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The Silver Palm
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
768 N Milwaukee Ave(between Carpenter St & Ogden Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhoods: River West, Noble Square
(312) 666-9322
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chicago-Blue (Blue Line)
Grand-Blue (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 6 pm - 2 am
Sat 6 pm - 3 am
Sun 4 pm - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
167 reviews for The Silver Palm
Review Highlights
"The Three Little Pigs sandwich, of course."
(in 16 reviews)
"Loved the train car - can't wait to return next year when..."
(in 53 reviews)
"The double smoked ham was the best part of it."
(in 8 reviews)
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167 reviews in English
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Review from Ajay H.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
I initially wanted to tackle the Three Little Piggy - famously dubbed "America's Best Sandwich" by Mr. Bourdain. Once seated at my table in the far end of the Lynchian rail car, I took immediate notice of the multiple, delicious aromas wafting off the plates that were in transit from the kitchen to my fellow patrons' tables. I subsequently got distracted from the original task and took a better look at the rest of the menu.
It's all about the flavor here - mad flavor. I've lately had a thing for onion rings and I can 120% confidently say that S.P. has the Best Onion Rings I've ever tasted!! No joke. The description on the menu doesn't begin to compare to the amazing taste you'll experience when you bite in to this tasty app. Perfectly coated, cooked and seasoned. Extra highly recommended!
Besides the Best Onion Rings I've ever tasted, I also ordered the Duck Club Sandwich and Caesar Salad which all went together quite well. The duck was perfectly seasoned and quite tender and was accompanied by prosciutto and a sun-dried tomato compote with lettuce and tomato, served on truly delectable brioche with grilled/roasted root veggies on the side (Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnip trio). The salad was crisp and well drizzled with what definitely tasted like a house made dressing that just the right amount of anchovy flavor to be authentic, but not overpowering.
Sadly, I had no room left for dessert (I will now mention that the 3 items mentioned above were all split with the GF and we were both stuffed!). Helping to facilitate the split, our attentive and very helpful server split everything when plating the food and helped keep things simple & straight-forward.
SIlver Palm offers a robust selection of beer, wine & spirits with some signature cocktails of their own (possibly borrowed from their sister enterprise, The Matchbox).
All in all, I'm thoroughly satisfied with my Silver Palm experience and look forward to going back soon! Same holds true for the GF, and I suspect for any of you reading this and contemplating a visit as well. Three Little Piggy, beware! -
Review from Kelly R.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dining in a train car while eating one of the largest, most delicious sandwiches I've ever seen-- can't get much better.
It's a really cool concept to attach an old train car to a building! It was quite charming and a unique place to grab a (big) bite to eat. Very chill place with a bar in the front and dining area in the back inside the old train car. Lots of people brought young kids who seemed delighted with the kids' selections!
The three little piggy sandwich is absolutely massive. Two of us (including one big guy with a healthy appetite) split one and the B.N.S.F. Rutherford Salad and could only eat about half of the sandwich! It was so good we took it home with us and ate it later as a snack.
There's a reason this was on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations"-- it's unique and really good!! Three kinds of pork -- bacon, ham, and pork tenderloin rolled in with gruyere cheese and a fried egg to top it off. While it's good, it's so large its intimidating! I had to eat one normal bite in 2 half bites! That aside, it's amazing and definitely worth trying! The fries are really tasty too!
The BNSF Rutherford Salad was really great! I had never had fried avocado before, but I want it again! I highly recommend it. It was also a very nice light dish to accompany the mammoth three little piggy sandwich. -
Review from Virginia T.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
We ordered take out from the Silver Palm.
We decided to split the Three Little Pigs sandwich with roasted veggies on the side. We also split a batch of onion rings. The food was delicious, even take out. The roasted veggies consisted of potatoes, parsnips, carrots, artichokes and beets. The onion rings were huge, panko covered and came with a great aioli on the side. The veggies were really good, though a few could have used a little more roasting time. The Three Little Pigs was decadent. Brioche bun, breaded pork, ham, bacon, fried egg. There is no way we could have eaten it if we were not splitting it.
