Tia Maria’s has been serving up authentic Mexican food since 1983 and offers up a somewhat different Mexican menu. Located in a strip mall on the East Side of Geneva, this place really gives you the feeling of a colorful little café south of the border. Owner Lissette Rubio said her brother Ricardo first started the business and introduced some family recipes and dishes common to her hometown of Mexico City. That included black beans. “We were one of the first ones to put black beans on the menu,” she said. “People would say, ‘what is this?’ They look ugly, but they’re very good—give them a …

Since many of the establishments in town serve up some nice lunches and dinners, I thought it was time to look at some of the other offerings in Geneva. I’ve noticed the bright red awning with the “N” on the way to the library and thought I would check it out for this week’s review.  Nosh is tucked away at 211 James St., a bit back from the street facing south, but the awning is easy to see. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends, Nosh is the place to go if you enjoy a brunch menu with a little extra. The breakfast menu goes way beyond just bacon …

While there are many Geneva restaurants that offer fine dining, none fits that category better than Niche, an award-winning establishment serving contemporary American cuisine with a “constantly fluctuating” menu based on the inspiration of Executive Chef Serena Perdue. Upon entering, customers are greeted with the closet wine cellar whose glass doors  reveal an array of wines that manager and sommelier Vince Balistreri said is well-thought out “like a science” to pair well with Chef Serena’s menu. Most recommended is K Vintners Sine Qua Non, one of the many berry and boutique wines …

"We're opening Friday," Ed Rensi said emphatically. "10 a.m." Rensi is the "Eddie" in Tom & Eddie's Restaurant/Café that was supposed to open on Monday in Geneva Commons. Rensi cited an undelivered electrical panel as the culprit for the delay. "My electrician had to drive to Indiana to get it," he said about the unexpected glitch that delayed the restaurant's opening and a "Dressed to the Nines" grand opening celebration which will be scheduled for a later date. When our dining party arrived to sample the fare at this new restaurant, we were met by marketing manager Kimberly Spies who told …

There's another new restaurant in town at the corner of State Street and North River Lane that in just a few weeks has made quite an impression. Monterey Place, serving gourmet pizza and classic American fare according to its website, was named for the owner's favorite place in California to find "peace and tranquility." "Business has been good," owner Tony Andrews said. "Word of mouth has travelled like wildfire. We've only been open three weeks, and I've seen some people for a third and fourth time already." He found his executive chef, Richard Mancini, online on Craig's List and calls him …

Tucked away on the far west side of the city, T.F. Boonie's Saloon & Restaurant is a nice little bar and grill located next to the pro shop and golf course at Tanna Farms Golf Club on Hughes Road. You'll find a friendly staff and good food in a cozy Western-themed environment that will keep you busy looking at the vintage photos and artifacts that cram the walls. During the cooler months, a fireplace warms the room which is small (seats about 65), but welcoming. Boonie's offers an array of popular beers and features seasonal brews such as Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown offered on tap for $4.…

One of Geneva's newest places to eat, Carluchi Brothers Pizza Co. at 705 E. State St., proves that a simple idea like circular-shaped bread baked with tomato sauce can become much more with a little creativity. Carluchi Brothers offers specialty pizzas, pasta dishes, and more-healthy appetizers using fresh ingredients and some items usually not associated with pizza such as capicola instead of Canadian bacon, prosciutto and banana peppers. "We use fresh ingredients to the point where we're lacking the standard breaded fried appetizers, intentionally," owner Ken Clapsaddle said. "We weren't …

The Big Fish Grille, located in Geneva Commons, has only been open since late September, but is already gaining itself a reputation. Despite its sea-faring theme, this new restaurant has a varied and unique menu featuring recipes for those with a palette for food that swims in the sea and roams on land. Owner John Mathias, who also owns a Big Fish Grille in Wilmington along the Illinois River, said the Geneva location lent itself to what he wanted to do: offer fresh food along with a bar and live entertainment. The menu includes daily specials with fish flown in fresh each day such as …

Editor's note: Bien Trucha is featured at 8 tonight on WTTW's 'Check Please.' This is one of the hottest restaurants around right now, and Sandy Kaczmarski has the review. With a maximum of 40 people, it's no wonder there's usually a small group of people standing outside the long narrow building at State and Fourth streets on any given evening. Bien Trucha has been serving authentic Mexican tapas for more than three years at the compact, but quaint eatery that seems to suit Genevans just fine. According to the website, the restaurant was inspired "by little markets and street food from …

If you ask Michael Olefsen the secret to his success at Stockholm's, the first thing he'll say is, "the staff." Olefsen has been the proprietor of the restaurant at 306 W. State Street for more than eight years, and he says along with a comprehensive approach to the business, it is the quality of his staff that makes the difference. "They're what make Stockholm's the friendly place that you want to come back to," he said. He said the guys in the kitchen have been with him since they opened, and the servers and bartenders have all been there for six, seven years. "Then what I do, I give them …