Visiting Museum of Sc. In. Dining Recommendations requested

Hi,

I was planning on driving to town and taking my wife and 5 month old to the Museum of Science and Industry and was hoping for some recommendations of a place to eat that will be tasty, a dinning experience (I,m asking here becuase I know I'm not going to here Bennigans as an answer), is within walking of the museum, or one of the public parking areas, and won't break the bank (entrees under 25$ prefferable). I guess a taxi ride wouldn't be out of the question too I guess (read this as I'm a country bumkin and have never hailed down a taxi).

I know it is a bit demanding, but I've read this forum for a long time and know that you all can come through for me!

Thanks in advance,

Zimm

Hi Zimm, welcome to LTH.

I'm a little confused -- the Museum of Science and Industry is in Hyde Park, 7 miles south of downtown. Is that the museum you're going to, or to one of the ones closer to downtown (like the Field Museum of Natural History)?

Amata

There's not much within easy walking distance from The Museum of Science and Industry - especially in this weather and with a baby. You might be stuck with the food court there. Or you could get a cab over to Hyde Park - there are a few options there. Where are you staying, and how are you planning to get down to the museum?

Wow,

That was a brain fart. Yeah I want to see the Body World exhibit, but I was picturing the field museum in my head for the location. I've changed the topic to fit.

Thanks,
Zimm

Within easy walking distance of the Museum is the french bistro La Petite Folie.

I haven't heard too much, although it's been mentioned a few times on LTH.


La Petite Folie
1504 E 55th St, Chicago, IL
(773) 493-1394
http://www.lapetitefolie.com

We we'll be driving in from I55 as we are from the Joliet area. So we will have access to a car to drive to any place that has parking availabe.

Thanks I'm a city dinning newb!

Zimm

Given the cold weather and that you'll be with your baby, there's only one restaurant in walking distance:

Piccolo Mondo
1642 E 56th St- At S Cornell Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
773 643-1106
Sun-Thu: 11:30am-8:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11:30am-9:30pm


I think it'd be a reasonably good choice for you. Not destination dining by any means, but then there aren't many excellent restaurants anywhere in Hyde Park.

You can go to chicago.menupages.com to see their menu.

EDIT: I posted this before I saw the post above where you say you have a car. Don't bother going to Piccolo Mondo then!

But since you have a car and only need parking, how about Chinatown, which is an easy drive, or, a couple of miles further, Greektown, where there's always free valet parking? What are you looking for besides "not Bennigans" (which is a fine start!).

yeah,

I have a car and only really need parking and we are willing to drive a bit. I had my head on backwards during the original post thinking that we'd be kinda stuck downtown..... oops!

My wife and I both like to try new food and I like to eat at placed that I will leave with the feeling that I just ate some great food at a place that doesn't sling this stuff on every corner.

I'm all for the more bazzar the better and love to try just about anything. I know that isn't helpful, but we love thai food and just about every other type of food.

Thanks

Maybe I haven't been in Hyde Park much lately, but is there really a parking issue in taking the car out of the parking facility at the museum and driving 1/2 mile away [like to Harper Court] and parking again?

Although, I have to say, going to Chinatown and eating there is the far preferable idea. That's what I usually do when I have something to do in Hyde Park. Food will be affordable, and if you don't luck into street parking the lot there is fairly inexpensive. [$4-5 if I remember correctly...anybody park in the lot east of the Archer Ave. mall lately?]

There's more on this board than anyone could reasonably read at one sitting about food in Chinatown, but a thread that'll have an overview and give you some more to look up is here. Altho, if you're going to see Body World, maybe you want to look at vegetarian Chinese restaurants .

Have a great time.

Giovanna

Giovanna wrote:anybody park in the lot east of the Archer Ave. mall lately?

I think all businesses in the Chinatown Mall (LSC for sure) will validate your ticket and then parking is only $2.50. It's convenient and provides for a nice walk through the mall.

