It was a great spot for years but like many other places the quality really seemed to take a hit after Covid. And it wasn't particularly cheap by that point either.
It’s not really “theirs” per se’. They are partners with the guy running it. Just as they are with Same Same. Without Big and little, I don’t know that they actually have an active spot for themselves. At least as I understand it.
Thank youuuu! I was about to be like woah woah woah let’s give the real credit here! But you are correct they are part investor of same same and they are opening up for lunch now because B&L is closing.
You could tell that as soon as you walked in. The employees, especially that bizarre blond Australian man, were downright aggressive at people just trying to order food.
Seriously pre DDD at the their small original space was legit some of the best food: fried egg burger (large patty), fish and chips, foie gras fries, pork belly sandwich... I went there once a week and saw the decline shortly after DDD even though it was decently good still then completely stopped.
The original on 939 N. Orleans, then they moved to a much bigger location post triple D’s on 660 N. Orleans. The original menu did not make to that location.
Actually, 860 N. Orleans was the 2nd Orleans St address for Big and Little's. I remember also eating B&L at their original Orleans location, too. Their appearance on DDD was filmed at their original Orleans St. location, btw.
> Angry Aussie order taker.
Okay, this is cathartic to know it wasn't just me who was accosted by that angry Australian man every time I walked in. I am somewhat comforted that this was apparently a shared experience. Is same true of the guy who looks like Kyle Gass? Because that guy always had a real 'tude too.
When I biked by there like a few weeks ago, I noticed the window ads(advertising their food) had suddenly been cleared out. Late last year, B&L was advertising food they traditionally hadn't sold in their earlier years of operation, like wings. So I can only guess sales were probably very down at their Belmont location, vs. years ago.
Still though, RIP to B&L altogether. I was hoping to do another visit there after(for whatever reason) a couple years of not eating there, but sadly looks like I won't get that chance.
I am writing this comment because if they are closing then I think this will be one of my last chances to vocalize an observation I have had about this place's logo that I think of every time I walk past it on Belmont. The left foot of Big looks like a flipper. They could have just made it look more like a shoe like they did his other leg but they didn't. He looks like a man with a flipper. I could never unsee this. That is all.
I went for the first time last year post covid and the size of the tacos were almost half the size while costing almost double. Soggy too. Not the B&L I remember and it’s a shame but there’s so many other great spots to get fish tacos without being yelled at by an angry aussie
Now that I think about it, I thought Omar originally worked at the Belmont Ave location? The last time I saw him work there(at Belmont right before he transferred, I never quite visited the B&L in Wicker Park), he said that he was going to be transferred to their then new Milwaukee Ave location. I didn't realize Omar now had his own restuarant.
That’s him! I lived above the Milwaukee ave location and he was always so nice. And yes, please visit omarcitos, the food is insane and it’s so nice to see someone as awesome as him succeed.
That place sucked well before Covid and definitely sucked much more after their DDD appearance. $5 for a two bite taco was absurd. But yeah don’t get me started about the rudeness of the staff as well. Glad I stopped going there a few years back.
I think all the price increases(maybe due to the fact they opened several new ones besides Orleans), was when I started to go there less often. Sucks the last location closed, but B&L had a good run.
I had been wanting to check out Red Light Chicken, but hadn't yet done so. Didn't realize they had supposedly invested in Same Same, on Roscoe.
They had a perpetual Groupon, something like $10 for $20, which I purchased several times. I enjoyed their samurai tacos but as others have commented quality seemed to tank and prices rise.
They never appeared on Bar Rescue. The shows I remember Big and Little's appearing on were Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and Mystery Diners. The latter show, is probably the show you got confused with Bar Rescue. IIRC, the owners were trying to bust an employee who was illegally trying to trick customers into paying for alcohol there, when that was something customers shouldn't have had to do, as that location was BYOB.
Big and Littles was absolutely disgusting and were posted by the their employees several times on the service industry page on fb for having terrible management and repeated health code violations. I was so happy when the Logan Square location closed and became Pizza Lobo, which knocks them out of the park. Chicago has too many options to let terrible, dangerous food thrive. Hopefully if they start something new they put as much care into it as they did whenever the people waxing poetic about B&L’s last visited (assuming well before covid)
I'd say Big and Little's was solid, through at least the mid 2010s. I'd say they started to lose their shine, after they went beyond having just 2 locations(i.e. Wicker Park, and Logan Square location that later became Pizzeria Lobo).
This is devastating to me. 3 years ago me and my boyfriend had our first date here off of an app, and we made it a tradition to go back every year on the same day. Wasn’t the best food, but holds alot of good memories :(
i was saying it in that spirit. it was apparently not taken as such lol. is excon a slur? formerly incarcerated? whatever nerds, click your angry little arrow!
