Highlands is a gem in the rough. The quality of the food along with the top shelf liquor is not…read moresomething you'd expect to find in Bradford. Yet, there it is. Be prepared to spend a little bit more than what you would at other restaurants in the surrounding areas. Also, know that it is well worth it! You can't go wrong with their menu items, and they take their food and drink seriously. There is often live piano music, which is enjoyable for a dinner atmosphere. If you were thinking about driving the extra hours to get some fine food in Chicago, save yourself the trip and visit Highlands.

The 5 course tasting for Valentine's Day was out of this world! The food was amazing, and prepared…read morewith so much attention to detail. The table was set beautifully, setting the scene for a lovely romantic evening with my hubby. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer, and provided great service. The owner even came over to check on us, and we enjoyed a nice conversation with him. I can not wait to come back for this next time!

Got the sampler for a late lunch and shared it among the three of us (we expected to eat light)…read more Was $37. Our sides were sweet potato tots and cole slaw. Given it's double the price of a single meat platter, I expected it to comfortably feed two. On the platter were two solid ribs, a quarter dark chicken, and one hot link which were all solid sharing portions. Brisket which I understand would be one of the more expensive items - was one slice plus a sliver of a dry end attached to it. I'm not sure if that's one slice or a one slice plus what one was counting as a second slice. This was a disappointing mark - I thought about asking the server about whether we should have at least a full second slice. Pulled pork - to me is a much less expensive item compared to brisket - yet a relatively small amount. Not as egregious as the easily measured brisket. Cole slaw - even if it was made in house as opposed a commercial bulk supplier, this is a low cost item no? Small dish. Quality is very good - just a question of the quantity. Tap water here seems filtered for neutral taste. It was a nice day on a quiet Sunday afternoon so we opted to get seated outside on the patio with umbrella shade. Traffic going by was light and quiet. Two servers available during the lull while we were there and the worked as a team to check on us outside.

Never expected to find such great BBQ in a small town. Stopped in for dinner and had a great…read moreexperience. I ordered the trio of bbq sliders, one pork, one brisket and one spicy sausage. All very good and great smoke flavor Ang quality of meat. They serve them with just dry rub but had a great selection of sauces on the tables. I added a side of chipotle Mac & cheese with ham and it too did not disappoint, very flavorful and a healthy portion. The wait staff was friendly and very quick to serve us even though there were 6 at our table. It was a nice night and we all sat out on the patio. They also had a good selection of craft beer which pairs so well with the BBQ.

Not expecting a great bartender! Tony knows everything and has expertise in helping you decide! Not…read morea surprise! We look forward to seeing him! He makes this place GREAT! The egg rolls were delicious and huge but cut in half and plenty for 2 to share! The low light and decorations just made you feel stress-free!

First time I've been there in 30 years, fish was always a tradition on Friday and Saturday nights…read more Got there early, not a big crowd but only one server and he was running his a$$ off. Beer was cold, a gin and tonic was served in a pint glass with a soda straw (?). Anyway- the fish was a good as remembered- big chunks of fried cod. Fries were crispy and hot too. The dill sauce was good but seems like the recipe might have changed or memory remembered something "better". Would definitely recommend for the big food people, the all you can eat special is a bargain.

After spending the afternoon at Morton Arboretum,our friends suggested we go to NWB - Next Whiskey…read moreBar in downtown Lisle. It was early on a Friday night and we were seated immediately. By the time we left tho,the place was packed! Our server Haley was great. They have a fantastic bourbon and whiskey menu as well as craft cocktails. I had their NWB Old Fashion which is made with Buffalo Trace..bonus! It was so good I had to have two.....lol. We spilt the NWB Trio appetizer which was a selection of hummus,olive tapenade and corn guacamole,fresh veggies and grilled pita. Definitely big enough for 4 people. Their menu offers Mac n cheese, Gourmet Burgers,Wraps,Sandwiches and Salads. I had the NWB Burger which was an 8 oz burger topped with pork belly,cheese curds,whiskey bbq sauce on a pretzel bun. Absolutely delicious! My wife had The Gobbler (GF) with a Turkey burger,avocado,goat cheese,roasted red pepper sauce on a GF bun. She loved it and they only charged an extra 1.00 for the GF bun. Portions are huge and the food is very good. We will definitely be back!

NWB is located in downtown Lisle and can seat ~50ish people. They also have outdoor seating as…read morewell. Parking is street parking and it was easy for me to find a spot. A friend and I stopped in for a weekday lunch and there were about 15 other customers as well. This is a casual whiskey bar with your standard bar food and drinks. Service throughout was kind of inconsistent but still OK. The food came out fairly quick which is ideal for me anyway haha. We both opted for the $10 smash burger lunch special that comes with fries. For $10 this is a great deal. The burger was juicy and delicious. The sauce on the burger goes very well with it and the bun is buttery, very good. The fries? Meh, they were pretty bland and stale.

Attentive bartender! Little dive bar! One pool table and…read moredarts, good for a night cap.

