OT - Short Chicago Trip

teamunited33

Looking for advice from the grand wisdom of the forum.  We've got a wedding in Chicago next month and are trying to do a bit of planning.  Neither of us have been to Chi-Town before, looking for recommendations on a hotel and a few restaurants.  What are your absolute favorites if you only had one breakfast, lunch, and supper in town. Ready...Go

kl8ton

I like the Shedd Aquarium. I think they frown on eating the fish there.  

CornfedMA

Go to the Purple Pig.

The next day, if you’ve had a few drinks and feel like a solid hangover cure, hit the Billy Goat Tavern on Michigan Ave for a double cheeseburger and couple brewskis. I’m sure there’s better spots, but there’s something about shaking off a hangover in an old Belushi spot that just feels right. 

BGEChicago

I don't know your budget but lets start with hotels... Crazy expensive, from $375 a night at the JW Marriot to $150 at the Courtyard.... You might want to consider staying outside of Chicago, say Schaumberg or maybe Elmhurst, again, not sure how many nights you are here but the price of an uber might make up for the high hotel costs...

As far as food.....

Lunch... A must stop is Manny's Deli, it's a Chicago institution : https://www.mannysdeli.com/

Dinner is nice at The Girl and the Goat, Stephanie Izard is a well known Chicago chef; https://girlandthegoat.com/

Did you say mexican? Gotta see my friend Rick Bayless at Frontera; https://www.rickbayless.com/

My wife's relatives own this place, and it's some of the finest Greek food in Chicago: http://www.athenarestaurantchicago.com/


Oh, I forgot breakfast, a quick hop on the El will get you to Ann Sather, the best place for pastries and eggs http://www.annsather.com/

 And finally, you have to eat at Portillio's I'll help you with the language, step up and order a "beef, hot, dipped" = Italian beef, dipped in au jus with hot giardiniera mix....https://www.portillos.com/index.html


 Little know fact about a Chicagoan.... most of us actually don't like deep dish pizza, it's for tourists - also it's not called the windy city because of the wind, way back when it was because of the politicians  "hot air" that were so corrupt, like this story today https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-senator-indicted-embezzle-20190802-376yvfd56ffbngxgpvtp4ykhmy-story.html



 And finally, and take this seriously... DO NOT go past 1300 south (Roosevelt Street) and DO NOT go past 2400 west (California Street) on foot... these are not areas to wander....

Enjoy.. we have actually had some great weather!!

dmchicago

Do the architectural boat tour. Trust me.

BGEChicago

dmchicago said:

Do the architectural boat tour. Trust me.

YESS!!!!!! I 100% agree!!!!

poster

Always have a good time at Hugo's frog bar. A hot dog and a mai tai at Portillos is a must. The Talbott is also a nice hotel close to everything

dmourati

Wow, didn't expect Elmhurst to come up in this thread. I grew up there and lived on the north side before moving to CA.

I'd stay in the north loop. I'd head over to greek town for Gyros. I'd eat pizza. I'd eat an italian beef. 

****, now I want to go back to Chicago

BGEChicago

@dmourati Hey good to hear.. I'm at South Street and Arlington! Getting pretty expensive around here!

mEGG_My_Day

And if you have time and the Cubs are in town .......

caliking

BGEChicago said:

dmchicago said:

Do the architectural boat tour. Trust me.

YESS!!!!!! I 100% agree!!!!

The ones run by the Architectural Society are way better than the private companies. The docents give terrific tours.

Daddyshack

BGEChicago said:

I don't know your budget but lets start with hotels... Crazy expensive, from $375 a night at the JW Marriot to $150 at the Courtyard.... You might want to consider staying outside of Chicago, say Schaumberg or maybe Elmhurst, again, not sure how many nights you are here but the price of an uber might make up for the high hotel costs...

As far as food.....

