This Pilsen mainstay offers the best of both worlds, or at least two worlds: Mexican and Italian. Even if you're familiar with neither, Fogata's welcoming, wide-open space will make you feel at home with blond wood floors and ample barn-lumber seating. Exposed brick walls make a perfect canvas for a rotating collection of local artwork, photography, and handmade Mexican textiles.

None of the dishes here will floor you with its preparation or flavor, but nothing will keep you from returning, either. The daily lunch buffet is one of the better deals in town at $8.99, and offers you the opportunity to combine fajitas with lasagna on the same plate. Of the two cuisines, Fogata Village does Mexican a bit better. The sauces on the Italian side of the menu require copious seasoning at the table. By contrast, Fogata's strip steak dinner is a sizzling, perfectly seasoned revelation for carnivores.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Chuck Sudo