Kedzie/Lawrence business woes

It'd be great to see a complete survey of the effects so far of the CTA Brown Line Kedzie stop renovation-closure.

In the interim, today's News-Star (Pioneer Press) reports:

Joseph Abraham, owner of Semirami's, says that business is off 30-35%. He says that he is monitoring numbers, and is not yet certain that he'll weather the closure. Construction parking, he mentions, is making it hard to find spaces.

Jeff Quarles, manager of Noon-O-Kabob, says that business is off 35-40%, and observes that many businesses are in peril.

The Kedzie stop is expected to be closed for six months. For the time being, the Kimball end-of-the-line stop (a short walk from Kedzie) remains open, except for certain weekends -- until it, too, will close for months.

As an Albany Parker, I hope that you will support the many great dining establishments and markets during this mess and what are sure to be hard times through the summer for these hardworking vendors.

Wade

Wade, your post reminded me to stop by Semiramis last night, as I've been meaning to do for about the past two weeks. It used to be very easy for me to just jump off the train at Kedzie, run across the street and pick up orders of Kibbe and Tabbouleh for a quick, light supper. However, now, with the closing of the Kedzie stop, I must walk a full two blocks out of my way to get food from Semiramis. As a result, I haven't been there since the closure. This marks me as both lame and lazy, I know.

Last night, I called ahead to reserve a chicken, and when I arrived, there were a fair number of people waiting for their take out. Only one table was occupied in the dining room, but that has been pretty typical of my experience during the year Semiramis has been open. I certainly hope that it is able to weather the effects of the Kedzie closing. It's a true gem in a neighborhood with many good little restaurants.

waderoberts wrote:As an Albany Parker, I hope that you will support the many great dining establishments and markets during this mess and what are sure to be hard times through the summer for these hardworking vendors.

Wade,

Had a very nice lunch on Kedzie yesterday at City Noor. As been mentioned there's been a bit of redecorating and Maysoun said there's more to come, though they are taking it slow. More importantly the food was as good as always, fava bean falafel was wonderfully crisp, baba ghanouj full flavored and creamy and the hummus a perfect foil for the warm pita bread.

We also had Mansaf, Molukhia and stuffed chicken, which are discussed upthread. Torchi were as good as always, I like the hit of heat she incorporates into her pickles, though we found ourselves wishing for a little additional heat, El Yucateco would have really the the spot, half way through the meal.

I was at Salam last week, City Noor this week, now I just have to go to Al-Khyam and Semiramis to do my Albany Park/Kedzie part.

Enjoy,
Gary

City Noor
4714 N Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60625
773-267-6777

Semiramis
4639-41 N Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60625
773-279-8900

Salam
4636 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773-583-0776

Al-Khyam
4746 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773-583-3099

G Wiv wrote:I was at Salam last week, City Noor this week, now I just have to go to Al-Khyam and Semiramis to do my Albany Park/Kedzie part.

Don't forget Kang Nam, which was nearly empty during my visit last week. They could use a little love too.

I've spent a fair amount of time on Kedzie during the last couple weeks myself (luckily, that stretch is within walking distance of my home). By my observation, Semiramis, is consistently empty during the dinner hour, as it was before the station closure. Noon o Kabab is often operating at or near capacity during the same time-frame, with a wait for a table on the weekends.

We met some of petit pois' cousins at Noon o Kebab recently, at their request. I find the success and longevity of this place intriguing since I don't find the food all that good (although I did enjoy the ghormeh sabzi, a heavily spiced spinach dish, not unlike a good sarson ka saag.) My theory is that it strikes a balance between "ethnic" and "safe" that entices many casual diners.

Best,
Michael

Kang Nam Galbi
4849 N. Kedzie
Chicago, Il
(773) 539-2524

Noon O Kabab
4661 N Kedzie Ave
773 279-8899
http://www.noonokabab.com/

My theory is that it strikes a balance between "ethnic" and "safe" that entices many casual diners.

Which, frankly, makes me wonder why Semiramis doesn't draw better.

Meant to post this last week, but we hit Semiramis two Mondays ago and they were doing okay; around 8:30 they were maybe half-full, at most. Not sure what their pre-El construction Monday night business was like but just wanted to echo Wade's worthy request to support Semiramis and other fine Kedzie businesses during this rough patch.

If you haven't been in a while, get thee to Kedzie and show them some culinary love!

Semiramis delivers to most of Albany Park. We order from them at least once each week. Another way to support them.

LTH,

Had lunch at Salam last week, hummus with schwarma, which was excellent, and a few of Salam's crisp, delicious falafel on the side. At .19c per falafel they are hard to resist.

It seems odd, but I had never had, even though I've eaten there countless times, Salam's hummus with meat, you have a choice of ground meat or schwarma. I was talking about the hummus article in the current Saveur with Erik and he recommended trying Salams version. Thanks Erik.

