Father's Day.

I know this has been somewhat covered in other threads but I would like more ideas.He likes Old Country Buffet and took me there for my last birthday.UGH.I need an inexpensive place that he and I can both enjoy.Preferably in Evanston.The one place I can think of is Dave's but I would prefer something new to us.TIA.

Prairie Joe's does a mean meatloaf. Let dad get the loaf and you can mess around with some of the crazy concoctions on the specials menu.

I once had a dish there called lentil chili with spaghetti and crispy cheese. It was a coffee mug filled with this weird Moroccan tasting chili, a lump of noodles on top and spilling over the side, the whole thing covered with cheese and broiled til brown. One poached chicken breast was cubed and served on the side. That's a weird dude who owns the place.

Central St., just west of Green Bay.

Have you tried Asado (on Church) yet? Seems like it might appeal to a meat-and-potatoes type.

I'm still waiting for the definitive Old Country Buffet review.

I know someone reviewed Asado and I will have to look it up but I believe it is out of my budget.

My Dad did not seem thrilled with Prarie Joe's but I do not recall what he had.Might be worth another try.

LTHforum is a forum where people exchange information on food, so if you are knowledgeable about OCB or Taco Bell or the coffee shop on the corner, then share it.

I'm a big fan of Prairie Joe's but my mom isn't so fond of it -- too funky for her, so if your dad doesn't go for that sort of stuff, best stay away. How about Merle's? Pretty good BBQ and etc. in a comfortable atmosphere, not too pricey. Dixie Kitchen might be a good choice, too, if he likes southern-type food. The original Hackneys might appeal as well, because of the roadside inn atmosphere. These are places that I've taken my notoriously fussy father-in-law to (written about elsewhere on this board) with some success. If he really likes buffets, too, you could spring for the excessive brunch at Algauers (sp?) out in Northbrook -- not my cup of tea, but my in-laws liked it -- carving stations, omelets, dessert trays, etc. Same type of food as OCB but in a more fancy-dancy setting.

This is an honest question: what is it about Old Country Buffet? I've never been, but it seems to have a following in some midwestern circles. I once went on a date with a guy (from Evanston, actually) who admitted to me that he rarely went out to eat, but had been to OCB three times in the past week.

I'd love to read a review of the place and gain some insight into it. In terms of fast food reviews, I'll offer this: the yogurt parfait at McDonald's really isn't *that* bad. A little sweet for my general taste, but absolutely serviceable in a pinch.

OK I'll admit to going to OCB

The chocolate brownie/pudding whatever is pretty tasty. On the weekends the carved ham can't really be messed up and the roast beef is all right if you get it rare. The sides are pretty institutional but filling if salty.

The "BBQ" is pretty heinous as are any of the fish dishes. The pasta is worse than cafeteria food in its bad sense but that depends on where you go, if there is a lot of turnover it can be passable but the gravy is Ragu quality.

When I've found myself there for whatever reason I ususally stick to the fried chicken, mash and gravy, corn and dessert. It's not a destination but I'd take it over McDonalds for sheer variety value alone.

I did not feel anyone would take an OCB post from me seriously so I have not bothered.I'll get around to it.

First the menu changes each day M-F has lunch and dinner.Sat-Sun is breakfast and lunch or breakfast and dinner.There is a dessert bar and a salad bar.Drinks,all non-alcohol are included.My sister likes that the roast beef she gets is at least medium.Another sister can get chicken,turkey and fish as she rarely eats red meat.Sometimes in addition to the seemingly canned or frozen corn,carrots and green beans they have cabbage and fried okra.Their website is oldcountrybuffet.com which also lists the other Buffets Inc restaurants.

Oh and AnneVdV, please don't think that all guys from Evanston would think of taking a date to OCB Some of us have better sense!


edited to fix typo

That's true.Guys from Evanston,the ones with class,take you to Steak n Shake.

Back to the matter at hand.HELP!I would like to tke him to some place he's never been.

He likes Dave's Italian Kitchen and Barnaby's.He usually does not eat ethnic food.Low spice tolerance.He did say once he was willing to try Mexican but the only Mexican he eats is Taco Bell and Banquet frozen dinners.So I want a place we will both be happy.

hattyn,

I am unsure of your exact budgetary constraints, but I have two suggestions that are good for a meat-and-potatoes experience in or near Evanston.

Merle's Texas BBQ. It isn't BBQ nirvana, but there are quite a few things on the menu that are pretty good. It's also a festive environment.
1727 Benson Ave, Evanston
(847) 475-7766


L. Wood's Tap. Plenty of good options including the best skirt steak in the city, in my opinion.
7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood
847-677-3350

Best,
Michael / EC

He eats meat but not bbq or at least not bbq sauce.This is the same person I mentioned in another thread that we took for Ethiopian food.He ordered vegetable soup and thought it too spicy.We took him to Pita Inn for Christmas and he liked what he got there.And right now budget is tight but by then might not be.

What about Noyes Street Cafe? It's in Evanston, is moderately priced, and serves good, solid, 'merican food with minor international textures. The menu is pretty large, diverse and I think similarly priced to Dave's with a few exceptions. The Greek Chicken is a favorite of ours. The only knock is that the Vegetable of the Day is ALWAYS carrots. They're tasty carrots, granted, but they're ALWAYS carrots. Other than the good food, this is the highlight of the evening when we go there.

