Waffle House

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Waffle House
3639 W Us Highway 90, Lake City, FL 32055 (Google Maps)
(386) 755-9066
foursquare Yelp
http://www.wafflehouse.com/

Continuing on my Road Trip, I ventured to Waffle House. Some of you may be familiar with Waffle House. Since I’m based ou of Chicago, I’m going to guess that not everyone reading has been to one, however. Waffle House is a breakfast chain, open 24 hours where you can find coffee, eggs, and of course, waffles. They’re less IHOP and more Golden Nugget (or Huck Finn if you’re on the south side), Waffle House peppers the landscape of America’s south.

A beacon of hope for the hungry traveler.

The menu won’t be surprising to anyone who’s gone to a similar breakfast joint, but they’re not about reinventing te wheel. You get your traditional breakfast foods and the ambiance to match. I went with steak and eggs, expecting them to be decent.

The steak and eggs, with a side of hash browns.

They weren’t remarkable, nor were they bad. They’re what you expect them to be. The steak was better with steak sauce, and I used some salt as well as pepper on both the eggs and hash browns. It made for a nice meal.

So I ate my meal, chatted with my party, and even chatted with the locals. It’s a good vibe there. I was happily eating my meal when I noticed I could get a slice of southern pecan pie. Anyone who knows me knows that when given the choice, I always can go for some pecan.

I can't say no to pecan pie, be it southern or otherwise.

They give you the choice of cold or warmed, which I opted to have warmed. I was happy with this choice, and overall happy with the southern hospitality shown to us at Waffle House 719. Drop by. Say hi to Tripp while you’re at it.

- Kyo Locke

Jack’s Bar-B-Que

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Jack’s Bar-B-Que
416 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203 (Google Maps)
(615) 254-5715
foursquare Yelp
http://www.jacksbarbque.com/

Jack's sign, as seen outside the Broadway location in Downtown Nashville.

Nashville is known for a couple of things, the only one being relevant on this site being bar-b-que. Luckily, my recent Road Trip afforded me to a trip to Jack’s Bar-B-Que, located on Broadway in Nashville’s downtown. Being a fan of the genre, I was looking forward to this meal.

The place fits a typic bar-b-que aesthetic on the main floor. Think Famous Dave’s – somewhat country-looking, but obviously a design choice. I didn’t see the patio area, but ate at the roomier second floor, which is actually a lot nicer-looking. There’s a lot more room on the second floor compared to the first, so the place can accomodate a lot of hungry mouths. But how happy will those mouths be?

jacks-bar-b-que-tennessee-pork-shoulder-sandwich

The Tennessee Pork Shoulder sandwich, which I selected because of its inclusion of the word "Tennessee" in the name.

I’m happy to say those who choose to eat here will be happy with the dining here, unless they don’t enjoy meat for whatever reason. I had two sandwiches, the Pork Shoulder and the Texas Sausage. I had expected to like the pork shoulder more, but actually found myself preferring the Texas Sausage.

jacks-bar-b-que-smoked-texas-sausage-sandwich

Smoked Texas Sausage, which I chose despite the name, not being in Texas and all.

Truthfully, both were good, and most everyone in my group seemed to enjoy their food. They weren’t the only ones, as we noticed upon leaving that Jack’s had a line going out the door. We were glad to have beat the rush, and I was glad to have tried what must be popular joint in Nashville.

The view from Jack's second-story window overlooks Broadway.

Besides the food, the place was genuinely pretty nice, and it was affordable, too. Like I said previously, the second floor seemed a bit classier, with a view overlooking downtown Nashville. There’s also a painting of what must be the restaurant’s namesake.

That's got to be Jack. Or Roger Sterling.

So yeah, I dug it, a little slice of the local flavor in Nashville. That brings the total number of Nashville food places that I’ve eaten at to a whopping total of one, but this is a Chicago-centric food blog, so forgive me for not knowing more. That said, my brief stop in Nashville was definitely worthwhile, so if you find yourself out there, give Jack’s a try.

