Set right off La Grange Road, this American bistro brings a sense of sophistication to the western suburbs. In addition to hosting seasonal events and wine tastings, the upscale yet comfortable spot serves lunch and dinner. Diners not only enjoy the wait staff's friendly service but also the menu, which offers quality food and lots of it. Locals have made coming to Cafe 36 a tradition, but many Chicagoans also regularly make the trek to dine on gourmet dishes while seated in old-fashioned, wooden dining room chairs at white-clothed tables.

The lunch menu includes a vast array of salads, sandwiches and burgers. The Crab Louie salad ($13.95) includes Alaskan crab meat dressed in Louie dressing and served with hard-boiled eggs, kalamata olives, grape tomatoes and capers over a mountain of mixed greens. A lunch specialty is the shrimp linguini ($15.95) tossed with roma tomatoes, Italian basil and a little spice. If you're really hungry, the bacon cheddar burger ($10.95) should fill you up; it's a 10-ounce Angus beef burger with applewood-smoked bacon and Vermont cheddar cheese. For dinner, the blacknose grouper ($26.95) is a pleaser. Pan-seared and crusted, it's completed with butter sauce and vegetables. And if you're thinking about the pork chop ($23.95), debate no longer; it's grilled to perfection and served with sweet potato, vegetables and apple chutney. Be sure to make reservations, as this spot is a family favorite.

Centerstage Reviewer: Janis Mabalay