Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in South Suburbs

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots 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!

Bella Mia

4.8

4.8 (2177)

$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

Julie

Dined 2 days ago

Everything about this restaurant is above and beyond

Maple Tree Inn

4.8

4.8 (4471)

$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 have maintained almost 100% of our staff and they have made the move with us.
We are still 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

Sheila

Dined 2 days ago

I visited Maple Tree Inn on Saturday, September 14 to Celebrate my Birthday with family and friends, upon our arrival we were greeted by friendly staff members, and the ambience was perfect, the lighting, the music, table locations, everything very nice. I Had the shrimp and grits, vegan muffins, and vegan spinach crab cakes, others in my party enjoyed the jambalaya, gumbo, fried chicken and drinks, THE FOOD WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 everything was seasoned VERY WELL, and the presentation was EVERYTHING!! I will definitely be returning to Maple Tree Inn, thank you for an amazing birthday dinner!!

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Southern Fried Catfish

Franconello Italian Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (363)

$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

Annevip

Dined 4 days ago

Birthday celebration at this reliably delicious neighborhood favorite. Thanks to the team for making it special with dessert and a serenade by their singer!

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Popular dish

Pork Chop Vesuvio

Red Star Kitchen + Bar

4.6

4.6 (165)

$30 and under

American

Matteson

About the restaurant

Welcome to Red Star Kitchen + Bar, where culinary artistry meets vibrant ambiance in a celebration of flavor and style. Nestled in the heart of Matteson, our restaurant invites you on a journey of gastronomic delight, blending modern sophistication with the warmth of a welcoming neighborhood gem.

Step into Red Star and be captivated by the contemporary design, where rich red hues and ambient lighting create an inviting atmosphere that effortlessly transitions from intimate dinners to lively gatherings. Our chic and comfortable setting sets the stage for a dining experience that goes beyond the ordinary.

Whether you're seeking a romantic dinner for two, a lively night out with friends, or a venue for a special celebration, Red Star Kitchen + Bar invites you to indulge in an experience where passion for food and a commitment to excellence converge. Reserve your table today and embark on a culinary journey that transcends the ordinary, only at Red Star.

Top review

Lyndsey

Dined 2 days ago

I always enjoy my time at Red Star. Celebrated my birthday and throughly enjoyed myself. Thank you to Nick Hale and the bartender Amir for an awesome evening!

Toast It IZ

4.5

4.5 (177)

$31 to $50

American

Evergreen Park

About the restaurant

Toast It Iz is located near a retail complex in the wealthy Evergreen Park neighborhood. Toast It IZ combines the heart and soul of Southern and Creole-inspired cuisine with a dash of the downtown atmosphere. You may thank the restaurant's breakfast and brunch menu for establishing an enduring dining memory with dishes like gumbo grits and fried catfish, banana pudding waffles, lollipop lamb chops, pancakes it iz!, and mimosa towers.

Top review

Tiffani Tee

Dined 1 day ago

Lenetta G was AWESOME! Catered to us and explained food and combinations the entire time. Pleasant attitude and attentive. Food was DELICIOUS

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Oak Lawn

4.4

4.4 (6235)

$30 and under

American

Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

Experience the perfect fusion of award-winning wines, Napa-style tasting rooms, and modern casual dining at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine influenced by international flavors from our scratch kitchen. Each dish is expertly paired with our selection of wines for the best food and wine match. Whether you explore the tasting room for a pre- or post-dinner adventure or join the world's largest wine club, we believe in the power of food and wine to create lasting connections. Dining reservations are highly recommended, but walk-in guests are always welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are available.

Top review

Joe

Dined 3 days ago

Always love the atmosphere that Coopers Hawk has the wife and myself love eating there plus we get to do the wine 🍷 tasting before hand.

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Jimmy O's Bar & Grille

4.4

4.4 (129)

$30 and under

American

Frankfort

About the restaurant

Our menu isn't just a collection of dishes; it's an invitation to explore new tastes, textures, and aromas. Whether you're a food connoisseur seeking bold flavors or someone looking for comforting classics, our menu has something for every discerning palate.

Come, explore our menu, and let your culinary adventure begin. Each dish tells a story, and each bite is a moment to be savored. Thank you for choosing Social 45 for your dining pleasure. We look forward to serving you an unforgettable experience, one dish at a time. Bon appétit!

Top review

Stevenvip

Dined 4 days ago

The outdoor patio is awesome. Carpeted and not too noisy. The carrot cake had a strong taste of nutmeg. This place used to be packed. What happened?

Paisans Pizza - Oak Lawn

4.4

4.4 (11)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Oak Lawn

About the restaurant

Paisans is an Italian word for friends, but to us, it also means family. Family has always been at the center of Paisans’ beginning and the driving force behind its success. Paisans Pizza was started by Luigi, an immigrant to the United States, in 1985. In a small corner store in Cicero, Illinois, Luigi started making pizzas out of a household kitchen oven. Shortly after, Luigi was joined by his son Pete, fulfilling orders one at a time using hand-written tickets hanging from clothespins in their tiny kitchen.

Pete spent the next 30 years expanding the business, while also refining the Paisans brand and menu. He did this while always remembering what got us here: our famous pizza and award-winning wings.

Staying true to the idea of family, Pete brought in his boys to help him take the Paisans concept to the next level. Mentoring his sons in their new roles, Pete involves them in every aspect of the restaurant business.

Top review

Tammie

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

Nice place for a small group of friends or large family.

Bea’s Kitchen & Kocktails

4.1

4.1 (85)

$30 and under

American

Richton Park

About the restaurant

Bea's K&K ''Where every flavor tells a story! Good food in a Friendly Place. True ingredients, true flavors, true passion, a taste you’ll always remember''...... Brunch, Soul Food, Fine Dining Restaurant and Amazing Kocktails

Top review

Chaka

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

I love Bea’s. Hope they same around for a long time.

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Experience

R&B Brunch Buffet Sunday - $34.99/per person

The Rhoyal Bistro Live

3.9

3.9 (304)

$31 to $50

American

Calumet City

About the restaurant

The Rhoyal Bistro Live is south suburban Chicago's hottest all-new upscale casual dining experience and live entertainment venue. The Rhoyal Bistro Live features:

house made fusion recipes ready to tantalize your taste buds,
crafted specialty cocktails,
a hand selected wine list,
mimosa brunches,
private & semi-private spaces
and live music.

Top review

Raquel

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Me and my boyfriend had dinner & drinks for his bday. The vibe was energetic LadyRed was the DJ for karaoke . He had the NY steak that was seasoned well the Ribeye was not available which is his favorite cut but it was good. I had crab cakes that were decent, brussel sprouts that were overdone. The waitress was nice enough to give me my mac&cheese no charge cause I ordered but wasnt brought out. The drinks are decent not worth $16 each. overall food is overpriced. your basically paying for the atmosphere& entertainment. I would only return to sit at bar & listen to live music.

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