hidden food gems and what do transplants from Chicago miss (food wise) (Naperville: neighborhoods, live)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

Bari!

Was there this weekend. So good! Grilled up the barese sausage too! The giardiniera they bottle under their name is the best.

[sargeant79]

I've been away for almost 7 years now and Arizona is severely deficient on ethnic food if it's not Mexican. Good Italian food is hard to come by, especially stuffed pizza. I used to think Rosati's was pretty mediocre but it is by far the best true stuffed pizza I have found in Phoenix. I really miss Freddie's stuffed pizza on 31st and Union. They did just open a couple of Portillo's locations out here in the last year, which at least allows me to get a respectable Italian Beef.

[Bellamouse]

Originally Posted by kennykennybopenny

Johnnies beef on North Ave. The chinese restaurant half a block east of Johnnies. Villa Nova pizza in Stickney and Home Run Inn. Also various products from Crawford Sausage Co (Daisy brand) namely prasky, minced ham and cream sausage to name a few. Elliots corned beef. Theres others but these rank close to the top.

Mmmmm Chicago food!

Elliotts is closed now.

[Bellamouse]

Originally Posted by Chica-Cole

That German restaurant in Lincoln Square with the band wearing liederhosen

Chicago Brauhaus. Had our wedding there. It's not as good as it used to be, so you're not missing much. (And they wear "lederhosen" - lieder = songs, leder = leather..... leder is pronounced lay-der - just fyi )

[ToriaT]

Regarding the poster who asked about Italian place on Jackson....near La Salle, I worked right around there for over thirty years and never heard of any place unless you are referring to Boni Vino's which is on Van buren and Clark.

Regarding the food I would miss...besides the usual pizza, Italian beef from Johnnies, Chicago hot dogs, I would miss the onion pancake with pork from Katy's noodles in Westmont or Naperville. I am addicted to that dish. It sounds awful but it is delicious.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

Regarding the poster who asked about Italian place on Jackson....near La Salle, I worked right around there for over thirty years and never heard of any place unless you are referring to Boni Vino's which is on Van buren and Clark.

Regarding the food I would miss...besides the usual pizza, Italian beef from Johnnies, Chicago hot dogs, I would miss the onion pancake with pork from Katy's noodles in Westmont or Naperville. I am addicted to that dish. It sounds awful but it is delicious.

That dish is not hard to make at home

Scallion Pancakes with Ginger Dipping Sauce Recipe : Food Network

[eating while walking]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

Bari!

Bari actually makes a very good Italian beef sandwich. BEEF not SUB, mind you. The fact that they are a deli with access to fresh sliced beef and Italian bread puts them head and shoulders above the presliced beef product and Gonnela rolls at other beef places.

D'Amato's right next door makes my favorite pizza in the city. It's a bakery-style sheet pan pizza with a risen crust like foccacia. The sausage, onion and pepper D'Amato's slice would be my last Chicago meal.

I also miss Mexican food when I'm away. You can find great Mexican eats in almost every little carniceria or neighborhood taqueria. Taqueria Mazamitla at Central Park and Belmont is my neighborhood favorite, but going to "destination" Mexican places in this city almost seems unnecessary, just head west and pick the most crowded place you see. I honestly think Chicago can compete with LA when it comes to great Mexican food.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by eating while walking

Bari actually makes a very good Italian beef sandwich. BEEF not SUB, mind you. The fact that they are a deli with access to fresh sliced beef and Italian bread puts them head and shoulders above the presliced beef product and Gonnela rolls at other beef places.

D'Amato's right next door makes my favorite pizza in the city. It's a bakery-style sheet pan pizza with a risen crust like foccacia. The sausage, onion and pepper D'Amato's slice would be my last Chicago meal.

I also miss Mexican food when I'm away. You can find great Mexican eats in almost every little carniceria or neighborhood taqueria. Taqueria Mazamitla at Central Park and Belmont is my neighborhood favorite, but going to "destination" Mexican places in this city almost seems unnecessary, just head west and pick the most crowded place you see. I honestly think Chicago can compete with LA when it comes to great Mexican food.

D'Amato's also sells their pizza dough. We buy it make pizza's at home.

[Lookout Kid]

As a transplant to the western burbs who still has access to a lot of Chicago favorites, I can't believe there's not a decent Jewish Deli around here for miles. And forget about decent bagels (which were sparse in Chicago to begin with). I miss my NY Bagel and Bialy delivered fresh daily to my little shop in Ravenswood from the bakery in Niles.

We still go in to the city for dinner, but it's these little cheap lunch and breakfast spots that we don't really have around any more.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Was there this weekend. So good! Grilled up the barese sausage too! The giardiniera they bottle under their name is the best.

Totally agree. I switch between the hot and super hot with peppers and cheese.

Doesn't get better than that!