jbw's Profile
Only in Chicago and not very expensive?
If you can find your way over to the Blue Line (the O'Hare Line) that will take you easily to Podahalanka at the Division stop. It's a good place for lunch or early dinner, and from there it's an easy walk up Milwaukee Avenue (to Damen say) and into Wicker Park for one of the more interesting local shopping areas:
http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/podhalanka/menu
Please critique my list
Coalfire is terrific if you like a pan pizza (not as thick or overflowing with stuff as traditional Chicago-style pizza but breadier than the Neapolitan kind.) If you're fond of Neapolitan pizza, Spacca Napoli is worth a detour. On the other hand, I'd scratch Quartino, CP Cafe, Atwood, Custom House, Vivere from your list--all are quite good if you're in the neighborhood, but I don't find them to be exceptional experiences, and a couple are a little inconsistent. Mundial, tho, is an excellent choice, particularly if you can't get into a Bayless place.
Non-swanky steakhouse downtown?
Not too far to the south is Chicago Firehouse Steakhouse. Once our former mayor's favorite hangout for steaks (although with his current pension plan, he can probably now afford better), it may not be the best steak in Chicago but it's within your price range, and quite dependable:
http://www.mainstayhospitality.com/index.php?section=3
Staying South of the Loop - anything close by?
In the other direction, you're not too far from Greektown. Along with many Greek restaurants, you'll find Artopolis Bakery for baked goods and breakfasts. Just go straight west on Jackson. (Also on Jackson is Lou Mitchell's, for what can be a very interesting Chicago breakfast.) A little bit further up on Clinton is Chicago's relatively new French Market, where you'll find some unique specialty shops along with basic groceries. And, if you're here on Sunday morning you'll be close to the Maxwell Street Market on Canal, home of some of the best Mexican street food in the country.
Coming from San Francisco and want unusual and unique ethnic eats.
Also Podhalanka, right near the Blue Line stop on Division. Try the pierogis and the white borscht.
Upscale Diners
I agree with this assessment.
Another to add to your list. American Depot Diner. You'll need a car, but the pot roast sandwich is one of the best sandwiches in Chicago. It's a fairly new spot that specializes in well-done versions of old classics. Call ahead to make sure they're open if/when you decide to go.
Lou Mitchell's (on Jackson) mentioned below is an old classic, and like some old classics they can be very uneven, but if they're on you'll have a memorable breakfast. Be sure to order something with eggs ( their feta omelets can be top-notch.)
Chicago's best Chinese bun?
Also try Saint Anna Bakery in the CT mall for both savory and sweet (try the coconut custard) buns . Their egg custard tarts and curry turnovers are also well worth a try.
Not too far away on Canal is the Richwell Market with a large section of pastries, and in the morning buns frequently hot from the oven.
Ribs
Honky Tonk is also one of the few BBQ's with beef ribs. You might want to also check out Barn & Co, which also, on occasion, smokes prime rib:
http://barnandcompany.com/
Three days in Chicago - lunches near the Palmer house
There's a Pizanos nearby, and you definitely want to check out Cafecito for a quick inexpensive lunch
Need feedback re: 1 week in Chicago
If you like Pastoral, you might also like Toni's:
http://www.tonipatisserie.com/
Need feedback re: 1 week in Chicago
Piccolo Mondo, casual Italian, is right across the park from MSI, and their pastas are usually pretty good for lunch. I wouldn't recommend Salonica unless you are a real aficionado of those old Greek coffee shops, but you can pick up some pretty good pastries a little further down on 57th at the Medici bakery and Z&H Market cafe
Memorial Day Weekend - need help!
Like most of us who are getting on in years, the Chicago classic Lou Mitchell's, across the street from Union Station, has its good days and its bad days. You might want to stick to the eggs and omelettes to raise the odds in your favor, and the last time I was there, it reminded me of the good ol' days. Anyway, they get crowded on Saturday mornings, but if you're open to getting there really early (they open at 5:30), you shouldn't have a problem, and there's usually seating at the counter for people in a rush. www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/
Chef's Week
Opposite experience for us at Naha (on Friday). Food and service fine; in fact, our waiter managed to find us an excellent bottle of wine (even below our price point) when our first choice was not available.
Breakfast places downtown with baby
Heaven on Seven on Wabash is also good, and interesting. I'm not certain they take reservations, but they are not very crowded on Saturday mornings. so I'm sure they'd accommodate you. Note that they do not open until 10:00 on Saturdays.
Atwood in the Burnham Hotel on State would be another possibility.
Chicago & Milwaukee?
There's not a lot for lunch in the immediate area (altho there are a lot of terrific dinner places a litttle west on Chicago (West Town, Leopold's, Branch 27, Ruxbin). There's a D'Agostino's with its pretty average pizza. A better possibility, tho, is Podhalanka up Milwaukee on Division. You might also give Habana Libre a try, altho that was a disappointment the last time I had lunch there. I've had quick snacks at Central Cafe (kind of a diner with a Puerto Rican flavor), but never a full meal.
Lookin' for fried chicken! Anything downtown?
