A fan of deejay Jesse De La Pena? Then you’re probably going to find yourself soon at Continental (2801 W. Chicago Ave.) or darkroom (2210 W. Chicago Ave.), two clubs De La Pena calls home. The clubs are less than a mile apart, so with proper fueling, a person could visit both spots in one night. Here are On The Town’s suggestions for places to dine before dancing all night to De La Pena’s tunes.
Feed, 2803 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-489-4600. This one tops our list. Located next to Continental on a lonely corner of West Chicago, Feed is a kitschy slice of the South, complete with traditional country music playing in the background, chicken paraphernalia and a limited menu that includes superb sides. It reminds us of the meat-and-threes south of the Mason-Dixon line. Bring your own wine or beer and order the five sides for $5.99, an amazing deal for a huge heaping plate of food. We loved the sweet and dessert-like corn pudding, the savory smoky collards, the perfectly cooked fried okra and the decadent mac ‘n’ cheese. Less successful were the bland black-eyed-peas and the one-note succotash. Notable entrees include the pulled pork sandwich ($6.75), luscious pork drenched in tangy barbeque sauce on a toasted hamburger bun, and the moist rotisserie chicken ($4.49 for a quarter of a chicken, light meat). And finally, save room for dessert. Smooth, sweet and light-as-air, the banana pudding ($2.98) was among the best we’ve ever had. And this reporter lived in the South for a good part of a decade.
Humboldt Pie Cafe, 1001 N. California Ave.; 773-342-4743. A restaurant with a diner menu serving sandwiches and, of course, pie, including key lime. BYOB.
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Maiz, 1041 N. California Ave.; 773-276-3149. This Mexican restaurant serves fresh corn tortillas and tamales, plus a number of “snacks” called antojitos, which amount to Mexican tapas. Beer, wine and mixed drinks such as sangria are served.
A Tavola, 2148 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-276-7567. Closer to darkroom, this is where Feast chef-proprietor Debbie Sharpe goes for good Italian. Trust us, order the gnocchi. And then go dance it off. Beer and wine offered.