Pollito's Grill and Rotisserie

"Stupidity is the devil. Look in the eye of a chicken and you'll know. It's the most horrifying, cannibalistic, and nightmarish creature in this world." Werner Herzog
vs.
"Chickens are great companions. If only people knew how smart and lovable they can be." - United Poultry Concern, 'Promoting the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.'


You be the Judge! Take a look at the following photos and decide which chicken would make a lovable companion and which embodies the term 'nightmarish creature.'

If you call yourself an American it's safe to assume you made the patriotic and entirely correct choice in selecting the photo on the right as the chicken who'd make a great companion for life. Rob Anderson made a similar choice in selecting Pollito's Grill and Rotisserie at 39 N Wells as the 5th stop in The LLC2's ongoing search for the best loop lunch in Chicago.


It felt a little eerie to be the only customer in the Mexican chicken joint on the same day I finished a novel filled with magical realism about a Mexican cafe. Was I fated to be there? Was there some force beyond this world pulling me into Pollito's? When the second customer arrived with a stack of crossword puzzles I was on the brink of fainting and only maintained consciousness by listening to the divine intervention of Faith Hill instructing me to "Just Breathe" over the speaker system.

Pollito's keeps the heart decorations up on the counter
year long to show love for their regulars.

Catching my breath and feeling the blood return to my brain I took both a seat and a look around at the bright and festive interior of Pollito's. The menu is posted on the wall in bands of colors that make it look like a massive 2-dimensional piñata, only if it were a piñata it'd be filled with chunks of dark meat and mole sauce and children would dread having its contents showered down upon them. Some lively artwork covers the walls which are painted with an olive and lime green color scheme that looks tasteful on the wall and sounds as though it'd taste terrible on a plate. By the time the rest of The Loop Lunch Club arrived I was salivating so much I could have filled the Rio Grande.


"I have a feeling this is going to be a contender," said Anderson, who struggled with several choices this week and settled on Pollito's for their ample table space. The LLC was expecting guests but it seems crises prevailed. Looking over the menu Anderson and Dan Ofman debated whether to share some buffalo wings as Dan Spira came through the entrance. 

I don't know anyone else who wears them

"Look at this line," Spira said as he removed a pair of 180 earmuffs that have been on the verge of looking socially acceptable since they first hit the scene 12 years ago. "Bodes well for quality." The wings situation resolved itself when we discovered they were out of them. A BBQ quesadilla was ordered in its place.


The Food arrived quickly, but not quickly enough for Anderson. "I hope they didn't forget the quesa," he said, displaying his famous aptitude for abbreviation. With the food on the table The LLC engaged in a discussion on what differentiates a burrito from a wrap. Dan Ofman, the nation's biggest FAN of "The Voice" instantly steered the discussion towards records vs. albums and the subject matter of his latest love letter to Cee lo Green.

My Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
"I forgot they had diet coke here," said Spira
of the can in the background.

"I forgot there was avocado in here," Spira lied to the group. We all know that Spira uses each LLC meeting to fill his self-imposed daily required intake of avocado and Diet Coke. He continued, "Always a positive." The use of the word 'always' was a gentle reminder that he always has avocado and couldn't possibly be surprised to find it in his Avocado Wrap.

I though my buffalo chicken wrap was a great way to start the day. It was filling and offered enough heat to provide a kick without forcing me to constantly refill my water. Dan Ofman explained as he quickly grabbed a fry from my plate that he had read online about the fries diminishing in quality as they cool down. He was right, though I'd still like former LLCer and French fry enthusiast Crisis Chris Hartemayer to ply his fry expertise and offer some insight. Anderson opted for the Poblano Mac'n'cheese, a spicier, not as cheesy, green colored cousin of the American mainstay side dish. "All the sides are popular," said the man behind the counter who is understandably tired of being asked which side dish is the best.

"What is this?" Anderson said of the hot sauce (left)
"He's a weirdo," said Anderson of Dan Ofman (right)

"That's a special treat!" Said Anderson of his BBQ quesadilla. I can speak for the entire group when I say Pollito's was a special treat itself. Personally, I think it was a better experience than LLC Tournament runner up Frontera Fresco.


Pollito's Notes:

• The Staff are big Chicago sports fans. One man wore a Blackhawks hat. Another wore a Bears sweatshirt and removed it to reveal a Bears long sleeve shirt.
• There was a lot of talk about the available sauces and salsas. Very little was consumed.
• Absence of Danny Rubenstein and Steve Lake due to crisis and dependency on Danny Rubenstein attendance, respectively. I'm sure Lake would have endorsed the soups had he been there.