decent quick bite near the Music Box Theatre??

any decent places to grab a good burger or sandwich by the Music Box Theatre?

Julius Meinl

cilantro wrote:Julius Meinl

where exactly is that ?

Sorry, corner of Southport and Addison (a couple blocks south of the Music Box).

thanks...2 blocks away works for me
looked up the website..looks like its mainly coffee? i assume sandwiches as well though ?

They do have a few sammidges and soups, but just eat enough dessert to fill you up instead. The black forest torte is super, and fitting for the season. Plus their assortment of teas is incredible.
D'Agostinos is across the street if you're in the mood for pizza and such.
Cullen's next door to the Box has a great mac & cheese.
There's a little shop at the north end of Southport, three or so doors down from the Box that I hear has a mighty fine sandwich, although I never tried them myself.
Good luck!

Uncommon Ground has a nice variety of sandwiches, entrees and drinks. Just a short walk from the Music Box.

http://www.uncommonground.com/menus.htm
3800 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60613
773.929.3680

Isn't that right close to Tango Sur? You could get an Argentine-style steak for what some places charge for a burger; empanadas for a quick bite.

Tango Sur‎
3763 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 477-5466

wow..lots of choices..thanks !!!!!

Toon's Bar is a great option in that neighborhood. Great burgers, wings and sandwiches. It's a couple of blocks north of the Music Box.


Toon's Bar
3857 N. Southport Ave.
(Corner of Southport and Byron)
http://www.chicagotoons.com/

Head's Red BBQ wrote:thanks...2 blocks away works for me
looked up the website..looks like its mainly coffee? i assume sandwiches as well though ?

Sandwich menu is here.

I'll second Uncommon Ground, it's more than decent.

I live very nearby. I have to say, the best bets have been covered. Tango Sur (call for a reservation), Toons for bar food, Meinl, Uncommon Ground. Directly across Addison from Meinl is the neighborhood standby, D'Agostinos for good super-thin "tavern style" pizza. Sushi, tapas, Cajun on the street are nothing towrite home about, but serviceable. Cullen's comes and goes in terms of food quality. Anyone's guess right now. Avoid the gimmicky, lowest common denominator Take Five (every item is 5 bucks! let's get drunk and gorge on bad food!). On Ashland, not too far, is the soccer bar Ginger's with its really good Irish b'fast and fish and chips. Burgers are pretty good too.

JeffB wrote:On Ashland, not too far, is the soccer bar Ginger's with its really good Irish b'fast and fish and chips. Burgers are pretty good too.

Right outside Ginger's I saw one of the few true bare-knuckled, punches-to-the-face fistfights my sheltered eyes have ever seen. It was actually kind of scary.

How was the food?

I really like Coobah just north of the Southport el. It's about five minutes away from Music Box. The food is great - a bit upscale, but a good take on pan-latin/fusion. The Shrimp Piri Piri is excellent. They also do an interesting "Jibarito" which bears no resemblence to the genuine article but is absolutely delicious nontheless. Also great drinks and atmosphere and if its nice out you can sit on their sidewalk cafe.

Coobah
3423 N. Southport
Chicago, IL

riddlemay wrote:

JeffB wrote:On Ashland, not too far, is the soccer bar Ginger's with its really good Irish b'fast and fish and chips. Burgers are pretty good too.

Right outside Ginger's I saw one of the few true bare-knuckled, punches-to-the-face fistfights my sheltered eyes have ever seen. It was actually kind of scary.

those soccer players are pretty passionate about their sport..thats for sure
and thanks to everyone for all the suggestions!

Thanks for all the suggestions - ended up going to Toons with my daughter...
good burger and fresh cut fries...

Head's Red BBQ wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions - ended up going to Toons

You get a chance to talk to Danny Beck the owner of Toons? He's an enthusiastic and knowledgeable BBQ guy.

