Chicago - Help...casual dinner in downtown Chicago

Hey all. I am planning a quick team meeting for work in downtown Chicago mid-July. Some on my team have never been to the city and we are going to have a little downtime to walk around. Staying at the W Lakeshore. Need some suggestions for dinners out. Here are specifics

1. Group of about 20-25 or so
2. Prefer casual more than anything else - we get tired of long drawn out dinners. Something where shorts is OK attire would be nice
3. Would love to hit a deep dish pizza place one night
4. Would prefer to be able to walk to a restaurant...though doing the L is fine too
5. Going to Wrigley for a rooftop game one night already
6. Price doesn't really matter - just looking for a couple of good options

Any good suggestions for me? I don't know the city that well.

Consider Heaven on Seven on Rush near Michigan. Walkable from the hotel, casual, good. Can't imagine your group size will be a problem if you arrange in advance.

I can recommend Vinci at Halsted and Willow. Not walking, but very close to the Red Line stop at North/Clybourn, which you can catch at Chicago and State (or Grand).

Good solid food, and they have a couple back rooms that they'd probably put your size group in if you plan ahead - a great way to kick back and not worry about other people being bothered. Dress is not a problem.

Thanks guys Cajun and Italian always sound good. Anymore that someone could help me out with?

If everyone's staying at W-Lakeshore, that's too fun a place to leave! If it were my team, I'd get a meeting/dining room at the W, then order a bunch of deep-dish pizza from Lou Manalti's or Uno's or Giordano's (my fave). Let the W provide beer, drinks, etc, and send a couple of team members to go get pizza in a taxi. The W would likely provide plates, ways to keep pizza warm, etc. (these pizza places are a 5-min taxi ride away---order deep dish pizza in advance, since usually a 45-minute cooking time)

I agree, long dinners after all-day team meetings are no fun. When we have the casual dinners at the meeting hotel, people have more time between end-of-mtg and gathering for dinner......and with this casual dinner, people can slip out early for rest, or rendevouz (sp?), and the serious drinkers can hit the bar at the W without worry about getting back to the hotel.

arizonawildcat you perhaps should ask a mod to move this thread to the Chicago forum, probably get more play.@:-)

If everyone's staying at W-Lakeshore, that's too fun a place to leave! If it were my team, I'd get a meeting/dining room at the W, then order a bunch of deep-dish pizza from Lou Manalti's or Uno's or Giordano's (my fave). Let the W provide beer, drinks, etc, and send a couple of team members to go get pizza in a taxi. The W would likely provide plates, ways to keep pizza warm, etc. (these pizza places are a 5-min taxi ride away---order deep dish pizza in advance, since usually a 45-minute cooking time)

Love the idea as I too have done this in other cities with a team but also on vacation with the family. To split some hairs, Girodano's is a pie (crust on top & bottom) which I personally think is the worst kind of deep dish. Go with the ORIGINAL Uno's or Due's if downtown.

I can recommend Vinci at Halsted and Willow. thread on Vinci: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/308602-tuscan-style-pig-roast-vinci.html

If Vinci is doing the Tuscan roast pig, then for sure go^

Well..... the Chicago pizza style preferences are sooooo personal.....so take advantage of the location at W-Lakeshore to order from 2 or 3 famous pizza places!

A pizza+beer+wine team dinner can be the perfect unwinding after a day stuck sitting in a conference room. With informal food, folks can circulate to talk to everyone....not be stuck at another table all night at a restaurant. It's a good Chicago-only experience!

Hey all. I am planning a quick team meeting for work in downtown Chicago mid-July. Some on my team have never been to the city and we are going to have a little downtime to walk around. Staying at the W Lakeshore. Need some suggestions for dinners out. Here are specifics

1. Group of about 20-25 or so
2. Prefer casual more than anything else - we get tired of long drawn out dinners. Something where shorts is OK attire would be nice
3. Would love to hit a deep dish pizza place one night
4. Would prefer to be able to walk to a restaurant...though doing the L is fine too
5. Going to Wrigley for a rooftop game one night already
6. Price doesn't really matter - just looking for a couple of good options

Any good suggestions for me? I don't know the city that well.

MK Chicago will be an experience to remember. Super good food, great service but you could wear jeans etc.

