Best Steak in the Subrubs

The city gets a lot of attention when it comes to steakhouses. Gibson's Morton's and all the rush street establishment's get their fare share of press but seldom do we hear about the suburbs. There's some great place's to get a steak in the suburb's but you have to know where to go.

The Trib reviewed some of the best places to grab a steak in the burbs. Check out the video review after the jump.

First Slice Cafe

Happy New Year! A new year brings a new post of a new restaurant or a cafe in this case, First Slice Cafe.


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163 E Pearson
Chicago, IL 60611

4401 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, Illinois 60640 

Quick Review: Stopped in at the Downtown location of First Slice and now I have a favorite cafe for pie and coffee.

Long Review: After a quick tip from a friend I decided to check out the downtown location of First Slice inside the Old Water Filtration Building (across the street from the Water Tower) on Michigan Avenue. The entrance was a bit hidden as it's in the middle of the building on Pearson, removed from the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue.

I walked in and saw the cafe laid out inside the entrance. The interior space is very nice, quite and calming. Couches and chairs are off to the for patrons to sit and read a book while sipping their coffee. There's also a couple of large tables near the counter so finding a seat shouldn't be a problem. Though, when I stopped by it was around 5pm a couple of days before Christmas and wasn't very crowded to my surprise.  

Said friend and I walked up to the counter and wondered what to order. Since I wasn't in the mood for coffee I just grabbed a Pelligrino from their case that offers cold beverages; a Chai latte for her. I noticed the case with pies in it turning around- so many different pies to choose from. I grabbed a mint pie and my friend got a slice of Pumpkin Cinnamon. We then noticed the large lemon bars stacked up on a cake platter. We couldn't resist and picked one of those up to.

Since it was around dinnertime (and we didn't want to just get sweets) we looked over their other food items they had to offer. I got a spinach quiche and my friend an arugula and spinach leaf salad tossed with walnuts and cranberries. The total came to around $17 dollar for everything.

The Spinach Quiche was delivered to the table once it was heated up. Tasty and not too eggy or runny. Well made, as was the salad. I took a sip of the Chai latte, it was alright. The pies were the highlight of the whole meal though. Both of them were delicious and I would come back just for a slice of pie (or two slices).

All in all a nice cafe Downtown to stop and relax. They are a vegan cafe (which I didn't even notice being a non-vegan) and donate a portion of their profits to local charities. They also have two other locations in the city so be sure to check them out.


Overall Rating: 4 out 5 stars

* I've recently moved to New York so for NYer's and visitors alike be on the lookout for New York Restaurant Review soon*

Chicago's Best Ribs

Chicago's Best Margaritas

Chicago Best Resturants by Occasion

There's a lot of great places in the city to go to eat but here to the top six places to go to sorted by occasion.  From brunch to drinks to drinks here's "the list."


Weekend Brunch-


North Pond
2610 N Cannon Dr
Chicago, IL 60657

This Lincoln Park locale serves up sweet onion veloute soup with crab from a weekend prix fix menu ($29) The food is as good as anything you'll find during dinnertime.

Lunch Downtown- 
1028 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611 

Gibson's - Big portions, big steaks and big deserts. Gibson's is the place to go for lunch (to avoid the dinner crowd and the long waits) If you're savoring some grilled steak or fish than head up Rush Street to one of Chicago's best steakhouses.


For the Foodies-

Moto-
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, Illinois 60607

 Most foodies will be impressed if they don't realize you're truing to impress them. Though, you wont just impress a foodie Moto will outright baffle them with entrees that look like they're from the next century.

Good Date Spot-

Tango Sur-
 3763 N Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
 
Dim lighting, great drinks and great food makes this a top date spot. This BYOB Argentinean spot in Lakeview offers great entrees such as the churrasco, a slab of chimichurri-topped beef.

Late Night-

Japonais-
600 W Chicago
Chicago, IL 60610
 
With glamorous indoor and outdoor spaces it's hard to choose which one to pick. The restaurant serves until 11pm.

