Pasta Night at Salamone's in Cherry Valley

Cantina Taco has two locations in the Rockford area to help you celebrate your love for tacos every day of the week. With fresh ingredients and unique flavors, you can't go wrong for lunch or dinner. Find them at 6342 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111 and 117 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61101.Order at the counter and try not to drool on yourself while they prepare and deliver your order to your table.  We tried the beef birria tacos on corn tortillas, and wow! With a thick layer of cheese between the tortilla and the meat, these are a heavy serving of delicious flavors. Dip your way to birria heaven and just try to keep your hands clean while you enjoy the juicy goodness. Pick your favorite salsa to add if you want to turn up the heat or add some fresh pico.No review of Cantina Taco is complete without trying the Screw City Taco: a fried flour tortilla with your choice of protein, topped with house-made Queso cheese, basmati rice, corn, and sour cream. We opted for the pork and dug in! These are large tacos, with 2 being quite filling. The creamy texture is perfect for cheese and sour cream lovers and the flavor is unique to Cantina Taco! The pork was cooked perfectly, and juicy.  If fancy flavors aren't your speed, enjoy some of Cantina Taco's classic flavors like the ground beef taco. With fresh lettuce, onion, cilantro, and cheese, these classic flavors are customizable to suit everyone's taste and available with many different protein options.  With burritos, bowls, and quesadillas also on the menu, everyone is bound to find something they love at Cantina Taco. See you there, Rockford!

Don't sleep on this awesome summer patio experience! What's better than classic Lino's favorites and a patio the whole family can enjoy? Let the kids run and explore while you enjoy a beverage and your favorite yard games. This Lino's experience is available at 8410 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111.In case you thought the Riverside Lino's was only for carry-out, we are here to set the record straight. Order your favorites to go but enjoy The Shed, a large covered dining experience with indoor and outdoor seating available. Pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches are available at this location, along with their special salad and gelato!We enjoy special salad to start, and enjoyed the classic flavors that makes Lino's salad a crowd favorite. Served with bread and butter, you get the classic Lino's start to your patio experience.  Next up, gnocchi with meatballs. This hearty pasta dish will fill your stomach and put a smile on your soul. Served hot, the gnocchi has that classic doughy texture that sets this pasta apart. The hand made Lino's meatballs add the perfect amount of protein to this feast.We also had to order the classic mostaccioli with meatballs. You can't go wrong with any of Lino's pastas in their sweet red sauce. Adding some sunshine and patio fun only makes this Lino's experience better.Don't forget to add a scoop of gelato to your meal for that sweet finishing touch in the summer sun.Wines are available by the bottle, and they have a selection of canned beers and seltzers as well. Bring the whole family out for food and fun before the season ends. See you there, Rockford!

Crazy Times Pub & Grub, located at 1520 Glen Forest Dr, Machesney Park, IL 61115, has an awesome patio with covered and open areas to give you the perfect summer dining experience. Thursday is steak night, which is why we think you should keep reading this before you make dinner plans for tomorrow!You have to start with a good old fashioned fried appetizer at a pub, you just have to. So we went with fried mac and cheese bites to appease our inner child. Served with ranch, this dippable classic is exactly what you think it is, mac and cheese fried into triangles. The crispy outer crust and the gooey inside makes you feel young at heart.It was steak night, so we had to order their 14oz ribeye, served with Garlic Texas toast, choice of side salad, cottage cheese or Soup of the Day, choice of baked potato, twice baked, french fries, waffle fries, tots, or onion straws. With all those sides, you won't leave hungry! We ordered the twice baked potato, which did not disappoint. The chives, bacon, and cheese made this potato delicious. The steak was cooked to our preferred temp perfectly, and had an out of this world blend of seasonings on top. It was tender and juicy.Also served with a sweet roll that almost felt like eating dessert, this is a delicious meal that didn't put a huge dent in the wallet. We think it might be steak night more often around here!Head on out to Crazy Times Pub & Grub for good company, a good beverage, and a great steak. See you there, Rockford!

This summer has been a mix of high heat and heavy rains, but the patio at Lucha Cantina can be enjoyable for both! Located at 1641 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, Lucha Cantina's patio offers some covered options to help keep you cool and dry while you dine.It was actively raining during our trip, and we stayed dry and comfy under the covering on the patio!If you have not tried the Yucca Tots yet, you don't know what you're missing! Made with freshly shredded Yucca, a Mexican root vegetable similar to a potato, and served with a side of sriracha mayo, this is a great share for the whole table and fun for adults and kids alike. A crispy outside and a soft inside make these a delicious way to start your meal.Next up, the good old fashioned Cheesesteak Chimi: thinly shaved sirloin along with crimini mushrooms, poblano peppers, bell peppers, onions, and a dash of Ranch Dressing, and smothered in queso. Whether you like it the old way (yes, there's a button for that) or the new way, the Cheesesteak Chimi is a crowd favorite with its cheesy goodness and very generous portions. Lucha Cantina is well known for their fresh ingredients and the fresh flavors really melt together with this delicious entree. Next up, the Rio Grande Bowl: an amazing blend of flavors that starts with poblano rice, chihuahua cheese, spinach, a little red onion, corn, jalapeño, black beans and fresh avocado. Add your favorite protein and this bowl will quickly become your favorite fresh dish on the menu! The crunch of the fresh vegetables truly shines within this dish. You can feel good about this meal, without sacrificing delicious flavors.  Add a side to your order to complete your dish, we highly recommend the fiesta potatoes with black beans and corn. The potatoes are prepared to crispy perfection.Whether the weather is in your favor or not, the patio at Lucha Cantina can be a great go-to for amazing food! See you there, Rockford!

