Reviews
Awards
• Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Award: 1st Place — Humor
• Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Award: Honorable Mention — Regional
Reviews and Endorsements
"The book is based on a simple premise: Who better to advise you on where to grab a tasty, affordable midday meal in Chicago's neighborhoods than people who consider lunch to be the highlight of the work day? You always assumed this was true, but Foley confirms it in enough detail that, tongue-in-cheek or not, you will be more than tempted to take his dining tips."
—Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times, May 25, 2004
"The former electrician for the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation has become a local icon since releasing The Streets and San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats."
—Robert Elfinger, Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2004
"Thanks to his far-reaching travels, Foley has scarfed down midday meals at taquerias, pubs, pizzerias, and delis in every corner of Chicago, making him an authority on the ins and outs of local dining establishments."
—Jenni Spinner, Public Works magazine, "Out of the Ordinary," June 2005
"A compendium of below-the-radar neighborhood spots . . . ranging from taverns and inns to delis, barbecue joints and heated outdoor beer gardens, serving everything from beef stew to pork chop sandwiches, shrimp dinners, curly fries and fall-off-the-bone ribs."
—Jon Anderson, Chicago Tribune, “City watch,” May 27, 2004
"As soon as The Streets & San Man’s Guide to Chicago Eats hit our desk, we went out and tried a couple of author Dennis Foley's picks. Boy were they good! Foley's choices are mostly no-nonsense places that emphasize hearty servings at great prices, often in neighborhoods the critics never hit."
—Chicago Sun-Times, Food, June 2, 2004
"What is significant about this book is that its author knows just about every Chicago-area hole-in-the-wall lunchroom named Chuck's, Vito's, Lalo's, Frank & Mary's, Sammy's, O'Donovan's and so on, clean neighborhood eateries where you can get a good burrito or sub at a decent price. . . . A man who rides around all day in one of those big blue trucks is bound to know what he's talking about. Bonus: A collection of $1-off coupons to 25 eateries."
—Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times, May 30, 2004
“[N]o less an expert than Dennis Foley, author of The Streets and San Man’s Guide to Chicago Eats, confirms that ‘greasy spoon’ is a term of endearment to discerning Chicago diners, not an insult as it is often regarded elsewhere. You can understand, therefore, why I still keep Foley’s book handy in my car and take every opportunity to sample his select neighborhood lunch spots.”
—Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times, March 14, 2007
"This book is a delight. For anyone visiting Chicago interested in getting the real flavor of the city, this is the book for you. A lot of the restaurants in this book may not make the typical list of Chicago's finest, but that does not mean the food served is not terrific. To the contrary, want hearty, want cheap, want good, you can find it in this book. Want a famous Chicago Beef Sandwich, Pizza, or Breaded Steak Sandwich, you came to the right place. These are the places real Chicagoans eat, and eat well. . . . I have been to some of the restaurants and other points of interest in the book and I look forward to visiting more. I should add the author's reviews of the places I have visited are dead on. . . . And, the coupons in the back of the book don't hurt either. Great City. Great Book. Great Eats."
—Amazon.com reader review, "A Taste of the Real Chicago for Visitors and Everyone Else," 5 of 5 stars, June 11, 2004
"I just picked up the Streets and San Man's Guide and I read it in one sitting. If you are a Chicagoan, this book is a must. He serves up a bunch of neighborhood eateries (diners, pubs, fast food joints) where the price is right and the grub is good. And what's better than that is the Streets and San Man’s tone: the guy is funny as hell. I drove to a few of the detours he provides and they were great. The Big Chief detour was hysterical. I went to one of the eateries the other day for lunch (T's Tap) and it was just like the Streets and San Man said it was. The food was good, cheap, and the people were nice. Foley has a winner here."
—Amazon.com reader review, “Great places to eat—and funny too,”5 of 5 stars, June 7, 2004
"Finding a five-star restaurant is easy. Dining guides and newspaper and TV reviews make it a snap. Finding a good, cheap place to eat, that's the challenge. Dennis Foley has some tips . . ."
—William Hageman, Chicago Tribune "Q" Section, "How to . . . Find a Cheap Place to Eat," Sunday, March 20, 2005
"If you enjoy exploring the neighborhoods of Chicago and like good, relatively cheap food, then author Dennis Foley has the book for you . . ."
—Deborah Dowley Preiser, Pioneer Press, "Ex-city worker plots map to the cheap and tasty," February 23, 2005
"With no-nonsense, blue collar candor, he outlines a unique listing of neighborhood and cultural samplings at bargain prices, calorie, carb, and cholesterol counts be damned. . . . Along with a brief, appetite-whetting description of each of his favorite lunch haunts, Foley offers informative asides about the restaurant, hot tips on house specialties, and helpful notes about interesting 'detours.'"
—Jean Kozlowski, Cricket in the Corner, August 2004
"Foley's book is more than just a regular guy's guide to grub in the city. . . . it's also full of fun detours and observations he's recorded from his years on the job, all written in a light-hearted manner."
—George Haas, Daily Southtown, "The lad lunches," July 29, 2004
"The reviews are informative and insightful. They can also be downright outrageous. Foley pokes fun at all things Chicago."
—Memphis Commercial Appeal, "CBU alum offers his take on Chicago," August 5, 2004
"A no-nonsense guide to the tastiest places in Chicago to grab a bite. . . . A selection of coupons good until December 2006 rounds out this useful and handy reference for travelers and Chicago natives alike."
—The Bookwatch, The Midwest Book Review, Vol. 26 No. 8, August 2004
"These aren't eateries that show up in the typical restaurant guide. Foley leans toward meat and potatoes, and he likes to eat in taverns. The emphasis is on places you can get a hearty midday meal for just a few bucks. Also, unlike many guidebooks, this book spans the city, including Northwest Side and South Side neighborhoods that tourists rarely see."
—Leah Zeldes, Lerner newspapers, June 2, 2004
Also in Print
Bell Tower, Christian Brothers University alumni magazine, Memphis, TN
The Beverly Review, Chicago, IL
Bridgeport News, Chicago, IL
Neighbors, Chicago, IL
St. Laurence High School Alumni Magazine, Chicago, IL
The Villager, Chicago, IL
Radio, TV, and Public Appearances
Chicago Cultural Center tours
Columbia College Chicago's Story Week
Cable 25 Chicago, "Nude Hippo: Your Chicago Show"
WBEZ–91.5 FM, Chicago Public Radio, "Eight Forty-Eight" with food contributor Steve Dolinsky
WCKG–105.9 FM, Chicago, "The Pete McMurray Show"
WGN-Channel 9, Chicago, News with Chuck Coppola
WGN–720 AM, Chicago, "Sunday Papers" with Rick Kogan
WGN–720 AM, Chicago, "The Dean Richards Show"
WSCR–670 AM, Chicago, "The Mike North Show"
WTTW–Channel 11, Chicago Public Television, "Chicago Tonight"
Lake Claremont Press authors are available for media interviews,
and for bookstore/library events and other public programs.
For more information, contact Therese Newman
at 312/226-8400 or therese@lakeclaremont.com.