Czech Plaza

A cozy wallpapered interior decorated with china plates and a bar lined with warm honey-stained wood paneling add some midwestern charm to this casual dining restaurant in suburban Cicero. Order a mug of Czech beer like the Praga Dark, a rich dark lager, or Czechvar, a Czech pilsner, both on tap. If you’re really hungry, the “Farmer’s Market” selection offers a huge assortment of meat, including tender roast pork, smoked pork butt, Polish sausage and a slice of meatloaf. Potato pancakes are fried to a crisp brown and served three days a week, and make a great accompaniment to the plump pork pierogi dumplings, which are topped with fried onions and bacon. Be cautious with the bread dumplings, made with risen yeasted dough, the fluffy slices can fill you up faster than you’d expect, and you want to leave room for dessert (we suggest the blueberry-filled fruit dumplings.)