Me too! I can see their front door from my livingroom window, in fact. Howdy, neighbor.

A Peruvian roast chicken place has opened in the space where Mr. Pollo used to be at 2937 W. Montrose. They were Coming Soon in early afternoon but had grand opening activity in the evening.

Another LTH'r and I just went to Urban Belly, we'll be posting a report of our visit on an "Urban Belly" thread with photos. Sadly, we only had a camera phone, but you should get the idea.

P.S. It was AMAZING

Sai Mai, the mediocre Thai place on California just south of Logan, is no more.

Walkin through Roscoe Village this evening, I see that the new locale of Sweet Thang has opened. It was around 6:45 PM and people were still buzzing around inside and out.

Sai Mai, the mediocre Thai place on California just south of Logan, is no more.

I think they may have actually moved. A few weeks ago I walked by on my way home & saw a sign saying they were moving to Diversey, around 2900 or 3000 W.

I ordered Sai Mai once at a friend's house, but prefer either Charley Thai for delivery, or I go pick up at Dharma Garden (they tend to have issues with delivery, even though I live right on Kedzie).

miss ellen

Anyone know anything about Jaipur opening on Randolph? I did a search and didn't find anything on LTH, please forgive me if there was a mention already.

It's kind of across the way from Veersaway, hope it's more authentic. From the outside decor, looks like it might be a "lunch buffet" /sit down type of place, a la India House.

I know there was a "Jaipur Palace" on Hubbard a while back, my co-workers used to call it "Diaper Palace" if that says anything about the food or the state of their stomachs afterwards. I would love this place to be somewhere where I could pick up a lunch special to go, (I work in the area) I am not too interested in sitting down for an overpriced buffet lunch with cloth napkins and all the rest. I have a feeling it will be overpriced because it's on Randolph.

LAZ wrote:Just to reiterate: There are two ways of making a Monte Cristo sandwich. Grecian diners typically make one that's like French toast with fillings. They tend to be soft and spongy at the best of times and often grease-soaked.

The Bennigan's variety, on the other hand, is deep-fried and crispy and delectable.

I'm sorry to report that the Monte Cristo from Old Timers Restaurant is the French toast variety. Very disappointing. Though they did ask me if I wanted syrup with it

Ann Fisher wrote:
I'm sorry to report that the Monte Cristo from Old Timers Restaurant is the French toast variety. Very disappointing. Though they did ask me if I wanted syrup with it

I consider the french toast variety to be the traditional preparation, often served with syrup or even more commonly served with jelly. The platonic ideal of this sandwich was served at Town & Country (R.I.P.). The one they served at TGI Bennigan's was a bastardization, though people claim to have liked it. I can't personally comment on the quality of that sandwich because, needless to say, I never go to the kind of places that serve "not food, just fun!".

challenge to LTHers: will it be possible to keep expressions of outrage regarding Steve's statement to fewer than two full pages of posts? Perhaps I can summarize here the likely cries of blasphemy:

"Steve, how can you discuss the Bennigans sandwich if you never tried it?!?!"
"Steve, first you call it bastardization, then you say you can't personally comment. Is bastardization not a comment?"
"Steve, what are your credentials for defining the platonic ideal of the revered Monte Cristo sandwich?"
"Steve, syrup is gross on a sandwich. I bet you like ketchup on your fries too!"

back in the day when I was a short order cook, the way we made a Monte Cristo was the "french toast" variety with bread dipped in a sweetened egg wash of some type & then cooked on the flat top. If the customer wanted it with jelly, or syrup, that was done after it left my griddle.

How else would a Monte Cristo be prepared if not this way? I am just curious, and have never heard of another method.

The one they served at TGI Bennigan's was a bastardization, though people claim to have liked it.

Did you mean TGIMcFunsters?

It was indeed a bastardization, a deep-fried bastardization. And I did like it - as I recall, they served it with raspberry preserves and a dusting of powdered sugar.

So in the same way that some of us can appreciate a Steak Egg & Cheese bagel sandwich from McDonalds, it shouldn't be so shocking that someone could find something worth eating at a Bennigans.

#4: "Steve, syrup is gross on a sandwich. I bet you like ketchup on your fries too!"

Syrup would be a little weird. But worth a shot.

mailsf wrote:Walked by Tapas Las Ramblas last night and noticed a very large table of diners in the main dining room. I assumed it was a run-through for friends and family, and that the opening would be soon.

I was at that table. Nothing special to report. We tried about a dozen different items, and while they were good, there was nothing that would draw me back. I found most of it a little bland. People are going to slam them for their paella, which is flavorful enough, but texturally all wrong. (Read: mushy rice and no socarrat.)

The creative team is the same that opened Twist, so if you liked that, you may like this. I'll probably return, because it's right up the street and I like the people, but I'm not bringing my pickier friends.

jimswside wrote:How else would a Monte Cristo be prepared if not this way? I am just curious, and have never heard of another method.

If you read upthread, you will see many posts referring to a deep-fried version, which apparently appeared in California in the 1950s, and was widely popularized by the Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland beginning in 1966.

I first sampled one at the Michigan Union in Ann Arbor in the 1970s.

