quick trip report from a chicago visitor

Spent a week in your lovely town and did a fair amount of good eating, both places I've enjoyed before (Hopleaf, Publican, Lou Malnati's, Intelligentsia) and new places for me (Blackbird, Naha, Al's, etc.).

First, a breakdown, then a bit more detail...
Highly recommended - The Publican, Weiner's Circle, Intelligentsia, Hop Leaf, Moto
Recommended - Blackbird, Frontera Fresco, Wow Bao, Al's Italian Beef, Lou Malnati's, Quartino, S&G Diner
Not bad - Naha, Mario's Italian Lemonade, Bin 36
Not so much - Water Tower food court

So, a bit more detail...
I hit Intelligentsia just about every day for a cortado or a valrhona mocha or just plain great coffee. The best Chicago dish of the trip was the char dog at Weiner's Circle. The coolest dish of the trip was the cuban cigar at Moto. The best bread of the trip? Publican. Best beer pairing of the trip? MOTO! in a surprise win over Hop Leaf and the Publican.

On the cheap end - in addition to a great chicago dog at Wieners Circle, I loved Wow Bao's coconut ginger chocolate bun, awesome snack. The savory buns at Wow Bao were good (thai curry, pork bbq), but the chocolate was flat out amazing. Frontera Fresco made for a nice taste of Rick Bayless' take on Mexican - had a taco and the tortilla soup, both very good. Malnati's is always a good Chicago deep dish. And an italian beef at Al's (dipped, w peppers) was good but not quite as great as expected (give me Mother's debris in NOLA or a good Philly cheesesteak instead, sorry Chicago).

On the high end - Moto delivered with tons of fun, creativity, and deliciousness. The cuban cigar? Crazy. The mexican cannoli with duck and mole? Love it. The chocolate bomb with marshmallow lit fuse? Awesome. I've eaten at WD-50 in New York, and Moto blows it away (based on one meal at each).

Blackbird had lots of hits and one or two misses, but was a really enjoyable meal with some really interesting flavor combinations.

Naha was up and down for lunch - why anyone would get their popular fried chicken salad there is beyond me - the chain Houston's (do they have that in Chicag?) does it much better - but we had a really nice duck confit with crispy duck skin.

All the pics I took at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaplanbr/s ... 188725033/ - both food and the city.

OH, and thanks for all the insights on this board, great stuff.

Great summary and pictures. It sounds like you had a great time in Chicago. Come back often, there's more to eat...

Excellent photography!

I haven't had a hot dog in almost 20yrs but I remember the amazing Char Dog at the Weiner Circle. Back then they even made an amazing milkshake. For years I would go and ask for the milkshake and they would reply that the machine wasn't fixed yet. Finally, I realized it never would be.

On your next visit, hit the Brown Sack for sure, along with Lula Cafe.

pairs4life wrote:Back then they even made an amazing milkshake. For years I would go and ask for the milkshake and they would reply that the machine wasn't fixed yet. Finally, I realized it never would be.

I was warned that if you came at night, beside the verbal abuse, you could get an interesting show by ordering a "chocolate milkshake" - any witnesses out there???

By the way, during the daytime, the staff could not have been nicer or more friendly. We came with a big group and they handled our monster order perfectly.

Not to stir up argument, but there's a thread on that subject here.

biskuit, you have impressed me with your first-time out-of-towner aplomb. I don't know how often you're in town, but when you are, I hope you post about it. (you can even post your pictures hereif you'd like, they're beautiful)

Even if you're not in Chicago, we have a board for other parts of the world here. Hope to see more from you!

Biskuit,

You have not impressed me by your reference to the "chocolate milkshake."

*edited to remove additional vitriol.

Habibi wrote:Biskuit,

You have not impressed me by your ignoramus reference to the "chocolate milkshake."

Habibi, no offense meant on my part - I was not aware of the controversy of Wiener's Circle and its patrons. I only brought it up because someone (our cab driver) gave us that story as a humorous anecdote.

By the way, NOLA is New Orleans, LA. I'm not from there, but was comparing one of their famous sandwiches to one of Chicago's famous sandwiches.

