Gale Street Inn

Gale Street Inn

Owner

Recently featured on Amanda Puck's "Check Please" on PBS, the Gale Street is no longer a neighborhood secret. This northwest side joint (10 minutes from O'Hare) has been serving up great food and good times since 1964. Known for their phenomenal fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs, the restaurant is proud of the entire menu--which includes tender rotisserie chicken, great steaks and grilled fresh seafood. The large bar is a hot spot and a pit stop for commuters traveling along Chicago's Blue Line with Jefferson Park stop just across the street. Pictures of old street cars, trains and buses adorn the walls and great service mixed with great jazz round out the fun tavern atmosphere.

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
In operation since 1963, this restaurant used to be on nearby Gale Street, but it moved in '69 to make room for the neighboring Jefferson Park station. Two large dining rooms with spacious booths and an enclosed bar make up much of the restaurant. Vintage photos of the surrounding area line the walls. Families and commuters just off the train--most with little use for a menu--sit down for burgers and barbecue.

The Food
The menu ranges from steak and seafood to sandwiches and pastas. Begin with baked clams--perfectly breaded and seasoned with just enough garlic. Juicy half-pound burgers served on toasted buns stand on their own, but you'd be out of place not ordering a full rack of the meaty, perfectly flavored ribs or a half-rack paired with lobster, shrimp or crab legs. The succulent meat and sweet, tangy sauce far exceed any praise you might have heard.