Anthony's Café

2936 Highland Ave., Highland

(219) 923-2075

A well-designed interior and al fresco dining patio make this Highland charmer a pleasant stop for either a relaxed lunch or dinner. Menus change every week and the kitchen takes full advantage of the seasons. The chef's repertoire is eclectic with many Italian and European overtones. Try the excellent bruschetta made with toasted Labriola bread, extra-virgin olive oil and fresh basil ($5); cellantani pasta with grilled chicken breast and mushrooms in a spicy rosemary-garlic butter sauce ($7.50) or the outstanding grilled steak salad ($8) among many other menu items. More than 50 domestic and imported specialty beers and more than 100 wines, many offered by 1- or 2-ounce taste, a 6-ounce glass or by the bottle. Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Cuisine: Upscale casual/Italian

Reservations: For dinner

Smoking: No

Kids menu: Accommodated

Price: $$

Bar: Beer and wine

Tip: Great Labriola bread, menus change weekly.

Bamboo Blue

18147 Harwood Ave., Homewood

(708) 799-4700

www.bambooblue.biz

This charming Homewood restaurant is one you don't want to miss. Owners Jeanne McInerney and Tami Mizrahi, and chef Jerry Binford, have crafted a delightful menu that blends authentic with Asian-influenced American dishes. If you want the real thing, there's a crispy, sweet-and-salty Korean short ribs appetizer masquerading as Very Feng Chewy Ribs ($7.50), Pad Thai ($8.95 to $9.95) spiced to your tolerance, and Chap Chae ($8.95 to $9.95), a Korean dish of cellophane noodles with vegetables in a sweet, dark soy sauce. On the fusion side, you'll find nachos with Thai peanut sauce, fried wontons with black beans and cheese, and Asian Quesadillas ($7.95 to $8.95). Fish dishes include Tempura Halibut, Wasabi Pea Crusted Salmon and Red Snapper in Hong Kong Vinaigrette. And if you're into sushi, no need to look further. It's all here. From classic sushi rolls (Spicy Tuna, California, Veggie Maki, New York, Unagi, Mexi Maki, Negi Hamachi) to more unique combinations like the Caterpillar Roll with eel and hamachi. The full-service bar features imported and domestic beers, hot sake, cocktails and martinis like the Hanoi Jane made with gin, blue-cheese-stuffed olives and seedless cucumbers. The tea offerings are nearly as extensive as the wine list (by the glass or bottle, $4.50 to $32), which includes a plum wine from Japan. Don't miss the Pineapple Upside Down Cake ($6) with hot caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. The portions are large, the presentation is beautiful and the prices are affordable. Just go already. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; 4 to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 4 to 8 p.m. Sundays. Range from $3.50 for appetizers to $23 for most expensive entrée.

Cuisine: Asian fusion

Reservations: On weekends

Smoking: No

Kids menu: Yes

Price: $$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: The tea offerings are nearly as extensive as the wine list.

Benny's Home Cookin'

Horseshoe Casino

777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond

(866) 711-SHOE

www.horseshoe.com

Benny's Home Cookin' at Horseshoe Casino Hammond features hearty portions of comfort food at affordable prices. The à la carte sit-down and to-go restaurant serves up down-home offerings that hearken back to Mom's kitchen and warm fuzzies. Consider lightly cornmeal-breaded catfish ($6.99), St. Louis BBQ ribs ($8.99), fall-off-the-bone-tender braised beef short ribs, mammoth buffalo chicken wings, and rotisserie chicken, the last three ringing in at $4.99. Sides ($1.99 each) are four-cheese mac 'n cheese, fingerling potatoes, and mashed and baked sweet potatoes. Vegetables ($1.99 each) include buttered sweet corn, broccoli and cheese, sautéed spinach and delicious sweet-and-meaty baked beans. Nine cold salads ($1.99 each) run the gamut of creamy cole slaw to country potato salad to pickled beets and more. Desserts ($3.99 each) easily can serve three. The slab of mile-high coconut cake is to die for. Also look for carrot and chocolate cakes, bread pudding, Boston cream pie and fruit cobbler. The restaurant is open to the public. Gambling is optional. Open noon to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Entrées range $4.99 to $8.99, sides are $1.99 and desserts are $3.99.

Cuisine: Southern/soul food

Reservations: No

Smoking: No

Kids menu: No

Price: $

Bar: No

Tip: Drinks from other parts of casino can be brought into restaurant.

Bentwood Tavern at the Marina Grand Resort

600 W. Water St., New Buffalo, Mich.

(877) 945-8600 or (269) 469-9900

www.marinagrandresort.com

Bentwood Tavern at the Marina Grand Resort is a dining jewel at the end of the 1,000-slip New Buffalo Harbor on Oselka Marina. The restaurant, owned by Robert and Collette Kemper, has a contemporary, nautical, Scandinavian feel with Michigan hickory at every turn.

Chef Jenny Drilon, owner of New Buffalo's now-defunct Jenny's Restaurant, is working her magic in the kitchen with the aid of an Italian wood-burning oven. "Jenny brings to us her expertise from Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Ambria and the Corner Bakeries in Chicago," he says. The artisan comfort food, sophisticated pub grub if you will, is made from scratch, prepared à la minute, and served by a smiling, gracious staff. Two starters to watch for are the three-onion dip with housemade pub chips, and baked asiago and goat cheese with, again, housemade flatbread. For lunch, you can't go wrong with the juicy half-pound burger with grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese on black bread. Pizza from the wood-burning oven is available all day. A superior sweet-and-salty choice is the prosciutto with fig. If you have room, the fresh-fruit pavlova is the way to go for dessert. The meringue shell is the crispiest I've had anywhere, rivaling even my own. The wine list is pleasantly eclectic. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Cuisine: Upscale pub grub

Reservations: On weekends

Smoking: No

Kids menu: Yes

Price: $$$

Bar: Full bar

Tip: The fig and prosciutto flatbread pizza is a great choice.