Chicago Master Thread

[voldemort]

And you can't go onto the piece of glass that protrudes from the building.

The Ledge, very cool.

[Sam Finkelstein]

The Ledge, very cool.

I think I'd pay $19.50 for that one.

Has anyone stayed at the Aloft Chicago City Center?

[ushdadude]

I think I'd pay $19.50 for that one.

Has anyone stayed at the Aloft Chicago City Center?

you can take your own picture but the one they sell has a really cool angle that makes it worth it

[belighted]

Jelly Belly is a complete waste of time.  You drive on a cart through a warehouse where they store boxes of jelly beans, and then you get dropped off in the Jelly Belly store.

Thank you In the end we went to the Miller Brewery and we really enjoyed.....highly recommended if you are in the area.

[Sam Finkelstein]

Here's a review from tonight:

Milt's BBQ for the Perplexed

Greetings from the Windy City.

After being seated rather promptly (thanks to MasterCard Concierge for getting those reservations), ‎we had our orders taken. We split a BBQ slider sampler as well as a BBQ Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich and a BBQ Rib Sandwich, with sides of creamy Cole Slaw and French Fries.

While waiting for our order, we enjoyed amazing pickle chips. They were so good, we even asked for doubles of those.

The BBQ slider sampler came out first, accompanied by three unique sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet. Our waiter then listed the attributes of each sauce and also explained how they are exclusive to Milt's. Needless to say, the sliders were so good, they didn't even need the sauce. On the other hand, the sauces did offer some variety, although we partook in moderation.

After that, the sandwiches were presented. The brisket sandwich and rib sandwich both were extremely tender, and boasted a rich barbecue flavor. I happened to enjoy it paired with the house molasses barbecue sauce. While the flavors were very bold, the character of the sandwich was nonetheless somewhat delicate, and I found very little semblance between them and the Kansas Pulled Beef Brisket sandwich at Got Kosher, which has more character.

The fries, while obviously housemade, we're only slightly better than standard, as were the buns, which seemed like standard bakery buns, as opposed to the housemade ones at Got Kosher. Mr. Broadway also still remains as my favorite Cole Slaw and I found the one here rather watery and over-spiced. 

For dessert, I had the warm chocolate chip cookie ‎á la mode. Unlike LA Gondola, the cookie was thinner and wasn't overly hot. The ice cream was typical, but paired well with the cookie.

Service here also really shone, and the waiters were extremely attentive and continuously checked up on us. I also appreciated having an entire jug of water at the table, in light of the bolder flavors offered.

In conclusion, this review really boils down to a comparison between Milt's of Chicago and Got Kosher of Los Angeles. While Got Kosher offers great value, eclectic fare, and many exclusive entirely-housemade specialties, I found Milt's to deliver a more refined and classical barbecue experience.

Another noteworthy aspect is that the bill before gratuity was‎ just under $60, which is simply unheard of in NY.

[Sam Finkelstein]

Does anyone know of an 8:30 minyan or later tomorrow morning?

[1050BU]

Does anyone know of an 8:30 minyan or later tomorrow morning?

Yeshurun might have a 9am one.

[ushdadude]

Yeshurun might have a 9am one.

How about Rabbi Eichenstein on Devon?

[lunatic]

Here's a review from tonight:

Milt's BBQ for the Perplexed

Greetings from the Windy City.

After being seated rather promptly (thanks to MasterCard Concierge for getting those reservations), ‎we had our orders taken. We split a BBQ slider sampler as well as a BBQ Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich and a BBQ Rib Sandwich, with sides of creamy Cole Slaw and French Fries.

While waiting for our order, we enjoyed amazing pickle chips. They were so good, we even asked for doubles of those.

The BBQ slider sampler came out first, accompanied by three unique sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet. Our waiter then listed the attributes of each sauce and also explained how they are exclusive to Milt's. Needless to say, the sliders were so good, they didn't even need the sauce. On the other hand, the sauces did offer some variety, although we partook in moderation.

After that, the sandwiches were presented. The brisket sandwich and rib sandwich both were extremely tender, and boasted a rich barbecue flavor. I happened to enjoy it paired with the house molasses barbecue sauce. While the flavors were very bold, the character of the sandwich was nonetheless somewhat delicate, and I found very little semblance between them and the Kansas Pulled Beef Brisket sandwich at Got Kosher, which has more character.

The fries, while obviously housemade, we're only slightly better than standard, as were the buns, which seemed like standard bakery buns, as opposed to the housemade ones at Got Kosher. Mr. Broadway also still remains as my favorite Cole Slaw and I found the one here rather watery and over-spiced. 

For dessert, I had the warm chocolate chip cookie ‎á la mode. Unlike LA Gondola, the cookie was thinner and wasn't overly hot. The ice cream was typical, but paired well with the cookie.

Service here also really shone, and the waiters were extremely attentive and continuously checked up on us. I also appreciated having an entire jug of water at the table, in light of the bolder flavors offered.

In conclusion, this review really boils down to a comparison between Milt's of Chicago and Got Kosher of Los Angeles. While Got Kosher offers great value, eclectic fare, and many exclusive entirely-housemade specialties, I found Milt's to deliver a more refined and classical barbecue experience.

