Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the tag “Bar”

08 Apr 2013

Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria

WHAT: Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria
WHERE: 8433 S. Pulaski Rd.

OUR RATING: Do It!

Feel like a road trip? If you’re on the Southwest Side, or perhaps on your way out of state via I-55 S, make sure you stop in for your last taste of Chicago before the rolling cornfields. Vito & Nick’s (the first location opening in 1932) has been locally owned and operated ever since, and serving extremely thin crust Chicago pizza and cheap beer. Plenty of foodies have been here before us, so this might be old news, but we’re fairly sure this pizzeria deserve a few more photons from us.

(vitoandnicks.com)

(vitoandnicks.com)

Adam: Bustling and traditional, Vito & Nick’s is a staple of any Chicago experience. Since it’s located slightly outside the city-proper, in the Ashburn neighborhood, it might not be on everyone’s docket list, but I can assure you that pizza doesn’t get more Chicago than this. Conviviality brims over here, with the owner, Rose, personally bringing your order to the table and trading jokes as you pass.

(vitoandnicks.com)

Of course, this being Chicago, the pizzas are HUGE and a large can easily feed four. Uniquely, they take into account that you might all have different tastes, but not want to order four pizzas. Thus, you can order a half-and-half pizza, customized as you choose. The simple cheese pizza is thin and juicy, and with a good sprinkling of red pepper, cannot really be faulted.

(vitoandnicks.com)

A selection of toppings can be added to your pizza for an additional charge of $1.75 each (shrimp $3.50). A good combination you can try: sliced beef and giardiniera. Beef is generously layered with the spicy and sumptuous giardiniera to create what should be an American classic.

Alicia: Owner Rose has pepperoni and personality, and will definitely take care of you as soon as you walk through her family’s doors. My family has frequented this establishment a few times over the last year, having heard of it last summer. This is the perfect place for a casual friend/family night out, especially if you are on the outskirts of the city. Ashburn doesn’t quite feel like the city, but who cares when you can grab a large pizza and a pint of beer for under $20?

(vitoandnicks.com)

(vitoandnicks.com)

We went splitsies on both of our large pizzas, and I was more than happy to dig into to a half pepperoni and half mushroom. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with my toppings, with the pepperoni being nothing special and oh-so-normal, and with the mushrooms tasting canned and a bit slimy (so I wasn’t so disappointed there weren’t many on the pizza). But it was the cheese and the ultra thin and crispy crust that made the whole experience delicious, and I was loving both centers and outside crust pieces alike.

Service was great and made me feel I was in the friendly-welcoming suburbs, and with $7 for an accompanying pitcher of beer, you can’t really go wrong.

(vitoandnicks.com)

(vitoandnicks.com)

Final Thoughts: You have to come prepared for Vito & Nick’s. With no delivery option, you have to be ready to trek out to Ashburn, and you have to have some cash in your pocket, as they don’t take cards or checks. Oh, and come super hungry, because really, that’s the only way to go. And if you’re not a proponent of the saying “Pizza’s not for breakfast,” you’re in luck: they even serve an egg pizza with five sunny-side eggs cooked right into the cheese.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
27 Feb 2013

Paris Club

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

WHAT: Paris Club (French)
WHERE: 59 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

It seems that Storefront City has been in a decidedly French mood lately (but then again, we’re always a little bit Gallic at heart). So, when we trotted over to Paris Club this week for a Belgian beer and food tasting, we got a aangenaam [pleasant] combination of libations and hors d’oeuvres from the fields of Flanders, as well as the more traditional Parisian nourriture [food].

