Sunday, April 18, 2010

ABC 7's Hungry Hound Looks at Custom House

We've never been to Custom House (500 S. Dearborn), but have heard great things. We recently watched this video from ABC 7 looking at a couple Chicago restaurants evolution to feature "Southern Cooking"...Custom House is featured at the 2:09 mark:







29 comments:

HarveyBirdman said...

I've been to Custom House three times over the past two or three years. The first time was great (pork chops). The second time was mediocre (more pork chops). The third time was just okay (even more pork chops).

FGFM said...

I have no idea how this place stays in business and I'm not surprised that they are trying to fiddle with the menu.

Unknown said...

I love this restaurant - the food is for the most part great, and can sometimes be excellent. The setting is serene but the restaurant completely lacks any pretension. I can't believe you have a blog about the South Loop and have not eaten at CH. Go now, have a seat at the bar, order the burger and a glass of wine. Sublime. Go now!

FGFM said...

How is that burger better than the one you get at Hackney's or Blackie's? Not to mention that drinking wine with a burger seems a little posh.

Anonymous said...

FGFM said...
"Not to mention that drinking wine with a burger seems a little posh."

So now FGFM wants to tell us how to enjoy our burgers! Nonsense.

It's one thing to call out "racists," but now we can't even enjoy our food the way we like it without FGFM calling us out. Apparently, in the minds of delusional anti-"racist" crusaders, wine is simply too high-brow to enjoy with a burger. You best stick to beer when eating burgers in the South Loop...We don't want the neighborhood getting too nice, what with all the wine and other "posh" things! Next thing you know, there's gonna be yuppie wine bars on every corner!

Anonymous said...

FGFM said...
"Not to mention that drinking wine with a burger seems a little posh."

So now FGFM wants to tell us how to enjoy our burgers! Nonsense.

It's one thing to call out "racists," but now we can't even enjoy our food the way we like it without FGFM calling us out. Apparently, in the minds of delusional anti-"racist" crusaders, wine is simply too high-brow to enjoy with a burger. You best stick to beer when eating burgers in the South Loop...We don't want the neighborhood getting too nice, what with all the wine and other "posh" things! Next thing you know, there's gonna be yuppie wine bars on every corner!

FGFM said...

So now FGFM wants to tell us how to enjoy our burgers! Nonsense.

How does wine go with White Castles?

It's one thing to call out "racists," but now we can't even enjoy our food the way we like it without FGFM calling us out. Apparently, in the minds of delusional anti-"racist" crusaders, wine is simply too high-brow to enjoy with a burger. You best stick to beer when eating burgers in the South Loop...We don't want the neighborhood getting too nice, what with all the wine and other "posh" things!

It just so happens that I'm going to Hackney's for half-price wine tonight, but I'm not going to drink it with a hamburger. I'll be the guy in the dashiki.

Next thing you know, there's gonna be yuppie wine bars on every corner!

Well, there was a yuppie wine bar at Roosevelt and Wabash that went out of business, right? Meanwhile, the Jewel abides.

FGFM said...

I just walked by Custom House and there was exactly one couple eating in the whole place and no one sitting at the bar. Bon appétit!

Me said...

uh. It is a James Beard nominated restaurant. I find it amazing (try the butternut squash soup in the fall) and incredibly inventive. These posts are odd and clearly from non-foodies. Just sayin'

FGFM said...

These posts are... clearly from non-foodies.

I'll wear that as a badge of honor. Do you deny that the place is usually empty?

Tim said...

I've wondered about this place as well, as I walk past it at lunch to SRO, Amarit, or Flaco's. Regardless of its apparent lack of business (at lunchtime at least), there's certainly (hopefully) room for all kinds of restaurants in the South Loop, so I wish them well. For the record, it seems the changes are due to recent changes in ownership and a new chef (see here)

Anonymous said...

I'll take an award-winning "yuppie restaurant" over a ghetto joint like exposure/utopia/grand opening/now open.

Talk about a place that "I can't believe is still in business."

FGFM said...

Talk about a place that "I can't believe is still in business."

Sloopin' ain't easy.

vr said...