They have a weird entrance. Nothing is really marked. There is a small bar attached to the side of the restaurant. The restaurant itself is also small. It was a little loud in there. The whole place has a strange layout and flow, though the train car is pretty neat.
I will go back for a drink and a sandwich, soon. -
Review from Selin D.
Lakeview, Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
After watching Anthony Bourdaine's 'No Reservation' episode in Chicago.. We had to try this three little piggy sandwich. It was Absolutely delicious!! The location is quite inconvenient and the restaurant itself is rather small but the food is so worth it!
Definitely must try this place if you ever visit chicago ;) -
Review from James B.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012
First of all the margarita's here are the best I have had in chicago. Something about rimming a normal sized martini glass with powdered sugar before filling it with a heavenly mixture of alcohol really gets my meal started off the right way.
My gf had the fried chicken and while it was a little salty for my taste, it was one of the best fried chickens we've ever had. I tried the three little piggy and was only able to get through half + 1 bite. This place is amazing. If you haven't been you should go check it out asap. We found ample parking right behind the CVS across the street. -
Review from Matt L.
Chicago, IL
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
What stands out here is the cocktail menu. Very interesting and flavorful choices. Loved the train car in the back. Had a sort of old school vibe to it.
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Review from Brian C.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
The train car reminds me of the classic Jersey diners.
Went here because Anthony Bourdain said it was the best sandwich he ever had. I know watching TV isn't good for your weight, but watching this show has made it 10x worse.
Got the Three Little Piggies sandwich and some mexican chicken entree (forget the name). The chicken dish wasn't bad, but honestly, I know why most people who come here get the sandwich. It was incredible. Even at half the portion, the sandwich is probably more than enough for one person with a moderate appetite. The combination of different pork meats with the delicious bread and toppings/fixings, was simply amazing. I highly recommend it, unless you can't eat pork.
Someone complained about price. Given the size of the sandwich, it's hard to understand why it would be an issue. I blame Subway's $5 footlong promotion. This is probably double the portion and triple the quality. Is the meat quality better than Katz? No, but you're not paying $20+ for the sandwich either. For about $15, the sandwich is a delicious bargain. -
Review from SEANN E.
Toledo, OH
10/27/2011
I was in Chicago this past weekend where I dined at some truly amazing restaurants. Me--being the food nut that I am--I often find myself watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on The Travel Channel. This led me to the first destination on my trip: The Silver Palm.
When we got off one of Chicago's fine public buses, I looked around for the Silver Palm. I had been there once before, a few months ago, but it had been dark. Finally, I spotted the aluminum "silver palm" that hangs above the store, a small brick building on the corner.
Just like last time, I was immediately greeted upon entering the restaurant. (Also, I had recognized our greeter as the owner due to his appearance on No Reservations.) The bar was small--probably 10 feet in length or so--with a few people seated to drinks. And with only one TV (not even behind the bar), customers clearly do not come here to watch sports.
The brick-layered outer building only houses the bar; the restaurant and the kitchen are both contained in a single train car--yes, a train car. Inside, there are about 10 tables arranged on either side, which really isn't much. The Silver Palm is famous for its Three Little Piggy sandwich, an item that my friend and I ordered previously and had to have again.
We chose a table, and the waitress quickly introduced herself. I don't remember her giving us a name; however she was the same waitress I had from the time before. The plan was for the two of us to order the Three Little Piggy sandwich and split it between us guys and our lady counterparts, plus two orders of their onion rings.
Now, I'm sure you're asking yourself, "why split the sandwiches?" The Three Little Piggy is mammoth, stacked with pork tenderloin, braised ham, crispy bacon, gruyere cheese, and topped with a fried egg. I am a big guy and I could barely finish half of it the last time.
When the onion rings arrived, I had been sipping on a black stout. I did not immediately notice that the number of onion rings was small, but at $4.50-- and with the giant sandwich on the way-- the portion size wasn't a total put-off.
The pieces of onion are thick with a large amount of panko crusting on the outside. The rings are crispy with a good flavor. They aren't the best onion rings I've had, but as tasty and crispy as should be expected. Before we could even finish the onion rings, the cook emerged from the kitchen and placed the half sandwiches in front of the ladies, neither of which had seen the monstrosity of the Three Little Piggy.