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

When you enter Paris Club, a sense of class descends upon you, although you would not feel out of place here in some very nice jeans. Perfect for an afterwork treat, it’s beautiful, chic, fun and countrified. We had a peek at their dining room, and it looked lovely and rustic, complete with brick walls, yet still had a very modern Chicago feel. The space is very open, with their “bar room” associated with, but still apart from, their more elegant dining area. With high leather backed chairs and intimate lighting, the bar area is great for a drink and a quick bite, too.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Adam: Specifically, we had come to Paris Club to enjoy a Belgian beer tasting from the likes of the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Breendonk, Liefmans Brewery of Oudenaarde (est. 1679, so very old indeed), De Koninck Brewery of Antwerp, Maredsous Abbey of Denée, and Brasserie d’Achouffe. However, since we have an all-beer monthly special coming up later this week, we thought we’d save our reviews until then and concentrate on the wonderful food offerings from Paris Club that you can get any time.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

While many delicious appetizers were available, I’m only going to talk about the best, so you can order them too! Firstly, make sure that you have a large hunk of bread ready. Sourdough or fresh French bread is provided for no extra cost, and goes fantastically with the smoked trout pâté, although this particular offering is not always available. Make sure that you try their cheese also, as they are pretty standard in France, but not in America. I recommend the Normandy camembert (if available on the day you visit), along with the bonne bouche (actually a Vermont cheese), although the latter lacks some of the typically creamy character of a goat cheese. Actually, you can try this cheese either on your sourdough or on a wonderfully savoury pretzel croissant ($4.95), as the soft, buttery bread complements the harder cheese most excellently.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

For a slightly heartier dish, try out the poutine ($9.95), a generous heaping of frites, beef short rib, gravy and cheese. This dish is actually Québécois, and relatively new on the food scene (yet nonetheless exploding in popularity), but truly speaks to the Francophone credentials of the Paris Club (even Vermont was once French, hence the name and the presence of Vermontian cheese on the menu).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Alicia: Despite my German heritage, I am not the biggest consumer of pork, but Chicago is really into the charcuterie scene right now, and Paris Club has joined in on this fad. To get the best feel, therefore, I sampled their very unique and delicate country pâté filled with pistachios and their thinly sliced saucisson sec, both of which were complemented by a stone ground mustard just bursting with flavor. I also sampled their pork rillettes, which brought me back to my first accidental grocery purchase when studying abroad in Paris. The smoky/salty/peppery pork was luxurious, and perfect when paired with the acidity from pickled mini gherkins and onions.

(parisclubchicago.com)

Country Pâté

To celebrate the Belgian beers on hand, servers also brought a variety of sliced sausages to our table, which I believed to probably have been weiβwurst, knackwurst and bockwurst, all of which were super juicy and delicate, and well paired with their sweet and spicy Dijon mustard.  Not items that I think are usually on offer there, but they definitely knocked them out of the park.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

I think what ultimately impressed me the most about Paris Club, however, was really the service provided by their staff. Despite this being an entirely free event, I felt as if I must have paid a pretty high price to get in here, because not only was there an ambitious selection of food available to sample, but I almost felt like we were waited on constantly. Sure, the waiters did try to push us a bit to order from the bar, but they were all very friendly and every time we looked around there was always another waiter to offer us a croissant (and they always pronounced it right, too).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Final thoughts: Highly recommended for some pre-dinner snacks and drinks, we’d love to come back to the Paris Club and try their mains, which sound traditional and affordable, of course with some fun twists. And of course, their associated nightclub Studio Paris is also on our future docket. Well done at bringing a little bit of Paris to the Near North Side!

P.S. We’re going back to Paris Club on Monday, March 11th to taste Mauritson’s Wine from 5-8pm and try out another selection of hors d’oeuvres. The event is totally free, so we hope to see you there! If you are coming, let us know!

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Feb 2013

The Grid

WHAT: The Grid (Bar)
WHERE: 351 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

The Grid – a strange bar with a strange name in a strange part of town. Unusually, we would jump at such supposed exoticism. In this case, we can think of nowhere more undeserving of your time and money that this ridiculously confused, rude and rotten little space in River North that dares to call itself a venue of “class and comfort”. As connoisseurs of both the aforementioned virtues, we can categorically say that The Grid lacks them in abundance, and we would be pleased to see the whole place shunned by our readers for inflicting itself upon your beloved authors.

