People always ask me, "hey you know any good eating places"
The following is a list of some of the restaurants and eating places I have visited. These are not intended to be complete reviews, so you won't see any ratings. If it is listed here, I recommend and I would go back.
Andies
Location: 5253 N. Clark.
A great place located in Andersonville. I have only eaten there once and had a nice time. I would go more often but I am only up in the Andersonville area late at night, usually after work when they are closed. Andy is great guy, tell him Midnight Tony sent ya.
The Art Of Pizza.
Location: 3033 N Ashland Ave.
I used to eat at this place allot when I lived at Belmont and Damen. A very small store front with a few tables to eat in. One of the best spinach pizzas I have had. Also, they have a great super beef and actually have homemade manicotti, yes the owners mom stuffs the pasta tubes herself. Pasta sauce is okay, sometimes a little greasy but flavorful.
I don't care for the salads or soups
Barcellos Pizza.
Location: 1647 N Milwaukee Ave.
A great place in Bucktown. I went there once and they treated me like a friend. The second time I went there they treated me like one of the family. Great food and service. I met some really cool bartenders there. I started to go there when visiting a friend that lived in the area. My friend moved so I haven't been there since 2001.
Everything on the menu is great !
Baronies
12700 central Oak Lawn
Although most items on the menu are excellent, the one thing that stands out is their awesome homemade minestrone soup, no beans. The soup comes in a kettle with a ladle. The vegetables are cooked a little and firm. They have a real good lasagna and a nice sauce. Specials abound throughout the week.
The Berghoff
Location: DownTown 17 W Adams St.
A nice German Restaurant downtown Chicago. Believe it or not I have always gotten the penne pasta with chicken soup. I eat there before class when I teach in the loop. That dish fills me up but not too heavy.
The place has nice ambience. Medium light room with panel walls. Ton's of old time pictures on the walls.
I think they brew their own beer and root beer.
Big Bar and Grille.
Location: DownTown on Wabash.
I stopped going there around 2001. I would say it's okay. Pretty much I would get a filet or one of there interesting pizza's They have a limited menu and a little pricey. When eating solo I like places where I can eat at the bar. The one bartender Natalie was real cool but with the exception of her they changed bartenders a couple of times. Some of the others were a little uppity./
I would eat there after teaching typically around 10:30pm and usually had to rush out because I had to get my car out of the lot by midnight. Since I like to relax I decided to head up to Calo.
Branding Iron.
10300 southwest highway, Palos Hill, Illinois
The same Branding Iron that used to be on 95th street inside the bowling alley. Good barbecue ! The locals rave about the ribs. I like the barbecue chicken and their spaghetti with meat sauce. Their meat sauce is not the typically Italian style meat sauce. This sauce is extremely hearty, lot's of meat.
In addition to bread they serve homemade donut holes. Limited menu, most items are belt buster sizes. No sandwiches.
Calo.
Location: 6100 N. Clarke
Another great place in AndersonVille. I came across Calo one night after dropping a friend off who lives in the area. I liked the food and I remembered that they have a late menu.
They make a real good meat and marinara sauce. Most cutomers prefer the thin crust pizza, I like the deep dish. They use a garlic flavored and thicker sauce on the deep dish.They have outstanding ribs, always tender. I would suggest fries or garlic mashed potatoes with the ribs. Their baked potatoes are not the greatest, well they stink.
They have a large selection of beer and wine. They are open late during the week.
If you stop in say hi to either Don or Olga, my favorite bartenders, tell them Midnight Tony sent ya.
El Presidente.
Location: 2558 N Ashland Ave.
One of my favorite Mexican Restaurants. They have a pretty big menu. I like their ground beef, it is a little bland with chunks of potato. They have great sauce and salsa so you don't get too much clash with the meat. Excellent guacamole and mole sauce. Their soups are great ! I like the chicken soup. Huge bowls with chunks of carrots, potatoes and celery plus you actually get a breast half in the soup. Served with Spanish rice and tortillas.
