This is THE place to be at Aurora's food truck festival! The line was long but worth it. It took us…read moreabout 30 minutes to get to the truck but once we ordered our food was ready almost right away! I had the mac and cheese bowl with brisket which was delicious. It is deceivingly small at first but it ended up being just the perfect portion (and a very reasonable price). My boyfriend got the Memphis sandwich and burnt ends which he really enjoyed. We also tried some of their "strawberry pickles" which were actually pretty good - super hard to describe so you'll just have to try them for yourself!

They have a nice combo bowl of appetizers with brisket on top, can't beat that ULTRA BBQ combo!…read moreGood stuff. I had it at a concert at the Aurora river walk area. I can dance if I want to!

Rib Fest Review: Hell's Kitchen BBQ - 4.5/5 Stars…read more I recently attended Rib Fest in Chicago and made it my mission to sample barbecue from several vendors, including Robinson's, Texas Roadhouse, and others. One stop that truly stood out was Hell's Kitchen BBQ. The first thing I noticed wasn't the food--it was the energy. The team at the booth was welcoming, enthusiastic, and clearly proud of what they were serving. Their presentation was also impressive. Unlike many of the other vendors, they displayed exactly what customers would be getting, including portion sizes and plated examples. As a customer, I appreciated that level of transparency. I ordered the rib tips and fries because I had already purchased ribs from another vendor and wanted to compare different offerings. While I was waiting for my food, I struck up a conversation with the owner. When he learned I had ordered the rib tips, he smiled and said, "The tips are great, but you should have tried the ribs." When I explained that I was trying food from multiple vendors, he graciously offered me a sample. What impressed me wasn't just the sample--it was the generosity behind it. The portion he gave me was anything but small. Afterward, I tried both the rib tips and the ribs. The rib tips were outstanding. Tender, flavorful, and seasoned so well that they didn't need sauce. Every bite was packed with flavor. The ribs were equally impressive. Smoky, juicy, and cooked perfectly. The sauce had a little kick to it--something spice lovers will probably enjoy. While I personally prefer less heat, the spice wasn't overpowering and complemented the smoky flavor well. The fact that the ribs came fresh off the grill made the flavors even more intense. The fries were standard fries--good, but the star of the show was definitely the barbecue. What ultimately elevated this experience was the customer service. The owner was kind, approachable, and genuinely passionate about his product. That level of hospitality leaves a lasting impression. Food: 4.5/5 Customer Service: 5/5 Presentation: 5/5 Overall Experience: 4.5/5 If you see Hell's Kitchen BBQ at an event or have the opportunity to visit them, I absolutely recommend giving them a try. #RibFest #ChicagoFoodie #BBQReview #SupportSmallBusiness #FoodReview #BlackOwnedBusiness #ChicagoEats #TheSpedWhisper

Tried Hell's BBQ for the first time and overall had a great experience…read more I ordered to-go, but the small dining area looked clean and welcoming. As soon as you walk in, the counter is on the left, and they have a display plate behind glass that gives you a visual idea of what the meals look like--which I thought was a nice touch. They offer a good variety on the menu. I ordered brisket, a smash burger, rib tips, and ribs. The brisket and smash burger were excellent--definitely the highlights of the meal. The rib tips and ribs were good, though the ribs were a little on the dry side. All the meats had great flavor overall. Personally, I wasn't a fan of their BBQ sauce, but that comes down to individual taste. I'll definitely be coming back to try more from their menu--especially since quality BBQ spots are hard to come by in this area.

Cute, little shop with freezer cases filled with exotic flavors of sausages. Old style and Malory,…read moreblueberry and maple, Nashville hot, just to name a few. Homemade sauerkraut, lots of fresh sausages my favorite was the Italian beef, lean lean lean and full of flavor. Homemade slim Jim's in lots of flavors. Great service.

I got hot Italian, sweet (aka mild) Italian, spicy Polish, and taco brats. I found all to be light…read moreon flavor - both of the Italian were very light on fennel seed and I'd never have guessed what the taco brat was. The grind on all of them was finer than what I prefer, and they all tasted like they had a bit of something like vinegar in them. And at about $9 per pound, they're pricey for this area. But I liked that the links in each pack were not connected, and I particularly liked that all of the links were on the thicker side. I'll try these same four choices again to see if the flavor is better, but before then I'll visit Frankie's Deli in Oakbrook Terrace for the best hot and mild Italian sausage, and Ream's Meat Market in Elburn for several varieties from their huge selection of sausages.

