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OK, so let me try to narrow it down a little for you:

-Easily gotten to by public transportation...what I mean is, close enough to a bus stop or train station, but can be anywhere in the city neighborhood wise. I'm in Logan meeting someone who resides in Andersonville.

-Prefer something reasonably priced. This is not a date and I'm not looking for anything fancy.

-Leaning towards ethnic, but open to something like a fantastic sandwich.

-Something obscure/off the beaten path. I've done Kuma's, Hot Doug's, etc.

-Kinda tired of tacos, pizza and falafel.

-Maybe some place that would be hard to get into on a weekend?

-We are both amateur "foodies" with a broad palette, no allergies or food restrictions and always on the look out for hidden gems.

TIA!

Hopleaf is now open for lunch and is relatively hard to get into on weekend nights.

The first thing that pops to mind for me as a weekday lunch would be the Boarding House lunch at Big Jones (Andersonville). It's only served M-F, and is the best fried chicken and sides I've ever had north of the South. They do also have other amazing food as well for lunch if you want to try something a bit more adventurous.

New England Seafood Company--definitely something different, very casual, terrific seafood baskets, clam chowder, fish & chips, a new BBQ salmon salad (best salmon I've had in the city) and one of, if not THE best lobster roll in the city.

3341 North Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60657 (between School and Roscoe)
77 (Belmont) bus East to the Lincoln stop and walk a few blocks north
A half block away from the Paulina stop on the Brown line

_________________
“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor

I like the idea of the boarding house lunch at Big Jones - terrific, only available weekdays, and lots of leftovers.

For ethnic, maybe Vietnamese - Nhu Lan, either on Lawrence/Rockwell or Belmont/Broadway, for banh mi sandwiches (and more) . . . Nha Hang for more varied Vietnamese (on Argyle).

Maybe explore the true Thai menus at Spoon, Aroy, Rosded, TAC Quick (or the new ATK).

This is exactly what I was thinking. Awesome awesome chicken.

I got one! Cafe Orchid on Addison/Lincoln/Ravenswood. Best Turkish food in the city by a long shot. (And though it's kinda cheesy when people do this, I just must mention that I have been to Istanbul and I love Turkish food.) Meets all of your criteria. They do have falafel on the menu, but it's not the main draw.

Cafe Orchid
1746 W Addison
773-327-3808
http://cafeorchid.com/

editedJust realized, I posted after your lunch date, so where did you go? What did you like?


Not ethnic, but awesome sandwiches & the best milkshake in the city,

GNR Brown Sack.

Not ethnic, but the best quiche & pastry in the city would be GNR Floriole.

Not ethnic, but awesome sandwiches & fries would be GNR Big & Little's.


If you are willing to go south I would do GNR Lao Hunan. Get the crispy eggplant

In fact, did you take a look at the list of restaurants that are Great Neighborhood Restaurants? Here's a link.
.

Good Luck

_________________
Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening

I vote for Aroy Thai. Brilliant food, very good prices, and right at the Damen stop on the Brown Line.

GNR - Birrieria Zaragoza.
4852 S Pulaski
Chicago, IL

It just a couple blocks north of the Pulaski Orange Line stop. You will not be dissapointed.

My friend ended up getting sick, so it's been postponed.

We're going to check out the buffet at La Fonda, but this is just something he's been wanting me to try.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and I'll report back once we go on the actual lunch culinary adventure!