OT: Where to Eat in Chicago OT

EggObsessed

My husband and I will be in Chicago for five nights next week, while I attend a work conference.  We've never been there. We will be staying at the Swissotel, near the Navy Pier.  On any trip, we like to have a "food adventure".  If anyone has any recommendations on where to eat, from "hole in the walls" to fine dining, please chime in.  We will not have a car, so will rely on walking or cabs.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

JRWhitee

Walking or cabbing it is perfect where you are. Many choices, I like Gibsons for steaks although there are many places that have great steaks I just like the atmosphere and the bar scene on Rush street after dinner. Portillos for sangwiches, italian beef etc..., Lou Malnatis for Pizza, Carmines for Italian is good, Harry Careys and Ditkas are great as well. All those are walking distance from your hotel like within a mile. 

poster

Hugo's frog bar, I think its attached to Gibson's if they are busy. Portillos for a dog and a seriously stiff mai-tai? at least that's what I think it was supposed to be. I'm heading there shortly too, can't wait and look forward to seeing others recommendations. The downtown are is extremely nice 

GrillSgt

Rick Bayless's Frontera Grill or the upscale side Topolabampo. Truly outstanding Mexican. https://www.zagat.com/r/frontera-grill-chicago/menu

GATraveller

The Purple Pig is great for small plates and a drink.  

https://thepurplepigchicago.com/

GregW

I would like to bring my family up to Chicago for a few days.
I've always stayed away because of the high crime I see in the news.
Is it a misconception about the crime?
I know I would really like to see the city and eat at the great food places.

EggObsessed

@GregW:  Having not been there myself, yet, I don't know much about it.  I know they were recently in the news with a LOT of murders in a few short days. 

Acn

I just heard a really good review of Monteverde - the restaurant from the Season 9 Top Chef runner-up.  You might not be able to get in, but if I were going to be going to Chicago I'd try to get to Alinea - almost the definition of a food adventure.

Re: crime and big cities - I haven't been to Chicago, but I've lived in DC and Baltimore (cities that have experience with high crime) and there is a huge difference between where the crime occurs and where tourists/conventions/office workers go on a regular basis.  I'd expect Chicago isn't that different in that regard, and if you follow general big city safety behavior you'll be fine.

Sardonicus

GregW said:

I would like to bring my family up to Chicago for a few days.
I've always stayed away because of the high crime I see in the news.
Is it a misconception about the crime?
. . .

Stay away from areas occupied by the economically depressed.   You'll be fine.

  
  

dmchicago

Lived in Chicago 2005 to 2014. Was there last week for a couple Cubs games.

Crime can and will happen anywhere in the city. Scum from the South-side take the Red Line to the city and North Side to rob the Frat boys & Girls at night. Stay away from the lakefront after dark, especially on weekends.

Be cautious on or near subway platforms. Feel free to profile and trust your gut. Look for young men in pairs or more.

Any restaurant from the BOKA Group will be a great experience. 

www.bokagrp.com

Try the rooftop at Nomi in the Park Hyatt for drinks at night.

Sardonicus

EggObsessed said:

My husband and I will be in Chicago for five nights next week, while I attend a work conference.  We've never been there. We will be staying at the Swissotel, near the Navy Pier.  On any trip, we like to have a "food adventure".  If anyone has any recommendations on where to eat, from "hole in the walls" to fine dining, please chime in.  We will not have a car, so will rely on walking or cabs.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

If you'll be in the Loop - and not looking for ultra-fine dining, try "The Gage" - good food and you'll be perfectly positioned for a verry nice post-meal walk.

ColtsFan

http://www.smoquebbq.com/
Wolfy's (best dogs)
Giordano's (Pizza)

RRP

EggObsessed said:

@GregW:  Having not been there myself, yet, I don't know much about it.  I know they were recently in the news with a LOT of murders in a few short days. 

Read on...
http://heyjackass.com

gdenby

EggObsessed said:

We've never been there. We will be staying at the Swissotel, near the Navy Pier. 

Chicago is one of the best food towns in the US. The top places, Michelin 3 and 2 stars are probably all booked up. The 1 stars, a few of which are within maybe a mile of where you will be usually have openings. We've eaten at Naha and Blackbird, and were thrilled. Hope to get to Topolobampo, which is just kitty corner from Naha.

Also check out the Michellin "Bib gourmand" list. All very good, but they nay bot have deserts or drinks.

The Gage is good. We also hope to get to the the Art Institute's "Terzo Piano," just a block or two away.

For less fancy, but usually exceptionally good food, check out the LTH Forum Great Neighborhood restaurants. Never been disappointed eating at one of those places, tho' some really are tiny "hole in the wall."

gdenby

GregW said:

I would like to bring my family up to Chicago for a few days.
I've always stayed away because of the high crime I see in the news.
Is it a misconception about the crime?
I know I would really like to see the city and eat at the great food places.

Oh, go visit. Check this map.

You can select for area, day of the week, and time of day. You'll notice that some places, like the Loop and the North Shore are almost completely safe during the day.

Yeah, don't hang out on the West or South side at like 3 a.m. But, there are places open all night that have their own muscle hangin' out to protect the late night crowd while they get, say, their dogs and fries.

