Steak And Lemonade (?)

Been driving through some of the more intersting parts of town lately and seeing "Steak & Lemonade" places popping up. I'm going to assume these are for Philly Cheese Steak sammiches, and Italian ice (lemonade?)
Am I way off?

I did a quick search, please forgive if I missed something

I hope they are Philly Steak places, that is the one thing I have not found a decent version of in Chicago(and yes I have been to Phillys Best, and they are not very good imho).

I'd drive miles to get a good Philly Steak.

I'd drive miles to get a good Philly Steak.

That'll be about 780 of them to be exact.

jbw wrote:

I'd drive miles to get a good Philly Steak.

That'll be about 780 of them to be exact.

In June I am making a detour through Philly on the way to or from Hilton Head.

Driving? That's an expensive detour for a sandwich.

These steak and lemonade places are the subject of a study by an LTH scholar who will post about them at some point in the future, I'm sure (don't mean to be too mysterious, but I don't want to spill anyone's candy in the lobby).

Are we talking about Baba's Famous Steak and Lemonade?

I have driven by a couple of them but didn't stop to go in. There are quite a few around (4) and are opeing up another one.

Can't wait for the report.

gp60004 wrote:Are we talking about Baba's Famous Steak and Lemonade?

I have driven by a couple of them but didn't stop to go in. There are quite a few around (4) and are opeing up another one.

Can't wait for the report.

Baba's seems a very visible representative of this "genre," but there seem to be many dozens of similar places scattered around Chicagoland, some with names quite similar to Baba's. I noticed these a year or so ago, but apparently they've been around for some time.

"Steak & Lemonade" places seemed to pop up around the South Side in early 2006, just before I moved out of Hyde Park. I think many of them opened up in former locations of "fish & chicken" places, with quite a lot of menu overlap.

Soon after it opened, I tried a Philly steak at a Baba's on 87th and Cottage Grove (I think it was a former Captain Hook's Fish & Chicken location). From what I remember, the sandwich was on par with that of Philly's Best, but the fries clearly tasted like they had been cooked in the same oil as the fish. I can imagine that, after two years of no longer being a fried-fish place, this is no longer a problem.

Incidentally, the U of C started serving "Philly cheese steak" at Hutchinson Commons (one of our campus dining facilities) around this time. It came on a Rosen's poppy-seed hot dog bun. Now, I'm no Philadelphian, but to me this seemed tantamount to serving a Maxwell Street Polish on a folded-up slice of Wonder Bread.

Cogito wrote:Driving? That's an expensive detour for a sandwich.

yes, driving. Did the same a few years ago.

Heck I drive 150+ miles round trip for lunch @ Honey 1, or Sun Wah BBQ

Evan B. Druce wrote:"Steak & Lemonade" places seemed to pop up around the South Side in early 2006, just before I moved out of Hyde Park. I think many of them opened up in former locations of "fish & chicken" places, with quite a lot of menu overlap.

Soon after it opened, I tried a Philly steak at a Baba's on 87th and Cottage Grove (I think it was a former Captain Hook's Fish & Chicken location). From what I remember, the sandwich was on par with that of Philly's Best, but the fries clearly tasted like they had been cooked in the same oil as the fish. I can imagine that, after two years of no longer being a fried-fish place, this is no longer a problem

Ive been to Baba's a few times, I belive it was one far south but I dont remember where, they are mostly scattered throughout the south side. The description above seems pretty dead on...I thought the sandwich was better than the cheesesteak offered by Philly's best or Hoagie Hut. I would like to point out I have never been to Philly so I havent had a "real" cheesesteak. The star if the show at baba's for me was the lemonade, it wasnt Italian ice, just fresh squeezed lemonade that really hit the spot that summer day.

Aside from Baba's there are many different places offering the "steak & lemonade" pair...I saw at least 3 or 4 on my way to J's fresh meats for these delta tamales.

My older daughter loves Baba's and asks for it regularly. I just can't bring myself to eat there very often -- I really like the lemonade and the sandwich is o.k., but it has an unfortunate gastric effect on me that I would prefer to avoid. So, we rarely eat there. The one closest to us is the one on 183rd Street in Country Club Hills. FWIW, the place is always crowded.

Suzy

jimswside wrote:Heck I drive 150+ miles round trip for lunch @ Honey 1, or Sun Wah BBQ

That's gotta be $50 or more in gasoline? Where do you live? No good BBQ closer to you?

I had never heard of "Steak and Lemonade" places before this thread and then today as I was sitting at the light at 162nd and Cottage Grove I saw a sign for Firehouse Steak & Lemonade. Across the street was a Rally's which I also had not seen here before. I had eaten at a Rally's in Louisiana quite a while ago and I seem to remember their Fries which I believe were seasoned and battered were quite good.

Unfortunately I did not have the time to stop at either but will be in the area again next week.

Marshall K wrote:I had never heard of "Steak and Lemonade" places before this thread and then today as I was sitting at the light at 162nd and Cottage Grove I saw a sign for Firehouse Steak & Lemonade. Across the street was a Rally's which I also had not seen here before. I had eaten at a Rally's in Louisiana quite a while ago and I seem to remember their Fries which I believe were seasoned and battered were quite good.

Unfortunately I did not have the time to stop at either but will be in the area again next week.

