This Illinois Town Is One Of The Most Diverse Culinary Destinations In The U.S.
By Melissa Mahoney|Published January 04, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Illinois is known worldwide for its food and is home to numerous Michelin Star-rated restaurants. It is certainly a state for foodies! Whether or not you consider yourself a foodie, a visit to Wilmette may be in order. It’s likely one of the more diverse culinary destinations in Illinois as well as the U.S. Here you’ll find a wide variety of restaurants from American, barbecue, and Italian to Thai, Japanese, Greek, Chinese, and Mexican. Let your taste buds guide you on a culinary journey through a variety of distinctly wonderful restaurants in Wilmette.
In the mood for some mouthwatering BBQ? Stop at Pit & Tap for some Texas-style bbq, wood-smoked meats, brisket chili, pulled pork sandwiches, and a whole lot more. The cocktail menu here is truly spectacular as well.
Several Italian restaurants like Carlos & Carlos can be found in Wilmette. This particular eatery specializes in homemade pasta and other signature Italian dishes. Start with antipasti of beef carpaccio, grilled calamari, or mussels and clams a'olio followed by an entree of homemade ravioli, penne pasta, gnocchi, or a chicken, meat, or fish dish. If dessert is calling your name after your meal, try the tiramisu, a cannoli, or some gelato.
Whether it's Thai food or sushi you're craving, a visit to Dowize Bistro may be in order. Order an appetizer of edamame, gyoza, a scallion pancake, or chicken satay before enjoying a dish of pad see lew, spicy kung pao, a sushi roll, sashimi, and more.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Ridgeview Grill specializes in homemade comfort food as well as Greek and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Pictured here is the Athenian chicken entree which is found on both the lunch and dinner menus.
For some of the best Chinese cuisine in the area as well as friendly service, head to Tsing Tao Mandarin Chinese Restaurant in Wilmette. The menu is quite large, so it's best to order several dishes to try, like the orange chicken which is a customer favorite.
Housed in a historic train depot building, Depot Nuevo serves fresh, flavorful Mexican cuisine. It also has a wide selection of agave tequilas, so do yourself a favor and order a margarita or a tequila flight. You'll love the food, the drinks, and the ambiance here.
Do you agree that Wilmette is one of the best culinary destinations In Illinois? What’s your favorite restaurant in the state? Tell us in the comments.
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