488522 Mon Feb 11 10:13:41 -0800 2008 3 7 Chicago Area 0 3385750 I'm going to Chicago this week and have one day and one night to eat wherever I want. I only get to Chicago about every 7 years, so I need to make the best of my dining on this one day. What restaurants should I have lunch and dinner at? Obviously, Charlie Trotter's is top of my consideration, although I'm not certain my dining companion will like the idea of a fixed menu, so I'm looking for alternatives. What should I not miss? Thanks! Mon Feb 11 10:13:41 -0800 2008 62325 HungryInHancock 1 3385812 The top place in the city is Alinea. It was named the best restaurant in the country by Gourmet magazine. However, I suspect you may have trouble getting a reservation this late in the game. But it won't hurt to call and find out; maybe you'll get lucky. www.alinearestaurant.com As far as additional choices, I would rank the top restaurants here as follows: 1. Alinea - Grant Achatz - www.alinearestaurant.com 2. Avenues - Graham Elliot Bowles (through the end of March) - http://chicago.peninsula.com/pch/dining_01.html 3. Everest - Jean Joho - www.everestrestaurant.com 4. Charlie Trotter's - Charlie Trotter - www.charlietrotter.com/restaurant 5. Tru - Rick Tramonto - www.trurestaurant.com 6. NoMi - Christophe David - www.nomirestaurant.com 7. Schwa - Michael Carlson - www.schwarestaurant.com (I've heard he has reopened, not sure if that's true) 8. moto - Homaro Cantu - www.motorestaurant.com 9. Spiaggia - Tony Mantuano - www.levyrestaurants.com You can't go wrong with *any* of these... Note - Most of the above accept reservations on opentable.com, although sometimes restaurants are shown as full there and they'll still accept a phone reservation. Mon Feb 11 10:26:40 -0800 2008 3385750 55363 nsxtasy 2 3386497 Thank you so much! I've made a reservation for Avenues. How about a lunch recommendation? I'm staying at O'Hare, so close would be nice, but I'm willing to travel for good food. Mon Feb 11 12:52:18 -0800 2008 3385812 62325 HungryInHancock 3 3386614 Quick lunch recommendations near O'Hare: 1. Giordano's for deep-dish "stuffed" pizza (location on Higgins in Rosemont) - www.giordanos.com 2. Flamingo's for Mexican seafood - www.flamingosseafood.com 3. Black Ram for steaks and seafood - www.blackramsteakhouse.com You can check Giordano's meno on their website and call ahead with your pizza order to avoid waiting 30-45 minutes while seated for your pizza to bake. If you go to Flamingo's, I suggest going on the early side (they open at 11, although 11:30 should still be okay) since they were recently featured on a local restaurant review show on television and they've been mobbed since then. For additional details on these and other lunch choices in the vicinity, see this topic: www.chowhound.com/topics/394887 Mon Feb 11 13:14:19 -0800 2008 3386497 55363 nsxtasy