Restaurants in Grayslake

All too often, embracing authenticity means sacrificing creativity, but the chefs in San Gabriel Mexican Café’s kitchen strive to incorporate both. They infuse classic tuna ceviche with bites of mango and passion fruit, melding tropical sweetness into the savory dish. They busily wield mortars and pestles all day to grind guacamole to order, while their ovens churn out a continuous stream of fresh-baked tortillas. Those tortillas enwrap tacos, enchiladas, and fajitas, but the chefs’ true specialties lie elsewhere on the menu. They enrich the flavor of pablano-chile sauced chicken with ground huitlacoche, an earthy, sweet fungus that grows on corn. They heartily recommend the molcajete, a traditional bowl made from volcanic stone and filled with stewed meat, three chile salsa, and cactus leaf.

SakeZake's fusion of ancient and contemporary tastes extends from the robust menu of specialty sushi rolls to the artfully minimalist dining-room decor. Executive Chef Ahn Yung Jin's classic nigiri shares menu space with specialty rolls that combine fresh fish with eye-catching ingredients such as tempura flakes, jalapeño, and diamond chips. Mock shoji screens and lacquered red chairs give the dining room the air of a modish teahouse, while the funky hourglass lamps keep things as fresh as the sushi-bar offerings. The lounge-like atmosphere is no accident, as SakeZake is open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Irish words inscribed above the main door of Bridie McKenna's––"slán abhaile"––mean "safe home," a phrase brought to life by the restaurant and pub's welcoming servers and friendly bartenders. The kitchen sends out traditional comfort foods starting with the hearty all-day Irish breakfast comprised of bacon rashers, baked beans, black and white puddings, and sautéed mushrooms. Irish classics such as corned-beef sandwiches, shepherd's pie, and lamb stew also extinguish appetites alongside 21 beers on tap and an array of single-malt scotches. The strains of Irish or contemporary live music can be heard near the open fireplace several evenings a week and karaoke enthusiasts come to show off their best microphone juggling techniques every Friday.

Owners Connie and John Tyrrell channeled their love of Mexican culture into Burrito Grande, a hub of Mexican flavors woven from seasonings and sauces mostly prepared in-house. House specialties fill warm tortilla pillows with fresh tilapia, shrimp, or pork embellished with diverse ingredients such as mango salsa and pineapple. Tacos and fajitas fill up on proteins such as chorizo sausage and juicy steak, and build-your-own burritos make for artfully stuffed meals without the papery aftertaste of piñatas.

The notion of a private supper club calls to mind gleaming expanses of polished wood and racks of fine wine. Such a vision of The Forge of Vernon Hills, which was a private club until recently, is essentially accurate. In keeping with the spirit of exclusive opulence, chefs stew tart Montmorency cherries in a sauce for duckling and shuck fresh Virginia blue-point oysters. Twin lobster tails melt drawn butter, and seasonally inspired specials with fresh ingredients have included butternut-squash ravioli and seared jumbo sea scallops with fresh mango sauce. Adjacent to the main dining area are private rooms for parties of up to 160 guests, the exact number of people on a standard rugby team.