Best of Best
Best of Best
-
-
-
-
-
Best of Best
-
Post #1 - May 15th, 2007, 4:23 pmHey Chi-towners!
Going to be in the area in the next few days and am looking for some lunch and dinner suggestions. Doesn't matter the type of cuisine as long as it is amazing. Would prefer "quintessential chicago" fare if possible and nothing crazy expensive or fancy. We also have a vegetarian in the group...
Thanks kindly
-
-
Post #2 - May 15th, 2007, 4:57 pmWell, I am guessing there are going to be some people linking to the search button as there are countless posts debating the best of the best.
Perhaps it would help if you listed what style of food you would like? Pizza, steaks, hot dogs, Ethnic, Italian, American, etc...
-
-
Post #3 - May 15th, 2007, 5:02 pmI thought this was a good thread for an out-of-towner family.
-
-
Post #4 - May 15th, 2007, 5:07 pmOk, I guess it could be hard to suggest but like I said, we are open for anything, doesn't matter what type of food -- just as long as it can accommodate a vegetarian. Maybe a Chicago "institution" - something unique to be found only while in the Windy City. We are from NYC so can eat any type of food, anytime...how about -- what is YOUR favorite restaurant and why?
-
-
Post #5 - May 15th, 2007, 5:28 pmsee Great Neighborhood Restaurants
-
-
Post #6 - May 15th, 2007, 5:38 pmWhat, no one wants to rise to the occasion of answering the quintessential Chowhound question? Are you all so jaded?
Crrush links to a good thread, and within that thread I linked to this one, which is also a pretty good one.
Our Great Neighborhood Restaurants board has tons of good restaurants in various categories. However, sometimes they're close by and easy to get to, sometimes they're not (e.g., Chuck's). Here's my #1 answer: TAC Quick. Yes, New York has lots of Thai restaurants, so does Chicago, but this isn't the usual pad thai stuff you see. Ignore the standard menu, ask for the special menu, or easiest of all, order off the specials board only, and get amazing explosions of flavor at a downright cheap price. Vegetable-based items abound although odds are they nearly all contain fish sauce. A few doors south of subway Red Line Sheridan stop.
#2 answer: get a Chicago deep dish pizza. You may or may not like it, but it's a unique, eccentric regional style worth trying in its home base (and if you've had Pizzeria Uno in New York, it's totally inferior and not even that similar to the real thing). For the vegetarian, the serious stuffed pizza style* works very well as a meatless spinach pizza. What part of town are you staying in, that would affect where I'd suggest you go.
Okay, that's two, who else wants to try?
* See explanation of Chicago pizza types here.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #7 - May 15th, 2007, 7:03 pmwell it seems like someone has balls in this forum thanks for stepping up mike. we have tried the deep dish...wasn't toooo fond of it, but would be willing to try it again. what's your favorite place?
-
-
Post #8 - May 15th, 2007, 7:12 pmOkay Mike, I'll try.
Chicago has the largest Polish population of any city in the world other than Warsaw. Try Podhalanka for home-style Polish, or for more upscale, Lutnia (mentioned, along with others, in this thread).
I'd be surprised if you could get Polish food as good in NYC.
Podhalanka
1549 W Division
Lutnia
5532 W. Belmont Ave
-
-
Post #9 - May 15th, 2007, 7:16 pmbooshie wrote:well it seems like someone has balls in this forum
It's not that, booshie... it's that this exact question is asked on a weekly basis at least, and some people find it frustrating to be constantly recapping information that's all there for the browsing. Don't misunderstand, you did nothing wrong... just trying to explain the silence.
On top of which, "quintessentially Chicago" and "vegetarian" are two sets that rarely intersect
-
-
Post #10 - May 15th, 2007, 7:27 pmI getcha - I was just kidding in response to Mike's post about stepping up...thought it was funny. I browsed a bunch of posts before posting but i wasn't finding what i was looking for...
i appreciate all the help, i hate eating bad food.
ps- we are spending tomorrow night in elgin...any suggestions?
-
-
-
Post #11 - May 15th, 2007, 7:29 pmbooshie wrote:We are from NYC so can eat any type of food, anytime...
Yes, I'd heard tell of the 24-hour eyeball taco places that line the streets of New York and thought it but the stuff of legend. Anyway, we can adjust our rhetoric dials to 11 and accept that what you mean is, you can eat a hell of a lot of different foods in NYC -- no argument there.
