Smavo's Profile
Wondering about a couple different areas (Evanston, Wicker Park)
So since I was thinking Big Star for Dinner on Saturday, maybe I'll do Mexique Brunch then do Piece for dinner. Instead of doing 2 mexicanish meals in the same day I'll skip Big Star. I'm staying at the Allerton so that should be a pretty cheap cab ride over to Mexique on Saturday right? It looks pretty reasonably priced as well for brunch so that's a plus.
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Mexique
1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Wondering about a couple different areas (Evanston, Wicker Park)
So I leave in a week and I have this so far:
Thursday:
Lunch: Kuma's
Dinner: Sable
Watershed for Drinks
Friday:
Bongo Room/French Market
Dinner: Cross Rhodes
Saturday:
Lunch????
Dinner: Big Star
This Saturday lunch is driving me crazy. I thought maybe Chinatown or some Thai? Is it worth the trip to Chinatown or can I get something just as good closer? I looked at Reza's? Maybe some great Italian lunch or any crazy/unique suggestions? Are there any great happy hours around the loop or mag mile for Thursday or Friday? Thanks for the help.
Wondering about a couple different areas (Evanston, Wicker Park)
Very good stuff! So then my plan for now is Prairie Moon or Cross Rhodes on the night we're in Evanston. What are your thoughts on Big Star for the night we're in Wicker Park? Also, the breakfast is tough for me because I'm not a huge fan of breakfast but the people I'm going with love it. I had a friend recommend Orange and I've read up on HoS but it seems pretty standard. I think the Bongo Room would be great but it's a ways away right? Also any great casual bars or happy hours in the areas we will be in would be great. Thanks again for all your help.
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Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Wondering about a couple different areas (Evanston, Wicker Park)
I'll be in town in April for my 30th B-day and we're going to some areas I'm less familiar with. I'll be at SPACE in Evanston on Friday night and I'll be at a show in Wicker Park on Saturday. I'm staying downtown at The Allerton and I have a car but will be using the public transportation to get around. I read the recent post on Evanston and I didn't see much there that really stood out. So my thoughts are should we catch some dinner on the way there or is there somewhere there that is really worth it. Here are my thoughts so far:
Thursday: Kuma's or Depot Diner on the drive in, Nacional 27, CDA, or Cafe Spiaggia, Watershed for drinks
Friday: Fronterra Lunch, then on the way to Evanston maybe hit Tango Sur or Sapore Di Napoli (we love BYOB) or maybe somewhere in Evanston Pete Millers?
Saturday: Breakfast maybe Orange or HoS then a late lunch and snacking at the French Market, Dinner @ Big Star in Wicker Park.
I've spent a lot of time downtown but none in the Evanston as well as Wicker Park. So let me know if I'm missing out on any food spots and if there are any good late night (not fancy, we love dive) bars around these areas. Thanks for the help!
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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Nacional 27
325 W. Huron, Chicago, IL 60610
Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Sapore Di Napoli
1406 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Manny's or Perry's or neither?
I was thinking of trying Frontera Grill Thursday night......will I be waiting for ever? If not I can rearrange some things and do lunch at Topo. I will eat at a Bayless establishment I would just much rather do dinner on Thursday to fit in the rest of my plans.
Manny's or Perry's or neither?
Real quick let me just say this forum has made my trip take new directions that I am so excited and appreciative of your advice! Sounds like these places might be ok to miss. I am going to The French Market on Saturday so I'll just come up with something else creative on Friday for lunch. Thanks again
Manny's or Perry's or neither?
Just a quick question. Is either Manny's or Perry's worth going to for a quick lunch while I'm in town? Sandwiches are my favorite food group and I haven't found much on these two places so I figured I'd ask. Thanks
Road trip to Chicago (again) looking for some help this time.
You have all been a great help! My trip is set:
Kuma's and Piece the first night
Sweet and Savories the second night
and CdA the last night with Chicago Dogs after the bar
My lunches are still a little in the air and I'm now trying to do them a little more on the cheap.
One of them might still be Fronterra but I need at least one, maybe two cheap good lunches. Here's a couple thoughts I had:
Perry's Deli
Poag Mahone's
La Cantina
Wow Bao
La Cantina in the Italian Village
Lloyd's
Courtway or Marquette Inn
Any other cheap eats or diner's would be great.
Thanks,
T
Road trip to Chicago (again) looking for some help this time.
OK I am 100% in on Piece and Wicker Park. I am staying on Grand off the Mag Mile that night so I take the blue line right there. Perfect! The parking pass would be great but I won't need it if I blue line right?
Couple more quick questions:
Is Club Lago worth looking into or is it not on the same level as Cafe Spiaggia
Next, do you get any of the Bayless experience from FRONTERA FRESCO
or is Fronterra the way to go
Last, Friday night I have to be at a show at The Bottom Lounge at 7 so I was wondering if there is a good happy hour downtown/loop area I can hit before hand. You all are incredible. Thanks again
KC Grocery Stores, Restaurant Recommendations, Jazz?
You might look at BB's Lawnside BBQ. for food and a good night of music and fun.
Best inexpensive Mexican in Kansas City, MO
Rudy's Tenampa Taqueria was great the last time I went but it was awhile ago. El Camino Real gets great praise from my friends. If you are going north at all I love Ixtapia in north kc for inexpensive Mexican.
Road trip to Chicago (again) looking for some help this time.
Thank you for the advice! I know some of it is repeated and I'm trying to get over the want to go back to some places. Sweet and Savories looks like a great place and it's byob I believe, so that will be perfect. Wildfire might be out, and I'm looking at Café des Architectes or DB's Primeouse. We also started looking at some Italian. Thanks again
Road trip to Chicago (again) looking for some help this time.
So I took my wife to Chicago for her visit in October and needless to say we are going back in March for a weekend. 3 of us this time in our late 20's and we don't like touristy if possible. We like real people and good food. We drive in from St. Joseph, MO so we have a vehicle if we need to travel, but parking is pricey and going in and out is worse. We are staying Thurs/Fri off Michigan Ave and Sat. in the Loop. So here is what I've done and my plans for next time:
Last Time:
Kuma's on the way in
Cafecito
Lou M's Pizza
Portillo's
Taza
Wildfire
Tecalitlan Restaurant
I am thinking this time around:
Kuma's is in again
Portillio's is a convienent good Chicago Dog (this is late night after dinner and some bar time for us)
I really enjoyed Wildfire. The atmosphere, the price, the service, and the food. I don't know for the money if David Burke's would be that much better? I also looked at The Drawing Room with the restaurant.com $25 gift cert for $2. Sounds like they have great drinks.
I think it's time for a Rick Bayless experience so I'm thinking Frontera one day or night.
Friday night we are going to Lincoln Hall for some rock and roll so I need an idea for dinner around that area. ( Lincoln Ave and W. Fullerton)
The Gage looks pretty good so that is in the mix as well.
I looked at Heaven on Seaven for brunch before we head out.
Lastly, we thought about doing some cracker thin crust this time. Maybe Vito and Nicks or Coalfire (seems a long ways away even with the car) If I'm talking stupid let me know and we'll hit Giordano's this time for some stuffed action.
Any good mom and pop home cooking or great eats on the cheap ideas are more than welcome. Bar food and Dives are always appreciated. Thanks and I love this site way too much.
