Chicago Pizza

|> Gino's has three locations now: downtown, in Arlington Heights/
|> Rolling Meadows (at Golf and Algonquin), and now there's one on
|> Waukegan somewhere (I drove by it the other day very quickly, so
|> please correct me if I'm wrong).

Actually, there also is a Gino's in Skokie on Dempster.  It is not owned by the same people (Lettuce Entertain You) as the other restaurants.  I believe that the original owners split up at some point and this is the result.  It's the same pizza, but without all the grafitti.

|> Irv Sewell's original Pizzeria Uno and its overflow site, Pizzeria
|> Due', are the only Uno's in Chicagoland (I think, but I'm new here).
|> The chain you find in the rest of the continent licences the name [a
|> good analogue might be Ben's Deli in Montreal vs. Shopsy's chain in
|> Toronto, if they were one and the same (I know that they aren't)] but
|> chain Uno actually puts out a good facsimile product ... Uno's menu is
|> much more limited than that of the corporate chain, but the chain's
|> Chicago Classic is not that far away from the original's Numero Uno
|> (at least what I had in Cleveland three weeks ago, while passing
|> through).  The chain has a good draft beer selection (Shea's, Sam
|> Adams, Bass Ale) while Due' has only Miller and Miller Light.

I heard recently that the chain has bought the original restaurants, however, they do not intend to change their recipe to match the original recipe.  Then again, I have heard one of the cooks speak. There is no recipe.  Just experience.

[Note: A repost with corrections! ... gld]

Someone wrote:
>
>Others may argue, but Gino's East is the best deep dish
>pizza in Chicago.  Uno's and Due's come in a close second.

I'll second Doug's opinion, with the qualification: VERY close! (-;

Gino's has three locations now: downtown (164 E. Superior, just off of the Miracle Mile on Michigan Avenue), in Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows (at Golf and Algonquin), and now there's one on Dempster Street in Skokie (but under different ownership, as per Doug Bank). A recent charity eat-off scored Gino's first for pan pizza but tied it with two other establishments (Jake's {Isn't this near Motorola, in Hoffman Estates, Doug?} and Pequod's).

Giordano's (yet another local chain) came in first for stuffed pizza.

For thin crust, the same function gave the award to Father & Son.

Irv Sewell's original Pizzeria Uno and its overflow site, Pizzeria Due', are the only Uno's in Chicagoland (I think, but I'm new here). The chain you find in the rest of the continent licences the name [a good analogue might be Ben's Deli in Montreal vs. Shopsy's chain in Toronto, if they were one and the same (I know that they aren't)] but chain Uno actually puts out a good facsimile product ... Uno's menu is much more limited than that of the corporate chain, but the chain's Chicago Classic is not that far away from the original's Numero Uno (at least what I had in Cleveland three weeks ago, while passing through).  The chain has a good draft beer selection (Shea's, Sam Adams, Bass Ale) while Due' has only Miller and Miller Light.

Having just moved here from New York City, the one thing that I don't miss about it is the pizza ... it's not chain cheese-on-cardboard a la Little Caesar or Domino, nor frozen whatever, but while it's fresh it is not an experience like Chicago pan or stuffed pizza.

gld

Gary D. wrote:

>Okay, we've been talking about the incredible pizza in Chicago; what
>about the level of Mexican?

For an utterly different approach to Mexican, don't miss Frontera Grill/Topolobampo, the superb restaurant pair (both in the same building) run by Rick and Deanne Bayless. They spent 10 years in Mexico researching regional cuisines and then came back to Chicago to open a restaurant celebrating those cuisines, with their own personal stamp.  It's nothing like any taco or burrito you ever ate. It's better.

Frontera is a bistro; Topolobampo is white-tablecloth and a bit more expensive. They're on Clark, just around the corner from the Hard Rock Cafe.

Personally i  think the best mexican in the chicagoland area is El Mole which is in the Barrington area (actually I think their are two) it has great  Mole sauce and an excellent dish called Bistek Quaxcaino(s

My vote for best Mexican food in Chicagoland is Lupita's in Evanston.  The food reminds me of dishes I had along the lower West Coast of Mexico ... lots of wonderful seafood dishes.

Valerie

Gary D. wrote:

> ..
>(north of Clybourne) and Clifton.  Me, my girlfriend and our two
>friends rank it behind Frontera Grill (naturally) but ahead of
>La Margarita in Schaumburg/Rolling Meadows, with Fiesta Mexicana
>and Fernando's trailing.
> ..

