I was asked to check out Old Chicago at their Pre-Opening Event for bloggers. Although a chain, Old Chicago is not one I am familiar with as it has not been in our area before. So of course, I just had to bring the family to check it out!
Their concept kind of reminds me of a sports bar but with the focus being on pizza instead of wings and burgers (but they still do have wings and burgers - they actually have a quite large menu and a nice drink menu, too). My husband was happy cause one of the beers on tap they have for a Limited-Time is Bishop Crackberry - a new favorite of his. For those of us who aren't in the mood for a beer, try one of their Moscow Mule's- I highly recommend it. Apparently, there is some OC Rewards Program where you sign-up and get a rewards card and earn "stuff" and I think it is based on your drink order. I could be wrong. Our server, although very pleasant and courteous, spoke faster than the speed of light. I had no idea what she said 90% of the time. I really hopes she learns to slow down. She could be a very good addition to the company.
We started out with Buffalo Chicken Rolls and Bacon and Cheddar Mac n' Cheese Bites. The dough on the buffalo chicken rolls was nice and soft, and they were extremely filling which was a good thing since my 5 year old declared the mac n' cheese bites his. I've never had mac n' cheese fried before, but it is awesome! It was the best thing I ate all night and I can't stop thinking about it. When we go back, I'll be ordering some more.
In addition the the Bacon and Cheddar Mac n' Cheese Bites, my 5 year old ordered the Kid's Chicken Bites Meal with Fries. He really liked it and ate the entire thing. Normally my 5 year old doesn't eat that much, but this meal only had 3 chicken nuggets on it. I'm glad we decided to forgo the kid's meal for our 9 year old. 3 nuggets for him definitely would not have cut it.
Kid's Chicken Bites - Itty Bitty Portion Sized
The rest of us (myself, my husband, and my 9 year old son) split 2 individual sized pizzas - one Chicago Thick and one Ale Crust. Our two pizzas were a Chicago 7 and a Mediterranean Farmer. If there is a topping you do not like, they will take it off for you. We all preferred the Ale Crust to the Chicago. It's probably just a regional thing and what we are used to.
Chicago 7
Mediterranean Farmer
By the end of the meal we were all too full for dessert except for the one child who usually never eats (the 5 year old). He ordered the kid's cookie sundae. It was huge! It had this great big slab of a chocolate chip cookie at the base with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, followed by chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry. He was one happy boy.
Kid's Cookie Sundae
As for a new place opening up, Old Chicago did fairly well. I look forward to going back to try the wings and the burgers and of course those fried mac n' cheese bites!