HELP: Kosher in the Loop/South Loop

I'm the host of an academic conference next week that is bringing together 80 folks from around the world (teachers, faculty in college education programs, computer programmers and researchers). A trial run last summer attracted two educators from Canada, who are returning this year. They adhere to a Kosher diet.

Can I get some recommendations on places in the Loop/South Loop for Kosher breakfasts, lunches, and dinners?

Pasted below is part of an e-mail from one of last year's participants, about his discovery. I can't place it, nor can my vegetarian faculty member and vegetarian students. Any ideas?

Thanks kindly.

"Last year, we discovered and took advantage of a vegetarian lunch counter' within a few blocks of Columbia College Chicago. It was upstairs in a health food store, a rather large one. It seemed to be a very established place with a history."

I have had to plan dinners for a group that includes someone who keeps kosher. My best luck has been with eating at hotel restaurants as they have the resources to accomodate the request.

Can't help you with the vegetarian option.

Hi,

I have a friend who is a Rabbi's wife, whose family keeps strict kosher. I have had to seek her advice in the past about what to do for kosher guests.

First off, obtain disposable cups, plates, forks and knives especially as they will have no interest in using your provided dinnerware. I assume some meals for the conference will be on-site, then you may pick up from a Kosher deli and remind them you must keep Kosher. They will help you with the drinks, condiments, meats and breads. You will know you are in the right place if it has no Saturday hours.

I am fortunate for these situations, the Jewel in Highland Park has a Rabbi-on-the-premises supervising the kosher deli section.

I have had several guests from Israel on business. AS much as I was working hard to research where to go to accomodate their diet. They had also done their research to avoid an problems. There are websites which cater to this situation, which you may want to google.

When my friend went on a cruise a few years ago, they ordered all their meals from a caterer who delivered them frozen to the ship. They had a designated microwave for their preparation, all their meals were on Chinet plates and the they were happy as clams (which are not kosher). Also, she always carries snacks with her to accomodate the need for a quick meal in transit.

BTW - There is a Dunkin Donut's on Devon, which is Kosher.

If and when I catch up with her, I will provide more specific information on loop-oriented kosher spots.

It also might be worth posting the question on the kosher board on chowhound.

Hi,

I just got the Rabbi himself, who is traditional orthodox. He would not personally go to the vegetarian restaurant, which does not observe kosher to his standards. However, he indicated a conservative Jew observing kosher would be satisfied with vegetarian. So based on your initial information, you may just want to steer your guests to loop vegetarian without specifically looking for kosher.

Rabbi said there are no kosher restaurants in the loop. He said kosher restaurants can be found in West Rogers Park, Skokie, Touhy Avenue from California AVenue to the Chicago River Bridge and areas of Devon Avenue.

Several restaurants mentioned by name:

Tabun, an Israeli style restaurant, at Devon and California
Mitsuyam, in the same area, serves kosher chinese
Bugsy's is a steak house and Ken's Diner are on Dempster around Crawford in Skokie. (West of there is a dairy kosher restaurant on the north side of the street - neither of us could remember the name)
da Nali's at roughly Main St and Crawford is kosher Italien.

If you need more information, then e-mail me and I will forward you the Rabbi's contact information.

Regards,

Da'nali's is at 4032 Oakton in Sokie next door to Hungarian Kosher.It is set back from tjhe street.You might also try Slice of Life at 4120 Dempster in Skokie.

Have you tried contacting a synagogue?Awhile back I was searching on the same topic and if I can find my notes I will post them.If you look in travel section of the book store either the local interest or general travel for vegetarian restaurants.I think also at some grocers like the Village Market in Skokie have free papers with info on Kosher restaurants.The Village Market is on Dempster just West of Crawford.Sorry I cannot think of anything in the Loop.

For what it's worth, Metromix lists Ada's Deli in the loop as "Jewish/Kosher," though I would believe Cathy's rabbi friend far sooner than I would Metromix.

Ada's Famous Deli & Restaurant
14 S. Wabash Ave.
312-214-4282

Hours: 6 a.m.-midnight seven days a week

Hi,

Ada's used to be in Northbrook. I doubt it has changed character since it moved on. It is definitely not Kosher. Jewish food - yes. Kosher - no.

