Archive for the ‘Chicago’ Category
This post is a week late, primarily because the hubby and I were enjoying a much needed break on the "All-Inclusive" beaches of Puerta Vallarta last week (and don’t worry….I’ll be sure to make it up with an extra post soon). It was great to get away and enjoy some 90 degree temps, only to be caught off guard by the 40 degrees when we stepped off the plane back in Chicago. Luckily, with some beautiful sunshine today, it looks as though spring might finally be here.
But before you get too comfortable with me talking about the lovely change of season, I am actually going to drag you back into the cold of December for our 3rd installment of discussions about "Chicago Style" pizza. You may remember my first and second posts featuring the famed Giordano’s and Gino’s East, but now we move on to one that is just as equally famous and well known throughout the city, with a history and name that is considered one of the oldest when it comes to Chicago pizza.
Lou Malnati’s just recently celebrated its 40th year in the Chicago pizza making business and they are continuing to go strong. Started in Lincolnwood, IL in 1971, Lou and his wife Jean took their passion and know-how of Chicago deep dish learned from years of working at the famed Pizzeria Uno and started their own joint. This family owned and operated company has become so well loved and received they now have 32 locations in and around the Chicago-land area, serving up their handmade from scratch pizza creations. They are such a Chicago staple, there is a long running argument about who serves up a better pie…, them or Uno’s, which is still to come on our list and was the originator of "Chicago Style," although Lou himself was the first pizza chef, causing such a rivalry over the years even Travel Channel’s “Food Wars” came for a visit…
Although a tough battle, with its heart and story, it is no wonder Lou’s reigned victorious in this battle…, they truly are a pizza legend in Chicago.
For as famous as they are, I admit it was a long time before I even set foot inside one of their restaurants. This wasn’t because I was unwilling to try a bite, rather I was just unaware of their fame. I knew of the biggies…, Uno, Gino’s East, and Giordano’s, but this is largely due to their tourist popularity and given that they are all located in the heart of downtown. Before I ever lived in the city, I only ever ventured to those spots. However, when I became a local, I found out the real deal. Lou Malnati’s, while also very famous in its own right, seems to be a more popular spot amongst locals because of its family neighborhood atmosphere and less touristy reputation. While I will admit that I LOVE the others I mentioned, it is often a drawback that they are always packed to the gills.
Adam and I visited Lou’s quite a few times while we lived in the city, but it wasn’t until we moved away and I started this blog that we knew a future trip where we documented the full experience was in order; and it just so happened that back in December we were in the city for my birthday getaway and when we were deciding what restaurants we wanted to try and hit up, we knew Lou’s was a must…, I mean what is better than some good ol’ warm and cheesy deep dish? Especially when it is so friggin’ windy and frigid outside!
So we headed on over the Lincoln Park location and lucky for us we did not have to wait long. One nice thing about many of the deep dish spots is that you can put your order in before you even have a table. With each pizza taking about 45 minutes to bake and hunger often setting in the minute you step inside the doors, this is a wonderful feature to cut down on some of the waiting time. So, we grabbed a couple of beers and proceeded to order the “Malnati Chicago Classic…,” a deep dish pie with their famous sausage.
Look how delicious, cheesy and buttery that pie looks! It is everything we wanted it to be.
As with most "Chicago Style" pizza, I can usually make it through about one slice and I am done. However, Lou Malnati’s pizza isn’t as bready as many of the other places and doesn’t leave you feeling quite as stuffed…, a fact I enjoy. Also, their sausage is pretty darn unique in that it is a whole circular piece of sausage, so you are guaranteed to get a piece with every bite, which really does add to the flavor (This is actually a technique invented by Gino’s East…). And let’s just say their buttery crust is certainly yummy and always enjoyed at the end; and while I still am a die-hard Giordano’s fan, which I am aware is not really considered in the same realm as the other deep dish spots because it is technically "stuffed pizza," Lou’s comes in a very close second for me…definitely ahead of Gino’s. I just think Lou Malnati’s has managed to do it right when it comes to their crust, cheese, toppings, and sauce….a real winning combination!
SIGNATURE DISH: As the title of this post indicates…, "CHICAGO-STYLE" DEEP-DISH PIZZA!!!
TASTE: I am often not one to turn down pizza; and even not so good pizza is often perfectly fine in my book, so it is hard for me to compare my loves for "Chicago Style" deep dish. I truly do love it in almost every way, shape, and form, and Lou Malnati’s is right up there with some of the best. As I said above, while I do enjoy Giordano’s better, Lou’s is for sure 2nd in my book. I am not sure Adam would rank them in this manner, but I really don’t like Gino’s all that much, so therefore this is how I will choose to proceed! 
