User Reviews for Skokie Restaurants

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Don's Fishmarket & Tavern
Oct 13, 2008 by Liz from highland park, il

Overall Rating: 10
Food:[10] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[9]

• The food is phenomenal, it's quiet and there is a parking lot.
• None!

“This place really hits the mark. Their food is too good.”

Bagel Restaurant & Deli
Sep 13, 2008 by C. Weiner

Overall Rating: 4
Food:[6] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[7]

• NA.
• Waitress was nasty; lost our money.

“Be very careful here! A group of us eat breakfast here once a month or so. This morning we come and gave the waitress $75.00 for a $62.00 bill. The waitress came by a little later and said we had shorted her $20, which we most assuredly did not. In fact two of us recounted the money to be sure we had given her enough of a tip before we put it in the black little folder one is given in restaurants. She insisted we had shorted her. On top of that the service was horrendous and the place was not at all crowded. One of our party felt bad about it and gave her an extra $20. After we left, I thought about it and realized she was not only a bad waitress, but obviously careless with the money we had given her. She never apologized, and in fact was quite nasty. She told me next time we came to get another waitress. Believe me, if we ever do go back there, we would never have her as our waitress. She actually was snarling at me. What ever happen to customers being treated as though they are important to a business.”

Charcoal Oven
Apr 14, 2008 by Markmywords from Skokie, IL

Overall Rating: 9
Food:[9] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[10]

• Classic lounge-like atmosphere, quiet, cozy, booths plus tables, friendly people.
• Needs some physical upgrades, inside & out (short on "stylishness").

“It's happy hour, but the joint is definitely not jumpin'. In fact, I've gone for years thinking this place was mobbed up, a front for a big card game or some other quiet but profitable entity-- because there seldom seem to be any cars in the lot, but the lights are always on. But I'm sitting here now for the first time, and I'm not so sure anymore. It's too dive-y, authentic and old-fashioned to be anything more than a break-even endeavor, money-wise. It's not a cultivated, polished "lounge" sort of atmosphere created according to some designer/marketer's carefully crafted vision. It's just dusty and intriguing and genuine. It's where an Army Wine house type would be performing on a tiny corner stage in 1957 -- except now it's 2008, the only folks who come here to eat are regular joes, and there probably aren't any performers who would want the gig if they even had a stage (which they don't). There's a big old National cash register directly in front of me. It does not work, but the owner's 50-ish daughter/bartender says it only recently went down. So that's the oldest thing in the building, which she says was built in 1927 or '29. I think about those dates momentarily, and it hits me: Prohibition. The daughter confirms it: this was a speak easy, back when Skokie was a thinly-settled town on the outskirts of Chicago. This joint is like a living museum, a roadhouse not so far from the city, but far enough to be off the radar of both the cops and the cultured elite. She says her father bought it in 1949. That's almost 60 years ago. Holy crap. Could I do anything for 60 years straight? I think not. At the far end of the bar, a new (5 days old) LCD widescreen TV is the newest thing in the building and proof that they're not dead yet. The old tube TV is still at the opposite end, as is the old waitress Sonya, who has only one family out in the dining room eating. She says she's been here for 17 years. Curious, I try the liquor Campari for the first time, having seen it behind the bar near the other liquors. What a weird taste! 29 percent alcohol, and we have no idea what it's made of (the label is of no help, and a look later at wiki tells me the recipe is a big secret, though it is a type of "bitters" with rhubarb, quinine, ginseng, and a lot of spices). It's bitter, kind of smoky and dark pink. I drink it with soda, as a few regulars start coming into the bar. One of them is a teacher at a grade school in Highland Park, and we talk about those North Shore families and their sense of entitlement. (My wife recently took a new job, starting in the fall, moving from one of these North Shore towns to a more suburban/rural northern high school.) When this teacher asks about the owner's health, his daughter says he's not well. taking steroids for some illness. Now my wife calls, asking where I am. In theory, I only stepped out to get some toner for our computer printer. But it's been an hour. So I gotta roll. Charcoal Oven. I think I'll be back. Good 1950s atmosphere, good food (according to my new friend the teacher), and a casual be-yourself attitude. And if I'm lucky, maybe on Saturdays at 11pm there's a poker game in the back room.”

Grecian Kitchen Delight
Feb 13, 2008 by John from Houston, TX

Overall Rating: 10
Food:[10] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[10]

• Huge portions.
• Huge portions.

“GKD has outstanding food and fast service; but don't let the "fast food" fool you. This is by the far the BEST Greek food I have ever had- regardless of what part of the country I'm in. I highly recommend it to everyone that visits and/or lives in Chicago. This is one of my first stops when visiting a city that is highly reputable as far as the culinary arts is concerned. In addition to the great, great food the staff is friendly, personable and always greets you with a smile. See you in the summer.”

Bagel Restaurant & Deli
Feb 1, 2008 by Steven from Chicago

Overall Rating: 10
Food:[9] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[8]

• One of the best delicatessens you will find anywhere.
• Nothing.

