Moving to Chicago has been one of the best decisions both my gut AND my stomach have ever made. Eating My Feelings is a series I plan on doing that highlights some of the delicious places I've tried while ignoring, basking/wallowing in, or celebrating my feelings by packing my face full of delicious calories.* Sure it's not healthy, but like a wise man once said, "I'm here for a good time, not a long time."
Drake. It was Drake.
Drake has certainly eaten his share of feelings. #rihanna #toosoon
The inaugural entry? My current favorite spot in the city: Saint Lou's Assembly.
SPOT: Saint Lou's Assembly is on Lake, under the pink and green line trains. If you're heading from the east, it's pretty unassuming. Just an old brick building with a yellow sign and a sandwich board. If you're coming from the west, however, it's a little less subtle as they've painted the four-story length of the building next door Big Bird yellow. It's dope, though. It's totally fitting of what Lou's is all about: Fuck you, we make good food and we don't need to impress you.
Photo Credit: Dan Blackman & Clayton Hauck
The interior is a 50's-style diner with exposed brick and rows of booths and tables. There are touches of the past everywhere: old photos on the walls, retro arcade games, and an old-timey candy station. It's pretty dope. I will say, I've been here a handful of times now in all sorts of weather, and I've never seen a person sit inside. I'm beginning to wonder if the inside is just for show.
There's a cool indoor/outdoor patio space, too. The first time I visited it was the last warm day of the fall (apparently) and the patio was uncovered. Picnic tables and high tops were full of young professionals, and the fire pits were going. There's a full bar back there, with drinks being slung by a ginger-biker dude with a handlebar mustache/beard who definitely owns a Harley and has maybe done some hard time.
VIBES: This is a cool place. Could totally work as a second date spot or just a casual hang with friends. A lot of the staff are, you know, "uppity"... like maybe you've inconvenienced them by coming in, but you've just gotta power through the grump.
GRUB: Awwwwww yiiiissss. I tried the Foie & Biscuits as well as the Beef Tartare. And holy shit. They were both incredible. The foie (shitty photo below) was creamy AF. The biscuits were perfect. Fluffy. Sweet, but not too sweet. And with the apple preserves? Damn. What a beautiful balance. The sweet of the apple and the biscuit combined with the creamy, salty heaven that is foie gras? Dear Lord.
Photo Credit: My shitty iPhone
The tartare was equally life-changing. Quality meat, delicious chimichurri flavors of garlic and onion and pepper. Jesus. And THEN... putting that delicious shit on tostones? Girl, I'll be honest, I didn't have the first clue as to what a tostone was. Turns out they're fried, smashed plantains. Twice. Shiiiiiit. So fucking good. The soft, salty flavor mixed with those meats. Ugh. UGH.
FUN SHIT: There's a special on Wednesday that consists of four pieces of delicious looking fried chicken, two biscuits and a bottle of champagne for $39. Spoiler: That's a pretty good deal. And while I didn't order it due to my complete lack of friends, it did look/smell fucking delicious. Thursdays they do s'mores around the fire pits. Cute.
Money Gun is also attached to this little gem, which is a speakeasy cocktail bar. But that's for another time.
FEELINGS INGESTED: All of 'em. At least 12 hours of residual contentment.
OVERALL: I could eat my feelings here for the rest of my life. Highly recommend that you do the same.
*It should be noted that I am in no way a qualified food critic. I'm picky and boring and really like cheeseburgers. So. Take my opinions with several grains of sea salt.