Dining Suggestions: Homer and New Lenox, IL....anyone??

Does anyone have any dining suggestions for Homer or New Lenox, IL? Jackie R and I will be there next week, and we would love to eat somewhere other than the same ol' chains.

Amy, there's a great little place called Merichka's, I think on route 7 on the north side of Joliet, really close to New Lenox. Great place to get Po' boys and fried onions rings. My dad used to take me and my mom there.

Thanks, Alise! We may try it tomorrow if we can find it. I'll let you know.

Please allow me, Amy... We had a very interesting food week in Illinois. We dined each night at a new place, and upon entry each time, looked at one another and said, "I think we chose well." Menus looked alright, servers looked mature, atmosphere clean, blas'e blas'e. Food at each outlet was underwhelming and service was annoying. Made me very grateful. If I was not responding to an already titled thread, I would begin a new one headed, "No Place Like Home". I did have an EXCELLENT time on the company dime with my new friend Amy Hoover. I felt like a celebrity food critic. We did have one decent dinner at Cooper's Hawk Winery. And on the way home, just off the interstate in the middle of nowhere and nothing, no flashing lights or hwy billboards, found without searching for, the Oaken Barrell Brewery. I loved every speck of it, most of all the 23 oz. 6.5% abv IPA that sent me spinny. Mmm... Thanks for a fun week, Ames.

Tallgrass in Lockport, which is not too far from there, is reputed to be one of the absolute finest restaurants in all of Chicagoland. It is often talked of in the same breath as many of the city's top fine dining establishments, though I've never been there. I'm sure it is a bankbreaker, however.

Thanks Jackie! I had a great time as well. Hopefully we'll have more dining adventures soon.