Some of the best sandwiches in Chicago!
I obviously have my favorites (the Tenzing Norgay, the Godfather, the Mae Wilson), but I've never had a bad sandwich. Â Great selection of sodas and chips to complete your meal (or wait to see what your free side will be if you get your sandwich to eat there), plus delicious desserts. Â I've come to expect so much from their chocolate chip cookies that I get disappointed when they're not fresh from the oven!
The grocery offerings can be expensive, but they're specialized and always great quality, and it's fun to browse.
If you're not there for lunch, get coffee (they have a Clover!!) and a pastry and read your book. Â Maybe chat up the counter staff if they're not too busy, they're always animated and fun to talk to.
The BEST soda selection EVUHHHHH!!!
Biked to Zaleski with some friends this summer and we all shared an arrangement of their sandwiches. While we were locking up and hydrating outside, one of the counter guys came out and gave us a menu to check out.
I was surprised by how much space they have and the additional offerings they provide. Not only can you get a sandwich, but they have homemade sides, random cafe items, and a selective delicatessen.
Quite a few people were in here just relaxing, reading a book, or using their laptop. We took a little break from riding while we enjoyed different sodas from Sprecher (Puma Cola is da bomb!). We had the Godfather, Durand Durand, and the 90 miles to Mousak.
The Godfather was awesome, combination was really good. My friend ate most of the 90 miles and he loaded it with bbq sauce, cause he's a newb. I had a bite before he drowned it, I thought it was pretty solid. I thought the Durand Durand needed to let the pate rest, since it was pretty cold.
The counter guys and the owner have a hilarious rapport with one another, which usually helps alleviate any nervousness you may have and make you totally at ease.
Z&H's coffee is hit or miss (they usually change their blends). Even when it is a hit, it isn't great. The service is never 'bad' but I also don't find it to be incredibly welcoming either. The worst part about Z&H is the smell that sticks to your clothes when you leave the cafe. I slowly began transitioning to Istria, but now that I've found Cafe 57th, I plan on going there(57th street). It's proven to be the best in both service and coffees from the three.
Review Source:Oh how I've missed Z&H and the countless afternoons spent stuffing my face with its wondrous sandwiches, from the pig in a pretzel to the old major, and even the times I'd just concoct my own mana sandwich fit for a ravenous beast -- or starving college student.
Foolish aside: Two years ago, on a magnificent spring day, I walked from my cousin's high rise in the West Loop all the way to Z&H and back; the trip left me with bloodied heels and a giant blister on the bottom of my left foot.
Fact: If you are going to walk 16-some miles in loafers, it better be for a damn good sandwich.
I've been going to Z & H since they opened their original store on 47th. Â The staff has always made it a point to know their customers names and orders. Â The products sold there are well thought-out - Local, no high-fructose corn syrup and yummy! Â Their sandwiches are fantastic and their coffee is great too! Â It is always my first choice when meeting up with a friend for coffee or lunch on the south side. Â We've also used them for catering and it was a great experience! Â Highly recommend!!
Review Source:Read my review as being through the lens of someone who has U of C inspired Hyde Park eatery exhaustion, but after having eaten at Z&H at least a dozen times, I would say their food is pretty okay. Not great, but reliably okay. Their sandwiches are mostly pretty good, although it can be a ten minute wait if you are ordering food to go. They do have some pretty great soups though.
Review Source:So I used to work right around the block. Â The place is a bit cramped so eating inside isn't very enjoyable. Their coffee isn't as good as people rave about. Maybe it's great for Hyde Park - whose standards are a tad lower. Their sandwiches and soups are really good though. Very fresh ingredients and great combination.
Review Source:Z&H gets my vote. Not only do they know me by name (and yes, I've been receiving the 10 dollar discount on $100 spent more than once...), but their sandwiches are bar none, in Hyde Park, and probably the rest of Chicago.
They do many other excellent things too, such as the chocolate chip cookies, the salads, the coffees, etc, etc. You can also buy hard to get local, regional and European fine foods.
It can be a bit hectic at times, in particular during lunch hours, but, gee, it's well worth it, not only because you won't get any better in Hyde Park, but because you won't get as good anywhere else either.
Saw it on Check Please and my friend said she did too and wanted to try it out. It's spacier than I imagined. They are friendly and playful.
I ordered the Lil' Smoky & O'Malley and Iced Latte. My friend had the Jamon Jamon and Iced Mocha.
