I'm in Prospect Heights, near the Rt. 21 & Rt. 45 junction. We have a decent taqueria (Rico's Tacos on Kensington & Wolf.)

A little off the subject of this thread, but Abe_F, please take Des Plaines a little further south (to Rand) and try Las Asada's if you are a steak eater.
It's just a taqueria - no enchiladas, or moles etc. but they Char-Grill good skirt steak. Much better than the pan fried chuck steak at Rico's. Wish I had a good close Thai rec for you, sorry.

I used to work at Arlington Hts. Rd & Higgins Rd and tried the Las Asadas on Oakton and Rt. 83 shortly after it opened. I had heard their burritos were excellent, but I have a food sensitivity to flour tortillas (weird, because no other wheat product affects me) so I decided to try their steak tacos, since they come on corn tortillas. By the second little taco, my jaw ached because the steak was mostly gristle/fat or just really overcooked, and was extremely hard to chew through. I was really surprised, since I'd heard such good things about them. I haven't tried them again since- maybe it was just that location or a bad batch.

I wanted to try their downtown D.P. location the other night when I had a taco craving, but they were closed- it was only like 8:30PM- I couldn't believe it. Maybe another time.

I have been pretty happy with Rico's though- excellent verde salsa and chicken soup.

DEFINITELY give them another try. Once in a great while, they do get a batch of bad steak from their supplier. When that happens, it usually takes a few days for them to either get through it, or toss it because of complaints. For me, if for some reason I can't get to Las Asadas at lunch, but still have a taco jones, I'll be at Monica's which should be walking distance for you. I've tried Rico's four or five times. Even been to it before when it was Las Zapatas. IMHO, Rico's is just plain wrong when you've got Asada's not too far down the road.

IMHO - The world would be a better place if every neighborhood had at least one of each:
1.) Good old fashioned Mexican resturant (ie Nuevo Leon)
2.) Pizza joint (ie Pequod's or Burt's)
3.) Indian restaurant (ie Hema's)
4.) Greasy burger/Hotdog joint (ie Peppers or Wiener Circle)
5.) Sushi (ie Bob San)
6.) German (ie LaSchett's)
7.) Beer joint (ie Hopleaf)
8.) BBQ joint (ie Honey 1)
9.) Breakfast (ie Breakfast Club or Golden Nugget)
10.) Greasy Taco (ie La Pasadita)

Folks will argue about if you really can get great pizza, hot dogs, thai, bbq, sushi, or breakfast in Evanston (and will argue louder that Evanston isn't a neighborhood) but we are really lucky up here to have great quality in those categories. (In addition to a few other of the common ethnicities.)

We do need a Southern Indian place (northern India/Nepal is well represented by Mt. Everest) and a German place. We have a couple of decent Mexican restaurants but I really miss being able to get a massive burrito, for a price that you'd pay in the city. You'd think something like a La Bamba would flourish in a college town.

I also wish for a few more choices for dining or take out after 11pm. Gigios, Buffalo Joes and Burger King are it (Steak and Shake is pretty much out of 'the neighborhood'.

A fancy-smancy 'destination' place is needed to replace the loss felt by Trio's closing. We have people up this way who can afford those sorts of places, so I'm surprised we've gone as long as we have without one.

As for a beer joint, Prairie Moon is slowly morphing into one (or least I hope it is). With 5 or 6 good domestics on tap like Rogue, Two Brothers etc, a dozen and a half good bottles, they're starting to add a couple serious beers on tap such as Maredsous and Pranqster. I'm hoping they grow into the Hopleaf/Maproom of the Northshore.

