http://www.flyertalk.com/forum en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:45:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.flyertalk.com/forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1019234-meet-me-ord.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:27:58 GMT I know it's some way off yet, but next May my wife and I are flying from ORD to LAS on UA108 that departs at 4.55pm.

But her's the deal, she's flying in from LHR on UA949 that arrives at 3.20pm and I'm flying in from BOS on UA537 arriving at 3.25pm.

My wife has regularly done INT-DOM at SFO and LAX but never at ORD. Can someone advise what's the INT-DOM xfer process involve at ORD and what would be the best suggestion for meeting up in the airport other than at the gate for the LAS flight. Obviously at this point in time we hae no idea which concourse the LAS flight would be departing from.

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice. ]]> Chicago cssaus http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1019234-meet-me-ord.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1018918-report-smattering-chicago-restaurants.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:49:33 GMT On my recent trip to Chicago (my first time) I was able to try some of the many restaurants this great food city has to offer. I thought I would share my experiences: _*The Highlights*_ *Frontera Grill*: We really loved the fancy Mexican food... On my recent trip to Chicago (my first time) I was able to try some of the many restaurants this great food city has to offer. I thought I would share my experiences:

The Highlights

Frontera Grill: We really loved the fancy Mexican food at this bastion of this cooking style. From the guacamole and ceviche to the carne asada and plantains everything was simply fantastic. My sister and I thought that this was the best fancy Mexican food we have had and we cannot wait to return and try Topolobampo and Xoco next time.

Portillo's: Loved the hot dogs here and such a fantastic theatrical experience, from the studio style kitchen operation, to the pick up counter, to the millions of people that come on foot and through the drive-through and of course to the hot dogs. Certainly beats Greys Papaya in NYC hands down and I never expected those sport peppers to pack the kick they do. Will return again but next time we will try Hot Doug's.

Lou Malnati's: We really enjoyed the food at Malnati's -- the deep dish pizza was different from what I expected. I was expecting something a lot heavier, greasier, and more artery clogging than it was. Of course, it was artery clogging but simply not as much as I had expected. The crust was great -- it is hard to decide which I like better, the deep dish at Malnati's or the thin crust at Grimaldi's in NYC. Still, a great place and a great meal.

Potbelly Sandwich Works: This place was simple but they executed it very very well. The sandwiches were great, the soups were great and milkshakes were great. Love this place for a simple and cost effective meal.

Friends: A small quaint and retro modern sushi bar cum lounge was a nice surprise on this trip. Located at Rush and Superior the sushi and the Japanese food was quite good and quite reasonable as well. The service was friendly and the rice used in the sushi was pretty decent. I wouldn't expect top sushi place quality but it is still quite good and highly recommended.

Decent but nothing special

Giordano's: We are not fans of stuffed crust pizza so we opted to try their regular pizza and their spaghetti with meatballs. Both were good but we found the pizza a little disappointing. The pasta was good and the small was humongous!! Typically pizza tastes better the next day -- regrettably this one didn't.

Wow Bao: After hearing so much about this place we tried the location in the Water Tower Place mall. The chocolate bao was really good and is a great idea. We found the savoury ones - teriyaki chicken, kung pao chicken, and the barbeque pork to all taste the same due to the same flavour notes common to each bao (ginger and lemongrass). The service was terribly surly but it was good to give them a try.

Vong's Thai Kitchen: I knew going in that this may be a little disappointing but I wanted to try it out anyhow. It was decent but nothing special. The food was decent and even asking for spicy the food came out very mild. The pad thai was good as was the spicy beef but the service by the waiter/waitress was very poor. The bussers and support staff, however, busted their rear ends. I am not sure if I would return.

Sheer and Utter Disappointments

Pierrot Gourmet, Peninsula Hotel: I had high expectations for this place as it is operated by the highly lauded Peninsula hotel. I left so underwhelmed and very disappointed. The food was mediocre at best -- the French onion soup was salty broth with a sprinkling of onions and a piece of bread with a little cheese on top floating in the centre. It took 20 minutes for the soup to come out (understandable if it was being gratined) and took even longer for our main courses to come out. There was an OktoberFest special on so I ordered the leberkase and my sister the pesto chicken tarte flambée. The tarte was bland and flavourless and the leberkase (bavarian meatloaf) salty and slightly overcooked. The mashed potatos were decent but the sauerkraut was limp, soggy, and not very sour. The service was as clueless as it could get.

NoMi, Park Hyatt Chicago: I had heard much about this restaurant but I had my reservations. The food was so-so, the service was so-so, the room felt cold and sterile but the cost was astronomical. 16 pieces of sushi, a sandwich, a salad, one tea and one diet coke came to $140 including tax and tip. Fortunately, we had a $100 dining credit but still this was a ridiculous amount for such average fare.

BTW, Nomi in Japanese means flea. We most certainly were fleaced!!

Charlie Trotters: I think I will create a separate thread to discuss this one.

If anyone is interested, here is a link to a thread in the Luxury Hotels forum with links to my hotel stays as well as couple other threads by other posters:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...ry-hotels.html ]]> Chicago luxury http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1018918-report-smattering-chicago-restaurants.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1016937-why-liquid-soap-ord-so-watery.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:38:04 GMT Not sure where to put this...please move it if necessary. I have wondered for years why the liquid soap at the ORD restrooms are so watery. Finally, I saw one of the janitor putting it in, asked him and found out why. Basically, it is very... Not sure where to put this...please move it if necessary.

