OT: Visiting Chicago - Come for the pizza, stay for the pizza

[STC]

Every once in a while, S&S is OK.

Portillo's is consistently amazing though. You're insane.

Portillo's is good. Calling it amazing is insane. There are plenty of places around town where you can get better beefs and burgers than Portillo's.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Portillo's is good. Calling it amazing is insane. There are plenty of places around town where you can get better beefs and burgers than Portillo's.

I agree with this. In Oak Park, I thought Pete's was better. One of my favorite places.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I agree with this. In Oak Park, I thought Pete's was better. One of my favorite places.

Living over in Oak Park, I'm assuming you've hit the strip in Forest Park on Madison for some partying and good eats? Some good places there. I've been to FatDuck a couple times and really liked the duckfat burger, and their truffle parm duckfat fries are amazing.

Also Exit Strategy Brewing Company has what they call the ESBC burger, which is outstanding. It's actually owned by a former colleague of my girlfriend. She quit her job as a teacher at Forest Park where my girlfriend used to teach with her, and started the brewery/grill with her husband.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Living over in Oak Park, I'm assuming you've hit the strip in Forest Park on Madison for some partying and good eats? Some good places there. I've been to FatDuck a couple times and really liked the duckfat burger, and their truffle parm duckfat fries are amazing.

Also Exit Strategy Brewing Company has what they call the ESBC burger, which is outstanding. It's actually owned by a former colleague of my girlfriend. She quit her job as a teacher at Forest Park where my girlfriend used to teach with her, and started the brewery/grill with her husband.

I actually am in Forest Park on Madison right now, although we are moving next Sunday. Grew up in Oak Park. Fatduck is pretty good. I've been to exit strategy although never tried the burger.

Have you ever been to Gaetanos on Madison? It's amazing. City quality for sure. Best food I've gotten outside Chicago.

https://www.zagat.com/r/gaetanos-restaurant-river-forest

 

[ChiHawks10]

I actually am in Forest Park on Madison right now, although we are moving next Sunday. Grew up in Oak Park. Fatduck is pretty good. I've been to exit strategy although never tried the burger.

Have you ever been to Gaetanos on Madison? It's amazing. City quality for sure. Best food I've gotten outside Chicago.

https://www.zagat.com/r/gaetanos-restaurant-river-forest

Always wanted to try it, but never really been down there just to do dinner somewhere.

It's always been for an event or party night with my girlfriend's old colleagues/friends from the school in Forest Park. So it was basically bar hopping at bars/grills and eating on the fly at one of em, or hanging out at the brewery during parades and things like that doing the same thing. We were at the brewery's grand opening, which if I remember correctly, was during the St Patty's Day parade. Been there once or twice since just to hang out. They did a nice job with that place. I love the warehouse feel of it, and the decor is stellar.

 

[STC]

Since you guys are in the Oak Park area I assume you've had Johnny's Beef? Think its in Melrose Park. Never had it, but people rave about it and call it the best beef in Chicago.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Since you guys are in the Oak Park area I assume you've had Johnny's Beef? Think its in Melrose Park. Never had it, but people rave about it and call it the best beef in Chicago.

Johnnys is really good. There's usually a line out the door on a hot day. Good Italian ice too. I think that's Elmwood Park.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Since you guys are in the Oak Park area I assume you've had Johnny's Beef? Think its in Melrose Park. Never had it, but people rave about it and call it the best beef in Chicago.

I'm actually not in that area. I'm in Bolingbrook. I used to go there a lot when my gf was a teacher at a school in Forest Park. I have had Johnnie's beef, though. It's damn good. I prefer Duke's Drive-in over in Bridgeview on the south side. It's just south of 79th on Harlem. Their beef is definitely one of the best I've ever had.

 

[MurrayBannerman]

I could walk to the one on Lincoln. Matter of fact, I will later.

 

[Backyard Hockey]

Portillo's is good. Calling it amazing is insane. There are plenty of places around town where you can get better beefs and burgers than Portillo's.

There are TONS of better local hot dog joints all around. Jimmy's on Pulaski, that on on Harlem in Oak Park and of course, Gene and Judes. Every time I see my kid's with scheduled hockey games at Franklin Park, I get excited because it means a Gene and Judes run after!

 

[Backyard Hockey]

Since you guys are in the Oak Park area I assume you've had Johnny's Beef? Think its in Melrose Park. Never had it, but people rave about it and call it the best beef in Chicago.

Johnny's is fantastic and always a line. Not sure if Cafe Cubano is still there (just east on North Ave). Very good Cuban food.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

Some guys I know from my high school opened a place on Roosevelt in Berwyn. Big Guys sausage. I've only been there a few times but I thought it was pretty good.

 

[HawksFan28]

I agree with this. In Oak Park, I thought Pete's was better. One of my favorite places.

I've been to Pete's, there is also one on the North Side off of Peterson. Can't say I'm a huge fan.

 

[HawksFan28]

I don't know why people keep on talking about Dogs considering all these joints usually use the same Vienna Beef dogs. lol

It's what you put on it not the Dog itself.

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

I've been to Pete's, there is also one on the North Side off of Peterson. Can't say I'm a huge fan.

Are we talking about the same place? Pete's red hots on ridgeland and Roosevelt in Oak Park. I'm not sure what you are referring to.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/petes-red-hots-oak-park

 

[HawksFan28]

Are we talking about the same place? Pete's red hots on ridgeland and Roosevelt in Oak Park. I'm not sure what you are referring to.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/petes-red-hots-oak-park

I don't know if the one off of Peterson is owned by the same guy.

Looks the same tho, so I'm assuming it is.

 

[ObeyPerry]

I don't know why people keep on talking about Dogs considering all these joints usually use the same Vienna Beef dogs. lol

It's what you put on it not the Dog itself.

Indeed. Its all about the steaming of the bun and the nuclear green relish. A cold kosher dill spear helps. And don't forget the controversial tomato..... Included on any Chicago dog at approximately 1/2 the places around or on the side as a pickled tomato at Superdog.

Also don't forget the quality of the sport pepper. After a night of drunken debauchery there is nothing like biting into that sport pepper and the pepper juice squirting into your buddy's or gf's eyes.

Also I live only 1 mile from Gene and Judes but won't go there because they won't provide ketchup for the fries. Luke's on Harlem and Johnnys are not that much farther from me and have just as good dogs as G&J anyhow.

 

[Backyard Hockey]

Indeed. Its all about the steaming of the bun and the nuclear green relish. A cold kosher dill spear helps. And don't forget the controversial tomato..... Included on any Chicago dog at approximately 1/2 the places around or on the side as a pickled tomato at Superdog.

Also don't forget the quality of the sport pepper. After a night of drunken debauchery there is nothing like biting into that sport pepper and the pepper juice squirting into your buddy's or gf's eyes.

Also I live only 1 mile from Gene and Judes but won't go there because they won't provide ketchup for the fries. Luke's on Harlem and Johnnys are not that much farther from me and have just as good dogs as G&J anyhow.

Yeah. I get the no ketchup on hot dogs, but fries require ketchup. Period.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

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