We are cruising on Small Ship Adventures through the Great Lakes, and disembark in Chicago. Staying at the Swissotel. We would like to find a couple of good steakhouses that would accept casual clothing attire.

Define casual attire.

Dress shoes,slacks, nice top? Gibson's is the top local steakhouse.

"Define casual attire."

Then divide by two. Multiply by six people with nothing better to do. Then subtract the number of restaurants you'd be willing to consider. Finally, ask people who do not know the definition of casual to go sit in Lake Michigan.

Do you know a steak house or not?

I was going to recommend David Burke. You don't have to be dressy but I wouldn't go in flip flops and tank top with shorts. That is why I asked OP for their definition of casual. Casual Friday at office would work.

http://www.davidburkesprimehouse.com

I guess I'm thinking shorts and polo shirt for him and capris and dressy tee for me. That help?

That helps. The outfits you describe would not be appropriate for Gibson's or any other Chicago steakhouse where I have dined.

Agree with HappyTrvlr.

Gibson's is worth a pair of long trousers and a skirt in your limited baggage.

I don't know where else your cruise is stopping, but there are plenty of places around the lake where shorts would be inappropriate or get you a table next to the busboy station -- in the evening; lunch will be more casual.

Shorts/capris and poloshirts/tees would be appropriate in places like Outback Steakhouse, and other chain/franchise places but I suspect mrsmcg is looking for something a little more upscale (in which case one would need to up their attire).

OK ... this s very casual trip. Not at all like a cruise on a big ship. Didn't realize that dining in Chicago required dressy outfits. Will try and squeeze in long pants and a skirt.

Opentable lists the dress code for David Burkes as "Smart Casual" and that seems about right.

Shorts, no.
Polo shirt, ok.
Capri's, borderline
Dressy T shirt, no [not sure I know what that means, though.]

Fra- I guess you're odd man out here. Attire does matter.

Yes debit, I guess I am -- but it's because I thought casual meant collared shirt and long pants for men and similar level for women. I wouldn't dream of going anywhere other than a clam shack or burger joint in anything less. Maybe attire matters too much for me?

Thank you for all your comments. They helped.

I hope you get to Gibson's. It is an institution, and there will be men in suits and maybe women too, but you will be fine in trousers ( both of you) or a skirt for you.

The steak is worth it, absolutely, and it is the only place I have ever eaten where the waitress said, "You are ordering too much food. Order this!" She was right, even for a party of big eaters.

I agree with Gibsons and if you do decide to go make a reservation yesterday. The last time we visited there were plenty of men in coats and ties as well as those more casually dressed. Women ranged from evening wear to nice casual. There were no torn Levis, women thinking tops hanging half off one shoulder make them look attractive, etc. I am sure you would know what to wear.

And I agree you can get a LOT of food.

Does Bavette's fit into this conversation at all.

The descriptions appear to make it somewhat more casual. Is that correct? And what does that mean?

And what about the food?

Bavette's is really, really good. I was wearing what I would have worn in Seattle- I think my walking shoes, and knit dress. I remember thinking I should have brought my nice sandals and some jewelry, if only because people seem to dress up more for dinner in Chicago than in Seattle. But it really depends on your comfort level- it doesn't honestly bother me to be underdressed at somewhere like a steak house, and I travel pretty light. If you are planning to dine out for a foodie sort of place (ie table service that is not a diner, chain, or pizza) and being underdressed bothers you, you should both pack something that can be dressed up as well as dress shoes because my impression from eating at a few of the more popular downtown restaurant is that people in Chicago DO dress for dinner, and if you are wearing tourist clothing- tshirt and shorts- you'll stick out. I ended up wearing my "travel" dress and skirts a lot more than I have in other places.

Bavette's is good; Gibson's keeps winning the "best steakhouse" category on Chicago Reader and others year after year but it's all subjective anyway. You wouldn't be disappointed in either place IMO.

Thanks.

We are not foodie types.

I'm taking with shorts, blue jeans and black jeans.

I may be wrong but I don't imagine my wife's suitcase will have a dress or skirt in it. Slacks, jeans & capris I would guess.

We normally eat breakfast and dinner and a snack lunch on the go.

She didn't appear to be that interested in a steakhouse but I'll see what she thinks in a couple of days.

I wouldn't define a "foodie place" as one "with table service that is not a diner, chain, or pizza." That is a pretty low bar.

A "foodie place" to me is a restaurant, from very modest to over the top, where the owners respect their ingredients, source them from high-quality purveyors, and try to do things with them that are more imaginative than one would do at home.

I respect this. It takes a lot of commitment. I try to show my respect by dressing appropriately for the restaurant. Does the owner deserve to have potential customers look in and be turned off by athletic wear, men with hats on, and so forth?

Is a steakhouse a "foodie place"? It gets two out of three: high quality ingredients that are treated with respect. Originality? Not so much.

Finally, think about the other diners. You may be rich enough to drop a couple of hundred dollars for dinner several times a week, but many people have to save up for this for a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday. Respect them.

What is appropriate varies enormously from place to place. Shorts for dinner in a city seems inappropriate to me above the Chipotle Grill category. At the beach? Fine. In Naples, Florida, maybe not.