John "Existential Fashion Disaster" V.'s Profile
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1015 W Stearns Rd
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 372-1999
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 372-1999
Mama Toni's Pizzeria and Catering
Category:
Pizza
Got three of their deal pizzas (14" one-toppings - $7.99) delivered and was pleasantly surprised by the tastiness. Found ourselves unable to stop at a reasonable amount of pieces... We'll have to try some of their other varieties next time, so we can give the whole menu a good review.
This place has changed owners, though my personal memories are probably preventing me from giving it a complete fair review. It's not any worse, I don't think, but it is not the place I frequented as a high school student all those years ago. The bread is not the same, the pizza crust is not the same, the environment is not the same... and the people behind the counter do not smile and yell out my name when I walk in.
All that being said, they have expanded the menu and most of the stuff we tried (Eggplant Parm sub, Pulled Pork Pizza) was good... the Italian sub left a little to be desired, as the meat seemed a little too close to bologna than any of the meats you expect in an Italian.
All that being said, they have expanded the menu and most of the stuff we tried (Eggplant Parm sub, Pulled Pork Pizza) was good... the Italian sub left a little to be desired, as the meat seemed a little too close to bologna than any of the meats you expect in an Italian.
1 Previous Review:
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9/19/2008 First to Review
Delicious Pizza, "Grinders," Salads, etc. Extremely friendly staff. Great place to spend an afternoon (between school and rehearsal, for example). Perfect Pizza crust, fresh and yummy grinder rolls. A must-stop when I visit back east.
tried to check in here, so I wouldn't forget to review it, but the location on the map is really wrong, so I couldn't.
This is a diner. It is everything you expect from a diner. It is the old veteran in a neighborhood that has been becoming more and more retail-laden. It manages to retain it's classic diner car feeling and authenticity with none of the forced cleanliness of the shopping and chain food establishments.
The food is good, the coffee is good, the prices are good. As I said, it is a diner.
This is a diner. It is everything you expect from a diner. It is the old veteran in a neighborhood that has been becoming more and more retail-laden. It manages to retain it's classic diner car feeling and authenticity with none of the forced cleanliness of the shopping and chain food establishments.
The food is good, the coffee is good, the prices are good. As I said, it is a diner.
5306 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 334-2626
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 334-2626
Let Them Eat Chocolate
Category:
Chocolatiers and Shops
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Chocolate is good, but expensive...
Gelato is amazing and worth whatever they charge.
Coffee is good, Hot chocolate gets my girlfriends seal of approval.
What I really want to support here is their embracing of local musicians. The owner has been reaching out and trying to get some entertainment in there and she is a very nice and gracious host.
Gelato is amazing and worth whatever they charge.
Coffee is good, Hot chocolate gets my girlfriends seal of approval.
What I really want to support here is their embracing of local musicians. The owner has been reaching out and trying to get some entertainment in there and she is a very nice and gracious host.
2119 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 526-3385
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 526-3385
Nightwood
Categories:
American (New),
Beer, Wine & Spirits
interesting menu options, I don't know how often they really change, but if every night features something like duck, duck eggs and rabbit, I'm impressed.
We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent.
The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty.
The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
We went with a party of about eight, so we got a little bit of almost everything on the menu. We did manage to do some sharing, towards the end of the night and we got some baked goat cheese to share around the table, and it was excellent.
The pasta dishes are small portions, the kind of portions you expect from a super-expensive restaurant, small and made to look even smaller by the huge plate it comes on. However, the more expensive entrees are kind of large portions... much larger than you'd expect. Everything I tried was very tasty.
The standout of the night were the desserts. Very impressive and worth every penny.
37669 N Il Rt 59
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 973-2446
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 973-2446
Roost 59
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Barbeque
The clear winner on this menu is the apple rings. Deep fried apple awesomeness. Do not miss them.
I had the roost pork, which was decent, though a bit messy. My friends had the Catfish, I think, and said that it "tasted like lake." I don't know what catfish is supposed to taste like and I didn't try any, but they weren't fans. I believe we also got an order of sweet potato fries and they were quite good.
