Keith's Bar & Grill

1872 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting

(219) 659-4444

Lively restaurant created out of an old corner saloon. Expert mixologist works the friendly, well-stocked bar. Creative menu at lunch on weekdays and dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Daily specials. Select from several pastas, salads, steak sandwiches, burgers, chicken breasts and daily fresh fish from the grill at lunch. Dinner brings smoked salmon, sautéed mushrooms in white wine, grilled rack of lamb, steaks, shrimp Anisette. Excellent, reasonable wine list. Key lime pie and cheesecakes head the dessert list. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; dinner is served from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays only. Closed Sundays. Dinner entrées range from $12.95 to $30.

Cuisine: American eclectic

Reservations: Yes

Smoking: Yes

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Key lime pie and cheesecakes head the dessert list.

Kelly's Table

U.S. 20/35 and I-94, Michigan City

(219) 872-5624

www.kellyscreekwood.com

Located in the charming Creekwood Inn nestled in its own woodlands, chef-proprietor Patricia Kelly Molden's restaurant was named in memory of the great, convivial meals served in her parents' home while she was growing up. A classic educated cook, Molder was a noted caterer before opening her restaurant. Dining room, with large, leaded windows and working fireplace, is cozy and romantic for two but a good venue as well for dinner with friends or family. Food is impressive but not fussy. Starters may include duck liver paté with toast points, croustades filled with herbed goat cheese and roasted red peppers, and signature crabmeat and scallop cakes with cilantro-mango sauce. Dinners include house salad with delicious dried-cherry balsamic vinaigrette. Main courses, which change from time to time, include dishes such as ribeye steak with a port-mushroom sauce, mustard-glazed rack of lamb, Madras curried chicken and pecan-crusted walleye with a tangerine beurre-blanc sauce. Desserts all

made on the premises; respectable wine list. Open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Starters $4 to $7. Main courses with salad $15 to $25. Desserts $5 to $7. Reservations recommended on weekends. Full bar. Parking. No smoking, except in the lounge.

Cuisine: Upscale

Reservations: Yes

Smoking: In bar

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Desserts made on premises; respectable wine list.

La Caretta Mexican Restaurant & Bar

269-275 W. U.S. 30, Merrillville

(219) 791-0119

Arnulfo Gonzalez is bringing back life to the shopping plaza anchored by Kmart off U.S. 30 in Merrillville with his bright-and-airy La Carreta Mexican Restaurant & Bar. La Carreta, which means "the cart" in Spanish, has been packing them in for lunch and dinner and without wonder. The food is made from scratch and just plain delicious. You'll start with chips and a salsa that has a little kick but isn't blisteringly hot. Upon request, guests also can try red and green tomatillo sauces, and pico de gallo. If you're up for a more substantial appetizer, try the Sampler ($8.99), which easily can satisfy three to four. A fried beef burrito, fried chicken burrito and chicken quesadilla top a half-order of Nachos Supreme smothered with Chihuahua cheese dip. Muy bueno! The chorizo sausage is made inhouse and is featured in the Pollo Toluca, an entrée of grilled chicken breast topped with the aforementioned chorizo, cheese and accompanied by rice, beans, tortillas and guacamole

salad ($10.99). The guacamole, by the way, is superior and the lettuce and tomato garnishes are impeccably fresh. You'll also find vegetarian options, seldom-seen fish tacos, and, on the weekend, menudo. I hear the T-Bone Steak & Shrimp, and Carnitas La Carreta are two more don't-miss offerings. Smoking is allowed in the cozy bar and dining area sequestered from the general dining public. For the tequila gourmand, there are about 50 brands to choose from. Ten Mexican beers, wine by the glass, and flavored daiquiris and margaritas in 16-ounce to 46-ounce sizes rub elbows with traditional bar drinks. There's another interesting-looking cocktail called a Cantarito served in a terra-cotta vessel that combines tequila, OJ and other fruit juices. Alcohol averse? Try the raspberry iced tea ($1.50). It's FAB-ulous. A children's menu for those 12 and younger, lunch combos (4.99 to $6.29), dinner combos ($6.99 and $7.29), American choices, carryout, catering, and private party accommodations

are among the amenities. Without alcohol, and eating light, a couple could easily leave the restaurant with a tab of $20. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, until 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Cuisine: Mexican-American

Reservations: Parties of six or more

Smoking: Yes

Kids menu: Yes

Price: $$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Lunch combos ranging $4.99 to $6.29 served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

La Petite Folie

1504 E. 55th St., Chicago

(773) 493-1394

A gem of a restaurant in the Hyde Park area with straightforward, beautifully presented French dishes at both lunch and dinner. In the past, appetizers have included horseradish chive cream sautéed sea scallops with crimson Swiss chard, and seared foie gras with roasted pears. Main courses have ranged from Alaskan halibut with red pepper marinade to beef tenderloin with truffle butter. Desserts are delectable and classic. Wine list is reasonable and extensive; service pleasant and polished. Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; dinner starting at 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Closed Mondays.

