Great Options for Outdoor Dining in Downtown Naperville--Potter's Place

Potter's Place

This is the perfect season to enjoy some great outdoor dining at Naperville's downtown restaurants. Many restaurants, with outdoor seating options, are starting to re-open.

Here is a list of the current restaurants that are open.

While the pandemic has brought disruption to many parts of our lives, it has also brought an appreciation for the simple things we took for granted. We really appreciate the restaurants and all of the staff who support this industry, and so we were especially glad to be able to return to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants--Potter's Place (see full review here.)

We Recommend:
This trip we tried the Volcano Nachos, which were some of the best nachos we've eaten. The ingredients are mixed and brought to the table in a metal can that is then mixed and emptied onto a platter. The sauce, cheese, fresh chips and other ingredients, blend to form a perfect combination of spice and crunch.

3 Pro-Tips:

1. Potters is a great place to anytime of day. All of the tables have umbrellas to keep the sun away, so it's a great place to stop for a margarita and chips and salsa or or their menu offers a full range of Mexican favorites.

2. Be sure to bring your face mask. Potter's fully adheres to CDC safety guidance and requires a face mask for entry.

3. Parking is easy. Don't try to park on Jefferson. Park behind the restaurant and if that is full, you still have easy access to a free parking garage.

Comments

Northcott--A Cool Speakeasy in Downtown Naperville

Northcott Liquorette 40 W Chicago Ave, Naperville, IL 60540 Northcott is a cool new Speakeasy in Downtown Naperville. It's hidden away at the top of Empire restaurant. You need a reservation and come prepared to enjoy old fashioned mixed drinks and liquors along with appetizers. Visit their Website & Menu What we ordered: Absinthe fountain and Northcott 75 Cheese tray and a burger (from Empire) How was the food/drinks? Great Price: Pretty expensive drinks, but you are paying for the atmosphere as well. Atmosphere: Great atmosphere. The eclectic furniture provides a variety of seating arrangements. The music is good and not overpowering. The atmosphere provides a unique experience Service: The service was great. The bartenders were entertaining.

Naperville Farmer's Market--Now OPEN

Don't let the summer pass you by without a trip to Naperville's Farmers' Market. It's open every Saturday (rain or shine) in the Fifth Avenue Station parking lot and definitely worth the trip. Location: Fifth Avenue Station, 200 E 5th Ave, Naperville, IL Hours: Saturdays 7:00AM -12:00PM (Rain or Shine) Parking: Parking is free and there is plenty of it. Naperville's open-air market is sponsored by local farmers who bring their fresh fruits, vegetables, perennials, honey, baked goods, and so much more to sell. There are over 40 vendors with samples and stories about how their products were grown or made. The market is open every Saturday, beginning the first week of June through the last week of October. FOODIE PRO-TIPS: -Most of the vendors take credit cards, but you can also bring cash. -As the summer starts to wind down, many of the berries and fruits seasons will also end. So go soon to get what's left from this year's harvest.

Meson Sabika--What to Order at Our Favorite Restaurant

Meson Sabika is one of our favorite restaurants (period.) We love the food, the service, the Sangrias and the setting. Over the years we've had many awesome meals here with friends and family. You need to make a reservation well in advance for this one though. Visit their Website & Menu After much experimenting and countless trips, here is a list of our top 10 favorite plates. This is a ranked list of our favorite plates, but the style of this restaurant is to order a few at a time and see how far you get. So we typically start with some of the lighter plates (olives, cheese, shrimp, etc) and work our way to the heavier plates until we're full. Top 10 Favorite Plates 1. Aceitunas Alinadas--Spanish Olives You'll get a free sampler of these, but you'll want more. 2. Tostada con Centollo --Alaskan king crab toast points topped with avocado 3. Pipiranna de Buey- -Skirt steak, sautéed onions, and potatoes in a blue cheese sauce 4. Gamas a la Plancha

The Best Thing to Eat at Giordano's of Naperville

When you have friends from out-of-town, it's always fun to make a stop at a traditional Chicago-style Pizza place, and the Giordano's in Downtown Naperville is the perfect spot. Three of our daughter's friends made the 12 hour drive from their homes in Texas and Oklahoma to Naperville so we took a brisk walk to Giordano's. We tried three different pizzas and two salads and after an official vote, we can rank the best Chicago-style pizza and salad to have with out-of-town college students. Salads The Wedge Salad House Salad Tie: We tried two salads and the vote was a tie for the best. (But since I write the review, I'll say that the wedge salad was the best.) 1) Wedge Salad: This is not your traditional 1/4 head of lettuce wedge. It's spears of lettuce with fresh bacon bits and onion shallots. The ranch dressing isn't too over-powering and compliments the ingredients. 2) House Salad: An assortment of lettuce types, including arugula, which I lik

