gobarbgo

Hey all...leaving on Wednesday for a first-time, six-day trip to Chicago. I'm staying downtown near MM. Just got some great forum advice on what to see/do along with some good restaurant tips. Now I'm looking for the must-eat, can't-miss, quintessential food that Chicago just kicks butt on. (Like deep dish pizza, Chicago dogs and ???) So please help this Cali girl put on a few enjoyable pounds with Chicago's specialty foods & desserts -- and the best place to find it in and around downtown. Thanks!

exiledprincess

gobarbgo, you do realize that these travel forums are not for the research itself - but are to be used to give you some insight in a direction to go for the research which needs to be done to give you the best for your visit. You have a lot of work ahead of you and very little time.

And - again, many of the best dining options will not be in the downtown areas. You have to travel for them.

As a matter of fact, if you want to take a quick look, various publications such as the Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, often have their 10 best listings on various foodstuffs (best pizza, best cheap eats, best ethnic, best restaurants, etc.). Just take a look at how very *FEW* of them are in the downtown areas.

Nope. NOT deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hotdogs and Italian beef, although since you are a first-timer, you'll probably do those because of the hype. Fodors has an article on "10 Things Not to Do in Chicago". Read it - #5. Although, to be accurate, Giordano's (a national chain) doesn't serve deep-dish - they serve stuffed pizza. Nor does Pequod's (a local's favorite) serve deep-dish; they serve pan pizza.

My suggestion to you: Take a look at the James Beard award nominees for this year (the actual ceremony will be in Chicago at the beginning of May at the Lyric Opera House) to see where the *current* dining trends are now leading. You also want to concentrate on Chicago-area products, produce, craft beers and sodas.

You don't have to depend on Yelp for the reviews, but it is a good source to find specific dining (i.e., New American, any ethnic), specific areas and so forth.

BigRuss

Dunno if you've looked at Yelp, but why bother? Buncha hipsters banging away with their personal likes and dislikes taking every minor imperfection and turning it into a cause celebre.

Just because a city has some famous food doesn't mean you need to try it. Just look at what Skyline Chili is in Cincinnati. Yeesh. Deep dish pizza isn't real pizza. You might as well look for the best merlot from Siberia.

A Chicago dog is a hot dog with a bunch of stuff on it. That means, it's a hot dog, which is made out of whatever hot dogs are made from (except kosher dogs, which are made from beef).

Given its history and its status as the second-largest Polish city in the world (only one city has more people of Polish descent - Warsaw), why not look for great Polish food (to the extent the term is not oxymoronic)? Like here: http://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago...illist-chicago

marvelousmouse

Garret's popcorn. I swear I gained a few pounds just from that.

There is also a really good Greek bakery in Greektown. Pan Hellenic Pastry. Found it on the way back from a not so great dinner. Baklava!

I think the rest depends on what you can get where you live. I can get awesome sushi where I live so I didn't even look in Chicago but deep dish pizza in my hometown ranges from sure fire food poisoning to nonexistent. So I did eat deep dish in Chicago and enjoyed every bite

marvelousmouse

Also forgot to mention: I find it helpful to combine yelp and sources like time out chicago. Time Out Chicago and its ilk is great for off the wall selections- stuff you didn't even know existed whereas yelp is very useful if you know exactly what kind of food you like and you know how to "read" the reviews. Yelp is especially good for showing recent trends and who usually eats there- whether it's kid friendly or hipster friendly for instance lol.

I found in Chicago that if you are restricted to downtown, try to eat during off peak times. Popular places were very crowded for brunch or dinner. but I usually eat very late dinners during the summer usually, so that wasn't as much of an issue for me as it might be for you.

Dukey1

OK, and perhaps I'll get slammed foe this BUT I will never forget our night at Gibson's (the steakhouse) and that fabulous dessert.

Make reservations MONTHS AGO!!!!

marvelousmouse

Lol, Dukey. I won't slam you- the desserts looked amazing the baked potato was delicious, and the service was good old fashioned friendly.

BUT- my dinner took a long time, which I don't care about, except the steak was practically still mooing and definitely not what I ordered. Not good at all considering the final bill. And I think part of the problem is that Gibsons is overrated- so overly popular. Sardine packed, even after 8pm! I was much more impressed with Bavette's, steak and drink wise. (Bavettes was planned. Gibsons was "what the heck, I'm exhausted and hungry and walking by")

So I suppose the moral of the story is...if you have to go there, go on a weekday, maybe. Or go there just for dessert!