Their jaws dropped. "How can I even fit this sandwich in my mouth?" one asked in horror. Actually, none of us could fit the sandwich in our mouths, even after squeezing it together--there is simply too much meat on it (which is a good thing!) Yeah, it's difficult to eat but it's also delicious. Every bite is flavorful, the bacon crisp; simply put, this is one of the best sandwiches I've eaten. In the end, I was the only one to finish my half sandwich, and I barely accomplished that.
The Silver Palm is an amazing little restaurant that many people probably don't know about. I fully intend on dining here the next time I am in Chicago. But I think I'm going to try something other than the famous sandwich next time. I want to see what else this restaurant has to offer. -
Review from Santiago A.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011 14 Check-ins Here
I use to live within walking distance to this place and ate here a few times. I always liked the idea of eating on a train car. I always liked trains growing up, and always lamented how this country completed ignored and underutilized a great transportation infrastructure they already had in place. At any rate, I had never reviewed this place... but then again, I had never tried the The Three Little Pigs sandwich - double smoked ham pork tenderloin, bacon, Gruyere cheese and a fried egg. Yes, lots of extremely delicious calories.
This sandwich had so much hype behind it due to its No Reservations fame, that I was half expecting them cue up theme music as they brought it out. No, not Soul Asylum, and shame on you for thinking of that first. I meant something cool and pork-worthy, like some Ozzy Osbourne. That would have been sweet. Alas, no music, but the sandwich did not disappoint. It was very delicious. I don't know about being the "best sandwich in America," as Anthony Bourdain called it, but definitely very excellent.
I'll be back, because even though this train car doesn't move, it can still transport me back to a time when I played with model train sets and could eat giant, pork-filled sandwiches without gaining a pound. Thank you, Silver Palm. -
Review from Lalo G.
9/28/2011
A trip to Chicago would not be complete without at least trying the Three Little Pigs sandwich. Especially since Mr. Anthony Bourdain so eloquently described it as "the best sandwich in America." Although he was probably drunk, a statement of that magnitude can only verified with my own taste buds. I was a man on a mission.
Accompanied by my two closest friends, we set out on a taxi cab journey to the Silver Palm. The taxi driver only knew it as "the train restaurant." At last we arrived stumbling from inebriation and a bit confused as negotiating the upstairs entrance does require some level of brain activity. Up the stairs and past the bar the tight quarters of train life quickly hindered any sudden moves. The mellow vibe and friendly faces played well with the nice selection of refreshing adult beverages. The first round of Stella started things off right and helped set the mood for the evening.
The menu was simple and to the point. It didn't take long for the three of us to decide on four entrees that we all wanted to try. Hey, sharing is caring, right?
Here's what we ordered:
The Three Little Pigs sandwich, of course. After months of waiting, this dream was about to become a reality. Double smoked ham pork tenderloin, bacon, gruyere cheese and a fried egg. Probably not the healthiest choice but it was definitely a tasty one! This behemoth is large enough to split three ways and still impede digestion. Hnnnnng!!
Pork chop, mashed potatoes, and fresh steamed vegetables - You know, I wouldn't usually order pork chops but the description on the daily special menu just caught my eye. By far this was the biggest, juiciest, and most delicious pork chop I have ever had, ever. It must have been smoked or slow cooked to its state of perfection by the God of pork chops himself! I never knew a pork chop could be so yummy and this one goes down in pork chop history!
The fried chicken plate with fries was like 'why the heck not?' Four pieces of delicious deep fried heaven on a bone! The fries were unimpressive but the chicken was serious business. Good enough to take back to the hotel room to satisfy those late night munchies.
Steak Sandwich - This tender and juicy thin cut (but not too thin) carne asada style steak sandwich was a pleasant surprise. As it sat, in all its sexy sandwich glory, the 10" French roll dominated the plate. Served up with an awesome spicy homemade tomatillo salsa that absolutely hit the spot. I had to ask for more salsa because one little cup just wasn't enough.
We came, we ate, we ate some more, and we wanted to go back the next day. Everything on the menu looked so awesome it made us wish we had three stomachs to try it all. I will definitely be back to Chicago and The Silver Palm will be my first stop!
