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French Market [sneak peek]

French Market [sneak peek]
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  • Post #211 - March 23rd, 2014, 9:01 am
    Post #211 - March 23rd, 2014, 9:01 am Post #211 - March 23rd, 2014, 9:01 am
    We stopped by the French Market for a pre-opera lunch yesterday and it was hopping. I had a delicious Blue Pig Fig sandwich from Pastoral and the husband and kid enjoyed burgers from Frietkoken. I thought the fries were quite good-- nicely browned, with a good potato taste.

    The real hit were the macarons from Vanille-- beautiful, crunchy-chewy delights. We also tried some macarons from Delightful, but they were not as good-- we should have gotten the Delightful paczki.

    We were there at noon, and seats were a bit hard to find in the main market-- however, there are some tables in the Metra concourse that tend to be overlooked, and thus easier to snag.

    We definitely plan to return to try Fumare, LillyQ, and lots more pastries from Vanille.

    Jen

    Edited to add: One odd thing we noticed-- according to the signs in the seating area, you cannot drink booze from Pastoral in the seating area, but if you buy booze from Frietkoken, you HAVE to drink it there.
  • Post #212 - March 28th, 2014, 12:57 pm
    Post #212 - March 28th, 2014, 12:57 pm Post #212 - March 28th, 2014, 12:57 pm
    Edited to add: One odd thing we noticed-- according to the signs in the seating area, you cannot drink booze from Pastoral in the seating area, but if you buy booze from Frietkoken, you HAVE to drink it there.


    The liquor laws covering the Ogilvie Transportation Center and the adjoining publicly-owned area baffle me. There are now three bars at the station - one of which is actually in the downstairs food court! - and you can buy drinks to go to drink on the trains. This is another odd chapter in the ongoing saga.
  • Post #213 - March 28th, 2014, 2:10 pm
    Post #213 - March 28th, 2014, 2:10 pm Post #213 - March 28th, 2014, 2:10 pm
    I don't think it has anything to do with Oglivie and everything to do with the types of licenses that Pastoral (package/retail) and Frietkoken (on-premise) have. I haven't seen their licenses so can't say with certainty but I'd bet that that's what the story is.
    "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
  • Post #214 - January 9th, 2015, 10:27 am
    Post #214 - January 9th, 2015, 10:27 am Post #214 - January 9th, 2015, 10:27 am
    Any recent intel on the French Market-- heading there for another pre-opera lunch in a couple of weeks... should I steer my husband to Fumare vs Lillie's Q? I'm thinking about Saigon Sisters... any thoughts?
  • Post #215 - January 9th, 2015, 10:46 am
    Post #215 - January 9th, 2015, 10:46 am Post #215 - January 9th, 2015, 10:46 am
    Pie-love wrote:Any recent intel on the French Market-- heading there for another pre-opera lunch in a couple of weeks... should I steer my husband to Fumare vs Lillie's Q? I'm thinking about Saigon Sisters... any thoughts?

    Not sure on the Fumare issue -- I haven't had problems. The frites place has terrific frites though . . . huge portions too.
  • Post #216 - January 9th, 2015, 11:47 am
    Post #216 - January 9th, 2015, 11:47 am Post #216 - January 9th, 2015, 11:47 am
    Pie-love wrote: I'm thinking about Saigon Sisters... any thoughts?

    Here's one data point:
    Just this week, I had "pork meatball salad" from Saigon Sisters, which turned out to be a sad and completely unsatisfying lunch. Described on the menu as "ground pork patties, rice vermicelli, Viet herbs, nuoc cham, peanuts," it turned out to be one single, maybe 2 oz pork patty over a skimpy, wilted pile of shredded lettuce, with a lump of congealed rice vermicelli in the corner of the container. Never, ever again.
    --Rich
    I don't know what you think about dinner, but there must be a relation between the breakfast and the happiness. --Cemal Süreyya
  • Post #217 - January 9th, 2015, 4:56 pm
    Post #217 - January 9th, 2015, 4:56 pm Post #217 - January 9th, 2015, 4:56 pm
    I had a decent oyster poboy at the cajun place.
    What disease did cured ham actually have?
  • Post #218 - January 12th, 2015, 9:11 am
    Post #218 - January 12th, 2015, 9:11 am Post #218 - January 12th, 2015, 9:11 am
    Had the panini at the Meatball Vault and would highly recommend it. A lot of choices/add ons to make it all very interesting, and the taste is delicious!
  • Post #219 - January 16th, 2015, 11:58 am
    Post #219 - January 16th, 2015, 11:58 am Post #219 - January 16th, 2015, 11:58 am
    Elfin wrote:I had a decent oyster poboy at the cajun place.


