Heavens

We are staying at the Hilton. Is Wildfire walking distance? Is this a steakhouse or what? Is there any other great not horribly expensive restaurant in walking distance from the Hilton downtown? We are looking for a very Chicago kind of place. Italian, chop, whatever.

I think the Hilton is across from the Art Institute???

Thanks

patg

Do you mean the Palmer House Hilton on Monroe? Wildfire, at 159 W. Erie, is about 1.5 miles from there. Very typical, and closer in, are places like Italian Village and Berghoff. Atwood and Trattoria No. 10 are also very good, just not Chicago institutions - yet.

You can review Chicago restaurants at metromix.com, chireader.com, or chimag.com You would be looking in the Loop/downtown for the places within walking distance of the Palmer House.

Maggi

http://centerstage.net/restaurants/wildfire.html

arjay

The Michigan Avenue Hilton is down a ways from the Art Institute. From something I heard recently, I had the impression that Italian Village was a break-the-bank place these days???

patg

Yes, the Chicago Hilton and Towers is at 720 S. Michigan - the Art Institute is at Adams and Michigan, 4 blocks north. The Palmer House is actually the closest Hilton to the Art Institute, that's why I thought Heavens meant she/he was staying at the PH.

Italian Village has three separate restaurants, from moderate to expensive. If Heavens is looking for restaurants in that area, she/he should look at the South Loop/Printers Row area.

patg

Whoops = above should read
"If Heavens is looking for restaurants in the Chicago Hilton and Towers area, she/he should look at the South Loop/Printers Row neighborhoods.

Heavens

It is the Hilton on Michigan. Thanks for clearing that up. The hotel suggested these:

Chicago Firehouse
Gioccos
Wildfire
Carmine's
Maggianno's

Also Gibson's and Gino and Georgettis has been reccommended to us. We have nine people ranging in ages of 13 to 53. Would like a lively place with really good food that won't break the bank. You know, entrees around 20. What do you think?

Thanks for your time.

Kristi

Gibson's and Gene and Georgetti's (which I thought was kind of stuffy) will both set you back more than $20 per entree and I believe they are both a la carte so you just get the steak and if you want something else you have to order it separately. Wildfire is a little more reasonably priced, you can see their menu at www.wildfirerestaurant.com. There are no prices but I think the top steaks run about $25 and come with sides.

I liked Gioco but I think the menu might be tough for the younger members of the party
http://www.gioco-chicago.com/menu.htm

A little more family friendly would be Maggiano's or Carmine's. I haven't tried Carmine's but it is one of the Rosebud restaurants, which is my favorite Italian in the city, and friends have said it is good. Both of these restaurants have hearty portions, we usually split an appetizer and an entree at Rosebud and still take food home.

Whichever you choose make reservations in advance, they are all popular and you have a large party.

Some of them should be on www.opentable.com if you want to try reserving online.

And you might also check out some reviews at www.metromix.com

Cerlaurie

While I like Rosebud, I do not care for Carmine's at all. Maggiano's is good and there is something for everyone in your group but it is not a "very Chicago kind of place". They have a family style dinner which is around your price range (maybe slightly higher) but you get a ton of food. If we go with a group, we make our own family style menu and it is less expensive and not so much food. When I think of Chicago institutions, I think of Italian Village or Bergoff's. Patg is right that there are three different restaurants with different price levels. I believe the most reasonable is called The Village. Greektown is also fun to go to with a group. I haven't been in a while so can't really recommend which is the best restaurant. I also really like Chicago Chop House for steaks but that would be more than $20 per person.

swalter518

I would avoid Gene and Georgettis--we went there a couple of weeks ago and were highly disappointed. If you want a good steak, try the Chop House or Mortons or even Gibsons or Ruth Chris' first. Wildfire is in the River North area, a lettuce entertain you restaurant. If you go on there website, you can probably check out the menu.

Heavens

Let me ask another question. If we are staying at the Hilton, what would be the best Italian nearby, either short taxi or walk??? Gioco's looks good. Concierge told me not to go to Pizzeria Unos, nothing special anymore. Rosebuds is good? What is Maggionos? Thanks again for all of your replies.

Heavens

swalter518

Rosebud is good--Gioco is supposed to be good-I've never eaten there. La Strada, at Randolph and Michigan is good too.

hampsterbrain

We just went to Wildfire for dinner this past Saturday. It was delish! I believe they have a family style sort of deal that is around $25 per person. Best steak I've had in a long time. Magnum's also has a similar family style package but I'm not sure how the food is.

DMG

We love Wildfire and they have plenty of other good things there -including salads and sandwiches. It is not really close to the Chicago Hilton. I personally like the Rosebud Steakhouse on Walton, RL, or Hugo's (the latter two both operated by Gibson's). Gene & Georgetti is great for us because we are known there but people who aren't regulars don't seem to get the same treatment. At Gibson's and their other properties, everyone is made to feel welcomed. Any of those mentioned are "very Chicago."

Another favorite, not too far from the Hilton is Opera, a "hip" Asian fusion restaurant.

Cerlaurie

Maggiano's is a family style Italian restaurant that is pretty popular. You can check out their menu at www.leye.com. Wildfire is owned by the same company. You can get to their menu along with all the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants from this website.

You can also check out the menu for Rosebud at: http://www.rosebudrestaurants.com/rosebudrush.htm.

My favorite Italian in the city is Francesca's. There is one on Taylor Street which is a short cab ride. Here is a link to their menu: http://www.miafrancesca.com/restaurants/taylor.html. There is also a Rosebud on Taylor Street.