No Ambiance Lunch

LTH,

Our friend Jan goes back to Houston today and it's our tradition that sometime during her visit I take her to a No Ambiance lunch. By no ambiance I actually mean one that is rife with ambiance, but of a uniquely urban variety that the typical suburbanite, even one as open and and adventurous as Jan, might never experience on their own.

Past No Ambiance lunches have been the 59th street Lem's (since closed) 64th and Cottage Grove Harold's fried chicken (under new ownership), Kababish on Orleans, Shan on Sheridan, Hyderabad House and Nuevo Leon. Nuevo Leon does not qualify as no ambiance, but we had drinks at the long shuttered bar that was just East. Dark, depressing, made more so by the strings of Christmas lights blinking away in July, filled with Nelson Algren rejects and smelling mainly of urine and regret it was the perfect no ambiance place to while away a sunny afternoon.

My thoughts for today, Vee-Vee's, an African lunch truck that's typically across the street from the Fairmont at noon, we would eat on the hood of the car, goat tacos and consomee at Reyes de Ocotlán or Ghareeb Nawaz.

I'm leaning toward Ghareeb Nawaz mainly because Jan likes Indian food, which is the reason my been-to no ambiance list is long on Indian.

Suggestions appreciated.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary,

My favorite place that's low on ambiance, high on taste is Khan BBQ.

Best,
Michael

Gary, if you and Jan are down on 18th Street, how about a post-lunch beer at Zientek's (bar and model train shop). Be sure to go upstairs to see all the train stuff.

Zientek's is described in this post by Antonius:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=2343

Zientek's is at the southwest corner of Damen and 18th. Note that it closes at 6 pm.

Amata

p.s. If you hadn't just had carnitas at Sabas y Vega, I'd also suggest Carnitas Uruapan for a lunch destination...

What about Kevin's Hamburger Heaven? There's nothing like eating a good greasy burger with a security guard watching to make sure no one snatches some fries off your plate.

La Unica on Devon for a big plate of lechon and yuca--the epitome of "NO" (read: real) ambience.

Sunshine Noodle on Clark in Andersonville has no ambience other than the coat rack and the plastic food in the window. But its big bowls of Udon are cheap and comforting.

bjt

i get a kick out of hamburger king with its menu of traditional american dishes as wells as chinese and korean food. and the patrons are a great urban mix.

Unless it's changed recently, the dining room at Honey 1 resembles some of the worst high school cafeterias. Granted, your high school never served ribs this good (if at all) and you couldn't wash it down with a bottle of wine....

Unless it's changed recently, the dining room at Honey 1 resembles some of the worst high school cafeterias.

Apart from three artful black and white photographs on the south wall, that is. And I don't mean pictures of Steve Dolinsky!

Hi,

China Town Cafe?

Regards,

Gary, do you mean to say you have not taken them to Marianao. Come on.

The hood of your car parked out front of Jim's Original / Maxwell Street Express, eating polish sausages and pork chop sandwiches and perhaps voting on which polish is best. Of course there's a bit more ambience in the daylight than in the more traditional 2 AM setting but if lunch it must be then that's the concession one must make.

Wow, great suggestions!

Amata, Zientek's is a particularly good suggestion as I've never been myself, and Jan did not accompany me to Sabas Vega so Carnitas Uruapan or Don Pedro would fit the bill as easily as Reyes de Ocotlán. Jeff's suggestion of Marianao would work, but I'd like lunch to last more than 10-minutes , next time she's in for a quick lunch for sure.

We've been to Honey 1 this trip, she loved the place, and Kevin's, La Unica, Hamburger King and a Pork Chop taste off all are stored for next visit. Chinatown Cafe is perfect, though Jan is often resistant to Chinese food for some unknown reason and Sunshine Cafe may be a little too nice to qualify as no ambiance.

Actually I think Michael's suggestion of Khan BBQ might be where we go, either there or one of the places on 18th and then Zientek's for a drink and train watching.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Actually I think Michael's suggestion of Khan BBQ might be where we go,

Well, I showed her the pics of Khan BBQ and as soon as she saw the chicken boti, that was all she wrote.

I realize it's really late notice, but we will be at Khan BBQ at 1pm today, Wednesday, if anyone in the area would like to join us for lunch

Chicken Boti at Khan BBQ
.

Enjoy,
Gary

Khan BBQ
2262 W Devon
Chicago, IL 60659
773-274-8600

For the max ratio of quality cuisine divided by the lowest possible denominator of ambiance, I might respectfully suggest the La Pasadita Burrito facility... the challenge being - choosing *which* of the 3 different La Pasadita's on the same intersection to recommend... They are all separate restaurants at 1132, 1140, and 1141 N. Ashland. My preference for low ambiance being the establishment at 1132 N. Ashland (SE corner @ Division). The main reason being that they grill their burritos' carne asada as whole pieces of steak - *then* chop it up, maintaining a nice char/sear on the meat. By contrast, most other places chop, then grill, their meat, resulting in more steamed and less charred flavor. Also, La Pasadita has one of the more respectable tomatillo salsas in town - actually has a decent amount of heat to it - not the typical bland stuff.

As to the all-important issue of ambiance - I think I can sum it up in one phrase - chipped-yellow-and-orange-formica-table-tops. A late night favorite with Chicago's Finest...

- - -

When you go to Jimmy's for Po-Lish and Po-k Chops, be sure to ask for X-tra peppers...

Kman wrote:The hood of your car parked out front of Jim's Original / Maxwell Street Express, eating polish sausages and pork chop sandwiches and perhaps voting on which polish is best. Of course there's a bit more ambience in the daylight than in the more traditional 2 AM setting but if lunch it must be then that's the concession one must make.

epicurus wrote:the challenge being - choosing *which* of the 3 different La Pasadita's on the same intersection to recommend... They are all separate restaurants at 1132, 1140, and 1141 N. Ashland. My preference for low ambiance being the establishment at 1132 N. Ashland (SE corner @ Division).

Epicurus,

You and I are on the same page preferring the East side of Ashland La Pasadita, though we differ on order preference. I stick to tacos, carne asada, lengua and barbacoa.

La Pasadita Barbacoa (East side of Ashland La Pasadita)


I was also thinking Ilidzanka for cevapcici would make a great low ambiance lunch.

Enjoy,
Gary

LTH,

We ended up at Michael's suggestion of Khan BBQ and they were really smoking yesterday, figuratively and literally. It was funny as the tandor was going so strong when we walked in the No Smoking sign was ringed by a puff of meat scented smoke. Chicken Boti, which, to me, is Khan's signature dish, was great, and the daal palak, aloo palak and naan good as always.

We also had Frontier chicken rice, seekh kabab and 'goat chops.' This was the second or third time I've had 'goat chops' and I'm firmly convinced they are actually lamb, but, frankly, I don't care as they taste really good.

Thanks to Michael for his suggestion and once again to Zim for his original Khan BBQ post stressing the deliciousness of the chicken boti.

Enjoy,
Gary