I wanted to add that a good place to eat is Egg Harbor Cafe at Pfingsten and Willow Road. Same shopping center as Schezwan North, Dear Franks and also Jimmy Johns.

There is also one in Glenview near The Glen on Lehigh Road.

Sorry - needed to vent, even if the real issue was MY fault.***
Wheeling El Famous Burrito (yes I know, but I have my reasons.)
Recently had some oral surgery done, and tired of soup and mashed potatoes (AGAIN!!!) - I heard a co-worker taking orders for El Famous.
They go once a week, and do not include me because I have laughed at them every time they've offered. Sorry, but El Nasty is near the bottom of the barrel IMHO, HOWEVER, today, I felt like challenging myself with some form of food. Jr. veggie burrito - Let's do it! I knew it would take
probably 45 minutes to eat it in my condition, but I had chewed a donut yesterday in just under twenty minutes, so I was up to the challenge, and who knows? it just might go better than I thought. I'm supposed to be healing - this would be a good way to test. Yeah. Anyway, so about half an hour later, I got my bag. It was a limp 4 inch burrito containing a whisper of a hint of a smear of beans, three lettuce shreds, and one "dice" of a tomato. (No, not a diced tomato. one dice. one cube.)
The cost? $4.01. The Taco Bell bean burrito @ 89c is TWICE the product I got today.


**The real issue was actually ordering from El Famous. Never again. No matter how starved for food I am.

Re: El Famous, I have to say that the Rogers Park outpost is the only one I have ever been truly happy with. I've been to at least 6-7 of the suburban locations and they all fall short in one way or another, from skimpy portions to overpriced and inferior salsa. In my mind there is only one El Famous and then there is a weird sister chain in the burbs that shares the name and nothing else.

I live right by Dundee and Sanders and have enjoyed reading this thread.

Here are the places you have missed:

For Mexican: Pico De Gallo (down the street from Pita Inn). They have a lunch menu, a great steak burrito and a wonderful mole sauce.

For Hot Dogs etc.: Bo-Bo's (North of Milwaukee and Lake Cook) They have lunch specials and a gyros salad, basically a gyros plate with a full salad. There's also Dengeo's (West of Buffalo Grove Rd and Dundee) if you can drive that far for lunch.

For Pizza: Marissa's at Dundee and Sanders or Pierro's at Dundee and Landwehr. They both have lunch specials.

For Chinese: Tongs (at Dundee and Sanders) is very good. However, for a much better deal, go to China North. The food is just as good and the lunch deal is a steal.

For Non-chain sandwiches: Berruti's Italian Deli at Buffalo Grove Road and Dundee.

That's it off the top of my head. When I have more $ to spend on lunch (and more time), I always head to Fujiyama.

Found one!

TACOS AL CARBON!
Char grilled steak tacos at "El Burrito Bronco"
They cut the meat in long thin strips (not 'chopped') but it had some nice lime based marinade flavor.
Also tried the:
pastor (just ok, although better than most around here)
Pollo (just ok. white meat in a red sauce. uninspired, but not BAD)
Also had a tamale. pretty impressive. 1.50, and STUFFED with some nice pork chunks in a red sauce.

Salsa was ok (standard red/green - although the red had some pretty good kick). I did not ask if they have a fresh pico de gallo, but will on my next visit. I'll definitely be back to this place. It's no La Pasadita, or Las Asada's as far as the char grilled steak, but it was decent, and pretty darn good for this area.

The Tacos Al Carbon run 1.85, and I think all the other tacos were 1.45 (including their version of regular steak)
El Burrito Bronco
733 W Dundee
Wheeling 60090
847-465-0728

Bump.
We're getting a new Thai joint on Pfingsten just north of Dundee on the E side of the road. Not open yet, but I'm going to be there when it opens.
Name:"Simply Thai."
Slogan on sign: "Good Thai Food. PERIOD"

great to see this thread is alive and kickin'. i have since found a job in the city and don't make it out that way for anything. but, glad to see there are some new places people are finding.

