f11vid
03-12-2007, 08:17 PM
near UC:
Wishbone,1001 w washington cajun,imaginative dishes,yet real food
Palace Grill,1408 w madison,great breakfast,lunch You'll dine safely.it's across from 911 ctr
Rosebud,720 Rush st,Italian
Nueva Leon,mexican..the real deal.This is where Mexican/Americans in chgo take their families.OUTSTANDING,1515 w 18th st chicago
White palace,24 hr breakfast,great local color 1159 s canal
Signature Room at the 95th,john hancock ctr 875 n michigan ave,view at night is spectacular,not ridiculously expensive
QueenCityHillbilly
03-12-2007, 08:25 PM
O'Callaghan's on Hubbard east of Dearborn is a fine bar. I was there last year for NFL playoffs and we spend every night there drinking pints.
Lou Mitchell's is evidently a Chicago mainstay for breakfast. We did a story there and ate when we got done. We also ate at Ditka's(did a story there, too.) It was alright. We ate pizza at Geno's East. It was great! Then again, we were basically tourists and I dont' know that we hit up any 'real' chicago places. Consult the locals.
f11vid
03-12-2007, 09:28 PM
from the hyatt,cross the river at michigan and and go down one from street level....Shaw's crab house...Redfish...Haray Careys...Billygoat tavern ... boston blackie's...all within a block or two (say..are you at the station that Courvoisier works at?I worked with him)
Man!
As a native Chicagoan, there are so many directions I would point you in. What kind of restaurants are you looking for?
In any case, here are some of my suggestions for restaurants in the Downtown region where you will be staying
(you can get more info on all of these places, including address, phone number, hours, etc., at www.10besst.com/Chicago/Restaurants/):
PIZZA!:
PIZZERIA UNO 29 E Ohio, Chicago, IL 60611 · 312-321-1000
THE place for Chicago-style pizza. Pizzeria Uno, while quintessentially American in theme and cuisine, deserves particular recognition for its fabulous thin-crust and deep-dish pizza pies, which send lunchtime crowds away full and happy.
LOU MALNATI'S 439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 · 312-828-9800
This old school pizza shop knows a thing or two about pies. Locals swear by the deep dish crust that showcases all manner of toppings at this Wells Street favorite. Try the "Lou," named for the restaurant's founder. It includes fresh spinach, mushrooms, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, Romano, and cheddar cheeses. The "Deluxe" is a great value: cheese sausage, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers.
GIORDANO'S
135 E Lake, Prudential Plaza, Chicago, IL 312-616-1200
No trip to the Windy City is complete without sampling the distinctive deep-dish pizza. A great place to start is the Prudential Plaza location of this popular Chicago-style chain, whose spinach deep-dish has gained legendary status. If meat is your thing, go for the classic cheese pie topped with pepperoni, sausage, and fresh garlic.
FAST FOOD--HOT DOGS, ITALIAN BEEF (Chicago original):
AL'S BEEF
169 W. Ontario St., Chicago, 312-943-3222
One of the homes of the quintesential Chicago Italian Beef sandwich! It's a good place for fast food.
PORTILLO'S
100 W. Ontario St., Chicago, 312-587-8930
[i]Portillo's signature hot dogs, Italian beef, Polish sausage and so forth, as well as Barnelli's menu of salads, pastas, pizzas and ribs. Besides the food, this sprawling, two-story building highlights an eclectic collection of Chicago memorabilia of the 1930s and '40s. Across from the period lamp posts that greet your arrival to the dining plaza, a representation of a Chicago neighborhood complete with a second-story barber shop, clothesline and a mannequin unloading freight, catches your attention. [i/]
STEAKS:
GENE AND GEORGETTI
500 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60610-4169 · 312-527-3718
[i]Open since June of 1941, this is one of the last holdouts for what can be called a men's club steak house. All the waiters are male, and the maitre d' is on a first name basis with regular diners. You'll probably become a regular, too. This is where Sinatra dined anytime he was in the Windy City. Serving thick and generous cuts of great steak, plus wonderfully prepared Italian specialties, Gene and Georgetti continues the tradition it started over 50 years ago. Reservations essential.
CHICAGO CHOP HOUSE
60 W Ontario, Chicago, IL 60610 · 312-787-7100
This steakhouse gets high marks for affordable prices and great steaks, salads, and baked potatoes. What's the secret? Some say it's because all three owners are always on-site to make sure everything is perfect. Others say that the quality and value can't be topped. And, here's the trivia buzz...there's a picture of every mayor of Chicago on the walls! Even City Hall doesn't have them all.
BURGERS:
BOSTON BLACKIE'S
164 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 · 312-938-8700
In the mood for a thick burger and a pile of fries washed down with a cold beer? Head to Boston Blackie's, where you won't find a hint of pretension. Here, the friendly waitstaff and bartenders happily serve up potato skins, onion rings, burgers, and bottled and on-tap beer to eager patrons awaiting the treat that's on its way. Casual dress.
