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Rock L's
Category:
Restaurants
1115 Lake St
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
(708) 386-3443
I love downtown Oak Park so much, so it’s with a bit of reluctance that I have to give a thumbs down to Rock L’s. The food isn’t bad – let me repeat – the food isn’t bad. But having lived downtown...
I love downtown Oak Park so much, so it’s with a bit of reluctance that I have to give a thumbs down to Rock L’s. The food isn’t bad – let me repeat – the food isn’t bad. But having lived downtown in Oak Park for nearly five years, I visited that place probably twice in total for a burger or fries, and I wasn’t wowed enough to go back there more often. Personally, I much preferred Poor Phil’s down the street (which I recommend especially to first-time visitors to Oak Park - see my review for details), or Mickey’s, which is a less-expensive alternative just north of Ontario Street and Harlem Avenue (within walking distance of downtown Oak Park).
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Well, if you’re looking for a yuppie/college age meat market, this is arguably ground zero in Chicago (the location in Wrigleyville is gaining steam, however). Here’s what springs to mind when I...
Well, if you’re looking for a yuppie/college age meat market, this is arguably ground zero in Chicago (the location in Wrigleyville is gaining steam, however). Here’s what springs to mind when I think of my way-too-numerous visits to Barleycorn:
1. A long line to get in, highlighted by a number of guys (during cold weather) shivering because they didn’t wear their coats (dude, we’re just taking a cab to the bar, no coat needed)
2. A packed interior with people wriggling about to get to a bartender or friends across the room (I’ve also been witness to the drink-order-by-cell-phone, which actually is not a bad idea when the place is jammed tight)
3. Lots of beautiful people acting a little ugly thanks to the power of alcohol
I’m not trying to bad-mouth the place—just the opposite. If you’re single and looking for college-aged hotties and/or new graduates (this location happens to be a big DePaul magnet), you’ll have your pick of the inebriated litter here. Now, is it worth waiting in the long line that undoubtedly forms outside Barleycorn every Friday or Saturday night? Well, that depends on how desperate you are to get inside. So if you go, beat the crowd to reserve a table and some chairs.
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OK, let me get Russell’s negatives out of the way: I don’t like their fries (kind of thin and plain), I’m so-so on their barbecue sauce (very tasty but kind of thin) and their burgers are average at...
OK, let me get Russell’s negatives out of the way: I don’t like their fries (kind of thin and plain), I’m so-so on their barbecue sauce (very tasty but kind of thin) and their burgers are average at best. Fortunately, I realize that I am abnormal, because everyone else I know who’s gone there loves Russell’s and their barbecue sandwiches—which are truly very good, sauce and all. (In retrospect, ordering anything non-barbecue on the menu borders on sacrilegious). Along with ample parking and ample seating, Russell’s gets pluses for serving beer as well as for serving breaded mac and cheese “nuggets” as a side order which tastes, for lack of a better word, awesome. I am hard-pressed to think of a better barbecue joint in the area—much less one with the type of history and following that Russell’s has.
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If Oak Park could keep only one restaurant within its borders, Petersen’s would probably be the odds-on favorite to be chosen. Forget about its proximity to the “touristy” homes of Oak Park and its...
If Oak Park could keep only one restaurant within its borders, Petersen’s would probably be the odds-on favorite to be chosen. Forget about its proximity to the “touristy” homes of Oak Park and its history: Petersen’s churns out some excellent own-brand ice cream (they make their own varieties). As a summer treat, Petersen’s can’t be beat, and it is always a destination whenever we have rugrats staying with us in Oak Park.
Secondly, Petersen’s serves fairly good food, although to be honest I prefer their breakfast offerings more than their lunch and dinner options. What sets Petersen’s apart is its exemplary level of service, which is highlighted by their owner/manager who can often be spotted bouncing from table to table, serving coffee and greeting visitors to make sure they’re having a good time in Oak Park. If you were cynical, it could come off as a hokey attempt to build rapport, but to me, it’s really great to see that level of care about customers—it’s both rare and refreshing. Overall, this is a perfect family dining destination for both in- and out-of-towners.
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I had the privilege of seeing Koko Taylor a few years back at Fitzgerald’s, and her live show pretty much sealed the bar’s reputation in my view as one of the best live venues ever. Not only did she...
I had the privilege of seeing Koko Taylor a few years back at Fitzgerald’s, and her live show pretty much sealed the bar’s reputation in my view as one of the best live venues ever. Not only did she and her Blues Machine band crank it up (catering to an “adult-only” audience, she was able to spice up things a bit), but the intimate space and excellent sound made for a memorable performance that unfolded literally 10 feet in front of me. It was even made more surreal about an hour prior to her show, when I saw Koko get escorted out of her car just as I was walking into the bar. Thank goodness I’m not a stalker.
Since then, I keep my eyes peeled on Fitzgerald’s music calendar, and make sure to visit whenever a fave performer is in town. (It usually draws in indie, bluegrass alt rock and blues acts.) Not only is Fitzgerald’s a pretty historic venue (it’s been used in several big movies), but it’s a friendly crowd that blends in local regulars with visitors from Chicago and the suburbs for the live performance(s) of the evening. The ability to sit or stand up close to the stage is an added bonus—there isn’t a bad view in the place. I don’t know if any trip to Oak Park would be complete without a visit here (even if it’s technically in Berwyn—it’s still right on the border).
