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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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TODAY
Thursday, April 25
Fuel
Fonda del Mar / January 24, 2007 6:28 AM
Fonda Del Mar on Fullerton & Ridgeway.
Jason / January 24, 2007 6:34 AM
Indie Cafe, up near Broadway and Thorndale
Marilyn / January 24, 2007 7:54 AM
Tub Tim Thai on Oakton in Skokie.
mary / January 24, 2007 8:14 AM
i second hemas!!
Strawberry / January 24, 2007 8:17 AM
Think Cafe on Western Ave.
Naz / January 24, 2007 8:31 AM
Any Thai place that allows it, but I have to give huge props to Schwa for doing BYOB. It really allows you to focus on the food and not worry about having to pair up a wine or have a sommelier come and pick our wines for you for each course of the meal.
And it's great for someone like me, who doesn't drink wine much, if at all. That pressure's off.
miss casual / January 24, 2007 8:54 AM
coast is good BYOB sushi although its always packed recently.
naz - i have been dying to try schwa for similar reasons but i heard you have to promise them your first born for a reservation or something...
a / January 24, 2007 9:02 AM
Bhabi's Kitchen and Tank Noodle.
Tobermory / January 24, 2007 9:09 AM
Wholly Frijoles for Mexican - terrible name, great food.
Bhabi's Kitchen for Indian.
Feed for comfort food.
Naz / January 24, 2007 9:17 AM
Jess -- I got lucky in regards to reservations. They just switched to weekdays only dining and Monday was what I wanted so they had it open.
Just call and be persistent. Say you'll take anything at your ideal time or earlier/later. There seems to be 3 times they seat: 5:30-6, 7:30-8 and 9:30. At least from my observations and online research I can conclude these popular times.
Take what you can I say! It's totally worth it.
missmolly / January 24, 2007 9:22 AM
fonda del mar got their liquor license. (sniff) i currently dig habana libre and feed.
Marge / January 24, 2007 9:44 AM
Thai Lagoon on North Ave! Delicious food and they don't look down on those who bring giant, cheap bottles of wine... They just bring you a cork.
ken / January 24, 2007 10:04 AM
my studio
cory / January 24, 2007 10:06 AM
Yes Thai on Damen just north of Foster. Tasty food, tasty wait staff and BYOB...very nice place.
jason / January 24, 2007 10:28 AM
Los Nopales on Western. It's been so busy lately that I am almost afraid to mention it. If you've got a big red wine to drink, they've got killer carne asada to go with it.
Mikey / January 24, 2007 10:32 AM
Without a doubt, Tango Sur on Southport...
Excellent Argentinian steaks (I highly recommend the bife angosto) and a fun and noisy (if somewhat cramped) atmosphere...
Not including the price of the wine that you bring (no corking fee either), two people ordering steaks on a date can eat and drink merrily for $50, tip included...
Oketo! / January 24, 2007 11:05 AM
Butterfly Sushi on Grand.
Hal / January 24, 2007 11:11 AM
Joy's Noodles on Broadway.
mark p / January 24, 2007 11:14 AM
Tac-quick
Emerson Dameron / January 24, 2007 11:37 AM
Maybe these Fuel threads can be measured by how long it takes for someone to go the "me/my friends/my house" route. At least this one outlasted the comedy thread.
I second Yes Thai. And I give a special "hell yeah" to all the BYOF bars in the city, the ones that happily let you get a pizza delivered while you slake. The Hungry Brain is one of those.
Vince Jose / January 24, 2007 11:53 AM
Oh no, Fonda Del Mar is no longer BYOB!?! Say it aint so. They were so cool about drinks, putting beer and white wine on ice and evreything.
Well then I'll go with Taste of Peru on Clark. There is a liquor store a few doors down that carries Peruvian beer just for them. Try Crystal with their gambas a la plancha.
mike / January 24, 2007 12:27 PM
- Las Tablas on Lincoln near Wellington.
- Sabor a Cuba on Wilson and Wolcott.