Favorite Cafe-
3601 N Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613 

Julius Menil- Vienna in Chicago. This place has a great relaxed European cafe vibe to it and some of the best coffee, sandwiches, and pastries in the city. The Mozart cake is absolutely delicious.

D's Haute Dogs Review

 551 Lincoln Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093


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Short Review: Went up to the North Shore for some hot dogs and came across D's Haute Dogs. Even though this place is not as good as Mustard's Last Stand (which will have it's own review next week) it is still has some great food to serve up. Who knew? Hot dogs in Winnetka.


Long Review: I stepped in when I went out to lunch with a friend. My standard yellow flags were raised when I noticed no one was inside on a Saturday at noon. There was just one family sitting outside. (However, this is standard for many North Shore restaurants as it is hard to run a restaurant there)

After pondering over the menu for a while I settled on the Chicago Dog with fries. $7.50. A bit on the pricey side without a drink but then again the North Shore property taxes are what drive the prices up.

The counter person was very nice and served us professionally. It's also decorated similar to Mustard's with local sports photos on the walls of the various organizations in the area. They have a nice little outdoor seating area which is good for the summertime.

All in all a nice little hot dog/ burger joint in the area.

4 out of 5 stars.

Greek Islands West Lombard Review

View Larger Map300 E 22nd St
Lombard, IL 60148

There aren't that many places to go for Greek food in Lombard so it's no surprise this place gets packed on weekends. Actually, all the restaurants get packed in the western suburbs after a certain hour on the weekends.

Went for an early dinner, arriving early because the wait can be 20-30 minutes during the diner rush hour, and it can be hard to seat anyone if you arrive too late. It was just starting to fill up when we arrived.

After a short wait we got a table by a window in the bar section of the restaurant which is the first time I've sat there. We pondered over the menu for appetizers and we greeted by our waiter. We ordered the usual: Greek Salad, Taramasalata and Calamari

Flaming Saganaki's and the accompanying "Opah!" were going of around us, we were use to it by now and too concerned with our food (it's also kind of gimmicky but people who have never seen it enjoy it)

The appetizers were good as usual.

 Our waiter was attentive and made his best effort in checking up on our table despite the place filling up quickly and having other tables to wait on.

I ordered the Arni Fournou, or the roast lion of lamb.I always order the lamb, that's one of meats of Greece.


It was a little overcooked yet still juicy, and good as usual. It comes with roasted potatoes which are good but a bit salty. The portions here seem larger than at the Greektown location.

During our dinner the bar area filled up quickly and the dining area became so loud we couldn't hear the other person sitting across from us unless we shouted. The main dining area is more quite in general.

For desert I ordered the Tiramisu. Good but slightly dry, it had probably been sitting in the case for a couple of days. I could barely finish it as I was filled up from the large portions.

Near the end of desert I  looked out the window saw a mouse run across the dining terrace outside and watched as he slipped into a crack in the building. Presumably going into the basement or headed toward the kitchen. This is the first time I've seen anything like at here and I've been a lot over the years.

Despite that, if you want some pretty good Greek food in the western suburbs than Greek Island's is the place.

Overall rating 3.5 out 5

Best Chicago Hot Dog: Hot Doug's

Owner Doug Sohn speaks about his famous hot dog and "encased meat emporium" and this favorite Chicago hot dog joint.

Mama Thai Review

52 W Roosevelt Rd
Lombard, IL 60148



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Short review: Stopped by Mama Thai today and had a good Thai meal with even better service. Though is is more important to have great food or great service?

Full Review: Wanting to try a different Thai place in the western burbs we stopped by Mama Thai.

The restaurant was pretty  empty considered it was nearly five thirty. We were seated quickly and while pondering over the menu the chatty server caught my attention. She was talking with other diners across the room ad seemed unusually gregarious (Sidebar: I know some servers outgoing to diners because they want to receive a large tip but something told me this was just part of her personality)

A very nice gentleman waited on us and periodically the woman would come around and chat with us. She was chatting up a storm with us and engaged the table well, while not bothering us. I almost felt like a guest in her home, which is always a good thing at any restaurant.