Lil' Smoky & O'Malley - I ordered this because the curry mayo and tomato chutney had me intrigued. I have to say that I thought it tasted "unique"......I probably would not order it again. Iced Latte - It was fine.
My friend seemed to really enjoy her Jamon Jamon and she said the Iced Mocha would be something I would like. She also really enjoyed the cous cous that came with the sandwich.
So, if I ever do return, I'll be sure to try the Iced Mocha and something else.
It's a nice place to just sit and have lunch or chill with a laptop as there was a few tables doing that. Only thing was they had the fan on and it was a bit chilly.
Not a place to trek out to Hyde Park, but review-worthy nonetheless for any broke University of Chicago student who needs to have a high guaranteed satisfaction to dollar spent ratio when choosing to spend, not to mention any University employees looking to get a breath of fresh air.
The space is modern, conversation-friendly yet loud enough that if you were on an awkward first date a few moments of silence won't be a deal breaker. My only disappointment was that the breads were hidden out of sight somewhere in the kitchen--with their selection of pretzel, French, rye, flat bread, and whole wheat bread, you'd think they'd want to display their bounty.
It was past lunch so I didn't  try the sandwiches, but they have a wide, interesting selection ranging from the more basic Italian variety to unique Spanish combinations like the "Jamon Jamon" (Serrano ham, manchego cheese, quince paste, Dijon mustard, mixed greens, and tomato on French) and "Pollo del Mar" (lemon-dill tuna salad made with wild caught, low mercury tuna, manchego, and mixed greens grilled on whole wheat). You can also make your own.
Pastries looked largely skip-able, but if you need an afternoon caffeine boost, the coffee bar people know what they're doing. My mocha was expertly crafted by a barista who really seemed a cut above her Starbucks peers--she actually mixed the espresso and chocolate before pouring in hot steamed milk instead of just squirting a bunch of chocolate syrup. She even presented it to me with the lid off to show off the latté design. Taste passed with flying colors--the only mocha I've had in quite some time where you can actually taste the coffee and feel a strong caffeine buzz very distinct from the sugar high you'd get from most places.
Definitely will be back to try the food.
I came for a visit after seeing Z & H reviewed on "Check Please!" This is a unique deli with sandwiches (both hot or cold) for all tastes, from standard deli-fare to more inventive offerings.
My boyfriend and I went to Z & H at around noon on a Sunday. Busy and bustling, but not overly crowded. You order and pay for your meal at the front, find a seat and after a few minutes your food will arrive at your table. There were all sorts of folks there: families there for lunch, students studying, friends catching up over coffee. It was an ecclectic mix of  patrons.
My boyfriend was excited to see they carried Mexican Coke (apparently it has sugar, rather than artificial sweetener) and they carry a wide range of other unique beverages. (I drank coffee, which was good.)
There's also a pantry section with up-scale (and often international) specialty items (toffee, pasta, spices, etc) for those who aren't looking to have a sandwich.
Z & H was a great reason for us to head down to Hyde Park. As a resident of Uptown, I don't get there often. You should make the trip, even if you live close-by.
Z&H turned me into a food snob even before I landed in Portland. Living in Chicago as a pauper grad student you don't get to do to much of the fancy schmancy eating in the Gold Coast much (or ever). Â Life is sustained on the quick greasy eats that the South side is notorious for: Harold's Chicken, Cholie's pizza and a fish dinner from J&J's. Â And that suited me just fine until I took a look around and saw how it made everyone who ate it unhealthy and obese. NOT OKAY.
At Z&H, I learned the art of eating less in quantity but more in quality. Â The way I see it is I either pay with my cholesterol or with my cash. Â Choosing the latter, I eventually became a weekly regular at Z&H my last year of living in Hyde Park, my favorites being the Old Major on Pretzel and the Tuna on Croissant. Â Yummy goodness. Â I also had a little crush on one of the guys who worked there. I Â actually think he's one of the owners. He was just super friendly to me on my first visit and so I just stayed kinda sweet on him. In fact, everyone who works there excels in the typical substandard customer service of the South side. Â Put down the mild sauce-coated chicken wing and go to Z&H and treat yourself to some quality food!
This place has the classiness of an upscale cafe with the inviting atmosphere of a deli. Basically a mini Dean & Deluca without all the yuppies.
