We'll be at Superior and State for a week in an apartment. I'm looking for nice, moderate, "comfortable" restaurants for dinner. With an Alzheimer's patient for a partner, we're really not looking for really high end or glamorous places, or for the ultra noisy. And we're pretty much into just doing a main course each and maybe a side, usually not appetizers or desserts.

I know last time we ate at Bistro 110 which was just the kind of place we love. Comfort foods do well for Lee. Looking at Open Table, these all look interesting. Any comments?

LuxBar
Mity Nice Grill
Grill on the Alley
Viand Bar and Kitchen

Also looking for after theatre at the Goodman. We learned before that not much is open late (weeknight, not weekend). I did note that McCormick and Schmick's serves quite late, but any other suggestions within walking distance of the Goodman. Offhand I forget the name of the fairly big sort of "supper club" place right across the street, but I do recall that they close pretty early too.

Bringing this up to see if any Chicago people are around this morning.

I also forgot to list Tavern on Rush. Comments?

Reza's the Persian place is great. It is more authentic Persian than the Naples place. I can't remember if you like that place or not. It is priced better too.

http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/

They sometimes have a buffet, but that might be at lunch. Their sangria made with apples is lovely. Persian tea is always great too.

Atwood Cafe gets generally good reviews. It's actually south of the river near the Goodman, so not right near your apartment. It's not open late enough to eat after the show (are you seeing Turn of the Century?) but it might be nice for dinner another night. It's right near a red line stop, so you can get there very easily with public transport.

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? There's a bunch of choices, and they'd be good for a casual dinner, and most aren't too noisy.

Though you didn't ask for lunch suggestions, I thought I'd recommend either enjoying the $18 lunch buffet or having an evening drink at the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock building. It's worth it for the view!

I'm sorry I can't help with your list, but I hope you enjoy Chicago!

We've eaten at Atwood Cafe, and thought it was fine (liked the atmosphere) but didn't quite get the "hype" it was getting when we went two years ago, particularly for the food which I thought was mediocre at best -- perhaps we ordered wrong. And yes, we are seeing Turn of the Century and no word yet on what time it is over.

Not a fan of deep dish pizza at all, sorry.

Been to the top of the Hancock building for cocktails, not sure that's something we'd do for dinner, or even lunch.

Kelliebellie, the Persian Place does sound interesting -- and I've never gotten the hype about BhaBha in Naples -- but we do like Persian.

That reminds me too of Asian -- what about LeColonial -- for Vietnamese? Looks like an atmospheric place, and like the menu.

I was just going to suggest LeColonial. Food is good. I think they just renovated the upstairs. I like the atmosphere - but suggest you don't sit outside as it is very crowded.

Also Bistro Zinc on State may fit the bill.

Those places in the 'Viagra Triangle' - Tavern, Lux Bar, Gibsons, Carmines are all pretty loud, ultra touristy and full of expense account clientele. Not very low key or charming IMO.

Hi NeoPatrick,

Mity Nice Grill - big, nicer-than-your-average food court in the water tower shopping center on Michigan. Lots of food choices, and can be quiet if you don't go on weekends (when shoppers flock to Water Tower). You order food from whichever vendor, and pay on the way out. Good for a variety of cuisines.

Lux Bar, Tavern on the Green, Carmines, Morton's STeak House, Hugo's Frog Bar and Gibson's Steak HOuse are all very near each other in the "viagra triangle." Expensive, lots of red meat and fatty cream sauces, caters to business men who expense meals and tourists looking for a nice "date night" - the portions are huge (the food IS good), but prices are high, and the scene can be a little "poser/icky" on Th/Fri/Sat nights.

My recco's:
Bandera (American "comfort" cuisine) at 535 N. Michigan is a nice, comfortable restaurant. Good food and nice atmosphere - not too noisy.

Reza's (Middle Eastern) at 432 W. Ontario IS very good. Dill rice, juicy, satisfying kabobs - not at all spicy, hummos, falafel - very nice.

