Taking someone out for dinner before the show. Where should we go? I've never been there.

What type of food?

There are good Korean BBQs on Lawrence in the Kimball/Central Park Zone.

Awesome kabobs, etc. on Kedzie, by Wilson.

German - Mirabel on Addison is excellent.

Chief O'Neils has good pub food, but you could get that at the Abbey, too.

i second mirabel

Chief O'Neals on Elston about a block south of Addison is good, but a little inconsistent (I'd describe it as upscale Irish pub food). They tend to hire waiters from Ireland who are only spending 2 or 3 months in America, so quality of service really isn't their number one priority.

There's also a White Castle at Elston and Addison.

Abbey's actually got pretty decent food in the pub. The usual bar stuff plus some good irish fare (only a partial oxymoron).

Gosh, I hate to give the BBQ recommendation and completely typecast myself, but...

Smoque BBQ at 3800 N. Pulaski has perhaps the best brisket in the city. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Smoque (not much of a brisket guy), but quite a few BBQ afficianados are.

The Abbey has great fish, but the "chips" are just fries. Still worth having unless you're a purist. I can't say how good their other Irish fare is, because most Irish food tastes like shit even when done properly.

In the fast/cheap/good department, Burrito House on Addison near Elston (across the street from White Castle) is your classic Chicago burrito joint, with the best horchata north of El Paso.

God, don't eat at the Abbey. Blech.

Chief O'Neal's has a nice beer garden (I've spent plenny of time getting toasted here) -- and the curry fries are really yummy.

If you wanna venture north a bit (just to Irving Park), you should check out Beograd. Mmmm, bureks. And, there's a nice outdoor patio. Really casual, tho.

Also on Irving: Dharma Garden is OK thai, too. Manzos is old-school Italian buffet / dinner club.

Smoque's a good suggestion, too -- the brisket really is good (and so is the mac-n-cheese!).

I wouldn't eat at the Abbey unless you plan to leave now. The food is just meh, but the service is usually appallingly bad. So if you're pinched for time at all, I'd try the other suggestions upthread.

Going to see Colin Hay? He played a couple songs before the Sox game last night and it was fun. He had some crazy chick backup singer with him who was twirling around, acting out the lyrics (those that she knew. For a backup singer she didn't appear to know all the words. I thought that was a requirement, but whatever.) and just acting all high and stuff. She wasn't even hot, so that doesn't explain her participation.

Have fun!

Seeing Roky.

I like the curry fries at the Abbey. Other than that, I avoid the food there.

Those things are so overrated. bleh. I second the Burrito House, but only because I'd love to be drinking a nice big horchata right now. They really do know how to make that stuff.

I ate at the Abbey a couple of time...it's been at least three years since I last did, but I enjoyed the food there.

Schuba's is better, though and I think that the House of Blues trumps them both.

i had the meatloaf there and enjoyed. My g/f had the meatball sammich and loved it.

Also a pitcher of beer was $6!!! you can't top that

Schuba's food is way better. Although, I still haven't tried Schuba's mac and cheese yet, which I hear is the best thing on the menu. Maybe tomorrow will be the day I finally indulge.

By far the best rock-club-with-kitchen (in Chicago) is the Beat Kitchen. The Beat salad, the pesto pizza, the giant brownie with ice cream ...

Schubas has zomg-yummy beignettes during its brunch for $2. I haven't eaten at Bite/Empty Bottle or Martyr's in awhile. I think, along with the Abbey, that pretty much covers eat-and-rock places in the city ...

This is the only one I would go to just for food.

This is dangerous information.

Really, really want to try their "coconut crusted challah french toast with grilled pineapple, spiced rum butterscotch, and creme fraiche." If I get drunk and pass out in the alley behind Schubas, will someone drive by and wake me up in time for brunch?

sure, as long as you pay for my brunch, too.

*drool*

wtf?!? Why have I not had brunch at Schubas before. I've been missing out.

Believe the hype. Finally gave this place a try yesterday. Mac & cheese baked in a foil ramekin with crumb topping was superb, but a small is really damn small. I'll be super-sizing it in true 'merkin fashion next time.

And the brisket was excellent, obvs.

Man, I've gotta give this place yet another try. It's one of the only so-called good restaurants in my 'hood, and I haven't been able to get excited about it. I've tried the brisket, the ribs and the pulled pork. Eh. And the mac & cheese just ain't my thing -- gimme plain ol' Stouffers any day.

my personal experience is that smoque's food is also good 3, 4, 5, & 8 days after purchase. so load up when you go there...

kmac-and-cheese representing.

Ok, I really want mac and cheese now. Damn it.