Best of Naperville 2018 Winners

By
August 2018 View more

Dining and Food

BAR
AUR BAR at Aurelio’s
aureliospizza.com
There’s a lot to love about this pizzeria’s bar, from the craft beer taps to the private party room equipped with a sports simulator for guests to play virtual hockey, basketball or even zombie dodgeball.

Runners up*
■ Bar Louie
■ Empire Burger Bar

*Runners up are listed in alphabetical order

CATERER
Chef by Request
chefbyrequest.com
From casual bites (think mac ’n’ cheese fritters, walking tacos, chicken and waffles) to the most elegant of spreads, chef Dave Miller has been catering weddings, parties and corporate functions deliciously since 1996.

Runners up
■ Belgio’s Catering
■ My Chef Catering

CHINESE
House of Emperor
houseofemperorchinese.com
For delivery, carry out  or dine-in, the Chinese specialties at this restaurant—from the Peking duck to the Hong Kong-style eggplant—have many fans. The pot stickers, Thai noodle dishes and fruity bubble teas are also popular.

Runners up
■ Chinese Kitchen
■ MingHin Cuisine

ETHNIC FOOD
Pho Thien Vietnamese Kitchen
phothienkitchen.com

Runners up
■ Quiubo
■ SanguCHE

GROCERY STORE
Casey’s Foods
caseysfoods.com
At this independent grocery, the shelves are stocked with local produce, and friendly longtime employees will go the extra mile to help you find what you need. Owner Dan Casey is also on the board of directors for autism organization Little Friends, Inc.

Runners up
■ Mariano’s
■ Whole Foods

ITALIAN
Rosebud Italian Specialties & Pizzeria
rosebudrestaurants.com

Runners up
■ Francesca’s Passaggio
■ La Sorella di Francesca

MARTINI
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
sullivanssteakhouse.com

Runners up
■ Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House
■ Two-Nine Martini Lounge

OUTDOOR DINING
Mesón Sabika
mesonsabika.com
This tapas restaurant’s brick-lined patio surrounded by leafy trees is an escape, indeed. To be truly transported, order a pitcher of sangria or a bottle of cava to sip along with your jamon iberico, manchego and marinated olives.

Runners up
■ Empire Burger Bar
■ Potter’s Place

PIZZA
Lou Malnati’s
loumalnatis.com

Runners up
■ Aurelio’s Pizza
■ Little Italian Pizza

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT
Mesón Sabika
mesonsabika.com

Runners up
■ La Sorella di Francesca
■ Sullivan’s Steakhouse

SEAFOOD
Catch 35
catch35.com
This classic seafood house tempts taste buds with everything from trendy poke bowls to classic oysters on the half shell and Alaskan king crab legs with drawn butter. Don’t overlook the seasonal vegetable sides, from roasted butternut squash to mushrooms and spinach with French lentils. Don’t miss the intense flavor of Maryland soft shell crabs available until mid-September.

Runners up
■ Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House
■ Pete Miller’s Steak & Seafood

SPECIALTY DESSERT SHOP
Le Chocolat du Bouchard
lechocolatdubouchard.com
What started as a chocolate shop has now expanded to include a French bistro and second-floor private event space (the “Chocolate Loft”), perfect for showers and tea/fondue parties. The array of treats here is truly staggering, from colorful macarons to flourless chocolate cake to the richest chocolate-chip ganache brownie you can imagine.

Runners up
■ Nothing Bundt Cakes
■ Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery

STEAK
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
sullivanssteakhouse.com
There are myriad meaty options at this sophisticated steakhouse, from bone-in cowboy-cut ribeye to Wagyu strip steak to a 12-ounce filet mignon. Whatever the cut of choice, you can dress it up with additions such as gorgonzola-garlic butter, bourbon-peppercorn sauce or lump crab with béarnaise. Enjoy live jazz and bar bites in its popular front room.