You can't buy your groceries here, so I wouldn't call it a market, but all the fancy essentials like truffle oil or Vosges chocolate make it a modified upscale convenience store.
At the same time, you don't feel intimidated to be there and the staff is nice and helpful. Classy without pretension. I ordered a sandwich that was fair, it was probably my fault for trying to melt swiss cheese, the bread was more substantial than I expected as well. But it tasted good and I think if I picked something off the menu I would've been in heaven. Pretty good coffee too.
The point being if I were back in that neck of the woods, it would be my first choice.
Sweet Baby Jesus, thank you for bringing a delicious, fun, hip neighborhood place to the Bronzeville area. I went with a pal and we each enjoyed the salad & half sandwich special. I ordered the Bleu Moo: roast beef, bleu cheese, red onion, tomato, mixed greens, and mayo on French. She ordered the Lil' Smoky & O'Malley, a panini with smoked turkey, brie, curried mayo, tomato chutney, and romaine grilled on wheat. I liked mine better but her sandwich was also quite delish. We each had a drink (of the non-alcoholic variety, of course--it was noonish). We then ordered two lovely lattes and shared a slice of tasty lemon pound cake. This cost about $30.
The service was very friendly and the place had a very mellow vibe. There were some students on laptops (free wi-fi!), some moms and kids, and also a couple of business people. A nice mixed crowd and everyone looked pretty darn content.
I will definitely be back. There is a huge variety on the menu and I want to try everything! Check it out!
I never thought I'd say it . . . but man, folks in Kenwood have it good.
My favorite thing is The Godfather, sans prosciutto. If I spend more than a minute thinking about it, my mouth starts to water and we're in a must-have-it-now situation. My second favorite thing is the real ginger ale. My third favorite thing is the selection of fancy chocolates and imported potato chips.
My only gripe concerns the fruit salad. That fruit salad is weak!
P.S. I just remembered my fourth favorite thing. I emailed Zaleski & Horvath to make sure their fresh mozzarella is pasteurized (it is), and the guy who responded had "Tim Schau, Shopkeep" for an email signature. Priceless!
ZOMG. Z&H is the greatest. And I feel lucky that it is in my neighborhood.
What Z&H is:
-A deli that delights. Their sandwiches are fantastic. I highly recommend any of the vegetarian options, the pig on a pretzel, and the little peccorino. Yu uhm. During my maternity leave, I swear I went every day (which is maybe why I haven't lost any baby weight?).
-A coffee shop for true coffee lovers. They will fully tell you when you are about to order something that Starbucks has bastardized into a foofy-foofy, sugar-filled drink for everybody and their dog, which I appreciate because sometimes I like foofy foofy drinks that have been bastardized for everybody and their dog.....and sometimes I like coffee that makes me grow hair on my chest.
-A specialty food store. You can find all sorts of fun chocolate, chips, snackies, and other fun cooking novelties here. They also have a small section of veggies in the back.
What Z&H isn't:
-A market. And they don't try to be either. They are great for gourmet specialty items and they don't try to be a gourmet market where you could do any real shopping.
And we Hyde Parkers are about to get even luckier because Z & H is moving to 57th Street, the heart of Hyde Park, and will be even closer to my house......which may be slightly dangerous for any weight loss/money saving resolutions I had for 2010.
So now - I am happily married and I wouldn't want to freak any of these wonderful guys out
BUT
I would totally make out with Alex the cheese monger if circumstances were different......or at least court him every day of the week so that he could feed me on all his wonderful findings...
I realize it's a little much for NOT freaking him out.
And of course I am exaggerating.
BUT
I am totally in love with the cheese counter of Z & H. I went yesterday morning at around 9 to buy ammunitions (pumpkin carving can be pretty exhausting if you want my opinion) and was welcomed by a world of dairy wonders.
Of course I wanted to give each them a try, and no - it was not too early in the morning to try a strong blue cheese from Spain...
My cheese platter was exquisite, and totally arranged by Alex - my cheese superstar.
If you want details about what I got - ask Erin P.; she kept the wrappings and the left-overs!
After eating a couple of sandwiches here, there are two things which make Z&H shine. Â One, their prices. Â Two, the little thoughtful extras.
