Devon ave. BYOB

What are the Devon Ave. restaurants that are BYOB and more "upscale" than a cabbie place?

Hi,

Chopal is definitely not BYOB nor is any liquor sold on the premises.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Chopal is definitely not BYOB nor is any liquor sold on the premises.

Regards,

Wasnt sure one way or the other about Chopal - but Sabri is not either.
Nor is Usmaniya, or any of the cabbie joints.

I believe Jewel of India, on the corner of Devon/Western is - or at least it
used to be a few months ago.

In general, its very possible a fair few Indian joints might be BYOB-friendly.
Almost all the Pakistani/Muslim joints are not. Chopal/Sabri/Usmaniya, and
almost all the cabbie joints, are either Pakistani or Muslim-owned.

c8w

Hi,

The only time I went to Chopal was last winter with Erik M. Since I arrived first, he had me inquire if alcohol was allowed. They very definitely were not allowing alcohol under any circumstance.

Usmaniya Enterprises is bringing a Brown's Chicken just a few door steps from Khan BBQ.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,
Usmaniya Enterprises is bringing a Brown's Chicken just a few door steps from Khan BBQ.

Regards,

Ah, didnt know that. They already have a Brown's Chicken in Skokie - they
took it over a couple of months ago (its at Crawford and Oakton I think,
most items there except for the Italian Beef are "halal"). The one they
have has been doing brilliantly well I think - every time I drive by they
have cars in the parking lot and people at the counter, since its probably
the only spot in the area where the Muslim population can get fast-food
halal style. A second such spot in Devon would make pretty good
business sense I suppose.

c8w

I don't fully understand why there are not more responses to Ashley's initial query. So I'll throw my two cents in. In my limited experience of the Devon restaurants, I do know that both Bhabi's Kitchen and Hema's Kitchen both are BYOB. I have had enjoyable meals at both, although I have not been back to Bhabi's since they expanded.

Hema's Kitchen
6406 N. Oakley

Bhabi's Kitchen
6352 N. Oakley

-The GP

Btw, I was walking by Chopal on my way to Khan's and noticed that they are currently offering haleem during Ramadan, but only for take-out, which I thought rather odd. And actually, I was going to eat there since Khan's was absolutely packed to the gills and noticed a guy eating some haleem in-house. Couldn't tell how it looked, but it smelled about right. I think they had all the fixins too (essential), but not 100% sure.

Welcome to LTHforum!

For the uninitiated, do you mind offering a description of haleem?

Thanks!

Cathy2 wrote:Welcome to LTHforum!

For the uninitiated, do you mind offering a description of haleem?

Thanks!

A description of haleem? Well, ok..

--------------
THE MERE mention of haleem sends signals to the sensory organs. While the
mind effortlessly conjures up images of huge cauldrons placed on low simmer on
crude brick kilns, the aroma that emanates tantalises the nose. Close your eyes
and you can sight people queuing beside the sizzling furnace and either relishing
the thick brown paste or holding out their bowls for an extra ladle.

"It's time I live the virtual reality for myself," you say, as you hungrily savour each
spoonful, eager for the next helping of the peppery meaty fare. And as you
demand more of it, serious men stirring the cauldron, look approvingly at you.

-------------

More at:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2 ... 950300.htm

Haleem has been mentioned a few times on here, and the other group - I
know Ive discussed it at times myself. It is available in many places all
thru the year - but it is most popular during Ramzan, the month of the
fast, when it is basically made every day. The rest of the year, it is
often made on Fridays only by some places (though others, as I said
above - Sabri and Usmaniya among them IIRC - make it every day of the
year).

Its a big Hyderabadi thing especially...

---------------
Hyderabad is famous for Mughal food preparations, particularly 'Biryani', a mix of
rice and mutton or chicken. But it is Haleem which is the most sought after dish
during Ramadan. Haleem literally means patience because it takes long hours to
prepare the dish.

Made out with a rich and nutritious combination of wheat, mutton, gram
pulse, curd, onions and sprinkling of spices, it is especially suited to the fasting
month. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During day,
Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and listening to music. At night,
the pleasures of the senses may resume.
-------------

For a reciple, just google - there are tons of recipes out there, all with
little variations. Iam not sure which would be the best.

