Three Little Wonders – Bacci, Noon o Kabab, Peach’s

None of the following three restaurants have anything in common other than their knack for consistently offering delicious food at reasonable prices.  In a couple of  cases, the prices are remarkably low.

Bacci, even though they’ve been around since the mid 90’s, was a complete surprise.  Suddenly it was just there when I found myself very hungry in an unfamiliar part of town.  Montrose and Milwaukee in Jefferson Park turns out to be loaded with the no frills charm of a robust Chicago neighborhood where commerce and the everyday chug along in easy harmony.

Noted for their jumbo pizza slices that measure almost a foot across at the top and run 15 ½ inches down to the pizza’s point, Bacci’s menu is a lot deeper than you think.  The pies are filling, well prepared, satisfying and popular.  But if you ever find yourself near one of the restaurant’s eight locations, trying one of their pasta offering might prove a terrific idea.

At $4.95 during lunch, it’s impossible to find a better value for your money.  Choose from five noodle options and six sauces.  The Pomodoro (tomato) sauce couldn’t have been more splendid with robust flavors and perfect density.  A later visit found the meat sauce just as impressive and also displayed all the distinctive hallmarks of a made to order dish.  You can get additional ingredients like spinach or mushrooms ($1 @ lunch, $2 @ dinner) but weigh that possibility carefully.  You may have to do a deep dive search for some of them once your meal arrives.

In more familiar territory, Noon o Kabob in that beehive known as Albany Park has been around nearly as long as Bacci’s but decided to stay rooted in the turf they were born in. True to its name, the restaurant has ample selections of skewered meat to choose from and also has a few hints of what else this ancient cuisine cooks scattered over the menu.

Like Bacci’s, you order at a front counter and wait for the food to be brought to you.  Much of the lunch menu is priced below $10.  Besides selecting your protein, you can choose between dill or saffron rice or do a combo.  Vegetables come fresh as salads on the plate or grilled.  There’s a lightness in the preparation that gives the food a particular purity.  Dining as part of a trio on the last visit, each meal varied from the next and each was delectable. Neither heavy nor dry, the falafel was aromatic and softly textured.  Both the chicken and beef kababs were succulent and expertly seasoned.   The small container of a tomato based sauce that accompanies most orders was nicely piquant and added just the right snap when mixed with the rice.  If anything, Noon o Kabab has gotten better over time.

Peaches, down on the other end of the lake in Bronzeville hasn’t been around for 20 plus years but they’re still a well-loved fixture on the corner of 47^th and King Drive.  Featuring southern comfort food to the bone with a concentration on breakfast, they’ve taken to elevating their offerings and giving them a little fine dining flair.  Their shrimp and grits, both a staff and customer favorite, is a perfect example of how well a simple concept responds to a little creativity.  Using top flight ingredients, large juicy shrimp loll in the buttery cheesy creamy grits along with a generous sprinkling of bacon chunks and sliced mushrooms.  Garnished with a small mound of julienned green onion stems, the presentation is beautiful.  Rich to the point of mild embarrassment, the final product is an indulgence you may only allow yourself once a year if you’re watching your nutrition numbers.  Keep in mind the kitchen intentionally does not always give the shrimp a thorough rinse.  Let them know if you have sodium concerns and they’ll gladly make the necessary corrections.  At $13.95, the shrimp and grits are still a hands down bargain.   And you can rest assured, there are many many equally appetizing meals on the menu to choose from.

Peach’s Restaurant

4652 S. King Dr.

peachson47th.com

773-966-5801

Noon o Kabab

4661 N. Kedzie Ave.

noonokabab.com

773-279-8899

Bacci Pizza

4367 N. Milwaukee Ave.

baccipizza.com

773-304-3000