I ordered the duck and when it came out I noticed how small it was, the chatty server (who could have also been the owner or the manager) also mentioned how small it was. It was quite tasty as a dish and left me wanting more.

I also made sure to taste everyone else's dish and when I tasted my dining companions chicken dish, there small pieces of rib bones which took away from an otherwise good dish. Hopefully, this was just a rare occurrence.

Everything got better once I had the "sweet sticky rice." The owner/manager made sure to save us the last one and told us she would be doing so every time she came to the our table. That was one of the best Thai deserts I've had and would go back along just for that. Sure enough it was the last one as we were leaving the owner told another table they were out of it. Extra points for that.

Overall I would go back to if I am out this way as there is good food with genuine service.


Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Chicago's Best Ribs

Where do you go to get the best ribs? Check out these spots below.

Peet's Coffee & Tea Review

A long overdue review about Peet's in Evanston about my original visit back in November

1622 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

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Short Review:

Pete's is not life Starbuck's, it's actually a nice refreshing throwback to the days when real coffee houses existed in this nation. With locations in 5 states this small chain actually doesn't feel like a chain at all.

Long Review:
Stopped by Peet's Evanston location on a cold blustery day and was a bit overwhelmed by the choices of coffee. This location is extremely quite as there are Northwestern students studying, professors reading, many people writing on labtops, etc... The loudest noise in there is the coffee maker and many times it's the only noise in there.

I ordered a Pumpkin Spice Latte with a Pumpkin muffin. It was very good, approaching Intelligensia's level of quality. The muffin was a decent size for the price and was tasty as well.

The service is good also, the baristas don't rush or bark "next customer" if there is a line. They don't have that rushed retail feel about them either, very relaxed and polite. They also really know a lot about the different types of coffee beans and can answer questions with some actual knowledge. Which can't be said of Starbuck's baristas.

The only slight complaint I have is the atmosphere is a bit sterile. The counter-tops are clean and clear of product displays and this location is big so it the environment can seem slightly cold at times. There are even security cameras hidden in the corner. Despite that this is a coffee chain that I would be willing to return to as they have some very good coffee.

Overall rating 4.5 out 5

Thai Classic Review

3332 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657

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Short Review: Went to one of the top Thai places in the city but I may have been expecting too much. Need to back because I love Thai food.

Long Review: We went out in the frigid cold to Thai Classic to meet a couple friends for dinner. I've walked past the Wrigleyville spot a couple of time but didn't know how large it really is on the inside, it looks small and narrow from the sidewalk. In fact, it's easy to miss if you're walking down the street.

When we got into the restaurant it seemed everyone gave us death stares which was very odd but also could have been attributed to our letting the extremely cold wind in. The host was very nice and asked if we would like to sit at a table or on the floor, we opted for a table in the back of the restaurant far away from the front door that lets the cold in every time people enter or leave. (To be fair to the frigid patrons those death stares were more like looks of regret)

We were seated and I opened the menu- there are pictures of dishes on the menu. Like Gordon Ramsey I'm always a bit suspicious of restaurants that show pictures of the food they are going to serve me on their menu due to some bad experiences at those sort of restaurants. I went into alert mode.

The interior is nothing to rave about, this isn't Le Colonial. Just a normal interior with a carpeted floor and with some tables and floor seating around the walls. The front of the restaurant is nicer looking and has wood flooring and a bar but I wasn't going to sit up there with the cold coming through the door.

The El rumbled over head and since it was quite in the back dining area (for now) it got a bit distracting after the second time a train went by minutes later.

We ordered Thai Spring Rolls and Calamari for an appetizer. Despite my advice not to order calamari at a Thai place it wasn't that bad. The Thai spring rolls are cold (this is how many Thai restaurants serve spring rolls so if you order them don't expect Chinese or Japanese spring to come hot from the oven) They were alright also. Just the amount of sweet in the sauce drizzled over it.

It came time to order the main dishes. I ordered Lad Nar- a mistake on my part. From my experience of Lad Nar at Joy's Noodle and Rice. I ordered it wondering if it was any better than the one I had a year ago at Joy's.

