Decent ribs/BBQ and italian downtown?

Hi all,

Got a friend of my wife's hitting Chicago in 2 weeks and is staying downtown. Looking for some decent ribs as well as some casual and/or upscale italian downtown. I'm probably guessing Hecky's for ribs, but help me suggest something other than my family's favorite (Italian Village) for the italian part of it!

Thanx.

Rob,

If your wife is staying in downtown Chicago, Hecky's wouldn't be very convenient, since its in Evanston. As a recent convert, I'd recommend Honey 1, on Western Ave, in the Bucktown neighborhood. For more info, check out: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3576 . Not exactly downtown, but well worth the taxi fare to get there.

I've never been to Italian Village, but heard its pretty decent.

Honey 1
2241 N Western
Chicago, IL
773-227-5130

-Joel

There's another Hecky's at Halsted and Division. The meat is prepared well enough, but I feel as though the sauce lacks bite and is very sweet. It's also a little on the pricey side, especially if you get it delivered. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I'd give it a go.

RSMBob wrote:Got a friend of my wife's hitting Chicago in 2 weeks and is staying downtown. Looking for some decent ribs as well as some casual and/or upscale italian downtown. I'm probably guessing Hecky's for ribs, but help me suggest something other than my family's favorite (Italian Village) for the italian part of it!

RSMBob,

There are a lot of different definitions for "downtown".

Based on the definition that I use (which is exactly the same as gleam's in the thread linked above). I'd recommend that your wife's friend broaden her physical boundaries a bit for ribs and Italian.

Personally, I think Hecky's ribs in Evanston are just OK, but you probably mean the Division Ave. location which, in my opinion, is an abomination.

"Ribs" have the potential to turn into a big discussion here. There is a small amount of real BBQ to have here in Chicago, but the majority of Chicagoans think of a different style of ribs when they hear the word "ribs".

If I were backed into a corner and had to choose Chicago-style boil-b-que ribs near downtown, I'd choose The Fireplace Inn in Old Town. But if she really wants really good BBQ ribs (particularly rib tips), I'd follow JoelM's advice.

Merlo on Maple is a good choice for Italian that's reasonably close to downtown.

Best,
Michael

Fireplace Inn
1448 N. Wells St.
(312) 664-5264

Merlo on Maple
16 W. Maple Street.
312.335.8200
http://www.merlochicago.com/

Decent ribs downton might include the ribs at the bar at Gibson's/Hugo's. Italian is easier: Caffe Spiaggia, Merlo, Trattoria no. 10, Quartino, Via Stato, Coco Pazzo. Each of these is decent or better.

At the risk of beating a dead mule, donkey, horse: Hecky's Division vs. is to be avoided.

There's always Carson's.

Ok, i get the message on Hecky's. I've only been to the one in Evanston so I guess hopping for the same downtown was too much too ask.

You know, I was going to mention Carson's but I was afraid someone might hurt me. I guess it IS most representative and well known for what passes for BBQ in Chicago. However, never having been to Honey 1 but always hearing good about it, I will recommend it as well as try to visit there myslef when I come to IL in August.

Risking the wrath of the bbq gods, I very much enjoyed my recent first Carson's experience; frozen(horrors!) from Peapod(ack! feh!). I'd always wanted to try them out of curiosity and (being sans auto) never made it to a restaurant. The defrosted ribs broiled up quite nice; no meat jello, here. The sauce was on the sweet side, but I remedied that with some leftover Stubb's original. Kind of a yin yang thing. I nearly always make my own -in kitchen- ribs and sauce so this is high(enough) praise.

there in over 20 years. I am getting mixed reviews. If not Miller's, what else is reasonably priced near Orchestra Hall? Pteroni"s? I am at a loss. My wife are going to see Marian McPartland tonight. Thanks

funkyfrank wrote:there in over 20 years. I am getting mixed reviews. If not Miller's, what else is reasonably priced near Orchestra Hall? Pteroni"s? I am at a loss. My wife are going to see Marian McPartland tonight. Thanks

Aria, inside Symphony Center.

Carson's ribs are not meat jello like Twin Anchors, etc. They have some fight in them and are slow cooked, but no smoke and no dip in the boiling water to start them out. They have a big rotary slow cooker. I saw it on some TV show once in the distant past. All that being said, they're not in the same league as Honey 1 or even Hecky's.

Good cole slaw, au gratin potatos and good but strange house dressing.

I think they would be a good downtown alternative.

dan1234 wrote:Carson's ribs are not meat jello like Twin Anchors, etc. They have some fight in them and are slow cooked, but no smoke and no dip in the boiling water to start them out. They have a big rotary slow cooker. I saw it on some TV show once in the distant past. All that being said, they're not in the same league as Honey 1 or even Hecky's.

Good cole slaw, au gratin potatos and good but strange house dressing.

I think they would be a good downtown alternative.

Read more carefully and you'll see I declare that Carson's are "no meat jello, here." The o.p is looking for downtown ribs. I'm not arguing that Carson's is better than Honey 1. Implicit in the mere mention of Carson's is a bit of kidding on my part. As for Hecky's...I've written a few times on the mediocre Q and chicken available from the Division St. location. I haven't eaten at the Evanston original. Again...the o.p. is looking for ribs downtown...not a "*hell bus ride", etc. up North.

*to quote Wesley Willis

I'll have Carson's again...they're not bad at all for a slab that you can pull out of the freezer.

I apologize if I'm misreading your post.

