Johnnie's Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Grease Eats in Melrose Park

Out by O'Hare there seems to be an abundance of late night diners. Places open around the clock. Spots where you can get some pancakes and a burger as well as $10 in scratch off tickets after your shift at the airport. One of them is a spot that's pretty much always open on Lake street. It's called Johnnie's Grill and it 100% looks like a blast from the past both on the outside and inside. 

Locals Favorite in Melrose Park

While there's no history lesson of Johnnie's Grill to be found online there's plenty of history inside the place. It's a time capsule back to when this area was a hotbed for everything from shipping to dope dealing. There's no denying this area is one of the seedier stops in Chicagoland. Johnnie's Grill is definitely a stop for some of the areas major players. Especially late into the night. If you're just riding by and it's dark Johnnie's will catch your eye right away with it's neon advertising burgers and shakes. It promises breakfast and fries too. All of these things are what's popular on the menu here.

a peek inside

Some people just like to stop inside for some coffee and maybe a scratch off ticket. Some don't give their money to anyone but the slot machines that are lined up against one of the walls. But for the most part Johnnie's is where locals go when they want something for breakfast or burgers be it 10am or 10pm. Johnnie's is always an option out in these parts. The steak fajita breakfast platter is the item that those in the know will tell you to get. They take a 1/2 lb of skirt steak and chop it up amongst grilled peppers and onions. It's served with hash browns and eggs of your choice. A massive plate of food that hits the after hours spot. The burgers looked decent enough but this is one of those dishes you wont find everywhere. At about $15 it's one of the splurge options on a typical diner menu.

Steak Fajita Breakfast Platter

Johnnie's Grill 
4401 W Lake St
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(708) 345-1314

RC's Grill

-Grubbing in Chicago (land)
Mexican Diner Food in Melrose Park

It's time to add Mexican diner food into the many genre's of Mexican cuisine that are out there. Mexican Diner food is pretty common in Chicagoland and my guess is everywhere else where there's a heavy Mexican population. I'm not talking about places like Dove's. I'm referring to blue collar breakfast spots that feature all the regular menu items you see on a diner menu as well as Mexican options. Nothing too crazy as far as the food just stuff like tacos, burritos, chilaquiles and so forth. Today's stop is a great example of the type of place I'm talking about. It's called RC's Grill and it sits in the bowels of Melrose Park. I'd never heard of it until I was driving but the signs caught my eye.

Locals Favorite in Melrose Park, IL

The mention of tortas and flautas was intriguing enough to stop in one morning when I was fighting jet lag after a trip to Europe. It was the crack of dawn but RC's was up and running as it's almost always open with the exception of a few hours each day. RC's is interesting in that the employees who fit the description of an all night diner waitress perfectly, are all white. Yet almost all of the clientele on my two visits were black. So I'm not sure where the Mexican portion of the menu comes in but it's quite possible it's from the owner (RC?) himself. I always like to try specialties of the house at whatever type of restaurant I'm at. RC's lets their customers know they have a couple specials worth trying.

a peek inside 

Both the torta and flautas are pictured in a sign above the grill and that's what I was there for. They make mention that both the sandwich and also the rolled tacos are specialties from the city of Jerez which is a city in Zacatecas. Lot's of the city's Mexican population comes from Zacatecas so no surprise. My first trip in I was told the flautas weren't ready so I tried the torta. This was one of those times when them not having what you wanted was an actual good thing. This torta was the real deal.

Pork Sirloin Torta Sandwich at RC's Grill 

This sandwich had two thin yet juicy patties of pork that were lightly fried on the flattop. Whatever oil it was they were fried in it really gave the pork some great flavor. Toppings were raw onion, tomato, pickled jalapenos, and avocado. The bread was fresh and crunchy. The sum of it all together made for one of the better tortas I've tried in the Chicagoland area. A great sandwich and a deal at just $5.95.

The insides 

Since they mention the flautas with the torta I had to go back and try them which I eventually did. Unfortunately they weren't as big of a hit as the sandwich. Flautas are little rolled tacos that are fried and lots of the time they fry them ahead and that's not something I'm fond of. Because they're rolled so small they dont lose much crispness but they also dont have that fresh out of the fryer crunch. These came loaded with lettuce, tomato, and cotija cheese which is common but the pickled carrots were way too mushy and they were missing the pickled jalapenos in the picture. Just not my style.

