Eats near Music Box

Was looking for decent or interesting lunch eats near the Music Box. I did a search and all I could find were posts from '08 and '09.

Any current comments?

D.

Coalfire - 3707 N Southport
Crosby's Kitchen - 3455 N Southport
Tac Quick - 1011 W. Irving Pk.

Empanadas from El Mercado. Way way way better than Cafe Tola.

El Mercado Meat Market
3767 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613

The Roost is our go-to. If time is an issue, I'm a big fan of Tola (way way way more than El Mercado). Alternatively, you can definitely put together a good meal at Julius Meinl. Or you could eat ice cream for lunch at Jeni's.

Cafe Orchid, 1746 W. Addison
(lunch 7 days/week)
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=36933

Toons (a GNR) opens at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.
3857 N. Southport
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=22394

Other than Crosby's (never been), I would echo all the other recommendations and add SIP, or Southport & Irving.


4000 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
b/t Cuyler Ave & Irving Park Rd

(773) 857-2890
southportandirving.com

Tola and Mercado are both fantastic. They make Sothport between Addison and Irving one of the great empanada streets in America. They are doing different things. Mercado much cheaper and traditional Argentine and Peruano. Tola does an innovative job with its Mexican and Cuban focused fillings, and high turnover results in piping hot, crisp pastry. The birria is brilliant.

Mercado's wares can be found up and down the block at the various Tango Sur family places.

Oh, and 5411 is there too. Not my favorites.

Grassroots (formerly Deleece), four doors north at 3747, is always a solid choice.

A few months ago (April 2017), as posted and described here, I had lunch at Crosby's Kitchen and loved it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. It's a couple blocks south at 3455.

JeffB wrote:Tola and Mercado are both fantastic. They make Sothport between Addison and Irving one of the great empanada streets in America. They are doing different things. Mercado much cheaper and traditional Argentine and Peruano. Tola does an innovative job with its Mexican and Cuban focused fillings, and high turnover results in piping hot, crisp pastry. The birria is brilliant.

Mercado's wares can be found up and down the block at the various Tango Sur family places.

Oh, and 5411 is there too. Not my favorites.

Couldn't agree with this more - Tola and Mercado are apples and oranges to me, and both great in their own way.

To answer OPs question - I've found that Coalfire is my go to given their proximity to music box and ability to really turn and burn tables. The seasonal patio adds enough space that I've had little problem getting a table with no wait my last few times in (maybe I've just been lucky) and pizza, a beer, and a movie is classic. My option 2 is typically Tola for a quick grab and go situation.

Music Box has pretty lousy popcorn.

admich wrote:To answer OPs question - I've found that Coalfire is my go to given their proximity to music box and ability to really turn and burn tables. The seasonal patio adds enough space that I've had little problem getting a table with no wait my last few times in (maybe I've just been lucky) and pizza, a beer, and a movie is classic.

Not to be Mr. Officious (total lie), but Coalfire, per their own website (http://coalfirechicago.com) and Google, is only open for lunch Fri-Sun (closed Mon, 4p open Tues-Thurs). If you would like the same food, yet better in my vehement opinion, Spacca Napoli is only 1 mile away at 1769 W. Sunnyside, and open for lunch Tues-Sun.

Sorry admich, but I have a strong opinion on Spacca & Da Nella (Forno Rosso too but no overlap location-wise) being clearly better for Neapolitan(esque). Great Burrata at Spacca Napoli too!

Another worthwhile choice is Southport Grocery & Cafe, which is mostly cafe, not grocery. Their menu has all-day breakfast/brunch items (omelets, hash, bread pudding pancakes) as well as lunch items like sandwiches and salads. Expect a wait due to brunch crowds on weekends, but you'll generally find no wait on weekdays. A block south of the theater, at 3552 N. Southport.

admich wrote:To answer OPs question - I've found that Coalfire is my go to given their proximity to music box and ability to really turn and burn tables.

I was gonna say much the same thing, so instead I'll second it. The service is good, the pizza shows up quick, the pizza is good, and you make the movie on time.

Thanks for all the ideas. Coal fire is out, because we're going on a Thursday for lunch. Roost looks small. Right now we're thinking Crosby's Kitchen looks good.

I'll post after we go.

D.

nsxtasy wrote:Grassroots (formerly Deleece), four doors north at 3747, is always a solid choice.