Italian is easier: Caffe Spiaggia, Merlo, Trattoria no. 10, Quartino, Via Stato, Coco Pazzo

All good choices, and, of course, Spiaggia itself for the best in upscale Italian cuisine. A little further south, also, is Gioco.

But avoid the Italian Village, with the exception of Vivere (and even that's up and down depending who's in the kitchen.)

I would have to say Twin Anchor's has the best, fall off the bone, rib in town. Very consistent...very long wait...but well worth it! Make sure you order the zesty bbq sauce if you go.

Or should I go somewhere else?

EvilUs wrote:I would have to say Twin Anchor's has the best, fall off the bone, rib in town. Very consistent...very long wait...but well worth it! Make sure you order the zesty bbq sauce if you go.

You're kidding, right?

club lago in river north (at superior and orleans) is a great "neighborhoody" italian joint... its been around forever... its low key, no fuss... it feels really authentic, too... (one of those mob movies had a scene there even!)

funkyfrank wrote:Or should I go somewhere else?

I enjoy the burgers and specials at Millers. They're an olde standby for a decent Loop lunch. I've never had the ribs, but don't imagine they're destination eats.

Exchequer(right down the same side of the street), on the other hand, has a toothsome rib/wing plate available as an appetizer or entree. Again, NOTHING spectacular, but imo better than other mid-range Q in the city.

I am not kidding about Twin Anchor's ribs. I could recommend other bbq joints but the author requested close to downtown. Give us your input on the best rib, stevez.

Christopher Gordon wrote:*to quote Wesley Willis

Ok, that is the most obscure attribution I think I have seen on this board.

EvilUs wrote:I am not kidding about Twin Anchor's ribs. I could recommend other bbq joints but the author requested close to downtown. Give us your input on the best rib, stevez.

EvilUs,

Thing is Twin Anchor's ribs are not BBQ, they are Chicago style baked pork ribs with BBQ sauce. Nowhere in the cooking process do they come in contact with wood or wood smoke.

It's difficult to recommend a BBQ joint in the downtown area, real slow smoked BBQ does not lend itself well to mass market commercial quantity cooking.

If unforeseen circumstances forced me to eat BBQ in the downtown area, I'd go to Weber Grill or Carson's. While not quite real slow smoked BBQ, at least their product spends some time in the smoke before being slathered in sauce and finished on the grill.

Enjoy,
Gary

Thanks Gary. I never said T.A. was true BBQ. Just good, fall off the bone, ribs. Anyway, lets keep helping our fellow forum member with the suggestions. Didn't mean to get carried away.

d4v3 wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:*to quote Wesley Willis

Ok, that is the most obscure attribution I think I have seen on this board.

make that, "seven Hell bus rides!"

Ahhh...the dear departed Mr. Willis(icon of an also long-lamented Wicker Park of yore). I was never a fan of his "music." He used to do odd jobs at my friend's gallery/salon. I've even got a giganto posterboard original Willis drawing of that portion of Milwaukee.

fyi; he was fond of describing public transportation as a "Hell bus ride." I'm inclined to agree.

um...ribs, downtown

no ribs downtown--weber's if you want very expensive stuff

Thanks for all the replies...I'll pass them on and probably use some for my trip back there in AUgust!

One semi-interesting thing that surprised me...I was checking the Carson's Ribs website and noticed they only have 2 restaurant locations...I'm very surprised at that...I thought they were all over the place.

RSMBob wrote:Thanks for all the replies...I'll pass them on and probably use some for my trip back there in AUgust!

One semi-interesting thing that surprised me...I was checking the Carson's Ribs website and noticed they only have 2 restaurant locations...I'm very surprised at that...I thought they were all over the place.

Until recently, they were. Over the past couple of years, they've been closing stores left and right.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:

RSMBob wrote:One semi-interesting thing that surprised me...I was checking the Carson's Ribs website and noticed they only have 2 restaurant locations....

Until recently, they were. Over the past couple of years, they've been closing stores left and right.

going to carson's in river north is like taking a step in the wayback machine.... it's clearly well past its prime.. the food is "ok" but nothing worth writing about, or more importantly.. nothing worth going out of your way to get ... the sign on the outside boasts of their "sophisticated carry out packaging" --and probably has for 25 years... (somewhere i have a good picture of it, just because I think its such a goofy thing to put on a big sign... oh where oh where.)

does portillo's have ribs? i've never had them but i'm pretty sure they must. i know they cater and deliver them... i wonder if they're any good?

dddane wrote:does portillo's have ribs? i've never had them but i'm pretty sure they must. i know they cater and deliver them... i wonder if they're any good?

I've never had them, but the Portillo's on Clark and Ontario is also a Barnelli's and a Barney's, and "Barney's" is the "rib concept".

Dick Portillo wrote:Hi, I'm Dick Portillo and I welcome you to The Portillo Restaurant Group and its five different concepts (Portillo's Hot Dogs, Barney's Ribs, Barnelli's Pasta Bowl, Key Wester Fish & Pasta House and Luigi's House).
The Portillo Restaurant Group - History

If the op's wife is staying in the Loop, Miller's has decent Chicago-style, baked (not BBQ!) ribs, and its very retro atmosphere puts the dish in its proper context. Relatively inexpensive, too.

Miller's Pub
134 S. Wabash Ave.
312-645-5377

jbw, when was the last time you had miller's ribs? 10 years ago? shall we go there sometime together? if you really think those are good ribs i will buy. let's go late at night so we can get the 5-hour old reheated ribs!