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The Big Easy
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
1660 E 55th StChicago, IL 60637
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
(773) 330-0440
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 7:30 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 8 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for The Big Easy
Review Highlights
"I loved the corn muffins and biscuits made with ginger I..."
(in 11 reviews)
"I'm a sucker for fried green tomatoes, and theirs is the..."
(in 10 reviews)
"...thing I don't like on the menu is the peach cobbler brownie."
(in 2 reviews)
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Andy M.
12/5/2011
The food was pretty good and the decor is tacky, but I have to admit, I had fun at this place. The owner was cracking jokes that really weren't funny, but at least he was trying. Our visit came on the Friday after Thanksgiving and the place was dead. We were literally the only people in the joint by the time our food arrived. I would like to see what this place is like when it's busy.
For my entree, I had a delicious plate of spare ribs that I really enjoyed. The sauce was quite different than anything I've ever eaten. It was more on the sweet side, but it worked. My wife didn't seem all that excited about her Cat Fish Po' boy though and she wasn't at all amused by the strange comedy routine that was thrust upon us. The jokes were so bad, that I had to laugh.
Here's the bottom line: The Big Easy provided us with a interesting dining experience. The food was good. A lot better than the comedy routine the owner provided us with. Let's just say he shouldn't quit his day job just yet. -
Review from Anna W.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sooooo disappointed! Went here for a Groupon (which they didn't accept, despite it not having expired), they had a limited weekend brunch menu and we weren't offered their full menu. Half of the menu we were offered wasn't New Orleans cuisine inspired, so no Cajun/Creole vegetarian things for me.
My sister noticed many health violations while there including: the dessert table didn't have tongs or covers on the food, the ice bucket was also uncovered (and inches from my head.. all I had to do was turn around and sneeze..), and it was just below the electrical socket (which didn't have surge protection).
There seemed to be a lot of waiting on our part, despite being one of three seated parties and there being at least 3 wait staff.
The $16 brunch included: cinnamon/raisin sweet rounds (not rolls or buns..), a strawberry/orange smoothie, a fruit cup, the entree, and the dessert table.. not bad right? All in all it is a pretty good deal but..
1) the cinnamon things tasted like something I would have made in home-ec in Jr. High.. not a good thing.. I can't cook now, what makes you think I was any better then?
2) the smoothie was amazing.. all 3 ounces of it.
3) the fruit cup was... non-existent. As in we didn't get one.
4) the entrees:
I got the french toast with scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon. I asked for the bacon on the side so someone else could eat it. The waitress said ok. It came on the side of my eggs and french toast. I was like.. hrm.. whatever..not cool.. but didn't think much of it and passed it to another plate. Well I was really unhappy when I realized that my eggs were swimming in ham grease! I REALLY HATE when restaurants don't consider people's dietary restrictions! I got pretty sick after eating this meal, and I'm thinking it's due to me ingesting animal fat.. I am REALLY unhappy about this on so many levels!!!! I go to New Orleans regularly and understand that, for the most part, it is not a vegetarian friendly cuisine, but any restaurant should understand that if someone asks for certain things- it is for a reason.
My sister got some meat stew looking thing. She liked it, but wished they cut the green peppers smaller or cooked them longer and also cut the onions smaller so they weren't stringy.
5) The dessert table was not homemade, as they claim. A lot of it looks obviously store bought, and if they were smart, they would say it was.. it tasted like crap. Cookies were flavorless and undercooked. There was a peach something that was undercooked, but sweet. The muffins/cupcake looking things were pretty sad looking. -
Review from Carolynne M.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2011
Well, I am trying to cut this joint a little bit of slack, mainly because we were there on an off day (day after Thanksgiving), but I still can't overlook a few things that are obviously not due to the holiday weekend:
First off, the decor was exceptionally strange. Never having been to New Orleans I don't know what is typical down there, but I am going to guess it isn't turquoise, black and cream painted walls, a Mexican tile floor, old green vinyl diner booths and terrible lighting. I could have forgiven most of it (especially the floor, which was in great condition and the little handpainted tiles really too pretty to rip out) but the lighting was just so bad. The only way it could have been worse was to have a giant, humming fluorescent light bar over each table that flickered on and off randomly. It was dim, cold and sent unpleasant shadows around the whole space. Awful.