Cheers!Listed in: This is why I'm fat!
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Review from Dan D.
Chicago, IL
9/15/2011
Three Little Piggie's?! More like three little piggies got screwed over by the big bad wolf and took all their money.
After hearing all the hype about this sandwich from friends and Anthony Bourdain, I just had to try it out. Plus, who wouldn't like to eat in a classic railroad dining car? Yea, that's what I thought.
But the price is simply OUTRAGEOUS for what you get. Without tax and tip, the sandwich is $15.50. Yes, the sandwich is pretty big, piled high with nicely cooked porkchop, bacon, and ham... but it wasn't anything too extraordinary. What I mean is that the individual ingredients themselves were very basic and not very appetizing - the porkchop bland, bacon not very tasty, and the ham without much flavor. Thus, just is a culmination of mediocre flavors piled high with onion rings...
Just not what I was expecting. I think this sandwich can reach back to its glory days of a lower price, and tastier meats (rather than just bland). -
Review from Patrick L.
Chicago, IL
12/27/2011
I don't want to write this review because I don't want to draw more business to a place I have come to call home. I have been going to the Matchbox and the Silver palm for 10 years now and still cannot think of enough great things to say about it. If you go there you will always meet people who will mention how long they have been coming to this gem and its like a cult following. Everything from the atmosphere to the music, drinks, the help is what exactly what I look for in a bar.
I didn't think that they could do it any better till I had their chicken special for the 50th time with my wife and i couldn't hold back. Every Fucking Time this dish hits the spot and taste like home cooking. A couple weeks ago I was in there eating and a group of workers were in from out of town and wanted to try the dish that Anthony Bourdain recommend and we told them to get the special instead and with enough conviction half of them got the special and everyone thought it was better than the three little pigs dish.
Thank you for all the great memories and and not selling out but just continuously sticking with a great product and please put the chicken special on the menu permanently! -
Review from Mike G.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I got the Three Little pigs sandwich and words really can not describe the taste. It was amazingly good. I didn't have a problem with it being dry or anything along those lines that others have commented on.
I would have given this all five stars but the wait staff was very slow. I wouldn't have minded if they keep asking if we wanted beers but they just were not around.
Highly recommend it though. -
Review from Michonne O.
Chicago, IL
8/20/2011
We took a detour here on our way to another restaurant because we'd seen this on No Reservations. Sadly, Tony Bourdain steered us wrong.
My fried chicken was over-fried to the point of being charred on the edges and the duck on the sandwich I got as a replacement was dry and gray. The waitress was good about taking care of it, but mostly we felt like the wait staff was a little unconcerned with us. We were comped my cocktail, but I felt like perhaps it would have made more sense to discount the price of the food from our bill.
Our full review: http://searchingforton...
We won't be going back unless it's only for drinks and calamari. -
Review from heather l.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011
It's happened a few times now- my boyfriend and are out on the town and starting to get hungry. Nothing seems appetizing and all we want is a meat sandwich, fries and a beer. It's then that we remember that the greatest meal awaits us in a silver car on the corner of Chicago and Milwaukee.
We get the same thing everytime - three little piggies sandwich TO SHARE (seriously, it's enough for two people, trust me). They plate the halves separately with an abundance of fries on each plate (so don't even order extra fries! You won't need them!). And we usually get a PBR or two, at $3.75 a bottle. According to my calculations: shared sandwich + PBRs = cheap and delicious dinner.
Ok, so I may have gone here and ordered the three little piggies based on Bourdain's description of it being the "best sandwich in America" or whatever. But I wholeheartedly agree. It is so delicious. And so large that I usually only eat 1/4 of the sandwich, which means I've got 1/4 to bring home (lots of math in this review, people).
Alongside the sandwich they deliver a dish of toppings that are actually probably my favorite part after all that beautiful meat. The pickled onions and green tomatoes (I think that's what they are anyway) and the single peppercinni are the perfect accent to this sandwich. I'm in love.
Serve it all up in a train car with super friendly staff and now you've got my favorite dining experience in Chicago. I will recommend to anyone and everyone. Go to The Silver Palm today! -
Review from Vodka sauce C.
Winfield, IL
7/31/2011
REALLY ???!!!