Another noteworthy aspect is that the bill before gratuity was‎ just under $60, which is simply unheard of in NY.

Next time get the pretzel bun

[Ergel]

Another noteworthy aspect is that the bill before gratuity was‎ just under $60, which is simply unheard of in NY.

Indeed. They work hard to keep the prices down.

[Dan]

Next time get the pretzel bun

Why is that not the default?

[henche]

Next time get the pretzel bun

Shouldn't need to know the magic words.  When I open my restaraunt, everyone will get the best I can do.

[ushdadude]

Shouldn't need to know the magic words.  When I open my restaraunt, everyone will get the best I can do.

+1000

[Sam Finkelstein]

How about Rabbi Eichenstein on Devon?

Thanks to all for your responses. I found an 8:30 one at Anshei Motele.

[Sam Finkelstein]

I'll be going to Shallots tonight. Any recommendations? We're two people, so sharing is a big option.

[Dave A]

I'll be going to Shallots tonight. Any recommendations? We're two people, so sharing is a big option.

Apps:

Citrus Ahi Tuna
Homemade Gnochetti
Lamb Sausage

Sushi:

Corona
Millennium
Las Vegas
Mazel Tov
(Caveat: all the sushi is fantastic.  These are just a few favorites)

Mains:

Chef's Special Steak Entree (best bang for your buck at $55)
Crown Rack of Lamb (great for splitting)
There was an amazing filet steak on the menu a few weeks back for $99, pepper crusted, amazing.  (Sorry can't be more specific)

Desserts:

Strawberry Shortcake
Peanut Butter Silk Pie

Enjoy!  (If you're going to the "bar" side and not the main dining room, there are some really excellent burger options, both on and off menu.  I'd highly recommend "The Twenty" (on menu) or "Breakfast Burger" (off menu)).

[ushdadude]

Apps:

Citrus Ahi Tuna
Homemade Gnochetti
Lamb Sausage

Sushi:

Corona
Millennium
Las Vegas
Mazel Tov
(Caveat: all the sushi is fantastic.  These are just a few favorites)

Mains:

Chef's Special Steak Entree (best bang for your buck at $55)
Crown Rack of Lamb (great for splitting)
There was an amazing filet steak on the menu a few weeks back for $99, pepper crusted, amazing.  (Sorry can't be more specific)

Desserts:

Strawberry Shortcake
Peanut Butter Silk Pie

Enjoy!  (If you're going to the "bar" side and not the main dining room, there are some really excellent burger options, both on and off menu.  I'd highly recommend "The Twenty" (on menu) or "Breakfast Burger" (off menu)).

If you like bananas, the fritters are the best banana-based dessert ever!

[Sam Finkelstein]

My review:

Shallots Bistro

Even though we made reservations, the restaurant was nearly empty at 4:45. 

We were promptly seated and offered bread, which was baked fresh for us. We ordered the Mediterranean chicken soup, Smoky Chicken Strips, Braised BBQ short ribs, the Montreal Steak, and Dynamite sushi roll,

The smoked chicken strips were very tender, and the sauce was excellent, albeit a bit hotter than I would have liked.

My soup was next, was extremely hearty (but thankfully didn't disrupt my appetite, having not eaten since breakfast). It too, was rather spicy, and I was very appreciative that the glasses were literally refilled after every sip. 

Then the sushi was served. It definitely lived up to Shallots'‎ reputation and was delicious. The spicy mayo was also exceptional, and was on the sweeter side (thus catering to my spiciness aversion) and had a thicker, nearly butter-like consistency. 

The entrees were served. The short ribs, which reminded me of the ribs at La Gondola, were very rich and flavorful‎, albeit a bit fattier than one would expect from Shallots. The steak, done medium-rare was absolutely phenomenal, and was extremely tender and contained very little excess marbling. 

On the side, the fries, while housemade, could have been crisper but were perfectly salted. ‎The onion rings, while unique, didn't even come close to those at Dougies. 

For dessert, I ordered the strawberry shortcake, which was made out of the best cookiedough I've ever tasted. The sauce and real strawberries were also a nice touch. 

As far as ambiance is concerned, this is the nicest restaurant I've been to so far, even though it wasn't necessarily as expensive as the other. Here, we had a lit candle on our table, real tablecloths without a paper covering, and a beautiful restroom. The service was also extremely attentive, and the servers were great at expediting everything to enable us to catch our flight back. 

[CS1]

Shouldn't need to know the magic words. When I open my restaraunt, everyone will get the best I can do.

1) can you list your best 5 entrees?
2) can you list your best 5 desserts?
3) will you include edible flowers?
(**4) will your menu be spellchecked?: ) )

[Sam Finkelstein]

1) can you list your best 5 entrees?
2) can you list your best 5 desserts?
3) will you include edible flowers?
(**4) will your menu be spellchecked?: ) )

No edible flowers tonight at Shallots. Henche has a point. Everyone should do their best, which is obviously not the case if a restaurant has a superior housemade bun and it's not standard without requesting it.