Coming to visit

I'm looking to come up for a visit (and scope out potential places to live for my hopefully-soon move), and definitely want some recommendations for good, yet reasonably-priced places to dine in. I'm staying with a couple around Lincoln Park, but I don't imagine location will be an issue. When I was there last, I tried Iberico for tapas, had some Greek food, and some Chinese (both were fabulous and light years ahead of what New Orleans offers in the way of ethnic fare).

I wanted to try the Berghoff and Fogo de Chao (sp?) on my friend's recommendation. We were going to try them last time, but time escaped us. I understand that Fogo de Chao is about 40 bucks a pop, so that will have to be my major dining expenditure of the trip. Is there a time at which the Berghoff offers any kind of "early Bird special", or has a kind of brunch? A local critic said that the scene there is like the "Galatoire's of Chicago", so that's why I'm asking.

Well, I welcome any suggestions, advice and ideas that any of you may have. I'd love to just eat and drink (what Goose Island's current seasonal?) my way across the town, but I'm so broke right now, that the tried and true, humble neighborhood joint would totally fit the bill just as well as the Berghoff would.

Sal Monilla wrote:I'm looking to come up for a visit (and scope out potential places to live for my hopefully-soon move), and definitely want some recommendations for good, yet reasonably-priced places to dine in. I'm staying with a couple around Lincoln Park, but I don't imagine location will be an issue. When I was there last, I tried Iberico for tapas, had some Greek food, and some Chinese (both were fabulous and light years ahead of what New Orleans offers in the way of ethnic fare).

I wanted to try the Berghoff and Fogo de Chao (sp?) on my friend's recommendation. We were going to try them last time, but time escaped us. I understand that Fogo de Chao is about 40 bucks a pop, so that will have to be my major dining expenditure of the trip. Is there a time at which the Berghoff offers any kind of "early Bird special", or has a kind of brunch? A local critic said that the scene there is like the "Galatoire's of Chicago", so that's why I'm asking.

I'd suggest going to Fogo de Chao for lunch, where you can get the exact same meat, still all you can eat, for $25/head instead of $45. Only difference is the time of day and the smaller salad bar at lunch.

The Berghoff is good, and I enjoy it, but I'm not sure it's destination dining for a visit, especially not if you're looking for good german food. If you do want a fun berghoff experience, go for lunch (again) and eat a sandwich at the stand-up bar.

You could have a lot of very good, cheap meals in the following neighborhoods/regions:

Pilsen, around 18th and racine/ashland, for mexican
Maxwell Street Market, near Canal and Roosevelt, on Sunday mornings for mexican as well.

Pretty much all of Chicago north of addison, from Kedzie to the lake, for thai, vietnamese, assorted middle eastern, korean, and indian. (keywords to search this forum for, along with those cuisines, include: "tac quick", "spoon thai", "argyle", and "devon").

hope this helps,
ed

Thanks Ed. That DEFINITELY helps. As for the Berghoff, I've NEVER had German food! New Orleans literally has no German restaurant. The one minor exception is the chef at Bella Luna, Gunter Pruess, has a seasonal "Reveillon Dinner" that touches on his German heritage. But that's IT. One of my goals when dining in Chicago is to find great ethnic fare that is practically nonexistent in Louisiana.
Thanks for hipping me to the reduced-price Fogo de Chao, too. That's what I was hoping to hear!

Other choices for likely much better german (see this thread for discussion of berghoff's fare) include Resi's, the Chicago Brauhaus, and Mirabell.

-ed

gleam wrote:Other choices for likely much better german (see this thread for discussion of berghoff's fare) include Resi's, the Chicago Brauhaus, and Mirabell.

-ed

Laschett's Inn, across the street from Resi's, is also reputed to have excellent German fare. If you've got one chance, I wouldn't use it on Mirabell's.

I've got to think that NO might be light on Polish also, if there is not one German place. Andrezj Grill is about as cheap and local as it gets. The babushka in back will be making the pierogies as you dine with Polish construction workers while they smoke and play video poker. The food is really, really good, too. Puerto Rican might be another nice cheap option. Papa's Pollo Chon is not far from Andrezj. If you've never had the ChicagoRican jibarito (steak sammy with fried plantains in place of bread) or mofongo, you are in for a treat.

Then there's all the fantastic regional Thai and Mexican that doesn't really exist much outside LA and Chicago...

And you might enjoy Colombian/Ecuadoran if you've never had it. It will not be repetitive of Fogo if you stick to seafood dishes.

All of the above can be very good and very cheap.

Fogo de Chao is great, don't get me wrong.