As for the post above - am glad to know Chopal is making it for Ramadan,
will definitely drop by and pick some up in the next few days. Otherwise,
one of the better haleems around (at least on Fridays) has usually
been the one at Daata Durbar IMHO, the cabbie joint bang across the
street from Chopal. They make it only on Fridays during the year (I believe
its every day during Ramadan - at least it was last year), and it is very
good and very popular. Many Fridays, when I got there about about 9pm
(this is a cabbie joint that is busiest after midnight), it was already gone.
It had, however, been made for the Friday post-prayer lunch at those
times - it will now probably be made for the 6:20pm-ish opening of
the fast at most restaurants.

c8w

thanks for the warm welcome -- i'll be visiting chicago often, and this board has been very useful thus far so i thought it was about time i joined the fun.

c8w has provided some great info.

in a nutshell, haleem usually consists of meat (mutton, lamb, chuck, whatever) and some kind of grain (lentils, wheat, bulgur, etc) that is cooked for a looooong time and blended/processed to make smooth. it should take a few seconds to fall off your spoon if u hold the handle straight up. give or take.

the fixins - fresh minced ginger, cilantro, garam masala, lime (juice). top with tarka (caramelized onions).

goes great with some naan to dip in, or just straight up.

the best one around ? my mom's.

Hi,

Thanks for the information on haleem. If there are other foods associated with Ramadan, I hope you keep us informed.

I am also interested in the foods and any public celebrations of Diwali (Festival of Lights) which this year is November 1st.

Regards,

Had to resist the temptation to go back to Khan BBQ, especially since I saw the sign for haleem on the Daata Durbar's window. I've been making trips to Chicago just about every week for the past 3-4 weeks, and not sure if it will continue, so probably best I try something different anyways.

It was just barely warm when they first brought it out, and garnished with tarka and coriander. I asked the dude to warm it up and bring the fixins, as well as an order of naan. I guess they don't bring fixins by default (like most other places I've had it), so if you're there be sure to ask for it. Once warm, it was quite good. Actually, it was very good. Only quibble for me might be that I prefer having noticeable strands of meat in there, which were not as prevalent as I would like. Minor quibble. I wanted some lassi, which they don't have, so instead I had some chai which I'm glad I did. This was proper chai, in the desi style, which isn't I guess all that extraordinary, yet for some reason very difficult to find (kind of like bread in a way, such a simple thing, yet so many people screw it up).

Thought I'd complete the experience, so I grabbed a paan from their little paan/tobacco counter. I'm not even a big fan of paan, but did it mostly out of nostalgia than anything else.

PS. Cathy2 - sorry I didn't really respond to your questions - I don't really know for sure what other foods are traditionally associated with Ramadan, but my guess is that it varies with country and probably even households within countries. I'm used to the iftar (breaking of the fast) consisting of tea, juices, dates, samosas, pakoras, chaat, etc - but I think that's a household thing. The meal can be something hearty like haleem, nehari, etc but not everyday in my experience at least. Just the typical stuff we'd have any other day of the year.

The GP wrote: I do know that both Bhabi's Kitchen and Hema's Kitchen both are BYOB.

Hema's Kitchen
6406 N. Oakley
-The GP

Ahhh, Hema's... Can't go wrong. My favorite dish is the Aloo Gosht with a side of Raita, Rice, Parata's and few nice cold Hacker- Pschorrs. Kinda sad though, the yuppies have landed there and It's getting harder and harder to nab a table...

Ahhh, Hema's...

Had to resist the temptation to go back to Khan BBQ, especially since I saw the sign for haleem on the Daata Durbar's window. I've been making trips to Chicago just about every week for the past 3-4 weeks, and not sure if it will continue, so probably best I try something different anyways.

So youve hit Khan and DD so far? Not bad. Have you tried Usmaniya or
Chopal yet? Or, if youre a fan of mithai, Ambala?

It was just barely warm when they first brought it out, and garnished with tarka and coriander. I asked the dude to warm it up and bring the fixins, as well as an order of naan. I guess they don't bring fixins by default (like most other places I've had it), so if you're there be sure to ask for it. Once warm, it was quite good. Actually, it was very good. Only quibble for me might be that I prefer having noticeable strands of meat in there, which were not as prevalent as I would like.