Lad Nar is a dish made with wide noodles and either pork or chicken in a gravy. It is a common Thai dish so I wasn't quite expecting what I got. Some of the noodles were a bit too crispy and even burned around the edges and the gravy was too salty. Lad Nar is supposed to be crispy but some of the noodles were downright crunchy. Just like Joy's Noodle and Rice Lad Nar. Before I about to write off the restaurant I tasted everyone else's dish to make sure it was me. Everyone said their dishes were good.

Their dishes were better than mine. Maybe something happened in the kitchen when the cook was making the Lad Nar as the restaurant got very busy very quickly. Maybe this is their variation on Lad Nar?

I gave Thai Classic the benefit of the doubt and decided whoever made my dish was having a bad day because their service is very good.

The waitress was very nice and attentive. Not so attentive that you felt the servers are hovering around the table and refilling your glass every time you take a little sip but just the right amount of watchfulness from a distance kind of attentive.

I will be back to try something else.

4 out of 5 Stars

Chicago Restaurant Reviews: Best of 2009

As the year draws to a close it's time to do a restaurant roundup and mention some awards for a few places which not only caught my attention but have been consistently good places to eat in the city.

Best Lunch Spot in the Loop: Hannah's Bretzel
233 N Michigan Avenue and 190 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60605


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This is the best place for lunch in the loop in my opinion. Despite it being a bit on the expensive side($9-10) it is a great healthy option. A wall of Swiss and Belgium chocolate, organic ingredients, freindly staff and a choice of kettle chips or carrots. Beats fast food.

Best Italian: Trattoria Trullo

4767 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625


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Quick Review:

Anterprima came close but this Lincoln Square spot is hands down the best (authentic) Italian restaurant I've been to in the city.

This isn't a pasta house with heavy tomato sauces, it's where the Italians go when they are on vacation. Go and enjoy.

Best Cafe: Julius Meinl

4363 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL, 60613

and

4363 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618


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Yes, you can go to Intelligensia to get a decent cup of coffee but Menil's has some great European coffee's and dishes. People complain about the long waits to get in during lunch rush on the weekends but I like to go at night, especially in the fall or winter. Just like Vienna in Chicago.

Really, on my last visit there were a group of French friends all talking (in French) lively about various topics and behind me was a lone Italian man speaking on the cellphone. When the Europeans gather here, you know it's good.

If you cut out your to trip to Europe this year travel to Meinl's instead, almost the same thing.

Best Hot Dog: Jim's Original


1250 S Union Ave
Chicago, IL 60607


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This Near West Side Spot takes the prize for great hot dogs and burgers. People were lined around the block for their 70th Anniversary deal and I can see why; they have some of the best polish sausages in town.

In fact, they claim to be the home of original Chicago polish. Either way this is a spot to stop by.

If you're looking for a more comprehensive guide to Chicago restaurants check out Zagat 2009/10 Chicago Restaurants: Celebrating 30 Years (Zagatsurvey: Chicago Restaurants)

Chicago Resturant Deals and Steals

Eating out in Chicago doesn't need to be expensive, especially in these times. There's many restaurants where you can eat on the cheap or even for free. In fact if you go to certain restaurants on the right day you can find yourself a deal.

Here's a big list of restaurants that offer dining deals, happy hour, or buffets around Chicago to save you some money.

Downtown

Brasserie Joe- Happy hour 5-7pm every Tuesday
59 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60610

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The Buzz- Free buffet from 5-6pm with free salsa lessons from 6:30-7:30pm
308 W Erie St Bsmt
Chicago, IL 60610

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Golden Buddha Chinese Restaurant- Don't be put off by entering through a lobby of an office building as they offer free appetizers every Friday evening.

312 W Randolph St Chicago, IL 60606

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Mezito Latin Bistro and Wine Bar- Free tapas on Tuesday from 5-10pm

710 N Wells St,
Chicago, IL 60606

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Northside

Big Chicks- This popular GLBT spot in Uptown offers a free full Sunday brunch buffet from 3-4pm. Salad, pasta, sandwiches, and deserts are included.

