Perfect little stop in when you're wandering around the downtown Elgin area for things like the…read morefarmer's market. Decent selection of booze and mixed drinks, really good prices, and carry-out cups for wandering. What more can you ask for?

We had a great time a Lounge 51. Cool concept, perfect sized menu for lite bites, good view inside…read morethe Dream Hall building and excellent craft beers. We loved the arugula, goat cheese pizza with caramelized onions, and we even like the veggie/hummus tray. It was basic but tasty. I will try to hit this up in Elgin a couple times a year. Great local business and business owner to support, as he really supports the community.

The Village Vinter is a great place to visit. I enjoy all their wines and beers as well as their…read morefood. I love their International Nights where they do the food with the wine pairings. We recently hosted my husband's 60th birthday party there. The food was absolutely amazing and the service was phenomenal. I would recommend everyone to check them out.

The girls still love to have our girls night out dinner at Village Vintner. We have been back a…read morecouple times since my first review. Service is still great. The last time we went, it was pretty early and it was quiet. Food is always very good; I still don't drink wine, so I still cannot comment on it, but the iced tea was lovely the last time I was there.

If you want to take a break from shopping at Woodmans, why not stop in at Fortunes and relax and…read moreplay a little on one of their slot machines. Very clean, well kept Store with friendly slot attendants.

From the owner: Fortune's is a State of The Art video gaming lounge offering our customers a very quiet, relaxed…read moreand cozy environment to play on brand new gaming terminals.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant is always a solid dinner choice for me, but only recently did I…read moretry their brunch! The salted caramel donuts and the Cooper's Hawk steak and eggs were some of the best items I've had from there. Let's start with the salted caramel donuts because...wow. They come out warm, soft, and perfectly golden with just the right amount of sweetness. The outside has that light crisp, the inside is fluffy, and paired with the salted caramel flavor, they're dangerously easy to keep reaching for. Definitely a must-order for the table. The Cooper's Hawk steak and eggs were just as impressive. The steak was cooked exactly how I wanted, tender, flavorful, and not overdone. The eggs were perfectly done, and the potatoes were crispy on the outside but soft inside, which really pulled the whole dish together. It's one of those meals that feels indulgent but still balanced enough for brunch. Between the cozy atmosphere, great service, and food that actually delivers, this is one of those spots I'll keep coming back to--especially for those donuts alone.

My wife and I stopped in with some friends for a quick bite after a road trip. We planned ahead…read morewith a reservation and after 5 minute wait sat in the bar area (or favorite) but also pretty loud so be prepared. Or server was bright, thoughtful and attentive. She had great energy and seemed to really liked what she does. Keep that up! While most us ordered smash burger, chicken sandwich and flatbread, my wife ordered Country Rigatoni. She doesn't get any protein but adds a few things like spinach. Looked so good and she raves about it. We had some wine tastings for the month which we're exporting, so we converted into a couple glasses of wine and used one of our two $25 rewards. So, made it an easy affordable choice. See you next time!

The suburbs don't usually inspire much confidence when someone tells you they're taking you out for…read morepizza. More often than not, you're looking at another tavern-cut pie, a dozen televisions screaming sports highlights, and a menu designed by committee. Safe. Predictable. Forgettable. Then there's Woodfire. I ended up here with my family celebrating my son's second birthday and was immediately reminded that every now and then, hidden among the endless strip malls and chain restaurants of the Chicago suburbs, you'll stumble across a place that actually gives a damn. The Vodka Pizza arrived looking almost too good to touch. Almost. Hot Calabrian vodka sauce. Fresh mozzarella. Shallot. Pepperoni. Ricotta. Basil. A combination that sounds familiar enough until that first bite lands and the heat punches through. Not the fake, watered-down, suburban version of spicy that restaurants use to avoid frightening anyone. This pizza has conviction. It has backbone. The Calabrian peppers make their presence known immediately and refuse to apologize for it. Good. Food should have an opinion. The crust, charred, blistered, beautifully imperfect, comes from house-made dough cooked in a wood-fired oven that sits like the beating heart of the restaurant. Every pie carries those little marks of fire that remind you an actual human being made it. Not a conveyor belt. Not a timer. Fire. Flour. Skill. And speaking of things that deserve respect, let's talk about the bar. Kevin has become something of a local legend in Dundee. The kind of bartender whose name gets mentioned before the cocktail list. The kind of guy who understands that making drinks isn't about pouring alcohol into a glass. It's hospitality, theater, craftsmanship, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting. Still chasing the heat from the pizza, I ordered the Spicy Flamingo. A dangerous drink. Sweet enough to invite you in. Spicy enough to keep you paying attention. The kind of cocktail that disappears faster than you intended and leaves you contemplating a second before the first one is gone. Around us, bussers moved through the dining room like a pit crew at Daytona. Tables were cleaned before they looked dirty. Empty glasses vanished. New guests were seated. The machine never stopped moving. Then there's Chef Mason. It's obvious someone in that kitchen understands the difference between cooking food and feeding people. There's technique here. Knowledge. Discipline. But thankfully none of the self-important nonsense that infects so many restaurants once they start believing their own press. Woodfire isn't trying to change your life. It's not trying to educate you. It's not trying to be the coolest restaurant in the room. Like Ferris Bueller, it understands that life moves pretty fast. So instead of chasing trends, it focuses on making exceptional handmade pizza, memorable pasta, serious cocktails, and creating a place where people actually want to spend an evening. In a world full of restaurants desperately trying to be something, Woodfire succeeds by simply being exactly what it is. And that's a hell of a lot rarer than it should be.