SEAFOOD:
SHAW'S CRAB HOUSE AND BLUE CRAB LOUNGE
21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60601 · 312-527-2722
Shaw's offers two distinct dining options – the casual Oyster Bar and the more upscale Main Dining Room. The maritime features polished wood paneling, globe lighting, and, in the main dining room, white linens. The menu boasts a wide variety of fish and seafood – Copper River king salmon, Pacific halibut, and charred sashimi tuna earn high marks. Though limited, the dessert menu offers enough temptation for those who have room left after a meal. Live music in the Lounge every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Commendable service. Reservations are suggested.
CATCH 35
35 W Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 · 312-346-3500
If you've made up your mind that you must eat seafood, make a beeline for this Loop notable that has a vast menu of all your seafood favorites cooked with Asian influences. Choose from the likes of Chilean sea bass, stir fried shrimp and scallops, seared Creole seasoned salmon, Bahamian fish chowder, grilled Atlantic salmon, and grilled yellow fin tuna. Live jazz is performed in the bar most nights
MEXICAN
FRONTERA GRILL
445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610-4516 · 312-661-1434
This eatery, the more casual sibling to the fantastic Topolobampo, is considered among the best restaurants in the country. The dining room avoids Mexican restaurant clichés, with folk art and vivid colors inside and a sunny sidewalk seating area outside. The ever-changing menu offers artistic dishes from award-winning chef Rick Bayless, including various authentic stuffed poblano peppers, tamales, charcoaled lamb, and desserts like almond cake and buttermilk-lime ice cream. Reservations essential.
IITALIAN:
TUSCANY
1014 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607-4225 · 312-829-1990
For terrific Northern Italian cuisine, Tuscany offers an upscale option in the Little Italy section of town. This cozy eatery, which tends to get a little cramped at times, is as popular with youthful hipsters as it is with downtown suits. During those "brisk" Chicago winters, their wood-burned gourmet pizzas are positively heaven-sent. Not just for locals, Tuscany has treated such "tourists" as former President Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore. Traditional pasta dishes are also available. Dinner reservations are strongly suggested.
TAPAS:
CAFE IBERICO
739 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60605-1706 · 312-573-1510
This popular Spanish restaurant once had only four tables, but now it can seat more than 400 with ease. The house is usually packed, thanks to authentic tapas offerings and an upbeat, festive atmosphere. Have a fruity pitcher of sangria and order hot and cold appetizer-sized dishes like baked goat cheese, vegetarian Spanish omelets, chicken brochette with caramelized onions, or grilled octopus. A gourmet food shop lets you recreate your favorites when back at home. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more.
BREAKFAST:
LOU MITCHELL'S
565 W Jackson Blvd, at Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661-5767 · 312-939-3111
Mitchell's has been pleasing patrons since 1923 and offers diner cuisine at its best. You know you're in for an indulgent meal when you're presented with a basket of piping hot doughnut holes as soon as you walk in the door. Then you have an extensive breakfast menu to choose from, and even the oatmeal is extraordinary. Certain meals are brought to the table still steaming in the skillet. Recommended options include fried eggs, homemade Greek toast, and hash browns. Plan a post-breakfast nap because you'll leave full.
WISHBONE
1001 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60607-2102 · 312-850-2663
Don't come here for health food! Come for Southern-style soul food, full of flavor and served in a casual, relaxed environment. The quirky, funky warehouse-style space (abstract paintings of chickens and eggs adorn the walls) offers breakfast on weekdays and a popular weekend brunch. Try fluffy biscuits, French toast, salmon cakes with hollandaise, or a house specialty called Red Eggs, which consists of two eggs on corn tortillas with black beans, cheese, hot sauce, sour cream, and salsa. Something for everyone, including vegetarians.
GREEK:
RODITYS
222 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661 · 312-454-0800
Open since 1973, this Halsted standout really knows how to make traditional Greek dishes that demand attention from knowledgeable patrons. The specialty dish, saganaki, is a must. The loin of lamb, stuffed vine leaves, and orange roughy are also notable selections. The ambiance of this establishment is casual and comfortable; Greek music plays in the background and quaint knickknacks adorn the blue and coral-hued interior. Casual dress.
BISTRO/FRENCH:
BRASSERIE JO
59 W Hubbard St, between Clark and Dearborn Sts, Chicago, IL 60610-4603 · 312-595-0800
Holding true to European brasseries, this little gem of a restaurant is bustling with diners who appreciate and apparently have spread the word about the incredible menu offerings here. Signature dishes include the bag of golden, crisp phyllo dough filled with shrimp, wild mushrooms and leeks in a lobster cream sauce. Reservations strongly recommended. Business-casual attire.
How's that for a start?
Oh, if you need an extra crew or a satellite uplink truck while you are here, feel free to give me a call.
--Mike
--------------------------------------
Mike Meinhardt
[i]Network Television News Photographer/
Meinhardt Satellite Uplink
Chicago
(312)685-9776
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