I've been going to Franco's for years, and it has consistently been one of my favorite bakeries…read more Their fresh bread is excellent, and my favorites are the butter cookies and the cannoli. Their sandwiches and prepared foods are always delicious. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality baked goods, Franco's is definitely worth a visit.

I don't know why I've never reviwed Franco's before. We only live 3 minutes away. We don't get…read morethere often because they close early, but it is sooo worth the trip if you can make it. Their sandwiches are some of the best in the suburbs. The bread is so excellent but their meats are great quality. The oven roasted turkey makes my wife and son swoon. Their pastries are better than the best bakeries in the area. Especially now that Jorosch's changed hands. I just ate half a pecan roll and I don't think there is a better one. The chocolate frosted donuts are top quality. The pizza is not Chicago style and it is heaven. The place is impeccably clean and the staff is so nice and hard-working. The only complaint is their hours and I just can't let it affect my rating. Highly recommended.

I've only had the Italian Beef sandwiches at Buona before, and - while good- they never blew my…read moresocks off. But today, hubby and I decided to try their protein bowls on a busy Friday late-afternoon! We brought the pupster with us, because, you know, he's family. So we sat out on the patio and I went in to order the bowls. I noted something that "probably" explained the relative "busy-ness" - 1/2 price beer and wine on Fridays! How could I not imbibe???? Hubby got the Beef and Sausage Bowl while I got the NEW! Chicken and Avocado Bowl (the latter just screamed "California"!). As a beer was 1/2 price I got a Bud Light on this warm and somewhat humid day. Now one thing you gotta appreciate- though you order at the counter, they give you a number and they bring the food to you- and they bus your table too - not bad! Alright- the food came out. And let me tell you, the Beef and Sausage Bowl looked - and tasted- fantastic. And that Chicken and Avocado Bowl? Baby. Where have you been all my life? That bowl was great! (and we shared a bit- and both of us liked each other's meal lots!). What was perfect? The portion sizes were perfect. - not overly large (as is the practice at way too many restaurants) and right- sized. Even better? The Chicken and Avocado Bowl had that terrific veneer of "health" that emanated all over it, which went a LONG way towards my enjoyment of it (despite the dressing, which- while tasty- was probably 200 calories too many). So- while I like their Italian Beef sandwiches? I fell for these bowls! And we'll be back! Buona - for god's sake. Expand outta Chicagoland! You've got a winning formula- it's time to let the country experience your food!

Food is good, the service SUCKS. It takes them 10 minutes to make a beef and fries. Either the…read morestaff is lazy and incompetent or they're shorthanded. They aren't shorthanded.

Carry Out Review! A couple of people have recommended this…read morelocal Schaumburg pizza spot so I finally gave it a try! I called to order a pizza for pick up and it was estimated for 20 minutes. The timing was spot on as I picked it up fresh from the oven. A 16" cheese was $22 in total which was a bit steep. The inside was cute and you could tell this place has been around for a while because locals love it. The pizza travelled well and was still hot. The crust was a bit thicker than I'm used to, sauce was mild (subtly sweet over savory), and cheese was straight forward. It was a good base but would be better with some toppings to add flavor. Overall, I agree that it's some of the better pizza options in the area! Tip: They only do pasta and sandwich specials throughout the week.

Our favorite pizza place near the house. To get the best experience you have to dine in. The dining…read moreroom is big but nothing fancy. Nothing is better than fresh hot pizza and sandwiches from the oven! The guys working here are so nice and pleasant we look forward to seeing them. The mushroom pizza was so good! The thin crust is nice and crispy and chewy at the same time. Amazing! We will be back for sure! We like to have it delivered for parties as well but dining in is our favorite!

I ate here with a friend who orders on a regular basis, and I really liked the food!…read moreWe had kefta sandwiches, baba ganouj, Jerusalem salad, and some falafels. It was made to order and came out nice and warm (not the salad!) and everything was very tasty! We dined in and the dining area is spacious and well lit. We are regular Pita Inn diners and the food here was a touch better but also a little more expensive, but it was well worth the cost. If I want Mediterranean food and am out this way, Pita Pita is where I will come to.

I absolutely love Mediterranean restaurants, so when I saw this was near my hotel, I stopped in for…read moredinner. Their menu is loaded with all the popular items (kabobs, shawarmas, etc), so chose their chicken shawarma bowl. The lady helping ring me up explained how it was made and that sounded great, which was the garlic sauce (sort of like toom) was on the bottom with the rice on top, salad next and then the protein on top. So, this is what I ordered. It was made fresh and came out piping hot. The rice in the dish was bland and the chicken was slightly more flavorful, which means it was basically bland as well. The garlic sauce and the salad were the best two flavors on this dish and I tried to grab some of that in each bite. I wasn't too impressed with the flavors of the chicken shawarma at all, but then again I prefer flavorful and authentic food and can't stand when ethnic restaurants cater to "Americans" by making their food less spicy/authentic. The place was rather busy when I went and the dining room was kept clean. Service was friendly. I'd recommend this place to those who don't have high expectations for spice, rather are looking for a nice experience.

