Opening in November as part of a small wave of new spots coming to Skokie’s West Dempster business district, Krispy Krunchy Chicken brings the Louisiana-based chain to the North Shore. While some of its fare is quite good, there’s not much to elevate it beyond other popular fried chicken restaurants. Located at 5128 Dempster St., the carryout only storefront shares a parking lot with a Shell Station and could be missed from the road if not for a banner waving out front. The franchise is owned by Skokie resident Salim Kadri, and he seemed to be getting help from his two older daughters while …

Skokie has excellent Greek diners, but for Greek fine dining you’ll want to head next door to Lincolnwood’s Psistaria Greek Taverna. The restaurant offers superb service and a menu featuring huge portions of great food. Located at 4711 W. Touhy Ave., Psistaria Greek Taverna’s décor is a celebration of Greece. The space is painted white and decorated with false columns reminiscent of the nation’s ancient architecture. Walls are lined with photos of Greece, and an arch in the back features a painting that makes it look like you’re looking out a window onto a sunny Grecian landscape. Since you’…

Skokie's Taboun Grill primarily caters to the village's significant population of Orthodox Jews, but their food is good enough that it's worth trying for anyone who enjoys Middle Eastern fare. Located in a strip mall at 8808 Gross Point Road, the casual spot features an open kitchen where you can watch the meals prepared and chicken shawarma spinning on a spit. There are plenty of dark wood tables, with room for two along the wall and long tables for large groups in the back. An inlaid brick wall is decorated with bright colored Jewish art, including images of candlesticks and a man dancing…

The Michigan-based Jet’s Pizza has more than 200 locations across the country, but the new Skokie location is the chain's first in the North Shore. While the company is entering a field crowded by other chains and local favorites, the high quality food and convenient delivery makes it poised for success. Located in a strip mall at 4112 Dempster St., Jet’s Pizza is carryout and delivery only. Unable to resist the chance to do a restaurant review in my pajamas, I ordered in Friday night. The employee answering the phones was very polite and patient, first checking to confirm that the restaurant…

There’s nothing fancy about Beijing Wok, but what it lacks in frills it makes up for with great food, whether you dine in or order out. Located in a strip mall, the small spot at 8335 N. Skokie Blvd. is plain but neat. The space features a line of booths with tables in a variety of sizes set with green-cushioned seats. Mirrors embedded in the walls resemble windows that give the place the illusion of being larger. A number of potted plants and a fish tank populated by koi bring a little life to a place that was largely dead when we dined there Friday night. There were just two other people …

Open since 1984, Sander’s Restaurant has built a loyal following of patrons, but never took that as an excuse to coast on its reputation. The large menu features portions so big you're likely to end up with two good meals for the price of one. The restaurant at 5320 Touhy Ave. has the standard diner décor; there’s a mix of booths, tables and counter-seating and a TV set in the corner. Walls are lined with abstract and nature-themed paintings and planters hang from the ceiling. A rotating case showcasing pies and cakes offers a fix for anyone's sweet tooth. Read more: Check out our other …

Open since 1995, Ruby of Siam has been bringing in crowds for more than two decades by offering an extensive menu of excellent Thai dishes. Sharing a menu with its second location in the Chicago Loop, the spot rewards the adventurous while also serving all the classics. While it’s tucked away in a strip mall at 9420 Skokie Blvd., Ruby of Siam boasts a beautiful interior. The space features a mix of tables and wooden half booths with bright colored throw pillows. Walls are covered with vibrant, sparkling tapestries and a row of sculpted elephant heads hangs above the back. The place was quiet …

Open since 1995, Ruby of Siam has been bringing in crowds for more than two decades by offering an extensive menu of excellent Thai dishes. Sharing a menu with its second location in the Chicago Loop, the spot rewards the adventurous while also serving all the classics. While it’s tucked away in a strip mall at 9420 Skokie Blvd., Ruby of Siam boasts a beautiful interior. The space features a mix of tables and wooden half booths with bright colored throw pillows. Walls are covered with vibrant, sparkling tapestries and a row of sculpted elephant heads hangs above the back. The place was quiet …

Editor's note: Our food critic is off this week so we're running a previous restaurant review. Also, if you have recommendations for a future restaurant review post a comment below or send an email to georges@patch.com Jack’s Restaurant has been a Skokie institution for more than 50 years, but it has little to offer beyond nostalgia. If you’ve never been to the spot, there’s no reason to seek Jack’s out. Open since 1956, Jack’s was originally open 24 hours and served as a popular hangout for smokers and high school students. After Illinois passed its smoking ban, the restaurant management …

While the North Shore has a huge amount of ethnic dining options, Cuban food had been historically missing before Taste of Cuba opened in May. The restaurant offers more than novelty, with low prices and excellent food making the casual spot a success. Located in a strip mall at 3918 W. Touhy Ave., the biggest problem with Taste of Cuba may be finding parking. The shared lot is tiny and hard to navigate and was entirely full when we arrived around 7 p.m. Friday, forcing us to park on a residential street a few blocks away. A server quickly seated my fiancé and me when we arrived at table for …

