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The Un-Tourist's Guide to Chicago

The Un-Tourist's Guide to Chicago

Old Aug 13, 2014, 6:16 am
  #31  
 
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thanks

Thanks, this is helpful.

Regarding restaurants, I did a little looking after posting here and you aren't kidding. The options are overwhelming. I don't even know where to start. We may just skip reservations and play it by ear when we get there.

We prefer quieter places, not seafood and not solely ethnic, not a long wait, not community tables (except for brunch), and have a budget that is fairly generous but not alinea level. I love small plates, contemporary american, mediterranean-influenced, restaurants with a view, eating outside, and good drinks. We may even just do a picnic in the park one evening weather-permitting (would eataly have options for this?). If you do have any favorites, I'd love to hear them.

We have lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, and brunch on Monday (labor day).

We will definitely look into those bikes and avoid Navy Pier - will probably try Hancock building lounge for drinks saturday night to catch navy pier fireworks.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by legalalien
Restaurant selection is too great to provide generic recommendations. Are you into Michelin-rated places, local ethnic eateries, or specific cuisine? Help us out, narrow the field a bit!

Hancock lounge doesn't always have a wait; in fact, I don't recall the last time I waited in line to get into the lounge. Early afternoon or late night should be fine. Drinks are expensive, but I usually take visitors there for one or two, just for the view.

Navy Pier will be crazy if the weather is good. And, speaking of weather, a bike tour is also a good idea if the weather is good. I don't know if I would recommend an organized tour - never been on one - but renting a CityBike is a great and expensive way to see the city and burn off some of that deep dish pizza.
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Old Aug 13, 2014, 11:36 am
  #32  
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Originally Posted by andyonthego
We prefer quieter places, not seafood and not solely ethnic, not a long wait, not community tables (except for brunch), and have a budget that is fairly generous but not alinea level. I love small plates, contemporary american, mediterranean-influenced, restaurants with a view, eating outside, and good drinks. We may even just do a picnic in the park one evening weather-permitting (would eataly have options for this?). If you do have any favorites, I'd love to hear them.
There aren't a ton of places that fit all of those requirements AND are near your hotel, but take a look at the menus/websites for:
* The Purple Pig
* Mercat a la Plancha
* Vera
* The Publican
* Avec
* Maude's Liquor Bar
* Perennial Virant and the upstairs rooftop bar J.Parker
* Balsan
* Sable
* Tanta (rooftop)
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Old Aug 13, 2014, 11:40 am
  #33  
 
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thanks

Thanks, this is helpful. I've read about Sable, the Purple Pig, and the Publican. I'll check out the others too.

Originally Posted by chgoeditor
There aren't a ton of places that fit all of those requirements AND are near your hotel, but take a look at the menus/websites for:
* The Purple Pig
* Mercat a la Plancha
* Vera
* The Publican
* Avec
* Maude's Liquor Bar
* Perennial Virant and the upstairs rooftop bar J.Parker
* Balsan
* Sable
* Tanta (rooftop)
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Old Aug 13, 2014, 2:37 pm
  #34  
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Originally Posted by andyonthego
Thanks, this is helpful. I've read about Sable, the Purple Pig, and the Publican. I'll check out the others too.
Just so you realize, Purple Pig & Avec don't take reservations and wait times can be long, so try to get there at off hours. (Lunch works well for Purple Pig.) Purple Pig, Publican and Avec all have communal seating, though there are some individual tables at PP and Publican.
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Old Aug 13, 2014, 5:08 pm
  #35  
 
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Originally Posted by andyonthego

We prefer quieter places, not seafood and not solely ethnic, not a long wait, not community tables (except for brunch), and have a budget that is fairly generous but not alinea level. I love small plates, contemporary american, mediterranean-influenced, restaurants with a view, eating outside, and good drinks. We may even just do a picnic in the park one evening weather-permitting (would eataly have options for this?). If you do have any favorites, I'd love to hear them.

We have lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday, and brunch on Monday (labor day).

We will definitely look into those bikes and avoid Navy Pier - will probably try Hancock building lounge for drinks saturday night to catch navy pier fireworks.

