Hey Chicagoans! Restaurant suggestions?

[matonanjin]

I know this is a silly question. I fully realize this is a difficult question to answer. We all have different tastes and preferences and budget. But any suggestions are appreciated.

@bodia @sergiodeblanc and the rest of our Chicago delegation?!?! I mentioned a while back about going to the Clapton concert September 9. We are going to go into Chicago the previous week and spend at least week there. Of course some time will be spent at the Chicago Music Exchange! (goes without saying?) Negotiations for that included my giving up time at some home décor store We may try and get into a Bears game. Looks like we are going to be staying at a hotel (Hyatt) in what's called the Medical district area?

Definitely we want to hit a Chicago pizza place. And I want to take my wife to some obscenely expensive downtown steak house. But any and all suggestions appreciated.

 

[El Fenix]

Portillos

Giordanos/ Lou Malnottis

Gene & Georgettis

 

[Eddie kim]

Portillos

 

[11top]

@bodia @sergiodeblanc

I think they only eat tacos.

 

[Kiwi]

And I want to take my wife to some obscenely expensive downtown steak house.

Gene & Georgetti's. Menu here:

https://geneandgeorgetti.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/gene-georgetti_Chicago_SUMMER-22.pdf

Prices are not quite as bad as I'd guessed. YMMV.

Many fond memories of this joint. Wife's family ate there so often they'd make us wait in the kitchen for 10 minutes while they cleared a corner table for us on a Saturday night, thus skipping the 2-hour wait. It's that kind of place.

=K

 

[László]

Pizza has been well-addressed by others, so I'll go in the other direction. Here are some good restaurants that aren't pizza and might suit your other request: Obscene expense is a given at some of these, others are reasonable for the quality:

Avec - gourmet, small and crowed, but cool and upscale. http://www.avecrestaurant.com

Le colonial is a famous Vietnamese restaurant, fancy and good. https://www.lecolonialchicago.com

Girl and the Goat - a foodie place. Trendy and owned by a celebrity chef. https://girlandthegoat.com

Nobu Chicago - Japanese food, very good https://www.noburestaurants.com/chicago/home/

Bavettes Bar and Bouef is a good steakhouse. Hip and fancy. https://bavettessteakhouse.com/chicago/reservations/

Mastro's - excellent steak house. https://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/location/mastros-steakhouse-chicago/

Joe's - Seafood, steak and stone crab. A classic. https://www.joes.net/chicago/

Siena Tavern. Italian, and the pizza bar is great. https://www.sienatavern.com/menus/

 

[d4rkst4r]

Skip Portillos, they are Portillos in name only, the food quality and portion are reduced, already lofty prices relatively speaking are higher. There is nothing there you couldn't get anywhere else that's cheaper and better other than the chocolate cake IMHO.

If you have the time and want the best italian beef or combo and italian ice, it's Johnnies in Elmwood Park, which is not that far west of the city.

Hot dogs? Gene & Jude's in River Grove. Best dogs in the country, just never, never ask for ketchup. No 'chicago' dogs there...mustard, onion, relish, sport peppers, that's it. Fresh cut fries, tamales, and drinks. Stay away from peak hours, foodies taking selfies litter the parking lot.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Burger King

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Tufano’s is pretty close to you. It’s a good place to sit and eat Italian/wieners/meats in a tracksuit or pajamas. Not fine dining, not sodium city chain, and did I mention it’s pretty close?

It’s a solid weekday

I think they only eat tacos.

Frontera Grill is still a food destination all these years later. It’s a mid-upscale-ish kinda Mexican restaurant by a famous white dude chef.

Even if you don’t drink coffee or tequila, you have to ask about the cafe con leche drink and get one. Even a few sips should put it in the top 10 hot beverages of your life.

 

[László]

I forgot to mention Petterino's if you're going to the theater (and why wouldn't you be, since the shows are great?). It's very, very good.

Petterino's | Authentic Italian Fare | Chicago Theatre District

Petterino's is located just steps away from Michigan Avenue in the heart of Chicago's Loop and Theatre District. Petterino's has been a beloved downtown icon in the Chicago community for 20 years, continuing to offer the same spirit and tradition that diners know and love.

petterinos.com

 

[El Fenix]

Do check out Lou Mitchell's for breakfast if you get a chance.

 

[bodia]

So, I think that hotel is out near the United Center. I'm not sure about anywhere to eat in that area. Never really spent any time there, except to go to a concert or Blackhawks game. But, here are some great places to check out in the Loop, that others haven't mentioned.
Italian Village - 71 W Monroe - great Italian food and a really cool atmosphere.
Harry Caray's - 33 W Kinzie - great food, all around. Steaks, burgers, Italian (the Mrs loves their eggplant parm). Pretty neat place.
Miss Ricky's - 203 N Wabash - street level of the Virgin Hotel. Diner kind of vibe. Good food. Love their breakfast....especially the breakfast martini
Gibson's Steakhouse - 1028 N Rush St - probably the most renowned steakhouse in Chicago.

Boni Vino - 111 W. Van Buren - ok, not a classy place. Good Italian food and pizza. The only reason I mention this place is for the "atmosphere." When you're there, you'll feel pretty sure that you're being taped by the FBI of the 60s and 70s. This place screams "mob". I believe @d4rkst4r can back me up on this. I spent a couple of meals in this place being chatted up by the owner, and his son. Talk about dropping a "dime" on the Bears. Colorful language, etc.