Flautas Estilo Jerez at RC's Grill 

Of course I had to try a taco too. The tacos at almost all of these diners with Mexican portions to the menu are most always made the way they do them here. That's with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. I dont prefer my tacos this way but I can enjoy one now and then. These weren't the best but they weren't bad either. Just a nice option to have if you're in the area and starving at 5:30 in the morning.

Steak Taco at RC's Grill 

RC's Grill
145 N 25th Ave
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(708) 865-2800

Harlo Grill

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

I've been waiting to get a post about Harlo Grill in Melrose Park on north avenue up on here for a while. Today is that day. I've been waiting because since my first visit some three years back I've always felt this place to be the last of a dying breed. I'm talking about the no frills diners that stay open 24 hours a day and cater to the blue collar working class community as well as the folks who like to have fun into the early morning out and about on the town. The type of place that when you drive by, it catches your eye with it's old school looks and it's no longer in use neon from another time.


a longtime locals favorite in Melrose Park, IL

I've always been a fan of old school neon signs

As I stated up above, Harlo is no frills. The looks inside are that of what you would expect. You got the counter where most of the locals like to take a seat at and order their usual. The menu is also what you might expect consisting of all the breakfast items you would normally find with coffee and hamburgers too. Harlo is an interesting place when the sun goes down. You might find yourself alongside some characters while dining in but everyone is there for the same reason and that's to fill up on an old favorite while soaking up the alcohol consumed from before you came.

Chocolate Malt

The main thing people continuously come here for off the menu are the cheeseburgers. Again just like everything else they're pretty much what you'd expect being perfect for the place. No doubt these are what 8 out of 10 people eating at Harlo order and it's easy to see why. These are the best cheeseburgers I have come across for soaking up alcohol, they're grease bombs but oh so good. Made fresh in front of you after you order theres a good chance you might want to do two. They take thin patties and press one on top of the other placing a piece of cheese in the middle. After they get cooked the result is something similar to a Juicy Lucy found in Minneapolis with cheese oozing out from inside. I cant describe it any better than the picture below shows. Tell me that doesn't look good and I'll know your a vegan. Check them out.


Harlo Grill's famous Cheeseburger

Harlo Grill
2400 W. North Ave
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(708) 344-8353

Scudiero's Italian Bakery & Deli

-The Sammy's of Chi (land)

Over here at S'C'&C we like to give the much deserved praise to the family run joints that have consistently put out a good product. Today we head out to Melrose Park to a spot that's been around since the 50's. It all started in the 1930's in Serino, Italy when a third generation Italian baker was handed down the family bakery from his dad who got it from his dad. After the war he decided to move the family to America and in 1954 he opened his small Italian bakery in Melrose Park on Lake St. It was called Melrose Park Italian Bakery and they offered many specialty Italian products but it was his old world recipe from Italy for Italian bread that gave the place its place in Chicagoland restaurant history.


Melrose Park Italian Bakery aka Scudieros's via the 50's (Pic from Website)

Umbaldo Datoli passed away in 1969 and the bakery was taken over by his daughter. It was then in 1976 that her husband Joe would quit his job and help out with expanding the business. By 1978 they changed the name to Scudiero's Italian Bakery and Deli. The fresh baked Italian treats like an array of cookies as well as cannoli's are loved by everyone in the neighborhood from youngin's to old timers. Joe was a diehard baker and as the years went on Scudiero's continued to be a neighborhood favorite. So much so that they even stayed opened on Sundays so that people going to tailgate and having parties at their places for the Bears games would have his bread, subs and pizza for the game.


Scudiero's on Lake St. as it still stands today

The bakery went from just that to a hangout where people spent the day munching away and chatting up whatever was on their minds. The place was loved by everyone and the spot you went to if you wanted to run into an old neighborhood friend you haven't seen in years and was visited by 1000's and 1000's of people including the late great Frank Sinatra. They posted pictures covering the walls of customers and celebs holding a Scudiero's fresh baked bread bag of which they just bought. In 1998 the place went under a total remodeling and it is what it is today. It was a sad day when Joe passed away in 2007 but the place stayed all in the family and is run by two of Joe's six sons who happen to be twins. Anthony and Aldo, who is a fifth generation baker still use the same recipes that have been in the fam for over 150 years.