Hm. Sort of depends when you go - with DD it is always thus. It is basically
a predominantly-Hyderabadi cabbie-joint, so their best business is usually
midnight or later. Nowadays, of course, iftar is a big time too (and their
Friday-afternoon buffet, when its not Ramzan, is reputed to be among the
best around - or so Hyderabadis tell me, its basically Hyderabadi food only
then, mirchi ka salan etc).

Thus, if you dont go at their "busy" time, things may well not be warm - but you
have to do as you did, get them to warm it up If youre a regular, you'll
probably get the fixins without having to ask, too. Their haleem is good
IMHO, though as you say smoother than its best (but often here "khichda"
is the really thick one with strands of meat; have hardly ever seen khichda
on restaurant menus however).

Minor quibble. I wanted some lassi, which they don't have, so instead I had some chai which I'm glad I did. This was proper chai, in the desi style, which isn't I guess all that extraordinary, yet for some reason very difficult to find (kind of like bread in a way, such a simple thing, yet so many people screw it up).

Yes, their tea is tea - its Hyderabadi cabbies, it pretty much has to be, if it wasnt
none of em would drink it Their food IMHO used to be better than it is
nowadays, it can be a bit variable sometimes, but can still be pretty good
sometimes. I like their dabal-ka-meetha personally - very sweet, though.

BTW, if youre talking Indian-style bread... Ive been told "Hot Breads", the
Madras-based-bakery-chain out in Schaumburg, does a pretty decent
version of Indian-style pav (one friend said the best he'd had in Chicago,
which is of course not saying much).

PS. Cathy2 - sorry I didn't really respond to your questions - I don't really know for sure what other foods are traditionally associated with Ramadan, but my guess is that it varies with country and probably even households within countries. I'm used to the iftar (breaking of the fast) consisting of tea, juices, dates, samosas, pakoras, chaat, etc - but I think that's a household thing.

Yes, thats pretty much what it is at home usually - add bhajias to the list,
though (both potato bhajiyas and moong-dal ones, and.. those leafy-looking
ones). Dates to start, always. Not sure many places do that sort of
thing in restaurants around here, though (the religious places often do
haleem, nehari, biryani etc for the breaking of the fast anyway).

c8w

So youve hit Khan and DD so far? Not bad. Have you tried Usmaniya or
Chopal yet? Or, if youre a fan of mithai, Ambala?

Yeah - it's a little difficult hitting all these places solo, and I typically only want to go to Devon once per trip. That said, chicken boti at Khan and haleem at DD made very good solo-dining trips. Before having read up on Chopal, I got a bad vibe from the moment I walked in there. Seemed like too big a production for the food to be any good, and the waitress up front had absolutely no clue about the dishes. Granted, I didn't actually eat there -- just walked in to inquire about the haleem and other things, then went to Khan.

BTW, if youre talking Indian-style bread... Ive been told "Hot Breads", the Madras-based-bakery-chain out in Schaumburg, does a pretty decent version of Indian-style pav (one friend said the best he'd had in Chicago, which is of course not saying much).

Thanks for the Hot Breads tip (got any for sweetbreads?). I was actually just referring to bread in general. Crappy bread is ubiquitous. Such a sad thing.

tatterdemalion wrote: Before having read up on Chopal, I got a bad vibe from the moment I walked in there. Seemed like too big a production for the food to be any good, and the waitress up front had absolutely no clue about the dishes. Granted, I didn't actually eat there -- just walked in to inquire about the haleem and other things, then went to Khan.

I know what you mean about the decor of the place, my theory is that the owner has some tie to an import/export business. Though I think the stuff looks pretty cool, its really uncomfortable as well. That being said they make a few dishes very well - chili chicken, goat champs, and sarson ka saag

I found this article on foods served during Ramadan with notes by May Bsisu whose recently published book, The Arab Table.

These seem to be foods from Lebanon/Kuwait, where the author grew up.

It would be interesting to see what the other Muslim countries are chowing on to break the fast.

here's some nice descriptions of iftar/ramzaan in various parts of india