One lunch, between O'Hare and Art Institute, close to train?

Had my heart set on Mado for lunch tomorrow, but just learned it's closed.

So, looking for a suggestion for one lunch. I'll have two hours, and can stop anywhere en route from O'Hare to the Art Institute/Loop area via train. Don't want to stray too far from the line, though willing to transfer lines.

Always like something unique, local, ethnic, spicy, offal. I'm omnivorous and adventurous. Mado looked perfect. Note it's lunch, so I prefer a place where the lunch menu resembles the dinner menu, instead of defaulting to simply sandwiches.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

GNR Award Winner TAC Quick is located directly below the Sheridan stop of the Red Line and can easily fulfill the unique, local, ethnic, spicy, offal part of your request.

Best fit I can think of is Belly Shack - directly under the EL at the Western Blue line stop
It might be a little too much like lunch - but I think it might otherwise appeal to you anyway.

Here's the link to the LTH Thread on the restaurant: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=26345&hilit=belly+shack

For some downscale, ethnic, and local (in the sense that there's not a lot of Polish diners around elsewhere anymore), right across the street from a Blue LIne stop, there's Podhalanka:


viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2666&p=22073&hilit=Podhalanka#p22073

jbw wrote:For some downscale, ethnic, and local (in the sense that there's not a lot of Polish diners around elsewhere anymore), right across the street from a Blue LIne stop, there's Podhalanka:


http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... nka#p22073

Beat me to this. Good idea. Red line reco from Steve is good, but the red line doesn't go to O'Hare...

Also, an obvious replacement for Mado is Longman & Eagle, right by the Logan Square Blue Line.

Matchbox is right by the Chicago Blue Line for a liquid lunch.

Last, Big Star and the rest of Wicker Park, near the Damen stop.

Big Star on the Blue Line at Damen is great.
Belly Shack is good under the Western stop for Asian.
There is also Smoque near the Irving Park stop, Smoke Daddy's near Division if you like BBQ.
Revolution Brewing is near the California stop.

If you like ribs, chicken, steak, etc... check out Gale Street Inn across the street from the Jefferson Park stop. Great winter place.

http://www.galestreet.com/

Thanks for all of these fabulous suggestions so far. I'm watching closely!

Right now, I'm leaning toward one of the following:

1. Belly Shack: Easy from blue line, and types of flavors that resonate with me. But concerned it might be too busy and informal, and that it will be "David Chang lite"?

2. Longman & Eagle: Also easy from blue line, and have heard good things. But "brunch" menu is limited, with less offal and other goodies than dinner, so I'd only be looking at the pork belly BLT and a salad. (I've had the sloppy joe at his previous place in Seattle.)

3. Purple Pig: No one's suggested this yet. Looks to have more of what I'm looking for during lunch service (more variety), and fairly easy from O'Hare with one transfer (should be easy right...or can I even walk from the blue line stop?), but leaves me a long, mile-long walk afterward to get to the Art Institute area. Actually, I don't mind walking off a lot of food, though maybe too cold in Chicago tomorrow? (At least it's not snowing.)

Additional thoughts from all you helpful people?

I'm a fan of the Jalisco-style, stewed birria at Birria Estilo Jalisco on Western, just north of the blue line stop:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4629&p=334375&hilit=estilo+jalisco#p334375

Spicy, hearty goat stew, perfect in the cold weather. (Offal available as well).

A short walk from the Chicago Avenue station is Habana Libre. If you're looking for unique, ethnic Chicago, the jibarito with garlic sauce here will do the trick. The jibarito tastes really good, but if it's purely taste - and not so much uniqueness - that you're after, I'd get the pollo frito.

taiyou wrote:3. Purple Pig: No one's suggested this yet. Looks to have more of what I'm looking for during lunch service (more variety), and fairly easy from O'Hare with one transfer (should be easy right...or can I even walk from the blue line stop?), but leaves me a long, mile-long walk afterward to get to the Art Institute area. Actually, I don't mind walking off a lot of food, though maybe too cold in Chicago tomorrow? (At least it's not snowing.)

PP sounds like a good idea based on what you're looking for. You can walk to PP from the Blue Line at Clark and Lake. It's very easy and scenic, crossing the river. The el transfer isn't worth it unless walking the few extra blocks would be difficult for you.

I guess the walk from PP to the Art Institute might be a mile, but it's a very easy and, again, scenic walk down Michigan Avenue. Depending on where you're from, tomorrow won't be that cold. If you need a break along the way, you can peek into the Cultural Center on Michigan Avenue and see the Vivian Maier photos, which is one of the best exhibits in Chicago right now.

