Thanks for the ideas, I will go check them out!! And I love roasted bone marrow, can't get enough.

How fun! to have been inside those houses as a kid. I am very familiar with Cowgirl Creamery. We visit San Francisco at least once a year. The first time I bought some, I tried to take it home on the plane in the little cooler lunch bag. As we walked on to the plane, I kept sniffing something foul. I realized it was OUR cheese, and told my husband DO NOT open that bag on the plane. But I love their cheeses.

I am a HUGE cheese fan. The FLW walk is a Saturday of open houses. I imagine it will be most of the day, and I don't mind walking over to the the Marion St. Cheese Market. I checked out the web site, looks WONDERFUL.
Cookie sounds great, but hubby and I have given up on sugar (and a lot of carbs too).

Thanks for the ideas. We will not have a car, will be taking the el.
our lunch is usually 2 to 3 really good appetizers. Looking for a good food place of any type.

Wonderful information!! I didn't know about Aviary, was drooling at the Alinea web site.
Safety in walking question. Walk or cab to west loop in the day / evening?
I assume we can walk anytime up & down Michigan Ave, how about the Loop in the evening?

I will be going in June to Chicago for 4 nights.

We live in Texas, I am an architect and my husband and I are foodies (although we try to keep the dining prices in the reasonable range).

I have not been to Chicago for 30 years! and am not familiar with any of the restaurants.

We will be staying in the Gold Coast area, will not have a car.

We would like to go “Chicago” restaurants, we eat about 7 pm, would like to be able to talk (lively is fine, but extremely noisy is not), would like to make reservations, not wait in line.

Love all kinds of food, especially seafood. (Shaws Crab House looks very good).

$125 - $170 is a normal vacation dinner for us for 2 people with a bottle of wine, 2 apps and 2 entrees.
Looking for a dining itinerary to include the loop, north of the loop up to Gold Coast. If there is a restaurant that we just can’t miss, I don’t mind taking a cab to another area.

Below is our tour itinerary.
Can you give me suggestions for these areas for lunch and dinner??
Thurs evening – dinner north of river
Friday lunch - tour downtown and the Art Institute -
Friday dinner – north of river
Saturday lunch – Oak Park tour
Saturday dinner - back to Chicago
Sunday lunch – Hyde Park
Sunday dinner – near Gold coast

We visit NOLA often and I would recommend Galitoires, although it is very loud, we still had a great dinner and service. I like the Bistro at Maison De Ville in the French Quarter. Coquette was very good,

We will be visiting NOLA for a weekend soon, staying in the French Quarter, but don’t mind taking a cab to dinner. Also don’t mind going to the warehouse district or Magazine st. We have been to Coquette, Galitoires, Bistro Maison De Ville,
Lillette looks good. Patois looks good.

I tried to make a Sat brunch reservation at Dante’s kitchen, but it was not available. Do they take brunch reservations? I have read so many good things about Dante’s, should we go for brunch or dinner?

Thur dinner - GW Finns

Fri lunch - need suggestions
Fri dinner - August

Sat lunch - Dante’s and explore Audubon Park
Sat Dinner - or Dante’s
Need another lunch or dinner suggestion

I love Frascati on Hyde St on Russian Hill. Hyde St at night is a good neighborhood experience. Luella just down the street from Frascati is good also.
Greens for lunch is great, and a great view.

-----
Frascati Restaurant
1901 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

I will take notes
:-)

I read the "new to Chowhound" and the item below mentions reporting back on the restaurants I visit and any other info that might be interesting. Since I AM NEW to Chow Hound ( and love it), please help...
Where should I report back? to this post? Write a review under the restaurant?

AFTER YOUR MEAL

Most importantly, after your trip or your meal, thank the New Orleans hounds for their help by reporting back. Tell people which suggestions you used and how the meals turned out, plus add tips about any great places you discovered on your own. This helps make the board more useful for everyone who visits after you

Great info, thanks. We haven't been to NO since 2004.

Thanks SOOO much!

I love this trolly streetcar cable car discussion.

Sounds good. Would you feel comfortable walking from the FQ to Emerils?
Or do I need to take a taxi. I don't mind the walking distance as long as it is a safe area.

-----
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

One more question, how do you think the area is for walking from FQ to Emerils for lunch on a Friday?

-----
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130

Thanks for all of the input, I should have been more specific. I just want us to be able to talk, and neither of us has a loud voice that carries. A lively space is fine, especially if we get a seat next to a wall and not in the middle of the room.
How about Coquette's for dinner?

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't have guessed at all from looking at the pics that Patois would be loud.
Where else would you recommend for great food and talkable noise level? I have read some former posts about Gautreau's, not all favorable. I also looked at Bayona, any reviews on this?

-----
Bayona
430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Gautreau's Restaurant
1728 Soniat St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Hi all,
My husband and I will be flying in and staying in the FQ for 2 nights in November.
After reading sveral of your posts, I planned the following dining itenerary, but still have a question.

Is Emeril's going to be too lound and open for a dinner where we can talk to each other?

Thurs evening - Galitoire's

Friday - (taking your suggestions) trolley to Washington street and then to Magazine street for lunch and a stroll. Lunch at Cocquette.

Back to the hotel and then a cab to Dinner.
I was thinking either Patois or Emeril's . I have never been to any of these restaurants and someday want to try them all!!!
But what is the atmosphere like at Emeril's vs Patois?

Thanks so much. I will report back on the dining.

-----
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130