ballpark food reviews on nytimes.

[Guest attgig]

link to article

the map

Haven't been to enough ballparks to be able to give feedback on the article.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

I haven't read the article yet, but I already see one problem:

There's a photo of a hot dog with...ketchup on it.

Gross. And vaguely communist.

[Gwreck]

Agreed on the ketchup point, especially given that the author claims to be from Chicago.

I found the article to be generally unsatisfying -- too many parks covered and too little emphasis on each -- ie. he mentions the Primanti's sandwich in Pittsburgh in passing but that's all we get about PNC.

If he had narrowed his focus to, say the 3 or 4 top parks for food (Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Baltimore and maybe Pittsburgh) it would've perhaps worked better.

That being said, I generally agree with the reviews of the food in Milwaukee, Chicago, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

I love when newspaper writers do the fake-out:

"The service was unobtrusive, except for one thing: we were encouraged to put down our sandwiches and stand up when the national anthem came over the public address system. We were, after all, dining in the company of about 40,000 other people, at AT&T Park in San Francisco."

And you're supposed to go "WHAT??!!! You got all that at a BALLPARK!!!??!?!"

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

The Comiskey Park listing is a cop-out, because you can make that same argument for just about every park. Nobody goes to a ballgame for a culinary experience! I have many beefs about Comiskey, but the food is no better or worse than anywhere else.

And the toasted ravoli at Busch was kinda fun when I was there!

My biggest gripe about Comisley-US Cellular is that it is tough to buy a Diet Pepsi without waiting on a monsterously long line, but they practically force beer on you. At a game a couple years ago, we looked, and saw two beer vendors in every aisle in each direction. Yet no soda vendors at all. And when one did come, it was $3.50 for a 20-oz bottle.

I can't drink, so it's frustrating to miss an inning just to get a pop. Usually I buy something in a plastic cup before the game when the lines are shorter and just keep filling it with water.

I realize the profit margin on a $6 beer is huge, but it also partially responsible for the drunken morons they keep having problems with at that park.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Nothing to do with this really, but can you bring your own grub into Shea? A little cooler or something even?

[Gwreck]

Yes. Shea actually has one of the most liberal policies in the majors when it comes to allowing food and beverage in. Yes, they will search your bag, but you can bring practically anything you want in. Soft-sided coolers are fine.

No booze, no cans, no glass are the only restrictions.
I have heard some rumblings that this year they would only allow sealed beverages in but I haven't seen that enforced.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Had a friend asking about smuggling in some tofu dogs and I wasn't sure. I've got just the soft-sided cooler for the job.

Thanks, G.

[Farmer Ted]

In Chicago, putting ketchup on your dog is a sign of wussiness. Some stands don't even put it on the counter.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it's a sign of poor taste. I don't like mustard, but I do concede that it belongs on a hot dog. (I'm more of a sauerkraut guy myself.)

But one thing I learned growing up is that mustard is for hot dogs, and ketchup is for hamburgers, and there's no mixing or matching.

The whole "mustard on a hamburger" thing is even more revolting than ketchup on a hot dog.

[nymr83]

Gwreck wrote: No booze, no cans, no glass are the only restrictions. I have heard some rumblings that this year they would only allow sealed beverages in but I haven't seen that enforced.

i've gotten in with an open soda bottle but i've seen them confiscated as well.

still, theres really nothing to complain about with shea's food policy.

lets hope it carries over into the new place.

[Gwreck]

Nymr83 wrote: still, theres really nothing to complain about with shea's food policy. lets hope it carries over into the new place.

I'm hoping so too but I am not optimistic.