Max & Benny's Chicago [closed]

There was a small item in a column in today's Sun-Times noting that Bob Sirrott and his wife were recently seen at the new Max & Benny's.

I had heard it would be opening in a space in the River East movie complex.

Anyone been there yet? Have any info?

I haven't been inside, but I walked by on Saturday on the way to River East -- they were having a "private party" and "staff training" as noted by signs on the door.

It looked ready to open.

I will answer my own post, having just had a terrific lunch there.

Max and Benny's opened on Tuesday (for lunch only). Tomorrow will be their first day for breakfast, and in a few weeks they will open for a full breakfast, lunch and dinner schedule.

This is a very attractive restaurant of some 180 seats--tables, booths and a bar area in front. It is located in the River East AMC Theatre complex on Illinois, on the ground floor, with a street entrance one door east of the theatre.

For my first venture, I wanted to try the basics. Matzo ball soup, corned beef on rye, potato pancake, and a black-and-white cookie for dessert with coffee (by Intelligensia).

Soup was served very hot, a nice chicken broth, and a medium-sized, medium density matzo ball. The corned beef (which I ordered lean instead of regular) was just right, not greasy, piled high on what seemed like a double-baked rye reminscent of Langer's in Los Angeles. I might try the regular next time, which is the right way to have corned beef vs. the oxymoronic lean version. The latkes were a bit of a disappointment, having a flat, almost pre-fab appearance. They tasted okay, but were nowhere the robust look and feel of Manny's. B&W cookie was great, with a Yin Yang icing scheme.

All baked goods are brought in from the Northbrook location each day, and don't seem to suffer from the journey.

Despite some first week miscues (had to ask for water and mustard), the staff was enthusiastic, if slightly out of synch. I don't think it's a team waitstaff approach, though it seemed as such with all different people taking the order, running food to the table, and refilling my Diet Coke (which I ordered after I found out that the only Dr. Brown's they don't have is Cel-Ray).

All in all, a delightful place, and I'm thrilled Chicago finally has a very good, Jewish-owned deli, right in the middle of everything.

Happen to know their hours? Will one be able to, say, eat there before seeing a 10 pm movie?

They will ultimately be open until 10 pm during the week, midnight on weekends.

332 East Illinois
Chicago, IL 60611
312/321-9490[/size]

Anybody know what is happening at the new Max and Benny's on Illinois? Every time we go past there is some strange sign telling us that it is closed and will re-open at some odd hour.
Is the place open or not?
Any recommendations?

I finally went to Max and Benny's today, and was pretty disappointed.

First, the prices are very expensive. For a corned beef sandwich (served with pickle, tiny cole slaw, and two tiny potato pancakes) it was about $13.50. The substitution of potato pancakes had added a dollar to it, so with a salad it would have been $12.50.

The corned beef was dry and tastless. The potato pancakes seemed greasy (but they were dry, as if they had been greasy, but then had been put under a warmer).

Overall, it was an unfortunate experience.

I will give the place another opportunity, but I was expecting a lot more.

DML wrote:I will give the place another opportunity, but I was expecting a lot more.

Based on my experiences in the Northbrook location, the only thing I expect of them is a source for good, hand-sliced lox. I've got low expectations for everything else.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:

DML wrote:I will give the place another opportunity, but I was expecting a lot more.

Based on my experiences in the Northbrook location, the only thing I expect of them is a source for good, hand-sliced lox. I've got low expectations for everything else.

Best,
Michael

Ditto. But, it seemed so much better when it first opened. Of course, that's a dynamic which I very easily could have imagined. But it did seem like there was some noticeable drop-off after about the first year. Meats seemed to slip in quality, as did the chicken soup and a bunch of other standard fare. After countless requests, I couldn't even get an omelette without it being seriously scorched (on the exterior).

I haven't been there in years, even though it's really close to my house because, on top of the disappointing food, the last time I was there something very annoying (and dangerous) happened and no one in the place seemed to care in the least.

Does anyone know anything about Eleven Street Diner, which was mentioned in Dish this week? Is there any hope it's going to be good?

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Does anyone know anything about Eleven Street Diner, which was mentioned in Dish this week? Is there any hope it's going to be good?

Ronnie,

I don't know any more than you do, but based on what I read I have high (guarded) hopes about Eleven City Diner. Lord knows there's a major vaccum of good Jewish delis in this town.

When they open, let's meet for some soup and pastrami. Mid-March, they say.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:When they open, let's meet for some soup and pastrami. Mid-March, they say.

Definitely!