Adam: As a critic, one must keep an open mind about a venue, trying not to judge it too harshly and thinking empathetically about the time and effort the proprietors put into providing your experience, thus mitigating your vitriol to a more acceptable level. I shall not be doing that here as The Grid doesn’t deserve such unabashed charity. In fact, I will be dissecting this establishment piece by piece in order to illuminate for you the most lurid details that will serve to shock and disgust.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

We attended The Grid as invitees for their customer appreciation day Gratitude Party. Off the bat it looked like a great idea, but when you subject your guests to something for which they are wholly ungrateful, one cannot help but laugh at the complete ignorance of the event planners. To start, doors were supposed to open sharply at 2pm. It being brisk as a witch’s teat outside, I was eager to get in and warm up a little. Of course, we waited, and waited and waited…only to be granted access at the intolerably late hour of 2:30! Rule of thumb: if you invite the press to an event, don’t make them bloody cold outside.

The fiasco that followed is best related to you by my co-author, and you can look forward to it below, but I will touch further here on some other problems we encountered. The venue itself is boring. Small, cramped and dark, it serves little purpose and reminds one of the basement of a rather ordinary home, done up to look posh. With one bar and a few alcoves, the imagination is not fired (despite numerous vent-less fireplaces), and you immediately get a feeling of foreboding that you have entered at all.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

On the upshot, the drinks do sound fascinating, but tend to be extremely sweet and non-alcoholic. It’s obvious that this establishment is trying to sell me a piece of coal as a diamond: what an utterly useless business strategy. Similarly, the food is sterile at best, even when served in jars that are supposed to make you coo with joy, and yet contain what might be WWI trench rations.

Alicia: Having worked in a variety of customer-centric companies in my life, I have a very strong opinion on what customer service should be and believe that there are enough businesses around and so many people in need of work that only the most fit and customer-friendly should survive in this economy. In this case, The Grid and its employees have no business being patronized for their complete lack of customer service.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

Basically, they completely trampled all over the meaning of customer appreciation. After making us wait outside in the bitter cold, when we were finally invited in there were only two or three tables open for dozens of guests to use – all of the booths were reserved for who knows who. And right after taking a seat and shedding our warm gear, we were told that there was a mandatory $2 coat check, and that all we were getting as part of ‘gratitude day’ was no cover, and that all drinks and food were normal prices, etc.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

First of all…what would we be paying cover for? Nothing! Okay, so I was getting into a restaurant/bar with no live music or drink/food deals at 2pm on a Saturday…wow, really grateful for THAT. Then, to have the gall while I am still getting settled to tell me coat check was mandatory (and not saying that upfront in advance, or at the door) and that absolutely nothing was provided for customers on appreciation day? Yeah, they were really grateful I was there, I’m sure.

Final thoughts: Boring, horrid and unbelievably and awfully dull, with no appreciation for its customers, The Grid can remain off your grid forever and for all eternity. Skip, tell your friends to skip it, and let’s make sure they never darken another afternoon again!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
13 Feb 2013

Public House Chicago

WHAT: Public House Chicago (Sports Bar / Contemporary American)
WHERE: 400 N. State St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

(publichousechicago.com)

(publichousechicago.com)

You can’t go too much more American than at Public House Chicago, where contemporary American cuisine mashes with the flavors of a smokehouse and plenty of beer. Brought to you by the same folks who run sister bar Bull and Bear, not only do they have 25 beers on tap, but they include beer in many of their dishes and even some of their sauces, and it’s no surprise their small claim to fame is their beer tasting and pairing menu.

Quite honestly, this place is very much your average Near North Side sports bar, attempting to match the trendiness of the area with higher priced semi-gastropub food.

(publichousechicago.com)

(publichousechicago.com)

That’s not to say that Executive Chef David Blonsky’s food doesn’t taste fantastic. We tried two of his flatbreads at a special event there, the Wild Mushroom (goat cheese, caramelized onion, fresh spinach, white truffle) and the Mediterranean (lamb merguez sausage, roasted garlic hummus, roasted cherry tomatoes, la clare farm evalon cheese, shaved red onion, house made tzatziki). Their decadence was all too apparent from the above ingredients, but we don’t feel they are anything special, and dressing standard food in fancy flavors doesn’t equal good food automatically.

