07/30/08

Worst Dining Experience in Years

by wanderwoman

I as visiting Chicago, and asked a local what they recomended, and consequently ended up at Gale Street Inn. Talk about a disappointment!!! My sister and I were placed in direct line of the kitchen, we couldn't get the waitress to acknowledge us, and when we did get the food it had been burned! The men sitting across from us were slobbering drunk and it took several complaints before they'd say anything to them. Needless to say we left before we'd even finished our meal :o(

05/23/08

yeahhhhh for gale street inn.

by yoyoyogdawg94

gale street inn is a fabulous place for men and women both. we love going there. i personally love the steak and my friend loves the ribs. this place is amazing. defietly recommended when you go to chicago.

04/05/08

Steamed Bland Ribs

by z045873

It is amazing to me that Gale Street end won the Editorial award for best BBQ. After reading the highly favorable reviews I made a special trip to try it for myself. The ribs are cooked in a steamer & finished on a gas grill. The ribs are fall off the bone tender as advertised, but so is anything cooked in a steamer. Anyone who knows BBQ knows that charcoal & or wood smoke is where it all begins. On a positive note, the staff is very friendly and the seafood is pretty good. Steam cooked ribs should note even be in the discussion for best BBQ. I hope out-of-towners don't judge Chicago BBQ by this quasi-BBQ. To be entirely honest the ribs at Chili's & TGIF Friday's are better (if charcoal/hickory wood is not a priority for you). I can name at least 5 places that would knock Gale Street out of the water (Lem's, Captin Curt's, Smoque, Honey1 & Kenny's Ribs). These ribs wouldn't even be allowed to enter a real BBQ cook-off anywhere in the South, especially because there wouldn't be anywhere to plug in a steamer at an outdoor cookoff!!!

• Pros: Service, Family Friendly
• Cons: Steam cooked ribs. No charcoal or wood smoke flavor.

09/11/07

Mmmmmm...RIBS!!!

by vegitoboi

Right off the Jefferson Park blue line stop you'll find THEE place to get ribs on the North/Northwest side of Chicago. They've been doing ribs here for years and have earned the title of Chicago's Best Ribs on several occations. They come in in ranges of 1/2 slabs all the way to full slabs and the meat just falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth. Try them with a combo of ribs and chicken or my favorite ribs and fried butterfly shrimp. If that's not enough, then go for the ribs and lobster tail. Best thing is, they have a catering service for all your party needs, especially during football season ; ). But ribs aren't the only great thing on the menu. I remember coming here way back to my youth and having the BEST meatloaf and mashed potatoes I've ever tasted. Heck, they're whole menu is good. A bit pricey, yes. But it's worth every finger licking bite. Anybody else feeling hungry =p?

• Pros: RIBS and RIB COMBOS
• Cons: Parking, could ease up on the Downtown prices

03/21/07

Jefferson Park classic serves up tender ribs and comfortable atmosphere to a loyal crowd of families and commuters.

by Contributor

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.

• Pros: great barbecuecomfortable ambience

11/24/06

RIBILICIOUS

by phillie717

Keep the napkins handy for these fall off the bone ribs. Delicious barbeques flavored ribs and baked potatoe. I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys ribs.

• Pros: Flavor
• Cons: parking lot is usually packed

10/24/06

Best Ribs in Chicago!

by styleplus

You can't beat the ribs at this place . They literally fall off the bone and are flavored to perfection . They give you several side order options to go with your meal . The chocolate cake is decadent and every chocolate lovers dream come true. Gale St. is friendly ,casual and a great place to take the entire family .

• Pros: Ribs, chocolate cake, casual setting

08/23/06

Great food, great value, worth a special trip!!!

by faltas

When we lived in Chicago for over 8 years, we always loved to stop by when we could. And now that we don't live there, unfortunately, we still thought it was worth the drive to go there while on vacation in Chicago. Our family absolutely loved our recent visit, especially for the value that you get. You can spend much more for lesser food. The kid's menu items are a particularly good value. My 11 year old normally orders from the adult menu, but the 1/4 slab of rib from the kid's menu was more than enough. Best ribs he ever had, he said. It's not just steaks, either. I had a perfectly pan-roasted parmesan crusted ono (a firm, white Hawaiian fish). A top-notch, down-home neighborhood restaurant that won't break your wallet.

• Pros: Neighborhood feel, excellent value, quality
• Cons: very few, perhaps location

03/23/06

Horrible Service

by huguette

I tried to make reservations but the phones were down so I made them on-line not noticing they needed a 5 day notice. When I arrived a VERY rude woman yelled at me stating that "1st of all you need 5 days notice - it says so on our website, "2nd of all our phone lines were down so we couldn't have received your email or calls & 3rd it will be 1 1/2 wait". I felt like a little kid being yelled at by my parents. I have had bad service but GALE-STREET wins. What fault of mine is it that their phone lines were down? I would never treat another person in this manner. It was awful. Had I been loud or rude I would have deserved it, but I was neither. We gladly left (never coming back) and had a wonderful dinner at Hackneys in Glenview.

• Cons: SERVICE, PARKING

05/26/05

Excellent Ribs!

by gjchambers

Gale Street is the ONLY place I go for ribs in Chicago. I have been there many, many times and every time the food has been excellent. The only downside is that they do not take reservations and the wait can be lengthy.