Kosher in Chicago

[jasonld]

I will be in downtown Chicago for two days, one night for a business trip, and am looking for somewhere I can get kosher food for lunch and for dinner. It is my understanding that the only kosher restaurant downtown (MetroKlub) is a relatively expensive restaurant that is open for lunch only. I understand that kosher boxed lunches are available daily at the Chicago Loop Synagogue, so I suppose that is my only other option. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Can anybody recommend a nice restaurant for dinner? I will only have mass transit or taxi available, so the closer the better (I understant it may be a 1 hour mass transit ride). No pizza or fast food; I get reimbursed, so I want to have a nice meal!

[weinstein5]

There are now another option for lunch beside the Loop Synagogue and Metro Klub- Kosher Kotel 131 N. Clinton, Chicago, IL 312-502-5603 and is a grab and go place - it has been getting decent reviews http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/852429

My favorites for a nice dinner would be either Taboun Grill 8808 N. Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL
847-965-1818 (http://taboungrill.com/) and Shallots Bistro 7016 Carpenter Road, Skokie, IL 60077 847-677-DINE (http://shallotsbistro.com/) - both are excellent another possible choice would be Hy Life Bistro 4120 W. Dempster, Skokie, IL 60076 847-674-2021

Also if you do not want to shlep many of the restaurants will deliver like Tein Li Chow - http://teinlichow.com/ - IMO some of the best kosher chinese in the country - it is only a take out place that is why I did not recommend it as a restaurant to go -

[Altalena]

I would not recommend Kotel Kosher as the sandwiches they sell are merely boxed sandwiches containing deli meat in between commercial bakery bread. No lettuce tomato etc. The sandwiches delivered by the sandwich club are a much better deal.

Also the travel time to any of the Skokie restaurants from the loop will be well in excess of one hour using public transportation. If taking a taxi I would budget arount $30 each way, Given these factors Metro Klub is the best and only kosher restaurant option in Chicago unless you are willing to schlep to Skokie.

I would agree that Taboun and Shallots are decent restaurants they are just not convenient for anyone without a ride in the loop.

[weinstein5]

if you do end up taking a taxi the suburban cab companies like american taxi have fixed rates from the loop to Skokie -

[lenchik]

Agreed with everything Atlalena said. Kotel Kosher is mediocre at best - the only time I ever bother to go there is when I am with non-Jewish co-workers who have cravings for other things available within the French Market. PLUS, at lunch hour peaks, it's next to impossible to find a seat there and you get stuck sitting by the train terminal. I think that the Sandwich Club sandwiches available at the South Loop Synagogue are more attractive if it comes down to trying to get your lunch budget to $10 and under. Otherwise, I would spend another $15 and go to MetroKlub. At least you can sit in peace and enjoy something that is actually made to order.
Taboun and Shallots are both good although I think they are not really in the same price range or service/ambiance category.
For transportation, if you choose public transit, it will take you more like 2 hours to get to Skokie with train/bus, etc., switches. I would go for the cab.

[ferret]

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but for business travelers it's worth considering zipcars (you need to register in advance). You can get a car for $8 an hour (gas/insurance included) and they're widely available in the area. There's a membership fee, but if you travel regularly, it's worth it. If you look at the cost of cabs to/from Skokie, it's easily $60, which makes a zipcar that much more attractive.

[lenchik]

AGREED! Zipcar is a great idea!

[AdinaA]

I love my zipcard. It makes it so easy to get from business/convention hotels to the suburbs where they serve great kosher chow - Annual membership is less than the price one round-trip cab ride to the suburbs.

They're not parked everywhere you need them or in every city. but the website lets you plan efficiently in advance.

[zsero]

<i>For transportation, if you choose public transit, it will take you more like 2 hours to get to Skokie with train/bus, etc., switches. I would go for the cab.</i>

Google Transport tells me that from the hotels on East Wacker Drive to Tein Li Chow is 1 hour. (Red or purple line to the 97)

To Taboun, just over an hour (Red line to the Yellow line).

To Shallots, also just over an hour (Blue to the 85A)

To Ken's Diner, 1.5 hours (Red or purple line to the 93)

[Altalena]

You have to remember that Tein li Chow is a take out only place operating in a grocery Store you are not going to want to sit on the CTA for an hour to get there.

Plus Ken's Diner's burgers resemble and taste something like hockey pucks also definately not worth the 1.5 hours.

Taboun and Shallots are better options.

Hopefully Milt's BBQ in Lakeview will open sooner rather than later (or not at all) so that those in Chicago will not have to schlep all the way to Skokie to eat a decent kosher dinner.

[ferret]

I really have to disagree with the assessment of Ken's. They make a good burger.

[weinstein5]

ferret I agree with you - I enjoy Kens Burgers as well 0 U find them juicy and nothing like a hockey puck -

Also if you decide for public transportation another option would be the PACE 250 bus that runs down Dempster past Kens and and Taboun - but I agree with the others easily a 1 hour trip one way - a taxi at 6:30-7:00 is no more thank 30 minutes on an average day -

If you decide Public Transit - http://www.transitchicago.com/default... will help you plan your trip

[zsero]

Any chance it will be open by Labor Day? That's when my trip is. And I will be using public transport - already got my CTA 3-day passes; they had a deal on one of those daily deal thingies, so I bought two, which should cover me for the week.

[lenchik]

One of the other threads said that Milt's is still months away from opening, so I wouldn't really hold my breath for it to be ready by Labor Day.

I think I see something looking like a restaurant getting set up on Touhy, close to Chalavi. Is that a new place that was discussed some time ago for meat sandwiches and the like?

Also, has anyone tried the Grill at Ravinia?

[chicago maven]

Milt's will not open until October at the earliest.
I have not tried the Grill yet, but they basically only sell different varieties of Romanian hot dogs. They also have a booth at the United Center for Bulls and blackhawks games withe basically the same menu. I'm sure that they are delicious but I wouldn't go to Ravinia just for a hot dog, even if it is from Romanian!

There is word that Malibu Pizza (next to Ken's) is going to open again soon under new ownership.