Restaurants in Lake in the Hills

Red neon signage smolders above the entrance to Beef Villa, a no-frills eatery where diners can settle into crimson booths and dig into freshly carved gyros, seasoned Italian beef sandwiches, and other succulent offerings. Ever since the original Dundee Avenue location opened in 1970, the eatery has been serving up a menu of "hot and fast" casual fare, from chili infused with Red Hot Chicago pure beef dogs to pure-pork Italian sausage that deliver just the right amount of snap with each bite.

Conceived by Las Vegas restaurateur Mark DiMartino, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery evokes Ireland by way of Vegas, with waitresses dressed in plaid mini kilts shouldering trays of chilled beer and pub fare. Like an enchilada stuffed with four-leaf clovers, the eatery’s Irish nachos interpret a south-of-the-border classic in a Celtic way, slathering potato chips in cheese sauce and seasoned ground beef; alternatively, pot roast and vegetables simmer traditionally in the Olde Dublin Irish stew’s Guinness-infused beef stock. Barkeeps pour a full bar’s worth of wine, cocktails, and beer, which surfaces in bottles, bombers, and multi-brew mixes such as the Blue Moon and Guinness combination. High-definition TVs glow with a ceaseless parade of professional and college baseball, basketball, and hockey, and live bands add to the entertainment smorgasbord on Friday and Saturday nights.

Cooks at Chorizo Grill tuck chorizo and chicken into burritos and chimichangas while stacking fresh toppings onto sopes. Mexican entrees move to the forefront each weekend, with a special menu of gorditas and tacos rojos that are handmade with natural corn flour and topped with an array of specialty toppings, such as mole, pumpkin flowers, and corn truffles.

The chefs at Maxwell's Hot Dogs sling dogs, burgers, and polish sausages into buns to create a sprawling menu of enticing options. Inside the eatery, guests lounge around classic checkered tablecloths, gazing at flat-screen TVs broadcasting sports. Meanwhile, an outdoor patio bedecked with lampposts caters to those who want to feel the wind in their fries as they dine on chicken sandwiches, pastas, or salads seated at tables with shade-summoning umbrellas.

Beneath the glow of 12 high-definition plasma televisions, riotous sports fans toast to their teams by clinking glasses and smushing burgers together at First Place Sports Bar & Grill. Between sips of cold beer and bites of handheld eats including sandwiches, nachos, and ribs, bar-goers throw wild shots at three dart boards and play 52-ball pickup around the pool table. Numerous video games, such as 2010 Golden Tee Live, Silver Strike, and Big Buck Hunter, jingle in anticipation of a feeding of quarters, while a jukebox offers a custom soundtrack to sporting revelry.

Jaded Thai’s chefs personalize every order that leaves the kitchen. The pan-fried noodles, six types of curry, and stir-fried entrees can emerge with the diner's choice of tofu, meat, or seafood, as well as spice level ranging from mild to intensely hot. The heat stems from the fiery Thai chilies, which add piquant flavors to the menu items' aromatic doses of ginger, basil, or housemade lemongrass sauce.

Recessed lighting fixtures line the dining-room ceiling, gently illuminating the earth-toned walls that sport a flat-screen television and a collection of framed artwork. Although the menu doesn't include any alcoholic drinks, the staff allows diners to bring a bottle of wine or a jar of old grapes from home.