Dinner Recs in Chicago - Page 9

I like Portillo's a little more than Al's... but both are good.

just don't get it dipped....get the jus/gravy on the side because having to handle that sopping wet log of bread is pretty damn nasty

In Evanston I like 527... there's a few Taiwanese homestyle dishes for under $10 that can be nice.. the lu ro fan , chinese fried rice and some others are good.

Great Lakes is running an operation where they're sourcing very, very good ingredients, doing it with low staff and limited hours (the owners do it themselves) so they can accomodate their lifestyle. Their overhead is enormous, and the price they charge is fair given that people are more than willing to pay for it. If they wanted to make it cheaper, they would no longer be making all the pizzas and overseeing everything, they wouldn't be in the same location, and they would have to expand. All things they don't want to do. So, it isn't that they think they're so great, it's that they're making the right decision for them and their lifestyles, and guess what? There's a waiting list by 5:30 every time they open, so I guess it's just fine by everyone.

I think at Osteria you could share in a large party for under $25. Takashi sunday noodle brunch you can definitely do for under $25.

In Argyle you can have 7 courses of beef for that amount which is phenomenal, although I would just order the soup and a lot of the sausage course.

Tank I don't get... I really think it's very mediocre and that's before I got to real pho on the west coast. I really think the place is just terrible, but I know some people here like it.

Now that I'm in LA I don't think I've spent more than $40 on a meal... the fanciest thing I've eaten at was that Newport Seafood place in Montarey

No bouchon?

lol, besides Bouchon I ended up spending a total of like, $10 a day on food when I was in LA. Tacos, pho, and one trip to In n Out.

Not in the last week.

It's almost weird to spend a lot of money for food in LA... tonight might be my most expensive outing because I'm going to Chosun Galbi.

Nothing beats that chinese place I went on my first night... came down to $5 pp... I am still dreaming about that food.

dude, you must go to either Golden Deli or Pho 79 for pho, stat. Get the Pho Tai and get the beef on the side. Soda chanh to drink.

planned for this weekend.

For brunch I'd recommend checking out Burchwood Kitchen to add to the list, and for a cheap lunch, Sultan's is my favorite falafel and shawarma in the city!

Lunch at Pane Caldo on Walton, 3 courses under $25. Hard to beat for the money.

Campagnola in Evanston.

Tried Pequod's. Very good but I don't think pizza crust should be 1/2" thick. The toppings didn't meld with the crust but it is very good. Very rich tasting dough/crust.

Tried Piero's Pizza, might like it better. Five versions, extra thin, thin, pan, spessa and stuffed. Spessa is a focaccia style crust, it was very good. Brought home a stuffed pizza and was curious about how heavy it felt in the box. Put the pizza on a scale. Medium stuffed pizza weighed just under 6 lbs. Mushroom, spinach, olive and easy cheese= 6 lbs!

Took 4 people to TAC last week. Everyone thought it was OK but not better or even as good than the Thai restaurant they usually eat at. I didn't think the restaurant was very comfortable. The windows looked like they haven't been washed in 6 months. Service was too laid back. Will try a few more times to know if I like the place.

Lunch at Xoco last week. Perfect tortas.

Sushi Kushi Toya, Cha Soba noodles were fantastic

Trying to plan a few meals for a trip to Chicago in a few weeks. I was thinking about doing Blackbird for lunch one day as the cost wouldn't be to bad.

The main meal I'm trying to choose I have a budget of about $50-60 per person, drinks not included. That takes out most of the top tier restaurants but there seems to be good picks. The Bristol looks good but there is 6 people in my group and the dinner is on a Friday night so I'm a bit worried about the wait with no reservations.

Sepia seemes to be not too expensive and I think I read it recommended somewhere in this thread. Graham Elliot would be little more expensive but if I could convince my party to spend a little more would the five-course tasting for 75 be a good value at GE? Is there another place people would recommended in this price range? Any opinions on Vie? It looks to be about the same price as GE. Thanks!

I stand by West Town Tavern for the criteria you've laid out.

Crofton on Wells might also work. Prosecco or Riccardo for Italian.

$75 menu at GE will be great. I've gone ala-carte there and spent $100ish pp. with drinks and had a great meal. Same with Boka.

My friends actually own Prosecco and no offense to them, but I'd take Riccardo over their place any day...

I'm not sure I agree. I enjoy both... but I still think the menu at Riccardo is over-ambitious and the atmosphere is slightly inferior. I've never had a bad meal at either.

I guess it's probably because I've eaten a lot of their food over the years. I actually reviewed their old restaurant on Check, Please! a few years ago...