Portillo’s Hot Dogs – Tempe, Arizona
Portillo’s story is the story of the American dream, a rags to riches saga that began with a single hot…
Billy Goat Tavern – Chicago, Illinois
The genesis of the idiomatic expression “got your goat” which means “to greatly annoy someone” is in dispute with sources…
Al’s #1 Beef – Chicago, Illinois
Assume the position! It’s been called the “Chicago Lean,” the “Italian Stance” and simply “The Stance.” It’s the time-tested,…
David Burke’s Primehouse – Chicago, Illinois
By day, my friend James Sorenham was an architect of his business group’s data warehouse and business intelligence strategies. By…
The Purple Pig – Chicago, Illinois
Poet Carl Sandburg bestowed the nickname “hog butcher for the world” upon the great city of Chicago at a time…
Frontera Grill – Chicago, Illinois
Not everyone has the relentless drive and impassioned fortitude to parlay their most ardent desires and zealous fervor into a…
Johnnie’s Beef – Arlington Heights, Illinois
If you think Chicagoland politics are a contentious topic, try debating which restaurant serves up the best Italian Beef Sandwich…
Apple Haus – Long Grove, Illinois (CLOSED)
In grade school back in the 1960s, such characters as Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed filled my mind with wonder…
Bacchus Nibbles – Kildeer, Illinois
In Roman mythology, Bacchus was known as the god of wine and ecstasy. A youthful and handsome god with flowing…
Hackney’s – Lake Zurich, Illinois (CLOSED)
The second city doesn’t take a back seat to anyone when it comes to burgers and if you have to…
Siegelman’s Restaurant Deli – Arlington Heights, Illinois (CLOSED: 2011)
Who would have thought that a nondescript restaurant in a nondescript shopping center would feature food beyond description–food for which…
Swedish Bakery – Chicago, Illinois (CLOSED on February 28, 2017)
In New Mexico, which is very proud of its “tri-cultural” heritage, the contributions of Native Americans, Hispanics and Anglo-Americans are…
Topolobampo – Chicago, Illinois
A quote attributed to Marcel Marceau, the French mime famous for his sad-faced clown, aptly describes my attempts at describing…
Bob Chinn’s Crab House – Wheeling, Illinois
Over 900,000 customers in 1999 couldn’t be wrong when they spent over $28M, the third largest revenue for the year…
Kimchy Cabana – Niles, Illinois
To the unenculturated, the pungent emanations of Korean kimchy (pickled and fermented cabbage) are malodorous and offensive to the olfactory…