Thanks again.
Two suggestions - YES, do a picnic in Millennium Park or any other space along the lakefront. The weather has been extraordinarily beautiful this summer. Eataly is great. I really think it is but it's not unique to Chicago as you know. If you want something local, I'd recommend going to Pastoral for picnic goods.

http://www.pastoralartisan.com/

Another dining suggestion is Senza. It's inexpensive (it's all relative, right?) and fantastic. It's a small space. I don't eat gluten free and am honestly annoyed at the trend. But I didn't even know it was a GF restaurant until after I dined. It's an easy Uber/cab right up north.

http://www.senzachicago.com/
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Old Aug 14, 2014, 7:57 pm
  #36  
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Another option for a picnic, there is a Mariano's (local grocery store) on upper Randolph across the street from Millennium Park. Good deli, salad bar, hot bar, wine, sushi, etc, etc there. Good inexpensive option for a picnic.
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Old Aug 15, 2014, 9:23 am
  #37  
 
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Originally Posted by glg
Another option for a picnic, there is a Mariano's (local grocery store) on upper Randolph across the street from Millennium Park. Good deli, salad bar, hot bar, wine, sushi, etc, etc there. Good inexpensive option for a picnic.
As a bonus, Mariano's will grill meat or seafood purchased in the store for you, so you're not stuck with just the typical to-go items if you want something fresh.
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Old Aug 17, 2014, 11:46 am
  #38  
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I really like Panozzo's to grab deli/salads picnic items if we are going to be on/going to the museum campus/Soldier Field/Northerly Island
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Old Aug 17, 2014, 11:51 am
  #39  
 
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Originally Posted by Sweet Willie
I really like Panozzo's to grab deli/salads picnic items if we are going to be on/going to the museum campus/Soldier Field/Northerly Island
Panozzo's closed at the beginning of 2014.
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Old Aug 19, 2014, 10:47 pm
  #40  
 
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Originally Posted by chgoeditor
There aren't a ton of places that fit all of those requirements AND are near your hotel, but take a look at the menus/websites for:
* The Purple Pig
* Mercat a la Plancha
* Vera
* The Publican
* Avec
* Maude's Liquor Bar
* Perennial Virant and the upstairs rooftop bar J.Parker
* Balsan
* Sable
* Tanta (rooftop)
The Publican and Balsan are both excellent. Purple Pig is on a slightly lower tier but still very good. Note - The Publican is a lot of communal seating. Avec doesn't take reservations to my knowledge. The Publican also does a fantastic brunch.

I'd also recommend:

Girl and the Goat (need to reserve fairly far in advance for this one unfortunately, but you can see if something opens up in OpenTable. I wouldn't walk in)
Spiaggia
Table Fifty-Two

Takashi is a bit further out (requires an El or Cab trip) but is one of my favorites as well.
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Old Aug 21, 2014, 4:23 pm
  #41  
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Here's my "go-to" email I send to folks when they say, "do you have any restaurant recommendations in Chicago."

But before I post, let me second the suggestion to visit the Signature Room at the Hancock so you don't have to pay to ride an elevator; instead, you pay for a drink and the view.

J.Parker is my favorite rooftop right now.

Arami (Japanese Food (homemade ramen)/sushi; excellent food/comfortable space/taxi-ride/casual but a great meal!)
1829 West Chicago Ave
www.aramichicago.com

Antico (Neighborhoody Italian restaurant; homemade pastas; great meats; great wines)
1946 North Leavitt
www.anticochicago.com

Kumas Corner (best hamburger in Chicago; usually has a long wait)
2900 West Belmont Ave
http://www.kumascorner.com

La Scarola (Classic Italian, near River North, nothing fancy just the best Italian in the city!)
721 West Grand
www.lascarola.com

Belly Shack (Quick dine-in; lots of unique things; BYOB; directly at Western blue line stop)
1912 North Western
www.bellyshack.com

Mexique (Upscale Mexican Fusion)
1529 West Chicago Ave
www.mexiquechicago.com

The Bristol (Contemporary American, good meats (sometimes exotic), great craft beer list)
2152 North Damen Ave.
www.thebristolchicago.com

Laschets Inn (old world German place; schnitzel and potato pancakes)
2119 West Irving Park
www.laschetsinn.com

Parsons Chicken & Fish (best fried chicken, great cocktail list, cool outdoor patio area)
2952 West Armitage Ave
www.parsonschickenandfish.com

Sola (Fusion, American, Californian, great Sunday brunch)
3868 North Lincoln
www.sola-restaurant.com

Ming Hin (Chinatown, has good dim sum and good Chinese food)
2168 S. Archer (in the Chinatown mall)
www.minghincuisine.com

Enoteca Roma (Italian Food/Wine Bar; great Mangia Mangia deal for groups of 6 or more; good outdoor seating, right in Division St. Scene)
2146 West Division
www.enotecaroma.com

Mercat a la Planxa
638 South Michigan
www.mercatchicago.com

Longman & Eagle (upscale gastropub, awesome brunch, great drink list, no reservations)
2657 North Kedzie Ave.
www.longmanandeagle.com

Katsu (very authentic Japanese, excellent fish quality/freshness, not cheap but worth it)
2651 West Peterson

Wasabi (BYO; good ramen, skewers, and sushi; cool, casual place)
2115 North Milwaukee Ave
www.wasabichicago.com

Tango Sur (Argentine, BYOB great food & prices)
3763 North Southport
www.tangosur.qpg.com

