Great Italian beef & sausage sandwiches. One of the original Italian beef stands. Open late Monday through Saturday. Taste a classic beef "dipped" with green peppers. Then go across the street for an Italian Lemonade at Mario's (summer months only).
AthenaThe original cheezborger place from Saturday Night Live. I usually get two burgers rather than a double just for the extra bun and a place to put another heaping serving of raw onions and sliced pickles. You should try the Schlitz Dark on tap!!
Cafe BoleroAnother Cuban shop, but a little higher brow. Great place to do a "Tapas" style meal where you order a bunch of appetizers and split a couple of entrees. The Tamales are very good, as is the Shrimp Flamenco.
Chicago DinerThe Chicago standard for vegetarians. Very purist if you are a vegan. My favorite? The Chili! Try the non-dairy desserts.
Chicago KalbiKorean style barbecue with a grill right at your table. Plan on spending about $15 - $20 per person if you drink beers. Kalbi is a marinated beef rib that they cut into two-inch square pieces and then YOU cook it. Order the Squid & Scallion cake for something completely different.
Chief O'Neill'sThis place is a pub & restaurant, with a beer garden. Their phone number is 773 IRE-LAND and the place looks like it really fits. The atmosphere is very lively and the food was delicious. For starters we had the curry ciips which came with plenty of extra curry sauce to dip the fries and some ot the soda bread (with raisiins no less), I mixed in some malt vinegar and woo hoo tangy flavors! We had the Braised beef tips, which is shepards pie make with beef tips, and the rosemary chicken. Then for desert we had the double chocolate cake and carrot cake, mmm, with beers, coffee and tip less than $60.
Duke of PerthOkay this place is a bar, but what a bar! Omigosh, they must have around seventy different types of Scotch Whiskey. On Wednesday and Friday they have an all you can eat fish fry, but you can try the rest of the food. I usually spend about $10 on dinner and $50 on 12 year old single malts.
El Riconcito SudamericanoGood Peruvian food at reasonably prices. The Papas Diablo is cold potatoes served with a warm chili cheese. The Peruvian Steak dinner and the Chicken Aji are very good too.
El TinajonGuatemalian food that takes a while to cook, but tastes great. Order the sampler appetizers right away and then drink a Cabro a light Guatemalian beer. I can't remember the name of my favorite dish (never can) but its description is "served is a pot" and is a stew type concoction.
Godfather's PizzaOkay, I had to include a pizza delivery place. I first ran across this place in 79! It was also called the "House of Ribs". Anyway, I order the sliced roast beef & Italian sausage w/ extra sauce, well done. Mmmm! (p.s. they are not part of the chain of the same name)
Grizzlies LodgeI think this restaurant bar looks hokey from the outside, but the gourmet chef prepares wild game daily so forget the looks. The venison goulash is my favorite, but I can never finish it. The Key Lime Pie is good too. Start with a buffalo burger if you want to test the waters.
Healthy FoodsThis place makes really great Lithuanian food that includes such classics as Kugelis and Ligonberry Crepes. I love their Roast Duck and the Sauerkraut soup, but everything is cooked just like grandma was in the kitchen so try anything. They are not open too late.
Heaven on SevenReally tasty Cajun food priced like everything else in the loop, kinda high, but this place will wake up your mouth like no one's business. Try the Louisiana Soul Deluxe (LSD) which includes a little of this and little of that. Get there before 11:20 AM or plan on camping out for a seat. I've seen over forty people in line when I have left there at noon.
Hero'sThese guys invented the fast submarine to go place. They have mounds of pre-sliced and pre-seasoned buns, just waiting for your order. Nearly every sandwich is less than two dollars. Hours vary depending on the bread supply, but they are usually open every day till 9 PM.
Italian VillageThis place is reasonably priced, the service is great, and food is always very good. My favorite is the Veal Piccante, a chili laced veal tenderloin. Ask the waiter for wine recommendations if you need help. Great for 2 or 20 people. Make a reservation.
John Barleycorn's PubI had to include this place for it's great atmosphere, burgers and black & tans. I started going here in 18 years ago when no one ever showed up after 3 PM. Now it is a happening place with the college crowd.