Lunch... A must stop is Manny's Deli, it's a Chicago institution : https://www.mannysdeli.com/

Dinner is nice at The Girl and the Goat, Stephanie Izard is a well known Chicago chef; https://girlandthegoat.com/

Did you say mexican? Gotta see my friend Rick Bayless at Frontera; https://www.rickbayless.com/

My wife's relatives own this place, and it's some of the finest Greek food in Chicago: http://www.athenarestaurantchicago.com/


Oh, I forgot breakfast, a quick hop on the El will get you to Ann Sather, the best place for pastries and eggs http://www.annsather.com/

 And finally, you have to eat at Portillio's I'll help you with the language, step up and order a "beef, hot, dipped" = Italian beef, dipped in au jus with hot giardiniera mix....https://www.portillos.com/index.html


 Little know fact about a Chicagoan.... most of us actually don't like deep dish pizza, it's for tourists - also it's not called the windy city because of the wind, way back when it was because of the politicians  "hot air" that were so corrupt, like this story today https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-state-senator-indicted-embezzle-20190802-376yvfd56ffbngxgpvtp4ykhmy-story.html



 And finally, and take this seriously... DO NOT go past 1300 south (Roosevelt Street) and DO NOT go past 2400 west (California Street) on foot... these are not areas to wander....

Enjoy.. we have actually had some great weather!!

Agreed - Girl and goat amazing.  We go for breakfast 
We like au cheval as well for breakfast
one or our fave dive bars is Rossi’s 
donut vault is great for a donut and coffee if you’re walking around in the morning.   
If you’ve never been to an Eataly before it’s worth seeing (and nibbling)

stlcharcoal

Purple pig for dinner 
Field museum
Architectural boat tour

xfire_ATX

BGEChicago said:

 And finally, you have to eat at Portillio's I'll help you with the language, step up and order a "beef, hot, dipped" = Italian beef, dipped in au jus with hot giardiniera mix....https://www.portillos.com

When I went Portillos I got the hot dog, next time I’ll go with the beef.  I do recommend for a good hot dog is Super Dawg

not sure if Perry’s Deli is still open food portions were ridiculous and it had a Seinfeld Soup Nazi vibe

BGEChicago

Ugh... Perry's, sadly it's closed... Loved watching people getting "air horned" for talking on their cell phone!

blind99

Where is the wedding? And how fancy or casual do you want to go? There’s lots of great stuff here. Any specific cuisine you want, or want to avoid?

the loop can get pretty dead on the weekend. But field museum, shedd aquarium, Adler planetarium and art institute are always busy. Millennium park is a nice walk. The boat tours start around there too. North of there, River north, mag mile, Gold Coast will all be busy with lots of shopping and eating. 

saluki2007

This is a great hotel. This is where we used to stay before my parents bought a place just a block east. 
https://www.chicagoraffaello.com/

Spillin

I know that Chicago isn't known for BBQ but Green St Smoked Meats is really solid.  Down the street from Au Chavel and Girl and the Goat.  Also +1 on Portillos and the Architecture tour. If you want a cocktail with one hell of a view go to the Signature Lounge.  It's on the 98th Floor of the Hancock Bldg.

LetsEat

Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, consider neighborhood tours through Cultural Center. 

saluki2007

Spillin said:

I know that Chicago isn't known for BBQ but Green St Smoked Meats is really solid.  Down the street from Au Chavel and Girl and the Goat.  Also +1 on Portillos and the Architecture tour. If you want a cocktail with one hell of a view go to the Signature Lounge.  It's on the 98th Floor of the Hancock Bldg.

Agree on this. Just went there Thursday night for dinner. Ribs and brisket were on point. 

eggnewtoy

Architectural tour, the bean (millennium park )

teamunited33

mEGG_My_Day said:

And if you have time and the Cubs are in town .......

I'm originally from Wisconsin, so .... the cubs. haha, they're actually playing in Milwaukee that weekend.

teamunited33

blind99 said:

Where is the wedding? And how fancy or casual do you want to go? There’s lots of great stuff here. Any specific cuisine you want, or want to avoid?

the loop can get pretty dead on the weekend. But field museum, shedd aquarium, Adler planetarium and art institute are always busy. Millennium park is a nice walk. The boat tours start around there too. North of there, River north, mag mile, Gold Coast will all be busy with lots of shopping and eating. 

The wedding is in Hyde Park.  We're prepared to stay downtown and uber/lyft to the wedding on Sunday.

