Jefe wrote:Unaware that Stop 50 is a seasonal business, we were highly disappointed to be shut out in the snow, especially after an agreeable less than two mile drive from our accommodations. We went down the checklist heading northbound on the Red Arrow. Poor driving conditions led us to the next stop, my parents' fave, Brewster's, which I knew to also have decent wood fired pizza. An hour and a half wait. Cruised by a packed RA Roadhouse (my s/o is a vegetarian and their menu is not the most veg friendly). Landed for a maiden voyage at Cafe Gulistan. Prices, as stated elsewhere, were steep, especially for those of us who spend a great deal of our time in Albany Park. Combo app. was an 80% success- good smoky ganouj, a spicy ezme of roasted tomato, a tangy "sumac" salad of cabbage and beets, crispy and moist falafels in a garlicky yogurt sauce, a bright tabbouli with the colorful addition of finely grated carrot- all tasty and cleaned off the plate. Our only significant criticism was the bland hummus. An order of fattoush took a wrong turn- overly dressed in a gloppy honey sweetened dressing. I went out on limb- maybe not the best move for Southwestern Michigan Turkish food- and ordered something new, the namesake dish, Gulistani. Minced lamb in a cumin-y gravy was not unlike nor more interesting than old school chili. On a mound of Basmati rice and flanked by more sumac salad, it made a satisfying enough dinner, washed down with Bell's amber ale, the meal was just fine for a blustery evening. But I have to say, wood fired pizza at a GNR just down the road from the family cabin would have been perfect.
Da Beef wrote:
Frosty's Cajun BBQ has become one of my favorites in the Michigan City area. As a youth I liked Wagner's but that was when I didnt know what real BBQ is. They smoke ribs and serve Cajun sides like succotash gumbo, red beans and rice and Cajun sausage. The star of the show are some of the best rib tip's you can consume. when this is place is on they are real on.
Rib tip's with hot BBQ sauce on the side is the way to go...Im not really big on sauce with my smoked pork but I love their hot stuff.
Frosty's: Cant find it listed but I can assure you it has reopened and its on 12-20 in Michigan city, IN around the blue chip casino.
ronnie_suburban wrote:These ribs had never been anywhere near charcoal, wood or smoke. They were baked in an oven -- maybe even boiled before that -- and then slathered with an ultra-sweet sauce that nearly sent me into a diabetic coma. The FOB meat was as soft as pudding and the only discernable flavor was conveyed in the sauce.
Da Beef wrote:Wagner's has some of the best ribs within an hour of the city. A buddy of mine's parents have a place in Long Beach, IN and ribs and wings from Wagner's have been a must every stop thru there, proving once again "theres more than corn in Indiana" but not much else.
Da Beef wrote:Damn, I had thought to post about Wagner's and their "Chicago-style" ribs and to avoid them at all cost if you like real smoked BBQ.
G Wiv wrote:I'm confused?
ronnie_suburban wrote:. . . I stopped for lunch at Wagner's Ribs in Porter, IN. There, I ordered what might have been the worst ribs I've ever eaten. . . .this is most definitely a place to avoid.
BTB wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:. . . I stopped for lunch at Wagner's Ribs in Porter, IN. There, I ordered what might have been the worst ribs I've ever eaten. . . .this is most definitely a place to avoid.
Boy, I couldn't disagree more. This is an immensely popular and successful rib restaurant that I've eaten at for many years and have rarely been disappointed with. They have been so very successful, that they've had to expand their restaurant many times. Hard to find, but worth the trip in my humble estimation. Different strokes I guess. I would encourage people to just try it. With such enormous success that they've had . . . one has got to think that they must be doing something right.
BTB wrote:I would encourage people to just try it. With such enormous success that they've had . . . one has got to think that they must be doing something right.
BTB wrote:To aschie30: it seens like you can't really get over my comments to you about the Journeyman, can you? Yes, ashie30, I saw the picture of the ribs, but much more IMPORTANTLY ate . . . what I feel . . were incredibly delicous ribs at Wagners. And you, counselor . . . ? That comment on the picture of Wagner's ribs not looking "different from the McRib" is a little bit too much, but, hey, this is America.
ronnie_suburban wrote:BTB,I don't begrudge Da Beef on this but the fact is that if he had provided the same details in his post that I provided in mine, I would have simply gone somewhere else.=R=
Da Beef wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:BTB,I don't begrudge Da Beef on this but the fact is that if he had provided the same details in his post that I provided in mine, I would have simply gone somewhere else.=R=
Well thats good, because theres been some places heavily endorsed on here that I thought sucked too, but instead of saying it was the worst place ever, I focused on other places to write about so it didnt stir up a food fight.
For instance: I just tried Wagners again for the first time in some time this summer and I found out the ribs were baked to fall of the bone or whatever they do with them and didnt think they were all that good but still not the worst thing ever..it is still pig. However since I tried them on the back end of my trip on the circle tour, it didnt stick in my mind since I had 50 other places I was trying to keep memory of and maybe post about. So oh well, you had bad meal, but you even admitted you knew it wasnt going to be good and stayed...whether or not it was time constraint I have no idea nor is that my fault. I guess next time trust your gut instinct.
and for the record I think ribs at Wagners suck if your looking for real BBQ...sorry I forgot to post about over a busy summer...What was I thinking?
Da Beef wrote:No worries, in all honesty I felt bad when I read it b/c the day we ate there over summer, my first thought after my first bite was literally "I have to make sure I didnt post about this place, this is the exact same thing as twin anchors and I know they dont like that" I dont like that style either anymore. I used to love both of those spots before I realized what I was missing. It more than likely was here or from posters on here from the old chow-hound that I learned what real BBQ is and where to find it, so I thank all for your knowledge shared. Reading what I wrote sounds like I was getting defensive but I was just trying to explain that in the past 8 years my knowledge of BBQ has greatly expanded. After reading your post I thought about just deleting that post I made, which I think was a couple years old b/c I hadnt been in some time. Then I thought an explanation would be better than just running from it. Again I am sorry b/c I did say that and I feel embarrassed I did.
Da Beef wrote:After reading your post I thought about just deleting that post I made, which I think was a couple years old b/c I hadnt been in some time. Then I thought an explanation would be better than just running from it. Again I am sorry b/c I did say that and I feel embarrassed I did.
There's no right or wrong here. We're just all spouting off.
dddane wrote:a little quiz ...
on a somewhat recent visit to michigan city, we found ourselves asking a local where to go... we told him we wanted a river/lake/etc-side place that
had seafood where you could eat on a deck outside. he said "follow me" and took us a few blocks aways (we started out by the outlet mall) ... the place was on the river/canal, you could dock your boat right there and come and eat... it was by no means gourmet, and more on the dumpy side, but it was decent food, and a good place to relax...
there was also a really unique swing bridge that rotated horizontally on a pivot ... once or twice while we were there, a loud siren rang and the bridge swung into action... a train shortly crossed over it (amtrak?) .. and hey a little google found me a picture..
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RRHX/B ... Bridge.htm ..that page says its on "trail creek" ...
now that its getting warm again, i'm looking to go back. i'm not totally convinced we can find it on our own, so i'm trying to remember the name... i feel like it may have also have been just northwest of the casino, though i really have no idea? ;P
anyone know of the place i'm talking about?