Nice Restaurant and Bar in Chicago
 

I am going to Chicago on Sunday w/ my husband for 3 nights - staying at the Ritz on East Pearson Street- I would like to take my husband out for drinks and a nice dinner one night - any suggestions on locations for drinks and a nice restaurant for Italian, Steak or Seafood?? - something nice but not too overly expensive

There have been some excellent threads on this here with personal rec's- but it is done so often that people no longer respond as they once did.

Do a search here for Chicago steak LOOP
or Chicago restaurant LOOP pizza etc.
Trying different terms, I have brought up quite a few that I've used myself as I go downtown and need the info.

Also I have found:

www.metromix.com

which will give you the distance and ratings for restaurants from your lodging location, among many other events information you will need.

Hi janiekins,

Do you want to stay near your hotel? Here are some thoughts for you--the steak houses are pricey, because steak is expensive--but Chicago has some of the best.

STEAK--
Morton's (yes, it's a chain, but this is the original)
Gibson's
Chicago Chop House

ITALIAN--
Coco Pazzo --300 W. Hubbard
Spiaggia Cafe (smaller, less expensive arm of Spiaggia, which is the top Italian in town but expensive) -- corner of Michigan Ave and Oak
Merlo--haven't been, but supposed to be great, and reasonabe--16 W. Maple

SEAFOOD
Spring ( a cab ride, but fabulous food in a unique space, a former bathhouse
Catch 25--at Wacker and State, near the Chicago river
Hugo's Frog Bar in the Rush street area

Other great places are:
MK--a swank American restaurant --also good for drinks
Blackbird, for chic dining in a small, spare, trendy spot on Randolph
RL--in the Ralph Lauren store on Michigan--great for drinks and lunch, too
Topolobampo or Frontera Grill--Rick Bayless' famous Mexican spots--Frontera is casual and less expensive.

While you are here, Chicago is also know for deep dish pizza (try Lou Malnati's, Giordano's, Bacino's, or Uno's or Due's, (NOT like the chains))

Have fun!

You might want to put a dollar amount on your "not overly expensive." Because many, if not most, of the rec's so far are expensive by many standards.

There are less expensive that are also excellent.

Morton's is excellent, IMHO, as is The Saloon at 200 E. Chestnut for steak. Gibson's is very, very expensive and to me- not as good. Just my opinion.

You will get a lot of recommendations for Gibsons but I agree with JJ5 and do not like it. I really like Mortons, Keefers and Chicago Chop House for steak. For seafood, Blue Water Grill just opened in Chicago (they are from NYC) and it is very good. My favorite for Italian is Francesa's but there is not one close to your hotel. I haven't been in awhile but Pane Caldo used to be good. There is also a Coco Pazzo Cafe which is closer to your hotel and not as expensive as the original Coco Pazzo. Bice is another good option for Italian that is close by.

For drinks only, the bar at the Sofitel is very lively and fun. It's a mix of hotel guests and locals.