Need cheap eats (and parking) near Borders, 830 N. Michigan

[Mugs]

Bistro 110 is too grand, and Sayat Nova is too far. My dream is to park once and eat quickly and somewhat well.

Thanks in advance.

[PatChicago]

I would suggest using ParkingAnyTime.com to look up cheap parking in Chicago. ParkingAnyTime provides free parking, and garage location and price information. The site is free.

[Mugs]

Thanks for these tips. We found street parking on Grand and ate at Blackie's, then found street parking on Chicago Ave. near Borders.

About Blackie's: My wife's cheeseburger was reliably good. I went for the "Mediterranean style smelt" and received a heap of tasty little buggers with a side of decent cole slaw. In a comfortable booth in that well-run joint, all was well.

[chitowneats]

There is a Johnny Rockets that is not too far from there. My girlfriend and I went there once when the line at Cheesecake Factory was over 90 mintues (I had a GC, else I would not have gone there)

Johnny Rockets had a LOT of families with kids. Also, there is an TGI Friday's not too far from that area either.

[SuzMiCo]

You can park at 900 N. Michigan get get the ticket validated (I think it's $11 for 3 hours during the day. In the evening, I think you can get there any time after 5 and leave by 2 AM for about $10.

In the 900 North mall there is a Potbelly's and a Corner Bakery cart (neither is true chow, but they are both better than the food at the Border's cafe). There is also the Oak Tree, which I enjoy, but there is a whole thread going right now about how other people hate it. I think they have good salads and smoothies.

[BarbaraM48]

Giodano's is at Rush and superior,I think.Gino's East is Superior East of Michigan.

[LAZ]

I can't find it on their Web site, but if you buy something at Water Tower Place, I believe you can get your parking chit validated for discounted parking in their garage. I think that applies to lunch.

foodlife on the mezzanine offers lots of choices; nsxtasy calls it a "food court" -- but if that implies to you a bunch of fast-food stands, it's much better than that (as well as slower and more expensive). http://www.foodlifechicago.com

If you want something faster and cheaper, go to Wow Bao. http://www.wowbao.com

[jlawrence01]

foodlife is really worth a stop and is fairly reasonable for that particular area. While it can easily be as expensive as you want it to be, you can generally eat for $10 which is a good value for the quality of the food.

[chigirl71]

I don't think there is such a thing as cheap parking around Michigan Ave. unless your lucky enough to find street parking which is practically impossible and still pretty expensive. Is Tempo too far?
Tempo
6 E. Chestnut St.
[phone]

[nsxtasy]

How about the food court on the mezzanine level at Water Tower Place?