Wow you guys are great! I stepped out for a bit and came back to this! Thanks a bunch, and keep the ideas coming! <BR><BR>And now I'm getting hungry again, only two hours to dinner! haha

Just for the record<BR>The food at Bergoff was better than Bubba Gump, but I didn't really find it "fun". It was definately nothing like a Fridays type place.

Check out Miller's Pub on Wabash downtown in the loop.

cl9: You have to stand at the bar at Berghoffs - not sit at a table. The menu is limited there, but much more relaxed & laid back. Start schmoozing with the people on either side of you. I guarantee you won't want to go back to work on a Friday afternoon.

I did not realize Rock Bottom was a chain. I guess you learn something new every day. I would have recommended Goose Island but no locations downtown. <BR><BR>I also like Greektown - I work pretty close to Halsetd and lunches are very reasonable. I like Athena for the outdoor patio but there are tons of good places.<BR><BR>

Sorry - Halsted.

We went to an Uncle Julio's Hacienda up off W. North Ave? Good Mexican and funky restaurant. Feista/Party atmosphere.

Hey, Kal & Hula Girl: In today's Chicago Tribune, they have a list of meals (mainly fast food) that are good and bad. The carrot cake at the Cheesecake Factory (listed under "Restaurant Hall of Shame") has 1,560 calories and 84 grams of fat!!!!

Pat - I saw that article in Tempo! I have never had Cheesecake Factory's carrot cake so I can still fool myself into thinking that Gibson's is good for you : ) (How could something with vegetables in it possibly have fat???)<BR><BR>

Good morning and aloooohaaaa!<BR><BR>Pat and Hula,<BR>When we travel, we apply a rule that a flight attendant told us years ago:<BR>"There are no calories on vacation"!<BR><BR>Of course, she forgot to tell us that once you hit the ramp at the end of the vacation they all seem to suddenly materialize! Like Prof Klump!<BR>kal

Kal,<BR><BR>Aloha! I definitely follow that theory but also apply it to birthday dinners, anniversary dinners, etc...

Exchequer's on South Wabash, a few blocks south of the Marshall Field's on State St., has what I consider to be the best deep dish pizza in town. And no tourists or lines, and cheap too.<BR><BR>Cambridge House on east Ohio (a few blocks east of Michigan Ave.) is a good diner; I think it's open all night. Good for cheap but good diner food.<BR><BR>For something a litte more expensive but very nice, the Ritz hotel (1 block east of Watertower Place) has a great lunch buffet in the atrium every day except Saturday. All you can eat for about $17 per person, I think - the food is delicious and the atmosphere is very relaxing.

many places to check out:<BR>here's my list<BR>"food life" in watertower - tons of choices nothing to write home about.<BR><BR>"weiner's circle" on clark and wrightwood is an absolute must. great late nite<BR> <BR>"Gino's East" for great great pizza<BR><BR>"Buca De Beppo" family style Italian (nothing great)<BR><BR>"Rose Angeli's" top drawer pasta in lincoln park. it's on wrightwood<BR>

also for diners,<BR>try the origional "Lou Michelle's"<BR><BR>or "The Bagel" - great jewish deli on broadway in lakeview

Jack: I thought of another one: Twin Anchors for ribs. It's on Sedgwick in the Old Town area. Delish!

I think bb is referring to Lou Mitchell's on Jackson (565 West Jackson). It is cheap and it is diner food but I don't know how far out of my way I would go to go there. Maybe if you were over by the Sears Tower, it would be worth it. They serve good breakfast food (omelets, etc...).

Alex: Oh, yeah, Lou Mitchell's is just a breakfast place - but I loves it! Can't get enough of those free milk duds.

Hey Pat - will they give the Milk Duds to Jack though? I thought they only gave them to the ladies... ha ha. They do serve a mean grilled cheese. I love Monk's (on Lake Street) burgers, grilled cheese, and cajun fries.<BR><BR>