I saw the reviews here on Yelp before I ever walked into Z&H, and I have to tell you Z&H is not what I expected. Â One of the first things I saw was a small package of dark bulgur, which is a staple in my house. Â I though "wow, I wonder what they manage to charge people for this," since dark bulgur is delicious and inexpensive but underappreciated. Â I flip over the container and (what!) it's $2.25 for a half pound. Â
That's *totally* reasonable. Â
Everything is a great deal here. Â Each of their sandwiches range in price between $6.50 and $7.50. Â Anyone who says that Zaleski and Horvath is expensive has apparently not had the pleasure I have had of paying $8 for shit at Panera. Â Or $6.50 for an average sandwich at Jimmy John's.
(Sorry, I have an obsessive hate for Panera. Â At least at a place like Burger King you *know* you're getting crap.
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/panera-bread-chicago-5#hrid:bpzpQBdOQ-PaH1XEGKHl5g">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a> )
The sandwiches are super. Â You know when you order a sandwich with lots of great ingredients? You think you know exactly what you're getting. Â Then when it comes out, it has those ingredients, but somehow it's SO much better than expected. Â That's what Z&H is like. Â These are not sandwiches that get all their flavor from dressings and fat. The best comparison I have for the sandwiches are Pastoral in the loop. Â I like Pastoral sandwiches a bit more, but I like the products Z&H sells more than the ones at Pastoral. Â And since I'm a big cook but not a big sandwich person, Z&H beats Pastoral.
I took note of some products in particular. Â They have Yellingbo Australian olive oil, which I love. Â I tried a sample of this in Whole Foods several years ago, and then never saw it sold again. Â It's $3 cheaper here than it was at Whole Foods. Â Australia isn't exactly known for olive oil, but the taste of this is unique. Â It actually *tastes* like what you'd imagine Australia to taste like.
Their tupelo honey from the Savannah Bee Company is $13. Â The same honey is $15 on the Savannah company website and also $15 the last time I checked at Pastoral. I know this because I ate all my roommate's honey when she was on vacation a few months ago. Â Just before she was scheduled to come home I rushed to replace it, learning for the first time it was gourmet honey. I was pissed, but it was great honey :)
There are many little things I noticed like that. Â Point is, yes, these are expensive products, but the prices Z&H are charging for them are very competitive. Â
Unlike the other reviewers, I wasn't totally wowed by the service. Â I've come in a few times, and as yet I haven't been offered any samples or offered any help. Â Of course, when I actually ask for samples or help, they're great, and they really know what they're talking about. Â But as far as Zaleski and Horvath being a friendly neighborhood place where everyone knows your name . . . I didn't get that impression at all. Â In fact, no one there has introduced him or herself or asked me my name, and no one ever says anything or greets me when I walk in. Â It isn't really a complaint - I just think the level of friendliness here is pretty average and is a bit overrated by the other reviewers. At least in my experience.
But the knowledge with which they speak about each product when asked is awesome - I asked for help with the oils and vinegars, and was taught about all of them, and also given several suggestions about how to use them. I ended up buying some grapeseed oil for only $12, but will be back to try a vinegar that I was told is amazing.
As far as the little extras are concerned, there's the amazing clover coffee and some amazing little pastries. Â My favorite is a single impulse buy while I was walking out the door once. Â Avocado stuffed with fresh crab meat. Â This was a fresh little avocado cup that was filled with a generous amount of crab and a smattering of flat leaf parsley, as well as some other seasoning. Â Oh my God. Â It was the best thing ever. Â Would you like to guess how much this piece of heaven cost me? Â $1.95. Â
A definite recommendation if you live in Hyde Park and love to cook.
I came here a couple weeks ago while in Hyde Park. They offer several hot and cold sandwich options, salads, and many side dishes, as well as coffee drinks and baked breakfast goods. Â
I had the Blue Moo sandwich which was roast beef, Maytag blue cheese, and fresh greens on a baguette style roll.  I dined in, so the sandwich came with a small portion of one of their sides.  I selected one of their bottled sodas to drink, the rhubarb flavor.  The sandwich was very fresh and delicious.  I thought the accompanying side of marinated asparagus could have been bigger but tasted good.  The soda was great.  I usually drink diet but they didn't have any so  I was quite pleased that the soda was not too sweet or syrupy. Â
The staff was fast and friendly. It is a clean establishment. There are a few tables set up outside for dining. They have a few shelves stocked with dry goods that aren't commonly found in large supermarkets. They also offer a frequent guest program where you can get free food for repeated business.
