Other than Dunkin Donuts, I don't see anything about new coffee options either--at least Potbelly's had Intelligentsia. So far, the places that they allowed to stay are all crappy and the "new" places are no-name spots--Go Go White Sox, DeCOLORES Burrito Joint, and Tabo Sushi ???

What's going on with the food courts at Midway?

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... s-changing

Dave148 wrote:

What's going on with the food courts at Midway?

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... s-changing

Good, because I agree with the guy they interviewed in the article....it's mostly garbage. Slow and inefficient garbage at that.

But that rendering does not look promising. Those semicircle obtrusions and plantings/statues in the middle of the intersection look like they will cause bottlenecks like crazy. Hopefully someone comes to their senses before creating a constant major clusterfuck.

Very interesting. I agree that some of those renderings looks nightmarish. Will Reilly's Daughter still be in the house? Dragging a Potbelly sandwich or hot dog into there and enjoying a blacksmith was my preferred pre-flight routine. They somehow managed to make the place look pretty authentic - down to mp3 player loosely attached to in-house stereo system - for an airport location. Not to mention the bartender never changed.

Just spent three hours laying over in Reagan/National. There was a Big Bowl there, so I tried it. Excellent concept, very well executed, speedy, and the food was way better than I expected. I had the potstickers and a chicken rice bowl. I'd go back in a heartbeat; in fact I'd love it if there were one anywhere near here. An equally good Chinese-Thai place nearest to me is across Lake Champlain, in Burlington VT: over an hour, including the ferry ride ($21 RT).

Interesting to find out that it's yet another Lettuce Entertain You operation. Those guys sure know what they're doing.

Geo

Geo wrote:Just spent three hours laying over in Reagan/National. There was a Big Bowl there, so I tried it. Excellent concept, very well executed, speedy, and the food was way better than I expected. I had the potstickers and a chicken rice bowl. I'd go back in a heartbeat; in fact I'd love it if there were one anywhere near here. An equally good Chinese-Thai place nearest to me is across Lake Champlain, in Burlington VT: over an hour, including the ferry ride ($21 RT).

Interesting to find out that it's yet another Lettuce Entertain You operation. Those guys sure know what they're doing.

Geo

If I’m not mistaken, Oprah’s name was attached to to concept when it first opened.

stevez wrote:

Geo wrote:Just spent three hours laying over in Reagan/National. There was a Big Bowl there, so I tried it. Excellent concept, very well executed, speedy, and the food was way better than I expected. I had the potstickers and a chicken rice bowl. I'd go back in a heartbeat; in fact I'd love it if there were one anywhere near here. An equally good Chinese-Thai place nearest to me is across Lake Champlain, in Burlington VT: over an hour, including the ferry ride ($21 RT).

Interesting to find out that it's yet another Lettuce Entertain You operation. Those guys sure know what they're doing.

Geo

If I’m not mistaken, Oprah’s name was attached to to concept when it first opened.

Pretty sure the only LEYE restaurant that Oprah was attached to was The Eccentric (predecessor to the first Wildfire).

I seem to recall that the original Big Bowl was a small space carved out from the Eccentric just to the East. Forgot that Oprah was involved but that would make sense...Bruce Cost, too -- right?

Jeez, this is crazy! I'm suddenly remembering that I went to a Bruce Cost resto someplace in the loop around 2000, maybe a bit later. So I google Bruce Cost and a pic of his book came up, and it all settles into place: I went to a Big Bowl during a conference, liked the food, and bought the book. Didn't think much of the book. Promptly flogged it off, and forgot the resto.

And then suddenly it's deja vue all over again. What goes around comes around, etc etc.

Where was the first Big Bowl, exactly?

Geo

...

Geo wrote:Jeez, this is crazy! I'm suddenly remembering that I went to a Bruce Cost resto someplace in the loop around 2000, maybe a bit later. So I google Bruce Cost and a pic of his book came up, and it all settles into place: I went to a Big Bowl during a conference, liked the food, and bought the book. Didn't think much of the book. Promptly flogged it off, and forgot the resto.

And then suddenly it's deja vue all over again. What goes around comes around, etc etc.

Where was the first Big Bowl, exactly?