- Kyo Locke

Brunch 02: Java Thai

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Lola Locke

Java Thai
4272 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641 (Google Maps)
(773) 545-6200
foursquare Yelp

I live in the Old Irving Park area of Chicago, IL and if you have lived there or know the area, you know that it is pretty barren for breakfast-oriented meals. Besides a mediocre Golden Nugget, there is almost nothing. For the past couple weeks, I have been making the attempt to explore what little the neighborhood has to offer for brunch- mostly for the convenience of being able to walk to a good eatery. That search finally paid off. I have finally found a gem in the Irving Park area that I am happy to write to the public about.

On Sundays, Java Thai hosts a live jazz band during their brunch hours. For how small the restaurant is, one would think that the live music might be disruptive. However, it has quite the opposite effect on the atmosphere. The jazz music created a lazy Sunday feel coupled with the feeling one gets from a really good cup of coffee.

By the name of this restaurant, one would think that it would be more centered on Thai foods. However, the menu of Java Thai mixes both American and Thai food. For brunch, my partner in crime, Teddy von T, ordered French toast with a half order of biscuits and gravy and a banana & peanut butter smoothie, which was so good that I sipped more than my fair share of it when he gave me a taste. I tried Java Thai’s Lox and Bagel plate which was scrumptious. I was a little surprised how fresh the smoked salmon tasted- it being a small restaurant that seemed to carry several types of food. If anyone has ever watched Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, one knows that a good restaurant specializes in just a few dishes and changes the dishes with the season. However, Java Thai pulls off mixing Thai and traditional American food. They are also able to pull off serving breakfast and lunch at the same time and do it amazingly well. To wash down my lox and bagel, I had a cup of warm Chai- the perfect complement to my cold and wonderful lox.

If you’re experiencing those Sunday morning hangovers or just want to take your lady/guy to a cute sit-down place, Java Thai is exactly what you are looking for. The Sunday morning I went, the place was comfortably full- not so much that you have to shout in order to be heard by the others at your table, but enough to make you feel comfortable being there and not like the waiting staff is just staring at you because they’ve got nothing else to do. It’s a great place. Go check it out.

-Lola Locke

Lola has previously written about brunch here on Fatass. The first entry in her brunch series, Francesca’s Forno, can be read here.

Gene and Jude’s

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Gene and Jude’s
2720 River Road, River Grove, IL 60171 (Google Maps)
(708) 452-7634
foursquare Yelp

Gene and Jude’s is something of a local landmark, and with good reason. The place just screams “Chicago”. Even though the location itself is just outside the fine city I call home, I have no problem stepping out into the the suburb of River Grove for one of these dogs.

I assure you, there's a hotdog somewhere in there.

A little history: creators Gene Mormino and Jude DeSantis were at a Cubs game in Wrigley Field in 1946, when Gene put fries in his dog for flavor. They went on to open a hot dog stand at Polk & Western. So, the dog was conceived at Wrigley Field during a Cubs game. It consists of a Vienna Beef dog. “Can it possibly get more Chicago than that?”, you ask. Why certainly, because in 1949, Gene lost the hot dog stand in a card game.

Eventually, the duo bounced back from that mishap and went on to open the stand in its present-day location in River Grove. Throughout the decades, they’ve stuck to the tradition of the Chicago dog: mustard, relish, onions, and sport peppers. One thing they’re very adamant about is that they do not have ketchup. On our first trip there, a friend of mine made the mistake of asking for ketchup. Don’t do it.

Move on. Disregard.

One more warning. The tamale. I’ve not had it, but contributor Haru Locke put it this way: “Okay, well you know that I can eat and enjoy just about any type of food, right? This is the only thing in recent memory that I couldn’t even finish forcefully. I have no problem telling you that this tamale is one of the most disgusting things I’ve eaten in my entire life next to expired milk. I understand that milk is normally a liquid, but it had chunks so I’m willing to argue that statement.”

