Middle Eastern restaurants?

I always get confused between the excellent restaurant you are talking about in LaGrange and a little place on Oak PArk avenue in Oak Park. Both are excellent.  One is the Grapeleaves and the other is the Grapevine.  I never remember which is which.

The LaGrange restaurant is just west of LaGrange Road on the street just south of the tracks (just south of Ogden). It is spacious, pleasant and reasonable.  Wooden tables and a pleasant decor. A few tables outdoors in the summer.  The owners are Greek, I believe. But no flaming Saganaki.  Wine and beer are available.  You order from up front and your food is brought to tour table. Many beers. Good yogurt, as well.  I use it often to meet former oak parkers who have moved to orland park.

In Oak Park is a genuine, Palestinian place, a half block South of the Lake Street El. Just a few tables, bright light, but excellent food. Great vegetarian platter, Falafel, babaganoush, humus etc.  If you are hungry order the lamb and beans with rice.  My wife and I usually order the falafel platter first and then share the lamb dish and still have some to bring home,

NO alcohol.

But be careful.. they say it is Diet Coke, but I'd swear it is Pepsi..

Leonard

, Dave
Someone wrote:
>There is a Middle-Easternish reataurant in LaGrange on the north side of
>the tracks near LaGrange Rd - it's called the Grape Vine or something
>akin to that.  It's not bad, but doesn't _feel_ like th Mid-East.
>
>Dave
>
>
>
>Storm U. wrote:
>
>> Someone wrote:
>> >Anyone know of any Middle Eastern restaurants in either the Downers
>> >Grove/Oakbrook/Naperville/Westmont area or around Orland Park & Palos
>> >Heights area?  My husband and I love Middle Eastern restaurants and have
>> >gone to some good ones in Chicago (Andie's, Old Jerusalem, Uncle
>> >Tutunji's and Uncle Tannous) but would like to find something closer to
>> >home ie. southern or western suburbs.  Thanks for any ideas.
>> >
>> >                                             Margaret
>> >
>>
>>
>> In the western suburbs area, the pickins' are pretty slim.  The only
>> place I know of is the Kabob Cafe in Lombard.  Its more of a fast food
>> place than a regular restaurant.  Its not too bad, but its not great
>> either.
>>
>> Its at the SW corner of Main street and Roosevelt in Lombard.  Its
>> actually in a larger strip mall next to an Officemax.  I'm assuming
>> its still open, since I haven't been by there in about a year.
>>
>> --
>> Tim Everding
>> [email removed]
>> remove xy.. for true email
>

___________________________________
Leonard Grossman
 http://www.mcs.net/~grossman/

Dave M. wrote:
>Leonard G. wrote:
>
>>...
>> The LaGrange restaurant is just west of LaGrange Road on the
>> street just south of the tracks (just south of Ogden).
>
>I'm pretty sure it's on the north side of the tracks, Leonard, unless it
>moved recently (restaurants do that), but it is south of Ogden.
>

You are right, South of Ogden, north of the tracks... facing them. And it is Grapevine. I jut went to Grape Leaves in Oak Park. See below.

>
>> In Oak Park is a genuine, Palestinian place, a half block South
>> of the Lake Street El. Just a few tables, bright light, but
>> excellent food. Great vegetarian platter, Falafel, babaganoush,
>> humus etc.  If you are hungry order the lamb and beans with
>> rice.  My wife and I usually order the falafel platter first and
>> then share the lamb dish and still have some to bring home,
>>
>> NO alcohol.
>>
>> But be careful.. they say it is Diet Coke, but I'd swear it is
>> Pepsi..
>
>Uh-oh.
>
>Dave
>

Things have been hectic. My family  have been in England for several days for a funeral.  Although I was once a good cook (long long ago) today, that means lots of fast food, frozen pizza and cold cereal (and on a holiday weekend, lots of creamed herring, gefilte fish, kichel and cake).

The weather has been glorious for this time of year,  but today was a bid gray and damp.. but very warm.. kind of numbing.

But tonight I suddenly had a taste for something more substantial. I could literally taste it.  There is a local restaurant that serves a huge portion of rice, with slivers of almonds and a few bits of mint, with another huge platter of lamb in gravy.

