Place to get a bite in Forest Park

Hi there! Where can Pie Dude and I get dinner around 5 on Saturday in or on the way to Forest Park? It must be inexpensive, somewhat healthy (ie, no hot dog stands), and not Thai. We're going to a haunted house afterwards, so if you know of a place that's scary good...ha ha...

Pie Lady-

Have you tried a search for Forest Park, Oak Park or Berwyn? Some options will pop up there.

Depends what you are looking for.

On Madison Street there is Skrinechops http://www.skrinechops.com Beer garden out back.

There is O'Sullivan's on Madison & Marengo (pretty good bar food, plus some surprises like real nice main meal salads). Beer garden as well

There is Healy's West Side on Madison & Circle http://www.healyswestside.com

Also on Madison is Shannahan's (Madison & Beloit area). They have poor boys, some good specials, burgers, etc.

On Roosevelt Road and DesPlaines is McGaffers Saloon (grinders, pizza, burgers). If it's nice out they have a great beer garden.

Depending on where you're coming from, GNRs Klas (scary) or the Depot (good) could hit the spot. Xni-Pec is also not so far off the Eisenhower at Cicero.

Right in Forest Park, my favorite cheaper eats are Yum Thai (ruled out), Smokin' M's barbecue, Molly Malone's for great whiskeys, sausages, and bread pudding, and I'll second Shanahan's (disclosure: owned by a family member).

But of course you have Gaetano's and Francesca's Fiore for upscale Italian (Gaetano's is one of the best in the city, in my opinion). Links for the faves:

http://www.themollymalones.com/
http://www.gaetanos.us/
viewtopic.php?t=17225 (Smokin')

Then there's always this ridiculous place:

http://www.starshiprestaurant.com/

For a spherical burger, you can also "enjoy" a Goldyburger, which somehow always makes the lists of best burgers in the city:

http://www.centerstagechicago.com/bars/ ... rgers.html

If you're in the mood for scary service, you could give Marion Street Cheese Market a try. They have good, healthy options.

And then there's the thin, greasy, fried-in-beef-tallow frys at Parky's.

Parky's Hot Dogs
329 Harlem Ave
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-366-3090

teatpuller wrote:If you're in the mood for scary service, you could give Marion Street Cheese Market a try. They have good, healthy options.

Such as cold cheese, bathed in warm cheese, lovingly breaded in dry cheese, fried in cheese oil, and liberally topped with melted cheese, and a cheese garnish, on a bed of cheese.

Or, the egg salad sandwich (which is admittedly fantastic).

stevez wrote:And then there's the thin, greasy, fried-in-beef-tallow frys at Parky's.

Parky's Hot Dogs
329 Harlem Ave
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-366-3090

Well, first of all, did not the OP ask for healthy food Second of all, Parky's has a major problem in that the rest of the menu after fries really sucks.

Cannot go wrong with Jimmy's; I'm mostly happy with Yum Thai of late. We are going there tonight to celebrate a good report for older daughter, so I'll report back. Finally, a bit further west, I really, really liked Pollo Regio, and cannot wait to return.

Finally, a bit further west, I really, really liked Pollo Regio

THANK YOU for the recent post in the Pollo Regio thread, VI! A reminder that I need to post my report. A great place (much more well-rounded than La Paisita, where I still do prefer the carbon, even if you have to wait a bit for it).

Vital Information wrote:Parky's has a major problem in that the rest of the menu after fries really sucks.

You get no argument from me there. That's why I specifically mention the fries. That's the only thing I ever get there. I learned that lesson the hard way.

The Triple Mickey is something special:

Mickey's
525 N. Harlem Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302

Have this with the fries from Smokin' M's.

Just north of there, in Oak Park there is a Pompeii bakery which is relatively cheap, and has quite a few healthy options. It's not Gaetano's by any stretch of the imagination, but it serves the purpose. It is on the corner of Lake and Harlem, just north of Forest Park.

Don't have much to add that hasn't been listed, but if you are going to the Forest Park Park District/Village Players Haunted House, I've heard it's really, really good. Afterwards stop at Brown Cow on Madison for some ice cream.

Vital Information wrote:Cannot go wrong with Jimmy's.

Fully agree. It's no Gaetano's, but it's solid red-sauce Italian, decently priced, friendly, and right in the Forest Park "theater district."

For the health conscious, try the rapini and beans.

Vital Information wrote: I'm mostly happy with Yum Thai of late. We are going there tonight to celebrate a good report for older daughter, so I'll report back.

The family and I ate mostly delicious food at Yum Thai last night, but I have to say, my love towards this place is somewhat iffy. Some of it is not their fault necessarily. I am incredibly spoiled and snobby these days when it comes to ingredients. Sure, tomatoes are slightly on the down slope now, but the ones on offer last night had rolled right off the cliff. The lettuce and green beans practically tasted the same. And at a time when I gorge about daily on fresh chilli's, the heat provided mostly from dried and pickled peppers seemed dulled and, well, flawed. On the other hand, despite these problems, the dishes mostly work. In one particular dish, a phad prik, the dried ingredient, here lime leaves, rescues the dish, providing the needed flavor boost. The bamboo salad lacks the huge dose of unami present in Thai Avenue's version, but still hit the spot. It was all gone before the night. Likewise, the standard beef salad, from its empty plate, must have been better than its meager parts. You will fine good food here.

