DMK Burger Bar
2954 North Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
http://www.dmkburgerbar.com/

I believe it was a few months ago when I was just sitting there on a Monday night, watching Triple D. I hear Guy get out of the car, when he starts saying something like “I’m here in Chicago, about …. ” describing his position in the city. Those who watch the show even occasionally know what I’m talking about. This time, he said “about eight blocks away from Wrigley Field,” and I perked up. It just so happened that I was headed to a game in early May with a group — including IndianapolisEater. It also just so happened that DMK Burger Bar was on the way to Wrigley from our hotel, so I was definitely going to hit it up.

First of all, LOL to that YouTube being a person videotaping their TV. I love those. Anyway …

What I Got: The Ron Santo Burger; $10.00. Also, Parmesan and truffle fries; $4.00.

This burger is a special that is only available during baseball season. Plus, it has Italian beef on it. Finally, it’s Ron Santo. So, yeah, having been a born-and-raised Cubs fan, I was certainly going to get this. The description of the burger: “A grass-fed beef patty, Italian beef, fontina cheese, au jus and giardiniera.” It was all there for me, but I felt like I was slightly short-changed on the Italian beef. I could be wrong, but it just didn’t come through in a strong way for me.

I’ve never been to a place that stressed this “grass-fed beef” so much. The walls had “grass-fed beef” written on them and our bartender said it several times while speaking with us. Anyway, the burger patty was an absolute home run. They cooked it to medium and it was outstanding quality — among the best I’ve ever had. Also, the bun was perfectly tasty while not being overwhelming enough to take anything away from the burger.

On to the fries. I wanted the gravy fries, but they were out of gravy. The Parmesan and truffle didn’t overly excite me, but I really wanted to try the fries based upon the reviews I had read — where people just raved about them. And rightfully so, because the flavor of the fries themselves was wonderful. Crunchy outside with a warm potato inside and well-seasoned. The parm and truffle didn’t really do it for me, but it didn’t stop me from eating the fries either. I’m guessing if you enjoy this flavor these fries would be a huge hit.

There’s also an extensive craft beer menu. Being strictly a Bud Light guy, I asked what would be closest and the bartender directed me to Victory Prima Pils, a German Pilsner for $6.50. It was good. I don’t really have much more to say on it, because — as I said — I pretty much only drink Bud Light and the craft beer thing isn’t my scene.

As for the atmosphere, I really liked it. There was a bar with probably 20 seats and probably about 15 four-top tables and that was about it. So it’s kind of a hole in the wall, but really modernized and clean inside. Also, every server there was knowledgeable on the menu, both food and drink, from what I could tell. It would appear ownership and management stress this, along with telling everyone the beef is grass-fed.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes to DMK Burger Bar, no to what I got. Again, I enjoyed my meal and have no regrets. But next time I’m going — and I will be going again — I’m going to get something else. Hopefully they have the gravy for the fries. Burger numbers 1, 4 and 7 from the menu are definitely on my list. The one member of our party who went with me got the guac-aoli burger (which has chorizo crumbles on it) and a side of bleu cheese and bacon fries and was raving about his meal. In all, I’m really looking forward to my next visit and highly recommend this place.

-Show

Fat Dan’s Chicago-style Deli
815 Broad Ripple Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
http://www.fatdansdeli.com/

Fat Dan’s has been around for a while and this was my first trip, although IndianapolisEater has done a prior review and gave the Italian Beef sandwich a great rating. It was a quiet lunch with my pal from Indianapolis Restaurant Scene, who is on a first name basis with Dan. The place is small, but comfortable om the inside. A Chicago Deli, the walls are filled with Cubs memorable. A born White Sox fan, I was a little out of my element.

What’s I Ate:  Chicago Italian Beef and Fries; $7.50 + $2.75

You can customize your order here to have it wet, dipped or the au jus on the side. The standard is dipped. There is really not a lot to say here about this sandwich, as it was pretty straight forward. What I look for in an Italian Beef is good quality beef and a that doesn’t fall apart right away.  This one delivered at the highest level. It needed a touch of salt, but that was my only compliant. There was a ton of beef here, I was stuffed after this and the fries.

The cheeseburger was really good as well. A fattier grind than the standard 80/20, this would be great after a bender in Broadripple. A really good burger and it makes you never want to get a chain burger again. Except for Culvers of course.