Osteria via Stato (Italian) at 620 N. State is a nice, dimly lit place - nice service and atmosphere.

Frontera Grill/Topolobampo (Mexican) at 445 N. Wells is celebrity chef Rick BAyless' restaurants. They are in a nice location, and are adjacent to each other. Frontera Grill is the more casual restaurant; Topolobampo is higher-end. Food is consistently wonderful there. Does get crowded, so going at off-times is recommended.

L'Appetito is an Italian deli at 2 locations: 30 E. Huron (near you) and in the lower level of the John Hancock building. Very casual, but consistently good w/arancini, paninis, subs, pasta salads, pasta, pizza by the slice, imported Italian drinks, gelato, cookies/pastries. Nice place if you want something fast, casual, reasonable and good.

Goodman Theatre recco's: well, sadly there doesn't seem much right around the Goodman after theater. I go here often and usually eat before since the kitchens in the Loop (where Goodman is) close early.

Nothing stellar right by the Goodman, but on the way, I really like Bin 36 at 339 N. Dearborn for their excellent entrees & wine flight pairings. Always have a nice meal here, but you do need to allow time to get to the Goodman a little less than a mile away.

Also, McCormick and Schmick's, Keefer's, Shaw's Crab House, Smith and Wollensky are similiarly en route to the Goodman, and are solid, well-liked restaurants that would work well before the show.

The walk is nice from these restaurants across the Chicago river southbound to the Goodman - as long as you allow time for that.

Don't know how much time you have, but STeppenwolf's "Kafka on the Shore" begins 9/18 and is adapted by Frank Galati - should be a mind-bender, and really fun. Vinci, Mangia Roma, Black Duck Tavern and Boka are restaurants less than a block away and are all excellent.

I hope you have a wonderful time in Chicago! I think this is the best time of year here!

You are getting good information. I'd only make the distinction between FoodLife, which is a nice food court with many choices, and Mity Nice Grill, which is a sitdown place IN the food court with table service.

Second recommendation for Le Colonial and Bistro Zinc--if you like Bistro 110, which I consider noisy, you will like these, though I would also call them noisy.


I think you can reserve at Topolobompo, the fancier half of Rick Bayless's establishments.

Sadly, Chicago lacks any real after-theater places, especially downtown, around the Goodman, Harris Theater, etc. Will you be getting out into the north side at all? Steppenwolf, Royal George, Victory Gardens, American Theater Company--and I could go one--all offer promise, and a livelier after-theater location!

ChgoGal, I'm one step ahead of you. Already have tickets for Kafka on the Shore at Steppenwolf on Sunday with brunch at Vinci beforehand. Also have tickets on Saturday afternoon to Goodman's Million Dollar Quartet. We may see The Buddy Holly Story at Water Tower Drury Lane. That's where we went when we ate at Bistro 110 afterwards and it was great -- not noisy at that hour.

We're late night people, and eating before an evening show isn't much of an option. It would mean about 5 PM at the latest with my very slow eating partner to catch an 8 PM curtain. That's late lunch for us.

McCormick and Schmick's says they seat until 11:30, so I think that may be our best bet after the Goodman, unless it's a really long show. We went to Bin 36 after seeing Wicked last time to Chicago. They do serve late. Great wines by the glass, we were less impressed with the food and the service.

Some good suggestions here. I'm afraid we might fit into the "Viagra triangle" just fine -- I never knew it was called that. Have done Gibson's and Morton's in the past. Not looking for that kind of big deal steak house thing this trip.

I'd forgotten all about Topolobomba, which we loved. But we may do a lunch there.

And someone on another site recommended Osteria via Stato. Looks great, and then I saw their pizzeria menu and am drooling over the "thin crust white pizza with fingerling potatoes, pancetta, and smoked mozzeralla". Oh! That sounds like a lunch for sure! Potatoes on a pizza? Only in the Midwest!

