FINALLY, The Hole is OPEN once again serving up the tastiest sausage, delicious pizza creations and the best 10″ you can find at 2am! The new PIE HOLE PIZZA JOINT is located at 3477 Broadway @ Cornelia just 1 block over from Halsted.

Formerly located at the heart of the Boystown  epicenter on Halsted and Roscoe, Pie Hole used to offer contemporary pizza in a charming atmosphere with stunning views of the 7-11 parking lot. Now they offer the same great pizza’a (or create your own)  with stunning views of the Treasure Island parking lot on Broadway and Cornelia!

Owner Doug Brandt says, “The original Hole served its purpose: We offered a place to eat for people coming out of bars,” said Brandt. “They would be drunk and belligerent, and it gave them a chance to put something in their stomach and go home a little more safely.”

After looking around in a few other Chicago neighborhoods, Brandt said he decided to keep Pie Hole in Boystown because of the established clientele. But with the decision to open earlier, Brandt hopes to cater more of a dinner rather than a late-night crowd.

While the late-night pizza spot will retain features like its hours, the décor and the specialty pizza-by-the-slice, Brandt said he wasn’t sure if the former late-night clientele will follow. He said the after-hours crowd can be “fickle” and added that their new location is further from the bars on Halsted. Pie Hole’s early morning hours will be experimental at first.

“We’re going to stay open until 3 in the morning. If people come then, we’re going to capture the business,” said Brandt. “If nobody comes, we aren’t going to kill ourselves to stay open so late.”

Pie Hole will still offer pizza by the slice until 3 a.m. It will now also be open for lunch starting at 11 a.m. Pizza prices will remain the same, starting at $3.50. And customers will be able to customize their pizza, select their toppings and watch their slice being cooked.

Diners can also choose from a menu of 15 pizzas like the WHITE PARTY, BUFF CHICK and CHER AND CHER  ALIKE. Pizza sticks, Cheese Sticks, Salads and finger-licking Toffee Pie are available as well. And the new location is  BYOB friendly.

Brandt said Pie Hole was known for its specialty pizza of the month. Past favorites included the “after-school special” with sausage and marshmallow, and the “Thanksgiving” pizza with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

The same oven, the same dough – but on a recent visit,  somehow it even tasted BETTER than before!

Pie Hole Pizza Joint   773-528-8888   

Pie Hole on Facebook     Pie Hole on Twitter

Best Gay Chicago.com

Jack’s on Halsted,
 owned by chef Jack Jones, 

was selected as best new restaurant  by Chicago Magazine, when they opened. And since then, have won numerous awards and recently reinvented themselves with a fresh new menu.

A contemporary, American restaurant, Jack’s features global cuisine incorporating Asian, Mediterranean and New World making it a true American blend.

For the past ten years Jack’s has been serving distinctive, skillfully prepared, high quality food for all to enjoy. “We strive to use only the finest and freshest ingredients available. We are passionate about two things, serving healthful, excellent food and being sensible about our prices. Jack’s on Halsted is commited to offering the best food value possible.” – says Chef Jack Jones , who has worked at some of Chicago’s finest dining establishments including  Yoshi’s Café, Printer’s Row, Terczak’s and Spiaggia.

  Located in Boystown on the corner of Halsted and Belmont in Lakeview, Jack’s is in the most diverse and exciting neighborhood in all of Chicago. With Blue Man Theater just steps away and some of Chicago’s most unique shops, not to mention clubs, bars and restaurants, Lakeview is a happening spot. Jack’s is the place to start or end your night out, be sure to ask for a table at the window! 

Along with the new menu came some other new improvements. Drew Johnson, a longtime employee of Jack’s, recently became Jack’s business partner and managing partner.  The restaurant is now open 7 days  for dinner plus a hip Sunday brunch with  DJ  Gerry and guest bartenders who serve up $2 Mimosas, $3 Bloody Marys and $5 Special Brunch Martinis. Food at brunch  ranges from Omletes and Classic Eggs Benedict to Orange Flavored French Toast and Steak and Eggs.

ALSO  NEW,  a  charming  patio out back, away from the street noise. Plus,  Late Night Food!  Wednesday thru Saturday food is now available till  1am.  In these economic challenging times Jacks is also offering  $6  Martinis  everyday,  and Tuesdays  half-price bottles  of wine. There is also a 3-course Dinner menu available for just $25.95 that offers a great selection of starters, entrees and a dessert!

 You will find everything from steak to seafood to brugers here in a wide selction of prices. Jones’s “pork tasting” pulls out all the stops by offering a three-way sampling of thyme- and shallot-infused grilled pork tenderloin, smoky Memphis-style pulled pork, and succulent, fall-off-the-bone baby backs. We generally prefer our ribs to put up a fight but the Asian spices and juicy texture more than compensate. Maple-sparked mashed sweet potatoes offer extra allure to this hog triptych!

 Pat Bruno, Chicago Sun-Times  said,
…The cuisine style at Jack’s on Halsted is essentially contemporary American. However, within the broad interpretation of that style of cooking, there is a definite license to wheel and deal those meals. …(Read full review )

Phil Vettel, Chicago Tribune
…Jack’s is a moderately priced American bistro whose menu presents familiar dishes tweaked with Jones’ personal touch. “It’s like Woody Allen’s second and third movies,” quips Jones. “Different, but the underlying neuroses are the same.” …(Read full review )

 
We  give it our  5  PINK CROWNS!