We went there for lunch ... CLOSED !
Said they open at 6pm .
6pm - 3:00am . So we came back at 11:00pm .
Walked through Matchbox Bar , not Silver Palm , no one helped us or asked us . Boo , Matchbox for that .
So we walk in Silver Palm . Bar tender said this : KITCHEN CLOSED AT 9:00pm . WAIT......... REALLY !!!!!??????? Guess whose not coming back for this so called three little pigs sandwich ?
Pathetic . -
Review from Colleen W.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2011
Such a cool hidden spot in River West! For those who are travel channel fans, you may recognize this place from Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations". You walk in and think you're in the wrong place for dinner...it has that neighborhood dive bar type feel. But around that first corner is a TRAIN CAR that houses the restaurant. There are about 10 tables of 4, an aisle down the middle, and a mouth watering menu. The "Three Little PIggy" sandwich has made it's way around the food network and travel channel circuit. I wouldn't even attempt to eat a half of it...so eaters beware, it may be best to share with a friend. The appetizers were great, burgers are perfectly cooked, but the ribs left a little something to be desired. Overall the atmosphere, service and food were great. If nothing else, come here because it's famous and reasonably priced...But ya gotta try it!
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Review from Eugene N.
8/4/2011 1 photo
I'll start by saying that the Silver Palm has a really cool decor, setting is like you're eating in a train, with that being said, it is a tad small though, and VERY low lighting (at night of course).
If you're here you really gotta try the "3 Little Pigs" sandwich, I think it was featured on TV. I'm not too into pork but the sandwich was awesome! I forgot what goes in it, but I think its 3 types of pork topped with an egg. Delicious! Again, if the place was a little bigger, it would be nice, but the sandwich alone is worth a visit if you're in Chicago. -
Review from YelpSavedMyLife Y.
Glencoe, IL
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
it was featured on NO RESERVATIONS. looked better on TV, but so does everything else.
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Review from Rain T.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2011
I really wasnt impressed with this place. Service was mediocre and the food was definitely not all that!!! My 13 year old could have made a better salmon dish than this place! Definitely overpriced. We decided to sit at the front of the bar and all of a sudden I noticed water splashes on my jacket and hitting my face. I look up and there is a major water leak from the ceiling and I look down and notice some dirty old rags (allegedly) to soak up the water. NOPE! Major Fail! I told the bartender and she just came got the rags.. Squeezed them out and put them right back.. It was back to business as usual! NoPe.. ! Will not patronize this place again, not even if someone else was treating!
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Review from Ash Cam Video L.
Chicago, IL
11/3/2011
Heard so many things about this place and was disappointed. We went out of our way to try this and the food in general was nothing to write home about. Fried chicken was burnt, the cheeseburger and pork chop was just OK with the outside too charred. The trhee piggys sandwich was good. The ambiance wasn't done as well as it could be, it seem like seating a box. Needs more train memorabilia in the dining room. Too plain with windows on one side looking at the brick wall.
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Review from Mike S.
5/19/2011 1 photo
Cool place. Half bar, half train car, all awesome.
My buddy told me about this place before I even got to Chicago and we both knew that we would have to come here to try out their famed Three Little Piggies sandwich. What is the Three Little Piggies, you ask? Take a bun, add double smoked and braised ham, a fried pork chop, bacon, a fried egg, gruyere...and an onion ring for good measure. Enjoy.
My God. Obviously if you keep kosher, prone to heart attacks, or don't enjoy pork or anything tasty, then you should probably stay away. Otherwise, you will be in heaven. Literally, this sandwich might kill you. But it's totally worth it. Don't try to eat it all in one sitting. You won't be able to and if you do, you will feel disgusting about yourself. I ate about 3/4 of mine without realizing I was hungry and I just felt terrible in every way possible. You even have option of substituting roasted veggies for the fries in the case that you want to grasp onto a small shred of your health.
I really wish I lived in the same city as the Silver Palm because their menu looks amazing and I would go to town on so many of those dishes. -
Review from Adam S.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2011
Meh. I've experienced better.
This was my second time heading to the Silver Palm. It took me a year to come back, after our waiter disappeared for literally 25 minutes the first time.
