quote:

Originally posted by ronkas:

Got my 1977 Monte Carlo towed from that Jewel lot at Clark and Belden and bribed the Lincoln Park Pirate to take it off the hook! And you probably ate at Mel Markon's. Or RJ Grunt's. A treasure trove of bad hair, bad clothes, and fun. Don't forget Lawrence of Oregano! Or best of all, Arnie's.

Pardon me while my bones creak.

lawrence of oregano, it's been years since i thought of that place.

of course there was belden corned beef (at clark & belden -- probably where you were towed from). i snuck onto the movie set of "thief" while they were filming there. i also frequented chicago pizza and oven grinders, john barleycorn's, kingston mines and orphans.

i remember being pulled over for driving my 1977 chevy luv pickup on LSD (no trucks allowed -- as if that thing was even a truck). i paid off the chicago traffic cop on the spot w/a $20 bill. those were the days of "the city that works."

You see the memories that local, deceptive and sassy City Girl brought back? Her deception has brought this town together. Thanks City Girl!

Personally, I'd rehire her pronto. She is hot property!



Notice the doggy bag from Grady's American Grill behind the tasteful CG handbag...

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
You see the memories that local, deceptive and sassy City Girl brought back? Her deception has brought this town together. Thanks City Girl!

Personally, I'd rehire her pronto. She is hot property!



Notice the doggy bag from Grady's American Grill behind the tasteful CG handbag...

LOL! she is indeed, one sassy city girl. . .

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

quote:

Originally posted by t.a. superette:

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:

Hmm you must be older than me... I spent the majority of my childhood either causing trouble or being punished for said trouble.

GW class of '76. if you were a teen causing trouble around that time, chances are good that we knew each other.

Nope, I was at Hadely suffering through 7th grade in 76’.

Pffft! All pups. I get my pension this year.

Mel Markon's. John Barleycorn. Belden's Deli.

I'm hungry.

6 pages of this thread and no love for Figo? My favorite restaurant of the downtown area.

Do I dare?

The BlueEchoes top 10 in this area, in no particular order:

1. Sequel
2. Figo
3. Masala Yangu (Naperville - great African/Indian food, the owners are the nicest people on earth)
4. Mykha's
5. Blu Coral (Lisle)
6. Saffron (Westmont)
7. Tallgrass (Lockport, is this western suburb still? Worth the drive)
8. Adelle's

9. Rico's pizza (Lansing, not western suburb, but definitely worth the drive)
10. Euthiopian Diamond (Chicago, but again, stellar eats)

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:

3. Masala Yangu (Naperville - great African/Indian food, the owners are the nicest people on earth)

They wrote this place up in the Trib today. Might have to put it on the "to try" list.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
6 pages of this thread and no love for Figo? My favorite restaurant of the downtown area.

Do I dare?

The BlueEchoes top 10 in this area, in no particular order:

1. Sequel
2. Figo
3. Masala Yangu (Naperville - great African/Indian food, the owners are the nicest people on earth)
4. Mykha's
5. Blu Coral (Lisle)
6. Saffron (Westmont)
7. Tallgrass (Lockport, is this western suburb still? Worth the drive)
8. Adelle's

9. Rico's pizza (Lansing, not western suburb, but definitely worth the drive)
10. Euthiopian Diamond (Chicago, but again, stellar eats)

Figo? Favorite? Really? I have always found it (the two times I have gone there) to be mediocre at best, but willing to give it one more try. BTW Blue, haven't seen any new pictures on the walls of the THG.

quote:

Euthiopian Diamond

Gosh, I wasn't aware that Ethiopia even had a cuisine!

Extremely small portions Mrs Arten...

Seriously, if you go to Euthiopian Diamond, you will walk out so FULL you feel like you are going to explode.

If you do not know Euthiopian food.

The food is like tapas. The food is served on a very large platter that has a layer of injura (bread) on it. It is a sticky bread that kinda resembles a pancake. On the bread are piles of the food, chick peas, beef, fish, chicken, salad, etc...
They then give you a plate of folded up injura bread that you tear and use as your "utensils". Foods range from not spicy to very spicy.

On Fridays at ED, there is a Jazz musician that used to tour with Miles Davis and other greats. He plays along with a CD that he recorded himself playing all other instruments.

It is our all around favorite restaurant in Chicago.

