Donovan's Irish Cobbler, Woodstock

Growing up in Illinois, the Donovan family fell in love with the horseshoe, an open-faced sandwich piled high with ham and covered in cheese sauce and French fries. When they opened Donovan's Irish Cobbler, the clan brought their own version of the Illinois tradition with them. In this version, fries and homemade cheese sauce join your choice of meat, including smoked ham, hamburger, and fried chicken. The dish became a hit, but it isn't the only one that caught on when Donovan's introduced it to the region. Boxty—stacked potato pancakes topped with shredded beef and, again, the house's signature cheese sauce—has also taken off like an alien spaceship that just stopped in to use Earth's Wi-Fi. The two popular dishes head a menu heavy on Irish classics such as bangers and mash, but also featuring paninis, salads, and wraps.

Open until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, the pub is a lively night time spot. Each week it hosts events such as team trivia and four-hour sets of live music on Friday and Saturday.