10 Best Ethnic Food Restaurants in Downtown Naperville

We have a varied taste with an appreciation for foods from different cultures. After study-abroads, various trips through Europe and living 5 years in Japan, we developed an appreciation for foods from many cultures. We love going to restaurants with atmosphere and flavors that transport us to another time and place. The list below is our top spots for Ethnic Food in Downtown Naperville so far. Feel free to add your suggestions. 10. Green Basil Vietnamese Basil's authentic Vietnamese cuisine is delicious. This quaint restaurant is tucked away in east of Main Street with plenty of parking. The Pho Ga, chicken soup with bean sprouts and the Bun Bo Xao are favorites. This isn't the flashiest, but a great place to go for a nice lunch or dinner. Menu 9. Q-BBQ Southern-Style BBQ BBQ may be stretching the "ethnic food" category, but authentic southern style BBQ isn't always easy to find in the Chicago-land area. This spot features Memphis, Texas and Sou

Teacher Appreciation Week--Downtown Naperville Deals for Teachers!!

It's Teacher Appreciation Week and Naperville Foodies would like to thank all of our awesome teacher friends! One week out of the year isn't enough time to show appreciation for all of the work teachers do every day! Help us spread the love by sharing this post with your teacher friends and let them know of the downtown Naperville restaurants that are joining in the fun of celebrating teachers with special deals. Also, do you have a special teacher that would look even cooler in a Naperville Foodies T-shirt? If so, tell us about your favorite teacher for a chance to win Naperville Foodies T-shirt. Here is a list of Downtown Naperville Restaurants that are offering discounts for educators: Chipotle: Teachers, faculty and other school staff with a valid school ID can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one free offer from 3 p.m. to close Tuesday. The deal is on burritos, bowls, salads and orders of tacos and for in-restaurant orders only and available for educators at all

Hizemans --Naperville's Elevated Sports Bar

Address: 218 S. WASHINGTON ST. Phone: (630) 362-6872 Website | Menu Hours M-Th 11am-12am, F-S 11a, - 2am, Sun 11am-10pm $$ A new restaurant opened on Washington St. during the pandemic - Hizemans. They describe themselves as an elevated sports bar with the biggest & best TVs in the area, giant wings, & great food. Walking in we were impressed with that atmosphere and friendly wait staff. We would recommend it as a great place to watch a game and hang out with friends. Our server recommended the wings. They were not traditional wings, but giant wings (like fried chicken) with different sauces - Classic Buffalo • Tangy BBQ • Hizaki Teriyaki • Chili Garlic • Honey Sriracha • Gonzo Sauce (Togarashi.) Of course, we had to try this specialty. He ordered the wings with the classic buffalo, tangy bbq, and honey sriracha sauce. Make sure you have lots of napkins for this yummy, messy dish. We also tried the Hizeman Burger, Bad Goat Salad, and Funnel Fries for dessert. There is a

Gyu-Kaku: An Authentic Japanese BBQ Restaurant

Phone: (630) 536-8270 47 E Chicago Ave #108, Naperville, IL 60540 Website $$$ Gyu Kaku is a terrific new Japanese BBQ "Yakiniku" restaurant in Downtown Naperville that we are very excited about! While Naperville has its fair share of Japanese-style restaurants, this is the first traditional Japanese Yakiniku restaurant to open in this area. If you think you know Japanese, you're in for a nice surprise in this authentic Japanese Yakiniku BBQ restaurant. We lived in Japan for 5 years and love all types of Japanese food, but a lot of Japanese restaurants in the states serve a Western version of Sushi or are a Hibachi steakhouse where a chef provides a meal and gives a performance. We enjoy both of these, but we're especially excited to see Gyu Kaku open in Downtown Naperville because it offers a more authentic version of a traditional Japanese BBQ Yakiniku restaurant. What is Japanese BBQ--Hibachi or Yakiniku HIBACHI Restaurants: Most American's th

The Best Ice Cream, Gelato and Cookie Dough in Downtown Naperville

Approximately 20 friends of Naperville Foodies joined a walking tour of Naperville’s Ice Cream and Gelato spots. The tour brought us to the conclusion that Downtown Naperville definitely has its share of great dessert shops. Below is a list of some the group favorites and our recommendations that any ice cream or gelato lover shouldn't miss. MIDICI In addition to great Neapolitan pizza and calzones, MidiCi offers real “Italian Ice” (Gelato.) The flavors are authentic and nicely cap off a great Italian meal. But if you still have a little extra room for dessert after your pizza, you really HAVE TO TRY the Nutella Calzone. It's a warm dessert filled with Nutella and fresh berries, wrapped in the same Neapolitan Pizza crust that makes the pizzas so great. It's then baked for 90 seconds at 900 degrees in the brick ovens. Then it's lightly frosted with powdered sugar and.. drizzled in even more Nutella. It’s really so delicious that it’s hard to describe and a mu

Naperville Foodies

Search This Blog