I need a suggestion for a Chicago Restaurant for my family when attending a convention next month. It will be two late twentysomething sons one with girlfriend, and two fifty somthing parents.

I'm looking for someplace with good food, that's somewhat casual or at least not too formal, and moderately priced ($20-30 per person). Steaks, seafood, pizza, or contempory american cuisine might be the best. We've been attending this convention for several years and have had some good meals but I don't think we've ever found the exact match.

One year we tried Maggianio's Little Italy downtown which was very good and probably about the right price point, but my brother is not a huge Italian food fan. At the time, we weren't aware it was part of 'chain' and he was slightly offended later when he found out that we went to 'a chain' for a birthday dinner.

The next year we tried Morton's steakhouse which was excellent, however the bill was probably two or three times what we had intended to spend.

The next year we tried the Firehouse restaurant on ay south Michigan Aveunue not far from McCormick Place. The food was excellent, but it might have been a little to formal. My brother is a little shy about eating in more upscale places.

So I seem to needing a place with good non-Italian food (but not excluding pizza) that's semicasual with good food.

We'll be staying at the Hyatt Regency near the river on near Michigan Avenue.

Would the Weber Grill restaurant fit our needs? Anyone with other suggestions?

The Weber Grill is also a chain. I've never eaten at the one downtown. But have been to the one in Lombard. I'm not a big fan. I don't know if this is true of the one downtown, but the one out here has absolutely no sound absorbtion. So I found it to be uncomfortably loud. And I thought the food was overpriced for the quality. We went once and have not had any desire to go back.

However, it's always busy. So obviously many others don't share my opinion!

It has been a long time since I lived there but Gino's East downtown is reputedly the original of Chicago-style deep dish pizza. We loved it. I don't know if it since grew to be a local chain or if the quality has maintained. There is a site called Chowhound you might check, if no one else responds here.

Hi Universitylad. I'm a Chicagoan of several years and understand your predicament. A few suggestions.....
1) Merlo on Lincoln Avenue - it's Italian but authentic Italian rather than the drown in red sauce Italian like Maggianos (my parents love Maggianos, but I'm much more of a Merlo fan), 2) Salpicon - high end Mexican on Wells (may be too chi chi but I love their food), 3) Adobo Grill (a down market Salpicon, but still nice with good guacamole and margaritas, 4) Joe's Seafood and Steaks (probably more expensive than you want to spend, but really good steaks and seafood. Love their key lime pie and raw bar to start and the steaks are phenomonal - and I'm a big Morton's fan). Weber Grill and Pizza places are a bit down market for what you're seeking.

universitylad, with all due respect to the previous poster, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab is part of the Lettuce Entertain You group and the price will most likely exceed your budget by 2-3 times.

Secondly, the $20-30 per person - are we talking only the entree portion here, I assume? A moderately-priced restaurant in the "downtown" Chicago area will run somewhere around $50-60 per person including a non-alcoholic drink, tax and tip. If you go any lower than that, you will probably be going to a restaurant that is part of a chain or group.

As a rule, steak entrees are usually in the $25-40+ price range themselves - and usually do not include sides, which are extra.

And I'm not sure that there are any pizza places downtown now that are not part of a chain.

You might consider going into the neighborhoods and the prices will be somewhat lower. Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder on N. Clark for pizza, for example. Or Tango Sur (BYOB, Argentinean steakhouse) on N. Southport for steaks (you can probably get out the door at $35-40 pp, depending on what you get).

Hope this information helps a bit in your planning.

My husband and I lived in Chicago for three years. Our three children - all in their 20's visited for a week and we had a great meal at Gibson's Steak House on Rush Street. Hope this helps.

We had outstanding meals at Bandaras and Grand Lux Cafe recently. Grande Lux would definitely fit the bill and it is right on Michigan Avenue above Ann Taylor.

Fantastic entrees and appetizers. Owned by the Cheesecake Factory people but more upscale.

Steaks-the most affordable you'll find in the downtown area is probably Wildfire, steaks run from about $22-$35, chicken etc a little less expensive. Forget about Gibson's with your budget, it'll run you at least as much as Morton's.

Seafood, once again your budget will kill that in the downtown area unless you plan on going to Red Lobster. Joe's Stone Crab entrees will run you $20-30 per person.

Pizza-most places are multiple restaurant entities but you won't find Lou Malnati's outside Chicagoland, there's one on Wells in River North and the deep dish pizza is excellent.

I suppose ethnic food is out of the question? Spanish tapas at either Cafe Iberico or Emilio's should run you about $15-20 per person, Cafe Iberico unfortunately doesn't take reservations on weekends. You could get a very good meal in Greektown for under $30 per person.

One other thought, we've eaten at a couple of Frnech bistros this past week and they offer some steaks. If you happen to be looking for a place on a Monday or Wednesday, Marche on West Randolph has a terrific $25 prix fixe deal on those evenings, they have a ribeye, NY strip steak and steak frites on the menu. And it's not overly formal.

Greektown? Casual, festive, reasonably priced and memorable. Try Santorini or the Greek Isles. Alternatively, email the Concierge at your hotel for suggestions. We live in the south (not too ethnic except for Mexican) and the first thing we do in Chicago is hit all our favorite ethnic restaurants.

P.S. We displaced Yankees think southern barbecue is ethnic.

dude, southern bbq is not ethnic.

DUH!!!

Luxbar or Tavern on Rush are fun in the Rush Street area. Across the street from Gibsons. Frontera Grill is very good mexican. Twin Anchors has fabulous ribs but is VERY casual and doesn't take reservations. I love Adobo Grill and also Bistro Margot in Old Town.Kiki's Bistro is great but you'd have to check their prices. Another fun choice might be Gejas in Lincoln Park for Fondue.

I love Tango Sur, and your budget would definitely work. Fantastic steak, and it's BYO! Full of twenty-somethings and in a great neighborhood.

Another suggestion--Ditkas. You may have to spend a little more than $30/pp. Casual atmosphere, good food.

While we were in Chicago, we entertained a young man who lives in Joliet by taking him to Bice--a very good, casual, and lively Italian restaurant. We all enjoyed it.

We also liked Vong so much that we ate their twice.

Any other ideas? also..how about places we could walk to from the Hyatt Regency?

What do people think of these possibilities?:

Viand
155 E. Ontario
http://www.viandchicago.com/index.html

Red Light
http://www.redlight-chicago.com/

Are they walkable from Hyatt Regancy?

Gene & Georgetti's steak and Italian. It's a Chicago institution, the food is excellent, it basically fits your budget, and it's near the hotel.

Red Light is Thai/Asian Fusion cuisine. It's also on the expensive side for what you get - not a place for meat and potatoes lovers. And it's about a mile and a half from the Hyatt. You want addresses from numbered from 0-600 North, and almost anything labeled "East"

BTW, I second the vote for Ditka's. Good, solid food, and lots of sports memorabilia (everything from Babe ruth to today) to jog conversation and memories!

Ditkas - men love this place!