Hello Chicago,

Planning on motoring from the land of DC Metro Minis to your neck of the woods for a weekend in March. Need to know 3 things if I may ask...

1) Where are the best twists and turns for the best motoring ?

2) Where is the best Chicago dog to be had ? Navy Pier ?

3) What about Deep Dish ? Pizza Uno or ????

Thanks in advance... and if you happen to see a DC Metro Mini Laser Blue 2007 MCS, if you get a wave, give one in return !

Cheers !

 

Hey MiniPol be sure to give my friends Jay and Stacy a big shout out for me

so which weekend?? if it's next weekend you're in luck. we're having our Spring Drive on 3/9.

1) where are you staying while here??? that's going to be a big factor regarding good roads...
2) Navy Pier has things to do... Portillo's has really good dogs and there's several locations.
3) Lou Malnati's for sure!! again, it depends on where you're staying...

 

Hey MiniMac !

Will pass on that shout out... probably will see them on the Saint Patricks Day run with DCMM.

Probably staying in the burbs with some friends of the wife in Bolingbrook.

Thanks for the advice on the good eats though !

 

very cool.. you're a bit south of me (I'm up in the northern 'burbs myself)... but there are a few MINI people in your neck of the woods.

Post up when you have a better idea when/what you're doing. maybe some of the peeps in the Bolingbrook area might know a few good roads.

 

The best hot dog is at Hot Doug's (IMHO) but Portillo's will do. I've got to agree with MiniMac, Lou Malnati's is good but Uno's and Due's are excellent too.

 

I second, third, and fourth Lou Malnati's. Portillo's is decent, but I have a nostalgic connection with Karm's on the westside located near the UIC Campus.
As far as great roads, can't help you. Not familiar with that area. It's not like Chicago and neighboring suburbs are known for twisties though. We're too much grid with lots of anxious ticket writing officers. Beware of Park Ridge and Harwood Heights! You wil tend to find curvy roads in the suburbs, but they are usually part of a subdivision, where it's probably not safe to punch it. I say do a lap on Lake Shore Drive and play "Avoid the Potholes", or at this point, craters . That will test your steering skills!!!

 

Thanks True Joy ! Turns out that we might be up there Easter weekend so we'll see if we can do Malnatis and one of the suggested dog places on Saturday....

Thanks again.

Cheers !

 

Hi,

Although on the northwest side of Chicago. I've always enjoyed Superdawg.

http://www.superdawg.com/

As for roads, I'm out west southwest and there isn't too much unless we offer the first leg of The Rock run to him. Any thoughts?

 

I forgot about SuperDawg! now that's a Chicago Dog!!

I was thinking more along the lines of Finnie Road... I didn't keep the drive sheets from that day, so I don't remember the route...

 

im in naperville which is real close to bolingbrook and i have been there a couple times. there is a portillos right out there. as for lou malnatis im not sure if they have one out there or not but you might want to venture to down town naperville to their location down there. and might i add it is my favorite pizza!!! as for the twistys it is hit or miss around here. the only road i can think of is green rd. which is basically on the border of bolingbrook and naperville.

 

MiniPol, I am from, live in the area you are traveling to. As far as hotdogs, as everyone has said Portillo's is great, there is also a hotdog joint in Joliet, about 20 mins south of Bolingbrook called Joe's Hotdogs. No seating, just a walk up window. Pizza, now there is a great pizza place in Romeoville, neighboring city called Ats-A-Nice Pizza. Some say the best pizza they ever had. I would have to say its my favorite pizza.
And as far as roads go, I can not think of many right in that general area. Bluff Rd. comes to mind but thats about it. Its prbably only a few miles long but its still fun. Have had my Henrietta for three weeks now, (first Mini) and have not taken her on it yet, darn weather. If I can think of anything else that will help you in your travels I will be sure to post. And if you have anymore questions, be sure to ask .

Josh

 

I saw speedycoops post and thought I would put my two cents in. Yes, Bolinbrook has a Portillo's but it is 100% worth it to drive out to the Portillo's in Naperville, best Portillo's around I think. Its about two blocks from Bill Jacobs Mini.

speedycoop, where is this Green Rd. at, I would like to check it out? Like you say, not many around here.
Josh

 

good call on the portillos in naperville. i agree it would be 100% better to go to that one. its at the south east corner of rt 59 and Jefferson avenue and yes it is about a mile or so west of Bill Jacobs mini which is on jefferson. lou malnatis in downtown naperville is also on jefferson about 2 or 3 miles east of Bill Jacobs MINI.

as for green rd, if your heading east on 75th street toward 53, it is the light at the bottom of the hill on 75th that goes into the valley where 53 is. or to make it easy it is the light before 53. take a right on it to head south and it is straight for about 2 miles then gets pretty twisty. it basically takes you around that old garbage hill that is off of royce rd. i would drive it at the speed limit first so you know the turns and whats going to come up and then have a little fun. be carefull though cause i have had a friend wreck his LS1 RX-7 on that road but he was doing 120mph+ and was not a good driver at all. haha. just a heads up.

