2 Chicago classics in 1 day again - Chickie's and Barnaby's

Well, every time I come into town I try to hit some great places for pizza and italian beef/sausage...and Friday was my day.

Lunchtime I dropped some friends off at Midway Airport, made a stop at the "World's Finest Chocolate" outlet (got some good bargain movie candy for the family) and set my way for my virgin trip to Chickie's. Interesting place...smack dab in a middle-class (ok, maybe a bit generous) residential neighborhood on Pulaski. Vienna dogs and Scala beef...in fact, the Scala truck was there delivering. $6.00 for a combo, small fries and a pop (RC...yuck, but whatever). The place is well worn, and cavernous compared to Johnnie's, the standard-bearer in my books. The sandwich itself compares well...good flavorful beef, a generous amount, more than Johnnie's and the sausage had a good bite to it if maybe a bit too much spice. No peppers or giard for me. All in all, a very worthy stop and it's gotta be one of the better beefs and values around. I'll be back, and I'll volunteer to do drop-offs and pick-ups at Midway in the future!

Barnaby's...this was the pizza I grew up on in Downers Grove decades ago, but I hadn't been in 25 years. My sisters and I took the whole family, 12 of us, surprising my parents, to the Schaumburg Barnaby's for dinner. Can you say "Time Warp"? It was one thing to see the place from the outside, but entering took me back to my high school and earlier days. This place had not changed with the exception of 2 things...the prices and the absence of the light-up signs at each table to tell you your pizza/food was ready. Same booths, same layout...and best of all, good...REALLY good thin crust pizza. This summer I had Vito & Nick's for the first time, and this was every bit as good. Served piping hot, obvious corn meal lacing the bottom of the thin crust, good char spots on top and bottom, cut in squares of course. Only 2 sizes (10 and 14 inch) just as 30 years ago and reasonable prices. It was a trip down memory lane for most of us, but best of all, the pizza was more than worth the trip. Makes me wonder why so many of them shut down. I'll be back.

I'm gonna hit a few more treasures between now and New Year's Eve when we head back to SoCal and try and report back. By the way, you're welcome for the weather warm-up we brought you!

Merry Christmas to all...have a great day with your families.

I supplemented the visit to Chickie's with 2 other combos while I was in IL...Al's #1 Beef in Naperville and Dan's Pizza in DG.

All 3 are worthy, probably among the best around...my favorite was Dan's.

Interesting about Al's...my previous experiences were at the Taylor Street location where I found it be vastly different from most other beefs and combos I've had in terms of color, texture and taste. At the Naperville franchise location, it was, well, ordinary is too weak of a word, but it did not stand out as being different. It was, however, pretty darn tasty if a bit pricy, and the fries are hard to beat.

Dan's is just a good size, great tasting sandwich and good value...a shame you really can't eat it there, though...my dad's car is paying the price for it!

What is this "World's Finest Chocolate" outlet? I haven't heard of it.

Jerry wrote:What is this "World's Finest Chocolate" outlet? I haven't heard of it.

World's Finest Chocolate is a chocolate company on the South Side that most people know about through group sales of their bars for fundraising. Growing up in Chicago, I sold WFC for school, hebrew schools, youth groups at least once a year.

I have never seen their chocolate offered anywhere execept for sale in a fundraising effort (outside of their outlet store and online).

I do enjoy their chocolate, and it's nice to have a company like them still operating in the city.

World's Finest Chocolate
4801 S. Lawndale
Chicago, IL
888-821-8452
http://www.worldsfinestchocolate.com/

Best,
Michael

World's Finest Chocolate outlet store has moved. It is now on Pulaski in a strip mall across from the Target. Part of the WFC factory (old warehouses) is being torn down and developed into single family houses.

4310 South Pulaski
Chicago, IL 60632
(773) 254-4762

Yes, it's on Pulaski just a block or so S of I-55 on the west side in a strip mall. There was a billboard that caught my eye on I-55 approaching Midway and led me to going there.

Decent chocolate, but some outstanding prices on some stuff at the outlet.