AMBIANCE: Where Lou’s differs from other deep dish joints especially, is it definitely has more of a neighborhood feel. While on any given night it certainly will draw a crowd, it is a crowd of regulars instead of an almost 2 hour waits worth of tourists. Decorated very simply and classically with Chicago paraphernalia, it just has the feel of a great local pizza joint.
SERVICE: Every time we have ever visited Lou’s, we have been treated well and served as quickly as possible. One perk I love is that they allow you to pre-order while you wait, thus cutting down on the overall waiting time. This visit they even had thin crust pizza munchies for us while we waited, which always elevates the experience in my book!
PRICE: While Chicago-style is relatively more expensive than say…. Pizza Hut, I find Lou’s prices to be extremely reasonable. At $10 – 20 from a small to large pizza, that is comparable to the prices at most of the local family owned places by us. And although they are famous, it would seem they have not tried to jack up their prices just for that reason, another plus in my book.
So while I very rarely discriminate when it comes to pizza (as I mentioned), Chicago Deep Dish certainly holds rank when it comes to what I crave the most, and Lou Malanti’s is for sure right up there with what I consider to be some of the best! And while I have not tried them all, I certainly have tried the majority and Lou’s ranks right near the top of the ‘Little Piggy’ list with a 4.
Hi…I’m Katie and I’m an indecisive eater. I know…an odd thing to admit, but I figure this information might help people understand how we actually choose a certain restaurant to review for PCC. Well, most often we have a list in mind when we travel, and time and location will usually dictate our choice of restaurant at that moment. However, if we are put in a spot where we have choices, be prepared for much anxiety mixed with hunger onset…often making the task all the more difficult. It isn’t that I’m picky, I just have a really hard time verbalizing what it is I really want most of the time; and now that I am 13 weeks pregnant (SURPRISE! 
), let’s just say the decisions aren’t coming any easier. Rather, I seem to struggle more.
So lucky for me, I have a husband who most of the time patiently tries to help me figure out what I want, which I’m sure most of you would find the whole scenario pretty comical I’m sure. Most weekend mornings in our marriage start out like this, and trips with multiple lazy mornings are no exception…
Me: “I’m Hungry!”
Adam: “Me too, what are you hungry for?”
Me: “I don’t know…Food…”
Adam: “Ok, well let me know when you make a decision.”
Now this response from him isn’t meant to be mean, rather he just wants me to tell him what it is I am hungry for. However, I will lay there for a moment, hoping that Adam will just suggest something first so I don’t have to make the decision. Most people (or women) would be eternally grateful to have a husband that would let them pick the restaurant 99% of the time just so they would be happy. I am not that woman. I, on the other hand, freeze up! His response and subsequent silence frustrates me…, I pout, and we go round and round until we finally agree on a place or what we are going to eat, usually an hour or so later than when we first said we were hungry. You would think after 2+ years of marriage, I would know this and rather than ask, I would just say what I wanted and move on. But as I said, I am in-decisive, and when given the ultimate option…I choke.
I tell you all of this not just to blabber on and add a little comic relief (especially for you other married couples who I know do the same thing ), but rather to give a little background to today’s story, because this Saturday morning in Chicago was just like that.
It was the morning after our friends Jenn and Bob’s wedding and we were both enjoying sleeping in a little. But without fail, my stomach started gnawing away and I knew I was going to need something to eat soon. So I started to nudge Adam and get him moving, knowing the task that lie ahead with my uttering of those fateful weekend morning words…”I’m Hungry…”
I will spare you the details, but with us both being hungry, him waiting for me to tell him what I wanted, and us going through the infinite possible PCC worthy spots we could try in the Chicago-land area, let’s just say it took us a little while to get moving. I was particularly hungry that morning so I knew something like a big sandwich would fit the bill, so we started doing a bit of research and stumbled upon just the place.
The Depot American Diner is certainly one of a kind and well worth the trip to the west side for their truly delicious home cooked meals. They don’t try to be fancy, nor should they. After all, this place used to be a speak easy and hide out for the notorious Al Capone. Well, Chicagoans need not speak easy about this place any longer, cause now it the Depot’s food that is doing the talking, and it is saying good things; and I knew that when we saw a clip on Food Network’s “Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives” or their club sandwich that this is where we would be headed…
That turkey dinner just looked mouthwatering, and knowing that same home style turkey was coming on that club, I knew I was in for a real treat.
It didn’t take us long to pull up and park ourselves at the counter, which we were happy to do seeing as the Depot is a small place and there were no other seats available in the main dining area. Nonetheless, food was the priority, so we began to peruse their menu. Everything looked delicious and I truly love a diner that focuses on what they are good at and doesn’t cloud the menu with pages and pages of stuff just because it’s expected.