*also edited to remove vitriol! ; )

biskuit, to answer your questions, yes, the "chocolate shake" thing does happen. Yes, I have witnessed it. No, I don't care to witness it again

As a few mentioned in the thread that Mhays linked above, Wiener's Circle tends to get a bit raucous after 10pm or so, but the food does hit the spot after one has had a drink too many...I personally like to get in, get my food, and get out, where I can enjoy it in relative peace at one of the picnic benches outside.

*Edited to reflect other edits - portions removed did not affect/further the thread in any way

Sorry gents. I just think the chocolate milkshake thing is extremely distasteful, and I have a high threshold for distasteful shit. I probably overdid it with the first post, but that's why I edited it.

Wiener's Circle tastes great at 3am but I have stopped going there because me, alcohol and yuppies do not make a friendly mix.

Eating there during the day, and without the benefit of being soused was unimpressive. The fries were limp and greasy tasting, and the burger was a pre-frozen mess.

I'd certainly go back if there was a chance that some of those darling frat-holes would give me a vanilla milkshake, though.

Habibi wrote:Sorry gents. I just think the chocolate milkshake thing is extremely distasteful...I'd certainly go back if there was a chance that some of those darling frat-holes would give me a vanilla milkshake, though.

I'm with you on the chocolate milkshake thing.

And it's funny you mention "vanilla milkshake"...a (rather large) guy I know did just that a few years back. When some drunk asked for a "chocolate milkshake", he stepped in front of the ordering window, faced the crowd, yanked his shirt up to his chin, and shouted, "They're all out of chocolate, so here's some vanilla!" He then shook like he was attached to one of those old-fashioned vibrating weight-loss belt thingies.

Part of the drunk crowd went wild, part ran for the door, and the rest averted their eyes & decided to focus on their food, but the ladies behind the counter loved it - Mr. "Vanilla Milkshake" ate for free that night.

Biskuit, if you get a chance, I'd be interested to hear what you didn't like about the Water Tower Food court. I have't been for years but I always like foodlife.

The Water Tower food court wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either. Of course, there is an overwhelming number of things to choose from, and I'm sure there are good choices to be made. We had a couple of salads - mine had a lousy version of an Italian dressing that ruined it. And a sushi roll, standard grocery store sushi quality. And my daughter had some decent chicken noodle soup. So, good for choice, but as far as our choices went, not so good on the tasty-meter. The chocolate coconut thingy downstairs at Wow Bao made up for it though.

Oh, the thread below reminded me, we also ate at Mccormick and Schmick's on Wacker, mainly to be outside on a lovely Saturday night. The food was forgettable and I'd put it in the "not so much" camp - not very good shrimp cocktail, barely cooked plain broccoli, heavily salted grilled trout. Add a ridiculously marked up bottle of cheap pinot grigio and I almost regret spending that hour and a half hanging out by the river. Oh, the bread was not too bad, a nice sourdoughy type, served warm.

Khaopaat wrote:
And it's funny you mention "vanilla milkshake"...a (rather large) guy I know did just that a few years back. When some drunk asked for a "chocolate milkshake", he stepped in front of the ordering window, faced the crowd, yanked his shirt up to his chin, and shouted, "They're all out of chocolate, so here's some vanilla!" He then shook like he was attached to one of those old-fashioned vibrating weight-loss belt thingies.

Just want to point out that the move performed by your friend was not a "Vanilla Milkshake" but rather a "Truffle Shuffle".

Jamieson22 wrote:

Khaopaat wrote:
And it's funny you mention "vanilla milkshake"...a (rather large) guy I know did just that a few years back. When some drunk asked for a "chocolate milkshake", he stepped in front of the ordering window, faced the crowd, yanked his shirt up to his chin, and shouted, "They're all out of chocolate, so here's some vanilla!" He then shook like he was attached to one of those old-fashioned vibrating weight-loss belt thingies.

Just want to point out that the move performed by your friend was not a "Vanilla Milkshake" but rather a "Truffle Shuffle".

Good clarification, Jamieson. The inspiration for a friend's fantasy football team's name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5whaRkuipU

Jamieson22 wrote:Just want to point out that the move performed by your friend was not a "Vanilla Milkshake" but rather a "Truffle Shuffle".

What Jamie doesn't say is that he was the performer that evening!


Kidding here...