It is called Grape Leaves, and the sign says it specializes in
 "Middle Eastern Cuisine."  I have never figured out if the owners are Palestinian or Lebanese, the high school kids they hire are a wild variety of everything, but they have great falafel and humus platters, and lentil soup and schwarma.  I just had a taste for the lamb tonight.

The place was almost empty.. it is just a storefront, dolled up a bit with a mural of an arbor and some fields, and plates with pictures of the Dome of the Rock, or Petra, and a few other scenes.  Middle eastern music plays not so gently in the back ground.

So I sat in that atmosphere, and ate my lamb, dipping pita in the gravy and reading a book, a little thing called "The Talmud and the Internet."  It is pretty good on Talmud, and on growing up in a home of books, and on fragments... and I sat there reading a piece about the Western Wall.. the fragment of a fragment... and it was peaceful.  By the way it is not so good in its analogy of Talmud to Internet, but it was pleasant

And then I came home..

LEn

___________________________________
Leonard Grossman
 http://www.mcs.net/~grossman/

NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 23:38:45 GMT
Organization: Verio
Xref: usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu chi.eats:8383

Speaking of Oak Park,  there is a great Egyptian restaurant there called Tut's Oasis.  Its at 1147 W. Madison.  They have typical middle eastern fare such as hummos, falafil, and kifta kebabs.  But they also have interesting Egyptian dishes such as Foul (a bean dish that I understand is typically eatern for breakfast in Egypt) and Koshary (a mix of rice, lentils, macaroni with a spicy sauce).  The waiter (or perhaps he was the owner) told me that in Egypt they have restaurants that serve nothing but Koshary, apparently its one of their most popular dishes.  Its sort of a hole in the wall place, nothing fancy,  but there are some interesting decorations and the food is great.

                                       Margaret

Leonard G. wrote:

> I always get confused between the excellent restaurant you are
> talking about in LaGrange and a little place on Oak PArk avenue
> in Oak Park. Both are excellent.  One is the Grapeleaves and the
> other is the Grapevine.  I never remember which is which.
>
> The LaGrange restaurant is just west of LaGrange Road on the
> street just south of the tracks (just south of Ogden). It is
> spacious, pleasant and reasonable.  Wooden tables and a pleasant
> decor. A few tables outdoors in the summer.  The owners are
> Greek, I believe. But no flaming Saganaki.  Wine and beer are
> available.  You order from up front and your food is brought to
> tour table. Many beers. Good yogurt, as well.  I use it often to
> meet former oak parkers who have moved to orland park.
>
> In Oak Park is a genuine, Palestinian place, a half block South
> of the Lake Street El. Just a few tables, bright light, but
> excellent food. Great vegetarian platter, Falafel, babaganoush,
> humus etc.  If you are hungry order the lamb and beans with
> rice.  My wife and I usually order the falafel platter first and
> then share the lamb dish and still have some to bring home,
>
> NO alcohol.
>
> But be careful.. they say it is Diet Coke, but I'd swear it is
> Pepsi..
>
> Leonard
>
> , Dave
> Someone wrote:
> >There is a Middle-Easternish reataurant in LaGrange on the north side of
> >the tracks near LaGrange Rd - it's called the Grape Vine or something
> >akin to that.  It's not bad, but doesn't _feel_ like th Mid-East.
> >
> >Dave
> >
> >
> >
> >Storm U. wrote:
> >
> >> Someone wrote:
> >> >Anyone know of any Middle Eastern restaurants in either the Downers
> >> >Grove/Oakbrook/Naperville/Westmont area or around Orland Park & Palos
> >> >Heights area?  My husband and I love Middle Eastern restaurants and have
> >> >gone to some good ones in Chicago (Andie's, Old Jerusalem, Uncle
> >> >Tutunji's and Uncle Tannous) but would like to find something closer to
> >> >home ie. southern or western suburbs.  Thanks for any ideas.
> >> >
> >> >                                             Margaret
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> In the western suburbs area, the pickins' are pretty slim.  The only
> >> place I know of is the Kabob Cafe in Lombard.  Its more of a fast food
> >> place than a regular restaurant.  Its not too bad, but its not great
> >> either.
> >>
> >> Its at the SW corner of Main street and Roosevelt in Lombard.  Its
> >> actually in a larger strip mall next to an Officemax.  I'm assuming
> >> its still open, since I haven't been by there in about a year.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Tim Everding
> >> [email removed]
> >> remove xy.. for true email
> >
>
> ___________________________________
> Leonard Grossman
>  http://www.mcs.net/~grossman/

Unfortunately, Tuts is long gone, replaced by a currency exchange.  In its last days, it had slipped badly.

