UPDATE Bring On the Heat: Who Do You Love for Spicy Food?

This competition isn't for the faint of heart. What scorching sensations do you like to see on your plate? We want to know what readers consider the best spicy food in town.

UPDATED Tuesday, June 12 at midnight. That's right! We asked, and you responded. With both the highest votes in our poll and the greatest amount of positive reviews, Lassen's wins this competition hands down. So next time you're looking for a little more attitude than you normally get on your dinner plate,  ——————————————————————————————————— In case you’re not familiar with our Readers’ Choice feature, here’s how it generally works. It all starts on the Homewood-Flossmoor Patch and Chicago Heights Patch Facebook pages. We ask for input from our readers, you give us answers and we proceed from there. With such a process, things inevitably turn out ... unexpectedly. Yesterday, for instance, when we asked readers whether we should run a hot …

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Scrementi's Wins Most Loved Caterer

The results of our most recent readers' choice poll are in and you've chosen Scrementi's as the greatest caterer in the area.

Tom's Family Restaurant to Close After 65 Years

The news of the iconic Homewood diner's closure comes as bittersweet to a community that has supported it for over half of a century.

“All great stories must have an end, so here it is.” Tom’s Family Restaurant owner Tom Kataras put it bluntly. He’s been working there since he was 9 years old, and after 65 years of the restaurant's operation, he’s ready to take a break. Old age, bad knees and a loss of passion are the reasons he says he decided to retire and close up shop.  It’s hard to argue. Kataras works six to seven days a week and has been doing so for decades. “When you own a business, you don’t really own the business, the business owns you,” Kataras said. “If I was 100 percent Greek, I’d die behind the register, but I’m only part Greek so I’m getting the hell out of here.” But don’t be fooled into thinking Kataras is completely jaded. “It’s not like we’re giving …

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Add the Punchline to Our Shark Restaurant Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your punchline to Patch's weekly comic and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your south suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to JR, who provided the winning punchline to last week's computer bear comic: He's the perfect stock analyst for this bear market.

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Drew Richards

4:16 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Don't roll your eyes at me!!!!!   more ›

Fine Dining Headed for Homewood

The old Bakers Square building has been bought with plans to transform the location into 'The Cottage on Dixie,' a fine dining restaurant.

Homewood Village President Richard Hofeld surprised everyone at the end of Tuesday night's board meeting by announcing the purchase of the old Bakers Square building in Homewood's Southgate area on Dixie Highway. According to Hofeld, the new owners of the location (who currently wish to remain anonymous) plan to transform the spot into a fine dining restaurant named The Cottage on Dixie. A mission statement is included in the concept drawings: To provide a welcoming environment for gourmet dining in the South Suburbs. A place where customers and employees will be treated with courtesy and respect and a menu that offers customers ever-changing food offerings traveling the corners of the world. This establishment will strive to be …

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Bergstein's Brings New York Deli to Chicago Heights: Business Spotlight

Homewood couple celebrate third year running a New York-style deli in the Heights. Patch dug in and talked with the two men who run the business.

This month, Bergstein’s NY Delicatessen celebrates its third year in business in Chicago Heights. It has not always been easy, and it was especially difficult summer when the Dixie Highway bridge was closed. ”Last year, when they were doing construction on Dixie, our business just died,” said Bergstein’s owner, Harris Davis. “I questioned if we’d be in business at the end of the year.” That was until Harris' son Bill thought of putting the business on Groupon. "It was huge for us," Harris said. "It was the biggest day we had in our history. After that, things just took off and haven’t stopped since. It’s all Bill. I’m really proud of what he’s done.” The sandwiches at Bergstein's are much like what one might find at a New York deli—corned …

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Business Profile: Just Turkey

Brian Latman, the owner of Homewood's Just Turkey, tells us why we should give his joint a chance.

Chicagoans are known for their love of italian beef, ribs and hot dogs, but turkey?  Just Turkey Owner Brian Latman explains what's so exciting about the new trend: I chose Just Turkey because it is a new concept in the food industry. I can drive up and down the street and find burgers, hot dogs, chicken—but to find a location with only turkey products is impossible. Many customers are looking for an alternative from pork and Just Turkey provides that alternative. Just Turkey is also a healthier choice.   Have you always been interested in the restaurant business? What inspired you? I was always interested in doing something where I can be my own boss. I currently sell food and paper products to about 50 restaurants so I knew a lot of the …

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Ryan Fitzpatrick

3:59 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Thanks for commenting, DJ. Don't forget that you can rate Just Turkey on their directory listing (even if that means copying and pasting your above comment). That way, people will see the positive review when they're searching for the company.   more ›

Business Profile: Fresh Starts

A new feature in which we highlight a different business each week.

There are many places to eat at locally, but Joann Lindholm, proprietress of Fresh Starts in Flossmoor, explains why we should pay her and other mom and pop restaurants a visit. How long have you been open? This is our 25th year!  Can you believe it? Why did you decide to open your restaurant? I came along after two of my friends opened it. They asked for my help and I became General Manager and ran the day-to-day operations. (I) then bought both of them out as I fell in love with it. (I) felt that is was my baby! Why did you choose downtown Flossmoor? As mentioned, that decision was already made for me, but (I) really looked forward to evolving (Fresh Starts) into a restaurant from the original concept of the previous owners of Gourmet …

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Renee Gough

8:45 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fresh Starts catered our wedding 18 years ago and we LOVED it then and still love it! Joann made the BEST wedding cake I have EVER tasted! I will never forget how moist and delicious all the different layers were. Three different types of cake all iced in vanilla. YUM! The dinner was great too. I remember every detail about the food because it was soooo good. I live in Elmhurst now but love to …   more ›

Enrico's Italian Dining: Bites Nearby

You could stand on a corner and look around until the aroma of good food draws you in. Or you could check out a great Southland dining spot recommended by Patch.

ENRICO'S ITALIAN DINING Near the corner of LaGrange Road and Lincoln Highway in Frankfort, Enrico's is an interesting mix of family friendly and fine dining. The day-to-day menu offers a blend of American and Italian cuisine, while the restaurant's revolving specials cater to more refined Northern Italian tastes. And Enrico's, which has been around for 35 years, serves regular and thick crust pizza, too. The restaurant doesn't take reservations, but it does accept call-ahead seating. Decor: The restaurant is split between a bar and an intimate dining room, with a waiting and take-out area dividing the two. Circled by booths, the dining area sports an Italian rustic look. Vintage black-and-white wedding portraits and family photos hang on …

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