Arlington Heights is full of great restaurants that serve wonderful cuisine from cultures around the world. It’s also in an area known for its brief periods of warm, sunny weather, making an outdoor dining experience all the more pleasurable. The good news is that there are quite a few restaurants with patios for you to enjoy eating a delightful meal while enjoying the warmth of a gorgeous summer evening.
At NeuroHealth Arlington Heights, we’re proud to have been a part of the community for over 27 years. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best patio restaurants in town for you to check out. Meanwhile, if your child needs an evaluation for the upcoming school year, call us at our clinic to schedule an evaluation today.
Honey Jam Day Cafe
Honey Jam Day Cafe is a local chain that’s the result of a merger consisting of the consolidation of multiple small restaurants. The Arlington Heights location at 2944 W. Euclid Ave. is open during the hours of 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, and you can enjoy your breakfast, brunch, or lunch on the patio if the weather permits.
Some of the delights on the menu include honey-jam biscuits, waffles, pancakes, West Coast Crepes with avocado, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese, or cinnamon roll pancakes. The lunch menu delivers a BBQ Chicken Tortilla Salad, a Hickory Burger with bacon, barbecue sauce, onion rings, and cheddar cheese, and a Tuna Meltdown Panini.
Shakou
Shakou is another locally owned chain that serves up Asian and European dishes, bento boxes, and maki rolls, among others. Sitting on the patio for a meal at the Arlington Heights location combines the pleasure of enjoying pleasant weather with consuming a meal that’s prepared the way it would be in its country of origin. Shakou has garnered praise from Forbes Magazine and other publications for its quality of food, drink, and overall atmosphere. You can find this location at 70 N. Vail Ave., and they’re open 4-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, with Friday and Saturday hours at 4-10 p.m.
Whet your appetite with the Shakou house salad or share a Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap appetizer with your dining companions. Poke bowls are available, along with Beef Fried Rice and Miso Ramen. However, it’s the maki rolls where Shakou really shines. If you’re looking for a hot roll, you can’t go wrong with the Urban Heat roll that consists of spicy tuna, jalapeno, and spicy mayo wrapped in soy paper with a drizzle of unagi sauce on top.
Big Ange’s Eatery
Big Ange’s Eatery features a menu full of classic Chicago-style dishes that satisfies your cravings for a good Italian beef or BBQ. What sets Big Ange’s apart from other hot dog and beef joints are the fresh and flavor-packed, hand-picked meats and bread, with many dishes made in-house from scratch. Even the fries as a traditional side order with your meal are hand cut from fresh potatoes for the best crunch and flavor. You can find all of this goodness at 640 W. Northwest Highway, and the hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Take the option to sit outside on the patio to enjoy one of the half-pound BBQ sandwiches that feature pulled pork, smoked tri-tip, brisket, and pastrami to name a few proteins. If you’re in the mood for an Italian beef sandwich with giardiniera, you can’t go wrong with the one on the menu at Big Ange’s with its quality meat and bread. Last but not least, the classic Chicago hot dog that’s been walked through the garden is available. It uses a Vienna beef hot dog for tradition and leaves off the ketchup for the sake of tradition.
Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub
Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub is soaked in authentic Irish cuisine and culture in a way that’s intended to set it apart from all other Irish establishments in the area. Almost all parts of the building and interior were sourced from Ireland for ultimate authenticity. The outdoor patio is purpose built and wraps around the exterior of the building. It’s a pub that invites diners of all ages to sit outside at its location at 8 N. Vail Ave. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
The heart of Peggy Kinnane’s may be Irish, but its menu is inclusive with appetizers that consist of Wisconsin cheese curds, calamari, a hummus platter, and a Bavarian pretzel. The slider menu includes options such as pulled pork with Jameson whiskey sauce, chicken BLT, and fish and chips. If it’s Irish-style home cooking you’re after, try Peggy Kinnane’s meatloaf that’s been roasted and grilled, and accompany it by mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Mago Grill & Cantina
Mago Grill is run by award-winning chefs Juan Luis Gonzalez and Rich Munoz. The pair got together to create a restaurant and menu that’s based on family recipes from Mexico. Together, the chefs bring you truly authentic Mexican dishes that you can enjoy while sipping a MAGo-rita on the patio. You’ll find the restaurant located at 115 W. Campbell St., and the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Brunch is served daily and includes delights such as pan Frances de horchata, or horchata French toast, and papas con chorizo, a dish of homemade Mexican chorizo with Yukon gold potatoes, caramelized peppers, and onions. Lunch and dinner appetizers consist of flautas de birria, tamales de frijol, quesadilla, and more. Entrees include costilla de ojo en crema morita, arroz con pollo, and dorado en mole de cacahuate.
That’s our list of the five best patio restaurants to check out in Arlington Heights, Illinois. If we missed a destination you feel belongs on the list, drop us a line, and let us know so we can include it in an update. Meanwhile, get in touch with us at NeuroHealth Arlington Heights for a school-ordered mental health evaluation or treatment. You can find the answers you’re looking for at our clinic, then head over to one of these restaurants as a well-earned reward afterwards.