Inakauaidavidababy

Even after 8pm???? Oh the horror of it all!!!!

Bitter

I enjoy visiting Chicago and I think some of the touristy things are popular for a good reason.

I would recommend pizza at Giordano's or Gino's East. Yes to Italian Beef. Portillo's might not be the best, but I sure have enjoyed them there. I think Mr. Beef gets most of the praise, but I haven't been there. (There is a Portillo's diagonal across from the Hard Rock. You can get a Chicago Dog there also, or at Downtown Dogs).

Berghof for German Food.

Or just take your appetite to the French Market and see what looks good.

gobarbgo

Thanks everyone. My 23 year old daughter just decided to join me. With her half Polish Catholic heritage from her dad's side, she sure can't wait to eat through Chicago with me! Damn the torpedoes..and the diets! (At least for 6 days).

Bitter

Enjoy and please report back. I'll be interested in what you liked and didn't like, and what you discovered on your own.

exiledprincess

"I enjoy visiting Chicago and I think some of the touristy things are popular for a good reason."

I agree SOME things are ok. In fact, some (like the Art Institute) are even visited by the locals. (Gasp!) But for many of the others, it's a matter of advertising hype. And, IMHO, one of the prime responsibilities of these types of forums is to assist those who don't know to look beyond the hype.

I never said it wasn't OK for the OP to try those types of foods she's happened to have mentioned. In fact, I gave her a hint how to tell which is a chain frequented by tourists and one where more locals go. Didn't I?

I could have been lazy and told her that she could always go to Portillo's - which is a national chain that started in Chicago - frequented by a lot of tourists. But since what they offer (Italian Beef and Chicago-style hot dogs) can be gotten at a *huge* amount of other (independently-run) places around the city, why would I do that?

If I was going to mention some places for Chicago-style hotdogs and the like, I would have said to go to Frank 'n Dawgs or the Chicago Dog House (in the DePaul University area of the Lincoln Park neighborhood) or to Flub a Dub Chub's (in the Boystown area of Lakeview). But I would recommend that she go there because they offer something *beyond* that particular style - something better. She could always try the first and be happy with the second. Or I could recommend Downtown Dogs on N. Rush or UB Dogs in the Loop (which also has Italian Beef).

With respect to Yelp - or any other forum (this one, for example) - it's all opinions. All the time. I think we all know you have to take them with a BIG grain of salt.

I don't recommend using merely one or two websites for finding dining (I use at least three myself) and I use them for differing reasons. For example, IMHO, Yelp has a good filtering system - particularly with respect to finding out those places in the neighborhoods - plus you just click on a hyperlink and can find directions how to get there. You type in "(Insert neighborhood/area here) restaurants in Chicago" and you get a lot of choices to research. Filter it down to best rated and go from there. AND I may add, about restaurants newly opened - or with big changes (change of chefs, etc.), you rarely find reviews posted so fast.

For the OP, I would recommend searching under local products, craft beers and the like on whatever website she may use.

Have your 23-year old daughter look at my suggestions on this and the other thread. Seriously, don't just settle. Have a visit you two will truly enjoy and remember with relish.

Bitter

Princess, you have a lot of good information; I'm not disputing that. But you seem to take this a little too serious. You seem to have a problem with chains, and with places that tourists go. We get it. You know what's new, hot and perhaps the best. That's great. I respect your knowledge, but that doesn't mean the rest isn't enjoyable.

And just because a joint is a chain, doesn't mean the rest of us have access to it. I wouldn't be going to Portillo's in Chicago, if I had one local. Are there better joints? Sure. But dang if I don't enjoy their Italian Beef (which was actually introduced to me by some folks in the burbs).

Keep making your excellent advice. I may try to hit one of your suggestions on my next visit. However, as a casual visitor, the places I mentioned bring me pleasure the one or two times a year I make it to the city.

exiledprincess

I apologize for the additional post. And I almost left without saying anything further - but I'm going to tell you why I do not put much credence in threads about food on travel forums. I know there will be backlash - but so be it.

