Chicago Reader's Best of 2008

The winners have now been announced and I agree with several of the editors' interesting choices (many made by LTH contributors). However, I commented in this week's media digest that some of the readers' picks seem more dubious because of selections like Potbelly as best sandwich in Chicago, etc. While it's clear that Chicago has come into its own as a food town, it's also clear that there's plenty of room for additional development.

Links to relevant lists:

2008's Best Restaurants

2008's Best Food & Drink

=R=

The editors did a very good job.

The readers disappointed me.

--Whole Foods as best wine selection, cheese shop, bakery, and fishmonger is really too much. There's an argument to be made for their cheese and fish. But I can't abide by the bakery and wine choices.

--Potbelly's as best sandwich nearly made me fall out of my chair.

Best,
Michael

I note that someone has already taken exception to my choice (actually Kate the editor suggested it, but I was happy to agree) of Uru-Swati as best vegetarian. The list of alternatives they suggest, however, seems to me to be the best argument for Uru-Swati as a vegetarian place that escapes the veg'n ghetto and stands on its own as a pretty fully flavorful ethnic restaurant.

In other words: Handlebar, give me a break.

eatchicago wrote:The editors did a very good job.

The readers disappointed me.

I think that hits the nail on the head.

Mike G wrote:I note that someone has already taken exception to my choice (actually Kate the editor suggested it, but I was happy to agree) of Uru-Swati as best vegetarian. The list of alternatives they suggest, however, seems to me to be the best argument for Uru-Swati as a vegetarian place that escapes the veg'n ghetto and stands on its own as a fully flavorful ethnic restaurant.

In other words: Handlebar, give me a break.

Mike,

You wouldn't argue about photography with a blind man. Don't argue with a vegan about what tastes good.

(Mike's Uru-Swati review plus comments)

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of U.S. (the flavors seem a little muted to me--I prefer Mysore Woodlands), but the food is fresh-tasting, the variety is unparalleled (for vegetarian options), and the onion pakoras are addictively delicious. If I had a visiting vegetarian friend, Uru-Swati would be very high on my list of places to visit. Not a bad choice at all.

Best,
Michael

Glanced at the list, I was happy to see Coalfire get the nod in the pizza category(thank god Giordano's wasnt listed). I was also happy to see both Honey 1, and Smoque listed(and thankfully not one of the many boil-b-q/bake-b-q(Carsons, Twin Anchors, etc) places on the list). In the steak category I agree with David Burkes, but strongly disagree on Gibsons. Potbelly's also sticks out like a sore thumb in the sandwich category.

Interesting reading, and choices.

Gypsy Boy wrote:

eatchicago wrote:The editors did a very good job.

The readers disappointed me.

I think that hits the nail on the head.

Although in one case, I think they did make a better choice: "Best Brunch". I'm seriously opposed to eating out for brunch, but you'd catch me at Lula long before I'd wind up at the Golden Nugget.

I think it's been said before that most of the LTHers will agree with the critics (since they're mostly LTH charter members) and feel the "people's choices" are way off. Most of what's included here has been covered over and over again on this site. They should have just outsourced the whole section as the LTH Restuarant Awards or something like it.

My only comment is that it should be called, "the Best of Chicagoland" or "Best of Chicago and Suburbs" especially if you're going to include places in Oak Park, Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood.

Nice work overall though...

Well, put me down for echoing EC's remark.

I'll add a few other things. I won't comment on the reader's choices.

Any list that has Khan as the best restaurant is way alright with me. Shoulda coulda been Gene and Judes, but I'm not complaining.

I think MikeG's got a good one with A&G, but alas, I believe there's a few better like Avenues or Andy's on Milwaukee (conceding A&G is a bit more pan Euro than the other's more Polish emphasis). I also feel a bit RSTish with these markets; I am convinced there's some great one that nobody knows yet. I am totally down with Sahar Meat.

There is only one best coffee in Chicago and that's Caffe Italia on Harlem.

Thanks for pointing this stuff out Ronnie.