Luckily, the tamale isn’t the star attraction. The reason to go is the dog. It is such a good goddamn hotdog, perhaps the best. Putting the fresh-cut fries in the hotdog gives does wonders for the taste. I’m not the only one to think so, as it’s won numerous awards, even being named best in the country by many reputable food critics. It is great, the type of place I’d recommend you try out if you’re in the Chicago area for only a few days, for say a wrestling show or something. There’s something about Gene & Jude’s that’s not quite present at other hot dog vendors, not even a popular spot like Jimmy’s Red Hots.

The place is Chicago inside and out. From its origins and treatment of ketchup, to the patrons it attracts. This one time I went, some car in the parking lot had hit another car. A nearby biker woman got all Chicago on the guy’s ass “Really? You’re just going to drive off? We all saw you”. That was straight-up Chicago. Stopped him in his tracks.

Not caring that the sign is misspelled is not only very punk rock, but also very Chicago.

If it’s not become apparent, I totally love the atmosphere of the place. For one, it’s open late, and quite frankly, I find it hard to fathom that it’s even open during the day. You’ll get a great experience any time you go, at least that’s been my experience. This is really one of those places that I can’t recommend enough. Gene and Jude’s is officially the first place I’m reviewing here that I’m going to slap on my just-created label of Infatuation. This is Fatass At Heart’s Hall of Fame, and there’s more great stuff where that came from. For now, let’s give Gene and Jude’s it’s proper respect.

- Kyo Locke

Carl’s Jr.

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Carl’s Jr.
5625 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (Google Maps)
(310) 216-9306
foursquare Yelp

You can tell I was in California because of the palm trees. You can tell I wanted to post this before February 10.

It’s kind of funny how I just pointed out in my last blog post about how I usually write about places that I like. Well, this Fatass Road Trip gives me the opportunity to write about something I’m not such a fan of. Ladies and gentlemen, enter Carl’s Jr. I’m only really writing about Carl’s because the entire weekend I was in Los Angeles, it was the only food that I had there that I couldn’t just as easily get here in Chicago. I was in this neighborhood, Westchester, for three days, and the rest of my meals came from Subway and Denny’s, so Carl’s Jr had become, by default, the only meal I could consider a “Road Trip” item on this trip to LA.

It’s just as well that I have this is a Road Trip entry. My first experience with Carl’s Jr. had been maybe in 2007, when I was on a drive from San Diego to Chicago. I’d heard great things, and I was excited when we stopped there. I kid you not when I say that it was probably the worst burger I’d eaten at that point in my life. Future experiences with their sister chain, Hardee’s never proved to be much better. I had my expectations going in. It was one of a few places within walking distance of the hotel I was staying in near LAX, so I figured I’d write about it for Fatass. When I entered, I was offered the Santa Fe Turkey Burger. I accepted the challenge.

The Santa Fe Turkey Burger. And fries.

Much to my surprise, it wasn’t the worst thing I’d ever eaten. It wasn’t remarkable, but actually, that’s far better than I expected. The highest praise I can muster is that it wasn’t completely awful. The fries were much better, earning a rating of nothing special.

There was one thing that stood out to me. The cookie. It was a chocolate chip cookie, and it looked like they baked them relatively fresh. It was soft, but not squishy, and with a solid cookieness in its flavor. It comes highly recommended.

Chocolate-chip cookie, moments before it brought genuine happiness to me.

I say this on a weekend where I had my fair share of cookies. It’s a little off-topic, but since I’d never seen them here in Chicago, it’s worth mentioning: Subway had these tiny, bite-sized cookies that were eight for a dollar. Anyhow, the Carl’s Jr. cookie was the bright spot of that particular establishment, though I wouldn’t tell any of my friends from here at home to fly over to LA just to have this cookie. In fact, I’d probably recommend you stay clear of Carl’s Jr. if at all possible. I’d hope California has some better food to offer.