Prairie Moon
1502 Sherman, Evanston

Mt. Everest
630 Church, Evanston

Over here, in 'da Logan Square area (I'm talking Statue/Circle/Blue Line area)- Golly Gosh we need a :
Bookstore!!!
Coffee Shop/Coffee House (NOT Starbucks)
Kinkos/Copy Shop
Salad Bar (I know what the Microbiologist say about 'em!)- but they make a quick meal-late
Any ol' kind of Shwarma/Donnar/Falafel joint
Indian (especialy Kerala/South Indian) persuasion- but Paki cabstand is cool too!
Healthy/Organic/Juice Bar/Wrap kinda thang..
and what the heck- Why no BURMESE ('cuse me- Myamar) restaurants here in Chicago? (a wonderous hybrid cuisine-the best of Thai and Indian together)!

kiplog wrote:
Folks will argue about if you really can get great pizza, hot dogs, thai, bbq, sushi, or breakfast in Evanston

I'm no expert on Evanston, but I'm not sure how you can debate whether there's a great breakfast place there when you have The Lucky Platter (514 Main St.) They have great, inventive omelets, pancakes and wonderful homemade sausage. My only complaint is how crowded they get on the weekends.

And for Thai, there's a second location of Ruby of Siam at 1125 Emerson St., definitely one of my favorite Thai places around.

You won't get an argument from me on Lucky Platter, but my favorite Evanston breakfast is Dixie Kitchen (825 Church) with Jambalaya omelettes and banana bread French toast. But they only make their excellent biscuits and gravy (with andouille) on the weekends.

kiplog wrote:..Northern India/Nepal is well represented by Mt. Everest...

I'll second kiplog on Mt. Everest.
Their Palungo Ko Saag, Aloo Tama Bodi and momos are very good. They can sometimes be a wee bit inconstant, but when they're on they make very good Kormas and Masalas. Their Sunday brunch is also tasty and a bargain @ about $8. (Also, you gotta love the Yellow Submarine Font on their sinage.)

kiplog wrote:As for a beer joint, Prairie Moon is slowly morphing into one (or least I hope it is)... I'm hoping they grow into the Hopleaf/Maproom of the Northshore.

Prairie Moon, like most beer joints in the city, have a ways to go before they can take on the likes of Hopleaf or the Map Room. But like you I'm rooting for Prairie Moon. They have a great menu. Though quite certain I'm not their target market, I was very impressed with the Burgers. Pleasantly surprised I was by the "Northwoods Moon" Burger with horseradish cheddar, horseradish sauce & bacon. The "Pico Pepperjack Moon" Burger was also good eatin' with pico de gallo, avocado and pepperjack cheese....

And yes, I did order the two burgers at once...please don't judge me...

~GS

I live in Uptown which is almost perfect as far as food goes, but if I could add anything, it would definitely have to be a Korean restaurant within an easy walk. Walking from my place at Clark/Wilson to Western/Foster for San Soop Gap San is a bit too far.

It could also use a better Indian joint than the faux-indian of Marigold.

It could also use a better Indian joint than the faux-indian of Marigold.

What about Shan? I admit it's not much for atmosphere, but good food and much closer to you than Devon.

Shan
5060-A N. Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL. 60640
773-769-4961

I live in Ravenswood and while we all know that all sorts of dining options abound (most of which weren't there when I moved to the area in 1992), it would be quite nice to have a soul food restaurant along the lines of, say, Edna's (or MacArthur's) on the West Side or Pearl's/Army & Lou's/BJ's Market on the South Side. Demographics, gentrification, being what they are, it will never happen, of course. Though I was thinking about opening up a lame-o whitebread version of one myself.

jonjonjon wrote:I live in Uptown which is almost perfect as far as food goes, but if I could add anything, it would definitely have to be a Korean restaurant within an easy walk. Walking from my place at Clark/Wilson to Western/Foster for San Soop Gap San is a bit too far.

I think Cho Sun Ok would be closer to you than San Soo Gap San. I had very good food the one or two times I ate at CSO but definitely felt the gringo chill....

Cho Sun Ok
4200 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 549-5555

germuska wrote:I think Cho Sun Ok would be closer to you than San Soo Gap San. I had very good food the one or two times I ate at CSO but definitely felt the gringo chill....