 

[d4rkst4r]

Boni Vino.....good food indeed. Long, narrow space, pretty dark in the back half, red/white checked tablecloths. Definitely a worthwhile Chicago 'experience '.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

Killer Steak ?

Gibsons, Mortons or Harry Carey At Gibsons, get the Twice Baked Potato with the killer Cow ...

Pizza ? Be prepared to be disappointed ...

Lou Malnati, and Giordano's are incrediburgibily expensive ... $40 Pizza ? and I have had better Deep Dish at Pizza Pappalis (which ain't in Chicago) ...

Portillos Italian Beef is a good lunch... About the only thing "Chicago" I would miss. And they make a good Bacon Cheese Burger (smokes a Whopper, like SE vs Core ) . Kind of a Five Guys alternative (but they don't offer jalapenos )

Chicago Hot Dog ? Absolutely Insane. As if they went out of their way to be different . Edible. The sport peppers are cool . Portillos does a good representation. But conceptually unsound ...

Lafayette Coney Island (also, Not in Chicago ) kicks their butts ...

I Debarred Boni Vinos , as " Junior" is too obnoxious to stomach ......

 

[László]

Killer Steak ?

Gibsons, Mortons or Harry Carey At Gibsons, get the Twice Baked Potato with the killer Cow ...

Pizza ? Be prepared to be disappointed ...

Lou Malnati, and Giordano's are incrediburgibily expensive ... $40 Pizza ? and I have had better Deep Dish at Pizza Pappalis (which ain't in Chicago) ...

Portillos Italian Beef is a good lunch... About the only thing "Chicago" I would miss. And they make a good Bacon Cheese Burger (smokes a Whopper, like SE vs Core ) . Kind of a Five Guys alternative (but they don't offer jalapenos )

Chicago Hot Dog ? Absolutely Insane. As if they went out of their way to be different . Edible. The sport peppers are cool . Portillos does a good representation. But conceptually unsound ...

Lafayette Coney Island (also, Not in Chicago ) kicks their butts ...

I Debarred Boni Vinos , as " Junior" is too obnoxious to stomach ......

You're from Michigan, right? I mean, Lafayette and Papalis...

Chicago hot dogs are just...yeah, we agree.

I don't mind the price of Lou Malnati - if only the pizza justified it. But it's basically an over-thick, overstuffed, melange of indigestion-causing carbs and goo that Chicago folks love for whatever twisted reason. But hey, they love Da Bearss, too. So...

I get to Chicago several times a year to visit my kids. We go out to restaurants a lot there. But I don't care for the pizza, except at a few of the higher end restaurants where it's NOT Chicago-typical pizza.

However, the good restaurants there absolutely clobber the restaurants here, with only a couple of exceptions. It wasn't always that way, but world class places like the London Chop House and Caucus Club are either long gone or under different ownership, and ain't the same at all.

 

[Wakester]

Navy Exchange Mobile Canteen used to be good. But that was in the late 80's and I was poor. Now I eat at Taco Bell.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

However, the good restaurants there absolutely clobber the restaurants here, with only a couple of exceptions. It wasn't always that way, but world class places like the London Chop House and Caucus Club are either long gone or under different ownership, and ain't the same at all.

Oh Man ... That's sad ...

The Durn Casinos have wrecked Greektown too ...

Hurt me to my heart, to see Hellas ... a parking lot ...

Yep ... Native Born Deetroiter ! Boston Edison / Wayne State Univ ... Deetroit Central HS (when it was still in the system)

ChiTown is a real city ... but one I find over promises and underdelivers !

I 'm looking for the Bears to get good , with their "The Ohio State University" QB (I lived behind enemy lines in Columbus, Ahia for 16 years ... actually liked it )

 

[László]

Oh Man ... That's sad ...

The Durn Casinos have wrecked Greektown too ...

Hurt me to my heart, to see Hellas ... a parking lot ...

Yep ... Native Born Deetroiter ! Boston Edison / Wayne State Univ ... Deetroit Central HS (when it was still in the system)

ChiTown is a real city ... but one I find over promises and underdelivers !

I 'm looking for the Bears to get good , with their "The Ohio Stater University" QB (I lived behind enemy lines in Columbus, Ahia for 16 years ... actually liked it )

Native Detroiter here, too...Palmer Woods, Cass Tech, UM, Wayne State Law.

I agree about Columbus, it's a nice place! But I do love going to Chicago. My daughters know it better than I do, of course. But I like it a lot, except for the TRAFFIC!!

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

Wow we have really run in the same circles ...

 

[bodia]

You're from Michigan, right? I mean, Lafayette and Papalis...

Chicago hot dogs are just...yeah, we agree.

I don't mind the price of Lou Malnati - if only the pizza justified it. But it's basically an over-thick, overstuffed, melange of fart-and-indigestion-causing carbs and goo that Chicago folks love for whatever twisted reason. But hey, they love Da Bearss, too. So...

I get to Chicago several times a year to visit my kids. We go out to restaurants a lot there. But I don't care for the pizza, except at a few of the higher end restaurants where it's NOT Chicago-typical pizza.

However, the good restaurants there absolutely clobber the restaurants here, with only a couple of exceptions. It wasn't always that way, but world class places like the London Chop House and Caucus Club are either long gone or under different ownership, and ain't the same at all.

Real Chicago pizza is tavern style, not the deep dish stuff. A trip to Nick & Vito’s is a must