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South Loop Special

Head south of downtown for a real meal deal.

Tuesday Jul 08, 2008.     By Erin Brereton

Lifestyle Feed

When I moved to the South Loop three years ago, there wasn't a whole lot to do. But then came the condos. Soon after, restaurants and bars followed, offers residents many walk-able dinner options. That doesn't mean exciting dinner options, unfortunately. So far, none of the new fare has really impressed me. Atmosphere is great. Beer is wonderful. And yes, I like outdoor seating (provided I have some SPF 50 available). But look for some original food and specials at many of these new spots, and you might find yourself out of luck.

Which is why, when I heard that one of our newer restaurants—Kroll's South Loop—had a special "neighborhood discount" one night a week, I wanted to check it out. All you have to do, according to the rules, is present a bill or other proof of address on Tuesday nights and you'll receive 20 percent off your total bill. So, last week, I slipped a credit card bill in my purse and walked there with a friend.

I was pleased to find Kroll's is a really laid-back restaurant; I imagine the cozy interior, which includes bottles of wine stacked everywhere (decorating device? Back-up supply? I wasn't sure), would be even more enticing in winter, but summer diners appeared to like it fine, too. Considering it was a beautiful night and Kroll's was packed with diners who didn't seem to care they couldn't eat outside, I assumed the food was pretty decent.

I wasn't wrong. The menu is huge—pizzas, sandwiches, a sizable amount of appetizers and full dinners like broasted chicken and beer-battered walleye (which sounds like the result of a bar fight, but I'm sure is quite good).

We first ordered the loaded tater tots, which were, as promised, quite loaded. Covered in cheddar cheese (which I devoured) and bacon (which I did not, but my friend enjoyed), they came with a side of sour cream for dipping.

My main course, the Southwestern Corn Wrap, was also good, although the waitress seemed unbelievably stressed when I asked for no lettuce. However, it all worked out in the end, as most things that come with French fries do.

And the discount wasn't the only deal: Kroll's also offers $4 Players vodka cocktails and martinis on Tuesdays, as well as $3 glasses of 312, which we were told we could upgrade to a larger size for $1. After eating, we ordered another round of 312s—which, for some reason, came in smaller, different glasses. As we closed in on the last sip, the waitress appeared again. "Would you like anything else—maybe a milkshake?" she asked. I can't think of a time I've had two beers and then wanted a milkshake, so I passed.

If Tuesdays don't work for you, the bar has specials every night of the week, ranging from half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays to $5 breakfast cocktails on Sundays. Kroll's even has Friday and Saturday night specials, including $6 Absolut martinis.

On Tuesdays, you have to dine in at the restaurant to get the discount; it doesn't apply to take-out orders. But there is a terrific twist to the special: It doesn't seem to matter where you live. Our waitress brought us the bill before we asked—and added in the 20 percent discount without us proving in any way we lived nearby. That may not last forever, but as of last week, the South Loop—and Kroll's—welcomed all.

Want to check out Kroll's for yourself? It's at 1736 S. Michigan Ave., (312) 235-1400. Or you can read all about it at http://www.krolls-chicago.com/.