Manny's or Perry's or neither?

[Smavo]

Just a quick question. Is either Manny's or Perry's worth going to for a quick lunch while I'm in town? Sandwiches are my favorite food group and I haven't found much on these two places so I figured I'd ask. Thanks

[jbontario]

Epy's next door to Perry's on Franklin is way better.
Perry's is average and gets a following because the sandwiches are huge. IMO huge does not equal good.

[jbw]

I'm surprised you "haven't found much" on these two. Check out this thread to get an earful:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/307862

By the way, I am a proponent of Manny's, primarily for its excellent carved sandwiches (including boiled brisket and rare roast beef), but despite the controversy it sometimes generates (IMO because it is unfairly compared with great East Coast delis--which it definitely is not) it remains an iconic Chicago establishment, visited regularly by Presidents, Presidential candidates, mayors (or at least one mayor) and pols and characters of all stripes, including still many of us locals. Tons of atmosphere and Chicago ambience.

[lbs]

I love Manny's and would recommend it. Nothing fancy - caferteria style setting but the sandwiches are huge and delicious. I always get the pastarmi with kreplach soup and a potato pancake and then don't need to eat for a week. Last time I was there I saw David Axlerod. It is a cool joint.

[gomexico]

Both Manny's and Perry's offer huge sandwiches, so if "huge" is what you're looking for - either place will work. Of the two, I prefer Perry's. Both are about the same quality of product, and both offer a bit of "theater" with the long lines, etc. I've never thought of either as offering "quick" service - though that'll depend upon the time of day you visit. Another place to find excellent sandwiches in the Loop - not the over-sized or huge varieties - is Pastoral, at Lake St. and Wabash Avenue. Overall, I prefer Pastoral more than the two places you've asked about. Have a great lunch, wherever!

[nsxtasy]

>> Another place to find excellent sandwiches in the Loop - not the over-sized or huge varieties - is Pastoral, at Lake St. and Wabash Avenue.

If you're on the west side of the Loop, Pastoral also has a booth at the new French Market in the train station. www.frenchmarketchicago.com

[Smavo]

Real quick let me just say this forum has made my trip take new directions that I am so excited and appreciative of your advice! Sounds like these places might be ok to miss. I am going to The French Market on Saturday so I'll just come up with something else creative on Friday for lunch. Thanks again

[nsxtasy]

If I might make a suggestion for your Friday lunch, the Rick Bayless restaurants are turning out some unusual, even amazing Mexican cuisine that you're not likely to find anywhere else this side of the border. Topolobampo is more expensive than Frontera Grill at dinner time, but the prices are surprisingly similar at lunch. Topolobampo accepts reservations on Opentable.com whereas Frontera Grill is mostly first come first served. And XOCO is the new one, serving Bayless's take on Mexican street food (beware long lines at lunchtime). All are located together in River North, just north of the Loop. Check out the menus for all three of them at www.rickbayless.com/restaurants

[Smavo]

I was thinking of trying Frontera Grill Thursday night......will I be waiting for ever? If not I can rearrange some things and do lunch at Topo. I will eat at a Bayless establishment I would just much rather do dinner on Thursday to fit in the rest of my plans.

[nsxtasy]

Go for it! I ate at Topolobampo on a Thursday night a few weeks ago. When I was leaving, I asked at the hoststand whether there had been much of a wait for seating at Frontera that evening, and was told that there was little to no wait. Of course, there are no guarantees, but I recommend just going, and there probably won't be much of a wait. In the unlikely event that the wait is ridiculously long and you don't feel like waiting, you could always duck around the corner to XOCO.

[gomexico]

I don't recommend the Bayless places to people who are looking for Mexican food - because, for the most part, that's not what's prepared and sold there (and I think most people are looking for more than is offered). Food using ingredients one might find in Mexico - some - are used in ways I doubt many Mexicans (or persons familiar with Mexican cooking) would recognize. Also, Bayless doesn't cook in his restaurants - in case you're looking for something inspired from him. There's a good chance he'll walk through the restaurants and smile - because that's what his role in the company - marketing. If you want to eat there to say you've done that and pay the premium price to do so - then, depending upon the season you'll be visiting (such as right now), arrive later than earlier for lunch, or soon after the restaurant opens for dinner in the evening. Xoco - vastly over-rated and over-priced - is more easily visited 10-11 a.m., or 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (weekdays).

Once again about sandwiches: I find the French Market barren as far as decor and cafeteria-like as far as seating to eat - a disappointment. If you were to think of having something to eat at Pastoral - the ambiance at Lake & Wells is unique, and comfortable in comparison.

[nsxtasy]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, because I think Bayless is directing some of the best, most creative Mexican cooking in the country. I've enjoyed the food at all three of his restaurants, and it's more elaborate and creative and just plain different from any other restaurant in Chicago. I've been to XOCO and enjoyed it a lot, based on my own taste buds, not on any reviews in the press or elsewhere. I also thought it was a reasonable value too - not the cheapest place in town, of course, but it's lighter fare, and pretty light on the wallet. For a more substantial meal, Frontera and Topolobampo continue to offer fantastic food - more elaborate and unusual in style and ingredients than the otherwise excellent food I've had at other creative provincial Mexican restaurants here, including Mundial Cocina Mestiza, Mexique, Mixteco Grill, Fuego, Fonda del Mar, Salpicon, Adobo Grill, and others. Given that Bayless and his staff spend two weeks every year in Mexico going to restaurants down there and meeting with their chefs, I would also bet that all of them are more familiar with today's restaurant scene in Mexico than most of us here, even those who visit family there.

The French Market is indeed rather spare in terms of decor, but the food is excellent. There's a nice variety of types of food represented, and many of them are some of the very best of their kind in the city (including Pastoral for cheese, Canady for artisanal chocolates, and Vanille for croissants, entremets, and French macaroons). Given the newness of the facility (which only opened in December), I'm willing to cut them some slack with hopes that they will eventually spruce it up a bit over time.

For the other Loop location of Artisan, I'm sure you meant to say Lake and Wabash (as in your earlier post), rather than Lake and Wells. While the ambience there may be nicer than the French Market, you can't follow your sandwich there with an entremet from Vanille Patisserie, rainbow cookies from Delightful Pastries, chocolates from Canady Le Chocolatier, or other items from any of the other thirty or so vendors selling their foods at the French Market.