Weird, I was trying to think of the other popular "steak and lemonade" spot that I see all over the place and thats what it is, firehouse. Even weirder I was just thinking about Rally's and wondering if the reason I like them is b/c I used to eat there as a kid. Back in the late 80's early 90's I remember there being alot of Checkers/Rally's, which are owned by the same people. I always stop for a Rally burger and fries at the drive-thru at the Michigan City and South Holland locations.

FYI northsiders: There's a Firehouse Steak and Lemonade at the strip mall on the southwest corner of Ashland and Roosevelt. I think this is the furthest north. I stopped in once for, of all things, a gyro. Not that good, but, of course, not the specialty. Maybe I'll swing by again some night when I'm dining solo.

This location shares a space with a fried fish place, and the fries get a kind of lemon pepper blend that I think goes on the fish, too. It was tasty for the first couple bites, but got old very fast.

Cogito wrote:

jimswside wrote:Heck I drive 150+ miles round trip for lunch @ Honey 1, or Sun Wah BBQ

That's gotta be $50 or more in gasoline? Where do you live? No good BBQ closer to you?

other than from my smoker, unfortunately no.


I live out by Starved Rock. 70 miles west of the city. i work in the suburbs, and drive 150 miles a day for work, so driving a little for food is no big deal.

There is a steak and lemonade place-I don't know the name- in the strip mall at North Ave. and Ridgeland in Oak Park. It occupies the space formerly used by AP deli. In the team spirit, I will try it for lunch next week and report back.

thick wrote:There is a steak and lemonade place-I don't know the name- in the strip mall at North Ave. and Ridgeland in Oak Park. It occupies the space formerly used by AP deli. In the team spirit, I will try it for lunch next week and report back.

David Hammond wrote:These steak and lemonade places are the subject of a study by an LTH scholar who will post about them at some point in the future, I'm sure (don't mean to be too mysterious, but I don't want to spill anyone's candy in the lobby).

Did these visits / reports ever materialize? I've noticed a few other outposts and several recent mentions on the site but am still curious about the origin and relative value of the offerings in this genre.

Santander wrote:

David Hammond wrote:These steak and lemonade places are the subject of a study by an LTH scholar who will post about them at some point in the future, I'm sure (don't mean to be too mysterious, but I don't want to spill anyone's candy in the lobby).

Did these visits / reports ever materialize?

Not to my knowledge, but I can say no more.

HI,

I may speaking out of turn, the scholar has commented there has been a shake out in the Steak and Lemonade category. Given his tendency for thoroughness, it may mean a trip to verify the places documented are still open or if they have changed ownership and name, then do they remain in the same business or doing something else. Dynamic times like these are just ripe for unintended mis-information.

Regards,

I have tried the Firehouse PS&L last year west of Central on Roosevelt and while not as good as some it was an edible sandwich. I think we tried the chicken and the beef. The lemonade was Italian but premeasured into cups and frozen solid. Talking with the owner he mentioned he was going to try to open a location on North Ave at Ridgeland.

Firehouse Steak & Lemonade‎
5646 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60644
(773) 626-0600

I have noticed the continued openings of these places though and I can understand it would be a challenge to keep up and post a comprehensive review.

Just a few weeks ago I spotted another on the west side of Cicero south of Lake...

A couple of times when I have had to exit off I-80 in Joliet due to crashes on the bridge that goes over the river I have driven by a Steak and Lemonade place next to a fried fish/chicken outpost in a strip mall. Its in a shady neighborhood but I plan on making a stop at these establishments once the weather breaks, and I can get some carryout. I am always searching for a decent philly steak.

I would be interested in the study mentioned upthread on other locations of this style of restaurant.

Panther in the Den wrote:Talking with the owner he mentioned he was going to try to open a location on North Ave at Ridgeland.

There's already a Steak and Lemonade (?) place there!

I've been to the Firehouse on Roosevelt, the Baba's that was on Ceramak and Michigan(now closed) and a place that's name I can't recall in the strip mall at Cermak and Ogden. They all seem like takes on Hogie Hut, but not as good. Not what I would call a Philly steak at all, but weird "chicago steak hogie". I miss the Hogie Hut on Western near Addison. I thought they had the best food service type fries I've ever eaten. If you're looking for an authentic Philly steak don't bother - Philly's best is much closer, and they aren't even close (I still like them anyway).

mrefjl wrote:....... but weird "chicago steak hogie".

It has been five or six years since I tasted Home of the Hoagie's steak hoagie and I still shudder at the very thought. Think Manwich coated ground meat with an additional cup and a half of sugar, not to mention the impossibly sugar sweet green pepper pickle on top of the sandwich.

Home of the Hoagie is one of ReneG's history stops, very cool for it's place in the neighborhood, which ReneG/Peter Engler will have to elaborate upon, but the sandwich is not something I care to try again.

Steak Hoagie from Home of the Hoagie (1312 W 111th St)



Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

mrefjl wrote:....... but weird "chicago steak hogie".

It has been five or six years since I tasted Home of the Hoagie's steak hoagie and I still shudder at the very thought. Think Manwich coated ground meat with an additional cup and a half of sugar, not to mention the impossibly sugar sweet green pepper pickle on top of the sandwich.

Home of the Hoagie is one of ReneG's history stops, very cool for it's place in the neighborhood, which ReneG/Peter Engler will have to elaborate upon, but the sandwich is not something I care to try again.

Steak Hoagie from Home of the Hoagie (1312 W 111th St)



Enjoy,
Gary

Eating one right now. MMM.....