This is exactly the kind of place I would visit weekly if it were walking distance from where I live. I found my experience quite pleasurable but wasn't so enamored that I will have cravings sending me across town. However, I will be back when in Hyde Park for sure.
A few new additions:
They now have outdoor seating in the little courtyard niche next door. Good people watching opportunity. They also have this mind blowing ice cream called "Nice Cream"... I got some that was Earl Gray Tea and shortbread cookie... I can't even describe how good this stuff is.
Absolutely everything this place does is right. Awesome food, awesome coffee, awesome goods, awesome service and friendly, cheerful staff.
There are three places in this city that I would call my favorite places to eat and Z & H is one of them.
Z&H is a really cute deli/mini organic grocery/coffee shop located in an unassuming location in Hyde Park/Kenwood. I had driven past this place for months on the way to work at U of C without even realizing it was there! Then a co-worker brought in scones from Z&H which was super yummy and told me about this place. Naturally, my curiosity brought me to investigate on yelp. Good reviews, close to work... had to give it a try.
The sandwiches are really good! A lil pricey, but tasty. The 'lil smokey with turkey and some type of curried spread is really good. Also I like the eggplant sandwich. The staff is really nice as well. They keep track of your purchases in their computer system (instead of a frequent buyer card) and offer incentives when you've spent a certain amount (can't remember how much). The coffee is also decent. The grocer section has a bunch of organic items, granola, chocolates, teas, deli meats, cheeses, etc. Anyway, it's a great little place and even better as there is not really anything comparable within several blocks.
we had this football chant in college when we'd demolish a hyped up team..." OVER _RATE_ED!" *clap clap clap clap clap*
Alas, these 5 star reviews set me up for a sandwich with promise... that simply turned out to be anti-climactic!
I had the chicken tortellini soup (very little soup but chock full of veggies and tortellini) and the jamon, jamon sandwich that has serrano ham with mixed greens, tomatoes, manchego cheese (one of my favorites!) and an interesting addition of quince paste. I was so intrigued by this place, thus scoured their website and nearly ended up memorizing the menu before coming here.
The sandwich was just... okay. The bread was hard and I know it was the end of the day, but that's no excuse. The ham and cheese are both sliced very thinly.. I think this is how cured meats are served in Spain.
I do like the atmosphere of this place. It is a down-to-earth, comfortable, menu-on-the-chalkboard type place. They have a small gourmet grocery section with a random assortment of things anything from truffle oil to peppercorns to fancy baking mixes to pint sized gelato. They have a small seating area on the side with a few tables, but I got the feeling a lot of people just came here to get the food to-go. There is street parking out in front.
The menu is fun and creative, and I like the idea of this deli, but ultimately I'm all about the taste. And despite the creativity and clever names, my sandwich just wasn't that great!
But, I haven't given up on this place yet. I will definitely go back and try the paninis.
I love places like this! Not really a restaurant in the traditional since and also not a traditional grocery store either. You'll find a few tables at the windows on either side of the entry door, a small shop with a good mix of items on the specialty side and their deli counter of meats, cheeses and quick menu items. Â You can have a great sandwich, salad or soup and pick up some provisions to bring home.
Staff was friend as can be, everyone behind the counter said hello and offered a sample of this or that. I was interested in one of their turkey sandwiches that had tomato chutney on it. Hmm...tomato chutney? What is it I asked, so they gave me a taste. Never knew I liked tomato chutney, score give me one of those. My husband ordered the fishy salad, a salad I guess with salmon on it. Or to someone that doesn't eat fish, it seemed fishy to me.
I also bought some cola called Gus, no HFCS instead cane sugar and cola nut extract, okay it was 2 bucks but I have to cut down on soda anyhow, so having it cost more will help me do that, and it tasting knock out good will make it special when I do decide to be a bad girl.
Gus stands for Grown Up Soda, <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drinkgus.com&s=cfe48f849aaf409622540a475139c22533eeb977f1e1349a399768dd0443765d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.drinkgus.com</a>
We enjoyed talking to the guy behind the counter, when he asked if we had been there before and we said no, however that we'll be back more often because we're moving not to far he became very enthusiastic and told us he lived not to far away and gave us quite a few tips on the area.
I know Aurore L., said she wanted to be the first to review this place but missed out, at least I hope it's a consolation that it was her review that caught my eye to check this place out.