Pizza, Subs, Salads...it's all good


Sicilian style pizza is available as well as round individual pies


as well as salads, dried sausage and cheeses

I like it all at over there but what really keeps me coming back when in the 'hood is the Italian sub. As you might expect the bread on the subs at Scudiero's is excellent and always has the perfect texture and when paired with good quality meats, some addictive oils and seasonings as well as always being made to order it becomes an excellent sandwich.


Scudiero's Italian sub

I find myself in Melrose park a few times a month and I love stopping in here. You'll always see some old neighborhood guys chatting it up at a table with come coffee and cookies and the folks behind the counter are great people who will remember you when you come back. The prices are very fair and the quality always good. Its a great neighborhood joint that we should hope we never lose. It's the places like these that you just don't see too much of anymore. So here's a toast to Scudy's living on forever and staying all in the family in doing so. Cheers.


Get in my mouth!

Scudiero Italian Bakery
2113 W Lake St
Melrose Park, IL 60160-3618
(708) 343-2976
Website

The Taste of Melrose Park

-Feastin' at locals favorite festivals

In a land where food and festivals are a plenty and thus food festivals are a weekly happening when its not winter there are too many too choose from. The list goes on and on but whenever I'm asked my favorite, some people are shocked to learn it is not the Taste of Chicago which has outgrown me but rather the Taste of Melrose Park. That's right the Western suburb long with a history of Italian Americans and now also the home to many Mexican Americans puts out Chicagolands best food fest. Its not hard to see why when you got those two ethnic culinary backgrounds prevalent in your area. Let me take you around the park during last years fest and suggest you make a real life appearance at it this years Taste of Melrose fiesta from September 3rd-5th, 2010.


The choices seem endless on food


Plenty of pasta for the people

The Taste of Melrose dates back to the 70's and features over 70 different food vendors except these arent restaurants or the same food stands you see at every festival. These are for the most part, families dishing out their recipes that have been around for generations. It makes for a unique festival with a few thousand people and plenty of hearty and wholesome divine food items to eat. Another great part to this festival are the prices. Everything runs from $2-$3 per item. Pictured below are some of my favorite items from the past and a few new ones I tried out last year. I always have to get the artichoke casserole and a fried bologna sandwich or two.


My favorite non meat dish out there, they've been here since the start


best part is the items go fast and thus they are always hot out the oven


Always a favorite of mine to eat


another new favorite non meat dish


zucchini stuffed with cream cheese


Maybe this might be my new non meat dish undisputed champ...


The most beautiful servers...


...and great pasta


Cant get enough


What beholds inside?


The best three bucks you'll spend this year


Baked stuffed clam


calamari


fried peperoni bread...great kids serving it up at this booth


The Silciliano's old fashioned fried bologna sandwich is a must get item


Scatchell's stuffed pepper sandwich


neckbones in gravy


Teriyaki steak on a stick

There is no doubt Mexican cuisine plays a major role in Melrose Park these days and there's a nice selection of it at the fest. Tacos, tamales and sugar treats are just a few of the items you'll find. Looking forward to trying more this year.


these tamales reminded me of the ones that made me love them


Whats a food fest without funnel cake?

But the star of the show each and every year are the Little Sister's of St. Charles and their amazing sfingi or Italian fried donuts. You will know where their booth is by where the biggest line is at. Don't you dare miss these treats or your belly and God himself will curse you to hell.


The best of the best and worth the trip alone. God Blessed y'all...


...and me with your fresh fried donuts


When hot out the fryer these are heavenly...

As always I saw quite a few characters and the whole squad on the grounds last year on opening night, but its the same as it ever was...best food fest in Chicagoland. You cant beat the free admission, the highest priced food item is $3, while everything else is $2 and the most expensive thing is the $4 Peroni's and 'Sconsin beer. I'm glad I made it back after a four year absence.

2010 Taste of Melrose Park

Sept. 3rd: 5p to 10p
Sept. 4th: Noon to 11p
Sept. 5th: noon to 11p

Buon appetito!