(publichousechicago.com)

(publichousechicago.com)

$16 for a relatively petite flatbread is kind of high anyway, and the staff here aren’t the friendliest. The female bartender was ambivalent, and when we asked the male bartender what company produced the wine, he hesitatingly told us, shrugged, and then stated, “I don’t really know, don’t care.” Hmm.

(publichousechicago.com)

(publichousechicago.com)

Their draft beer selection is quite admirable, however, and although they only have a single white and red wine available, La Terre is definitely a good call. Although we didn’t take a seat at one of their booths, we noticed that they had two beer taps and one customizable liquor tap at each of them, which is definitely fun when going with a small group of friends (we’ve seen this design elsewhere and it seems to be the “in” thing right now). The most unique feature of the place is their “Walltender,” taps inside little alcoves in the wall where you swipe your credit card and pour yourself another draft. These guys don’t cut you off.

The crowd here is definitely an after-work crowd, so if you’re in the area it might not be the worst place to drop in with a few of your co-workers.

But ultimately Public House Chicago is just average, and although they add pieces of character here and there and try to make their food sound special with the beer additives, there’s plenty of places in the area to patronize after you’re finished with the upscale pretense with its confused hustle and bustle.

(publichousechicago.com)

(publichousechicago.com)

As for the decor, it seemed a bit, well, all over the place. While most walls are decorated in a semi-rustic style, the wall at the far side of one room was a confused mess of cream and tan with random pictures frames scattered across it. Such a work would be more at home at the MCA, and even then it would be one of the more annoying pieces.

That being said, it does make for a nice, central location for a party or fundraiser, but, in all other respects, Public House Chicago is too normal to waste your time with it. Try a more eclectic locale in the future.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
17 Jan 2013

The Map Room

WHAT: The Map Room (Bar/Beer Garden)
WHERE: 1949 N. Hoyne Ave.

OUR RATING: Do it!

(maproom.com)

(maproom.com)

Buried treasure isn’t exactly what one is looking for in a city (although it’s always nice to find). The Map Room in Bucktown not only allowed us to uncover a full treasure chest’s of world beers, but also immerse ourselves in the experience of exploration, right down to the cartography on the walls and the National Geographics on the shelves.

With over 200 brands of beer and 36 brewing styles, The Map Room can seem a bit daunting. But, never fear, your trusty menu is here, and choosing anything from it is sure to land you on some far off tropical land, or at least on the galleon traveling there.

(maproom.com)

(maproom.com)

Once you’ve settled down to your cozy nautical table, you’ve got a lot of choices on your hands, so we’ve picked some brews for you to start out with. Grab your library card folks, ‘cause you’re about to journey through the Land of Adventure (if you don’t know what we’re talking about see here):

(lindemans.be)

(lindemans.be)

Lindemans Framboise (Horror) Dr. Jekyll would surely approve of this exceedingly sweet, raspberry lambic of a potion. If you’ve never had a fruit beer before, the experience could be overpowering. Yet, its sweetness lends to its uniqueness and, at $7, it is decently priced for such an exotic beer.

(Flickr, courtesy of @joefoodie)

(@joefoodie)

Arcadia Starboard Stout (Adventure) Pirates are known for their strong brews and lust for treasure. This little gem comes in a 20 oz glass for only $6, so you can save your own treasure and experience the seven seas. An oatmeal stout with dark, smooth notes, a hint of chocolate and a dry finish, Starboard Stout is a meal unto itself and fully fortifies you for a night of swashbuckling.

(newhollandbrew.com)

(newhollandbrew.com)

New Holland Dragon’s Milk (Fantasy) All we can say is Whoopi!  Dragon’s Milk might as well have come from the real thing, and its deep red colouring and oaky flavour are reminiscent of the perfumed aromas around King Arthur’s Round Table. Definitely worth your while even at the rather steep $7 for 10 oz. Since dragons are extinct, this is a bargain.

(maproom.com)

(maproom.com)

Despite a plethora of bottled beers on the wall, we highly suggest you go draft with their 26 taps, or try their cask-conditioned ale on handpump which rotates at least once a week. A note of import: the proper glass is always used for each style.

