DES PLAINES, IL.....Lalo's Mexican Restaurant

I just ate here today for lunch, at least I think this is the correct one I ate at. I was in the Des Plaines area this morning for work so we decided to get Mexican. The restaurant was clean and somewhat busy. We were seated right away which was nice and we all ordered the buffet. I really like that they have a buffet, there really aren't very many Mexican restaurants these days that have buffets. The food was great and you got to try a little bit of everything. The only thing I didn't really care for were the Taquitos, they were tough and dry. Also, we asked our server for tortillas and it took him FOREVER to bring them to our table. Overall, the service and food were decent and I know I'll be back for their buffet.

NAPERVILLE...

LA SORELLA DI FRANCESCA

La Sorella Di Francesca is my favorite Italian restaurant in the Naperville area. I've eaten at many of this families restaurants and have been pleased with the food and service at each place. Everyday, they put new food on the menu, the food is fresh and always has great flavors. One thing that is a must when you come here is the Spinach, it's wonderful. My wife and I actually come here quite a bit and will continue to. The food is always delicious, my only complaint would be that sometimes our server is MIA, not always but a few times we had to get up to find our server, which is kind of annoying. However, I would highly recommend eating here, you won't be disappointed.

NAPERVILLE, illinois

CHEF'S CORNER

I eat here occasionally. The food is good and the service is friendly but there is usually a long line and I'm not the most patient person ever. Everything tastes great and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with whatever you choose. It's worth a try, however, come when you have time, if there's a line you'll have to wait.

IOWA CITY, IOWA

JOSEPH'S STEAKHOUSE

I'm in Iowa City occasionally for work and had the luck of being there this past weekend for the Iowa/Iowa State football game. I had meetings all day Friday then my boss took us out to dinner at Joseph's Steakhouse. I was very impressed from the moment I walked in. The atmosphere was inviting but each table gave the illusion of seclusion. There are white see through curtains by each table that you can let down for more privacy. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I ordered the Grand Filet Mignon with the Baked Potato and Steamed Asparagus for sides. Everything was cooked to perfection and enjoyable. The server was knowledgeable and helped me pair a great wine with my dinner. I will be bringing my wife to Iowa City so she can try this gem for herself.

DC'S.....Great Place To Watch A Game

I was in Iowa City this past weekend for work, I had meetings all day Friday so I decided to stay Saturday and watch the Iowa/Iowa State game. We had a tailgate Saturday morning and when it was time for the game we headed downtown to watch the game and grab a bite to eat. We chose DC's. It's located in a great location in the Ped-Mall. The atmosphere was inviting but somewhat rambunctious. The food was decent but like any bar food you can get anywhere. They were busy so the service was kind of slow, but overall it was a decent place to watch the game.

NAPERVILLE!

PORTILLOS!

This is one of may favorite places to eat. It's quick, cheap and the food is delicious. If you have never eaten here before, I would highly recommend it, you will NOT be disappointed.



MESON SABIKA

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Naperville area. My wife and I like to come here as often as we can. This particular occasion was about two weeks ago and we came with a couple of our close friends. Like usual the service was great and the food was delicious. I've tried pretty much everything here and I prefer the hot tapas but I enjoy them all. A few of my favorite tapas are the Dates wrapped in Bacon, Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes, Atlantic Salmon with Goat Cheese and baked Goat Cheese with Garlic Bread. They also have great Sangrias that are worth a try. If you like tapas this is definitely the place to come.

BOSTON!

ATLANTIC FISH COMPANY

I was in Boston this past week for work. One night we ate at the Atlantic Fish Company. They were really busy but since we had made reservations we didn't have to wait too long. I was impressed with the restaurant, they were very welcoming and even though they were very busy, we still had great service. We ordered the Maine Crab & Artichoke Dip as a starter, which was very good. I also ordered a bowl of their Clam Chowder which was amazing and I got the Maine Lobster for my dinner, which was cooked to perfection. Overall my dining experience was excellent and I will definitely be coming back here next time I'm in Boston.


NEPTUNE OYSTER

Another great restaurant I ate at was Neptune Oyster, which is located in Little Italy. I was pleasantly surprised with the place, it's somewhat small but cozy and the staff was very friendly. A coworker and I sat at the bar and ate. I got a bowl of their Clam Chowder which was amazing and we shared an order of the West Coast Oysters which were really good. For lunch I ordered the Main Lobster Roll, hot with butter, which is the most amazing sandwich I have ever tried, which is why I ate here another two times before I had to leave. I highly recommend coming here and trying the Lobster Roll.

I have to travel a lot for work, I like it because I get to see the world. I get to experience many new places and try all types of new food. I choose the places I like best and then I take my wife on a romantic getaway for a long weekend or something. I leave for Boston tonight and will be there for about 3 days. I want to take my wife somewhere over Labor Day weekend but I haven't decided where yet...maybe I'll be taking her to Boston.