The handcut fries were fried in peanut oil. The fries are all different sizes. Fresh fries and beer, hard to beat. My only compliant is that an order of fries are too big. I would like a smaller size in case I am dining alone.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes, big time. To be honest, one of the better Italain Beefs that I have had. The food was top shelf and I barely scratched the surface of the menu. There are a ton of smoked meats on the menu and I am going that direction next time. Local beer is on tap as well. Fat Dan’s is rumored to be moving soon and I will surely follow wherever he is at. Good stuff here.  My only compliant is that it is a bit pricey and would like a cheaper fry option.  $12 for lunch is a lot, but it is a mighty fine treat.

-wibia

De Cero Taqueria
814 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois  60607
http://decerotaqueria.com/

I was in Chicago on business and I wanted to try something new.  As much as I would like to say that the expense account is a blank check for prime steakhouses, I like to fly under the radar a bit and not seem too eccentric.

Eater 38 is usually a dependable list.  Sometimes I think that it should be called, If I were a hipster, where would I like to eat.   The big names are on the other lists and I always think of it as an insiders guide.  I was in a mood where I didn’t want a ton of food (patting myself on the back for that rhyme) and Indianapolis is without a fancy taco place, so I thought that I would give it a try.

What I Ate:  Duck Confit, Chipotle Chicken and Tilapia tacos; $3.95 each.  Chips and Pico; $2.95.

The duck confit was served with corn salsa and that is it.  The duck desperately needed salt and I thought that this was a great idea, but poorly executed.   The Chipotle Chicken was grilled chicken, lettuce, crema, cilantro and pinto beans with bacon.  I liked this on a lot better, but it had a strange smell to it.  It had a smoky smell to it, like you just light a firework.  The beans were a non-factor.   The tilapia was topped with a Mexican slaw.  I love a good fish taco (no jokes please), but this was not one of them.  The tilapia was tasted more like smelt fries and it didn’t taste freshly fried.

Chips and pico were the standard adaptation.   A little spicy than normal, but again, nothing special.

Would I Buy It Again?  No, definitely not.   What a wasted dinner in one of our best culinary cities in the US of A.  Maybe the bar was set too high.  After all, did I really expected tortillas, meat and beans to taste that differently than what I can get in Indy?  My bad.

I think that I am done with fancy tacos.  I have tried a few different takes on tacos and I am always happiest with the simple ones done well.  I’d rather replace duck confit with slightly chewy, cheap carne asada and call it a day.

Long story short, it might be best to leave tacos alone – they are perfect how they are.

-wibia

Portillo’s
http://www.portillos.com

At times, I can admit that I am wrong about food.   It is few and far between that I will actually admit it, but it is on the record now.  A lot of my friends love Portillo’s and I have always thought of it as average at best.  Portillo’s is the food equivalent of being IndianapolisEater’s best friend.  He loves it (from IndianapolisEater:  not anymore; I am tired of it).  I think that he loves it as much as he does because I am not a big fan.  Then again, I might be flattering myself (from IndianapolisEater:  you are).

Portillo’s is the fast food version of Chicago Style Italian Beef.  Italian Beef from Chicago is a staple and it should be.  It is so ridiculously simple to make that even my mom can make an edible version.  However, most restaurants outside of Chicago do a horrible job at it.

What I Ate:  Big Beef with Hot Giadano Peppers and fries; $6.49 + $0.39.

To tell you the truth, the normal size is big enough for lunch.  I was just being a fat ass here.  I usually like the au jus on the side, but I got it dipped this time.  Thinly sliced roast beef in a beef broth and peppers on the bun.  Like I said, really simple and not a lot to talk about.  The baguette was excellent with a little corn dusting on the bottom.  Bread, salt (broth), beef and spicy peppers.  It covers most food groups for me.

The fries are crinkle cut and very tasty.  If you like fries from Culvers, you should like these.

Would I Buy It Again?  Um, sure.  It is still not the best beef that I have ever had.  There are other chains in Chicago like Al’s Beef that are good as well. You can get this sandwich anywhere in Chicago and I am sure that are better versions.  Portillo’s is a good, consistent version of it though.

I can’t say that I will be raving about it like my friends, but a return visit made me realize that no matters if it is from Portillo’s or somewhere else, Chicago Style Italian Beef is an amazing simple and beautiful sandwich.

