Mexican classics

There are two names listed on the menu: chef partner Dudley Nieto and chef de cuisine Raul Abarca. Regardless of who was cooking, the food that hit our table on two separate occasions was as fine as I could ask for.

Georgie V’s all that and more for whole family

Georgie V’s in Northbrook bills itself out as a “Pancake house and more.” Indeed, it is a pancake house and, as pancake houses go these days, you can chow down on “Old Fashioned Pancakes” that start with a basic buttermilk version and roll on through chocolate chip, banana, blueberry and “ old silver dollars” that can be had as a stack of six or 12.

Japanese act not quite all together at Kabuki Steakhouse

The chef, part showman and part grill master, entertains diners seated on three sides of his work station, a well-vented teppan grill that reaches a temperature of 450 degrees, where several different dishes are simultaneously prepared.

Ole' Hardwood fails to make impression
Ole’ Hardwood bills itself as a “Gastro-Smokehouse.” The “smokehouse” designation comes, I suspect, from the fact that Ole’ Hardwood has some ribs on the menu, which the menu states are “from the smoker,” which, I suppose, is burning some kind of hardwood.

Special K's

Kith & Kin on West Webster has an eater-friendly menu that in its brevity has an imposing wealth of bravura. It's the kind of menu that makes you think a bit about what it is you want to order, because the choices across the board are interesting. All of that smartness is accomplished with a potpourri of six crocks, six salads, eight entrees and four side dishes. At Kith & Kin, simplicity reigns, and when it reigns, it scores.

Del Seoul serves up mighty fine Korean BBQ

The subtitle to Del Seoul, a new storefront restaurant on North Clark Street, is "Korean Street BBQ."

Chef Amaury has right touch in new incarnation

Amaury Rosado's culinary skills caught the eye of food critics and built a strong following when he began serving dinner Friday and Saturday nights in mid-2008 at Chef Amaury's Epicurean Affair, a tiny strip-mall space on the outskirts of Aurora.

Pat Pourri

Have you noticed how the price of chicken has flown up? I have. Some restaurants like to hang a designer label -- Slagel Farms, Miller Farms -- on the leg of the chicken to justify several bucks more. Sometimes, it's worth it; sometimes, it's not.