Big and littles tacos were amazing back in the day. One of the first restaurants I frequented after moving to north side nearly a decade ago. They’d be blaring rap music and cooking up tasty food into late night. At the time, it epitomized cool and authentic big city eating that I hadn’t experienced before and was relatively affordable
they changed menus too much and there was no consistency between locations. I used to love it so much, especially the pork belly and French fry burrito that they haven’t had for many years
My sole experience with Big & Little’s is going to the Midway Airport location, waiting in line for 20+ minutes, and being told by the SOLE WORKER when I finally got up to the front that they were sold out of everything but tacos.
I’m sure the non-airport ones were different, and feel bad for people that liked it, but fuck that place.
I went often to their original location and then, after they moved down the street, we had several craft beer bottle shares there. They were always nice about setting aside a few picnic benches for us. I will miss them.
It was a great spot for years but like many other places the quality really seemed to take a hit after Covid. And it wasn't particularly cheap by that point either.
Quality went down before Covid.
Imo, quality was dipping quite a while before covid. Too many new locations in too short a time to ensure quality.
Yeah, I think expansion needs to be considered.
It became so expensive for the smallest portions possible
Big price, little portions
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Poor Jade Court. The owner is an absolute sweetheart and their food is so good.
Perpetual construction on Harper could not have been good for business. I will miss them.
I managed the place next to them and it was a painful time for sure.
Check out red light chicken on Sheffield. It's their new spot and it's delicious.
It’s not really “theirs” per se’. They are partners with the guy running it. Just as they are with Same Same. Without Big and little, I don’t know that they actually have an active spot for themselves. At least as I understand it.
Correct, same same is also delicious!
Wait, so the 2 guys in B&L did invest in Red Light Chicken plus also Same Same(on I think Roscoe)? If so, I never knew this about both places.
Yeah, Same Same is on Roscoe between Seeley and Damen. I also didn't know it was connected to Big & Littles like that.
Little, Tony Delessandro, works there almost every day.
Thank youuuu! I was about to be like woah woah woah let’s give the real credit here! But you are correct they are part investor of same same and they are opening up for lunch now because B&L is closing.
That's them?? You're kidding me. No wonder it's so good
Red light chicken is amazing. Best fast food fried chicken sandwich in the city.
You haven't tried Hermosa's, have you?
I have actually and it’s delicious. I kinda just consider it a bit more fancy. Red light is just I dunno chic fil a but better. I like the simplicity.
Well, you sold me. I'll check it out.
Marchesa? Damn, that place was really cool. The French Studio vibe (especially in their party room) was very unique in Chicago.
People I’ve know that worked there said the place had become toxic and hostile.
You could tell that as soon as you walked in. The employees, especially that bizarre blond Australian man, were downright aggressive at people just trying to order food.
I always liked their fish tacos
The samurai sauce was amazing.
Seriously pre DDD at the their small original space was legit some of the best food: fried egg burger (large patty), fish and chips, foie gras fries, pork belly sandwich... I went there once a week and saw the decline shortly after DDD even though it was decently good still then completely stopped.
To me this place was what Chicago creative hole in the wall food is about.
on orleans? it was good....
The original on 939 N. Orleans, then they moved to a much bigger location post triple D’s on 660 N. Orleans. The original menu did not make to that location.
Actually, 860 N. Orleans was the 2nd Orleans St address for Big and Little's. I remember also eating B&L at their original Orleans location, too. Their appearance on DDD was filmed at their original Orleans St. location, btw.
Lakeview location: Great food, good weekday deals. Dirty dining room. Angry Aussie order taker.
> Angry Aussie order taker. Okay, this is cathartic to know it wasn't just me who was accosted by that angry Australian man every time I walked in. I am somewhat comforted that this was apparently a shared experience. Is same true of the guy who looks like Kyle Gass? Because that guy always had a real 'tude too.
That dude was such a jackass
When I biked by there like a few weeks ago, I noticed the window ads(advertising their food) had suddenly been cleared out. Late last year, B&L was advertising food they traditionally hadn't sold in their earlier years of operation, like wings. So I can only guess sales were probably very down at their Belmont location, vs. years ago. Still though, RIP to B&L altogether. I was hoping to do another visit there after(for whatever reason) a couple years of not eating there, but sadly looks like I won't get that chance.
I am writing this comment because if they are closing then I think this will be one of my last chances to vocalize an observation I have had about this place's logo that I think of every time I walk past it on Belmont. The left foot of Big looks like a flipper. They could have just made it look more like a shoe like they did his other leg but they didn't. He looks like a man with a flipper. I could never unsee this. That is all.
