Are you sick and tired of ordering in from your old stand-by? Say good-bye to the sandwich shop next door—it’s time to bring the tastes of your favorite restaurants home. Bet you didn’t know they had take-out huh?
CASBAH CAFE
3151 N. Broadway
(773) 935-3339
File Under: Mediterranean
Located between a snazzy eyeglass shop and one of the most popular boy boutiques in the area, Casbah happens to be Chicago’s best-kept little secret. Low-profile and cozy as all hell (check out the fireplace on your way out), this Mediterranean haven offers one of the best falafel sandwiches in the city. Don’t miss the amazing curries offered with only the best cuts of meat available as well as fresh salads mixed with tasty dressings. Casbah also serves up the usual suspects: hummus, couscous, kebabs and dolmeh.
Hours: noon-10:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-midnight Friday-Saturday; noon-11:00 p.m. Sunday
OPERA
1301 S. Wabash
(312) 461-0161
File Under: Upscale Chinese-American Fusion
You might not want to show up to this extravagant South Loop Chinese hot spot in your take-out sweats—people may stare. But it’s certainly worth donning a pair of halfway decent pants for, because you won’t find more creative Chinese food anywhere. Opera has managed to make over the simplest of dishes by changing them from “ho-hum” to “hallelujah!” A normal beef and broccoli dish becomes Peppered Filet Mignon (still with broccoli) in a black bean garlic sauce. A pathetically plain chicken and rice dish is transformed into the hot n’ spicy “Fire Cracker Chicken” dish—made with lots of red-chili pepper sauce. Crab cakes and lobster dumplings (not pork or shrimp) are just a few extras offered.
If you happen to show up a little early for your order, you’ll have lots to look at while you wait. The space used to house a Baptist church in front and a motion picture storage facility in back. The most coveted seats in the house (curtained booths) were storage vaults for historic films. Appropriately, the space actually looks like an opera house. Orange and red tones, velvet chairs and an odd, but intriguing army of waitpersons provide enough eye stimuli to get you through the week. Don’t forget dessert—the crème brulee is the most talked about.
Hours: 5:15-10:00 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 5:15-11:00 p.m. Thursday; 5:15 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday
BASIL LEAF CAFÉ
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-3388
File Under: Italian
Located on the busiest strip in Lincoln Park, this cozy Italian restaurant offers up a variety of hearty pasta dishes and salads that are sure to fill you up without entirely deflating your wallet. Portions are huge, so there’s enough for two if you’re inviting a hot date over for dinner, don’t feel like cooking for yourself, or are just hanging out with the girls and drinking wine. Enormous salad entrees include mixes such as Penne Gorgonzola with Spinach & tomatoes, or a fresh blend of mixed greens, grilled chicken, peaches, Gorgonzola & almonds.
Cooked-to-order pasta dishes include Linguini Carbonara with proscuito & scallions, Penne broccoli with roasted garlic and walnuts, and peen ala vodka with salmon & asparagus to name a few. A long list of chef’s specials is available for carry out as well and includes my favorite—Linguini with fresh mixed seafood in a spicy marinara sauce. It’s best to order at least half-an-hour to an hour before the kitchen closes.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11:30 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Sunday
SCOOZIL
410 W. Huron
(312) 943-5900
File Under: Old World Italian
I have to say this: the dine-in service isn’t that great, but the food is damn good. So just get it to go! Simply put, the folks at Scoozi! know exactly what they’re doing. After all, they’ve been at it for 10 years. Ultra thin pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven, appetizers like baked goat cheese & grilled artichokes with sun-dried tomato pesto, and mushroom risotto are just a few of the menu items offered. Butternut squash ravioli will satisfy any vegetarian—and quite a few meat eaters as well. Other more “American” offerings include smoked pheasant, sautéed sea bass, rack of lamb, and pork tenderloin. A word of advice: order early—this River North staple is pretty popular.