Marcello's (A Father & Son Restaurant) is also opening in downtown Northbrook (next door to Bonefish).

My first post!

Just had to respond with excitement about a Thai place opening here in NB!

I've enjoyed this thread, agree with lots of things mentioned and disagree with others.

FYI the Sky Harbor restaurant is closed, a new one has opened in its place but I haven't been there.

We are big China North fans, that lunch buffet is great. Big fans of EinM as well, they supply hot lunches to our kids' school every other week and I know the quality is great. Their mac & cheese is fab.

I despise Georgie V's. While the food has generally been acceptable the service is awful. Even George himself has presented a snotty attitude, and we just do not go there.

The lunch deal at Demetri's is a great bargain. Not the best greek food but their mediterranean tilapia is mighty tasty and comes with soup I think.

Also popular in these parts is Rise & Dine, on Milwaukee Ave just south of Dundee on the west side of the street. (Location used to be Buona Sera.) Nice atmosphere for a breakfast/lunch spot, food's pretty good, service is eh.

Also, I was at Oysy recently (on Skokie Blvd at the far south end of the strip center with Container Store, Rack and Marshall's) and was pleasantly surprised with our lunch meal there. Quick too.

sujormik wrote::shock: My first post!

Welcome to the group. And a very useful first post, indeed. I look forward to more.

Well, it's a little south of Northbrook, but Penny's noodles just opened in Northfield.

I just was there for lunch and had the spring rolls and their basil chicken which were both very good.


Penny's Noodle Shop
320 Happ Road
Northfield, IL 60093
(847) 446-4747

Hi,

Is it Thai, Vietnamese or multicultural Asian?

Regards,

sujormik wrote:
The lunch deal at Demetri's is a great bargain. Not the best greek food but their mediterranean tilapia is mighty tasty and comes with soup I think.

Also popular in these parts is Rise & Dine, on Milwaukee Ave just south of Dundee on the west side of the street. Nice atmosphere for a breakfast/lunch spot, food's pretty good, service is eh.

Yo sujormik - welcome!

Demetris - I'm not far from there. What's the "lunch deal" you are referring to?

Rise and Dine -
My experiences with this place: Strike one was a turkey rueben they made with fake turkey. They gave my D/C a turkey club with real turkey. As a rule, I don't do bidness with restaurants that use fake turkey, BUT, I LOVE their pancakes. So I started to only used them for a take out breakfast spot. Strike two was when they messed up (forgot half) of a to-go breakfast order when I was quitting smoking. I quit Rise and Dine too. They offered a resolution that was appropriate enough, but it just "stuck in my craw" as they say.

A few add-ons for the thread -
Benihana is no longer in my rotation. They screwed around with the lunch prices, and combinations. It is no longer a worthwhile destination for me for lunch. 1.00 nigiri, and 2.00 maki are now no more, and the grill side is considerably more expensive for lunch now.

Someone let me in on a decent lunch value: Wednesdays, Bennigans 1/2 lb burgers are 4.99.

I'm not real big on french fries, but I gotta tell you, Cooker's on Lake Cook Road has the best fries I've had in years. I actually CRAVE those fries.

So now, I'm looking for a value sushi lunch deal. Anyone?
Just when I was getting used to Fish One's lunch specials (in Arlington Heights) the office moved. Now, after 6 months of gorging on Benihana ultra cheap lunch sushi deals, they pull the rug out from under me.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Is it Thai, Vietnamese or multicultural Asian?

Regards,

It is mostly Thai.

I know the other locations get a good trashing here but it's a decent lunch place that I can walk to which is VERY rare in the burbs.

Thanks for the welcomes!

