Hooters O'Hare

Hit it last night. The girls are now in black, which was an okay choice - the orange was sort of nauseating. The orangish nylons are still in effect though.

Hooters is, as P. Daane told me on Thursday's drive out to Glenview, a family restaurant. Lots of kids eating those terrible wings and ogling the various baby tee's and trucker hats for sale, prominently, in a display case near the entrance. Lots of old folks also, and I mean really old. A really diverse crowd also - and perhaps it was the Prince concert that I was also on the way to - but it was unlike any non-fast food restaurant I've been to in its wide appeal. I was expecting all construction workers.

Anyway, the food sucked, as expected. We actually ordered the wings without breading, which was a slight improvement, although they were still without any discernable "hot" flavor, just a strong butter-esque aroma. I then had an italian beef, and it was not quite as good as Johnnie's or al's, or even the dreaded mr. beef. More like an au jus with giard. - with leathery thick slices of beef on a single, non-chewy/non-crusty roll (as opposed to cut from a loaf). Came with pasta salad. My companions' luck wasn't much better, except for a passable grilled cheese. The curly fries were un(der)-seasoned, and the "jalepeno" cheese for dipping tasted like regular wiz to me.

Incidentally, beers cost like $3.35 or $3.90 each, adding to the airport-y vibe.

I'll be back.

afo

In a past "life" I cohabitated with one of the buxom and short-shorted servers of a Hooter's, lending me the knowledge I'm about to share.

The black shorts are for Fridays - they still wear the orange shorts the rest of the week. In addition, there's only two actual flavors of wing sauce - TMI (Three Mile Island) and 911. The lesser grades are merely forms of TMI diluted with more and more butter. "Mild" is pretty much all butter.

I actually have an odd preference for their wings (with Three Mile Island sauce) over most others. I'd guess that's more due to the fact that those were the first wings I ever ate with any consistancy - so they became the benchmark that I rated everything else by. It might also be the fact that they could be had for free and delivered - if I wanted to wait for her to get home from work. We also learned early on to request TMI or 911 sauce on the side to mix with the cheese for the fries, if we wanted cheese fries.

And well, when you know all the girls in the restaurant and the beer is free while you're there, it's an acceptable alternative to other dining options. (That said, I haven't actually stepped foot into a Hooter's for nearly 2 years at this point.)

Ahmad Shareef wrote:A really diverse crowd also -

LTH,

Was a little early picking someone up from the airport and opted for Hooter's on Higgins instead of cell phone lot. As Ahmad mentions, a very diverse crowd, surprising number of kids under 10 with a wide range of groups of all ages and nationalities. 8:30 pm Hooter's was the United Nations with chicken wings, and packed to the brim.

Wings were ok, breading crisp, decent size wings, though the chicken flesh itself had no flavor. Not something I'm going to be going back for anytime soon. They seemed to be serving a hell of a lot of crab legs, both king and snow. If I remember correctly, 1-lb of king crab legs was $15.99, which seems reasonable.

Yes, there were numerous young women in tight shorts and t-shirts, but there's an odd asexuality about the place. Reminded me of a pirate themed restaurant I went to once in Florida, the servers were mildly self conscious of their 'funny' outfits, but no one really paid attention to it after the first 30-seconds.

Enjoy,
Gary

Hooters on Higgins
8225 W Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60631
773-714-0193

I always expected to really hate Hooters. I dislike loud places and half-dressed servers and bar scenes in general.

The food can be really hit or miss. Sometimes, the wings are among the best I have had and other times, they are pretty average. At least compared with Buffalo Wild Wings, they are huge and served with plenty of sauce. And they don't "nickle and dime you to death" for condiments like most wing places.

What I really like about Hooters - something that is unusual these days - is that they TRAIN their servers. The expectations of being a Hooters girl is trained and generally followed quite closely. They are expected to mingle with the customers and make specific interactions with the customers. They do it without being obvious like so many of the kids waiting tables today. And they appear to be having FUN doing so.

