Everyone I know makes the same "Heartbland" joke about Heartland Café. They have a nice bar and a nice vibe if you have a tolerance for peace-loving hippies, but the menu isn't very exciting at all. It's not abhorrent, but it's rarely inspiring.
Assuming that you aren't looking for something specifically within walking distance, I'll boost my own neighborhood and suggest two places at the intersection of Jarvis and Greenview, which is being branded "Jarvis Square" even though there's no square to be seen.
I've had Indian food from Luzzat twice since I posted on
the current LTH thread and continue to be pleased that it's within walking distance. I had a lamb dish on Saturday whose name eludes me but I was impressed by the tender preparation of the lamb meat itself. (They have about 10 lamb dishes on the menu--more than any other meat--which is a little unusual.)
I have also really come around on
Gruppo di Amici after a very uninspired first visit. Coincidentally or not I ordered pizza on that trip and have stuck to other entrees since, including pretty good mussels and ... can't remember what else.
There are also lots of good places on North Clark Street in that general area, as explored during North-Clark-a-Thons
I and
II.
Luzzat
1505 W Jarvis Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 764-1065
Gruppo di Amici
1508 W Jarvis Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 508-5565
Joe G.
"Whatever may be wrong with the world, at least it has some good things to eat." -- Cowboy Jack Clement