Our 2013 Avondale Clean & Green is just around the corner- this Sat. April 20th!
Below is a link to our google map- click on the map to go to the live version. Each dot represents a neighbor leading a clean up group meeting at that intersection at 10am April 20th. We will be dropping off supplies with each leader and the group will walk & clean the area. At 1pm all the groups will meet up at Avondale Park for refreshments & prizes!
See you there!
If you travel along B
elmont east of the freeway on a regular basis, you have probably passed Chill Cafe a number of times without evening realizing where it is. Located at 2949 W Belmont, the cafe signage reads “Salads-Sandwiches-Pastries”across the windows; however, inside you will find Central Asian fare. The owners are from Kazakhstan, and the food is traditional home-cooking from the region.
When we entered the cafe, we approached the counter and placed our order. The menu for the day is written on a board on the wall in Russian, but since everyone in our party was not familiar with the language, a very helpful waitress marked what choices were available on an English version of the menu.
We had four adults in our party, so we ordered 4 entrees. We were forewarned that we had over ordered, and the waitress was correct. I think you could easily share 2 or 3 meals between 4 people. We ordered Manti, a type of meat dumpling ($9), fried fish ($9), and chicken cutlets ($9). The meat dishes were served with sides of carrot salad, rice, and buckwheat. In addition, we sampled a few of the pastries including a sweet cheese pastry and a couple savory pies ($1-2 each). I would also recommend the Turkish sodas in the cooler ($1). They are less sweet than American ones and more like sweetened sparkling water. We tried pomegranate and cherry.
Depending on your palate, the food may seem, well…foreign, but it was very good. For me, the experience was reminiscent of my travels in the area. So if you are up for a culinary adventure for around $10, visit Chill Cafe.
For the past few years I have passed by the Romanian restaurant Nelly’s Saloon’s, at 3256 N. Elston, modest exterior with the best of intentions saying, “I need to try this restaurant sometime.” I finally followed through with that statement, and now my only question is “why didn’t I come here sooner?”
While Avondale is abound in authentic, ethnic restaurants- sometimes you just want that good old Chicago experience. That is when I turn to the Belmont Snack Shop.
Avondale’s only 24hr restaurant has been at 3407 W. Belmont for over 50 years (at least I think, since our server Linda had been going there since ’67), before the Belmont Blue Line was in and the clock tower, now Best Buy at was still standing. The food still stands the test of time; classic eggs & hash browns for anytime, burgers, chilli and glass pedestals of homemade peach pie or carrot cake (and more!) lined up on the counter are all made fresh and right in front of you as you sit on one of the dozen or so Hopper-esque stools. Whether you are there for a good cup of bottomless coffee or a full meal, the price & quality are hard to beat. 
The food is still served with care as well- be sure to say hi to Linda (in the photo) or Paul who are often your tireless servers and can tell you a thing or two about “the good ol’ days” of the neighborhood and cut you a tasty slice of pie.
-Emily