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Exit
Category:
Bars
1315 W North Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60642
(773) 395-2700
The only thing I love more about the biker-bar-esque punk/industrial rock dance club that is known as Exit is taking my unsuspecting friends or co-workers there for the first time. The...
The only thing I love more about the biker-bar-esque punk/industrial rock dance club that is known as Exit is taking my unsuspecting friends or co-workers there for the first time. The skull-and-crossbones sign hanging outside doesn’t make them as edgy as the often-intimidating bouncer upfront—and the occasional line of Harleys parked nearby. My friends’ eyes only grow wider as they get ushered inside into a dark club that leads up some stairs to a dance floor surrounded by chain fencing. As the pounding industrial or punk beats blare through the sound system, you can see their eyes widen in a mix of awe, fear and amazement—it’s this “deer in the headlights” look that makes it easy to spot any first-timer to Exit.
The funniest part is, for the most part the crowd and staff at Exit are way more friendly than the most refined bars in Lincoln Park—significant proof that looks aren’t everything. In fact, I love coming to Exit precisely to escape the myriad yuppie bars that lie across the Chicago River. It’s a refreshing change of pace, and the industrial goth music is very easy to get into after a couple of well-priced beers. The ability to people-watch (yes, there are some characters that float about) and dance without looking like a chump (your herky-jerky white man moves will be lost in the sea of dancers) make for an invigorating night of entertainment. If you’ve got a “second wind” after a night of drinking downtown, this is the perfect bar to unfurl your sails (assuming you can stand loud music, of course).
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The Cubby Bear is an evil necessity: The food is overpriced and unspectacular, it plays host to a disproportionate number of washed-up (“old school” would be the positive spin on this) music acts,...
The Cubby Bear is an evil necessity: The food is overpriced and unspectacular, it plays host to a disproportionate number of washed-up (“old school” would be the positive spin on this) music acts, and after Cubs games, the place packs in like sardines—and on a hot day, they are especially drunk and smelly sardines. The flip side of all this is that if you are visiting from out of town (or hosting visitors), you almost feel obligated to check out this Chicago institution that’s kitty corner from Wrigley Field as part of any "Cubs game" experience. Well, I’m here to tell all you potential tourists, admire it from the outside, pop inside if there isn’t a line, but do not spend your hard-earned bucks on either a cover charge or food—your wallet will thank you later. It’s not that the Cubby Bear is a bad place, it’s just that there are far more enjoyable bars nearby.
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Joe's
Category:
Food & Dining
940 W. Weed St.
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Joe’s is one of those stereotypical warehouse-sized bars that combine sports (with TV screens everywhere) and performance (the live stages and dance area are in the back of the warehouse). Joe’s is...
Joe’s is one of those stereotypical warehouse-sized bars that combine sports (with TV screens everywhere) and performance (the live stages and dance area are in the back of the warehouse). Joe’s is a three-headed monster in my book, since I have visited it for three distinct purposes. I have seen it on New Year’s Eve—yes, it is festive; yes, there were tons of people; and yes, I hated it (it wasn’t worth the price of admission). I have seen it on weekends other than New Year’s Eve, and yes, it can be either very hoppin’ (if there’s a popular live act playing) or very dead after midnight—it’s such a crapshoot that I no longer frequent the place. Finally, I have seen it on Sundays when Joe’s hosts Steelers fans for their football games—and it is wonderful if you’re a die-hard fan. Not only do you get to booze it up with fellow comrades, but there’s even a polka band who revs up the crowd between commercial breaks or when the Steelers score. Would I recommend Joe’s as a run-of-the-mill nightclub? Probably not—there are more lively options nearby. Would I recommend it to watch Steelers games on Sunday? If you’re a fan, I’d recommend it 100 percent.
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If there were ever an “official” punk rock bar of Chicago, it would be Delilah’s. For one, the bar plays punk rock music exclusively—the more obscure, the better. Second, it has a disproportionate...
If there were ever an “official” punk rock bar of Chicago, it would be Delilah’s. For one, the bar plays punk rock music exclusively—the more obscure, the better. Second, it has a disproportionate number of patrons that sport tattoos or are looking to form new bands (this is a common meeting place for respondents to punk-oriented “Musicians Wanted” ads in the Reader). Third, it has a rep (thanks to the first two points) as a post-show watering hole for punk acts touring through Chicago (including some big names that have dropped by). Nevertheless, the best part of Delilah’s is that no one really cares whether you’re “punk” or not—you go in, you drink, you chill. If you know or recognize other people from the “music” scene, you can say hi (and more importantly, offer to buy them a drink) if you’re a fan. Otherwise, if you don’t bother anyone, no one will bother you. The worst thing you could do here is stick out like a sore thumb by being obnoxious or a poser (or both). It’s the perfect anti-social bar, where you go to drink with friends rather than be seen, and if you have ever been a fan of punk rock, you will soak up Delilah’s atmosphere without incident.
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Luo’s Peking House is another one of those Chinese restaurants in the Oak Park area that offers a stellar lunch menu (see my Wok ‘n’ Roll Express review for another option). For around $6, you get a...
Luo’s Peking House is another one of those Chinese restaurants in the Oak Park area that offers a stellar lunch menu (see my Wok ‘n’ Roll Express review for another option). For around $6, you get a well-sized entrée (including vegetarian-only options) that comes with rice, an eggroll, soup and tea. The waitstaff is friendly, and your order is prepared quickly. If you crave Chinese while shopping in downtown Oak Park, this place is your best bet.
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