Cheap Saturday night takeout near Arlington Park Race Track?

Some friends and I will be hunched over catching up on episodes of the last season of (the new) Battlestar Galactica in the 'burbs this Saturday night, and I was wondering what some good and cheap takeout or delivery options might be around the Arlington Park Race Track, or, more specifically, around where Palatine Road hits Route 53 (close to where the party hosts live).

Pizza was definitely considered, but I couldn't suggest anything better than Barnaby's out in Schaumburg/Northbrook/Arlington Heights (bad crust in the nearby Heights?) or Marisa's way over in Northbrook. Can anyone suggest something closer and possibly/hopefully even better? I'm aware some folks have inquired about dining options in the general vicinity before, but we just need something good to accompany a day of marathon television watching (think a marvelous dinner intermission) and won't be too hard to pick up or get delivered. Something easy on the wallet would be very helpful as well, though as long as most people can enjoy the food, what type of cuisine it is -- whether Indian, Mexican, Thai, or whatnot -- doesn't really matter. Erring on the side of "accessibility" wouldn't be a bad idea, however.

Considering my admittedly lengthy criteria, would anyone have any worthwhile restaurant (and order) recommendations for the Snob? A hungry posse of couch potatoes would most certainly be grateful for your assistance!

Your local homebody,
Dan

I know the area very well and have to say that there are limited choices.

Tons of Japanese options w/carry out at the Arlington Heights Rd exit from 90. Mitsuya, Kitakata, numerous threads, etc

Sun Shui
155 W Rand Rd
Arlington Hts, IL 60004
(847) 870-8888

Hong Kong Cafe
1608 E Algonquin Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 397-8208

Lou Malnatis (carry out only)
287 N Northwest Hwy
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 963-0800

Lao Sze Chuan has an outpost in Palatine called Szechuan House. I have ordered carry out here before, but it just doesn't hold well compared to dining in unfortunately.

There was a recent post about a new Mediterranean Restaurant across from Arl Park next to McDonalds & BK, but I can't find it b/c I don't remember the name of the restaurant. I'll try to look for it on the train tomorrow morning.

Pucca wrote:I know the area very well and have to say that there are limited choices.

Thanks for your work in initiating the S. Barrington/Hoffman Estates thread, Pucca (linked above as "in the general vicinity"). Unfortunately, the Asian carry-out options you listed might not be that easy on the budget for the informal gathering we've got planned. Lou Malnati's might not be a bad watch 'n' eat option, however, especially if I can figure out a way to get at least one thin-crust pizza out of that order. Great idea, thanks!

Pucca wrote:There was a recent post about a new Mediterranean Restaurant across from Arl Park next to McDonalds & BK, but I can't find it b/c I don't remember the name of the restaurant. I'll try to look for it on the train tomorrow morning.

Maybe you're referring to the thread concerning Roti Mediterranean on East Dundee Road in Palatine? Checking the online-ordering option, it looks like Roti's entrees might work well with what I'm thinking of as well. Wonder what other goodies they've got besides the "Signature Fire Roasted Turkey" sandwich... Thanks for this rec, too, Pucca!

With much gratitude,
Dan

Johnnie's Beef
847/357-8100
1935 S. Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights

Oh Yea, I always forget about Johnny's Beef. I've only been to that location once.

Yea actually, the Hoffman/S. Barrington Area is a bit of a hike from where you're going to be.

Hong Kong Cafe's entrees are about $8-9 each, but they are large, and should be shared amongst a group.

The train was whizzing by too quickly for me to catch the name of that international cafe that was posted recently. It's actually in an old Burger King directly across from the Racetrack. I cannot find the post for the life of me! So frustrating. I will try to look again tonight.

Pucca wrote:The train was whizzing by too quickly for me to catch the name of that international cafe that was posted recently. It's actually in an old Burger King directly across from the Racetrack. I cannot find the post for the life of me! So frustrating. I will try to look again tonight.

Are you talking about Paprikash?

Have a good frakkin time, Snob.

LAZ wrote:Johnnie's Beef
847/357-8100
1935 S. Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights

Ha, ha... nice reminder, LAZ. I actually had your old post concerning the two locations from both Al's and Johnnie's from last December in my bookmarks for easy reference this week:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=55893#55893

The host has responded positively to pizza (and other possible foodstuffs) from Lou's, but I will endeavor to make a stop at Johnnie's Arlington Heights outpost sometime in the future... maybe after all that construction on I-90 is complete. Thanks for the suggestion, though -- I love Johnnie's Italian ice! My visit to their Elmwood Park location was auspicious.

--Dan

Anko wrote:Have a good frakkin time, Snob.

I most definitely will, Anko. A most fitting use of the BSG lingo!

Over 'n' out,
A-Dan-a

Pucca wrote:There was a recent post about a new Mediterranean Restaurant across from Arl Park next to McDonalds & BK, but I can't find it b/c I don't remember the name of the restaurant. I'll try to look for it on the train tomorrow morning.

