http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/tr ... e.html?hpw

Uh-oh, NYTimes grabbed Big Star already (only about a month after opening??). I'm a little annoyed by the insinuation that Chicago didn't have any casual restaurants between our haute-temples (Alinea, Moto, etc) and Sammy's Red Hots. But as with most ny times reviews about Chicago, I'm always a little turned off by the tone.

Closed today, Sunday, at 1pm? Any ideas?

rhinopias wrote:Closed today, Sunday, at 1pm? Any ideas?

No doubt unrelated, but I just came into the thread to report that Big Star was having fire code (capacity) issues last week on multiple nights. One night we were turned away as if we arrived at an overcrowded rave (in the great tradition of Chicago nightclubs) - "nobody's going in there until a BUNCH of people come out, guys" - and that's a pretty bleak, windswept parking lot to hang out in, with no lobby or overhang at the building itself. A friend was at Violet Hour the night I then tried to return to Big Star (armed with a flashlight and earplugs), and reported that VH itself had been visited by a marshal and told to clear standers at the bar and move those in line outside, so there may have been a neighborhood check-in.

Eaterlover wrote:http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/travel/29choice.html?hpw

Uh-oh, NYTimes grabbed Big Star already (only about a month after opening??). I'm a little annoyed by the insinuation that Chicago didn't have any casual restaurants between our haute-temples (Alinea, Moto, etc) and Sammy's Red Hots. But as with most ny times reviews about Chicago, I'm always a little turned off by the tone.

Anyone without a publicist is invisible. The vast "middle ground" is mostly ethnic or tavern (or both) food here, so it doesn't register. Does a place selling $2 tacos really even fit into the middle, though? Seems a bit forced.

You can't get too worked up over the "Chicago (finally) has something new and interesting" gag. NY journalists have only been using that chestnut for 130 years.

Visited Big Star earlier this week.

I'll reiterate the positive comments on the food... Well done at a very fair price for the neighborhood. Salsas could use a bit of help.

My biggest criticism was that after i was done, I thought to myself.. "A sazerac sounds nice.. surely a place w/ a Bourbon/Rye program, and Violet Hour involvement (i think) would know how to make the oldest American cocktail"

I was wrong. I ordered a sazerac and was asked "do you want that neat, and which one??" as the bartender pulled the 2 bottles of "sazerac" rye they had behind the bar. I've had a really hard time finding bartenders outside of NOLA that know how to make a sazerac, and haven't found more than 2-3 places in Chicago in 100s of attempts, but i expected more out of this place.

I didn't even bother to explain... Just smiled and took a Rye, neat.

What didn't you like about the salsas? I found all three to be pretty interesting, though certainly not amazing.

Too bad about the Sazerac, but you have to admit there is a little room for confusion when there is a cocktail and a specific rye that share the same name. Would it have been that difficult to clarify?

ETA: The Tiny Lounge made a very good Sazerac.

Darren72 wrote:Too bad about the Sazerac, but you have to admit there is a little room for confusion when there is a cocktail and a specific rye that share the same name.

Like ordering a "martini" in Europe, and being handed a rocks glass of Martini & Rossi vermouth.

Khaopaat wrote:

Darren72 wrote:Too bad about the Sazerac, but you have to admit there is a little room for confusion when there is a cocktail and a specific rye that share the same name.

Like ordering a "martini" in Europe, and being handed a rocks glass of Martini & Rossi vermouth.

but instead of Europe, I was in an American bar that specializes in American Whiskey, and I'm pretty sure folks from the Violet hour had a hand in the liquor program, right?? Violet Hour makes a fine sazerac, and even adds a nice touch w/ their "seasonal" sazeracs.

I don't think its unreasonalbe to expect that all of the bartenders at Big Star should know how to make a Sazerac. I certainly would have no problem if i was asked "Do you want a sazerac whiskey or a sazerac cocktail?"

Not an issue that would keep me from coming back, just a slight glitch in staff training. I'm sure their bar manager would agree w/ the criticism.

Raccoon wrote:

Khaopaat wrote:

Darren72 wrote:Too bad about the Sazerac, but you have to admit there is a little room for confusion when there is a cocktail and a specific rye that share the same name.