“About as close as we can get to an old-style NY Deli in the Northern suburbs, in all the good ways. This is from experience living in NY for many years. The deli food is really excellent almost without exception. The sandwiches are great, some of the best corned beef, brisket and pastrami you will find. Portions range from ample to enormous. Only order the "mish mosh" soup if you have a very large appetite, good as it is. It's a great place to take kids or friends. It can get a little noisy when it's crowded. The serving staff is top notch. Our waiter remembers our names and even what our sons like to drink.”

Pita Inn
Dec 5, 2007 by Bruce from Wilmette, IL

Overall Rating: 8
Food:[8] • Service:[7] • Atmosphere:[6]

• Very fresh food, tasty not fancy, excellent value!
• Very limited dessert selection, limited beverage choices.

“A good selection of Middle Eastern favorites: felafel, shwarma (gyros), kibbeh, babaganoush, Jerusalem salad, hummus, grilled chicken, etc. All freshly prepared, by a crew of hard-working grill men. A terrific alternative to American fast food joints, Pita Inn offers good food fast. No wait staff: place your order at the counter and pick up your own food when your number is called 5-10 minutes later. Food is served in plastic baskets which you carry to a table yourself, but it is delicious, healthy and varied. The namesake pita bread is top-notch along with excellent appetizers for dipping. Lots of families with kids eat here; the value is great. Two people can fill up on appetizers and main dishes for $12-$15. Also an excellent choice for take-out dining. Good vegetarian options too. Not much in the way of decor, although the recent remodeling spiffed it up a bit. Pita Inn is one of our family's local favorites; instead of a boring McBurger and fries (again!), go Middle Eastern instead!”

Jacks Restaurant
May 18, 2007 by spiro from skokie

Overall Rating: 2
Food:[3] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[1]

• Nothing.
• Everything.

“I will quickly sum it up for you. There were roaches everywhere.”

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Charcoal Oven
Nov 1, 2006 by Jennifer from Chicago,IL

Overall Rating: 10
Food:[10] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[10]

• Loved that all the food was homemade and the service was terrific.
• Wish they had a website so more people would know about it.

“WOW! After driving by for years and years I finally got the opportunity to go to the Charcoal Oven. It was everything I was hoping it would be and more. It has been open for 58 years and it is incredible. The food is all homemade. Homemade Soup, salad, rolls, and the daily veggie selection come with all the entries, which are extremely reasonably priced especially when you consider all you are getting! The tomatoes are homegrown by the owner and were the freshest I have tasted all summer. They even gave me a bag of tomatoes to take home. And homemade apple pie! It's amazing. Go there, don¿t hesitate. I wish I had not waited so long.”

1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Bagel Restaurant & Deli
Jul 13, 2006 by mary from evanston, il

Overall Rating: 5
Food:[8] • Service:[1] • Atmosphere:[5]

• The food is fine..
• The blond cashier that works at the entrance. I will never go into the restaurant again because of her.

“I come from a large family and ever since I was a little girl my grandmother has taken me and all my sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins to this restaurant. The food was great with service to match. My boss at work does not drive but likes to get food brought into once or twice a week. I would pick up food which I really didn't like. I highly recommended Barnum and Bagel and for at least 5 years, I have picked up food for her and the people at work. We spend a lot of money at this restaurant each time someone at work or myself pick up. No problem. But recently, the service has been terrible. Today, July 13, 2006, I picked up some food and this blonde cashier was extremely rude. She wears these real tight sweaters and flirts with the men customers all the time. The woman she acts real cold to. I am 30 years old and very rudely and condescending, she treated me like a nothing. I am sorry grandma and everyone else I will never go into this restaurant again. At work, we share in the expenses but to pay this much money for rude service, will never happen again. This restaurant better pick more customer savvy people than her. This blonde nothing she be fired! At least, this restaurant has lost me and everyone in my family, because I will spread the news.”

2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Hubs Restaurant
Jun 29, 2006 by Kate

Overall Rating: 10
Food:[10] • Service:[10] • Atmosphere:[10]

• Great food. Huge menu selection.
• They need other locations.

“Great food and extremely cheap for the portions given. I can never finish the food and always take home the leftovers. Its a great place, friendly staff and best BBQ sauce I have ever tasted. I'm happy they started to sell their BBQ sauce and now I just bring it back with me. Their gyros is great too. I love coming into town and running to this place for my Gyros fix.”

Houlihan's
May 18, 2005 by Gerald G . from Watt

Overall Rating: 8
Food:[8] • Service:[7] • Atmosphere:[9]

• A really great pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. Better than mom's.
• Wait-staff seems confused at times

“A bar in Old orchard Shopping Center with very good food and a pleasant atmosphere. Tables on one side, bar on the other. Huge parking lot. Menu is a heavy plastic covered affair which hides the entr' at the back. Great and interesting salads; home-made soups; tasty steaks; chicken is West-coast looking: bare... and healthy, I suppose. Wait-staff tries to be attentive but fails sometime. The wait person does not bring your entr' Someone else --the bus-boy?-- schleps the meal to each diner while the wait-person goes away and doesn't come back to check if everything is O. K. That said, when something goes wrong with your meal, they fix it or replace it. You come to this bar for the food.”

1 of 2 people found this review helpful.