Munch Madness: Vote for Your Local Favorites
Voting for round one of our bracket ends Wednesday.
Welcome to Munch Madness—the bracket-style tournament to find the best restaurant in Darien, Downers Grove, Lemont and Woodridge!
How do restaurant advance, you ask? It all depends on your vote! To learn more about the tournament CLICK HERE.
Restaurants are grouped into four geographical regions: the Darien Region, the Downers Grove Region, the Lemont Region and the Woodridge Region.
Print out the pdf version of the bracket, fill it out and send it to Editor Melissa Tussing at melissat@patch.com.
Editor's Note: If you would like to fill out a bracket but do not have the capability to print and scan a copy, please email Editor Melissa Tussing at melissat@patch.com to receive a Microsoft Excel worksheet that you can fill out electronically and send back.
The person with the most matchups guessed correctly will win a $50 gift certificate to the Final Four restaurant of their choosing! Each game is worth one point. In the event of a tie, a random bracket will be chosen.
Readers have until March 27 at 10 p.m. to turn in their bracket.
More rules and regulations:
- To determine the winner, we will add up the total number of games guessed correctly. Each game is worth one point.
- If two or more people tie for the most points, a random drawing will be held to determine the winner of the gift card.
- Only one entry allowed per person. All participants must be 18 years or older.
- You can read our official giveaway guidelines here.
Make your votes for all of the first round match-ups, split between these articles:
Here are today's match-ups:
First Round (Darien)
Uncle Mao's Chinese Restaurant vs. Tai San Chef
Uncle Mao's Chinese Restaurant: Uncle Mao's has been at this location since 2006, offering a nice variety of kung poa, sweet and sour, Szechuan and chow mein dishes for dining in or takeout.
Tai San Chef: Tai San Chef, founded in 2003, is an award-winning restaurant serving traditional Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes.
First Round (Downers Grove)
JR's Place vs. Gyros King
JR's Place: JR's Place is a classic American-style restaurant that serves all your favorites. Known for its hearty breakfast plates, JR's Place offers a large selection of dishes to choose from.
Gyros King: The traditional Greek food of Gyros King is the main draw for its customers. The biggest gyro it serves, "King Gyro," is a monster piled with juicy meat on a warm pita with tomatoes and feta cheese.
First Round (Lemont)
Illinois Bar & Grill vs. Lemont House Restaurant
Illinois Bar & Grill: No matter what time of the day, be sure to visit Illinois Bar & Grill with a big appetite. Everything on the breakfast, lunch and dinner menu is cooked fresh and served in big portions.
Lemont House Restaurant: With its relaxed, quiet interior, Lemont House Restaurant is the perfect place to take a date or the whole family. Since 1980 it has been offering American, Chinese and Korean cuisine.
First Round (Woodridge)
Clara's Pasta di Casa vs. Shanahan's Food & Spirits
Clara's Pasta di Casa: Our 2011 winner! Clara's Pasta is that neighborhood Italian place where you go to get great authentic food and to be treated like family.
Shanahan's Food & Spirits: Calling themselves the "Irish Cheers," Shanahan's provides a traditional Irish pub feeling.
Ray A
4:40 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
jrs place is great.
lisa
5:11 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
Jr's place is the new place on belmont. You can afford to bring the whole family(me my husband and 4 kids)They get my vote.
Jim Wright
9:54 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2012
Great food, affordable prices and a relaxing atmosphere are three great reasons to enjoy Jr's place!
ME
12:16 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012
My votes are: Tai San Chef, JR's Place, Illinois Bar and Grill, and Clara's Pasta di Casa!!!!
Paul P
2:00 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
My vote is JR's place it's great
Mike
9:17 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
Shanahans is my vote! Best burgers in town fo-sho!!! Plus great place to just sit back and hang with friends.
Lauren Guzior
11:10 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
My vote is for Shanahans! Between trivia nights, karaoke, and watching the Hawks or Bulls its a fun place to hang with your friends!
veronica dufrain
8:08 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
clara's
Chris Hochstedt
2:24 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
Celebrity Sandwiches has the best Food in the entire world!!! I love the variety they offer. Friendly staff to boot!!!