Well..... the Chicago pizza style preferences are sooooo personal.....so take advantage of the location at W-Lakeshore to order from 2 or 3 famous pizza places!

A pizza+beer+wine team dinner can be the perfect unwinding after a day stuck sitting in a conference room. With informal food, folks can circulate to talk to everyone....not be stuck at another table all night at a restaurant. It's a good Chicago-only experience!

I love the idea of a pizza taste-off, don't forget Lou Malnotti's, which is actually the only deep dish that I'll eat. Might be hard to coordinate with the hotel, however. 20-25 people is too big for one of your rooms. You'd need to get another space, and hotels don't usually like people bringing in their own food.



thread on Vinci: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/308602-tuscan-style-pig-roast-vinci.html

If Vinci is doing the Tuscan roast pig, then for sure go^

I'm checking on the Roast Pig as their website doesn't say anything yet. In any case that is just on Sundays so may not work for you.

MK Chicago will be an experience to remember. Super good food, great service but you could wear jeans etc.

MK is superb, a group of 20-25 might be big for them unless they have a private room I don't recall seeing. They have a great mezzanine that would handle a group that size, however.

I took a decent-sized group to Reza's once. Persian food, quite memorable and cheap with vegetarian options. It ain't the same old pizza.

They have a banquet room. I seem to recall that they can arrange a shuttle bus for groups from downtown locations.

It's been years, so check details.

http://rezasrestaurant.com/

Pizanos at 864 N. State has Malnati-type pizza, and also thin crust pizza - You can reserve ahead and they do have a party room.

Lou Malnati's delivers if you decide to eat at the hotel.


If you want Steak, Gene & Georgettis is pretty casual (500 N. Franklin)

Pizanos at 864 N. State has Malnati-type pizza, and also thin crust pizza - You can reserve ahead and they do have a party room.

Lou Malnati's delivers if you decide to eat at the hotel.


If you want Steak, Gene & Georgettis is pretty casual (500 N. Franklin)

I was thinking of Pizano's (http://www.pizanoschicago.com/) too (in addition to Uno & Due as Sweet Willie suggested). Yum!

I've just spotted this thread and moved it into the Chicago forum from the Midwest.

SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator

Pizanos at 864 N. State has Malnati-type pizza, and also thin crust pizza - You can reserve ahead and they do have a party room.

Lou Malnati's delivers if you decide to eat at the hotel.

The Malnati's on Wells has a party room as well, (had my rehearsal dinner there :) )

The Malnati's on Wells has a party room as well, (had my rehearsal dinner there :) )

^ I've used it for an event as well. The pizza is much better when it just comes out of the oven and the crust is crunchy! And very close to the Loop.

MK is superb, a group of 20-25 might be big for them unless they have a private room I don't recall seeing. They have a great mezzanine that would handle a group that size, however.


Balcony would be perfect. They also do have a room upstairs for private events.

The River North Malnati's delivers...I'd have them deliver to the hotel as others have said. However, you are in walking distance to Gino's East--just not sure if they have space for that large a group.

Also walkable would be Purple Pig--hot new restaurant ("Cheese, wine and swine"), but they take no reservations so you would definitely need to go at an "off" time.

A few of my favorites...

- Zapatista (Mexican)
- Goose Island (Brewery)
- Cafe Iberico (Tapas)
- Publican (delish!!!!!)
- Market (Good roof top deck)
- Pegasus restaurant (Greek)

MK also has a 'burger bar': Its about a 15 minute walk from Wrigley Field - and its very good.

http://dmkburgerbar.com/

Also I suggest Avec. Casual (and loud), common tables, no reservations. Delicious cheese/meat and small plates.

edit - just noticed that this is for a large group. Never mind!

MK also has a 'burger bar': Its about a 15 minute walk from Wrigley Field - and its very good.

http://dmkburgerbar.com/

that's on our babysitter-night list, haven't made it yet :(

A few of my favorites...

- Zapatista (Mexican)
- Goose Island (Brewery)
- Cafe Iberico (Tapas)
- Publican (delish!!!!!)
- Market (Good roof top deck)
- Pegasus restaurant (Greek)

Just went to the Publican Saturday night for the first time...we loved it! It's a cab ride for the OP, but worth it!