photo: courtesy praga

Savvy suburban regulars pack this romantic haven for robust Pan-European fare. Sautéed escargots with artichokes and Gorgonzola in puff pastry and a tart of Vienna-style goat cheese and caramelized onion beckon as starters. Veal offerings shine; try the veal scaloppine in mushroom sauce with truffled wild mushrooms and whole-wheat fettuccine. Big dessert selection includes white chocolate cheesecake in a macadamia nut crust. Affable service and attached wine bar add to the charm. 

Dishes We Liked:

Forest mushroom cream soup ($5), grilled pork chop stuffed with applewood-smoked bacon and spinach ($20), bananas Foster with toasted pecans and French vanilla ice cream flambéed tableside with Myer’s dark rum ($6)

Praga, 229 West St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL.

New restaurant reviews, updated to reflect critics’ recent visits, appear each month in Chicago magazine, in Dine, as well as on our website. Listed restaurants are rated from one to four stars, where one is good, two is very good, three is excellent, and four is superlative. Praga stayed at one and a half stars in the May issue, on newsstands now.