Chicago food/bars
 

I'll be visiting Chicago for five days this
fall and would like suggestions on the best
places to go for Chicago-only type places
and regional specialties (Pizza, hot dogs,
Italian beef, etc.)Thanks!

The most amazing place for hot dogs and cheese fries is actually in evanston (northwestern) and is called Col. Mustards...does anyone know if there is one downtown?

Thanks for the great info about inexpensive Chicago food, Chicgal!

I really would like to try Mr. Beef. Do you know if they are open on Sundays?

Thanks again for your great recommendations! Laurie

Thanks for the info about Mr. Beef, Chicgal. We will plan to eat there another night. If you have any other suggestions for inexpensive places with good food, I would love to hear them.

I went ahead and bought tickets for Romeo and Juliet. I got great seats! 2nd row, center aisle. I am glad to hear it is getting good reviews!

Thanks again for all your help! Laurie

Harry Carey's for a good steak and pasta....and his great potato chips. Sit in the bar and do some people watching while you eat.

IMHO, these 2 places are better than Mr.Beef,

Al's #1 Italian Beef on West Taylor, just south of University of Illinios Circle Campus.
<b>http://www.alscatering.com/</b>

This second one is my all time favorite, although the location is little out of the way, and basically should only be visited during the day. It's mostly in an industrial area, so it becomes very dead in the evening.
Boston's (773-486-9536) located at 2932 West Chicago on the corner of Grand Ave and Chicago.

Everytime I'm in Chicago, I make a point of visiting both places.

Al's actually ships Italian Style Beef packages to anywhere in the US.

Thanks for your suggestions! We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency on Wacker Drive, so I would like to choose restaurants that are easy to get to from this area.

We will be here for 4 nights.

These are some of the ideas for restaurants that I have learned about so far: Oak Street Beachstro,Pizzeria Uno, Grand Lux Cafe, Charlie's Ale House on Navy Pier,Kevin, Berghoff's, Mr. Beef and Billy Goat Tavern. Any comments?

Inexpensive= about $10 per person or less.

I know Kevin's is more expensive than this, but I thought maybe we could spluge once for lunch!

Kal, Harry Carays sounds like fun!
Frequent Flyer, Al's No. 1 Beef sounds good, but I am not very familiar with the area.

Thanks again for your help! Laurie

Chicgal, Thanks for the tip about Joe Bebops. We will see if we can get in there first.

Wow! I was really impressed with the menu choices and prices at the McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant! This will make my Mom very happy since she loves seafood.

Thanks again for all your wonderful suggestions for our visit to Chicago!

Laurie

Als Beef has another location(or used to) much closer to your hotel some where near the merchandise mart. As far as pizza head to Lou Malnatis, Pizzaria Uno and Duo are pretty good but the lines will be unbeliveably long and I personally like Lou's much better(the location on wells street is closest to you) especially if you like italian sausage on your pizza.
Shaws Crab house and Joes Stone crab house is awesome also(not the same as joes crab shack). www.leye.com (both are lettuce enterain you resturants, which are actually all pretty good)

If you like italian beefs - Buona Beef opened a new spot by michingan ave(near northwestern hospital) and there is always portillios. But I agree Al's is the best.

if you really want a chicago hot dog and you drove into the city check out super dawg
http://www.superdawg.com
this place is always on food channel and it is hilarious. but it is not near downtown so It only makes sense if you are driving in or out.

Laurie, here are couple cheap eats additions to the above (I would skip Grand Lux, personally):

Thai: Several options. I like Dao on Ohio between St. Clair and Fairbanks (over the river from Hyatt), because it has an outdoor courtyard. Also good are Star of Siam (Illinois around Dearborn) and Singha on Clark just north of the river.

Burgers: Monk's pub on Wells and Lake and Boston Blackies on Grand and St. Clair.


Panini: In the courtyard of the John Hancock there's a fabulous Italian deli with yummy panini and gelati called L'appatito (could be misspelled--Italian is not among the languages I speak). Lunch for $6.

There is also a decent food court in the Nordstrom mall (N. Bridge -- 520 N. Michicgan Ave.) with a Fluky's (hotdogs), Potbelly Subs, Tuscany Cafe (Italian), a mexican place and sushi.

Oh--on the West side of Michigan Ave. just south of the river, there's a Chinese place with dim sum lunch.

You can definately eat downtown for less than $10 a person--it just takes some looking!

HTH, Racy

There's a more convienent Als Beef on Ohio across from Ginos East. It's a little hole in the wall but the best Italian beef in Chicago, hands down.

Thanks to everyone for their replies!

Racy, why do you recommend skipping Grand Lux? I was thinking that my mom would enjoy the tea room atmoshere and maybe we could get a windowside seat. Is the food not very good?

dgruzew, Thanks for the tip about Lou Malnatis. Does Pizzeria Uno have lines for dinner even on weeknights?

Thanks again to everyone for all your help! Thanks to you,we are really looking forward to trying the local cuisine in Chicago!

Laurie

Pizzeria Uno probably has lines most nights - but the weekends are really really long. It might not be to bad on a monday or tuesday

Laurie:
I'm just not a fan of the chain restaurants that have such a huge menu that they don't specialize in anything.

For a tearoom atmosphere (and some Chicago history) I'd do the Walnut Room at the Marshall Field's on State Street--they have a nice spread and usually a string quartet at lunch time. Or on the top floor of Neiman Marcus there's a cute little space with amazing popovers--huge and mostly air--for a salad or light lunch.

If you want a view of N. Michigan Ave, Cielo in the Omni has an interesting space, and NoMi in the Park Hyatt is fabulous (but you'll pay for it).

Bistro 110 next to Borders and RL next to Ralph Lauren have good outdoor seating with a view of the Mag Mile.

HTH,
Racy