Deacon Volker's Profile
White Fence Farm - It's just not right!
@PunkinnPi...our last attempt would have been less than two years ago, the time before that would have been around 2003 as we started a class in the area. Don't misunderstand me, I'm happy you enjoy them, it's obvious many folks do as the restaurant has been an establishment for many years. I responded in the honest tone that I did however because if you note the big sign on I55, it clearly advertises "White Fence Farm"...Chicken. If they had called it "White Fence Farm House of Corn Fritters", well then, now we have a whole new ballgame.
White Fence Farm - It's just not right!
Thank you! finally someone to prove I'm not the only one in mid-America that just "doesn't get" the White Farm hype!
We have been twice over probably a 8 year period, both times with groups from the area that rave on the place. Both times were "meh" with a "meh" being a generous review. While I believe your server shortcutted you in replying you could not upcharge to "all white" I agree with the rest of your review. Nasty gravy, uninspired chicken, and service that told me I was "customer 489 that day and I could care less".
Hate to say it, but I'm also not a big fan of Dell Rhea's either. It's all about service folks, and I just have yet to get the vibe I'm actually welcomed there. For me, don't shoot me...but if I'm craving some bird and in the area I pull off Weber and do a drive-thru at Popeye's. At least I know I'm getting some flavor and some chicken done right.
Recs near the Vatican
I beg your forgiveness...I'm certain this has been asked about a zillion times...
We'll be with a tour group staying at the Hotel Michelangelo the last week of June. We are restaurant owners here in the states, not "foodies" per say but we enjoy a "nice" meal just don't need to stuffiness. I'd love to see how others present their "family" restaurant/pub.
We'll have 3 nights to find dinner on our own and I'd love some recommendations that might be within an easy walk of our hotel. We're not very adventurous our first time in a city, in fact this will be our first time out of the States even! We love good pastas, great pizza, not large multi-coursed meals. Is there hope?
Chicago deep-dish for a tomato hater
Yeah I'm a bit confused by some of the question too. It goes on the pie. The pie gets cooked. Therefore, it's cooked tomatoes.
We only offer our deeps with the tomato sauce, not sure how the other bases would work since the sauce goes on top of the pie.
Foodies on a Budget- these are places I've been- where else?
We've made a couple of trips into visit a son finishing up school and have recently "found" a nice little bistro-y place called "Nana" on Halsted & 33rd. I'm no foodie but I do like good food, appreciate great service and attention to detail. Nana has provided that, and the price range at very little on their rotating menu over $26 makes it well within your budget allowances.
Fluorescent relish
@jillandgordon...I simply did a "Google" for "Chicago relish mail order" and the first that popped up was www.viennabeef.com I'm sure you'll find many more.
Fluorescent relish
Sort of hope you're joking about flying in JUST for the relish...you know you can get it online right?
Beer Line Cleaning...looking for some help please!
Absolutely clean your own lines! When we opened I received unsolicited quotes from 2 commercial folks, both were outrageous. We picked up a small garden sprayer style pressure tank with the appropriate connectors, a bucket of line cleaner from pretty much any of your suppliers, and in 30 minutes each week, our 9 tap lines are fresh and ready to go! We purchased the cleaning tank and adapters from Micromatic but I know there are others out there as close as a "Google" search.
New York transplant to Chicago
I may catch some flak for this, but if someone asks me about a "diner" in Chicago, especially downtown I'd lead them to Canal & Roosevelt at the White Palace Grill. 6000 cabbies can't be wrong and heck, I've never had a "bad" meal there.
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White Palace Grill
1159 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60607
Pastured Pork in Chicago
You may also inquire of Slagel Family Farms in "downstate" Forrest IL. (www.slagelfamilyfarm.com).
White "cheese dip" in Chicago?
As an aside to your question of "where" I can share that most of the Mexican-American places downstate anyway simply use Land o'Lakes WHITE American processed "cheese". Cube it, combine with whole milk to your preferred consistency, and blend in as many chopped jalapenos as you'd like to taste.
I've never understood why it always is made specifically with Land O' Lakes, but that's all I see here.
Italian - just like Mamma used to make
$10 cab or there abouts but Bertucci's Corner just outside of Chinatown at 26th I think, would fit that description. It's old as the hills, and welcoming as Grandma's dinner table. Very "old school" Italian, with large portions, good food, comfortable prices, and zero pretension.
