Steve’s Place is the Place to Be

When I was a kid, one of my favorite places to go after school was a  hot dog joint called Big Al’s.  I’d order a pizza puff and cheese fries, then ask Dad for a quarter to play Pac Man while we waited for our food.  We’d eat perched on  blue vinyl barstools at the counter and I would swivel back and forth looking out at the park across the street.   My feet could never reach the floor but I didn’t want them to -the  checkerboard linoleum looked dirty and old.  There was enough grease in the air to make me feel sticky and it was always hot, yet it remains to this day one of my favorite places.   The food was delicious, yes, but more than that, I loved the feeling of comfort when I was there.

Walking into Steve’s Place in River North for the first time three years ago, I felt suddenly transported to that place of warmth and familiarity.  From the outside, it’s an easy enough place to pass up – the paint on the sign is long faded and the tacky ice cream cone  sculpture hanging over the doorway has seen better days.   Stepping inside on a weekday lunch hour you’ll find the place full and the chatter of the counter help friendly.  Construction workers, police officers and young professionals, all stand in line together waiting for cheeseburgers, gyros platters or italian beef sandwiches.  My personal  favorite is the BLT. Ordered up on crunchy whole wheat toast, the bacon is always hot and the lettuce and tomato crisp.  On work days that are particularly grueling,  I add an order of fries with a side of cheddar cheese sauce for dipping.  Delish!  One friend of mine swears by the pork chop sandwich with grilled onions and mustard, and another sticks with the polish sausage.   Each sandwich arrives in a red plastic basket with wax paper and the requisite pickle, and you’ll want to save room for a slice of pie from the cooler- choices include pecan, sweet potato, lemon meringue, even cheesecake and chocolate cream.  Or you can keep it simple and enjoy a soft serve ice cream cone or cup. 

This greasy spoon is tiny - there’s room for only about 25 in the booths, eight at the counter.  If you’re dining alone, you’ll have plenty to read sitting at the counter in full view of the wall decor – it’s a kitschy collection of everything from political cartoons and framed pictures of Greece, to paintings of religious figures on petrified wood and autographed photos of pin up girls.  Eat in or carry out, but whatever you do, enjoy the moment.  It’s not every day you can be transported back in time to a place where things were simpler.

Steve’s Place

230 W. Chicago Ave. (Chicago and Franklin)

(312) 337-2462

Hours: Mon-Fri- 7:00am – 5:30pm, Sat- 7:00am – 2:30pm, Sun- Closed