Recent restaurant reviews and profiles from Tribune food critic Phil Vettel, Tribune Newspapers staff reporters and freelance writers. No stars indicates a restaurant has been profiled but not reviewed, and does not reflect on quality of dining.

Bella Mia The folks at Bella Mia in Midlothian strive to make every diner feel special, offering friendly service in a homey mom-and-pop environment. House-made pastas include lasagna, linguine and baked mostaccioli. Open: Dinner Tuesday-Sunday. Prices: Entrees $14-$28. 4648 W. 147th St., Midlothian, 708-925-0239. — Vickie Jurkowski

Benton Street Bakery Cafe Benton Street Bakery Cafe sits in a historic Crete building that formerly housed Annie’s Cafe and Tea Room. On the menu, you’ll find classic baked goods and cafe-style sandwiches, with additional pastries such as cheesecakes and Napoleons on Fridays and Saturdays. Popular lunch selections include the Cuban and pulled pork sandwiches. Open: Breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Saturday. Prices: $1.50 and up for pastries, $4 and up for lunch items. 1375 Benton St., Crete, 708-672-7417. — Jessi

Virtusio

Black Oak Restaurant and Tavern The moniker of one of Oak Lawn’s newest establishments comes from the earliest-known name for what became the village: Black Oak Grove. Breakfast is served daily but goes a step beyond traditional — instead of corned beef hash, for example, try burnt brisket ends with green peppers, onions and potatoes. The menu also offers sandwiches, burgers and five daily entree specials, plus house wine. Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Prices: $4.95 and up. 9630 S. Pulaski Road, Oak Lawn, 708-572-4500. — J.V.

Diane’s Place This Palos Height spot grew out of moving the longtime Tastee Freez at 119th Street and Harlem Avenue to 123rd Street and Harlem. The new restaurant offers char burgers, sandwiches, cake, homemade candy and, of course, ice cream. Diane’s Place also hosts monthly cooking classes and Sunday classic car shows from spring to fall. Open: Daily. Prices: $1.50 and up. 12306 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, 708-923-0010. — J.V.

El Cortez Mexican RestaurantA favorite for more than 40 years, El Cortez satisfies customers relying on consistent recipes from owner Lucinia Montemayor, who hails from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The menu features everything from tacos and burritos to menudo, a slow-simmered tripe soup; filete estrella, a thinly pounded tenderloin topped with melted cheese and covered in green salsa; and cocktel de camaron, a regional shrimp cocktail. Open: Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: Entrees $8-$18. 10128 191st St., Mokena, 708-478-7766; and 580 N. Kinzie Ave., Bradley, 815-523-7430. — Erin Gallagher

Embers Tap House The historic Volz Building in downtown Lockport has been completely remodeled for this 5,000-square-foot restaurant with wood floors and original brick walls, a second-floor banquet room and rooftop patio overlooking the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The menu of modern American food, with a focus on organic and locally sourced ingredients, comes from executive chef Mike Hernandez, formerly of downtown Chicago’s swanky rooftop steakhouse Zed451. Try fare including a 12-ounce bone-in pork chop, calamari with homemade giardiniera and wings with vanilla bean porter sauce, plus salads, sandwiches and flatbreads with daily specials from the smoker. A kids’ menu has five choices for $5 including a drink. On 40 taps, find selections from local craft breweries Pollyanna, Lagunitas, Two Brothers and Revolution. Open: Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Prices: Entrees $8-$18. 933 S. State St., Lockport, 815-552-3031. — V.J.

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery Smoked meats have been added to the menu at this Flossmoor mainstay, and the establishment’s year-round beers are back to their original hoppiness, thanks to head brewer Ryan Czaja. On the updated menu: smoked chicken, smoked ribs and smoked pork. Open: Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday. Prices: Sandwiches $11. 1035 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor, 708-957-2739. — J.V.

Porkchop The Glenwood location of this barbecue spot shares a menu with its five other restaurants, all in the city. Sandwiches run the gamut, from grilled cheese to a fried oyster po’boy. Entree options include barbecued or fried chicken, brisket, baby back or beef short ribs, rib tips and a platter that touches all the bases — a quarter-slab, a hot link, pulled chicken and pork sliders, brisket, corn on the cob, coleslaw and cornbread with honey butter for $29. There are an array of desserts (highlighted by the bacon maple glazed doughnuts) and sides (including sweet potato fries and collard greens), and four house-made barbecue sauces are available at each table. Open: Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: Sandwiches $8-$12; entrees start at $13. 40 Nugent St., Glenwood, 708-757-9333. — Phil Arvia

Primal Cut SteakhousePrimal Cut offers steaks carved and dry-aged in-house, served in a beautiful dining room. Selections include a 22-ounce bone-in rib-eye and 22-ounce bone-in New York strip. Open: Dinner daily, lunch Saturday-Sunday. Prices: Sandwiches and steaks $10-$60. 17344 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park, 708-407-8150. — V.J.

The Red Palm Bar & Grill A 20-foot palm tree adorned in red lights welcomes patrons to this island-themed oasis in Evergreen Park, where a wood-fired oven turns out everything from chicken wings to pizza. A taco flight includes steak, chicken and Hawaiian shredded pork; a Hawaiian pizza is piled with pineapple, bacon and ham; and Hawaiian-style guacamole is made with diced pineapple, mango, cilantro and jalapeno. The island theme permeates the 70-seat patio, which features fire pits and Tiki torches; in colder weather, sip tropical cocktails indoors. Open: Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: Entrees $8-$12 . 3020 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park, 708-581-3154. — J.V.

Reilly’s Daughter The original owners of this Irish pub, a Chicago mainstay from 1976 to 2003, have revived it at its original location, bringing back what they call a “South Side tradition.” The menu offers soups, salads, foot-long grilled cheese and a favorite dubbed Walsh’s Legendary Pocket Sandwiches, served in a tortilla with garlic butter. Meat comes from Whittingham Meats in Alsip. The 200-seat pub has a large copper bar, 15 flat-screen televisions, a stage for live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and a large beer garden. Open: Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: Entrees $5 and up. 4010 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, 708-423-1188. — J.V.

The Vegan Cafe In downtown Lockport, this casual cafe is known for serving organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and raw foods such as flatbreads, pasta with vodka sauce, sloppy Joes, burgers and turtle brownies. Open: Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday. Prices: $8-$16. 928 S. State St., Lockport, 815-838-4626. — V.J.