Gale Street Inn - Mundelein

Long time reader of the Lthforum, but never posted, (though more since I felt I didn't have much to add over the great posts by other posts), until I feel I have to now, though not for a good reason.

I recently moved to Lake County, so me and the wife (or the wife and me), got our first night out without the family last night. Don't know the area yet, but figured we'd try something safe, that we knew from Chicago proper, Gale Street Inn. Now, I had read that the one in Mundelein isn't under the same ownership as the one in Chicago, but figured it couldn't be that bad. Wrong.

Mind you, we went for a later (for us) dinner reservation, so perhaps that contributed (but doesn't excuse it). When we first walked in, it seemed nice, clean, and the staff was friendly, but it was really pretty empty. And for a Saturday night, we were a little surprised. But, again, we're new to the Lake County suburbs, so maybe it's normal, or maybe the economy is affecting people's dinner plans more than I'd thought, (or maybe the locals know something we didn't ) anyone?

We ordered the special, half-slab of ribs and shrimp stuffed w/ crab, came with the salad bar along with a side (got a baked potato and, for the heck of it, the potatoes au gratin).
Also, I got a guiness draft on special for $4.

For those of you who care, the Guiness was ok, a bit of bitter aftertaste, and frankly I'd never of thought about the beer, except I was just in NYC, and ordered a Guiness at the Pig n' Whistle on 3rd ave, and it was the highlight of my very short trip, smooth and soo good, without a bitter aftertaste (and I'm not a beer guy at all)... anyway, I digress...

The salad bar was the highlight, and kept clean and stocked by a watchful attendant. It has been years (too many) since I've been to a place with a salad bar. No connoisseur, but I liked the creamy garlic dressing.

The bread rolls were warm, but just ok.

Now for the reason for this missive, the main course. The food arrived, and I was a little bit surprised that the shrimp was battered and fried (with the crab stuffing), since it wasn't listed or described as such on the menu, but fine, I didn't ask, so my bad. However, also bad was the shrimp. The creamy crab stuffing seemed undercooked (possibly frozen with the shrimp?). And the shrimp itself was underdone. Not good, cause how long does it take to fry a shrimp?

Now for the worst, mind you, over the course of the last year, I have tried many a different BBQ joint, from all over KC, to Smoque to Gale Street Chitown (which while sometimes inconsistent, I've always sorta liked.. call me a rube, but I like the fall off the bone meatiness of them). These however, were the fattiest ribs I've even bitten into, almost inedible, and I don't mean gristly fat, I mean fat fat. Since both the wife and mine apparently came from the same slab, we asked the waitress if these were typical (maybe that's how people like them up here, who the heck am I). She said the shouldn't be, and promptly went to get us another slab (so service is very nice). By the time she returned, we were rather queasy from both the shrimp/crab thing and the rib, so just boxed the new ribs to go (though frankly they didn't look much better than the one's we got originally and have yet to try them). Maybe it was an off night for the cook, but we don't plan to return.

Anyway, I had to get that out of my system (literally and figuratively.. badumbum), again, it may be that ours was just a bad night since the inlaws have been there for lunch and liked the food.

I haven't been to Gale Street, but don't despair -- there are good restaurants up that way (Mundelein and Vernon Hills), so you won't go hungry. And the good restaurants I've tried have always been bustling, so I don't think it's the economy. That said, I've been dining on weeknights. Maybe weekends die a bit. I know that's why a lot of suburban restaurants don't open for lunch. But it sounds from your report as though it might not be because of the night you chose.

Sorry you had such an unpleasant experience -- especially as the people were so nice -- I always want to like a place if the people are friendly.

memyselfandi23 wrote:
I recently moved to Lake County, so me and the wife (or the wife and me)

Since you asked (more or less), it's "the wife and I".

I've been to both the Chicago and Mundelein locations of Gale Street Inn, but it's been several years, so I don't remember what I thought of either.

Las Palmas Restaurant is pretty decent suburban Mexican. Mr. Maki really loves their pork in red pepper sauce. We've also been to the Buffalo Grove location and their version isn't nearly as good.

Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
26228 N IL Rte 83
Mundelein, IL 60060-3432
Phone: (847) 949-7900

Rule of thumb for the me/I- take the other person out of the sentence, and however you'd say that determines whether it's me or I.

For example:

"I went to the store" = "Mary and I went to the store."
"Bob went with me to the store" = "Bob went with me and Mary to the store."

abe_froeman wrote:
"Bob went with me to the store" = "Bob went with me and Mary to the store."

That would be "Bob went with Mary and me to the store." The personal pronoun is always last.

stevez wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:
"Bob went with me to the store" = "Bob went with me and Mary to the store."

That would be "Bob went with Mary and me to the store." The personal pronoun is always last.

If this is what the conversation's gonna be like, Kenny's not going to the store with any of you.

If "going to the store" is a euphemism for what I think it is, I don't even want to go with Kenny, although Mary might be OK.

Kennyz wrote:

stevez wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:
"Bob went with me to the store" = "Bob went with me and Mary to the store."

