113817 Wed Oct 01 10:30:56 -0700 2003 30 7 Chicago Area 0 618981 Dickson brought the topic of roast chicken the other day. I meant to respond to his post, but I got rather obsessed with certain political developments. So, these comments probably do not directly match his original comments. I have two things to say. First, I believe that while Chicagoans seem oddly un-phased by roast chicken, we are quite blessed with great roast chicken. We were recently in Los Angeles and had roast chicken at Zankou, one of the most famous of roast chicken in LA. Zankou itself was a great meal, but the chicken was not nearly as good as my Chicago favorites. It seems odd that Chicagoans will use roast chicken as their bistro measurment, but have little interest for great semi-fast food chicken. Second, in the vein of noting and exploring, and further popularizing our roast chicken offerings, Wiv and I were discussing a roast chicken taste-off. We will set a date shortly for this. Please e-mail me if interested in participated. Contenders include: - Mr. Pollo - Flying Chicken - Colombian Chicken place near Fullerton and Kedzie - New chicken place opened by El Llano people and mentioned in last week's reader - Pollo Chon/Papa Sabrosoa - Tropical Taste Rob Wed Oct 01 10:30:56 -0700 2003 0 Vital Information 1 618986 Your list suggests that you would include jerk chicken (or does Tropical Taste have roast also?). What about Chicago's own contribution to the world of roast chickens, chicken Vesuvio? And for fun, Costco? Do Broasted (R) chickens count? Wed Oct 01 11:20:03 -0700 2003 618981 0 JeffB 2 618988 Tropical Taste is the Domican place on North near Central Park. They do not have jerk chicken. Perhaps you are thinking of Tropic Island. As to including jerk, broasted, vesuvio, etc. I say no. It is not a chicken tasting. Costco? Well, I think it would be worthwhile to include at least one supermarket chicken. Rob Wed Oct 01 11:26:48 -0700 2003 618986 0 Vital Information 3 618991 Geeze, I'm so addled with restaurant memories that I can't even keep the names of my old Humboldt Park favorites straight. My apologies to the nice Dominican ladies. BTW, I like them as an underdog, but the safe money's on Pollo Chon. We agree about Zankou, also. Wed Oct 01 11:31:59 -0700 2003 618988 0 JeffB 1 618992 I think CocoRico's Amish Roast Chicken is a worthy candidate. Easily my favorite, tho I have only tried one other on your list. Cocorico Rotisserie 5428 S. Lake Park ave. Wed Oct 01 11:32:02 -0700 2003 618981 0 ab 2 618996 Does Cocorico have the game anymore. That was a big thing a few years ago, and then it pretty much fell off the face of the board. It would be a great addition to the roast chicken tasting, especially for geographic and ethnic diversity. Also, is Metropolis or whatever its called on Armitage still there. I used to like their chicken, although not nearly as much as some of the others. It should still be a contender. Rob Wed Oct 01 12:10:51 -0700 2003 618992 0 Vital Information 3 619009 Metropolis is still there. When I ordered it a while back, though, I was underwhelmed-- I mean, it was fine for a Tuesday night, but I would put it behind pretty much all the S. American places on your list that I've been to. Could be that was a fluke, of course. Wed Oct 01 15:03:26 -0700 2003 618996 0 Mike G 4 619037 I live close to Metropolis and get their chicken fairly often-more for convienence than for great taste. It's fine for a quick, easy meal, but nothing special. When Metropolis was first opened by Erwin Dreschler(sp?), who now owns Erwin's on Halsted, it was something special. It changed hands long ago and need not be included on "THE LIST." Wed Oct 01 21:05:23 -0700 2003 619009 0 RevrendAndy 3 619016 They still offer game. At least, they still have a menu posted w/ all the offerings and per pound pricing. I have not ordered any myself, tho I've been hoping the right opportunity arises so I can order a nice leg of lamb or some bunnies. The Chicken is superb! Really an interesting place, the ovens they use are one-of-a-kind in Chicago I'm guessing (definitely some type of European oven). French side dishes and desserts compliment as well. I know they were closed this weekend when I stopped by for a sandwich, but it appeared to only be a minor remodeling (so I hope). I'll have to put Metropolis on my list. Wed Oct 01 15:59:35 -0700 2003 618996 0 ab 1 618993 For good measure, it would be interesting to see how the roast chicken from these contenders match-up to a home-cooked version of the wonderful, famed roast chicken with sage bread salad recipe from Zuni Cafe in S.F. Incredibly time-intensive, but a for those who love a great roast chicken, it's a definite must... Link: http://www.foodiefamily.com/script/recipe.asp?ID=5 Wed Oct 01 11:49:23 -0700 2003 618981 0 HungryHoward 2 618995 Funny you