- Caro Mio nextdoor on Wilson and Wolcott (that's right, an Italian BYO).
mike / January 24, 2007 1:13 PM
Another vote for Hema's.
And another vote for Las Tablas.
(The former winning points for food and value; the latter winning points for the fun-festive vibe.)
kiki / January 24, 2007 1:25 PM
i second TAC quick - right under the sheridan red line.
kate / January 24, 2007 1:26 PM
Chalk up another tally for Feed.
Yum. Yum. YUM!
Chicken & fried okra with your own booze? For me, it's the perfect BYOB picnic.
Taylor / January 24, 2007 1:35 PM
TAC Quick for Thai (excellent and cheap!)
Green Tea (for the best sushi I've found in the city)
p / January 24, 2007 1:37 PM
i was beaten to the Tango Sur punch but um...Tango Sur on southport. Excellent place.
Beth / January 24, 2007 1:39 PM
Hands down- Tac-Quick near Sheridan and Irving Park.
fluffy / January 24, 2007 2:10 PM
nothing better than a cold beer and a falafel sandwich from Taste of Lebanon.
Steve / January 24, 2007 2:41 PM
Roong Petch. And Tango Sur.
Pot stickers/empanadas and wine, so divine!
kd / January 24, 2007 3:04 PM
Dorado, on Foster. Mexican-fusion that is worth going out of the way for (if you don't happen to live in the neighborhood). They might be getting a liquor license though, sadly.
Meems / January 24, 2007 3:17 PM
Tango Sur for sure. But some places do it just certain nights, and I had a great time at Socca last Monday. Extremely good food and no corkage fee just that one day a week.
leah / January 24, 2007 3:33 PM
shoot, I really like Coast on Damen. super white tuna & gallons of wine down the hatch!
The El / January 24, 2007 6:48 PM
1) Bite
2) Thai Lagoon
3) Butterfly
Oh, if feeling a bit upscale-Think
Leelah / January 24, 2007 6:57 PM
Since a few of my favorites have already been mentioned, I'll put a good word in for Spoon on Western.
adam / January 24, 2007 7:15 PM
Now that I recently found it, Sabor a Cafe (Colombian on Peterson) actually beats both Las Tablas (can't believe I'm saying that) and Tango Sur (El ņandu is better) in my book.
Bhabi's Kitchen for sure. I'm also seconding Taste of Lebanon.
Best BYOF bar? Easy. Green Mill.
Meelo / January 25, 2007 9:24 AM
Tanoshii on Clark for sushi (just make sure to give Sushi Mike one of your bottles or a glass of your wine).
Siam Country on Damen for Thai.
And I'll second (third?) Los Nopales for Mexican.
hannah / January 25, 2007 9:56 AM
Lots of my favorites have been mentioned, but Andalous Moroccan on Clark- North of Belmont has amazing lamb dishes, kebabs and mint tea.
michael / January 25, 2007 1:01 PM
Cozy's noodles and rice on Sheffield, just north of clark.
Spook / January 25, 2007 2:36 PM
My house! I mean really, what kinda restaurant dosen't serve booz
Eric_G / January 25, 2007 4:08 PM
Target at Elston and Diversy. Drinking is the only way to get through that place alive!
printdude / January 26, 2007 9:35 AM
Spoon Thai
Thai Eatery
Both on Western.
each has it own merits.
Dan / January 26, 2007 12:09 PM
McDonalds - just slip the security guard a few coins and he'll look the other way while you slurp from the brown paper bag.
Rick / January 31, 2007 11:31 AM
These are a few my favorites.
Yum Thai-Forest Park
Mundial Cafe-Pilsen
Japonica-Taylor Street
Sushi X-Chicago Ave.
Dorado-Foster Ave.
lisa / February 2, 2007 3:05 PM
Within two blocks of the Rockwell stop on the Brown Line you can find two great BYOB spots: Tangine on Rockwell (just south of Lawrence, 2 blocks north of the el) is a great Moroccan spot. And Art Cafe, also on Rockwell (just a half block north of the el stop), is an excellent Bosnian pizza place.
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