Ms. Lee's Good Food [closed]

In another thread

c8w wrote:(still have not made it to Mrs Lee's for their pudding which was rec'd - havent
seen the place yet, despite driving down Garfield all the time. Havent
looked really hard yet but have kept an eye out - is it definitely on Garfield,
does anyone know? Not just off Garfield or anything?)

Miss Lee's Good Food has been right there on Garfield, 203 East, for six years come September. It's a single story brick building near the southeast corner of Indiana (on the corner is a vacant lot and there's a large church on the southwest corner). It has a red and white awning (left over from when it was Millie's I think) but the only identification is the red, green and purple neon sign in the barred front window. A block or two west but on the north side of Garfield is Lee's Beauty Parlor, so don't be fooled by that. When passing under the L be sure to admire the old train station beneath the tracks. This now unused white brick building with its semicircular canopy is the oldest CTA station in the city and was named a Chicago Landmark.

I'm not sure I ever tried Miss Lee's pudding though I imagine she'd do a good job with it. I liked her pecan pie and peach cobbler and found her sweet potato cobbler very interesting. Again, let me recommend her herbal chicken, the best dish I have had there.

Miss Lee's Good Food
203 E Garfield Blvd (= 55th St)
Chicago
773-752-5253
Tue-Sun 11am-10pm

Miss Lee's herbal chicken was, indeed, an excellent dish and worth a trip. I need to keep remembering, and acting upon, how surprisingly easy it is to get to the south side from N'vill. Heck, I could do I57 tips, Miss Lee's chicken, Old Fashioned all in a couple of hours and be back home (okay maybe 2 1/2 hours, Miss Lee's is a stretch, and throws me into Lem's and Barbara Ann territory).

Need to make a run.

Ms Lee's herbal chicken is indeed a treat, though I don't seem to have a picture of her herbal chicken on hand.



Her desserts, especially the peach cobbler,


are quite delicious.


Enjoy,
Gary

(still have not made it to Mrs Lee's for their pudding which was rec'd - havent
seen the place yet, despite driving down Garfield all the time. Havent
looked really hard yet but have kept an eye out - is it definitely on Garfield,
does anyone know? Not just off Garfield or anything?)

Miss Lee’s Good Food has been right there on Garfield, 203 East, for six years come September. It’s a single story brick building near the southeast corner of Indiana (on the corner is a vacant lot and there’s a large church on the southwest corner). It has a red and white awning (left over from when it was Millie’s I think) but the only identification is the red, green and purple neon sign in the barred front window. A block or two west but on the north side of Garfield is Lee’s Beauty Parlor, so don’t be fooled by that. When

Bah, now I see. Thanks I think I just got it wrong in my head, and have been
keeping my eyes peeled on my drive home - that is, only on the *North* side
of the street! In fact just this week I thought I had seen it, and slowed and
almost stopped - but it was barred and only said "Lee" on it (this was at
about 6:30 on Sunday I think). This must clearly have been the beauty
parlor you refer to - I thought it may have been Mrs Lee's, but then thought
better because it was clearly closed and barred at only 6:30, and didnt
say a word about food on the door (and didnt look much like a food place
in the brief look I got Thanks for your details - with those, and with the
pic supplied by GWiv, surely even I wont be blind enough to miss it
(especially since this time I'll look on the correct side of the street In my
defense, however, the street is really quite separated on the two sides,
with a big ol divider down the center et al. And Ive only driven down it,
with traffic (and little chance to look around at leisure and admire), never
walked. Not much of an excuse I know, but still

passing under the L be sure to admire the old train station beneath the tracks. This now unused white brick building with its semicircular canopy is the oldest CTA station in the city and was named a Chicago Landmark.

Hmm. Driven below the L dozens and dozens of times, and never once
knew that - will look harder the next time Amazing how much you miss
while driving down.

I’m not sure I ever tried Miss Lee’s pudding though I imagine she’d do a good job with it. I liked her pecan pie and peach cobbler and found her sweet potato cobbler very interesting. Again, let me recommend her herbal chicken, the best dish I have had there.

