I was going to say this the other day, but someone beat me to it before I could get myself registered as an eGullet member: the food at the Berghoff has BLOWN for as long as I've been in Chicago (10 or so years). Every meal there has been a disappointment, save a quick and tall pastrami sandwich from the lunch line. Not to say that I hate the place: far from it. The beautiful old bar has seen a lot of faces come and go, and it's a great place to stop for a beer on a warm summer night on the way home from work. It is a Chicago institution, and the waiters, appropriately surly, are the real thing. But the food? Sloppy, lukewarm, tepid, riding on its reputation for many years now. I, for one, am happy to be left with just the sandwiches, the bar, and a new generation of better food preparation! Expressa