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Bertucci's
300 W 24th St, Chicago, IL 60616
liquor search....
A nice selection in either to be sure, but football field? not so much.
South Loop spot for Private/Group Happy Hour
I'd offer "Grace O'Malley's" as a spot to check in to as well. 1400 blk of S. Michigan and though I've not experienced it, they offer a couple of different private room options upstairs. I've been there on a couple of occasions, found the atmosphere "fun-fake pub" style, but the food certainly passable and the bar well stocked.
Best Chinese Restaurants
I'm partial to a small, almost "hole in the wall" store front on Halstead near 33rd simply called "Happiness".
Commercial kitchen prep table
I'm sure there are multiple options for restaurant suppliers in the Chicagoland area, but a couple of choices you have are SAMS, COSTCO, and if you have, or can twist the arm of someone holding memebership at Restaurant Depot you could pick up your table at either their Goose Island or Lombard location. There are always many offered on Ebay as well if you wanted to go that route.
Excellent Chinese near Champaign
Absolutely agreed! The Wok is some of the best "chinese' downstate! We have a branch of our store nearby and luckily are able to partake several times a month.
The way I see it, any place the "natives" pick to congregate must mean it's authentic and well prepared. Try to get a seat in there on a Friday night!
I am of zero assistance with your translation needs, but would simply recommend to ask Tina, the young owner behind the counter most days, "what's good from your "other" menu"? I have no idea the real name of what we order most of the time, and we're there enough she sometimes will just pick for us....but I have never been dissapointed.
I've no doubt that were you to tell her what you like in Chinese foods, she'd make some awesome recommendations!
Near US Cellular
Six guys...bachelor party and near south. I wouldn't toss Grace O'Malley's off my short list. It's an easy trip up S. Michigan from the ball park (hop across the Dan Ryan after the game on 31st-35th streets, east to Michigan and then left). It's a fake Irish pub sure, but good beers, decent enough pub-grub, a friendly crowd, cheap enough valet parking, and did I mention good beers?
Where was I?
This has turned to a great discussion and it makes me want to do some more walking around in two weeks when I'm next up to visit our son and hear a great show at Schubas (The Lovell Sisters). But I'm still "homeless"...this place was very much not a Berghoff or Millers' type place. Think more of a small town American Legion bar...near dusty floors, the only lighting I remember was from the window and the neon beer lights.
I'm not familiar with the Shamrock Club...but I've enjoyed reading all the suggestions!
Where was I?
thanks for the replies, but I'm positive that's not it...but it does look like a place I should check out! This place was no where as nice as Miller's, think small town American Legion bar, almost dusty floors, not polished in any manner.
And real sure it was an "east-west" street, not on, but near the alley....sigh...my search goes on.
Where was I?
Here's another "where was this place" challenge for ya'll.
Every winter we'd come to the Hyatt Regency for the Illinois State Boards of Education conference. One frigid day we were walking around in the Loop area, it would have had to be like East of Clark, North of Congress to be sure...but when it started to snow we ducked into what I still remember as a "old school" tavern.
It was on an east-west street, I remember it had an old wood screen door on front, dark, plain wooden "tavern" floors, regulars at the bar staring at the "new folks"...nothing fancy about it at all...but the food...I remember fantastic burgers, some great "blue plate" type specials, and my first experience with pierogies...hey, I'm a small town downstater give me a break.
There was no doubt that it was a bar by trade, and it looked to have been there for a long long time, but that food was worth the freezing walk back. I've looked for it since on return trips with no luck.
Anyone got a name, mind you this was close to 15 years ago now...wonder if it's still there.
Familiar with Harmony Grill @ Schubas?
We'll be attending a show (The Lovell Sisters...EXCELLENT bluegrass) at Schubas later this month. In looking for pre-concert dinner options I see that Schubas also has The Harmony Grill next door. Can anyone provide insight? We're not food elitist in the least, prefer comfortable places with one fork...but aren't looking for "Denny's" either.
Half pigs or quarter cows?
Grem...you might consider a relatively short drive to the Champaign area and check out some of the links listed here; http://www.champaign-taste.blogspot.com/ specifically the "Triple-S Farm" link in the right of center column of listings. You'll find dozens upon dozens of quality producers in our area and it's only around 2 hours south of the "city".
