| « Cicchetti Opens Today | Holiday Eats: Quartino » |
Review Mon Dec 16 2013
100% Love for the Fifty/50
As much as I enjoy seafood crudos and 4 oz filet mignons, I remain a unsophisticated diner at heart. I prefer eating without silverware, I have an unhealthy affinity for fries, and I enjoy stuffing my face in front of massive television screens. So it was just a matter of time before I stumbled upon the Fifty/50, a low-key sports bar in Ukrainian Village.
The business progeny of Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner, the Fifty/50's menu revolves around the trifecta of atherosclerosis: smoked foods, fried foods, and sandwiches. The restaurant features a creative selection of burgers, and their chicken wings were voted the Best in Chicago by WGN, CBS, and Redeye.
For dinner, my party split two salads, wings with Tangy BBQ, onion rings, and the 4 courser sandwich (whole pork shoulder on pretzel bun with warm gouda bechamel, deep fried jalapenos, sweet potato chips, mac n' cheese waffle, and BBQ sauce).
This amazing sandwich/burger concoction was the most absurd thing I've eaten in awhile, as I could barely fit this mountain of gluttony into my mouth. Should I first pick out the jalapenos and cheese waffle, I pondered. How do I prevent this cheese-drenched pulled pork from exploding out of my bun? Fortunately, the wings were much less complicated and tasted absolutely fantastic. Lightly coated with BBQ sauce, the hard crispy exterior enclosed a juicy, smoky interior. The onions rings (battered in fried chicken breading) and the sweet potato fries (stringy like real sweet potatoes) were well-executed, something I very much appreciated as many chefs tend to neglect the quality of their sides.
Its walls lined with gigantic television screens, this three-floored venue suited my tastes just fine, and the bar selection didn't 't disappoint either. I'd imagine the Fifty/50 gets noisy on weekdays, but on slow nights, it's a perfect place to unwind, grab a beer and burger, and watch the Bears.
alan / December 21, 2013 6:11 PM
if you think many chefs tend to neglect the quality of their sides, you're eating in the wrong restaurants. as a neighbor i can barely walk by this place, let alone, walk in. being bombarded by sports on big screens ruins my appetite- perhaps the food is good. i'll never know and that's just fine. to me, a blight on the neighborhood.