Currently browsing Ukrainian Village

Chicago’s Best Beef Sandwich-Driven Lunch

Turkey sandwiches are a common meal in the days after Thanksgiving. But if that gets too boring, there’s a hidden spot in Ukrainian Village where the beef sandwiches are the stars. A typical weekday lunch at Boeufhaus is pretty busy, with people sitting at tables and at the bar, all diving into sandwiches. This French-German brasserie, … Continued

Cabbage Soup at Podhalanka

During the early part of the 20th Century, as Chicago’s ethnic enclaves continued to settle into their respective landing zones, The Polish Triangle – at the nexus of Ashland, Division and Milwaukee – was a hub of ex-pat activity. Sadly, most of their descendants have moved well beyond that original settlement, to the Northwest and … Continued

Leghorn Chicken Sandwich

My new favorite chicken sandwich Lord there have been a number of new chicken shacks in Chicago recently. From Parson’s to Pecking Order to Honey Butter Fried Chicken, you’d think our love of fried bird would have been sated by now. But the folks behind Old Town Social and Nellcôte just opened Leghorn about a … Continued

Coffee Is Religion at Star Lounge

By Camille Izlar Hapless Intern   Walking into Star Lounge, I was immediately struck by the ambiance of tattoos, colored hair and tasteful leather boots. Instead of popping open my MacBook like everyone else, I jotted on my notepad – I wanted to be as eclectic (and slightly counter culture) as this place felt.

Gelato at Black Dog Gelato

(videography by Todd Rosenberg)   In the waning days of summer (I can’t quite reconcile the fact that August is already in the past), you don’t have to make the trek to Ukrainian Village (or their latest store, at Belmont & Damen) to try Jesse Oloroso’s gelato. In fact, the owner of Black Dog Gelato … Continued

Fried Chicken from West Town Tavern

Some word combinations just have that magic touch for me, conjuring images, smells and textures in an instant: “Italian Beef,” “daikon kimchi” and “fried chicken” are a few of my favorites. Obviously, there are varying degrees of quality within each category. For instance, while many local rave about Harold’s (meh) and Evanston’s Chicken Shack  (much … Continued

Arami

One of my favorite sushi spots in Chicago; small, intimate and while the omakase (chef’s tasting) runs a tad $$$, selections are wonderful and creative without slipping into cliché (cream cheese, unagi sauce, etc.)

Ruxbin

One of my favorite BYOBs in Chicago; corkage just $5 per table. The chef is a former Per Se vet, so despite the low-key ‘hood, the food has higher aspirations.