What's Cooking? Restaurant

I've seen several mentions of What's Cooking?restaurant in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center on N. Lincoln Ave. (including a couple or several posts of my own), but I haven't found a thread about the restaurant. If I'm duplicating the effort found elsewhere, please let me know. This is the discussion thread where I've seen most mention of the restaurant:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2943&highlight=kreplah

The restaurant suggests that much of the food served is "Jewish Deli-style," and the clientele is largely drawn from the neighborhood Jewish community. The menu, though, offers a wide-array of meals - from the Jewish-style to BBQ ribs to Greek specialties. Restaurant hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. or Midnight - 7-days a week (it's closed only a couple of days of the year). A large percentage of customers appear to be "regulars."

Because I live close to What's Cooking? (a mile away) I eat there an average of several times monthly. Most often, I have a sandwich and soup (chicken broth with either a matzo ball or kreplah), but on weekends - especially Sunday - I'll stop there for one of their full, large dinners - preferably the Cornish hen.

On the weekend, from about 5 p.m. on, the restaurant provides complimentary portions of egg salad and chopped chicken liver, and Challah (or hallah) bread; these are provided to all diners, without regard to what they're ordering.

Late-afternoon/early-evening today I had Sunday dinner at What's Cooking?. Meals are served ala carte or as full meals. With the a la carte selection diners get, in addition to the main course, soup or salad and a beverage. The full meal price entitles you to any of the soups on the menu, large dinner salad, the main course, a beverage and dessert. Full meals cost $3 more than a la carte.

The chicken broth served in the restaurant has always been flavorful for me, though I typically have it served with a matzo ball or kreplah - but not tonight. The salad of chopped head lettuce was crisp and cool, not served at room temperature. The egg salad tonight, as it's been on past visits - was light; the chopped chicken livers were okay, nothing special - but nothing to complain about. My meaty Cornish hen was on the moist-to-dry side, the rice pilaf moist and flavorful, the green beans (frozen, I'm assuming) had an al dente texture and good to taste. The restaurant offers a large selection of cakes, cheesecakes, pies and other deserts. I opted for vanilla ice cream and it was okay, more than sufficient.

Though the restaurant is large it's always seemed intimate to me. Lighting is subdued and the diners well-behaved. Waitresses tend to stay here a long time, and because of that they're familiar with the "regulars." Restaurant owner "Gus" seems to work 7-days running the place, with two of his sisters - and he makes the rounds checking on customers, bringing more bread, food, drinks, etc.

What's Cooking?has become one of my favorite comfort food restaurants in Chicago.

Here's a look at the meal I was served today (which cost about $13.50 before waitress gratuity):

The starters: Chicken broth, dinner salad, bread basked and iced tea.



More starters: Egg salad and chopped chicken livers.



The main course: Baked Cornish hen stuffed with rice pilaf and served with a side of green beans.



For dessert: A dish of vanilla ice cream.



Contact information:

Looks pretty good. Do you know if they make sweet and sour cabbage soup? If so, how is it?

Friends have tried it and they've said it was good, but I haven't tried it - the "Sweet 'N Sour Russian Cabbage Soup" listed on the restaurant menu. The restaurant features about 8 "homemade" soups daily - some varieties only once per week. The Sweet 'N Sour soup is listed as being available 7-days per week - $3.20 for the small bowl, $5.20 for the large.