Next was the service, and that was also completely bizarre. We had this older gentleman waiting on us, but he wanted to make strange jokes the entire time (like saying he was going to take Andy's phone and make all sorts of long distance calls on it, and that Andy had to clean his plate because there was no dishwasher in the back and the plate had to go right back on the shelf when he was done. OK???) And the other weird thing was that he was a little obsessed with Andy, only speaking to him and making all the odd jokes with him. Aside from him asking if I wanted more coffee, I was virtually ignored. Which was AOK with me because he had such a heavy accent it was hard to follow the jokes in the first place.
As for the food, it was decent. I had the Catfish Po' Boy with remoulade. The fish was a thin cut and heavily breaded, but still had a nice fresh flavour. It came with a side, I chose the collard greens, which were well prepared and delicious. I was sad they were out of quite a few things on the menu that day (no chicory coffee, almost all of the beers listed except 2, and one of the appetizers, I forget which one exactly). Andy had the rib plate which was gigantic, but I wasn't a fan of the sweet sauce used on the meat.
As much as I like coming down to Hyde Park I think the next time I am there I might skip The Big Easy and go to another place that is Easier to understand.Listed in: South SOOOOIIIIIIDE!!!!
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Review from D A.
Chicago, IL
1/31/2012
We had a great lunch here. The food was excellent, and the service was prompt. I had the gumbo dinner, the shrimp were perfectly tender, and there were nice chunks of andouille sausage and chunks of chicken. My companion had the Shrimp Creole with a side of sweet potatoes - she said both were perfect. We also loved the corn bread muffins. I can't wait to come back and try the Crawfish Etoufee, and some beignets that are said to be cooked to order and served hot and crunchy.
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Review from Allison E.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
We stopped in here for brunch. The food was quite good, although I wasn't a fan of the desserts and this coming from someone with a giant sweet tooth. Still, we loved the cornbread and those raisin popover thingies. The pasta dish was outstanding and the chicken fell off the bone. Our server was attentive and he appeared to be trying really hard to make sure we were taken care of.
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Review from Janet C.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011 2 photos
I went to the Big Easy for lunch because I had a Groupon. This restaurant has been different food themes in past years. I think they got it right with Cajun cuisine. It was a good day, because we got seated promptly and didn't have to wait long for our food. The server was kind enough to split our BBQ Brisket sandwich and give me & my guest our own plates. The sandwich was massive. Lots of sweet sauce, is that's what you like. Coleslaw was a little dry and the red beans & rice were served with or w/o meat. The food was mild in general and our table could have used a few hot sauce bottles to add our own heat.
Nice beers on tap, and we did get a slice of chocolate cake to finish out our Groupon. I wish this place was more consistent with their service so lunch could be an option, since it's close to work. Prices might be a little high for the average student, but it's a nice "family dinner/special event" spot. -
Review from Kristin T.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Some of the menu items get Cajun right and knock it out of the park. Others make me scratch my head and wonder what part of Louisiana they took their cues from.
The first time I went to the Big Easy it was for their brunch special. The price and the menu were padded with things that could be skipped all together; (gummy pastry, canned fruit salad, and a "meh" dessert buffet.) The entrees were good; perfectly seasoned and fried catfish and greens and syrupy sweet french toast.
My second trip was for lunch; the first cause for concern was when my mother ordered her po' boy "dressed with everything", the server gave her the gas face. In the end it was good and had most of the right stuff on it, but what's up with subbing the textbook french bread with some weird egg torpedo bun?
I made the mistake of ordering their lobster and crab chowder- what should have been a safe bet was watery and tasted like pickles. After sending it back to substitute for the gumbo I struck out again with salty soup with only a shadow of the flavors that should be gumbo.
If you go, the po' boys and some entrees are good, but don't expect standard Cajun/ Creole cuisine. -
Review from Arlene G.
1/3/2012
went here with the gf & our son 4dinner since we had a gift cert. he ordered a burger, she had the gumbo & i ordered the mango bbq sauce rib tips. they liked their meals but mine was ok. i couldnt really taste the mango in the sauce so i was disappointed cuz thats the only reason why i wanted 2 try it. we also ordered fried green tomatoes which were ok, nothin spectacular. im glad we tried it since we had a gift cert but wouldnt be someplace i would go back to cuz i wasnt 2impressed with their food.
