It is, indeed.
Bar’s open until midnight, guess I’ll have to check it out. Any idea what kind of bourbon they’re using?
And pardon the obvious, what is that garnish? Marmalade brittle with caraway seeds and browned butter? Do you just eat it as an amuse bouche with your cocktail like a martini olive or bloody mary garnishes?
No idea which bourbon, sorry!
It’s some sort of brittle with caraway seeds and a smear of marmalade. I think the brown butter is in the actual drink, not the garnish. Or maybe it’s in both… I’m so helpful, aren’t I… 
I just ate it before I drank the drink. I don’t think there’s a proper way to do it or anything. Hope you like it!
1 Like
As it turns out my neighbor is a whiskey distributor for many high end restaurants - I’ll ask him. 
1 Like
We were told by the resident mixologist that it is a fat washed Evan Williams.
2 Likes
Yep. That’s it. It some circles its a probetbial fucking meal.
I have here a rundown of EVERY chicago pizza joint I have managed to try in Southern California.
I am missing Rances’.
Here’s my list:
have found exactly one southern california place that makes a decent Chicago pan pizza, and, alas, it’s all the way in San Diego on the edge of the Gaslamp district.
Berkeley Pizza, which itself is a clone of Zachary’s Pizza in Berkeley, CA (SF Bay area). Both Berkeley and Zach’s are good enough to call solid chicago pizzas.
Nothing in the L.A. area is close. Masa’s of Echo park is ok, but the sauce is bland. the restaurant itself is good rendition of a Malnati’s-like place.
Tony’s out near Anaheim has the heft, good cheese, good sauce, but the crust is bready, and the sausage lacks some zing.
Hollywood Pies out on the west side has excellent crust, but they overload the sauce w/ chilli flakes. They used to be delivery and curbside pick up only, so really hard to get to if you’re not in the area already. They have since opened an full on place with seats. Haven’t tried it yet.
Taste Chicago in Burbank has italian beef and vienna dogs, but the pizza they serve is obviously generic grocery-store quality stuff. Which would be ok if they weren’t charging specialty prices for it. Put it this way: this is on my way home from work, and I don’t go there. Not for what they charge. They DO, however, offer ‘personal’ size pizzas for $7/8 bucks which aren’t terrible if for a lunch.
Zelo’s off Foothill in Arcadia isn’t bad. Not quite thick enough to be ‘chicago’ style, but they do the cornmeal crust and it’s pretty tasty.
B.J.'s a chain of pubs, serves something they call ‘Chicago pan pizza’, and it is, in the sense that it is arguably pizza, made in a pan. And that’s about all anyone should have to say about that.
Lefty’s in san diego is not a bad little joint. They do real vienna hot dogs (w/ S. Rosen buns) and a perfectly serviceable deep dish pizza, which they also serve by the slice. And for what it is, the prices aren’t bad.
Lefty’s Italian Beef Special (on garlic bread w/marinara and mozzarella) is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Recommended.
The pizza itself is a more Gino’s East cornmeal style crust, rather than the Malnati’s-like Berkeley Pizza. The sausage is also quite good. But it lacks the fresh-baked-ness of Berkeley’s. It’s still better than just about anything in L.A., but when I got my half-baked to bring home, I got Berkeley’s.
Paxti’s Pizza (locations in the Bay Area and now Santa Barbera): Very good standard deep dish. Reasonably priced. If it were in range, I’d call this a great local spot. Alas, about as far north of me as Lefty’s is south.
Zachary’s up North has been my childhood favorite, and was recently supplanted by Rance’s here at home.
Given your love of Zachary’s, that should tell you something about how much you will enjoy Rance’s if you make it there.
1 Like
Got it. Consider it on the list next time I’m southwards.
Lest I leave out details… I am specifically only comparing the “stuffed” style pizza at both Zachary’s and Rance’s. Not sure if you prefer a different style or not, and I can’t speak to them really as I always get that style, as it’s my favorite Chicago style pizza.
You’re also missing Nancy’s Pizza in Alhambra which is part of a Chicagoland chain.
There’s a Nancy’s here?!?!
I’ve been in L.A. for 4 YEARS!! Why didn’t I know about this?!
damnit.
It’s only been around for about a year, along with an Al’s Italian beef next door. Chicago Franchise Systems owns both brands so it makes sense to build them together.
There’s an Al’s too?
I knew there was a Portillos inbuena park, but I never thought it was worth the trip.
Alhambra, though… That’s workable!!
Finally checked out Revolutionario tonight. Why the hell did I wait so long? So, so good!
Goat & pumpkin, shakshouka, and duck hash:
Cilantro yogurt chicken (with pickled onions and red harissa added):
Smoked lamb, pozole tagine, and beef brisket barbacoa:
My favorite was the smoked lamb. I ended up having 6 of them. I experimented with different combinations of the condiments on the lamb tacos and came to the conclusion that my favorite combo was the yogurt sauce, red harissa, and pickled onions.
6 Likes
@thechez5 so glad you finally tried it! 
Isn’t it so good? 
I love the red harissa as well.
1 Like
Portillo’s BP is better than Al’s. al’s Chicago was bottom of the Chi Beef barrel to begin with.
Source: lived on 18th west of Dan Ryan.
Yup! Flimsy tortillas and all! 
I love their fucking Chitown dogs.