Unfortunately, I have noticed a consistency problem lately. It used be perfect but lately that has changed. Either it's going to be great or just okay.
Fat Johnny's hot dog stand.
Location: on 73rd and Western in the middle of all the used car lots.
My favorite dog of all time. Johnny uses only the freshest ingredients and each dog is specially prepared. I think in the summer he grows his own tomatoes. I know it's only a hot dog but it's great. Plus Johnny is a pretty cool guy. I came across Johnny's in high school. Did two years at Quigley South and we used to skip out from the crummy cafeteria food and go to Johnny's. I usually get two dog's with ketchup( shut up New Yorkers), mustard, tomatoes, cucumbers and celery salt a tamale and a drink. If your ambitious go for the Fat one.
Frances' Deli.
Location: 2552 N Clark St Chicago, IL. Tel. (773) 248-4580
A Lincoln Park coffee shop that serves up Jewish-style deli delights. Serving breakfast, lunch and diner. My favorite's the meatloaf, corned beef and egg salad. Try their chicken soup, its wonderful. Clear broth, firm vegies. and noodles. They also have a wide selection of beers.
Fox's Pizza
9240 S Cicero Ave Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Good food and a variety of items on the menu. They are known for their thin crust pizza and homemade sausage with fennel. My favorite item is the vegetable beef soup. A bowl of soup and a diner salad is more than enough to satisfy a modest eater. They put hard boiled eggs, onions, cucumbers and tomatoes on the salad.
Wednesday through Sunday they have live entertainment. Usually solos acts, mostly guitar players.
Jansens Drive In.
Location: on 99th and Western.
Well, what can I say it's fast food but descent fast food. They have a good hot dog. They use Oscar Myer products. They started out as Snyders hot dog stand and added an expansion so they could sell other junk food items. I used to love the tacos but the last couple of times I have seen a decline in quality. If your in the hood, it's a try.
The HomeStead.
Kankakee, Illinois
Ate here many of times when I used to live in Kankakee. I still go occasionally when visiting Friends in the area.
They have a wide assortment of items but they are known mostly for their steaks and chops. Fresh salads and the prices are reasonable. If you are in the Kankakee area its worth the visit.
Listone
Location: 12200 S. Harlem Ave. Tel. (708) 361-9610
A nice upscale restaurant serving steaks - seafood and pasta.
Try the halibut. Comes with spinach and garlic mashed potatoes.
Millers Pub.
Location: DownTown on Wabash.
Sorry, but I don't get it. Maybe you have to eat the ribs. I used to eat there before class.(I teach mostly night classes at Depaul). Most of the waitresses/ waiters are cold and it's usually crowded. The manager CJ is really cool.
Italian Village.
Location: DownTown 71 W Monroe
There are three restaurants at this location. My comments are about the top floor restaurant. When I had an early schedule at Depaul, I would stop here and eat before heading home. I ate here a couple of times a week for about 3 months. It's good but nothing seems to really stand out when I think about it. A little pricey but it's downtown. Oh yeah I know what stands out, they have an awesome wine list, unfortunately the ones by the glass are mediocre.
Nancy's Pizza.
Location: Broadway and Oakdale north side Chicago
This place is great! In addition to great pizza they have great Italian dishes at low prices. Every meal comes with freshly baked garlic bread sticks. They serve pizza slices and alcohol.
Try the spinach lasagna with sausage, or any of their chicken or veal diners.
Oddos.
Location: 3535 N Pulaski RD, Chicago. Tel: (773) 583-6163
Discovered Oddos when I lived at Avers and Pulaski. Used to order their pizza and if you like cheese get the double cheese and you will
Papa Joes.
Location: 10745 S Cicero Ave Oak Lawn, IL. Tel:(708) 636-5030
Nice Italian Restaurant with reasonable prices. Good size portions, most meals come with soup and salad. Pasta may be a little over cooked. I usually get angel hair pasta with oil, garlic and spinach. Also they have good lasagna
Papa Milano.