As an aside, the daily special of lamb on the bone in broth served with a large side of rice looked terrific. I listed Salam's daily specials in a past post

Enjoy,
Gary

Salam
4636 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773-583-0776

G Wiv wrote:It seems odd, but I had never had, even though I've eaten there countless times, Salam's hummus with meat, you have a choice of ground meat or schwarma. I was talking about the hummus article in the current Saveur with Erik and he recommended trying Salams version. Thanks Erik.

Let me guess, no olives?

On my past few visits I was served pepperoncini in lieu of the house-cured olives (pictured below).

When I finally asked about the switch, I was told that they were no longer offering olives.


torshi lift, cracked green olives, salata baladi, hummous with shawerma, and pita.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:Let me guess, no olives?

Erik,

Nope, no olives, I wondered about that myself. I like pepperoncini as much, if not more, than the next guy, but hope Salam reconsiders olives.

Nice picture.

Enjoy,
Gary

Stopped in for lunch today for hummus with meat and falafel. Really terrific...thanks Gary and Erik for the tip.

We live within walking distance of the Kedzie strip, and while I've taken out from Salam on a couple occasions, when dining out with the family, we usually end up at Semiramis or City Noor. Salam was a really nice choice...friendly, bustling with all sorts (families, cab drivers, men in suits), and really an incredible value. Spending $12 for a light lunch for 4 (half of whom are under age 5, mind you), made me (almost) reconsider my proposition that Terragusto isn't a poor value. Pepperoncini, no olives. Really good (fairly mild) pickled turnips. The pink pickled turnip, while I love the aesthetic appeal, often isn't one of my favorite things to eat. I really liked the ones I had today, much more subtly flavored, which may not be good for some people but was quite nice for me.

Also, I've previously been less than impressed with Salam's falafel. I think a mediocre visit or two has left me seriously under-appreciating this place. Falafel today was hot, crispy on the outside and light, fluff-wonderful on the inside. Nice balance all around. Also, they had a rooster-like hot sauce on the tables that I've not encountered at Middle Eastern spots before, but served as an appropriate and welcome garnish for the falafel.

Stopped at Sahar Market on the way home for some pita and was surprised to find pita once again up-ported from the South Side. Apparently, when the relatively new Sahar Pita Bakery became Sahar Pita Restaurant, they stopped making their own pita.

A reminder here, learned by hard experience, be sure to order the hummus with schwarma meat, as I found our takeout order last night to consist of a generous helping of hummus topped by a disappointingly bland pile of ground beef. The pita cools off on takeout, also, making this a somewhat more enjoyable meal on premise, though I'm quite sure takeout would have been quite satisfying had I ordered a bit more carefully.

I see that the CTA maintains that the Kedzie Brown line station is on schedule to re-open around August 15!

Cheers,
Wade

G Wiv wrote:

Erik M. wrote:Let me guess, no olives?

Erik,

Nope, no olives, I wondered about that myself. I like pepperoncini as much, if not more, than the next guy, but hope Salam reconsiders olives.

Hey, Wiv, the olives are back at Salam.

Al-hamdu-lillaah.

E.M.

Having sampled both Semiramis' eat-in and delivery options on several occasions over the last six months, I'd like to share a couple of observations and solicit opinions.

Observation, the first -

Delivery service is prompt, almost unnaturally so. I suppose it doesn't hurt that the target location is less than a mile from Semiramis, but on several occasions, the delivery man (boy just doesn't seem right...) commented that he knew the address, and decided to drop off my order first among another six or so. Not a huge deal, but one of those little things that earns a 25% tip. (no offense is intended here... my opinion is that a 25% tip is a good thing*)


the second -

The intensity of flavorings used in the roast chicken seems to vacillate. One night, it's a party in my mouth and everyone's invited, and the next time my tastebuds are sitting on the couch, sipping a tepid Old Style Light and flipping through the dog-eared pages of last November's Reader's Digest.


the third -

Perhaps coincidental, perhaps not, but there is an inverse relationship between the size of whole roast chicken and the price charged. When Semiramis raised its prices a few months back, this one-two punch of runty bird and hiked cost subsequently made Semiramis less attractive; where a tasty dinner for two with leftovers (vegetarian platter as an app, shawerma plate, whole chicken w/o rice, kefka plate) used to run $25 + tip, the increase has now lightened my wallet by another $10-15.

Is it still tasty, fresh, and (chicken aside) well-portioned? you betcha. Now, to tie this incoherent rambling back to the subject, are there any thoughts on what, if any, relationship exists between the price hike and the Kedzie stop closure?

-sherman

*as an aside, how much do you tip for delivery?

Sherman wrote:*as an aside, how much do you tip for delivery?

I generally tip $3-4 for delivery regardless of how much the order cost, unless it was a very large order or the weather outside is very bad.