    I had a pretty lackluster bowl of gumbo here a while back and had written the placed off but gave the oyster poboy a shot and thought it was pretty solid. Well stuffed with fried and not totally soggy oysters, quality D'amato's bread, and wasn't totally overwhelmed by the mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. This wasn't a destination sandwich but was a nice break from my lunch rut and i'll be back when the mood strikes to try the shrimp.
  • Post #220 - January 18th, 2015, 9:05 am
    Post #220 - January 18th, 2015, 9:05 am Post #220 - January 18th, 2015, 9:05 am
    Thank you all for the updates on the French Market. Most of our group opted for the burgers and fries from Frietkoken-- these all received excellent reviews, especially from the kids. Here is my husband's smoked gouda and fried onion burger:

    Image

    Fumare was out of pastrami, so I opted for the liverwurst on rye-- it was delicious-- light, creamy liverwurst, toasted rye... Very nice.

    Image

    The tables in the market area were crowded, so we pushed together some tables by the train platforms-- the poor lighting and constant announcements didn't make for a pleasant atmosphere, but the food was good. My main complaint would be the prices-- for example, $8 for a liverwurst sandwich, $3 for a Ramuné from the sushi place. We also skipped the (excellent) macarons from Vanille-- at $1.95 each, no way. Yeah, I'm cheap... not sure if there are any bargains to be had here...

    Anyway, thanks again for the tips-- we enjoyed the visit!

    (By contrast, I love the focaccia at Eataly-- a good, cheap snack to balance that gla$$ of wine.)
  • Post #221 - January 18th, 2015, 5:47 pm
    Post #221 - January 18th, 2015, 5:47 pm Post #221 - January 18th, 2015, 5:47 pm
    If you're looking for a deal, Da Lobsta periodically has a Groupon available. I think they serve up some very respectable lobster rolls.
  • Post #222 - January 18th, 2015, 8:38 pm
    Post #222 - January 18th, 2015, 8:38 pm Post #222 - January 18th, 2015, 8:38 pm
    cilantro wrote:If you're looking for a deal, Da Lobsta periodically has a Groupon available. I think they serve up some very respectable lobster rolls.


    Thanks, I'll check next time I go... probably next time we hit a matinee at the opera!
  • Post #223 - May 28th, 2015, 1:41 pm
    Post #223 - May 28th, 2015, 1:41 pm Post #223 - May 28th, 2015, 1:41 pm
    Popped down for lunch today and was a little surprised to note that:
    1) Girl & the Goat's Little Goat Bread is completely gone (don't know how I missed it before since Eater noted it in late February...maybe because the spot was still occupied...);
    2) Ditto John des Rosier's Wisma and Lavazza;
    3) Fumare's chalkboard notes (without explanation) that they are still gone. (They originally had a note that they were taking a few days off for Memorial Day; that note has been replaced by the new one which says nothing about when it was posted, why the absence or even when they hope to return. Sure hope everything's okay. They would be a huge loss.)
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #224 - May 28th, 2015, 3:01 pm
    Post #224 - May 28th, 2015, 3:01 pm Post #224 - May 28th, 2015, 3:01 pm
    Gypsy Boy wrote:Popped down for lunch today and was a little surprised to note that:
    1) Girl & the Goat's Little Goat Bread is completely gone (don't know how I missed it before since Eater noted it in late February...maybe because the spot was still occupied...);
    2) Ditto John des Rosier's Wisma and Lavazza;
    3) Fumare's chalkboard notes (without explanation) that they are still gone. (They originally had a note that they were taking a few days off for Memorial Day; that note has been replaced by the new one which says nothing about when it was posted, why the absence or even when they hope to return. Sure hope everything's okay. They would be a huge loss.)

