Fattoush (the restaurant, not the dish)

Staggering out of Home Depot with kitchen counter sample chips and $ figures in our heads, the planned veggie burrito from Taco Burrito House #2 down Halstead seemed suddenly too heavy and too far. So, heedless of danger we made a mad, spontaneous descision to walk right into Fattoush directly across the street, come what may.

We were very happy with the outcome.

The combination of Lincoln Park environs, the neatness the room and blondness of the waiter had me expecting bland, deracinated fare for young professionals on first dates, but it was much better.

Room was empty when we came in and we were greeted promptly, but without any over-eagerness. We started with the eponymous salad and baba ganouj. The salad was just what one craves on a pollution action alert day such as today: very fresh ingredients including nice crunchy radishes, pronounced fresh mint/parseley flavors, depth from sumac and oregano. Very bright fresh lemon juice flavor and just the right amount of olive oil (the balance tilted toward the lemon). A scattering of pita chips on top. Very, very nice.

The baba wasn't a revelation, but it was certainly very good. The pita was of the very flat variety, as opposed to the puffier versions one sometimes sees. Also quite fresh.

The Wife had chicken shawerma which was noteworthy for it's moistness, despite being all breast.

I had kibbeh. I'm no expert, but this seemed very well done. The frying perfectly crisp and deep golden, but not oily. The ground meat filling very nicely seasoned (though no pine nuts, a la Noor).

I hadn't intended to have dessert, but things were so pleasant that I was loath to go back out into the toxic soup.

The waiter brought round what I guess one could call the Lebanese version of a dessert cart-- a little 8" diameter plate with various baklava on it. We ordered a piece of the pistachio and the sent out 2 extra bites of the cashew on the house! (I suppose that's to be expected for high-rollers like us, working on a $25 tab, as we were. )

This seemed like better, fresher baklava than many I've had. First, it wasn't embalmed in old honey residue like a hard candy from the bottom of grandma's purse. There was just enough honey to provide a bit of sweetness, but the pastry could be tasted, and felt. It was delicate and flaky and had an aroma like something baked within living memory rather than a piece of papyrus covered in Mrs. Butterworth's syrup.

So pleased was I that I went wild and decided to try my first Lebanese coffee with cardamom. Yum. It came out, piping hot off the stove and poured out of one of those little metal pots with a pour spout and long handle for which I'm sure there is a name, but i don't know it. It was a bit sweetened, but still had a nice balance with bitter and acid. Perfect with the baklava. And the cardamom added another layer.

All in all, worth a try if you're in the neighborhood.

mrbarolo wrote:It came out, piping hot off the stove and poured out of one of those little metal pots with a pour spout and long handle for which I'm sure there is a name, but i don't know it.

I know it as an ibrik, but I think that's the Turkish name.

LAZ wrote:

mrbarolo wrote:It came out, piping hot off the stove and poured out of one of those little metal pots with a pour spout and long handle for which I'm sure there is a name, but i don't know it.

I know it as an ibrik, but I think that's the Turkish name.

... and in Greek briki. I bought one many years ago at Athens Market (link) and they still sell them there; they're also available at a number of the Arab groceries around town (e.g. Al Khayam) (link).

Aside from the olive oil boutique on Michigan Ave., are there any Turkish food stores in town?

Antonius

I'm sure I am not the only one who is curious where to go:

Fattoush Restaurant
2652 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
773-327-2652

Thanks Cathy. I'm really bad about remembering the address and info tag on posts.

Victor and I have not eaten at Fattoush in person, but have gotten delivery a couple of times and been very happy. I remember the hummus as being especially good, and we've also enjoyed the shwarma sandwiches, although we weren't crazy about their falafel (right now my favorite falafel is at Semiramis).

The hummus is even better if you get it free. As you can if you live in their delivery area, go to their Web site, http://www.fattoushrestaurant.com/, and check out the "Click Here for Specials & Coupons" link. There are about half a dozen offers variously good for delivery/takeout and dining in.

Deb

I didn't have the felafel, but should have noted that they use a fava/chickpea blend, not just pure chickpea flour. The difference in texture from fava beans has come up in other felafel discussions, so some folks might be interested in that detail.

m

10 of us visited Fattoush for lunch after St. Paul's UCC's annual Bible Story Theater.

Very nice. We were not the only ones there, but at 1PM on a Sunday, there was only one other couple.

A whole bunch of meza: falafel were a bit dry, not as spicy as my gold-standard Pita Inn. Fetta (sic) cheese was briny with nice strong flavors, cucumbers, tomato and pickles accompanying. Artichoke hearts were warm in a garlicky broth, outstanding. Foul didn't thrill me, could have used some more flavor. Hummos had some nice spice, good texture.

And the bread: very thin, flexible pita, soft and chewy.

Thing 1 had a Shawerma sandwich, I had a taste and it was very flavorful. My sis-in-law and a couple others had the chicken shawerma, and liked it very much (several novices to toum had a nice time with the spread). My nephew had chicken fingers from the kid's menu and it was a huuuuuge serving, nice and crisp with fries. Potato soup was also enjoyed by a couple of folks in our party.

Desserts: three kinds of baklava: cigars with cashews, squares with walnuts and open-faced diamonds with pistachios. The latter was crisp, light and not too sweet, with nicely toasted nuts. The walnut had a smooth paste of walnuts in the middle. Didn't try the cashew.

Definitely, would visit again.

I've been to Fattoush several times, mostly when I lived in the Lakeview neighborhood, but also tonight before seeing a play at the Timeline Theatre on Wellington.

Why this place is empty in an area where Bucca seems to thrive I have no idea. I have been consistently impressed by both the friendly service and the heart poured into the cooking. And typical of middle eastern restaurants, it will not empty your wallet.

Tonight, it seemed like I sampled the entire menu. The Kibbeh and the Tabouleh were the stars of the evening in my opinion, and every bit as good if not better than other versions I've had. The Kibbeh has such a beautiful crispy (and not the least bit oily) exterior with a very flavorful beef filling. The Tabouleh was as fresh as can be as evidenced by the bright colors and vibrant flavors, particularly the parsley and mint and lemon. The Fattoush salad was also a major hit.

While I don't love their Falafel (slightly dry and perhaps I prefer a straight chickpea version), it's still pretty good.

The Baba Ghanouj and Hummos are both good versions. I've had better but they're very respectable. The grape leaves are delicious.

And the Shawarma is much more than simply a respectable version -- it's very moist, tender and excellent flavor.

If you haven't tried Fattoush (or want to try it again), check out Fattoush's online menu, which offers discounts for delivery and dining in. I think you'll be pleased by the very fresh ingredients, the fine flavors and the big smiles from Sam (the owner) when he knows you've enjoyed your meal.

I noticed a few posters have mentioned the chicken shawarmas. Does anyone recall if the chicken served kabob-sized chunks, or if it is actually sliced off of a rotisserie like a beef/lamb shawarma?

chgoeditor wrote:I noticed a few posters have mentioned the chicken shawarmas. Does anyone recall if the chicken served kabob-sized chunks, or if it is actually sliced off of a rotisserie like a beef/lamb shawarma?

One member of my party ordered the Chicken Shawarma and I'm pretty sure it was cooked on a spit since it appeared to have been sliced and was not in chunks. I liked it but much preferred the Beef Shawarma which I know is cooked on a spit.

Please Save This Restaurant*

*The preceding dramatic plea should be prefaced by the fact that I have no idea if they actually need saving. All I know is that it's become one of my favorite dinners in town and every time I enter the place it's relatively empty.


My wife and I are take-out junkie and this place has become a weekly ritual. While that's in part a function of it being incredibly close to us and places like Semiramis being a far trek, it's more a testament to absolutely loving their food.

Their chicken shawarma, shish kabab, and shish tawouk combo dinner with feta and the accompanying tahina and toum, has earned a place in my heart and I'm hard pressed to find Middle Eastern food I like better in the city. The standouts for me are the toum (garlic sauce) and the pita which is incredibly thin and soft. I much prefer their style of pita to the thicker style which I'm more accustomed to (likely more typical of Persian food).

The owner is always outgoing and happy, even in spite of a relatively empty restaurant. In the barren culinary wasteland that is Lincoln Park, this place is shangri-la.


Fattoush Restaurant
www.fattoushrestaurant.com
2652 N Halsted St
(773) 327-2652

The spinach pie here is really delicious. It manages to be spinachy, lemony, garlicky, and buttery all in one bite.

The schwarma and hummus are also very good, as others have noted.