My meal here was surprisingly tasty for a chain BBQ place…read more The lunch special was great. $12.99 for a pulled pork sandwich, side, and drink. That is essentially unbeatable downtown. The pork was juicy and the KC style bbq sauce was good (other options were Chicago, Memphis, Carolina(?)). The mac and cheese was really tasty, I found myself scraping the bowl for more. It had a really nice crust on top. The service was quick and friendly.

I've had the full spectrum of BBQ from mind-blowingly incredible to places I send people I don't…read morelike. I am pleased to report that Blackwood BBQ is somewhere between "good" and "very good". It won't knock your socks off, but it is nowhere close to "bad." It's perfect for what it is, that being: a spot for a bite during the lunch hour. On both visits, I ordered the two meat platter, with brisket and sausage. Both were flavorful and savory, with the brisket being balanced in terms of meaty vs fatty (as requested). Now, that said, the prices at Blackwood are on the high side. On the one hand, I know the price of a pound of ground beef is greater than the minimum wage (as of this writing). However, I also can't help but feel the punch to the wallet when two meats and one side, where one of those is brisket, and a soda comes to somewhere between $20-25 (I think it's close to $25, but don't want to misspeak). Half a pound of meat is not a lot, making the wallet punch even worse. Then there comes the service. Most of the folks working here are professional and welcome. There is this one person, though, whose level of gruffness seems a bit high. It wasn't so much a lack of pleasantries for the sake of efficiency as it was annoyance that customers exist? Final verdict: If you're working in the loop, and craving BBQ, Blackwood is a rock-solid spot, but the high prices mean it likely isn't practical for a regular spot. If it's a weekend, there are better options out there.

Outstanding food and service! And the smoothies are awesome! I enjoyed the turkey pastrami, the…read moreBLT, as well as the breakfast options.

The customer service at Harry's was exceptional! They were very attentive and sweet! I love how…read morethey have a variety of options!

My new FAB alternative located at NWM .. great brisket , with tangy 'Alabama' sauce…read more. Nice respite from many 2nd Flr others...

Blackwood BBQ was a great lunch stop! I got the pulled pork sandwich lunch special with mac and…read morecheese. The pulled pork was tender and flavorful, and I loved trying both the Chicago and Kansas City BBQ sauces. Neither was very spicy, which I actually wanted more of as I love spice, but overall the sandwich had a lot of flavor. The mac and cheese was good too; I just wish it had been a little gooier. The staff was really friendly, the portions were filling, and I even had leftovers to take home. Overall, a really satisfying meal, and I'd definitely come back!

Oh yea, I can totally see why this spot is popular amongst Hyde Park folks! Friendly and helpful…read moreowners when I asked for recs. There's even a community board towards the bathroom, which gives this spot a community-based vibe. It's a quick, casual spot with several tables open for grabs when people leave. I got a traditional everything bagel w cream cheese to start the day, which had the RIGHT amt of cream cheese. Sometimes places give wayy too much, ruining the exp. I also ordered their popular Sumac Chicken sandwich on their Dutch Crunch bread, which was really good!! The bread had a slight sweetness to it that was satisfying and the flavors altogether were soo yummy. I waited ~12 min for my order, since they were rightfully packed. No outside food/drinks allowed if you're grabbing a table to eat. There's WiFi and a restroom in the back. Lots of neighborhood regulars. Bonus points that their food is halal for those w dietary restrictions. Great neighborhood spot!!

Cafe 53. Unassuming spot on a major street full of stores and people…read more You walk in and you order anything that has a star next to the item on the menu. I got the sumac chicken. Dutch bread. Absolutely a powerhouse sandwich. I also loved the patio seating outside. Wonderfully beautiful setting. Definitely a great place for a work lunch meeting or study session. Service was quick as a flash, but the taste was a blast.

