CVAL / November 20, 2009 7:11 AM

Bar on Buena..cool place with no pretense, just really great food and drinks

printdude / November 20, 2009 8:11 AM

I'm assuming you're not talking about the hot dog vendor that follows me around, so I'll say Thai Eatery.

y a j / November 20, 2009 8:51 AM

Cyrano's is my default setting.

TexasT / November 20, 2009 8:54 AM

With a toddler in tow, I don't get out much. But our go to place for takeout is Lao Sze Chuan.

Guy Smiley / November 20, 2009 9:45 AM

Edgewater Lounge or Hop Haus on Howard. Good food and I know what I'm getting. Pretty much no pretense, no infused anything or cupcakes with bacon.

David / November 20, 2009 10:22 AM

I'm loath to answer this question with complete honesty, because the Thai place I usually go to downtown is...no longer my go-to place. Largely because of the baby cockroach I found in my rice yesterday.

I'll not be eating there any more, which is sad, because I really liked the place.

Clayton / November 20, 2009 10:45 AM

Cozy Corner on Diversey and Kostner.

At least once a week.

Joel / November 20, 2009 10:46 AM

Cleos on Chicago Ave. Serves late, good specials, perfect when it's 11pm and I realize I haven't eaten dinner yet.

Joel Shea / November 20, 2009 10:49 AM

When we lived in Ravenswood, it was La Amistad on Montrose.

Now that we are in Printer's Row, its Flaco's Tacos everytime.

Nuke LaLoosh / November 20, 2009 10:55 AM

Opart Thai House on Western. Best cheap noodle shop I've eaten at, and good service to boot. Try the catfish!

Nuke LaLoosh / November 20, 2009 10:57 AM

@David:

You aren't talking about the the Thai place on the 100 block of North Wells, is it? I won't use its proper name here. Please tell me its not, because I really like that place.

Joel Shea / November 20, 2009 11:03 AM

When we lived in Ravenswood, it was La Amistad on Montrose.

Now that we are in Printer's Row, its Flaco's Tacos everytime.

Megan / November 20, 2009 11:03 AM

Fat Willy's. Duh.

R / November 20, 2009 11:18 AM

Pompeii

sd / November 20, 2009 11:28 AM

Used to be Angelina's. Now it's Jerry's or Street Side or Brown Sack.

Christopher / November 20, 2009 11:28 AM

Dib in Uptown.

David / November 20, 2009 11:34 AM

@Nuke Laloosh

Nope, you're safe there. This was further south. Happy eating!

Nuke LaLoosh / November 20, 2009 11:43 AM

@David -- PHEW!

In that case, I'd also suggest Siam Rice on North Wells. Not as good as Opart, but a decent enough menu that virtually everyone in your party can find something they like. Entirely unobjectionable.

Also with an eye to Lincoln Square, my default is the Daily Bar & Grill for bar fare and a beer, and Cafe Selmarie is my default for brunch.

Dave / November 20, 2009 1:25 PM

I have three...

If it's just me and I have some time, Art of Pizza near the Belmont/Lincoln/Ashland collision.

If it's just me and I've only got time to stay in-neighborhood, it's always Costellos in Lincoln Square.

And if it's me and my wife, it's Opart Thai, every time, regardless of circumstances.

Sue / November 20, 2009 3:10 PM

Thai Thai at 3922 N Elston Ave

and La Finca for mexican - 3361 N Elston

Dennis Fritz / November 20, 2009 6:09 PM

Moody's Pub in Edgewater.

kate / November 20, 2009 7:29 PM

Handlebar, brunch, dinner or lunch--all awesome. And outdoor seating (if that day ever comes again).

jlp / November 21, 2009 12:13 PM

chicago diner. love love love it.

Hal / November 21, 2009 12:53 PM

Huey's in Andersonville, with Charlie's, Taste of Heaven and Hamburger Mary's as close followers.

SR / November 21, 2009 9:41 PM

Florian in Hyde Park.

mike-ts / November 22, 2009 2:17 AM

Bamee Noodle Stop. I can just go in, say pad Thai, and get the exact same thing, served just right in a courteous manner, every time. Winter, summer, day, evening, no difference.

@David: I know exactly the place to which you refer; it was an occasional stop for me, too. Too bad to hear the kitchen's not as nice as the seating area.

Cheryl / November 22, 2009 11:38 AM

Jury's, Lincoln and Pensacola.

Tracie / November 22, 2009 6:30 PM

Penny's Noodles for deliovery: I always know what I'm getting
Tank Noodle on Argyle for Pho
T's for burgers

amy g / November 22, 2009 11:21 PM

taqueria moran on california. or lula. or anong thai also on california.

Simon / November 23, 2009 9:07 AM

Lula

sara / November 23, 2009 10:33 AM

Nookie's on Halsted. Very quick service, and friendly too. Big enough menu that whatever we're in the mood for we'll find it in there somewhere!

UrbanTravelGirl / November 23, 2009 10:51 AM

Kiki's Bistro on North Franklin for consistently great French food and cozy atmosphere, and Hackney's Printers Row for super-fresh American food and an affordable but thoughtful by-the-glass wine list.

MEH / November 23, 2009 10:56 AM

Tiztal Cafe on Clark between Wilson and Leland. It's right around the corner and the people there know our names and faces. My only regret is it's only open till 4 p.m.!

SFMoe / November 23, 2009 11:34 AM

i would have to say : El Asadero on Montrose and Lincoln ... best steak fajitas / tacos

gemma / November 23, 2009 12:43 PM

Small Bar Logan. Burgers and cheese curds -- oh, and beer.

annie / November 23, 2009 1:53 PM

If I could afford it everytime it would be West Town Tavern, but many times we just walk to Francesca Forno and watch what we order because the bill can add up there as well.

Yanira / November 23, 2009 5:25 PM

Joy's on Broadway & Aldine for Thai

Matsuya on Clark for tasty & affordable sushi

Yolk for the biggest brunch menu

Mike / November 23, 2009 7:53 PM

I'll second Guy Smiley ... Edgewater Lounge for drinks and a sandwich, although they're starting to slip. Johnny quit, wine went up to $7 (seriously? I could get a wine at In Fine Spirits for a buck more), menu has never changed, and (most upsetting) they no longer put chipotle in the slaw.

Sunshine Cafe for cheap, good comfort food. I'm so happy their fried squid is now a permanent menu item.

Taste of Lebanon for the lentil soup. They put cocaine or something in it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Ikosium for a shared Saturday afternoon crepe. And they put cucumber in your water.

Crisp for decadent-guilty-pleasure fried chicken (makes Homer Simpson "ghaaaagh" noise).

About ten years ago I lived a hundred feet from Opaart -- man, those were the days.

I went to Joy's a few weeks ago with three other people. We were amused by one of the staff, who, mere minutes after our empty plates were swept away, stopped by our table every 30 seconds or so to smile and say "THANK YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!" I've never been so nicely swept out of a restaurant so quickly. In the future, I'll be giving my money to Bamee.

LaShawn Williams / November 23, 2009 9:19 PM

Leona's--preferably, the one waaaaaaay west on 95th St. I guess that's still Oak Lawn...

ann marie / December 6, 2009 8:53 AM

best fuel comments ever