Macello (Cozy Italian place, wood fired pizzas)
1235 West Lake Street
www.macellopizza.com

Toast (Breakfast/lunch; Stuffed French Toast)
746 West Webster
2046 North Damen
www.toast-chicago.com

Fat Rice (Macanese cuisine, long wait so arrive early, excellent food)
2957 West Diversey
www.eatfatrice.com

Julius Meinl (same place in Austria! Great breakfast and Viennese coffee)
3601 North Southport
www.meinl.com

Girl & the Goat (Stephanie Izzards place; book in advance; get the stuffed calamari and pigs face!)
809 West Randolph
www.girlandthegoat.com

Southport Grocery (great breakfast/brunch place)
3552 North Southport
www.southportgrocery.com

Lula Caf (Great food, no reservations, excellent weekend brunch)
2537 North Kedzie Blvd.
www.lulacafe.com

Yusho (Izakaya grill and other Asian dishes; fun and good!)
2853 North Kedzie
www.yusho-chicago.com

Big Star (Mexican, cash only, awesome whiskey bar, very cool place)
1531 North Damen
www.bigstarchicago.com

Shanghai Terrace (Chinese; dim sum; nicer place; great outdoor patio)
Inside the Peninsula Hotel
http://chicago.peninsula.com/pch/dining_01.html

Sapori Trattoria
2701 N. Halsted
www.saporitrattoria.net

Lillies Q (barbecue; great bar)
1856 West North Ave
www.lilliesq.com

Signature Room (BAR ONLY DO NOT EAT HERE, its overpriced and not good food; top of Hancock Building; amazing view)
John Hancock Building, 875 North Michigan Ave
www.signatureroom.com
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Old Aug 22, 2014, 7:33 pm
  #42  
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Originally Posted by UNITED959
Here's my "go-to" email I send to folks when they say, "do you have any restaurant recommendations in Chicago."

But before I post, let me second the suggestion to visit the Signature Room at the Hancock so you don't have to pay to ride an elevator; instead, you pay for a drink and the view.

J.Parker is my favorite rooftop right now....
Nice list!
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Old Aug 28, 2014, 10:12 pm
  #43  
 
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Originally Posted by Andrea Waters
Two suggestions - YES, do a picnic in Millennium Park or any other space along the lakefront. The weather has been extraordinarily beautiful this summer. Eataly is great. I really think it is but it's not unique to Chicago as you know. If you want something local, I'd recommend going to Pastoral for picnic goods.

http://www.pastoralartisan.com/

[/url]
+1 on this place. If Andyonthego sees this, you're looking for the one @ 63 E. Lake...maybe 5min walk from Aqua. There's also a Bockwinkels around the corner from the Aqua for more basic deli fare.

Jazz Festival is this weekend so a picnic in Millenium Park would also come with some good music...if you like jazz.

As for un-touristy things:

A different kind of view

Most go for the view from above -- either at the Hancock or Willis, but if you want a different, relatively high-level view of the City then head to the Daley Center Law Library. It's on the 30th floor, basically the top floor of the Daley Center (50 W. Washington). Yeah, I know, 30 floors doesn't sound high, but the floor plates in that building are probably 18-20 ft apart so it's the equivalent of a 50-60 story building. And with the central location you get a view in the middle of it all - with North, East and South exposures...maybe West too, but I can't remember. I really like it. You can sit and read the paper in quiet and take it all in, or check out any one of thousands of law books.

You have to go through security/metal detectors etc on the ground floor when you enter the building as the Daley Center is also the main courthouse in one of the largest consolidated court systems in the world. On a related note, if you like watching lawyers do their thing then stop one of the floors between 11-26 (lots of courtrooms). Most of the action is between 9 and 11:30am. The building closes up around 4:30pm so this is a daytime activity only.

Biking

The Lakefront makes for a really fun and scenic bike ride, but if you happen to be in Chicago on the last Friday of the month then check out http://chicagocriticalmass.org/. It's a monthly bike ride where hundreds of cyclists take over the City streets for a spin through the downtown area and nearby neighborhoods. It's a great way to see the City. All types of people...a colorful crowd for sure. Police escort to keep the peace between drivers and bikers. It starts at the Daley Center too - 5:30pm. Rent a Divvy bike or there's also bike rental station at the north end of Millenium Park which is only a few blocks from the Daley Center. Do it. Guaranteed fun. ^
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Old Oct 11, 2014, 9:48 am
  #44  
 
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Someone mentioned the polish community, any suggestions on good polish restaurants ??
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Old Oct 11, 2014, 10:16 am
  #45  
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Originally Posted by JonB110
Someone mentioned the polish community, any suggestions on good polish restaurants ??
I haven't been to either of these spots, but the local food community loves Podhalanka and Smak-Tak.
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