If you don't know of Carlo's, you don't know the Heights. The brick and stone facade, the dozens of cars in the parking lot and the blue and pink neon sign are like a local landmark. If you ever feel lost, turn right at the light after Carlo's on Route 30 and you'll figure it out, at least that's what I do. But for the first time, I didn't use the banquet hall-style building as a landmark. I pulled in for dinner. I had never been inside before, because when it comes to eating out, I tend to gravitate towards contemporary-looking locations with lots of glass windows. But a Facebook friend …

If you're hungry past 9 p.m., there really isn't a lot left to work with, especially if you're trying to eat out. But Los Portales, that Mexican Restaurant on Main Street in Chicago Heights with the huge cow in the parking lot, is open until midnight, even during the week.   So when I pulled up on a Thursday, just before 9 p.m., I was surprised no one was in the dining room eating dinner. My friend and I decided to not only order something other than the typical taco or burrito dinner, we decided to eat in. The restaurant is very clean and they really try to make you feel as if you have left …