in the sprawling monstrosity that is The District sits Lucille’s like an island w/nothing around it (but more and more parking). i came here for a late lunch during the weekend, and was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed the BBQ, the fun and casual ambiance (very family friendly), and the friendly service. the serving sizes are ridiculously large, and the quality of the food is satisfying (NOTHING like The Outback, as the previous reviewer stated). albeit it being a chain, i’d return again for a meaty lunch or dinner.

this is one of those very small mom ‘n pop shops that seems to be more suited for takeout than dine-in. the inside is in need of ambiance and makes for a poor dining experience, but what it lacks in ambiance it makes up for in price—relatively, very cheap compared to other thai places. w/that being said, the quality is not the finest, but just ok.

when i think of a roadside diner, full moon fits the bill w/its location (right on skokie hwy), booths and pie display. very homey, friendly (most times), and no-frills, this large diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner 24 hours a day. it’s right around the corner from the navy base and RFUMS, so i could always count on it to satisfy any late night breakfast cravings. serving sizes are hefty (as other reviewers have stated) and overall, full moon isn’t a bad place to catch an affordable late night meal w/friends or a casual breakfast w/family.

i haven’t tried the brunch buffet, but did catch a dinner early bird special—and what a deal it is—an appetizer + entree + dessert for $16! there’s still enough daylight to enjoy the harbor view and the interior is casual elegant (leaning more on elegant than casual) for a classy meal if you want. the service was good (but we were one of only a handful of parties) and the food was more or less on par w/what you’d expect at a more upscale place like harborside.

i stopped by for the 1st time on a sunday evening after dinner, and boy was it crowded (or so i thought—the line was even longer when i left.) the prices are hefty for these beautifully presented and deftly baked desserts, but i guess that doesn’t stop people from frequenting this dessert shop/cafe at late night. there’s a nice covered outdoor patio (w/heat lamps) and a pleasant cafe interior for couples or large groups. you order at the counter and receive a number, then someone brings you your desserts.

the desserts were delicious, not too sweet or heavy, but given the prices…i think there are better, more affordable options out there too. worth a visit though if you’ve never tried.

they only offer 2 frozen yogurt flavors, but the ‘yogurt’ taste is strong and quite refreshing & delicious as it’s real yogurt. it’s not like other frozen yogurts that just taste sweet and sugary. i think i actually prefer red mango over golden spoon (and i’m a huge golden spoon fan). it’s a small store w/a couple booths and seats inside (very trendy), and a small patio outside.

so it’s a total tourist trap, but i have to say lounging at the beach bar isn’t a bad way to spend your evenings if you’re looking to relax and sip tropical drinks. sitting right on the sand, you have the beautiful moanasurfrider hotel on one side and waikiki beach on the other. i enjoyed being here so much that i came back multiple times at night during my short vacation to oahu. they also have a live band play hawaiian music and other audience requests. the food & drinks are expensive, but you don’t really come here for that.

i had heard many good things about mr pizza from friends and family so on a trip to LA, i finally had a chance to check it out. this is not your typical shabby pizza parlor, but rather a trendy and amazingly upscale pizza restaurant run by koreans. they have a handful of ‘different’ premium pizzas that are their specialties (sweet potato stuffed crust), in addition to the typical and non-typical (bulgogi pizza, anyone?) thin pizzas. a great casual place to hang out w/friends or for families…seems to work on both levels.

somewhat tucked away right off the 5 freeway, this japanese fusion restaurant offered a nice variety of your standard rolls as well as their ‘specialty’, fun rolls (in addition to other fusion dishes, which i didn’t pay too much attention to). i came here w/my family for a friday night dinner, and had an overall great time. the service was friendly and accommodating, the ambiance relaxed, but still flashy enough to make it comfortable and/or intimate. it’s a 3-story building w/a theme for each floor—don’t forget to check out turtle pond on the 1st floor!

tropika serves some good food. we ordered a barrage of malaysian and thai dishes, and despite being a bit hit/miss, there were more hits than misses. the service was very friendly (surprisingly), but may have been because we were one of just a couple parties there during dinner. the inside is casual, but still nice enough of a place to go for lunch or dinner w/your family. parking is plenty. as far as location, it’s more off of 17th street, than actually on it. we drove by it the first time around, and had to U it.