The Original Nottoli

-Chicago's Italian Grocers

The playoff season is here and Da Bears are there. With people getting ready for the game Sunday I thought now was the time to take a trip to The Original Nottoli & Son located West down on Belmont ave. They've been here since 1947 serving the people of the neighborhood with longtime customer favorites like they're fresh Italian sausage as well as Italian groceries and hot food made on site like pastas and sandwiches. I'm a huge fan of this place and love going over there because you can get groceries and also have a great lunch and you never know whats going to be in the display case on the day you visit. What a great family run spot that Chicago is so lucky to have with all this corporate BS around town these days. Let's take a look.


a Chicago institution located on Belmont

As you can see in the pic above Nottoli & Son is not a large place. However they do pack quite a bunch of goodies inside the shop. There's only a couple aisles with the deli meat/cheese/sausage display case located alongside the store. You can find bread and packaged goods tucked below the case where inside of it they have a hearty selection of prepared foods like chicken parmesan, breaded eggplant and many other Italian favorites.


a look inside the shop


Deli meats and cheese


Prepared foods ready to go

It takes dedication and a commitment to excellence to do what Nottoli & Son have done since they opened up shop in '47. It's not just "lets make something average, throw in the case and someone will buy" nope not like they do at Jewel or places like that. No shortcuts here and that includes bottled products like their own hot giardiniera. They make a mean blend and it comes available in many different sized bottles. Heck they even have their own shop for it online right HERE. They do both a mild and hot version that can take any sandwich to another level.


Bottle of hot peppers

I mentioned how Nottoli is a great place to grocery shop and eat and that is indeed the case as you can see below. They have a big menu on the back wall with both sub sandwiches like the usual Italian and other goodies as well as a hot section. The hot section has their own sausage, meatballs and beef as well as a nice selection of paninis.


Sandwich menu

My go-to from Nottoli & Son when it comes to the hot sandwich is the meatball. it's one of the better meatball sammy's in the city and quite filling for a bargain of a price. The meatballs are full of flavor and of course their giardiniara makes it even better. In case you missed it you can check out my Chicago meatball marathon HERE. Nottoli & Son is featured in it. Not any different than anything else in that it too is also awesome is the Italian sub. Made fresh upon ordering and filled with quality meats and stuffed into fresh bread males this guy a winner as well.


Nottoli & Son meatball sandwich


Italian sub

As good as all this stuff already featured is, there's something I always get when I go to Nottoli & Son on Belmont. God bless their Italian sausage. Yep they've been making the old family recipe the same way since before they even opened up. These people are experts in the sausage making department and go thru tons of it on a weekly basis.


Sausage display case


Some fresh cooked Italian sausage

This is where I always go when I need to grill up a storm. I'll stop in and get a few pounds of each their hot and mild sausage along with a bottle or to of the hot peppers and some bread and we got a party in back. If you read my site you know I get around and have had many different encased meats during my time. This is some of the finest of its kind anywhere. Perfect for a football Sunday or any day of the week for that matter. Now get your ass over to Nottoli & Son and check out the goodness they offer. Please note they're closed on Tuesdays and Sundays (open Super Bowl Sunday). See ya next time on S'C'&C With the King.


Hot sausage (L) Mild sausage (R)

Nottoli Sausage Shop
7652 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 589-1010
Website

Coney Dogs in Duluth

-Coney's Across America

It's time to introduce our newest series here at S'C'&C - "Coney's Across America" where we stop in at long time Coney Dog shops located throughout our great country. I took a summer trip up to Lake Superior this past summer and spent some time in Duluth, MN. You can expect plenty more from this trip as the days go by but for now we focus on the Coney dog shops. We stayed in Duluth two nights and breakfast one of those mornings for me was at both the towns local Coney stops not too far from each other. I spied one called The Original Coney Island walking to the casino which is right by it and another one a block up not too far from the first one called Deluxe Coney Island. What is it about Coney shops in great Lake cities/towns? seems like every one's got them and they've all been around for a while. We will get to the history of these old time shops as the series goes on but in case you were wondering, they did not originate on Coney Island. Nope, they are usually owned by Greek men who came over to the country thru Coney Island, and the orignal hot dog shop was called Coney Island and the rest hopped on with it. Like I was saying, Duluth has two so I had to check out the both of them.
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The Original Coney Island Diner