We ate right outside the door, at a picnic table, which was nice, except for the crazy vending machine right inside the door, which beckoned for someone to feed it money every 30 seconds or so.
I had the roost pork, which was decent, though a bit messy. My friends had the Catfish, I think, and said that it "tasted like lake." I don't know what catfish is supposed to taste like and I didn't try any, but they weren't fans. I believe we also got an order of sweet potato fries and they were quite good.
We ate right outside the door, at a picnic table, which was nice, except for the crazy vending machine right inside the door, which beckoned for someone to feed it money every 30 seconds or so.
My previous experience with Corner Bakery was grabbing a snack on the way through Union Station, in downtown Chicago. We caught an early movie at the AMC (with the big Loews sign) in the same plaza and hit the Yelp mobile app for some local dinner suggestions. The reviews here won us over and we were not disappointed.
The food was great, I got a half sandwich and some excellent tomato soup, and my girlfriend got some pesto pasta. I had a coffee and she had a hot chocolate, both were good. Actually, the hot chocolate might've been more than good, she was still talking about it the next day. The atmosphere was nice enough, the tables were a little closer together than I expected, but not bad.
The food was great, I got a half sandwich and some excellent tomato soup, and my girlfriend got some pesto pasta. I had a coffee and she had a hot chocolate, both were good. Actually, the hot chocolate might've been more than good, she was still talking about it the next day. The atmosphere was nice enough, the tables were a little closer together than I expected, but not bad.
6100 S Blackstone Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 324-9987
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 324-9987
Backstory Cafe - CLOSED
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Woodlawn
The soups are always good, and I've never been disappointed with the sandwiches, either. Timing is sort of crucial, especially if you happen to go on a day when they end up short-staffed. Line can get long by noon.
They should serve the dehydrated (or whatever they are) pieces of bread that they stick in some of the soups with their sandwiches, or stock some chips.
They should serve the dehydrated (or whatever they are) pieces of bread that they stick in some of the soups with their sandwiches, or stock some chips.
19041 W Grand Ave
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 219-3150
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 219-3150
Swing State
Categories:
Music Venues,
Social Clubs
All-ages venue. It's a hard business to keep afloat, and they've been open long enough that they must be doing something right. Most all-ages venues are dark and smoky and this one does not fall short on these attributes. The schedule is wildly varied from night to night... from acoustic nights to dance nights to film nights to the kind of music you'd expect.
They're also a hookah lounge and advertise renting the place out for events.
They're also a hookah lounge and advertise renting the place out for events.
This store is good for entertainment value. The prices are nothing that you can't beat elsewhere. The large signs and vans that seem to serve no other purpose than to be mobile signs all over the parking lot... as if the balloons, ATVs and mini-ATVs, LED palm trees and HUGE mounted signs weren't sufficient.
We resisted the urge to play any of the video games lining the southeast corner of the store, though the claw machine with only a couple prizes left, was tempting. The cardboard cutouts were fun to dress up in the store apparel, I have no idea why the store hadn't already done this, it seemed like a no-brainer. Seeing some of the stuff I've only "seen on TV" was amusing... seeing the spin-off products that even I haven't seen on TV, like snuggies for dogs, some super ped-egg/dremel tool hybrid was pretty awesome.
We resisted the urge to play any of the video games lining the southeast corner of the store, though the claw machine with only a couple prizes left, was tempting. The cardboard cutouts were fun to dress up in the store apparel, I have no idea why the store hadn't already done this, it seemed like a no-brainer. Seeing some of the stuff I've only "seen on TV" was amusing... seeing the spin-off products that even I haven't seen on TV, like snuggies for dogs, some super ped-egg/dremel tool hybrid was pretty awesome.
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"has a weakness for apple flavored stuff"
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Location
Hanover Park, IL
Yelping SinceMarch 2008
Things I Lovekurt vonnegut, apple computers, Photography, The Pixies
My HometownDudley, MA
My Blog Or Website The Last Great Book I ReadThe Graveyard Book
My Last Meal On EarthChimichanga, Apple Soda, Fried Ice Cream
Most Recent DiscoveryDiabetes