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| - While west of Downtown continues to go big or go implode in terms of hotels, high-end LA retail stores and equally pricey 5 star restaurants that now have become chains (Beso, Koi, Craft, etc.), a place like Chicago Joes is a hidden gem that has no reason to change a thing to keep up with the corporate beast of dining. The blink or you'll miss it location on 4th Street says it all: Old School is where it all started and where it will remain. You gotta love that.
My mom and I decided to celebrate my return to this ol' hometown of mine on what will be the first of many Mommy and Me dining experiences. We both pride ourselves on our own respective culinary skills so our quest to find worthy good eats around the Valley is a treat. We got that and then some at Chicago Joes.
On the advice of other reviewers here, we made reservations for 6:30. We entered from the backdoor where the parking lot is located and there was only one other couple seated in the one-time living room of the small house. Our greeter joked with us when I mentioned the reservation by saying, gee, we're going to have make some room here. I love an affable and equally sarcastic server. We perused the menu and debated on one of two appetizers to try: the stuffed artichoke or the escargot cap mushrooms. We asked our server which one he preferred. He said the escargot cap mushrooms hands down but added that the artichoke is good, it's just a lot of work. Yeah, I agreed. I wanted to relax since I just came from work and I started by ordering a glass of chianti served in a sweet Italian wine glass tumbler.
He brought a basket of piping hot bread to the table and our appetizer which certainly did not disappoint. We sopped the delicious sauce up from the mushrooms with pieces of the bread. I had the salad with the house dressing which is creamy garlic. If I had one criticism about the dressing it's that it needs more garlic. My mom had the soup which was a delicious creamy tomato based white navy bean pasta soup, the name of which escapes me. It was nice start to our entrees, which we both ordered the shrimp parmigiana. I ordered mine first, my mom wanted and ordered the same but kicked herself for not ordering something different so we could try each other's dishes - because that's how we roll. Maybe during our next visit we'll order the same but different dish. The shrimps were huge prawns baked in layers of meat sauce and cheese, exactly the way any parmigiana is supposed to be served. Our respective dinners were so delicious we decided to save half of them and move on toward the dessert. Oh yeah, we went there and all because I turned around and read on their little Dry Erase Board what the desserts were: Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. Stick a fork in me, I'm done!
If you want an authentic Italian experience, go check out Chicago Joes. The ambience is intimately comfortable and feels like home, which is probably why it's located inside a historic downtown Vegas house. The food is simple yet robust with flavor and a certain passion. It's like eating a dish your grandmother passed down in a recipe to your ma and she'll eventually pass down to you. If it's just a plain old plate of lasagna or spaghetti you want, go to your nearest Olive Garden and get the Tour of Italy. But if you want to check out a rare Vegas institution such as Chicago Joes, I suggest you try something you've probably never had and never heard of: a la shrimp parmigiana, Chicago Hot Shrimp, Veal and Peppers, Ciopinno, etc. You won't be disappointed.
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