Graham Elliot Bowles grahamwich

Per ChefGEB's Twitter feed:

Graham Elliot Bowles grahamwich = sandwiches, snacks, sodas, soft serves. spring 2010, river north, am/pm hours. http://www.grahamwich.com is coming soon, stay tuned.

I'd be willing to bet the man makes a mean sandwich.

Grahamwich
615 N. State
Chicago, IL

I also heard that at some point in 2010 and 2011, there may be a new Mexican restaurant with Geno Bahena at the healm. And a fast food chain from a different region of the country is going to come to Chicago.

Kennyz wrote:I also heard that at some point in 2010 and 2011, there may be a new Mexican restaurant with Geno Bahena at the healm. And a fast food chain from a different region of the country is going to come to Chicago.

Yes, if only there was some way to report news of future openings without starting a new thread and making them seem more important than they actually are...

Kennyz wrote:And a fast food chain from a different region of the country is going to come to Chicago.

And, using topic activity as a (very) reasonable proxy, this place will be 7-10x better than many board favorites.

jesteinf wrote:

Kennyz wrote:I also heard that at some point in 2010 and 2011, there may be a new Mexican restaurant with Geno Bahena at the healm. And a fast food chain from a different region of the country is going to come to Chicago.

Yes, if only there was some way to report news of future openings without starting a new thread and making them seem more important than they actually are...

There is. It's the perfect place for unimportant tidbits of "information". You named it already. Twitter.

jesteinf wrote:

Kennyz wrote:Yes, if only there was some way to report news of future openings without starting a new thread and making them seem more important than they actually are...

Maybe an entire Openings and Closings topic?

Panther in the Den wrote:

jesteinf wrote:

Kennyz wrote:Yes, if only there was some way to report news of future openings without starting a new thread and making them seem more important than they actually are...

Maybe an entire Openings and Closings topic?

C'mon everyone. We mods are trying our hardest to do right by the forum.

Please, let's not derail this thread. If you are interested in offering your thoughts and opinions on the Openings/Closings thread, we've already asked for input here:

The closing of "Openings and Closings"

Thanks,

=R=
for the moderators

Just posted from Graham Elliot's Twitter feed:

Jim here from restaurant graham elliot. Here is a little tease for you all. http://www.grahamwich.com More news really soon!

(Graham gave up Twitter for Lent.)

Llama wrote:(Graham gave up Twitter for Lent.)

Good call, if true. Giving up stuff for Lent is a great way to break a habit.

Regards,

Kennyz wrote:It's the perfect place for unimportant tidbits of "information". You named it already. Twitter.

You know, people deride Twitter, but how else am I supposed to find out which logo this place is going to be using? The stodgy MSM would probably be happy to have me laying awake at night, guessing.

And more from the chef's twitter feed...

Coming out of my self imposed Lenten exile to announce that we signed a lease today and "Grahamwich" will be located at 615 N. State St.

SSDD

headcase wrote:And more from the chef's twitter feed...

Coming out of my self imposed Lenten exile to announce that we signed a lease today and "Grahamwich" will be located at 615 N. State St.

SSDD

WWGEBD.

Santander wrote:

headcase wrote:And more from the chef's twitter feed...

Coming out of my self imposed Lenten exile to announce that we signed a lease today and "Grahamwich" will be located at 615 N. State St.

SSDD

WWGEBD.

Apparently open a sandwich shop at 615 N State.

SSDD

headcase wrote:

santander wrote:

headcase wrote:
Coming out of my self imposed Lenten exile to announce that we signed a lease today and "Grahamwich" will be located at 615 N. State St.

WWGEBD.

Apparently open a sandwich shop at 615 N State.

SSDD

And I'm coming out of my self-imposed Lenten meat sacrifice to eat this 40 oz. Porterhouse at Gibson's.



Really, I'm not even practicing Catlick (that should also be in the Chicago glossary), and I'm not sure what's worse - suspending a fast for self-indulgence, or self-promotion and profit.

I once knew a girl who was vegan, "except for creme brulee." This was her standard line, and her eyes would go distant and glaze over every time she got to the creme, which would be delivered almost in a different voice, as if she were possessed for that moment.

There's a special place in Hell for all of us. Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Phil Vettel reports it's finally open.

$10 sandwiches, $5 sides (snacks), $3 specialty sodas, $4 soft-serve ice cream.

No word yet on whether the iPhone delivery app (as described by a server at Graham Elliot described) is truly in the works.

It's just down the street from the office, so I stopped by around 12:45 today. There was a 5-10 minute wait to order and then about 20-30 minute wait for food (my order unfortunately got stuck immediately behind a large order that I believe the chef himself placed). Things were busy but not nearly as insane as, for example, the first day at Xoco. Staff were all very perky and helpful despite the obvious lunch crush. Complementary hot rosemary apple cider was on offer while you waited.

I had the Reuben, house pickles and a root beer. A cash register error resulted in the pickles being gratis (I mentioned it, and they thanked me but they were clearly too busy to stop and correct it).

