A Chicago Bite — Restaurant in San Antonio

I am proud to support locally owned businesses over chains and I was excited to try this one.

When entering, there is a chalkboard on the wall that directs you to get a seat and use your phone to order if you are dining in.

I ordered my food at the counter for take-out, but I did not see anyone talk to dine-in customers before their food arrived.

Two people worked the lunch shift, one cook, one cashier. The cashier was friendly, but was unaware of how to fully work the register. He also did not know which desserts were avaliable and on multiple times had to ask questions to the cook for help. He also kept trying to charge me for an Italian Beef when I wanted a cheeseburger.

Multiple desserts and soft drinks listed on the menu were not available!

There is no convenient place to sit for those who order take-out, and the tables are truly for those who want to eat there, as they are numbered.

I ordered the wings & fish and cheeseburger combinations. The burger is a thick, factory-formed, Bubba Burger style patty that is unseasoned and tough in texture. The thin slice of cheese only adds to asthetics, as the flavor is not there, and the burger's thickness eclipses any texture. The buns are not toasted, so it becomes a soggy and unseasoned sandwich, accompanied by a full dill-pickle spear on the side. A pickle spear touching untoasted bread made it more soggy.

The chicken wings were freshly fried, but unseasoned, or lightly seasoned, and huge (jumbo). Jumbo wings tend to make for tough meat the longer they are out the fryer. These wings became tougher the longer I ate them.

The catfish steaks were freshly cooked and had nice flavor and very mild seasoning.

The fries were a pleasant crinkle cut style, again unseasoned, but not as hot as the fish & wings. They became stale and rubbery the longer I ate them.

As mentioned, not all desserts on the menu were available, so I settled for banana pudding. This was worse than the hockey puck formed burger. They must use instant pudding of a generic brand. Some parts were mealy and other parts smooth. The filling tasted of cheapness and the cookies were as soggy as the part of the burger soaked in pickle juice.

Also, they did not have ice for drinks!

The entrance and exit are the same door. I think you have to empty your own tray. The trash can to do this is by the entrance/exit, and the only place to leave your tray is on top of the trash can. With what appeared to be only two employees working, I did wonder if they were sanitized after sitting on the trash can.

Other than having pictures of Chicago natives (it was truly fantastic seeing one of my favorite people of all time on the wall), a few Jordan posters, and some banners, nothing felt like a Chicago eatery. The posters are faded and the banners are curled.

The menu does not highlight or draw your attention to the Chicago-centric items. I did not feel an authentic essence of Chicago natives introducing their food to Texans. The mild sauce was ok.

Again, I ordered two combinations but did not receive one drink.

Overall, my experience was of complete disappointment. I spent $33 on two combinations to still be hungry. I planned to use the fish & chicken for lunch and dinner, but threw everything away. I was not going to reheat those jumbo wings, and the parts that were left were hard and inedible anyway. The burger was trashed halfway through it.

Those pre-formed burgers and jumbo wings are tough (texturally), and the lack of seasoning makes them hard to enjoy.

The cashier, again a nice young man, has to turn around and ask too many questions during the lunch time, and he should know which desserts are available, at the minimum.

I can suggest the catfish steaks. By the time I started eating them, I was mentally finished with both combinations, though.

I hope others enjoy it and I hope the restaurant succeeds. Not everything is for everyone, and this place is simply not for me.

Finally, I do hope they do something about the banana pudding.

Really, change the...

I really want to like this place but it’s a hit/miss. Today was very upsetting. I wanted mexcian but my husband wanted to eat here (I was like I’m hungry and don’t need no one playing around with my food)… and play around they did.

FYI TO Restaurant owners: people work hard for their dollars and to not take into inconsideration the presentation, the temp of food and just all around making sure it’s cooked like the customer asked sends a clear message you are not interested in me/others supporting your business.

Workers: Friendly Establishment: clean

We spent $63 on a Pizza puff combo, Sunday 2 piece catfish Sunday meal, 2 Chicago dogs, side of mac & cheese, and 2 desserts.

Let’s be clear we are from Chicago and the expectation is high. When the request is made “fry hard” you KNOW what that means. Chicken was rubbery and I had to put it in the oven to cook more as well it was cold. I literally had to warm up all my food… we only stay 5 mins away.

We waited for food.. so how is the food cold/ luke warm!!!!

The fish was not that great ( they usually fry great catfish), it was slimy😔

I asked for extra mild sauce on the chicken and fries.. no mild sauce AT ALL!!!

I asked for extra mild sauce on the side for my fish… all the mild sauce was put on the side.

They forgot the fries and soda with the pizza puff combo but they provided an extra pizza puff for the inconvenience.

The greens were cold, corn bread not baked all the way… WHAT DID I JUST SPEND MY MONEY ON!!!!

It’s really disappointing when you order food and payment is taken upfront with the owners expectation “ We do a great job” when you don’t.

Peach cobbler: just sweet and doughy 😐 Macaroni & Cheese: cold and had an old oven smell

Just throw the whole thing away!!!! Money wasted and still HAN-GRY!!!!

We will not return.. I just don’t like wasting money and I love to have...

My Kinda of Town, Chicago is....🎵🎶🎺🎷🎙 I found this place by accident actually, I pulled over to do an email 📧 to a client & saw this Chicago Signage at this strip-center. I had to stop inside and check it out for myself. So glad that I did, I met Krystal who was handling customer's & taking orders as I walked into this establishment. She was engaging with several customer's & making them feel at home. People we're laughing & talking amongst each other plus also with me. I met some interesting folk's & had a blast speaking to them all. I had a great time looking at the Chicago Memorabilia & then talking to Krystal too. Being from the Southside myself, I had a great time speaking to her. (She's also from the Southside) We had a chance to speak about Chicago Bites & reminiscing about the Windy City. As I sat down & bit into a Delicious Juicy Gyro Burger with some tasty fries on the side. 🍔🍟😋 ALL the food imported from Chicago, even the bread from Turano Bakery. 🤌😛💫💥🗯💯 Ooooooh Yesssssssss, I love it & I felt like I was back in Chicago~just waiting for the "L-Train" 🚇🚉🏙🌃 sights & sound's coming around. I got here right before closing time and actually stayed until then. I escorted Krystal out to her vehicle & helped her with some bag's of stuff as we talked about the foods of Chicago Bites & I can't wait to come back to try some "Soul Food" too. 🍽🥖🥓🍗🥩🌭🍔🥔 I will definitely be coming back again to have a "Taste of Chicago" again 🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸🇺🇲🇺🇸 Thank's Krystal & seeya soon again...