I have wondered for years why the liquid soap at the ORD restrooms are so watery. Finally, I saw one of the janitor putting it in, asked him and found out why.

Basically, it is very hard to squeeze the liquid soap into the little hole on top of the dispenser. They don't have a tool to do this. So, it seems the would pour it into another bottle (like bottled water bottle), dilute it somewhat and try to do it this way.

So, it is certainly inefficient and sort of unsanitary. I wonder why they can't do this right at ORD while it seems fine everywhere else? (It seems some restrooms have the foam soap now as well.)

If anyone in a position of power is listening/reading this, please do something about it. ]]> Chicago username http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1016937-why-liquid-soap-ord-so-watery.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1014874-classic-german-hefeweizen-breakfast-sat-nov-14-10-am-flossmoor.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:52:51 GMT The Flossmoor Station brewpub, "Best Small Brewpub in the US 2006," is having a classic German breakfast with Hefeweizen, Weisswurst, etc. on Nov. 14, 10 am. $10 a person.

American-style food also available if you prefer.

$5 for the whole weekend on the Metra system (take the Electric Line from Millennium Station), and it drops you right next door. PM me with questions.

Werner and Willie, I'm looking at you.

Info here, about the 5th item down:

http://flossmoorstation.blogspot.com/ ]]> Chicago toomanybooks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1014874-classic-german-hefeweizen-breakfast-sat-nov-14-10-am-flossmoor.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013505-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccination-available-ord.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:10:47 GMT Has anybody noticed whether the medical clinic at O'Hare are offering walk-in H1N1 immunization yet? ]]> Chicago Passmethesickbag http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013505-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccination-available-ord.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013403-downtown-chicago-parking-next-week-events.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:49:36 GMT Staying next week for 4 nights at the Hilton Suites on Deleware Avenue near the Mag Mile. Parking is 44 bucks a day/night for in and out...anybody know anything about this hotel and/or if there is any other in and out parking places within a couple... Staying next week for 4 nights at the Hilton Suites on Deleware Avenue near the Mag Mile. Parking is 44 bucks a day/night for in and out...anybody know anything about this hotel and/or if there is any other in and out parking places within a couple of blocks that would be significantly cheaper. Also..if anyone knows of anything unique happening in town next Thursday - Sunday, let me know. Thanks for the help. ]]> Chicago kapitman http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013403-downtown-chicago-parking-next-week-events.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013286-transfer-aa-kl-ord-missed-connection.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:43:37 GMT I'm about to buy a ticket from Orbitz or Expedia that begins with AA from MIA to ORD - arrival at 9:30 a.m. - and departure from ORD on KE at 11:20 a.m - March, 2010. (I'm connecting in ICN for REP.)

What would happen if the American Airlines Flight is delayed (it's happened before from MIA to ORD) and I missed the Korean Air connection? - Does KE have to put me on the next flight(s) to my destination, without additional charge?

I'm new to FlyerTalk so hopefully I'm posting in the correct forum.

Thanks! ]]> Chicago orbweaver http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013286-transfer-aa-kl-ord-missed-connection.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013249-entering-ord-airport-middle-night.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:09:52 GMT I'll be in ORD to see a concert at the AllState arena. I'll be touching down (YWG-ORD) 7:45pm and showtime is at 9pm. I figure, the concert will end around 11:30-midnight. The following morning, I have an 8am flight to YVR. After the show and before my flight, I have about 7.5 hrs to kill. I was thinking of getting a bite to eat at SteakNShake for an hour or 2, then head to the ORD to take a nap in T2 till 6am and quickly freshen up at the Hilton Health Club. Am I able to get back into the airport in the middle of the night? I heard security may tell me to leave and get a hotel room. :confused: ]]> Chicago chatmax http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1013249-entering-ord-airport-middle-night.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011901-paying-cook-county-property-tax-cash-coins.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:24:28 GMT I'm partaking a bit in the "dollars coins from the mint paid by credit card with free shipping" program.

Semi-annual Cook County property tax payments are due in about a month.

Has anyone ever tried to pay the tax with cash? Any problems? Will they likely freak out if I show up at the local county building with a two-wheeler loaded down with dollar coins?

I guess I could call them, but what fun would that be? ]]> Chicago toomanybooks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011901-paying-cook-county-property-tax-cash-coins.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011662-traffic-jam-ord.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:11:09 GMT We all know O'hare is notorious for delays, but I found this announcement from the GA amusing:

"The a/c left the hanger 30 minutes ago, but is stuck in a jam up on the taxiway. We have no way of knowing how much longer it will take for the a/c to taxi or how close it, but the tower has confirmed that it is stuck somewhere in the jam up."

Now I have heard of long queues to take off, but 45+ minutes to taxi? Does anyone know if there was some sort of accident or is this just normal ops for ord? ]]> Chicago doctor15 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011662-traffic-jam-ord.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011027-garretts-popcorn-hours-ord.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:06:14 GMT Anyone know the operation hours of Garrett's Popcorn at O'Hare ? I have an 8am flight ORD-YVR. I was hoping that I can grab a fresh bag that day to bring back home and to munch on the plane. :D ]]> Chicago chatmax http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1011027-garretts-popcorn-hours-ord.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1008994-best-lounge-ord.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:13:41 GMT I haven't flown out of O'Hare in a while now (a year?)... which lounge should I visit?

Thanks! :) ]]> Chicago hairpeace http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chicago/1008994-best-lounge-ord.html