Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives - Chicago

Gino's is at the top of the A-list for those hungering for deep dish pizza. It's been in operation for over 40 years and has perfected a secret sauce recipe flavored with big savory chunks of tomato. And the crust – oh, the crust - thick, golden and rich to the taste. It will delight the taste buds of even the most critical pizza gourmet.

The decor is Mediterranean, white stucco walls, swirls of coral blue color, stone floors, nautical art and architecture; a wonderfully evocative space providing diners with the feel of a small taverna nestled along the shore of a Greek Island. Here you will enjoy authentic Greek food with the seasonings, cheeses, wines and olive oils shipped in directly from Greece.

Harold's Chicken Shack  is a chain of fried chicken restaurants located primarily in Chicago, particularly on its South Side.   Harold's has been a Chicago South Side institution for many years and is known both for its uniquely prepared chicken and for the unique experience upon entering one of the restaurants . There are dozens of "shacks" on Chicago's South Side, and several on the West Side and a few, more recent, franchises are located on the North Side

Ian's offers traditional slices alongside more exotic (and downright fun) pies. Be sure to try the popular macaroni and cheese pizza; other unusual combinations, such as black bean, feta, avocado, and tomato are also outstanding. Particularly unusual is Ian’s lasagna pizza, with noodles, mozzarella, and parsley. Although Ian’s has a set menu, its staff creatively uses a large palette of ingredients for daily specials, so you never know what’s in store.

The Cerdas family makes their mission clear: "We feel blessed to have the opportunity to share our traditional home-cooked foods. We hope your entire experience proves to be pura vida, which means pure life in Costa Rica."

At ISAACSON AND STEIN FISH CO. the different varieties of fish are attractively displayed for customers to choose from, just like open-air markets in Europe. Instead of having to ask a vendor to select the fish for them, customers are allowed to select the fish for themselves using their bare (rubber-gloved) hands. A knowledgeable staff of salespeople is always on hand to help customers who need assistance. Free filleting services on the premises make the customer experience even more convenient.

Johnnie's is amazing! Best Italian Beef and Lemon Ice I've ever had. Fries are good, polish sausage excellent as well. Love the sweet and hot peppers - can never decide which to get....

That's a question that has been on the mind of many a guest here, we thought it's about time Kuma introduced herself!
She's an eight year old Akita, a breed that comes all the way Japan. The name "Kuma" means "bear" in Japanese. We like to think on Kuma's Corner as a cozy refuge, kind of like a bear's den, and since we love our "first-born" so much, coming up with a name for the place was a no-brainer!
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If you’re into original tasting pizza, you’ll find it at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria in River North. The restaurant’s menu of pizza and pastas rivals the best in a city world famous for the deep-dish delight. And don’t forget to try the pie made with the well-known buttercrust dough; it’s not for calorie counters, just those with forgiving waistlines. The place is decorated with sports memorabilia such as local Chicago jerseys, baseballs, and sports pictures from a collection of Lou’s favorite players.

I'm counting the days until Mario's opens for the season.  (Which is May 1st by the way to the end of summer!) The  Italian Lemonade is good and the service is fast.  What more could you want?  On a warm night the line might be 20 people deep, but don't let that scare you.  It goes fast and it's worth waiting for.  I personally recommend going later in the summer when peaches are in season.
You won't be disappointed.....

Seasonal cooking featuring Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Traditional American foods with an eclectic twist. All beef, pork and lamb products come from Allen Brothers - "The Great Steakhouse Steaks."

This venue has an extraordinary selection of tapas dishes from cut-to-order charcuterie and cheeses to fresh seafood, steaks and chops, all inspired by Barcelona & Spain's Catalan region. The impressive menu includes an emphasis on meats and seafood served a la planxa or grilled-to-order.

This place rocked my world today. It's a family owned butcher that's been around for 40 years.....

Arrive early to avoid the long line at Paradise Pup, and you’ll have more time to savor their char-grilled burgers and fries topped with Merkts cheddar cheese. The Chicago Dog is also outstanding, and the milkshakes boast fresh fruit. Paradise Pup specializes in the highest quality food: always fresh, always homemade in this diminutive burger stand.

Peoria Packing's Butcher Shop was founded in 1993 with a mission to bring quality meat to the public at wholesale prices. Over the years our mission has not wavered and our insistence to bring quality meat to the public is still our highest priority. We are a full service retail butcher shop with a complete line of Pork, Beef, Lamb, Poultry, Homemade Sausage, Smoked Meats, Fish and other packaged perishables. At Peoria Packing's Butcher Shop our meat products flow from America's farms and processors directly to your kitchen - No middleman and no additional marketing costs.

This is where pizza became DEEP DISH!

Ruby's belongs to the category of restaurants called turo-turo, or "point point," meaning that most everything available to eat is arranged on a steam table. You indicate what you want, Nickie or his older brother, Arnie, dishes it out, and you either take it to go or station yourself at a table and dig in.

 Don't come here for the pizza. Come for one of the best Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago.

Superdawg has long been in the upper echelon of Chicago’s great hot dog restaurants. Recently remodeled, the old drive-in maintains tremendous appeal and still has genuine car hops and “Suddenserver” automated order system. A pair of ten-foot statues of a male and female hot dog (known as Flaurie and Maurie) are dressed in leopard-skin togas and stand atop the roof, winking electrically, and meals are presented across the counter packed in a cardboard box that announces, “Your Superdawg lounges inside contentedly cushioned in Super-fries, comfortably attired in mustard, relish, onion, pickle, and hot pepper.”

 In 1974, Cesar Izquierdo left Peru to come to the United States to make a better life for his family and himself. While Cesar may have left Peru, Peru never left him, to everyone he would meet he would describe the beauty, sites, smells and foods of Peru. He would tell about Macchu Picchu, the Nazca lines, the Amazon jungle and the exotic seafood of the coast.
And finally on July 29, 1998, Cesar realized his dream of bringing Peruvian food to Chicago and opened "Taste of Peru". And now Cesar can enjoy the colors, smells, foods and music of Peru just 2 blocks away from his house. With live music during the week, it's not uncommon to see him dancing with the costumers to the lively Peruvian music.