Pros: You're eating in a RR car, it's cool. They also have quite a bit of outdoor seating. My burger was OK, some of their other sandwiches look lovely (the "three pigs" had to have 6"+ of meat stacked on it, I don't know what I was thinking getting their burger!). They have a drink menu where most drinks are $8.50, you get them in a full shaker, too, so you're getting your $$'s worth w/o doubt. Beer list is fairly long, but only two on tap.
Cons: The service SUCKS. I mean, really sucks. I don't know what type of setup they have RE number of servers, etc, but whatever it is, it doesn't work. It took us over five minutes to get menus, longer to have the server come back and ask us for food. My beer came right away, my GF had to wait five or so minutes for her drink. Our food showed up fairly quickly. My burger was OK, their lack of any type of dressing (just a burger, cheese, and bun) other than a few pickled vegetables was odd. My GF's salad was good, the deep fried avacado on her salad was pretty yummy.
The atmosphere is cool, for sure. But wow, the service is BAD. I will however also add that our server seemed to be busting her a$$ the entire time, so it's not like she wasn't trying, they just don't have a good setup w the server to table ratio in that place. -
Review from Marissa G.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2011
I had the 3 Little PIgs sandwich of fame, which was very good, but not the best sandwich ever in the world as it is advertised. Probably because, even with an egg on top, it is a bit dry! With so much meat and no mayo or other condiment, it was a little hard to swallow down!
But great service and atmosphere, I'll come back to try their other dishes. -
Review from emily n.
5/18/2011
I'm on a mutha effin' boat!
Okay, not really. But I was on a mutha effin' train. I was so stoked when a friend invited me to dinner here, as I want to go any and everywhere that Anthony Bourdain has. Problem was, I was a bit shy about ordering the 3 little pigs sandwich. I mean, I am a lady, after all. Luckily, my friend ordered it. I had a few bites, and oh my god, this thing is insane. 3 different types of pork, with a fried egg, and gruyere?! Yeah, you know you wanna.
I went with the duck club sandwich, and was pleased. Roasted duck breast, prosciutto, and a cherry compote on brioche. Even better the next day!
The service was pretty good, the drinks were stiff, and the ambiance can't be beat. I will definitely be back. But I'll be wearing stretch pants and dining with those that I don't need to impress. I WILL finish the 3 little pigs, and it WILL be awesome. -
Review from Onur U.
4/9/2011
It neither exceeded nor disappointed my expectations. The service is friendly and efficient, there's a nice selection of bottled beers and a couple decent taps, and the atmosphere is fun.
We ordered a cheese burger and the famous three piggy sandwich. They have all kinds of signs out front hailing their burgers as amongst the best in Chicago. Not a chance, but it was a solid burger. It was cooked medium rare as we requested and when the server saw that we were planning to share they cut it in half and grilled the sides too, nice touch. On the side was this bizarre plate of overly-sweet pickled vegetables that we barely touched. The fries were sub-mediocre but edible, but we subbed in onion rings on one of the orders and those were damn good. The breading is nice and crunchy and it's served with a spicy aioli, the rings and dip were the highlight of the meal. If I'm there again, onion rings instead of fries all the way.
I had read about the Three Little Pigs sandwich all over the place. It's regularly mentioned as one of the best sandwiches in the city. I'll admit it's the epitome of greasy, decadent, over-the-top diner food, but I just didn't think it was very good. The components of the sandwich were remarkably flavorless given the preponderance of pork products, and boy were they piled high. Really all I could taste were cheese and salt. A great sandwich is greater than the sum of its parts, for me, the Three Little Piggy was less than the sum of its parts. Glad I tried it though, it sure is a sloppy mess of over-indulgence. This is one of those things that sounds great on the menu but just doesn't translate into great food. -
Review from Michael M.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
BEST MANHATTAN COCKTAIL IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. And I have had a few.
This is my favorite spots in Chicago to go for cocktails. Skip the crowded and gimmicky Matchbox next door (same owners, almost-as-good cocktails). The Silver Palm bartender makes exceptional classic cocktails, including a ginger or pineapple gimlet, Daquiri and others.
