Big and Little's

Have you ever walked into a restaurant for the first time and immediately knew you were about to have an amazing meal? When I walked into Big and Little's a few weeks ago for lunch, that was exactly how I felt. It was probably a combination of the amazing smells of fried goodness coming out of the open kitchen that occupies half of the restaurant, the knee-weakening appearance of another customer's Fried Egg Cheeseburger (the current title picture for Food Babies), or maybe it was just the overall welcoming vibe I experienced coming through the door. Whatever the reason, I felt like I was in for a great meal, and luckily Big and Little's didn't disappoint.

Big and Little's is tucked into a non-descript building two blocks north of the busy Chicago and Orleans intersection. The restaurant is run by Gary "Big" Strauss and Tony "Little" Alessandro. Following a promising new trend, both are classically trained chefs who opted to open a casual place of their own instead of working in a fancier establishment. There isn't much to the inside of the restaurant, just two guys working feverishly over a stove, and a counter top to help you shove Big and Little's delicious offerings into your mouth.

Although you might not expect it, Big and Little's actually specializes in incredibly fresh, expertly prepared seafood. Not used to ordering freshly cracked snow crab tostadas at a hole in the wall that used to house a slightly shady cabbie hang out? Me either, but get used to it because the seafood at Big and Little's is definitely legit, and almost shockingly cheap.

Of the seafood options I have tried, the Fish and Chips are by far the standout. Big and Little's Fish and Chips includes two pieces of fresh, mutant size pieces of cod that are hand-battered and fried to order. The result is an incredibly crunchy fried shell that houses flaky, moist, perfectly cooked fish. Served with a batch of house-made tarter sauce, over a bed of hand-cut, double fried french fries, this is by far the best rendition of fish and chips I have had in Chicago.

If seafood isn't your thing, Big and Little's offers a number of vegetarian-unfriendly options to satisfy the most serious of carnivores. The aforementioned Fried Egg Cheeseburger, is grilled to order to your preferred temperature (but how can you resist the beauty that is medium-rare?) and served atop a perfectly cooked fried egg. Is this the best burger in the city? No, but it is a delicious, expertly cooked, well constructed version that at $6, is a steal, especially right outside of the Loop. If you are looking for even more meat-sweat inducing choices, the one-time special, but now permanent menu item, Fois Gras and Fries is another great option for cheap ($10).

In a city littered with fast food joints serving reheated versions of frozen, mass produced food products, Big and Little's is a welcome exception. Although most of the menu isn't exactly diet food, there are a few healthier options for those of you not looking to sport a Food Baby. It is a great spot for a weekday/weekend lunch, or even a quick dinner if you are downtown but don't want to spend a ton of cash. I would highly recommend giving Big and Little's a chance, and if you are like me, the moment you walk in the door you will be glad you did. 
 

Big and Little's = 4 Food Babies

Big and Little's (Cash Only)
939 N Orleans, (312) 943-0000
Open Mon - Friday: 11am - 9pm, Saturday: 12pm - 9pm.
For more info check out the thread on LTH Forum.

-Keith