This is a neat looking bar in the Crystal Lake area that primarily focuses on Whiskey which I do…read morenot drink they do however have a small kitchen and this is a old place looks more like a rural Iowa or Wisconsin bar then something one would expect to find in Illinois

O.M.B. (ONE MAGNIFICENT BURGER)…read more Their name doesn't say it, but Next Whiskey Bar serves an incredible burger. I know my way around a sandwich, and I have to say the offerings at NWB in downtown Plainfield are some of the best around. Look for the blue & white house on Lockport St, and you'll know you've found it. NWB doesn't take reservations, however you can join an online waitlist. Park on the street or in a small lot adjacent to the building. The beer selection is fantastic, a pint ($8) never disappoints although I usually lean towards a Hefeweizen or pilsner with my meal. Yeah yeah, I know this is a WHISKEY bar, but yours truly doesn't do the brown liquor.....bad experience with Jägermeister as a kid. For appetizers, the cheese curds ($14) are pricey but oh-so-worth it. They come with a cilantro aioli and we get an order of these every single visit. The cauliflower popcorn ($11) is also a very worthy choice for starters; roasted and seasoned cauliflower florets are served with a sumptuous clarified butter. Their house NWB Burger ($16.50) is a busy affair, with pork belly, bbq sauce, onion straws and cheese curds on a pretzel bun. The Big Jer ($15.25) is a much simpler yet equally stellar burger with 2x4oz patties, lettuce, tomato, and Merkt's cheddar spread served with a pickle spear. I recently tried the Suribachi ($15.50) and it blew my mind. A 1/2lb patty is lightly fried in tempura batter, then topped with pepperjack cheese, wasabi coleslaw and sriracha on a brioche bun. Next time, I'm giving the El Toro a shot (pickled habaneros, corn guac). My wife loves the pork belly mac ($16), a good portion of cheesy cavatappi pasta with crispy pork belly. Their Cubano ($15) is solid and the Taylor Street panini ($15) is a tasty Italian grinder, with prosciutto, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato and olive spread on focaccia bread. NWB's homemade chips are amazing, I always opt for them instead of fries (which are also great). Bread = 5+ Circuses = 4.5 Service has been generally fine, but last visit it took a long time for our server to come by initially. The inside of this converted house is somewhat cramped so if the weather allows, I suggest dining 'al fresco'. Their outdoor patio definitely passes the vibe check. I honestly can't decide whose doughnuts are better, Empire in Naperville or Next Whiskey Bar's. It might be a tie! In any case, we ALWAYS end a meal here with the fried doughnuts ($11) that come with a heavenly whiskey caramel sauce for dipping. * TL;DR * In my mind, NWB stands for "Nirvana, With Burgers". Everything we've gotten here has exceeded expectations. Cheese curds, cauliflower popcorn, pork belly pasta, doughnuts and of course burgers all stand out. I would get the Suribachi again in a HEARTBEAT. The ambiance is ideal for date night and small groups, and with a small dining area that fills up fast, come early or expect a wait. Next Whiskey Bar is one of my favorite restaurants in the western suburbs, I highly recommend them.

The server who took our order asked us again what was the appetizer we ordered when he delivered…read moreour drinks. We had to ask for the bottle of water that should of been given to us when seated. The seal on the refillable water bottle had a black substance on it. We pointed this out to the server , who took the bottle away but never offered us a clean glass of water. Was never asked if we wanted another beverage . We ordered the NWB trio as an app. We had this before . It took a long time to be delivered .The pita bread was stale and the hummus dip was very dry almost old looking. We will not be coming back here. Was seated outside but no music .

My family went, for the first time, for brunch at Beef + Bourbon Chophouse. We enjoyed the…read moreselection on the buffet. The au gratin potatoes were delicious. My husband and I usually don't like them. He said if they tasted like that when he was younger, he would have at them. They had biscuits and gravy. The gravy was a good flavor, not floury, or sticky. It was just missing the sausage. There was sausage and bacon available on the buffet. The buffet had sliced prime beef, Canadian bacon, a very tasty fajita meat (no tortillas for it), French toast, pancakes, green beans, salad, fettuccine Alfredo, cheesy scrambled eggs, and other selections. They had dishes for all ages!!

Excellent service Excellent crab cake…read moreExcellent Lobster risotto Ambiance is great Great bar area 10/10 recommend

By far the best cocktail spot in East Dundee! The first floor has a beautiful bar and some larger…read moregroup seating areas. Upstairs feels like a swanky lounge with sofas and chairs. The entire place was beautifully design and played into the concept well. I ordered the Fox River which was spirit forward, smooth, and subtly sweet. My husband ordered the Gin Blossom which was frothy, bright, and balanced. The drinks both tasted good and were presented well. This was definitely a favorite spot of mine and I'd certainly come back!

If you love a chill hangout spot that has delicious craft cocktails and a modern-chic speakeasy…read moredecor then The Distance Social is for you! I've been here a few times with the guys and each time we love it. We've had the back room, with a big screen TV, all to ourselves and we've also posted up on the balcony. Not matter where we sit the seats are comfortable and the surroundings are swanky! Ordering from the menu is a chore because everything sounds amazing! Rest assured... it is! I have yet to have a cocktail here that didn't wonderfully wet my whistle. And the same high remarks go for the staff, who are always welcoming and accommodating. I dare you not to become a fan of TDS upon your first visit! Will I be back again? Absolutely!

Best watering hole in Sterling. Selection is the best in Northern Illinois, vibe is conversational…read morecool, and the staff is awesome. If you want to feel like Norm on Cheers the first and every time you walk in, stop at the Rusty Fox.

Good wine, great old fashions with ton of variety, and the owner makes sure the service is right on…read morepoint!