La Ciudad
I don’t like strip malls. They make me nervous in the way a sheltered suburbanite might fear dark alleys or the traffic on Lake Shore Drive at 5 p.m. on a Friday. That said, I will happily drive to a strip mall any day of the week if it’s the one on Sheridan Road that houses La Ciudad. The Uptown diamond in the rough serves some of the tastiest and most authentic Mexican food this side of the border. Believe me, I was more than a little skeptical when I pulled into the strip-mall parking lot, and even more apprehensive when I had to walk through the kitchen to get to the restroom. But two bites into La Ciudad’s fresh and tangy ceviche, and I was a believer. You’ll find the basics like tacos, enchiladas and carne asada along with a few surprises like grilled shrimp cooked in roasted garlic sauce and grilled pork chops with tomatillo sauce. Definitely save room for the irresistible tres leches cake. In addition to being unbelievably reasonably priced (nothing on the menu is more than $16), La Ciudad is BYOB. There’s just nothing not to love about this place. La Ciudad is at 4515 N. Sheridan; call 773-728-2887.
Ada’s Famous Deli & Restaurant
If you think you have to go all the way to New York to get a decent bowl of matzo ball soup or a classic pastrami on rye, then you haven’t been to Ada’s Deli. Tucked beneath the “L” tracks and in between the jewelry stores on Jeweler’s Row, you’ll find this unpretentious slice of the Big Apple right here in the Second City. The service is mediocre and the décor is outdated—but that just adds to the feeling of being at an old-school New York deli. Ada’s menu is fairly extensive, but your best bet is to stick with the delicatessen classics or order breakfast. (It’s served all day!) Don’t forget to take a stroll past the display case, which is filled with homemade desserts like cherry pie and New York cheesecake. Ada’s Famous Deli & Restaurant is at 14 S. Wabash; call 312-214-4282 or visit www.silversmithchicagohotel.com/hotel-dining.
Half Shell
If you’re in the mood for an elegant feast of seafood and fine wine—definitely don’t go to Half Shell. However, if you want a heaping portion of crab legs for just a few clams, then this Lincoln Park joint has a bar stool with your name on it. Half Shell’s menu features a full line-up of fish and seafood: oysters, crab cakes, steamed mussels, deep-fried scallops and occasionally soft-shell crab. Entrees are served with no-fuss shoestring potatoes, and most items are less than $20. If you’re going to have dinner in a basement, make it a basement in Lincoln Park that serves crab legs for less than the cost of a mani/pedi. Half Shell is at 676 W. Diversey; call 773-549-1773 or visit www.halfshellchicago.com.
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