should mention the Zuni dish. Exactly what the Condiment Queen served out for Rosh Hashanah. Truly great. And she worked her ass off for hours to make a dish that seemed so simple. Wed Oct 01 12:08:21 -0700 2003 618993 0 Vital Information 3 618997 A great dish at all times of the year, and a good thought for RH. Great to see that the Condiment Queen's hard work was successful! Back in my kitchen, only after making the dish the second time did I recognize how essential it is to brine the chicken overnight, and in the process, produce the great flavors. Wed Oct 01 12:46:32 -0700 2003 618995 0 HungryHoward 1 618998 I take the liberty of excerpting a paragraph from a recent post I made on Hopleaf. Go for the chicken, stay for the beer. "Your devoted reporter ordered the roasted half chicken, served on a bed of fresh fava beans, sweet corn, cherry tomatos, and new potatos. I frankly cannot remember being served a juicier, tastier chicken in a long, long, long time. I am most definitely not a partisan of fava beans, but this presentation--in a garlicky broth (they must buy garlic by the truckload here)--was superb. (There was also a whole mess of arugula leaves on top.) Really outstanding chicken. It was pressed and nearly, but not totally deboned. Just wonderful, exquisite chicken." Wed Oct 01 12:46:44 -0700 2003 618981 0 Gypsy Boy 2 619013 I ask this because I do not know the answer, but my thinking in this roast chicken taste-off was to limit the adventure to, essentially chicken specialists/semi-fast food places. It is one of these slippery distictions that is not well thought out, but my initial thoughts were to exclude bistros or anything else approaching "regular" restaurants. Tell me which catagory you think Hopleaf falls into. The primary reason for this distiction, and also a bit why no vesuvio's are in the mix, is logistics. Do you think Le Bouchon and Toresoul or something like that can take a group of traveling hounds who, amongst several will order one chicken. Included in this, is the idea that the chicken will be readily available. Vesuvio's usually take 45 min or so. On the other hand, if people really think this should be a complete roast chicken contest, perhaps we can have teams and rounds the way the SF people have treated their dim sum challenge. Personally, however, I prefer the one day, chicken specialist, places we can easily get in/out of approach. rob Wed Oct 01 15:48:54 -0700 2003 618998 0 Vital Information 3 619019 I, uncharacteristically, fully agree with The Mayor of Chicago Chowhound, Vital Information, that our Chicken Hunt should be limited to "essentially chicken specialists/semi-fast food places" The logistics of ordering from 'regular' restaurants would make a one day/afternoon event infeasible. Regards, Gary Wed Oct 01 16:39:28 -0700 2003 619013 0 G Wiv 4 619064 And allow me to agree as well. If you open it up to places whose business is not focused on carryout chicken, you pretty much open it up to everything. I think you need to look at good, cheap, carry out roast chicken. And I eat Boston Market, as I said in my post, but it is a manufactured food which misses the mark for good roast chicken in terms of taste (the salty mairnade is all you taste) and crispiness, as it seems to go for some form of moist tenderness, which results in it always being much more greasy. It relates to roast chicken as its sister chain, Chipotle, relates to burritos. It may satisfy a similar craving, but it ain't the real deal. Count me in. d Thu Oct 02 11:34:37 -0700 2003 619019 0 dickson d 4 619122 I agree on the quick/carry-out vs. 'traditional' sit-down restaurant distinction. In fact, I will make it a point to attempt to sample each entrant I try via strictly take-out. This will not color the reviews, then, as each meal will be eaten in the comfort of my own home with my own beverages. I think I'll start tonight as this now gives me a great reason for swinging by Mr. Pollo on the way home for a 1/2 chicken and green sauce to accompany tonight's Cubs game. Fri Oct 03 12:36:56 -0700 2003 619019 0 Kman 3 619072 Rob-- While I do not think that Italian Beefs travel well enough for a central tasting, I believe that pehaps no hot food travels better than roast chicken (excluding long-cooked stewy things like chili or menudo). On the other hand, I agree that the tasting should be limited to quick chicken specialists, selling chickens that are meant to leave in the first place. If you expanded to white tablecloth places, you'd have a huge number of Italian (Stefani's comes to mind, excellent wood-fired oven rotisserie bird), Greek, French, and "Chicago" (Gale St. Inn) places to contend with. Maybe contrary to this, I offer two other establishments that are known for, or claim they are known for, roast chicken: Mellow Yellow and BJs. Too bad Taza closed, it could've