A few months ago (April 2017), as posted and described here, I had lunch at Crosby's Kitchen and loved it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. It's a couple blocks south at 3455.

I loved Deleece, but was thoroughly disappointed by Grassroots. We went through for lunch one day before a show at the Music Box and I made the mistake of getting their tuna tacos with sambal aioli. The corn tortillas were about as dry as could be, and there wasn't a hint of anything red on them, so I have no idea what happened to the sambal aioli.

Last Thursday a friend and I went to Crosby's kitchen. I was going to try the chicken dip, but in talking to our waiter I learned they had a french dip. So I ordered that with bacon potato cakes. The beef was terrific, but the cakes were too well done.

My buddy had the mahi mahi sandwich with coleslaw. He thought this was very good.

Thanks for the recommendations.

D.

I am going to go see Phantom Thread, new Paul Thomas Anderson, at Music Box, and was hoping to go out to a GNR near there before or after, but the only one close I see is Toons* which is ok, but I am hoping for an option different than bar food, good as it may be.

Since (it seems that) the majority of GNR's seem to live on North Side, can anyone recommend something near there that is GNR worthy, but just has not made the list?

Thanks....

*Was Toons previously called Doningers? I lived there in the 80s and there was a great old school german bar we used to go to that is very close to that location.

I like to go to Music Box for the 70mm showings, but you need a seat cushion for those epics!

I always enjoy visits to Toons but we would be remiss to not mention...

Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave

Granted this would be a full formal meal maybe better suited for after the event, but what a meal it would be.

BYOB

Coalfire's been mentioned, but I second it heartily. And would add, a couple blocks down Southport, Tuco and Blondie, a Mexican place I've been to only once and enjoyed.

DKoblesky wrote:*Was Toons previously called Doningers? I lived there in the 80s and there was a great old school german bar we used to go to that is very close to that location.

Yes, according to this site: https://www.chibarproject.com/Reviews/Toons/Toons.htm

I recently moved after living around the corner from the Music Box for 8 years, so I've been to most of the restaurants in the area many times. I'd recommend the following, all of which are within a half mile or so of the theater:

Tango Sur - For my money, this is the best value for steak in the city. I'm partial to the vacio cut (flap meat). Just make sure they cook it to your liking, the Argentines like it rare and the kitchen can be inconsistent when it's busy. The servers never have a problem correcting a mistake.

Coalfire - one of my favorite pizza places in the city. The pies can come out really quick, which is nice if you're pressed for time before the show.

Toons - Really good bar food. I especially like the Cuban sandwich and their wings. The Cuban isn't a 100% traditional version (it includes pulled pork) but it's better than almost anywhere else in Chicago.

The Roost - Good Nashville style hot chicken (non-spicy fried chicken also available) and biscuits.

Tac Quick - Great Thai, a little further from the theater than the others but still walkable. Note newish location on Irving (used to be around the corner on Sheridan). I love the crispy on choy.

Southport Grocery - a breakfast and lunch spot that's worth the often long waits. Sadly only an option if you're going to a matinee.

A couple places I wouldn't recommend:

Crosby's Kitchen is pretty good for a neighborhood place and is really popular for families with small children, but I wouldn't make a special trip there.

I've only eaten at Tuco & Blondie once. It was just OK, I don't plan to return.

Coda di Volpe or Ella Elli are both very good and nicer places...both a bit further south on Southport.

Bumping this to see if there are any new recs for pre-Anthony Bourdain documentary eats?

Steingold's is literally next door. Definitely ate my sandwich while waiting for doors to open this afternoon.

lodasi wrote:Steingold's is literally next door. Definitely ate my sandwich while waiting for doors to open this afternoon.

Saw that! Unfortunately they’re closed when we’ll be attending the film.

We are still chugging away after 32 years at Toons Bar & Grill! Thanks to all for the years of support. Danny

jhawk1 wrote:We are still chugging away after 32 years at Toons Bar & Grill! Thanks to all for the years of support. Danny

So wait. You opened it when you were 7?!

=R=

We enjoyed a great pre-film meal at Toons! Ribs were on point and my friends loved their salads and entrees too. Great service and vibes on the sidewalk patio - perfect weather sure helped with that. Snuck in some Dairy Queen as well. By the way, please go see the Bourdain documentary it’s excellent.

Lerdawg, Thanks so much for the kind words! Ronnie yes child labor laws not in effect back in the day! LOL !