Dinner and a Drive In Movie

Any spectacular suggestions for dinner to sneak in to a drive in? We're headed to Cascade (1100 E. North, West Chicago), so anyplace n the area would be good, though I can pick it up before we leave the city proper.

I have pondered Honey One, Feed, Philly's Best and Santullo's, but I'm trying to expand my horizons. . . Something in the pizza/rib tips/cheeseburger vein though.

ee

I really don't think picking much up in the city would work well, given the length of the drive. I'd especially warn you against picking up barbecue, which would suffer a lot after a half hour in the car.

If you head south on Prince Crossing Road to Hawthorne and head west about 1/2 mile west of Rt 59 you'll come across King James BBQ. It is definitely not the best, but it is the closest to your desired destination.

When in the area around West Chicago I stick to the small Mexican joints, and avoid most everything else.

Flip

edited to make changes due to my utter lack of direction

gleam wrote:I really don't think picking much up in the city would work well, given the length of the drive. I'd especially warn you against picking up barbecue, which would suffer a lot after a half hour in the car.

I would second this. Anything you pick up in the city--short of sandwiches-- is going to be cold and sad by the time you get to the drive in.

Have you considered making/packing your own picnic? That would be the way I would go. Loaf of crusty sliced bread, cheese, fruit, veggies and dip, some nice charcuterie, and you're good to go, in style.

Better than cold, rubbery pizza, methinks.

You could leave early and head a bit further west to North and Route 59 for Augustinos Deli. Good stuff there with a broad selection. Everyone I know likes the Italian Beef. Link below:

http://www.augustinos.com

Flip, I think you meant to say go WEST on Hawthorne and not east. East on Hawthorne from Prince Crossing won't get you very far. I'll have to find that place.....sound interesting.

dees_1 wrote:Flip, I think you meant to say go WEST on Hawthorne and not east. East on Hawthorne from Prince Crossing won't get you very far. I'll have to find that place.....sound interesting.

Dees,

Thanks, it's been corrected. Augustino's is an interesting place. I've only been to the original on St. Charles, but have never really been thrilled by their product.

Notsaeylime,

Now that I think about it, directly outside the gate to the drive-in there is a Scooby's. You could stop there for a burger or dog with fresh cut fries.

Flip

On the subject of barbecue and drive in movies, it seems appropriate to point to this, which many of you have probably seen:

Internet Archive: Details: James River barbeque ad

Scooby's is pretty expensive for what you get (burgers/dogs etc) and they're just ok. Augustino's would be a better choice and they have pizza. I like their subs but that's my personal preference.

Spectacular is not available too close to the drive in. There's a Lou Malnati's delivery/pick up location at Geneva Road and Schmale (not too far south of North Ave)

343 East Geneva Road
Carol Steam, IL 60188
Phone 630.668.7200


Pal Joey's has two locations and pizza is pretty good. Closest might be at Geneva Road and Gary Avenue (in Wheaton Bowl). Haven't been to that location so I can't say anything about it; it might just serve the bowling alley. The original restaurant moved; haven't been there either!

http://www.paljoeys.net/

440 E Roosevelt Rd, Suite 120
West Chicago, IL
630-231-9393

I used to live right around the corner from Cascade for a while. I love the drive-in itself, but there ain't much special around there, as has been noted.

Scoobys is home of the worst chili dog I've ever had, but they do have Green River soda on the fountain and there's something to be said for that. However, if you get Scooby's make sure to hide it well, because there are signs posted at the entrance which say all Scoobys food will be taken from you.

There's something of a feud between the owners of the Cascade and Scoobys because the neon at the corner of Prince Crossing and Rt. 64 is very bright and the Cascade thinks they should turn it off during the movies so as not to affect the picture on the screen. Scooby's disagrees and the light remains on, even past the stand's closing time.

Augies sells a pretty good sub for a decent price and their italian beef is good as well. There's also a Steak & Shake and an Arby's in the same plaza, for what it's worth. Just north on Rt 59 is Din Hua Chinese if you're hankering for that--it's okay, nothing special.

My preference would be to make a run out to St. Charles further down Rt. 64 and get some wings from Frantastic Wings or even a pizza from the Geno's East outlet, both in the Tin Cup Pass shopping plaza at 1534-1590 E. Main Street (Rt. 64). Or for mexican food, I've never gone wrong at La Villita on Roosevelt Road, about 15 minutes south on Rt. 59 and a short jog east onto Roosevelt.

Side-note: I haven't been to Cascade for about a year and a half, but IIRC the food in the concession stand goes on sale for a dollar halfway through the second feature, and it's worth almost every penny at that point.

Enjoy the show.

dees_1 wrote:You could leave early and head a bit further west to North and Route 59 for Augustinos Deli. Good stuff there with a broad selection. Everyone I know likes the Italian Beef. Link below:

http://www.augustinos.com

We went to Augustino's in West Chicago yesterday for the first time. My SO is a vegetarian but it wasn't too hard to find something suitable on the menu. I had the pork tenderloin which was deep fried but must have been finished off on a grill due to markings. The breading had a taste of some seasoning I couldn't put my finger on but was good and a good sized portion. The fries were outstanding, hot and crisp. The only setback was no condiments, I suppose we could have asked.

Love the Cascade drive-in...no worries about sneaking food in...it is not a problem as long as it is not from scoobies.

We usually do Portillo's which is pretty close down North Ave...I know not the greatest but convenient.

If you're in West Chicago, you ought to consider a visit to Happy House Hot Dogs, if only for the historic value of the place, which opened as one of the early Portillo's in 1974. The stand-up counter, wooden walls and surfaces have been deeply inscribed with generations of customer graffiti.

The all-beef Vienna dog, skinless but firm, comes on a seedless bun dressed in brilliant green relish, chopped onion, thick slices of tomato, a pair of fat pickle spears and a generous shake of celery salt. Some Happy House advocates recommend the chili cheese dog, smothered in savory, bean-filled chili. A sloppy-joe dog and a kraut dog also figure on the menu.

Besides hot dogs, Happy House serves Polish and Italian sausages, Italian beef, Texas beef -- with chili, cheddar and hot peppers -- chicken sandwiches, meatball sandwiches and cold items like tuna salad.

There's no seating inside the tiny hut, but the flower-bedecked garden offers a few umbrella tables.

Happy House Hot Dogs
630/231-8989
www.happyhousehotdogs.com
140 E. Roosevelt Road
West Chicago

Ah, Happy House. It's been a long time since I've been. Also, I'm still dissappointed about the fact that Frantastic Wings - who I mentioned upthread - has been closed since New Years. Their wings were really the best I've ever had.

But yes, the chili dogs are top notch. Love 'em.