Heading to stay downtown Chicago soon (North Michigan Ave). Need a reccommendation for either a great Italian or seafood restaurant. Not looking for super expensive/jacket required place but just a step down - still nice atmosphere and great food.

Thanks!

By all means, go to the casual Cafe Spiaggia, which is right next door to the formal Spiaggia. It is located across the street from the Drake. Another possibility (2nd choice) is the Cafe Luciano, just two blocks off N. Michigan Ave and across the street from the new Sofitel Water Tower hotel.

Seconding the vote for Cafe Luciano!

I was just in chicago last weekend and a group of us stumbled upon an Italian Restaurant called Volare - it was GREAT! ~ it's NOT a quiet little place by any means - 201 E. Grand. It seems to get mixed reviews - for the price you can't beat it.

Thanks so much for the great suggestions! There are so many to choose from and I don't like super froufrou (really gourmet/inventive). Is there any one site that has a lot of the menus to look at?

Anyone else?

Go to Metromix.com

Thanks,

Actually, I know about metromix and others:
www.chicagomag.com
www.chireader.com
www.chowhound.com
http://www.chicagorestaurant.com
www.Chicago.citysearch.com

There are so many places to pick from - was wanting people's opinions.

topping

Rosebud on N. Rush st. All I can say it was like a trip home for Italian. it is the same family as Carmines above.

Rosebuds on Rush

I think your better bet is Italian if it's one or the other. My personal preference for Italian is Rosebud on Taylor but that's a bit far out for you. Friends of ours who are foodies rave about Coco Pazzo at 300 W. Hubbard, here's a menu: http://www.chicagorestaurant.com/restaurants/cocopazzo/index2.html

They also liked Volare at 201 E. Grand.

If you're stuck on seafood, Bob Chinn's at 315 N. LaSalle is pretty good. When they opened earlier this year they tried having a different menu/atmosphere than the original location in Wheeling, the atmosphere is still a little more formal but the menu is now the same as the Wheeling location. I've only done lunch at the Chicago location but I know that the prices go up significantly for dinner in Wheeling.

Are there any Italiam markets in Chicago?

opps, Italian

My husband and I were just in Chicago for the American Heart conference and also "stumbled" upon Volare. I can't say enough good things about the food. One of the best Italian meals we have ever had.

Scoozi
410 W. Huron St., Chicago
312. 943. 5900

It's a Melman restaurant, that mean it's reasonably priced.
It's been around for a while and is on an upswing in flavor.

For only $13, there is a huge mixed seafood linguine plate.

I love this dish.
It's over $16 anywhere else

You get free delicious olive when you walk in.
There is so much space between the large tables and
They will sit you anywhere you'd like.
Small compact menu. Large wine list.


Get a glass of Proscco to start out and away you go.

I was in Chicago the first week of November for a business trip and we had an excellent seafood dinner at Hugo's Frog Bar on 1024 Rush (near Oak Street). The crab cakes are delicious and probably one of the best things on the menu. I would say it's moderately expensive. It was a fun place to dine (HUGE portions) and the steak is also excellent (comes from Gibson's). The only downside is that they have a very casual attitude toward reservations. We had 8 pm reservations, arrived at 8:01 pm and got seated at 8:35 pm. No jackets required, but no sloppy clothes either. Chic casual or business wear.
BTilke

Oops, first week of December, not November (a minor point, but it was a huge convention week, so *maybe* that was a factor in the wait for our table, but I hear the waits are pretty much SOP).

We ended up going to Shaw's Crab House before my sister's surprise engagement party on Rush. We really enjoyed it - got in with no problem early 5:30 on the Radiology convention weekend. The stuffed lobster was good and the goat cheese/spinach/apple salad was out of this world. The Au Gratin potatoes were really good also - we were too full at that point from all of the other seafood we ate.Thanks for all of the other great suggestions - have them written down and am going to go to them the next times.

Carmine's on Rush Street! They have an excellent seafood salad appetizer that I had 6 months ago and still dream about! Excellent atmosphere and service.