However, Chicago has a diversity of food offerings to rival anywhere. I wouldn't waste a visit on FdC and would instead visit any of the other small, local, and unique establishments detailed in posts here. This is a good place to start.

I can't imagine how many tamales $40 would get you at Maxwell Street...

You guys rock. This is exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks again....and keep 'em coming!!

(BTW...I can't think of ONE Polish place here. You're absolutely right, JeffB)

I was last at Goose Island a couple weeks ago and thought their beer selection was much better than usual. The standout for me was the Midway IPA on hand pump, a 7% hoppy monster. Also tried the regular tap version and it was good too. The Rye Stout was another nice brew. The Sahti is worth trying though it's not a favorite of mine. This is a juniper-scented Finnish style beer, something you don't run into very often. They also had Demolition Ale, a Belgian strong ale, which I like but didn't sample then. There are two Goose Islands, one at 1800 N Clybourn and another on Clark. I prefer the original on Clybourn. As a bonus you'll be steps from Sam's Wine, a huge and impressive store.

For German food, I'd also vote for Resi's Bierstube. But do try to make time for a visit to the Berghoff at least for some beer and/or bourbon in their beautiful old bar. If you go for lunchtime sandwiches in the bar, try to get there early, maybe by 11:30. It gets very crowded at peak lunch hour.

As for Fogo de Chao, I think lunch is now $29.50. Both the meat and salad selections are slightly smaller than at dinner but you won't leave hungry, that's for sure. If $$ is a concern, watch what drinks you order. As I recall prices are on the high side.

You got plenty of good suggestions. Argyle (SE Asian) and Devon (Indian and some Russian) are two streets especially dense with great, cheap food and much to see.

Sal Monilla wrote:I wanted to try the Berghoff and Fogo de Chao (sp?) on my friend's recommendation. We were going to try them last time, but time escaped us. I understand that Fogo de Chao is about 40 bucks a pop, so that will have to be my major dining expenditure of the trip. Is there a time at which the Berghoff offers any kind of "early Bird special", or has a kind of brunch? A local critic said that the scene there is like the "Galatoire's of Chicago", so that's why I'm asking.

I was just at the Berghoff last night. Some of the stuff was good, others so-so. I kinda agree that your best bet is the bar. Having been to both Berghoff (many, many times) and Galatoires (a few), they do have *some* nexus, but are not really that similiar. They're both old, yes, and they both have their own way of doing things. Berghoff is much more of a feeding hall, in/out, kinda place. No one is spending all day Friday eating at the Berghoff.

For many years, New Orleans had a few German restaurants. There is actually a strain of German in the New Orleans stock. I've read (I seem to recall) that the Yat accent comes partially from that German heritage, and that it was the same background of settlers in Brooklyn, which is why they Yats sound a bit like Noo Yawkers (A&A any help?). Anyways, when I lived in NOLA in the 80's there was Kolbs on St. Charles and also Chez Koln in Gretna, which had some kinda Carribean menu with its German. Neither of which I tried.

When I was there, Chinese and Thai restaurants were both weak, and Chicago is very strong in those catagories. For Chinese, I like the Shanghai style Mandarin Kitchen, and for Cantonese, Happy Chef. For Thai, I still like best, Spoon, but TAC is darn good as is Thai Avenue.

Mexican was very limited when I lived there. Is it any better now? Chicago has tons of great Mexican places in all ranges, styles and price points. Casa de Samuel, which I tried a few weeks ago, is a great option in Chicago.

All of the above places have been mentioned on these boards.

Rob

Some places you might want to try that might not have been mentioned.

Home Run Inn: for pizza, a style all it's own
Vito & Nick's: for pizza, one of THE best thin crusts in the city
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder: an upside down pie, flipped at the table, CASH ONLY, great sammies, too, on fresh baked bread. Great atmosphere, but small, so go early or late on weekends.
Moody's: fun place for a pretty tasty burger in front of a blazing fire
Stanley's: great fried catfish, with cornbread and warm hushpuppies brought to the table when you sit down, and excellent mac and cheese.

These are all "budget dining" places, I would say.

We're an opinionated bunch, but I thought I'd throw in some of my favs.
BTW, I think Fogo de Chao is awesome--all you can eat filet mignon and an AWESOME salad bar, unlike any others I've seen. Get toasted on some cheap Sangria a block away at Iberico, then head over to Fogo.

http://www.homeruninn.com/

http://vitoandnick.com/

http://www.chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/default.htm

http://www.moodyspub.com/

Stanley's Kitchen & Tap
1970 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 312/642-0007