deesher's Profile
Chicago Food Trip Suggestions Please - Nxstasy you're my only hope, lol
I would definitely bring a bottle of champagne to start, which will probably go well with any number of courses. I haven't had the current menu at Schwa, but I'm not sure that the RS in a spatlese (or a modern kabinett) would be the best choice. I think a good Austrian gruner or riesling would be your best bet. For a red, I'd bring a red burgundy.
Hot Doug's and Franks 'n' Dogs
I'm not sure what your point is, but I would say Great Lake.
Polish in Chicago
I'd recommend Podhalanka. I don't think you can do much better.
1549 W Division St
(between Ashland Ave & Bosworth Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 486-6655
NY Hound Returning for 3rd Visit-Where to go if I don't get Alinea?
You may also wish to check out Goosefoot, a recently opened BYOB fine dining establishment from the former chef at Les Nomades. His departure allowed for the return of Roland Liccione to Les Nomades, which could be very exciting, although I have yet to hear anything about the restaurant subsequent to his return. Either place would be worthy of investigation.
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/goosefoot/menu
http://www.lesnomades.net/
First time Chicago tourist and Scranton, PA Hound looking for great, reasonably priced eats
This is not the nicest hotel in the city but for $78 including parking you can't beat the location. I'm not sure if you looked here (or someplace else in the city). If I had to commute from Schaumberg, it wouldn't be a vacation. http://www.rivernorthhotel.com/
I think two of the stronger ethnic cuisines available in Chicago are Mexican and Thai. We have some remarkable, inexpensive places here. I would also imagine that our other Asian restaurants (Chinese, Japanese, Indian) would be something that you couldn't get at home. As I don't frequent many of the spots on your list I can't comment on them (and would not take up two meals at Gino's and Giordano's) but I would be happy to recommend a place or three if you give me some idea of what you like.
I really enjoy the sausages at Hot Doug's but would counsel you to go close to when they open (10:30) early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) so that I didn't have to wait in line.
Chicago & Milwaukee?
I would recommend lunch at The Paramount Room. If you were willing to go 1.5 miles away, Coalfire makes a very good pizza. Since you have not mentioned what day of the week you plan on dining, you may wish to call first as neither place is open for lunch seven days a week. I think they are two of the better options for lunch in my neighborhood. Here are links to their web sites for further information:
http://coalfirechicago.com/
http://www.paramountroom.com/
2 nights in Chicago - Alinea and ???
I'm not sure this is something you'd like to do but if you tell the folks at Alinea that you'd like to go to The Aviary (or The Office) after dinner at Alinea it's quite likely they could find a spot for you. You might be able to work this out in advance.
Korean Tofu Soup (soon dubu) in Chicago?
The best soon dubu in the Chicago area can be found at Cho Jung in Gleview. Their seafood pajeon is also very good. Their banchan, while not the largest selection in town, are extremely fresh. I highly recommend a visit. I do not recommend their BBQ.
Cho Jung
952 Harlem Ave
(between Dewes St & Glenview Rd)
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 724-1111
Lookin' for fried chicken! Anything downtown?
Joe's Stone Crab has a surprisingly good fried chicken. It also might be a fun place for a celebration. Best of luck.
Joe's Stone Crab
60 E. Grand
Chicago, IL
312-379-5637.
Bar/Wine near Craft and Gramercy Tavern
There are always 7 or 8 interesting "special" cocktails at Gramercy and the bartenders are generally outstanding. They have a very good selection of spirits (try the Reisetbauer Ginger), some excellent hard to find beers and an extremely deep, fairly reasonably priced wine list with interesting choices from pretty much anywhere.
-----
Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
Lunch at 15 East. Help!
I've had both lunch and dinner at the sushi bar and thoroughly enjoyed both. IIRC, the sushi/sashimi omakase is about $65 at lunch. A supplement of uni soba and/or their amazing slow poached octopus makes for a delicious, and very reasonable lunch considering the quality of the fish. I did not notice any difference in quality between lunch and dinner, although the lunch omakase not surprisingly consisted of less food than the $115 dinner omakase.
-----
15 East
15 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003
Lemon & Hart Demerera rum in Chicago???
I bought some at the Wine Discount Center on Elston, but it was a few months ago. I'm not sure if it is a regularly stocked item. I'd recommend calling first and asking if they had any in stock (or could get it for you).
Wine Discount Center
1826 1/2 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60642-1216
(773) 489-3454
I'm itchin' for urchin - best uni dishes in NYC?
I think uni soba is on the menu at 15 East and is certainly available by request. It's also terrific.
Any good restos near Takashi?
I haven't been (but would like to go) to Empellon, but it's a fairly short walk:
http://empellon.com/
Empellon Taqueria
230 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10014
Phone: 212.367.0999
Sweetbread
I would call Rob at the Butcher and Larder and make a request. Best of luck.
