Restaurants in DeKalb, IL
July 31, 2015 6:15 AM Subscribe
My sister (early 30s, kinda foodie) is moving to DeKalb, IL for the year and I'd like to get her a gift certificate to a restaurant or two.
She likes craft beers and locally sourced produce and meats, stuff like that. She's allergic to peanuts. She usually eats pretty healthfully, but if there's a good ice cream place or something, I'm pretty sure she'd be all over it.
I've never been to DeKalb so I have zero ideas. Help!
She likes craft beers and locally sourced produce and meats, stuff like that. She's allergic to peanuts. She usually eats pretty healthfully, but if there's a good ice cream place or something, I'm pretty sure she'd be all over it.
I've never been to DeKalb so I have zero ideas. Help!
Well, it's like 1.5 hours away from Chicago right? Oh my, that's a FOODIE city if there ever was one! I'd get her a certificate to a place in Chicago, because she will most likely venture into the city and she could make a day out of it, especially if it's a well regarded restaurant. Grace (or Alinea, but that may be a bit too weird/pricey for her), Girl and the Goat, Purple Pig are only some of your options. Just throwing this as in idea!
posted by carmel at 7:13 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by carmel at 7:13 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
LTH Forum thread on DeKalb.
Serious Eats thread on DeKalb. Looks like Ollies Frozen Custard is a prospect.
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:19 AM on July 31, 2015
Serious Eats thread on DeKalb. Looks like Ollies Frozen Custard is a prospect.
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:19 AM on July 31, 2015
For some serious meat, there's the Machine Shed in Rockford, which is just a short drive up 39.
Naperville has a lot of good places, and it's a much closer drive than Chicago. Try Coopers' Hawk for good food and great wine.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:29 AM on July 31, 2015
Naperville has a lot of good places, and it's a much closer drive than Chicago. Try Coopers' Hawk for good food and great wine.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:29 AM on July 31, 2015
Response by poster: Sorry -- I probably should've mentioned that she's lived in Chicago for the last 8 years or so, and will be in DeKalb just for the coming year (it's for a grad school thing). She'll be heading back to Chicago regularly, so I'm looking for stuff in the DeKalb area specifically. (Carmel -- she DOES like Girl & the Goat, so good guess!)
posted by oh really at 8:20 AM on July 31, 2015
posted by oh really at 8:20 AM on July 31, 2015
I lived in DeKalb for 7 (long) years so I feel like I should be able to help you out more, but most of the places that I'd recommend have closed up shop since I moved away. The Hillside is several notches above the average diner, but it's definitely a diner. It's not a restaurant, but Inboden's Meat Market is probably the top foodie destination right now, but you can't get everything there. For serious grocery shopping, she might be happier going 20 minutes down 88 to Woodman's in Aurora, because the other choices are a 24-hour Wal-Mart or a particularly sad Jewel location.
posted by jordemort at 9:00 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jordemort at 9:00 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I lived there for a year. Tapa la Luna is very nice. There are two Indian places that are good too. Ollie's is good if you like really, really sweet treats. Inboden's is a fun place to shop for wine and specialty items.
posted by LadyCamber at 12:12 PM on July 31, 2015
posted by LadyCamber at 12:12 PM on July 31, 2015
Basil Tree down the road in Dixon is decent. Not much going on in DeKalb, but Mediterraneo and Yen Ching are edible, if not actually interesting.
posted by likedoomsday at 4:27 PM on July 31, 2015
posted by likedoomsday at 4:27 PM on July 31, 2015
O'Leary's and The House Cafe have decent selections of craft beers.
As others have mentioned, Ollie's is legendary in the area.
In general, for someone who comes from the big city, I've found DeKalb/Sycamore to be pretty underwhelming.
posted by puritycontrol at 2:14 PM on August 1, 2015
As others have mentioned, Ollie's is legendary in the area.
In general, for someone who comes from the big city, I've found DeKalb/Sycamore to be pretty underwhelming.
posted by puritycontrol at 2:14 PM on August 1, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sandmanwv at 7:04 AM on July 31, 2015