Best of the west
The March/April edition of West Suburban Living magazine highlights the best of the western suburbs. And while the mag dared not specify the very best suburb, Downers Grove is doing all right in that category, too, judging from the results.
Readers made their choices in 70 categories and here’s how our local amenities rated:
Best: Ballydoyle (Irish pub), Heritage Fest (festival), Tivoli (movie theater), Happy Dog Barkery (pet boutique), Omega (late-night bite), Sam’s Wine and Spirits (wine shop), Egg Harbor Cafe (breakfast)
Second: Borrowed Earth Cafe (healthy fare)
Third: Parkers’ Ocean Grill (seafood), Rocco & Rocco (day spa)
Other Favorites: Dream Interiors (home decor), My Favorite Toy Store (toy store), Muriel Mundy Apparel Shop (women’s boutique), Tivoli Bowl (bowling alley),Cheeseburger in Paradise (burger), Trader Joe’s (wine; organic), Delta Sonic (car wash).
That is all great, and I don’t want to take away from what these fine establishments are doing. However, I don’t place alot of faith in ratings based on “readers” choices. Case in point: Ballydoyle claims to be the “best” in every category in Suburban Night Life magazine. Take a walk into B-D right now and you will notice every waitstaff member sporting a black “Vote for Us” t-shirt. The fact that they won “Best Darts” two years ago underscores this point. They have one dart board tucked by the side of the bar. I could put a dart board in my garage and have a better set up for darts. If anything, these “readers” choice awards are more of an award for how aggressive the owners/managers are in getting the word out to their regulars to go online and stuff the ballot box for their establishment.
I really like and respect Steve Dolinsky from Channel 7 news. He does a good job and is very fair. He likes Two Toot’s, they have his picture autographed on thier wall. If a restarent got a rave review from a critic that would bode better than from a reader’s choice award. But any publicity is good publicity. Nice job Ballydoyle.
Great post X01703. Ballydoyle swept these awards last year based on the strength of having a bimbo waitress with great assets posing ‘come hither for bad service’ on the bar. Best darts? They have darts? Oh yes, that single board tucked into the corner that’s always monopolized by the surly friends of the staff. Please.
Parker’s is the only restaurant in DG worthy of dining accolades, and it only merits a second? Huh? I also noticed no mention of Stillwater, anyone who has dined there knows why. I’ve heard great things about both of our incoming Italian spots, looking forward to eating at both.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Ballydoyle. Their staff is excellent and they always take care of me when I go in there. I do beleive that it is one of the best Irish bars in the Western suburbs. Christy (who is not a bimbo) no longer waitresses at Ballydoyle. She is very sweet and is now persuing a longer term career.
Huh?
Gee, no rankings for Best Meth Clinic or Most Convenient to the Train Transient Hotel or Most Massage Parlors Per Mile? I think that frequent contributor Meat needs to publish his “Best of the Burbs” rankings.
Wouldn’t that list be called ‘Worst of the Burbs’, Bob?
Since the only other transient hotel I know of is in Chicago, I would say we own that category by default, as well as the ‘Meth Clinic with Most Appealing Downtown Location’ category. Unfortunately, I’ve no basis to compare our Spa’s on Ogden with those of adjacent Westmont so I’m going to call that one a draw, although I have noticed that the King’s Health seems very busy these days (and it does have that architectural gem of a Mansard Roof…)
My best of list? Parker’s Ocean Grill, The Cellar Door, and Happy Dog Barkery. I have great hope for the 2 new Italian spots in town, as well as the Mexican place replacing the now shuttered Al’s Beef.
..and lest you think your sarcasm was lost on me Bob, I assure you it was not. I am constantly amazed and forever amused that so many older residents in DG are tolerant of a transient hotel that openly caters to guests with mental and substance abuse problems, conveniently located walking distance to a Meth clinic and an ice cream shop where we bring our kids.
Just don’t try putting up a cell phone tower in one of our parks. Not in our town pal.
Gatto’s (one of the new Italian restaurants) is of the same ilk as Tufano’s near UIC. Really good Italian food. It will be on the list next year!
Actually Stillwater is mentioned under “other readers favorites” under Best New Restaurant.