I don’t know that I had Westchester’s finest, but quite frankly I didn’t get to really explore Los Angeles, as you pretty much need a car to get around. Maybe this blog will get people pouting ideas and tell me about all the great food I missed out by LAX. Please, by all means, tell me. I’m a stranger to that part of the world. Educate me. I’d like to know that my next trip to Los Angeles will prove to have better meals. Por favor.

Gracias,

- Kyo Locke

Hero’s Submarine Sandwich Shop

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Hero’s Submarine Sandwich Shop
3600 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 (Google Maps)
(773) 327-6363
foursquare Yelp

Chicago's bread makes all the difference in the world.

Yes, this is a Chicago-based food blog, despite my last two posts being about Mac’s Tavern and Geno’s Steaks, both of which are in Philly. I want to bring you back to my hometown for a little bit before regaling you of tales from my travels out West. Not to completely cannibalize my Yelp review (which you can read here), of the place, I decided Hero’s is a place worth mentioning on this site.

I won’t repeat too much of what I wrote on Yelp, except for this: “I regret never having eaten here during the four years I was in high school (I went to Lane), but to be fair, I’m not sure I would have completely appreciated it at that age.” See, the place where I went to high school, Lane Tech, is right across the street from Hero’s. I had off-campus lunch, and literally could have eaten it every day of high school if I’d wanted. Most of high school, I actually ate at places much farther than Hero’s.

Maybe it’s just as well that I didn’t discover this gem until later in life. After all, they use Turano bread, a staple of the Chicago area. Basically, it’s the bread equivalent of Vienna Beef, which you’ll find in any hot dog worth a damn. Turano bread is stupid good. I could honestly eat it for every meal, I’d just eat it all the time without even stopping. And as we all know, bread makes you fat.

I might've been a Fatass In Reality if I'd discovered Hero's at age 14.

All of Hero’s sandwiches are cold, so if you want something like a Potbelly’s or Quizno’s look elsewhere. You get amazing cold sandwiches here, and the variety is pleasant – turkey, roast beef, ham salami, and peperoni are but a few of the things you can get on a sandwich. All the ones I’ve had are quite delicious, and I find that as with my Yelp review, I find myself pining for the taste while I’m writing about it.

Roast Beef & Turkey Combo

I haven’t written any negative reviews on Fatass as of yet because I’d rather call to light places that are deserving of my (and your) attention. Hero’s is one of these places. It’s small, unassuming, and old-fashioned. You wouldn’t expect much out of place like it. I didn’t, and now I’ve been trying to make up for it every opportunity I get.

- Kyo Locke

Geno’s Steaks

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Geno’s Steaks
1219 South 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Maps)
(215) 839-0659
http://www.genosteaks.com/
foursquare Yelp

The best. From South Philly. The wrapper tells you the whole story.

My Fatass Road Trip continued over the weekend. My previous post on this trip tackled Mac’s Tavern in Old City, but this one covers a staple of South Philadelphia – Geno’s Steaks. Located across the street from rival cheesesteak stand Pat’s King of Steaks, Geno’s is something of a local landmark.

But is it any good? Yeah, it is. Since it was ridiculously cold out, we opted to eat in the car, so that’s why you see my lap in both pics that I took. I just had the cheesesteak, which I ordered with American cheese and no onions, for those of you wondering. I normally don’t get cheesesteak from anywhere, but if I’m going to, I might as well get it from one of the places most famous for it.

It is a steak sandwich with cheese in it. It's pretty good.

So, what of the rivalry with Pat’s? I can’t really comment. I didn’t eat them both to do a side-by-side comparison, and I’ve only had Pat’s once, almost a year ago. For what it’s worth, I ate my Pat’s steak cold, and I really liked it. I hope to be able to do a comparison next time I’m in Philly.