Fraiche Bakery & Café has built up a loyal following since opening three years ago, attracting customers with its casual atmosphere and excellent, eclectic menu. Located just a block from Evanston’s Noyes Purple Line stop, the counter service spot at 815 Noyes St. is tiny, featuring two black metal tables outside and seating for about two-dozen people inside. The menu changes regularly, so it’s displayed on chalkboards rather than in any more permanent form. Their beautiful selection of baked treats is displayed up front, with novel choices like horchata cupcakes ($3.50) and pumpkin bread …

Evanston has long been a great place to sample dishes from around the world, but its dining scene got even more diverse with the opening of 527 Cafe last year. The Taiwanese spot is a novel treat, serving up huge portions of dishes you won’t find anywhere else in the area. The counter service at 527 Davis St. is cheerfully decorated with bright orange chairs and large windows overlooking the street. A mosaic of mirrors hangs above the half-booths in the back of the restaurant and hanging lights provide a mellow glow. A TV screen displays a slide show, showcasing many of the dishes offered at …

With three locations in Chicago, Epic Burger has already built up a loyal following in the city. Now, the restaurant is set for a major expansion push, with the company planning 12 burger joints by the end of the year. The first of these opened at Westfield Old Orchard Sept. 26, introducing the North Shore to their menu of all-natural made fresh fare. The counter service restaurant located next to Crate and Barrel was already doing brisk business Friday night, with a big crowd gathered for takeout orders and the dining area nearly full. While there were some adult couples and groups, the …

Morton Grove’s newest restaurant, Tava, was opened last week by a Morton Grove resident who thought the village could use good Indian food. Owner Mahesh Sharma is right, as the restaurant makes the area’s dining options more diverse by providing solid food and a truly novel cocktail menu. Located in a strip mall at 7172 Dempster St., Tava is small but elegant. Tables feature white tablecloths and red candles, and you can sit at the dark wood chairs or red half-booths. Read more: More restaurant reviews You can also grab a seat at the bar and watch the bartender work on ornate cocktails mixed …

Libertad, Skokie’s newest restaurant, could easily be at home in downtown Chicago. The Latin eatery offers delicious and beautifully presented food and drinks at reasonable prices. The restaurant at 7931 Lincoln Ave. is helmed by Las Palmas’ Marcos Rivera and chef Armando Gonzalez of Chicago’s Bin 36 and MK. The spot features a bar with tall seats with multiple wall-mounted wooden wine racks. The dining room is painted with warm hues and decorated with 3D images of faces. The small wooden tables are lit by candles and have a view of the open kitchen. Read more: More restaurant reviews …

Evanston’s Trattoria Demi offers affordable hearty Italian fare anytime, but the best deal is to head there for lunch. Offered every day--not just weekdays--its lunch specials provide excellent, made-to-order dishes at fast-food prices. I’ve been a fan of the eatery at 1571 Sherman Ave. since I was a student at Northwestern University. The intimate restaurant is nice enough to take a date without putting a strain on anyone’s wallet. The portions are also huge, so the prices are made more reasonable by knowing you’re typically paying for two meals. This was my first time going to Trattoria …

Beyond Thai took over Thai Pavilion II’s digs in August, and is a huge improvement over its predecessor. The restaurant features a menu of Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese food that can be made to satisfy any tastes. The restaurant at 4654 Church St. has kept the same décor as Thai Pavilion II, but has new owners and a new chef. Tables are topped with white tablecloths, fish swim in a tank near the kitchen and a flat-screen TV was tuned to the Travel Channel that was airing shows devoted to food. Read more: Check out previous restaurant reviews  My companion and I visited Saturday night and…

The Rooftop Bar at Wilde & Greene is beautiful, but its looks aren’t enough to make up for massive shortcomings. High prices, mediocre service and serious menu problems make this bar one to skip in Skokie. I first attempted to visit the spot at Westfield Old Orchard Mall on Aug. 20. A rainy morning had given way to a cool, sunny evening, so I anticipated the outdoor space might draw a big crowd. I tried to call ahead, but no one answered the phone number listed on Wilde & Greene’s website. I then called the mall and confirmed the number was correct. After multiple calls going unanswered and …

Chicagoans may debate over whether the city’s best pie is made at Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s, but in Morton Grove the great pizza debate is between Burt’s Place and Pequod’s. We’re putting the two head to head, breaking down their strengths and weaknesses to determine the victor. This week we are asking our readers to vote via Facebook and tell us: Who has the best pizza in the North Shore? Click here to cast your vote! Atmosphere Both Burt’s Place and Pequod’s are tucked away in largely residential areas and you could drive right past them if you didn’t know what you were looking for. …

After more than a year of construction, Wilde & Greene is open at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie and it was worth the wait. Just don’t expect it to be a new food court. The structure of Wilde & Greene will be familiar to anyone who has dined at foodlife in Chicago’s Water Tower Place. Patrons enter and are given a card, which is swiped when ordering food or drinks at any of the restaurant’s 16 stations. At the end, the cashier uses the card to determine to resulting tab. They also add in a 10 percent gratuity, which is an unpleasant surprise given it's a counter service restaurant. A …