-wibia

Xoco
449 Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco.html

I was in Chicago a couple of weeks ago and found myself unexpectedly free from a scheduled business dinner.  It was a perfect chance to change out of the suit and hit Xoco.  This is Rick Bayless’ take on Mexican street/market food.  The place opened in 2009 and I’ve tried on a couple of occasions to eat there but was driven away by long lines or the joint being closed (no service on Sundays or Mondays).  Rick Bayless to me is friggin’ genius.  He doesn’t seem to be the maniacal self-promoter like Bobby Flay, but he has a command of the genre that dwarfs Bobby.  I watched an Iron Chef America “Battle” several years ago where Bayless and Flay squared off.  When Bayless eventually lost to Flay the look in Rick’s eyes said, “What the !@#$ am I doing here?”  I haven’t watched that show since.

The literal translation of Xoco is “little sister”, which is an obvious tip of the hat to Frontera and Topolobampo the two cornerstone restaurants of Bayless.  Xoco is located next door to these two so you really have an entire block of ridiculously good Mexican food.  Xoco is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with extended dinner hours for those late-night cravings.

What I Got: Chips and Salsa to begin, Torta Choriqueso, Classic Mexican Sipping Chocolate and Churro with Chocolate dipping sauce; ~$18.00.

Let’s start with the chips and salsa; great, hearty, slightly thick chips with both a red roasted pepper picante and a Salsa Verde.  Great salsa!  I make green salsa all the time and wish mine were this good, little specks of charred peppers and tomatillos with a good kick of heat and an herby cilantro finish.  I killed the basket.

The Torta Choriqueso as you probably guessed was house made Chorizo with roasted poblano, house Jack cheese and a tomatillo salsa.  The sandwich was served on a wonderful crusty bun that gave way to a spongy, light interior.  The Chorizo had just that hint of crispiness that I love with a salty/spicy richness.  Really good.

I finished with the Churro.  The ordering process at Xoco is more cafeteria style in that you order at the counter and then walk down the line to get your drinks and food.  The hostess told me that she’d keep an eye on me and would deliver the Churro when I finished my Torta so that it would fresh and hot.  I really appreciated that.  The Churro was indeed hot and covered in a cinnamon/sugar mix.  Pretty standard presentation but the Chocolate dipping sauce took it to a new level.  The sauce was dark and slightly bitter, but as you  dipped the Churro the cinnamon/sugar mixed with the Chocolate sweetening the sauce with every successive dip.  Pure unadulterated evil genius.

Finally, I had the Classic sipping chocolate which is the traditional  Chocolate mixed with 2% milk.  I don’t like coffee and in general don’t drink anything that is hot.  Yeah, I’m weird.  However, I’d drink one of these twice a day if it were of this quality; rich, creamy, chocolate.

Would I Buy It Again?  Yes!  Can’t wait to get back there.  The entire meal cost me about $18 in downtown Chicago.  Amazing.

-Smokin DB

Giordano’s
http://www.giordanos.com/

Food in Chicago is a battle between the million hot dog/gyro/beef joints versus a very progressive food scene with superstar chefs.  To be honest, I am glad that both exist and continue to thrive.   However, if you ask anyone that has a clue what kind of food Chicago is known for, they will say pizza or Chicago dogs.   Both are some of the most awesome things you can cram in your gullet.

In my opinion, Giordano’s is the epitome of Chicago Style pizza.  Uno is a chain whore.  Gino’s East has a crust that tastes like cornbread to me.  Sure there are others in the city and some of them are quite good, but Giordano’s is the king.

What I Ate:   Medium stuffed pizza with Sausage and pepperoni; $23.00.

The most awesome part about this review is….this was my lunch order.  Yes, I was alone.

For those of you that are not familiar, Chicago style is kind of upside down.   From top to bottom:  meat, cheese and then sauce.  You have to plan accordingly because it takes about 35 minutes for the pizza to bake after you order it.  Don’t try to pick it up, this is a fork and knife pizza.  In my opinion, it’s the only acceptable fork and knife pizza.  If you eat regular pizza with a fork and knife, you are either a grandma or a snooty prep.

