Restaurants Thread

[Galway Eagle]

Rodgers in top 100 of 20th Century Athletes per ESPN

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/07/16/former-packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-ranks-no-91-in-espns-top-100-athletes-of-21st-century/

The hell have you done with Rodger's that this belongs on the restaurants thread?

[warriorchick]

Rodgers in top 100 of 20th Century Athletes per ESPN

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/07/16/former-packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-ranks-no-91-in-espns-top-100-athletes-of-21st-century/

Considering Aaron Rodgers was only 16 years old at the end of the 20th century, that's pretty impressive.

[21Jumpstreet]

If you’re ever kickin around Charleston, there are obviously a ton of killer joints. Get off the main track, walk to Hannibal’s, and eat some delicious Gullah and GeeChee food. Some call it soul food, some call it food.

[jutaw22mu]

Not a restaurant but best elotes I've had around here is Ortiz Grocery in Waukegan.  It's literally all they do besides fruits and cakes.

[Skatastrophy]

My farmer's market guy has pretty good esquites, but they are easy enough to make at home during corn season. Here's my fav recipe: https://www.seriouseats.com/esquites-mexican-street-corn-salad-recipe

I shared a meal at Oriole with friends last weekend. It was fantastic, as good as Ever. Best two restaurants in the city right now IMO. We have a res coming up at Smyth next month which would be a contender as well, I've just never been there.

[Skatastrophy]

I had a wonderful meal at Smyth this past weekend. I'd put it on par with Ever and Oriole, and all three of those above Alinea in Chicago.

Seafood forward was a surprise, but they tied a number of divergent dishes together into a wonderful meal. It was interesting, if they listed the dishes and their components one after another it wouldn't make sense at all, but they just nailed it with the flavors and textures. Really nice wine pairing and stellar service.

Great drinks on the Elske patio afterwards enjoying their fireplace where we ran into the Smyth owner. Small world. Nice that he's supporting local fine dining.

[Galway Eagle]

Watched the Charlie Trotter documentary on Netflix last night. Did anyone get to go there in its heyday?

[JWags85]

Watched the Charlie Trotter documentary on Netflix last night. Did anyone get to go there in its heyday?

Depends how you define “heyday” but I went in 2009, so a few years before it closed.  I was the regular driver back and forth to college for a friend of mine from the northern burbs.  Then when she graduated a year after me, I helped a bunch with her graduation party, procured all the alcohol and bartended.  As a thank you, her parents took me along with a small group that went to Trotters as a belated graduation celebration.   It was unreal.  I was blown away at the time, but now 15 years later, I’ve had a lot of great food and I have an even further appreciation for what a fantastic restaurant it was. 

[Skatastrophy]

Depends how you define “heyday” but I went in 2009, so a few years before it closed.  I was the regular driver back and forth to college for a friend of mine from the northern burbs.  Then when she graduated a year after me, I helped a bunch with her graduation party, procured all the alcohol and bartended.  As a thank you, her parents took me along with a small group that went to Trotters as a belated graduation celebration.   It was unreal.  I was blown away at the time, but now 15 years later, I’ve had a lot of great food and I have an even further appreciation for what a fantastic restaurant it was. 

What a great gift and a wonderful memory

[Galway Eagle]

Depends how you define “heyday” but I went in 2009, so a few years before it closed.  I was the regular driver back and forth to college for a friend of mine from the northern burbs.  Then when she graduated a year after me, I helped a bunch with her graduation party, procured all the alcohol and bartended.  As a thank you, her parents took me along with a small group that went to Trotters as a belated graduation celebration.   It was unreal.  I was blown away at the time, but now 15 years later, I’ve had a lot of great food and I have an even further appreciation for what a fantastic restaurant it was.

I mean based on the documentary basically anytime from mid 90s till Alinea and L20 got 3 stars while he "only" got 2 was its heyday.

Was it revolutionary for the time or now do you think it would still hold its own with the current considerably more competitive fine dining scene in Chicago? 

[real chili 83]

First time at Oscar's today.  Won't be my last.

[wadesworld]

First time at Oscar's today.  Won't be my last.

Love Oscar's.  One of the places in Milwaukee I miss the most.  You can get a meal there for almost as cheap as just about any fast food restaurant.

[Skatastrophy]

Oscar's is what I remember Sobelman's being back in the day

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

For a second I thought you guys were talking about the cheap custard place in Stallis.

[JWags85]

I mean based on the documentary basically anytime from mid 90s till Alinea and L20 got 3 stars while he "only" got 2 was its heyday.

Was it revolutionary for the time or now do you think it would still hold its own with the current considerably more competitive fine dining scene in Chicago?

Yes and yes (as it was at the time).  Trotter was an absolute master in the kitchen and the restaraunt reflected that. 

The second part, tho I said yes, is harder to say.  Trotters closed in 2012 cause he was kind of over it and wanted to do/study other stuff.  But if it had stayed as it was, I don't doubt it would  have held its place.  It wasn't wild whimsy like Alinea or Ever, but thats not the kind of cuisine it was trying to do.  But Trotter opened a place in Vegas around 08-09 that got a star and, like I said, the meal was incredible that we had.  So I have little doubt it could still hold its own.

[Goose]

Wags

We had the table overlooking the kitchen in Vegas and was a great time. Great experience and we all enjoyed it. I think your timing might be off on when Vegas opened, think it was much earlier.

[lawdog77]

Wags

We had the table overlooking the kitchen in Vegas and was a great time. Great experience and we all enjoyed it. I think your timing might be off on when Vegas opened, think it was much earlier.

I think his first restaurant in Vegas was in the 90's, but wasn't open long. Restaurant Charlie opened in  2008.

[Goose]

lawdog

Thanks. I was at the original joint and thought it was somewhere around '95-96 timeframe.

[LloydsLegs]

Watched the Charlie Trotter documentary on Netflix last night. Did anyone get to go there in its heyday?

I went three times in the mid to late 90's.  First for special occasion dinner with my wife. First time ever at a restaurant like that (and on a budget!).  Most memorable part was they helped us to an affordable wine that, for the time and our limited exp/palate, blew us away.  An Australian sauvignon blanc that was around $30 (Penfold's, I think).  Other two times were for business in more or less private room.  Food was different and amazing, but  agreed that it wasn't Alinea (Not a bad thing, just different).