Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in South Suburbs

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in South Suburbs? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Maple Tree Inn

4.8

4.8 (4876)

$30 and under

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Homewood

About the restaurant

Maple Tree Inn was awarded the very prestigious honor of being named in the Top 50 Southern Restaurants In America by OpenTable in 2018. We are proud to announce that the Maple Tree Inn has permanently relocated to Homewood, IL. We are committed to the art of Cajun/Creole cooking & maintaining our status as the first and longest-running Cajun/Creole restaurant in Chicagoland. We are featuring a menu of our signature dishes including our Hickory Buttered BBQ Shrimp, Country Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crawfish Étouffée, and many more! We have boutique wines on draft, signature hand crafted cocktails, and an impressive craft beer list. Our hand crafted, premium cocktail menu highlights the very best of our repertoire. We look forward to hosting you & providing you with all the comforts of New Orleans, just a little closer to home.

Top review

Michael

Dined 2 days ago

Great food great service!!! We went during the week when it first opened at 5 p.m. Make a reservation because the place filled up fast. The ambiance was amazing. Also every patron we came across had a smile on their faces! Food was amazing and the amount of food was worth the price. The drinks were great. Try the Hurricane or the voo doo!!! It was a date night for me and my wife, our first visit and it definitely will not be our last time!

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Southern Fried Catfish

Bella Mia

4.9

4.9 (2346)

$30 and under

Italian

Midlothian

About the restaurant

From the Italian Specialties to the Steaks and Chops Bella Mia is sure to put a smile on your face. That downtown feel right here in the Suburbs!

Top review

Tom

Dined 1 day ago

Food was very good. Served hot. Went early so not very crowded. Owner came to introduce himself and welcome us there which was very nice. I would recommend this place to people looking for good Italian food.

Palermo's 95th Fine Italian Cuisine

4.7

4.7 (1264)

$30 and under

Italian

Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

For outstanding Italian cuisine, look no further than Palermo's 95th. This family run, award winning restaurant specializes in authentic veal, steak, pasta, and fresh seafood creations for lunch and dinner. Established in 1961 by Ben and Nina Calderone, the family tradition still continues thru their sons, Anthony and William. Sherman Kaplen of WBBM radio says, "Palermo's 95th is a true diamond among the southwest side Italian restaurants!" The grilled shrimp and calamari and the 8-finger cavetelli are outstanding. Plus check out their extensive wine and martini list. Featured on WTTW Check Please!

Top review

TracyBillVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Always a great experience! Great food service too! A true Southside gem.

Lou Malnati's - Midway

4.7

4.7 (29)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Midway

About the restaurant

Whether you’re coming or going, our location near Midway airport is a great destination to grab your slice while in Chicago. At Lou Malnati’s, you can get one of the most authentic Chicago pizza experiences from one of the oldest in the game. Experience Legendary Chicago Deep Dish and thin crust at the place that’s been perfecting it for 50+ years, with family recipes and high-quality ingredients that you just don’t find everywhere.

Top review

MICHELLE

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

The pizza was awesome as usual and the service was the bomb. I sure wish you would open a dine in place in northwest Indiana, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s on fire over here!!!

Sorriso Ristorante

4.7

4.7 (864)

$30 and under

Italian

Frankfort

About the restaurant

Bringing Southern Italian to the South Suburbs of Chicago

With a long standing tradition of bringing quality Southern Italian cuisine to the south side of Chicago, The Greco family is well known for their classic dishes as well as always having exciting, eye-catching, and taste-bud tantlizing specials.

Since 1975, the Greco Family has always been a name synonymous with Fine Italian dining and Sorriso Ristorante continues this tradition of quality and comfort.

Top review

Denise

Dined 6 days ago

Great place to eat! Blackened salmon is the best and of course two sangria

Francesca's on 95th

4.7

4.7 (1375)

$30 and under

Italian

Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

Francesca’s on 95th is located in vibrant downtown Oaklawn. A restaurant with a contemporary, casually sophisticated trattoria ambiance, rustic cooking, friendly service, and fair prices.

Top review

Cherena

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

This restaurant was phenomenal. My father enjoyed his birthday and Father’s Day and look forward to going again.

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Experience

Happy Hour

Franconello Italian Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (421)

$30 and under

Italian

Evergreen Park

About the restaurant

Visit Franconello's for Italian dining at its finest! We serve all homemade appetizers, entrees, and desserts. We specializes in 2 inch center cut pork chops, Sausage Franconello style, and pastas, including homemade gnocchi. Among the dessert specialties are tiramisu, cannoli dip, carrot cake, and gelato.

Please Call us at 773-881-4100 for Parties larger than 4 and we will help accommodate your group.

Top review

Joyce

Dined 6 days ago

It was a wonderful surprise. It is located close to home; so, now, I consider it a neighborhood gem. The service, food and ambiance was excellent. The music was soothing and classic. I look forward to dining on the 2nd floor patio the next time I visit. I will definitely be going back and adding it to my list of favorites!

Ken's on Western

4.7

4.7 (478)

$30 and under

American

Burbank

About the restaurant

We are about family, tradition, food, libations, classic favorites, great times with close friends. New ideas collide with old school class. Enjoy!

Top review

Herbert

Dined 3 days ago

nice place. great friendly service. food is exceptional

Krapil's Steakhouse & Patio

4.6

4.6 (61)

$31 to $50

Steak

Worth

About the restaurant

Krapil's the Great Steak, a Worth, Illinois staple, serves sumptuous steaks and other classic American fare. It is simply a suburban oasis. An unexpected serene outpost that transports you away from the city hustle and bustle to an old school Northwoods supper club surrounded by giant pine trees. The food is classic supper club fare with some modern twists. The Prime Rib dinner and The Fish fry are staples that will not disappoint. The menu is rounded out with steakhouse specialties and is supplemented by a hospitality level you more commonly found in a downtown restaurant

Krapil's also has the premier patio n the south side with live music on the weekends. There are plenty of private event opportunities available both inside and outside and Krapils has menus to accommodate every occasion and budget.

Top review

JorgeVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Fun environment with live music on the weekends. Tasty food. Good service. Great value.

Dancing Marlin

4.6

4.6 (3306)

$30 and under

American

Frankfort

About the restaurant

The Dancing Marlin is all about small plates, sharing & great wines and cocktails on tap! There also is a full bar. The menu has something for everyone with fresh seafood being a specialty. The culinary team has created a small plates menu that is both affordable and amazing! We feature a communal dining table for up to 14 guests and the suburbs most creative Sunday Brunch. Our bar features 16 wines on tap and 8 "made from scratch", crafted cocktails. The bar also features 30 craft beers in bottles and cans. The restaurant features (3) private dining rooms that can accommodate up to 120 guests. All of this is packaged up in a modern restaurant design, produced by award winning design team. Knauer Inc!

Top review

Tammy

Dined 1 day ago

Dancing Marlins is a neighborhood GEM! It offers a variety of foods with uncommon combinations that are simply SCRUMPTIOUS! I would highly recommend! Looking forward to our next visit 😋

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Popular dish

General Tso's Cauliflower

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