Wrigleyville may be a haven for raucous, unruly bar-hoppers, but the mood inside Fast and Fresh is super chill, perhaps a consequence of the feel-good hits of the 1970s and '80s quietly humming on its radio. This gourmet fast food joint with a Mediterranean slant is about as unassuming and low-key as
Wrigleyville gets, serving up burgers, sandwiches and kebabs, as well as an assortment of Mediterranean goodies.
While this reviewer didn't experience the fastest of service, the hamburger was indeed fresh, juicy, and absolutely huge, at least a 1/3 of a pound. If that's a normal hamburger, you can bet the 1/2-pound double hamburger ($4.95), the double cheeseburger ($5.25), and the double turkey bacon cheeseburger ($6.45) are unconquerable beasts. A wide array of kebabs are Fast and Fresh's specialty – try the chicken shish or beef shish kebab sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce on the side. Offerings like gyros, falafel sandwich and a large plate of hummus (with your choice of meat) solidify the joint's Mediterranean cred.
There's limited seating inside – a few tables complemented with dinged-up chairs that look like they;re from an antique store, and a few stools with a solid rock counter near the window, where you can watch Cubs fans walk roam around Broadway. Oh, and if you're at the counter, you may be sitting next to an enormous stuffed toy monkey – he makes for an excellent, relatively silent neighbor.
Average cost: <$10
Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert