becwells wrote:What about Hagen's Fish Market? We drove by it the other day and it looks kind of cute and kitchsy, but you never know with places like that...

Hagen's is a palace of deep fried goodness. Tons of LTH love - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3245&hilit=hagen%27s

I am looking for anyplace with food and libations (or BYOB/corkage) that might welcome a party of 10 hungry musicians at 10 PM on a Friday after a concert at the Copernicus Foundation - Jefferson / Portage Park vicinity. I've already called Smak-Tak and Theresa II to see if they'd stay open late - no dice. Polish, Russian, or Central European theme / offerings a plus, but we'd take anything. Thanks for any thoughts!

Seems like The Portage (being basically a bar with good food) might have a kitchen that's open that late. I'd call them, anyway.

What about the place at Central and Montrose? I can't remember the name but it got good reviews on here. I think it used to be called Supercup and now its a new place.

Thanks! A few of us ended up at Gale Street Inn for the meal and The Portage for drinks, both very good. Gale Street's candied ribs are just about best of breed in that style, and the au gratin potatoes and even the salad with balsamic and crusty bread were rich and fresh. Ginger brews (Dark and Stormy and Moscow Mule, in ideal mugware) hit the spot.

Never been, but on the top of my list of all time favorite restaurant names is Ewok cafe on Irving Park. I giggle uncontrollably every time we drive by.
LO

LO wrote:Never been, but on the top of my list of all time favorite restaurant names is Ewok cafe on Irving Park. I giggle uncontrollably every time we drive by.
LO

Do not. Repeat, DO NOT eat at E-wok. Horrible little joint that has passed hands multiple times in the last 3 years. It's nasty, the place is just not clean, and the food is consistently awful.

becwells wrote:Our little family will be moving to Portage Park in June, right around Montrose and Central Ave. We're moving from Logan Square, where we have our pick of awesome restaurants and we know we're in for quite the change in our new 'hood. Obviously we'll be out exploring once we get there, but I wanted to check with you awesome LTH-ers for your recommendations before we start wandering aimlessly.

Some of our general likes:
- we eat mostly vegetarian
- when we do eat meat, we only eat locally sourced, sustainably raised products
- we eat out a lot -- about 3-4 times a week
- even though we have a 2 year old, we frequent places like Longman & Eagle, Lula, Revolution, etc. Pretty much anyplace that has a highchair we'll go to, even if it's more "high-end"

Thanks for your suggestions!

Welcome to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been living in Portage Park for the last 13 years, so we've tried quite a few places in the area, and seen some places come and go, and others inexplicably continue to thrive...

So here's the rundown, in no particular order:

• Hagen's: Yes. (Good fresh seafood, and they will smoke whole fish for you, and they have the best fried shrimp on the NW side) Eat here alot, and also stop by to grab fresh seafood for the house. The In-laws insist on eating from there every time they visit.
• The Portage: Right around the corner from my house, I spent way too much time in this place for the first year it was open. Really well done place, good service and while the chef has changed several times in the first couple of years, the food is definitely of a consistently high quality. Spend less time there now, as I have kind of burned myself out on it. Uses alot of locally raised produce and meat
• Taqueria Amigo Chino: Despite the fact that the food has never been better than mediocre, and has been absolutely awful at times, this place continues to have lines out the door. I don't get it. It's not good, but it's busy. Pass this place and keep walking west on Irving Park to
• Las Tarascas: Small, but quaint interior and very good Baja-style Mexican food. Better than your average burrito joint.
• Trattoria Porretta: Great place for pizza/pasta delivery. The food is quite tasty, but do not make the mistake of trying to eat at the restaurant. The service has always been the absolute pits for about 10 years. They honestly don't seem to give a crap whether you enjoy your visit, however, their thin-crust is my favorite in Chicago.
• Kowloon Chinese: Delivery chinese. Some of the best mongolian beef I've had, and the Ye Hing Triple Mushroom is flippin' awesome. Best crab rangoons ever. Delivery only.
• Zebda: Wonderful Mediterranean food delivery that we just discovered recently while renovating our kitchen. Holy crap is the food good. Sauces and dips were wonderful, the falafel is awesome (Better than Pita Inn, and that's saying something) and the kebabs were freaking awesome
• Leadbelly: Recently opened burger and beer joint. Just tried it out and it was perhaps the best burger I've had in Chicago. Burgers are large but not massive, and meaty and juicy, not greasy. Homemade condiments, and house-made pretzel rolls, and a good selection of craft beers and rock-and-roll music make it hard to not love this joint. Trying to figure out when we can squeeze in another trip for another burger
• Sutherlands: Neighborhood sports bar that serves food. I have not been, but reliable sources lead me to believe it's a decent neighborhood bar, with a bunch of TVs for sports, and decent food. Atmosphere is fun and friendly and service is good by all accounts.
• Six-Penny Bit: Doesn't serve food, but it is a lovely little neighborhood Irish bar, friendly and welcoming.
• Pete's Pizza #2: Great deep dish pie

Further east on Irving Park is Sabatino's, which has a sterling reputation here on LTH, and I wholeheartedly agree with the community on this matter. It's tacky and tired interiors just add to the kitschy atmosphere and huge helpings of delicious Italian-American food. Even further east is Al Dente which is a good BYOB joint with delicious Mexican-Italian fusion food.

For groceries I recommend A&G Fresh Market at Belmont and Central, huge produce section, good selection, remarkable ethnic foods sections, great deli and good prices. Much better than the typical Jewel store.

We'll have to disagree about Amigo Chino. Their steak tacos are pretty bland but the al pastor is some of the best I have ever had. Chicharron is also tasty. Their steak dinners are a fantastic deal and super beefy flavor.

Octarine wrote:We'll have to disagree about Amigo Chino. Their steak tacos are pretty bland but the al pastor is some of the best I have ever had. Chicharron is also tasty. Their steak dinners are a fantastic deal and super beefy flavor.

Good chiliquiles, too.

chicagovol wrote:Welcome to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been living in Portage Park for the last 13 years, so we've tried quite a few places in the area, and seen some places come and go, and others inexplicably continue to thrive...

Nice line up.

The Portage: I am neutral on The Portage, though my wife likes going with her girlfriends, nice outdoor eating area.
Taqueria Amigo Chino: I'm a fan, comically large portions, good chiliquiles and al pastor as Steve and Octarine mention, and inexpensive.
Sutherlands: Main reason I am posting in response to this is to reinforce what you have heard about Sutherlands, its a friendly neighborhood place with surprisingly good bar food. Not dolled up bar food, but straight-up wings, burgers etc. Burger beef is house-ground, they know what med-rare means and have tater tots.
Al Dente. Terrific little BYOB that does not get enough love, LTH or otherwise.
Sabatino's: A long time favorite and one of the few places in my advancing age and general grumpiness I am able to achive full-on suspension of disbelief and completely ignore shortcomings, especially when I've just slipped the strolling musicians a five to play It Had to be You, which never ceases to make my bride smile and look at me fondly.