Located on east Superior street in Duluth

The first one is "Original Coney Island Diner" which has been around since 1921. One of the draws for me into these places is their old time feel. I don't think many people are opening up Coney shops anymore so most of them in and around the country have been a part of their community for some time. They are places that open early and will usually have cafeteria seating and a bunch of old time locals sitting around chatting and what not. No matter which one your at, you will always see the dogs sitting on a griddle rotating away in the front window. I consider these shops to be historic and hope they all stay open a long time. Another thing I love about them is they usually have neon since they've been around forever. I'm a sucker for old neon signs. It's not just neon as most also have old signs from the 50's.


a popular stop in Duluth, MN

So the story for this one goes "On April 10th, 1921 Gus Saites, a Greek immigrant, had a few hundred dollars and an idea. He would open a restaurant on East Superior Street in his bustling hometown of Duluth Minnesota. Nearly 90 years later this idea continues uninterrupted in the same location and under the same tin ceiling as on that spring day in '21. For almost 40 years Saites served up personal service and great food."


Hot Dogs in the window ready for consumption

"In 1932 Gus would take on a cook named James Pappas, James was also a Greek immigrant who would make a name for himself in the local candy business and in a twist of fate, would have two great grandsons acquire the restaurant 76 years later. In the late 50's the business was passed on to Gus' nephew Tony. Tony Pagonis was a fixture on Superior Street for the next 30 years, offering up a distinctive personal service that long time patrons continue to recall today. Notable customers of Tony's included Liberace and a campaigning John F. Kennedy. In the 1970's Tony would serve up over 600 coneys a day, seven days a week! Tony's brother Gus would join him during this time and together they would operate the restaurant into the late 1980's." Not a thing has changed to this day and the Original was the first of the two I hit up. It was around 9a and they were open and serving breakfast but I was there for a Coney. There was a crowd eating breakfast and the service was anything but good and it took about 15 minutes for what should of took five. I eventually got my Coney with everything and cheese. The Original uses Vienna beef hot dogs and that was what made them the winner of the two. But the cheese was shredded which is ok but didn't melt very well.


Coney with cheese from Original Coney Island in Duluth
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Coney Island Deluxe


Another popular stop in Duluth, MN

Located not too far from the Original is the Deluxe. It's also downtown and opens very early for the locals. They have no website but according to the papers they opened up shop in 1961. So this is relatively new as far as Coney shops are concerned. As is the case with people from Duluth you go to one or the other. Inside the Deluxe was an old time interior with an old guy running the show. On my visit that morning he was getting the sauce ready to go and had the hot dogs rotating away for the days customers.


Located on west 1st street in Duluth, MN

The Deluxe used a child's play hot dog and while their cheese was melted (they put it under the sauce) the dog is what I tasted most. However the dogs like these are a part of Coney dogs and some people don't want their Coney's with anything but cheap plump dogs. I liked both spots Coney sauces but neither was my favorite Coney ever. The Vienna Beef dog made a difference though for the better but would happily stop in again at either or for a dog or two.