Cuisine: Upscale French

Reservations: Yes

Smoking: No

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Service is pleasant and polished

Little Tokyo

1850 45th St., Munster, (219) 934-1111

Munster's Little Tokyo is Wei good. Don't rub your eyes. That's how owner Bruce Wei and his brother, chef John Wei, pronounce their last name -- "WAY." Open since January 2005, 50 percent of Bruce Wei's business comes from sushi. Some special combinations include Unaju -- sashimi of yellow fin tuna and eel with pickled daikon radish on rice. For more conservative tastes, there are plenty of tempura, teriyaki, haru maki (spring rolls), gyoza (pot stickers), and noodle dishes. The Nabe Yaki Udon (thick noodles with shrimp tempura, chicken, egg and fish cake in broth) is great. For dessert, there is ice cream several ways (even tempura fried!). High-quality seafood is never cheap, so don't be surprised if you drop some change at Little Tokyo. A teriyaki or tempura Bento Lunch Box includes rice, soup, salad, half a California roll, and haru maki for $7.50 to $8.50. Dinners start at $10.95 and include rice and soup OR salad. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays; 1 to

11 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Little Tokyo also has locations at 2507 Ridge Road in Homewood (708) 799-2222. Call for Homewood restaurant's hours.

Cuisine: Sushi/Japanese

Reservations: No

Smoking: No

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Japanese beer, sake and wine

Tip: Ask about the restaurant's Frequent Diners Card,

Little Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse

1811 E. Lincolnway, Valparaiso

(219) 531-6888

Bruce Wei's restaurant delivers with sushi on one side and teppanyaki-style cooking on the other side. The sushi is as impeccable as at his Munster and Homewood locations. Things are stepped up a notch with performance cooking -- food tossed in the air, utensil juggling, fire and more! Expect great stir-fried steak, chicken and seafood, plus grilled veggies and fried rice. If sushi and teppanyaki aren't your thing, you can order tempura and more from the kitchen. Lunch specials start at $6.50. Beer and wine are available. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays.

Cuisine: Sushi/teppanyaki

Reservations: On weekends

Smoking: No

Kids menu: Yes

Price: $$$

Bar: Beer and wine

Tip: You'll enjoy the performance cooking at the teppanyaki tables

Livio's Restaurant and Bar

8267 Wicker Ave. (U.S. 41), St. John (located in lake Central

Plaza)

(219) 558-8120

www.lorenzettis.com

Livio's Restaurant and Bar in St. John is leaving an impression on Northwest Indiana diners just as Carlo's, its Chicago Heights cousin, has done for years. Owned by the Lorenzetti family and specializing in Italian-American cuisine, Livio's boasts a feel-good bar with big-screen TVs, cozy booths and tables making it perfect for a sandwich, pizza, appetizer or full meal. Open for lunch and dinner daily, the nonsmoking dining room also features tables and cozy booths along the curving window-lined walls. As much as possible, everything is made inhouse, including salad dressings, soups, bread pudding and cannoli. Since everything is prepared à la minute, you might have a bit of a wait. That's why the Cobb salad, whose ingredients are chopped to order, is available only for lunch. It would be too time consuming to offer at the busy dinner hour. Most entrées come with soup or salad and a side of pasta or potatoes. A recent order of mushroom soup produced a creamy affair with loads of

mushrooms, albeit canned. The salads are green and fresh and the bread crusty. I opted for one of the house favorites -- Baked Stuffed Shrimp with imitation crab meat and mozzarella cheese ($14.95 at lunch, $16.95 at dinner) -- and it was tasty. One of my companions selected the Linguine ala Livio ($12.95 at lunch, $1 more at dinner) -- shrimp, scallops, cherry tomatoes and shallots sautéed in garlic and white wine sauce -- and was happy. Another companion who chose the Veal Parmesan ($14.95 at lunch, $4 more at dinner) was underwhelmed. Yet another companion chose the Liver and Onions special. Disappointed, a request for a replacement of delicious sautéed Lake Perch ($16.95 at lunch, $1 more at dinner) was met graciously. Other signature items are Carlo's Special Butt Steak topped with Roquefort cheese and/or garlic butter, Linguine Capitano, walleye pike, lasagna, pizza and more. For smaller appetities, sandwiches start at $5.95. Small frys 10 and younger can feast on

spaghetti or rigatoni, hamburgers, chicken strips or grilled cheese with soup or salad and choice of potato for $4.25 to $5.95. If you have a favorite special, like eggplant Parmesan, leave your name and number with the hostess and Livio's will call you when it's on the menu. The Lorenzettis also own Gourmet Pizza by Carlo in Flossmoor. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Cuisine: Italian-American

Reservations: On weekends

Smoking: In bar

Kids menu: Yes

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: If you have a favorite special, like eggplant Parmesan, Livio's will call you when it's on the menu.