When they deliver it to your table, they scoop a piece out and the cheese is dangling from the slice to the plate and they have to cut it on the side of your plate with a spatula.  Words cannot explain how much cheese is on this.   In all reality, it is really an unacceptable amount.   The toppings were of good quality, and I really like their sauce.  A sprinkle of oregano and red pepper flakes really bring it to life.

Would I Buy It Again?  Yes.  It is one of the most awesome foods in the country.  So basic, yet so good.  I have been going to Giordano’s for a long time while on the way to concerts and Bulls games growing up.  At this point, I feel like I would be letting my family down if I was in Chicago and didn’t go to Giordano’s.

I have to admit though, ordering that much food at lunch was asinine.  I had a ton of leftovers, therefore ate it in my hotel anytime I thought I was hungry.  I think that I gained four pounds from this pizza.  However, it was worth the time at the gym.

-wibia

So Good Blog posted a poll yesterday on the above graphic about whether you agree with the food that your region/state was known for.  A lot of these are obvious and tough to argue with like deep dishpizza for Illinois (predominantly Chicago), thin crust pizza for New York (predominantly New York City), cheese for Wisconsin, pineapples for Hawaii, chiles for New Mexico, etc.

Of course, as they pointed out, some of these foods that the graphic claims states are known for are absurd.  Their best example was Utah.  Who thinks of Jell-O when they think of Utah?  I certainly don’t, but hey, to each their own.  After reading their synopsis of the graphic, I took a look at the state food for Indiana.  Lo and behold, the state food for Indiana was POPCORN?  Huh?!  I know there are a few local popcorn companies that produce this, so we do have some sort of presence (Orville Reddenbacher went to Purdue!), but wouldn’t you consider the food that Indiana is known for to be a Breaded Tenderloin sandwich?  I know I would.

Anyway, I thought that graphic was kind of interesting and was wondering what you guys thought of it and some of the selections.  We’d love to hear your comments and So Good would also love to see you vote in their poll.  If you have time to do one, choose their poll first so that they can get a larger, more statistically significant response.  If you have time to do both, I would love to see your comments here as well.

-IndianapolisEater

Sluggers World Class Sports Bar
3450 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60657
http://www.sluggersbar.com/

Tucked less than a quarter mile southeast of Wrigley Field on Clark Street, this place is a perfect place for a pregame bite to eat and a few Old Style beers prior to a Cubs game.  Friends and I go here every time we go to a game out of tradition and since I was in Chicago recently for a game (see my prior Wiener’s Circle review), we continued our tradition with a visit.

What I Got:  Italian Beef Sandwich with fries $8.25.

If you are a regular blog reader, I’m sure you are stunned that I got an Italian beef sandwich, but what can I say, I’m addicted.

To mix it up, I got the sandwich served with the au jus, sweet peppers and giardiniera peppers served on the side and that was a mistake.  The only way to order an Italian beef sandwich is “wet” and I certainly won’t make that mistake again.

Anyway, the taste of this sandwich was not bad.  The meat was tender, although slightly dry (had I gotten it wet, this would have not been an issue).  The peppers were both sweet and spicy (giardiniera) and very flavorful.  The roll, while not fresh, was also not stale and was the a nice compliment to the beef.  While it’s not the best Italian beef I’ve ever had, it certainly does the trick.  Other than issues caused by my mistake in ordering, my only complaint about the sandwich itself is that Slugger’s beef is sort of bland.  I prefer a much bigger peppery kick in my Italian beef and this sandwich didn’t (and never really does) have it.

Would I Buy It Again?  Sure, I would do it.  Like I said, it’s not the best Italian beef sandwich ever, but you certainly can’t go wrong ordering it.  Plus, the sandwich is huge and when they serve it with fries, you are really getting a ton of food for a reasonable price.  It also certainly doesn’t hurt that this place less than a quarter mile from the ballpark and is an Indiana University supporting bar, so being surrounded by things supporting my alma mater give this place a nice home away from home feel to it.

I don’t know if I would say this place is world class like its name claims, but if you ever go to a Cubs game and don’t have a “home” bar that you like to frequent, give this place a shot.  It also has a dueling piano bar and a batting cage (neither of which I’ve ever frequented, but I want to give the batting cage a shot in the future), so there’s plenty to do here.  Also, the bar is non-smoking since it is in Chicago and since it is in Illinois, underage people can enter the bar as well.

-IndianapolisEater