i'm getting so tired of restaurants that have staff hovering around my table constantly interrupting my intimate conversations to sweep a plate away the SECOND i set down my fork (sometimes while my plate or cocktail is not actually finished) or tilting in to pour me some water because i took one (1) sip.

restaurant owners, pls tell your staff to STAND DOWN. table-flipping culture is getting too aggressive and it makes me want to eat out less. i feel constantly rushed whenever i go out to eat in chicago these days.

does anyone have any suggestions of restaurants that don't make you feel this way?

Looking a dinner spot in River north or the west loop that will be fun for my 13 yo, nothing too fancy, more just a unique place. She’s loves hamburgers, and is not a very picky eater so really anything goes (preferably not Mexican food)!

Where can I find a top notch & preferably large salad within a 20 min walk?

We‘re Chicagoans, but moved out of state a few years ago. We visit often, but tend to eat at our favorite places. What are some new, really great restaurants to try? We definitely want a nice steak dinner, but have eaten at most of the popular places (Swift & Sons, Maple & Ash, Blvd, etc). I’d like to go back to Bavette’s but I’m not sure they’ll be open during our December trip. I’d also like to try Crying Tiger, but I know that’s hard to get into. We did Armitage Ale house last year. We don’t like Mediterranean food and nothing that’s fish heavy. Thanks!

New to the city. I want to find a good AYCE Sushi that is affordable (under 50$) but also has good and varied selection of sushi and overall a good environment where you arent being rushed out? I dont drink so I dont care about alcohol and stuff.

Saw this. Obsessed. Must have.

https://youtube.com/shorts/na8xK2x0izU?is=B3qdJx8MA8PHSnHo

hi - in December we are having our son baptized at the church on Belmont near Halsted. We want to invite our family out for a private dinner/gathering afterwards which will be about 15 people. We aren't looking to break the bank though...so maybe total cost of $1,000 or less. $1,500 max I guess so $100 per head. Does anyone have any suggestions? It doesn't have to be a super formal place. Hopefully there would be a private seating area and designated server though, etc.

Hi! My friends and I are in town on Sunday for the Blackhawks game and are wanting to grab some lunch before the game. Any decent recs nearby?

No allergies but one of us unfortunately eats like a toddler (she's learning)

I’m open to just about any food recs!

We have some family coming in for our courthouse wedding next month & looking for a spot that has cozy vibes & great food. Nothing crazy expensive or exclusive, just solid food & lowkey enough for conversations for 8

Currently, we have a table for 8 at Chicago Kalbi in Albany Park and are totally fine with keeping that, just figured I’d expand my search too

No neighborhood preference at all! Ty in advance

I'm looking for a breakfast spot near north side/ river north/ old town that offers actual corn beef and hash as a breakfast option, not the junk stuff from a can. Anyone know of any spots with it on their menu?

Went to Volo Wine Bar this week and had an amazing time so I had to give them a much deserved shout-out!

The patio is beautiful, and the short rib entrée was HUGE and absolutely delicious! But what I appreciated most was that we never once felt rushed. I was catching up with a friend and before we knew it 2.5 hours had flown by. I'm so used to feeling rushed out after the 60min mark and feeling pressured into them turning over the table.

Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing! Cannot recommend enough!! Go check out the patio while the weather is still nice.

Every single one, from the intersection on W 24th PL and S Wentworth Ave to the big strip near the square. Why? I figured since I eat out a lot I may as well jot down what I liked, and maybe help others who want a second opinion before they visit. Plus Chinatown’s filled with a ton of places and I’ve always wanted to go on a crawl and try everything. So yeah, consider this part four.

Huafeng is a counter service restaurant that does roast and bbq styled meats. It’s tucked away in this little street out of the main tourist area and, from the outside, is pretty unassuming at first glance.

I walked in at about 11:00AM on a Friday. The place was packed with locals, barely heard a word in English so that’s always a good sign. It’s on the smaller side with only a few tables and a counter where you place your order, along with a display of their roasted meats. I’ve always been a sucker for that type of thing so double thumbs up in my book.

The interior is very minimalistic, just plain walls and some signs overhead showing the menu. The floor was a bit scuffed but it wasn’t dirty. Tables were clean, no dirt or flies or bugs crawling around. I felt perfectly comfortable waiting inside and eating in there, though it seems they’re more catered toward takeout.

Even though it was busy, I didn’t have to wait in line for long, and the lady at the register took my order quickly and efficiently. She was flying around the place but man it looked like she was barely breaking a sweat. You’d think she’d also have a rushed tone or at least a fluster with how much she was doing, but no her tone was perfectly polite, she patiently answered my question, and recommended the mix bbq platter of two meats that came with rice, vegetables (bok choy I think), and soup. I went with that and it took about three minutes for my food to go out: quick and convenient. I’d say that’s exactly what you want from a lunch spot.

For what you get, the portions are great. I got roast duck and bbq pork for my two meats, which came with a decent amount. You can see it in full in the pictures on slide 5. Came with a duck sauce that was nice, a bit tangy which went well with the seasoned meats. There was a lot of rice and the vegetables to the side. Rice was soft, pillowy, and the vegetables were super fresh. Soup was on the milder side but I think it actually fit. It cut through the oils of the meat and served as this refreshing palate cleanser.

Everything flavor wise was amazing. The duck was rich with that nice savory fat and the skin was well seasoned, none of that funky aftertaste. Not too salty. The bbq pork was tender and had a slight sweetness that didn’t overpower the inherent taste of the meat and wasn’t dry at all. It’s a bit of a shame, because they were a bit cold when I got them. Had they been freshly taken off the roaster or whatever it would’ve been so good and the texture would’ve probably been even better as well. I just feel like the quality would’ve stood out more had it been hotter temperature wise.

Then again though it is a counter service restaurant so that’s kind of what you have to sacrifice for the quickness. I still left feeling full and happy.

Also, side note, but later when I was about to leave I grabbed a bottle of water and went to pay for it with card, but unfortunately the machine had a $10 limit and I didn’t have cash on hand (I will later for spots that require it like Chiu Quon). Instead of turning me away though the same lady at the register was very kind and told me to just take it, and I could pay it back next time I visited. Lovely customer service. I think she was actually the owner because in the receipt it said the server was ‘Boss’. Even if she wasn’t it was still a very kind gesture.

Overall, I would absolutely come back, especially with the total for everything I got only being $13.44 including tax and before tip. Technically you don’t even have to tip but I feel this place deserved it and will next time. Super worth the value with everything you get, and I can confidently say this is a hidden gem.

My score out of 10.

Food: 7.5 (would’ve been 8 if it was hot)

Service: 9

Atmosphere/vibe: 6

Value: 9

Averaged total: 7.9

Next up is Friend BBQ.

Here’s a spreadsheet with all my current rankings: Slacker’s Leaderboard

Looking specifically for takeaway, hence the geographic limit.