Los Magueyes

2562 45th St., Highland (in Brumm's Plaza)

(219) 922-9720

Martin and Maria Flores have brought the flavors of their native Michoacan, a state in central Mexico, to Northwest Indiana. "Los Magueyes" is Spanish for a species of agave plant. The labor-intensive, from-scratch operation means you're in for fresh food cooked to order. The excellent guacamole is a prime example. Martin doesn't start peeling the avocados until his waitress hands him the order. Yep, Martin is the restaurant cook, having been head chef at Leroy's Hot Stuff in Porter for 12 years. At home, though, Maria wears the toque in the family, and it's her fabulous homemade tamales you'll find on the menu. The taco meat, whether it's beef, pork or chicken, features carrots and potatoes, in the Michoacan style. Dinners start at $7 and come with cup of soup, rice and beans. All the usual suspects are represented plus seafood enchiladas and tostadas, seldom-seen sopes -- what some call Mexican pot pie -- chilaquiles -- fried tortillas with scrambled

eggs, salsa and cheese -- milanesa -- akin to Mexican-style chicken-fried steak -- and on Saturdays, menudo -- tripe soup -- served with onions, limes, crushed red pepper and tortillas. Can't decide? Try a combo plate. Choose three items -- taco, enchilada, tostada, sope or tamale -- for $9.25. Add $1.25 for steak. Not up for a full dinner? There's an a la carte menu starting at $1.75 for a single tamale. Look for a nice salad lineup and extensive appetizers, including queso fundido -- hot cheese dip with chorizo sausage, pico de gallo and tortillas. There's a Mexican and American breakfast menu, served until noon, beer and wine, and desserts -- buñuelos, empanadas and fried ice cream. My favorites were the steak burrito, guacamole and pork tamales. But the menu is extensive and I'm sure you'll find something that will satisfy your craving for good Mexican food. For American tastes, there's a full roster of gringo goodies, including

hamburgers, grilled cheese, roast beef and BLTs. Nearly all the soups are American. I tried the chicken noodle and it was superior. Call ahead to see what Martin has simmering on the stove. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; closed Sundays.

Cuisine: Mexican

Price: $

Reservations: No

Kids menu: Accommodated

Bar: Beer and wine

Smoking: No

Tip: Mexican and American breakfast served until noon. Menudo available on Saturdays.

Lucrezia Cafe and Catering

428 S. Calumet Road, Chesterton

(219) 926-5829

Lucrezia Ristorante

302 S. Main St., Crown Point

(219) 661-LUCY

www.lucreziacafe.com

Both venues serve Italian cuisine in the cozy bar and dining rooms, or on the attractive outdoor patios in summer. Daily specials. Signature pastas and risottos, thin-crust pizza, luncheon salads, chicken Vesuvio, grilled fish and shellfish, killer desserts such as chocolate and raspberry zuccotto. Open seven days a week: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Entrées $12.95 to $27.95.

Cuisine: Upscale casual/Italian

Reservations: No

Smoking: In bar

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Killer desserts such as chocolate and raspberry zuccotto

The Maple Tree Inn

13301 Olde (cq) Western Ave., Blue Island, Ill.

(708) 388-3461

www.blueislandbiz.com

Charlie Orr, who brought Cajun to Chicago's South Side 25 years ago, moved to Blue Island in the late '90s taking all his recipes with him. Expect the same authentic Creole-Cajun food as at the Beverly eatery -- étouffée, hickory BBQ shrimp, jambalaya, crawfish, shrimp Creole, blackened scallops, catfish and more. Dinners served à la carte are available for $22, which includes appetizer, entrée and dessert. Don't miss the pecan pie with whipped cream ($4) or apple, pecan and maple syrup bread pudding with Rebel Yell Whiskey sauce ($5). Wash it down with authentic chickory-based coffee. Full bar with over 28 beers, wine by the glass, martini menu, after-dinner drinks. Open 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Appetizers range $2.50 to $14, soups $6 to $7, salads $5 to $13, entrées $15 to $23, desserts $4 to $5. Full bar. Parking. No reservations. All major credit cards. Handicapped accessible.

Cuisine: Cajun/Creole

Reservations: No

Smoking: Yes

Kids menu: No

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: Check out the maple syrup bread pudding with Rebel Yell Whiskey sauce.