Tired of eating food you know came straight from a Sysco truck? Head to Glen Ellyn's Glen Prairie restaurant (connected to the Crowne Plaza Hotel), where every meal was created with ingredients from local, Midwestern farms, meaning each entree tastes fresh and unprocessed. Light bulbs hang from the ceiling above the bar and vinyl couches fill the dining room – both highlights of the restaurant's fairly minimalist, modest decor that allows the food on each table to be the star of the show.

Contemporary American food is the theme of the menu, and the lunchtime selections reflect the good old U.S.A. with salads, soups and sandwiches – the "1/2 daily sandwich plus a bowl of soup for $7 special" representing one of capitalism's greatest triumphs (add a Caesar salad for $2). In this reviewer's case, it was a turkey with bacon sandwich and a gratifying saffron cauliflower bisque soup that more than satisfied a lunchtime craving. Dinner options include filet mignon and whipped potato ($32) and Lake Superior whitefish with barley salad ($18), and there's an extensive wine list (extensive enough to complement any meal) with most bottles in the $40-$60 range. And it may sound lame, but seriously ask for the bread –they're still steaming as they're dropped off – and the butter is sweet and light.

Aside from the high-quality, hearty food, the homegrown ingredients, and the modern decor, Glen Prairie has a few other intangibles going for them. First, the recycled menu paper and biodegradable carry-out packages position the restaurant as environmentally friendly. Secondly, the waiters seem genuinely excited to be a part of the place, energetically telling about the restaurant's practices and menu selection, as well as replying "wonderful!" to basically anything you tell them. It's the little touches that help solidify a pleasant experience.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert