Customer Reviews

Slow Food Guide to Chicago (Slow Food Guide to Chicago: Restaurants, Markets, Bars)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The reviews are a few years out of date and some of the restaurants no longer exist. Much of the space dedicated to expensive restaurants where I was looking for more reasonably-priced places.

I have to admit that I generally do not buy guide books, but after seeing The Slow Guide to Chicago in a book store, I knew I had to buy it. It reads more like a great inside story to some really interesting spots in Chicago. They give a snail to the "best" spots - that support the local, sustainable, traditional.... ways - but they also open up a whole new world to some of the much smaller mom and pop stores that you would never know about unless a friend told you about it. A really wonderful book.

Whether you're a serious foodie or someone who loves to eat, this book is invaluable (if you're in Chicago...) It's quite different from Zagat's (no democratic process), cheap-good-real-food guides like Streets and San Man (which is also great) or Roadfood, or any Fodor's-style restaurant or travel guide. It's just about good food, of all prices, in any location, from tacos to truffles. The "slow food" monkier refers not to the speed of service but to the anti-fast food philosophy/movement (the "Slow Food Foundation") behind this series of books. The philosophy is sort of similar to the Chowhound guides, but I personally prefer the Slow Food ones.

Many famous restaurants far above my budget, such as Charlie Trotter's, are included (especially in the French and American sections), but many (most?) entries focus on affordable options, sit-down or takeout, serving dozens of cuisines in dozens of neighborhoods throughout this vast city. The writers must be well tuned-in to Chicago foodie circles, as the exterior appearance of some recommended places leaves you unsure whether the restaurant still exists, much less prepared for the excellent food about to be served.

On their recent visit to Chicago, two friends and I spent three days basically eating or recuperating from meals at places recommended by this book. We had Costa Rican, Polish, Ukranian, Lithuanian, Indian, Soul Food, German, Cuban, American (diner) and Mexican, all of which were excellent. The indices (by neighborhood and cuisine) and detailed maps make choosing your next target a breeze.

The one drawback we had was that some of the places recommended turned out to no longer exist, despite the book being written the year before. This isn't necessarily the authors' fault (given the lifespan of many restaurants), but do make sure you call ahead first, as some restaurants here are pretty isolated.

I found this book at my local library for a trip back to Chicago, where I lived most of my life. It was so good, I bought my own copy after I returned. This lists all my favorite restaurants and numerous new ones as well. The reviews were "spot on." They seemed to capture all the nuances of each establishment. This book is well organized by cuisine...there was even a section on french fries! The book is far superior to the restaurant listings in Chicago Magazine. Since this was published in 2005 it may gradually become dated, but I found it quite accurate in 2009.

If you are conniseur of good food and live in Chicago, this book is for you. From finding the best Mexican or German restaurants, to the best butchers in the city so you can cook at home, this book is filled with useful information. (If you've ever gone to the Publican and had their bacon, I was dying to find a good butcher and make it myself - best in the city but opened after this edition was published.) I will be driving around and notice interesting looking places and find them in this book. It has not steered me wrong yet. Recommend it.

A guide to restaurants, markets and bars in Chicago, written by Chicago locals and Slow Food members.

Slow Food has the principles of tradition, conviviality, sustainability, as well as an emphasis on homemade foods.

This guide is divided into three parts: Cuisines (African, British, Vegetarian, Scandinavian, Latin American etc.); Special Foods and Nightlife (Wine Bars, Coffe and Tea Houses, Brunch etc.); and Food Shops, Markets and Producers (Farmers' Markets, Fish and Seafood Markets, Ethnic and Specialty Food Markets etc.). Each description includes the types of meals found at each location, the atmosphere, address, telephone number and average cost for a meal.

There are a few black and white photographs. Most are scenic shots of Chicago, while others are photos of people creating meals at restaurants. This guide seems to be quite helpful and useful despite my not being able to actually go to Chicago and try the book out personally. Though having said that, I will have to say, it is definitely much more detailed than the Zagat books.

Try this little gem out. It is more detailed than Zagats and written by locals! The amount of entries in this book are over 500! There is sure to be some wonderful gems for you to discover on your next trip to Chicago!