Coney with cheese from Coney Island Deluxe
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The Original Coney Island Diner
107 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-1077
Website

Coney Island Deluxe
112 West 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722-2772

Spiro's Deli

-The Sammy's of Chi

Despite going to high school at Loyola which is just down the road from Spiro's, I never went to the popular deli in Glenview. So when a food friend who's taste's and opinions I highly respect mentioned Spiro's I was kind of surprised I had never heard or been. Since that is the case I don't know much about the place except that they are a Northshore tradition and many people from the area swear by the place. It's located in a tiny strip mall on Waukegan road just off Lake.


a locals favorite in Glenview, IL

It doesn't look like a whole lot from the outside and the same goes for the inside. It's basically a take out joint with a nice sandwich menu that includes but is not limited too both hot and cold sub sandwiches, Italian beef, gyros, burgers and hot dogs. Also offered are soups and salads as well as sides like onion rings and fries. Northshore Magazine named Spiro's the best beef in the area. I wasn't there for the beef with hot however. I browsed the menu and saw some delectable looking sammy's but there was one in particular rec'd by my guy from LTH that I just had to try.


The counter

I was there for the "Bomber" which consisted of Spiro's homemade Italian beef on a sesame seed roll topped with melted cheese, pickles and onions along with the house special sauce. I don't know about you but that sounded right up my alley, so then a couple months back I was able to stop in and try a bomber. Hot Damn! this thing was a delectable mess with the beef, gravy and sauce dripping on out it was like a Italian beef with Whopper qualities but this thing was much better than a Whopper. I guess it's one of the most popular sandwiches at Spiro's and I can totally see why. I'm going to have to go get another sometime soon.


Bomber sandwich from Spiro's Deli

Spiro's Deli
1210 Waukegan Road
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 729-6650

Sunshine Cafe

-Grubbing in Chicago
Where the locals eat.

Although you haven't seen many sushi stops on chibbgking it's not because I do not like it. In fact I it and Japanese cuisine very much so but I especially love homestyle Japanese. One of my favorite Asian stops in the city and my go to spot for when I'm feeling like something the locals back in Japan eat is Sunshine Cafe. It's a very popular spot with the locals of Edgewater and Andersonville and many others throughout Chicagoland. It's just a small comfy cafe with great service, reasonable prices and all the traditional Japanese favorites minus the sushi.


On Clark street in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood

I have never been to Japan although it is high on my list, but in the meantime I have to settle for trips to Sunshine Cafe to get a little feel of the Far East. It's like going to a neighbors place or a good friends Japanese grandmothers house for dinner. It's great that the prices are reasonable and that it is also a byob and thus very much visited by people throughout the year. Simplicity goes a long way here and the menu helps recognize that there is more to Japanese food than sushi and sashimi. Because I'm a sucker for them I like to start my meals here with Japanese gyoza aka pot stickers. Nothing too special but fried perfectly and a nice way to start the day.


Japanese Gyoza


Miso Soup

I was contemplating holding on this post since there are so many different items on the menu of which I have not tried. This has alot to do with the fact I almost always order the shrimp tempura or chicken teriyaki when I'm at Sunshine. Tempura is another favorite of mine and they do them so well over there. Perfectly lightly coated with crunch and surrounding some tasty veggies (also fried of course) makes for one heck of a meal.


Shrimp Tempura

My other go-to at Sunshine is the chicken teriyaki. Another perfect rendition of this popular far east snack. The breast comes cooked to perfect juiciness and the sauce is just right, I'm not sure I've had better teriyaki out there and encourage all to try Sunshine Cafe sometime this new year. You'll see its not all about raw fish in Japan.


Chicken Teriyaki

Sunshine Cafe
5449 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640-1220
(773) 334-6214

Drunken Mexican Eats

-Oh Yeah, I've been there too
Where the cities wasted eat...

Neighborhood: Different Northside 'hoods with lot's of bars
Cuisine: Mexican - The drunken gringo type
Price Range: $4-$10
Would I go again? Well I still drink so sometimes I do to some and might make it back to others.