    I was down there yesterday, both on my way in and out of downtown. Fumare had a sign which said "We will be closed for a couple more days" on Wednesday.

    Original Meatball Vault pretty good (get the spicy sauce and the pork sausage balls, they were better than the beef); SueF had a butternut squash soup from one of the places on the main hall back to the tracks that was only OK.
    What is patriotism, but the love of good things we ate in our childhood?
    -- Lin Yutang
  • Post #225 - October 27th, 2015, 1:22 pm
    Post #225 - October 27th, 2015, 1:22 pm Post #225 - October 27th, 2015, 1:22 pm
    Loop Soup opened up next to the Meatball Vault. Appears to be a nice addition to the fray. Grilled cheese sandwiches and soups in a variety of flavors.

    Tried the BBQ chicken/bacon/cheddar GC and a cup of the turkey chili. Both were very tasty - the chili having a bit more heat than I thought a commercial product would - but tasted fresh and well made.

    Will definitely be checking out more of the menu in the coming weeks.
  • Post #226 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:07 am
    Post #226 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:07 am Post #226 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:07 am
    Raw tuna bowls coming to French Market

    http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... nch-market
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #227 - February 3rd, 2016, 3:57 pm
    Post #227 - February 3rd, 2016, 3:57 pm Post #227 - February 3rd, 2016, 3:57 pm
    Dave148 wrote:
    Raw tuna bowls coming to French Market

    http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... nch-market


    I really hope this place is rad and does a food with a deep cultural importance right. Eater had an article recently about poke being the potential next big thing in fast casual and I'm interested to see how Chicago's first foray into the concept goes. Being able to grab a smoked meat sandwich and a poke bowl under one roof will certainly make for a gnarly day.

    I do question the name when the only other place in town serving Hawaiian food already uses "aloha."
  • Post #228 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:48 pm
    Post #228 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:48 pm Post #228 - February 3rd, 2016, 11:48 pm
    If they just get tuna and salmon from Costco they'll be ahead of 80% of the (Safeway) poke in Hawaii. I say this as a poke (and Honolulu and Hilo) fan. I'm hopeful.
  • Post #229 - February 22nd, 2016, 9:01 am
    Post #229 - February 22nd, 2016, 9:01 am Post #229 - February 22nd, 2016, 9:01 am
    Fans of Soul Vegetarian on the South Side can now eat vegan inside the Chicago French Market. Vegan Now offers a hot bar of hits from Soul Veg, items like vegan BBQ jerk wings, sesame teriyaki tofu and quinoa pilaf.
    http://chicago.eater.com/2016/2/19/11060344/openings-dollop-bake-shop-soul-veg-french-market
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #230 - May 20th, 2016, 12:15 pm
    Post #230 - May 20th, 2016, 12:15 pm Post #230 - May 20th, 2016, 12:15 pm
    Haven't been for a while so stopped in for lunch today. Just got back after battling rather epic lines: easily forty people or more around 12:45 - 1:00 pm. Everyone was in line for, you guessed it: Aloha Poke Co. Went elsewhere so can't speak to it, but I guess this means an early visit is in store sometime soon. Sheesh, what a line!
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #231 - May 20th, 2016, 1:19 pm
    Post #231 - May 20th, 2016, 1:19 pm Post #231 - May 20th, 2016, 1:19 pm
    We usually go to the FM early (11am) once a week or so. Last month there were 3 people running to the building, I thought they were catching a train....No, just joining the 6 or so people already in line for Poke. By the time I left Saigon 10 minutes later, the line was 20 and growing. Had the food from there once when they first opened - it was good - but what we ordered wasn't stand in line good. We tried one of his 'recommended' salad bowls. We'll go back and do something different (make your own) once it all cools down.
  • Post #232 - May 20th, 2016, 1:22 pm
    Post #232 - May 20th, 2016, 1:22 pm Post #232 - May 20th, 2016, 1:22 pm
    Gypsy Boy wrote:Haven't been for a while so stopped in for lunch today. Just got back after battling rather epic lines: easily forty people or more around 12:45 - 1:00 pm. Everyone was in line for, you guessed it: Aloha Poke Co. Went elsewhere so can't speak to it, but I guess this means an early visit is in store sometime soon. Sheesh, what a line!