Hours: 5:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday; 5-10 p.m. Saturday; 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday
CAFÉ 28
1800 W. Irving Park
(773) 528-2883
File Under: Cuban-Mexican
Although this place offers the best in Cuban-Mexican fare, there’s also a flip side—Contemporary American fare. Empanadas, shrimp quesadillas, coconut shrimp, mojitos and a Cuban-style chicken dinner beef up the Cuban-Mexican menu. The more American-style menu features almond crusted halibut, Café 28’s famous pork chops, and even duck. Confused? Don’t be. Café 28 caters to many different tastes and does it very well. Call way ahead if you want to order take-out on weekends. This place is really happening on Friday and Saturday nights.
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5:30-9 p.m. Monday Dinner; 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday Dinner; 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday Dinner; 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday Dinner; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday Brunch
STANDARD INDIA
917 W. Belmont
(773) 929-1123
File Under: Indian Buffet
I just don’t care about how un-fancy this place appears to most passers-by, the food tastes good and can become pretty addictive if you’re not careful. The interior seems a bit drab, so that’s why I usually pile it high and take it to go. Spicy samosas, hot n’ fluffy naan, vegetable pakoras and hot lentil & vegetable soup dot the menu as well as signature dishes such as tender tandoori chicken, lamb vindaloo, and sag paneer. The buffet is mad popular, so the downside to carryout is you don’t get to stuff yourself full of seconds—maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
Hours: noon-3 p.m. Monday-Sunday; 5-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
PASTEUR CAFÉ
5525 N. Broadway
(773) 878-1061
File Under: Vietnamese
It’s Vietnamese cuisine at its best, and Pasteur delivers in more ways than one. This North Broadway staple has been serving Chicago for the past 17 years and offers “innovative Vietnamese cuisine” to those with the most discriminating taste. Popular dishes like Thit Nuong Rau Song—tender beef slices marinated in lemongrass, sesame seeds and honey, grilled and served with rice papers and fresh vegetables—and Cochinchin—sautéed chicken and shrimp with wide rice noodles, bean sprouts and scallions—are just a few creative concoctions offered.
Other tasty dishes include Chao Tom—grilled ground shrimp wrapped in sugar cane stalks with peanut-plum sauce; and the popular Hanoi specialty, Pho—beef broth served over fresh rice noodles with strips of tender beef. Pasteur offers 31 dishes in all, priced between $5.50 and $26.50. The higher-end dishes include shell-on lobster, duck, whole bass, filet mignon, salmon and shrimp. Even better than take-out, they are happy to deliver whatever you like right to your door.
Hours: 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; noon-9:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
KUNI'S EVANSTON
511 Main, Evanston
(847) 328-2004
File Under: Perfect Sushi
Not up for a night on the town, but could use some fresh air? Why not take a quick and scenic jaunt up Lake Shore Drive and grab some sushi to go? There’s a quaint little place called Kuni’s, which offers some of the freshest and tastiest sushi on the North Shore, making it well worth the trip. Kuni’s offers cooked dishes such as chicken teriyaki, tempura beef, and a sensational sea scallops dish broiled in butter. While the cooked dishes are good, people come for the sushi. Blue fin and albacore tuna are offered, as well as excellent maki, hamachi (yellowtail), Sake (salmon) and ama ebi (sweet shrimp). Portions are ample for the cooked dishes and the sushi tends to be pricey, but again, is well worth it.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday Lunch, 5-9:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday Dinner; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday Dinner
BOULEVARD CAFÉ
3137 W. Logan
(773) 384-8600
File Under: Eclectic American
This off-the-beaten path spot isn’t the place to go if you’re indecisive. Boulevard Café offers entertainment—everything from bluegrass & alternative rock to karaoke and soul-funk; and it offers several menus to suit any taste—a main dinner menu, lunch menu desert menu, late night menu and a low carb menu. Once you have made up your mind, take it home. If you’re not in the mood for a glass of Pinot Grigio or a Belgian Style La Fin Du Monde, order up some artichoke ravioli (homemade ravioli filled with artichoke, fresh herbs and potato, topped with sun-dried tomatoes & balsamic cream sauce) or some turkey meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes to bring back to your quiet dwelling.
