110573 Thu Apr 18 14:23:41 -0700 2002 10 7 Chicago Area 0 596993 Remember N. N. Smokehouse on Irving Park near Ashland? The guy opened a place called N. N. Spice Islands on Foster near Kimball - and now it's closed. 2 questions - is the Ecuadoran place that took over any good? and B - where has the N. N. gone??? Thu Apr 18 14:23:41 -0700 2002 0 Madd 1 597001 The NN Smokehouse on Irving Park closed several years ago; I don't know when Spice Islands closed. According to information I read on chi.eats, there was a problem with the Irving Park landlord and they were going to relocate further west on Irving in the space now occuped by 773 Chicago. The owners apparently went through a divorce. I just saw yesterday in an entry on the Reader's Restaurant Finder that Larry Tucker, one of the Smokehouse owners, has recently taken over the kitchen at Biasetti's. Thu Apr 18 17:35:36 -0700 2002 596993 0 Jamie 2 597003 I can confirm that all is correct. Larry is now working at Biasetti's. JR Thu Apr 18 18:09:53 -0700 2002 597001 0 JR 3 597004 I was just about to post nearly identical information. All I can add is that Smoke Country House is open in the old NN Smokehouse space at 1465 W Irving Park Rd with some of the original employees and a similar menu. I haven’t tried the new place yet and have heard conflicting reports on its quality. If you are looking for other sources of halfway decent barbecue on the north side, I’m afraid I can’t help. Hecky’s in Evanston is about the closest I can think of. Thu Apr 18 18:44:25 -0700 2002 597003 0 Rene G 4 597015 Last time I went to the City North 14 theaters on Western there was a new barbecue place across the street that sure smelled like the real deal, but I haven't had a movie occasion to check it out since. Has anyone else seen or tried this place? Thu Apr 18 22:11:26 -0700 2002 597004 0 Mike G 5 603134 i've just begun researching my latest undertaking: try all the real bbq (aka, pulled pork/bbq pork sandwiches) joints in the city. i know some have tried and have been disappointed, but i feel i need to give it a go. anyway, came across this post and wanted to make sure that our fair friend (Mike G., in case the link isn't attached) has had a chance to try fat willie's since posting his inquiry last april. if not--you've got plans this weekend, mike. it's leading the pack in my inchoate endeavor, but have a feeling it will be hard to knock off the top of the heap, so to speak. the juiciest, smokiest pork, served on a soaked white 'baguette' (actually, the flaky bread adds a nice new dimension, however untraditional). the only thing i might add is a bit more tang (i'm partial to NC style bbq). which, by the way, bone daddy's pork has in spades. they have a truly fine sandwich, and held the lead (more to the point, inspired the quest). but a) the brioche is a bit too chi-chi for me, and b) sauce is very thick and granular, almost. and the fries. no good. it does all-right. and is good when i need a quick, close fix. but i'm searching far & wide now (as time permits--aah, the life of a student). anyway, suggestions are appreciated. i've read some of your reviews of chuck's, salt creek, o's, etc. and all are on the list. wish me luck. Wed Feb 26 14:00:03 -0800 2003 597015 0 gigi 5 603135 I'm not a big fan. I can't remember the name of the place, which tells you how memorable it was. My preference is for ribs that have some fight in them. These ribs fall off the bone, ala Twin Anchors. Neither the ribs or the sauce(which I found pedestrian)had enough smoke taste for my liking. Finally, the sides were nothing to write home about. Bon Apetit! Wed Feb 26 19:05:44 -0800 2003 597015 0 RevrendAndy 4 597036 Hmmm, I wonder who's minding the ship in Orlando then. (see attached link) Link: http://www.nnsmokehouse.com/ Fri Apr 19 09:42:17 -0700 2002 597004 0 zim 5 597045 "Forget going to see the fake Eiffel Tower and Matterhorn, kid. We're going to see the fake N-N Smokehouse!" Biasetti's had great Vegas lounge atmosphere but to my mind mediocre food and service (despite Ira Glass's admiration), about what you'd expect in a place where the same waitresses have been serving the same drunks for 20 years. If Larry Tucker brings N-N quality food to the place it might suddenly become a hip hangout. Fri Apr 19 11:27:50 -0700 2002 597036 0 Mike G 6 597210 happened to go to biasetti's and saw larry there >unfortunately, ordered the ribs--maybe my ribs standard is too hi >>if i had seen larry earlier, i wud have gotten the "tucker pork chops" they looked good, boneless and center cut with special sauce. >>>>also wished i had tried the mixed platter--filet, chicken breast and chop with 3 different sauces--seemed popular >prices still reasonable, but only a few of prevous waitresses remain and many vinyl booths now proliferate Tue Apr 23 12:59:41 -0700 2002 597045 0 El Panzone 4 597037 I was a regular at N.N. for quite some time. After the location on Taylor Street closed, he opened on Foster. He was going to open another N.N. further west on Irving, but that never panned out. Been to the new Country Smoke House a couple of times. Just ok. Something is missing from what Larry served. Surprised to hear Larry is at Biasetti's. This site has been rumored up for sale for quite a while. Fri Apr 19 09:44:31 -0700 2002 597004 0 Jerry Altshuler