Dinner tonight in Oak Park - need help fast

It's almost 7:00 and the kids are fed and bathed.
The wife feels like turning in early so...
It appears I'm free for the night (or will be in an hour or so).

I'm in north Oak Park and I have an opportunity to go wherever I want for dinner.
This rarely happens (almost never) - so I ask the LTH experts, if you found yourself in north Oak Park and hungry at 8:00 on a Friday night where would you go? I'll be dining alone if that matters.

Doesn't have to be Oak Park but I'd rather not travel too far.

I'd probably go to Marion Street Cheese Market

Marion Street Cheese Market
100 S. Marion, Oak Park
708-848-2088
Open every day, 9AM-9PM

Menu here: http://marionstreetcheesemarket.com/wp- ... dinner.pdf

Best,
Michael

gaetano's in forest park.

I'm way late to the party, but I'd be thinkin Johnnie's, or Zacataco's on Cermak for a mess of steak tacos and a Bohemia or two.

Did you consider the jerk grill?

A lot of times when I'm solo, I end up @ mickey's for a very good gyro. I find it very comforting.

8 was probably too late, but I always enjoy the fries, sandwiches & suaveness of mr d's

The world's greatest hot dog stand (gene n' judes)

Lately, my fave area restaurant is way south, around cermack & Austin. Al's

In addition to the above suggestions, all of which are good:

Duck Fat or Skrine Chops at the bar, followed by Paciugo, is a nice Madison Street progressive in Forest Park for the solo diner seeking some conversation. Depot Diner counter works too.

Bodhi, Amarind's, or Yum Thai can also be quiet and friendly spots for solo dining, especially if you let the server know you're in no hurry, and that you'd like the back of house to send you out what they're eating.

If for some reason you really wanted to keep to Oak Park itself, Maya del Sol, Papaspiro's, or Sen Sushi have engaging owners and setups for one, at least until 10.

I'd grab a book and head to Marion Street Cheese Market for a couple appetizers and drinks.

So where'd you go?

teatpuller wrote:I'd grab a book and head to Marion Street Cheese Market

Book, cheese... sophisticated.

Me, I'd grab a 6-pack of good brew and head to Cemitas Puebla for a milanesa and a quesadilla de chicharrones.

Cemitas Puebla
3619 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-772-8435

Hey, I kind of have the opposite eating challenge in Oak Park this evening but still need recs. Me, my husband and our three year-old are going to a party but it doesn't start until 8 pm so we'd like to have a casual dinner in Oak Park beforehand. My little guy is a pretty adventurous eater (loves grilled squid and gomae) and I wouldn't mind having a glass of wine or beer with my dinner. We live in Andersonville so if there was something that you can't find in our hood, that would be fun. I have heard about the Brasilian place as well as a pupuseria but can't remember their names. I also have had a craving for curry . . . but then again, I've never eaten at Freddy's on Harlem. Oh, I am all over the place . . . if anyone can offer suggestions that would be great.

thanks in advance!

bjt

Freddy's isn't on Harlem, but I highly recommend it, especially with a kid. Keep in mind, they close at 7pm.

Freddy's Pizza
1600 South 61st Avenue
Cicero, Illinois 60804

There's also the Depot Diner, but there's no wine or beer there. Per the near above, Cemita Puebla is pretty awesome, and on your way here. Also very kid friendly, but I don't know the hours there.

Thanks for the clarification of Freddy's being on Cicero, we might get stuff to go from Freddy's and enjoy it in Columbus Park . . . depends on how hot it is this evening. I'll let you know what end up with.

bjt

I thought about Jerk Grill or Johnnies and the Marion Street Cheese Market but I eat there fairly often and was looking to try something new.

I considered Gaetano's but I didn't really feel I would be comfortable in an upscale type place by myself.

I settled on Duckfat. Unfortunately I got started a little later than I had hoped. By the time I got parked it was after 9:00. As I walked up I could see the patio was full and approaching the door there was a group trying to push their way in. I peeking in the window and saw the bar and all the tables were full and standing room was at a premium. This was just not gonna work for dinner. Maybe I'll be back for lunch.

Thinking furiously I decided I could make it to the Depot Diner. I got there about 9:30 so I had ½ hour which I thought should be enough. I was going to try something different but then thought for a first visit I'd try what everyone seems to enjoy and ordered the pot roast sandwich. It was really good and I noticed that even ½ hour before closing they took the time to make fresh fries and not just scoop some semi-warm leftovers onto the plate.

The one real disappointment was that I was really looking forward to the fried onions everyone raved about and how they made the dish – I got no such onions.
I considered asking about it but looking at the menu it does not mention them so in fact I got what I ordered, plus it was clear they were trying to close up and get home (and I'm fairly sympathetic to that).

Still it left me wondering what I had missed.

Now though, thanks to you guys, I have a LOT more ammo for next time!

Thanks!

Well, it's always come with the onions when I've had it, so they probably ran out but didn't want to disappoint you. You missed something, but not everything, since, IMO, it's the slow braising of the meat (this is really pot roast!) that gives it its true character; so if you only got three-quarters of the experience you still got one of the best sandwiches in Chicago.