Unfortunately, IMHO, travel forums have progressively become far too heavily slanted towards budget travel. MUCH too concerned with budget and far too little with the actual quality - and the two are certainly different things.

You have to wade through a lot (dozens/hundreds) of threads on junk food/fast food/tavern food (for example, deep-dish pizza, CS-style hotdogs and Italian beef sandwiches - again due to the hype), to find the golden ones pertaining to the better choices. Quite frankly, I feel sorry for those searching these threads for dining for a special night out or a serious traveler who wants a quality experience.

So I suggest that you take a look at the past couple of (fairly recent) threads posted by NeoPatrick where I made considerable contributions. You can click on my name and you will see them. You could research some of those suggestions on Yelp or other sites - maybe use them as a base for your further research because you normally see suggestions for - say - similar restaurants. Take a look at the restaurants which are winners and nominees for Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, if your dining budget isn't too high.

You are coming to visit a world-class dining destination for six days. It would be a shame to fritter away that opportunity.

Bitter

Point taken, princess, but the OP on this thread was looking for something that was associated with Chicago and referencing fish tacos, which are not particularly high brow. I think I read Patrick's threads, and saw great advice on higher end eateries. I doubt I contributed much or anything to those, at least not on the high end, which I know little about and rarely enjoy enough to justify the price.

taitai

I think ExiledPrincess has given you some great suggestions on the hot dog/Italian Beef front. In my many years of living in Chicago, I never knew anyone who went out for Deep Dish Pizza unless they had people from out of town visiting. It really has become all about the tourists. The same thing with the popcorn.

For a great Chicago dining experience, why don't you go to North Pond Cafe? Amazing food, great views, wonderful ambiance. Chicago is a city of neighborhoods so I suggest picking a few and trying some of the great restaurants there. Wicker Park, Pilsen, Logan Square, Lakeview, Chinatown, etc. Or hit some of the restaurants around Randolph.

exiledprincess

Bitter, I hope you didn't take that personally. I meant that comment in general. We are talking about dozens/hundreds of threads.

Actually, there were only a couple of suggestions for the upper tier places on NP's threads. Most were simply mid-level or maybe just a little higher.

IMHO, what you are dealing with is this: People who come from areas with much lower costs of living are not budgeting properly for those more expensive destinations (NYC, SF, Chicago, etc.) You are supposed plan a budget on what it will actually cost you to dine at the destination - not your home town.

Bitter

So true. My credit card hurts every time I visit the city.

Tangent: I would like your take on Eataly, princess and tai tai. Obviously, it could be considered a tourist attraction, but it seem that when I visited last summer it was a mix. On a friday afternoon I got the vibe that local workers were having a drink and a small meal after work (before heading home). Maybe it was still new enough to appeal to locals?

wtm003

We met a couple from Chicago while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta and she insisted that we go to Portillo's for the Italian beef. I didn't love it as it was too greasy for me, but my husband and son enjoyed their Chicago dogs and what was left of my sandwich. I understood though why many locals cringe at the hot dog and pizza recommendations. I do the same when I see recommendations for Casa Bonita in Denver.

My favorite restaurant in Chicago is Frontera Grill and since I'm usually only in town for a day or two I haven't been very good about seeking out new places.

I'd also be interested on thoughts about Eataly. It was a little "too much" for me and I was happy to get out of there.

cfc

Oh, please - some classic things don't cost much and are worth doing, e.g., street food in various cities around the world or free museums in some areas. And some expensive things are expensive for the sake of being expensive, so tourists who don't believe they're actually tourists can get an upscale, high-end ribboned bag or rave about how much they spent on a fancy-vore meal.

I'm all for paying more for something that will be that much more memorable and rewarding. Including a fancy bag or dinner. But just because people are looking for "budget"-range things or experiences doesn't mean they lack discrimination or taste.



And yes, Giordano's stuffed pizza isn't recognizable as the classic flat-crust pizza pie studded with a layer of some good ingredients and cheese. But it's still an experience worth having. It'll be inches high (deep) with layers of stuff that would qualify for a pretty dense lasagna-minus-pasta (crust, sauce, add-ins, and cheese, repeated). Just be prepared for being completely unable to finish an entire one and plan on either taking the remainder with you or having to abandon it with regret at the restaurant.