NORTHBROOK, IL – While the digital world constantly hunts for the newest, trendiest Instagram spots, two legendary culinary institutions on Skokie Boulevard are proving that serving timeless classics is the ultimate secret to long-term success.
With a combined 66 years of business between them, Prairie Grass Cafe and Francesco’s Hole in the Wall remain packed to the brim, especially during prime Friday night dining hours.
Prairie Grass Cafe: A Midwest Culinary Anchor
Opened in 2004, Prairie Grass Cafe offers modern American fare deeply rooted in Midwestern sensibilities. The restaurant is helmed by Chef and owner Sarah Stegner, a highly decorated culinary figure. Stegner boasts two James Beard Awards, previously served as the chef at The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Chicago, and is a former president of the Green City Market.
Instead of remaining downtown, Stegner chose Northbrook for her flagship venture.
The restaurant’s hallmark is execution rather than flashiness. Its standout dish remains the crispy boneless half chicken, served with sauteed asparagus, a wild rice pilaf with pecans and grapes, and a rich pan sauce. Other long-standing customer favorites include:
- A classic Caesar salad
- Pan-seared whitefish with butter and capers
- A famous bunless burger, once named the area’s finest by Chicago magazine.
Francesco’s Hole in the Wall: Decades of Italian Tradition
Located just down the block at 254 Skokie Blvd., Francesco’s Hole in the Wall has been a neighborhood fixture since 1982. The cozy, intimate dining room is anchored by owner Frank Gallo, an industry veteran who remains an omnipresent figure greeting guests.
Francesco’s famously operates without a printed menu. Instead, diners choose from a whiteboard that is updated daily based on the freshest ingredients available.
Gallo’s approach relies on authentic, unchanging Italian cooking. Decades-old crowd-pleasers like veal ossobuco and chicken Vesuvio continue to draw large local crowds, proving that some culinary traditions do not need updating to match passing modern trends.