The food is also outstanding. As you've probably seen on No Reservations, the Three Little Piggy is an unbelievable sandwich that should come with a medal for finishing it. SO DELICIOUS you might find yourself hugging people while eating. The grilled prawns are also excellent.
All in all, this place is excellent. I take anyone visiting from out of town. -
Review from Ling H.
5/22/2011
Stumbled upon this place after having a quiet night at 694 Wine and Spirits and needed a place to hang out for a little while as we waited for the train. The bartender was nice and got our beers quick. He was entertaining a couple of other people down the car.
Cute bar, can't comment on the food as we didn't try it (we walked in at about 1:45AM). The walkway is super slim and narrow and was a little challenging walking through the car whilst tipsy. -
Review from Phil N.
Naperville, IL
5/20/2011
I went for the Three Little Piggies sandwich. It was claimed by Anthony Bourdain it was the "best sandwich in America." So I have been eager to try it for some time now.
It was a pretty good sandwich, but way too much ham. I took about half of the ham off just so I could taste the rest of it. The breaded pork tenderloin was my favorite part of the whole thing. I have a long tradition with breaded pork tenderloin. An earlier reviewer mentioned you shouldn't bread it, and dude is crazy. Pork tenderloin knows no boundaries, why limit your taste buds there fella?
As for the claim of the "best sandwich in America." It's not even the best sandwich in Chicagoland. That honor goes to Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park.
I was expecting more out of this sandwich, it was really good, but I probably wouldn't get it again. They have quite a good-looking limited menu, I would try other options before tackling this monster again. I did like how they brought Sriracha sauce out with it. Very cool imo. And the fries I had were crispy and very good. Another reviewer put them down, but mine were just right.
The staff there seemed very friendly and eager to help, too. -
Review from Sabrina S.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Was a little wary walking into The Silver Palm. It's a bit of a dive and the patrons at the bar were looking a little rough. Didn't seem like we were going to get an especially nice dinner here... Turns out, this place is pretty great!
My salmon filet was really fresh and tasty; grilled medium rare with a really nice blend of spices. Portions are generous - plenty for a leftover lunch the next day - and very affordable.
Waitress was also very nice and attentive.
Train car dining room and worn-in decor has a nice charm.
We'll be back for seconds!
P.S. Walked by on a nice day, and the outdoor seating area is great when the sun is out. -
Review from Natalie B.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/2/2011
Went there again and it's still as delicious as ever!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2010
I didn't see the show that featured The Silver palm on No Reservations. I only found out about it… Read more »
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Review from Angela S.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
The food here is always fresh and delicious. A great Chicago staple.
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Review from Christopher F.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is the mullet of restaurants.
Gritty bar flys in the front, classy restaurant in the back.
We just moved in around the corner and came for a late meal and couldn't have been happier to find the old train car dining room, slick pin up decor, chilled out wait staff and killer food for a great price.
We shall return! -
Review from Tom K.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
A bit too seedy for a sunday afternoon for us but the food was good. Just didn't get a good vibe there. Still, that's just me and that particular day. I'll try em again eventually. Had the onion rings (panko crust) and french onion soup. Onion rings were really good but soup somehow got really bland half way through.
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Review from Lucas P.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2011
Saw this place first when I lived near the restaurant l, always finding it interesting. Then seeing it on bourdain's no reservations made it even more interesting. When you step on you enter an era of diner cars and true wholesome people. Then you order off the extensive beer list to complement the exact taste you are looking for followed by an amazing sandwich, the three little piggies, a slice of tenderloin, loaded with bacon and many layers of ham, then topped off with a fried egg and an onion ring on a soft brioche bun. Absolutely delicious. A definite mist go. We even asked the waitress to write a funny comment on the to go box for our friend and she complied... Wonderful place
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Review from Ingrid C.
Chicago, IL
2/10/2011
I LOVE this place for many reasons and its not because of the three little piggy sandwich or because I saw it on No Reservations...
1- The atmosphere is great, we gotta admit the train idea is pretty cool!
2- As I said in another review, I am scotch drinker and this bar happens to have my very favorite brand which is Laphroaig!!
