Date Night Destinations: Northbrook

After a day full of turkey preparations and cleanup, why not treat yourself to a night on the town with that special someone? Northbrook has plenty to offer when it comes to romantic dining.

It may be located just off the Edens Expressway, but step into Prairie Grass Café and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a relaxing oasis, with its beautifully lit dining room and attentive servers. Award-winning chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris create simple, fresh gourmet dishes on the rotating menu using locally grown, in-season produce. Don’t miss the sweet potato fries, inspired salads or hamburgers made with grass-fed beef.

In business for three decades, this Italian spot offers a charming atmosphere and a menu that changes every night, written on a blackboard on the wall. You might have to wait a bit to get a seat in the small, intimate dining room, but it’s a “hole in the wall,” after all—and we hear the Chicken Vesuvio is well worth the wait. Don’t forget to check out the photos hung on the wall with celebs like John Cusack while you’re waiting.

Kamehachi of Tokyo
Kamehachi is a hidden gem for sushi lovers in downtown Northbrook, with expansive booths and fresh sushi made at a low bar visible anywhere in the room. The décor is soothing, with paper screens, Japanese art and deep colors. You can’t go wrong with the Kamehachi roll, or try the specialty roll of the day. For diners who don’t do raw fish, several types of teriyaki and Asian lamb chops are just as enticing.    

Sure, the local bar may not sound like the place for romance for a two-some. But a change of pace could be just the thing to spice things up. Live music is a welcome addition on the weekends, and the Landmark Inn has some of the best burgers in town, according to our sources. We’re talking traditional burgers with fixings like bleu cheese and brie, but also salmon burgers, crab cake burger and Greek lamb burgers.