been a contender. Thu Oct 02 12:43:02 -0700 2003 619013 0 JeffB 1 618999 I would respectfully suggest that Flying Chicken be deleted from the list of contenders. Desiccated is the word that comes to mind when I think of their chicken and I know that other Chowhounds have had similarly bad experiences. Wed Oct 01 13:01:05 -0700 2003 618981 0 MAG 2 619012 Granted, it has been over a year since I have been there, but I have never found the chicken at Flying Chicken anywhere close to awful. But we will see in our little showdown. Wed Oct 01 15:41:19 -0700 2003 618999 0 Vital Information 2 619052 I was only at Flying Chicken once, and became convinced that the place must be a front for a drug or money-laundering operation. The lack of attention to food and customer was so complete. I'm afraid I have to agree with MAG-- my chicken was dry and overcooked, and the roast potatoes were inedible. I guess sometimes I feel guilty for only giving a place one chance to win my business, but first impressions are so hard to change. joel Thu Oct 02 00:26:59 -0700 2003 618999 0 joel 1 619021 What about Nick's Pit Stop at Damen and Armitage? Is it really as good as everyone says?? Wed Oct 01 17:36:13 -0700 2003 618981 0 Charlotte 1 619024 I hate to admit it...but I like Boston Market chicken. Now, if I am still on baord here after saying that, I might suggest you include it. Also, if there are some outstanding roast chicken places in the western suburbs (Oak Brook-Downers Grove-Naperville) I'd be interested in hearing about them for my next trip back there. We usually have a family dinner of White Fence Farm fried chicken, but the PC crowd is shying away from fried chicken lately. Wed Oct 01 17:58:00 -0700 2003 618981 0 RSMBob 1 619046 In my opinion, any discussion regarding roast chicken in Chicago must include a reference to the garlicky rossemary roast chicken of Bistro 110. It's excellent. Wed Oct 01 23:12:30 -0700 2003 618981 0 YourPalWill 1 619089 You must add this place to your list. Wholly Frijoles ( Touhy Ave.-Lincolnwood )does something absolutely wonderful with chicken. I believe that he marinates the bird (Latin-style), roasts it-- and then finishes it off on the grill. We're talking condemned-man last meal request stuff here-- Delicious!!! Thu Oct 02 16:53:25 -0700 2003 618981 0 cito 2 619131 do you have an address and/or phone number, as i refuse to pay for using 411 and dont have a lincolnwood phone book, thanks, joan Fri Oct 03 15:38:41 -0700 2003 619089 0 joan 3 619134 Whooly Frijoles 3908 W. Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood 847-329-9810 The metromix review, oddly enough, doesn't mention the chicken though the other entrees sound good enough to pique my curiosity. Fri Oct 03 15:47:05 -0700 2003 619131 0 YourPalWill 4 619138 On their menu it is called "Pollo a las brasas" The description is "half a chicken charcoal grilled and marinated in lemon and garlic" Dinner price is $ 8.95--includes soup or salad + mashed potatos and a garnish of grilled green onion. I may have been mistaken when I said that it was roasted first---Anyway, it has a very robust taste that is missing from most "Greek" chicken places that I have tried. Enjoy!! Fri Oct 03 18:01:08 -0700 2003 619134 0 cito 3 619136 I am among the few, all my neighbors love Wholly Frijoles, that's ambivalent to slightly negative about the place. I want to like the food, it's run by a hard working and friendly family, but ~shrug~ Wholly Frijoles is inexpensive, uses fresh ingredients, has friendly service and a parking lot, what more could one ask? (Smile) I guess the problem, for me, is that it's a little too neutrally spiced, everything taste a bit bland, a bit Schaumburgized, if you will. On the Yellow Pages front, here's a link you may find useful. Enjoy, Gary Link: http://yp.yahoo.com/ Fri Oct 03 16:16:54 -0700 2003 619131 0 G Wiv 4 620037 Had the Camarones Bien Macho the other night there - ordered with extra garlic and chile de arbol... the chiles de arbol were perfectly roasted (as they burn very easily) and six very healthy, beautifully seasoned shrimp were set in a bed of chiplotle mashed potatoes; plenty spicy - and I am usually relegated to maniac status by less ardent afficianados of flaming taste buds... Set off very nicely by a bed of julienned chayote and zucchini. Outstanding... I have learned to generally order spiciness levels as "authentic" style, as "really super-hot" doesn't convey much meaning if the expectation level is presumed to be coming from someone not accustomed to significant firepower. I give this place the thumbs up - if you want spicy, just ask for it - they were very accomodating. Wed Aug 25 11:59:53 -0700 2004 619136 0 mfk9 3 619146 Joan, Internet directory assistance: www.anywho.com Works like a charm! Regards CAthy2 Fri Oct 03 22:55:02 -0700 2003 619131 0 Cathy2