 

Thanks speedycoop, I know now right where thats at. I will have to go drive that no and check it out. By the way have you driven Bluff Rd. off of Independence/53/Joliet Rd. by the original White Fence Farm in Romeoville? Thats a fun little road also. Again though, be careful. My brother was behind a guy who missed a curve and parked his truck in between two trees. I've heard of lots of accidents on Bluff Rd.
Josh

 

Had the Travel Channel on and watched a new show called "Hot Dog Paradise". Locally, 2 places were named; Superdawg and Hot Doug's. I didn't mention Superdawg before because I am not a fan of eating in the car for obvious reasons. Although there is seating inside and out, there is usually not much to go around and the outdoor seating is alongside a noisy/busy street. BUT, you make the call. It is a nice nostalgic place with some variety. BE WARNED, part of their "culture" is that the term hot dog does not exist. It is only refered to as a "Superdawg". And they will not put ketchup on your "Superdawg", even if you ask. They will give you ketchup and turn away.
As for Hot Doug's, never knew about until this thread and the show. Although they serve the classic style, I am excited to go out there and experiment with the exotic sausages they offer...alligator, rabbit, and venison...oh my! And a Salma Hayek Dog...this I gotta taste!

 

Welcome to Chi Town!!

Here's my take on your questions:

Best Chicago style dog: Poochie's, 3832 Dempster St, Skokie (Chicago suburb). The fries are also great and so is the polish.

Best Chicago style pizza: Lou Malnati's (several locations). Order the deep dish with butter crust.

Best twisties: North Sheridan Road (starting in Winnetka or thereabouts and becoming more twistie the further north you go-a nice drive through some of Chicago's nicest suburbs snaking along Lake Michigan).

Happy motoring!!

 

I agree with 2 of your statements...the best Chicago Style Hot Dog is found at Superdawg. But well stated on the Lou Malnatis and Sheridan road. However a lot of sheridan road has been under construction...all the way up to kennilworth. Anyway, get the sausage Pizza from Lou Malnati's

 

I just saw that yesterday and I've seen it on the internet as well... might have to take a road trip to Hot Doug's to check it out... looks like it's just south of Gordon Tech (is that still there??) on California Ave.

 

Hot Doug's is on the SW corner of Roscoe & California. Just remember that he closes at 4:00 PM and is not open Sunday. Oh, and the line can be down the block sometimes.

 

Figures.... Want(ed) to motor in my MCS from Baltimore to Bolingbrook this weekend... but not with the 6 - 8 inches of snow forcast for your neck of the woods... it looks like instead of motoring in my Mini, I'll be driving a Passat . Oh well, there's always Mini Takes the States in July. It doesn't snow in Chicago in July does it ?

 

A little snow won't do any harm to the MSC.

 

*snicker*

 

stranger things have happened safe drive

 

You never know...

 

OOOOOOOOO YEAH!!!
Went to Hot Doug's for the first time and had "The Dog" (Chicago Style - a classic, did not disappoint), "The Elvis" (Polish Sausage - mmm juicy), and "The Salma Hayek" (Andouille Sausage - Aye Chihuahua!!! It's hot, she's hot, I love them both). Although I like Superdawg, I do believe that Hot Doug's has won me over in one fell swoop. Not to say I would pass up Superdawg, Karm's, or Portillo's, BUT I love the VARIETY of fare, environment, and personality of owner and employees I witnessed there. Will definitely return. Perhaps the sequel to the "Superdawg Cruise" will be the "Hot Doug's Drive". Just in case any of you are interested in going, I am pasting his hours of operation straight from the website. My initial trip, on a Sunday, had me crying (and hungry) in disbelief. But that's how I justified 3 orders when I returned!!!

What time is Hot Doug's open, you ask?

We are open Monday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, closed on Sundays.

We also take a whole bunch of holidays off, so give us a call to make sure we're open (if it's a holiday).

Oh what the hell, here's the website.

http://www.hotdougs.com/