After watching that clip earlier in the morning, we both already know what we wanted to order. I had the club, while Adam chose a bowl of chicken noodle soup to start and the Pot Roast Sandwich; and to top it off, we ordered a batch of their famous donut holes for after our meal.
The service was prompt, because before long I had a monstrosity of yumminess set down in front of me. We both giggled a little when we saw our sandwiches, because I was trying to figure out just how I was going to take my first bite…
I mean come on…right? Let’s just say, neither of us were talking for awhile, we were both too immersed in our food; and for you regular readers of PCC, you know I’ve mentioned before my constant battle over tomatoes, but I decided to leave them on and see what I thought, considering that’s the way the cook intended. You might be happy to know they totally added an extra level of flavor to this sandwich that was awesome! Their sweetness really played well against all of the other rich flavors of the buttered bread, mayo, and heavy meat.
At another seat at the counter, Adam was in heaven with that gravy rich pot roast. I’m pretty sure that “mmm” and “oh my gosh,” were all I heard out of him for awhile.
Then…when we had sufficiently stuffed ourselves and boxed up the rest, we were presented with a lovely dish of holes.
I have to say for that as good as they look…they fell a little flat in the taste department. The donuts themselves just really lacked any kind of flavor and although the dipping sauce that came with them was good, I would hardly say it was the best thing I had ever tried. Still, even though these were our last note, we still left singing the praises of The Depot and would willingly go back anytime!
SIGNATURE DISH: Although they have some pretty standard home cooked staples, it would seem their open face sandwiches are what’s put them over the top when it comes to notoriety. Chicago is a city where diners abound and you would be hard pressed not to find one on just about every corner, if not more. That being said, there are very few that are putting out the level of food The Depot is; and with dishes that have so much love and flavor, it is not wonder that patrons are coming in droves to the west side to eat here.
TASTE: I don’t typically order club sandwiches. In fact, I think I have maybe only ordered 2 in my lifetime. I typically have never found them to be that exciting…too much bread. But this one stopped me short. Something about the fact that it included their home style hot and fresh turkey, along with the other usual accoutrements that I could not pass up. Adam and I were both wowed at just how good and upscale these dishes were coming from a tiny little west side diner kitchen. I think it is safe to say that it is their attention to flavor and detail that is bringing their customers in droves.
AMBIANCE: Although busy and buzzing that Sunday morning, it was not packed to the point of not being able to enjoy yourself, like some other PCC places we’ve been. You could still easily move throughout and it just felt as if you were one of the gang their to enjoy your Sunday meal. Sitting at the bar was a fun perspective and great to see the wait staff and owners interacting so lovingly with their customers. And for being a diner, it did in no way have that old dingy or dirty feel, but rather was clean, nicely decorated, and classic.
SERVICE: Sitting at the bar we were very well taken care of and in a prompt fashion. Also, it seemed that everyone in the booths were being taken care of very well. Everyone we encountered was super friendly and willing to chat, which I always enjoy.
PRICE: Being in Chicago, I didn’t think their prices were outrageous or unexpected by any means. Many times places in the city with a lot of notoriety will up their prices because they can, but each of our sandwiches were $8.01 (you gotta love the quirkiness of the penny 
). You could easily pay for less food at Panera, so I thought it was well worth it.
Overall, we had a fabulous time at The Depot, and even though it may have taken us a little bit to research to ultimately wind up here, it turns out we made the right decision….a decision that led us to a great find and a place I hope to visit again someday. So I am happy to give The Depot American Diner 4 1/2 ‘Little Piggies.’
2011 is already off to a great start and Adam and I have been off and running. We have some big plans this year for PCC, but in the meantime we still have quite a back log of famous restaurants that we visited last year that we still need to share with you all…and of course we will have plenty of new travels and spots in 2011 coming your way! And who knows….maybe we might even have some new “surprise” guests 😉
Well, after starting the year off with a couple of reviews, we’re ready to present this year’s first feature restaurant….and boy is it a doozy! I’m speaking, of course (if you already read the sign to the left) about Hot Doug’s, the “encased meat emporium” if there ever was one.
Featured on every food show from Travel Channel’s “Hot Dog Paradise,” “Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations,” and as well as Chicago’s own “Check Please!”, this spot has certainly grabbed the attention of many just like us. Started by a man named Doug, who loved him some sausage, he set out to create a “hot dog” shop that would cater to hot dog lovers with the most basic to the most complex tastes. What is so unique about their sausages are really the creations they put together, from the types of meats used to the toppings for the dog…take a look!
