Restaurants in Lincolnwood

Since dispensing its first dog in 1948, the grilling gurus at George's Hot Dogs have continued to entice palates with a full menu of handheld Greek and American fare. Juicy links occupy bun space along with chili, cheese, and traditional Chicagoan fixings such as relish, tomatoes, and microscopic Bears' jerseys. Mounted plasmas flicker beside framed vintage posters within the gold and brick-red walls of the cozy storefront, and an overhead menu broadcasts juicy italian beefs, double-stacked burgers, toothsome gyros, and thatched piles of crispy french fries. Take-home servings of grecian salads satisfy roughage needs, and shakes and floats add sweet accompaniments to meals on the outdoor patio. The restaurant also supplements festive gatherings and raucous bird-watching soirees with party platters of its sandwiches, kebabs, and salads.

Under the light cast by fringed Middle Eastern lanterns, Kan Zaman's friendly servers guide guests through the authentic Lebanese menu of velvety hummus drizzled with olive oil, beef kebabs served alongside charbroiled vegetables, and smoky baba gannouj. Seated at low booths, diners can recline on colorful pillows in between bites of shawarma and battle over the last triangle of warm pita. Once located in Andersonville, the River North location is BYOB and boasts belly-dancing performances on Friday and Saturday nights.

Flavors from all over the globe crash land in between the sizzling golden crusts of Oh! Panini’s pressed sandwiches. Artisan bread embraces fresh ingredients in made-to-order sammies that pay homage to destinations including Tokyo, Egypt, and Syria, allowing patrons to delight in knowledge of world cuisine. Napkins leap to the rescue as globetrotting toppings such as tabouleh salad, cumin-infused chicken, and genoa salami peep from behind bread like bashful bakers.

Working from a menu that blends the diverse cuisines of the Mediterranean coast, Haifa Café's chefs heap plates high with delicacies created from recipes honed over the years by the owner's family and friends. Grilled kebabs of chicken, kifta, and steak are cooked by lightning atop the Willis Tower's antennae before transferring to smaller skewers. The café's specialty, freshly roasted turkey in white, dark, and mixed cuts, evokes the Thanksgiving spirit year-round. Vegetarian dishes transport cargos of Mediterranean spices, fresh vegetables, and rice, and traditional soups inspire diners to scratch itchy dishware as their spoons scrape the bottoms of bowls.

At Mac's American Pub, the old brick façade inlaid with a Schlitz globe sign draws in patrons to the neighborhood watering hole for adult libations and traditional pub grub. The drink slingers, deemed “interesting, attentive, and hard-working" by the Chicago Bar Project and “nonrobots” by everyone else, pour domestic and imported beers, wines, and spirits until 2 a.m. all week. House-made eats such as mac 'n' cheese, hand-cut fries, and soups compete with burgers and sandwiches at lunch and dinner, and weekends bring brunch selections such as sweet french toast, omelets, and pancakes.

Inside Quiznos sub shops, staff slides fresh deli meats, cheeses, and vegetables between slices of artisan bread, then runs them through gargantuan toaster ovens and sprinkles them with spices. Soups steam in bowls, salads crunch in mouths, and flatbread sandwiches glide swiftly across surfaces in impromptu games of floor hockey. As a charitable establishment, Quiznos donates a sampling of its earnings to various nonprofit organizations including Millennium Promise and Denver's Road Home.