Gene & Georgetti – A Fall Down Good Time!
Soooo…..I imagine there is not going to be much talk about the food on this thread. Let’s get it out of the way. I fell. I fell in glorious drunken fashion – aided and abetted by a work bag too heavy to be on the back of a chair. However, if I am being an honest man, I don’t think that bag had much to do with the second spill, or third….was there a third? Ego beaten to a pulp, I had to go home post-haste with my tail between my legs.
The July 4th Steak Night edition has historically been an aggressive one and I’m happy (not really) to have continued that tradition in 2018. This specific situation was a bit more aggressive/comical than Rick locking himself in a parking garage or Jevon barking at the server and almost getting kicked out of McFadden’s and no doubt will be one I get shit on for the rest of my life. Super.
Ohhh, right, the meal. Sure, it was good. We had not been since 2014 and only one other time prior. Gene and Georgetti’s is a no frills type of place that is tourist heavy in the early part of the night and changes over as it gets later. For apps we got shrimp cocktail, fried ravioli and fried calamari and meatballs. The apps were all really bad ass. The meatballs were delicious – prompting me to want to go back for a non-steak dish. I split the bone-in with Glick and it was good, as was the price point, but not spectacular.
I stayed in my shame cave for the better part of the weekend and have slowly reemerged. Good times.
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There have been so many great times and funny moments through the years at Steak Night. However sometimes you just know one of those moments is instantly going to become a part of Steak Night lore and the infamous Brad falling into the table’s moment is certainly one of those moments. Holy shit that was funny, I’m laughing about it just thinking about it as I write this.
I was the first one to arrive at happy hour to find Brad sitting by himself at the bar, he wasn’t bumping into anything yet. The place was fairly quiet and the rest of the crew piled in and we occupied the corner section of the bar.
We were seated in the back room on the first floor. This place is as old school as it gets and there is something nice about that on occasion. You know, waiter that has worked there for 25 years, nothing too fancy on the menu, just the basics and an unpretentious vibe. All the apps were good but the meatballs really stood out. I would like to get back here and try one of the pasta’s or veal parmigiana, I bet they do classic Italian well. I got the bone in ribeye medium rare, it was solid but could have used a touch more flavor. It was nice to have steaks in the $50-$55 range which is so rare these days. I don’t remember the sides at this point.
One detail that seems to be getting lost because of the tumble into the tables is the fact that he thought we ordered the steaks before we ordered the steaks. It wasn’t’ “What did you guys think of the meal” before we ordered like at Eddie V’s, but there was a comment that we ordered the steak 20 minutes ago before we actually ordered the steaks. Also hilarious but getting lost in the shuffle of the evening a bit.
I’m not even sure exactly how it happened and kind of missed the lead up to the first fall. I will say I am positive the bag had little to do with it. That’s like getting a DUI because you are having trouble staying in your lane and blaming it on the wind, fairly sure it was the alcohol and the officer is not buying it. What can you say about the second fall, it was epic and everyone thought it was hilarious including the busboys who were also laughing uncontrollably? It was a good thing the room was fairly empty and I’m pretty sure the one other table had a memorable moment as well just watching.
If you are wondering the answer to the question, how do you get Brad to stop talking? I guess have him fall into a table in the dining room because he got real quite real fast and left as quickly as possible, tail firmly between his legs. The rest of us went down the street to play some pool and relive what just happened.
Good times boys. That was a classic.
G&Gs was great from the start. I loved the old school bar and the pro bartender, who delivered a perfect Whiskey Smash. We moved on to the wonderful back room (same interior decorator as Marie’s RipTide Lounge), and introduced ourselves to an excellent waiter. At least a 25-year starter at the restaurant.
Highlights of the dinner included the meatballs (which I chose to consume to personal completion instead of finishing my steak), the well priced tab, and Brad losing his balance.
I’d love to get back to G&Gs and just do Italian. A great night top to bottom.
8.5/10
As a fan of the old school CHICAGO steakhouses was excited to head back to G&G for the first time since the finger bang incident. Clearly this was another memorable night courtesy of our host and his backpack.
Rick was excited for the World Cup and wore his legendary French Beret. He explained that he was always a fan of France – and that is why he’s Reshaard Joelle.
Lots of talk centered around the upcoming World Cup and Brads well hedged bet on the Belgians.
Dinner was great even if Brad didn’t remember us not ordering it. We split a solid rib eye. Staff was great and rolled with the punches as Brad did his best Chris Farley impersonation taking down an entire dining room by himself.
Loved the spirit and the after drinks at Boss. I left at 11 and it felt like 2am.
Overall 8.5. 10for the entertainment
Walking into Gene and Georgetti’s is like walking back in time to old Chicago. Steakhouses like Gene’s may have long been surpassed in culinary expertise but they’ll never get passed in ambiance. Unfortunately, ambiance alone just doesn’t cut it for me these days. I thought most things at Gene’s were totally average. Big fried Italian appetizers were good, not great. The one standout of everything we had this evening were the meatballs. They may be tops on my list in the city. Wish I could have had a few bites but Hans ate a whopping 4 out of 5 meatballs himself. I might just have to go back for pasta next time. The steak was well below average. I’d rather cook a steak at home than pay for this again. I don’t remember dessert.
Although a great night all around regardless of food, unfortunately we had to say goodbye to a good friend. R.I.P. to Brad Ray’s dignity. We had some good times. Hope to see you again in the next life.
Food – 5/10
Friends – 10/10
Falls – 100/10
Gene & Georgetti is a mediocre steakhouse for Chicago that makes its bones off it’s old school steakhouse feel, local politicians who still go there and its tired décor.
The bar scene was lively when I walked in, while it was clear Brad Ray had had a few, his exuberant disposition did not portend the night that was to come. Instead of Scotch during cocktail hour (it had been a long Wed night before), I ordered a pinot noir and the bartender brought me Rose, mocking my passing on the brown liquor.
As for the meal itself, my Ny Strip, like the rest of the meal, was fine. It wasn’t salted enough, then I put too much salt on it and nearly choked myself.
As for the fall, after the initial tumble, Brad got up once and fell back down into the table. I tried to help him up, but he fell again back into the table. The waiter came running over and seeing Brad’s second tumble, he looked at me with genuine concern in his eyes and his thick Mexican accent “Is he alright?!?” Yeah, he’s alright, but he might hear about this a few times down the road.
Good times indeed.