Downtown Chicago restaurants
 

I'll be staying in Downtown Chicago near Michigan & Ontario streets. I like international food, high quality, within a short walking or taxi distance, I won't have a car. What's the best of the best? I haven't been there in many years and don't remember any good places.

Also, how safe is it to walk to a restaurant for dinner?

Gibsons on Rush St.

http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/chicago-pages-325.php

The area you're staying in is very safe.

Spiaggia at 980 N. Michigan is a famous Chicago Italian destination.

Shaw's Crab House one E. Hubbard is just a block of Michigan and an historic, deservedly famous Chicago seafood destination.

Harry Carray's steakhouse is in the neighborhood and very good.

I recently visited Publican, a short cab ride across the river at 837 W. Fulton. Specializing in gourmet pork dishes was recently featured on one of the food networks. They have an extensive international beer selectin. I really enjoyed the restaurant. The interior is a bit of a German beer hall offtake. They have a counter for single diners that was very pleasant.

Topolobampo is well worth a visit. It's high-end Mexican place (dinner menu: http://www.rickbayless.com/menus/topolobampo/dinner/) run by one of them celebrity chefs, and it's top-notch. If you want something that just about as good and more fun/noisier, the adjacent Frontera Grill is also worth a visit. They're a short walk from No. Michigan at 445 North Clark Street, between Illinois & Hubbard.

Can strongly second Gibson's (steak) and the two Rick Bayless places, Mexican like no Mexican you have ever eaten.

Good suggestions, thanks!! I probably won't have seafood in Chicago, I live 2 hours from an ocean, lol. How about good places for lunch? We love tapas.....

You said International.. So, Emilio's Tapas on E. Ohio, called Sol y Nieve, Dao's Thai on E. Ohio..
Bistro Zinc (French)on N. State, Le Colonial on N. State(Vietnamese Indochine Colonial) totally safe..walked alone (female)through this area by myself many nights on way home from work.
N. Wells Street between Division St and North Avenue has many more choices.

For Eick Bayless' Topolabampo and Frontera Grill make sure you have reservations well in advance.

Mercat a la Planxa in the Blackstone Hotel would be a quick taxi ride. It's also open for lunch. Wonderful tapas!

http://mercatchicago.com/

Hi, Kboen.

A couple reccos:
Purple Pig is very convenient to your location. Small plates restaurant.
http://www.thepurplepigchicago.com/menu.html

Also, the new Giuliana and Bill Rancic place is doing well. Reservations needed.
http://rpmitalian.com/

Also, I liked bistronomic very much. Ask if you can sit behind the bar for a bit more quiet.
http://bistronomic.net/hostalt/

The area is generally safe and lively... just the usual bit of caution needed in city. (You will definitely FEEL safe, in any case.) Keep smart phones stashed away when walking... practice usual vigilance and you'll be fine. Violent crimes are very rare and normally not directed to strangers. Preferred crimes in this area are dashing off with smart phones, cameras, purses not secured to one's person, etc. Still, those are rare, but they happen. And when you sit down in a public eatery/cafe, keep your purse/bag in your lap. I often hear of folks getting their phones/wallets lifted from purses hung on the backs of chairs.

Have a great time in the city. So many wonderful restaurants to choose from. Check them against yelp.com or the CHicago reader to help you decide.