The greasy, soggy, grilled diner version is just a bad Americanization -- or bastardization if you prefer -- of a croque monsieur.

Fulton's has been temporarily closed by the city, according to this story.

LAZ wrote:The greasy, soggy, grilled diner version is just a bad Americanization -- or bastardization if you prefer -- of a croque monsieur.

Indeed yes. My monte cristo from Old Timers was one of the worst things I've eaten in a long time. Simply abominable, though once I took the awful deli turkey off and threw it away, I was at least able to pretend the rest was just a particularly greasy grilled ham and cheese--albeit a greasy grilled ham and cheese doused with miracle whip. Never again. Which reminds me, where's our emoticon for "shudder?"

bialystock wrote:

mailsf wrote:Walked by Tapas Las Ramblas last night and noticed a very large table of diners in the main dining room. I assumed it was a run-through for friends and family, and that the opening would be soon.

A totally random aside... there are NO good Tapas places anywhere near the *real* Ramblas (in Barcelona) that I could find...!

tikibars wrote:

bialystock wrote:

mailsf wrote:Walked by Tapas Las Ramblas last night and noticed a very large table of diners in the main dining room. I assumed it was a run-through for friends and family, and that the opening would be soon.

A totally random aside... there are NO good Tapas places anywhere near the *real* Ramblas (in Barcelona) that I could find...!

I chuckled when I read that restaurant's name too . . . for the same reason. Finding a good tapas bar near the Ramblas in Barcelona is like trying to find a good restaurant on Division Street.

Consider it the equivalent of the restaurant in Madrid I saw, which was trying to evoke the romance and exoticism of the American west... and called itself Cafe Nebraska.

Kennyz wrote:challenge to LTHers: will it be possible to keep expressions of outrage regarding Steve's statement to fewer than two full pages of posts? Perhaps I can summarize here the likely cries of blasphemy:

"Steve, how can you discuss the Bennigans sandwich if you never tried it?!?!"

Because I know what a Monte Cristo sandwich is and what was described being served at this temple of puke wasn't one.

Kennyz wrote:"Steve, first you call it bastardization, then you say you can't personally comment. Is bastardization not a comment?"

I said (or at least I meant) I can't comment on the taste because I've never eaten one. Can you blame me?

Kennyz wrote:"Steve, what are your credentials for defining the platonic ideal of the revered Monte Cristo sandwich?"

Years of in-the-field Monte Cristo eating experience, plus I saw the film about its inventor, the Count of Monte Cristo on Family Classics with Frasier Thomas.

Kennyz wrote:"Steve, syrup is gross on a sandwich. I bet you like ketchup on your fries too!"

You are correct. Syrup on a sandwich is gross. I'm a jelly man myself (and sorry, no ketchup on fries...well, once in a while, but rarely.)

That should just about cover it, no?

In regards to Yat's. I used to live in New Orleans and Joe Vuskovich owned Visko's on the West Bank. It was a great restaurant when he owned it. The food was good and there was a happy vibe to the place. I tried Yat's when we were in Indy for the race last year and was impressed that he has stayed true to the New Orleans "style" of cooking. Jambalaya is authentic and so are the other dishes. I have come to avoid all the places that purport to serve "Cajun" food. I won't have a problem stopping at Yat's any chance I am in the area.

stevez wrote:That should just about cover it, no?

I sure hope so

there are NO good Tapas places anywhere near the *real* Ramblas (in Barcelona) that I could find...!

Actually, there are two in the Boqueria Mercat that are fairly well-known, Pinotxo and El Quim. We went only to the first and enjoyed a couple of the plates. There seemed to be a lot of vendors there, too. Never tried the second. Both probably close with the market.

Alhambra Cafe & Coffeehouse looks close to opening at 1622 W. Morse. That location has not fared well for past businesses: a Sweet Occasions was there a few years ago followed by a pet grooming & retail store that never opened.

Iggy's 3 is closing on Sept. 2.

LAZ wrote:Fulton's has been temporarily closed by the city, according to this story.

I was meeting someone for drinks there Thursday night. A nice woman came out and explained that they were closed for the night and maybe Friday night too. The sign was put on the Revolving door and turned so that you could only see the back from the street. This publicity fiasco probably could have been avoided if they just turned the door so you could see the sign. Kudos to Hadac and the City inspectors and punishing those who would worry more about money than keeping their customers safe.

Just saw a headline in glancing that "River North Restaurant Reopens," which I imagine is Fulton's.

riddlemay wrote:Just saw a headline in glancing that "River North Restaurant Reopens," which I imagine is Fulton's.

Here's a brief story about Fulton's reopening.

I have to say, there hasn't been a restaurant I've been to in the past three weeks, that hasn't had either fruit flies or just plain flies in it (french place in bucktown ). So, that's at least twenty places including lunch places.

nicinchic wrote:I have to say, there hasn't been a restaurant I've been to in the past three weeks, that hasn't had either fruit flies or just plain flies in it (french place in bucktown ). So, that's at least twenty places including lunch places.

Now that you mention it, I think you're right...I wonder if it has something to do with all the flooding earlier in the summer, like the influx of mosquitos we had. I've noticed the occasional flying thing at home, restaurants, even at work. Interesting.