On its own, the meat was good, had a bit of fat in it, but it wasn’t bad. The bread was good, and the cheese didn’t detract from the flavor, which is usually my problem with cheese in sandwiches. I’d definitely go back, it’s an easy recommendation, as far as I’m concerned.

- Kyo Locke

Mac’s Tavern

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Kyo Locke

Mac’s Tavern
226 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (Google Maps)
(267) 324-5507
http://macstavern.com/
foursquare Yelp

I took this picture... from the internet and posted it here.

This is the very first Fatass post that takes place outside of my hometown of Chicago. This is new and scary, but trying out food somewhere else doesn’t have to be. Here’s a suggestion I have if you happen to find yourself in Philadelphia. I just happened to be here on a Road Trip.

Mac’s Tavern happens to be owned by Rob McElhenny and wife Kaitlin Olson, among others. You may know McElhenny and Olson from their characters on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where they play character’s Mac and Sweet Dee. Admittedly, part of the reason my group dropped by was because of the show, but I was happy with the results.

macs-tavern-grand-opening-kaitlin-olson-rob-mcwlhenney

This bar is much better than the one featured in their show.

A few of the menu items make references to their characters from the show, which is kinda a nice touch. I went with Sweet D’s Turkey BLTs, which is exactly what the name would suggest. The turkey is cut thick, and unlike most BLTs I’ve eaten, wasn’t served on sliced bread, but rather a hamburger patty. The bread was fluffy and relatively moist, or at least it wasn’t dry. The included fries were not terribly thick, but they had a good flavor to them.

I didn't have Mac's Meatloaf, but they did have this picture readily available on their Facebook page.

The service was quick. Despite the place being relatively busy, were were quickly attended to, and the waitress wasn’t overbearing. We also got our food pretty quickly, so that was nice. The prices were reasonable, too. Finally, they didn’t have any problem splitting the check, which I much appreciated.

It’s located in a neighborhood known as Old City, which seemed very collegey to me. This is a good thing, at least it will be for at least another decade before that would make me feel old. As it is, both the staff and the other patrons are pretty attractive. I can’t really complain too much about a place that attracts cute gals and has good food without being overpriced. Hopefully, I’ll be able to check out more of what Philly has to offer whilst I’m here.

- Kyo Locke

Le Creperie

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Lola Locke

La Crêperie
2845 N. Clark, Chicago, IL 60657 (Google Maps)
(773) 528-9050
http://www.lacreperieusa.com
foursquare Yelp

I used to think of crepes as, basically, desserts. Prior to eating at Le Creperie, I had only tried crepes with Nutella (a hazelnut chocolate spread, which is amazing if you are not familiar with it) and bananas. They were great, but I did not realize crepes could be so much more.

Look for this place.

Le Creperie is a small restaurant. The tables are pretty close together and it can sometimes feel like you’re in the way as people walk by. However, this makes for a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The wooden tables are lit by candlelight (fake candles) and are perfect for a romantic dinner. The décor of Le Creperie is a marvel in itself. In the front room, one wall is covered in French posters as if one was on a street in Paris; in addition, copper plating plays a significant role in the rest of the restaurant reminiscent of the 1920s, the old world, and what I imagine the Moulin Rouge to be like.

There are two types of crepes offered: savory or sweet. The sweet crepes are the ones most Americans are familiar with. Filled with items like various fruits, coconut, Nutella, chestnut cream sauce, and even one filled with caramel sauce and vanilla flan (sounds amazing right?) the sweet crepes will not disappoint. If you have a bit more of an adventurous palate, I recommend the savory crepes. These crepes are filled with things more suited to a meal. Out of the savory crepes, my highest recommendation goes to the Boeuf Borguignon, a crepe filled with beef braised with burgundy, mushrooms, carrots, leeks and tomatoes. It is one of the more expensive items on the menu, but the tender meat and the amazing sauce definitely makes it worth it. The crepe around it adds a bit of a bread flavor that is soft and subtle and only adds to the texture of dish. If crepes are not your thing, there are two dishes that do not contain crepes. However, these are a lot more expensive and while I trust that they are also delicious, they are not the most interesting thing on the menu.