Geo

My recollection is on Erie between LaSalle and Wells but it was long ago and my Chicago mapping is getting seriously out of date. I think a Wildfire eventually opened next door.

That sounds right Rick T., thanks!

Geo

New food court opens at Midway Airport a year after massive renovation begins

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html

I had the Italian Sandwich yesterday at Potbelly's in Dulles IAD, D-concourse, next to gate D-16. It was clearly a reminder of the muff at Central Grocery. Excellent ingredients, good bun, and I added Nueske's bacon and mushrooms. I'd buy it again and again.

Geo

Geo wrote:I had the Italian Sandwich yesterday at Potbelly's in Dulles IAD, D-concourse, next to gate D-16. It was clearly a reminder of the muff at Central Grocery. Excellent ingredients, good bun, and I added Nueske's bacon and mushrooms. I'd buy it again and again.

Geo

Almost sounds like it would be worth the trip to D.C., just for the sandwich.

Cynthia wrote:

Geo wrote:I had the Italian Sandwich yesterday at Potbelly's in Dulles IAD, D-concourse, next to gate D-16. It was clearly a reminder of the muff at Central Grocery. Excellent ingredients, good bun, and I added Nueske's bacon and mushrooms. I'd buy it again and again.

Geo

Almost sounds like it would be worth the trip to D.C., just for the sandwich.

You can save the air fare and get this sandwich at any Potbelly anywhere.

stevez wrote:

Cynthia wrote:

Geo wrote:I had the Italian Sandwich yesterday at Potbelly's in Dulles IAD, D-concourse, next to gate D-16. It was clearly a reminder of the muff at Central Grocery. Excellent ingredients, good bun, and I added Nueske's bacon and mushrooms. I'd buy it again and again.

Geo

Almost sounds like it would be worth the trip to D.C., just for the sandwich.

You can save the air fare and get this sandwich at any Potbelly anywhere.

And bypass going through security, too!

=R=

But there's such a j'ne sais quoi about opening up a nice odoriforous sammich on a crowded airplane. Besides, if I gone to a landside Potbelly's I couldn't have reported on this thread! : )

Geo

Never been to a Potbelly's. Sounds like I need to seek one out.

And thanks for saving me that airfare.

Cynthia wrote:Never been to a Potbelly's. Sounds like I need to seek one out.

And thanks for saving me that airfare.

I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list of things to do (a sandwich at Tempesta Market belongs in that position), but Potbelly’s is a step up from many of the sub sandwich chains.

Grabbed a load of Tortas by Frontera in terminal 3 before heading out of town with the family....loaded guac and salsas were excellent (as usual). The highlight was discovering they will take your bread away and drop the load of ingredients on a bed of black beans and arugula. I eat at XOCO quite a bit and this blew away the normal presentation, imo (but I don't eat a lot of bread). Going to be requesting it this way from now on if they'll do it at the mothership.

Plus, you can order online at any time and have it ready for pick up on your way to the gate- literally walk up and walk away with it. Gives you the opportunity to make your seat mates jealous - as ours definitely were!

stevez wrote:

Cynthia wrote:Never been to a Potbelly's. Sounds like I need to seek one out.

And thanks for saving me that airfare.

I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list of things to do (a sandwich at Tempesta Market belongs in that position), but Potbelly’s is a step up from many of the sub sandwich chains.

Thanks. Good to know. Because I do occasionally end up in places where chains are the majority of what is on offer.

stevez wrote:

Cynthia wrote:Never been to a Potbelly's. Sounds like I need to seek one out.

And thanks for saving me that airfare.

I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list of things to do (a sandwich at Tempesta Market belongs in that position), but Potbelly’s is a step up from many of the sub sandwich chains.

Yeah, Potbelly's is probably a better choice at the airport, where one's options are limited, than out in the free world, where there are far more choices.

Here's a +1 for The Dante @ Tempesta Market . . . and they even deliver now, too (but probably not to the airport).

=R=

stevez wrote:

Cynthia wrote:Never been to a Potbelly's. Sounds like I need to seek one out.

And thanks for saving me that airfare.

I wouldn’t put it at the top of your list of things to do (a sandwich at Tempesta Market belongs in that position), but Potbelly’s is a step up from many of the sub sandwich chains.

I agree that they are a step up, but find that their sandwiches are consistently over salted.