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Review from Alex K.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2011
Probably the worst cajun food I've ever had. It tasted like somebody who didn't know what they were doing trying to imitate a foreign cuisine.
My red beans and rice tasted strange. It also had lots of bones in it, which was unpleasant.
I'd rather just go to Heaven On Seven. -
Review from Quincee H.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2011
This restaurant is so bad that it has taken me about 7 months to write a review. Just...awful. There are some restaurants where the service is really good and the food really bad or vice versa but everything about this place is horrible. This is not hyperbole. I had just moved to Hyde Park and my best friend came to visit, we decided to go to Big Easy because it was Cajun and not far from my apartment. Apparently, we both wore our "bad idea jeans" that day.
It was a Saturday night and the restaurant was not crowded at all (I guess we were the only ones who hadn't gotten the memo). However, we waited about 5 minutes for someone to seat us. Now mind you while we waited employees walked past us without a word. No, "Someone will be right with you" or "Seat yourself" or even "Go home" Finally, we decided to seat ourselves. After we sit down, the manager came over and announced that he would be our server. When we told him that we had no menus because we had to seat ourselves, he said and I quote verbatim, "Oh, you should've come and got me." I know we should have left then.
We ordered drinks, pomegranate lemonade which would have been really good except for the fact that there was a sour taste as if the cups had been washed with a rag that had gone sour sitting on the counter. When we explained this to the manager, he took our drinks and came back with new ones with "more syrup" they still had that taste. Same rag.
The food was awful. The fried green tomatoes had so much batter on them that the tomatoes weren't cooked and the crab cakes as stated earlier are made with imitation krab. My friend had the catfish for an entree, which she described as "edible" but she also hadn't eaten all day, so....
Anyway, unless you are a food and/or customer service masochist, don't go here. Don't trade places with what I've been through. My friend to this day gets angry every time she passes by the restaurant. It's just that damn bad. -
Review from NoWayIn H.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011
After much hesitation my husband and I ordered takeout from The Big Easy last Thursday, Nov. 3rd. We've lived in Hyde Park for over a year but didn't try it out before because it didn't seem to be "busy" enough which gave us the impression that the food couldn't be all that great.
Perhaps they changed ownership, chefs/cooks, staff, etc. because recently (within the past few months) we noticed that the crowd had picked up, people always there and appearing to have a good time. So we decided to give it a try and ordered the jambalaya, crab cakes w/remoulade sauce, mango ribs, smashed sweet potatoes, and corn muffins. The crab cakes were okay, more "commercial-like" than anything but other than that everything was delicious!!! Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised by how good all the food was and how pleasant the wait staff were and we will definitely be going back for more. -
Review from Charmaine R.
Rolling Meadows, IL
11/21/2011
The food was not very good. Greens were not clean, the chicken was luke warm, and the service was mediocre at best. The shrimp po' boy lacked shrimp, but the water was to die for. Overall it was not a good place to eat at. I guess I should have known due to lack of patrons that were there at 7 for dinner. Definitely would not recommend this place.
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Review from Sarah S.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2011
The Big Easy is sort of hit or miss - but the hits are really quite good, enough for four stars.
The fried green tomato supreme sandwich is really worth a try - fried green tomato, guacamole, bacon and cheddar. Good stuff! And the stuffed jambalaya which they call their specialty is pretty great too, and it's plenty of food.
Their "bakery" spread always underwhelms me for brunch - it's fine, but tastes like something you'd get off a catering tray. And the service can be totally fine - or it can be awful, depending on the night.
But all in all, the food is good, so I'm not going to complain too much. -
Review from Andrea R.
Chicago, IL
3/30/2011
This is the third time my husband and I have visited the Big Easy. The service has improved but the food is still so-so.
We went for lunch, so it was rather empty, which may have contributed to the better service. We started with the gumbo. Wasn't the best I've had, but it wasn't bad either. Our muffins were fresh from the oven (not cold as others have indicated). My lemonade left somethings to be desired. It wasn't sweetened (I had to add 3 packs of Splenda) and smelled of that terrible sewer smell that permeates the restaurant.