So anyway, trying (really! ) to be helpful, I'll recommend one of my favorites, Lula Cafe. Try the specials or save some money and enjoy the fantastic roasted chicken, an eye-popping bargain. Lula is also extremely vegetarian-friendly, and by that I mean about 25% of the menu is always vegetarian, and it's actually good, to the point that the last two times I ate at Lula, I went strictly vegetarian. (I ate a spoon of lard before going to bed those nights to maintain equilibrium; but that's my own burden.)
Have fun and don't be a piker: report back after your visit!
Last edited by JimInLoganSquare on May 15th, 2007, 7:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.JiLS
-
-
-
Post #12 - May 15th, 2007, 7:39 pmmmmm....eyeball tacos joints. .
-
-
Post #13 - May 15th, 2007, 7:41 pmbooshie wrote:we have tried the deep dish...wasn't toooo fond of it, but would be willing to try it again. what's your favorite place?
There are two main styles of Chicago deep-dish pizza. My personal favorite is the double-crust "stuffed" pizza, with Giordano's as my favorite place to get it, although I also like Edwardo's, Carmen's, and Bacino's, all of which are similar to Giordano's. The other kind (which I also like, just not quite as much as stuffed) is the single-crust "pan" pizza, with Lou Malnati's as my favorite place to get it, although I also like Gino's East and Uno's/Due (original location only), both of which are similar to Malnati's. I don't care for the burnt crust pizza at Burt's or Pequod's.
Each of the pizza places has its fans, though. They're all discussed in the previous topic in the link in the asterisk footnote in Mike's post above.
-
-
Post #14 - May 15th, 2007, 11:14 pmAs an out-of-towner, I may as well pipe up since I'm on the boards. First, you might as well see some of my previous adventures:
http://www.extramsg.com/modules.php?que ... ame=Search
http://www.extramsg.com/modules.php?nam ... cle&sid=18
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=128029#128029
Notes from One Night Through Town:* Al's Italian Beef: regular Italian beef very moist, falling apart thinly sliced beef; dipped in super flavorful meaty, garlicky juices; spicy peppery side with slight vinegar flavor and crunchy, spicy, tangy celery; sausage is dense and perhaps too chewy but meaty and spicy; dipped as well;
* Aroy Thai:
- sour sausage is sweet with tangy finish sausauge; porky with rice that keeps it moist;
- northern sausage is somewhat dry, but not too bad; lemongrass and red curry flavor; a lot of herb, somewhat grainy
- bamboo shoot salad has pickled bamboo shoots that have a fresher flavor, tangy and interesting, than what I'm used to, almost aromatic/fragrant; balanced very well in teh salad
- waterfall beef is very tender, caramelly, and moist; very spicey, but undertone of sweetness; nice toasted rice texture on outside
- green papaya salad came with salty crab and nice chopped papaya with lots of fishiness;
- soup has strong sweetness and lots of fragrance from anise and lemongrass and kaffir lime; good tangy finish; beef juicy and thick; straw mushrooms; intensely flavored
- larb has a really earthy flavor almost like a Mexican picadillo, perhaps cuminy or cinnamony with chile flavor; has lots of offal, such as tripe, kidneys, and liver and then toasted rice;
- stir-fried chinese broccoli are cooked perfectly, not overcooked; strong fishiness with some minced pork and spicy chiles; nice fishy aftertaste
- bamboo shoots with pork; same fragrant bamboo shoots as dish from before; very well balanced
- pat ped has pefectly cooked thai eggplant; green beans perhaps a little undercooked; decent but not one of my favorites; perhaps a little bland;
Here are the things I wouldn't miss:
* Al's Italian Beef: Get it dipped
* Mario's Italian Ice (definitely lemon)
* Deep Dish: I've liked Malnati's butter crust with sausage and Giordano's stuffed with spinach
* Hot dog with all the Chicago fixings: relish, pickle, celery salt, tomato, etc.
* Garret's Popcorn: Get the mix, but only when it's fresh.
* BBQ at Honey 1
* a jibarito
These are some of the things I've felt were uniquely Chicago and also very good. I agree with the rec for TAC Quick. I've had two excellent meals there. You can get some great food with dishes you won't find anywhere in the US except a few select places or in LA at some other Thai restaurants if you stick to Erik M's recs. Since you're from New York, I'd also recommend getting some regional Mexican while you're here.