DieselkW

Get a Yelp app downloaded, the Yelpers will be your best way to find what's close to you.
I know the area, I live 3 hours south of Chicago in Indianapolis.

For about $5 each, you can ride the bus and trains all day on a day pass, and it's really easy to get around. Cabs are fine, Uber/Lyft cost less, a lot less.

I second the Purple Pig. Corner of Michigan and Illinois, due west 4 blocks from the Navy Pier. They don't take reservations, so go off peak.

poster

Ive been 4 times now every 2nd year and haven't witnessed any crime yet. Like the others mentioned stay in downtown touristy areas (its very large with lots to see,) and you should be fine. I was nervous a bit my first time, but found downtown to be very clean and very well kept, compared to other major cities. It really changed what I had pictured in my head of the city. Unless a lot has changed in the last 2 years. Also You can put a lot of miles on just walking, very easy to get around 

dantnation

Chicago is one of my favorite cities to visit.. The food is phenomenal... The best meal I've ever had in my life hands down was at the Girl and the Goat, may not be able to get a reservation but you can eat at the bar, full menu. If you go the pork shank is my favorite item.. slow roasted pork shank, cooled to bring meat back to the bone then deep fried for that crispy exterior skin.. so. good. The winner of top chef, Stephanie Izard, owns the restaurant, among others in Chicago.

GregW

RRP said:

EggObsessed said:

@GregW:  Having not been there myself, yet, I don't know much about it.  I know they were recently in the news with a LOT of murders in a few short days. 

Read on...
http://heyjackass.com

That is some very grim statistics.

dmchicago

GregW said:

RRP said:

EggObsessed said:

@GregW:  Having not been there myself, yet, I don't know much about it.  I know they were recently in the news with a LOT of murders in a few short days. 

Read on...
http://heyjackass.com

That is some very grim statistics.

http://www.cwbchicago.com/

This is always an interesting read...

dstearn

Two places that I can highly recommend. For Greek food visit Santorinis on Halsted and Adams in Greektown. They are known for their fresh seafood. 
Bistro 110 near water tower place is a great place but they may not take reservations for 2, I recall that they had a minimum party of 5 for reservations. I would just arrive early to beat the crowds. It is French Bistro cuisine and they start you off with baked garlic clove and bread/butter.

gdenby

if you don't to go, good, more for me.

Do understand, I don't live in Chi, and I know it is a tough place. But  I have had kids watch a guy blown away by his estranged wife across the alley. & SWAT teams converge on the bank that used to operate across the street. SWAT team gurney the neighbor away who threatened them with an AR-15. And the team got really PO'd when my wife walked in our front door coming home from work  during the middle of all of it.

Frankly, the only place I ever felt scared was the South Bronx, c. '82. I was lost, it was dawn, and there were still cars burning in some of the intersections.

Be brave.

And eat well.

bhedges1987

The original Gino's east pizza... Get the pinwheel sausage pizza and thank me later

WeberWho

bhedges1987 said:

The original Gino's east pizza... Get the pinwheel sausage pizza and thank me later

It has to be Gino's East if going to Gino's. The original location. It's also bring your own beer at that location 

dmchicago

dstearn said:

Two places that I can highly recommend. For Greek food visit Santorinis on Halsted and Adams in Greektown. They are known for their fresh seafood. 
Bistro 110 near water tower place is a great place but they may not take reservations for 2, I recall that they had a minimum party of 5 for reservations. I would just arrive early to beat the crowds. It is French Bistro cuisine and they start you off with baked garlic clove and bread/butter.

Closed in 2011.

pgprescott

I like Shaws. I would just sit at the bar area and eat apps though. Ditto on Hugo's/ Gibsons. Harry Carreys, Chicago Cut, Catch 35. River north is full of them. Some of the more popular ones like Joes, Fontera, the Stephany Izzard joints are always booked way out I think. Enjoy!

YEMTrey

If you're not in the mood for 4 or 5 star's and Michelin ratings a couple of days, I would check out my Chicago regular's:

Pequods
Arturo Taco's
The Radler
Piece

dstearn

dmchicago said:

dstearn said:

Two places that I can highly recommend. For Greek food visit Santorinis on Halsted and Adams in Greektown. They are known for their fresh seafood. 
Bistro 110 near water tower place is a great place but they may not take reservations for 2, I recall that they had a minimum party of 5 for reservations. I would just arrive early to beat the crowds. It is French Bistro cuisine and they start you off with baked garlic clove and bread/butter.

Closed in 2011.

Shows you how long its been since I have dined there! (Bistro 110)
Santorinis is a very good alternative.

caliking

We used to like a divey little seafood joint called Half Shell.  Can't recall where it was. 

Hopleaf is great if you enjoy beer.  

The Phil Stefani joints used to be good for Italian grub. We used to frequent Tuscany since we lived close to little Italy. 

Check out Hot Doug's for lunch if it is still around.  Fries fried in duck fat on Fri & Sat. 

Hans61

I'd get some traditional deep dish one of your nights. Went to Coldplay concert last night at soldier field and walked back to the hotel 2+miles after midnight didn't feel unsafe once. Maybe get the uber app may be easier than getting a taxi

YEMTrey

Hopleaf is great for amazing beer and charcuterie as well!  Was just there last month.