Need "essential" dining recommendations

Okay... new around here, but really loving you guys. :: wave ::

Anyway, I'm the organizer for the Dining Out Meetup in Chicago, and being that I don't have a ton of experience in knowing what's really great and what's not, I hoped you guys might help me out.

I'm looking for really "essential," but maybe off-the-beaten-path restaurants to try. Two main stipulations: a) Entrees should be no more than $20-25 max, if less, better, because we definitely want to sample a lot. b) Not horribly expensive parking = good, because I always drive into the city and I like free and/or cheap parking.

Also, if you guys know any great places to try in the SW suburbs, I'd love to know. I've tried just about every restaurant in Orland and I really need to branch out a bit. Thanks in advance for your help.

GreenFish wrote:
I'm looking for really "essential," but maybe off-the-beaten-path restaurants to try.

Essential? You're looking for "essential?" What a good choice of words. As explained in this post, you've stumbled across one of the LTH magic words. Use the search function for the word "essentials" and search by topic in the "eating out in Chicagoland" forum. That will get you some of them. And then keep browsing.

Here's a thread with a list of many of the more talked-about places, complete with links to where they've been discussed. Many are hole in the wall joints, etc., but it's a start, certainly.

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1606

I think maybe a better way to get a specific answer would be to pick a type of meal that you want to have next; then it's easier to think of a specific place that has the capacity, etc.

For southwest suburbs you can't beat Chuck's on 79th near Central in Burbank. It's a great, casual, inexpensive place with plenty of free parking. I love the blackened scallops. They're over a chipolte rice with crawfish etoufee. Just fabulous. They also serve traditional southern barbeque. I know there's a website but I don't have it handy. The website has the menu, daily specials complete with prices.