Runners up
■ Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House
■ Morton’s The Steakhouse

SUSHI
Kiku Japanese Steak House and Sushi Lounge
mykiku.com

Runners up
■ Shinto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge
■ Wild Tuna Sushi

Personal Service & Health Care

CHIROPRACTOR
Vitality Chiropractic Center
myvitalitychiropractic.com

Runners up
■ Advanced Health of Naperville
■ Pure Health & Wellness

DENTIST
Naperville Dental Specialists
ndscare.com
This family practice can tackle pretty much any dental need, from pediatric checkups and braces to Invisalign and dental implants. Spa-inspired amenities—noise-canceling headphones, music or a warm neck wrap—during cleanings are a sweet touch.

Runners up
■ Riverwalk Family Dental
■ Living Well Dental Group

DOCTOR
DuPage Medical Group
dupagemedicalgroup.com

Runners up
■ Edward-Elmhurst Health
■ Affordable Hearing Solutions

FITNESS CLUB
Orangetheory Fitness
orangetheoryfitness.com
With two locations in Naperville, this group exercise studio specializes in one-hour sessions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that balance strength training with cardio. Monitors help keep the heart rate in an ideal zone to extend the calorie burn post-workout, dubbed the “Orange Effect.”

Runners up
■ Beyond Measure Training
■ Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness

HAIR SALON
Amber Waves Salon
amberwavessalon.com
Open for 22 years in downtown Naperville, this salon keeps its clients well-coiffed with expert haircuts, blowouts, special occasion ’dos and trendy color services, from balayage to color melting. The styling team uses Bumble & Bumble products and attends continuing education classes at NYC’s Bumble University.

Runners up
■ Michael Graham Salon & Spa
■ The Zazu Exchange

MASSAGE
ME SPA
me-spas.com

Runners up
■ Massage Envy
■ The Zazu Exchange

PHOTOGRAPHER
Firefly Nights Photography
fireflynightsphotography.com

Runners up
■ Alicia’s Photography
■ Mike Martin Photography

PLASTIC SURGEON
Center for Cosmetic and Laser Surgery
cclscosmetic.com

Runners up
■ Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
■ The John Bull Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Medispa


SPA
ME SPA
me-spas.com
Kind staff, a well-appointed locker room and an array of services—from  detoxifying facials to waxing and body scrubs—make a visit here deliciously indulgent. The signature pedicure service is truly unparalleled in its Zen-ness, thanks to eye masks, cozy blankets, aromatherapy and chairs that tilt back to full recline while your technician files, buffs and polishes. The Naperville spa is the sole Illinois location, one of only six in the country.

Runners up
■ Solaia Salon & Spa
■ The Zazu Exchange

Financial & Legal Services

ATTORNEY
Heather Ryan Law
heatherryanlaw.com
A former assistant state’s attorney, Heather Ryan now runs her own law practice and defends clients of all ages in court proceedings, from routine traffic violations to DUIs to driver’s license reinstatement.

Runners up
■ Collander Law Offices
■ Rosenberg & Parker

BANK
Naperville Bank & Trust
banknaperville.com
This community bank’s tech tools—from Cardless Cash (withdraw cash from an ATM with your smartphone) to People Pay (send money to a friend digitally)—make managing money convenient for its members. It also hosts community events, such as networking workshops, financial seminars and shred events, where attendees recycle electronics and prevent personal identity theft by shredding important financial documents.

Runners up
■ BMO Harris Bank
■ Chase Bank

INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Wells Fargo
wellsfargo.com

Runners up
■ Charles Schwab
■ Edward Jones

Hospitality & Entertainment

ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
Topgolf
topgolf.com
This indoor-outdoor bar, restaurant and driving range makes golf entertaining for all ages and skill levels, thanks to microchips in every golf ball to track your drives toward colored targets on the green. Reserve a golf bay with a date or small group, or take advantage of party packages for larger ones—either way, the servers make sure golfers stay fed and watered with tasty snacks and cocktails.

Runners up
■ Hollywood Palms Cinema
■ Wentz Concert Hall

HOTEL
Hotel Indigo
hotelinnaperville.com
The crown jewel of downtown Naperville’s new Water Street district, Hotel Indigo has guest suites with river views and creature comforts such as Aveda bath goodies, Bluetooth alarm clocks and Keurig coffee makers. A pet-friendly policy, library and two restaurants—Plank Bar & Kitchen on the lobby level and Santo Cielo on the top floor—are appealing perks.

