South Side | Mid-Michigan Dining

Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria – Chicago, IL

4 02 2009

8433 S. Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60652
(773) 735-2050
Website
Menu

Vito & Nick's Pizzeria on Chicago's south side.

When we were home for Thanksgiving, one of the places J’s step-dad recommended we eat was Vito & Nick’s on Chicago’s south side. We passed and went for ribs instead. Imagine our surprise when we saw the pizzeria on Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dives earlier this month.

After that airing, we decided on our next trip home, we would check the place out. It’s not far from J’s parents, so we hit the place up for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. J’s mom was off work so she decided to join us. Vito and Nick’s was a place her parents used to take her, but she hasn’t been there in a number of years and wanted to see if it was the place she remembered.

The Original Vito & Nick’s is located on 84th Place and Pulaski. There’s another location in Lemont, but we wanted to go to the one in Chicago. J’s mom said she remembered the place as having a red, white and green awning and that’s what we looked for. By the time she saw it, I had missed the parking lot, so we had to circle around the neighborhood to get back. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Chicago, Diner's Drive Ins and Dives, Pizza, Pizzeria, Pub, South Side, Vito & Nick's
Categories : Chicago, Dive Bar, Illinois, Local Flavor, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews

Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ – Palos Park, IL

18 10 2008

6523 W. 127th St.
Palos Park, IL 60463
(708) 489-1800
Website
Menu

The menu logo from Smokin' Joe's BBQ in Palos Park, IL on Chicago's south side

Good BBQ is so hard to find in Mid-Michigan. Not in Chicago. J hasn’t used any vacation days since starting her new job and since we wanted to go see my niece, she decided to take a few days off which would give us a chance to catch up with both of our families and a number of friends in Illinois. On our first night in town, we hung out at one of J’s friends in Crestwood. They have a little one of their own so carry-out is one of their best friends. We were hanging out in their living room when it started to get close to dinner time. I haven’t known these people all that long yet, but they knew BBQ was a good way to earn a special place in my heart.

Smokin’ Joe’s is a little carry-out place in Palos Park. I didn’t go pick up the food, but I’m told they’re in a strip mall. The joint is strictly carry-out and since that’s what we were looking for, Smokin’ Joe’s was a good fit. I didn’t want to eat ribs in front of people I still don’t know that well, so I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and fries. When we were all putting in our orders, J’s friend asked me if I wanted coleslaw on my pulled pork. Cole slaw? That’s something I’ve never encountered before. I know it’s a very Carolina concept and I see people doing it in the cooking shows I watch, but I’ve never actually eaten at a place that actually puts coleslaw on the sandwich. I wasn’t really wanting to try it so I asked to leave it off. J and her friend bothgot the pulled pork with the slaw and a side of jalapeno beans. Read the rest of this entry »