Cho Sun Ok is still a bit out of the "short walk" walking range - although I do enjoy it! I find it funny, though that the waitress always insists on grilling the food for me.

Mike G wrote:

It could also use a better Indian joint than the faux-indian of Marigold.

What about Shan? I admit it's not much for atmosphere, but good food and much closer to you than Devon.

Shan
5060-A N. Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL. 60640
773-769-4961

I have not even HEARD of this place! Thanks for the rec!

1. Charlie Trotter's.

That location in Old Town/Lincoln Park is convenient to nobody. Who wants to fight that sort of traffic on LSD and/or Clark to get there? I know he's opening a Streeterville location, but he's keeping the main location open, so the new one will be watered down.

2. A good Greek diner. The closest we have is West Egg on Fairbanks and Ontario, but that is a bad Greek diner.

jonjonjon wrote:I find it funny, though that the waitress always insists on grilling the food for me.

I find this attribute at certain Korean restaurants annoying - it's to shorten turnover time, as well as decrease energy costs (if they use electric or gas grills vs coals).

Darien/Woodridge/DGrove - 75th/Lemont

We need:

1. A dive counter place (Harlo, Steak N Egger) open 24 hours, so I have someplace to go at 3am to write presentations and memos for work about which I have procrastinated too long without having to drive to the Denny's at 75th/83 and pay twice as much. A Waffle House would be too much for which to dream.
2. A good German place that serves both lunch and dinner
3. A Walker Brothers outpost within a 15-minute drive using 355. I'd settle for either the northern edge of Naperville or the area just west of Yorktown near Sal y Cavao and Fry's.

jonjonjon wrote:I live in Uptown... Walking from my place at Clark/Wilson to Western/Foster for San Soop Gap San is a bit too far.
It could also use a better Indian joint than the faux-indian of Marigold.

Funny you bring these two cuisines up in the same thread. I know these two places I'm going to mention are walking distance for you but I had to mention them:

Mr Chicken & Gyros
836 Dodge Ave
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 424-1060

...was there today because I drove by and said "Self, I'm hungry". I walk in and it's a Korean family running the joint. I look at the menu and there not much chicken. There were Korean BBQ wings. Lot's of Vienna product on the menu. But....little pieces of paper on the bottom of the sign said bolgogi and bi beem bop. I ordered the 5.45 bi beem. It was great. It came with a can pop for that price. It felt kind odd digging into a bowl of rice with the diner in front of me eating a hamburger and the diner to my side enjoying a gyros...

the other place is Indian Kabob House down the block south on Dodge at Howard. Big sign in the window said it was going to open soon...but the windows seemed kind of dusty.

I know first post, but I have lurked for a long time and gained so much valuable info and dining expericence so thanks.

I am a 30 something married guy with no kids and live roughly at LaSalle and Division and my wife and I are always saying, why no divey Burrito Joint? Especially in this city.

For one thing, they'd clean up on the drunk division street crowd but more improtantly I'd like it the rest of the time. There is plenty of space for rent in the area, is anyone listening. I am tired of going to Lincoln Park and Bucktown for my fix.

other end of the neighborhood for you and not a dive but how's a Su Casa burrito to go?

You had one on the east side of state st just n of elm about 10 yrs ago. The name escapes me. It was one of the smaller chains. "El Burrito" maybe? It was horrible, yet always packed right around bar closing time. Always stories of big fights too. I knew the mgr, and I think he said that the city MADE him to close at 4am. Bars are also 4am so business took a hit because of that. I'd guess that the rents are way too high for a new "dive" establishment to survive. If I had the $ tho, that would be an area I'd try to target with a taqueria, and I'm no genuis. Betcha it's been thought of before, and for some reason did not make sense. Maybe the 4am closing thing.

You'd think if Chipotle could make it, any taqueria could.

Su casa to go is an option but I wouldn't say in the nieghborhood and not a taqueria.

Heck if Mr Gyro can make it, they have also added Burritos i see on the sign lately but I have not tried them yet.