Yum Thai is home to the original secret menu. At least the first secret menu that was widely translated for us foodies due to a yeoman work of distant correspondent known as foodfirst (with a small f) as well as the type-setting efforts of the also distant (these days it seems) Zim. For many years, the secret menu, the translation of the Thai language menu, was a crumpled piece of paper, probably the original paper dropped off by Zim many years ago. Yum Thai, realizing a good thing, eventually re-printed the menu on better paper. As of yesterday, they seemed to have re-printed it again to reflect slightly higher prices. One of the secrets though, to the secret menu, is that the prices are generally lower per dish than they are on the regular menu. Also, as long ago discovered, the same dish on the two menus may have the same name, but will result in two separate outputs. Ensure you order from the secret menu. That is, ask for the translated menu or Thai menu.

The other thing I have to confess that bugs me about Yum Thai is the mixed welcome they provide. We are certainly known enough here; known enough that upon entrance yesterday, we are immediately warned, "no Chinese broccoli today." Yet, in a near empty restaurant, we were constantly confronted with whether we were ready to order. It's not the rushing that bothers me. It's that after all these years, the work with the secret menu, the "investigative meals" with ErikM, the Chowhound dinners, etc.; I am not looking for some medal from Yum Thai, but it bugs me that our relationship seems so stand-off-ish. It just seems that they do not want to let us embrace the glories of their cuisine. There is just no sense of sharing, and that is very disconcerting.

If I just wanted to eat Thai food, I would much rather go to Thai Avenue or Spoon or Arroy or TAC, but as none of those places are remotely close to me, there are times when I will find myself at Yum Thai. The question is, a place to get a bite in Forest Park, not a place for the best Thai food. In that realm, with the advice of secret menu, I'd still answer yes to Yum Thai.

Yum Thai
7748 Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 366-8888

Vital Information wrote:The other thing I have to confess that bugs me about Yum Thai is the mixed welcome they provide. We are certainly known enough here; known enough that upon entrance yesterday, we are immediately warned, "no Chinese broccoli today." Yet, in a near empty restaurant, we were constantly confronted with whether we were ready to order. It's not the rushing that bothers me. It's that after all these years, the work with the secret menu, the "investigative meals" with ErikM, the Chowhound dinners, etc.; I am not looking for some medal from Yum Thai, but it bugs me that our relationship seems so stand-off-ish. It just seems that they do not want to let us embrace the glories of their cuisine. There is just no sense of sharing, and that is very disconcerting.

I'm with you. The vibe at Yum Thai is positively chilly. It's almost as though, because they seem to know me, they seem to like me less (hey, this happens ). I now avoid this place simply because I don't need the psychodrama. They have problems with me, and you, and other enthusiastic eaters who've championed this place in the past, okay, we're done.

Agree about the vegetables (I ask them to exclude tomatoes and baby corn entirely).

But chilly reception, I've still never received, and I'm in there every other week. As soon as I mention "Isaan," they seem to light up, and then they remember the next thing we want is Spicy Duck Curry, and then we usually explore a few other items from the Thai menu.

They've been out of sticky rice as long as I can remember, but the spicy vegetable salads, funky-charred pork and beef with garlic, and sour curries are always around and almost always good. Preparation method and recipes are all there - if the quality of the ingredients was just a notch higher (and if more in the neighborhood gave them the kind of validation that we do, or did in the past), this would be a really exceptional place. As it stands, it's my go-to, and I'm very happy for it. I think they're sweet people with a good business.

I like Jimmys Place (Italian) on Madison

Jimmy's

The Food Diva wrote:Jimmy's

Well, with a ringing endorsement like that, who could resist

Seriously, there are 3 references to something called "Jimmy's" in this thread, with but one vague description of it being "red sauce Italian". I've never been to Jimmy's. I have no idea what Jimmy's is, or where Jimmy's is. An LTH search for Jimmy's didn't help. Perhaps one of the Jimmy's proponents could provide some more info?

Kennyz wrote:

The Food Diva wrote:Jimmy's

Well, with a ringing endorsement like that, who could resist

Seriously, there are 3 references to something called "Jimmy's" in this thread, with but one vague description of it being "red sauce Italian". I've never been to Jimmy's. I have no idea what Jimmy's is, or where Jimmy's is. An LTH search for Jimmy's didn't help. Perhaps one of the Jimmy's proponents could provide some more info?

I hear what you are saying to some extent, it's place that's existed in our DNA for so long, going back to Chowhound, I can see why to some, it seems like a given, but I also see how others could or would have no idea what we are talking about.

That said, if you throw a word like forest or park into the LTH search engine, with the word Jimmy's, stuff will pop. I am especially partial to this thread, even if it recieved not much in the way of bromides or follow-up

PS: I should add that if you follow the link in the post referenced, you will find pretty much all you need to know about Jimmy's.

