"Ethnic/International" Eats for Corporate Stiffs

My friend works for a large corporation in the Western Suburbs and is looking for recommendations to take her "corporate stiff" interns from out of town to lunch. To further this large corporation's "commitment to diversity," the company would like the interns to lunch at two "ethnic/international" places; one in the Western Burbs and one in the city. The budget is about $40 pp. Any place that is "fun" is a bonus.

I've offered to help her narrow down some places.

I think the obvious choice for the burbs might be Katy's Dumplings, but I don't know if the strip mall is too much of a turn-off for these kids from out-of-town looking for a good time. Plus, I've never been, but on the one hand, the food sounds delicious; on the other hand, I have no idea what the decor is like and I don't want to scare these kids off.

Also, I keep coming up with Asian options, such as Lao Szechuan and TAC, which is too repetitive.

So, I defer to this great board, who can recommend a fun, delicious "ethnic/international" place in the Western suburbs and the City that would be fun and appealing for these wannabe CEOs?

Katy's Dumplings might actually be too small for accomodate much of a group, and if these kids are, indeed, stiffs, then they may bristle at this kind of place. You should probably check it out before recommending it.

If you're trying to get away from Asian (which would also be Katy's category), how about Xni-Pec? (It's west of Chicago thought not generally thought of as a Western suburb).

Or how about Priscilla's? http://www.priscillasultimatesoulfood.com/

David Hammond wrote:If you're trying to get away from Asian (which would also be Katy's category), how about Xni-Pec?

Be advised: Xni-Pec now opens at 2pm during the week.

Best,
Michael

I love the idea of Priscilla's, and it could easily handle the crowd, plus everyone could find something pretty familiar to eat. But I wonder if the corporation or any black staff members would somehow have a problem considering soul food ethnic/international?

Is there some PC landmine in that? If not, definitely go to Priscilla's. A corporate intern outing to a Soul Food Cafeteria - priceless.

Xni-Pec is much safer but I suppose the hours won't work. Katy's is too far out there in terms of atmosphere. How about the old Riverside Restaurant on Harlem for some good Bohemian fare? I have not been for a long time but it seems like it would fit.

Riverside Restaurant
3422 Harlem Ave , Riverside, IL
Phone - (708) 442-0434

Then you could go to LSC in Chinatown.

None of these would cost $40. More pricey would be Greek Islands in Oakbrook Terrace, and that would be very safe in every way and probably much more convenient. Not sure if Costa's is open for lunch, but some prefer that to GI (not me).

Or you could head out to Aurora and enjoy either Las Islas Marias, or La Quebrada for good Mexican - the choice would depend on whether you favor Mexican seafood, or grilled meats. Both are a little more gritty than Greek Islands or Priscilla's, imo, but the food is pretty good.

Lastly you have the Hungarian Epicurean Restaurant and Emilio's tapas on Roosevelt in Hillside that could be interesting.

Looking forward to hearing how this warps the young and impressionable. I particularly hope it traumatizes the de rigeur vegans in the group .

d,

I think Emilio's sounds perfect. It's "ethnic" and it's very safe; the food is outside-the-norm, but not so outside that people (no matter how stiff) will feel uncomfortable. Also, it's a fun place (though I don't think I've been there yet this century).

Interesting question about the "ethnicity" of soul food, and I do believe it would qualify as "ethnic." To quote the indisputable Wikipedia: "An ethnic group or ethnicity is a population of human beings whose members identify with each other, usually on the basis of a presumed common genealogy or ancestry." Still, as you say, maybe that's not a discussion you want to get into...and I don't think soul food would qualify as "international."

Yes, Emilio's would be a gr... er... a good choice.

What about Heaven on Seven, for cajun food? They have a location in Naperville and their website mentions a new location in Downers Grove (that's news to me).

As for the city choices, most of the places already mentioned in this topic - Greek Islands, Lao Sze Chuan, Emilio's, Heaven on Seven - have city outposts (and, with the exception of Emilio's, started in the city, then spread to the burbs).

How about Edelweiss in Norridge for German or Szalas for Polish? While neither of them are technically in the western burbs or downtown, the decor alone (especially at Szalas) fulfills the "fun" bonus.

nsxtasy wrote:with the exception of Emilio's, started in the city, then spread to the burbs).

Actually, I'm pretty sure that Emilio's started in the city at the corner of Clark & Fullerton.

stevez wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:with the exception of Emilio's, started in the city, then spread to the burbs).

Actually, I'm pretty sure that Emilio's started in the city at the corner of Clark & Fullerton.

I thought that the Hillside location was the original.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:I thought that the Hillside location was the original.

That's correct.

nsxtasy wrote:

eatchicago wrote:I thought that the Hillside location was the original.

That's correct.

Interesting. I did not know that.

I can actually provide some info.

Emilio Gervais started out at Baba Reba, in the city. Then he started his own place in Hillside. So you are more or less both correct. And I have also not been there in this century nor have any plans to go, but the place is reliable, fun and adventurous if one has not experienced tapas before.

Epicurean Hungarian has decor that compares favorably with Szala's, btw.

And I cannot possibly recommend Ho7. While the N'ville location is terribly popular, the place seems to be so wildly inconsistent in every visit I have made and every post I have read here, that I just cannot bring myself to suggest it.

If the choice is downtown N'ville, then I would take Tango with their "wild" Argentine cuisine, pastas and tapas (again, that stuff). Always reliably good, a great deal at lunch, and the chimichurri is likely to intrigue the more adventurous.