Like ordering a "martini" in Europe, and being handed a rocks glass of Martini & Rossi vermouth.

but instead of Europe, I was in an American bar that specializes in American Whiskey, and I'm pretty sure folks from the Violet hour had a hand in the liquor program, right?? Violet Hour makes a fine sazerac, and even adds a nice touch w/ their "seasonal" sazeracs.

I don't think its unreasonalbe to expect that all of the bartenders at Big Star should know how to make a Sazerac. I certainly would have no problem if i was asked "Do you want a sazerac whiskey or a sazerac cocktail?"

Not an issue that would keep me from coming back, just a slight glitch in staff training. I'm sure their bar manager would agree w/ the criticism.

Well Big Star actually has a very limited bar: A lot of various Whiskeys (Bourbon, Rye, etc...) some good Tequilas, and not a whole lot else. I would have been shocked if they had absinthe behind the bar. And yes, Michael from the Hour did the bar program at Big Star, but the end goal there is much different than at the Hour.

SSDD

SSDD

I ordered a sazerac and was asked "do you want that neat, and which one??" as the bartender pulled the 2 bottles of "sazerac" rye they had behind the bar. I've had a really hard time finding bartenders outside of NOLA that know how to make a sazerac, and haven't found more than 2-3 places in Chicago in 100s of attempts, but i expected more out of this place.

I had a sazerac at Nightwood this week. I've only had a couple over the years, but it tasted pretty good to me.

As of tonight the takeout window is open. Not entirely sure it's the weather for it, although I enjoyed eating a couple of tacos while waiting for the blue line.

I go back and forth between which tostada I like more. Sometimes the chicken is a bit dried out, but I think it's also more flavorful overall.

Sunday afternoon/evening is a pretty solid time to go. Seems to be a big industry hangout at that time, too.

Really nothing but good things to say about the place.

The main bartender at Blue Bayou makes (made?) an exemplary Sazerac, possibly the only reason to go there at this point -- though I have not been in a while; the ever-shrinking menu and kitchen changes might have gone through yet another change and might be better now; and/or the good bartender might be long gone; buyer beware.

One way to deal with confusion is to make oneself more clear to the person who is confused. If Big Star has a drink list, a rye named "Sazerac," but not the ingredients behind the bar to make the cocktail by that name, then I don't think the barkeep's misunderstanding is too egregious.

grabbed 2 pastor and 1 pork belly at the takeout window earlier today.

Both were very good, though I thought the salsas were a bit bland and the tortillas need to be made a litte larger. There's a decent amount of filling but a 4" diameter tortilla makes it unweildy to eat vs. the standard 6".

went there and reviewed it for my site (see below).

really dig the place and hope to get back there again soon. Loved the al pastor and de panza, but the chivo tacos surprised the hell out of me.

Rock & Roll Ghost wrote:went there and reviewed it for my site (see below).

Any chance your review can be pasted from there to here, to save people from having to click through?

Not that Big Star needs another post, but if you thought that it would be a great place to avoid the Super Bowl, you would be right. I was there pre-Bowl, at around opening time at 4 pm, and plenty of seats were to be had. And no TVs, if you care about that.

Big Star for lunch (only on Fridays). Weren't many people in there, which is just stupid. The Tacos de Panza I had were the best tacos I have ever had. All the other taco varieties were very good too. Great fresh chips and salsas. I have a new Friday lunch destination.

P.S. Additional big pluses- no stinking TVs and bartenders that spin vinyl.

bigd wrote:Big Star for lunch (only on Fridays). Weren't many people in there, which is just stupid. The Tacos de Panza I had were the best tacos I have ever had. All the other taco varieties were very good too. Great fresh chips and salsas. I have a new Friday lunch destination.

P.S. Additional big pluses- no stinking TVs and bartenders that spin vinyl.

I work a block away and we've gone every Friday since they opened for lunch. They've been offering a Big Star take on chilaquiles most of the Fridays -- their take is to sub in sunnyside-up eggs for the scrambled eggs. Everyone who's had them has been pretty happy.

It's also given me a chance to try more of the menu, including the superb queso fundido and the quite good chicken thigh tostada.

n.b. at some point a while back the goat tacos changed to lamb and went from $2 to $3. The lamb version is better (much more consistently moist and tender than the goat was).

