just an amenity for theater-goers and convention attendees. While the cuisine is pretty straightforward, with traditional American classics like Bone In Ribeye Steak, Slow Roasted Chicken and Oysters Rockefeller, the Parisian art deco surroundings elevate the dining experience. The Lucille’s House Burger, with two Black Angus patties on toasted brioche, is an all-American winner too. There’s a two-course pre-theatre menu, and Lucille serves Saturday afternoon tea and a Sunday champagne brunch buffet as well. The décor was inspired by 1930s Paris with dramatic crystal chandeliers, golden doors, and lush chocolate fabric on the walls. 100 Drury Lane, Oak Brook, 630-530-8300
Nabuki
This is the gold standard for suburban sushi. Along with traditional nigiri and maki, you’ll also find innovative twists on Asian flavors, including a Wasabi Filet mignon served with shiitake mushrooms and Crazy Jalapeño, a nod to Executive Chef Juan Perez’s Latin background. The fried jalapeño is filled with king crab meat dressed with sweet and spicy sauce. Perez is originally from Mexico and operated his own sushi restaurant in the city before moving to Hinsdale to open Nabuki. The bamboo flooring and light beams mimicking waves over the bar create a laid-back but trendy vibe — a great suburban date-night spot with city atmosphere and energy. 18 E. First St., Hinsdale, 630-654-8880
CiNe
This modern taqueria in Hinsdale’s historic downtown mirrors the contemporary Mexican cuisine trend taking off in the city at spots like Dos Urban Cantina. The main dining room has a convivial, family-friendly feel and there’s a separate kids menu, although littles will likely be more than happy to share panko-breaded Avocado Fries, Quesadillas, and Nachos Locos with the grown-ups. Try the Chicken Tinga Tacos or choose a combo dinner to let the chef show off and get the most bang for your buck. 29 E. 1st St., Hinsdale, 630-590-5655
Mapo
The majority of customers at this Naperville favorite are Chinese Americans, always a good sign at an ethnic restaurant. Mapo owes its name to its signature silky Mapo Tofu, a Szechuan dish cooked in neon red chili oil. Nearly all the house specials are spicy hot and marked with a chili pepper on the menu. It’s not the easiest place to find — tucked in a corner of a strip mall — but it’s a gem worth the search. Try the Pork Intestines with Savory Hot Sauce if you’re feeling Anthony Bourdain adventurous, otherwise the Beef Rolls are sure to be a hit and vegetarians will love the Mushroom Medley in an iron wok. 1563 Naperville Wheaton Road, Naperville, 630-420-1388
