“Real food fast” is their trademark at Etno Village Grill, 2580 N. Lincoln at the intersection of Sheffield and Wrightwood in Lincoln Park. The best healthy things about Etno are the grass-fed beef and the hormone-and-antibiotic-free chicken. They also serve a kind of sausage called a cevap, which the clerks in the kids’ shop next door recommended highly.
The best not-so-healthy things are the good breads you can choose from for your sandwich and the interesting and tasty homemade condiments and “spreads” you can pick from to go on your sandwich and/or your fries. Try the Etno spread---sour cream mixed with chilies. French fries were satisfactory, though not very hot by the time we got them.
This is definitely a small fast-food joint but with a unique take on walls and decoration. The walls and counters and tables are all made of what looks like natural wood, kind of crudely put together. Woodsy warm, but organized for streamlined service. The atmosphere is warm and easy-going---on a Saturday afternoon there were quite a few moms and/or dads chowing down with kids.
On the other hand, Etno is also BYOB which makes it extra friendly for singles and couples who want to bring their own bottles of beer, wine or whatever---and there’s a liquor store across the street in case you forget to bring it from home. Prices are reasonable, most sandwiches less than 10 bucks, and service is very friendly. There's a teeny parking lot behind or street parking.
Altogether, Etno’s a nice place to get a healthy, real-tasting meal at a good price. And hey, they recently started delivering. Visit the Etno website for some great pix of their menu items!
DMK Burger Bar, 2954 N. Sheffield in Lakeview, is another burger joint of a different stripe. A floor-to-ceiling smoked glass wall fronting the street doesn’t let you see inside to the artfully lighted sleek and modern interior. Best things about DMK include the healthy grass-fed burgers, the carefully selected and described beer list, the amazingly delicious French fries and sweet potato fries (you can get a small order for only two bucks!) with their homemade ketchup or chipotle aioli for dipping. Num. Read my previous (March, 2010) DMK review here.
Acoustics aren’t the best in here; some days the noise level is off the charts. So be prepared. But if you’re looking for a really delicious healthy burger, a glass of good beer (or wine), and some fabulous French fries, you can’t go wrong with DMK. Park on the street. It's right near the Wellington el stop. Visit Yelp for more reviews and some nice photos of DMK stuff.
And hey, if you want to buy your grass-fed beef and make your own burgers, here's a website that lists some places you can buy grass-fed beef in Chicago and in Illinois.
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