Runners up
■ Hotel Arista
■ Chicago Marriott Naperville

Construction & Real Estate

BUILDER
DJK Custom Homes
djkhomes.com
Founded by Dan and Kim Kittilsen in 1988, DJK celebrates its 30-year anniversary this year. Building energy efficient homes sustainably is a major focus, from using products made from recycled materials to obtaining Energy Star certifications.

Runners up
■ 5th Avenue Construction
■ Lakewest Custom Homes

LANDSCAPER
C.B. Conlin Landscapes
cbconlin.com
Barry Conlin started the business out of his Naperville home in 1985 and, 33 years later, has a team of more than 30 working out of its Naperville location. The company designs both landscapes and hardscapes, from gardens and firepits to poolscapes and pergolas.

Runners up
■ J & B Landscape Solutions
■ Oak Grove Gardeners

REALTY COMPANY
John Greene Realtor
johngreenerealtor.com
Known for its realtor training program and expert agents, this realty company was named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and also sponsors the John Greene Realtor Polo Invitational at Arranmore Farm + Polo Club in Oswego each fall.

Runners up
■ Coldwell Banker
■ Keller Williams Realty

REMODELER
Reliable Home Improvement
reliablehomeimprov.com
Whether it’s a basement finish, a kitchen reno or an elaborate home addition, this full-service remodeling firm has been hard at work around the Chicagoland area since 1967. See kitchen, bath and bar vignettes in its 15,000-square-foot north-side showroom.

Runners up
■ Lakewest Renovations
■ Redstart Construction

Shopping & Retail

AUTO DEALER
Continental Motors
napercars.com

Runners up
■ Dan Wolf Auto Group
■ Lexus of Naperville

CAR WASH
Brighton Auto Detailing
brightonautodetailing.com
This popular neighborhood car wash pleases customers with its thorough service and green technology, such as the use of Naperville’s first wind turbine. Owners Jason and Bianca Morin recently sold their car wash on Plainfield-Naperville Road and 75th Street to focus on high-end auto detailing services at their new Iron Gate Motors location on the city’s northwest side. Exterior and interior detailing, as well as motorcycle and watercraft, packages are available.

Runners up
■ Delta Sonic
■ Steve’s Car Wash

FLORIST
Phillip’s Flowers & Gifts
phillips-flowers.com
This family-owned florist excels at bountiful bouquets for speedy delivery, corsages and boutonnieres for nuptials and school dances and decorative arrangements for events of all kinds. Stop in the spacious showroom for an impromptu bundle of blooms or gifts such as potted peace lilies and money trees.

Runners up
■ Celidan Creations Florist
■ Trudy’s Flowers

GIFT SHOP
Nona Jo’s
nonajos.com

Runners up
■ Occasions
■ Sara Boo Creek

JEWELER
The Diamond Gallery
thediamondgallery.com

Runners up
■ Costello Jewelry
■ Fey & Co. Jewelers

MEN’S STORE
Dean’s Clothing
deansclothing.com
Opened in 1959 as a shop for boys, Dean’s has evolved into a go-to men’s clothier stocking stylish weekend wear, business staples and custom suiting for formal occasions. Courtesies such as in-house tailoring and complimentary gift wrapping are much-appreciated.

Runners up
■ Jos. A. Bank
■ Southern Tide

PET STORE
Two Bostons
twobostons.com
These dog-centric pet boutiques, owned by AndreAnne and Andy Tesene, are named for the first two Boston terriers they adopted, Daisy and Roscoe. The dual Naperville locations are well-loved by two- and four-legged customers alike for their high-quality merchandise, wellness-based foods and special events, including weekly walks and breed-specific socials.

Runners up
■ Dog Patch Pet & Feed
■ Pet Supplies Plus

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE
Bri’Zan
brizancouture.com

Runners up
■ Edie Boutique
■ Karisma Boutique