G Wiv wrote:

Head's Red BBQ wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions - ended up going to Toons

You get a chance to talk to Danny Beck the owner of Toons? He's an enthusiastic and knowledgeable BBQ guy.

actually no..i wouldnt even know who he was if he was there...i did notice BBQ on the menu. My daughter was asking me if i was going to order any (tongue in cheek question of course)
Does he do the BBQ for the bar??

Head's Red BBQ wrote:i did notice BBQ on the menu. My daughter was asking me if i was going to order any (tongue in cheek question of course)
Does he do the BBQ for the bar??

Bill,

No idea if Danny does the BBQ for the bar. We've met a few times, not at Toon's, and had interesting spirited BBQ conversations. One of these days I will try the BBQ, though he, and I've not tried these either, says Toon's wings are killer.

Enjoy,
Gary

Toon's
3857 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
773-935-1919

will have to try the wings next time

Hey Heads Red BBQ,

Glad you enjoyed your Burger and fries! And you came on burger day so the half pounder and fresh cut fries are only $4 on Wednedays! That with all pints including Guinnes and Great Lakes Porter are $3 all day is one of the best deals in the city! But I am just the owner! To answer your question we do all the BBQ on site with a Cookshack smoker out back! Spares and Pulled Pork on the menu all the time and I do Half chickens and a Brisket sandwich from Oklahoma Joes in KC for specials! I am from Kansas and we are the Chiefs bar here in Chicago! I get a big crowd of BBQ enthusiasts during those games. We keep Gates and Arthur Bryants sauces in the fridge for those in the know! Stop in again if you are in the hood and PM me so I will make sure and be around! Thursday is wing day all day so for $2.50 you get a small basket of our Jumbo wings or a dozen for $5! As GWIV said I think they are Killer!

Danny

Danny,

Are those wings smoked?

Steve,

They are just regular old Buffalo wings that we serve with celery and blue!! We have never been a place to have a bunch of different sauces, it has been the same for the 12 years that I know! Believe it or not my first job out of Kendall was the opening of Planet Hollywood, Chicago, 1994! We used to smoke the wings and then fry them?! Not bad I guess!?? I am working on a jerk marinated smoked wing and then finished on the grill with a coconut curry sauce? What do you think?

Danny

jhawk1 wrote: I am working on a jerk marinated smoked wing and then finished on the grill with a coconut curry sauce? What do you think?

Danny,

That sounds pretty good. I'd be a fan of anyplace that serves smoked, rather than fried wings.

Mhays wrote:Isn't that right close to Tango Sur? You could get an Argentine-style steak for what some places charge for a burger; empanadas for a quick bite.

Tango Sur‎
3763 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 477-5466

I didn't know about this place! Will have to visit to relive my trip to Argentina

Have you been to Buenos Aires Forever?
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/2/10879/restaurant/West-Town/Buenos-Aires-Forever-Chicago

Had a bite at Toons before a seeing a show at the Mercury last night. Burger patty was excellent: big, loosely hand-formed meat, cooked to a juicy and flavorful medium-rare as requested. Lightly toasted bun was fresh, but too soft and weak to hold all that juice - the bottom ended up tearing to shreds, making the thing a bit of a mess to eat. Perhaps it would have benefited from some further toasting, and a shield of slathered butter. Skin-on fries tasted like real potato, and were served nicely salted, hot out of the fryer. Caesar salad was a pretty ho-hum rendition, lacking any flavor punch at all.

Washed it all down with a Mad Hatter IPA from the great tap beer list, then played a little shuffleboard in the back, before shuffling off to the show.

Toons is a casual, fun, neighborhood spot with better-than-average bar food. I'll be back to try the BBQ next time I'm looking for grub in that area.

Toons Bar & Grill
3857 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 935-1919

I know it's too late, but the sandwiches at Southport Grocery are pretty good. It's more of a cafe than a grocery store, despite the name. Though, I know they close early. A little further down the street is Winston's. I like Southport Grocery better, but Winston's is open later.