5024 N Sheridan Rd,
Chicago, IL 60640

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Celtic Crown-
Free pizza 5-8pm on Fridays

4301 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60618



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Franks'- Free food on St Patrick's Day and Fat Tuesday

2503 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614

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Full Shilling Pub- This Wrigleyville bar offers free food Fridays 5-7pm during Cubs games

3724 N Clark St,
Chicago, IL 60613

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Clybar- Free pizzas from 5-8pm on Fridays

2417 N Clybourn Ave,
Chicago, IL‎ 60614

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McGee's Tavern and Grille- Free pizza at Midnight on Fridays

950 W Webster Ave,
Chicago, IL 60614

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North End- This Lakeview sports bar has Sunday buffets during Bears season. GLBT

3733 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60613


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Sedgwicks- Free Friday buffet at 10:30pm Saturdays around midnight.
1935 N Sedgwick St
Chicago, IL 60614


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West Side

Cleo's- You can get your late night free food fix with free appetizers Saturday 11-1:00 am at this Ukrainian Village spot

1935 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622


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The Map Room
1949 N Hoyne Ave
(between Homer St & Armitage Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647


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International night, 2 drink minimum strictly enforced on Tuesday night. Local from around the world chefs gather at this Bucktown spot to cook ethnic dishes from their country.

Free samples around town

Fox and Obel- Offers free samples of food everyday, free wine samplings Thursday and Friday evenings from 5-8pm and Saturday afternoon from 2-5pm

Godiva Chocolates- Free samples on weekend (double check website to see upcoming offers)

Trader Joes- Free samples offered everyday

Whole Foods- Samples offered weekend afternoons

Happy Hours



Cucina Paradiso
814 North Blvd
Oak Park, IL 60301


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Half price wine bottles every Monday and $5 signature martinis every Wednesday
Enjoy $3 appetizers at the bar only Tuesday

Cafe Selmarie
4729 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625


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Enjoy a three-course meal for only $20 every Thursday Night at Cafe Selmarie. 4pm until closing.

Sushi X
543 W Diversey Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614


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Half price on all sushi rolls Sunday through Wednesday from 5:00pm - 7:00pm.

Mirabell Restaurant & Lounge
3454 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60618


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Drink specials Monday thru Thursday

Va Pensiero
1566 Oak Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201


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Turquoise Cafe Review

2147 W Roscoe St
Chicago, IL 60618

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Short Review: My new neighborhood favorite. This is a great neighborhood spot for some good Turkish food in a nice dining atmosphere in a great area.

Long Review:
Just got back from a good spot in Roscoe Village for with a laid back Mediterranean cafe feel to it- Turquoise Cafe. This place is a neighborhood favorite based on how quickly it filled up by 7pm on a cold Monday night- during a very bad recession too.

The atmosphere is my one of favorite types of atmospheres- small, intimate, low lighting, white table, clothes, framed art on the wall, large selection of wine and champagne stocked behind the bar, and lots of full tables with happy people talking and laughing. It already got two points by the time I walked up the hosts booth. Most of the waitstaff is Turkish which makes it very authentic. It has a nice Euro/ Mediterranean vibe about it. On to the food.

They menu is mainly focused on Turkish dishes but there are some Italian and Greek dishes on there also. It has a very nice selection of Mediterranean fare.

We started out with mussels steamed in wine. They were so good I could have made a meal out of them on their own.
Despite being at a (mostly) Turkish restaurant I decided to go a little Italian tonight and order the Osso Buco. It was very good and came with Polenta with shaved Parmesan cheese.

My dining companion had Rack of Lamb. The lamb was just as good- if not better than lamb I've had in Greektown. And the roasted vegetables which came with the dish, delish! I ate what she couldn't finish and was grateful for it.

Unfortunately, I didn't have desert since we were full but we will definitely be back soon as this is now my favorite spot in Roscoe Village. Too bad I came in the Fall, I would have liked to sit outdoors and dine al fresco.