Follow  JACKS  on FACEBOOK and keep up with current  news, info and specials!

At the newest location, El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill, they offer a much bigger menu, fresh tableside guacamole that is made to order and an extensive selection of over 175 tequilas! (all 100% Blue Agave). This makes it the biggest tequila bar in Chicago!

DID YOU KNOW?  There are two basic categories of tequila: mixtos and 100% agave. Mixtos use no less than 51% agave, with other sugars making up the remainder.

When tequila is produced it can go thru many different stages and techniques, just like wines. Some distilleries cook mature agave in huge stone ovens, some may go through steam ovens, and some are allowed to ferment in wood tanks or stainless steel barrels. Each technique can produce different flavors. 

• Blanco (“white”) or plata (“silver”): white spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels;
  
• Joven (“young”) or oro (“gold”): is the result of blending Silver Tequila with Reposado and/or Añejo and/or extra Añejo Tequila;
  
• Reposado (“rested”): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels;
  
• Añejo (“aged” or “vintage”): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in oak barrels;
  
• Extra Añejo (“extra aged” or “ultra aged”): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels.

I have dined here probably a dozen times or more since this newest location opened. The food is always good and hot, presented in an appealing way, and most times  comes up in a timely manner.

When I dine out, I like to split an entrée and have room to try other things as well.  El Mariachi has some great starters that should not be missed. They offer one of the best black bean soups I have ever had and a delicious chipotle and tomato based tortilla soup, which is topped off with avocado and sour cream.

A nice appetizer I enjoy in the summer is their traditional  shrimp ceviche. And in the winter I love their Queso Fundido. It is one of the best I have ever had. Just the right texture and not too greasy or oily. They use a very high-quality cheese.

Queso Fundido  is billed as  a  “cheese fondue”. And I think many diners order this dish at Mexican restaurants expecting a warm semi-liquid sauce in a pot, to dip in. But it’s not.  It’s more a cheese spread of sorts.  It’s melted cheese, not a cheese sauce. It traditionally comes  with chorizo sausage added, I like mine plain, but I have also ordered it with some chopped shrimp or chopped  chicken added to it. And it is served with some flour or corn tortillas to make a little  sandwich appetizer or I just like to scoop it onto their delicious chips and top it off with a dab of their salsa! 

Entree’s  range from a big assortment of  carnes/meats, mariscos/seafood and  pollo/chicken dishes. And all of the traditional Mexican favorites are here as well; Burritos, Flautas, Fajitas, Enchiladas, Tacos and  a  variety of combinations.  People will tell me they don’t like Mexican food – I bring them here and they love it. There is something for everyone. Most of food is traditional Mexican but many come with a fresh approach. A variety of  sides include Lime Rice and Mexican Corn. There  are  four Vegetarian dishes as well  and many of the traditional fare can be made vegetarian. 

The father here created a topping of  specialty seasoned shrimp and sauce which he calls  “Costena“.  And it is available on the grilled steak, on the chicken breasts, or on the catfish, which I am told is extremely popular. I LOVE IT on the chicken!

I think most all of the entree’s here are generous portions and filling and it’s very easy to split an appetizer, share an entree and save room for  a dessert. YOU WILL BE FULL!

Fresh made dessert  includes  traditional Flan (baked custard with light carmel sauce), Banana’s Flambéed with Tequila, melt-in-your-mouth Margarita Cheesecake, traditional  Sopapillas (fried dough with cinnamon, honey and ice cream) and for the chocolate lover, a moist and rich flourless chocolate cake made with nuts and cherries and some gran marnier! See why I said you need to save some room for dessert?! Most people over eat at their meal and leave no room, and a taste of something sweet with a dash of Mexican coffee, is the perfect finish.

Also this summer, the restaurant will be offering some unique spaces on the property which will be available for rent for private parties  and  events. Then in the fall,  the family hope to unveil their newest property; at 3445 Broadway (right by the original location 3420) in the old Triangle Photo Building will be home to  their new (yet unnamed) traditional Steakhouse with Mexican flair!

There are lots of  specials  on various nights –

MONDAYS     1/2 Price Margaritas     $16 Margarita Pitchers
TUESDAYS     1/2 Price Sangrias       $15 Sangria Pitchers
WEDNESDAYS     1/2 Price Margaritas    $16 Margarita Pitchers
THURSDAYS     $4 Cantaritos    $2 off any tequila
SUNDAYS          $18 Rio Grande Margarita (60 oz.)

SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS   Special   Brunch Menu 11 am-3 pm
$3 mimosas & bellinis      $3 bloody marys

BE THEIR  FRIEND/FAN ON FACEBOOK AND GET THE SPECIAL
SCOOP ON PROMOTIONS ONLY FOR THEIR FACEBOOK FANS

Adrian, one of the two brothers who helps run the restaurant has been working with his father since the age of 11! He prides himself on quality management. “We pride ourselves  on selecting quality ingredients and not skimping to save a few pennies, like some restaurants might do. And we watch the restaurant very closey and listen to what the customers tell us for feedback. We run reports to see what sells best and we change the menu around as needed. We are going to launch another new menu any day now!”

 The El Mariachi restaurants  get awarded our FIVE CROWNS!

El Mariachi Restaurant – Original    3420 N Broadway       Ph. 773.549.7020
11:00am-11:00pm 7 days a week