Regards,

Try go2online.com.You can search by intersection.I hope I did this link right.

You folks are the best!

It turned out to be Kramer's, 230 S. Wabash.

My college's catering service got a source for Kosher lunches, but now my colleagues have loads of great tips for dinner in Chicago.

Thank you kindly.

I look forward to returning the favor.

Wade

Spertus Museum now has a cafe open to the public in the south loop and on the west look there is MetroKlub - both are quite good -

I used to work in the loop a long time ago and I just got another job down there.

I used to go to a small deli (Mallers Deli & Restaurant) on the third floor of the Mallers Building at 5 S Wabash when I worked there on the second floor and I always used to enjoy the food.

Today I had a need for a solid lunch and thought I would make a stop back as I had visited about 7 years ago with my bride and it had not changed much. Great matzo ball (or kreplach or both!) soup and a decent corned beef sandwich.

Gone are the original owners and the place now is mostly for breakfast with some Mexican offerings thrown in.

Needless to say it was my worst disappointment ever!

I ordered the hot beef sandwich with a bowl of cream of chicken rice soup. The soup and gravy were obviously made from bullion, the mashed potatoes, instant and tasteless. I was expecting the beef to be awful but it was only a bit dry with a bit of flavor.

I miss Bev and Bob's too (just west on Adams from the Art Institute) with the long tables where you sat shoulder to shoulder with strangers and the bucket of pickles on each table but they are long gone too.

It is looking like Ada's might be the only deli/game left in the loop proper. I did gaze into the windows as I was returning from work wishing I had stopped there instead.

I do love (insert a big LOVE here) Manny's but it is a tad too far.

Panther in the Den wrote:I used to go to a small deli (Mallers Deli & Restaurant) on the third floor of the Mallers Building at 5 S Wabash when I worked there on the second floor and I always used to enjoy the food.
. . .
Needless to say it was my worst disappointment ever!

I share your pain.

In another thread, Rene G wrote:I used to go to the Mallers Building Deli in the 1970s and still have fond memories of it. I think it was on the 3rd floor. If you took the stairs instead of the elevators (with elevator operators) the stairwell door read "3th Floor." It was a good all-around deli/lunch counter but I almost always ordered the chopped liver plate: a huge oniony mound with two perfect potato pancakes and a pickle. Things like cabbage soup and corned beef sandwiches were also good. It was a cool old room, with windows looking out onto the Wabash El. In the afternoon after the lunch crowd thinned, old jewelers from the building would gather over coffee, loupes jammed in their eyes, passing around diamonds for inspection. When I returned to Chicago in the late '80s it had been remodeled and the food was only a shadow of what it was before. No more chopped liver plate and the sandwiches weren't anything special. I think it continued to spiral downward through other ownership changes. It made me sad to visit.

I know this is an OLD thread, but it's always wise to separate "kosher" from "Jewish-style" when recommending places.

Anyhow, do not go out of your way for the Spertus "Cafe" if you are looking for Loop Kosher. It is pre-packed salads and sandwiches and warmed-up soup. Nothing is very good, and it's all very expensive. I was expecting an actual "cafe" but it's more of a fancy counter service, with nothing made fresh. Might as well be at O'Hare.

A better choice for a kosher box lunch is the Chicago Loop Synagogue, which gets pre-made lunches from The Sandwich Club in Skokie. They cost $11, and you get a generous sandwich, homemade chips, cole slaw, pickle, a can of soda and a cookie. They are available from 12 to 2, but the earlier you get there the better. One tip: Stay away from the fajita sandwich.

Chicago Loop Synagogue
11 S. Clark, Chicago
312.346.7370

Otherwise your only true Kosher option is MetroKlub.

I am not knocking the Loop Sybagogue Lunch porgram since for the longest time it was the only kosher option downtown other than deliver/catering from Skokie/Rogers Park but it to is packaged lunches - I have had a different expeiience at Spertus Cafe - I have enjoyed their sandwiches and soups - also another kosher lunch option - even though is is west of the loop is the Metroklub at 733 W Madison - this also is very good and has free parking -