Although I haven’t lived in the Northern suburbs of Chicago all my life, I have lived here long enough to have tasted everything from sweet to savory in the area. That being said, I have grown very accustomed to the delicious food that encompasses the lives of many Chicagoans. I wish I could make it easy and say that there’s a restaurant that is the best, but that is simply impossible. So, here are the five food places that I believe every North Shore kid loves.

1. Walker Brothers Pancake House

Many may think that pancakes are reserved solely for breakfast, but not the Pancake House. Sure, they sell breakfast food, but from the Belgium waffles to the fresh egg omelets, Walker Brothers is the perfect place to go -- morning or night.

2. Sarkis

You know what they say about growing up -- the older you get, the worse the hangover hits you the next morning. Luckily, Sarkis figured this out along with the rest of the world and was ready to step in and help all those college students coming home for the summer. While they may think they are known for their omelets, any North Shore kid will tell you that if you go to Sarkis and don’t order a bacon Loretta with cheesy hash, you have lost your mind.

3. Lou Malnatis

Everyone knows that Chicago is home to delicious deep dish pizza, and there is no better place to find it than Lou Malnatis. Located in several areas around the North Shore, it’s the perfect place to order from when hanging with a few friends or trying to find a last minute order-in dinner with the family.

4. Homers

I have yet to meet an individual who doesn’t like ice cream, but more than that, I have yet to meet an individual who doesn’t like Homers ice cream. Having been around for quite some time, Homers is a popular location to go during the summer to have some freshly made ice cream. Yet, it’s not limited to just summer-time fun. Open year-round, students attend Homers during the busy months of the school year to binge-eat their scrumptious ice cream.

5. Capt’n Nemo’s

For those who say that every sandwich place is exactly the same, I say “you obviously haven’t had Capt’n Nemo’s subs." Located in Winnetka, Capt’n Nemo’s is the ideal place to go for your lunch break if you’re looking for a solid sub sandwich. Some may say it’s their bread or the fact that they do the proportions just right, but I would have to say that the Capt’n's secret sauce is what makes every sandwich so special.

Well, there you have it, the five food places that every North Shore kid knows, and that--in my opinion -- if you haven’t had, you absolutely must try. Of course there are many other delectable treats to find all across the area, but if you’ve been living on the North Shore for more than five years and haven’t hit all of these places at some point in your life, you’re doing something wrong.