Kristen

Ann Fisher wrote:But since you have a car and only need parking, how about Chinatown, which is an easy drive, or, a couple of miles further, Greektown, where there's always free valet parking? What are you looking for besides "not Bennigans" (which is a fine start!).

Chinatown, definitely a good choice, and most of the places there would probably be fine with a five-month-old customer. Lao Sze Chuan, perhaps, or Happy Chef?

I agree that the restaurants in Chinatown (and close by, like Ed's Potsticker House in Bridgeport) would be a good choice with a baby. There will be other babies and kids there, some will be crying, no one will notice if your baby cries too.

BUT -- what day are you planning to be here? Sunday Feb 18 is Chinese New Year, with a parade in Chinatown. I wouldn't try to get into any of the restaurants there on that day.

If one is driving, nearer to HP and the MSI than Chinatown is Ed's Potsticker House and Healthy Food, on Halsted in the low 30's; good Chinese or good Lithuanian... not a bad choice:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=35108#35108

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=16127#16127

A short ride up Lakeshore and a little ways west on 31st, then left onto Halsted...

Antonius

I lived in Hyde Park for quite awhile. My favorite place there is a Middle Eastern Restaurant called the Nile. Some will insist that there is nothing special about the place, but it was my first experience with Middle Eastern food, 12 years ago. And it's still my favorite. I love their hummous and their chicken shawerma. Their shish kebab beef is always grilled perfectly as well. It's not a culinary hotspot, but it's very solid. And it's a quick drive from the museum. If you park in the main garage, when you come out of it, turn right and it will put you directly into the curving street that is cornell turning into 57th. Take a left at the next light onto Hyde Park Blvd. Take that through a couple of intersections, and turn left on 55th. It's down 55th a ways on the left. I never had problems parking at the meters along 55th.

Nile Restaurant
1611 E 55th St
Chicago, IL
(773) 324-9499

How about Calypso Cafe on Harper Court. It's caribbean themed and really fun. I love the jerk chicken nachos and conch fritters and they have really good seafood entrees and sandwiches. The atmosphere is fun too, especially on a wintery day.

Lao Sze Chuan looks like a place that my wife and I would greatly enjoy.

Anybody want to make comments on must have dishes. I've searched through some posts and a lot of things look great.

The Very Chinese Special portion of the menu has peaked my interest. If anybody has had something on it that they could recommend it would be most appreciated.

Zimm wrote:Lao Sze Chuan looks like a place that my wife and I would greatly enjoy.

Anybody want to make comments on must have dishes. I've searched through some posts and a lot of things look great.

The Very Chinese Special portion of the menu has peaked my interest. If anybody has had something on it that they could recommend it would be most appreciated.

It's a fantastic menu to be sure; easy rec.s include Tony's 3-chile chicken, ma po dou fu(vegetarian or w/pork), potherb in house special sauce, Chengdu dumplings, dan dan noodles, house special hot and sour soup...I'm sure others will chime in.

I highly recommend Dixie Kitchen in the Harper Courtyard, just off of Lake Park Boulevard. It's great Southern cooking and, in my opinion, the most consistent restaurant in the neighborhood.

It's a favorite with local residents and students and, in fact, the last time I was there, Jesse Jackson, Jr. was eating at the table next to me. That's about as exciting as it gets in a sleepy area like Hyde Park.

Dixie Kitchen
5225 S Harper Ave # A
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 363-4943

Other Hyde Park options can be found in these threads:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3150&highlight=istria
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1751

I'm sure the dish recs for LSC will fly fast and furious and it's hard to go wrong. The only broad recommendation I'd make is to avoid the more familiar Cantonese dishes. Not that they aren't frequently quite good, it's just not Tony's thing, and why do Cantonese when you're at a dynamite Szechuan place? The singular exception to this rule is the mayonnaise shrimp. Good god, are they outstanding.

To Christopher Gordon's good list I would add lamb with cumin.