OK. More help. Now seeing a show, Weekend at Wellington, off Clark on Wednesday night. Over at 9:45. What's in the neighborhood for after theatre -- Halstead / Clark / Belmont.

I know you are a foodie, Neo, so this may not be up to snuff for you....but, I enjoy Big Bowl; it's Asian tapas. I get their appetizer sampler. It is casual.

Not for dinner, but maybe if you are in the mood to see some Blues after the show, Kingston Mines is in that area. A legendary venue.

http://www.kingstonmines.com


Zagat's does a Chicago guide, but it helps to have an on-line account. The local food and entertainment guide is the reader:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/

Jacks on Halsted pretty good. But check their hours.
http://www.jacksonhalsted.com/index.html

Also Halsted Grill in Boystown. Great vibe there. http://www.halstedschicago.com/

My favorite in the area is Mia Francesca on Clark, but it looks like they stop serving at 10. The patio is wonderful - so keep that in mind for another time.
www.miafrancesca.com/restaurants/mia/

Have also eaten very good meals at Erwin on Halsted. I think you would enjoy the laid back atmosphere. Again, check the hours.

http://www.erwincafe.com/

Funny you mention Erwin. It's one of the first ones I found in the area, but closes at 10. Same with Jack's. I get the idea that Chicago is not a great place to eat after 10 on a Wednesday night.

What about the Rosebuds? Particularly looking at Rosebud on Rush which is just two blocks away from us and serves late even during the week? We could even come back to there after our show on Wellington.

And BigBowl sounds and looks great, ncounty. Foodie? I'm never sure what that means. Only like good food? True. A food snob? I sure don't think so. In fact I'm most turned off by expensive and overly trendy places. I guess you meant the one at Ohio and Rush?

My favorite is Erwin's, in the 2900 block of Halsted, and there is even a discount for TimeLine patrons. However, I see now you say you are going on Wednesday, and I'm not sure they are open that late on Wednesday. Another place is Jack's on Halsted, on the corner of Lincoln and Belmont, which describes itself as an American bistro, and I think is open later.

I could also suggest Hopleaf, not right in the neighborhood--it's at 5148 N. Clark--but cabs are pretty easy to get. This is a tavern that specializes in Belgian beers and that features a restaurant in the back. Great atmosphere and the mussels and frites w/aoli are to die for. There is also a wonderful organic brisket sandwich and a number of other appealing things. Bars are so much nicer without cigarette smoke!

We're seeing Weekend this Friday--we've tried to go to all their productions since discovering this place that gives us "yesterday's stories for today."

Yes, it is hard to find a place to eat after the theater in Chicago! That's why we like the trend toward 4 and 5 pm matinees on the weekend, but then we are old farts who have a hard time with dining after the theater in Manhattan!

Big Bowl is a chain. The one at Cedar and State is in the Gold Coast very near Tavern.

Its a stir fry - mongolian barbecue place. Food is OK, value priced, and good atmosphere, but woe unto you if you have to use the rest room. It shares facilities with corner bakery, and you need to use a special token. Confusing if you have had a few drinks.

It should be open later - the Vi Tri is usually still hopping after 10.

Hmmm. I just saw an ad that says Petterino's is open after theatre at The Goodman (adjusting their hours show by show). It's in the same building. Anyone know anything about it? I'm thinking that's the place we had looked at when seeing Wicked but it was closing too early.

Marilynl, looks like you and I were posting at the same time -- about Erwin's and Jack's. LOL We're old farts too, but dining late is still fine with us -- in fact, preferred.

It's a Lettuce Entertain You place, and supposed to offer a glamorous forties-style elegance. It's named after a legendary maitre d' of the old Pump Room, Arthur Petterino. I always like the food at Lettuce places. It also has an open mic night on Mondays that is supposed to be fun.

I've never had dinner at Petterino's but my husband and I have enjoyed appetizers in their bar several times. The food was good and we liked the atmosphere. Although we've never been dressed up when we've gone and didn't feel out of place, I'd have to agree that it has a quiet elegance.