We have many different series' here at S'C'&C. One of those is "Oh yeah, I've been there to". These are quick run downs of places that I also happen to have been too along the way on the great Chicago eating trail. These posts just point out that if your wondering if I've been somewhere, I most likely have. Today we head to Twelve (10 newly featured) late night Mexican shacks, which happen to be abundant in Chicagoland. I cant verify this but I would bet that aside from Mexico City and maybe one other large city in Mexico that there is no other city out there with more Mexican restaurants than Chicago (LA included). Whether its a spot run by an award winning chef like Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill or a hole in the wall joint like these places that are frequented by the city's heavy drinkers, we got all phases of them here in Chicago. It's no coincidence that all these spots featured today are in neighborhoods with lots of bars and with that many drunks. These places are a part of Chicago and anyone who grew up in the city and did it up out on the town in their heyday has their favorite late nite burrito shack, always visited with blurry vision and after 2am.

Index (abc order)

Allende
El Burrito Mexicano
el gallo bravo
Fiesta Mexicana
Jaimito's Burrito's
La Bamba
Picante
Taco Burrito Express
Taco Burrito King
Taco Burrito Los Panchos
Taco Burrito Palace
Tradicion

I thought that with NYE 2010 approaching that now was a good time to post this. I imagine that these joints take in more money on New Years eve than any other night. These places have always been gold mines for those that open them. Since the 80's spots like them have been popping up near areas with lots of bars and clubs and near train stations throughout the city and its suburbs. They all have the same goal and that's to serve cheap, greasy not too authentic Mexican food up until the wee hours of the morning. Unless the tradition that is drinking starts to disappear, these places will be around forever and we as a society haven't stopped drinking since we found out about liquor and what it does. So here are 11 late nite spots that will soak up the liquor and the items you should order should you choose to dine at any of them. I am not responsible for how you feel the morning after. Cheers!
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Allende


Located on Lincoln just off Fullerton in Lincoln Park

It's fitting that Allende is first in ABC order because out of all these spots featured its also the best in my book. Located just off Fullerton on Lincoln, a block away from the red line stop it's been around for as long as I have in the neighborhood and at this point I'm one of the originals. They actually have two locations with another down south on Lincoln near the Children's Memorial Hospital and both are open late and serve to a working class lunchtime crowd and to wasted customers thru the early morning hours as well. I like Allende especially well when they have the al pastor spit going which is usually on the weekend.


The areas only al pastor spit, that I'm aware of anyway

Despite an abundance of Mexican restaurants in the city we still only have a few handful's of places that do up al pastor straight off the spit and not just on the griddle. In Lincoln Park you wont find them anywhere else and believe it or not Allende's are very good when they are on their A-game. Spicy marinated pork meat is sliced like gyros off the cone and then topped with cilantro, onion and comes with plenty of limes and salsa. A wonderful late nite snack.


Taco's al Pastor from Allende are the best tacos in LP...when they are on

The rest of the menu at this little sit down/take out joint is actually pretty good too and if something sounds good to you it most likely is going to be from here. I like the breakfast options and at under $5 the ham, eggs and cheese with beans and rice and tortillas is great bang for the buck. If a place isn't doing up real deal tacos de carne asada, I tend to stay away from the steak tacos, but as far as steak tacos made on the griddle go, Allende might be best. Good quality food at really cheap prices and a really good homemade red salsa make Allende part of my neighborhood rotation. I eat here when sober, so that's saying something aint it?


Ham, egg and cheese breakfast plate, dirt cheap and filling


Steak taco from Allende
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El Burrito Mexicano


Located on Addison, steps from Wrigley Field under the red line stop

If there's a large drinking area in Chicago there's another thing that's for sure going to be near it and that's a drunken Mexican restaurant, open late and serving the shit faced. It just so happens that El Burrito Mexicano is a block down from the biggest outdoor bar in the world, Wrigley Field. So you know this place has seen it all and has some stories to tell. It's been around a while and it's nothing pretty inside, just a grill, a few tables and a menu to soak up the alcohol. Pretty much every place on here today is like the other. I used to go here back in HS now and then.


