According to TripAdvisor, as of 2016 there were 8190 restaurants in Chicago.
I eat at exactly nine of them.
In no particular order they are:
- Carson’s
- Gibson’s
- Hugo’s
- RL
- Rosebud on Walton
- Calo
- Wing Hoe
- Ping Pong
- Joe’s
Why do I do that? Why can’t I venture out and spread my gustatory wings? There are so many exciting, creative, wonderful restaurants on the Chicago dining scene.
Why do I always go back to my tried and true faithful old war horses?
(And to make matters worse, I always order the same old same old on the menu. Once I land on an entrée I like, I never try anything else.)
In all fairness, it must be said that I will eat at restaurants not on my list. If you pick one and invite me to join you, I’ll always show up eager to give it a try.
But when it comes down to venturing out on my own, I always revert to the list.
Safe. I know.
Predictable. I know.
Boring. I know.
But I’m also guaranteed a meal that I will thoroughly enjoy.
And that never gets old.
I’m not sure when this failure to restaurant launch began. I do know that in my childhood, my parents frequented the same dining haunts over and over.
My folks liked:
- Miller’s
- Armando’s
- Pekin House
- The Gold Lion
- The Greek Isles
But as my mother grew older and got more eccentric and combative, that list shrunk away. She would get into heated, contentious arguments with waiters, waitresses, managers and owners and was inevitably asked to leave the premises.
Forever.
My father- an innocent party to these hostile eating proceedings- was just collateral damage. I sadly happened to be with them once at Little Szechwan in Highland Park when my mother and the proprietress got into it.
My mother hadn’t liked a special entrée she had ordered. She didn’t want to pay for it and asked the waitress to have it removed from her bill.
That brought the owner over. Who then pointed out the fact that the entrée in question had been eaten.
My mother stuck to her guns. She hadn’t enjoyed it.
The owner stuck to hers. The entrée had been eaten.
Much to my embarrassment- and the other diners’ annoyance- this contretemps raged for awhile.
It ended in a Mexican standoff.
The price of the entrée was deducted from my mother’s bill.
My mother was deducted from the restaurant.
Forever.
And as we exited, I heard my father say sadly but resignedly,”That’s too bad. I really liked this place.”
By the end of her life, my mother was left with exactly one restaurant that welcomed her business.
Wildfire in Lincolnshire.
She and my father ate there so much that they had a plaque above the booth they occupied. (And woe to the well-intentioned but unschooled manager if he mistakenly tried to seat her at a different booth at lunch. He’d have his ears pinned back with a good shellacking. My mother didn’t want to sit anywhere else and that’s where she sat- come hell or tap water.)
My mother also liked to order the same thing at Wildfire. A ramekin of crab bisque, the side salad split between her and my dad, and a HALF order of coconut shrimp. She ordered it so often that Wildfire finally bowed to the inevitable and keyed in a special price on her bill.
Her check read “Mrs. Roffe’s Meal.”
And woe to the waitress who didn’t quite understand her “usual” order, either.
Author’s Note: Why is my mother always portrayed by Jack Nicholson? Just a thought…
…Anyhow, I sure hope this “short list” restaurant thing is not genetic.
And to prove it, here’s my 2018 restaurant resolution.
Click HERE.
I’m going to try every one of them.
Or not.
Too soon:-(
That’s too bad. I really liked this post. 😞
It looks like I arrived in the middle of a family spat. Well, I am surprised that Charlie Beinlich’s and Hackney’s did not make your list. My list would be even shorter than yours — Carson’s, RL, Rosebud on Walton and PF Chang’s — oh and Walker Bros. and Lou Malnatis.
I don’t like side orders either. But, as someone’s favorite Mother once said, “I’ll have what she’s having.” And she probably did. Ask Mr. Crystal.
Pay no attention to Kenny, Jack. He’s teasing. I left out my go-to everyday favorites. Beinlichs and Superdawg would always get a shout out if I didn’t.
As for that famous deli side order- I’ll gave it to go. 😊
My first trip to Chicago included a stop at Wildfire. I thought I’d found steak nirvana! And thank the sweet baby Jesus they didn’t have me sitting in your mother’s booth! 😳
But on the next trip I was introduced to Gibson’s (with a name like that they were already on their way to a 5 star rating in my review). Wildfire quickly faded into the memory of bovines past. Magnificent!
Try Frontera by Rick Bayless when you are feeling the need for something delicious from south of the (pre-wall, now militarized) border.
I have tried Frontera and I agree. It’s got my favorite guacamole. BUT not a big fan of waiting in the line. If they give me a booth- or a restaurant- with MY name on it, I’ll go back. And when you come back, Gibson’s it is! 🥂 Thanks, my friend.
My father, who was a public relations pro in Chicago and ate at just about every restaurant downtown- from Fritzel’s to Flukie’s- said there is no such thing as a GREAT restaurant.
I’ve grown to believe him!!
Well your father certainly had good taste. You just named two of my late great favorites. I wish they were both still around. I’d go to Flukey’s or Fritzel’s in a Chicago minute.
For ambiance, friends and value, I’ll take the mess hall on Catfish Lake over them all!!
Another great place! I’ll meet you there in August. Thanks for the suggestion, Bernie.
I loved the clip of Jack Nicholson. He happens to be one of my favorite actors – ever since “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” I never saw the movie with the restaurant scene. I’ll have to find a copy.
Five Easy Pieces is a JN tour de force. One of his greatest. Don’t miss it.