Other middle eastern places that come to mind include the little fast food counter in the back of the Jewelers Mall on North Wabash, down town. Great veggie platter. (Between Washington and Madison, I think)

And on North Michigan Avenue (also between Washington and Madison) is a recent find, Jaffa Bagels. Great felafel sandwich. Also other great sandwiches, including roast turkey. The place is worth going into just for the aroma of the turkey.

Len

In article , Margaret
Someone wrote:
>Speaking of Oak Park,  there is a great Egyptian restaurant there called Tut's
>Oasis.  Its at 1147 W. Madison.  They have typical middle eastern fare such as
>hummos, falafil, and kifta kebabs.  But they also have interesting Egyptian
>dishes such as Foul (a bean dish that I understand is typically eatern for
>breakfast in Egypt) and Koshary (a mix of rice, lentils, macaroni with a spicy
>sauce).  The waiter (or perhaps he was the owner) told me that in Egypt they
>have restaurants that serve nothing but Koshary, apparently its one of their
>most popular dishes.  Its sort of a hole in the wall place, nothing fancy,  but
>there are some interesting decorations and the food is great.
>
>                                       Margaret
>
>Leonard G. wrote:
>
>> I always get confused between the excellent restaurant you are
>> talking about in LaGrange and a little place on Oak PArk avenue
>> in Oak Park. Both are excellent.  One is the Grapeleaves and the
>> other is the Grapevine.  I never remember which is which.
>>
>> The LaGrange restaurant is just west of LaGrange Road on the
>> street just south of the tracks (just south of Ogden). It is
>> spacious, pleasant and reasonable.  Wooden tables and a pleasant
>> decor. A few tables outdoors in the summer.  The owners are
>> Greek, I believe. But no flaming Saganaki.  Wine and beer are
>> available.  You order from up front and your food is brought to
>> tour table. Many beers. Good yogurt, as well.  I use it often to
>> meet former oak parkers who have moved to orland park.
>>
>> In Oak Park is a genuine, Palestinian place, a half block South
>> of the Lake Street El. Just a few tables, bright light, but
>> excellent food. Great vegetarian platter, Falafel, babaganoush,
>> humus etc.  If you are hungry order the lamb and beans with
>> rice.  My wife and I usually order the falafel platter first and
>> then share the lamb dish and still have some to bring home,
>>
>> NO alcohol.
>>
>> But be careful.. they say it is Diet Coke, but I'd swear it is
>> Pepsi..
>>
>> Leonard
>>
>> , Dave
>> Someone wrote:
>> >There is a Middle-Easternish reataurant in LaGrange on the north side of
>> >the tracks near LaGrange Rd - it's called the Grape Vine or something
>> >akin to that.  It's not bad, but doesn't _feel_ like th Mid-East.
>> >
>> >Dave
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >Storm U. wrote:
>> >
>> >> Someone wrote:
>> >> >Anyone know of any Middle Eastern restaurants in either the Downers
>> >> >Grove/Oakbrook/Naperville/Westmont area or around Orland Park & Palos
>> >> >Heights area?  My husband and I love Middle Eastern restaurants and have
>> >> >gone to some good ones in Chicago (Andie's, Old Jerusalem, Uncle
>> >> >Tutunji's and Uncle Tannous) but would like to find something closer to
>> >> >home ie. southern or western suburbs.  Thanks for any ideas.
>> >> >
>> >> >                                             Margaret
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> In the western suburbs area, the pickins' are pretty slim.  The only
>> >> place I know of is the Kabob Cafe in Lombard.  Its more of a fast food
>> >> place than a regular restaurant.  Its not too bad, but its not great
>> >> either.
>> >>
>> >> Its at the SW corner of Main street and Roosevelt in Lombard.  Its
>> >> actually in a larger strip mall next to an Officemax.  I'm assuming
>> >> its still open, since I haven't been by there in about a year.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Tim Everding
>> >> [email removed]
>> >> remove xy.. for true email
>> >
>>
>> ___________________________________
>> Leonard Grossman
>>  http://www.mcs.net/~grossman/
>

___________________________________
Leonard Grossman
 http://www.mcs.net/~grossman/