My husband, son (14)and I will be in Chicago for the weekend of May 6th. Actually I'll be there the week prior for business. We are looking for some restaurant advice. I think that my football crazed son would like Mike Ditka's Steakhouse for reasons other than the food. Is it a decent restaurant? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We will be staying near the Navy Pier, but distance is not an issue.

Do a search on this site, and look up your destinations and select nearby places on metromix.com

You're sure to get a pizza recommendation (Malnati's! or Chicago Pizza Grinder!) and there is an ESPN Zone that is heaven for sports guys. Heaven on Seven is a cajun-influenced place that is a lot of fun for all ages.
Ditka's gets mixed reviews; it's pretty expensive, so check it out beforehand.

As a former Chicagoan, I highly recommend Wildfire (great steaks & spitfire chicken), Reza's on Ontario (persian/middle eastern) and Grand Lux Cafe and Cheesecake FActory (mixed american). Also, go to Oak Tree in the Bloomingdales building (6th floor) for breakfast.

Ditka's runs $10-12 for a hamburger but for true fans it is a nice stop. Mike is frequently at the restaurant. My brother and some friends were there not long ago and his friend bought some souvenirs and went up to Mike who graciously autographed everything.

The Oaktree has a nice breakfast however my local favorite is the Original Pancake House on Bellevue. Cash only. Fantastic breakfast and quick efficient service. The prices wont kill you either. There usually is a line but it does move quickly.

There is also a Shula's Steakhouse however I have not been there so can't speak to the food.

My 12 year old son's favorite place to eat in Chicago is Harry Carey's. (Die hard Cub fan but the food is good there too!)

And Bongo Room for brunch is fabulous, although the wait is really long. It's in Bucktown/Wicker Park, which contains funky shops and restaurants to walk around in.

... and if you get sick of the wait at Bongo room, head on over to Mod just around the corner, usually there is no wait, and the food is excellent.

for brunch that is. For dinner you'd better make reservations.

If you really care about food, go ask this on Chowhound.com.

That said, my advice, having not been to Chicago since 2001 is...Blackbird upscale American, Frontera Grill/Topolobampo nuevo Mexican, Manny's - fantastic classic big city deli, Gino's East for deep-dish pizza, Le Bouchon an intimate French bistro.

Are you able to select your own restaurants the week before? When I was in Chicago on business last I ate alone at both Charlie Trotter and TRU. I have come to enjoy eating alone at temples of haute cuisine. It gives you a chance to concentrate on the food and it feels so indulgent to go there alone...reminds me a little of wasting money at the spa!

If you spend any time on Navy Pier itself, the best restaurant there is Reva's (all the way down the pier). It's reseasonable for what you get and don't waste a meal on the others.IMHO, they are touristy chains and/or not up to what you could be eating.

If you want price levels and distance - try www.metromix.com for your closest locale choices. Don't forget there are at least 15 "best" steak houses and hundreds of excellent restaurants on the whole. They really range in price, and if that is a consideration, you especially might want to do this search, or else buy a recent restaurant guide. The favorites of my kids and a lot of others for steak is Mortons. Frontera Grill is fantastic. Emilios or Cafe Iberico is good for tapas. Coco Pazzo is the one I'm hearing raves about from tv, friends, etc. right now. One of my kids love Oven Grinders and another loves the new South American steak places (several). There is so much that you might end up staying close to your hotel or activity. 312 is also excellent. The Palm in the Swissotel is good, but pricey. There is one called The Saloon that is also excellent near the River.

How far do you want to go? I, myself would try to stay Michigan Ave, Loop, and River- as you have so much there that is excellent, you don't need any more trapsing time. If you want something different try at least one tapas place (son might love it) and also Geja's for fondue and more. This last has been a favorite of several of my out of town guests.

Take your son to Soldier Field and while in the area give about 2 to 3 hours to the Shedd Aquarium. It's really so spectacular- near to the state of the art worldwide. Every time I am in another city and see their aquarium in pales in comparison. Art Institute is also a must do. For that period of time it will be worth it for you to get the combo tickets.

You are coming at a lovely time. I, myself, am going to stay downtown two days that week and will be seeing Wicked. There are very few tickets left but you may get singles for during the week, yet. I don't think you will have any luck on the weekend. I sure hope they do extend the dates.