Seebee, our sushi choice for lunch is usually Fujiyama, not a cheapie by any means but close and good. Don't really care for Sushi Wakaba that's just up Milwaukee about a mile north of Lake Cook, they don't use real crab and I hate that as much as I hate fake turkey. I wish that sushi bar in Tramonto's was open for lunch, I've heard it's great.

seebee,
The "lunch deal" at Demetri's is basically their whole menu. 90% of the items are $5.99-$8.99 and include their excellent avgolemono (egg lemon) soup, which isn't too thick or rich like most egg lemon's are made. So, for example, you can get a chicken breast stuffed with spinach and feta, served with rice and vegetables, plus the soup they include (and bread basket) for a dynamite price at a very nice white tablecloth restaurant. I am pissed my office isn't closer because I would be there at least twice a week if it was. I think word has spread and they do a pretty brisk lunch biz...which they deserve because it has to be one of the best values around.

...oh, and if you couldn't already tell, I think their food stacks up against Greektown and all of the other spots in the area.

Took one for the team today.
Bin Hai. Pfingsten and Dundee. I was on my way to the NB Post Office, and wanted to get a better look at how the construction was going on inside the new Thai place I mentioned upthread. Popped into Bin Hai next door for a lunch special. Never been before. Don't think I'll be back. Not horrible, not good. $6.00 "Governor's Chicken" lunch special: standard chicken nuggets in watered down but cornstarched up bbq sauce the American Chinese joints are notorious for. Fried rice consisted of rice fried up with the ubiquitous frozen peas and carrots concoction the sub-standard chinese joints have now lowered their already poor standards to, and it came with an egg roll the size of my middle finger stuffed with salty cabbage, and possibly some ground chicken.
Now, onto the good news:
http://www.simplybestthai.com/index.html

I know I'm probably hoping too much that someone will actually take pride in their product, but I can't tell you how much I want this place to be decent. I looks like it's still some time before they open, but the menu is posted. I'm sure it's some kind of inside joke, but on the salads page, there is mention of "sliced frank" in a few of the descriptions.

seebee wrote:Took one for the team today.
Bin Hai. Pfingsten and Dundee. I was on my way to the NB Post Office, and wanted to get a better look at how the construction was going on inside the new Thai place I mentioned upthread. Popped into Bin Hai next door for a lunch special. Never been before. Don't think I'll be back. Not horrible, not good. $6.00 "Governor's Chicken" lunch special: standard chicken nuggets in watered down but cornstarched up bbq sauce the American Chinese joints are notorious for. Fried rice consisted of rice fried up with the ubiquitous frozen peas and carrots concoction the sub-standard chinese joints have now lowered their already poor standards to, and it came with an egg roll the size of my middle finger stuffed with salty cabbage, and possibly some ground chicken.
Now, onto the good news:
http://www.simplybestthai.com/index.html

I know I'm probably hoping too much that someone will actually take pride in their product, but I can't tell you how much I want this place to be decent. I looks like it's still some time before they open, but the menu is posted. I'm sure it's some kind of inside joke, but on the salads page, there is mention of "sliced frank" in a few of the descriptions.

Agreed on this place, which we wanted to like, too. But we couldn't. We joked that the food was only edible if one had 'bin hai' lately.

For this type of cuisine, done very well and not too far away, give Szechwan Kingdom a try. It's just north of Dundee Road, in Brookside Plaza, at Waukegan and the I-94 spur.

=R=

Szechwan Kingdom
545 Waukegan Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 562-1368

Agreed on this place, which we wanted to like, too. But we couldn't. We joked that the food was only edible if one had 'bin hai' lately.

NICE!!!

I've been to the Kingdom a few times, and like it a lot. Wanted to give this place a try just because ya never know! Thanks tho!

Yup, the Kingdom is pretty good. We had a nice dinner there last night.

Just a reminder, that it also has a secret menu. See my post of May 30, 2006 on this thread (it's on page one).

There is a new breakfast/brunch place callled Butterfield's opening where the McDonalds used to be at Sanders/Dundee. Not sure of the official date of opening. I checked out the menu online -- it's part of a chain. It looks pretty standard, but I'm excited. It's walking distance from my house and it looks good for kids.

I second the China North buffet. Or third I think. It's a really nice place. We live right near Ira's, but we go to Dear Franks (Pfingsten and Willow)

I agree that Cookers has the best fries. They are cut in store and fried perfectly.

iahawk89 wrote:I agree that Cookers has the best fries. They are cut in store and fried perfectly.