My husband played it safe and ordered the jambalaya as he usually does. They highlight this as their signature dish and I venture to say it probably should be their only (maybe it and the shrimp po'boy). His jambalaya was delicious! My shrimp & grits left a lot to be desired. The sweet creaminess of the grits did not have enough savory to cut it, even with the cheese, the applewood-bacon gravy, and the few shrimp. It could benefit from a revamp with maybe some andouile sausage and mushrooms and a less-sweet gravy.
I also ordered the beignets. Major letdown. I was polite and ate them, but really needs some place that makes them close to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.
The owner came in as we were finishing up and talked with us. He's looking for ideas to bring in more business. I think a total revamp is needed. -
Review from Sid P.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2011
I have to put my review here on The Big Easy because I noticed how wide the range of ratings are! Wow! I've never seen such a range on Yelp. This appears to mean there is a really large gap in the consistency of the restaurant... even though my experiences over the last 2 years have been very consistent.
Service has been the lowest point of all the important facets of my visits. The wait staff are friendly if a little slow. We never received a wrong order, and we often had a visit from the owner/co-owner/manager who was congenial. The fact that he has been onsite always was a plus, showing that the people who own the place also care about what's going on there. So maybe when he's not there, that's when things go bad?
The food has always been delicious, plentiful, and priced reasonably. Between me, my brother, and our multiple out-of-town guests (coincidentally, all family members from different branches of the tree), we've ordered at least eight of the items on the menu, and they have all been great. While I know there are people who are much better attuned to Cajun cuisine than me, I've had my fair share of jambalaya, gumbo, and fried green tomatoes. I'm quite sure what I've tasted at The Big Easy is authentic. I could name some other competitors in Chicago and the surrounding area that also serve excellent Cajun cuisine (three come to mind), but that's not what this review is about. It's about giving my experiences, over 4 or 5 visits. Delicious baked goods. Well-balanced flavors. Nice people.
For those who had bad experiences -- and the people on Yelp have described really awful ones, even though I've never encountered anything close -- I suggest focusing some of your writing talents on notifying the owners/management. I also hope these owners/mgmt are reading Yelp. -
Review from chris g.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2011
It looked so good online but fell slightly below average in person. We went there Today (Saturday) for lunch. I ordered the Jambalaya stuffed chicken breast. Our other dish was Gumbo. Let me describe this to you with some help from the lyrics of Rappers Delight.
Have you ever went over to a friends house to eat & the food just aint no good.
I mean the shrimp are soggy, the rice was mushed & the chicken taste like wood".
Actually the chicken was ok but I got carried away in song. But the shrimp tasted like they were soaking in water for a week. -
Review from J F.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
I actually like this spot a lot. The reason why I'm giving it an okay rating is because the last time I went the food wasn't all that great. It was cold and my fried green tomatoes were burnt. I was angry but since when ever I'm there I'm greeted with awesome service. The first three times I went (three days in a row) I left with free things. The staff is great, nuff said!
The only thing I don't like on the menu is the peach cobbler brownie. It wasn't very good and lacked sweetness. Other than that everything is pretty good.
I just like a place that is consistent with its awesomeness, and within the past month this place has really fell off. It will be a long time before I go back there again. -
Review from Shawnteal T.
Chicago, IL
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is okay but this is not a good restaurant for the impatient or those in a hurry. There were two small tables, one waiter, yet our food took over a half hour (It shouldn't take that long for collard greens and a turkey burger).
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Review from Aly N.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2010
I really, really want to love this place. It always sounds good and is within two blocks of my apartment, but every visit has failed miserably. The food is not good. The first time I went, I had a chicken pasta. It was so salty that I couldn't finish it, which is unusual for me. I eat pretty much everything...and lots of it.
On my second visit, I had a sandwich of some sort. It was equally as bad...bland. The sides weren't fresh, either. My boyfriend and I left food on our plates and didn't take it home. He had the gumbo...terrible.
On the plus side, both times our waiter was very funny and nice. However, the service is slow. -
Review from James C.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2010
I have confirmed my original assumption that there was nothing special about this place. The first sign should have been the amount of times that I've actually passed by and never went in. The confirmation came after not completely finishing any one dish and leaving with a doggy bag. I'm a person who really enjoys and appreciates good food and rarely ever have anything left to take home.
