Restaurants in Chicago Ridge

Crêpe Bistro takes taste buds on a globetrotting gastronomic trip to France and Russia, provided that your tongue’s passport and travel papers are in order. Crawl mouthfirst into Crêpe Bistro's slate of authentic crêpes, including the fromage classic ($7.25) with your choice of cheese; the peasant-pleasing ratatouille crêpe ($10.25), containing a stew of vegetables and spices; the chutney-covered Kathmandu ($11) with chicken, mushrooms, cheese, and curry; and the Crêpe Tahiti ($10), a rolled-up paradise of cheese, ham, and pineapple chunks. Dessert crêpes, topped with powdered sugar and whipped cream, include the sugar & cinnamon crêpe ($4.50), the apple crêpe ($7), and the banana & Nutella crêpe ($7.50). Crêpe Bistro also serves several caviar-containing dishes on its dinner menu, and its brunch menu and roster of alcoholic drinks, including the $5 martini bar, will attract diners of all shoe sizes. Get your Groupon and stop by Crêpe Bistro after a night at the theater for crowd-pleasing crêpe craftsmanship.

The nautically themed Weather Mark Tavern’s affable chef, Jake, carefully crafts a rotating menu of American bistro fare accented with southwestern flavors. Hardwood, exposed brick, and smooth granite embellish the tavern, drawing eyes toward floor-to-ceiling sails that sequester tables and couches of cozy dates or intense scurvy treatments. Specialty rum drinks splash glasses with smooth fruit flavor and an array of brews on tap quenches thirsts. Special events fill the calendar in the form of holiday parties, live music, and viewings of favorite sports or management teams.

Delux Bar & Grill's resident chefs elevate their menu of sliders, sandwiches, and pizzas with refined ingredients and handcrafted flair. Starters of crispy Reuben rolls or hummus prep palates for one of seven grilled sauce circles, such as The DeLux, which layers buffalo chicken tenders, jalapeños, colby jack cheese and bacon atop a homemade crust. Dining companions can fix fangs into The Big Bro burger’s blend of hand-pattied beef, bacon, and pepper jack, or covertly bottle samples of the top-secret barbecue sauce cloaking a trio of pulled-pork sliders. Peruse the drink menu’s](http://gr.pn/qA60K9) panoply of sudsy brews and classic martinis, chasing down savory flavors with The French’s intoxicating blend of Ketel One, Chambord, and pineapple juice.

Aldino's melds the robust flavors of Italian cuisine with the relaxed charm of comfort food, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients in its dinner menu. Appetizers include grilled octopus ($9) and prosciutto-topped flatbread ($8), and pasta dishes delve into jazzed-up versions of Old Country favorites. Stomach-sign on the dietary dotted line with the squid ink spaghetti ($16), served with braised calamari, or revel in the richness of the squash ravioli ($15). Main entrees explore porcine and Poseidon-approved fare—the pork shoulder ($18), braised in lemon and milk, satisfies unbridled carnivorous urges, while the seared Arctic char ($19) sidekicks its sustenance with crispy brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes. Cap off consumption with a glass of Aldino's house-made fig-infused grappa ($7) and a slice of chocolate hazelnut cake ($6).

Located in historic Bronzeville, Ain't She Sweet Cafe reflects the neighborhood’s own heartiness with its menagerie of savory meals and sweet desserts. Lofted ceilings and hardwood floors contain the aromas of wraps, sandwiches, and paninis stacked with ingredients such as grilled chicken, smoked turkey, sun-dried tomatoes, and pepper jack cheese. Chefs also toss made-to-order salads with fresh greens and vine-ripened tomatoes, and blend more than 10 smoothies from real fruit and the proud tears of organic farmers. To ensure meals finish on the sweetest note possible, servers plate brownies, cakes, and pies, and blend milkshakes from more than 12 ice-cream flavors such as pistachio, chocolate chip, and strawberry. Ain't She Sweet Cafe's owners pair their passion for food with a passion for art, and often deck the dining room's exposed-brick walls with works made by local artists.

Amid exposed bricks and flickering candlelight, hundreds of wines, craft beers, aged spirits, and seasonal cocktails delight palates, earning The Tasting Room accolades such as Best Wine Bar, Best Lounge, and Best Romantic Bar in Best of Citysearch 2009. Like giddy produce matchmakers, educated sommeliers and consultants pair wines by the glass, bottle, or flight with a seasonal menu of crisp, house-made flat breads, artisan cheeses, and craft charcuterie. Simmering pots of fondue slowly bubble atop tables, heating thick cheeses and sweet dipping chocolate. In the upstairs lounge, plush couches flank low tables, and windows host skyline views and the jealous glares of mouthless stars.