No flames intended, but will somebody *please* explain to me what the fascination is with The Frontera Grill, other than the fact that it's the trendoid favorite restaurant of the past few months?

The two times I've eaten there, I found it to be nothing to write home about;  the food was okay (the portions were small, which I guess I expected), and the service was indifferent (the hostess was actually contemptuous).

I get the clear impression that they're not trying to be in the same league as La Margarita or other "traditional" Mexican restaurants, but to me it seems like more smoke and mirrors than actual quality.  "Emperor's New Clothes," maybe?

Most of the really decent Mexican places I know of are smaller, neighborhood joints that put more effort in their food and service and less into being pretentious.

jtl

Someone wrote:
Gary D. wrote:

: > ..
: what the fascination is with The Frontera Grill, other than the : fact that it's the trendoid favorite restaurant of the past few months?

Frontera Grill is styled like some of the more chi-chi formal restaurants in Mexico City. It has a lot of quite authentic Mexican gourmet-type foods.

I personally didn't love it, because I don't eat meat, but that wasn't the restaurant's fault. Most people I know enjoy it. Sure, it's expensive; that's the neighborhood.

For a really good hole in the wall type place, try Mamasita on Clark St. south of Diversey. Great food, cheap, terrific ambience.

Stuart Shea

Joe L. wrote:

>No flames intended, but will somebody *please* explain to me
>what the fascination is with The Frontera Grill, other than the
>fact that it's the trendoid favorite restaurant of the past few months?

I've been going there since I first moved to Chicago(land) in 5/93. I only noticed that it hit the NYT list of Top 10 medium priced (for the NYT) American restaurants (actually, I got that out of the Int. Herald-Tribune while I was in Warsaw this past January) recently. I've been seeing recommendations for Frontera on USENET way long before I even knew I was going to visit the Chicago area ...

>The two times I've eaten there, I found it to be nothing to
>write home about;  the food was okay (the portions were small,
>which I guess I expected), and the service was indifferent (the
>hostess was actually contemptuous).

Well ... my previous address was in Manhattan, New York City so I didn't notice that. (-;  But seriously, for pretentious, etc. I've got my suspicions about Frida's on North Damen based on the adverts in recent editions of Chicago's "Reader" free weekly.

Bottom line: the food is simply great.

gld

Michael T. wrote:

>Any opinions about Tobolobampo? (sp?)

This is the *more* gourmet section of the Frontera Grill. It's a special experience, I've been there once ... the rest of the time, I'm in the regular Frontera section.

Also, a thumb's up for Mamasita on Broadway ... I just forgot that I've eaten there as well.  Not the greatest but definitely good!

gld

In following this discussion, it sounds to me like no one has ever ventured to Pilsen, the heart of the Mexican community in Chicago. Nuevo Leon, on 18th just east of Ashland, is a fine experience--they're inexpensive, open late, BYOC (Bring Your Own Cerveza), and go a little beyond the burrito/taco treadmill. This will also put you within walking distance of the Mexican Fine Arts Center (Damen & 19th?), which is a fascinating place to visit and absorb some of the culture (For the easily intimidated, both places are gringo-friendly)

d. clark

Some other good hole in the wall Mexican places (hey, if it's not a hole in the wall then it's just not real Mexican!)

      Las Pinatas (North and Well, just south of Boston Chicken)

      El Meson in Schaumburg

I personally consider Las Pinatas to be better than Fiesta Mexicana in terms of the food.  The quality of the meat used in the dishes is better (e.g., white chicken meat as opposed to who knows what).  It is also a bit cheaper.

Jim

Yes.  If you want to try authentic, go to Pilsen or Little Village.  It amazes me what people consider "authentic."  This isn't intended as a flame, but growing up as 1st generation Mexican-American, I have to say that if you want to try something a bit closer to home, PLEASE try the Mexican neighborhoods!

Granted, there are NUMEROUS regional differences in Mexican food, and people from different parts of the country have their own preferred way of making a certain dish, and there are so many different dishes from so many regions that it is difficult sometimes to know what is the "authentic" way of making something.  BUT.. if you want to get away from the standard tacos/burritos fare, try a restaurant in the Mexican areas of the city.

Recommendation: Anahuacalli, on 18th street, just west of Damen, south side of the street.  Good, basic Mexican food. As the previous poster mentioned, try visiting the Mexican Fine Arts Museum, and then dine at Anahuacalli.

Yes, Pilsen is very gringo friendly.

Joel Sanchez

      As far as neighborhood Mexican goes - two of my favorites are El Sol on
Fullterton and Tacos Garcia on Ashland
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