We will be staying in downtown Chicago (Ontario/Michagan Ave. area)next week. Any suggestions for moderate priced restaurants? Also, restaurants suggestions for the Navy Pier?

I haven't been to Chicago in years, but I'm looking forward to going in October for a week. But all I've ever heard is "avoid the Navy Pier" if you want decent food.

Not sure about the Navy Pier--no one has ever recommended anything there for me. Last time I was there, I went to a free wine tasting at Marshall Field's (check with them for the schedule) and then went to Luciano's. According to the locals I was with, you can't go wrong with Luciano's--good prices, consistent good food, nothing too funky.

I'm up there for small conventions all the time, and if you really want to eat at Navy Pier, Riva has some good seafood (albeit over priced)...Charlie's Ale House has some nice beers and casual food too. Your best bet is probably to walk the pier, enjoy a drink and a small snack, then go somewhere else to actually eat.

There is hope for you though! Within about a 5-10 minute walk is a place called Coco Pazzo Café, and it’s that one little joint I keep in my back pocket to surprise out of town friends and clients. It’s a few block up on N St. Clair. (Coming out of Navy Pier, it’s about 4 blocks West on Grand, then 2 blocks North on St. Clair) It’s a fantastic little Italian restaurant, actually the “little brother” of a much larger and more elaborate Coco Pazzo on Hubbard. I’d recommend their signature wood oven brick-fired Cornish hen.

If you want to eat on Navy Pier, Vitello gave your best suggestions. Riva is very good food (Italian seafood)and has a beautiful city view at night but it is on the pricey side. Charlies Ale house is pub food. OK, but you can do better, cheaper off the pier. If you are in a burger mood, Boston Blackies, a few blocks west has good burgers. There are hundreds of restaurants in the area you are staying-any type of food preferences?

Yeah...avoid The Pier and Riva's...especially from Oct 6th thru the 13th when I'll be taking up space there.

The food is terrible and the view is virtually non-existent.


Heaven on Seven had some of the best cookin' outside the Fr Quarter. Fair prices.

We went to a good Mexican restaurant in Old Town but I can't remember the name. Maybe some nice Chicagoan will provide it. It's right between the Second City theatre and a Starbucks and I remember that they make guacamole at your table. Anyone know this place?

Adobo Grill
1610 N. Wells St.
312-266-7999

Adobo Grill is the Mexican place of which you speak. Great margaritas, too!

Racy

Yes, that's it! Thanks!

Larlar, agree you'll not find much on the Pier. Riva is the best of the lot -but my recommendation is save your bucks and eat something away from the Pier.

I also second the recommendation for Coco Pazzo Cafe. It's in a Red Roof Inn but don't let that deter you.

The one I'd really recommend, though, near Navy Pier or Millennium Park is Aria in the Fairmont.

Note to Kal: you should try to go to Ditka's when their singer is performing. Da Coach would probably like to say Aloha as well to you.

On the corner of Ontario & Michigan there's a restaurant called "Grand Lux Cafe". It's owned by the same people from the Cheesecake factory. You can get breakfast/lunch/dinner there. Big portions and reasonable price!

You know, there are probably a couple hundred good restaurants available.

What I do is take the rec's but add a list of my own www.metromix.com

You can see how far they are from your digs too.

Then I have posted a thread with choices from that list as far as personal experiences. Last time I did this I got about 5 GREAT places to eat and I'm still on #4.

exileP,
thx for the scoop but I don't think Chicago is ready for two, large, Western Pennsylvanian guys in Hawaiian shirts, smokin' stogies and singing off key.

I'm a "Prison Singer"...."behind all those bars lookin' for a key".

There is also a newish restaurant near your hotel called Osteria Via Stato (620 N. State St) that is a great new Italian restaurant. Great wine list too and you can eat outdoors or indoors. Its getting good reviews and I tried it last week and it was wonderful.

If you click on my name, I gave a bunch of restaurant suggestions recently to a another poster. I believe the post was about a girls weekend in chicago. Several others weighed in with great suggestions.

Do not eat at Navy Pier if you want authentic real life chicago cuisine and versus tourist stuff.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...ning_top_promo

Sorry, Larlar, to hijack your thread for this response.

Kal: I'm sure Da Coach has seen some scarier sights than you two.

And since he went in front of the City Board in favor of smoking those stogies, welcome you he will.

By the way, the singer I was referring to performs at Ditka's (certain evenings) and does an outstanding Sinatra impersonation.

I agree that Ditkas is a great place too. Food is great. Best chopped salad ever.

Thank you chicagolori, I now have that new place on N. State to add to my list. I'm going down on Oct. 1 and then again later in that month.

exileP,
No wait...It's me and the Coach who are both W. PAs, smoke stogies and.....oh nevermind...Chop sald, eh??:-?

My brother gets da Coach's pork chops and in uniform gratis, I think.

Speaking of which, GO BEARS!

Orton starts today, at 22- I wonder if he could sleep at all last night.

That one restaurant Golden Budha that exiled princess suggested on another thread was also very very good.