So what exactly is the point of posting a bad review of a chain restaurant one admits they expected to "suck" going in? Maybe you should have tried something other than the mild wings becuase Hooter's TMI and 911 wings pack a decent amount of heat. Please update us next week on your visit to TGI Fridays and Wendy's, I can't wait to hear the review.

But hey, for under four bucks a pint, sounds like a steal at the airport.

KSeecs wrote:So what exactly is the point of posting a bad review of a chain restaurant one admits they expected to "suck" going in?
=-=-
Please update us next week on your visit to TGI Fridays and Wendy's, I can't wait to hear the review.

Wow, a lot of hostility for Ahmad's Hooter's post, did you happen to notice it is about 5 years old?

Far as why did he post, LTHForum is a culinary discussion site, we discuss, no more reason is needed.

Also, Hooter's on Higgins is not at the airport, simply near.

Regards,
Gary

I'm not a fan of Hooters unless I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere and the selections are Hooters or Hardees. However they always sponsor a buddy of mines 4th of July farm party and leave the coordinators of the party with tons of gift baskets for the crowd which include many $25 and $50 gift certificates good for both food and liquor. So I usually find myself at the O'Hare location (I wont go looking for parking downtown even though its way closer) during the months of July and August. The wings suck but the beer is fresh and cold and the buffalo shrimp are actually really good, to me anyways. If I lived near one I would get it every now and then and watch a game and interact with the employees.

If you want the best wings from a franchise ala Hooters, BW-3 and those likes then try a Quaker Steak & lube if you ever see one. They had one in Madison and I loved it but its been a few years.

G Wiv wrote:

KSeecs wrote:So what exactly is the point of posting a bad review of a chain restaurant one admits they expected to "suck" going in?
=-=-
Please update us next week on your visit to TGI Fridays and Wendy's, I can't wait to hear the review.

Wow, a lot of hostility for Ahmad's Hooter's post, did you happen to notice it is about 5 years old?

Far as why did he post, LTHForum is a culinary discussion site, we discuss, no more reason is needed.

Also, Hooter's on Higgins is not at the airport, simply near.

Regards,
Gary

You beat me to it, Gary, but let me add that I consider Ahmad's Hooters O'Hare post one of the finest pieces of prose ever published on LTHForum. I actually felt a spark of glee when I saw the thread get bumped. And KSeecs, I think the LTH statute of repose should apply to Mr. Ahmad's 4.5 year old post, don't you? Where were you on July 24, 2004, what did you say that day, and even if it was as eloquent, witty and self-deprecating as Ahmad's post, are you prepared to have some yawper come harass you about it today?

Quaker Steak has an outpost in Indiana near Michigan City, by the Bass Pro Shop. Used to go to the original in PA way back when and never understood the cult following. Still don't, though the place is pleasant enough and food good enough for a chain sports bar place.

Hooters in its glory days as a regional chain had damn good Gulf oysters and grouper sandwiches on the cheap. Those days are gone. (I know this only b/c I went to HS with the original "Hooters Girl" Lynne Austin at a gloriously poor public HS in Tampa about a mile form Hooters #2). Interestingly, the Hooters in Chicago are among the oldest outside FL because the founders were Chicago transplants. As with Starbucks (oldest one outside the PacNW is on the corner of Wacker and Randolph, I believe) and probably lots of other chains, Chicagoland was an early proving ground for national expansion.

JeffB wrote:Quaker Steak has an outpost in Indiana near Michigan City, by the Bass Pro Shop. Used to go to the original in PA way back when and never understood the cult following. Still don't, though the place is pleasant enough and food good enough for a chain sports bar place.

Hooters in its glory days as a regional chain had damn good Gulf oysters and grouper sandwiches on the cheap. Those days are gone. (I know this only b/c I went to HS with the original "Hooters Girl" Lynne Austin at a gloriously poor public HS in Tampa about a mile form Hooters #2). Interestingly, the Hooters in Chicago are among the oldest outside FL because the founders were Chicago transplants. As with Starbucks (oldest one outside the PacNW is on the corner of Wacker and Randolph, I believe) and probably lots of other chains, Chicagoland was an early proving ground for national expansion.

