My daughter and I are taking a long weekend in Chicago. She’s going to a conference but we’re going to squeeze in every hour of shopping and eating that we can. It’s been years since I’ve been there, but I used to love Chicago and while I’d rather be going in warmer weather, I’m looking forward to the trip.
Like I said, there’s shopping planned. We’ll definitely spend hours at Ikea (”People say Disney World is the happiest place in the world,” Megan said. “But it’s really Ikea.”) We’ll hit up Crate and Barrel. I’ve come up with a list of a few places I want to eat and my daughter is concerned: “How many times do you plan to eat?” she asked.
The answer is nine. That’s the appropriate number of meals plus a hot dog. So tell me: Where do we need to eat? Where’s the best hot dog? Where are the best ethnic stores so I can stock up the cooler for the drive back?
On the road food
Responses to “Is it still my kind of town?”
February 25th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Try the Greek Islands restaurant in Greektown/West Loop. The moussaka is fantastic.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Avec restaurant: great food, great wine list, small energetic space.
Geno’s East: best deep dish pizza
Bin 36: cool space, good food, great cheese selection.
MK: excellent food, great wine list.
Be sure to go to Sam’s Wines, it is the Mecca of wine shops.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
If you want an elegant dining experience, try Lawry’s Prime Rib. If you want knockout German food at affordable prices, go to The Berghoff. If you want Mexican, Rick Bayless is your man - Frontera Grill or Topolobampo. Geno’s East is super pizza, but Lou Malnati’s is pretty darn good too. I like the ribs & “garbage salad” at Carson’s, but you might not want to eat ribs in Chicago since you can get such good ones at home. Como Inn for Italian. Szechuan House for dim sum brunch on Sunday.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
First the shopping. There are 15 Trader Joe’s in Chicago - www.traderjoes.com. The one in Lincoln Park is only about 1.5 miles from the main Sam’s Wine - www.samswine.com.
Lunch - great Chinese at Ben Pao www.benpao.com.
Special dinner out - The Everest Room in the loop www.everestrestaurant.com
Pizza - Go to Girodano’s (skip Geno’s East - just for tourists) www.giordanos.com
Dessert - Tru for anything that pastry chef Gale Gand makes www.trurestaurant.com
Ethic - any place in Greektown. Santorini is good
www.santorinichicago.com (I would have said Berghoff but they closed the restaurant last year and now only do catering)
Restaurant with a view that has food good enough t to keep you from looking out the window - Signature Room at the 95th in the John Hancock Tower www.signatureroom.com
To have your mind blown - Alinea
www.alinea-restaurant.com
That leaves two meals for hot dogs.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Best Hotdog: Portillo’s at Clark & Ontario, near the Hard Rock. They use Vienna Beef dogs, and will fix it any way you like, and the fries are terrific, too.
Ditto The Berghoff for German food, even if it’s just The Berghoff Cafe now.
And yes, hit the Billy Goat at Lower Michigan & Hubbard, because the cheeseburgers ARE that good, on great rolls.
Sadly, Delicatessen Meyer in Lincoln Square has closed or I would recommend that.
Oh, and you need to hit Ann Sather; there are no better cinnamon rolls on earth. It’s in the Belmont & Clark area, take the Red Line to Belmont and it’s just up the street.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Superdawg is the best, oldest, and most famous hot dog in Chicago. Eat in your car. They bring it to you. No frills. Just good food.
Lou Malnati’s has the best local opinion that I’ve seen. But you have to try Gino’s East and Giordano’s too.
The Greek area and Russian area are probably two ethnic areas you won’t find in Memphis.
You have to at least eat at one Chicago steak house while there too.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I second most of GrantParish’s recs. Especially the TJ’s. I just spent my weekend driving 4 hours each way to fill up a cooler from Trader Joe’s in St. Louis.