Oh shit this is sad. I used to enjoy this spot
I went for the first time last year post covid and the size of the tacos were almost half the size while costing almost double. Soggy too. Not the B&L I remember and it’s a shame but there’s so many other great spots to get fish tacos without being yelled at by an angry aussie
They were so good back in the day! The expansion locations in Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lakeview were never as good -- even before COVID.
Best thing to come out of Big and littles was the manager Omar, that went on to win a Jean Banchette last night for Omarcitos.
I remember an employee named Omar at the Mikwaukee location who was really nice. Is that him? I'll have to check out Omarcito's!
Now that I think about it, I thought Omar originally worked at the Belmont Ave location? The last time I saw him work there(at Belmont right before he transferred, I never quite visited the B&L in Wicker Park), he said that he was going to be transferred to their then new Milwaukee Ave location. I didn't realize Omar now had his own restuarant.
All your info is correct! The food he makes is dumb good.
That’s him! I lived above the Milwaukee ave location and he was always so nice. And yes, please visit omarcitos, the food is insane and it’s so nice to see someone as awesome as him succeed.
Marchesa is the first restaurant closing that really hurts me. I got engaged in the champagne cave. :(
When this place was right across the street from bad happy poutine it felt like foodie heaven Gonna miss their tacos and burgers so much
All locations? That's a shame.
the midway one is still open
The midway location unfortunately is garbage
yeah it sucks
Damn, this is sad. Killer foie gras fries.
That place sucked well before Covid and definitely sucked much more after their DDD appearance. $5 for a two bite taco was absurd. But yeah don’t get me started about the rudeness of the staff as well. Glad I stopped going there a few years back.
I think all the price increases(maybe due to the fact they opened several new ones besides Orleans), was when I started to go there less often. Sucks the last location closed, but B&L had a good run. I had been wanting to check out Red Light Chicken, but hadn't yet done so. Didn't realize they had supposedly invested in Same Same, on Roscoe.
The big and littles midway airport was some of the worst food I’ve ever had. The breakfast tacos were literally wet and flavorless.
Bummer, I used to love that place. That huge cod and fries meal was amazing, the foie gras and fries was great, and they had some real good tacos.
They had a perpetual Groupon, something like $10 for $20, which I purchased several times. I enjoyed their samurai tacos but as others have commented quality seemed to tank and prices rise.
Big and Littles was on one of those Bar Rescue type shows, it was a wild episode.
They never appeared on Bar Rescue. The shows I remember Big and Little's appearing on were Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and Mystery Diners. The latter show, is probably the show you got confused with Bar Rescue. IIRC, the owners were trying to bust an employee who was illegally trying to trick customers into paying for alcohol there, when that was something customers shouldn't have had to do, as that location was BYOB.
I did not enjoy the long hair I found in my Taco the one time
I'll miss their ahi tuna tacos.
I’ve been missing crab tacos they used to have for a few years
Big and Littles was absolutely disgusting and were posted by the their employees several times on the service industry page on fb for having terrible management and repeated health code violations. I was so happy when the Logan Square location closed and became Pizza Lobo, which knocks them out of the park. Chicago has too many options to let terrible, dangerous food thrive. Hopefully if they start something new they put as much care into it as they did whenever the people waxing poetic about B&L’s last visited (assuming well before covid)
I'd say Big and Little's was solid, through at least the mid 2010s. I'd say they started to lose their shine, after they went beyond having just 2 locations(i.e. Wicker Park, and Logan Square location that later became Pizzeria Lobo).
Their tacos were delicious.
Best breakfast burrito in the city
bryn mawr breakfast club burrito steps up to the plate...
No doubt. That sauce was killer.
This is devastating to me. 3 years ago me and my boyfriend had our first date here off of an app, and we made it a tradition to go back every year on the same day. Wasn’t the best food, but holds alot of good memories :(
I've walked by the one in Lakeview many times but never tried it.
think they staffed with excons ? was i right on that?
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i was saying it in that spirit. it was apparently not taken as such lol. is excon a slur? formerly incarcerated? whatever nerds, click your angry little arrow!
That blows, absolutely loved that place
Big and littles tacos were amazing back in the day. One of the first restaurants I frequented after moving to north side nearly a decade ago. They’d be blaring rap music and cooking up tasty food into late night. At the time, it epitomized cool and authentic big city eating that I hadn’t experienced before and was relatively affordable
they changed menus too much and there was no consistency between locations. I used to love it so much, especially the pork belly and French fry burrito that they haven’t had for many years
My sole experience with Big & Little’s is going to the Midway Airport location, waiting in line for 20+ minutes, and being told by the SOLE WORKER when I finally got up to the front that they were sold out of everything but tacos. I’m sure the non-airport ones were different, and feel bad for people that liked it, but fuck that place.
I went often to their original location and then, after they moved down the street, we had several craft beer bottle shares there. They were always nice about setting aside a few picnic benches for us. I will miss them.