Quirky menu items aside, Dakotas is an inviting place with a great atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to grab a drink with a friend on a relaxing patio or have a nice lunch with some well-crafted cocktails.

Dakotas in Yorkville is serving quality bar food with big flavors and an extensive drink list.

Six19 in Plano is serving bar food with a twist.

Though it was just two degrees outside, the patio area was comfortable and inviting with ivy hanging from the rafters and the glow of neon lights in the windows.

I recently took a drive over to Yorkville to check out its Juicehead Smoothies & Coffee for a bite to eat. Yorkville’s Juicehead is actually the second in existence (the first is located in Plainfield), and is owned by the same group responsible for Crusade Burger Bar in Yorkville and Sovereign in Plainfield.

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Photos from Mystery Diner's recent trip to Juicehead Smoothies & Coffee in downtown Yorkville.

From the car wash to Brick Oven Kitchen, employees were incredibly upbeat, energetic and helpful.

From flaming tequila shots and palomas to TexMex staples, the Mexican restaurant on U.S. Route 34 in Plano is about as classic as you can get.

The food is authentic, the wine crisp at Plano's Monte Carlo Steakhouse.

With a Tuesday, July 20 opening coming soon, the multi-storied pub, beer garden and banquet hall is about to be a big step forward for life on the river.

When the executive chef came to the tables to ask about the food, I told him that it was some of the best food I’d had in the area. I meant it too.

The restaurant is a new arrival to Oswego, near the intersection of Route 71 and Washington Street.

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Photos of the offerings from Barra DeMarco in Oswego.