That would be "Bob went with Mary and me to the store." The personal pronoun is always last.

If this is what the conversation's gonna be like, Kenny's not going to the store with any of you.

I'm trying to say something nice about Gale Street, and this is the best I can do.

LOL! Thanks for the correction- I was wondering about that myself, but wasn't sure if it was even wrong.

stevez wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:
"Bob went with me to the store" = "Bob went with me and Mary to the store."

That would be "Bob went with Mary and me to the store." The personal pronoun is always last.

Perhaps it's stylistically preferred, but grammatically there's nothing wrong with abe's construction.

Binko wrote:Perhaps it's stylistically preferred, but grammatically there's nothing wrong with abe's construction.

Not according to Mrs. Cingranny, my 7th grade teacher. Of course, she also taught us that when you picked up the phone the "hello" was implied and need not be spoken, so I guess she was a bit of a loon.

But which makes the better song lyric:

"Me and my mate were back at the shack,
we had Spike Jones on the box"

Or

"My mate and I were back at the shack...."

stevez wrote:Not according to Mrs. Cingranny, my 7th grade teacher. Of course, she also taught us that when you picked up the phone the "hello" was implied and need not be spoken, so I guess she was a bit of a loon.

Oh, some of my teachers have mentioned that "rule" before, but I've learned that a good bit of what I was taught about grammar in elementary and high school was, at best, incomplete or, at worst, completely wrong.

I have a firm opinion on this off-topic topic, but I'll refrain from voicing it here, since it seems better suited to another forum, made up entirely of recreational grammarians, where I spend a lot of time.

But back to the topic - I live in Mundelein, and Gale Street Inn is there, and it's okay, and I guess in the last 10 years or so I've wound up eating there maybe half a dozen times. It's okay. It's fine. Used to be a more hap'nin place. It's much quieter now, but it still offers a decent prime rib and a lovely evening view of Diamond Lake.

memyselfandi23 wrote:These however, were the fattiest ribs I've even bitten into, almost inedible, and I don't mean gristly fat, I mean fat fat. Since both the wife and mine apparently came from the same slab, we asked the waitress if these were typical (maybe that's how people like them up here, who the heck am I). She said the shouldn't be, and promptly went to get us another slab (so service is very nice). By the time she returned, we were rather queasy from both the shrimp/crab thing and the rib, so just boxed the new ribs to go (though frankly they didn't look much better than the one's we got originally and have yet to try them). Maybe it was an off night for the cook, but we don't plan to return.

Well I was last there in 1982 and it must have been an off night back then also. Sorry to read that not much has changed in 26 years. I remember that queasy feeling, from here and other baked or boiled rib type establishments, and it helped get me on the path to ribs much more to my liking.

As a Child we visited the Gail Street In In Chicago many times, years ago when we moved to Fox Lake I visited the Mundelein location....needless to say I have NEVER gone back! I am amazed to hear that its actually still there.

Having moved up this way 12 years ago, I've been somewhat disappointed at the lack of culinary diversity, except for Mexican fare. But recently our office has moved back to my actual hometown of Skokie, an ethnic Mecca, so at least during the day, all is right with the world. I've been in a weekly rotation of Thai (Tub Tim Thai), Korean (Korean Restaurant), Assyrian (Larsa's), Vietnamese (Ben Tre), and---once they open up again--Afghan (Kabul House). Amazing diversity, and cheap & flavorful to boot.

Gale Street Inn was housed in a beautiful structure overlooking Diamond Lake until a few years ago--now it's across the street, but the food has remained decidedly unremarkable throughout.

Actually, the only go-to restaurant in all of Mundelein is Park Street. It's been open about seven years, and this tiny place has really hit its stride. More of a bistro than anything else, I would say. Steaks, seafood, side dishes, all prepared with care, and a very decent wine list.

http://www.parkstreetdining.com

Park Street
14 E. Park St.
Mundelein, IL
(847) 949-1900

Speaking of Park Street, has anyone tried their Pizza Pot Pies? One of my neighbors raves about them but I'd like another opinion.

Now we're drifting, but, what do you who've tried it think of the prices at Park Street? A group of ladies I get together with once a month or so for dinner has contemplated a meeting there, but the buzz-to-entree-price ratio has not been persuasive so far.

Karma, in the Crowne Plaza is an excellent restaurant whose sophisticated interior belies its Mundelein location. Their logo says "Asian Food", and that was a valid appellation when they first opened, but now it seems more like Asian influenced American food. In any case, me highly recommend it.

http://www.karmachicago.com/

scottsol wrote:Karma, in the Crowne Plaza is an excellent restaurant whose sophisticated interior belies its Mundelein location. Their logo says "Asian Food", and that was a valid appellation when they first opened, but now it seems more like Asian influenced American food. In any case, me highly recommend it.

http://www.karmachicago.com/

I have not been here since the chef changed, but I agree it's worth visiting just for the decor. This has to be the most peaceful restaurant in the Chicago area. Lovely place.