Location: 951 N. State St., Chicago. Tel: (312) 787-3710
A friend turned me onto this place around 1985. Great food ! I haven't been there since 1999. I used to eat there when I lived in Marina Towers. Although simple, I would get the spaghetti with meat sauce.
Pepes Tacos
Location: 6336 111th St Chicago Ridge, IL. Tel: (708) 425-3060
This is one of the few taco joints that really give you extra cheese when you ask for it. Forget Taco Bell. I need allot of cheese on my tacos and they do fes up. Food is always fresh. They have a different kind of salsa, it is a shredded tomato base. They are usually open until midnight.
Pompei Bakery.
Location: on Taylor Street, little Italy
I first started to eat at Pompei's bakery when I was a grad. student at UIC. They were a little east from where they are now and the place was great. They had one of the best pasta sauces and fresh salads. I am not a big fan of the pre cooked, then heat up pizza but every time I ordered one of their little specialty pizza slices I was always satisfied.
Well they moved to a bigger location and oh man talk about a decline in quality. The sauce is different, the salads are like pre made and the lettuce is usually wilted. Most of the time when I order the pasta it is usually sitting in a puddle of warm water. They can't even strain the pasta. The service is horrible and half the time you order, they forget to bring it out to you. Or they spend 5 minutes walking around looking for you.
Another thing I do not like about the place is that you always walk out of there smelling like smoke. They re-heat the pizza slices in the same room that you eat in.
Plus, the people that appear to own it are un-friendly and a few times I complained, I got the what the heck is you're problem type attitude.
Well what the heck do I know because it is usually crowed there.
River Kwai.
Location: 1650 W. Belmont, Chicago
This place is a trip. I used to eat there all the time when I was a grad student. I lived a few blocks away. Where else can you get a huge portion of chicken curry fried rice with huge hunks of chicken for $3.19 at midnight.
I spent many a nights there drinking tea, playing chess and studying. They open when they get there and stay until they feel like it. They take their time cooking the food and if you don't like it they tell you to kiss their ass, give you your money back and send you on your way. Usually they open around 10:00PM and close around 5:00AM.
This place is run by two brothers and their sister. (Deja, Boonson and sister). People from all over the world have eaten there. They would inscribe on the wall Boonson's motto.
You don't get it your way, you take it my way or else you don't get the dam thing At one time this was written in 30 different languages.
This was a great spot for cabby's and night owls.
Unfortunately, Deja came down with a stroke and will not recover. We were supposed to take a trip to Vegas and play Keno.
RoseBud.
Location: on Taylor Street, little Italy.
Well I only ate there twice, got the Lasagna both times. The first time the Lasagna was real good. The second time it stunk. It was old, burnt on top and cold on the inside. To me a place with this reputation should never let this happen. I didn't care for the soup either, I think it was Italian wedding, it seemed more like an Italian divorce. Also I found the hostess to be a little cold both times.
Tony's Italian Beef
Location: 7007 S Pulaski Rd. Tel. (773) 284-6787
Forget Al's and Portillo's. If you really want the beef then go to Tony's. A small sandwich shop on the south side with a pretty big menu. The meat is shaved thin and plopped on a puffy plentiful piece of french bread. Three types of cheese are available, as well as red sauce. I like mine with cheddar, no red sauce.
You get a great bang for you're buck. 1 huge beef and a pop is less than 6 bucks.
Top Notch BeefBurgers.
Location: in Beverly, 2000 W 95th street.
Unfortunately the place has declined in quality the last couple of years. However they still serve a pretty good burger. I guess I have been eating there for over 30 years now so old habits are hard to quit.
The Cole slaw is too creamy, the fries are not the same and the meat has more grizzle in it. The only thing that hasn't changed are the pickles. If you haven't eaten there it's a try. The waitress are real nice.
Try the king cheese with fries and a shake. Also, their soups are good.