As a world-famous hot dog sculptor and reviewer, I have sampled dogs from every corner of the…read morecivilized world. Yet somehow, I had never tried a true Chicago-style hot dog. That changed when I arrived at Byron's Hot Dogs, an old-school Chicago stand near Wrigley Field that locals and visitors consistently praise for its classic dogs, friendly service, and affordable prices. The location was warm and welcoming, and the staff patiently explained the entire process. You order at the counter, then move down the line while they build the dog to your liking. They also serve burgers, Italian beef, Polish sausages, gyros, fries, and plenty of other options, but I had come for one reason: to experience the Chicago dog in its natural habitat. Then came the great ketchup controversy. I asked for ketchup and was informed that this was a serious violation of Chicago law. Apparently, ketchup does not belong on a Chicago hot dog, and requesting it is roughly equivalent to insulting the Cubs, deep-dish pizza, and the city flag all at once. Unwilling to abandon my artistic vision, I snuck across the street and purchased a bottle. When I returned, I applied a small amount to my hot dog. The moment the ketchup touched the bun, the lights flickered and a smoky figure appeared above the counter. He introduced himself as Ketchu-Potl, ancient deity of forbidden condiments. He cursed me to spend the rest of my life receiving mustard packets whenever I ask for ketchup. Worse, every hot dog I order now arrives with one single mysteriously warm tomato slice in my pocket. Despite the curse, the hot dog was excellent. The classic toppings were fresh and flavorful, and Byron's even offers its own variation with additional lettuce, cucumber, and green pepper--essentially turning the hot dog into a salad on a bun. Byron's is a casual, no-frills spot with a welcoming atmosphere, quick service, and plenty of outdoor seating. It's also a much better value than buying a hot dog inside Wrigley Field. As a lifelong hot dog enthusiast, I'm thrilled to have finally experienced the real Chicago version. Just remember: order it with the works, skip the ketchup, and never underestimate the wrath of Ketchu-Potl.

Stopped by for a char dog with all the toppings, and it was delicious--fresh, flavorful, and…read moreexactly what I was craving. Everything was prepared quickly, and the ingredients tasted fresh. The cheeseburger looked fantastic too; I was tempted to order one after seeing it come out of the grill. I'll definitely be back to try the burger next time! Highly recommended if you're looking for a great Chicago-style bite. President Barack Obama approved

I was here for Pokemon go Fest this last weekend. Me and for other friends came here to eat lunch…read more Very clean place and delicious food. They have tons of different options and different Subs to choose from period I had the meatball sub which was amazing. Could have used a little more cheese but still was very flavorful seasoned and had lots of great sauce. Definitely messy to eat so grab lots of napkins. Service was great and attentive.

Fontano's is conveniently located along Millenium Park and we swung by about 30 minutes before they…read moreclosed on a weekday to a mostly empty store. They offer several Chicago classics including pizzas and subs, but it was the closest location I could find that offered Italian ices. Service is no frills at the counter before you could presumable seat yourself. At first, I thought the pricing on the Italian ices were a little high, but the cups are very, very large. We tried every single flavor and the standouts for me were the watermelon and lime. The texture is light and smooth, but everything was a bit coyingly sweet. Not bad for a very touristy area, but wouldn't be my first recommendation either.

For someone who can only eat Buona beef because of how much better it is than the other main ones,…read moreJohnnys is right up there with it. This is an unbelievable beef

I stopped in after a night out and ordered the gyro sandwich meal. The meal was around $20, but the…read moreportion size was well worth it because the gyro was very filling and flavorful. I was so hungry that I forgot to take a photo, but everything was genuinely very good. Service was fast, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the restaurant was clean. I'll definitely be back.

Had the Big Mik burger a few days ago: very generous portions with a huge mound of fries. The…read moreburger was delicious and hearty and the fries were crisp. The meal (lunch) was so filling that I didn't need to eat anything for the rest of the day. The patio space is lovely on a pleasant day, and there usually is plenty of space. The woman at the counter was lovely, and the food was ready in less than ten minutes. I'm excited to try their other burgers. Tried the petite burrito on a different day: it was gigantic but quite flavourless. Will not order again. The food is on the pricey end, but one item is more than enough for two meals.

philly cheesesteak egg rolls? say less. the menu was huge and everything looked so good but as soon…read moreas i saw the philly egg rolls i knew i had to get them. we ordered the philly cheesesteak egg rolls which come with fries, the big mik with fries, the banana pudding, cookies, and a mango peach lemonade. the food was cheesy, greasy, and delicious. i loved the sweet chili sauce on the egg rolls but also ordered a side of ranch to dip them in too. unfortunately the ranch had no flavor but it was creamy. It needed garlic, parsley, and salt at least! i also ordered lemon pepper seasoning on the fries ($1.50 up charge) but they just gave me plain fries. the fries were soft but that's how i like them. the mango peach lemonade was not overly sweet and didn't taste artificially flavored. the cookies were a good way to end the meal. they were soft and chocolatey but could have used a little more salt to mimic a buttery flavor. i recommend checking your order thoroughly before you leave because we were missing our ranch, banana pudding (they ended up being out), and my fries weren't seasoned. also because i ordered online and used apple pay, it didn't ask me for a tip, which i felt bad about so we ordered cookies when we got there to leave a tip on. something to look out for when online ordering. i didn't go in but my partner said it's a small space so maybe better for take out but they do have a bar and some seating.