I second Dinkel's . . . really good stuff.

the Horseshoe on N. Lincoln is also pretty good. I think it's just booths and bar tables there, but it's good for socializing if you don't mid a pub-like atmosphere. the barbecue is decent to great (the brisket) and depending on the night there might be cheap beer and/or good music.

Himal Chuli is the worst restaurant I have ever visited. There were at most 20 people to two servers and it took 30 minutes to get drinks and over an hour to get food. The food itself was the kind of thing that college sophomores who grew up on Arby's make when they are learning to cook and experimenting with vegetarian "ethnic" food. The American server was unable to operate the cash register or tabulate the bill on paper using simple mathematics and defensively burst into tears, saying that math was not her best subject in school. Me and my group remained polite but this is the only time in my life I have not tipped because we were overcharged $12 and it would have taken another half hour to get the server's attention and explain this to them. The portrait of the Dalai Lama on the wall was weeping tears of yak's milk at the sheer crappiness of this place.

Interestingly, Mr. Mavrantonis won't serve or eat Gulf Coast oysters, which he compares to "playing Russian roulette". I think the real chance of getting a vibrio infection is about 1 in a million for every oyster, and is reduced if you eat them in winter, shuck them yourself, and don't have liver disease already. Like any food, source and preparation matters. Some of the Southern varieties - particularly the Appalachicolas - are among the world's best and make many West Coast oysters seem flavorless by comparison. At any rate the guy is missing out on some really good oysters.

I have to second this . . . the attitude and ambiance at Doug's is great. I like that a businessman who has lines out the door (sometimes a block long) every day still deals personally with every customer. The specialty dogs are great but I rarely get 'em, as he makes a mean char dog (to the exact specs elsewhere in this thread) for a buck fifty. The framed the citation the city gave him for flaunting the foie gras ban is right by the register. I admire this man.

my family lives nearby and we love the place. they have a lot of high-end stuff but some great inexpensive items as well. some of our favorites -

* goose liverwurst. spread on a split baguette, drop a few cornichons in there, be amazed.

* linguiza. I agree that there's something vaguely Teutonic about the Italian sausages (also the andouille), but the linguiza (think Spanish-style hard chorizo) is right-on. I use it for Portuguese dishes and for paella. ask for a dry one or hang it up at home for a couple of days until it's a little leathery.

* the weiners are really special

I haven't found a place that does Southern food right either - who knew it was that hard - but I really like the Horseshoe Bar on Lincoln . . . decent ribs and the brisket is good to outstanding depending on the night. I thought Fat Willy's was OK but the sauces were a little weird, like they were full of MSG.

Also it's not Southern style but the $6 order of short ribs at Sticky Rice on Western (it's a Thai place) is amazing, I usually get that when I have to have something barbecued or I will die.

The budget "Chicago" menu would consist of char dogs, cheese fries, Cracker Jack, and Old Style beer (or Goose Island which is much better). For extra realism be sure to order some of the freaky green "Chicago Style" relish available at Vienna Beef. Also the coffee should be from Dunkin' Donuts, really.

Piazza Bella is up the street from me and I've been dragged there with other people twice. I had similar experiences (crummy service, mediocre-to-poisonous food) and don't understand why this place seems to be a neighborhood favorite. For the record my favorite places on Roscoe in this price range are El Tinajon and Turquoise.