Other popular carryout items include the Boulevard Burger and fries, the fried calamari appetizer, the grilled chicken Caesar salad, and the grilled Portobello mushroom on Focaccia bread with coleslaw. Other entrée items run the gamut from grilled ahi tuna or linguine & shrimp to wild mushroom enchiladas & grilled top sirloin. To satisfy your sweet tooth try the most requested item—white and dark chocolate mousse with strawberries. I’ve said it before, but I have to say it again—Boulevard Café has a low-carb menu for all those weight watchers out there. One example? Grilled Cajun Fish of the day with a shrimp, cheddar and mushroom casserole served with sautéed spinach with a Cajun vinagrette sauce. Kind of makes you want to do the Atkins thing huh?
Hours: 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. with a late night menu after 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. with a late night menu after 11 p.m. Saturday & Sunday; 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday Brunch, 3-4:30 p.m. Lunch, 5-9 p.m. Dinner
YOSHI’S CAFÉ
3257 N. Halsted
(773) 248-6160
File Under: French-Asian Fusion/Global Fusion
Chef/owner Yoshi Katsumura took bits and pieces from the Japanese, the French, contemporary America, Italy and the Mediterranean to create a cuisine most can’t explain, but everyone loves. Think grilled swordfish with wasabi mashed potatoes or scallops with green-tea pasta. How about some green tea ice cream for dessert? Honestly, where else can you go to find one person eating sushi and another having rack of lamb? Yoshi’s offers unusual combinations that actually work and he’s been at it since 1982.
People tend to come here for the food not the atmosphere—sorry Yoshi—so why not just order carryout? They can prepare anything to go and even offer some of the best vegetarian fare in the city, such as tofu steak and grilled tofu with ginger sauce. Specialties include hand-rolled sushi, roast rack of lamb with ratatouille and rosemary au jus, grilled salmon with daikon salad and guajillo sauce, mille-feuille made with phyllo dough and layers of chocolate mousse and berries. At least that’s what I heard.
Hours: 5-10:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday Brunch, Dinner Until 9:30 p.m.; Closed Monday
CALO'S PIZZERIA RESTAURANT
5343 N. Clark
(773) 271-7725
File Under: Not Just Pizza
Open since 1963, this colorful pizza joint has a lounge, live entertainment and great pizza. People dine in at Calo’s often, but the take-out business hasn’t flagged over the years. This family-run pizza house offers traditional dishes like ravioli and old-style spaghetti, in addition to ribs, chicken, veal and steak. When you dine in, Calo’s serves complimentary foccacia bread—people rave about it, so ask for it to be included in your take-out order. Pizzas are made to order and come topped with the freshest ingredients in either deep-dish, stuffed crust or regular (thin) style. Prices are extremely reasonable and service continues to be prompt and friendly.
Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m.-midnight Sunday
PING PONG
3322 N. Broadway
(773) 281-7575
File Under: Pan-Asian
It’s a treat to dine in at Ping Pong, with its slick seats, trippy images playing on a flat screen and serious beat-salad blaring from the speakers while you eat, but take-out is your best bet here, especially on weekends. This teeny, tiny little space seats 16-20, and tables aren’t comfortably spaced at all. But that’s okay, because you can create your own little Ping Pong at home.
Unbelievably flavorful menu items include sesame chicken, curry (spicy curry and coconut broth simmered with basil & mixed vegetable with chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu), Mongolian (wok-tossed scallion tops, sliced carrots & bamboo over crispy rice noodles with chicken, beef or shrimp) and the ever-popular Kung Pao! Appetizers range from calamari and spicy tuna maki to crab rangoon and wasabi noodles. If you’re having it delivered, don’t forget to ask about the free appetizer. Now isn’t that special?
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight daily
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