What a hidden gem in an unassuming strip mall! We'd been wanting to visit here for a while, and…read morefinally made the trip after a long Saturday out and about. It was empty when it arrived, but filled up on our way out, telling me it's a popular place for the younger crowd. Either way, you know you're in for a good meal when you see the huge doner rotisserie spinning. The owner (at least I'm pretty sure he was the owner) helpfully walked us through their sauce selection and even offered my MIL some sauce samples. She ended up getting the hot dog with veggies, while my wife and I got sandwich combos (17 for the sandwich + 3.50 for fries and a drink). I was going to share my combo with my preschooler since they don't have a kids meal, but the owner thoughtfully offered some fries with chicken for him. We definitely had to tip well for such nice service. So this is no ordinary sandwich, and the pictures don't do it justice. In pics it looks kind of like a pita pocket, but this thing has some HEFT. Filled with veggies, meat, and sauce, it got a little messy but was really tasty. The veggies were fresh, and it's hard to top meat sliced right off the log. My MIL said her unique hot dog was good as well. To me it looked like a Chicago dog from another dimension, but I also want to give it a try next time. Protip: Ask for your sauces on the side. They're almost too generous with it on the sandwich so it's nice to have a little more control with it. This will definitely enter the rotation and will be letting our friends know as well. Great stuff!

I'm a fan. This Turkish/German Kebap (Kebab) place will be on rotation. The Kebap sandwich with…read morebeef will be hard for me to not order so I can try anything else on the menu. The bread is a large and rustic pita pocket. The beef is great, slices off the spit. And the load of veggies with sauce round out the sandwich. The veggies (called salad in the menu) consist of lettuce, cabbage, onion, tomato, and cucumber. You can choose between beef, chicken, or both. And the sauces consist of garlic, herb, or spicy. The counter service is fine... they make everything to order, so it does take a bit of time and it can be a little bit of a wait with orders ahead of you. The place is a typical strip mall fast food place with a handful of tables and some black and white pictures on the wall. Not fancy or crazy, but clean and inviting.

Had the pleasure of visiting Lucky Monk Bar & Grill in Downers Grove, their second location…read morefollowing the success of their South Barrington restaurant. Congratulations to owners Tony and Jeremy, GM Sean, Manager Rajan, Chef Maria, and the entire team for the warm hospitality and excellent dining experience. The Buffalo Wings were outstanding, the Fish & Chips were perfectly prepared, and their selection of IPAs was absolutely delicious. From one Chef/Owner to another, I wish you continued success as you grow. Thank you for a wonderful evening, and I look forward to visiting again soon. -- Chef Sunny Le P'tit European-American Gastronomy

I love Lucky Monk. My friend and I have come here a few times for Happy Hour because they have…read moregreat Happy Hour food deals, which I appreciate a lot as someone who doesn't drink much. The deal is half off apps, but if you enjoy an adult beverage, the house-brewed drafts are also half off. M-Th 3-6pm, dine-in only. At least that's what it is right now. I feel like it changes, so maybe call beforehand to confirm. I only got pics of the nachos this time, which really doesn't do it full justice because they're bigger than they look in the photo. Food is always good and consistent, there's nothing really to complain about regarding service or prices, and parking has always been really easy, though that could be because we typically go on Tuesdays. I imagine weekends could be a little bit busier, but the place is pretty big, so even if you have to wait, I don't think that you'd be waiting that long. The vibe is also casual and low-key.

The best gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in the area. Their food is delicious, fresh and the…read morestaff are really nice. I have bought their sandwiches around the area at several different events. My favorites are the cheese curds and the Great Dane sandwich with bacon. The pesto grilled cheese seems to be a crowd favorite. I like that they are easy to work with for events too.

The grilled cheese was ooey gooey! It was nice and warm and quick once we ordered. We got the…read moreclassic and fries and the classic with curds and garlic sauce! Both were delicious! We will definitely be including them as an option for a future party!

This is now the closest Marianos to me since the Bloomingdale store recently closed…read more This is a much bigger store and very organized. Sale items are clearly marked and the store is stocked very well. Go early as this store and shopping center does get crowded, especially on weekends. Parking is very easy . I definitely will be back.

I have lost at least $60 in food that was no good when I got it home. Hamburgers were rotten before…read morethe sell by date and we had to toss them. 3 times now the pre packaged fruit is moldy/slimy and not even near the end date. Fish from fish counter-bad at opening the package the day I bought it! Not shopping for fish, meat or fruit there anymore. Walmart is so much better.