So this weekend, I’m going to a huuuuuge Balkan music and dance festival down at University of Chicago International House (it promises to be tons of fun, by the way, if you’re into that sort of thing - I know some of the organizers, and last year they got 300 people from all over the U.S.! They are shooting for 500 this year).
There is a semi-potluck dinner on Saturday night, for which I seem to have gotten suckered into cooking a huge tray of eggplant, but dinner on Friday is up in the air - I’m meeting a friend who is driving up from Indiana, and it doesn’t make sense to make her pay to park in the Loop, have dinner, and then schlep back down to Hyde Park. I really don’t know Hyde Park that well, so can you recommend a place that is yummy, casual, low-key, not horrendously slow, and not horrendously expensive? Cuisine type is totally negotiable - we are both reasonably adventurous.
Definitely stay in Hyde Park to eat! There are a bunch of good places. My two favorite are:
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Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop: a really fun, casual, and inexpensive Cajun place that I love
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Cedars of Lebanon: tasty middle eastern food. I haven’t been there in quite a while, though, so I don’t remember what the prices were like (probably not too bad…the middle eastern places around here don’t tend to be expensive).
Have fun!
I used to live in Hyde Park–lots of fun places to eat there! I’ll second Sarahfeena’s recommendations and add my favorite–the Calypso. They have amazing Carribean food–try the plantain nachos. To die for!
Also, if you’re really in the mood for casual and even more affordable, there are some great pizza places–The Medici never disappoints, and it has a great, artsy, college-y atmosphere. They’ve also got burgers and sandwiches and soup and appetizers…all kinds of good comfort-foods-with-a-twist.
Missing Hyde Park every day…enjoy!
While not the greatest eating neightborhood in Chicago, Hyde Park does have a couple of decent spots to eat at.
I will second the Dixie Kitchen and Calypso recommendations. Those are probably the only places I would make a special trip to Hyde Park for.
However, Ragin’ Cajun is also a fun place, with its bizarre menu consisting of Indian and Soul Food items. It’s also dirt cheap. Not fine dining by any stretch, but definitely a little hole-in-the-wall worth visiting.
I also have a soft spot for The Nile, with its competently prepared Middle Eastern food. Plus you can stuff yourself silly for under $20.
Here’s a good off-board thread on Hyde Park spots.
I might actually have to check out that music festival. Who’s playing on Friday night? I keep getting 404’ed when I click on the musicians and performers link.
Thanks for the info, all!
Yeah, I will have to bust the chops of my buddy who did that website. If you want, I’ll e-mail you the flyer, but here’s some more info:
SCHEDULE SUMMARY:
FRIDAY, 8PM-11:45PM, mini-workshops by all teachers and dance party.
3/16/2007 Greek music by Jim Stoyanoff & Orpheus Hellenic Ensemble,
Bulgarian/Macedonian/Rom music by Rumen Shopov & Sani Rifati
SATURDAY EVENING ONLY EXTRAVAGANZA:
6:00- 7:00 PM DINNER - reservations required.
7:00- 8:30 PM CONCERT. Please help us to put tables/chairs away when concert ends.
8:45- 1:00 AM DANCE PARTY with the Orchestra “Izgrev”, “Pirin”, “Balkanski Ritmi”, and others
Plus various dance/music workshops during the day, all day Saturday and Sunday, including:
Daniel Sandu, Romanian dances
Jim Stoyanoff, clarinet-Ipirot style
Ahmet Luleci, Turkish dances
Rumen Shopov, tambura, tarambuka, tapan
Atanas Kolarovski, Macedonian dances
Chris Bajmakovich, accordion
Daniela Ivanova, Bulgarian & Serbian dances
Petar Vodenov, clarinet-Pirin style
Balkan singing Daniela Ivanova (see listing at left)
Sani Rifati, Rrom (“Gypsy”) dances
Yeah, and please slap him/her for that Balkan fiddle sound file in the background, with no apparent way to shut it off. 
Thanks for the info!