Any Mike Ditka fans here?

[Da Coach]

I saw this article today about former Chicago Bears player and coach Mike Ditka. It was posted on The Athletic by sportswriter Dan Pompeii, but requires a subscription to read there. But the NY Times has the article for free, and if anyone is a Chicago Bears fan or just a fan of Mike Ditka, it's a nice article-

Mike Ditka is back in Chicago. The city that made him still feels like home

There are plenty of Chicago icons, but there's only one Mike Ditka. “He’s the best Chicago celebrity ever because he became Chicago.”

t.co

 

[yoda]

Speaking of Ditka-
Our whole family met up in Chicago a few years back and had dinner at Ditka's restaurant (in Oakbrook) before going to a Blackhawks game.
Has anyone ever gone there? Just curious how it went? I suspect Ditka really isn't a restauranter but just licenses his name to the people who run the restaurant. In our experience- I thought the food was ok but less than 1/2 way thru our meal the staff told us we'd have to finish and leave right away, because they had to rearrange the tables for a banquet later that evening... somewhat forcing us to gobble quickly and finish up before we would have liked to.
Kind of a weird experience that we still joke about - a nice way to tell a customer their patronage isn't much appreciated - so I doubt
we'll ever be back.

 

[molar50]

There still is a Ditka's Restaurant just west of Oak Brook Mall. There used to be one in the city, but Covid killed it. I have heard good things about the food and service. I do not think Mike Ditka visits this restaurant like the former site in the city.

 

[Da Coach]

I ate a couple times at the downtown Ditka's Restaurant on Chestnut St. before it closed. The steaks were absolutely the best, but a bit pricey.