Is Mr. G's on Clark making burritos in addition to their grill food?

Out here in or near Oak Park, we're spoiled with great Italian places, beef joints, hot dog stands, ice cream (wow, so much ice cream), burgers, Mexican and a few other tried and true spots, but I'd love:

Middle Eastern
Vietnamese
Chicago pizza (other than just Giordano's and Edwardo's)
And esp. a good brunch spot other than the usual pancake places (though Blue Max Cafe comes close for me)

kenji wrote:Is Mr. G's on Clark making burritos in addition to their grill food?

That's what my end of Streeterville needs -- Mr. G's.

I lived on the #1 with Cheese (or the Dagwood when I could afford the extra charge) when I was an undergrad.

Had G's just the other day. Good stuff. Though this weekend it was Johnny's Grille, Gyro with a side of greek potatoes (never had marinara on greek potatoes before?).

I kinda consider "my neighborhood" borders to be North Avenue to the North, Chicago to the South, the lake to the East and to the West, wells street.

Though the further I get closer to Chicago, it kind of ends at Michigan avenue. It's a triangle I have formulated in my head as what I will call "an easy walk".

vitesse -
Grape leaf on oak park avenue just s of the el trax on w side of road for mid eastern. Not the best you'll ever have, but good for a fix until you get to your favorite place. Also, in OP mall on lake just west of the theater is Jerusalem Cafe for a mid eastern fix. (grape leaf is better IMHO)

All sorts of chicago style pizza joints in the elmwood parkarea are right around
North avenue.
Jim and Pete's on north ave,
AMATOS JUST north of North avenue on Harlem. Never had it, but heard good things.
Few more around Lathrop and North avenue. MANY more north of North Avenue.

In OP, you have Geppeto's on Oak Park avenue just N of lake st - which USED to win all kinds of awards for its pizza. I'm guessing you are referring to Deep Dish as "Chicago Style" in your post. There are a GLUT
of pizza joints, and MANY of them do serve up a deep dish, they just don't advertise as much as Giordano's or Edwardo's. If you do enjoy Edwardo's
a little bit, here's a suggestion: check out wlup.com, and go to "half price deals." It may make Edwardo's taste a little better.

I grew up in OP some time ago, and Winberie's USED to be really good for brunch. Haven't been there in more years than I'd care to mention, so I can't speak for their current state of affairs.

If I'm not mistaken, Mickey's on Harlem across from the MCd's was once a burger king, and then a Vietnamese restaurant for a little while. My parents were so happy when it opened. Back in the day, of course it failed.

I want more breakfast options that open on Sunday at 8 am. In Bucktown.

I have Toast, that Italian coffee place, and I think Earwax and Bongo open at 8:30 or 9. That's it. Everwhere else is 10 or 11 "brunch"

We go down to DoDo, but that's a bike ride, not a walk.

Well, I live in a neighborhood -- let's call it Gum Town -- where a half dozen boutiques could burn to the ground tomorrow and still no one around here would have to walk a mile for a $200 pair of jeans. So, we don't need nail salons, hair salons, boutiques, or, weirdly, ice cream parlors.

What we do need is a normal bakery that sells fresh rolls and a variety of breads. Does anybody know if the folks at Argo Georgian Bakery on Devon would be willing to sell their souls and move down here?

And I'd like a Cuban place where I could get a decent cafe cubano - but so many neighborhoods need that.

And I want that Bosnian place -- that one that used to be up the street from Loyola's lakeshore campus and then closed -- to reappear here.

Hey, I'm not asking for the moon.

seebee wrote:I grew up in OP some time ago, and Winberie's USED to be really good for brunch. Haven't been there in more years than I'd care to mention, so I can't speak for their current state of affairs.

I had a couple of tasty burgers (served with copious amounts of crispy thin fries) with friends in Oak Park a week or so ago, and I believe that they came from this very Winberie you speak of. Friendly help, good food at a reasonable price... can't ask for much more from a local restaurant.

--Dan