Butcher and Larder
1026 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL., 60642
773.687.8280
Fried Artichokes in NYC?
As long as this post has been dredged up, I've had delicious fried artichokes at Maialino.
Best Chicago Wine Store?
If you don't mind ordering on line, D & M has a very good selection of champagne.
http://www.dandm.com/champagne.php
the right places to go in chicago?
I certainly wouldn't avoid Schwa. The meals that I have had there recently have been very memorable. There may be a certain risk that the restaurant might not be open the night of your reservation but I would do whatever I could to dine there.
That being said, Schwa is not for everyone. If you have an aversion to a loud space, this would not be the place for you.
Retro Chinese
Shaggy,
Just to avoid any possible confusion wit Sun Wah, I believe you mean the House of Wah Sun.
-----
House of Wah Sun
4319 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
East Village 1st date drinks
The Beagle has pretty terrific cocktails (and pretty tasty food).
162 Ave A
(212) 228-6900
www.thebeaglenyc.com
-----
The Beagle
162 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Less expensive but spectacular options in San Sebastian
I ate at Rekondo a few years ago and had a very good steak. The restaurant has a very large cellar (100,000 bottles) and we were able to have a double birth year wine dinner (58 and 70) at a very modest price. If you have any interest in drinking older vintages of Spanish wine there is probably no better place.
Best Rotisserie Chicken
While it, like D'Candela, is not rotisserie chicken, Pollo Express makes an outstanding bird. They do a big business to go, but the (sparse) accommodations are nice enough to dine in. It is also BYOB. The chicken is spatchcocked and cooked over charcoal. I prefer the chicken rubbed with adobo. The guacamole, salsas, rice and beans are all carefully prepared. A whole chicken will set you back around $13.
Pollo Express
1315 West 18th Street
Chicago, IL 60608-3101
(312) 829-1550
-----
Pollo Express
1315 W 18th, Chicago, IL 60607
Best Old School Beer Garden?
I'm not exactly sure what "a few miles from the loop" means, but the place you'd like to go is Resi's Bierstube. Lots of sausage and great beer with a very nice biergarten.
2034 W Irving Park Rd
(between Hoyne Ave & Seeley Ave)
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 472-1749
-----
Resi's Bierstube Restaurant
2034 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60618
Birrierias, Soul Food, Jewish Delis, and more?
I'd go to the Bayless restaurants for lunch (Xoco at an off hour) unless I had a reservation. If you eat at the bar at Frontera, you can order off of the Frontera or Topolobompo menus and it's much easier than trying to go for dinner.
If you go to Al's #1 (which I probably would), make sure you go to Taylor Street. Not all Al's are created equal. Additionally, you will be able to have an excellent Italian lemonade from Mario's (make sure you order a fresh fruit version- currently canteloupe, watermelon or tutti frutti) across the street.
I know this additional information isn't directly responsive to your request but here goes.
I'm not sure how good Thai food is in the Bay Area but I would recommend a visit to TAC Quick. Make sure you ask for the "translated menu". The pork neck, crispy en choy, pad thai in omelette, fish cakes, papaya salad, and chicken with basil and preserved eggs (among other items) are all really great. It's BYOB, very inexpensive and accesible off of the CTA Red line.
I'd also suggest a trip to Great Lake Pizza. I would call it American craft style pizza. I'm told that it most resembles Pizzeria Bianco. If you show up on a Wednesday around 6:30 you shouldn't have a big problem getting a table. There are only about 12 seats, so timing is important. If need be, you can always head down the street to In Fine Spirits for a quality cocktail and they will call you when your table is ready. It is also reasonably priced (around $24 for a pizza) and BYOB. The salads are also really great if the farmers market products allow.
TAC Quick
3930 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60613-2935
(773) 327-5253
Great Lake
1477 West Balmoral Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-9270
In Fine Spirits
5420 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640-1210
(773) 334-9463
Mario's
1068 W Taylor St
(between Carpenter St & Aberdeen St)
Chicago, IL 60607
Birrierias, Soul Food, Jewish Delis, and more?
I'd prefer to say that I am strongly recommending Zaragoza.
Critique my NYC itinerary
I'd swap Fette Sau for either BBQ place. I'd also add Momofuku Ssam bar to my list for lunch or dinner and I would make my way to M. Wells for either brunch or dinner. Since they are only open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday, brunch might be easier. It's a very short subway ride from Grand Central Station.
M. Wells
21-17 49th Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 425-6917
Fette Sau
354 Metropolitan Ave
(between 4th St & Havemeyer St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 963-3404
-----
Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Looking for Best Ribs in Chicago - 2011 Updates Preferably Southside, but will travel
Here's a new place with a Chicago style aquarium smoker that is supposed to be putting out good bbq:
Smoke SignalsSmoke Signals
7137 S State St
773-783-1855
It's on my short list of places to try soon.