My wife: What is today's vegetable?
Waiter: Carrots.
My wife and me: [Giggle.]
Waiter: You don't like carrots?
My wife and me: [More giggling.]
My wife: Can you come back? We need more time to decide. [More giggling.]

828 Noyes Street
Evanston

It's just occuring to me now -- are you really planning for Father's Day now, which is in June? Or is this for a more specific father's day, like maybe your dad's birthday? Because if you're thinking about Father's Day, one nice option might be the all you can eat BBQ (as in grilled, not barbequed) dinners they offer at the Botanical Gardens, I believe on Saturday nights in the summer -- though I don't know when they start; you'd have to enquire. The food's not that great, though it would probably be okay for your dad -- grilled chicken and steak, I think, baked potatoes, salads, ice cream, pie, etc. I don't recall that it was too expensive. The real attraction, of course, is the setting, and it's perfect for a lovely evening stroll. I'd also again suggest Hackney's for straighforward meat and potatoes; another spiffed-up diner type place that my in-laws like fine is Jasper's on Waukegan Road in Glenview -- they have a very big menu with dinner specials like prime rib (and good cabbage soup, or many other soup options, included) that are not bad (their fish can be quite good, and the greek chicken is fine). Lots of cake choices for dessert, too, which as I recall come with the specials too.

I was thinking specifically about Father' Day.Yes it is early.But then again I posted in Events about Christkindlmarkt in September.I plan ahead.However these suggestions would come in handy other times.Jasper's is close to Trader Joe's?

hattyn wrote:I was thinking specifically about Father' Day.Yes it is early.But then again I posted in Events about Christkindlmarkt in September.I plan ahead.However these suggestions would come in handy other times.Jasper's is close to Trader Joe's?

Jasper's is on the north end of Glenview, a few blocks north of Lake Ave., about a 10 or 15 minute drive south of Trader Joe's (same road, different suburb). As a long-time (if recently infrequent) Jasper's patron (first visit 1991; most recent, 2002), I'd say stay clear of it for Father's Day. Not because it's bad; It's an O.K. diner, but just nothing special. In fact, I generally view Jasper's as an overflow spot for the Glenview branch of Walker Brothers rather than a dinner spot (when they are overflowing at weekend brunch, Jasper's can accommodate dozens of the disappointed).

hattyn wrote:Actually there are two TJ's on Waukegan.One IIRC Glenview,across the street from Carrillon Square,the other Northbrook or Deerfield,in the shopping center wirh Kegon which CrazyC posted on.

That's news to me! I moved out of the area two years ago (thus becoming JimInLoganSquare rather than JimInNorthbrook, which would've been my handle had I had one at the time). Well anyway, if there's a Trader Joe's now in Carillon Square, then that means Jasper's is within about 45 seconds driving time of Trader Joe's. Regardless, all my substantive remarks and evaluations regarding Jasper's remain unchanged. It's a pretty tired place; you just sort of think about dust and old guys on oxygen tanks when you eat there.

The one across the street from Carrillion Square opened first IIRC.That's how I spotted Your Choice Thai restaurant which I posted about.

Trader Joe's

1407 Waukegan Rd.,Glenview
847-657-7821

577 Waukegan Rd.,Northbrook
847-498-9076

And it was suggested both in the thread and a private message to try Hackney's.He did not enjoy Hackney's the last time we were there a few years ago.Now you see why I started this search far in advance.Very difficult eater to deal with.

I like Cross Rhodes gyros and chicken. They also have more mundane stuff like burgers and such. It's on Chicago just past Main.

En re Jaspers: It would certainly never be my choice for a dining destination, but the places I go would never be entered by my in-laws. They do like Jasper's, though, and I suspect that someone who likes OCB would find it acceptable as well. It's slightly more fancy than that, the servers are nice, the menu is large, and you get lots of food cheap. Also, it has the same name as my dog, so my kids like it for that reason.

A couple more data points in that Glenview area: very conservative, old-style "safe" place would be Matty's Wayside Inn, on Waukegan about half way between Trader Joe's and Jaspers. And the Valley Lodge is a popular place in the same category, roughly across the street from Jaspers.

If he is such a difficult eater, maybe you should try an activity that does not include eating.

It's getting to be a pretty long thread, but I'd second the rec. to look at Cross Rhodes. Very decent burger which he can get plain or cheese, or - way exotic - feta cheese. Greekchicken is really nice, lemony and crispy, and the skirt steak is quite good - nicely marinated.

Also you might look at Lucky Platter. I've really only been there for breakfast, but it's low key and there's a nice combination of comfort food and other more exotically inflected things for the more daring. Not everything works, but they do some things quite well.

I appreciate all the help.As for non food activities with him,the food activity is actually the less painful of the options.Cross Rhodes sounds like a good choice for him plus he's never been as far as I know so it will be different.

I second the recommendation for Noyes Street Cafe. I think it sounds like just the thing for him and you.

AnneVdV wrote:This is an honest question: what is it about Old Country Buffet? I've never been, but it seems to have a following in some midwestern circles. I once went on a date with a guy (from Evanston, actually) who admitted to me that he rarely went out to eat, but had been to OCB three times in the past week.

I'd love to read a review of the place and gain some insight into it. In terms of fast food reviews, I'll offer this: the yogurt parfait at McDonald's really isn't *that* bad. A little sweet for my general taste, but absolutely serviceable in a pinch.

i guess in a nutshell..OCB is for cheap SOB's who want a lot food for little money and are willing to sacrifice quality in order to obtain those two things..pennywise and pound foolish