    As I'm pretty sure I've posted somewhere here before, don't bother. Or do it once to get it out of your system. It was fine but insubstantial. On my next visit I had a whitefish salad on rye from the Kosher deli one aisle over which was infinitely more satisfying. My lunch companions (who wisely opted for Lillie's Q next door) mocked my appetizer-sized "large" portion, which was mostly rice. Again, it's fine, just not much of a value.
  • Post #233 - February 4th, 2017, 8:30 am
    Post #233 - February 4th, 2017, 8:30 am Post #233 - February 4th, 2017, 8:30 am
    There’s a new vendor at Chicago’s French Market. It welcomed The French Lunchbox this week, which focuses on variations of stuffed potatoes. They’re pouring a special blend of Dark Matter Coffee, serving gourmet potatoes and more.

    http://chicago.eater.com/2017/1/6/14195 ... pring-2017
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard
  • Post #234 - April 9th, 2017, 6:17 pm
    Post #234 - April 9th, 2017, 6:17 pm Post #234 - April 9th, 2017, 6:17 pm
    What's good (and what's skippable) at the French Market these days? I'm planning a food outing with friends there for June and would love some tips! We'll be going on a Saturday morning, and I know not all the vendors are open on Saturdays.

    I'm going to do at least one research trip, but any suggestions would be appreciated.
  • Post #235 - April 11th, 2017, 9:05 am
    Post #235 - April 11th, 2017, 9:05 am Post #235 - April 11th, 2017, 9:05 am
    Our lunch crew goes there pretty often with the top choices being (in no particular order, just craving level):

    Aloha Poke
    Polpetti Meatballs
    Saigon Sisters
    Fumare (for pastrami)

    Most of the rest have been tried (and retried) on occasion, but is not the best option for that style of food in the neighborhood.
  • Post #236 - April 11th, 2017, 11:12 am
    Post #236 - April 11th, 2017, 11:12 am Post #236 - April 11th, 2017, 11:12 am
    stoutisgoodfood wrote:Our lunch crew goes there pretty often with the top choices being (in no particular order, just craving level):

    Aloha Poke
    Polpetti Meatballs
    Saigon Sisters
    Fumare (for pastrami)

    Most of the rest have been tried (and retried) on occasion, but is not the best option for that style of food in the neighborhood.


    Ditto the last three. I also like the made-to-order sandwiches at Pastoral. Don't often eat elsewhere and the few forays to other stalls have not (so far) impressed.
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #237 - April 11th, 2017, 1:25 pm
    Post #237 - April 11th, 2017, 1:25 pm Post #237 - April 11th, 2017, 1:25 pm
    For lovers of sweets, the best of the available options is still Vanille Patisserie.
  • Post #238 - April 11th, 2017, 8:05 pm
    Post #238 - April 11th, 2017, 8:05 pm Post #238 - April 11th, 2017, 8:05 pm
    Gypsy Boy wrote:
    Ditto the last three. I also like the made-to-order sandwiches at Pastoral. Don't often eat elsewhere and the few forays to other stalls have not (so far) impressed.


    Yeah, my go-to is either the pastrami from Fumare or a Pastoral sandwich. If I've got at least one companion in tow then we'll head over to Frietkoten and get an order of fries to split and a couple beers.
    Objects in mirror appear to be losing.
  • Post #239 - November 3rd, 2017, 12:34 pm
    Post #239 - November 3rd, 2017, 12:34 pm Post #239 - November 3rd, 2017, 12:34 pm
    Finally got around to trying Street - Smoke and Steam. Man have we been missing out the last 6 months! All 3 proteins were outstanding, perfectly spiced and cooked. The combo makes it a large meal and the add-ons (slaw, potato pancake and grilled veggies) really gives the whole package a diversity in flavors and textures that isn't available anywhere else for lunch around these parts .

    Definitely moves up on the rotation list....

    https://www.chi-street.com/
  • Post #240 - February 5th, 2018, 7:36 am
    Post #240 - February 5th, 2018, 7:36 am Post #240 - February 5th, 2018, 7:36 am
    Chicago French Market getting 4 new vendors

    http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... ew-vendors
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard

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