I have been to Le Creperie three times. The first time I went, they had a French man playing an accordion at the bar in the front of the restaurant. My friend and I spoke with him for a bit (this is how we knew he was French) and his jovial presence made the evening much more enjoyable. The last two visits, he has not been there. I do not know if he still occasionally shows up and plays music for the guests, but it is good to know that this restaurant at least provides for interesting things like that once in a while.

For those who have not been, I definitely recommend Le Creperie. It will be a surprisingly wonderful experience.

-Lola Locke

Mr D’s Shish-Kabobs

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Haru Locke

Mr. D’s Shish-Kabobs
6656 West Diversey Avenue, Chicago, IL 60707-2219 (Google Maps)
(773) 637-0042

foursquare Yelp

I really love Chicago food. I’ve traveled a bit in in my rather short life, but have yet to find a another city this varied in dining options. I’m known for moving between apartments after my leases end, and every time I do, I stumble upon new restaurants to tickle my fat-kid pallet. Now having lived in the neighborhood of Mont Claire for over a year, I still come across restaurants I have yet to walk into, let alone dine in. Mr. D’s Shish-Kabobs just so happens to be one of these unexplored locations. Well, after having two weeks left before I move into a new neighborhood, I decided to finally step into Mr. D’s, and I regret never giving this place a chance for this long. Curse you delicious food!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

So I mustered the courage to walk into Mr D’s and am immediately glared by a middle-aged woman and a younger man behind the counter. I take a glance at the menu nailed on the wall and notice that nothing but standard items being listed. Burgers, hot dogs, fries, and other meals I didn’t bother to retain into memory. I suppose I expected to run into a plethora of Persian food, or to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was just baffled to see basic items on the menu. Then, my eyes finally came across it, “Kabob!” The only unique item on the menu, and the only meal that allowed the place to have it’s somewhat misleading name. After ordering, I have a seat and start to take the place in. The establishment itself doesn’t seem to attract a crowd from what I can tell. While the food was being prepared, just one other person casually walked in to also pick up a kabob. After the younger guy finished cooking up the meal, with a stoic expression, he hands me the food, I pay (it’s cash only place in case you were wondering), and take a seat.

All sandwiches include an order of fries, and Mr. D’s actually give a really generous portion (not as ridiculous as a Five Guys portion, but a good amount). The fries are actually really good. They don’t stand out, and they aren’t made in some unique way, but they are fried and salted well (and that’s not something that cant be said about a lot of places). Now the kabob on the other hand is a sight to see. I didn’t get a chance to look at the meat itself before it was cooked, but we’ll just say it was made from some cow part. The meat is accompanied by these awesome white onion chunks in between, tomatoes and lemon chunks on top, all incased in bread, and ready for feasting… Mwah ha ha!

Magical

To put it bluntly, the kabob was amazing! The meat was not overcooked and the bread was soft but never elastic. The tomatoes and lemon complimented everything well (and I don’t even like tomatoes). I have not eaten that many kabobs in my life and the most memorable of the one’s I have ever eaten have been from Iraq (which I’ll unfortunately never be able to eat again for the rest of my life as I don’t plan on returning there), that being said, this kabob was good. I will admit that there were a few bites from the food that had me taste more of the char and less of the actual meat at times., I dont know if this is normal, but the grill taste was a bit distracting and it probably comes from my inexperience with kabobs. Either way those few bites were not as enjoyable.

Overall, the place is a dive. It doesn’t seem well kept, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s simple, it’s good, and well worth visiting again in the near future. If you find yourself in the North-western outskirts of Chicago, you absolutely need to check this place out.

Until then, stay hungry my friends.
- Haru Locke