Southtown Star from Tinley Park, Illinois • 67

A The Star Thursday, December 22, 2005 Dining Continued from Page 14 smoky ribs and doughnut holes enough said. Taqueria los Amigos in Chicago Heights was one of several Mexican restaurants to add the refreshing ceviche to the menu this year. The seafood mixture is plopped on a crisp tortilla as a tostada here, and it is a nice change of pace from the usual tacos and enchiladas. Lasagna soup with freshly grated mozzarella is a homemade treat at Sicilian Joe's Pizzaria in Mokena. I also enjoyed the Mona Lisa pasta that teams mostaccioli, Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and roasted red peppers.

The newly relocated Siam Thai in Flossmoor makes the most of its fresh surroundings by serving dishes such as roasted Cornish hen basil. Another cream of mushroom soup caught my attention at Louie's Chop House in Shorewood with its intense flavor and silky texture. Twin pork kabobs with Mediterranean seasonings also was an appetizer worth the trip. Another area restaurant that returned after a fire is the Big Apple Pancake House in Chicago Heights, a great destination for the signature Big Apple pancake with fresh apples, or for the triple berry blue, rasp and straw crepes. Maybe it's the name, but I loved the crabbie bread appetizer at Champp's Restaurant Bar in Orland Park.

Also worthy is the Shanghai steamer, actual steamers filled with chicken, pork and shrimp dumplings, served with a pair of good sauces. The shrimp brochette that is an option in the VIP dining room at Dusties Buffet in Matteson is worth the extra fee, especially when served with a glass of Champagne. remember overindulging in the appetizer baked polenta, with meat sauce and cheese, at La Dolce Vita Della Piazza Italian Ristorante in Frankfort, and not even caring because it was so good. At Lindy's Gertie's in Oak Forest, there's more than just chili and ice cream. The freshly made potato chips, for example, are a must order.

This year, I visited two of the growing Northwoods group, one in Schererville and one in Flossmoor. that is part of the Coyote Run Golf Course. If I was with a hungry crowd, would head to Koppermill Bar Grill in Orland Park so I could have the nachos, a platter of multi-colored chips overwhelmed with chili, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream. Not surprisingly, the new Aurelio's in Frankfort creates the extraordinary antipasto salad, whose meats, cheeses, olives, peppers, pepperoccini and tangy Italian dressing have been enjoying for years at other outlets. The pan-fried, no-filler crab cake gets special attention on the menu of McClorey's Fine Food Cocktail Lounge in Merrionette Park, and well it should.

The remoulade sauce that accompanies it is no slouch, either. During a stretch of eating at Mexican restaurants this year, enjoyed the frijoles with ground beef at Casa Margarita in Orland Park, the stuffed sopaipillas with pork at Anita Margarita in Tinley Park and steak las Fuentes with peppers, onions, bacon and tomatoes on a skirt steak at Las Fuentes in Lockport. To tell the truth, I loved the fried lobster tail at Truth restaurant in Joliet, and the prime rib sandwich at Harry's Family Restaurant in Midlothian would satisfy any meat lover. Brett Star Esebia's special appetizer dish at Mabovi African and Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto with sun-dried tomato and goat cheese was as eyecatching as it was delicious at the beginning of a meal at Trattoria Tazza in Homer Glen. Pasta puttanesca, with anchovies, black and green olives and capers, was another winner, and not as salty as it might seem.

From my 2005 eating, I also remember the thin-crust spinach, red pepper and bacon appetizer pizza at Old Stone Cafe in Lockport and the excellent homemade soy and ginger sauces at Fuji Japanese Steak and Sushi House in Orland Park. The all-you-can-eat lake perch makes Gabe's Place in Glenwood the place to be on Friday nights, and I would drive to Joliet any time for the special-of-the-day rack of garlicky lamb at Belle Amici's. Capone's Martini Bar and Trattoria in Mokena starts its meals off with a bang, providing a complimentary head of roasted garlic to spread on good Italian bread. GOLDEN NOMINATIONS 4 BEST INCLUDING Beatrice Konku-Mantey shows the (sauteed shrimp with fried plantains) Caribbean Cuisine in Matteson. From both experiences, I recommend the piping hot corn nuggets with honey, the "big fish story" collection of four types of fish and the baked potato pie, all are hearty and well-prepared.

Bluestone Bar Grill in New Lenox is another place where I enjoyed ceviche this year. With shrimp as its centerpiece, this tangy mixture was attractively served in a martini glass. Returning to Scott's Prime Rib in East Hazel Crest, I found the prime rib and the mostaccioli with meat sauce as good as I remembered from many earlier visits. And if cabbage is the soup of the day, it's a mustorder. Another special of the day I remember actually was ordered by my guest this year, but the next time I go to Daniello's in Homer Glen, I hope chicken oreganto is available.

While the ribs are good at Chelsea's Gourmet Barbeque in Homewood, the smoked sweet potatoes with maple butter are in a class by themselves. TIME MAGAZINE "A GOOD TIME IS HAD BY ALL" Richard Schuckel EBERT ROEPER "TWO THUMBS UP" WCBS- -TV PEOPLE MAGAZINE "SOME OF THE BIGGEST LAUGHS YOU'LL HAVE IN A MOVIE THEATRE THIS YEAR." Jews NETHER LANE MAT THE BRODERICK UMA THURMAN THE PRODUCERS EWW ESA. A CHA SUSHI 13 STRONGLY CAUTIONED BRACE PLAYING AND 322 EAST ILLINOIS ST, CHICAGO RIVER EAST 21 COMA, ZEn AT FOR TICKETS CALL THEATRE NEAR.