Okay, lets talk Figo now. We need to talk about this place and more people need to go there! Here is why I REALLY like Figo:

1. Employees - They have had some really great wait staff there. They have hired some very good workers that seem to enjoy working there and are very friendly. Matt (waiter), Wendy (bartender) and Brian (manager) are all great people. We go in there and chat and could spend all night talking to all of them. All the employees there are very nice. There is nothing better than great service, and all 3 provide that to us and I would definitely consider them friends. Great friends, great food, make for a great evening.

2. Carpaccio is the worlds greatest food ever created. If I have carpaccio, I am happy. If it is within walking distance of my house, it is fantastic. If it is as good as Figo's, it is heaven. Rumor has it, it may be on the outs though. If you like Francesca's carpaccio, this version is one step better because of the bigger capers.

3. The selection of foods is great. The Insalata Figo and Insalata Di Pere e Noci are wonderful salads. If I am not having the carpaccio, the Polette di Luca meatballs are unreal. Even better now (can't say why). The pasta is all hand made and is fresh, tasty stuff. The Gnocchi Ripieni is fantastic, the sauce selection on it is stellar, but my wonderful wife asked once to have the Tomato Basil sauce on it, and it was even better. Wonderful Risotto, all of them. Creamy, tasty, filling. Now to the highlights of the main course: Tonno con Aceto Balsamico (grilled tuna) is OUT OF THIS WORLD. The mustard caper balsamic vinaigrette can be poured in a glass and drank it is so good! The Filetto di Manzo alla Senapa (beef tenderlion) is mouth watering good, and the cream sauce once again is unreal. The talapia and jumbo shrimp selections are top notch as well. And the garlic spinach is absolutely a must side dish. Deserts are great, the Profiteroles di Pistacchio is a perfect final selection for the meal, Angelo's pistacchio gelato is one of my all time favorite ice creams. The chef always has tasty specials as well for all courses, every night is it different, but some are repeated and should be on the main menu.

5. Wine list is different and nice. No over the top big boys, no clunkers, definitely a nice fresh selection. I wish they would add Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Flowers Pinot Noir and a very big BIG Zinfandel, but to each is own. Prices of the wine are fair.

6. It is a perfect location. Love people watching at the window tables. I find watching the driving skills of Glen Ellynites at that intersection to be quite fun. I wish the windows would open up in the summer though. Carpaccio, a glass of Sauvignonn Blanc and a nice evening breeze would be the best. Love sitting at the small bar on other occasions and chating with Wendy and the rest of the gang.

Okay, did I make anyone hungry?

(how was that for a review Mrs. Glancer person?)

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:
Okay, lets talk Figo now. We need to talk about this place and more people need to go there! Here is why I REALLY like Figo:

1. Employees - They have had some really great wait staff there. They have hired some very good workers that seem to enjoy working there and are very friendly. Matt (waiter), Wendy (bartender) and Brian (manager) are all great people. We go in there and chat and could spend all night talking to all of them. All the employees there are very nice. There is nothing better than great service, and all 3 provide that to us and I would definitely consider them friends. Great friends, great food, make for a great evening.



2. Carpaccio is the worlds greatest food ever created. If I have carpaccio, I am happy. If it is within walking distance of my house, it is fantastic. If it is as good as Figo's, it is heaven. Rumor has it, it may be on the outs though. If you like Francesca's carpaccio, this version is one step better because of the bigger capers.


5. Wine list is different and nice. No over the top big boys, no clunkers, definitely a nice fresh selection. I wish they would add Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Flowers Pinot Noir and a very big BIG Zinfandel, but to each is own. Prices of the wine are fair.



6. It is a perfect location. Love people watching at the window tables. I find watching the driving skills of Glen Ellynites at that intersection to be quite fun. I wish the windows would open up in the summer though. Carpaccio, a glass of Sauvignonn Blanc and a nice evening breeze would be the best. Love sitting at the small bar on other occasions and chating with Wendy and the rest of the gang.

Okay, did I make anyone hungry?

(how was that for a review Mrs. Glancer person?)

God, I used to love this place, but they are off my list after two similar experiences. This restaurant is consistently failing to deliver. Brian is consistently rescuing the server. I previously complimented him for saving a chatty server who could find her way to serve a nice bottle of wine. I had to approach him to solve the problem, and he delivered, taking over the table. The last time I was in, it took forever to get two glasses of Proseco. And half a bowl of great soup. Carpaccio was way too salty and flavored. It used to be our favorite appetizer there. They have a nice list, but at $50/bottle online, he is not going to stock Flowers Pinor Noir. Service is spotty at best, but if you go to a place often enough, you become a regular. With all due respect for my favorite White Sox fan, I believe your perception has become altered due to the potential for this room.