Jimmy's Place
7411 Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130 Map

(708) 771-7476

its a block or so west of Circle on the North side of Madsion

Kennyz wrote:

The Food Diva wrote:Jimmy's

Well, with a ringing endorsement like that, who could resist

Seriously, there are 3 references to something called "Jimmy's" in this thread, with but one vague description of it being "red sauce Italian". I've never been to Jimmy's. I have no idea what Jimmy's is, or where Jimmy's is. An LTH search for Jimmy's didn't help. Perhaps one of the Jimmy's proponents could provide some more info?

Jimmy's Place (not to be confused with the Hot Dog Stand of the same name.)

Jimmy's Place
7411 Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-771-7476

I've never been there, either. When I think Jimmy's, I think hot dogs.

Head's Red BBQ wrote:Jimmy's Place
7411 Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130 Map

Like their pizza, don't like the owner.

pamiela wrote:

Head's Red BBQ wrote:Jimmy's Place
7411 Madison St
Forest Park, IL 60130 Map

Like their pizza, don't like the owner.

"askdjfhaskdfhskdjfisdgfskdfhskdfhskdfh" would be an equally helpful post for anyone trying to figure out whether to eat at Jimmy's.

Well, Kenny, I personally aasdkhjhfokhasdfh ppggk.

Which is to say - you're not going to dig it as much as Gaetano's, I guarantee. But like Gaetano's, both Jimmy's and Francesca's Fiore have done a lot with that vintage Forest Park package-goods storefrontery, and Jimmy's in particular has a fun sprawling character with lots of old exposed wood. Pizza is slightly breadier and blander than Vito and Nick's or Aurelio's, but more in that savory-crisp old oven vein than your standard corner thin with no-texture crust and congealed cheese. Pastas are very simple and not made in house (gnocchi, maybe), but sauces are slow-simmered and pretty flavorful, especially the vodka sauce. Braciole and rapini are textbook and the martinis (generously vermouthed, the way I like 'em) are nice, especially with the bleu olives extolled by VI.

Give me a holler if you're making a trip this way and maybe we can pull together a progressive Madison/Lake red sauce run, ending in Melrose Park for some neckbone gravy.

After reading this thread i hit both Jimmy's Place and Yum Thai.

Yum Thai - nothing special in any of the 3 items i tasted. The cashew chicken was overly sauced, and nothing more than standard fare. . if not less than standard fare. Sparse smattering of cashews, too. The egg rolls were unremarkable in both taste and ingredients. In fact, they were so full of carrots, that you could smell the orange critters before you even took a bite. I will return a couple of times and sample from the secret menu.

Jimmy's Place - my friends loved the meatball sammy and the vodka sauce in a coworker's plate was fantastic. However, my brasciole (spelling?), a dish of pounded steak rolled and baked with ricotta and tomoato sauce, was bland and flavorless. This really surprised me since i'd heard from coworkers that this was the dish to get.

Any word on Jimmy's veal parm?

Veal parm and anything with vodka sauce are my faves at Jimmy's (along with the pizza). I haven't been as enamored with the braciole.

Do definitely give Yum another shot for the secret menu. My standard order:

- Isaan (northern) sausage
- fried tofu
- papaya salad
- char-grilled pork (sometimes they'll even do the neck for you)
- beef with garlic salad
- spicy sweet duck curry
- sour jungle curry (usually with beef or Thai eggplant)

Make sure you order everything without baby corn and carrots and they'll get the picture you want Thai authentic and not Ameri-Cantonese.

Ghazi wrote:
Jimmy's Place - my friends loved the meatball sammy and the vodka sauce in a coworker's plate was fantastic. However, my brasciole (spelling?), a dish of pounded steak rolled and baked with ricotta and tomoato sauce, was bland and flavorless. This really surprised me since i'd heard from coworkers that this was the dish to get.

Any word on Jimmy's veal parm?

wow i am surprised as that is one of my favorite dishes there..have yet to try the veal parm

We tried Klas - and that place is so cool and tasty, we're planning to go back with our peeps. We wished we had longer to look around - it was like eating in a museum.

I wish I brought my camera, but this is what we had:
*The sausage platter appetizer. I'm not too well steeped in sausagism, but it tasted a bit like greasy kielbasa (greasy=good in this case), smothered in onions and served with this bread. It tasted like it was slices of rye(?), deep fried in butter, topped with butter, crisped in the oven and and basted in butter. My arteries hate me but my tongue cries out for more.
*Liver Dumpling Soup. People have mentioned this in other threads, and it is as super as they say. It was so rich and hearty (and a little salty) that they must have steeped a cow in beef stock. I could subsist on just this soup and the sausage platter.
*Goulash. They don't really give you much in the way of beef cubes, and Pie Dude thought it was a little dry (I thought it was fine), but it was plenty. I couldn't finish the bread (dumplings?) that came with it. And that paprika gravy! It was rich, not too thick, and lightly spicy. Can't wait to return. Thanks for the suggestion, Santander!