I'm glad we'll soon be close by, however even if your not it's worth the trip.
I'm on a mission. I call it the "1200 South" mission, as in surely there must be delicious eateries with no Blue, Brown or Northbound Red Line in sight. It might be that the youngsters I work with live in the deep heart of the numbered streets. . . and in my never-ending quest to be empathic, I want to see it for myself.
Obviously going to Zaleski and Horvath is not a pioneering expedition. Safely located on the eastern edge of Hyde Park/Kenwood, it's palatable for sure. But baby steps. . .
I'm not sure if there were bells on the door announcing my arrival, but there should have been. In fact the doors should have been swinging and saloony because it felt like I was on vacation in an undiscovered resort town. I wanted benches out front, an iconic statue of a carousel horse with faded paint and bikes strewn about. What Z&H lacked in visible kitsch it made up for it overflowing charm.
What a gem. Not too much seating space, but freckled with young parents and U of C students. The staff is quietly sweet, smiling and engaging in the decision of which fine meat to put on what fresh bread. The ingredients are so obviously coveted by the owners. I made my own sandwich: smoked turkey, salami, baby greens, chipotle mayo and gouda on a pretzel bun. And oh, toast that shit.
I was getting my order to go, and while it was being made with TLC, I browsed the gourmet wares. I am such a sucker for trifles and sundries, hard-to-find or never-seen goodies. I bought two jars of gourmet peanut butter (chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter. . . *squeal*), instant steel cut oatmeal and a few other sweet odds and ends.
Needless to say, I walked out of Z&H spending more than I had in mind, but I was happy to do it. The quality is there, and this neighborhood gem needs to be around for a long while. I'm already planning the day where it's a prelude to a spontaneous picnic on the beach.
Ever eat something(s) and know that it was/ they were delicious as in probably better than what you might find other places & yet, understand that the very next thing you order and eat on your next upcoming visit will taste even better than what you had before.
Yeah.
Z & H is kind of like that with the bonus of a welcoming, intelligent and patient staff who want you to know why what your eat is so delicious.
I once dated a German dude who would make me insane meals  of awesome french bread, triple-cream brie, risottos, endive and apple salads, and wine. you know, just for fun. he also had zero sense of humor and a penchant for dead artists. like, hella dead.
anyways, this place reminds me of three years of some of the best eats of my life. these men LOVE LOVE LOVE food, in a nuturing, mutual, beautiful way. the guys behind the counter shout out to customers by name as you peruse the various cheeses and salads on display. they will stuff you with samples and their eyes will light up as you agree, "WHY YES! Aged cheddar wrapped in cloth is indeed better! What are those rubes eating plastic-aged cheddar thinking?!?"
i can recommend my delicious Marty sandwich; red pepper spread, goat cheese (ask for it), grilled eggplant, and spinach all on a pressed panini. wrap it up w/ some clover coffee and one of sam's homemade oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies. it was awesome, and i didn't have to spend my meal listening to anyone wax poetic about Rembrandt. (Yes, Steffen. The shadows! I get it! shit.)
FIVE STARS!
I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for independent shops that care about the you, your experience, and good food. Â With this disclaimer out of the way, WOW!! Â Z&H is awesome. Â I saw their ad in our student newspaper, noted they had a Clover coffee machine, and couldn't help exclaiming, "Why haven't I heard of this place??" Â This weekend, a group of us teamed together and trekked up to 47th Street to check it out. Â The food was excellent. Â The service was friendly. Â The Clover coffee was... sigh... amazing. Â And they have a market of delectables to boot, many of the organic variety.
As their business grows, there are little things I'm sure they'll add: an extra person taking food orders when the line gets long, shades on a few of the windows to allow the light in but keep the sun out of customers' eyes, an "About Us" section on their website (call me curious, but I love knowing the backstory of an establishment), and delivery service to campus (especially evenings when hungry students crave good food but aren't motivated enough to make the journey to 47th Street).
Thanks for being a part of our neighborhood, Z&H!
