Chicago Restaurants

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.