4.5 out of 5 stars

BTW, our tab came out to about $50 for the two of use for dinner so while I wouldn't put it in the expensive category it may be a place to save for special occasions in this economy but definitely worth the visit for any occasion.

Greek Islands' Review

200 S Halsted St
(between Adams St & Quincy St)
Chicago, IL 60661


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There are so many good places to go for Greek food in Greektown but after multiple visits to the one in Oak Brook and Chicago the Greek Islands is one of the better Greek restaurants in Chicago. Plus, there is free valet parking.

Went for lunch to Greek Island's because they get extremely busy during the diner rush hours and strolled in for some authentic Greek eats. The place was busy despite my plans to avoid the crowds. I was half expecting that though.

When we got a table and they must have a wait staff of 50 people or more. You'll find both family-style and individual catered plates on the menu. Tons of appetizers and main course selections.

We opted out of the flaming Saganaki and the accompanying "Opah!". They were going off all around us and we weren't impressed by the pyrotechnics anymore. But at $5.50 it is a deal and a sight to see if you have never been or have out-of-towners.

Their Avgolemeno soup (lemon soup) was thick 'n creamy - texture-wise, just the way I like it, however it was a bit bland on that day and not full of the explosive lemon flavor I'm use to. The Gyros was a plate-full. I always order the lamb, that's one of meats of Greece.

It is usually tender and juicy, this time it was good as usual. It comes with garlic roasted potatoes which are very good.

All and all a nice meal at Greek Islands was had. But the only thing which takes away from the experience is the rushed service. The servers tend to bring out entrees when your finishing up your appetizer. They may be trying to hurry people in and out or there may be too many servers hovering around each table.

Nonetheless, if you want some pretty good Greek in a busy restaurant close to the hussle and bussle of Downtown than Greek Island's is the place.

Overall rating 3.5 out 5

Mount Everest Restaurant Review

630 Church St
(between Chicago Ave & Orrington Ave)
Evanston, IL 60201


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Quick Review: The best place to go for Indian food in Evanston and one of my favorite restaurants in the North Shore. Hands down.

Long Review: We first tried out Mount Everest a couple of years ago and it's really a great place for Indian and Pakistani food beyond Devon Avenue.

One of the things I like about the restaurant is it has good service with great food. The owner is very nice and freindly and she makes sure every table is content with their experience at her business.

Everything is very good here. The Curry is not that spicy, a plus for people who don't like spicy food and the Naan (Indian bread) is perfectly warm and soft. Their Mango ice cream is creamy and delicious.

Devon is a good place to go for Indian but Mt Everest is worth the trip.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

Hannah's Bretzel Review

233 N Michigan Avenue and 190 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60605


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Quick Review: From greasy spoon Greektown diner to luxurious lunch spot in the loop. While working in the Loop (interning actually) last year I stopped over at Hannah's Bretzel on Washington for lunch and had one of the best (and most expensive) European sandwiches in a long time.

Long Review: While interning at an investment firm (bad place to be in this economy) I decided to treat myself to a nice lunch. Why should all the executives enjoy great lunches while I ate bagged lunches from home? I deserved something nice once in awhile too. So I grabbed my coat and headed out to Hannah's Bretzel.

Unfortunately, the Loop doesn't offer that many good places to grab a sandwich (yes, there's Panera and Cosi but the lines are so long by the time lunch rolls around) Then there's fast food chains which I won't go to unless there are no other options and there are at least a few better options in the Loop than fast food. Besides they serve entirely organic ingredients and it's healthy too.

I had done my research on Hannah's Bretzel after seeing a segment on the news about it. I knew how expensive it would be but was still uncertain of the quality. (Price does not always equal quality)

The location is not exactly a hole in the wall but the narrow building it's located in makes it easy to miss. I've walked by it a thousand times before but only now have I noticed it. I walked in the shop which is very small and has a very European feeling. The wall (the entire wall) has an enormous shelf gourmet chocolate bars from Belgium and Switzerland. Two giant TV's mounted on the wall behind the counter were showing a downhill skiing event and marble countertopsr rounded out the theme. I think I even heard classical music playing. The only thing missing were chandlers. How highbrow.