Everything about this place was mediocre except the speed at which we received our food after ordering. My theory is that the food was already prepared and sitting in the kitchen. When we ordered, they slapped it on a plate and served us. The food may have been better if we had come three days earlier.
We started with the fried green tomatoes. I had the shrimp creole with a side of sweet potatoes and the wife had shrimp and grits with a side of cornbread dressing. Nothing really stood out about anything that either of us ordered. Everything tasted old and bland. After finally eating at The Big Easy, I realized that I haven't been missing out on anything. -
Review from Jenni S.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2010
Cheap. Delicious. What more do you want?
We happened upon this place on our way home from the Museum of Science and Industry. Stumbled in to find it'd be $15 for a four-course brunch--I had the fruit cup, strawberry punch, muffins, catfish (with scrambled eggs and seasoned taters on the side) and gut-busting dessert buffet. The food was amazing, and the owner stopped by our table; he was a character and a half. I'm a sucker for fried green tomatoes, and theirs is the best I've had in the city so far.
Awesome. -
Review from Angela G.
Lansing, IL
10/22/2010 4 photos
Here I go again being a sucker with a groupon.
First, I purchased the groupon because I liked the idea of cajun food on the south side. It sounded good and from the pictures, it looked nice. The groupon was a great idea. $12 for $25 worth of food. So with a couple of clicks, I had a Big Easy groupon.
I was coming from an appointment downtown, when I decided to stop in there for lunch. When I use a groupon, I try to be fair. I went in the afternoon when it was empty. I don't want to complain about the service when I'm trying the food for the first time. (isn't that fair?)
My waiter Rochelle was superb. He was very attentive and helpful. This is the reason for the 3rd star. The food in itself needed some assistance. I ordered the wings as an appetizer with the peach-mango bbq sauce. The wings didn't seem to fresh to me and the sauce was OK. The presentation was nice but the actual taste was meh. I ate 1 wing and that was it.
For my entree', I ordered the shrimp creole. The is where the disaster begins. Again their presentation was great but the actual food was a BIG disappointment. The shrimp was overcooked and so was the rice. Cajun food is suppose seasoned and spicy, not overcooked and bland. I had to add half a bottle of hot sauce just to get some spice on the food. What actually took away from the dish for me was the overcooked rice. It came with a side of which I choose the collard greens. Now the collard greens was delicious. I don't know how they could get the sides right and not the entree?!
If you ask me, I wouldn't recommend this place. But if you want to judge on your own, be my guest.Listed in: Groupon groupie
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Review from Winston G.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2010
3.5 stars, rounded down because the service was soooo slow.
Having just come from the South, it was nice to find a restaurant in the middle of Hyde Park (random location, imo) that served Southern/Cajun style food. You start with a basket of cornbread and butter here, which was really good. You do not get the luxury of sweet tea here, which is a bit disappointing for a Southern/Cajun style restaurant!
I ordered the fried shrimp po boy sandwich, which was $11 and came with a side. The sandwich was decent - the shrimp were medium sized and the roll came garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and a cajun mayo liked sauce. The shrimp was breaded in corn meal but did not have a deep fried taste to it. Overall, a decent po boy sandwich, although it could use a bit more shrimp in it.
Everyone else's dishes, ranging from the jambalaya to other sandwiches seemed to be great! My main gripe about this place is how SLOW the service is - it is ridiculously slow. Certainly, if service becomes better, I would happily give this place a solid 4 star rating (as long as the food stays good). -
Review from Poof A.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2010
No. Just, no. Why am I giving this place 2 stars instead of the 1 [or fewer...there should really be an option for that] it deserves? I honestly couldn't tell you. Maybe because I feel bad for a place that is trying [or are they??] and just gets it so so *wrong*
I've been here for both lunch and brunch [why did I go back?! It's bad when you can't even explain your behaviour to yourself, isn't it. I should see somebody about this.] Both were forgettable and regrettable. The standout at lunch was a basket of mini corn muffins which were fairly palatable. Veggie options are sadly lacking here [what do I expect at a BBQ place though] so I got a simple grilled cheese. Not great, not vomit-worthy.
The brunch was the truly epic fail here. It's a set price, and you get to choose from a baked-goods table to begin [weird, pretty tasteless- the food I mean] and then select an entree. I forget what entree I got. BF got a BBQ platter [yes, for breakfast. He is a fiend.] He puked it up not long after we got home. Huge win all round!