Steak taco platter is my go to from Mexicano


Nacho platter with cheese, beans, SC and avocado is great too...
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El Gallo Bravo

El Gallo Bravo has a number of locations around Chicagoland. Many of them are 24 hour joints including the one I like to hit up from time to time located over on Montrose and Clark. You can read all about my favorite burrito in the city right HERE as it's been featured before. I also really love their hard shell steak tacos which at under $1.40/each are cheap and complete.


Hard Shell steak tacos from el gallo bravo


My own constructed Cali burrito
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Fiesta Mexicana


On Halsted in Lincoln Park

You'll notice that half of these spots are within a mile radius of each other and that includes Fiesta Mexicana which is across the street from Allende and around the corner from TBP #2 and so on. This place is actually a sit down spot popular with Biograph theater goers as well as people starting they're night out with food and drink. It burned down a few years ago and then reopened and I went back once since. I thought it was better before for food but the drinks at the new one were great. One of the better margarita's in the neighborhood and nice price with patron or something decent added in. My combo meal wasn't what I remembered it to be from my youth, maybe my taste buds just moved on? None of this food featured is too authentic.


Combo Platter with one of each
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Jaimito's Burrito's


Located on Clybourn just off Sheffield

Here we have another spot that I have been going to for a while, meaning I am still a customer here from time to time. Mexican food has always been my favorite and I've been going out and about since before I was supposed too so there isn't many places in the neighborhood and it's vicinity that I haven't been to. Jaimito's has always been a favorite of mine for a quick bite when at home or headed there. I think the whole menu is pretty legit with the tacos being my go to menu items. The best chicken tacos in the city reside at Jaimito's. They take moist meat and flavor it up in a red sauce and in this case I enjoy the lettuce, tomato gringo style toppings.


Tamale with their top notch sauce

I pretty much always go with the chicken tacos but don't sleep on the chile rellanos as well as other items like the tamales and enchiladas. Another thing I must always get is an order of rice or two. I think they put out the 2nd best Mexican rice in the city and love their red salsa that comes with it as well as the tacos, burritos etc...I just wish some of these places would use larger containers for them and or stop being so stingy with handing them out. The tacos need the salsa.


Jaimito's chicken tacos are my "best in city"
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La Bamba


Locations throughout the Midwest

Oh boy, this next stop is not something I like to remember. When I was at college in Madison we had nowhere near the selection of good greasy Mexican we have in Chicago and I never slowed down from hitting up the bars and rocking out til the wee hours. This created for some desperate times which were going to La Bamba for a burrito when I was fiending for Mexican food. This is a franchise started by a family who had the idea to bring "burritos as big as your head" to areas with lots of college kids. Yes I love Mexican so much sometimes I had to eat at this not so great place. I'm not a burrito guy either but if drunk enough I could make theirs good. We got a few in Chicago and they're locations throughout the Midwest. Ignore the "authentic Mexican food" sign.


Steak burrito from La Bamba...a favorite among college kids
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Picante


Located on Division in Bucktown

Back in the 90's when Lincoln Park was the king of bar's and weekends in Chicago many places like Picante popped up. Then when Wicker Park and Bucktown got trendy and bars and clubs came with it, more taco joints would come too. I've only been to Picante once and it's located on Division not too far off of Damen. It's there to serve the hipsters tacos and such after midnight. They need them too right? It's a really small space and the food and its flavors arent too large either. The most popular menu item is the white boy tacos which are just hard shell ground beef tacos with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Since they arent fried fresh they are just ok as is everything else on the menu. The fish and chicken tacos sucked. Sorry but they did kid.


Hard shell taco filled with ground beef aka a White Boy's taco


Chicken taco from Picante


Picante's fish taco
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Taco Burrito Palace


Located on Halsted in Lincoln Park

Oh yes the place where I spent more drunken nights than most...TBP. Back when it was in it's old location this was a place of legends. The crowds it got and stories the old building could tell. Those days are over, they moved and so did most people that made this thee place to eat during the late 90's and early 2000's. You can read all about it HERE.