The owner guy behind the counter gave me the most fricking amazing jumbo shrimp covered with creamy Israeli feta and fat orzo as a sample, and I think that makes Sam and I kind of like foodie blood brothers now. (or sisters, whatever)
This place is beyond awesome - a stylish, deli/grocery store combo led by the absolute nicest guys ever. Â Sam and Tim are the co-owners and they are a pure pleasure and delight to talk with - they fucking LOVE food and know a lot about cheese. Â And they are hell of proud of the high quality ingredients they use. Â I could only dream of shopping exclusively on all of their hoity toity fancified organic and gourmet wares, but I am going to begin conquering their sandwiches on the regular from here on out. Â They've been in business only two months or so and have apparently become THE SPOT for the high rollas of the neighborhood - and if you don't know who's in the neighborhood, you better start reading the paper or something....
I had a turkey with quince paste and manchego cheese on grilled pretzel bread. Â Do you hear me? How could that not be good? Um, yeah - it was damned slamming.
I love it. Â Love it up and down, from their family pictures on the walls and the colorful chalkboard menu, to the fantastic cheese samples they pushed on me when I was really just asking to buy some. Â
Automatically one of the best new spots in Chicago that nobody knows about. Â Yet.
Awesome things you get to live near if you happen to dwell in Hyde Park:
1. President-almost-not-elect-anymore. (Drawback--fricking bus reroutes.)
2. Your school, probably. (Drawback--goodbye, social life.)
3. Z&H. (Drawback--none.)
Jamon Jamon. Serrano ham + manchego + quince paste. My friends all think I am vegetarian and freak out when I order it. Worth it. (In response, friends: no, I don't believe in labels, I just don't like nearly all meat and love nearly all things green and rooty. Also, QUINCE PASTE.) I have been known to splurge on a $3 brownie, which I am pretty sure are flourless little bitches because I can eat on them for about a week.
Minus one star for being four blocks away and making me poor(er.)
When I win the lottery and move into one of those palaces on Ellis, I'm going to stop in here all the time. Â
This is the most beautiful little store I've ever seen. Â I walked in expecting to grab a sandwich, and instead wandered around marveling at everything I saw. Â Organic raw honeys, vinegars and oils, squid ink pasta two feet long, real licorice, chocolates, house-made spice blends (including one called "Retro Italian"... it was like they were expecting me), and other fancy groceries that I was helpless to resist. Â Not planning on buying anything, I hadn't taken a basket, but then I pulled a jar off the shelf, then another, then some candy, glass beakers for mixing vinaigrettes (in French), a bag of chips, and a pint of ice cream. Â I walked around in a completely silly manner balancing all of this when someone who I believe is one of the owners asked me if I wanted to taste some cheese.
After asking me what kinds of cheeses I like, he chose an aged Italian cheese that I've already forgotten the name of, but we agreed that it was "lovely." Â He then gave me samples of three gorgeous but at the same time wildly different blue cheeses that I know I'm going to come back for soon. Â Â
I eventually got around to buying a sandwich and chose the Bleu Moo, which is fabulous. Â The owner explained to me that their deli meats are hormone-free, vegetarian grain fed, and preserved with only celery juice and salt. Â Sandwiches come with a tasting portion of a salad. Â I expected the usual potato, pasta, etc. options, but when the owner said, "tomato fennel," that caught my attention. Â Fresh tomatoes with shaved fennel in a light vinaigrette. Â Delicious.
I walked out of there with my bag full of treats with a baguette sticking out of the top, just like on TV.
Wow, my wish for the Goddess and the Grocer to magically plop down in Hyde Park has come true, and it's even better than I imagined!!!
Z&H is fantastic! If I had my druthers it would be located on 53rd or 57th, but then again, it's good for me to venture beyond my usual places in Hyde Park. And Amen for their pioneer spirit! May this be the beginning of a much-needed renaissance in Kenwood!
So now onto the actual place...the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. One guy beamed with earnest enthusiasm over the Clover coffee and showed me, with great glee, how he squeegeed the foam off the top. Delicious and fun-to-watch coffee? Check. Another guy helped me pick out the perfect cheese from their amazing cheese counter to accompany my cranberry chutney. He was rather generous with the samples and gave me a great tip on how to present the goat cheese that I selected. Another guy wrote down my suggestion to add the Tomato Mountain Farm Sun-Gold Preserves (my beloved tomato jelly) to the other TMF items they stock.
After getting my cheese and poking around the place for awhile (so many delicious things to buy!), I sat down to a breakfast sammy of ham and gruyere on a croissant. So simple, yet so delicious! I cannot wait to come back and try their pate and their deli sandwiches! I know that I am going to become a Z&H groupie; unlike Goddess and Grocer, they actually sell staples, like Organic Valley dairy products, that I need anyway, so why not trek up to 47th and throw in the possibility of an amazing cup of coffee or jar of jelly?
