Mike's Fast Foods

Mike's is a very chill and cheap place to have a few beers in an area that is no longer chill or cheap.  I have no friggin' clue how they pay the rent charging what they charge for a coupla beers, but they've been here for a long time now and I stop in whenever I am in the area.

And Mama remembers me, no matter how long its been since the last time!

I'm really glad my wife and I ducked into this local for a bite to eat on our way to the Art Institute.

Mama, the grandmotherly owner, is a character! She is very gregarious, loud and has a great sense of humor. She kept telling how much smarter my wife was for her order selection than me (it's true, she is smarter).

My IQ, though, did not stop Mama from making me a custom Rachael Sandwich when I mentioned my preference for shaved turkey. "I will make it special for YOU!" she exclaimed. And sure enough she did.

Grilled perfectly, with just the right amount of griddle grease (not too much) and generous amounts of 'kraut. If I lived in Chicago I can tell I'd make myself a regular here because places like this which serve meat and 3's (with a heaping side of Character!) are becoming rare.

One of the oddest spots on State Street (in a good way).  Greasy diner by day turns dark dive bar by night.  This review is on the dive bar of Mike's personality.

Yes, it is dark except for the television glow and the lights over the decent looking pool table.  (Does the pool table stay in place during diner hours, I wonder?)

The music is sort of Euro unst unst unst trance house with a little Mariah Carey mixed in there.  Not my steez, but maybe someone else's.  Still, not a complete deterrent because.....

.... the drinks are so damn cheap!!  1 gin and tonic, 1 high life, 1 jameson shot.  $13.  I know, it could be cheaper if we were at a dive in the far western suburbs, but this is State Street people.  (You know.. that "great street?")  Go to any other bar on State and order the same.  I'd bet that you'll pay over $13.  

So, there you have it.  Mike's: a good place to hide in the dark, watch Chicago sports, and pay cheap drink prices relative to surrounding bars.  I'll probably go back next time I'm in the neighborhood.