It's time for a new patio, Plume! Located at 1132 Auburn St, Rockford, IL 61103, Plume is a new Italian restaurant that offers unique dishes from the owners' hearts.  We started with Pumpernickel Cavatelli: Smoked beef brisket, quark cheese, cabbage, and Eiger Mountain Emmenthaler. The pumpernickel flavor really shines in the handmade pasta, making this a unique pasta that captivates you from the first bite. The smoked beef brisket with perfectly prepared and generously portioned. Topped with cheese to give you that classic pasta feel and a satisfying crunch coming from the cabbage, each bite of this pasta is full of flavor. Don't sleep on the sauce, the flavor really brings the individual pieces of the dish together with a velvety feel.Next up, the Hot Chicken: Polenta puree, olive oil, braised greens, honey, and chowchow. The sweetness of the honey shines through on this dish beautifully. The huge portions of chicken breast make this a very filling dish. This crispy skin on the chicken was packed with flavor and added a fun texture to the plate. The unique polenta puree and vegetables make this a stand out. The large chicken breast was prepared perfectly, tender and juicy throughout.We couldn't leave without trying the Nutella Pot de Creme: Hazelnut butter, chocolate, and Frangelico whipped cream in a mason jar. This is a great shareable dessert where you will find yourself knocking spoons to get the last bite.Try this new patio this summer and experience new tastes. See you there, Rockford!

It's time for a Rockford patio classic, the Olympic Tavern! Located at 2327 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103, the Olympic Tavern has been a Rockford staple for 80 years. A large patio with covered and open areas to suit everyone's preferences means you can't go wrong with summer dining.We started with a couple of beverages, one being a fun peach special, No Crying in Baseball, is perfect for summer sipping. It has white sangria with riesling, peach nectar, Stoli Citros vodka, ginger ale, and lemon juice, and peach rings for garnish. With a massive beer and cocktail list, you can enjoy hours of summer sun with your refreshment of choice.Next up, an appetizer! Volcano Shrimp are flour-dusted shrimp tossed in creamy Thai chili sauce, over napa cabbage & jicama slaw. This generous portion of slightly sweet and spicy shrimp is a great shareable for 2 or a light meal for 1. The slaw is a light crunchy salad that compliments the shrimp nicely. The shrimp is tail off and ready to pop in your mouth.We ended with the Prime Rib Sandwich, an 8oz prime rib grilled with provolone, horseradish cream, and onions on a toasted Turano hoagie roll with fries. This beast of a sandwich won't leave you hungry! It requires two hands to support this delicious sandwich, prepared to medium temp and towering with onions and fries on the side. Served with a steak knife to cut as needed, you can easily share this or keep the glory all to yourself. The prime rib was prepared perfectly because this was still a sandwich you could sink your teeth into and eat comfortably.Get out this summer and enjoy a classic patio experience. You can bring your (well behaved) pups on Monday to make it a family affair! See you there, Rockford!

Sometimes you want a fancy feel with your summer patio dining. Franchesco's Ristorante, located at 7128 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, is serving up summer patio dining with some serious style.  The manicure patio has beautiful landscaping and a fountain to bring your date night that romantic flair, while still enjoying the summer breeze. Part of the patio is covered to offer protection from the sun, or a surprise summer rainfall. Enjoy white table clothe dining under the roof, or a more traditional patio set up in the open air.Do not, I repeat, do not skip the bread basket. You're welcome.  We started with Linguine Charlie: 6 Garlic encrusted Shrimp, tossed with Olive Oil, Garlic, Red Pepper, and Romano Cheese. This seemingly simple dish is loaded with stunning flavor and perfectly prepped shrimp. The garlic shines as the star of this plate and pairs perfectly with the red pepper and olive oil sauce. With perfect al dente linguine, this is a fast favorite.Next up, the classic Chicken Parmesan: Jumbo Chicken Breast pan fried, with Mozzarella and Pomodoro. Served with Penne. Jumbo is no understatement, this chicken breast is a protein motherload that is pan fried to perfection, layered with mozzarella