Ken Givich

I will be travelling to Chicago during the first week of December for business and would like advise concerning restaraunts. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and prefer upscale, Italian or contemporary cuisine. Any suggestions would be welcome and helpful. I can reciprocate by suggesting my favorite places in this area, especially Silicon Valley where I live.

Cindy Lane

DICK'S LAST RESORT
right on the shoreline..most everything served in buckets with 75 different types of beer.(tasmania is my best favorite!)casual,adults only place with funny and rude waiters..and be prepared to fire back at 'em!!

Ken Givich

Cindy,

Thanks for your suggestion concerning eating out in Chicago. I'm not sure, however, if I would consider dining as a competive, free-style sporting event. Do you plan any trips to the San Francisco Bay Area? I can recommend a huge number of great places, in all types of cuisine. None of my places currently involve shouting at the waiters; unless they spill drinks over your date!Anyway, your imput is very interesting.
Ken

sara

Chicago has some great eating places and you'll be there when he city is all aglow with holiday lights! Up scale Italian Spiaggi. Pricey, but good..great view of Oak Street Beach. Rosebud on Taylor is good. Not fancy, but still not cheap. Some people like Coco Pazzo. I have eaten at the one in NYC but not Chicago. Upscale. My personal favorite for in Lincoln Park. Short cab ride from downtown. I also like Bistro 110 (not Italian) and don't miss Foodlife in Water Tower Place for some great treats! Enjoy! Chicago is a terrific town to visit.

John Brownlee

Hi Ken!

You didn't say if you where staying downtown in the Loop or on the North Side. Lot's of good places to eat and since it's been two years since my last visit I won't give you a restaurant reference. I will suggest that you go to the Yahoo Chicago site. You can register for e-mail restaurant reviews for Chcago restaurants throughout the city, for any particular cuisine, in any price range. You'll be sent weekly reviews.

I will give you a tip for a great place to have a cocktail. Try Images on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building. Enter John Hancock from Chestnut Street (not Michigan Avenue and take the express elevator) You're actually a couple of floors above the Observation Floor and you don't have to pay an admission fee. Grab a table by the window and enjoy the view!!

One July 4th we went up there to watch the fireworks display at Grant Park. The fireworks exploded below us!!

Krystyna

HI-I used to travel on business to Chicago. There's a relatively new restaurant called Ben Pau which is quite good. However, it's new style CHinese. I am quite a fussy eater and really enjoyed it.

I would appreciate hearing of recommendations in San Fran since I will be there on business in a couple of weeks. Thanks.

Vicki

Hello there...
My suggestion to you is Maggiano's. There are several locations...one in the city and a few in the burbs. Or...try any other Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. It's a group of restaurants that vary in style and ethnicities. All very good...
Have fun...Chicago has a lot of great dining!

Sally

MY favorite restaurant in SF is Scala's Bistro. In that same spirit in Chicago I would recommend Spiagga, Bice, Grappa and Vivere [part of the Italian Village and within view of the Palmer House Hilton.]Spiagga is THE upscale Italian restaurant. Bice can be "snotty" but the ambience and food are excellent. Grappa is "trendy"--I have only had lunch there, but enjoyed myself *immensely*. Vivere is sheer post-modern theatre -- if you can get a seat on the balcony do. I also enjoy Tucci Milano which is near the Merchandise Mart and the Westin [former Nikko] Vivere is the only one in the "loop" -- the others are north of the river, fairly near Michigan Avenue. On a different note I recommend Blackhawk Lodge for ambience and for interesting and comfortable food... not as "gourmet", but I have always enjoyed the "north woods" surroundings and the excellent waitstaff. If you can get a copy of Chicago Magazine where you live their restaurant listings as *very* helpful and quite accurate. For most of these retaurats reservations should be made, probably a day in advance.

Laura

Took my mother to Chicago as a surprise for her birthday present a few years ago for a long weekend. We greatly enjoyed Printer's Row (I think, a restaurant in a hotel in that area) which was contemporary and Everest with a view of the city and very elegant. Also, Ambria (which I think is still there) has always been a favorite.

Patti

Charlie Trotter's in Chicago is one of the finest in the city. Food and ambience are upscale and contemporary. I would put it on par with Masa's or Fleur de Lys in San Francisco. It's understated elegance all the way.

sharon

Charlie Trotter's is your place. He is the 90's equivalent of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. This is mecca for foodies these days witness the Wine Spectator survey of subscribers voting it and its chef the top restaurant in the US. Chicago is a great restaurant town with more in common with your city than NYC (less pretension & snobbery: more emphasis on fine food properly prepared) Trotters is especially reknown for its fish presentations. Bon Apetit! Sharon in Punta Gorda, restaurant hell

Matt

Thought I'd pass along some restaurants that are outside the Loop/Downtown area...get into the neighborhoods and non-tourist spots....The following are all in Lincoln Park: Clark Street Bistro for ecelctic fare. Twin Anchors on Sedgewick for some of the best ribs you've ever had. The Green Dolphin on Webster for eclectic and good live music, Emilios on Clark St for tapas, Stanley's for upscale "comfort" food with a casual bar in the front. In the Lakeview neighborhood: Strega Nona or The Red Tomato for upscale Italian, Leona's for casual Italian. Biasetti's on Lincoln for steaks, chops and other hearty food. A little tiny corner store called Penny's Noodle Shop, casual, for good thai and other Asian cuisine. In Bucktown, try Starfish, Freida's for fine Mexican, or Merlot Joe's for casual Bistro fare....Enjoy!

firth small

I would not ordinarily recommend a hotel restaurant, but by all means the Ritz Carlton dining room - chef's name is Stegner. You know the Ritz in SF - it's even better in Chicago. Stegner is the best chef in Chicago, and one of the top 10 in the US. But all of the suggestions are excellent, and I will print this entire posting for my next trip to the Windy City. Many thanks for the great information.

Joe Ferris

We have been going to Chicago for many years over the xmas holidays and we have always enjoyed a restaurant called Bigs. It is on the Near North side of Chicago and is located in an old mansion. The atmosphere is great (lots of little rooms with fireplaces) and the food is wonderful. I suggest the beef wellington.