Check www.metromix.com, www.chicagoreader.com or www.chicagomag.com.

Close to the Loop -- it's not hot, but it's classic: Everest. Pricey, very fine dining (with an Alsatian flair) on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. Food and wine list are tops. Reserve a window table.
A caution: I always thought this was one of the absolute best restaurants in Chicago, and I'd go again on blind faith, but it has been a long while since I've visited. Can anyone confirm that it's still a great place?

Here's all you need - go to the Girl & the Goat. Here's a review from Saveur magazine:

http://www.saveur.com/article/Travel...and-the-Goat/1

also check out the Chowhound boards for Chicago eats.

Last weekend we went back to Shaw's crabhouse after having dinner there 15 years ago. It's a bit cliche - but we enjoyed it. The tab for 3 with wine was $140.

It was good, but my favorites in Chicago have always been the hot dog stands and the italian beef joints. A few months ago, we went to Hot Doug's for gourmet dogs. After waiting in line for over an hour - eh, not worth that long of a wait. I mean it was really good, particularly the duck fat fries on weekends, but I would never wait in line that long again for Doug's Dogs. I would give about 10 minutes to a line for them.

for a good, solid diner experience go to Lou Mitchell's: http://www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/menus.html

I've only had breakfast at Lou's but it was classic good.

JC98,

for improv visit Second City where many of the original Saturday Night cast came from

http://www.secondcity.com/performanc...go/nowplaying/

For blues

http://kingstonmines.com/

http://www.buddyguy.com/

http://rosaslounge.com/index.cfm

For those curious about Alinea:

http://vennseffect.com/Alinea.html

I just read the article Michael posted about Alinea. Just reading it gave me the jitters. It is so not something my DH would enjoy, and the cost involved has nothing to do with it! We like good food, but we are not "foodies" (unless you consider our quest for the best pizza worldwide being "foodies"). Food/dining as theater completely turns us off. I would consider a 4-hour dinner a waste of at least 2-1/2 hours.

Thanks, all, for your great recommendations! Can't wait to try some of them out next week!