The Reuben is easily the best I've had since the shuttering of the Streeterville branch of Eppy's. A nice sized pile of pastrami on excellent marble rye. Nothing stingy about the application of 1000 Island or rutabaga sauerkraut, either. However, the Gruyère fondue is what really sets it off. It also makes it quite the messy proposition and I'd highly recommend it for dine-in only.

The pickles included Brussels sprouts, pearl onions, rutabaga and turnip...and a lone piece of daikon, I think. The portion is certainly healthy, but the taste is more marinated than pickled. With the exception of the sprouts, all could have used a longer soak.

The homemade root beer was tasty with some nice creamy background notes. I'm not going to be craving them at $3 a pop, but it's nice to have the option.

Grahamwich
615 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60611
http://www.grahamwich.com/

Mon-Sat: 7 am - 12 am
Sun: 8 am - 3 pm

Great, another restaurant website with annoying music.

kl1191 wrote:Things were busy but not nearly as insane as, for example, the first day at Xoco.

I was just thinking that Grahamwich might lighten the traffic at Xoco. I hadn't been to Xoco in a long while, but I stopped in for a pre-dinner snack last night (excellent carnitas), and the place was packed at about 6pm. I didn't have to wait, but almost every seat was taken with a small cluster of people standing, waiting for take-out.

At the same time, I hope Grahamwich doesn't turn that block with the Tree Studios into a zoo. Pops already creates some congestion at the southern end of the block, but otherwise it's a rather peaceful, pretty stretch for food-related window/shopping with POSH and the Alessi store.

Hey now, did someone just call Sufjan Stevens "annoying?"

happy_stomach wrote:At the same time, I hope Grahamwich doesn't turn that block with the Tree Studios into a zoo. Pops already creates some congestion at the southern end of the block, but otherwise it's a rather peaceful, pretty stretch for food-related window/shopping with POSH and the Alessi store.

Interesting how 2 people can traverse the same stretch on a regular basis and have completely different experiences. The block always seems dreary and scary to me, and I have no idea what Alessi, POSH or Tree Studios are despite having surely walked right by them over a hundred times.

Kennyz wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:At the same time, I hope Grahamwich doesn't turn that block with the Tree Studios into a zoo. Pops already creates some congestion at the southern end of the block, but otherwise it's a rather peaceful, pretty stretch for food-related window/shopping with POSH and the Alessi store.

Interesting how 2 people can traverse the same stretch on a regular basis and have completely different experiences. The block always seems dreary and scary to me, and I have no idea what Alessi, POSH or Tree Studios are despite having surely walked right by them over a hundred times.

It happens... I'm sure that my impression of that block is due largely to my tendency to romanticize buildings related to the Columbian Exposition. The Tree Studios (full name: Lambert Tree Studios, after Chicago Circuit Court judge and arts patron Lambert Tree) is the name of the building that takes up that entire block with Grahamwich and Pop. The Studios were originally built in 1894 (with later additions and restoration) to lure artists visiting for the Columbian Exposition to stay and work in Chicago. I could go on and on, but if you look up, some of the architectural details are quite lovely.

POSH is an excellent source for eclectic dinnerware (like gorgeous if impractical absinthe glasses that I've gifted a few times), and Alessi is an Italian company that makes quirky kitchen tools and often employs famous designers/architects. I realize, not for everyone, but if I have time to kill in that immediate area, I like to visit that block.

Incidentally, it just so happens that today I was the first-ever customer at Grahamwich. That's right, the King Groupie title is mine and - as my reward - I was able to buy a cup of coffee and some pastries. It was a hell of a cup of coffee, which used a weird little french press contraption inside a to-go paper cup. I'd never seen one of those, and it was cool. $4 bucks is steep (ha) for a cup of coffee, but I will likely do it again. Really good coffee.

Kennyz wrote:Incidentally, it just so happens that today I was the first-ever customer at Grahamwich. That's right, the King Groupie title is mine and - as my reward - I was able to buy a cup of coffee and some pastries.

That was your reward? Foursquare didn't put up an announcement in your Twitter and Facebook feeds crowning you mayor of Grahamwich or anything? You got robbed.

Unaware of historic Tree Studios and first in line for a highly twitted sandwicherie. Who is KennyZ?

JeffB wrote:Who is KennyZ?

The new mid-season replacement on ABC, 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. Explore the question on everyone's mind, while traveling through the rich and mystical land of Z.

Santander wrote:

JeffB wrote:Who is KennyZ?

The new mid-season replacement on ABC, 9/8 Central on Tuesdays. Explore the question on everyone's mind, while traveling through the rich and mystical land of Z.

Uh oh, I think he just jumped the snark.

Pretty underwhelmed with my almost $20 lunch at grahamwhich.

