Marija wrote:Definitely agree about the salads. Wonderful.
thaiobsessed wrote:We had a terrific meal at Great Lake a couple weeks ago. The two of us split a bacon, onion, creme fraiche pizza and had a salad with asparagus, fried ramp bulbs and raw ramp leaves. We also had some of Lydia's cookies for dessert.
I love, love, love the pizza at Great Lake. But I have to say, the meticulously crafted salads don't get nearly as much fanfare as they deserve. Also, the cookies, which we ordered on the way out the door as an afterthought, were outstanding. Honestly, it was the memory of the rosemary shortbread that made me call the following week to see what the wait was like; unfortunately, they were closed that week and I haven't had a chance to get back yet.
BR wrote:I'm happy to hear that there are people willing to stay away and never give Great Lake a chance . . . anything to help me get a table.
BR wrote:thaiobsessed wrote:We had a terrific meal at Great Lake a couple weeks ago.
Agreed with respect to the salads . . . and the cookies. I'm happy to hear that there are people willing to stay away and never give Great Lake a chance . . . anything to help me get a table.
We had their number 1 pizza (lamb's cheese, tomato sauce, with mortadella). . . Again, the richness of the lamb cheese
Great Lake, the restaurant that has been hailed locally and nationally as having the best pizza in the country, is closing.
The restaurant is set to close at the end of the month, according to Danny Yuen, who owns the building in Andersonville that houses Great Lake.
Mr. Yuen, who has owned the property for about 20 years, said Great Lake owners Nick Lessins and Lydia Esparza declined to renew their lease after about five years of business and told him they plan to move. Mr. Yuen in turn posted a "For Rent" sign in the window of the intimate 14-seat spot.
According to a source, Mr. Lessins and Ms. Esparza apparently have been unhappy with their situation and have wanted Mr. Yuen to make necessary repairs and updates to the building. Mr. Yuen declined to comment about that, but did say he is looking for a new tenant.
Devastated? Because they're moving? Devastated is when they close forever. Hopefully they go into a suitable space that works for everyone. I still have yet to try it, but I was looking forward to it.pairsforlife wrote:We are devastated.
Ram4 wrote:Devastated? Because they're moving? Devastated is when they close forever. Hopefully they go into a suitable space that works for everyone. I still have yet to try it, but I was looking forward to it.pairsforlife wrote:We are devastated.
madopal wrote:Just had to chime in for some love/support for Great Lake. I'm up in Andersonville, and the SO and I have enjoyed Nick & Lydia's food many times. I hope they find a great home and don't change a bit.
BTW, I've never understood the service complaints. Nick & Lydia have been nothing but charming, accommodating, and wonderful every time I've dined there. They have their rules; but like Eddie Lakin and Doug Sohn, they have their way of doing things, and it's all about bringing their experience to their customers. Some people just aren't accustomed to having owners who override "the customer is always right," especially when it's bad for them and their other customers. Ask Eddie about the "order first, then take your seat" rule. He's right, and his customers are wrong, no matter what they're used to. Service is about more than ass kissing. It's about making the most efficient and fast experience for *everyone* in the restaurant, not just one guest.
And as someone who's been sitting at that communal table when person after person walks in on their cell phone and doesn't close the door on a cold winter day, it's VERY VERY annoying. The door not closing is probably one of the type of repair issues that Nick & Lydia are miffed about, IMHO, as they should be. If Grant Achatz had a draft in his restaurant, you could be damn sure it would be taken care of. I expect that such things must irk Nick & Lydia to no end.
Much love to Great Lake, and I'll definitely be eating too much from them this month in case they opt to not continue.
Vitesse98 wrote:As a parent this place lost my support when I read the distantly aforementioned anecdote wherein the proprietors refused to let a kid use their bathroom. My kids have used both the bathroom at Katy's in Westmont and the one at Hoosier Mama, and if those tiny walk-through-the-kitchen spots could make exceptions, so could Great Lake. Closing the door on a cold day is one thing. Telling the customer to order first is OK. But asking a customer to take their kid somewhere else to use the bathroom? Lame.
I hope they find another spot that allows them to up the hospitality a touch. Though there is some irony in a place notorious for denying customer requests ending a lease because their landlord would not agree to their requests.
on 1/23/13, David Tamarkin wrote:Lydia Esparza from Great Lake just called to make sure people know that Great Lake's Andersonville location is officially closed for good. As if I could forget.
ld111134 wrote:What have they been doing since closing the pizzeria?
Chitown B wrote:ld111134 wrote:What have they been doing since closing the pizzeria?
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=40394
ld111134 wrote:Chitown B wrote:ld111134 wrote:What have they been doing since closing the pizzeria?
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=40394
So, should I conclude that they are totally out of the restaurant business?