Ok, I finally caught a glimpse of this place from the train last night! It's called Four Seasons Cafe & Grill. Here is the linkto the only post I could find. Here is their website. It is directly across the street from the Arlington Park trainstation on Northwest Hwy, next to McDonald's and Burger King.

fastfoodsnob wrote:...anyone have any worthwhile restaurant (and order) recommendations for the Snob?

I live nearby and the pickings are slim, but here are a couple of possibilities...

Really outstanding pizza around here is hard to come by, but Wayne's Pizza is about as good as can be had in the area.

http://www.waynespizza.com/index.html

For Mexican, you could try:

La Chicanita Mexican Restaurant
200 N Dunton Ave (Cross Street: Miner Street)
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 255-7075

For Chinese:

Heng Wing
121 W Palatine Rd
Palatine, IL 60067
847-358-3061

Grizzly wrote:Really outstanding pizza around here is hard to come by, but Wayne's Pizza is about as good as can be had in the area.

I've been looking for good pizza in the area. Which crust do you recommend? How would you compare it to others: Pequods, Malnati's, Giordano's, Gino's, Jake's, Rosati's, Chicago Pizza?

Pucca wrote:

Grizzly wrote:Really outstanding pizza around here is hard to come by, but Wayne's Pizza is about as good as can be had in the area.

I've been looking for good pizza in the area. Which crust do you recommend? How would you compare it to others: Pequods, Malnati's, Giordano's, Gino's, Jake's, Rosati's, Chicago Pizza?

We normally have the double crust pizza at Wayne's. It's decent and convenient (the bride commutes from the Arlington Pk Metra station). I've never tried their pan or double decker pizzas. We typically order from Gino's on Algonquin in RM if we want a deep dish pizza.

If you're desperate for some really good pizza that will almost make you think you were back home in the city, without having to drive all the way in, I'm a fan of these two spots:

Rosario's Pizza (carry out only)
771 E Nerge Rd
Roselle, IL
Tel: (630) 893-5058

http://www.rosariospizza.com/

and

Venuti's (dining room and full menu)
541 West North Ave.
Villa Park, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 832-5001
Fax: (630) 832-8821

http://www.ristorante.net/venutis/index.htm

Each is a bit of a drive, but worth it in my book. If I have business that takes me by either place at the right time of day, it's a lead pipe cinch what supper is going to be that night.

Pucca wrote:Lao Sze Chuan has an outpost in Palatine called Szechuan House. I have ordered carry out here before, but it just doesn't hold well compared to dining in unfortunately.

the couple of time we had takeout from there (last winter) we were pretty happy with it - of course you have to order dishes that do better as takeout - things like braises or spicy tander tofu rather salt and pepper stuff, or stir frys

Pucca wrote:

Pucca wrote:There was a recent post about a new Mediterranean Restaurant across from Arl Park next to McDonalds & BK, but I can't find it b/c I don't remember the name of the restaurant. I'll try to look for it on the train tomorrow morning.

Ok, I finally caught a glimpse of this place from the train last night! It's called Four Seasons Cafe & Grill. Here is the linkto the only post I could find. Here is their website. It is directly across the street from the Arlington Park trainstation on Northwest Hwy, next to McDonald's and Burger King.

Nice, now I remember where I'd seen that post before: the Lunch Under $5 thread! Very nice. Maybe we'll have to check the place out next time the gang's feeling adventurous. Thanks for the reminder, Pucca!

--Dan

Grizzly wrote:Really outstanding pizza around here is hard to come by, but Wayne's Pizza is about as good as can be had in the area.

http://www.waynespizza.com/index.html

For Mexican, you could try:

La Chicanita Mexican Restaurant
200 N Dunton Ave (Cross Street: Miner Street)
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 255-7075

For Chinese:

Heng Wing
121 W Palatine Rd
Palatine, IL 60067
847-358-3061

Wow, both those places are quite close to my area of interest, Grizzly. I don't know if we can be swayed from Lou Malnati's at this point, but those are nice points of reference for future take-out (and dine-in) meals. Rosario's and Venuti's are quite a bit further away than those two, but the suggestions are still appreciated. The take-out recs from Lao Sze Chuan (aka Szechuan House) might come in helpful as well, zim. Thanks for chiming in!

--Dan

Not sure about methodology, but Sun Shui was recently named to a CNN list of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the US, with Lao Sze Chuan as the other IL entry. Picks in other states I know are generally reasonable, though they need Tea House along with Little Szechuan in MN.

Is there anything particularly special about Sun Shui to folks here who have been lately?

Santander wrote:Not sure about methodology, but Sun Shui was recently named to a CNN list of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the US, with Lao Sze Chuan as the other IL entry. Picks in other states I know are generally reasonable, though they need Tea House along with Little Szechuan in MN.