=R=

Having enjoyed M&B's in Northbrook, I went there today for brunch. The Chicago location is below average. High prices and lousy service. Perhaps the place needs some breathing room to find its groove. Today, though, our server walked by our table 10 times en route to service other diners seated after us before even introducing himself. The matzoh ball soup and pastrami were Dominick's quality and 3 times more expensive. Until I get some contrary intel, I'd stick to Oak Tree and Manny's before throwing money away in this place.

A couple of deals for people who are going there anyway.

The new Max and Benny's Restaurant-Deli-Bakery (River East location) wants to give customers a break, and is offering two new specials for movie-goers and locals alike. Just in time for the summer blockbusters, movie-goers can bring in their ticket stub from the AMC Theater upstairs to receive a 10-percent discount off their Max and Benny’s purchase.

In addition, coffee lovers can start their day off right by picking up a “Max and Benny’s Coffee Club” card. Intelligentsia coffee and espresso is freshly brewed day and night, along with specialty coffee drinks. After the purchase of 10 coffee or espresso drinks, the “Coffee Club” customer will receive a free coffee of their choice, plus a bagel-and-cream-cheese-sandwich.

Employees (Black and Hispanic only) showed up for work today.

Unfortunately no one in management informed them they had no more jobs.

Today was pay day too.
As if they didn't know most of their employees were living check to check.

Shameful.

peerlessdothan wrote:Employees (Black and Hispanic only) showed up for work today.

Unfortunately no one in management informed them they had no more jobs.

Today was pay day too.
As if they didn't know most of their employees were living check to check.

Shameful.

Are you saying that the new Max & Bennies has closed?

No answer on their phone.

Anyone in the neighborhood see if it is still open?

Unless somebody beats me to it and posts here, I will do re-con on my way home and let people know.

i go to fox and obel cafeteria (kitty corner away) instead. m&b only ok at best

It seemed like the lines were always shorter at Max & Benny's [which may have lead to the current questions], and sometimes you need a greasy potato pancake.

If it is gone already, it would be a shocker after such a short time, but ultimately the quality just wasn't there.

Unfortunately, the immediate area has some problems recently. Rumor has it there was a gang shooting right next door within the past few weeks [not to mention two muggings within two blocks], so it may be that the movie theaters were not generating the type of crowd that typically goes to Max and Benny's.

peerlessdothan wrote:Employees (Black and Hispanic only) showed up for work today.

Unfortunately no one in management informed them they had no more jobs.

Am I reading this wrong or did they only fire the black and hispanic workers? Or is it that they only told the white workers that they would be closing? Either way it would seem like a good lawyer might be able to bring a discrimination case. No matter what, if there is nothing more to the story, it is indeed dispicable.

Edit for typo

According to a sign in the door, it is closed due to problems with air conditioning but they are working on it.

Stagger wrote:

peerlessdothan wrote:Employees (Black and Hispanic only) showed up for work today.

Unfortunately no one in management informed them they had no more jobs.

Am I reading this wrong or did they only fire the black and hispanic workers? Or is it that they only told the white workers that they would be closing? Either way it would seem like a good lawyer might be able to bring a discrimination case. No matter what, if there is nothing more to the story, it is indeed dispicable.

Edit for typo

I think it is safe to say that speculation such as this has no place on LTH Forum. We've been down this road before. Of interest would be whether or not they are permanantly closed or just undergoing some repairs.

I agree that speculation about what peerlessdothan could have meant by saying "Black and Hispanic only" is fruitless and ill-advised. Nevertheless, I'm intensely curious as to what mentioning those ethnicities could possibly have been intended to indicate to us. Therefore, let's have the opposite of speculation: Let's have peerlessdothan clue us in.

HI,

I called the Northbrook outpost for Max and Benny's, they indicated the Chicago location has closed.

Regards,

Morsels and I had the same brilliant idea: call the Northbrook location.

That’s All?
We recently got word that Max & Benny’s Deli (332 E. Illinois St.;?312-321-9490), which just opened six months ago in River East, had closed. How is this possible, you ask? We wondered the same thing, so we called, only to be greeted with a mysterious answering machine message: “We are sorry we are unable to open today due to an air-conditioning failure. Please call back, as repairs are under way as to an update when we can reopen.” Diligent reporters that we are, we called the original Max & Benny’s (461 Waukegan Rd., Northbrook; 847-272-9490) and spoke to Lois Soble, the office manager there. Soble confirmed the rumor; said it had closed on August 6th. Wow. Any plans to reopen? “Not as of right now,” Soble said.

Looks like the River East area cannot support a place offering greasy sandwiches for $15. An O.K. sandwich and a greasy potato pancake served by a rude waitress was about $12.50.

It is unfortunate, but the quality [both of food and staff], just wasn't there, and Fox and Obel a block away has great food and great staff.

The location needs something to cater to the movie crowd a bit better, and probably needs bullet proof windows, but that is another matter completely.