If you're in the loop and looking for a tasty bite, my wife and I really liked Bombon for Mexican influenced sandwiches.
-
-
Post #15 - May 16th, 2007, 7:52 amAnswering the deep dish pizza question really depends what part of town you're in and whether you have a car. If you're downtown or in a burb where you're stuck with chains, I'd recommend (pretty happily) Lou Malnati's for the pan style with crushed tomatoes on top, though it's sure a lot better with sausage on it. Same conditions, for stuffed (again, spinach works well with this style) I'd say Giordano's or Edwardo's would be all right. Each of these has multiple locations. I wouldn't call them the best imaginable versions, but they're certainly respectable and unlike anything you can get in New York, you should be happy.
Location not an issue? For the Malnati's style, go to Burt's in Morton Grove, north/slightly northwest of the city. (BTW, Burt's is NOT really burnt-crust pizza, although Burt started Pequod's, which is.) The pizza is excellent, the location is a TRIP-- like visiting your hippie grandpa's house for pizza. For the stuffed style, Art of Pizza in Lakeview is the champ, fresher, more flavorful ingredients than the chains in my book. Never eaten there, though, and I don't think it's much for atmosphere.Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
Watch the Reader's James Beard Award-winning Key Ingredient here.
-
-
Post #16 - May 16th, 2007, 7:59 amDeep-dish pizza is such an incendiary topic that I rarely like to weigh in on, but since the ball is rolling, and I'm a fan of the food:
I would echo Mike G's recommendations except that I would suggest avoiding both Giordano's and Gino's East. I find both of these products to represent everything that Chicago-style detractors hate about these types of pies. I really think they're terrible and I'm embarrassed when tourists come to Chicago and make one of them their only taste of "Chicago style pizza". Insipid sauce, tasteless bread, food-service grade cheese--the whole things add up to a big honking bland mess.
Lou Mal's, Burt's, Edwardo's, Art of Pizza, Pizano's will all give you a flavor of the local style that will actually taste good.
Best,
Michael
-
-
Post #17 - May 16th, 2007, 8:06 ambooshie wrote:ps- we are spending tomorrow night in elgin...any suggestions?
Why?
Seriously, Elgin is not a very chowish town and the only thing coming to my mind are 2 places for breakfast, Paul's and Alexander's. South of Elgin off of Rte. 25 is Al Capone's Hideaway. It's a pretty average steakhouse but the setting in an old lodge next to the Fox River is pretty cool.
http://www.al-capone.com/steakhouse/index.html
-
-
Post #18 - May 16th, 2007, 8:09 ameatchicago wrote:Deep-dish pizza is such an incendiary topic that I rarely like to weigh in on, but since the ball is rolling, and I'm a fan of the food...
I am not usually a big deep-dish guy, but in the last couple months, I've had an opportunity to have a couple experiences.
We had a truly disappointing experience with a group of work mates at a "welcome" lunch at Gino's East on Wells. Well, I knew it was rarely a good thing, but I am convinced now that I won't go back. Indifferent service in an empty restaurant has been our recurring lunch time experience... not to mention totally uninspired pizza.
On the other hand, a friend came through town recently and wanted to introduce her travel companion to Chicago pizza. We went to Pizzeria Due and I believe that they still really do a great job with this kind of pizza. Despite the problems with the broader Uno chain, I think that the original places (Due, at least) are still going strong.
Pizzeria Due
619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL
(312) 943-2400Joe G.
"Whatever may be wrong with the world, at least it has some good things to eat." -- Cowboy Jack Clement
-
-
Post #19 - May 16th, 2007, 8:43 amTo echo and amplify, I'd look up Pilsen (Mexican), Devon (Indian/Pakistani), and various Thai. Those are 3 cuisines recognized as better and more varied here by people with broad experience in both cities. Particularly Mexican, which has amazing breadth and depth here across regions, specialty shops (birria, mariscos, tamales, carnitas, pozole, tortas, etc. etc.) and price. Plus, Pilsen and Devon are great neighborhoods, easy enough to get to. Polish and German places, too, if you're interested. And for Chicago-only, I like beefs and jibaritos over deep-dish.
Oh, and BBQ'd tips & links, for sure.