I'm from the where Quaker Steak originated, as well. I feel like their wings used to be a lot better, but they've gone downhill (and seriously down in size) in the past few years. Still, their Louisiana Lickers sauce is incredibly good. My husband and I used to buy bottles of it and make our own wings.

GWiv, I did not notice the age of the post, I guess somedays we just have our crabby pants on, as I apparently did yesterday. I just found the post to be terribly condescending. I'm not huge Hooters supporter but having read a great number of insightful posts that approach restaurants fairly, even when critically, on thsi forum I was a bit taken aback by the tone and content of the original post.

Regardless I responded in an overly touchy, and in light of the age of the post, silly manner, my apologies for that!

(Parenthetically, although I enjoyed the original post, I, too, failed to notice that it was not from yesterday. This happens to me often here. Since I had never seen a Hooters O'Hare thread, I assumed it was new. Not even the references to Prince and $3.90 beer tipped me off. What do I know? For all I know, Prince still has a career!)

i prefer the outback to the hooters when in that area (basically my backyard). outback's blooming onion and clam chowder are guilty pleasures of mine

riddlemay wrote: For all I know, Prince still has a career!

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/03/03/prince-teams-with-target-to-release-three-new-albums-as-1199-bundle/

Though i'm not a big Hooter's fan, I must say that I have lately been addicted to thier fantastic fried chicken sammich.

It's really the buffalo chicken sandwich without the wing sauce. I have them put mayo, sliced pickles and raw onions on it, with a side of ranch. The chicken is thick-cut and always juicy, and the breast is bigger than the bun.

It makes those awfuls orange shorts and nude-colored nylons bearable. Shorts and nylons. . what the helll were they thinking?

Ghazi wrote:Though i'm not a big Hooter's fan, I must say that I have lately been addicted to thier fantastic fried chicken sammich.

It's really the buffalo chicken sandwich without the wing sauce. I have them put mayo, sliced pickles and raw onions on it, with a side of ranch. The chicken is thick-cut and always juicy, and the breast is bigger than the bun.

It makes those awfuls orange shorts and nude-colored nylons bearable. Shorts and nylons. . what the helll were they thinking?

It's the slouch socks that kill me. It's really a hideous, completely unsexy outfit for me. But, they've got fried pickles and I quite like the absurdly salty cajun breaded wings at locations that have them, so it's a good quick stop during a long nighttime drive.

I'm a big fan of their hot buffalo shrimp. But, one must eat immediately from being tossed in the sauce or they become very soggy quickly.

gleam wrote:It's the slouch socks that kill me.

you've got to keep your chin up a bit... eyes at about mid level; you can find some good "socks" in that area

G Wiv wrote:Wings were ok, breading crisp, decent size wings, though the chicken flesh itself had no flavor. Not something I'm going to be going back for anytime soon.

Picking the bride up at O'Hare thought Hooter's, why not, after all its been 9-years since my last visit. Unlike my last Hooter's visit where the wings were ok tonight they were NOT OK, greasy, flavorless, soggy breading, mealy texture, just horrid. I ate one and done. Onion rings, which I stupidly ordered to accompany the wings, same, one and done. The meal, if one stretches the term, simply wretched.

Place was packed at 9pm, beer, sports on tv, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Server cute, bubbly, attentive, and honestly surprised I didn't want to pack the remains to go.

I'll post a picture but, as Ronnie_Suburban says in the Problem with Onion Rings thread, Caution - food may appear more delicious than it actually was!



Hooters on Higgins
8225 W Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60631
773-714-0193

G Wiv wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Wings were ok, breading crisp, decent size wings, though the chicken flesh itself had no flavor. Not something I'm going to be going back for anytime soon.

Picking the bride up at O'Hare thought Hooter's, why not, after all its been 9-years since my last visit.