We spoke briefly to Donnie Madia on a recent visit and he said that they hope to be open for lunch every day of the week soon, probably in March.

bigd wrote:Big Star for lunch (only on Fridays). Weren't many people in there, which is just stupid. The Tacos de Panza I had were the best tacos I have ever had. All the other taco varieties were very good too. Great fresh chips and salsas. I have a new Friday lunch destination.

P.S. Additional big pluses- no stinking TVs and bartenders that spin vinyl.

What time do they open for lunch on Fridays?

Stephen wrote:

bigd wrote:Big Star for lunch (only on Fridays). Weren't many people in there, which is just stupid. The Tacos de Panza I had were the best tacos I have ever had. All the other taco varieties were very good too. Great fresh chips and salsas. I have a new Friday lunch destination.

P.S. Additional big pluses- no stinking TVs and bartenders that spin vinyl.

What time do they open for lunch on Fridays?

11:30am.

How tough would it be to get 1 seat @ the bar on a Friday night around 5:30 based on recent visits(wanting to know the same about Publican as well).

I am heading down for a night out tonight, and would like to know my chances.

Also how is street parking in this area?

jimswside wrote:How tough would it be to get 1 seat @ the bar on a Friday night around 5:30 based on recent visits(wanting to know the same about Publican as well).

I am heading down for a night out tonight, and would like to know my chances.

Also how is street parking in this area?

I'd say your chances would be pretty good for getting a seat at either place. Street parking around Publican has not been too bad; around Big Star, could be tough.

Surprisingly, that neighborhood is not as heavily zoned for parking as you'd expect given its wide range of restaurants; perhaps an alderman for once realized that actively discouraging retail and nightlife was not a growth policy. So drive into the neighborhoods behind either side of Damen and parking shouldn't be too tough to find.

Then, when the line is too long at Big Star, pop over to Las Asadas, Tierra Caliente, or Taqueria Ricardo...

thank you gentlemen. youve been a great help.

Mike G wrote:Then, when the line is too long at Big Star, pop over to Las Asadas, Tierra Caliente, or Taqueria Ricardo...

Really? What are the bourbon/beer/tequila selections like at those spots?

SSDD

About the same as when you can't get into Big Star, plus you can have some Mexican food.

Mike G wrote:About the same as when you can't get into Big Star, plus you can have some Mexican food.

I just don't look at Big Star as a place to eat, it is a bar with a good food pedigree. So if I want to go there and I can't get in, I would be looking for another bar, not a taco stand.

SSDD

Then you will not wish to take my advice!

I loathe the dining room / bar at Big Star, but do dig the takeout window, which is open late and staffed cheerily. If I want something other than a Pasadita steak taco at 11:30, it's nice to know I can get a little self-indulgent chicken tostada or gourmet pastor taco in the general vicinity*. I also enjoy the dulce de leche shakes. Plus, it's just as dark and atmosphereless in my car for visual enjoyment of the food. Mmm, invisible saltiness!

Now that everybody and their Dutch foreign exchange student has discovered Violet Hour, for which long lines build on weekend evenings like a nightclub, part of the winter amusement of Big Star window is getting your food instantly while watching inappropriately-dressed people across the street slowly freeze.

Every once in a while, a taxi will drop a party off for Big Star itself, which, like Violet Hour, still has no signage or real presence on the block. This is an actual conversation in which I participated last weekend when a party of three alighted in the broken concrete parking lot:

Drunk girl: Um, this is not the place.
Guy in sunglasses on February 28: Dude, this is the address.
Drunk girl: That's not even a restaurant.
Guy in sunglasses: there's people in that line across the street.
Drunk girl: I'm calling Kristy. <gets on cellphone>
Drunk girl: Kristy, we're looking for the taco place, and the cab driver brought us to some abandoned lot.
Guy in sunglasses: Dude, this is totally it.
Drunk girl: I'm not going in there, that's, like, some f!cking fish shack.
Guy in sunglasses <to me at the window>: Hey, is this Big Star?
Me: Yes.
Drunk girl: Whatever, I'm not going in there. What are those people across the street waiting in line for? That looks cool.
<group crosses the street>


*sure, I could go to an actual taqueria, but like the Starbucks and Pinkberry, Big Star is all about treating ourselves. We've earned it!