Chicago Restaurants

I really don't get to a very wide variety of restaurants these days, so I have no idea what's actually good and will be checking this thread religiously for suggestions. But I like Privata and Matsuya and Le Creperie (I know, I know), and whatever else is wrong with the Bongo Room they still have great eggs benedict (the lox and asparagus ones).

I saw Lou Malnati's on some Food Channel pizza special. Way overrated IMO. They put a whole freakin' layer of meat on their pies...TOO MUCH

Oddly enough, some of my favorite restaurants in Chicago tend to be veggie places with a religious aspect to them. Especially the Buddhist joints, like Victory's Banner (for breakfast), Amitabul, and the new, delicious Alice & Friends.

I'll also third Andie's -- it is a shade better than Reza's, methinks.

Topalobampo
Blackbird
NoMi
Spring
Crofton on Wells

would be tops in the next tier for me.

After much research and deliberation I've decided Chicago Chop House has the best steak, with Gibsons running close behind.

Mirai for sushi.

I'm not much of a Pizza fan, and I really don't like stuffed all that much, so I'll bow out of naming a winner there.

Gioco has great food but is overpriced. Rosebud on Taylor probably still the king for Italian. Favorite place for cheap Italian: Bertucci's, a nice little family owned restaurant in the grey area between Chinatown and Bridgeport. It's like dining in someone's converted basement, but the food is fantastic.

I think we already did Italian Beef on some other thread, but Carm's on Polk roolz (for Italian Ice too). Ricobene's on 26th has a great one too, and don't miss their signature breaded Steak Sandwich.

Portillo's for Hot Dogs.

Chinatown I like Hong Min or Emporer's Choice best.

I've been to Turkish Bakery twice -- it seems a little overpriced to me, though.

So the "Mr. Diamond" name really does refer to your wealth!

THe Middle Eastern place is only a bakery. They have Jordan Almonds and 50 different shapes of fillo/pistachio/honey desserts. It is not "baclava." Can't you see it's shaped like a bird's nest?

I've been to maybe 20 of the 50-odd Indian restaurants on Devon, but damned if I can remember the names of the better ones. One of the Moti Mahals is really good. Also all of the video/music stores owned by the Patel Bros are great!

Avoid the weird Mongol-Indian restaurant on that one corner, though.

They jet in fresh fish and seafood from all over the world to O'Hare. It is cheap and casual and large and they know what the hell they are doing.

Mr. Diamond you should inflate your itemized deductions and then splash out at Le Francais!

nabisco, was Spring the one we were standing directly in front of when the 2 Lincoln Park Trixies asked us for directions to it on our way to Mod?

Yes. I don't know if I told you the story about how Spring made me cross the street every day. But there was a period the summer after it opened where (a) the sidewalk was crowded with valet-parked people who, when you tried to get past, acted like you were the out-of-place one, and (b) their fish-filled dumpsters reeked up that side of the street pretty unbearably.

That said: Felicity, you liked Mod, right? Dear everyone: Mod looks terrible -- it looks like a Lego hair salon, which is sort of cool but not someplace you'd want to eat. But it's very good.

I'm really enjoying this thread for the recommendations, especially some of the north side places that I just don't get too that often.
Yeah, they actually opened a Bob Chinn's near the loop. I've been meaning to get over there for a while now...

Oops, where is Carso's? Do you mean like south loop, or way far south? Anyway, it sounds great!

generally consider myself a chicago-style hater. I like a thin crust and I don't want a pizza to sink me like a stone. I'm in the south loop at a hotel, too goddamn tired and hurting to walk anywhere. desk tells me go for giordano's or lou malnati's. I almost order the lou's thin crust and then I go, you know what, you're here one night, the worst case scenario is this pizza a lot of people love doesn't punch your button like it does theirs but you get fed. I order the Lou: spinach and mushroom mix, cheddar cheese, roma tomatoes.

fucking A that is an outstanding pie. I could probably eat the other half of it but I'm trying to show some restraint. couldn't do it as a full time thing but I renounce my chicago-style opposition henceforth

victory's banner changed owners and is not as cult-y. it still has pictures of sri chimnoy and his artwork, but the servers wear street clothes and seem like normal people.

i don't think they close for pilgrimages twice a year anymore either.

i want to give a gift certificate to a nice restaurant to a couple i know in chicago. maybe a couple hundred bucks? do you chicagoans have any suggestions

victory's banner changed owners and is not as cult-y. it still has pictures of sri chimnoy and his artwork, but the servers wear street clothes and seem like normal people.

― na (NA), Friday, February 23, 2018 11:37 AM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink

i don't think they close for pilgrimages twice a year anymore either.

