Hey all,
I'm going to Chicago soon and need some good places to eat, cheap is good,fancy restaurant is good, good food is good. Where should I go? Where should I avoid? Anything exciting to see while there?
Thanks!
peri girl

Try Chowhound.com (there is a specific board for Chicago)where everyone is obsessed w/ food. You can get lots of recommendations, especially if you give a few specifics. Also you can just scroll down and read all the advice that's been given to others.

Me, I recommend Osteria via Stato for great family style midpriced Italian. For high-end there's Charlie Trotter, Tru, and Alinea. You should read up on Alinea and see if it is something you would enjoy. It's a unique experience.

Manny's deli is great, and you should probably try some deep dish pizza while you're in Chicago.

Peri Girl,
I would recommend getting a City Pass if you're going to be in Chicago long enough to use it:

http://citypass.com/city/chicago.html

Included in the pass are the Art Institute -- wonderful! -- and a trip to the top of the Hancock Building. We've been going to Chicago for years, and we went to the Hancock Observatory for the first time last summer. Incredible views! Well worth the price. We were only there for 3 days, so we didn't purchase the City Pass, but everything on it is worth seeing.

Purchase a transportation pass. You can buy them online from the CTA store, the Visitor's Center, and some stores.

http://www.transitchicago.com/

Our favorite places to eat in Chicago are also inexpensive -- Giordano's Pizza on Rush:

Giordano's
730 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 951-0747
Cross Street: Superior Street
Directions: El: Red Line to Chicago

and Cosi, for sandwiches to eat in Millennium Park. There are many locations in Chicago, but the one we go to is right by the Art Institute and Millennium Park, on Michigan Ave.

http://www.getcosi.com/

Sandy

Oh, and don't forget the best experience of all. Walk along the lake!

Sandy

What type of food are you interested in? where will you be staying? There are a million restaurants here so give us a hint!

I'd say the places to avoid (in no particular order) are the county morgue, the jail, the Chicago sewer system and the bottom of the river.

Maybe someone else can recommend a cheap, fancy restaurant with good food. But it would help them if you could give an idea of price ranges.

As for where to go, in addition to swalter's questions, when will you be coming and for how long? Some events only happen only during specific times. And, what do you consider "exciting"? Museums? Theatre? Sports? Shopping?

hi all,
thanks, first of all!

here are some more specifics:
i like to eat pretty much anything except meat, and i don't care how much it costs. i like cheap food and fancy restaurants are great; unique or theme restaurants are also pretty cool. how about good coffee shops?

i'll only have three days and an evening to tour, so i want to cram in as much as possible. i like museums, city pride monuments, historical places, local highlights, just what you think is fun and you like to do.

i'll be there in march and i'll be down town. what will the weather be like?

this may be a stupid question, but how easy is public transportation for someone who is not from a big city with a lot of public transportation?

thank you so much for your suggestions and advice!

peri girl

The Chowhound site is a good suggestion to find restaurants. Also check metromix.com It lists retaurants as well as events around town.

The Museum Campus on the south edge of downtown has the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. The Art Institute is at Adams and Michigan Avenue. The Field Museum has a Pompeii Exhibit through March 26.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation has several walking tours in downtown. Check architecture.org.

You can get almost anywhere via public transit. You can buy a 3-day pass for $12 at either airport, Union Station or the visitor centers. You can take the Blue Line from O'Hare or Orange Line from Midway to downtown, then take the trains or buses to any of the major sights.

Just about anything you'd want to see is very close to the major downtown hotels. Safety shouldn't be an issue anywhere there, just use common sense. Probably the biggest "problem" you'll encounter are people panhandling. Just say no and keep walking and they won't bother you any more.

The weather in March is almost anyone's guess. It can be anywhere between 30 and 45 degrees. If the past few days are any indication, you'll want to pack beachwear and snow boots. Check the weather closer to your trip so you'll know what to expect.

thanks!

I assume you are staying downtown. Go to one of the visitors centers: either Cultural Center on lower Michigan Avenue or Waterworks on upper Michigan Av. Ask for a downtown transit map and a city transit map. The maps are really clear and helpful for getting around. The el system is well marked. There are transit employees at most of the tourist area stops el stops and I have found them to be very helpful.
Research this site for more Chicago food information. There is alot of it! Have a great time.
Go to metromix.com for ideas.

Some choices that I've done and would be great for a non-meat person (like my DIL)- Atwood Cafe- great salads LOOP
Trattoria #10 10 West Dearborn - more formal and not cheap, moderate but GREAT butternut squash ravioli
Water Tower Place food court
Also any of the Tapas places have quite a few non-meat entries, are different, and the entire is cheap plus you can get sangria. Some are Cafe Babareba, Emilios, Cafe Iberico.

You can go to www.metromix.com and insert your hotel address and it will give you some other choices with distances to your lodging.

I do think you will end up wandering and finding delicious choices everywhere.

IMO Lou Malnati's is the best Chicago pizza and very casual. It's address is 439 North Wells Street. Pompeii Bakery on Taylor St. has great pizza/pasta/salads for counterservice if you are in the West Loop/United Center UIC area (there is also one in Lakeview). If you want something different and have a big appetite, try Geja's for fondue on Armitage in Lincoln Park-you can do just a cheese and chocolate package.

IMO, Chicago is home to the best to Mexican restaurants in the US, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo on North Clark. The food is REALLY good. Frontera Grill doesn't take reservations, so it is easier to get in that Topolobampo.

That's true, they are both great. But they are not cheap. Frontera is high priced especially.

Actually, for cheap there is SO much in Chicago. AND that doesn't mean unfresh, fast food, or cheap in taste or content. Push off the main streets to the sides and/or two or three streets over. You'll find treasures- better than the ones constantly applauded.

When we were downtown with 1.75 million other people and couldn't walk on the sidewalks on Wacker we got pushed off to this bar/dive/hangout called Monks. They had good food AND good drinks. The $ was less with more circuses as well.

>i'll be there in march and i'll be down town. what will the weather be like?>

We've been having unseasonably warm weather in Illinois, but Chicago is always a little colder because the wind off the lake can be bitter cold.


this may be a stupid question, but how easy is public transportation for someone who is not from a big city with a lot of public transportation?

I find the public transportation very easy, and I live in a small town. You can purchase your transportation pass online. I usually do that... saves a lot of time!

http://www.transitchicago.com/

Sandy

>>Also any of the Tapas places have quite a few non-meat entries, are different, and the entire is cheap plus you can get sangria. Some are Cafe Babareba, Emilios, Cafe Iberico.
>>

I loved Cafe Iberico, but it was so packed when we went at night. I was told it's much more laid back in the late afternoon. Great sangria and very inexpensive! We ordered a tapa that was a chicken dish, sort of like a stew. It was delicious, but I would have been satisfied with that for lunch, what with all the great bread they give you with it.

Sandy