I agree with the Chinatown recommendation -- that always goes so nicely with Hyde Park. I'll just add that you can also get a little snack (cookies, rolls, coffee and hot chocolate, etc.) for yourselves and the baby at the

Medici Bakery
1331 E. 57th St.

It's a popular spot for the stroller set, too, so the baby will be welcome.

Dmnkly wrote:The singular exception to this rule is the mayonnaise shrimp. Good god, are they outstanding.

Dom, if you mean "crispy shrimp with mayonnaise sauce", I am so with you on this one. So delicately flavored with orange peel, sweet, but not too sweet, crispy and creamy at the same time. I have a hard time not ordering this every time we go to LSC. Another recent favorite of mine (thanks to a heads up from G Wiv on these pages) is the szechuan pickle. I also love the garlic peapod leafs (yes, leafs--is Tony Canadian?).

mmm...

Kristen

Zimm wrote:Lao Sze Chuan looks like a place that my wife and I would greatly enjoy.

Zimm,

Lao Sze Chuan Sliced Beef and Maw Szechuan Style is terrific, one of my favorite dishes, not just at LSC, but all of Chicago.



I'm also a fan of Tony's Three Chili Chicken, which I thank EatChicago for turning me onto, the Ma Po Tofu with the $2 pork option is terrific as well.

Three Chili Chicken


Ma Po Tofu


Szechuan Spicy Rabbit w/bone is a favorite and, as mentioned by KL5, Szechuan pickle.

Szechuan Spicy Rabbit w/bone


Szechuan pickle


This doesn't even begin to dent the terrific menu at LSC, for example Dong Po (fried steamed pork elbow), a multitude of vegetable dishes and the effervescent sounding Boil Beef in spicy sauce. Seriously, the boil beef is terrific, don't believe me? Take a look at this post complete with gastroporn photos by Extramsg.

Enjoy,
Gary

Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S. Archer
Chicago, IL 60646
312-326-5040.
http://www.laoszechuan.com

Giovanna said: Maybe I haven't been in Hyde Park much lately, but is there really a parking issue in taking the car out of the parking facility at the museum and driving 1/2 mile away [like to Harper Court] and parking again?

This much is true, I think: if you leave the S&I parking lot for lunch and then return (if that's what you're thinking of, though perhaps I misunderstand), you'll have to pay two hefty parking fees there (even as members I think it costs us $9 and it may be $12 for non-members.) Also, sometimes with popular exhibits (don't know how Body World falls here) the parking lot can fill up on weekends, so if you leave at midday and then return you may find no spots available. So unless this is what you'd already planned, I'd suggest arriving at the museum fairly early in the day, fortifing yourselves at some point with ice cream from the shop near Yesterday's Main Street, and then head out for a late lunch or really early dinner in Chinatown. That would save money and wear and tear. Also, if you decide that's it's financially sensible to join the Museum (sometimes it is, because once you add up the costs of the special exhibits etc. it can be a better deal, especially if you plan to return even once during the year) I'd take advantage of the member's lounge on the second floor, because it's usually quiet and peaceful there (we're often the only ones there), there's free coffee, and you can relax on a comfortable couch and feed the baby.

I've looked over this menu several times and I think I could eat my way through it. I love the spicy food and my wife will eat it also, but I know for a fact that she will want to order something "safe" just in case. Any reqs on a "safe" entree? I'd love to get here hooked so we can go back again

I'm thinking that we will order several dishes becuase we don't get good chinese food like this around us and we will want some left overs.

Right now Beef and Maw sounds great (not sure what it is), but it looked great. Thanks for all the help!

Zimm

Zimm wrote:I've looked over this menu several times and I think I could eat my way through it. I love the spicy food and my wife will eat it also, but I know for a fact that she will want to order something "safe" just in case. Any reqs on a "safe" entree? I'd love to get here hooked so we can go back again

I'm thinking that we will order several dishes becuase we don't get good chinese food like this around us and we will want some left overs.

Right now Beef and Maw sounds great (not sure what it is), but it looked great. Thanks for all the help!