Woodfire fits naturally into the heart of Dundee -- relaxed, welcoming, and easy to enjoy. The…read morepizza is the highlight, bringing a fun, flavorful approach that works well for both casual nights out and group dinners. The pasta and appetizers are solid across the board, and the drinks round out the experience nicely. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that may not try to overreach, but consistently delivers a good time and a satisfying meal.

I am SO grateful this establishment is here in our town of Algonquin! The gals are personable,…read moreattentive, and knowledgeable about their vast selection of whiskey, wine, and trivia! My partner and I (early 30's) have been regulars for over a year. We look forward to trivia every Tuesday (and a few spontaneous nights between). You cannot beat the rotating wine tastings weekly and the charcuterie is killer! Made fresh to order every time!! Whether it's a special date night or a quick stop in, you are bound to have a fantastic drink (highly recommend the whisky sour) and some cheeky conversations with the lovely women work here! Kristi is truly dedicated to the business and has created a great space for the community to come together. We HIGHLY recommend you check out W&W!

Whiskey & Wine does exactly what its name promises -- and to its credit, it does those two things…read morevery well. The selection is deep, especially for whiskey, and it's a fun place to try bottles you're unlikely to run into elsewhere. There's a simplicity to the concept that works, though it comes with limits. No full bar and no food menu keep the experience fairly narrow, but if you come for a pour, a conversation, and a little exploration, it delivers exactly what it sets out to be.

Bold American Fare lives up to its name. The food is well-seasoned and thoughtfully executed, with…read morethe chef taking creative culinary leaps that keep the menu exciting and true to its "bold" identity. While pricing leans toward city-level for a suburban setting, the quality of the food consistently delivers. Service was good overall, though the atmosphere was briefly impacted by witnessing the manager engaged in a couple of heated exchanges with guests regarding meal concerns. Still, the kitchen continues to impress.

Third time at BAF and it did not disappoint!!…read more The three bone pork chop was out of this world! After the holidays I had enough red meat and was going to go with a fish but our waiter revealed the specials and I was intrigued. Great flavor, lite smokeless and moist throughout. Our friends had the pot pie and salmon and everyone loved their meals. We will be back, for sure!!! Excellent every time

Great Food, Great Staff, Great Ambience! Quit playing games and get the Chops! The Lamb Chops are…read moreperfectly charred and tossed in Ladolemono sauce just like in Greece! Also they have the best slot room around! Vegas vibes with a great lineup of machines! I like that it's private and I didn't have someone watching over me unlike other places.

Are waiter Jimmy was great, food was outstanding, more than enough, we looked like we went shopping…read morewith are doggie boxes and dessert to go! We will be back!

Checked out this local hangout in Gilberts. Drift Inn happens to be one of several bars around…read morehere. It may look like a crappy dive bar from the outside. Good thing to know it's also like that inside. The main thing is the cheap booze, along with the occasional live music. Basic looking locally owned bar. It's almost like pulling into someone's driveway, with the gravel parking lot and the garage behind it. The bar doesn't look like it has much room inside, but it's bigger than it looks. A lot of basic beers mostly in bottles and cans. Of course there's a few craft beers like Goose Island. It's about $6 for a basic cocktail. Whiskey with whatever. As far as food, nothing really to be honest. It's got $1 bags of nuts. Also you can even buy cigarettes. There's also candy, gum, and that kind of stuff. Has a pretty chill atmosphere. It's mostly just a few locals in here. The place gets more fun on weekends.

Perfect dive bar for an autumn night! Drinks are very cheap and the bar is casual and relaxed…read more There is a jukebox and snacks for sale but no beer on tap...only Jaeger the crowd is mostly male and the place is pretty run down. If you stay long enough though some locals may just bring in their pups! Nothing better than dogs in a bar in my opinion!