Well, if you can make it up to Andersonville, you might want to try Big Jones Boarding House Lunch. It's not downtown, but it is special:
http://www.bigjoneschicago.com/lunch.html#boardinghouse
Armenian restaurants?
Also Turquoise for reasonable Turkish:
http://turquoisedining.com/
Most Authentic Arab/Lebanese/Syrian/Turkish Place?
For Turkish check out Turquoise Cafe right off the Brown Line here:
http://turquoisedining.com/
Looking for Traditional Italian Restaurant inexpensive
The closest I've had to a traditional (i.e. Italian-Italian) meal in Chicago was the prix fixe at Terragusto. Unfortunately, T just closed altho the chef, Theo Gilbert, will be opening a new (similar, I think) restaurant in Wicker Park shortly. But Coco Pazzo downtown and Piccolo Sogno nearby (altho I've only had their Xmas Eve prix fixe and can't speak to their daily menus) come close. If you want to venture into the neighborhoods try Anteprima in Andersonville and Davanti Enoteca on Taylor. Also Bruna's on Oakley still turns out some pretty good traditional pastas (altho generally not hand-made). In the burbs check out the tasting menu at Gaetano's in Forest Park (altho try to get there when the owner's in town). And, it's been a couple of years since I've been there, but Merlo on Maple is a pretty traditional ristorante, altho we're approaching the higher end there. Anyway, try a couple of these before making any final judgement on traditional Italian dining in Chicago.
-----
Gaetano's
7636 West Madison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130
Coco Pazzo Cafe
636 N St Clair, Chicago, IL 60611
Anteprima
5316 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60622
Last Minute Visit - Ruxbin/Schwa Possible?
Boka is a good higher end choice in the neighborhood, but if you can't get in and want lighter (and cheaper) fare Sono Wood-fired is a couple blocks down from Steppenwolf. I don't know what kind of crowds it draws late on Saturday, but we've never had trouble walking in in the early evening on a weekend. Moreover, if you are indeed a fan of salami, they have an excellent charcuterie opener. Good wine list (for a pizzeria) too:
http://sonowoodfired.com/
-----
Boka
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614
the right places to go in chicago?
. . . and at 10:30 yesterday there was no line at HD's. (If you don't cotton to a banger or a thuringer for late breakfast, 20 seconds or so in the microwave will bring it back to life for lunch.)
Chicago Dinner Fete a la NYC
If you're looking for a more casual spot where charcuterie is king--a wine-bar menu in a frenetic sports bar atmosphere--head over to Old Town Social here:
http://www.oldtownsocial.com/
3 day trip to Chicago for young couple
"I need a good breakfast spot, I've checked on the Bongo Room but everything seems super sweet, I'm looking for savory and salty"
Let me chime in on this one data point on breakfast. You might want to give Ina's a look-see, not so much for bacon, but they did have an awesome pulled-pork hash last time I was there (they got the pork from Smoque). It's a short cab ride from downtown. And, in the Loop the Gage (on your way to the Art Inst. perhaps) puts together a nice Irish breakfast (with several meats on the plate, if I recall correctly).
http://breakfastqueen.com/
http://www.thegagechicago.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=17
-----
Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Suggestions for Bars/Restaurants near Soldier Field
Also in the realm of the sports bar is Scout Waterhouse and Kitchen, just opened in the old Opera space and very near Soldier Field. Nothing to report personally, but by October there should be some discussion floating around the cyberspace. Here's an early look:
http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/traditional_classic/the-scout-waterhouse-and-south-loop/2448811/content#listing-details-section
Suggestions for Bars/Restaurants near Soldier Field
I haven't been in several years, but one of our ex-Mayor's favorite places for steaks is Chicago Firehouse here:
http://www.mainstayhospitality.com/index.php?section=3
If you're looking for more of a sports bar, the Wisconsin transplant, Kroll's is a little further south on 18th.
-----
Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
1401 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Dinner on the way out of town, heading south...
If you're heading off to the Dan Ryan, stop off here for innovative Mexican cuisine:
http://www.ameliaschicago.com/
Lunch and dinner on a budget in The Loop
For Sunday, don't miss Maxwell Street Market, one of the best venues around for Mexican street food. More info here (altho it doesn't do justice to the food offerings; a good start there, is to look for Rita's and others making the tortillas fresh):
http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/maxwell_street_market.html
Also, no serious safety issues (other than the deep fat frying) at the Harold's on Wabash; it's behind the Hilton and practically next to Buddy Guy's a great venue for Chicago blues
Group dining on a budget in River North
Check out La Madia here:
http://www.dinelamadia.com/
Restaurants in Alsace and Lorraine
. . . and here's my report:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/777131
. . . during this trip we also visited Nancy (on a Sunday), and since I'm fond of the Flo chain we went to L'Excelsior. If you like brasseries with considerable flair, I recommend it highly, particularly for a Sunday afternoon, since a lot of Nancy seems to congregate there then. It's near the train station (and central parking):
http://www.brasserie-excelsior.com/
Three Days in Chicago
Healthy Food: RIP; and last time I looked Neringa was, too, at least at its Marquette Park address.Seklycia's hours (if they're even still around) were variable. Call first before venturing out to Marquette Park..