Zimm

When I go with a larger group there is always at least one somewhat heat-reticent diner. Though, as mentioned above, the "classic" Chinese-American by-way-of Canton dishes are far from this restaurant's raison d'etre, you can be assured more *familiar* dishes are also conscientiously-prepared with care to execution. By which I mean to say, order with aplomb, you *ought* to go with the Sichuan preparations, but I've never been served a bad dish of whatever stripe. Lao Sze Chuan is one of the sincere, unpretentious, unequivocally-great destinations of Chicago. :end hyperbole:

**maw=stomach lining, um...I think...

or, in the case of fish...fish bladder

Thank you all for the help in getting a great surprise set up for my wife.

Body World 2 exhibit was great and seeing it did not ruin my hunger for some great food.

Lao Sze Chuan was phenominal and the experience was quiet fun. The service was great and although it freaked my wife out a bit the waitress snagged our kid and paraded him around the restaurant. Everybody was laughing at our waitress with our bleach blonde baby. He really enjoyed all the attention he got from the wait staff who gave him fortune cookies to play with. Of course when she took him to the door of the kitchen you could hear some talking and the whole kitchen got quiet. This was followed by a screaming baby who finally realized that he was in a odd place.

Back to the food!

We ordered plenty since we ate a very light lunch, and thought left overs would be good since we don't get good chinese food around us.


The beef and maw was great! I was a bit afraid that the double spicy mark would be too hot for me, but it was within my limits and was very enjoyable. I liked the maw better than the beef. Who can tell me exactly what it was I ate there? Whatever it was it was very good.

Crispy Shrimp with mayonaise sauce was a bit scary for me since I HATE mayonaise, but I figured that many recommendations could be wrong.... and they were not! This was the one dish that did not make the trip home with us as a leftover.

The spring rolls were averge to above average and were good for some cold travelers who needed to eat fast. After watching a lady roll crab rangoon for our entire visit I wanted to order some, but we already had too much.

The 3 chili chicken was good, but we discovered it was evern better as a left over the next day. Not sure why, but both my wife and I agreed we liked it even better the second time.

Sezchuan Pickle was interesting and I liked it well enough that I ate most of it. I've never had a taste quite like it.

Lastly we got the "safe" dish of cashew chicken. It was good and did not dissapoint my wife one bit.

She liked everyting but the beef and maw becuase it was too spicy for her tastes. I was not dissapointed with any of it and really enjoyed the experience. We will be going back again this summer for sure when we can enjoy more of chinatown than a quick run from the parking to the restaurant.

Thanks again and if anybody can tell me exactly what the maw is I would appreciate it!

Zimm

Christopher Gordon wrote:

Zimm wrote:I've looked over this menu several times and I think I could eat my way through it. I love the spicy food and my wife will eat it also, but I know for a fact that she will want to order something "safe" just in case. Any reqs on a "safe" entree? I'd love to get here hooked so we can go back again

I'm thinking that we will order several dishes becuase we don't get good chinese food like this around us and we will want some left overs.

Right now Beef and Maw sounds great (not sure what it is), but it looked great. Thanks for all the help!

Zimm

When I go with a larger group there is always at least one somewhat heat-reticent diner. Though, as mentioned above, the "classic" Chinese-American by-way-of Canton dishes are far from this restaurant's raison d'etre, you can be assured more *familiar* dishes are also conscientiously-prepared with care to execution. By which I mean to say, order with aplomb, you *ought* to go with the Sichuan preparations, but I've never been served a bad dish of whatever stripe. Lao Sze Chuan is one of the sincere, unpretentious, unequivocally-great destinations of Chicago. :end hyperbole:

**maw=stomach lining, um...I think...

or, in the case of fish...fish bladder

to quote myself, read directly above

oh...and sounds like a great time!

I did read above and did not think that Uhm.. I think... was a very strong for sure on what it was. I was looking for an Uhm... Yeah I'm sure

I'm more curious than anything as it was very delicous.