Seriously though. Don't let the frequent name changes fool you [what is WITH that, btw??] The menu remains as disappointing as ever.
PS- After reading over my review, I'm changing to one star. Yikes.Listed in: Bonkers for Brunch
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Review from Don A.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2010
Still in the mood for a burger, I meandered over to this place after an experience at Bar Louie. Unlike the other place, The Big Easy realizes that people who walk through the doors are actually looking to get seated and order food. Happy to have found a place whose definition of 'restaurant' was at least marginally similar, I chose to order the cajun Turkey Burger.
Service was pretty quick, though the waitress was clearly still learning the menu. She had to check what the burger was topped with and confused the garlic mashed potatoes with the mashed sweet potatoes. But everyone is new at some point, so this wasn't an issue.
On first bite, I thought the burger was a bit bland. This thought prevailed through the next few bites. It was not challenged until, in effort to reconstitute the rapidly disintegrating sandwich, I took a bite of the burger that was falling out of the other side. It had a surprising amount of flavor. I don't know what kind of bread the bun is made from, but it seems to nullify all the flavor. I ate the rest without the bun and was happy. Satisfied, I left. Well, I paid and then I left. Actually, I finished eating my mashed potatoes, drank more water, waited for the check, paid, and then left. -
Review from Evan S.
Chicago, IL
9/29/2010
I heard about this place on Groupon. Me and wife went on a Saturday night which wasn't too packed. Overall we had a pretty good experience. The food is pretty good. To start we had the fried green tomatoes which were tasty minus the cinnamon. We wanted to try the lobster and crab chowder but they ran out. They also ran out of the cornbread and gave us bagel chips instead which was disappointing. For our entrees we had the grits & shrimp (which also had cinnamon) and catfish. Both were pretty good, but the cinnamon just seemed out of place.
Overall, it was a good experience. The staff was extremely nice, but our waiter was SO slow. Big Easy has the potential to be a nice spot, just need to keep food stocked, speed up service, and add bread pudding to their menu :) -
Review from NAK N.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2011
overpriced over priced overrrr priced .. did i mention over priced ? dixie kitchen the residents of hyde park misses you !!! :( ... this was awful i had the gumbo it tasted like a frozen version straight from a grocer nearest you .. the waiter was very nice though .. but the food and the prices terrible .. i will not be returning ... i am bummed out because the outing was my idea .. and everyone was dissatisfied ...
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Review from Doug F.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2010
Went with wife on a Tuesday night. We walked in and waited for service, but no one was greeting customers. 10 minutes later the bartender approaches us and tells us that they can't seat us because they are too busy. We ask to order carry-out and she tells us that they can't let us carry out either. (Can't fill a carry out order? Are you kidding me?) Then she adds, "Why don't you come back when it's not Fat Tuesday."....Well, why don't I not bother and just write bad reviews all over the net about your crap service and lousy management and decor that hasn't been replaced since the last two occupants of the space.
Hire a manager and staff who knows how to run a restaurant and knows something about customer service, if you happen to survive by turning away and insulting customers. -
Review from Billy C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/26/2010
Decided to come back since I was in the neighborhood and I found close parking. This time I tried the stuffed jambalaya. I am now glad that I came back. Very flavorful. I would come back again just for that. jambalaya stuffed in a seasoned chicken breast
The owner stopped by several times with samples. This was a much better experience that my first visit. This is a place that I will add to my list.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/17/2010
Service was a little slow but the food was good. I tried the shrimp & grits. I ran out of shrimp way… Read more »
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Review from Kenyatta J.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2011
We were greeted by the owner, he's quite the character This was our 1st time here. Our waiter, was the best. We had corn muffins, of course, the orange glazed rib tips appetizer. They were so tender and juicy. The pomegranate lemonade was good. And the main course was the stuffed jambalaya... wow.. that's a lot of food and you taste everything. We didn't have room for dessert but I know I'll be back here soon. The overall atmosphere and experience was great!!!
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Review from magic g.
Chicago, IL
2/27/2011
Decent "narlins" imitation in hyde park. Seafood is good (had catfish etue), but the ribs were the worst I've had in Chicago. (Unfortunately they fry all in same oil, so no fried tomatos for my wife, who's allergic to seafood)
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Review from Vicky L.
