Here are some places recently featured in Dining Out:
AL'S CAFE AND CREAMERY
43 DuPage Court, Elgin, 847-742-1180, www.alscafe.com
Category: Casual dining
Entree Range: $14.95 to $23.95
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday, Closed Sunday
Featured Entree: "Schnitzelicious January" features six varieties of schnitzel with soup or salad at special price of $9.95
BAKER HILL PANCAKE HOUSE
1279 Dundee Ave., Elgin, 847-888-8119
Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Category: Breakfast, lunch
Entree price: $6.50 to $10
Signature dish: Carpenter's Special breakfast skillet, with hash browns, bacon, sausage, onion, green pepper, cheddar cheese and two eggs, served with toast: $7.95
BIG SKILLET AND PANCAKE HOUSE
90 Tyler Creek Plaza, Elgin, 847-741-7331
Category: Pancake house
Entree range: $2.99 to $12.99
Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
CARMINA'S RESTAURANT AND BANQUET
1055 N. Randall Road, Elgin,
847-760-1600
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Category: lunch, dinner, Mexican
Average entrée price: $9 dinner, $6 lunch.
Featured entree: Combination fajitas, steak and chicken, served with rice, beans, salad, sour cream and guacamole, $13.99.
CHICAGO PIZZA AUTHORITY
840 Summit Blvd., Elgin, 847-742-8802
Category: Pizza and Italian
Entree range: $9.99 to $31.89 for pizza; dinners run $5.99 to $7.99
Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Sundays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays (buffet ends at 9 p.m. daily)
Featured entree: Pizza and salad buffet,
DOUBLEJACKS SPORTS BURGER BAR & GRILL
Where: 2380 Esplande Drive, Algonquin, 847-458-8878
Category: Casual dining
Entrée Range: $7 to $12
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday Featured entrée: Barbecue stuffed burger includes two 1/3 lb. patties stuffed with barbecued pork and served on a bun. Comes with a choice of homemade fries, salad or pasta
GENOA CAFí‰
233 W. Main St., Genoa, 815-784-6647
Category: Breakfast and lunch
Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays
JB'S PUB
297 S. McLean Boulevard, Elgin, 847-695-0626
Category: pub food
Entree range: $6 to $8
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays to Saturdays
Featured entree: Cheese and sausage pizza, $10
JIMMY'S CHARHOUSE
2290 Point Blve., Elgin, 847-783-0200
www.jimmyscharhouse.com
Category: Steakhouse
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays
Entree Range: $8.95 to $28.95
Featured entree: Charbroiled rib-eye steak, $24.95
MAGGIE MOO'S
562 Randall Road, South Elgin, 847-760-6667
Category: Ice cream
Entree range: $2.99 to $5.99 for ice-cream dishes, shakes and malts; ice-cream cakes and cupcakes also available
Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; noon to 9 p.m. Sundays
Featured entree: Fresh Escapes, a wide selection of ice-cream creations featuring a vast array of ice-cream flavors and mix-ins. You can also create your own
MEL'S DINER
630 W. State St., Geneva, 630-232-4235
40W160 Campton Crossings, St. Charles, 630-444-3533
Category: Diner
Entree range: $2.50 to $7.25 for breakfast, $1.99 (for one taco) to $7.99 (Geneva)
Entree range: $2.99 to $7.95 (St. Charles)
Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday (St. Charles)
Featured entree: California burger - One-third pound chopped beef, grilled and served with lettuce, red onion, tomato, jalapeno, Swiss cheese and guacamole; $6.19 (Geneva), $6.95 (St. Charles) (add fries for $1, make it a half-pound patty for $1 more)
THE RED OX
129 E. Oak Knoll (Route 72), Hampshire, 847-683-2300
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
Category: Casual dinner
Entree range: $11.95 to $16
Featured entree: Beef stroganoff: filet mignon in stroganoff sauce, served over buttered noodles, with soup or salad, potato and the vegetable of the day, $16.95
ROOKIES ALL AMERICAN PUB & GRILL
1545 W. Main St., St. Charles, 630-513-0681, rookiespub.com
Category: Family dining and sports bar
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sundays
Entree range: $6.99 to $12.99
Featured entree: Cajun prime rib sandwich - grilled prime rib with grilled onions and melted pepper jack cheese on a toasted garlic French roll; $10.99
Elgin location: 2486 Bushwood Drive, Elgin, 847-551-9006 call for hours.
VILLA VERONE
Where: 13 Douglas Ave., Elgin, 847-742-0263
Category: lunch, dinner, Italian
Entrée range: $7.50 to $7.95 lunch, $12.95 to $18.95 dinner
Hours: closed Mondays, open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekends
Featured entrée: "Grandma's mess," a dish with meatballs, chicken, Italian sausage and green and red peppers in marinara sauce, $15.95
FYI: also at 219 W. State St., Sycamore, 815-895-9400