I grew up in Chicago but was never a big fan of hot dogs. I only visit about once a year now, but I will comment on my favorites in three different categories:

I used to love Pizzeria Uno on Ohio St, it may be firmly on the tourist trail but it is worth it to prove to yourself that Unoīs isnīt really a chain...there is no similarity between the original and an Unoīs in, say, California. Order sausage if you want a "real" Chicago pizza. Pizzeria Due on Wabash is basically the same thing if the wait at Unos is too long.

I also was a fan of the Italian Village on Monroe, both the "Village" upstairs (which is classic, cheap, red sauce, southern Italian) and the more recently opened Vivere which is very modern, more expensive, northern Italian. To be fair, I havenīt been to either of these places in ten years...but from what I am told they are still thriving.

A couple of years ago I took my parents to Charlie Trotterīs for their anniversary. This is one of the best restaurants in the US, and alone worth the trip to Chicago if you are a "foodie." I thought the service was the best I had experienced up to that point in any restuarant in any country. The food is really difficult to describe...rare ingredients, architectural presentation, bizarre combinations. All that said, you have to enjoy the tasting menu concept (there is no a la carte) and be prepared for overdone presentations, descriptions, etc. If this is your thing, this is where you want to go...if not, you will be happier elsewhere.

Let us know if you go...