Is there anything particularly special about Sun Shui to folks here who have been lately?

I've passed it by many times, imagining that it's no different from any other local Chinese place, and perhaps dubious about it also serving sushi (do one thing, do it well).

Looking at the take-out menu a few things pop out that might make it more than just another americhinese:
Dried Chili Chicken
Gan Peng Shrimp (even if it's an ordinary dish, it's not a common name on americhinese menus)
Fish in Szechuan Bean Sauce (fluke with bok choy)

Santander wrote:Not sure about methodology, but Sun Shui was recently named to a CNN list of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the US, with Lao Sze Chuan as the other IL entry. Picks in other states I know are generally reasonable, though they need Tea House along with Little Szechuan in MN.

Is there anything particularly special about Sun Shui to folks here who have been lately?

Well, this is welcome news -- since I now live almost directly across the street. I'll definitely check this place out. Thanks.

What a random list. From a Hainan chicken storefront in Alhambra to this "Pan-Asian" place in AH where General Tso's is popular becuase we are, after all, in "in the Heartland." The author seems to have a slight clue about CA, NY and maybe ATL (it's CNN) but even those picks are uneven. For whom exactly are these things written, anyway?

JeffB wrote:What a random list. From a Hainan chicken storefront in Alhambra to this "Pan-Asian" place in AH where General Tso's is popular becuase we are, after all, in "in the Heartland." The author seems to have a slight clue about CA, NY and maybe ATL (it's CNN) but even those picks are uneven. For whom exactly are these things written, anyway?

I'm not sure the folks who compile these types of lists actually eat at all (or even many) of the places they list. I suspect they send out an APB to journalists they know in each state, asking for recommendations. Because as tight as budgets are these days, I don't imagine anyone (other than Guy Fieri) is actually checking out everything that gets listed in these sorts of "news" articles.

Still, since it's across the street, I'm still going to at least check out their chow fun.

I grew up in Arlington Heights in the Arlington Vista. I broke my arm while they were building Lake Arlington, swinging off of huge digging machines, but great place for a kid to grow up nonetheless. Watching farm fields turned into new neighborhoods and being able to ride your bike up and down huge manmade piles of earth! Ah memories of the fields, and there was an actual creek, complete with a treehouse that probably was made generations before my friends and I found it hidden along the creek bed.

I digress; Sun Shui's been around well over a minute now (at least 15 years). Gotta say, if you don't want to travel, and it's across the street, it really is a pretty solid option.

This could be me just being sentimental, because the first time I tried sushi was there at Sun Shui in my early twenties; but you could definitely do worse. About two years ago I spent a few weeks at my parents house, to help around the house after my father had a major quadruple bypass surgery, and remember the sushi still being pretty good. It's clearly a dual operation; as the sushi bar and chefs certainly seem to take pride in the food. Fresh fish, really nicely sized pieces on the nigiri.

Can't really comment on the Chinese food, as I was always addicted to the greasy american chinese food at a Pal-Win Plaza hole in the wall restaurant (again, being sentimental), but my younger brother and sister who still live out around there absolutely crave it, and whenever we eat in there as a family, the Chinese food siting at the table does smell and look pretty yummy. They actually pay some attention to presentation on both fronts. But yeah, if your in that northern part of Arlington Heights, you do indeed have some decent sushi for take out!

I realize this thread is uber old; but I would also endorse the aforementioned Wayne's Pizza on NW Highway. If your like me, and occasionally CRAVE those floppy, more cheesy center squares of a Chicago style thin crust; it's top notch satisfaction. Also, Nino's on Hintz Road (tho it looks like it moved to Bufallo Grove road) can be a satisfying thin crust pizza, the center squares are especially thick on the cheese, along with sauce that leaks out when biting into a sqaure that is finger licking good. Rosati's (was nearly neighbors with Nino's) still makes one of my favorite stuffed pizza's.... EVER. I've been wondering why they've been rebranding themselves as a "California" place??? (at least the one downtown that delivers to me does) Weird, cause still to this day they sling out a wonderful stuffed pie, and one of the examples I wouldn't think twice about showing an out of towner.

If your in the area, and in the hankering for a treat, Garabaldi's is back, home of the crappiest pizza in the neighborhood; but we all ate a slice back in the day anyways because it was standard pre-movie/just for fun arcade meal at the old Town & Country Mall. They serve a great Italian Ice, pick one up for that, and that only.



-B

Sun Shui (sushi/chinese)
155 W Rand Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 870-8888

Wayne's Pizza (thin crust pizza)
1618 W Northwest Hwy
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 255-2441

Nino's (thin crust pizza)
960 S Buffalo Grove Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 947-4111

Rosati's (stuffed pizza)
1414 E Hintz Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 392-8802

Garibaldi's (Italian ice)
1960 N Arlington Heights Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 577-4000