Restaurants in Norridge

As diners cross the outdoor patio of Melanthios Greek Char House and enter the dining room, they are greeted with the rich scent of greek seasoning and the aroma of mesquite charcoal. The restaurant's commitment to authenticity in its Greek entrees is such that the staff grows its own kalamata olives, but the chefs don't limit themselves to traditional dishes. They've also ventured into steak-house territory, serving mesquite-grilled cuts such as the 20-ounce porterhouse and the 8-ounce filet mignon. Regardless of a dish's national origins, the restaurant carries a bottle of wine that pairs with it well.

Around the dining room, diners settle into booths teeming with pillows and cushions, watching chefs prepare their food in an open kitchen. Exposed-brick walls frame a fireplace in the corner, and decorative balconies above the outdoor patio complete the set for couples interested in rehearsing lines from the productions of Romeo and Juliet they're putting on for their cats.

Inside Maza Restaurant, glass urns filled with grains of rice and a variety of herbs remind diners of the diverse array of ingredients used to construct traditional Lebanese dishes, which "make for satisfying dining," according to Chicago magazine. Entrees include kebabs of charbroiled meats—such as lamb, chicken, and beef—and fresh seafood, including red snapper and trout. Chefs also create an ample assortment of vegetarian dishes and sweet desserts. In addition, Maza Restaurant helps hosts feed guests during parties, small get-togethers, and late-night talk shows with their catering services.

Behind the window-mounted neon lights at Division Street Bar & Grill, flickering candles illuminate a full menu of hearty sandwiches, sprightly cocktails, and frosty brews. Named after local streets, choice Angus burgers take the stage wearing costumes such as sautéed mushrooms, cheddar cheese, guacamole, or smoked bacon, with chicken and veggie-burger understudies ready to open the trapdoor at a moment's notice. From the bar, craft suds on tap, bottled brews, and liquorous libations mingle alongside nightly drink and pub-fare specials. Adding a cozy, neighborhood-hangout vibe to the eat-and-drinkery's ambiance, local artwork backdrops Sunday-night games of trivia and weekly rotating live DJs.

International flavors shape the menu at Cafe' Bella, which opens with globe-trotting appetizers from bruschetta to hummus to a trio of fruity guacamoles. The spot transitions from daytime café to evening bistro, starting the day with steaming pours of house-blend coffee, café caramelos, and a selection of ciabatta sandwiches, wraps, and pitas. For dinnertime, chefs conjure up a mix of Mexican-style fajitas, steaks, seafood, and the spot's popular caribbean jerk chicken breast, accompanied by mashed potatoes with a madeira sauce and an edible steel drum set. As diners savor preservative-free, all-natural fare, they can admire a spackling of local artwork making exposed-brick walls decent.

Behind Zig Zag Kitchen's Lincoln Avenue storefront, pizza pros hand-toss dough, which lays the foundation for a menu of custom-made pizzas, sandwiches, and entrees. A selection of specialty pies includes the garlic, tomato, and basil pizza, and the restaurant’s carefully crafted platters of comfort food, such as homemade meatloaf and chicken vesuvio, offer tastes of Mom's kitchen, minus the aftertaste of poorly seasoned linoleum. Zig Zag's catering menu takes its culinary show on the road, laying out party-pleasing portions of pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts for parties of up to 50 people.

The Sports Corner Bar & Grill, positioned directly across from Wrigley Field, bursts with life during baseball season as friendly servers ferry spicy buffalo wings, crisp salads, and savory bratwursts beneath galleries of flat-screen TVs. An open rooftop patio bathes diners in sunlight as the roar of the crowd relays appetizer suggestions from the stadium stands. When the last pitch sounds the end of the Cubs' season, the corner restaurant's televisions tune in to NCAA football games, Blackhawks matches, and footage of Wrigley Field groundskeepers mowing the lawn.