Today 12-6-2025, very disappointed they are lowering the quality and the flavor…read more Insatisfecho han bajado la calidad de la comida y el sabor dista mucho a lo que originalmente era Espero que mejoren

10/10. I was looking for pupusas and hit the local gold mine. These are outstanding. It's a food…read moretruck in a parking lot in Aurora so don't expect seating or ambience but the food was perfection. The pupusas come steak, pork, chicken and beans. We tried the pork, chicken and bean versions and were thrilled with them all. I only wish there was an option to buy a plate of 1 instead of 3 - it was more than I could eat at one sitting but now I have some more for later! Highly recommended.

Very nice bartender, great tacos, good parking, nice patio and a few craft beers on tap, large…read moreamount of tater tots. Very near the parade path today!

I'm a bit of a nacho connoisseur, so on my first visit to Pig Dog Pub I got the Sunday half-price…read morenachos with added sliced avocado - which was also half-price. I figured it was about 2,000 calories - a whole day's worth of food. It was very good, and at $5.50 it was an incredible value. I didn't spot any nacho cheese sauce, just melted cheddar, which is much better for nachos unless they're the ballpark kind where you just dip the chips in a pile of gooey nacho cheese sauce - which also can be very good but is an entirely different thing. The avocado looked to be about half of a medium avocado, very ripe and fresh, and the pico de gallo was also fresh and plentiful. There were enough black beans to balanced the dish, and a huge dollop of sour cream, which for some reason I love on nachos even though they have a bunch of cheese. Of all the restaurant experiences I've had in the last ten years, this is one of only a few that have been outstanding in quality and value. I'll try the Wednesday pizza next - I'm a bit of a connoisseur of that, too, and it's half-price on Wednesday.

Food is delicious always. Great staff, portions are good sizes as well. Meatballs are to die for…read more Paul Richard's will be back

We headed to Giardino for our post-theater dinner on Sunday. This was our second time at this…read morerestaurant and again, we enjoyed our dining experience. Two for two!! Our server today was Jackie, who provided good service and was personable and friendly. We started with cocktails, an old-fashioned for him and a bees knees for me. The bartender didn't quite get the bees knees to the right balance level with the honey, but I asked one of the staff to ask the bartender to add more honey. He kind of missed the mark on that cocktail unfortunately. In his defense, a lot of bartenders really don't know how to make a good bees knees. We ordered the meatballs and polenta to share as an appetizer. The meatballs rivaled my Italian dad's, and that says a lot because he made the best meatballs ever. The restaurant didn't serve grilled crostini with their meatballs like other places unfortunately, and there was no bread service. However, I believe they do have garlic bread on their menu that you can order For dinner my husband had the short ribs with gnocchi and I had the vodka rigatoni. Both of those dishes were delicious. I don't like short ribs but I gave it a taste - it was tender and delicious. My vodka rigatoni came with chicken for some reason (this 100% Italian would never put chicken with rigatoni alla vodka) so I nixed it. A half slice of garlic bread was served on each of our entrées. My husband's was perfectly grilled and mine was not. The one time I was getting bread and it turned out to be meh. We ordered a tiramisu to take with us to enjoy later that evening. It was light and heavenly. However, for the price, I think they could have offered a larger slice as it was a small 3 x 3 square. Having said that I love that we found a place that has good food just a five-minute walk from the theater. I think our fellow theater goers discovered this place, too, because the place was packed. Even with the slight things that I was disappointed in, I would return time and time again because the food is really good. Give this place to try!

