Chicago Restaurant Tips by dlandt

Restaurant Name: Paprikash

Paprikash serves healthy portions of Hungarian food. Its name translates into Paprika in Hungarian and Chicken Paprika seems to be the signature dish. Appetizer, dinner for two, and several drinks came to $52. Most dishes are in the $11-12 range with one as love at $7 and one as high as $15. Service is enthusiastic.

Favorite Dish: Paprika Chicken seems to be the premier offering, my wife loved it. I had the Lecso, kind of stewed onions and peppers and liked it a lot. The goulash-stuffed potato pancakes are to die for. The owner here takes PRIDE in his restaurant. There are a few German and Romanian offerings as well, which is natural given Hungary's geography.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-736-4949
Address: 5210 W Diversey
Directions: Diversey and Laramie
Website: www.paprikashrestaurant.com
Other Contact: Closed Mondays

Restaurant Name: Old Lviv

This is a really tasty Ukrinian buffet that you can get for $7.50, but its cash only. They speak some English and they have a bar. They also serve plates of food if you want to skip the buffet, the pelmenyi seemed to be the local favorite. I have to say the place is small, 4-6 tables, and it also closes early. Its got charm, character, and great food for a low price, how Chicago can you get?

Favorite Dish: Everything is good, but don't miss the Blinzi.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Buffet
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-772-7250
Address: Chicago and Damen
Directions: Ukrainian Village, 2228 W Chicago

Restaurant Name: Argos Georgian Bakery

This is a small Georgian bakery that makes some really good things. Everything is less than $2 if I'm not mistaken. Cash only. Most of them speak English well enough to serve you. Pies and loaves are large and inexpensive.

Favorite Dish: Hatchipuli (cheese pie) Meat Pie, Chicken Pie, Apple Pie. Everything is good, and its baked in one of the igloo ovens that sit in the middle of the floor. If you're lucky, you'll get a chance to see them open the top, they stick the loaves to the sides.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Bakery
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: California and Devon
Directions: Rodgers Park

Restaurant Name: Hot Doug's

Hot Doug's specializes in serving a Chicago Classic, the Hot Dog. Although they will make them to order, and have a variety of good sausages to choose from, they will generally serve a traditional dog. There will not be ketchup on it. Most items are under $4, some are under $3. Despite its common appearance, the owner has a master's degree in Culinary Arts, or so I'm told.

Favorite Dish: Hot dogs, but they make other good things as well.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Roscoe & Western
Directions: Roscoe Village

Restaurant Name: Chicago Brauhaus

The Chicago Brauhaus has a long neighbrohood tradition in an old German neighborhood. The food is German-American rather than pure German but you can find places like this all through Central Europe. This one happens to have an American slant. The beer is imported from Germany and when you spend a night there, expect to lock elbows and sway to German drinking songs. They have live music and dancing on most nights. It varies from swing to polka to American to German to German-American. When you listento the entertainers and bartenders and waitetresses, expect it to be aout 70% English and 30% German. Both are understood and credit cards are welcome. In short, this is a great place if you want to experience German-America. Kassler rippchen is especially good, just like Oma used to make.

Favorite Dish: Any schnitzel. All the beer. Kassler Rippchen.

Leave a Comment

Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-784-4444
Address: 4732 N. Lincoln Ave.
Directions: Lincon Square. In the Square

Restaurant Name: Tre Kronor (Swedish)

Once upon a time, Foster Ave. was the home of Chicago's Swedish community in what we call Andersonville. Largely, however, the old Swedish things are gone. One holdover is the Tre Kronor, west of true Andersonville, but nevertheless, a good Swedish restaurant, particularly renowned for its breakfast, though they do serve the other meals as well.

Favorite Dish: Most people who go here go for the fruit and whipped cream pancakes and Belgian waffles. I myself like the sausages they serve and also think they do a good job on their omelettes. By reputation, they also have great danishes served fresh. They do serve lunch anbd dinner as well.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Foster and Spaulding near Kedzie
Directions: Albany Park

Restaurant Name: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is a tapas bar which does a little bit more than most. It also offers paella, along with wine tasting nights and cooking classes, flamenco dancing and the like. Portions are generous, very tasty, and made with high quality ingredients. I myself really like the decor as well. Though its not what you would call an expensive dinner,I seldom spend this much for dinner, but here, when I do, I walk away thinking its worth it. Part of the reason I do, is because their food is so good I tend to order a lot.

Favorite Dish: Spanish meatballs are superb. There are also other dishes on the menu, like the beef tenderloin with bleu cheese, the seafood salad, and several paellas that are just to die for.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-935-5000
Address: 2024 N Halsted
Directions: Halsted and Armitage, in Lincoln Park

Restaurant Name: Laschet's

This cozy little treasure serves up homemade, handmade dishes characteristic of Austria, like sauerbraten, ghoulash, and rouladen. The food is hearty and tasty, but very affordable, most dishes are between ten and twelve dollars. The beer steisn hanging from the ceiling and overall decor are reminiscent of the Alps, but this is not a large or fancy restaurant, its something of a neighborhood place, with a full bar and about a dozen tables. The beer selection is excellent, and served by the liter.

Favorite Dish: Hackepeter for those who have the heart for it, the schnitzels look great, sauerbraten is superb, and the serve the best warm bread you could hope for. The beer selection alone is worth the trip, with most Austrian beers and many others readily available. To me, the best feature here is that the food is homemade, from scratch.

Leave a Comment

Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-478-7915
Address: 2119 W. Irving Park Rd.
Directions: W Ravenswood or E Old Irving

Restaurant Name: Operetta

I've seldom seen so much good food for so little price. Five thick slices of dumpling ,and three pork chops, plus vegetables for $8. And its GOOD. The potato pancakes are great, the ghoulash is great, and they have these beautiful tall glasses of excellent Czech beer fresh from the tap. The only bad thing I have to say about this place is that they could only come up with one menu written in English. Almost everyone who goes here is either Czech or Polish, so that explains the menu situation even if it doesn't help much. The place halfway seems to be a kind of Czech social club as well as a restaurant. They smoke (a lot) and socialize, drink beer, eat, etc.

Favorite Dish: Brno Dragon. Beer.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-622-2613
Address: 5653 W. Fullerton Ave.
Directions: Fullerton and Central

Restaurant Name: Tbilisi

Tbilisi is a Georgian restaurant that also serves some Russian dishes. It is a small, simple place which is a BYO. It is easy on the wallet with fresh, handmade food. I also like the decorations

Favorite Dish: Chkmuri chicken and horcha soup were the best I've had. I've had better chicken tabaka but Tbilisi's is decent. The schaschlik came with an excellent sauce and they use a liberal amount of cilantro in a number of their dishes.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 773-262-4007
Address: 2954 W Devon
Directions: Devon and Sacramento