Tim is correct, the former Chef and partner Shawn McClain parted ways with his business partners. The new chef came here from the South (which explains the influence on the menu). I'm all for Hackneys, Blackies, Flacos etc., but this is a great, and different, addition to the Sloop. Comparing the above places with it is like apples to oranges. This restaurant brings people from other neighborhoods to the Sloop for destination dining, and we should happy they are supporting our local businesses and Sloop economy. Let’s not trash this place because patrons may drink a glass of wine with a burger. p.s. the only reason Sam’s closed was because it was bought by Binnys and the company could not sustain both places in such close proximity to one another.

FGFM said...

I've had a change of heart, I went here last night and it was really great.

FGFM said...

The comment above is a forgery and I'm going to start posting under my Blogger ID in order to nip this in the bud. I did go to Hackney's and ordered the cheapest bottle on the list because that's the way I roll!

FGFM said...

This restaurant brings people from other neighborhoods to the Sloop for destination dining

But not very many of them, apparently.

[W]e should happy they are supporting our local businesses and Sloop economy

Let's all clap for Tinkerbell.

the only reason Sam’s closed was because it was bought by Binnys and the company could not sustain both places in such close proximity to one another.

Not true.

Sam's Wines succumbs to rival Binny's

The Chicago liquor store chain, locked in a decades-long rivalry with Skokie-based Binny’s Beverage Depot, ended with news that Binny’s is buying Sam’s. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is set to close by Oct. 19, a source close to the matter told Crain’s...

Sam’s, which had $65 million in 2008 sales, is down to two stores: its original location in Lincoln Park and a shop in Downers Grove. Both will be converted to Binny’s, sources said. Sam’s closed its South Loop location in August and its Highland Park store last month.

FGFM said...

I am sorry, the above comment makes no sense, and responds to nothing. I really have added nothing to this conversation other than comments that antagonize people. Will everyone just ignore me, and maybe I will go away.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure if it still does or not, but Custom House used to have a decent beer list. Last summer they offered 1/2 price burgers during the weekend as well. Someone told me that they were voted "best Tom Collins in the city." Has anyone tried it?

FGFM said...

I am sorry, the above comment makes no sense, and responds to nothing.

More lies from the forger/stalker. As the linked article shows, the South Loop Sam's location closed months before Binny's bought them out. Have you no shame?

FGFM said...

Someone told me that they were voted "best Tom Collins in the city."

I wasn't aware that anyone drank those things since the death of George Plimpton.

Anonymous said...

Sams closed in August, fact. Binnys Bought Sams in October, fact. Neogotiations for the purchase had been ongoing for over a year, fact. It makes no difference that it Sams closed before the actual deal went through...THE CLOSING OF SAMS WAS A PROVISION OF THE DEAL which was in the works long before October. OK so that is soooo off topic. Custom House is actually pretty good.

Anonymous said...

This is hilarious, now FGFM is responding to his own comments!

FGFM said...

This is hilarious, now FGFM is responding to his own comments!

Your forgeries are the posts under my name from today without the Blogger icon on the left.

FGFM said...

Neogotiations [sic] for the purchase had been ongoing for over a year, fact. It makes no difference that it Sams [sic] closed before the actual deal went through...THE CLOSING OF SAMS [sic] WAS A PROVISION OF THE DEAL which was in the works long before October.

Do you have any documentation for this claim?

Anonymous said...

When Sam's closed, I remember reading about all sorts of problems the company was having internally. If I remember correctly, it had to do with a different family member taking over the company. Anyway, considering the purchase of a rival company is not something that happens overnight, I think it is highly likely that Binny's was in negotiations to have Sam's close their South Loop store. This isn't rocket science FGFM.

But apparently we should all applaud the closing of stores in the South Loop, and it's far better if they close because our neighborhood sucks than if they close because they are mismanaged or bought out by a rival.

FGFM said...

Anyway, considering the purchase of a rival company is not something that happens overnight, I think it is highly likely that Binny's was in negotiations to have Sam's close their South Loop store. This isn't rocket science [sic] FGFM.

Thanks for admitting that you made it up.

But apparently we should all applaud the closing of stores in the South Loop, and it's far better if they close because our neighborhood sucks than if they close because they are mismanaged or bought out by a rival.

No one was more disappointed than me by the way things turned out over there, but they failed across the board. They couldn't even manage to keep their tiny beer cooler stocked.

Rich Hughes said...

Harvey - exactly the same experience. It started great but got worse and worse

Anonymous said...

I've been there several times . . . it's quite good IMO.