95th and Ridgeland- Oak Lawn (Chicago, Evergreen Park: neighborhoods, schools, to live)

[promis1]

I hear that an upper scale restaraunt called Francescas is opening at the end of April on 95th and Ridgeland in Oak Lawn. Does this area call for an upperscale Italian eatery where entrees may cost $20 or more? How is this area- is it up and coming or on the decline?

[Mamama Mia]

Francesca's is becoming McDonald's - they are everywhere. Chicago Ridge Mall is right there, maybe they think it will bring business.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by promis1

I hear that an upper scale restaraunt called Francescas is opening at the end of April on 95th and Ridgeland in Oak Lawn. Does this area call for an upperscale Italian eatery where entrees may cost $20 or more? How is this area- is it up and coming or on the decline?

I wouldn't hold my breath for anything upscale anywhere on the south side or inner-ring southern burbs, regardless of what you hear. Only possible exceptions are Beverly and Hyde Park, and even in those places it is a bit of a stretch. I would say Cafe 103 in Beverly is probably the best restaurant I've eaten at anywhere on the south side. Overall there isn't a large enough market here to support fine dining.

If you want good food just head north. If you want a good burger, a dog, whatever fried thing, there are many options on the south side. Anyone with any taste though doesn't eat around these parts.

[ajolotl]

Regarding the area, I would not call it up and coming. Dated, solidly middle class, unspectacular, somewhat convenient (relatively), a pretty good value, etc. all come to mind. It's not clear what the future is given that the metro area population as a whole is constantly shifting. Right now that it looks to be in good shape, though the schools aren't what they once were. I wouldn't want to live there but I wouldn't die if I had to.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I wouldn't hold my breath for anything upscale anywhere on the south side or inner-ring southern burbs, regardless of what you hear. Only possible exceptions are Beverly and Hyde Park, and even in those places it is a bit of a stretch. I would say Cafe 103 in Beverly is probably the best restaurant I've eaten at anywhere on the south side. Overall there isn't a large enough market here to support fine dining.

If you want good food just head north. If you want a good burger, a dog, whatever fried thing, there are many options on the south side. Anyone with any taste though doesn't eat around these parts.

It is a fact that this upper scale eatery called francescas will be opening in 4 weeks in Oak Lawn. Google it or go to Francescas website. I just was kind of wondering if this was a good decision. This will be their 18th location, and ironically in this economy, they just opened up in downtown Lagrange and will be opening next month in Oak Lawn. I guess this will be something new on the southside- the dinner tab with a few drinks for a couple will run near $100 with a tip.

[ajolotl]

I don't doubt that Francesca's is coming and that they charge a bit more than average (I wouldn't call it upscale necessarily). I just doubt that it will be any good.

There are people with some money in Oak Lawn, though. It has some pretty nice sections, and there aren't an abundance of even semi-decent restaurants in the area, so it doesn't strike me as necessarily a bad idea.

Courtright in Willow Springs is the closest really good restaurant to that area that I know of (probably 15-20 minutes away) and it does very well. A couple can easily spend 300 there.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I wouldn't hold my breath for anything upscale anywhere on the south side or inner-ring southern burbs, regardless of what you hear. Only possible exceptions are Beverly and Hyde Park, and even in those places it is a bit of a stretch. I would say Cafe 103 in Beverly is probably the best restaurant I've eaten at anywhere on the south side. Overall there isn't a large enough market here to support fine dining.

If you want good food just head north. If you want a good burger, a dog, whatever fried thing, there are many options on the south side. Anyone with any taste though doesn't eat around these parts.

Excuse me? We've had fine dining for quite a while. Our Red Lobster is over 30 years old!

[ajolotl]

I just looked at their site. I suspect it will be a glorified Leona's or Olive Garden. Not that I doubt the original one was good, but once they make it to places like Oak Lawn the quality is usually marginal. you can put the restaurant on the south side but you can't take the south side out of the restaurant.

The location is pretty good. It is in the far western part of Oak Lawn close to 294, there is ample parking, and there are a lot of nearby solidly middle class neighborhoods to draw from. I suspect it will do ok.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

...you can put the restaurant on the south side but you can't take the south side out of the restaurant...

You don't like the south side, do you? I mean, how many people really dine a true, fine dining restaurant on a regular basis? And what exactly makes the more casual dining places so inferior on the south side? Have you ever eaten at Leona's, which also has locations on the north side. Have you ever been to Chi Tung in Evergreen Park, which has received rave reviews from critics in the Chicago media? Maybe you won't find them in Zagat's, but you can still a get a very good meal, and I doubt many people would find any difference from a comparable restaurant on the north side.

[ajolotl]

I can see how my posts came across that way but the truth is that I absolutely love the south side. It is what it is, though, and one has to be honest. Fine dining is not its forte. This isn't really a problem for me though because I can get downtown in 20 minutes and, as you point out, I eat out mainly on the weekends.

Chi-Tung is ok. I actually like the service a lot but find the food ordinary. Leonas is, well, Leonas.

I have eaten everywhere imaginable around there and have come to realize that the restaurants just aren't for me. I like just about everything else, though.

Originally Posted by prairiestate

You don't like the south side, do you? I mean, how many people really dine a true, fine dining restaurant on a regular basis? And what exactly makes the more casual dining places so inferior on the south side? Have you ever eaten at Leona's, which also has locations on the north side. Have you ever been to Chi Tung in Evergreen Park, which has received rave reviews from critics in the Chicago media? Maybe you won't find them in Zagat's, but you can still a get a very good meal, and I doubt many people would find any difference from a comparable restaurant on the north side.