The Giant Penny Whistle

"Despite its name, a night at The Giant Penny Whistle in Pilsen doesn’t involve Irish jigs and one-cent tin instruments. But the giant tavern is a great neighborhood spot to dance to cumbia and house music for hours. The dance floor can get packed on weekends, so if you want a bit more breathing room for talking to any new friends you meet there, head to the slightly brighter half of the bar. Expect live music most weeknights, and a 312 special on Mondays ($3 highballs, $1 Hamms, $2 shots of Malort) that warrants involuntary jigs on their own." - sam faye, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Despite its name, a night at The Giant Penny Whistle in Pilsen doesn’t involve Irish jigs and one-cent tin instruments. But the giant tavern is a great neighborhood spot to dance to cumbia and house music for hours. The dance floor can get packed on weekends, so if you want a bit more breathing room for talking to any new friends you meet there, head to the slightly brighter half of the bar. That's where you'll find a photo booth, a pool table, and the same menu of cocktails like the tasty Midsommar and Champagne Papi. Expect live music most weeknights, and a 312 special on Mondays ($3 highballs, $1 Hamms, $2 shots of Malort) that warrants involuntary jigs on their own." - Nick Allen

"Pilsen Ald. (25th Ward) Byron Sigcho-Lopez and the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council on Monday filed a lawsuit against the city and former 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis alleging that they inappropriately approved a bar’s liquor license despite a rule banning taverns along a swath of Blue Island Avenue. The lawsuit claims city officials granted a license to the Giant Penny Whistle, a bar and music venue at 1854 S. Blue Island Avenue without lifting a 1995 ban on drinking establishments on the avenue between 16th and 19th streets." - Naomi Waxman

"What’s the concept? What’s the angle? How can we accurately and humorously get the point across without using too many swear words or making an immature joke? Those are the questions we usually ask ourselves when starting to write a review. And there’s always an answer. Every restaurant has some sort of dining version of an Aesop’s fable to tell. But Giant isn’t every restaurant, so let’s get straight to the facts: Giant is an American restaurant, it’s f*cking excellent, and you need to eat here. There’s no angle, no shtick, no story, just a swear word for emphasis because it’s deserved. If you’re planning a date, dinner with the parents, or eating with a small group of friends who appreciate great food, Giant is the place to do it. There’s a lot of energy here, and it translates into the food and experience as a whole. photo credit: Christina Slaton photo credit: Christina Slaton If you liked the old Nightwood in Pilsen, then you’re going to love Giant. It’s the follow-up restaurant in Logan Square from the same guy, and this time he’s teamed up with some new friends. The most impressive part of Giant is the fact all of the dishes are created equal. Rather than one or two outstanding things, Giant rolls out hit, after hit, after hit. It’s like the original Now That’s What I Call Music!, but instead of going from The Backstreet Boys, to Hansen’s MMMBop, to K-Ci & JoJo, you go from uni shooters, to waffle fries and crab salad, to al dente pastas more perfect than Nick Carter’s hair. Boring items like broccoli are made interesting with lemon, yogurt, and thai chili oil, creating the perfect balance of hot and cold. And while classic American dishes like baby back ribs seem out of place, one bite of their tender, spicy, and smoky goodness will make you a believer. Consistency across a variety of dishes like this is rarely seen, yet Giant does it with a perceived sense of simplicity and ease. But that sh*t ain’t easy, which makes us appreciate it even more. That trait is also clearly carried over to the staff, who is friendly, knowledgable, and will help out if you need. So accept Giant for what it is - a great restaurant with delicious food, an enjoyable atmosphere, and no unnecessary tricks. The kind of place so good we didn’t need a single immature joke to get the point across. Food Rundown photo credit: Christina Slaton Fried Super Uni Shooter A creamy uni inside comes with a crispy shell. If you like uni, you’re going to love these one-bite fried shooters. Little Biscuits Good biscuits, but nothing more than a filler dish. Whether or not you need these depends on how much you like biscuits. photo credit: Christina Slaton Sweet and Spicy Peppers Both sweet and spicy peppers in a pool of olive oil with some honey butter. At any other restaurant these would be a can’t miss, but we prefer the other veggie dishes here. That’s not a bad thing to say, it’s just a thing we’re saying. photo credit: Christina Slaton Jonah Crab Salad Homemade waffle fries with a crab salad mixture. We wish this dish was the size of a giant plate of nachos with mass quantities of crab salad and fries. So much yes. Marinated Zucchini Zucchini might sound boring, but that’s not how veggies here work. This zucchini with pumpkin seeds and cilantro is delicious. photo credit: Christina Slaton Broccoli You need the broccoli with lemon, yogurt, thai chili and sunflower seeds. It’s excellent. photo credit: Christina Slaton Sweet Corn We think of this sweet corn as a cousin to elote. It’s not quite that, but the corn with thai chili, peanut, scallion, and mint is great. Onion Rings There’s no such thing as bad onion rings, and that’s the case here too. Garlic Buttermilk Potatoes Garlic buttermilk potatoes with a cheesy crust. We could go without this dish only because at the end of the day it’s mashed potatoes, and we find other things here more interesting. But these are awesome mashed potatoes. photo credit: Christina Slaton Sortallini The pastas are a huge strongpoint here. Order them and order them all, including this sortallini with guanciale, basil, and pinenuts. The soft pillowy noodles are excellent. photo credit: Christina Slaton Pici, With Chew Pici are like fat spaghetti noodles, and these come with jalapeño and bacon. This is the definition of al dente pasta done to perfection. Order it. photo credit: Christina Slaton Fusili Jerry Fusili noodles with meat sauce. Sounds standard on paper, but the flavors are not. Get it. Bavette Steak This isn’t a steakhouse steak. It’s a smaller piece of marinated meat meant to share that comes with peas and rice. It’s not huge, but you’re going to like it. Baby Back Ribs The baby back ribs are the biggest wildcard on the menu. They seem out of place, but they’re not. They’re smokey, a little spicy, and delicious, and you should have no qualms about getting them. The baked beans and sweet pickles that come with it are just as good. photo credit: Christina Slaton Blueberries The first time we came here our server told us to get the blueberries. We laughed, and didn’t get the blueberries. The second time we came here we ordered the blueberries, and they’re better than we expected. They’re still blueberries, but they come in a ginger syrup giving them some extra sweetness while also being fresh and delicious. Vanilla Cajeta Ice Cream If you like Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake bars then you’re going to love this. It’s basically a more sophisticated and better version." - Sam Faye

"The Giant Penny Whistle is a new bar and music venue inspired by classic neighborhood dives. It features a nearly 5,000 square-foot space with an oak parquet floor, a pressed-tin ceiling, and a bar area divided by arched doorways. The venue section includes a 100-year-old retrofitted bar and a custom stage. The bar highlights various local, national, and international brews, with its 'anchor taps' being Pilsner Urquell and Pacifico. It aims to cultivate a friendly, familiar atmosphere without pretension." - Naomi Waxman