North Chicago, IL
4/9/2011
My husband and I stumbled upon The Big Easy when he came to the area for my graduation in august last year. We went in for their weekend brunch and the waiter recommended their stuffed jumbalaya so we tried it, and have fallen in love with it ever since. My husband told me he loves the dish so much, he could still taste it even after a month since we've been to The Big Easy. I love their desserts too. Their Chocolate Cappuccino Mousse Pie is great. They also have cakes, muffins and cookies that are fresh and delicious.
We go for their weekend brunch which is served on the weekends until 4pm. For $16 per person you get an entree, a fruit cup, and a delicious strawberry orange juice smoothie, and these yummy cinnamon raisin rolls. On top of that, you can have as much dessert from their awesome dessert table as you like. It's such a great deal! Even though we have relocated to Waukegan area, we still drive to Chicago (which like about 45 miles) for their Stuffed Jumbalaya.
We went there again today, and we got to meet the owner David. He was such a nice person. He was really happy to know that we drove all the way to go to his restaurant. The staff there is great too! They are so nice and friendly. I really don't understand why they would receive all these not too good reviews. I really like everything about this restaurant, and would willingly drive 45 miles to go there again. -
Review from Anthony P.
Maywood, IL
2/3/2011
Great Food and the friedn green tomatoes was awesome. I will return on a Fri or Sat to listen to live jazz
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Review from Rebecca B.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2010
I live in the neighborhood and was looking for a place for a fast but complete meal Sunday afternoon. The Big Easy seemed to fit the bill, so I stopped in. I didn't want anything "breakfasty" off the Brunch menu so I ordered off the regular menu.
The catfish was so delicious. I'm used to having fried catfish served either whole or cut into steaks, but the filets served here were so good. Well seasoned and crispy, the fish was served with a choice of 2 sides. I had red beans and rice and cole slaw, my favorite sides with fish. Both sides were perfect with the catfish.
The corn muffins served with the meal were some of the best I had ever had. They were served warm with a sweetened butter. I ate three with the meal!
I was in a bit of a rush so I got dessert to go - turtle cheesecake. - which I had that night with coffee. It too was delicious.
Since this was my first time eating at the Big Easy, I don't know if all of the food if this good or if I just got lucky and picked the right things, but I know I will be going back soon. If my second visit is as good as the first, I'll be adding the 5th star. -
Review from Matthew S.
Chicago, IL
10/9/2010
So glad this restaurant is in Hyde Park. Last night my partner and I dined at The Big Easy for the first time.
We were treated very well by the staff. More importantly, we had some real southern cooking. It started with amazing fried green tomatos, the kind you have to go to Liuzza's for. She loved her beans and rice dinner. But, the pinnacle of the evening was my chicken and shrimp gumbo. It was complex, perfectly seasoned, and deep as a Louis Armstrong ballad. We will definitely be returning.
Our only complaint was with the space, which is a bit like being in a maze. But, it's more than compensated for by the food and the warmth of the staff. -
Review from Vanessa F.
Chicago, IL
3/8/2010
Yuck.
The Fried green tomatoes were great, but my shrimp creole was cheap canned tomatoes and frozen shrimp with some seasoning stirred in. The cornbread was dry and I think it was our server's first day...or something
My BF's crawfish etoufee was a little better than mine, creamy and flavorful, but our friend didn't like her gumbo.
Dixie kitchen is a much better choice. -
Review from Myia M.
Downers Grove, IL
12/12/2010
My husband and I, along with our 5 year old daugher were visting the MSI yesterday. We decided that museum food just wouldn't do for lunch and walked a block or two up to 55th. We happened upon The Big Easy and because it was raining and cold didn't take long to decide that this was the place for lunch. We were thrilled! The atmosphere is quaint and friendly. An entire Michael Jackson cd played while we ate. Jeff and I got soup. I had Gumbo. YUM. Jeff and I shared Jumbalaya which was stuffed in a breaded chicken breast. It had a sweetness that balanced the spice of the dish. It was delicious. The dessert bar is part of brunch on Sat and Sun. Claire and Jeff loved the peach cobler. I thought the oreo chcoclate chip cookie was pretty good.