I only take exception at the comment about Giordano’s - I actually prefer Lou Malnati’s, and know several locals who also like Gino’s East. There is nothing like a slice of sausage pizza and a beer on a cold wintry Chicago day. There is also a great malaysian place in chinatown (not penang) that looks like a total dump, but serves Indonesian and Malaysian food - it has a chinese name (that escapes me) but a sign that says “Malaysian Food” close to the L, apparently, the Indonesian was an after thought on the menu.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Buona Beef out in Schaumburg, not too far from IKEA. A must have Itlaian Beef dipped
February 25th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Grant- I take offense to that “just for tourists” comment! Giordano’s is some great pizza, but Geno’s is hardly anymore of a tourist trap. Trust me, I wouldn’t send anyone, Jennifer Biggs or otherwise, to a place only tourists go.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Not ethnic, but if you go for a Pot Belly sandwich, you will smile for years to come!!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I had an amazing dinner at Cafe Spiaggia.
http://www.levyrestaurants.com/Levy/DiningExperiences/Restaurants/Group2/Spiaggia.htm
February 26th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I second the recommendation of Lawry’s. They bring the prime rib around on a silver cart and make the salad at your table.
Also, Nick and Tony’s on Wacker is wonderful.
If you want some of the most incredible chocolates ever (to consume or bring back), check out Vosges. There are several locations around Chicago - one being in the 510 Michigan Ave. building (same location as Nordstroms). The owners do some of the most inventive things with chocolate I’ve ever seen or tasted.
If you take a break from shopping, don’t forget about the Art Institute. Best collection of Impressionist art outside the Musee D’Orsay.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Trader Joe’s is definitely on the list, and I’ll add Sam’s. I’ve eaten at Gino’s East and had no complaint other than I was unbelievably full! It was a long time ago–Michael, have you been there lately?
What is the Pot Belly? And Megan says we’re definitey going to Ann Sather, since she’s a cinnamon bun fool.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I’m another voice in favor of Giordano’s - that deep-dish spinach pizza is great.
If you’re out shopping or visiting the Art Institute on Michigan Ave. I’d recommend stopping for lunch at the Gage (http://www.thegagechicago.com/). If there is a better hamburger to be found on this planet, I’ve not yet encountered it.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I saw Ann Sather on one of the Food Finds segments on Fine Living Network last week. It did look really good. I have contacted my friend who lives in Lincoln Park for ideas about where to find gourmet food to bring home, Jennifer. I think you can find just about any ethnic food you want there, incl. neighborhoods of Swedish, Ukranian, & other cultures. I sure hope the weather holds out for you & Megan - it can be brutal this time of year. One of the most memorable evenings I ever spent in Chicago was dinner at Lawry’s & a performance by the Chicago Symphony afterwards. I play a little piano, & we were seated where we could watch the pianist’s hands - what a treat! Don’t forget Water Tower Place for shopping, & Woodfield Mall used to be the largest in the country until the Mall of America surpassed it. Can’t wait to hear about where you & Megan ended up. Chicago is one of the best eating cities in the country.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Pot Belly? It is the best sandwich shop in the US. They toast their rolls and the crispiness makes the sandwich awesome to start. Then all the additions make it just awesome. Make you forget Lenny’s, Firehouse, Subway, Quiznos.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
When the Berghoff was open as a full service restaurant, it was fun to eat there, especially for lunch before a 3:00pm start Cub game. The waiters were snippy, and the food was good, but not great. Still, a happy memory for a lot of years.
Now that Erika’s here is closed, I always eat German on trips to Chicago. One of the very best is just a little neighbohood spot NW of Wrigley Field-Laschet’s Inn Restaurant. It is in a German/Polish neighborhood. The last time I was there, the waitresses and my friend and I spoke English. All the other guests spoke German. They import Lowenbrau in barrels from Germany, not Milwaukee! All the food is great and inexpensive. They have hot little rye hard rolls or mini-loaves to die for. www.laschetsinn.com. 2119 Irving Park Road.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am
This may be too late but we have been to Chicago quite a bit and have a friend who lives downtown. The best Chicago stuffed pizza is Giordano’s and they will sell you half frozen pizzas to bring back on plane. Greektown is wonderful but I like Greek Islands the best and the saganaki. If they have Greek Chicken as daily special it is tender and wonderful. Byron’s Hot Dog Haus has the best Chicago hot dogs and you get everything but the kitchen sink on it. Carmichael’s is my favorite steak house in Chicago with a wonderful patio garden if weather is good. Bin 36 is best for fine dining and wine. Their flight tastings are great values and the restaurant is beautiful. Best attractions are the Art Institute and Shedd Aquarium. Mr. Beef on Orleans is great to “pick up” Italian Beef sandwiches but no place really to eat there. All neighborhoods have their little bars and restaurants with ethnic food galore.
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