Voice's Choices – Dishes only for the wickedly indulgent
Fat Guy's // 140 N. Greenwood Ave // Natasha Ball
It’s not just anywhere you can get a dare in a paper sack, but the Peanut Butter Bacon Burger at Fat Guy’s Burger Bar, prepared Thai style, is skydiving on a bun. Far be it from me to call it a meal for every day, but local lore holds that these two-dozen bites of beef, bacon, pineapple, jalapéno cilantro, Sriracha, and peanut butter hold medicinal properties and can cure near-sightedness, nightmares, and heartbreak. To be used only as intended.
MON-SUN, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sonoma Bistro // 3523 S. Peoria Ave. // Matt Cauthron
The Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake from Sonoma is a sinfully delicious treat all on its own, but the simple addition of a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream elevates this dessert to the realm of the sublime. As the piping hot cake, rich with buttery goodness, slowly melts the ice cream, each bite is a symphony of flavors, textures and temperatures that will submarine your post-dinner plans in favor of a deep, satisfying dessert coma.
MON-THUR 11 a.m.-10 p.m., FRI-SAT 11 a.m.-11 p.m., SUN 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Chimera Cafe // 212 N. Main St. // John Langdon
All hail the taco. Any dish from any culture can become a taco these days. Perhaps the most American take on the Mexican staple is Chimera’s Loaded Potato Tacos. Potato, turkey, bacon, cheddar, onions, and jalapeño all smothered in ranch. You get three of them, but they’re so delicious, I couldn’t manage to snap a picture before devouring nearly two. One day, all food will be folded into corn tortillas. That’s my utopia.
Sun-Mon, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Tues-Sat, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Old School Bagel // 3723 S. Peoria Ave. // Barry Friedman
Ham, salami—yes, both—and provolone. Lettuce, tomato, and peperoncini, too, but the two meats, affixed by cheese and bathing in thick Italian dressing, make this sandwich transcendent and something of a cardiovascular samba, especially when embraced by a salt bagel. Called “The Italian,” it’s found at Old School Bagel Cafe. Not for the faint-hearted—literally. One bite and a bad ticker will seize up like a lawnmower engine without oil.
MON-SAT, 6 a.m.-4 p.m., SUN, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.