Excellent, thanks. A good pecan pie is always welcome, will go with that ahead
of the pudding. Wish I had looked this up on a map or something before today,
instead of just relying on my poor memory and eyesight - was there this
Sunday and hungry. Ended up driving to Lem's for a small end (they were out
of centre-cut, they said) - and Lem's is fine, the sauce was good, but I really
still think Barbara Ann's is better and Id rather do BA's any day. Just a personal
preference I suppose (mostly because I think BA's hot links are amazing) - but
they arent open on Sundays, so Lem's was it. I did sort of remember your
post about Ribs Unlimited, but couldnt quite remember where it was at the
time, so decided to leave it until I had remembered to note down directions.
Anyway. As I said, did Lem's on Sunday, and went without dessert - and with
Mrs Lee's obviously open and on my way home, at that! Will make sure
*that* doesnt happen again

Miss Lee's Good Food
203 E Garfield Blvd (= 55th St)
Chicago
773-752-5253
Tue-Sun 11am-10pm

This "Sunday till 10" is the best thing about Mrs Lee's I think. Will probably
stop by for dinner sometime too - Sunday's are very slim pickings in that
area IMHO. My 2 faves are BA and Top Notch, and both are closed on
Sundays obviously (as is Abundance, and Old Fashioned). The H&A rec
has already proved helpful at least once, and will again a few times I
know. As will Mrs Lee's - for dessert anytime, and probably for dinner
on some Sundays.

BTW, not sure this has been discussed much on this board - what *is*
the best Pecan Pie in the Chicagoland area? Would Mrs Lee's be up there
somewhere? Any really good versions that stand out, anywhere in the
city?


c8w

c8w wrote:BTW, not sure this has been discussed much on this board - what *is*
the best Pecan Pie in the Chicagoland area? Would Mrs Lee's be up there
somewhere? Any really good versions that stand out, anywhere in the
city?

C8W,

Sounds like a question for Steve Z. Steve's Never Ending Quest for the best pecan pie has spanned 12 continents and three, of the 5 closest planets.

Enjoy,
Gary

Hi,

There is a thread in shopping and cooking on Pecan Pies.

Steve and I tried recently, which was provided by Yourpalwill (thanks!!):

AM's Lil Sweet Me Me's Bakery
11836 S. Western Ave.
Chicago

Way south like all the best things are!

For a bakery pie, the crust was ok but the filling and candied quality of the nuts was very good.

I'm sure SteveZ will ring in soon with other potential sources.

G Wiv wrote:

c8w wrote:BTW, not sure this has been discussed much on this board - what *is*
the best Pecan Pie in the Chicagoland area? Would Mrs Lee's be up there
somewhere? Any really good versions that stand out, anywhere in the
city?

C8W,

Sounds like a question for Steve Z. Steve's Never Ending Quest for the best pecan pie has spanned 12 continents and three, of the 5 closest planets.

Enjoy,
Gary

I found Miss Lee's pecan pie to be in the top tier of pecan pies in the city along with Sweet Lil Me's as mentioned by Cathy2. Both were great. Of course, you know that Chicago is not known as a pecan pie mecca, but these two are both very good. I also like Wishbone's version (skip the chocolate pecan pie and go with the pecan only pie). It's a little different than most in that it is made with broken pecan's only, but is very good and comes with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top.

In the pecan pie thread, Bob S mentioned that AM's Lil Sweet Me Me's baked goods can be found at some farmers' markets. I've seen them at the Tuesday market in Federal Plaza -- go over to the cheese guy and look for a handwritten cardboard sign saying "Mrs. Mohammed's cakes." [AM is apparently Annie Mohammed.] I've only tried the caramel cake there, but mini pecan pies are also available.

Amata

stevez wrote:I also like Wishbone's version (skip the chocolate pecan pie and go with the pecan only pie). It's a little different than most in that it is made with broken pecan's only, but is very good and comes with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top.

Spot on! For whatever reason, Wishbone makes about the best whipped cream possible. It enhances all their dessert offerings, as SteveZ notes, making each item above what it would be on its own.

Steve,

What is your top pecan pie choice regardless of where?

I'm embarrassed to call and ask, but what do you think the odds are of Miss Lee making a turkey for me for Thanksgiving in the style of her Herbal Chicken if I was to bring her the turkey and pick it up, cooked, on Friday?

Pie Lady wrote:I'm embarrassed to call and ask, but what do you think the odds are of Miss Lee making a turkey for me for Thanksgiving in the style of her Herbal Chicken if I was to bring her the turkey and pick it up, cooked, on Friday?

What is the worst thing she may say? No! BTW - she may want to supply a turkey.

What the heck, ask the lady!

Regards,

I'll post what she says.

I called today and I was told that for a 18-20lb turkey with 2 sides, dressing, muffins, biscuits (couldn't tell whether this was either or both) plus a whole sweet potato pie the cost is $175. Then she quoted $192 which I think is the cost plus tax. The turkey on its own is $115-125.

A little too high for me but not a bad deal for being all finished with that delightful herb crust.

Hi,

Miss Lee was on the radio this morning worrying out loud if the Presidential Library might cause her rents to rise and affect her business.

Regards,

If Ms. Lee's closes up then all hope is lost.

Closed since September. Owner retiring.


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