We're a bit more on the casual side, gastropubs/elevated bar food is our jam.  Fine dining is a bit outside of our comfort zones.

Spillin

The purple pig will be right up your alley.  Also take the L or an uber to Wrigleyville. Doesn't matter if the Cubs are in town or not.  Great area with a ton of cool bars and restaurants.  I grew up in that neighborhood, Won't disappoint.

dmchicago

teamunited33 said:

blind99 said:

Where is the wedding? And how fancy or casual do you want to go? There’s lots of great stuff here. Any specific cuisine you want, or want to avoid?

the loop can get pretty dead on the weekend. But field museum, shedd aquarium, Adler planetarium and art institute are always busy. Millennium park is a nice walk. The boat tours start around there too. North of there, River north, mag mile, Gold Coast will all be busy with lots of shopping and eating. 

The wedding is in Hyde Park.  We're prepared to stay downtown and uber/lyft to the wedding on Sunday.

We're a bit more on the casual side, gastropubs/elevated bar food is our jam.  Fine dining is a bit outside of our comfort zones.

Take a look at The Gage on Michigan Ave.
https://thegagechicago.com/

blind99

Well you've got tons of great recs here.  pick a neighborhood or two, map it out and see what you have for time.  Make reservations now - dinner fills up weeks in advance. You can always cancel if you change plans or find something better!  

Sunday wedding, coming in Friday?  Man I could make a weekend of that!
Friday evening dinner at the Gage - right on Michigan ave, casual, good, great scotch / bourbon choices too.  walk millenium park.

sat breakfast? some of my faves downtown are Wishbone (southernish and always good quality) and Lou Mitchells (traditional diner, god it's good)

lunchtime - walk armitage west of halsted.  santa monica summer house for lunch.  or the place next door has nice pizza and beer, cant remember the name. ice cream at jenni's splendid.  lincoln park zoo is nearby, and free.  or stay till evening and have dinner at mon ami gabi.

also dinner -   it's a little fancier seeming than you might want, but le colonial is the bees knees. new location on oak street is really nice. the food is really light and fresh. i could order the entire menu.  (@caliking have you been there?  if not we need to meet there sometime)

saluki2007

To eat you can't go wrong with the west loop. They have all kinds of food at every level of dining. Never had a bad experience there. 

saluki2007

Also look at Jack Melniks and Timmothy O'Tools for bar food. A cool bar to check out late at night is Streeter's.

caliking

blind99 said:

Well you've got tons of great recs here.  pick a neighborhood or two, map it out and see what you have for time.  Make reservations now - dinner fills up weeks in advance. You can always cancel if you change plans or find something better!  

Sunday wedding, coming in Friday?  Man I could make a weekend of that!
Friday evening dinner at the Gage - right on Michigan ave, casual, good, great scotch / bourbon choices too.  walk millenium park.

sat breakfast? some of my faves downtown are Wishbone (southernish and always good quality) and Lou Mitchells (traditional diner, god it's good)

lunchtime - walk armitage west of halsted.  santa monica summer house for lunch.  or the place next door has nice pizza and beer, cant remember the name. ice cream at jenni's splendid.  lincoln park zoo is nearby, and free.  or stay till evening and have dinner at mon ami gabi.

also dinner -   it's a little fancier seeming than you might want, but le colonial is the bees knees. new location on oak street is really nice. the food is really light and fresh. i could order the entire menu.  (@caliking have you been there?  if not we need to meet there sometime)

Yes I have.  Loved Le Colonial back in the day. Good to know they’re still around. 

I may be in Chicago in October, so don’t be surprised if I bug you later

caliking

saluki2007 said:

Also look at Jack Melniks and Timmothy O'Tools for bar food. A cool bar to check out late at night is Streeter's.

Little known fact - Tim O’Toole’s had a very impressive scotch selection for what seems like a regular ol’ bar in   Streeterville.

And we used to be regulars at Streeter’s. We’d get free shots there as soon as we walked in the door. But I think everyone else did too. 

YEMTrey

Pequods, Arturo’s and Fountainhead for drinks.