I don't know how this place can only have a 4.0 when it well exceeds a 5 and then some!!!!!…read more The food- absolutely delish and not overly done with flavors that literally burst with flavor and freshness! The shishito peppers were so sweet and tangy in the bacon jelly and cheese and oozed with goodness! The steak and chicken were such a great combo to share between my husband and I with both being such different profiles of taste and actually complimented one another. The steak itself was absolutely perfect and the bread under soaked up all those juices so you didn't have to lick the plate after (great ingenuity when dining out :)) The desserts were fantastic but the star of the show was def the raspberry blondie. It was everything I imagined and more. The perfect sweet and tart mixed in a bowl with spoons ... thank you for not plating this - I felt like I was at home about to sit on the couch and indulge in something I created. Perfect experience, perfect presentation and to top it off their restaurant is surrounded by their farm. Tomatoes, jalapeños, peaches, peppers, micro greens, greens, herbs..... with everything going on today in this world and every thing being recalled this is a place I can stand behind doing it the right way! Service the phenomenal, food was perfection and atmosphere was next to none.... Thank you so much for such an amazing dinner out!

The service was a little slow but our server was very polite l…read more Whiskey sour was sort of flavorless. The beet salad was also disappointing. I expected more flavor but the texture was good. The baked goat cheese was excellent! As was the old fashioned. This place just has great whiskey. Their summer wind cocktail is good too. The ambiance is fabulous. This place puts a lot of thought into their menu, ingredients, etc.

Food may not look the best, but tasted great! Very…read moreflavorful, typical Mexican food Missing guacamole and rice options though

Food was HORRIBLE ,service was poor..tacos were dry and Punie the tortillas were old. Go to other…read morefood truck this was a hot mess

We reserved Gray's Mill for my son's Rehearsal Dinner. They set us up on the 3rd floor with our…read moreown bartender and servers. The wait staff service was outstanding and Adam, the bartender was excellent. Appeitzers were delicious - spinach artichoke dip and meatballs with marinara. We provided our guests with the choice of Fish&Chips, Grilled Chicken Sandwich or the Wienerschnitzel...kids were given a Chicken Tender Meal. Everyone truly enjoyed their meals. I appreciated they allowed a special meal for the MOB who is a vegetarian. The sugar donuts at the end of the meal were a hit! :) Alyssa, the party coordinator for the venue was super accomodating and super easy to work with. It does take a few days for response time - BUT, I always got a response. And she was always willing to give us everything we asked for! The venue even let us in earlier than requested to set up our decor. We would definitely recommend this venue for a bridal/baby shower or birthday party - any special event that is smaller in numbers. The venue has been advertising a new addition to the space next to building but it seems the construction has haulted. It is a shame because it is a bit of an eyesore - BUT, if they complete this addition, it will be beautiful. Hope they are able to complete it. The Gray's Mills has history with it's town so I hope locals will continue to support it. When we come back to visit our son and my new daughter-in-law, we will definitely be back for a visit - especially if the weather is nice!! They have a great outdoor patio along the Fox River just outside the restaurant on the bottom floor. Thank you Gray's Mill Estate!!

Great Service, food, & beer, ya go ahead and get a Liter. For us 8-9:30 was fun. Live music!read more

Heard some good things and decided to check this place out. It was a massive let down. The 17$…read moreburger and fries were disappointing. The burger had more bun than anything, and was very salty. The fries are extremely thick cut, and ended up being closer to baked potato sticks than a fry's. We ate this about 3.5 hours ago and both me and my friend have intense indigestion On top of it all, The service was amateur and inattentive to basic needs such as napkins. Despite seeing a few things on the menu I would like to try, I won't be coming back.

Brought some friends to this hip restaurant on Stolp Island. Craft Urban is one of those places…read morethat plays loud music you can hear on the patio. It actually is one of the area's several pretty okay restaurants. For sure better than yet another chain. The prices are kind of high and the menu is kind of limited to be honest. A restaurant that has a big bar in front. It's big enough that there's plenty more room for tables. This is also a restaurant that has an open kitchen so you can see them cooking from even the patio or wherever. Just expensive. That's about the worst thing about it. It's about $8 for a basic cocktail. The nicer ones are a lot more. It's about $19 for an entree. Limited choices here for vegetarians. I got the Pasta Pomodoro. This is pasta with basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan which I left off, and tomato sauce. It wasn't a large amount. The rest of the menu has meaty items like burgers and Italian beef sandwiches. For sure it's a nice place for the area. It's open for lunch and dinner daily so go any time. The doors even list it as being open until "whenever."