Klay OvenI like this place for lunch in the loop. They have an all you can eat buffet with plenty of meat and vegatarian entrees to choose from. Not usually a line unless you have a large group.
La UnicaThis taco joint is just a little bigger than a tollbooth. I still go to this place after more than twenty years. I once met a truck driver from Indiana who gets off of I-55 two miles away just to come to this place. The selection is limited but the food is great. Even a simple steak taco is tasty. My favorite is the Chile Rellano, which is a stuffed poblano chile, but that sells out pretty quickly so I usually get Guisado de Res which is beef stew.
Lou Mitchell'sLou no longer owns the place (he is out at Jedi's in North Riverside now, in case you know him) but I think it is still in the family. Breakfast to die for from 5 AM to 3 PM. Where do I begin? Well the omelets are really fluffy, and all the ingredients are top quality. The bacon, ham, sausage, maple syrup, orange juice and in house bakery are all conspiring to make this the best breakfast this side of the equator. Okay, breakfast is around 8 bucks, but you don't really need to eat for the rest of the day.
Manny's Snack ShopI have gone to this place since '77 when I worked at Chernin's Shoes. Cafeteria style breakfast and lunch. They have the best corned beef and potato pancakes. They sell so much of it, they have automated meat slicers going all the time. Have the corned beef omelet is you get there early.
Nookies TreeI like all three Nookies, but this one is close to me. They have breakfast all day long and are open late. If you like Eggs Benedict give theirs a try, it is very fresh. Great for after the bars!
Noon O KababI went here a few days after Christmas at 3 PM and it was packed, and it also seemed liked as soon as a table cleared a new group would show up. At first we thought the waitress was rude, but then it became apparent that she was just overwhelmed. We ordered some small humus and baba gannouj appetizers and I ordered the lamb shank combo (you can choose 1, 2 or 3 shanks, and chengeh kabab) and my friend ordered a combo shish kabab and chengeh kabab. The appetizers were really generous, but the best was our meal. My lamb was cooked in an unique ginger and spice sauce, and the chengeh kababs were really the best I ever had, moist and very flavorful. I liked my meal in spite of the fact that we never got our tea!
Nuevo LeonDare if you will, but this Mexican joint is great. My favorite is Machacado con Huevos, which is like a jerky like beef, shredded then scrambled with eggs. Hey, I said it was my favorite!!
Pita ExpressThis place is way back in the corner of the lower level, look for it. This place serves middle eastern cuisine, including, lentils and rice, dolmahs, and falahfals. Good place for lunch in the loop.
Reza'sPersian food is good if you like vegetarian or Middle Eastern food. Weekends this place is nuts after 8 PM. My favorite is the Lamb Shank or the Chicken Koubideh, which is a ground chicken shish-ke-bob. Reasonably priced meals and great wines.
Ricobene'sThis place has been remodeled about four times since the 70's, and now they are a chain, but the dedicated still make the pilgrimage to the Breaded Steak homeland. Don't know what a breaded steak is? Too bad! They have good pizza by the slice too.
Rodity'sGreek food and wine very reasonably priced. Great for taking mom & dad or a significant other. The celebrities that come here would really surprise you when you see how low it is priced. Another great place to do a "Tapas" style meal. My favorite is the Lamb Braised in Artichokes or Dandelions. Yummy.
Twin AnchorsWell here is my great rib place. Make a reservation, skip lunch and have a full rack for dinner. My friends and I usually have a rack and a half, but then we skip breakfast too. Probably the best ribs in town bar none.
Zorba'sGreek Town fast food open 24 hours. Need I say more? Okay, they bake everything on site. More? They are cheap and quick, and have good coffee. Just go!
Good Eats in EvanstonThis place is good, but the service has varied. Plenty of fresh fish and seafood to order from. Look for the specials and save.
Tommy Nevin's PubNice little Irish pub with good food and great beers. This place is a little small, but I enjoyed the burgers and mashed potatoes with a couple of Guinness beers.
Good Eats in LincolnwoodThis a corporate chain joint, but I still included it. The food is very good, I particularly like the pounded chicken alla sima (?), which is a lightly breaded chicken breast with a nice tangy sauce. Their ribs are very tender too. The bar has a nice selection of cognacs for after dinner. Make a reservation.
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