If I ever visit Chicago…

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

Touchdown! Greaser!
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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
I’m gonna get a dog, cake, and a shake from this place…

 
there's a Portillo's restaurant just west of KDPA on Illinois 64. get the courtesy car...you won't want to walk it.
 
I live close to that one. I can pick you up after you land. Portillos is one of the few things I really like about living up here. :)
 
Chicago Italian beef Sammy.... wet. And spicy.

Y U M M Y
 
Don't bother going to Chiraq, they're popping up downstate and even in Indiana and Arizona.
You can even order online and ship!
 
just about everything at Portillo's is muy muy bueno!
 
baboss said:
Don't bother going to Chiraq, they're popping up downstate and even in Indiana and Arizona.
You can even order online and ship!
Click to expand...
agree with you about the city itself but DuPage County is fine.
 
Speaking of Chiraq, my hometown... My perfect flying fantasy is this:

Leave here early some morning (wherever "here" is), fly into KCGX.

Grab the shotgun and a couple boxes of shells out of the luggage compartment, put those in the trunk of the crew car.

Take the outer drive to the Lincoln Park Gun Club and shoot some skeet and/or trap.

Drive back to Meigs; unload, and go in to call Due's and pre order a sausage pizza.

Take lower Wacker drive and a bit of the miracle mile to lunch.

Sigh....

Take a Wendella boat ride around downtown...

Head back to the airport, do some plane watching, prepare for the late night flight along the shoreline..

And head on home...
 
I had Portillo's for the first time in Dekalb a couple of weeks ago. I was underwhelmed. After hearing so much about it, maybe I had the bar set too high. I got the combo beef+sausage sandwich and it was 'meh' at best.
 
Portillos = good. A reason to go to Chitown.

Primanti's = good and a reason to go to Pittsburgh.

Anchor Bar = good and about the only reason to go to Buffalo. ;)
 
We even have one in Champaign.

Of course, Champaign is getting to be a little Chicago.
 
I've been eating at Portillo's for, literally, 50 years. Grew up near his first (and at the time only?) location. It's really amazing to see something like that maintain its quality over such a long period of time. The breaded chicken sandwich is a lesser known item that's also fantastic.
 
CharlieD3 said:
Speaking of Chiraq, my hometown... My perfect flying fantasy is this:

Leave here early some morning (wherever "here" is), fly into KCGX.

Grab the shotgun and a couple boxes of shells out of the luggage compartment, put those in the trunk of the crew car.

Take the outer drive to the Lincoln Park Gun Club and shoot some skeet and/or trap.

Drive back to Meigs; unload, and go in to call Due's and pre order a sausage pizza.

Take lower Wacker drive and a bit of the miracle mile to lunch.

Sigh....

Take a Wendella boat ride around downtown...

Head back to the airport, do some plane watching, prepare for the late night flight along the shoreline..

And head on home...
Click to expand...
fantasy, indeed.
 
I'm partial to the Maxwell St. polish sausage myself. It's the gift that keeps on giving....buuuuuuuuurp.
I have to force myself to try different menu items. I dig the lemon cake and the burgers are pretty good too.

I don't know if all of them have aviation decor but the one we've frequented in the burbs, maybe Schaumburg, has some cool airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

@Jim K , there was quite the uproar when Normal-ites found out Champaign didn't throw down any taxpayer subsidized incentives like Normal did to get them here.
 
CharlieD3 said:
Speaking of Chiraq, my hometown... My perfect flying fantasy is this:

Leave here early some morning (wherever "here" is), fly into KCGX.

Grab the shotgun and a couple boxes of shells out of the luggage compartment, put those in the trunk of the crew car.

Take the outer drive to the Lincoln Park Gun Club and shoot some skeet and/or trap.

Drive back to Meigs; unload, and go in to call Due's and pre order a sausage pizza.

Take lower Wacker drive and a bit of the miracle mile to lunch.

Sigh....

Take a Wendella boat ride around downtown...

Head back to the airport, do some plane watching, prepare for the late night flight along the shoreline..

And head on home...
Click to expand...
fantasy, indeed.
Jim K said:
We even have one in Champaign.

Of course, Champaign is getting to be a little Chicago.
Click to expand...

is Manzella's Pizza still around? can't recall if that was in Champaign or Urbana. when i's drive down to visit my GF (now my wife) we'd always get a Manzella's pizza.
 
I’ve been to a Portillo’s near Tampa FL. It’s was decent.

But if I’m doing an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago, Johnny’s in Elmwood Park is the only place I’m considering.
 
baboss said:
I don't know if all of them have aviation decor but the one we've frequented in the burbs, maybe Schaumburg, has some cool airplanes hanging from the ceiling.
Click to expand...
The one in Champaign has a fair bit of aviation theming as well. A big diagram of KTIP and references to Chanute and the Tuskegee Airmen.

rk911 said:
is Manzella's Pizza still around? can't recall if that was in Champaign or Urbana. when i's drive down to visit my GF (now my wife) we'd always get a Manzella's pizza.
Click to expand...
I was going to say no, but the internet says otherwise, assuming you mean "Manzella's Italian Patio" on First Street. I've only been there once and didn't have the pizza. Sounds like a good date night; the wife loves that.
 
Jim K said:
The one in Champaign has a fair bit of aviation theming as well. A big diagram of KTIP and references to Chanute and the Tuskegee Airmen.


I was going to say no, but the internet says otherwise, assuming you mean "Manzella's Italian Patio" on First Street. I've only been there once and didn't have the pizza. Sounds like a good date night; the wife loves that.
Click to expand...

back in the day (late 60's/early 70's) my recollection was Manzella's was a storefront. sounds like they've expanded.
 
If you want real Chicago deli Italian beef/Ruben, you gotta hit Manny’s. Portillos is for the chocolate cake & shakes mostly.
 
I grew up by store #1. Portillo’s is definitely good if you got young ones with you. Never had my kids complain there. But have to agree, most everything is pretty good but better examples can be found by the specialists (burgers, beefs, especially ribs). Their dogs are true to style. Agree that for what was a small chain, very consistent quality over time and locations.
 
Never been to Pilot Pete's at Schaumburg airport, but I've driven by. I do have the T-shirt.

My MIL lives in Bartlett, so a visit is likely in my future. Thanks to all for the foodie tips.

All locations of Portillo's listed here:
https://www.portillos.com/all-locations/
 
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Domenick said:
Never been to Pilot Pete's at Schaumburg airport, but I've driven by. I do have the T-shirt.

My MIL lives in Bartlett, so a visit is likely in my future. Thanks to all for the foodie tips.

All locations of Portillo's listed here:
https://www.portillos.com/all-locations/
Click to expand...
Definitely swing by Pilot Pete’s. I live a few minutes from 06C, and would absolutely cover a round.
 
As of yesterday, it seems I'll be driving to Chicago in November.
 
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