-
-
Post #20 - May 16th, 2007, 9:25 amHot Doug's
-
-
Post #21 - May 16th, 2007, 9:42 amthanks so much for the recs...will surely let you guys know where we ended up. we are actually staying in tinley park tonight, not elgin. trust me, we are not staying there by choice. we will be spending the next 2 days in the city eating up a storm. any suggestions for a nice meal in tinely after a 5 hour drive?
best and thanks,
booshie
-
-
Post #22 - May 16th, 2007, 9:51 amHere's a thread on that area ... Tinfish sounds good
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p= ... 9f1833c3ac
-
-
-
Post #23 - May 16th, 2007, 10:34 amTin fish ia very good but not Chicagoesqe. Try Gatto's also in Tinly. chalkboard menu italian food. Lemon chicken on the bone, eggplant parm are outstanding.
Gatto's
8005 183d street
Tinley Park, Il
708.444.7400
-
-
-
Post #24 - May 16th, 2007, 10:38 amnr706 wrote:Tinfish sounds good
I agree. Tin Fish is very good, with fresh, well-prepared seafood in a casual/elegant environment (and as "Chicagoesque" as any other halfway decent restaurant other than a deep-dish pizza place). If you're in Tinley Park - either visiting, or going to a show at the World Music Theater / New World Music Theater / Tweeter Center Chicago / First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre / Always Seeking Sponsors Theater (which is why I was in the area when I ate there last fall), it's perfect.
Tin Fish
18201 S. Harlem Ave.
Tinley Park
708-532-0200Last edited by nsxtasy on May 16th, 2007, 12:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
-
Post #25 - May 16th, 2007, 11:42 amDevon's easy enough to get to, but a damn big hike from the loop if that's where they're hanging. I hadn't realized how far it was and gave myself about 45 minutes or so to get there and took an hour and a half. The red line is sucky slow, it requires a bus or cab from the redline stop to the Desi section, and that'd be a damn far cab ride from the loop.
I always think that Chicago foodies are harder on their unique pizza form than those of us from outside.
Pilsen is worth going to just for the Mexican Museum and it's not that bad to get to by el. However, I preferred Little Village. I'm also not sure a birreria would be the best choice for a family with a vegetarian. But Mexican is always a tough cuisine for veggies. Even the beans will have lard.
-
-
Post #26 - May 16th, 2007, 11:58 amextramsg wrote:I always think that Chicago foodies are harder on their unique pizza form than those of us from outside.
It's nice to hear that observation. I wholeheartedly agree and I don't think I've ever heard a non-Chicagoan express that opinion.
Best,
Michael
-
-
Post #27 - May 16th, 2007, 12:14 pmWell, just so you know, Scott of DallaFood.org loves Chicago deep dish. I think it's his favorite form of pizza. (Of the ones he's tried, I think his favorite is Giordano's. I remember him not being impressed by Lou Malnati's.)
-
-
Post #28 - May 16th, 2007, 12:19 pmextramsg wrote:(Of the ones he's tried, I think his favorite is Giordano's. I remember him not being impressed by Lou Malnati's.)
That makes my head spin.
Different strokes....
-
-
Post #29 - May 16th, 2007, 8:57 pmOn the Chicago style pizza subject-my first introduction to it was at Gino's, and having previously only had access to Pizza Hut and Papa John's styles, I was amazed. I thought it was the best pizza I'd ever eaten. At that point it was, but now, after I've tried many different pies from many different places, it's near the bottom of my list.
Edit to add that Gino's is at the bottom of my list, not Chicago style deep dish as a whole.Last edited by bnowell724 on May 16th, 2007, 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.Logan: Come on, everybody, wang chung tonight! What? Everybody, wang chung tonight! Wang chung, or I'll kick your ass!
-
-
Post #30 - May 16th, 2007, 8:58 pmDins: I had the pasta primivara - it was definitely more than edible, but very, very salty. I liked that they used shells as the pasta, and the broccoli was nice and garlicy.
BF had spagetti and meatballs (after asking if they had fresh clams and the answer was no, he opted for a "safety dish." Didn't like the consistency of the meatball, noted the sauce tasted homemade - gave it a 6.8 out of 10.
Beverage: Had the Ruffino Chianti which was very nice, BF had Blue Moon draft which he loved.
Cost: $45 pre tip.
Wouldn't go again