Purple Pig is very much out of the way of the Blue Line, and you'd be pushing it in your time frame, switching trains and walking.
Longman & Eagle is a great suggestion.
Irazu off the Western stop for Costa Rican
viewtopic.php?t=1749
Division stop puts you right in front of La Pasadita (not much of a restaurant seating place)
viewtopic.php?t=15275
and Podhlanka
viewtopic.php?t=3859

How long to walk from the blue line stop at Clark & Lake (closest?) to Purple Pig? 15 minutes? I'm a fast walker.

Yeah, tight schedule, so I'll have Plan A and Plan B.

I like Purple Pig as Plan A, though time will be tight. Land at ORD at noon, so if all goes as planned (ha!), I can get to Purple Pig at 1:15? Then I'd have an hour or slightly more before I have to walk toward the Art Institute.

Otherwise, I can hit one of the other places, right close to the blue line, as Plan B.

Of course, a long delay makes me miss lunch completely.

Purple Pig is about three-quarters of a mile from the Clark & Lake stop of the Blue Line, less than a 15 minute walk. To avoid the walk, simply get off the train at Jackson and catch the #151 bus (frequent service) eastbound at Jackson & Dearborn and get off at Michigan & Hubbard (Tribune Bldg; first stop past the River).

Purple Pig to the Art Institute is another three-quarters of a mile straight south on Michigan. You could also take the #3, #147 or #151 bus.

If you're also heading back to O'Hare via CTA consider buying a 1 day pass ($5.75). That way you won't have to worry about transfers (no transfers are issued when paying fare with cash). At worst, you'll waste $1.25 (cash fare for the train is $2.25).

The easiest thing to do if you're getting off at Clark and Lake is to just take a cab. Pay the $6 and be done with it. If it was a nice spring day, you could walk back tot he Art Institute, but it's like 3 degrees here. You could just take the Michigan Ave bus right back down to AIC, drops you off right across the street. You might even have a transfer left on your train ticket, that you can also use on the bus.

Kennyz wrote:A short walk from the Chicago Avenue station is Habana Libre. If you're looking for unique, ethnic Chicago, the jibarito with garlic sauce here will do the trick. The jibarito tastes really good, but if it's purely taste - and not so much uniqueness - that you're after, I'd get the pollo frito.

True, it's only a half-mile, but I doubt that stretch of Chicago has seen a shovel since last week. I don't know that walking through the snow/slush would be much fun (yes, short bus ride, short cab ride, etc. etc.).

Clark/Lake to Purple Pig is just .6 miles. To continue my theme above, the sidewalks in/around the Loop are generally clear these days and probably won't be too miserable for walking.

Another option, in the neighborhood of Longman & Eagle, is Lula's. Not exactly ethnic, spicy, offal-y but still very good. The lunch menu is somewhat limited but no real duds (IMO). Good service, relaxing atmosphere at midday and a decent wine/beer/cocktail list.

http://www.lulacafe.com/lula/pm_menu.html
Lula Cafe
2537 North Kedzie Blvd.

taiyou wrote:How long to walk from the blue line stop at Clark & Lake (closest?) to Purple Pig? 15 minutes? I'm a fast walker.

Yeah, less than 15 minutes.* Get off at Clark and Lake. Take Clark to Wacker and follow the river to Michigan. That'll be around peak lunch time at PP, so you may have to wait for seats if you'll be dining with friends. (I've never had to wait for a single seat at the bar, but I've only done that twice.)

*I see Rene G has provided helpful CTA info. I don't like buses downtown, so I avoid them and always walk and half run (because I'm always late).

danimalarkey wrote:

Kennyz wrote:A short walk from the Chicago Avenue station is Habana Libre.

True, it's only a half-mile, but I doubt that stretch of Chicago has seen a shovel since last week. I don't know that walking through the snow/slush would be much fun (yes, short bus ride, short cab ride, etc. etc.).

I run that stretch of Chicago four times a week, including yesterday morning. There's a path, even if you have to roll a suitcase. The main challenge is the giant pools of water at the corners, but those are all over the city. Take the south side of Chicago Ave. It's cleaner than the north side.

Solo dining. No suitcase. Day-trip to Chicago. Appreciate the dining/walking/riding tips!

....and don't forget you can keep riding the blue past the Loop and in no time be in Pilsen, which is a real neighborhood that has ethnic and offal in spades. About as vibrant a neighborhood as we have in Chicago and packed with good stuff, much of it Mexican. If you haven't been to a great carnitas or birria specialist (not sure where you are in from), that's another strong ethnic/offal play. As much as I stump for Cuban and Puerto Rican in Chicago, the schlep to Habana Libre doesn't sound like the best fit/use or your time. If you are bent on going to Purple Pig, I'd call ahead and see what the wait might be like. Xoco is near the L and could be a good backup (though also a potential wait).

taiyou wrote:1. Belly Shack: Easy from blue line, and types of flavors that resonate with me. But concerned it might be too busy and informal, and that it will be "David Chang lite"?

