lbs's Profile
Friday Lunch w/Dad - Delicious, not heavy, passable wine list?
It might be better for your dad to head out of the loop area on Friday. Big rally in Daley Plaza and who knows what the atmosphere will be like with NATO starting up. The Polish restaurant suggestions are great. If he is going to to ORD, you may want to check out some Logan Square restaurants for lunch.
Longman & Eagle
http://www.longmanandeagle.com/
Lula Cafe
http://www.lulacafe.com/
Nice dinner - atmosphere is key
Also, if you go to Bistro Campagne you can hit Tiny Lounge for some after dinner cocktails. It also runs the gamut of casual to fancy dress. It is a bit of a hike in heels (you have to walk past Welles Park) but not horrible. Outdoor seating is more casual but the inside is dark and slinky with booths.
GT Fish & Oyster and Nellcôte, stylish and sceney but both a bit hit and miss.
Chicgail - if you have it booked for a special occasion, I would recommend someplace else. I went a couple of months ago and found it to be just ok. But for the prices - just ok doesn't cut it. I didn't like the service or the ambiance.
Best view for dinner or cocktails in Chicago?
The Trump Towers has a couple of options for eating and drinking with a view,
http://www.trumphotelcollection.com/chicago/downtown-chicago-restaurants.php
If you come in the summer time, you can eat at the rooftop of Pegasus in Greektown
http://www.pegasuschicago.com/veranda.php
Upscale Diners
Glenn's Diner for some fanastic fish. Easy to get to off the brown line.
http://www.glennsdiner.com/home.html
Chicago Visit
Oh man.... you may have picked a really bad weekend to be in Chicago. NATO will be here from the 20-21. It will be crazy - in theory anyway. Who knows. Point of this is and since you've been to Chicago several times - I'd get the heck of dodge and start looking at some of our neighborhood restaurants. At the very least, start making reservations at the places you want to eat at.
GATG will probably be a non-starter since they take reservations like three months out. Schwa is bad with keeping reservations. Everest I would avoid because it is in the Chicago Stock Exchange building and it could be crazy with protesters, etc that weekend. Sprout and Graham Elliot are supposed to be really good and in good locs.
In the neighborhoods - I would check out Lincoln Square, Easy to get to via the el and not an expensive cab ride back. I would check out Fork, Bistro Camapagne, Los Nopales (BYO), Spoon Thai (BYO), Bad Apple, Tiny Lounge for fun cocktails, Goosefoot - BYO high end dining. Have not been.
Group dinner for Saturday, $$ ?
Shell - I ate there yesterday and was offered a desert menu but my dining companion was in a rush to get back so I didn't have a chance to look at it. I can say that the poutine was delicious!
Annual Chicago Conference--any new dining suggestions? And what's near the Palmer House?
Go to Max's for a hotdog and fries. 20 E. Adams. Right by the Palmer House. No need to trek over to Portillio's. Also the gyros there are very good. A lot of times they are on GrouponNow too.
Group dinner for Saturday, $$ ?
I'm going to dinner at Fork tomorrow so I'll do some recon for you. I don't see it on-line either. If I recall from the last time, the dessert menu wasn't that elaborate but I'm the person who would go for more cheese than chocolate.
First trip to Chicago
You can eat very well in Andersonville
Check out Great Lakes Pizza, Vincent, Hopleaf, Anteprima, Swedish Bakery, Slice of Heaven, Calo's, Huey's Hot Dog, Simon's for an old school bar.
Montreal foodie visiting for Easter - breakfast/lunch/wine shop/EL Ideas recommendations needed
Do not try Blue Ribbon taxi cab - they are off of 1-800-TAXI-CAB. The last three times I've tried to use them, they said they would pick me up and never showed despite me calling back several times. If you use a cab service, use Flash Cab.
Pizza in Evanston or North Chicago area
I would go to the Original Lou Malanti's in Lincolnwood (Ferret's suggestion) since you have a car and the parking is free. The butter crust is an option and not necessary IMO. Go easy on the toppings and enjoy!
Two Part Chicago Visit in April
Hi! It is the Magnificent Mile not Miracle. Just so you don't get lost!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-kosick/top-ten-list-vegetarian-d_b_535003.html
http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/2/2/Chicago/Vegan-Friendly-restaurants
Public transporation here is as easy as it is in Toronto. You will find cheaper options out of the main tourist area.
I really like Handlebar for veggie/vegan food and I'm not either one. I would check out one of our pizza places for the grad students (Pizano's is my favorite). Purple Pig on Michigan Ave for some small plate sharing. Not so much for your vegan mom since it is pork-centric.