There wasn't much of a line but everyone in line was dressed well, including myself. I did my homework before hand and made sure to look the part so I wouldn't get any snooty looks from people. But actually the customers were more focused on what to order than who was walking through the door and the staff is very nice.

I ordered the Black Forest Turkey sandwich with chips. It came out to $10.25 with tax.

The place is very small and it only has one or two tables so I had to eat lunch somewhere else. I felt like Nick Cage in the movie the Family Man (specifically the part where he describes getting his coffee at Dean and DeLuca) as I walked down Wacker with my Hannah Bretzel sandwich bag and wearing my winter coat. The only thing I was missing were black leather power broker gloves.

It was a great sandwich, the kettle chips were a bit salty but all in all a good organic European sandwich. The bag it came in was even made of biodegradable plastic.

Though, in this economy it's probably better to go once in a while as special treat unless you have have a trust fund. And if anyone calls you a snob for buying a Hannah's Bretzel sandwich, tear off a piece and give it to them because they serve up some very good sandwiches here.

4 out of 5 stars

Mr Greek Review

234 S Halsted St
(between Adams St & Jackson Blvd)
Chicago, IL 60661


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Quick Review: Went to grab some gyros in Greektown and got a big messy gyros for about $5, a good deal for a good meal.

Long Review: All rhyming aside, this greasy spoon is a great place for gyros. Possibly one of the best in Greektown for Gyros. After reading rave reviews about it I decided to stop in with my lunch companions. It was a typical diner style/ fast food atmosphere. It not about the looks, it's about lunch.

Went up to the counter and ordered the "combo #2" which was gyros with fries and a drink- $5.45.

After waiting for a little while my number was called and I got my lunch. The gyros are very big, very messy and very good. Half of mine spilled out onto the paper lining of the tray. Despite the initial awkwardness of trying to eat it I'd say this was some of the best gyros I've had in a while. I was so filled I couldn't finish my fries and had to throw the rest out (I don't like throwing out food) Bring a take out container you might need it ;)

All in all a good greasy spoon in Greektown to come for gyros. (Yes I know I sound like Dr. Seuss)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Jim's Original Hot Dog Review

1250 S Union Ave
Chicago, IL 60607


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Quick Review: Drawn partly by curiosity and also by a very good deal I went to Jim's a couple weeks ago but didn't want to wait in line. Went back this week beat the lunch crowd and got a great Polish with some very good (free) fries.

Long Review: Looking to grab a hot dog I went to Jim's Original for their 70th Anniversary celebration. Everything on their menu was 70 cents. Unfortunately, I didn't expect the entire city to also be there. The lines (there were two lines actually) were around the block and traffic was backed up on the streets around Jim's. This was 10x worse than the lunch lines at Hot Doug's.

I took my place in the back of the line- a block away from the counter. After 15 minutes and not much progression of the line I decided to give up my spot in line and come back when there wasn't a 45-50 minutes wait.

I returned yesterday with a group of people and we arrived before the lunch crowds mobbed the counter. This is an old school Chicago hot dog joint, literally right next to the Dan Ryan with sizzling grills on all the time in the back, smells of meat and fries wafting around in the air and sometimes gruff employees who can be intimidating to no-regulars. I ordered my Polish with free fries (all sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers, come with free fries) and wondered we were going to sit.


There isn't an outdoor eating area, no chair and tables in the back, just a metal counter bolted to the side of the building. Mustard and ketchup stains dotted the sidewalk underneath the counter. We ate old school style standing up at the "lunch counter" with the cars rushing by on the expressway and the skyline behind us.

The Polish Dog is really good, people aren't hyping anything up about it when they say so. It's loaded up with Sauerkraut and the fries are also very good. Their double fried to give a brown crunchy texture (at least I'm told).

It all only cost around $3.50 and Ddspite the unique experience eating while standing on the sidewalk along the Dan Ryan this is a great old place to go for hot dogs and especially the Polish Dog. Probably the best Polish Sausage I've had in Chicago.

Jim's Original Website

4.5 out of 5 stars.