Who is David Chang? Sounds like he might be "Bill Kim lite".

taiyou wrote:leaves me a long, mile-long walk afterward to get to the Art Institute area. Actually, I don't mind walking off a lot of food, though maybe too cold in Chicago tomorrow? (At least it's not snowing.)

Additional thoughts from all you helpful people?

You might also consider Terzo Piano. It's the restaurant from Tony Mantuano (of Spiaggia) and it's right inside the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute, so you won't have to go outside again on such a cold day.

JeffB wrote:....and don't forget you can keep riding the blue past the Loop and in no time be in Pilsen, which is a real neighborhood that has ethnic and offal in spades. About as vibrant a neighborhood as we have in Chicago and packed with good stuff, much of it Mexican. If you haven't been to a great carnitas or birria specialist (not sure where you are in from), that's another strong ethnic/offal play. ...

I'm always in favor of folks visiting Pilsen but I need to point out that there's no longer a branch of the Blue Line train that goes there. You'd have to transfer in the Loop to the Pink Line to get to those great carnitas and birria specialists (try the 18th Street stop, head east).

chaucito,
Amata

The blue line stop at Belmont is 5 blocks west of Kuma's Corner. It's worth the trip.

deesher wrote:The blue line stop at Belmont is 5 blocks west of Kuma's Corner. It's worth the trip.

Yeah, good call! Forgot about that one...you're right it's very close to the Blue Line.

Good point re: Chang, nsxtasy!

FYI, all. No 1-day passes available at O'Hare, per CTA. Chicago's not the first city where I've seen such folly, but I still don't understand it.

taiyou wrote:FYI, all. No 1-day passes available at O'Hare, per CTA. Chicago's not the first city where I've seen such folly, but I still don't understand it.

That's just really wrong (on the part of CTA). It seems worse that they sell the 3-day and 7-day passes at O'Hare but not the 1-day, penalizing people making shorter visits.

taiyou wrote:Good point re: Chang, nsxtasy!

FYI, all. No 1-day passes available at O'Hare, per CTA. Chicago's not the first city where I've seen such folly, but I still don't understand it.

Probably too late for this trip, but you can buy them online.

stevez wrote:

taiyou wrote:Good point re: Chang, nsxtasy!

FYI, all. No 1-day passes available at O'Hare, per CTA. Chicago's not the first city where I've seen such folly, but I still don't understand it.

Probably too late for this trip, but you can buy them online.

As you walk in the basement towards the CTA station at ORD you'll see a small newsstand. You can purchase a 1 day pass there.

Dave148 wrote:

taiyou wrote:FYI, all. No 1-day passes available at O'Hare, per CTA. Chicago's not the first city where I've seen such folly, but I still don't understand it.

As you walk in the basement towards the CTA station at ORD you'll see a small newsstand. You can purchase a 1 day pass there.

Sorry for the misinformation and thanks for the correction. The CTA machines at O'Hare used to sell all the multi-day passes; now it looks like it's only 3 and 7 day. I noticed the change at Union Station but didn't realize they had changed their airport vending machines too.

At O'Hare, when you buy your Transit Card (not to be confused with an Unlimited Ride Day Pass or a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus—aren't you loving the CTA already?) at the machines just outside the turnstiles, you can add $4.50 value (that's 2 trips on the Blue Line). If you think you'll need a transfer, feed in $4.75 (0.25 extra for a transfer). You can always add value later but it's easier to take care of it all at once. A transfer allows up to 2 additional trips on bus or train within 2 hours. If you don't dawdle at Purple Pig, you may be able to hop a bus to the Art Institute on one transfer.

Assuming you don't plan on more CTA travel, you'll actually save a small amount over buying a 1-day pass. I was just trying to keep it simple (and more flexible) by suggesting the day pass. If you can get one at the newsstand you might as well go for it.

Okay, all, I think my plan for tomorrow is finalized. (Please don't tempt me with anything else!)

If I'm not delayed, I will go to Purple Pig. If slightly delayed, Longman & Eagle. If really delayed, a hot dog at the airport. (Oh, I hope not.)

Then, in a future visit (since I fly right back to the west coast in the evening), I'll go to Western station on the Blue line and snack away at Belly Shack, Irazu, and Birria Estilo Jalisco.

Thanks again for all the help. I'll report back.

Good plan(s)--let us know how it goes!!