Anybody been to Lou Malnatis yet? (appointed, food, backyard)

[goillini8]

IT always amazes me that so many people react so strongly when a new place opens. I get wanting to try something new, but waiting 2.5 hours to do so? People act like it's a pop-up restaurant is going to be done in a week, when obviously it will be around for a while.

We recently got a Chik-fil-a in my central Illinois city and you'd think that no one had ever heard of it and that it was truly the food of the Gods based on the crazy lines that still exist two months after it opened.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by goillini8

IT always amazes me that so many people react so strongly when a new place opens. I get wanting to try something new, but waiting 2.5 hours to do so? People act like it's a pop-up restaurant is going to be done in a week, when obviously it will be around for a while.

We recently got a Chik-fil-a in my central Illinois city and you'd think that no one had ever heard of it and that it was truly the food of the Gods based on the crazy lines that still exist two months after it opened.

I agree with you. However, in the case of Chik-fil-a, they hand out THOUSANDS of free chicken filet sandwich coupons to guarantee that they have a line going in. Krispy Kreme does the same thing.

I remember that when Chik-fil-a opened in Chicagoland, our plant received 500 free sandwich coupons.

[Ztonyg]

I tried to go on Friday but the wait was ridiculous. I'll wait until July or August once the newness has worn off.

[take57]

Originally Posted by goillini8

IT always amazes me that so many people react so strongly when a new place opens. I get wanting to try something new, but waiting 2.5 hours to do so? People act like it's a pop-up restaurant is going to be done in a week, when obviously it will be around for a while.

We recently got a Chik-fil-a in my central Illinois city and you'd think that no one had ever heard of it and that it was truly the food of the Gods based on the crazy lines that still exist two months after it opened.

Amen. I was shopping the other day and happened upon the new Shack Shack. I was hungry anyway so I stopped in. There was one person ahead of me in line and maybe a half-dozen people in the dining area. When it opened I remember seeing on the news folks lined up like the place was giving away Buicks. Those Chick-fil-A openings are the worst as well.

BTW - Good burger & shake albeit way overpriced. There's literally a dozen other places I can think of that do as good, if not better, a job. Whatever.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by take57

Amen. I was shopping the other day and happened upon the new Shack Shack. I was hungry anyway so I stopped in. There was one person ahead of me in line and maybe a half-dozen people in the dining area. When it opened I remember seeing on the news folks lined up like the place was giving away Buicks. Those Chick-fil-A openings are the worst as well.

BTW - Good burger & shake albeit way overpriced. There's literally a dozen other places I can think of that do as good, if not better, a job. Whatever.

Same with pizza. To me Chicago pizza is all hype and unless one is needing to reminice about home there's no reason to stand in a line. If a pizza actually takes 40 minutes to cook then it's wayyyy to thick, more like a pizza casserole.

[take57]

Originally Posted by jimj

Same with pizza. To me Chicago pizza is all hype and unless one is needing to reminice about home there's no reason to stand in a line. If a pizza actually takes 40 minutes to cook then it's wayyyy to thick, more like a pizza casserole.

BUT IT'S LOU'S !!!!!

(However, truth be told they do make a heck of a pie)

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by jimj

Same with pizza. To me Chicago pizza is all hype and unless one is needing to reminice about home there's no reason to stand in a line. If a pizza actually takes 40 minutes to cook then it's wayyyy to thick, more like a pizza casserole.

When it's done right a Chicago style pizza can be very good. I'd like to have a good Chicago pizza place around for when I have that hankering to eat something that makes me hate myself.

I went to Lukes Chicago Sandwiches on 16th St the other day. That was enough of people reminiscing about Chicago for me for awhile. Sandwich was decent however.

[asufan]

I'm sure Oregano's stuffed pizza that takes an hour to make is every bit as good as this place, just doesn't have the name. in fact, as I've said in the past I have a friend from Chicago that swears by Oregano's.

[sargeant79]

Originally Posted by asufan

I'm sure Oregano's stuffed pizza that takes an hour to make is every bit as good as this place, just doesn't have the name. in fact, as I've said in the past I have a friend from Chicago that swears by Oregano's.

It's actually two different types of pizza. Oregano's does the stuffed pizza while Lou's does deep dish, which to borrow a term from Chicago style pizza haters, isn't as casserole-ish as stuffed. Lou's is probably my favorite deep dish place from back east, in large part due to their crust. And for what it's worth, Oregano's stuffed pizza is okay, but not great IMHO. The crust is a big reason for that...just not a fan. I can't wait until Giordano's opens out here, which was one of my top three stuffed pizza places from Chicago.

[petlover8]

Has anyone eaten at BOTH a Lou Malnati's in Chicago, and one out here? I've eaten at several in and around Chicago, but none here. I know they say they're the same. But sometimes that is not the case. Ingredients get substituted, preparation methods are changed, etc. And there is no food in the world I would stand in line for an hour and a half to eat!