Sometimes the best meals have the smallest price, and here is a great example.
I left a fancy steak house in Scottsdale, $200 lighter, and the meal was just so-so. I skipped dessert because I had already set my mind on dessert at the Sugar Bowl to let my taste buds know I still loved and cared for them. I had to have some highlight of the evening.
My search for redemption continued the next day. Just a half mile north of the Jewish Community Center on Scottsdale Road sits Taste of Chicago, a hot dog lover’s paradise, nestled among the shops of East Thunderbird Square, near Yogurt Builders (Where Jewish Kids Eat).
Brightly colored umbrellas emblazoned with Vienna Beef logos beckon to you, and the friendly staff can’t wait to ask where you are from. Though they are hoping the answer is “Chicago,” they are delighted to engage you in conversation whatever your reply. The food comes out quickly, but there’s no rush. You order and pay at the counter, and they bring it out to you if it’s not too busy, or they call your number and slide your meal in a basket through a little window along with a smile.
Jumbo Char Dog Combo
(with French fries and a drink) $6.68
I love my hot dogs slightly blackened, and to see it offered on the menu told me these babies were made by people who love their work. The manager says to me, “Chicago style?” meaning all the fixings, and I say “yes,” even though I know I will probably pick off the hot peppers. I am a firm believer in trying the entrée as the chef intended and then rearranging things to my own tastes. More often than not, the chef is right. This hot dog is loaded with tomato, peppers (sweet and hot), mustard, celery salt and kosher dill slice on a fresh poppy seed bun. The hot dog’s crisp skin has a snap as you bite in, which plays nicely with the softness of the bun. The condiments are a burst of fresh flavor, and you find yourself eating an entire meal with every single bite. I ordered the French fries, and they are out of this world. Made from whole potatoes with the skin on, they come out hot, salted and golden brown. I’ve never had an undercooked fry here or had to ask for them to be crispy, because that’s just how they are made every time. These guys do love their work. You also get a soda you can refill all you want. Don’t throw away the basket!
Spicy Italian Beef Sandwich Combo
(with onion rings and a drink) $10.68
It is often said that an entire restaurant can be judged by its Italian beef sandwich, and this one is awesome. A generous portion of tender, thinly sliced roast beef (cooked well done as Italian beef is) steams inside a fresh roll mounded with giardiniera and served with what they call gravy. I would call the “gravy” au jus, and it is the perfect enhancement to this delicious sandwich. Not only does it add flavor, it softens the whole thing so it melts in your mouth. So, where’s the spice you ask? It’s in the giardiniera, a blend of pickled veggies. This is one of those try or don’t try options. The sandwich is great with or without it, so it’s a personal preference depending on how much you like spice. My recommendation is to get it, and if you don’t like it, scrape it off. You can get hooked on this stuff. This time I ordered the onion rings ($1 extra) to see if they match up with the fries, and of course they do: beer battered and fried to a deep golden brown. I ordered the meal, so I would get the rings and the refillable drink.
Bratwurst $3.99
Wanting to try one more thing on the menu, I was really torn between the hamburgers, which I have heard are good, or one of their chicken sandwiches. How I ended up ordering a bratwurst I don’t really know. I guess it was the sauerkraut calling my name to this all-beef treat. This was a very good traditional presentation of the brat. Next time I order it, I think I will ask if they can char it for me a little.
If you do the math, you’ll see that one could eat every day for a month at Taste of Chicago for what I paid at the trendy steak house. For me, it’s not so much a financial thing as it is spiritual. For example, I once paid $22 for a bowl of soup that turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Even though it was years ago, I still remember it being worth every penny. Taste of Chicago is a real treasure.