Lou Malnati's: what kind of place?
depends on what time you are coming in at. Prime time eating hours, I would. Also, you can order your pizza ahead of time and not have the 40 min wait if you are hungry
Heading to Chicago from Boston for the Cubs v Red Sox game in June NEED Excellent Restaurants
You are already getting out of the main tourist area to go the Cubs game. Sprout, Solo, Goosefoot and Browntrout are not that far from Wrigley. It's not like these restaurants are on the far flung edges of the city/suburbia. Chicago is a city of neighborhoods and that is where a lot of the amazing places to eat are.
You can plot out distances and how to get to them using www.hopstop.com or http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/trip_planner.aspx
Three days in Chicago - lunches near the Palmer house
For lunch - check out Oasis Cafe which is tucked away in the Jeweler Mall
http://www.yelp.com/biz/oasis-cafe-chicago
Decent Food at O'Hare Airport
Then don't leave the airport. There is a sushi restaurant in Terminal 1 - United that is actually good. I know. Weird. But it is. Had a layover and ate there. It is called Wicker Park. Trying to get out and back through security - which has been a nightmare lately - is just not worth it with only 3 hrs. The food in the immediate area of the O'Hare isnt worth it.
http://bit.ly/k1MKzU
D'er - just noticed that you are meeting a friend outside of the airport so my post adds nothing of value to your inquiry. SORRY! I will say that it recently took me almost an hour to get through security at 3pm on a Thursday.
Need feedback re: 1 week in Chicago
I would also encourage your husband to get out of the city center after he visits the museums (which are wonderful though and shouldn't be skipped). However he will have some hours to spare. The neighborhoods are incredibly easy to get to via public transporation. He could check out the hipster scene in Wicker Park/Bucktown and eat for way cheaper at The Handlebar. Big Star, Sultan's Market. (Blue Line to Damen)
Or take the Pink Line to Pilsen and check out the National Museum of Mexicoan Art and then eat at Nuevo Leon Restaurant. (Pink Line to 18th Street or Damen)
Or take the Brown Line to Kedzie and check out some really cool Middle Eastern/Koren/Mexican shops. Eat at Semaris for Lebaonese food.
http://handlebarchicago.com/
http://www.bigstarchicago.com/
http://chicagofalafel.com/
http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/
http://nuevoleonrestaurant.com/
http://www.semiramisrestaurant.com/
Need feedback re: 1 week in Chicago
If you husband wanted to treat himself, he could eat at Terzo Piano at the A.I. It overlooks Millenium Park and is quite lovely.
http://www.terzopianochicago.com/menus.html
Alternatively, he can grab a Chicago style hot dog at the stand by the Bean. The food court at Macy's is actually pretty good and cheap too. He can get something on the go and eat it outside. I second the idea of Cafecito and Bodega. The A.I and the Field Museum are pretty close to each other. He'll be surprised by the walkability. I also second the idea of XOCO.
What about the Purple Pig before Alinea? It is small plates and you can just get something to tide you over before your 9:30 reservation. I know I can't let my blood sugar drop so I would have to eat something. I hate the idea of repeating a restaurant.
Don't forget about Garret's popcorn. Get the Chicago mix. It is not healthy. But it is delicious!
Your opinion.....
LQTM (laughing quietly to myself) - I have seen people like that in restaurants. Maybe not as exaggerated but almost
Chef Michael Altenberg R.I.P.
I am sorry to read this. Condolences to his family and friends.
Conference reception venue near McCormick place - Monday evening in July 2012
Mercat al Planxa could accomadate your group. In south loop so close to McCormick. Hoever, don't know price wise what it would be
http://www.mercatchicago.com/events/
Deep dish pizza for one? And a couple other questions
1) If your hotel has a fridge, order a "baby" or small and save the rest for breakfast. Some places have it by the slice but it is held under a heat lamp for hours.
2) Wicker Park/Bucktown is one of the easiest/fastest to get to from downtown. Get off at Damen (Blue Line) and explore. Check out Big Star Tacos (Paul Kahan joint); The Violet Hour (speakeasy cockail bar across the street and a whole slew of funky shops, more restaurants, music venues.
3) IMO - should be ok if you get there early.
3)
Participants on Food Media and News: Your Input Please
It did like in 30 seconds of me reporting it so I think other people did the same
Participants on Food Media and News: Your Input Please
actually skank was used on a top chef thread. I know because it really bothered me enough to ask for the comment to be deleted.
Top Chef Texas -- Reunion
If you look at the Bravo site and the bios for the chefs - it clearly states that Heather is 40 and Keith is 39. So I guess she didn't mispresent herself at all.