― na (NA), Friday, February 23, 2018 11:37 AM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink

update, it's now called "lucy's cafe" and is not culty at all (unless you consider the live laugh love aesthetic a cult). the food is the same as when it was victory's banner, though they've added some options.

i don't eat anywhere nice, sorry.

yeah me either

maybe a lettuce entertain you gift card? not really fancy but they can use it at a number of good places.

ha I was gonna mention lettuce but I have no idea which of their concepts are worth going to nowadays

lthforum GNR's was always my bible. Here's their section on fancy schmancy joints:

NEW AMERICAN/FINE DINING
avec-- Offering small plates and wine at communal tables in the west Loop. It does not hurt to have one of Chicago's best chefs helping out, either. Probably more pan-Mediterranean or Spanish, but just eat, drink, and don't worry.
Big Jones-- Southern cooking gone upscale, along with strong drink of the best sort. Engaged, inspired, and pushing the envelope within the vernacular.
Carnivore-- Oak Park meat shop of wonder, stocked with local produce, handcrafted charcuterie, fresh oysters, and an expert grill turning out exceptional burgers and vegetable sides.
El Ideas--Ever wonder what a dinner party at a professional chef’s house would be like? Phillip Foss has created a completely unique fine-dining experience that brings diners as close to the action as possible while serving cutting edge cuisine. Bring your own wine, spend some time helping the chefs plate the next course, and rock out to what some have called the best playlist in the city. It all makes for an intimate and unforgettable experience.
Elizabeth Restaurant-- Passionate forager-chef Iliana Regan – whose prior venture was a single-table restaurant in her apartment – serves inventive, seasonal, and artistic dinners in an intimate Lincoln Square dining room. Both serious and whimsical, the evolving tasting menus have included a terrarium with yellow watermelon, uni ice cream, bear rice crispies, and a shrimp noodle. Service is top notch, wine pairings are thoughtful, and reservations are a must.
Fat Rice-- For many of us, Fat Rice is one of our favorite restaurants… boatloads of accolades, and still are down-to-earth, putting out wonderful food consistently, with good service and no pretension… service with a smile and superb unique food… where else in the world would one find a Portuguese/Asian/African fusion restaurant?
Inovasi Restaurant-- A master chef offering a constantly changing menu of creative, and usually delicious dishes. Put yourself in his hands and he will take you on a fun ride.
MANA Food Bar-- MANA is a vegetarian restaurant where you don’t miss the meat. No vegetable-based substances dressed up to look like meat, just well-conceived and well-executed food. A small, beautiful place to spend an evening drinking and having small plates, with chef-driven food drawing from Asian, European, Latin, and American flavors. Whether it’s curry, tamales, house-made pickles, or pierogi, there’s plenty for everyone.
Pearl's Southern Comfort-- This Edgewater spot has a Cajun heart and skills covering the breadth of Southern foodways, from scratch gumbo and pimento cheese to Nutter Butter pie.
Prairie Grass Cafe-- Head up to Northbrook for a "casual meal in the kitchen of one of America's best chefs." Great ingredients prepared to highlight their flavor and quality. Simply delicious.
Purple Pig-- Yeah, yeah, it’s a bit of a celebrity spot, but it delivers. And not just the pork products - the vegetables are delicious, too. Really, we wanted to hate it, but it is too good.
Vie-- A Blackbird-alum chef with a strong commitment to regional and seasonal flavors brings a downtown foodie outlook to suburban Western Springs.

if they're very adventurous, Elizabeth is great. A nice warm atmosphere and Iliana Regan will likely be one of the handful serving you if she's there.

Monteverde would be a good choice for the gift certificate. Elizabeth (as Omar says) if they're very experimental and Parachute if they're pretty experimental. Monteverde won't seem too conventional or too avant-garde if they're in the middle and is top-notch on all fronts.

thanks dudes!

Etta too -- a good combo of informal while feeling like a special-occasion place.

I'm going to be in Chi this weekend, any recommendations for places that are still open in 2022 and that I could actually go to on a weekend? Any favorites among the myriad of Thai and Vietnamese places in Uptown?

It was over a decade ago but people brought me to Spoon Thai in lincoln square once and it was extremely memorable; we ordered a bunch of things off the 'secret' menu and they were confusing and delicious.

I've been to Chicago four times in the past 7 months but haven't eaten IN a restaurant there since 2019, only gone in to pick up jibaritos and such.

Hai Yen was a favorite back in the day

…as was Tank Noodle before they became Jan 6 insurrectionists: https://abc7chicago.com/tank-noodle-chicago-trump-yelp-rally-dc/9482003/

oh no not tank noodle

i don't really know the vietnamese/thai restaurants in uptown that well. nhu lan is my favorite banh mi place and they have an uptown location, but i've never been to that location, i always go to the one in lincoln square/avondale. along with spoon thai, sticky rice is the other fun thai place in lincoln square with a "secret menu" (not really that secret but more authentic i guess). if you want a lunch buddy, text me.