David Hammond wrote:Or how about Priscilla's? http://www.priscillasultimatesoulfood.com/

dicksond wrote:I love the idea of Priscilla's, and it could easily handle the crowd, plus everyone could find something pretty familiar to eat. But I wonder if the corporation or any black staff members would somehow have a problem considering soul food ethnic/international?

I, too, think Priscilla's is a great suggestion. I think the purpose of these lunches is to get at least some of the interns out of their comfort zones. Therefore, I think Priscilla's definitely fits the bill.

What about any Indian places on Devon?

How 'bout Reza's... although for $40 PP, maybe she should just take 'em to Papagus at Oakbrook or Mon Ami Gabi (albeit all LEYE chains)...

Depending on where "out of town" is, Greek food can be hard to find. Greek Islands in Lombard has always had good reasonable food and is excellent for groups.

aschie30 wrote:What about any Indian places on Devon?

Devon Avenue is particularly inconvenient to get to from the western suburbs. It will take 20-40 minutes longer than to the restaurant areas surrounding downtown.

dicksond wrote:I love the idea of Priscilla's, and it could easily handle the crowd, plus everyone could find something pretty familiar to eat. But I wonder if the corporation or any black staff members would somehow have a problem considering soul food ethnic/international?

Dickson:

I think that's a good thing to be conscious of. Hopefully the people making these plans could talk to one or two people directly and simply ask. If no one making the decision is comfortable enough talking to someone and asking them, then there's a good chance that the decision maker is generally seen as having an empathy gap, which probably means the risk is even greater that someone would take it the wrong way.

Even though some staff members might conceivably object, others might think it an excellent idea. As with so many things, a lot has to do with the delivery.

Marshall K wrote:Depending on where "out of town" is, Greek food can be hard to find. Greek Islands in Lombard has always had good reasonable food and is excellent for groups.

I think that's an excellent suggestion: in the western suburbs, reasonably ethnic and fairly priced.

nsxtasy wrote:

aschie30 wrote:What about any Indian places on Devon?

Devon Avenue is particularly inconvenient to get to from the western suburbs. It will take 20-40 minutes longer than to the restaurant areas surrounding downtown.

aschie30 wrote:To further this large corporation's "commitment to diversity," the company would like the interns to lunch at two "ethnic/international" places; one in the Western Burbs and one in the city.

emphasis mine.

nsxtasy wrote:

aschie30 wrote:What about any Indian places on Devon?

Devon Avenue is particularly inconvenient to get to from the western suburbs. It will take 20-40 minutes longer than to the restaurant areas surrounding downtown.

Isn't there some "Little Devon" Indian neighborhood in the Lombard area?

For the in-city lunch, how about Sol de Mexico?

The food is excellent, the setting is attractive, and it's on the western edge of Chicago so not too hard to get to from the western suburbs. It should certainly expand their notions of what Mexican food can be.

I believe they are open for lunch every day.

What about Cebu in DG, does that still exist? I know there also must still be some decent Indian choices in the Westmont area, but it has been years since I have been to any. Sticking with dicksond's Bohemian suggestion, there is the Bohemian Crystal in Westmont or closer into the city, there is Klas or Czech Plaza in Berwyn.

Cebu
7329 Lemont Rd
Downers Grove, IL 60516
(630) 663-8803

Bohemian Crystal
639 N.Blackhawk Drive,
Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: (630) 789-1981
http://www.bohemiancrystal.net/

Hi,

Several of us were at Cebu last fall. There are more comments here.

Regards,

nsxtasy wrote:Yes, Emilio's would be a gr... er... a good choice.

What about Heaven on Seven, for cajun food? They have a location in Naperville and their website mentions a new location in Downers Grove (that's news to me).

As for the city choices, most of the places already mentioned in this topic - Greek Islands, Lao Sze Chuan, Emilio's, Heaven on Seven - have city outposts (and, with the exception of Emilio's, started in the city, then spread to the burbs).

nsxtasy,

The Downers Grove location that the website and menus refer to is the Juicy-O Cafe, formerly Rise'n'Dine. The HO7 group bought it last year, and it is only open for breakfast and lunch. The food is not bad, but highly overpriced. Not to mention the servers seem to be wearing lead boots.

Flip

gleam wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:

aschie30 wrote:What about any Indian places on Devon?

Devon Avenue is particularly inconvenient to get to from the western suburbs. It will take 20-40 minutes longer than to the restaurant areas surrounding downtown.

aschie30 wrote:To further this large corporation's "commitment to diversity," the company would like the interns to lunch at two "ethnic/international" places; one in the Western Burbs and one in the city.

emphasis mine.

I'm not sure of your point; I already knew that they are looking for one in the burbs and one in the city (as you can see from my previous recommendation of places in the city).

My point is that, to get to restaurants in the city, it will take much longer to go up to Devon Avenue than those places close to downtown. More specifically, from, say, Downers Grove, assuming it's not rush hour, it will typically take 25-35 minutes by car to get to restaurants in Greek Town, South Loop, River North, Mag Mile, etc, and 45-65 minutes to get to those along Devon Avenue. The disparity is even greater via public transportation.

For more city recommendations, what about one of the fusion cuisine type places, like Cuatro (Latin fusion), Delacosta (Latin fusion), Vermilion (Latin-Indian), Red Light (pan-Asian), Le Colonial (French-Vietnamese), Le Lan (French-Asian), etc?

Flip, thanks for the clarification about Ho7. I had seen the posts here about Juicy-O, didn't realize that was theirs.

If you decide no to do a tapas place in the 'burbs, Cafe Iberico in town can be a lot of fun, and easily manageable at $40/person (including Sangria):

http://www.cafeiberico.com/