Maybe my expectations were too high. The staff was fun, enthusiastic, provided quick and fantastic customer service and were just great all around. We were greeted by a yoiung lady that offered us a warm cider to sip while we waited in a fairly short line to order. This was not only a nice gesture but fairly tasty, even if the ginger flavor was a tad overwhelming. We took our order to go since the back table was full and seemed to have quite a wait for seats. I ordered the short rib on pretzel roll sandwhich, a side of the pickles (Maybe local, sometimes sustainable according to the menu) and a root beer. I forgot to ask for no ice in the rootbeer since we were walking a half mile or so back to the office, while it was slightly watered down from the melting ice, overall it was good and I'd like to try it again. The pickles were the same mix mentioned above, a generous portion, were really lightly pickled. I'd say they needed another week or more pickling away. The daikon was really good though. The sandwich was pretty "meh". The shortrib was beautifuly cooked, not melt in your mouth tender but not chewy either, just a bit toothsome, which I liked and had a good beefy flavor. The horseradish sauce was used in such a small amount that you only tasted it in a few bites, and the arugula(I think that's what it was supposed to be) was almost non existent. The shoestring potatoes, while nicely cooked, sort of made the sandwhich a mess to eat. The pretzel roll was just not that great at all. No chewy pretzel texture to the crust, no salty top, and pretty flavorless in general.

For the same money, Xoco is the way to go for me in the future.

Was able to make it for lunch yesterday. Split a few things with friends. Overall impressions were very good for the sandwiches, while sides were a mixed bunch. We shared the short rib and the reuben. I really enjoyed the short ribs with its slight sweetness, great texture on the meat and I actually enjoyed the subtleness of the pretzel roll, though I like my pretzel roll to taste more like roll and less like pretzel. The reuben came with a big mound of beef, the kraut was beautiful and had nice acidity. They may have gone a little overboard on the thousand island but it certainly didn't overwhelm. I was also a little worried that the rye wold be overly carraway, but it wasn't. Great bread. While 10 bucks may be a bit much for the sandwiches I didn't feel at all robbed for the quality.
The sides were a different story. The $5(!) popcorn was cold, soft, and overly peppered. For 50 cents I can make much (read MUCH) better popcorn at home. The pickled veg was just ok, as I would have preferred more pickle flavor. I could have done without, but they were fine. The chips were by far the highlight of the sides. Crisp potatoe slices with very nice cheese and ranch flavor. Addictive, though I will say I found the bacon bit powder irrelevant.

I will go back to see how things progress, though at the price it won't be a weekly visit. I certaily want to try some of the other sandwiches on the menu, especially the turkey confit.

As some people know, I stopped in to Grahamwich today for lunch. Had the pastrami sandwich and the pickles. Though not revelatory, the sandwich was pretty good even though the rutabaga or whatever they used instead of cabbage for the kraut was not an improvement. The pickles, on the other hand, were a visually sad array of rusting white vegetables with little flavor and hard-to-bite-into textures, and some brussels sprouts that needed at least one of the plastic-textured outer layers of leaves removed before they could be consumed. I'm pretty sure these were the worst pickled vegetables I've ever had.

It should be noted that even though I tweeted much of the above sentiment before an online "altercation" with the chef, one might read bias into my post here because he did call me a couple of naughty names on twitter, even attaching my picture to one of them while encouraging his followers to "watch out" for me. Bias aside, the pickles spoke for themselves.

Kennyz wrote:As some people know, I stopped in to Grahamwich today for lunch. Had the pastrami sandwich and the pickles. Though not revelatory, the sandwich was pretty good even though the rutabaga or whatever they used instead of cabbage for the kraut was not an improvement. The pickles, on the other hand, were a visually sad array of rusting white vegetables with little flavor and hard-to-bite-into textures, and some brussels sprouts that needed at least one of the plastic-textured outer layers of leaves removed before they could be consumed. I'm pretty sure these were the worst pickled vegetables I've ever had.

It should be noted that even though I tweeted much of the above sentiment before an online "altercation" with the chef, one might read bias into my post here because he did call me a couple of naughty names on twitter, even attaching my picture to one of them while encouraging his followers to "watch out" for me. Bias aside, the pickles spoke for themselves.

Geez... quite the little twitter spat with GE over some pickles!

For the record I haven't had the pickles or pastrami yet at Grahamwich, but I've generally enjoyed the food there. I really like their grilled cheese with curds, short rib, and reuben sandwiches and their soft serve is pretty solid. For what it is....a fun, quick, sandwich shop...I'm a fan. I think their is hatred on Yelp of GW because 1) it's expensive, 2) Yelpers expected a little GE at a quarter of the cost, and 3) the servers don't bend over backwards and treat you like your best friend.

I chatted with Graham Elliot (in person) on the opening day when I visited during dinner time and he was really pretty nice and answered a few of my questions, and he came over to the communal table to ask everyone how the food was multiple times. Generally speaking, I think though he is sensitive to general internet attacks via Yelp and blogs when few people actually come up to him in person with complaints.

As of a few days ago, GE announced that they are re-doing the entire menu at Grahamwich with only the Grilled Cheese and Reuben being brought back. Perhaps he is listening to the critics? That will be interesting to see how that goes and what he'll come up with.

Kennyz wrote: he did call me a couple of naughty names on twitter, even attaching my picture to one of them while encouraging his followers to "watch out" for me.

Sounds as if GEB is the guy to watch out for.
He won't be getting any of my business.