Z&H Market Cafe: an overall hooray!
I know you wanna do it... I know they want to do it too... out there on the deli floor... they can make sandwiches!
The godfather was amazing (yes, I know that's a Detroit Grand Pubahs track, but DJ Godfather would have rocked it!). Â For those who have no clue what I'm going on about, I'll cut to the chase:
Excellent staff - everyone was extremely nice
Excellent food - my sandwich was great (the Godfather - prosciutto, mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar, field greens on French bread), as was the white bean rosemary soup I had (though the side was kind of dull - potato salad in a tiny plastic hospital-pill-cup-sized container).
Price - perhaps a bit steep, but they are using really fresh, top-of-the-line ingredients
This is a really nice place to treat yourself to every once-in-a-while, but it's definitely too pricey to be your every-day sammitch shop.
I didn't get a chance to try the cafe drinks at all, but there was a little boy absolutely bawling like it was the end of the world because he knocked his hot chocolate off the table and wreaked havoc all over the floor, so it must have been pretty good. Â Next time I'm there I'll be sure to get something hot and sweet.
I teach flute lessons in this neighborhood and I usually ride there in a car with the other teachers. Â I first discovered this place on election night when our ride was unable to drive us. Â The neighborhood was full of energy that evening as we walked to the bus stop to head home. Â When we walked past this place, I was really surprised to see it because I'd never noticed it before in the car, so I was kind of staring in the windows and trying to check it out. Â The guys working inside noticed and smiled and waved at us, which made me really happy. Â
I didn't stop in until this week, and only had about 10 minutes to look around. . Â I'm really excited to stop back in when I have more time and can try one of their sandwiches. Â Basically, I wanted to buy everything, but limited myself to a box of Dorset Cereals' granola. Â YUM.
Where was Z&H when I was in Hyde Park several times a week?!
Even though the market is bit of a hike from where I live, there is nothing stopping me from coming here at least a couple times a month.
One of the best things about Z&H is how eager the owners and employees are to talk to you about any and all of the products available. You are bound to run in to an expert on every item in there. Any question will be met with an enthusiastic and knowledgable reply.
How about a list of all of the great things at Z&H:
~ Cheese, glorious cheese! So many choices (just ask for a taste, go on...)
~ Sandwiches. Several delectable options, or make your own. Who doesn't want to eat while they shop?
~Clover Coffee. I can not stress it enough. The most amazing cup of coffee I've ever had. Ask about the varieties - they'll help you out!
~GuS. Grown up Soda. So far i've only had the Extra Dry Ginger Ale flavor, but it's addicting.
~Lemon Bars and Brownies. A local baker makes these, among other items I've yet to try. The lemon bar has the perfect tang and a wonderful buttery shortbread base. The chocolate brownie is HUGE and saturated with chocolate.
~Curried Cashews. Need I say more? Honestly.
If you've never been to Hyde Park, now's the time. It's so easy to get to, whether you drive, take the CTA or ride the Metra. After visiting Z&H you can check out the Museum of Science and Industry, Jackson Park, or the Japanese Garden and make a day of it. You won't be sorry.
"Makes Whole Foods Look Like Wal-Mart"
I initially went to Z&H because I had heard they have a Clover coffee machine (the only other one I know of is at Intelligentsia, whose coffee they carry, incidentally). The owner, Tim, gleefully demonstrated this one-cup-at-a-time wonder, and poured me the single best cup of coffee I've ever had.
I was immediately impressed by the variety of specialty and organic foods on the shelves. My shopping bag included: real Spanish chorizo and Cabrales, curried peanut butter (trust me), Jasper Hill aged cheddar, peppadews, ostrich pate, organic tomatoes, Vosages chocolates, etc. And then there's the deli meats. Go in and ask for a slice of the Applegate Farms roast beef...it's incredible!
My only complaint was that a number of things were missing price tags, but it turns out Z&H haven't even had their official opening yet.
I was going to compare Z&H to Fox & Obel, but the owners/employees are what gives Z&H the edge. These guys know their product and are happy to share their knowledge (for instance, talking about cheese for 20 min to a fellow cheese nerd) without being at all condescending. They just seem to love great food as much as I do!
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