Anyone know how our downtown eateries are faring in the economic climate? I know that we as a family aren't going out very much any more...at the most we're eating at home and then going out for a drink or two.

The Trib today did a feature on Chicago area eateries and the steps they are taking to draw customers in. Our own Bistro Monet is mentioned- they are doing "Half-Price Wine" nights, Prix Fixe Dinners on Wednesdays and "Bring Your Own Bottle Without Corkage" Thursdays. They are also taking steps to cut operating costs.

Several of us will be contributing to Vittorio's revenue stream tonight.

Good question though. Mrs. Yoss and I were at THG last Saturday evening and it seemed a little slow in the bar area.

quote:

Mrs. Yoss and I were at THG last Saturday evening and it seemed a little slow in the bar area

What? Cheating on me already....see if Mrs. Yoss can put down 5 see-throughs without falling off her barstool.

Actually now that I think of it, the Tap seems to be one of the few places doing well...the combination of reasonable prices, the certainty that you're going to see someone you know, the "Mug Club" seems to keep packing them in, at least on the weekends. It also looks like a lot of families with young children utilize it a lot...it's noisy enough that the kids can be goofy at one end of the table while the adults hang out on the other end.

We've definitely cut back on going out; maybe not totally in frequency (although thinking about it I think we have, in the last month or so, gone out a lot less), but definitely in how much we spend when we do. We try to take advantage of specials and coupons, or split an entree and an appetizer instead of getting two full dinners. (Or - I hate to say it - we cut back on the alcohol. Oh, do I hate to say that. If we do have cocktails we tend not to have dinner, and vice versa.)

But when we do go out, we definitely try to patronize Glen Ellyn establishments. (We have a Tap House grill voucher hubby bought to support some basketball fundraiser..I'm sure we'll be using that some time soon.)

I know of one that was down a little recently, but is getting busy again. I know we are eating out almost every night. The wife is pretty much on bed rest, and with all the house renovation work I am doing, I have no time to cook, so at about 8 every night, I gotta run out and get food. We are trying to keep the economy alive

THG had a sign for a 5 course meal featuring Bell's beers. Looked like fun for anyone who likes beer. Bell's brews some mighty fine products.

that would be their once a month beer pairing dinner. Every month, they have a different brewery paired up with the Chef's special creations. I have been to 2, and they were quite good.

I work in a restaurant and I have definitely seen business going down. People aren't coming out as much and when they are, they are spending less. And more than anything, they are tipping MUCH less.

We still eat out a lot - at least twice a week in the Village. If you haven't yet, give Curly's pizza a try. You can also get it in the restaurant. My kids really love their BBQ chicken pizza. The crust is very good!

The servers are very good, and friendly, too - they always get at least 20% from us.

The martini evaluation team has been doing it's part. And we tip well, too.