The former late nite inebriated eats champion of the Northside
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Taco Burrito Express


Located on Halsted in Lincoln Park

I wasn't kidding when I said we got alot of spots. Our next stop is to Taco Burrito Express aka TBE. It's located on Halsted right down from La Bamba in between that and Taco Burrito Palace. Back in high school you either went to one or the other but most definitely not both. Since I was always a big fan of TBP I only came here a handful of times but had many friends who liked it far better to TBP. The nice thing about it today is that it's still the same place it was in the 90's.


Corny murals are a must at drunken Mexican joints

I have found that the food here today is still pretty good like it was back when. I really enjoy the veggie tacos from here and think they are superior to TBP's version. I like veggie tacos from these places nowadays and have found TBE's to be what TBP's used to be so when I want some of them I will just go here instead. The item that people loved TBE for back in the day was the chicken quesadilla and I'm afraid that has changed. It's nowhere near as greasy and filling as it used to be but is still a good option if that's what your feeling like. I like.


Veggie taco from TBE


Chicken quesadilla from taco Burrito Express
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Taco Burrito Los Panchos


Located on Diversey in Lincoln Park

Hey, hey whatdaya say, another place just up the road. This Taco Burrito is located on Diversey just off Lincoln. From what I can remember a few of the guys that work TBP Los Panchos used to work at TBP. I cant verify this but I am almost positive since I've been in the neighborhood eating at these spots my whole life. I like this place for it's tamale plate. They are just like TBP's but these are always a little more moist and fresh than the other spots. It must be a family thing and these guys must have branched out because many other things are very similar but I don't really order anything else but my beloved tamale plate from here. Best lunch for under $5 within reach from me. Although for me it's usually just a snack.


Los Panchos tamale platter, great deal at about $5
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Taco Burrito King


Locations throughout Chicago

I used to eat at a TBK located in a strip mall on Ashland just off Belmont back when my friends had a place around there. Taco Burrito King has quite a few locations throughout the city but I haven't been to any of them in years. I took this picture of my go to item, the steak taco platter, when I went to the Greektown location, about two years back. I have not been back to any of them since. Not much different than any of the others seen on here, they just have locations in lots of different neighborhoods. It's ok at best.


Steak taco platter from TBK
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Tradicion


Located on Belmont just off the Red line stop

Our final stop on the drunken Mexican restaurant late nite crawl is one stop before Addison on the red line over at Belmont. I usually stay away from these parts and it has nothing to do with crime or shady people, just weirdos and freaks which actually scare me more than any ghetto corner could. But I stopped in here one night when I got a parking spot a few feet away and ordered a chips and salsa along with a couple steak tacos to go. I got this big Styrofoam cup of house made red sauce and a big bag of fresh fried chips for about $2 and it was everything I wanted. I went back a few times and kept on enjoying the steak tacos and loving the chips and salsa until I had a bad experience there with the tacos one time. They were nothing like what they used to be and straight gross and I have not been back since. They can bee seen below. Just like Allende was first in abc order and also in food quality, Tradicion is last.


Tradicion has really good red salsa...


...but the steak tacos are very forgettable

Oh and in case you were wondering, my current late nite go to taco joint that I almost always go to when I want Mexican late is La Pasadita. See ya next year on S'C'&C with the King.
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Allende Restaurante
2408 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 477-7114

El Burrito Mexicano
936 West Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-6991

El Gallo Bravo #5

1429 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60613

(773) 404-5358

Fiesta Mexicana
2421 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 348-4144

Jaimito's Burritos
1781 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 397-9009

La Bamba
2557 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 477-7491

Picante Taqueria
2016 1/2 W Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 328-8800

Taco Burrito Palace
2459 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-0740

Taco Burrito Express
2540 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-8867

Taco Burrito Los Panchos
1155 West Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-3198

Taco Burrito King
Multiple Locations
List of them

Tradicion
958 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 388-1574