Was this before or after you picked up "the bride." If after, I'm in awe. A suggestion to go to Hooters would be the last thing I'd ever be able to say to my bride as she'd be throwing my stuff out the window onto the lawn.

chicagojim wrote:

G Wiv wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Wings were ok, breading crisp, decent size wings, though the chicken flesh itself had no flavor. Not something I'm going to be going back for anytime soon.

Picking the bride up at O'Hare thought Hooter's, why not, after all its been 9-years since my last visit.

Was this before or after you picked up "the bride." If after, I'm in awe. A suggestion to go to Hooters would be the last thing I'd ever be able to say to my bride as she'd be throwing my stuff out the window onto the lawn.

I've taken my girlfriend to the similar Twin Peaks for watching football and boxing and she was ok with it. Too bad the food is not that good.

chicagojim wrote:Was this before or after you picked up "the bride." If after, I'm in awe.

Before! I enjoy living, breathing and having all my appendages intact.

Can't argue with the portion size though

That would depend on the price.

G Wiv wrote:

chicagojim wrote:Was this before or after you picked up "the bride." If after, I'm in awe.

Before! I enjoy living, breathing and having all my appendages intact.

I know people who go as a family. They take their kids.

I don’t understand it. I remember a guy wanted to go and I think I still ate animals back then and it was probably when I fell out of love with him. I found it insulting and I knew darn well that was not the best chicken nearby.

Folks and strokes. I know a cadre of women who go without their family or dates, work colleagues.

pairs4life wrote:I found it insulting and I knew darn well that was not the best chicken nearby.

This is probably the most important aspect to me, the food was not good or, at the very least, not to my taste.

pairs4life wrote:Folks and strokes. I know a cadre of women who go without their family or dates, work colleagues.

What I said above still applies.
Yes, there were numerous young women in tight shorts and t-shirts, but there's an odd asexuality about the place. Reminded me of a pirate themed restaurant I went to once in Florida, the servers were mildly self conscious of their 'funny' outfits, but no one really paid attention to it after the first 30-seconds.

If it sounds like I'm judgemental I am, but only about what was on the plate. Hooter's Higgins has been open at least 15-years, a hell of a long time in restaurant years, and was packed with people having fun.

As pairs4life said, "Folks and strokes. "

As dangerzone4evr said, “Phrasing?”

I've never liked the wings at Hooters. But my fiancee actually likes the wings there. We might have the first relationship where the wife wants to go Hooters and the man doesn't.

The reference to the "odd asexuality" of the place is interesting. I felt the same way.

I've only gone once, which is right after I took the bar exam. Law school friends of mine just wanted food and not to think, and it came down to that place or Hard Rock Cafe. When you are looking for utterly mindless, those are two options.

I know that many guys go there to look at women, but I don't get it. If I wanted (back when I was single) to talk to women, I would go to a bar (or a Cubs game and then bar, which were in many ways remarkably similar). If the goal was to go out with friends and meet women, that's what we would do. The idea of going and just gawking and eating wings felt sort of pointless. The time I was there, the way the waitresses were dressed seemed almost odd.

In any case, back then I thought the food was OK but my friends and I never went back. If we want food, there are better places, and heck, even if we want to go to a place where we had no chance, there were real bars we could go to with beautiful women behind the bar and that was always more interesting. We went out enough that we actually did know the bartenders (partly because of some of us did work for bars) and that could be enjoyable some nights.

I just never really got the concept of why people find the Hooters experience enjoyable.

When my mother was still alive and residing in an assisted living facility in Des Plaines, the O’Hare Hooters was the one place she always wanted us to take her for lunch. The girls treated her like gold, she loved the peel-and-eat shrimp and the restaurant layout made for easy access to accommodate her walker and mobility issues. And as her dementia progressed, the many TVs always gave her something to look at when holding conversations became difficult.

I don’t think we’ve been back since she passed, but the anniversary of her birthday is next month, so maybe a nice memorial lunch is in order.