Places to eat near Brookfield Zoo

Just got a membership and want to get recs for places around there in case we don't want to pack a picnic. Thanks.

I think back in Chowhound days I posted about the old school pizza place a couple of doors in from the SW corner of Mannheim and Cermak aka 22nd... entirely solid, if not Vito & Nick's level. Or at least it was in about 2003, but it's the kind of place that probably doesn't change.

D's Little Italy has a gift cert on restaurant.com. When you get them at 80% off, it's worth it. (I've never been to D's yet)

Tamale Hut Cafe on 1st and Cermak would get a vote from me.

Las Asadas in Brookfield as well.

There's another Italian joint that has a weekday lunch buffet right on 31st street, not too far W of the zoo on the N side of the street. Name escapes me right now, but they advertise the lunch buffet prominently on their sign, you'll see it. I went for dinner once, not overly impressed at all, but it wasn't BAD.

Our family favorite when visiting the zoo is Freddy's in Cicero

1600 South 61st Avenue
Cicero, Illinois 60804
www.freddyspizza.com

708-863-9289

Which direction are you coming from?

Emilio's for tapas on Roosevelt just west of Mannheim is a nice choice, in addition to the others already listed.

Mike G wrote:I think back in Chowhound days I posted about the old school pizza place a couple of doors in from the SW corner of Mannheim and Cermak aka 22nd... entirely solid, if not Vito & Nick's level. Or at least it was in about 2003, but it's the kind of place that probably doesn't change.

Rocky's Pizza & Restaurant
10421 W Cermak Rd
Westchester
(708) 562-3501

Thank you.

i am coming by 294s to 290e then s on 1st.

I'll second the Tamale Hut - very bright and pleasant, super friendly service, and tasty food. They open early in the morning, so you can grab a bag of tamales for an in-zoo picnic, or you can make a quick run there when it is time for lunch. As you head south on 1st, take the crazy left turn lane that is marked for east bound Cermak. When that connector street meets Cermak, take a right, and the Tamale Hut is right there...easy.

lilmomma wrote:i am coming by 294s to 290e then s on 1st.

If you ever wanna bypass the strangler (or the Ike altogether) simply take 294 south to Cermak, head east to Wolf, south to 31st street, E to the zoo. You'll pass a Panera, an Arby's, a Buona Beef, next to the Panera is some newer "fresh mexican grill" type place - never been. You'll also pass a buncha places right on 31st including D's Little Italy, and the other place I couldn't remember. There is also a strip mall with a nice Dominick's, a few other FF chains, a joint named Pauls Beef or maybe it's Paul's Hot Dogs, which a few ppl here are fans of.

You could also bypass the strangler by getting off on Mannheim S, and heading straight to 31st, then E to the zoo.

Seebee, is that the place just down the block from the landscape business?

We tried it once and won't go back. The Caprese salad was terrible, and everything else was just average.

Cheers,
Brian

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is. I was not impressed, either, but nothing was bad. I would go back and try their "lunch buffet." The regular there who told me I should try the place told me that when I went, the husband was cooking - something about a divorce, blah, blah, blah, but now, the wife is back in the kitchen, and the food is back to normal. fwiw.

If it were me, I would go to Westchester Inn, in the strip mall at 31st and Wolf. Great Bohemian food (yes, I know for some that is an oxymoron, but it isn't for me)...and among the best of its type in the Chicago area.

It's at the far east end of the strip mall and is easy to miss.

Thread revival time.
Any new ideas for this?
Xni-pec - Check
Las Asadas - Check (Brookfield location has been on fire lately)
Fine Thai - Check.
Empanadus - Check. (New entry, just down the street in Riverside. Handful of empanada flavors and chimichurri. GET THE CAPRESE.)
Paul's, and Westchester Inn are on the short list. I'd really love to find some edible Chinese, though I'm thinking that's just crazy talk.

Autre Monde cafe is about 4-5 miles from the Zoo. That's where I would eat.

6727 W Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn IL
http://autremondecafe.net/

Another thread revival.
My Longhorn cousins are in town, and I talked them out of The Taste tomorrow (Saturday.) I talked them into the Brookfield Zoo for a little while and real pizza for lunch. So, I'm wondering of anyone has any decent knowledge of the pizza joints in the area. At the very worst, we'll settle for the Giordano's on Mannheim and Cermak (I'm sure they'll be wanting stuffed or deep dish,) but I wonder if there's some cool dine in joint around there for lunchtime pizza. Oh yeah, we'll have four or five kids ranging from 11 down to 4. Anyone? Just looking for somewhere close-ish to the zoo, pizza will be the menu (hoping for deep dish or stuffed as an option for them) we'll all be in cars.