3-My friends, all cocktail suckers, manage to all order a different drink that they all love which comes with a refill, because they give you the shaker. btw, even though I normally don't enjoy cocktails the gimlet is amazing!
4-Alex, the bartender, is awesome! all the staff is really nice and helpful. The service is great.
5-The Goat cheese is delicious, in general the food is very tasty!
6-The music is perfect, they often play Rolling Stones and Santana!
as you might imagine, I highly recommend this place! -
Review from Reyna H.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2011
So we all know Anthony Bourdain ate here & the onion rings are the shit..as well as the three littly piggy sandwich! Yes...it's fucking amazing, and you should get your ass in the Silver Palm to bite off that chunk of pig like it's going out of style.
If your heart stopped anywhere over halfway through finishing this piglet filled concoction: you would die a happy carnivore. The sandwich looks overwhelming & barely fits into my large mouth; yet the flavor is actually perfectly balanced.
Sit in the train car, eat some piggy, and drink some Ed Hardy vodka! Ok do the first two I stated & only the last one if you are a douchebag:) -
Review from Kate B.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I took my bf here for his birthday as a surprise, and as New Yorkers we are both huge Anthony Bourdain fans so if that annoys your Chicago sensibilities you might wanna stop reading here.
Trust me, there is nothing cuter than dragging a guy with a crummy memory for specific episodes up in to a train car and watching him politely stifle the fear that he's been taken to some kind of embarrassing theme restaurant, then watching him open the menu and practically start clapping his hands with boyish glee. We ordered:
- Three Little Pigs: as evil and delicious as described, with perfect runny yolk goodness. It's the sandwich that kicks the ass of the best breakfast sandwich you ever ate before now, then takes its lunch money.
- Smoked Meat sandwich: two thumbs up for addition of gruyere. This was some darn good meat and I like when I can see the smoke ring in it (live in Texas for a while and you'll understand).
- French onion soup: well done, not oniony enough for me but so much cheese.
- White bean bruschetta: don't let this fool you, the mixed greens on top means that this is a giant salad on a plate full of delicious crostini. It's a lot of food and I should have thought for us to just share this as an appetizer, but the dressing on it is awesome and the white bean is nice and garlicky.
Nice beer selection, and I love Strongbow so between all of the animal products on the table and alcohol I was a happy lady. I'm also pretty sure that my boyfriend decided in a post-meat haze that he's now never going to break up with me, but that's just a side bonus. -
Review from Haley B.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2011
Went here for a casual little dinner on a Friday night. I have to say, if it weren't for the unique atmosphere I'm not sure it would be getting 3 stars from me.
I liked the cozy setting, the restaurant is in an old silver train car. The food is just okay, in my opinion. My boyfriend got the infamous, Bourdain-recommended 3 Little Piggy sandwich and it was ridiculously large, and it was good, but I tasted it and I have to say that it was not the "best sandwich in the world" as another Yelper claimed. I had the smoked corned beef sandwich which was also just okay. We split the onion rings which get a B- from me, I've had better.
It's possible that I just ordered incorrectly and hit this spot on the wrong night, as we were seated next to two tables of ridiculously loud tourists from Wisconsin who were discussing the digestion of their dinners... But regardless, I wasn't overly impressed with this place and with all the awesome places in Chicago I probably won't be back. -
Review from Serena T.
12/22/2010 1 photo
I went to The Silver Palm for one thing and one thing only - the three little piggy sandwich. Just take a look at that monstrosity! (And I mean that in the best possible way). Intrigued? So was I...
The three little piggy sandwich is not for the faint of heart - featuring the 3 piggy trio of double smoked ham, pork tenderloin, and bacon - this study in porcine goodness is smothered with Gruyere cheese. Oh, you want more? Throw a fried egg on the whole shindig! This sandwich is a two-handed, three-napkin meal. Just as a frame of reference, five people (including three big guys) shared 2 sandwiches.
Such a complex sandwich could be overwhelming, but Silver Palm's does a great job of balancing this creation so you are *almost* pushed over the top but instead linger right in that happy state of comfortably full. Combine that with the old rail car decor, and you've got yourself a winner. If you're in town, grab an eating buddy and check out Silver Palm's!
Pork, pork and more pork. And cheese. And egg. It's good.