Pretty unique huh? Well…not as much anymore seeing as some other startups have more or less copied Doug’s model in the past year, but I assume they are just that…copies of the original…and not as good. So, being that Doug’s is the first and likely the best, Adam and I knew we had to try it…, which almost didn’t happen. Let me explain. If you are from the Chicago area, you know all-to-well the notoriety of this spot. I mean, it is so popular people will wait in line around the block for hours just to get a taste; and when they are only open Monday – Saturday, 10:30 to 4 you can be sure their lunch crowd is off the hook! Also, something we have since found out on several occasions is that if it is anywhere near a holiday, they will likely be closed (but we’ll dive into that later).
So, anyway, when we initially heard about the infamous Hot Doug’s and that it was in Chicago, we knew the next time we were in the city we would have to make a visit…which happened to fall right after New Years 2010 when were headed through Chicago on our way back to Dallas. This was when we first learned that they often take off on Holidays and in this case extended vacations, so they would not be open at all while we were in the city. We were extremely bummed, but said we would just have to make it a priority on our next visit, which happened 6 months later when we were in the city for a bachelor/bachelorette party weekend last summer and we thought we could make it in time for lunch. Well….no such luck this time either, because they were closed AGAIN for a holiday! UGH!!!! Needless to say, this time we were pissed…not so much at the restaurant, but that we were just having the hardest time getting a chance to eat at this place!
Well, as they say, the ‘third time is a charm.’ Because later that summer when we came back for the wedding, we were lucky enough to pull up and see a line literally out the door and around the corner. I wasn’t so happy to see the line, but hey…at least I knew they were open! And, although I did not really want to wait (I’m impatient like that), knowing this may be our only shot, we hopped in line and waited the hour it took us to get to the counter….yes….I said AN HOUR!
Although it look a little while, the wait actually wasn’t too bad, and at least we were all waiting for the common goal…encased meat! It also made me all the more hungry, which allowed me to enjoy their duck fat fries all the more. Yes I said it…they offer french fries fried in duck fat on Fridays and Saturdays….and well, let’s be honest, a fry is a fry, but a fry in duck fat is heavenly!
So we finally made our way in and were able to gander at the menu for a little bit to determine what we should order. In addition to their typical menu items (which are far from typical), they have daily specials that are over the top unique. I knew I wanted simple so I could taste their quality without a lot of other flavors throwing me off, so I went with “The Elvis” – a polish sausage topped with mustard, ketchup, caramelized onions, relish, and pickle. Adam chose to be more adventurous and went with their “Game of the Week,” a beer and cheddar bison sausage. He also doubled his pleasure by ordering one of their specialty sausages the swiss cheese smoked pork knockwurst with bacon-garlic mayonnaise and vintage van gogh cheese; and we, of course, ordered a large duck fat fry to share.
Deeeeeeee-Licious! Needless to say, we were stuffed by the time this meal was over; and I usually don’t condone eating past the point of being full, but I didn’t let a single one of those duck fat fries go to waste. Those are kind of a once in a lifetime sorta thing. 
In all, we were very pleased with our meal, especially considering how long we had to wait to try it…definitely worth it!
SIGNATURE DISH: It’s pretty clear from their name that they focus on one thing and one thing only…hot dogs, and in this case I guess that includes sausages. Not only do they have what you would consider a run of the mill dog, but any kind of sausage or encased type of meat you might be able to think of they got it! They are definitely a one of a kind joint.
TASTE: I enjoy hot dogs and sausages, but I would hardly call myself a connoisseur. I know what I like and don’t, and these definitely rank at the top of the like list. The polish sausage had a nice snap to it, but was definitely juicy inside. It’s flavor was distinct yet tasted familiar as well. I truly enjoyed how all the condiments rounded out the sausage and those duck fat fries…simply delish. Adam also enjoyed his two picks, one more that the other I believe, but surely seemed to enjoy the rich flavors of the meat paired with the unique condiments.
AMBIANCE: This spot reminds you of a carnival or kids spot, which adds to the playfulness of it all. With its bright colors, bold patterns, and kitschy décor, you can’t help but enjoy yourself during your meal.
SERVICE: Although it took us an hour to get through the line, it was not due to lack of quick service. In fact, that is just the opposite. They are churning out order after order…there are just that many people! But it works well for them, and by the time you place your order at the counter, others are finishing up their meals and there is room for you to sit down. Doug himself is working the counter and is very friendly and fun. Also, everyone on the staff we encountered was very helpful, and has a great sense of humor.
PRICE: For what you are getting and for the gourmet of it all, this place is a steal on price. Our entire meal was less than $20, and we had enough food for 4!
Yes….it took us 3 tries to actually get a chance to eat here, but it was so worth the wait. We truly enjoyed the basic AND unique types of dogs they offer; and well….those duck fat fries are enough to bring anyone back and we can’t wait to eat there again sometime soon…that is if they’re open. 😉 Hot Doug….your encased meat emporium gets a well deserved 4 ½ ‘Little Piggies.’
