Restaurants in Downers Grove

With its dark-wood storefront facing old-fashioned street lamps and the upstanding lines of the brick train station across the street, Chequers falls right into line with the village feel of downtown LaGrange. Once inside, however, it's clear that the village the pub means to evoke is somewhere deep within England: beer-battered fish and chips sizzle from the kitchen, Newcastle foams from the taps, and in back stands a red phone booth rumored to have birthed Dr. Who, Queen Elizabeth, and Winston Churchill on the same cold, gray day. On chilly nights, fireplaces burn in both the dining room and the English garden, where up to 50 carousers can gather around the 50-inch plasma TV.

In Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles' Oak Park location, the ambient light from low-hanging chandeliers illuminates a menu of 14 specialty waffles, 22 Cajun- and Southern-inspired entrees, and hearty portions of soul food. Trinidad-born chef Carolyn Johnson has crafted a smorgasbord of time-honored dishes with a modern twist unforeseen by Chubby Checker. Entrees, which can be paired with BYOB sips from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, include traditional chicken and waffles, catfish dinners with collard greens, and fried chicken gizzards. The swanky restaurant hosts jazz bands Thursday–Saturday, and lavishes its customers with-exposed brick walls, high-backed booths, hyperchic décor, and spontaneous baths of sweet tea.

The chefs at The Best Windy City Hot Dogs have the classic Chicago dog down to an art. With each order, they carefully ensconce a single oversized frank in a poppy-seed bun before layering on pickle spears, sport peppers, tomatoes, relish onions, and a thin line of mustard. The all-natural casings of their classic and Polish dogs allow the complementary flavors of the condiments to shine through, creating a savory balance with the aromas of chili- and cheese-soaked fries and the sounds of neglected ketchup bottles pounding at the door. Not to be defined by its hot-dog offerings, the menu spans a range of dishes that showcase America’s melting-pot history, offering Italian-beef sandwiches alongside tzatziki-drizzled lamb gyros and locally made tamales. A range of cool drinks and ice-cream treats wash down the hearty meals, and delivery or dine-in service allows guests to enjoy their treats wherever they wish without installing a franchise in the back of their car.

The chefs at Grand Duke's Restaurant sate bellies with authentic Lithuanian dishes filled with the flavors of northeastern Europe. Staff stuff potato cepelinai dumplings, Lithuania's national zeppelin-shaped dish, with filling such as ground pork or cottage cheese and top potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce. Servers top tables with entrees that include country-style duck, which slow roasts before joining thick kugelis cake and warm sauerkraut, and twin baked pork hocks that rest beside servings of red potatoes. Inside the restaurant's private dining rooms, parties of up to 35 guests can partake in a panoply of dine-in packages. Brown timbered ceilings recall the inns and taverns of a faraway kingdom, and Lithuanian paraphernalia on the walls covers up secret portholes to Vilnius.

Jerusalem Cafe's cooks draw on the rich culinary history of the eponymous city as they stuff pitas, spread hummus, and grill kebabs. Baba gannouj, tabbouleh, and falafels greet taste buds warmly, and shish kebabs of lamb and beef calm rumbling stomachs before they erupt with vitriol about the difficulty of finding a flattering cummerbund. Gulps of fresh juice yield flavors of carrot, celery, and apple, and blenders turn uptight berries into party-ready smoothies.

The cooks at Avenue Ale House plate casual American bar fare, including burgers, steaks, and chops, as bartenders pour fermented libations from their lengthy beer list. Bottles and pint glasses brim with Belgian brews, German pilsners, and British ales, along with porters, stouts, and seasonal hop juices. As servers fill tables, the sunshine, table umbrellas, and discussions about whether or not to put up the table umbrellas fill the rooftop patio during summer months. The restaurant hosts live music, which tickles tympanic membranes every Wednesday, and disc-jockey playlists encourage merriment each Friday.