Went to Cookers yesterday and was disappointed in the fries. Limp, not crispy. Not as good as Hot Doug's regular fries or the cut fries at Scott Dogs in Lake Villa.

imsscott wrote:

iahawk89 wrote:I agree that Cookers has the best fries. They are cut in store and fried perfectly.

Went to Cookers yesterday and was disappointed in the fries. Limp, not crispy. Not as good as Hot Doug's regular fries or the cut fries at Scott Dogs in Lake Villa.

I was there the day before yesterday. 3 of us ordered 4 sandwiches. Each sandwich came with fries. With the burger, the fries were phenomenal -- hot and crispy -- almost irrestistable. With the dog, the fries were limp and cold.

So, I agree with each of you!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

imsscott wrote:

iahawk89 wrote:I agree that Cookers has the best fries. They are cut in store and fried perfectly.

Went to Cookers yesterday and was disappointed in the fries. Limp, not crispy. Not as good as Hot Doug's regular fries or the cut fries at Scott Dogs in Lake Villa.

I was there the day before yesterday. 3 of us ordered 4 sandwiches. Each sandwich came with fries. With the burger, the fries were phenomenal -- hot and crispy -- almost irrestistable. With the dog, the fries were limp and cold.

So, I agree with each of you!

=R=

My limp fries were with a dog too. What's up with that? I have to get a hamburger to get the good fries?

iahawk89 wrote:There is a new breakfast/brunch place callled Butterfield's opening where the McDonalds used to be at Sanders/Dundee. Not sure of the official date of opening. I checked out the menu online -- it's part of a chain. It looks pretty standard, but I'm excited. It's walking distance from my house and it looks good for kids.
.

Me too! I was hoping to get something great in that McD's spot but if this is marginal it'll be ok I guess.

As for Bin Hai, we went there a few times when we first moved out here 8 years ago...haven't tried since. We gave up on Baby Back too.

Has anyone tried Leonard's Bakery at the corner of Pfingston and Dundee? If so, do they have scones? Or, what would you recommend?

Leonards is an old fashion Jewish Bakery. Take this to mean good challe, good rye bread and good rolls. Coffee cakes aren't bad either. They are not kosher but are pareve so they don't use dairy products in their baking.

It is an old family bakery, grandfather around Maxwell Street or Roosevelt Road, father on Devon, son opened in Northbrook about 15 years ago.
Paulette

paulette wrote:Leonards is an old fashion Jewish Bakery. Take this to mean good challe, good rye bread and good rolls. Coffee cakes aren't bad either. They are not kosher but are pareve so they don't use dairy products in their baking.

It is an old family bakery, grandfather around Maxwell Street or Roosevelt Road, father on Devon, son opened in Northbrook about 15 years ago.
Paulette

Thanks Paulette! I'll have to check it out before my temp job in Northbrook ends...

Leonard's also has good butter cookies. But, if I head over there, I'm sure to get the extra lean corned beef sandwich from Kaboff's Deli, which adjoins Leonard's. The best corned beef I've ever had!

An excellent Jewish deli next to a great Jewish bakery, in the heart of Northbrook. (Oh, and if you're in the mood for a Blizzard, there's a Dairy Queen next door...)

Had dinner at the Northfield Penny's tonight. Beef Salad and spicy basil chicken. I asked for the chicken thai hot and I have to say it was easily the spiciest thing I've ever eaten north of Howard Street

Beef salad was mostly ok pieces of beef with cucumber cilantro green onions on a pile of cabbage, sprouts, and carrots. Basil chicken was surprisingly good, not dried out, I would compare it to a non oily slightly milder version of the stuff at Thai Grocery...I cant believe I wrote that but yeah that' was my first thought when eating it. Portion sizes were great forthe area and you cant beat the prices.

It's going to be my go to place for a quick cheap bite to eat whe n Idont fee llike trekking down to TAC or a really good place. Beats the pants off Subway and the chains.