Claire had what I like to call "the yellow plate" (grilled cheese and fries). The bread was thick and a little sweet like hawaiian bread. Pretty good. Her juice was fresh squeezed. The waiter, who happened to own the place, was friendly and attentive and pretty damn funny.
We will probably do lunch there whenever we visit MSI. -
Review from Ruth M.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2010
After listening to a co-worker rave about this place I decided to stop in with him to try it out (despite my diet) and I was extremely pleased. We were seated at a table in a location we didn't particularly like and were reseated with no problem. We simply asked. Our waiter, Shane was very courteous. You could feel the newness of the location and staff but they all tried very hard to get things right and we interacted with several staff members, all of whom made us feel very welcome.
The food was amazing. I loved the corn muffins and biscuits made with ginger I think. They could have been a meal in themselves. We devoured them and they brought out more at our request. I had the Shrimp po' boy and it was sooo good. The bread was soft and delicious. The fried green tomatoes were seasoned to perfection and so were the red beans and rice. My co-worker is a vegetarian and they were very nonchalant about making vegetarian versions of the things he wanted to eat. The cornbread stuffing was to die for as well. That has my vote for the best thing on my plate.
The co-owner, Jennifer came out and greeted us and was very sweet and humble. It was a pleasure to meet her. My only regret about eating here is that I was too full to have the peach cobbler brownie for dessert :-( -
Review from Joe W.
Oakland, CA
9/19/2010
I can see why The Big Easy is a bit divisive among reviewers. It's not cheap, and for some the "cajun" food may not have the provocative flavors we have come to associate with the bayou. It's important to note that The Big Easy is NOT an authentic New Orleans-type of cuisine -- it's more of a fusion between American comfort food and southern dishes/ingredients. So it might throw a few people off.
But don't let it throw you off. It's a classy, unique institution, especially when sitting at the table on on a raised platform that is wedged next to a huge column supporting the ceiling. The lights are dim, the jazz soundtrack is great, and people seem to be having a good time.
All the dishes get better the deeper you get into them; except for the cornbread muffins, which are some of the best I've had. The breaded catfish was truly excellent, the red beans and rice (THE New Orelans staple if there is one) were deceptive: the flavors and spices didn't seem to emerge until halfway through, and by then we couldn't get enough. The little side of ribs and collard greens were good too, and again deceptive, because the flavors were so subtle. Would definitely recommend if you're staying in HP but looking to sit down (but DON'T go to Sit Down, mind you).
Also, I heard that The Big Easy has introduced a great deal for brunch. Not sure if it's still running, but I would check it out. -
Review from Mztrs C.
Elmwood Park, IL
6/12/2011
I had the experience of eating at the Big Easy today. Where, oh where do I begin?
We were part of a group of 18 and our hostess had made arrangements for a buffet style meal. We were seated in a small, cramped area. We were greeted by our waiter (whom I promptly named Happy Jack) who seemed to think wise cracking was a good way to socialize with patrons. He seemed very disappointed when most of the group ordered drinks that were included in our price for our buffet. We were informed the appetizers would be right out (?). When they finally did arrive we found that the entrees were included with what we all thought were appetizers. The rib tips were cold, the first batch of fried green tomatoes were over cooked in the deep fryer, the chicken patty-jambalaya sandwich was odd to say the least and the (I am not sure what this was) but I think it was a deep fried chicken egg roll was decent. None of the food items were made-in-the-kitchen food and seemed to be roughly the same quality that one would find at Gordon Food Service and there was nothing in the choice of items that would remind anyone of the many kinds of great, spicy food found in Nawlins. When one of the entre items ran out and one guest asked if they could bring out more of that item, she was told they needed to watch portion control and no more would be coming out.
Between the very long wait for dessert (included in the buffet), Happy Jack came to the table to collect for meals. We were told the credit card machine had frozen and that we all needed to pay for our meals with cash unless a credit card was all we had and then they (grudgingly) could accept it. He also kept looking for an imaginary person that he said left the group. There was no person that left early so I am not sure what happened regarding this as I left shortly after dessert was served.
The desserts finally arrived and the choices were small to say the least. They were ok but not the advertised high quality and many of them were really stale.
The bottom line is, I would not recommend this place to friends nor would I waste my time, or money, on a return visit.
