City sees restaurant options grow

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DIXON - When it comes to eating out, tastes vary. Anthony and Carmen Bollman, of Harmon, say they prefer high-end, gourmet cuisine. Eddie and Lisa Sarver, of Dixon, opt for more down-home fare.

Fortunately for both couples, Dixon has, or is about to have, restaurants to suit both tastes.

Baisel's Tree Italian Ristorante, and a French bistro beneath Snow White Bakery, 214 W. First St., are in the works downtown. Although progress has been slower than expected, the upscale restaurants should be finished by the end of the year, owners say.

Baisel's, 123 E. First St., will offer a wine bar, fine dining and outdoor seating.

Catherine Benon, owner of Snow White, said she expects to receive bids on her project next week, although many contractors are busy now. Her bistro will serve traditional French cuisine, such as mussels and escargot, as well as wine and beer for lunch and possibly dinner.

A demand exists: Her customers ask about the bistro often, Benon said.

"There's lots of good restaurants, but we need to get more choices," she said.

Dixon Main Street board member R.J. Gabaldon agrees.

"We're desperately missing a nice restaurant," Gabaldon said. "If you want a nice restaurant, you have to go all the way out to Colonial Rose or Galena Steak House, but there's nothing downtown."

For those looking for tasty, less expensive fare, a few more options have sprung up.

Spurgeon's Bay on First Street has been open six weeks, and co-owner Amy Smith said business is doing well, and better at lunchtime than she expected.

The nonsmoking atmosphere, in particular, brings in teachers, court officials and hospital employees who don't want to smell like cigarettes when going back to work, Smith said. Other downtown employees frequent the spot as well, she said.

The bar and grill will roll out a new menu soon that includes more dinner options, with ingredients such as shrimp and fish.

Around the corner, the Dixon Dog House, which opened five weeks ago in the former Mazzarisi's building, also is doing its fair share of business, selling about 100 hot dogs a day, said owner Mark Baratta. Baratta is the husband of Jennifer Baratta, advertising sales manager at Sauk Valley Newspapers.

Baratta, originally from Berwin, said he wanted to fill a void for Chicago-style hot dogs left after Chicago Taste went out of business earlier this year.

"The best-known places where I'm from are the small, hole-in-the-wall joints," he said.

Coming soon to two storefronts in Presidential Plaza near the Super Wal-Mart will be Fiesta Cancun, a Mexican restaurant with an outdoor patio.

Engineers from Willett, Hofmann & Associates are working on plans that will be submitted soon, said Paul Shiaras, city building inspector.

The restaurant has two other locations, in Freeport and Loves Park.

Reach Malinda Osborne at (815) 284-2222 or (800) 798-4085, ext. 526.