Restaurants you wish were in the City! (Chicago, Cicero: suite, eat)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by kamjah

even in the north suburbs? (i'm from deerfield)

I think the closest they get to you is Algonquin.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by quadrokeith

Chicago is lucky to have just gotten themselves a Five Guys. Whenever there is a Five Guys around where I'm traveling, I'll go out of my way to eat there. The burgers are great, the hot dog is really good too and a 'small' fries bag will feed 3 people. Yum.

Meh... I recently tried the Five Guys on Clybourn (near Webster Place) and I thought it was pricey for what it was. I bought a double cheeseburger and small fries, no drink, and I was out over $9 after tax.

(I do have to admit the burger was decent... and you're right about the fries -- it was a HUGE portion!)

[andrew61]

Know what I'd like to see in Chicago? A few years ago while in Los Angeles, I visited a place called Koo Koo Roo... it's a chicken restaurant chain kind of along the lines of a Boston Market, but with (IMHO) much more interesting and varied side dishes, and there was a bit more emphasis on healthier eating, too.

When I got home I even e-mailed them and told them I'd like to see them open a location or two in Chicago. At the time they were only located in California, Nevada, and maybe Florida IIRC.

Koo Koo Roo Chicken Bistro

[Muppet123]

+1 for In 'n Out, Chick-Fil-a (although there is one in Racine, WI somewhat near my parents), and Carl's Jr.

I'd be stoaked if we had a Whataburger up here. Stopped there driving to spring break a couple times, pretty close to the best fast food burger I've ever had.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Muppet123

I'd be stoaked if we had a Whataburger up here. Stopped there driving to spring break a couple times, pretty close to the best fast food burger I've ever had.

I take it you're keen on salt.

[Muppet123]

Didn't notice that it was all that salty compared to any other fast food burger. Fast food burgers and healthy don't really go together.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Muppet123

Didn't notice that it was all that salty compared to any other fast food burger. Fast food burgers and healthy don't really go together.

Oh, no doubt of that. It's just that when I ate at one of those places in Texas the burger seemed very salty.

One thing I learned about southern cooking during the three years I lived in Kentucky and the extensive travelling I did in the south after I retired---if it takes salt use LOTs of salt and if it takes sugar use LOTS of sugar. Often too much salt and too much sugar are combined in the same dish.

[coldwine]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

I can't say it bothers me that I've got to go to the suburbs for my fix of mediocre to poor chain restaurants.

I was thinking the same exact thing.

Gosh, it's a pity we don't have more glorified truck stops in Chicago. Someone tell the native cuisine artists to get the hell out of the way, Coldwine needs some Cool Whip on her box-batter pancakes.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by coldwine

Gosh, it's a pity we don't have more glorified truck stops in Chicago. Someone tell the native cuisine artists to get the hell out of the way, Coldwine needs some Cool Whip on her box-batter pancakes.

Well if it's a greasy spoon you want there's one at 35th and Ashland and another at 22nd and Racine.

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Meh... I recently tried the Five Guys on Clybourn (near Webster Place) and I thought it was pricey for what it was. I bought a double cheeseburger and small fries, no drink, and I was out over $9 after tax.

(I do have to admit the burger was decent... and you're right about the fries -- it was a HUGE portion!)

I liked the peanuts better than the burger.

For a good old time dive burger and shake I still prefer Top Notch in Beverly.