Heading to Chicago for the first time this weekend! Unfortunately it's a very short stay, but I was hoping for some lunch advice. We will be taking the architectural river cruise Saturday morning and then heading up michigan avenue for a little shopping. Would love a great place to have a sandwich or salad -- a nice view or charming ambience would be a plus!

Also, any advice for great places to have a cocktail in the evening would be really appreciated!

Thanks so much!
Dina

Dina: Take a look at Chowhound.com.

The Purple Pig for lunch. The Signature room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock for an evening view to remember.
https://www.signatureroom.com/?gclid...-uRURHJFfD_BwE

Hi, dina4.
Hopefully the weather will clear up before the weekend and there'll not be much rain. So many options for a nice lunch.

For something hearty, my friends and I liked Sidedoor. This gastropub is attached to Lawry's, and offers prime rib sandwiches, mac and cheese, fish and chips, etc.
http://www.sidedoorchicago.com/#home

If the weather is nice, there's a nice outdoor cafe right on IBM plaza, attached to the Langham hotel. No website that I could find, but looks nice. Here's the yelp reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/elle-on-the-river-chicago-3

Also, the NoMi Garden or indoor lounge offers lower-priced alternatives to the fine-dining NoMi Kitchen, but this is not a budget restaurant. Just a bit more reasonable than NoMi. A very nice atmosphere here for cocktails, too.
http://hyatt.com/gallery/nomi/garden.html

For something casual, a nice place for sandwiches and pasta salads and pizza slices, is L'Appetito deli in the base of the John Hancock Building -- if the weather is nice. You can take your food to the steps outdoors and just enjoy the people watching. You can get an arancini, pasta, pizza, an Italian sub, some Italian soda, gelato. Food is always good there.
http://www.lappetito.com/

Can't really help on cocktails. I'd probably go to NoMi lounge, but on the weekend, all nice lounges will likely be quite busy.

Also, I'm assuming your group is all adults...? These places aren't terrible for children, but there would be better options if kids are in the picture.

Hope you have a good weekend!

Thanks so much!
So happy to have such great options.
Yes, our group is all adults.

I second NoMi. We just had lunch in the garden last Saturday and it was delightful. It would be a nice place to enjoy a cocktail also.

Purple Pig was a mad house. I may try this place another time, but it did not quite have the atmosphere we were looking for.

If it's a clear day, the Signature Lounge would be a great place to have a drink.

http://www.signatureroom.com/TheSignatureLounge