Thanks! I was planning on stopping by Ba Le before the Green Mill, Nhu Lan looks good though, I've noticed that place before (looks like they close early though). Got my eyes on Jin Thai or Bibim Town for lunch, maybe Lucy's Cafe fka Victory's Banner.

My wife is running the marathon in Chicago in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations for post-race dinner on Sunday evening not that far (no more than a short Uber ride) from Grant Park? Looking for a casual elevated comfort food type of meal with good beers and reservations for as many as 5. Right now I have a reservation at The Publican, but wanted to keep looking.

Publican is a great choice, you can never go wrong with Publican. I'd also maybe recommend Dusek's in Pilsen, they probably scratch a similar itch.

Thanks, JiC.

I agree. Was thinking that The Gage and Cherry Circle Room, both on Michigan Ave., could work if you don't want to travel far. But the Publican seems perfect for what you're looking for.

I'd avoid the Gage and Cherry Circle, tbh. They'll be slammed because they are essentially across the street. The former is also pretty overpriced for what it is, and the latter kind of too hip for a post marathon dinner. Publican is what you want for pretty much any occasion. Be sure to get the chicken, sausage and fries plate, which might seem pricey for what it is, but it's delicious.

Yes, I agree with all that, just trying to be helpful.

Just finish the marathon first and you’ll have your pick of places.

Tell your wife to wave at me. I’ll be at mile 6.3 on the right side of the street.

don't go here: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/09/dozens-more-sick-in-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-chicago-taqueria/

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and confirmations. It's her eighth(?) marathon, but first Chicago marathon. Just hoping for cool weather.

We are also thinking of Frontera Grill. Not beers, but I've had one of Bayless' cookbooks for 20+ years. Even though he can be a bit much, the menu looks great.

Imo the only reason to go to Frontera is to say you went. Chicago is packed with great Mexican places, and fwiw (xpost) a Bayless place is one of the few times one of us ever got food poisoning. Plus when I called them up to complain, they were totally dicks about it. Good option when you're at the airport, though.

Good mezcal margaritas.

You can get them in the airport, too!

Thanks!

Any recommendations for where to get a Chicago-style hot dog for lunch not far from Grant Park? Thinking of the Devil Dogs in the South Loop, but open to other ideas in the Loop.

Honestly, pretty much anywhere! Devil Dawgs is a good choice. Just make sure, wherever you go, that there is a Vienna Beef sticker/sign on premises.

I once ate at a pizza place in Chicago that specialized in pizza with a layer of sausage. Like, a disc of sausage that covered the whole pie. It was stupidly good.

Thanks, JiC.

xpost That's kind of a Chicago thing, at least for some deep dish (trying to recall which places, exactly). That or big sausage chunks, cooked with the pie (so the grease mingles).

Chicago Dog at Devil Dogs is A+. Should have ordered two and skipped the fries.

How did the rest of it all go?

Sorry, meant to post an update. The Publican was my kind of restaurant. Beer selection was really great - I had an English Bitter and Flemish Red beers from two local brewers I can't remember. My wife had a beer that was a blend of a lambic and a Hefeweizen, also delicious (perfect amount of sour for me).

Food was maximalist and everything was really strong. For a meat-centric place, the vegetable dishes were standouts: bbq carrots with tahini sauce and a fried brussels sprout dish that had avocado and bunch of other stuff in it. Just perfect. We also had the big rib with apple butter, chicken and summer sausage, porchetta with grits, mussels, big charcuterie plate, mussels - my one complaint was they kind of upsold us by telling us we needed 6-7 dishes when their portions were huge so we had way too much food but got to try a bunch of stuff but it was kind of gluttonous. If this place was in NYC, I would eat there all the time - it reminded me of Resto a little, which was an NYC restaurant I loved back in the day.

Chicago is a great city - love the physical layout with the bridges going in all directions downtown. My wife had a pretty successful marathon. We also got to go see the Remedios Varo exhibit at the Art Institute, which was one of the best exhibits I've ever seen.

As gluttonous as we were, we did not order the mussels twice.

Sorry, trying to type this too quickly and my grammar is terrible.

the Publican is great. one of my most memorable twofers was going there followed by a visit to the Aviary. fortunately we were staying at a hotel downtown vs staying out in the far NW sticks, as we frequently do when visiting.

I think I have had that carrot dish! My wife and I went there for an anniversary dinner and they tried to kill us with food.

Yeah, it's hard to go wrong with Publican. It's kind of amazing how even the dishes that seem boring on paper - chicken and sausage, carrots - are pretty incredible in execution. They also have a *great* Negroni with barrel aged gin.