But if beer really isn’t your thing (even one of their gluten-free beers), their full-service bar also includes ciders, mead and the rest of the alcohol crew. The bar is cash only, so be sure to bring some bills.

(maproom.com)

(maproom.com)

Rally your crew, grab your grog, and thumb through the Nat Geos to plan your next expedition upon the high seas. We know one thing for sure: you’ll leave in high spirits.

P.S. Every month or so you can walk the plank with brewmaster Greg Brown of Mickey Finn’s Brewery at The Map Room’s Beer School. For about $25 you can join fellow classmates and study a few beers, from what you’re tasting and smelling down to the ingredients and processes that are informing those very same flavors and aromas.

Posted in Drink It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
09 Jan 2013

Barrelhouse Flat and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®

WHAT: Barrelhouse Flat (Lounge) and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®
WHERE: 2624 N. Lincoln Ave.

OUR RATING: Do it!

(barrelhouseflat.com)

(barrelhouseflat.com)

A few weeks ago, Storefront City had the unique opportunity to attend a Kentucky Bourbon Ale® Tasting Party hosted by Time Out Chicago at Lincoln Park’s Barrelhouse Flat.

Downstairs (barrelhouseflat.com)

Downstairs (barrelhouseflat.com)

As soon as you walk into Barrelhouse Flat, you may be slightly overwhelmed. The downstairs is quite crowded and when you’re seated you are forced to become quite friendly with your neighbors. The space wants to greet you with a feeling of intimacy, but the hurried waiters and the crowded tables divert the atmosphere from its intended impression. However, this was only our initial reaction, as we were never actually seated downstairs. Instead, we were ushered upstairs into an entirely strange, new world from a time we can’t call our own.

Upstairs (bizbash.com)

Upstairs (bizbash.com)

Once you get upstairs (and we suggest you try your darndest), you transition from a hectic world into a crazy-cool speakeasy lounge, with low lighting, 1920’s/30’s wallpaper, velvet chairs and hardwood floors. There’s a small bar, lots of seating and billiards in the back room, complete with a roaring fire. Sets of high-backed chairs subsume their occupants, so that once you are seated, you and your compatriots can have a completely private experience.

Upstairs (barrelhouseflat.com)

Upstairs (barrelhouseflat.com)

As we were much too involved in our ale tasting, we didn’t get the opportunity to order anything from Barrelhouse’s menu, but we’ve heard wonders about their 70+ cocktail menu that ranges anywhere from the traditional to the not-quite-so usual. We also seriously eyed the Poutine (headcheese, house gravy, cheese curds, intoxicated fruit, crispy potatoes) and Seared Quail (rutabaga puree, celery barigoule, cassis), and would definitely get either the Spice Bread (apple butter, golden raisin chutney, sarsparilla fluff) or the Trifle (sweet potato, pumpkin seed granola, whiskey cherries, whipped cream) for dessert.

Upstairs (bizbash.com)

Upstairs (bizbash.com)

Unfortunately, we were instead ‘treated’ to what was supposed to be nibbles from their menu…which turned out to be some plain popcorn and an underwhelming crostini canape. Rather surprising, considering such a new establishment should be taking every opportunity to exhibit its food to would-be customers, but perhaps they have some secret logic of their own. With these disappointments, we focused our attention on the ale flowing freely from the bar.

Served in a classic snifter, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® is one of the most unique drinks to touch our lips. Simply put, the ale is a sipping beer with a nose of bourbon. The Kentucky Ale is aged for up to 6 weeks in bourbon barrels at Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company in Kentucky.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® (talkingship.com)

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale® (talkingship.com)

The ale is smooth and robust, with flavors of vanilla and oak. A word to the wise – this baby is strong, but we think it’s pretty darn versatile. We would drink it before, during, or after dinner, but the food pairing would have to be well thought out. This is no down in one affair, and must be afforded a certain amount of respect to be fully appreciated.

We would definitely recommend this ale to be served along with more hearty dishes, and perhaps it would be best enjoyed along with a fire and some good friends. As for Barrelhouse Flat, we would really love to try the restaurant downstairs, but make a point of visiting the lounge for a more authentic, antique experience.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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