Best of Avondale/Logan Square

I am somewhat new to the area and new to the board. I am looking for advice on the best of the area. Thanks for your help.

To get you started, in that general vicinity:

Lula Cafe
Taqueria La Oaxaquena
Thai Aree

Have not spent too much time in that area but have always enjoyed El Cid on Kedzie. Nothing too fancy, just a solid Guatemalan joint with good carne asada.

El Cid
2645 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL

To add on to that list -

Hot Dougs

Fonda Del Mar

El Nandu

Honey 1 (not a million miles away anyway)

Gotta differ with you on El Cid - ick.

Guatelinda Bakery had good pastries on Diversey at Whipple I think.
El Condor on Milwaukee just south of fullerton has excellent roast pork on the weekends if you show up early enough.
Try out all the Helado de Coco guys when they start wheeling hteir carts around for the summer.
Provenance is a decent new wineshop
Staropolska for tripe soup (flazcki) and pierogies for dirt cheap.
Kurowski's Grocery for oven-warm polish white and rye bread and a vast selection of polish sausages.
Small Bar for a pleasant bar at Wellington & Albany
Mr. Pollo for ecuadorian roast chicken with a great green hot sauce
Carnitas Paisa on Fullerton west of Kedzie for carnitas and chicharron
The counter in the back of Chicago Food Corp at Kimball and the Kennedy for chipchopped sushi on rice and a quick bowl of seollungtang, plust tasty if soggy deepfried squids.

That oughta get you started - let us know what else you find!

Seth Zurer wrote:...Kurowski's Grocery for oven-warm polish white and rye bread and a vast selection of polish sausages...

Indeed, a genuinely swell place... For my little write-up with subsequent discussion and very nice pics from Seth, click here:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=9688#9688

Antonius

And don't forget the hash browns at Clara and James on the corner of Elston and Belmont.

Then, there's Kuma's burger. Love it.

www.kumascorner.com

Belmont between California and Sacramento.

We also go to Friendship Chinese quite often.

www.friendshiprestaurant.com

Seth Zurer wrote:Gotta differ with you on El Cid - ick.
Carnitas Paisa on Fullerton west of Kedzie for carnitas and chicharron

I forgot about this place (because, due it's early closing time, I don't make it there nearly as often as I would like to) but I would certainly recommend it. The owner is lovely too...

I'll add Paul Zakopane Harnas to the list - homey, Polish/American coffeeshop with good, inexpensive specials and a bar. Nice people, too. Caddy corner from Kurowski's at:

2943 N Milwaukee Ave.

-Rebski

I'll second the recommendation of Paul Zakopane Harnas.

Stopped in for lunch today and enjoyed the Hungarian Pancake special that came with great beef barley soup. The potato pancake was as good as Smak Tak.

Interesting -- last post was 3 years back, by the late, great one. I agree. Paul Zakopane is very good. I love the tartare.

Going to dinner in Logan Square on Friday. Any suggestions? I'd prefer something iconic (as opposed to ironic), BYOB and/or bar preferred.

I was thinking Real Tenochtitlan (where I've enjoyed one good meal) or Cafe Laguardia (never been, no good reviews on LTH, but apparently iconic). Any opinions or suggestions?

Thanks folks.

Easy choice for me. Bonsoiree. I suggest the five-course because it features an insanely good pork chop entree. It's BYOB. I believe you have to make a reservation.

Bonsoiree
2728 W. Armitage (just east of California)
773-486-7511

A bit too upscale for tonight. Looks like we are gonna try Cafe Laguardia, and if its too busy, we'll go to somewhere else, maybe Real Tenochtitlan.

I'll report back on Laguardia if we go as there is scant information about it on LTH, despite it being (apparently) really popular in the neighborhood.

Habibi wrote:A bit too upscale for tonight. Looks like we are gonna try Cafe Laguardia, and if its too busy, we'll go to somewhere else, maybe Real Tenochtitlan.

I'll report back on Laguardia if we go as there is scant information about it on LTH, despite it being (apparently) really popular in the neighborhood.

Cafe Laguardia is OK, but I think the Cuban food and atmosphere are both substantially better at the Logan Square outpost of 90 Miles.

90 Miles to Cuba
2540 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60618
773-227-2822

Thanks Kenny. I will submit your recommendation to the ladies of the group for consideration.

Are you talking about the Cafe Laguardia at 6818 W. North Avenue or 2111 Armitage?
(I'm not sure I'd classify either of those as Avondale/Logan Square?)

I've been to both 90 Mile and the Laguardia on Armitage. They are aiming at different clientele. Both have good food. 90 Mile is more casual, Laguardia has some Brazilian and Mexican items on their menu as well. Laguardia has a full bar, 90 Mile is BYO. Laguardia has seats upholstered in zebra or cheetah or something, it's got a fireplace, it has a separate bar. 90 Mile has a flat screen TV showing a fireplace video

90 Mile has young hipsters, and serves its appetizers in plastic baskets. Laguardia patrons dress up a little bit. They are both lively, but in different ways. 90 Miles occasionally has live music, and has extra seating in their enclosed outdoor porch area. Laguardia has live music several nights a week.

My geography is off. It seems the Cafe Laguardia I was talking about is actually near Damen, so yes, its not in Logan Square.

Habibi wrote:Going to dinner in Logan Square on Friday. Any suggestions? I'd prefer something iconic (as opposed to ironic), BYOB and/or bar preferred.

I was thinking Real Tenochtitlan (where I've enjoyed one good meal) or Cafe Laguardia (never been, no good reviews on LTH, but apparently iconic). Any opinions or suggestions?

Thanks folks.

I just made my long-overdue first trip to El Nandu last night and was very impressed with the food. Highly recommended. I had the Pollo a la Chimichurri with mashed potatoes as the side. I've been day dreaming about it ever since! Good empanadas too.

90 Miles is a favorite of mine, but it's not a sit-down place and not in Logan Square.

Small Bar has good food, but it tastes better when you have access to their little beer garden in the summer.

One goes to El Cid for the patio, margaritas, and cheap fish tacos. The menu is kinda hit or miss, but their upstairs bar/dining room is kinda swanky and a nice place for a drink.

I can't personally recommend the 2 newest places, Longman & Eagle and Revolution Brewery b/c I haven't been to either yet. I tried to go to RB last night but there was a 90 minute wait. Everything I've heard about them is positive.

redhanded wrote:
90 Miles is a favorite of mine, but it's not a sit-down place and not in Logan Square.

The 90 Mile on Armitage is a sit-down place. It doesn't have white table cloths, but there are lots of seats.

I always have a pleasant experience at Rustico Grill (2515 N California Ave).