Short-ish list:
Giron's in Brookfield
Villa Nova (but no deep dish or stuffed)
Rocky's mentioned upthread is not open for lunch on Sat.
Aurelios in LaGrange (never been, heard their thing is a sweet-ish sauce?)
Paisan's in Brookfield is not an option. One of the grossest meals I've ever had was there. (Damn you, Groupon!)

There's other places around, I know, I've just never been to any of them.

Have no personal experience here - but have heard good things & they're open for lunch. Right along Burlington tracks in La Grange and FWIW 4 star average of 54 reviews on Yelp and 4 Chicago Tribune forks.

http://www.luccaspizzeria.com/
108 West Burlington
LaGrange, IL
708.354.9990

Additionally and maybe better for the kids as the above place is small, there's Ledo's Pizza on LaGrange Road, Countryside...

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20037
http://ledospizza.net/
Ledo's Pizza
5525 S. LaGrange Road
Countryside, IL

Located in a rundown looking strip of storefronts along 31st Street, just east of Maple/17th Street, Buenas Salsas in Brookfield is putting out high quality food. Starts with freshly fried chips, an interesting creamy cheese spread, and a better than average table salsa.

Menu consists of standard taqueria fare (Tacos/Burritos/Tortas) as well as some house specials including Papusas. Basic tacos come on standard tortillas, but there are a few special tacos that come on handmade tortillas. I haven't tried yet, but I'd be willing to bet you could get the handmade tortillas for the basic tacos. Two salsas for the tacos are good. One is a creamy green that is closer to mild in heat, but has nice flavor. The other seems to be charred tomatillos that really packs an intense punch.

The papusas are killer. Pork and Cheese in particular.

Taco de Chonito - Tender chunks of steak, avocado, sour cream on a thick handmade tortilla


Pork and Cheese Papusa


Loroco & Cheese Papusa


The service is friendly, although a bit amateur and slow. Nothing that would keep me away though.

I've been a few times at what should be peak hours (Friday dinner & Saturday lunch) and it's been quite slow. I'm hoping business picks up as this place really is a gem in my opinion.

Buenas Salsas
9132 W 31st St
Brookfield, IL 60513
https://www.buenassalsas.com/

Awesome intel. I'll be there two weeks from now to try some stuff. Out of town until then or it would be MUCH sooner. Like right freekin NOW!

Website is not fully completed. I was excited to try and see the menu options but the menu page is not complete.

seebee wrote:Awesome intel. I'll be there two weeks from now to try some stuff. Out of town until then or it would be MUCH sooner. Like right freekin NOW!

Website is not fully completed. I was excited to try and see the menu options but the menu page is not complete.

You have to click on the picture that looks like a menu cover, and it will start downloading the menu as a PDF.

If I get back there within the next two weeks, I'll take pictures of the menu and post them.

We dined at Buenas Salsas tonight for the first time and enjoyed the excellent pupusas and sides of salsa, pico, and queso. The only problem is we were the only two diners they had at 7 PM on a Friday night. This place needs some LTH support!

I have a friend who dines at Burger Antics weekly: https://www.burgerantics.com

Ms. Ingie wrote:I have a friend who dines at Burger Antics weekly: https://www.burgerantics.com

That's my thought for the area. I don't go often enough, but between their former Countryside and current Brookfield location, they have my favorite pub-style burgers in the Chicago area.

Yes, Burger Antics is one of my go-to restaurants in the area. I have to limit it to once a month to remain somewhat healthy. Burgers are great. Beer list is excellent and the whiskey selection is top shelf as well.

Throw my hat into the ring...

Burger Antics
3740 Grand Blvd
Brookfield

Not mentioned much but outstanding Serbian!

Skadarliya
9237 W Ogden Ave
Brookfield

Another delicious meal at Buenas Salsas last night. Papusas were right on. My wife tried Enchiladas Roja. The roja sauce was pretty mild in the heat department, but otherwise had a nice depth of flavor. Afterwards, we walked a few hundred feet down the street to La Michoacana De Brookfield for paletas. A huge selection of water or milk based paletas. A good 20 flavors of ice cream as well. My mango con chile paleta had big chunks of mango and a nice heat from the hot sauce base. Made for a great 1-2 punch.

La Michoacana De Brookfield
9102 31st St, Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 255-5371

Another little (more of a cafe) Mexican restaurant opened recently in Riverside (a stones throw from the water tower)...

La Estancia
25 Forest Ave, Riverside

Very congenital owner working the room and the food, while traditional, often will have a delishous twist.

Traditional tamales available as well.

A very nice and relaxing stop after the oft hectic visit to the zoo.

Anyone know anything about Beach Ave BBQ? Trust this site more than yelp.

Eric wrote:Anyone know anything about Beach Ave BBQ? Trust this site more than yelp.

I have a friend who trusts the pictures on Yelp more than the reviews.

I hope someone has some insight to offer on Beach Ave BBQ.

Regards,
CAthy2