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:

Okay, did I make anyone hungry?

(how was that for a review Mrs. Glancer person?)

No. The place is average....and not up to par with any of the other Francesca's restaurants I've been to.

And don't worry my2cents, I got your joke...and thought it was funny. I'll even give you an lol.

Wendy is still the bartender? I cannot speak positively or negatively about the place, but one the two times I dined there was on a Friday night shortly after they opened. We sat at the bar, ate salad and meatballs and guzzled vodka, IIRC. Wendy was the bartender. I remember because after we left I felt that we had under tipped her and I returned the next day to save my good name (last time I use a credit card at a bar). I recall the bar being absurdly small and the food being mediocre. But it was the first week or two they were open. So I went back with a friend, sat in the dining room. Service was flippant, at times goofy and by and large non-attentive, food was OK, room was sterile at the time (I believe they have broken it up in some way since then). Saw no reason to go back. Didn't hate the place, just didn't understand it. Lose someone early and they usually stay away I guess.

In no way do I compare the food at Vittorio's to Figo, but when Figo opened I really thought that would hurt Tony's business. Seems just the opposite was the case. Sometimes you really do have to look past the food to understand why you enjoy a place.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:

Okay, did I make anyone hungry?

(how was that for a review Mrs. Glancer person?)

No. The place is average....and not up to par with any of the other Francesca's restaurants I've been to.

And don't worry my2cents, I got your joke...and thought it was funny. I'll even give you an lol.

Figo isn't affiliated with Francesca's. I thought the dude that opened the place (can't imagine he is still there) worked for Scott Harris at some point. Half the chefs in Chicago have. I know he was chef at Vivo. That place is/was good.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by BlueEchoes:

Okay, did I make anyone hungry?

(how was that for a review Mrs. Glancer person?)

No. The place is average....and not up to par with any of the other Francesca's restaurants I've been to.

And don't worry my2cents, I got your joke...and thought it was funny. I'll even give you an lol.

Figo isn't affiliated with Francesca's. I thought the dude that opened the place (can't imagine he is still there) worked for Scott Harris at some point. Half the chefs in Chicago have.

It is not a Francesca's restaurant...just making the comparison as it has a similar feel, menu, etc.

Francesca's gets a bad rap from some, but it is a flawless concept. That is, no concept and consistently good food.

regarding figo as a good location, i have to tell this story: about 12 years ago, a neighbor and i had built and were shopping a business plan for a place called the glen ellyn brewing company (no sh1t, really, we were). we had intended to locate it in the vacant tiffany's location (what is now figo). this story takes a nasty turn that i will not follow here, but would like to get this point across regarding our vision of how best to use the space:

we met w/ prominent village officials to get verbal approval on a few things before we decided that GE would be a good location (the investment was high, and, well, you all know village hall's reputation with business owners. we certainly weren't going to drum up the dough only to be riding the GE board's buzz-saw of ineptitude and second-guessing. this was a million dollar investment that, truthfully, i felt would be better spent in danada or oak brook.).

anyway, one thing that we wanted to know for sure was if the GE board and building department would approve our plan to build a beer deck on the roof of the building. we knew that a microbrewery was an excellent hook, but the roof deck was going to be the differentiator that would set us apart from any place within miles of GE. after a private meeting with a officials, we had their solid assurance that we would have no difficulty getting the deck through the building department. in fact, they were salivating about the prospect of this type establishment in GE. understand this was pre cabs, sweetwaters, shannon's, etc. GE really had nothing remotely close to what we were proposing.

in the end we did not open the GEBC. . . someone else did (long story).

BUT i ask you to imagine yourself sitting on a tricked out deck on top of that building on a glorious summer night, enjoying a cold brew (or girltini if you prefer) and watching the sun set over beautiful GE. . . wouldn't that be great?

the end.

I would have liked that. Especially if the beer was actually good.

I have eaten at Figo a few times and it's fine. I can see why a person could become a regular - everyone has different tastes. It is a fairly comfortable restaurant and each time I have eaten there, I found my food to be good. Probably wouldn't call it great but definitely good. And that's OK, I think. Everything I consume doesn't have to be great. I mean, it's nice when it is but good is fine too.